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Tag Archives: Riesling

Tasting No. 56 – Wines from Oregon and Washington States

01 Monday May 2017

Posted by Alfonso Sanchez in Tasting Meetings

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon blends, Oregon, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Washington State

 Capri Ristorante – McLean, VA

Pinot Noir Grapes

CONTENT

  1. Presenters
  2. Participants
  3. The wines
  4. Information on the wines
  5. Member’s wines ratings

PRESENTERS: Miguel Segovia, Jairo Sanchez

TYPE :  Blind

 PARTICIPANTS

Members:  Alfonso Sánchez, Lee Samuelson, Mario Aguilar, Peter Scherer, Orlando Reos, Miguel Segovia and, Jairo Sánchez

Guests: 

TASTING OVERVIEW 

This blind presentation Objective was to identify the varietal wines from these states and to contrast the impact of the terroir on the overall wine features. These are the wines:

  1. 2015 Two Mountains – Riesling – Columbia valley, Rattlesnake Hills
  2. 2012 Coelho – Paciencia Pinot Noir – Willamette Valley – Oregon
  3. 2014  Sheridan Vineyard – Mystique – Red Blend – Columbia Valley
  4. 2010 Gordon Estate- Cabernet Sauvignon – Six- Columbia Valley

THE MENU

  1. Shrimp cocktail in creole style sauce
  2. Risotto with roasted shallots, portobello mushrooms and parmesan cheese
  3. Grilled pork tenderloin with roasted beet and cranberry sauce
  4. Grilled lamb chops with porcini mushrooms sauce
  5. Dessert and/or coffee

INFORMATION ON THE WINES

(All information obtained and condensed from several Internet articles.)

2015 Two Mountains – Riesling – Columbia valley, Rattlesnake Hills 

The Wine: Off-dry style,hints of hay, green pear, wild flowers and dust on the nose combine with incredible tastes of ripe citrus, green apple, and a hint of minerality. This wine lasts forever on your tongue.

The Winery: “Warm days and cool nights provide the Yakima Valley with near-perfect growing conditions, allowing both white and red grape varietals to fully express their classic characteristics. Our award-winning wines are truly a reflection of the perfect location and climate in which they were grown. The Cascade Mountain Range provides a wonderful rain-shadow effect on our vineyard. We have warm sites averaging to 29 80-degree days with an ideal 190-day growing season and annual precipitation between six to seven inches total.”

Rattlesnake Hills is a small sub-region of Yakima Valley in Washington’s Columbia Valley. The AVA encompasses 68,500 acres (27,720ha) along the northern edge of the Yakima Valley AVA, on slopes and terraces with a variety of aspects and inclines.Temperatures in the AVA are moderate during the growing season, with the Cascade Mountains to the west shielding the region from the influence of the Pacific Ocean. The Rattlesnake Hills also protect vineyards from polar blasts originating in Canada. These influences make the AVA considerably warmer (up to 10F/6C) in winter than its neighbors – another factor in reducing vine-killing frosts. The soils in Rattlesnake Hills are predominantly silt loam, finer than the sandy compositions found elsewhere in the Columbia Valley. These soils are remnants from the extensive Missoula floods of the last Ice Age that shaped much of the landscape in the Columbia Basin before flowing south toward the Willamette Valley in Oregon.

Read More about the winery here:http://www.twomountainwinery.com/

 and here: http://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-rattlesnake+hills

2012 Coelho – Paciencia Pinot Noir – Willamette Valley – Oregon

The Wine: Ripe strawberry compote typifies this appealing wine. The nicely ripened fruit is set in a mineral-driven, high acid frame, and shows both texture and length as it develops in the mouth. It’s especially noteworthy given the moderate alcohol.

The Winery: After Dave and Deolinda fell in love with the rolling hills of the lush Willamette Valley, they moved to Amity in 1991 and transformed 40 acres 3 miles south of Amity into the renowned Coelho Estate Vineyard. They decided that they wanted to do more than simply sell their fruit, and began to utilize their Portuguese winemaking heritage. In 2004, they bottled their first vintage of “Paciencia.” Since then, they have added two other vineyards Zeitoun Vineyard and Delfina Vineyard (named after Deolinda’s Grandmother) to their acreage. The Coelho, and very first, vineyard is located three miles south of the winery and planted with 28.5 acres of Pinot noir, one acre Pinot gris and 1.5 acre Chardonnay. Coelho uses sustainable viticulture practices, hand picking, and hand sorting to reflect our respect for the unique Willamette Valley terroir.

Read more about  here:http://coelhowinery.com/

2014 Sheridan Vineyard – Mystique – Red Blend – Columbia Valley 

The Wine: (Wine Enthusiast)This Merlot-dominant red blend displays classic Yakima Valley flavors that are well-integrated and balanced for medium-term (6–8 years) aging. The fruit is on the tart side, with accents of earth and herb. The tannins are textural and somewhat drying.

The Winery: In 1996, Scott (the owner and sel made winemaker) found 76 acres of land located on a hilltop in the Yakima Valley. At that moment, he realized that his 17-year career in finance was coming to an end. The following year, he started the vineyard by planting ten acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah grapes. Sheridan Vineyard’s first harvest was in 2000. That year, Scott bottled a Syrah and a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc now known as L’Orage. Today, with the property fully planted, Scott continues to focus on sustainable farming practices and keeping yields low as the vineyard matures. All of this is driven by his passion to create wines of richness while maintaining a sense of beauty and balance.

Read more here:http://www.sheridanvineyard.com/index.php

 

2010 Gordon Estate- Cabernet Sauvignon – Six- Columbia Valley 

The Wine: (Wine Enthusiast) This pure Cabernet Sauvignon from the estate vineyard shows focused blueberry, black cherry and cassis fruit at its core, with underlying minerality. Dusty tannins and firm acids support a chewy, cherry-infused finish.

The Winery: Gordon Estate is located in the heart of the Columbia Valley in Washington State. With a unique volcanic soil breakdown that includes basalt, sandy loam, clay loam and gravelly loam, the earth of the Gordon Estate vineyard produces grapes of great depth and intensity. The south-facing site is perched some 620 feet above sea-level along the Snake River. The vineyard has excellent air drainage and benefits from the river’s moderating influence. The vines are sometimes blanketed by snow in the winter, but spring and summer offer sunshine and warmth allowing the grapes to ripen completely. Temperatures during the growing season can fluctuate from 95 degrees Fahrenheit the day to 55 degrees Fahrenheit at night, enabling the grapes to develop high acids and high sugar levels.

Read more here:http://gordonwines.com/

VINOTABLES RATINGS FOR THIS TASTING:

Rating Scale:

  • 96-100 Pts. – Exceptional
  • 90-95 Pts.  –  Outstanding
  • 86-89 Pts.  –  Very good
  • 81-85 Pts.  –  Good
  • 76-80 Pts.  –  Acceptable
  • 75 or fewer – Mediocre

Participants ranking, average scores and wine prices :

  1. 2010 Gordon Estate- Cabernet Sauvignon – Six- Columbia Valley
     

    • Expert Ratings:     RP 92 Pts.
    • Member Ratings:  91 Pts.
    • Price: $50
  2. 2014 Sheridan Mystique Yakima Valley, Merlot Blend    
    • Expert Ratings:  WE 92 Pts.
    • Member Ratings:   90 Pts.
    • Price: $33
  3. 2015 Two Mountain Riesling, Rattlesnake Hill, Washington  
    • Expert Ratings:    RP 89 Pts.
    • Member Ratings:  90 Pts.
    • Price: $20
  4. 2012 Coelho Paciencia Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon
    • Expert Ratings:    RP 92 Pts..
    • Member Ratings:   89 Pts.
    • Price: $50

BEST VALUE FOR MONEY: 2015 Two Mountain Riesling, Rattlesnake Hill, Washington

Tasting No. 48 – Keuka Lake Vineyards Wines

29 Friday Jan 2016

Posted by Alfonso Sanchez in Tasting Meetings, Wines

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Cabernet franc, Finger Lakes, Riesling

Image

PLACE AND DATE : Capri Ristorante  – McLean, VA -Date: February 10, 2016

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The Happy Vines of Finger Lakes

PRESENTER: Melvin (Mel) Goldman – Owner and Manager of Keuka Vineyards Winery

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Mel, Mona and Alfonso

 

 

 

 

 

Clarita andGermán
Clarita andGermán
Mel Goldman and Peter
Mel Goldman and Peter
Jairo, Orlando, Italo and Germán
Jairo, Orlando, Italo and Germán
Herminia and Mona
Herminia and Mona

 

 

TASTING TYPE: Blind for the withes

PARTICIPANTS:   Jairo Sánchez, Mario y Herminia Aguilar, Alfonso y Mona Sánchez, German Zincke, Álvaro López, Marcello Averbug, Clarita, Estrada,  Ítalo Mirkow, Orlando Mason, Peter Scherer. 

WINES SELECTION CRITERIA: The wines have been selected after consulting with Mel.  We will taste three Riesling (the forte of Keuka Vineyards and of the Finger Lakes Region) from two different plots and different years and a Cabernet Franc that has just bee given a high rating by the Wine Enthusiast.

THE WINE LIST:

  1. 2013 Evergreen Lek Vineyard – Dry Riesling
  2. 2014 Falling Man Vineyard – Dry Riesling
  3. 2011 Falling Man Vineyard – Dry Riesling
  4. 2014 Cabernet Franc

THE MENU

  1. Calamari al Guazzetto (Calamari, tomato sauce and toasted bread)
  2. Arugula and lettuce salad
  3. Grilled Trout with grilled vegetables
  4. Chicken Capri (Chicken breast sautéed with eggplant, fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and Rosemary sauce)
  5. Dessert and coffee

WINES EVALUATION BY THE PARTICIPANTS

Mel is truly dedicated to the highest quality standards both in respect to the vineyard management, the processing of the grapes  and the elaboration of his wines.  He made of this tasting a remarkable learning experience for the participants by giving insights and unknown details of vineyard and winery operations.   We even had the chance to taste wines from the tank (still in process) and one Vignoles.  We tasted in total five Rieslings and the cabernet Franc. The Rieslings were considered at par of the best from Germany or Alsace .  The Cabernet Franc was judged the bet of the lot by the participants in tight competition with the Rieslings.   The participants rated all the wines with high marks between 90 and 91 points as follows:

  1. 2013 Evergreen Lek Vineyard – Dry Riesling – 90.2 pts
  2. 2014 Falling Man Vineyard – Dry Riesling -90.0 pts
  3. 2011 Falling Man Vineyard – Dry Riesling -90.7 pts
  4. 2014 Cabernet Franc – 91.2- pts

THE WINES 

(Notes taken from: https://www.klvineyards.com/)

Evergreen lek
falling man 2014
2011 Falling man
Cab Frank

2013 Evergreen Lek Vineyard – Dry Riesling

This Riesling derives from a 2 acre vineyard planted by the estate in 1999 on the western slopes overlooking Keuka Lake. Its character is always fruity and complex. The grapes are hand-harvested and fermented at cool temperatures. In 2013, the wine was naturally fermented over a five-month period. The wine’s total acidity is 8g/l and the rs is 4g/l.
Its nose is a bouquet of green apple and white peach with just a hint of licorice. Its luscious, stone fruit mouthfeel with a touch of sweet lemon is followed by a long, but light finish that lingers. Pairs wonderfully with duck, foul or an ever so slightly spiced curry. This wine is vegan friendly.

2014 Falling Man Vineyard – Dry Riesling

From our flagship vineyard, this 2014 is a great representation of the Falling Man land. Mineral-driven and focused citrus notes let the wine pop with a refined brightness. Pair this wine with a spicy Mexican dish or a bowl of hot guacamole. Limit of 3 bottles per customer.

2011 Falling Man Vineyard – Dry Riesling

Peach and honey at the forefront with strong spice undertones, the mouth delivers a rich fruit flavor ad excellent tannin structure. Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast 90 pts.

2014 Cabernet Franc

Wine Enthusiast Editor’s Choice and 91 pts.

REGIONAL AND VARIETIES NOTES

Read about the wines of finger lakes here: https://clubvino1.com/members-corner/the-wines-of-finger-lakes/

Tasting No. 44 – May 11, 2015 – Wines from Australia – New South Wales

07 Thursday May 2015

Posted by Alfonso Sanchez in Tasting Meetings

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

New South Wales, Riesling, Semillon, Shiraz

cropped-notables.jpg

Restaurante Capri

 

Australia Wine Regions.

CONTENIDO

  1. Presentadores
  2. Participantes
  3. Los Vinos y el Menú
  4. Información sobre los vinos
  5. Notas regionales
  6. Vinotables rating de los vinos

PRESENTADORES

Orlando Mason, Alfonso Sánchez

TIPO :  Abierta

 PARTICIPANTES

Mario Aguilar,  Orlando Mason,  Carlos Paldao, Orlando Reos, Alfonso Sánchez, Jairo Sánchez,  Miguel Segovia.

LOS VINOS Y EL MENÚ

Esta degustación es la tercera de la serie de vinos de  Australia programada para el 2015, que en esta oportunidad incluye vinos de New Souh Wales que comprende las subregiones de Big Rivers, Hunter Valley, Central Ranges, Northern Rivers, South Coast y Southern NSW.  Hemos seleccionado los dos vinos emblemáticos de la región, el semillón seco y poco alcohólico y el shiraz terroso ‘también característico de la zona.  Estos vinos de NSW son muy dificultes de conseguir en el mercado local y aún en el mercado americano. ya que la porducción regional es menor que el consaumo y por lo tanto no se exportan mucho except los de procucción masiva por las grandes corporaciones como Yellow Tail.

 Los Vinos

  1. Brokeneood Hunter Valley Semillon 2008
  2. Brokenwood Hunter Valley Shiraz 2010 
  3. Shiraz Vision  Nugan Riverine – 2010
  4. Eden Road – The long Road- Shiraz -Canberra –  2010.

El Menú:

  1. Quesos duros y aceitunas
  2. Salchichas italianas asadas con un toque de salsa de la casa
  3. Ensalada verde con parmesano y aceite
  4. Lomo de cordero en salsa de romero y vegetales asados
  5. Postre y/o café

INFORMACIÓN SOBRE LOS VINOS

(All information obtained and condensed from several Internet articles.)

Brokeneood Hunter Valley Semillon – 2008

Brokenwood semillonThe Vineyard and the Winery.  At 40+ years young, Brokenwood Wines, in the heart of the Hunter Valley, can lay claim to not only an iconic vineyard with the Graveyard Vineyard but to the preservation of a wine fraternity that proudly has as its mission statement, ‘to make great wine and have fun’.

The original land that was to become the Cricket Pitch Vineyard was purchased in 1970 and planted immediately to Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Graveyard Vineyard, planted to Shiraz in 1968, was bought in 1978 and by the mid-1980s was producing a premium Single Vineyard wine. The first Langton’s Classification of Premium Australian Wine was launched in 1993 and the Graveyard Shiraz was then, and remains, the highest-placed Hunter Valley Shiraz.

The Hunter Valley is renowned for its dry table wines of Semillon and Shiraz. Brokenwood’s production of these is further supported by premium grapes from ‘all the right regions, for all the right reasons’, from the Graveyard Shiraz to the Cricket Pitch Sauvignon Blanc Semillon and Cricket Pitch Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot. ( Read more at: http://www.brokenwood.com.au/About-Us/)

The Wine: Winemaker’s Notes The 2008 Hunter Valley Semillon is a bright straw color with pale green tinges. Initial grassy notes dominate the nose, while more classic Hunter lime and lemon shine through with time in the glass. The palate is typically ethereal, yet with great intensity in the lemongrass and citrus flavors present. The natural acidity and clean crisp flavors make this a perfect example of Hunter Valley Semillon.

 Alcohol: 10%; Price: $

Experts Ratings: ST 90 Pts.; RP: 89 Pts.; WS 89 Pts.

International Wine Cellar – “Bright straw. Pungent, spicy herbal, mineral and citrus aromas, plus a hint of anise. Limeade and pink grapefruit on the palate, with white pepper and bitter quinine notes adding vivacity. Firm, sharply focused and pure on the finish, with the lime note repeating. This uncompromising style will be too severe for some, but fans of truly dry wines will love it.”

 Brokenwood Hunter Valley Shiraz – 2010 

 Borkenwood Shiraz

The Wine: Winemaker’s Notes
“With a higher proportion of old vine fruit in the blend; the aroma has richness to it from the newer oak and more concentrated fruit. Bright red cherry fruit and background charry oak, with the oak giving a slight sweet vanillin note. A perfect supple, medium bodied palate – as it should be. Earthy sweet red fruit characters and soft tannins that carry to the end. The oak is evident but sits well with the fruit.”

“Part vinomatic and part open top 2-4 ton fermenters. The latter plunged two times per day. Perfect grapes do not need a lot of input and after 7 days pressed off, with malolactic fermentation conducted in tank. Oak maturation was in American barriques for 14 months. While the basis of the Hunter Valley Shiraz is the clonal Shiraz in the Graveyard (planted in the 1990s) this wine gets a bonus in the form of barriques of Shiraz off the old vines that don’t quite make the icon Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz blend. 13.5% alc.”

Alcohol: 13.5%; Price:$

Experts Ratings: ST 91 Pts.; WE 91 Pts.; WS: 90 Pts.

Shiraz Vision  Nugan Riverine – 2010

 nugan_vision_shz10

The Winery: The Nugan family has been involved in agriculture for more than 65 years and the Nugan Estate Single Vineyard Collection is their label dedicated to showcasing the best varietals from Australia’s finest wine growing regions. Being an estate grown best of the regions collection, the family sources fruit for this collection from their vineyards in the McLaren Vale, King Valley, Riverina and Coonawarra – crafting each wine to reflect its unique varietal and regional characteristics.

Nugan Estate is a premium producer of estate grown wine based in Griffith, New South Wales.

It is part of the Nugan Group, which was founded in 1940 on fruit and vegetable packing and expanded in the 1970s into juice production – later becoming one of the largest exporters of niche juice products to Asia. This success resulted in our CEO, Michelle Nugan, being recognised as a Telstra Business Woman of the Year and Australian Export Hero.

In 1993 Nugan Group further diversified its operations planting vineyards and selling fruit under contract. From there, winemaking was a natural progression.

Today Nugan Estate owns 590 hectares of vineyards in Australia’s finest wine growing regions of Riverina, King Valley and McLaren Vale – making it the 18th largest vineyard holders in Australia. In addition, Nugan Estate sources premium quality grape from the renowned Coonawarra region.

Family operated by Michelle, Matthew and Tiffany Nugan, Nugan Estate is one of Australia’s Top 20 Wine Exporters and is complemented by a premium wine portfolio, extra virgin olive oil and the award winning Griffith restaurant, Michelin.

Read more at: http://www.nuganestate.com.au/Content.aspx?p=9

The Wine: Deep crimson with a youthful purple hue. Complex aromas of plum and blackberry  entwined with dark chocolate, earth and vanillin oak. Full-bodied wine displaying elegant tannins and powerful fruit concentration with a well-structured palate of dark plum and mocha melded with earth notes and well integrated oak.

This wine lends itself perfectly to a variety of meat dishes. The spicy overtones work well with Asian and Indian foods, as well as complimenting the more traditional flavours of roast lamb or slow cooked beef cheeks.

Alcohol: 14.5%;  Price: $

Expert Ratings:

Eden Road – The long Road- Shiraz – 2010.

Eden road shiraz

The Winery:Eden Road is a boutique wine company creating some of the most exciting contemporary wines from the ancient soils of the Australian high country. Our relentless and passionate search for exceptional terroir ensures the creation of unique, authentic wines.

Few wine companies as young or as small as Eden Road have won as many prestigious awards. We believe that our dedication to searching for great terroir, coupled with our desire and devotion to unlocking the potential and uniqueness in our wines has produced our success..  Read more at: http://edenroadwines.com.au/pages/about-us

The Wine: The Long Road Shiraz is carefully selected from sites in the Gundagai region which has both basalt rich soils that deliver highly perfumed aromatic wines, and ironstone rich soils that provide a mineral, crushed rock and gravely tannin structure.

This Shiraz was matured in 3-4 year old French oak puncheons (500 liters) for 14 months prior to bottling. In addition, a small component (30%) was matured in stainless steel for 14 months. Shiraz is an oppulent and perfumed variety and this maturation technique allows a clear expression of both fruit and terroir with little interuption from oak. The wine displays aromatic perfume, bright red fruit and an elegant tannin structure. This wine is a great representation of Shiraz and the Gundagai terroir

 

Alcohol: %; Price: $

Experts Ratings:: ST 91Pts.: WE: 88Pts.; Cell Tracker: 89 Pts.

VINOTABLES RATINGS FOR THIS TASTING::

Ratins 3La evaluación de los vinos por los socios, presenta puntajes muy uniformes de alrededor de 89 puntos sobre 100  lo que los coloca en el rango de “muy buenos” . Los socios votaron el 2010 Shiraz Vision Nugan de Riverine como el mejor vinos de esta sesión.  Los vinos individuales fueron calificados así:

  1. Brokeneood Hunter Valley Semillon 2008 –88.9 Pts  – Rango 88-90
  2. Brokenwood Hunter Valley Shiraz 2010  89.4 Pts – Rango 88-92
  3. Shiraz Vision  Nugan Riverine – 2010  89.8 Pts. – Rango 87-91
  4. Eden Road – The long Road- Shiraz -Canberra – 2010. 88.1 Pts. – Rango 86-90

 

REGIONAL NOTES

(This information has been obtained from various internet sources, mainly Wikipedia and web pages dedicated to Australian wines as well as from the book the Wine Bible)

NEW SOUTH WALES

New South Wales is the most populous state in Australia and consumes more wine tan it can produce (Sidney and Canberra are located in this region) but the indutry is developing quite rapidly.   Climate is a real challenge in this region given its realtively abundant rain taht requires careful vineyard management.  Fortunatelly the rains usually take place during grape maturation and not at the harverst time.  The region is famous for its Semillon and Shiraz wines.  The Hunter Valley, located 130 km (81 mi) north of Sydney, is the most well known wine region but the majority of the state’s production takes place in the Big Rivers Zone–Perricoota, Riverina and along the Darling and Murray Rivers. The wines produced from the Big Rivers zone are largely used in box wine and mass-produced wine brands such as Yellow Tail. A large variety of grapes are grown in New South Wales-including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Sémillon. The latter is widely planted in Bordeax for dry and sweet wines (the famous Sauternes) and blended often with Sauvignon Blanc to give body to white wines.  See more about this región here:

http://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-new+south+wales

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_South_Wales_wine

 

.

Tasting No. 43 – April 13, 2015 – Wines from South Australia – Limestone Coast, Lower Murray and Far North

07 Tuesday Apr 2015

Posted by Alfonso Sanchez in Tasting Meetings

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Australia, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Red Blends, Riesling, South Australia

cropped-notables.jpg

Mario

Restaurante Capri

 

Australia Wine Regions.

CONTENIDO

  1. Presentadores
  2. Participantes
  3. Los Vinos y el Menú
  4. Información sobre los vinos
  5. Notas regionales
  6. Vinotables rating de los vinos

PRESENTADORES

Miguel Segovia y Orlando Reos

TIPO :  Ciega

 PARTICIPANTES

Mario Aguilar, Carlos Algandona, Orlando Mason, Italo Mirkow, Carlos Paldao, Orlando Reos, Alfonso Sánchez, Jairo Sánchez, Peter Scherer, Miguel Segovia.

LOS VINOS Y EL MENÚ

Esta degustación es la segunda de la serie de vinos de  Australia programada para el 2015, que en esta oportunidad incluye vinos de Australia del Sur,  subegiones Limestone Coast, Lowe Murray, y Far North.

 Los Vinos

  1. The lodge Hill Riesling 2013
  2. Aradia Chardonnay 2011 _ Penley State
  3. Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2009 – Penley Estate
  4. Gryphon Merlot 2010 – Penley Estate
  5. Chertsey Reserve 2008 –  Penley Estate
  6. Cabernet Sauvignon – Penforlds –Bin 407- 2010

El Menú

  1. Esnalada de maricos fría con tocineta y radichio
  2. Ensalada Ceasar
  3. Ravioli de ternera en sala aurora
  4. Codero con slasa de romero y champigñones y vegetales asados

INFORMACIÓN SOBRE LOS VINOS

(All information obtained and condensed from several Internet articles.)

Aradia Chardonnay 2011 – Penley Estate

AradiaThe Vineyard and the Winery.  Penley Estate’s 166 Ha estate is situated in Australia’s famous Cabernet Sauvignon district, Coonawarra. When Kym purchased the land it was a green site and now there is currently there is 111 hectares under vine including cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, shiraz, merlot, pinot noir, pinot munier and chardonnay. The vineyard is established on limestone covered by the famous ‘terra rossa’ soil of the Coonawarra. This, combined with ideal cool climatic conditions and an abundance of sunshine make a perfect location for vine growing.

In 1989 Penley made its first vintage, 10 years later in 1999, Penley made its first vintage in its new state of the art winery, where Kym Tolley uses a blend of modern and traditional winemaking techniques to produce Penley’s range of wines. The Cellar Door – Penley’s shop window was opened in 2001 allowing wine lovers to taste and visit the home of Penley Estate.

The key to Penley Estate’s wine is balance. Kym Tolley has the ability to integrate wood, fruit and flavour to ensure that all of our wines have great elegance, integration and finesse. Part of this style comes from the intensely rich and sweet characteristics of the Coonawarra district, but it is also reinforced by Penley Estates edict only to produce the best.  Read more at: http://www.penley.com.au/

The Wine.   This chardonnay has been made to be crisp with fresh fruit characters and a hint of soft oak that will allow some maturation if required. The colour is medium yellow with touches of grapey green. The aroma is emphasised by melon and fresh citrus fruits with a hint of biscuity and nutty complexes achieved by aging on yeast lees and the very light use of soft French oak. A finely layered palate with harmonious and sensuous flavours of melons and grapefruit. The subtle oak enhances the varietal flavours without overpowering them and leads to a silky soft finish. Read more about this wine here: http://www.penley.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/11-AR-TST1.pdf

 

Alcohol: 13%; Price: $16

Experts Ratings: 

 Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Riesling – 2013

Jim Barry

 

The Wine: Winemaker’s Notes.  The wine in the glass has crystal-like clarity, with a straw colour and green hues. The nose has lifted aromas of brown lime, papaya, white peach, tangelo and cumquats. On the palate enticing flavours fill the mouth with intense pink grapefruit, feijoa, green mango at the forefront and hints of ginger and lemongrass playing a supporting role. A tight natural acid backbone keeps the palate focussed and refreshing.

Alcohol: 13%; Price:$ 18

Experts Ratings: WE: 90 pts., WS: 90 Pts.: WA: 90 Pts.

Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2009 – Penley Estate

Cab ResThe Wine: Complex,fresh with black currant leaf notes, touch of mulberry and blackberry fruits interwoven with hints of wild berries and violets.The oak is quite prominent displaying some dusty and vanillin characters on the nose which over time will integrate into the wine thereby adding further complexity to the nose. A very full bodied and luscious wine, whilst still young is showing strong juicy-like tannins which will become more silky and velvety with time and evolve as the wine ages.  Read more about this wine here:  http://www.penley.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2009-Reserve-Cabernet-Sauvignon-Tasting-Notes.pdf

Price: $42

Expert Ratings: ST: 92; W&S: 90

Gryphon Merlot 2010 – Penley Estate

GryphonThe Wine: This wine has a deep colour with strong red purple hues.  The bouquet is quite complex with distinct floral notes and ripe fruits complimented by nuances of sweet French vanilla and oak but with soft elegant length on the finish. The flavours are complex with a blend of florals, berries and oak, not over ripe and porty but shows typical Coonawarra spicy berry flavor.

Read more about this wine here: http://www.penley.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2009-Gryphon-Merlot-Tasting-Notes.pdf

 

Alcohol: 14.5%; Price: $17

Experts Ratings::

Chertsey Reserve 2008 –  Penley Estate

chertseyjpgThe Wine: Chertsey is a wine made using varieties of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot. The objective was to utilise the three varieties that grow exceptionally well in Coonawarra. It is full of fresh cherries, violets and plums with hints of spice and chocolate which flows seamlessly into the rich silky pallet. A wine of the balance, elegance and understated power.  Read more about this wine here: http://www.penley.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2008-Chertsey-Tasting-Notes.pdf

Alcohol: 14.5%; Price:$42

Experts Ratings: WE 87, ST: 90 

Penfolds Bin 407 – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2010

Penfolds 407

Peter Gago, Penfolds Chief Winemaker and only the 4th custodian of Grange, relishes the opportunity to bring Penfolds to the world stage and is an enthusiastic ambassador and natural educator. Penfolds came to the attention of the US market when 1990 Grange was Wine Spectator’s ‘Wine of the Year’. Since then, Penfolds Grange has become one of the most collectable wines of the world and was honored to grace the front cover, once again, of Wine Spectator, with declarations of Grange as Australia’s Icon. (taken from www. wine.com)

Winemaker’s Notes: Deep magenta in color. The nose is energetic exuberant. Varietally pure – cassis/blackcurrant, at the physiologically riper end of the spectrum – no herbal or green cues. Other aromatics include derived scents extolling memories of homemade cannoli – its pastry and custard/chocolate. Upon sitting, a suggestion of Chinese sausage. French oak is evident, with clove, cedar, pencil shavings. The palate is full-bodied, fresh, bright and lively. It is defined and focussed. Solid, granular tannins, balanced acidity and friendly yet reserved oak, beckon an impressive structural conveyance. Palate length and persistence? Only one way to confirm… please pour.

Alcohol: 14.5%; Price: $50

Experts Rating: WS: 90 pts.; WA: 90 Pts., JS: 91Pts.

VINOTABLES RATINGS FOR THIS TASTING:

La evaluación de los vinos por los socios, que aparecerá publicada en el blog, presenta puntajes entre aproximadamente 88 a 90 para los blancos y 91 a 93 para los tintos, lo cual refleja la alta calidad de los vinos degustados. Los socios, por unanimidad, votaron que el 2010 Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon fue el mejor vinos de esta sesión.  Los vinos individuales fueron calificados así:

Vino                                                                            Rango          Puntaje

  • Jim Barry – Lodge Hill Riesling- 2013                          79-94            88.1
  • Penley Estate – Aradia Chardonnay – 2011                 87-96            89.5
  • Penley Estate – Gryphon Merlot – 2010                       84-89            86.7
  •  Penley Estate – Chertsey Reserve)- 2008                   89-93            90.9
  • Penley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve -2009        90-93            91.3
  • Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 2010                 91-95            92.6

 

REGIONAL NOTES

(This information has been obtained from various internet sources, mainly Wikipedia and web pages dedicated to Australian wines as well as from the book the Wine Bible)

South Australian Wine

(See map HERE)

The South Australian wine industry is responsible for more than half the production of all Australian wine. South Australia has a vast diversity in geography and climate which allows the state to be able to produce a range of grape varieties-from the cool climate Riesling variety in the Clare Valley wine region to the big, full bodied Shiraz wines of the Barossa Valley.

Some of Australia‘s best-known wines like Penfolds Grange, Jacob’s Creek, Yalumba and Henschke Hill of Grace are produced here, as well as many of Australia’s mass-produced box wines.

As with most agriculture in Australia, irrigation is vital to the success of the South Australian wine industry

Climate and Geography

Located in south central Australia, South Australia is bordered by the four other mainland states, (Western Australia to the west, Queensland to the north east, New South Wales to the east, Victoria to the south east), the Northern Territory to the north, and the Great Australian Bight forms the state’s southern coastline.

The climate of the state varies greatly, with the more interior regions like the Riverland being intensely hot, and growing cooler closer to the coastal regions like Adelaide Hills. Across the region there is low annual rainfall, which necessitates irrigation to counter droughts.

Vines are grown at altitudes from the low valley regions of the Barossa and the Riverland up to1,970 feet high in the vineyards at Pewsey Vale in the Eden Valley. The soil types are also varied, and include the terra rosa of the Coonawarra region, the limestone–marl based soils of the Adelaide and Riverland areas, and the sandy, clay loam based soils of the Barossa. 

Australian wine labeling

Since the 1960s, Australia’s labeling laws have used an appellation system known as the Australian Geographical Indication (AGI), which distinguishes the geographic origins of the grape. Under these laws, at least 85% of the grapes must be from the region that is designated on the label. In the late 1990s more definitive boundaries were established that divided Australia up into Geographic Indications known as zones, regions and sub regions. 

South Australia wine zones and Regions

Adelaide super zone

In South Australia, a fourth geographical indication known as a super zone is used which consists of a group of adjoining zones. As of 2014, only one ‘super zone’ exists: this is the Adelaide region, which consists of the Barossa, Fleurieu and Mount Lofty Ranges zones. The Adelaide super zone was registered as an AGI on 27 December 1996. 

Barossa Zone

The Barossa zone is located just outside the northeast of Adelaide and contains two Wine Regions: Barossa Valley and Eden Valley, both of which have received appellation as AGI in 1996.

  • The Barossa Valley wine region is one of Australia’s oldest and most prestigious premium wine producing regions, known for its Shiraz production. The area’s climate is very hot and dry (for a wine producing area). Most of the area’s white wine plantings (Chardonnay, Riesling and Semillon) are located on the higher altitude hill sides around the valley where they can be cooled by the ocean breeze. In recent times the area has found some success with plantings of Rhône varietals including Grenache and Mourvèdre. Due to the hot climate, the grapes can become overripe, which requires the winemakers to limit the maceration time to prevent the wines from being overly tannic. 

Viticulture and winemaking

Grapes in the Barossa Valley can get very ripe with high sugar and low acid levels.

Most of the Barossa Valley makes extensive used of irrigation to supplement the region’s low rainfall supply during the growing season. The increased water stress of the practice, coupled with the naturally reduced yields of old vines, tends to produce the most deeply concentrated grapes in the valley which often go into the Barossa Valley ‘s most expensive and sought after wines. Harvest usually begins in February and may be conducted in the cooler temperatures of night to help maintain acid levels.

The generally hot climate of the Barossa Valley usually means that the grapes become ripe very easily with high levels of sugars and low levels of acids. Winemaking in the Barossa Valley often utilizes the process of acidification in order to add balance to the wine. The high alcohol levels from the fermented sugars may be offset by various winemaking practices including reverse osmosis and adding water to the must. Historically, winemakers in the Barossa Valley have utilized very short maceration periods that limit the amount of time that the wine spends in contact with the skin. Often the wine is racked off the skins into oak wine barrels before fermentation is even completed. While this does mean that supplemental tannins might need to be added, this short maceration often leaves the wines with a smooth mouthfeel. The extensive use of oak is also a characteristic of Barossa Valley winemaking with American oak, with its more aggressive dill and coconut aroma notes, often used more than French oak. 

Grapes varieties

While the Barossa Valley is most commonly associated with its signature grape variety of Shiraz,[5] the region does grow a number of grape varieties. Among these other varieties are Riesling, Semillon, Chardonnay, Grenache, Mourvedre and Cabernet Sauvignon.[13] The popularity of Syrah has sparked interest in the development of other Rhone varieties, with increase production of Grenache and Mourvedre (also known as Mataro in Australia) for both blending and varietal bottlings. Many of these vines are remnants of the Barossa’s fortified wine history and such have substantial age themselves.[5]

Despite its reputation as a red wine region, the Barossa Valley does produce a large amount of white wine.[14] Riesling has been historically important in the region but has gradually shifted eastward to higher elevations and cooler climates of the Barossa Ranges. Many Rieslings labelled with simply “Barossa” will often include more grapes from the cooler Eden Valley wine region than the Barossa Valley. This is permitted as the geographical indication of the Barossa Zone also includes the Eden Valley wine region that borders the Barossa Valley wine region to the east and which has developed an international reputation for the quality of its Riesling.

The plantings of Semillon in the Barossa Valley have evolved to develop its own unique pink-skinned clone that is distinctive from the Semillon found in its French homeland of Bordeaux or the internationally known Semillon from the Hunter Valley in New South Wales. Barossa Semillon is characterized by its full body, golden color and low acidity. Traditionally the wine was fermented in oak but in recent years has been produced more with stainless steel. Barossa Chardonnay is often oaked and subjected to malolactic fermentation, which produces a big, full body creamy wine.

  • The Eden Valley wine region includes the High Eden sub-region, and is known for its rockier, more acidic soil than the neighbouring Barossa Valley. The area has a higher elevation (in the 400–610 metres (1,300–2,000 ft) range), and thus has a colder, wetter climate. The Eden Valley is home to the Hill of Grace vineyard with its 140+ year old Shiraz vines that are behind the Henschke Hill of Grace wine. The Eden Valley has also gained international attention for its limestone noted Rieslings. 

Fleurieu zone

The Fleurieu zone is located south of the Adelaide metropolitan area, between the mouth of the River Murray and the Gulf St. Vincent and includes Kangaroo Island. Five Wine regions are contained in this zone.

  • The Currency Creek wine region is located on the west side of Lake Alexandrina  Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon blanc and Semillon grow here, though the area also produces some notable red wines.
  • The Kangaroo Island wine region is located just off the coast of South Australia and is known for its Bordeaux style wines.  
  • The Langhorne Creek wine region is located southeast of Adelaide. Orlando Wines sources many of the grapes for its Jacob’s Creek brand from this area, which has a reputation of its dessert wines.
  • The Southern Fleurieu region is located on the southern end of the Fleurieu Peninsula. The area’s sandy loam and gravel based ironstone soil supports Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Riesling and Viognier plantings. Shiraz, Sauvignon blanc, Merlot and Primitivo are also planted at Nangkita in the centre of the Peninsula
  • The McLaren Vale wine region is located south of Adelaide and extends to the south of Morphett Vale. With the area’s 22 inches of rain, and diversity of soil types including sand, clay and limestone, this area produces a wide range of wines with Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Semillon and Sauvignon blanc being the most widely planted. 

McLaren Vale Region

McLaren is located approximately 35 km south of Adelaide in South Australia. Grapes were first planted in the region in 1838 and some vines more than 100 years old are still producing. Today there are more than 88 cellar doors in McLaren Vale. The majority are small family-run operations and boutique wineries Barossa and McLaren Vale food and wine are key icons of South Australia and in 2012 legislation to protect the character of McLaren Vale was passed, preventing the region to become a suburb of Adelaide.

Climate and geography

McLaren Vale has a Mediterranean climate with four clear seasons. With a dry warm Summer, the area has dry weather from December through to March or April, giving an easy change between summer and winter. It is gentle with long warm days and short cool nights. The region rarely experiences frost or drought due to its close proximity to the sea. 

Wines

The McLaren Vale region is well known for its dry red wines, especially those made from Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvedre. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot are also grown. White wine varieties in the region include Chardonnay, Semillon, Sauvignon blanc and Riesling.

In recent years innovative wineries have begun using less common varieties such as Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Barbera, Cinsaut, Vermentino and Viognier.

Notable for producing Shiraz, the grape is by far the most important variety for the region, accounting for about 50% of the total crush. The area’s thin soils, limited water, and warm summers harness Shiraz’s natural vigor and produce intense flavored fruit, and wine with a deep purple color that can last decades in the bottle. McLaren Vale wines are distinguished by their ripeness, elegance, structure, power and complexity.  

  • Shiraz is harvested from late February to early April. McLaren Vale Shiraz displays pronounced berry and spice characters with some dark chocolate and liquorice, while Shiraz from cooler sub-regions exhibits defined ripe raspberry characters. McLaren Vale Shiraz is renowned for its great softness and rolling palate. Many winemakers in McLaren Vale choose to blend their final Shiraz from a variety of sub-regions to add complexity. McLaren Vale naturally produces Shiraz that has very small berries. Smaller berries have a higher skin to pulp ratio.   Within McLaren Vale and its subregions there is a diversity of soil types, clones and winemaking philosophies, which has led to a huge range of Shiraz wine styles being produced. Most winemakers produce at least one Shiraz wine
  • Cabernet Sauvignon is Less famous than McLaren Vale Shiraz, but equally enchanting, Cabernet Sauvignon from McLaren Vale continues to display the rich ripe characters that typify wines from this region. Violet and blackcurrant flavours, vibrant plum, mint and edges of liquorice and a touch of McLaren Vale’s trademark dark chocolate character are common. 

Soil characteristics

The McLaren district has many different soil types and this contributes to the wines from the area having different terroir. The vineyards are planted on soils including fertile red-brown earths, terra rossa, rendzina, soft sands and dark cracking clays.

Each of these soil types contributes to the rich diversity of wine produced by the winemakers of the region. Overall the soils have one common trait; they are free draining which means they hold very little water. This is, in fact, an advantage, as it allows the accurate control of moisture to the vines through the use of state-of-the-art drip irrigation. Because of reliable winter rain, irrigation can be kept to low levels and manipulated to achieve the production of superior fruit.

Some soil types allow grapes to be dry-grown. Approximately 20% of the total crop is dry-grown. These dry-grown vines are renowned for small fruit size, which is sought after for the intensity of its flavour.

Most vineyards are found on gently undulating land at about 100 m above sea level. In the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges to the east, where there is a scattering of vineyards, elevation rises to 320 m. In the north around Blewitt Springs elevation is around 200 m. These variations in elevation have a significant impact on the terroir and fruit produced in the vineyards. 

Subregions

McLaren Vale Region includes the subregions of Blewitt Springs, Township of McLaren, Seaview, McLaren Flats, Willunga South and Sellicks Foot Hills, each one with different soils, elevation, closeness to the sea, temperature and drainage making them able to produce a big array of terroirs and wines.   

Mount Lofty Ranges zone

The Mount Lofty Ranges zone are located immediately to the east of Adelaide, north of the Fleurieu zone and south and north of the Barossa zone. It contains three regions and two subregions.

  • The Adelaide Hills is located 9 miles from the Gulf St Vincent coast, winds from which have a tempering effect on the mediterranean climate of this region, making it one of the coolest in South Australia. The region contains two sub-regions, Lenswood and Piccadilly Valley.
  • The Adelaide Plains is one of the hottest and flattest wine regions in South Australia. The area’s Magill vineyards located on the edge of the foothills: “The Grange”, pioneered by Christopher Rawson Penfold, and “Auldana”, pioneered by W. P. Auld, once provided the grapes for the production of Penfolds‘ Grange.
  • The Clare Valley is South Australia’s most northerly major wine district.
  • The region contains two areas considered to be sub-regions – Polish Hill River and Watervale. Despite its hot and dry climate, many of the vineyards in this area are not irrigated. This helps to reduce crop yields and to concentrate the flavours in the grape. The region is known for its ability to produce Chardonnays, Semillons, and Rieslings that range from full body and luscious to light and delicate. 

Far North zone

The Far North zone is located north of the Clare Valley wine region.

  • The Southern Flinders Ranges. Located along the Goyder’s Line, the area receives an ample amount of rainfall and tends to harvest earlier than the more southerly Clare and Barossa valleys. The area is best suited for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz. 

Limestone Coast zone

The Limestone Coast zone is located in the south-east of the state, bounded by the continental coastline to the south, the border with the neighbouring state of Victoria to the east and the Lower Murray wine zone to the north. Six wine regions are contained in this Zone.

  • The Coonawarra covers an area centred on the strip of land adjoining both sides of the Riddoch Highway mainly north of the town of Penola and is bordered by the Wrattonbilly region in the north, by the Mount Gambier region in the south and by the Victorian border in the east. It is known for the Cabernet Sauvignon grown in its terra rossa soil. For years there were disputes within the Coonawarra region about which vineyards could rightfully be considered “Coonawarra”, and which were outside the boundaries. The soil itself became the deciding factor, with the lands with red terra rossa soil being visually distinguishable from the black soil found interspersed throughout the region. In addition to Cabernet, the region has also found some success with its Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinot noir, Riesling, Sauvignon blanc, Semillon and Shiraz.
  • The Mount Benson wine region is located in the southeastern part of the state near the Robe wine region, west of Coonawarra. In the late 20th century, the area saw an influx of foreign investment, including the Rhône wine estate M. Chapoutier and the Belgium Kreglinger winery. The wines made here tend to be fruitier and less tannic than Coonawarra.
  • The Mount Gambier wine region is located around the regional city of Mount Gambier. The first planting of vines occurred in 1982. The region received appellation as an Australian Geographical Indication in 2010 and as of 2014, is represented by 20 vineyards and eight wineries.
  • The Padthaway wine region is a little north of, and slightly warmer than, Coonawarra, but it is better known for its white wine production, particularly Chardonnay. The wines here are known for the balance of their natural acidity and fruit.
  • The Robe wine region is located near Mount Benson in the southeast part of the state, west of Coonawarra.
  • The Wrattonbully wine region is located between Coonawarra and Padthaway and had its first commercial vineyards established in the area in 1968. The climate of the region is similar to Coonawarra, but vineyards in the Wrattonbully region tend to be higher elevated and on better drained soils. The soil of the area includes clay, sand and loam on top of limestone, with some patches of terra rossa. Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz are the most popular plantings. 

Lower Murray zone

The Lower Murray zone which is located to the east of the Adelaide superzone, is bounded by the Limestone Coast zone to the south, the Far North zone to the north and by the border with Victoria to the east.

  • The Riverland wine region is the highly irrigated land where a large percentage of Australia’s bulk and box wines are produced, similar to the Riverina region in New South Wales. Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec and Riesling are some of the largest plantings in the area. The Riverland region also has one of the larger single plantings of Petit Verdot in the world, with Kingston Estate planting 100 hectares (250 acres) of this variety. 

The Peninsulas zone

The Peninsulas zone covers the entire Yorke Peninsula, an adjoining portion of the Mid North of South Australia, the portion of Eyre Peninsula south of a line of latitude approximately in line with Crystal Brook and the islands located off the adjoining coastline. It is bounded by the Far North zone to its north by the Mount Lofty Ranges zone to its east.

  • South Eastern Australia wine region

The South Eastern Australia wine region covers the area south of a line running from Ceduna in western South Australia to the junction of the borders of New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia (known as Cameron Corner) and then to the intersection of the Tropic of Capricorn with the eastern continental coastline. This region was registered as an AGI on 1 May 1996.

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