Wine Outlook

I haven’t reported on our Rosenblum after-work study group in a while. Back in October, we met for our first blind varietal tasting. Grape of choice: Sauvignon Blanc or Chenin Blanc. And I have to say, we got our egos bruised a bit.

Wine 1: daybright, grapefruit, apple, grass, pepper, lemon, stone…thought it was New Zealand, tunred out to be Chile: 2004 Killer Bee Sauv Blanc from Maipo Valley

Wine 2: bright and youthful, lemon, pear, lime, somewhat spicy, with creamy lemon custard, so def. some oak…thought Sonoma Fume Blanc….actually 2006 Chenin Blanc from South Africa

Wine 3: passion fruit, key lime, pear, grapefruit, straw, minerality…surely this is New Zealand….but no, it’s French– 2006 Domaine du Tremblay Quincy (SB) (more…)

blind varietal tasting, Sauvignon Blanc, 2004 Killer Bee Sauv Blanc, 2006 Domaine du Tremblay Quincy

I’m living vicariously through my friends. Even though I opted not (i.e. was too scared at the time) to, tomorrow my friend and co-worker will take the sommelier certification exam, the next level up from the introductory exam she passed a couple months ago. This very time last year, I wished ‘the sommelier’ luck and she happily passed, so maybe wishing Meg good luck will send positive vibes her way. But I don’t really think she needs them. Almost every minute of her spare time has been spent studying the wine regions of the world and what grapes are grown there, as well as other spirits. She’s done blind tastings with our study group, helped me with the tasting menu weekly, practiced her presentation skills on us and her husband, and carried her blasted flash cards everywhere. (Just kidding about the blasted part, Meg.)

So, as far as I can tell, (more…)

sommelier certification exam

I’ve been quite amiss with reporting my wine study group’s findings. Several co-workers and I meet up every other week or so to deepen our understanding of different wines and to keep our palates in practice. A couple months ago, we explored the Loire Valley and learned quite a bit about the styles of wine produced there. First up was the Champalou Vouvray Brut, made in the Methode Traditionelle at 12% alcohol. It had an interesting nose of fresh rain on pavement and apple, then a little dirty sock, and finally a taste of doughnuts. Next was the 2005 Andre’ Michel Bregeon Muscadet Sevre’ et Maine. A tad musty, it also showed chalk, grass, and orange zest. (more…)

Vouvray, Muscadet Sevre’ et Maine

My previous winetasting group is now defunct, what with crazy summer schedules, my no longer working with the majority of its members, and my current job location in the East Bay, with my residential address hopefully soon to follow. Therefore, I was quite pleased to find out about the study session at Rosenblum, where a group gets together weekly to explore different wine regions. Several people have been cramming for the sommelier exam and other such qualifications, and some just want to learn more for the heck of it.

The idea is for each person to bring one or two wines of an approximate value indicative of the area in the attempt to taste liquid representations of the land.

My first venture into this assembly was to be Bordeaux, probably one of my least travelled areas of France. I have not had many opportunities to taste wine from this region in my ten-year span of enological adventures. A couple of cheap-ish bottles here and there that didn’t do much for me and once a very small pour of a rather expensive bottle a couple ordered when I was waiting tables at a fancy little place in Mississippi. They were celebrating the woman’s completion of her thesis and spent the most any two people ever had before at a table of mine—nearly $500 and most of that was the wine: a Chateau Pichon-Longueville, if I recall. And I’ve got one bottle in my little wine fridge. A 2000 Saint-Emilion I almost brought to the tasting but decided to let it keep aging as these wines so often need to do. (more…)

winetasting group, Bordeaux

My tasting group was not the most organized affair this time. At the last meeting we chose a theme but never really decided on a date. Therefore, after throwing an e-mail out last week, only a few people followed through and we ended up changing it from Thursday to Monday. With the last-minute assignment and a not-so-common variety (Chenin Blanc), there was a bit of stress for some in finding a bottle. We still managed to survey seven different bottles: three from France and four from California.

Chenin Blanc is quite versatile, capable of extreme sweetness, sparkling versions, or fair-to-mediocre table wine. It has a long history in the Loire Valley, where it can sometimes have too much acidity, depending on ripeness. It seems the best versions there are sweet, with hints of honey and damp straw. The grape has gained great popularity in South Africa, sometimes referred to as Steen. Winemakers are striving to avoid that mediocrity that seems to come too easily to the grape. California also grows its fair share of Chenin Blanc, where it’s usually relegated to blends. Very few producers give it much attention, but Clarksburg seems to be one area that provides some interesting versions.
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Chenin Blanc

Last week we had another episode of the winetasting group. This time the victim was Beaujolais. Now, you’ve most likely had the Nouveau version at some point, but it’s not fair to base your opinion on that. Beaujolais Nouveau goes through carbonic fermentation at a super fast speed to enable that third-Thursday-of-November release. Usually pretty dull, often watery and tasting of bubble gum or nail polish remover, its claim to fame is as a Thanksgiving wine (perfect timing, and it’s cheap and plenty).

However, Beaujolais is actually the southern section of Burgundy, making use of the Gamay grape rather than Pinot Noir. Interestingly, this smaller region can, in some vintages, produce more wine than its northern neighbor. While most of the wine produced from Gamay should be drunk young, some of the crus (Morgon, Moulin-a-Vent) from better vintages can age for almost a decade and may even begin to taste like Burgundy. (more…)

winetasting group, Beaujolais, Beaujolais Nouveau

If you read The Winemaker’s Wife, you’ve already seen my picture. But of the two I took, that was the one I preferred to showcase the wines from the Rioja tasting Tuesday. I went into it with 2 possible bottles, both of which I proclaimed as “cheating” when I entered. One was from the wrong but nearby region of Ribera del Duero, with similar grapes, and the other was a rosado. While technically that wasn’t illegal, I assumed the cellar rat meant red when he picked the theme.

In Rioja, Spain’s dominant wine region, red wines are made from Tempranillo, Garnacha (Grenache), Mazuelo (Carignan), and Graciano. In some rare cases, Cabernet Sauvignon is allowed. With the whites, Malvasia and Viura take the stage. I actually wanted to bring a white but put off shopping too long and didn’t have as many choices. (more…)

Rioja tasting, Ribera del Duero

Last night was about California red blends– a blind tasting of six wines, with a couple surprises thrown in. One was that the group favorite was not actually a blend (miscommunication about the theme): the 2004 Aquinas Merlot, whose nose was reluctant at first but then made way for a pizza place and later on, toffee. Also very popular was the 2004 Clayhouse Adobe Red, a Zin blend from Paso Robles which smelled to me of blueberry muffins. We also had the 2005 Folie a Deux Ménage à Trois, the lightest of the bunch and reminding me of tinned strawberries. However, I’ve been amiss with some of my choices lately, as my 2002 Venge Scout’s Honor came in next to last perhaps due to some slight heat. Though as we continued tasting during the discussion, it kept changing and improving in the glass.

My first and last ranked were both from the same winemaker… none other than (more…)

2004 Aquinas Merlot, 2004 Clayhouse Adobe Red, 2005 Folie a Deux Ménage à Trois, 2002 Venge Scout’s Honor

As promised, here’s the update on the Rhône Valley wine tasting. As the destination was a little hard to find, our glasses were late and we had to improvise a bit, pouring the wines in two flights. When all was said and done, we tasted through eight wines, with one being a 2005 Triennes Viognier from nearby Provence, which reminded me initially of a Japanese restaurant but later softened into tropical fruit and citrus. A 2005 Domaine Vins De Vienne from Saint Peray showed the most oak, being the roundest and creamiest of the bunch. My favorites were a 2005 Domaine de la Becassonne, with its notes of peach, apricot, and white flowers and one that I bought at only $8- La Vielle Ferme, which tasted like peach melba in a glass.

Sadly, two were bad. The 04 E.Guigal was unfortunately corked and the 03 Perrin was cooked, though I’m sure both are lovely when not flawed.
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Rhône Valley wine tasting, 2005 Triennes Viognier, 2005 Domaine Vins De Vienne, 2005 Domaine de la Becassonne, La Vielle Ferme

We had the second installment of the winetasting group. Sadly, I drove up to my apartment as the UPS man was driving away with my New York Riesling in his truck. (By the way, I had put my shipping address as the winery where I work, for that very reason). Instead, I brought my back-up wine, a 2004 Trimbach Riesling from Alsace. I had high hopes, considering their good work with Pinot Gris, but it was in my bottom 3, with its aroma of hay and lemon and reluctance to give up any flavors other than citrus and intense dryness.

In additon to Alsace, we covered Washington (the Chateau St. Michelle Bryon brought was light and spritzy with tangerine and floral notes), two from Monterey, including one from Ventana Vineyards where we get our Gewurztraminer grapes (brought by Ahren, a now-loyal reader), the McWilliam’s from Australia (the least favorite of the group, due to its aromas of walking down Mission Street, thrown in with a stale car interior), and of course, several from Germany. My favorite was the 05 Schloss Schonborn, a Kabinett from the Rheingau, with minerality, umami, and flavors of tropical fruit.

I was pretty proud of my pork tenderloin cooked with apples, carrots, celery, and onions (all very tender and sweet). Poor Sara, The Winemaker’s Wife, had great plans for two different corn muffins, but the peach ones didn’t work out, sadly. There was also some delicious tapenade, several cheeses, and Ellie’s on-the-spot choice of Mongolian beef.

All in all, my showing was not as good as the first time. I think tasting 9 Rieslings in a row made it a little harder. Which worries me, because I’m going to an all Malbec tasting tomorrow.

Riesling, Trimbach, Schloss Schonborn, winetasting group

….Farley Walker

When I returned from my trip home, involving much wine consumption, I vowed to join or start a tasting group. Mission accomplished, and very well, I should say.

Thanks to a co-worker (the cellar rat) and his charming wife, for getting the ball rolling and for hosting, we had a lovely evening of wine and cheese. The first in what I hope to be a long series, we decided to bring whatever we desired in both categories. Everything was just so, with the wines hidden in clean (trust me, we asked) socks and sheets with ample room for notes. Also plenty of bread on hand, helpful in neutralizing the palate somewhat between tastes.

Everyone dove right in–swirling, smelling, sipping, scribbling. I had no moment of panic, that fear that no flavors or aromas will make themselves known. At one point, I asked a friend to pull out an aroma card I had printed for some of us, courtesy of Alder over at Vinography because I had forgotten mine, but it was after we had already started the discussion and unveilings. (more…)