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/