Wine Tip of the Week # 7 - Pinot Noir

"Cheers" from Vintage Connections
Dean and Lisa Foster, Wine Educators and Consultants

This Week’s Wine Tips!

In anticipation of New Year's Day, we're recommending Pinot Noir to pair with New Year's Day pork roast.  Pinot Noir’s light tannins and berry flavors pair well with roasted pork.

There are many Pinot Noirs (and French Red Burgundies, made with 100% Pinot Noir grapes) for under $20, even many under $10.  But, finding a Pinot Noir that is representative of the variety for under $20 can be a challenge. 

One of our favorite and affordable Pinot Noirs is by Sebastiani.  From the Sonoma Coast, their 2007 is made from 100% Pinot Noir and is a multi-vineyard blend which creates fruit-forward wines “with richness and complexity”.  It has fresh cherry flavors with hints of maraschino cherries and “hints of oriental spice, vanilla and mocha”. The color is rich crimson.  The grapes were cold-soaked before crushing to prevent tearing, keeping the tannins low for early drinkability.  It was aged in Hungarian and French oak barrels for 5 months giving it hints of toasty oak flavors.  Alcohol is 13.5% by volume.  The current PLCB sale price is $12,99, but supplies are running low so check the PLCB website or call your local store to check availability.  When you find it, ask them to hold it for you and go now!  The PLCB product code is 004985.

Another favorite is Dovetail Pinot Noir (2006) from the Russian River Valley.  We found this to be one of  the best we’ve tasted but it is a Chairman's Select, is priced at $21.99 and supplies are very limited.  This vintage was created by blending various pinot noir wines from various sites in the Russian River Valley.  It is very fruit forward with lots of berry flavors and a pleasantly long finish.  It was aged in both French and American oak.  Even with alcohol at 14.2%, it wasn’t too hot and was great with pork paprikash. 

Always check the PLCB Product Search page and then call ahead to be sure of availability at
http://www.lcbapps.lcb.state.pa.us/webapp/Product_Management/psi_ProductDefault_inter.asp?plcbNav=|32369|

If you would prefer trying a PA winery Pinot Noir as we often do, Pinnacle Ridge Winery north of Kutztown, Manatawny Creek Winery outside of Douglassville, Vynecrest Winery near Breinigsville and Blair Vineyards outside of Mertztown all carry excellent Pinot Noirs at or under $20.  And, you can taste and make sure they suit your tastes before purchasing them.

Other lighter reds will also pair well with roasted pork.  See our previous Wine Tips of the Week for some recommendations for Beaujolais,
archived on our blog at

http://vintageconnectionswineinfo.blogspot.com/2009/11/wine-tip-of-week-3-beaujolais.html

Our past Wine Tips of the Week are available on this blog site.  See the archive in the right-hand column.


Upcoming Wine Events in the Pottstown Tri-County Area

Friday February 13, Wine and Chocolate Tasting Seminar (Valentine's Day event) at Gallery on High in Pottstown, Time and Cost TBD

Thursday, April 2, Wines of the World, one night wine seminar at Montgomery County Community College's West Campus in Pottstown, 6:30 - 9:30 PM, $50.

Thursday, April 9, Wines of the USA, one night wine seminar at Montgomery County Community College's West Campus in Pottstown, 6:30 - 9:30 PM, $50.

Tentative - Saturday, October 23, Mom's House Benefit Wine Tasting Dinner.  Location, Time and Cost TBA.

Many other events are TBD.  Contact us to schedule an event in your home, at your business, or for your organization.

Your suggestions on improving the blog site, just as your recommendations and comments about wine, are welcome on the blog.  As we learn more about blogging, we'll improve the site and make it even more useful and enjoyable. 

Coming Soon - Wine Blog in the Pottstown Mercury.  This blog will feature short versions of our Wine Tips of the Week.

About Us!

Vintage Connections provide   Wine Appreciation Classes and Seminars; Customized Educational Wine Tastings in your home or at your business;  Wine Consulting, and Benefit Educational Wine Tastings for non-profit organizations.

If you want your address removed from this distribution list, please let us know.

PLEASE forward this email to friends and family who may be interested.

Thanks

Vintage Connections

Lisa and Dean Foster

Wine Tips of the Week # 6 Tariquet Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon and Galen Glen Riesling

 

Tariquet 2008 - Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon Blend

Sauvignon Blanc often stands on its own and when it does, has distinctive aromas of freshly cut grass and minerals.  When blended with Semillon, the sharpness of Sauvignon Blanc is softened, the aroma of the wine is a bit more floral, and the wine may have a touch of sweetness that, for many people, makes it easy to drink and more appealing than 100% Sauvignon Blanc.  French White Bordeaux is a well-known blend that includes Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.  However, these two grapes are blended throughout the world in many different proportions, and is marketed under many different labels.

Tariquet 2008 is a good, affordable example of the Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon blend. 

Domaine du Tariquet is located in the Gascony area of France.  The vineyards and winery have been owned and operated by the Grassa family since 1912.  Known mostly for their Armagnac, a distinctive brandy made only in the Armagnac region of Gascony, they have recently begun growing white grapes such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. 

The 2008 vintage of Sauvignon & Semillon is made from 85% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Semillon.  This blend is a good example of how Semillon can create a more complex wine than Sauvignon Blanc alone.  It is an easy drinking wine with very floral aromas and a slight mineral scent.  It has a light taste of grassiness and grapefruit typical of sauvignon blancs, made more complex and fuller bodied by the additional 15% Semillon.  This is a good wine to have with fish, poultry, and a variety of cheeses. 

This wine is a current a Chairman's Selection and is widely available at Pennsylvania Specialty Wine and Spirits stores.  Check the PLCB website at   http://www.lcb.state.pa.us/   After linking to this page, click on the Product Search icon in the upper right-hand corner and then enter the product code 18312 and check for your local store for availability.  We suggest you then call your local store to be 100% sure of its availability.  

This is one of the five wines we'll feature at the "Wine after Five with Art on the Side" Wine Tasting Seminar this Friday, December 18 at Gallery on High in Pottstown.

Galen Glen Stone Cellar Riesling 2008

Galen Glen Vineyard and Winery is family owned and operated and is located outside of Andreas, PA.  The vineyard started out as the family farm and had been active for two centuries.  Galen and Sarah purchased the family farm and began growing grapes in 1995.

Their 2008 Stone Cellar Riesling is made in the German style.  Called "halbtrocken," which is German for half-dry, this lightly sweet Riesling is bursting with floral aromas.  It has a pleasant minerality with grapefruit notes and hints of peaches and apricots.  This riesling is easy to drink on its own and is even better when paired with cheesecake or with a glazed pork entrée.

We were curious about the “crooked stick” seen on their labels and on their patio.  It came from the use of a cherry sapling branch they used to measure the spacing of the vines when they didn’t have enough measuring tapes during planting.  Their "Stone Cellar" label depicts the original stone cellar on the property near the winery, where many of their wines are stored and aged.

You will often find owners Sarah and Galen Troxell, along with their very helpful, enthusiastic and knowledgeable tasting room helpers, in their beautiful tasting room.  You'll get an amazing view of the glen, which inspired the winery's name.  The wine, the view, the friendly staff and wine-tasting atmosphere is well worth the drive to Galen Glen.  Add a couple of other Pennsylvania wineries to your itinerary and spend an afternoon wine tasting and enjoying the beautiful Pennsylvania countryside along the way.  Galen Glen and most PA wineries are open 7 days a week around the Holidays, but check their websites or call to check on seasonal hours.

Galen Glen's website is http://www.galenglen.com/index.html

Links to all PA winery websites are available at http://www.pennsylvaniawine.com/

Galen Glen's Stone Cellar Riesling 2008 is one of the five wines we'll feature at the "Wine after Five with Art on the Side" Wine Tasting Seminar this Friday, December 18 at Gallery on High in Pottstown.

Wine Tips of the Week # 5 - Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais Villages 2007 and a Wonderful Port from Manatawny Creek Winery

Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais Villages 2007 - This excellent Beaujolais from Beaune, France in the heart of Burgundy is made of 100% Gamay grapes.  The grapes are picked at the various villages around Beaune, so this wine qualifies for the "villages" classification within the French wine classification system. 

This Beaujolais has a refreshing fruit flavor reminiscent of cherries and raspberries with “earthy hints of violets and spice“.  It has low tannins and a bright acidity making it an excellent food wine.  Maison Joseph Drouhin has been a family run winery for over 130 years.  They create exceptional wines from all the terroirs of Burgundy.   Drink this Beaujolais now.  Though not as tender as Nouveau, Beaujolais Villages’ low tannins suggest that long storing will not improve this wine.  Best served slightly chilled-20 to 30 minutes in the refrigerator. 

This wine is widely available at PLCB Wine and Spirits stores.  Check the PLCB website or call your local store for availability.
http://www.lcb.state.pa.us/    After linking to this page, click on the Product Search icon in the upper right-hand corner.  The PLCB product code is 5878.

This is one of the six wines we featured at the Wine after Five, Wine and Dine Seminar at Churchill's on Friday, December 11.  At $9.99, this is a great value.


Manatawny Creek Winery Port - We don't usually like port, but this one has become a favorite.  It is lighter than many ports and although it is sweet and high in alcohol (for a wine), it is not too sweet and the 18-20% alcohol content is easy to swallow.  This port is made from Cabernet Franc, one of the traditional Bordeaux varietals and one of Manatawny's consistently excellent grapes.  Great for sipping alone, this wine is at its best paried with dark chocolate.   Yummy!

Manatawny's Port is one of the five wines we'll feature at the Wine after Five with Art on the Side Wine Seminar and Networking event at the Gallery on High, Friday, December 18.  We'll pair it with wonderful brownies from Company Cakes, a favorite bakery located in Pottstown.

The Manatawny Creek Winery is owned and operated by the Levengood Family and is located just outside of Douglasville, PA in Amity Twp.  Mary (mom) is often in the tasting room to guide you through a tasting of their wines.  Joanne (the winemaker) and Darvin (dad) are often in the vineyards or winery keeping track of things.  Dave (Joanne’s brother) roams the entire farm, helping out where he’s needed the most. 

This is one of the several local PA Wineries we highly recommend not just for their wines, but for a wonderful wine tasting experience in their tasting room.  They are open seven days a week and do not charge a tasting fee.  The staff is friendly, helpful, and they have a wide selection of wine, from bold dry reds to ligher, sweeter whites, to even a sparkling raspberry.  A great variety of wine-related gifts are available in the tasting room.  See their website for more information at  http://www.manatawnycreekwinery.com/

Wine Tips of the Week # 4 – Blair Vineyard Chardonnay and Marchesi di Barolo, Maraia 2007 Barbera Monferrato

We will be discussing and tasting both of these wines as two of the six wines featured at the "Wine after Five, Wine and Dine Tasting Seminar" at Churchill’s in Pottstown on December 11.  Call Churchill's at 484-941-5100 for reservations.

Churchill’s Website is located at http://churchillinc.net/

Blair Vineyard Chardonnay
Blair Vineyards is a family-owned and operated vineyard and winery near Mertztown, PA.   Blair makes a variety of wines, mostly dry reds and whites.  They have been making Chardonnay in several styles using French and American oak.  These different styles and vintages of Chardonnay, as well as many other excellent wines, are available at their tasting room near Mertztown.  The tasting room is open Saturday and Sunday, 12-5 PM or by appointment (610-682-0075).  However, many Blair wines are available at Frecon Farms near Boyertown.  Call Frecon for their seasonal hours (610-367-6200). 

Blair Vineyard Website is located at http://www.blairvineyards.com/whitewines.htm

Frecon Farms Website is located at http://www.freconfarms.com/

We tasted all of Blair’s chardonnays, fermented and aged in oak in the Burgundian style.  The 2005 was fermented and aged in both French and American oak.  In 2005 they also made a Chardonnay Reserve from the free run juice.  For 2006, Blair aged half of his chardonnay in American oak and half in French oak.  We could really taste the differences among the different styles and vintages, and truly liked them all.  We especially like the 2005 Chardonnay fermented and aged in both French and American oak.  It is very fruit-forward with hints of melon and vanilla, with light toast flavors and a long finish.  It has 12.5% alcohol so is not hot or harsh like some chardonnays from California or Australia.


Marchesi di Barolo, Maraia 2007 Barbera Monferrato
Marchesi de Barolo is an historic vineyard located in the Piedmont area of Italy.  Maraia means “little rascal” in Italian and is a fitting name for this easy-drinking red 100% Barbera wine.  This is a medium-bodied red wine with plenty of fruit and a pleasant dryness that unfolds to an attractively robust flavor and a long finish.  It is splendid with red meats, but also goes well with pork, veal and even turkey.  It has 13.5% alcohol by volume.  The Marchesi di Barolo, Maraia 2007 Barbera Monferrato is available at most PA Wine and Spirit stores.

The PLCB website is http://www.lcb.state.pa.us/

Wine Tip of the Week # 3 - Beaujolais

Beaujolais is a light, somewhat fruity, red wine, made from the gamay grape. It is one of the wines we recommend with turkey and much of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Like its slightly heavier cousin, Pinot Noir, Beaujolais pairs well with heavier fish (salmon) and lighter meats (chicken, turkey, lightly seasoned pork).

Beaujolais is a sub-region of Burgundy where Pinot Noir is used to make French Red Burgundy.
Beaujolais, the wine, is named for this region, instead of the gamay grape from which it is made.

Nouveau Beaujolais (Georges Duboeuf is the only one available in PA) was just released this week in PA Wine and Spirits stores for $12.99. Nouveau is made from the recent harvest, is lighter, fruiter, and fresher than traditional Beaujolais. Because of its very low tannins, drink Nouveau Beaujolais soon, we recommend before New Year's. Even traditional Beaujolais is not made for long-term cellaring or storage, but is not as fragile as Nouveau.

We just sampled a bottle of Beaujolais-Villages by Joseph Drouhin. It is harder to find than similarly-priced Beaujolais, but we think it is worth the search. The Drouhin is currently $9.99 at PA Wine and Spirits stores. Let us know what you think!

Wine Tip of the Week # 2 - Wine for Thanksgiving Dinner

We distributed this Wine Tips for Thanksgiving Dinner to our Wine Friends through our Vintage Connections Wine Info email newsletter last week and wanted to share it on this Vintage Connections Wine Info blog. We realize this information is too late to use as you plan Thanksgiving Dinner this year, but it may still be useful as you plan other Holiday meals.

Recommended for Thanksgiving, "affordable" sparklings. Sparklings add a touch of class to any Holiday. If you like your sparklings with a touch of sweetness, we recommend Blanc de Blanc from Pinnacle Ridge Winery. This wine is made from 100% Cayuga grapes, has 2.5% residual sugar, and is $14. If you like your sparkling on the drier side, Pinnacle Ridge produces Brut Reserve, made from 100% Pinot Noir and is $18. Both are available only at the winery just north of Kutztown, PA.

If you want the convenience of your local Wine and Spirits store, Korbel from California provides several choices. Their Brut is a blend of Chardonnay, French Columbard, Chenin Blanc, and Pinot Noir. Their 100% Chardonnay Sparkling is an interesting alternative. Both are $14.99 and contain 1% dosage sugar. Korbel's other sparklings are available at some PA Wine and Spirits stores.

More Info - Wine with Thanksgiving Dinner

Below is more information and a few additional wines that we feel pair well with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. At the bottom of the page we have provided a “Name Guide” for those who aren’t sure of the “French translation” of wine names.

First and foremost, as we always say, drink what you like. If you don’t like the wine, it won’t be a good pairing.

If you want to “step out of the box” and try something different, think sparkling wine. The clean acidity, bright fruit and yeasty aromas pair well with just about everything on the Thanksgiving table. The only hold out will be the cranberry sauce and dessert. But as long as you don’t take a big bite of cranberry sauce and wash it down with a hearty swig of sparkling, things should turn out all right.

Not a big fan of sparklings? Then go with whites in general, especially those with higher acidity and no oak. Sauvignon Blanc or white Bordeaux/Meritage (blends usually including Sauvignon Blanc) go really well with butternut squash soup and lends a pleasant flavor to salad, turkey, stuffing (not spicy) and vegetables. If you are having a creamy vegetable try “naked” (un-oaked) chardonnay. Excellent choices also include Gerwurtztraminer and Riesling which pair well with all parts of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner except the cranberry sauce and pumpkin or butternut squash soups.

Really a fan of reds? Then you have two good choices: Pinot Noir or Beaujolais (made from the gamay grape, which is a cousin to Pinot Noir). Pinot Noir usually has more body and tannins than Beaujolais, so if you like bolder reds it may be the better choice. If you want a very light red this Thanksgiving, try Beaujolais.

The smooth fruit and low tannins of Pinot Noir and Beaujolais work well with most of the holiday servings.

Note: Nouveau Beaujolais is a variation of Beaujolais and is a freshly pressed and fermented, low tannic wine. The Wine and Spirits stores should get their shipment this week. If you buy the French Nouveau Beaujolais, drink it soon. Without tannins or aging like other red wines, it could easily go bad by New Year's.

Our choice? Invite friends and family and open one of each!

The Name Game

Most of the World	France
Sauvignon Blanc (grape), Fume Blanc (same grape, name created by Robert Mondavi)	Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé (Loire Valley)
White Meritage (a blend that usually includes Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and other varietals)	White Bordeaux (a blend that usually includes Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and other varietals)
Chardonnay	White Burgundy
Sparkling	Champagne (Cremant if not from the Champagne region of France)
Pinot Noir	Red Burgundy
Gamay	Beaujolais, Nouveau Beaujolais

Thanks and

Happy Thanksgiving!

Vintage Connections

Lisa and Dean Foster

Wine Tip of the Week # 1 - Montepulciano

We distributed this Wine Tip of the Week # 1 to our Wine Friends through our Vintage Connections Wine Info email newsletter several weeks ago, and wanted to share on this Vintage Connections Wine Info blog.

We have used Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo from Italy for several events and find it to be an excellent, medium-bodied dry red. Each bottle is decorated with a small cutting from the vine. It is currently on sale for $11.99 at many PA Wine and Spirits stores. It's PLCB code is 004560.

More Info! Montepulciano is both a wine grape variety and a wine region in Italy, which can cause confusion when purchasing wine.

The Montepulciano wine grape (also known as "Montepulciano d'Abruzzo) is found in numerous regions in Italy and is grown in some areas of the US. The Montepulciano wine grape makes a medium-bodied red wine, rich deep red in color, with purple shades that evolve to a rich garnet color as it ages. It has a nose of strawberries and ripe plums, with a hint of leather and flavors of cherries, peaches and plums and a hint of tobacco. Great with rich, flavorful cheeses, lasagne and other pastas with red sauce.

The Montepulciano region of Italy is known for its sangiovese grapes, the main ingredient in Chianti. It is located north of Chianti, Italy (yes, there's a region named Chianti, too) in Siena in Tuscany. The region is known for its "Vino Nobile, the wine of the noblemen" often made of a blend of sangiovese with caniaolo, malvasia or trebbiano to add structure and complexity. It is a beautiful area of Italy with rolling hills, some 2500 vines, beautiful churches and "wonderful art and architecture".

Welcome to Vintage Connections Wine Info

Welcome to Vintage Connections Wine Info. Through this blog, we share information and encourage others to share, react, and create a dialog about wine, wine events, and the world of wine.

This blog and our related email newsletter focus on wine and wine events available to those of us who live, and purchase most of our wine, in the Montgomery, Berks, and Chester Tri-county area of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

We also focus on affordable and accessible wines, mostly priced under $20 and sometimes under $10, and available at PA Wine and Spirits stores or at wineries located in Eastern Pennsylvania. Sometimes we venture to wineries in other regions of Pennsylvania and in other states and will, from time to time, write about wineries and wine trails across Pennsylvania and the Eastern USA.

Mostly, we want to create a dialog with each other about wine so we can all share our wine experiences, what we learn about wine, and what we like and don't like about various wines.

For more information than we are able to publish in this blog, you can subscribe to our newsletters, Wine Tips of the Week and Wine in Depth distributed every few weeks. To subscribe, email us at vintageconnections@comcast.net

Drink Wine (responsibly) and tell us all about it!