08 March 2013
I'm Moving!
Thank you to everyone who has read and enjoyed my wine reviews. This blog has experienced a dormant period, but it isn't going away. More accurately, it's joining a larger blog (for which I am the editor) about food, art, literature, and lifestyle in the Central Wisconsin area: "Life at the Center". You'll be able to find my wine reviews there roughly every other Friday. Please check it out, and let me know what you think!
Thanks again, everyone!
04 July 2011
Family Tasting Event: A Comparative Tasting of Three Varietals
Happy Fourth of July! In honor of the holiday and its tradition of family, food, and fun, I'm posting a summary of the comparative tasting I set up for my husband's family last fall. Enjoy!
My husband’s mother’s family gathers in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula every fall, usually in September or October. We visit one of two or three traditional supper clubs for dinner, the men (and some of the women) visit the family deer camp, and one family or another makes a huge, delicious breakfast.
Last year, the family considered visiting the Mackinaw Trail Winery, the first winery my husband and I ever visited). My mother-in-law decided that instead, I should prepare a wine-tasting party. Most of the family do not drink wine regularly, and I sensed that I’d probably be working with a “sweet wine” crowd. I decided on three distinct varietals (Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, and Riesling) and chose two bottles from each. Each pair demonstrated two popular varietal-based styles that were easy to compare and contrast. These are the comparisons I chose:
I began with a comparison suggested to me at McKnight & Carlson - French Sauvignon Blanc compared with Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc:
Sauvignon Blanc by Domaine d l’Aumonier: The French Sauvignon Blanc
Wine Name: Le Touraine Blanc
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Vineayard: Domaine de l’Aumonier
Year: 2007
Origin: Loire Valley, France
Price: $13-$20
Domaine de l’Aumonier’s Le Touraine Blanc has a fruit-forward bouquet. I detected hints of lychee, tangerines, and floral notes in the aroma. When this wine is tasted, the citrus notes appear in mid-savor and grow fuller over the course of tasting. The wine’s acidity is excellently balanced with its fruit and floral components, and its citrusy finish is long and pleasant. This wine is slightly mellower than our other selection, the Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc and a touch more subtle in the interplay of its flavor notes.
Sauvignon Blanc by Kim Crawford: The New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyard: Kim Crawford
Year: 2009
Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Price: $16
New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs tend to range from very “grassy” and a little dry to “tropical fruity” and wet. This one sits in the middle of the spectrum. The wine has a very aromatic bouquet. When tasted, the acidity and fruit flavors in this wine balance perfectly. It begins with tangy starfruit and passionfruit flavors, then arrives at citrus flavors that carry through to a smooth, slightly sweet finish. You’ll also detect a hint of fresh-mown grass. This Sauvignon Blanc is light-bodied and very pleasant.
Most family members preferred the sweeter, fruitier Kim Crawford to the subtler Le Touraine Blanc.
The Zinfandels were perhaps the most complex pairing challenge. My husband decided that my bottle of Three Valleys by Ridge should be part of the tasting, but we weren’t sure what to compare with that excellent bottle. While searching for the Sauvignon Blancs at McKnight & Carlson, I was pleased to stumble across a bottle of Artezin Zinfandel. I’d been looking for this smoky, delicious Zinfandel since I first tried it at the Blue Heron Brewpub in Marshfield. Its juicy and smoky characteristics made it an ideal contrast for the dry, refined Three Valleys.
Zinfandel by Artezin: The Smoky Zinfandel
Varietal: Zinfandel
Vineyard: Artezin
Year: 2006
Origin: Mendocino County
Price: $6.50/glass $16/bottle
This Zinfandel’s bouquet is warm, fruity, and sweet, with a hint of tanginess. It has a wonderful smoky profile. It has a dry mouthfeel but a surprisingly wet, light finish. The wine is light-bodied and smooth, with a profusion of soft berry flavors and a hint of spice. Overall, Artezin’s Zinfandel is a pleasant representative sample of the varietal.
Three Valleys by Ridge: From the Zinfandel Specialists
Wine name: Three Valleys
Varietals: 74% Zinfandel, 11% Petit Sirah, 5% Carignane, 4% Mataro, 3% Syrah, 3% Grenache
Vineyard: Ridge
Year: 2008
Origin: Sonoma County
Price: $60-$75 restaurant, $20 retail
Three Valleys is a rich, smooth, berry-scented wine with dominant Zinfandel characteristics. When tasted, it has a dry mouthfeel and is pleasantly tangy. Its flavor notes include sweet strawberries, tart cherries, and a nice balance of spice. The cherry and raspberry notes are particularly dominant. You may find a hint of of green vegetable flavor. The wine has a long, berry-flavored finish.
Neither of these wines proved very popular with my husband’s family, but they expressed a preference for the fruitier, sweeter Artezin. My husband I weren’t too upset, as their preferences meant that we got to enjoy the majority of a delicious bottle of Ridge Three Valleys Zinfandel.
We closed with the Rieslings. As I suspected, these wines were everyone’s favorite. I chose my old favorite, Snoqualmie Riesling, for its apple notes, and a late harvest Riesling by Washington hills for its pear notes. These wines illustrated the similarities and differences between wines grown in the same valley.
Late Harvest Riesling by Washington Hills: The Pear Riesling
Varietal: Riesling (Late Harvest)
Vineyard: Washington Hills
Year: 2008
Origin: Columbia Valley
Price: $8
Washington Hills offers a sweet Riesling with very strong pear notes. It almost reminds me of the sweet syrup in which pears are preserved. It’s a refreshing, light-bodied wine. Usually, Rieslings in this price range are fairly harsh, but this one was crisp and pleasant. It’s a Late Harvest riesling, which means that the winemaker allows the grapes to freeze on the vine before picking. The practice concentrates the grapes’ sweetness. This Riesling is reminiscent of the Snoqualmie Riesling, which comes from the same region. When tasted side by side, the Washington Hills Riesling has a lighter body and has pear flavor notes where Snoqualmie has apple notes. These wines are equally sweet, and equally delicious.
Riesling by Snoqualmie: The Apple Riesling
Varietal: Reisling
Vineyard: Snoqualmie
Origin: Washington, USA
Price: $9.99
Year: 2009
This Washington riesling has a very mellow, smooth finish, with none of the bitterness sometimes found in dryer riesling. Its flavor is golden, with subtle notes of honey to complement strong notes of apple, pear, and fresh grapes. My first taste (the 2005 vintage) had strong mineral mid-tones that are still present but less strong in later vintages. Some may find this wine too sweet for anything but dessert. This riesling tastes predominantly like apples.
My husband’s mother’s family gathers in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula every fall, usually in September or October. We visit one of two or three traditional supper clubs for dinner, the men (and some of the women) visit the family deer camp, and one family or another makes a huge, delicious breakfast.
Last year, the family considered visiting the Mackinaw Trail Winery, the first winery my husband and I ever visited). My mother-in-law decided that instead, I should prepare a wine-tasting party. Most of the family do not drink wine regularly, and I sensed that I’d probably be working with a “sweet wine” crowd. I decided on three distinct varietals (Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, and Riesling) and chose two bottles from each. Each pair demonstrated two popular varietal-based styles that were easy to compare and contrast. These are the comparisons I chose:
I began with a comparison suggested to me at McKnight & Carlson - French Sauvignon Blanc compared with Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc:
Sauvignon Blanc by Domaine d l’Aumonier: The French Sauvignon Blanc
Wine Name: Le Touraine Blanc
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Vineayard: Domaine de l’Aumonier
Year: 2007
Origin: Loire Valley, France
Price: $13-$20
Domaine de l’Aumonier’s Le Touraine Blanc has a fruit-forward bouquet. I detected hints of lychee, tangerines, and floral notes in the aroma. When this wine is tasted, the citrus notes appear in mid-savor and grow fuller over the course of tasting. The wine’s acidity is excellently balanced with its fruit and floral components, and its citrusy finish is long and pleasant. This wine is slightly mellower than our other selection, the Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc and a touch more subtle in the interplay of its flavor notes.
Sauvignon Blanc by Kim Crawford: The New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyard: Kim Crawford
Year: 2009
Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Price: $16
New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs tend to range from very “grassy” and a little dry to “tropical fruity” and wet. This one sits in the middle of the spectrum. The wine has a very aromatic bouquet. When tasted, the acidity and fruit flavors in this wine balance perfectly. It begins with tangy starfruit and passionfruit flavors, then arrives at citrus flavors that carry through to a smooth, slightly sweet finish. You’ll also detect a hint of fresh-mown grass. This Sauvignon Blanc is light-bodied and very pleasant.
Most family members preferred the sweeter, fruitier Kim Crawford to the subtler Le Touraine Blanc.
The Zinfandels were perhaps the most complex pairing challenge. My husband decided that my bottle of Three Valleys by Ridge should be part of the tasting, but we weren’t sure what to compare with that excellent bottle. While searching for the Sauvignon Blancs at McKnight & Carlson, I was pleased to stumble across a bottle of Artezin Zinfandel. I’d been looking for this smoky, delicious Zinfandel since I first tried it at the Blue Heron Brewpub in Marshfield. Its juicy and smoky characteristics made it an ideal contrast for the dry, refined Three Valleys.
Zinfandel by Artezin: The Smoky Zinfandel
Varietal: Zinfandel
Vineyard: Artezin
Year: 2006
Origin: Mendocino County
Price: $6.50/glass $16/bottle
This Zinfandel’s bouquet is warm, fruity, and sweet, with a hint of tanginess. It has a wonderful smoky profile. It has a dry mouthfeel but a surprisingly wet, light finish. The wine is light-bodied and smooth, with a profusion of soft berry flavors and a hint of spice. Overall, Artezin’s Zinfandel is a pleasant representative sample of the varietal.
Three Valleys by Ridge: From the Zinfandel Specialists
Wine name: Three Valleys
Varietals: 74% Zinfandel, 11% Petit Sirah, 5% Carignane, 4% Mataro, 3% Syrah, 3% Grenache
Vineyard: Ridge
Year: 2008
Origin: Sonoma County
Price: $60-$75 restaurant, $20 retail
Three Valleys is a rich, smooth, berry-scented wine with dominant Zinfandel characteristics. When tasted, it has a dry mouthfeel and is pleasantly tangy. Its flavor notes include sweet strawberries, tart cherries, and a nice balance of spice. The cherry and raspberry notes are particularly dominant. You may find a hint of of green vegetable flavor. The wine has a long, berry-flavored finish.
Neither of these wines proved very popular with my husband’s family, but they expressed a preference for the fruitier, sweeter Artezin. My husband I weren’t too upset, as their preferences meant that we got to enjoy the majority of a delicious bottle of Ridge Three Valleys Zinfandel.
We closed with the Rieslings. As I suspected, these wines were everyone’s favorite. I chose my old favorite, Snoqualmie Riesling, for its apple notes, and a late harvest Riesling by Washington hills for its pear notes. These wines illustrated the similarities and differences between wines grown in the same valley.
Late Harvest Riesling by Washington Hills: The Pear Riesling
Varietal: Riesling (Late Harvest)
Vineyard: Washington Hills
Year: 2008
Origin: Columbia Valley
Price: $8
Washington Hills offers a sweet Riesling with very strong pear notes. It almost reminds me of the sweet syrup in which pears are preserved. It’s a refreshing, light-bodied wine. Usually, Rieslings in this price range are fairly harsh, but this one was crisp and pleasant. It’s a Late Harvest riesling, which means that the winemaker allows the grapes to freeze on the vine before picking. The practice concentrates the grapes’ sweetness. This Riesling is reminiscent of the Snoqualmie Riesling, which comes from the same region. When tasted side by side, the Washington Hills Riesling has a lighter body and has pear flavor notes where Snoqualmie has apple notes. These wines are equally sweet, and equally delicious.
Riesling by Snoqualmie: The Apple Riesling
Varietal: Reisling
Vineyard: Snoqualmie
Origin: Washington, USA
Price: $9.99
Year: 2009
This Washington riesling has a very mellow, smooth finish, with none of the bitterness sometimes found in dryer riesling. Its flavor is golden, with subtle notes of honey to complement strong notes of apple, pear, and fresh grapes. My first taste (the 2005 vintage) had strong mineral mid-tones that are still present but less strong in later vintages. Some may find this wine too sweet for anything but dessert. This riesling tastes predominantly like apples.
14 January 2011
"Tradition" Beaujolais by Domaine Champ Fleury
Wine Name: Tradition
Varietal: Beaujolais “Uncle Pierre”
Vineyard: Domaine de Champ Fleury
Year: 2008
Origin: France, purchased at Cedar Creek Winery
Price: $9
Like most Beaujolais, this wine is light, fruity and warm. It is inky red in color, and has a broad, tart flavor with the barest hint of oak and a sweet fruit finish. The alcohol content is rather high.
My husband said, “you really feel the tanginess in the back of your throat.”
Compared to the other red wines Wollersheim Winery and Cedar Creek Winery offered, we enjoyed the imports from the winemaker’s family better than those bottled on-site. This Beaujolais was no exception.
Varietal: Beaujolais “Uncle Pierre”
Vineyard: Domaine de Champ Fleury
Year: 2008
Origin: France, purchased at Cedar Creek Winery
Price: $9
Like most Beaujolais, this wine is light, fruity and warm. It is inky red in color, and has a broad, tart flavor with the barest hint of oak and a sweet fruit finish. The alcohol content is rather high.
My husband said, “you really feel the tanginess in the back of your throat.”
Compared to the other red wines Wollersheim Winery and Cedar Creek Winery offered, we enjoyed the imports from the winemaker’s family better than those bottled on-site. This Beaujolais was no exception.
02 December 2009
The Wines at Christian’s Bistro: Whites Part 1 Elbling by Margarethenhof Weingut Weber
This wine is characterized by mellow tones of fruit and honey. It is light, crisp, and refreshing. The Elbling grape is actually the ancestor of the Riesling grape, and as a result, this wine has some of the same characteristics as Riesling. Its body is fuller than most Rieslings I’ve had, and the syrupy sweetness that overpowers some Rieslings I’ve tried.
I haven’t been able to find this wine anywhere but Christian’s Bistro. During my search, I learned that Christian’s likes to have exclusive access to its wines. I searched the wine by name online, and it is only found on a German-language site I could not translate. The varietal has also proven elusive. Few wine merchants, even highly knowledgeable merchants like those at McKnight & Carlson Wines & More, are familiar with it. Therefore, I am still searching for a bottle of this delightful wine.
02/20/10 Update: I've found this wine at Festival Foods of Oshkosh, next to the Rieslings in the German wines section. It costs around $10 a bottle.
I haven’t been able to find this wine anywhere but Christian’s Bistro. During my search, I learned that Christian’s likes to have exclusive access to its wines. I searched the wine by name online, and it is only found on a German-language site I could not translate. The varietal has also proven elusive. Few wine merchants, even highly knowledgeable merchants like those at McKnight & Carlson Wines & More, are familiar with it. Therefore, I am still searching for a bottle of this delightful wine.
02/20/10 Update: I've found this wine at Festival Foods of Oshkosh, next to the Rieslings in the German wines section. It costs around $10 a bottle.
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