Part 4 of our Top 10 Wines of 2010

This week and next we'll continue to list our Top 10 Wines of 2010.  After that, we'll list some "honorable mentions."  If you did not read the last three weeks' wine recommendations, you can review them through the archive at on our blog at http://vintageconnectionswineinfo.blogspot.com/

The top 10 are NOT in any particular order.

The top 10 are all different varieties, are from different wineries, and are from the USA and around the world. 

These are all wines we've written about during 2010.  We've updated information about availability in Pennsylvania and costs for those that are still available.

Give us feedback, telling us which (if any) of these were your favorites and if we left any of your favorites off of our list.

Pinnacle Ridge Winery's Veritas 2007

In good years, winemaker Brad Knapp blends several "Bordeaux" grapes to make his vintage Veritas.  We have bottles from several previous vintages, and truly miss the years the grapes are not good enough for Brad to blend this premier red wine.  2007 was a fine year and Brad has produced an outstanding Veritas 2007.

This classic Bordeaux-type blend is made with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.   It is deep, rich red in color with aromas of "toasty oak, vanilla and black fruits".  It was aged for 16 months in American oak barrels and is extremely well balanced with flavors of blackberries and other dark fruits and has a long pleasing finish.   Alcohol is about 12% by volume.  

The 2007 Veritas is $20 per bottle at the winery near Kutztown.  Pinnacle Ridge's website is http://www.pinridge.com/

Brancott Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2008
From Marlborough, New Zealand.  We are constantly looking for good Sauvignon Blancs and those from Marlborough seem to be consistently good.  The Brancott Reserve is no exception.   In addition to this reserve, Brancott produces several other Sauvignon Blancs available in PLCB stores. We recommend buying several, having some friends over and doing a little taste comparison.  Summer on the deck would be best, but why wait?
As the chief wine maker Jeff Clarke states about the 2008 vintage "the flavors are bold, ripe and zesty, exactly what you'd expect from a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc".  Light straw color with slightly green highlights, the aroma is full of tropical fruits and grapefruit.  The flavor is full of fruit and has well-balanced acidity for a long and lingering finish.  Brancott feels that this wine could be cellared for 2 to 3 years to develop its complexity.  Alcohol is 13.2% by volume. 

  The juice was allowed to stay on the skins for a few hours to extract as much of the distinctive flavors as possible, then gently bagged pressed to maintain "the fresh, clear, elegant juice".  The juice was then allowed to ferment slowly at low temperatures.

PLCB product code is 9326 and is currently $17.99.  Available a most PA Wine and Spirit Stores.

Spring 2011 Wine Classes and Gift Certificates

Wine Classes

We are reducing the cost of our Wine Classes to $35 per person for the classes below.

Open Enrollment Classes Spring 2010
$35 per person, includes wine, cheese, crackers and LOTS of good information about wine.
Thursdays, 6:30-9:00 PM

New Location - These classes will be held at the *PDIDA Office, 139 East High Street, right in downtown Pottstown.  Plenty of on-street parking.  *Pottstown Downtown Improvement District Authority.  Sounds like a Quiz question.

March 24 - Wine Blending Bordeaux Style - Learn about and taste Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc individually, then blend them and experience how they complement each other and how blending produces a more complicated aroma and flavor.

March 31 - Wines of the Finger Lakes II - Learn about and taste wines from the Finger Lakes in upstate New York. Famous for Reisling, the Finger Lakes region also produces other excellent whites and in good years, excellent bold reds.

April 7 - Surprising Wines under $15 - It's often difficult to find a good wine priced under $15, but some are very good and reliable in this price range.  Learn about very affordable wines and taste a few of our favorites.

April 14 - Wine Gems from Our Cellar - "Someday we're going to drink this!"    Tonight's the night!  We'll pull some of our favorites from our cellar, taste them and talk about wines that should be aged or not, and the effects of time in the bottle. 

Home Schoolin'
Wine Classes and Educational Tastings
·    In your home, at your business (within 15 miles of Pottstown**)
·    $250 for up to 8 people.  Includes wine, cheese, and crackers
·    Add $200 for an additional 8 people*
*  Additional discounts available for more than 16 people.
** Additional distance may require a travel charge.

Sample classes - Many other options are available.

Wine for Beginners      Basic Red and White       Wines of the World
                 Wines of the USA            Wines of the Finger Lakes    
          Wines of Pennsylvania                       What's in a Name     
Blending Wine Bordeaux Style             Surprising Wines under $15

              

OR - We'll design a CUSTOMIZED CLASS FOR YOU (costs may vary)

Gift Certificates for Spring 2011 Wine Classes

What a unique and fun gift!  Give the gift of a wine class.

$35 for a seat in any of our open enrollment Vintage Connections Wine Classes listed above.

$250 for a Home Schoolin' Wine Class as described above, for up to 8 people, provided in your home, business or other appropriate location (within 15 miles of Pottstown  - other locations may require a travel charge).

For more information or to purchase a gift certificate, email us at  Vintageconnections@comcast.net or call us (Dean or Lisa) us at 610-469-6164 or 610-310-9942.

Checks and cash only.

Fun Fact!

Bordeaux (red) is always a blend, usually predominated by either Cab Sauvignon or Merlot, often with Cabernet Franc and sometimes Petite Verdot and Malbec.  Carmenere is technically another allowable Bordeaux grape, but is seldom (if every) used in the blend today.

There will be another quiz someday!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Vintage Connections Spring Wine Classes
See feature article in this issue.

Wine and Beer Classes at Weak Knee Home Brew
January 11
Wine Making Class

January 18
Beer Making Class

January 25
Wild Game and Beer Pairing Dinner
Contact us to register for classes,  to schedule a wine class or wine event in your home, at your business, or for your organization, or to buy a gift certificate.