Montebuena Cuvée KPF Roija a Tempranillo

November 13^th was International Tempranillo Day!  Who knew wine vartietals have their own day?  By luck we just happened to have sampled a Tempranillo this month:  2010 Montebuena Cuvee KPF Rioja.

First, surprisingly not many people are familiar with the very old Spanish grape Tempranillo, also known as Tinto Fino in Ribera del Duero, Tinta de Toro in Toro, Ull de Llebre in Catalonia, Cencibel in La Mancha and Tinto Roriz in Portugal. Grown in the Iberian Peninsula it dates as far back as 1100BC. Tempranillo is a red grape, but a rare white mutant does exist in Rioja.  I am going to have to keep an eye for the white variety.

Back to the 2010 Montebuena Rioja.  It is 100% Tempranillo fermented in 100% American Oak. Dark garnet red, a bit earthy and drying on the nose. The palate it is a little sour grapes, unbalanced heavy on the acidity, soft on tannins, making it coarse and rustic.  There is no real complexity in flavor, no fruit, lite peppery short finish. Seemed really tight, might need to open up and relax. Other reviews commented on how it was better on day 2, now I wish I had some day old to try.

Varietal:  Tempranillo

Producer/Importer: Montebuena Cuvee KPF Roija           

Region: Spain

Vintage: 2010

Price:  $9.99

Tasting notes:

 Sight (Color/Clarity): Deep purplish red-garnet

Smell (bouquet, aroma): Dry and earthy

Taste (acidity, balance, body): Dry, bit sour-acidic, pepper, fairly simple, short, course finish, tight-needed to open up more?

Winemaker’s notes: Brilliant deep ruby red color, fruity aroma. Montebuena Red has a spicy vanilla bouquet and is smooth and fruity in the mouth with some well-integrated secondary nuances, full-flavored and a persistent pleasant finish. Produced from 100% Tempranillo grapes, which are hand harvested from the Montebuena vineyard.

Overall rating (1-10): 8.5

Date consumed: November 12, 2014

Comments: Twist cap.  

Le Grand Noir Malbec

Le Grand Noir, signature black sheep on the label, boasts of being a little rebellious and unconventional in their winemaking.   According to their website brand creators Robert Joseph and Hugh Ryman got the name “Big Black” after a Cathar priest in the region of Carcassonne. The Cathars, a breakaway group from the Catholic Church of the day, had some very unconventional views -Men and women are equal, contraception was not a bad thing and that the church should not amass wealth.

The wines are produced by Jean d'Alibert Winery. Le Grand Noir Malbec is deep dark purple in color and showcases flavors of black cherries and plums laced with hints of pepper and spice. Unfortunately it appears Le Grand Noir is no longer making a Malbec-as it is not listed on their website.

Varietal:  Malbec

Producer/Importer: Le Grand Noir 

Region: France

Vintage: 2010

Price: $7.99

Tasting notes:

 Sight (Color/Clarity): Deep dark purple-plum

 Smell (bouquet, aroma): fruity

Taste (acidity, balance, body): black cherries, plum, peppery spice

Bottle presentation: Black sheep on label

Overall rating (1-10): 8.5

Date consumed: November 14, 2012

Comments: Really like this brand’s Pinot Noir

Torlasco Moscato D'asti the perfect summer celebration wine

Wowza! While summer has been keeping me too  busy to blog (or even drink much wine), I see my readers have been busy reading and hopefully enjoying a few glasses!  over 4,000 views!  I think the last time I peeked we were sitting around 2000.  I guess I better get back to blogging!

Wines for winding down hot summers day need to be cold and light and sometimes sweet and sometimes crisp.  Something to enjoy while sitting on the porch or deck or boating or beaching or picnicing. Here is a favorite that you are sure to enjoy while your summer winds downm but you may not want to savor this just in the summer.  It would also make a great wine for celebrating anytime of the year.

Torlasco “Madame Rachele” Moscato d’Asti defies all preconceived ideals of what Moscato is.  It is neither syrupy or overly sugary, nor simple. Torlasco Moscato is highly complex and bursting with flavor.  The bubbles and acidy lighten the sugary richness and allows for the fruity flavors of green apple, peaches and apricots to shine along with flavors of the earth from which these grapes were raised. You may even pick up the subtle herbal flavors hidden among the fruit. 

Serve this wine chilled with anything from savory cheeses to fruity desserts or cakes.

Varietal:  Moscato D’Asti

Producer/Importer:  Torlasco          

Region:  Piedmont DOCG, Italy

Vintage: 2010

Price: $8.99

Tasting notes:

 Sight (Color/Clarity): light sunny yellow

 Smell (bouquet, aroma): fresh summery fruits and a smidge of spice

Taste (acidity, balance, body): light on the tongue, Sweet but not over powering, tart acidity like green apples. Nice complexity for a Moscato

Bottle presentation: Black and white label with a drawing of a 1950sish Italian woman.

Winemaker’s notes: “The grapes hand harvested and grown in combination of limestone and sandstone soils from the cool, hilly Asti region. The grapes are crushed, chilled to almost freezing in stainless steel vats, fermented and bottled to capture the resulting carbon dioxide. The result is a low alcohol (5.5% maximum by law) slightly effervescent wine, or what the Italians call vino frizzante.”

Comparisons: Blows every other Moscato out of the competition so far

Overall rating (1-10): 10

Date consumed: November 14, 2012

Comments:  100% Moscato Bianco di Canelli, 5.5% abv

 

Columbia Crest Two Vines Gewurtztraminer 2010

Columbia Crest Two Vines Gewurtztraminer was a winner in this nights wine tasting.  It is a little lighter and sweeter that what we typically think of a Gewurtztraminer, but it has a nice balance of acidity and flavor to compliment the sweet.

Varietal:  Gewurtztraminer

Producer/Importer:  Columbia Crest Two Vines    

Region: Washington State

Vintage: 2010

Price: $8.00

Tasting notes:

 Sight (Color/Clarity): Pale gold

 Smell (bouquet, aroma): Melons and citrus

Taste (acidity, balance, body): Light, sweet with a hint of tart citrus and crisp green apple

Label description: “Typical Gewϋrztraminer aromas of rose water, spice and lychee fuse with notes of fragrant orange peel. Upfront candied fruit flavors give way to a pink grapefruit essence and finish with bright acidity, balancing the wine’s subtle sweetness.”

Comparisons: Similar to a sweet Riesling

Overall rating (1-10): 8.5

Date consumed: May 9, 2012

Comments: 11.5% abv

Wiseman IQ Riesling

Wiseman IQ Riesling is everything a Riesling is expected to be: a well balance of tart apples and citrus, with a delicate sweetness that is not sugary.  It is crisp, clean and refreshing. 

I say Wiseman IQ Riesling is everything a Riesling is expected to be as it fits the Riesling stereotype. Rieslings are often thought to be a “sweet” wine.  In reality Rieslings are quite variable. Rieslings are often high in acidty, low to medium alcohol levels, and flavors range from fruity to flowery to earthy. Many are dry as indicated by the word trocken on German Rieslings. German Rieslings are often marked with a QbA or QmP to indicate a grower's reputation.  Wines without such distinction maybe mass produced.  The more prestigious of wines are given a Pradikat.  There are six levels of Pradikat which range from least ripe to ripest: Kabinett, Spatlese, Auslese, Beernauslese (BA) Eiswein, and Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA).  The three highest levels of Pradikat are an indication of the amount of sugar at time of harvest, and directly indicate sweetness.  However, one cannot assume the degree of sweetness between the three lower levels.

Varietal: Riesling 

Producer/Importer: Wiseman IQ    

Region: Mosel Germany

Vintage: 2010

Price: $9.99

Tasting notes:

 Sight (Color/Clarity): light straw yellow

 Smell (bouquet, aroma): musty earth

Taste (acidity, balance, body): tart, clean, crisp, sweet but not sugary

Overall rating (1-10): 9

Date consumed: March 14, 2012

Comments: 9.8% abv

Ruffino Orvieto Classico

Ruffino Orvieto Classico is a white blend that comes from the Italian region of Umbria, sub region Orvieto.  It is comprised of 40% Grechetto, 20%P rocanico (sub-variety of Trebbiano), 40% Verdello and Canaiolo Bianco.  It is a light and somewhat complex white.  It starts with a sweet honeysuckle flavor and finishes dry and spicey with a little bit of a petrol aftertaste. We found this wine to lackluster in flavor-a little too light.

Varietal:  Orvieto White-  Grechetto and Trebbiano

Producer/Importer:  Ruffino

Region: Orvieto Italy

Vintage: 2010

Price: $9.99

Tasting notes:

 Sight (Color/Clarity): deep straw yellow

 Smell (bouquet, aroma): musty earthy

Taste (acidity, balance, body): starts sweet, finishes dry and spicy, although bland

winemaker's notes: “Brilliant straw yellow. The bouquet is very plesant and fragrant, characterized by neat sensations of citrus ftuits and golden apples, on a flowery background that reminds fresh hints of meadow flowers and a persistent vegetal note of sage.

At the palate firstly stands out an excellent freshness, well balanced by a pleasant roundness, featured by notes of meadow flowers and golden apples. The aftertaste is long and fragrant, with hits of fresh almond.”

Overall rating (1-10): 7.5 because of the lackluster flavor

Date consumed: March 14, 2012

Comments:  abv 12%