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Last spring while sorting out wine from our restaurant days, we unearthed a case of Baglio Di Pianetto 2002 Piana Del Salici Merlot from Sicily.  Coincidentally, just days before discovering the wines I received an invitation to join a press trip that included a two-day visit to Baglio Di Pianetto! How perfect! It was an amazing trip that took place at the end of June and was filled with breathtaking scenery, expressive wines and outstanding cuisine. Baglio Di Pianetto knows how to entertain!    Please click on the following link to read my story about the winery, its history and their 100% organic wines. http://thewineknitter.com/1/post/2018/07/day-658-viaggio-in-sicilia.html In addition to tasting a multitude of their impressive wines, I had the opportunity to drink the Salici Riserve 2012 IGT Sicilia 100% Merlot. Here are my notes: The aromas are intense with notes of dark berries, cherry, floral, and cloves. The wine is full-bodied and the palate is layered with dark raspberry, blackberry, plum, anise and subtle spices. The finish is long and jammy with velvety tannins. Superb!  So with that in mind, I opened the 2002 IGT Piana Del Salici Merlot today.  The color is deep garnet bordering on tawny. The aromas are of fig, dried fruit and hints of dark fruit. The palate is at the end stage of tertiary flavors such as cooked blackberry, earth, and savory with a hint of sour cherry and caramel. Unfortunately, this particular bottle did not hold up as well as some of the others in the case. Although I didn’t taste the other wines, I was told that they were still vibrant with dark fruit and subtle spices. I look forward to opening the remaining bottles with the hope of a more positive outcome!  Until next time…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com My last story brought us to Cognac, France. Today, we’re traveling a little further south to Bordeaux, specifically to the Pomerol wine-growing commune and A.O.C.  Pomerol is situated on the right bank of Bordeaux at the junction of the Isle and Dordogne rivers. It is comprised of 813 hectares of A.O.C. vines and has approximately 150 wine estate owners. Pomerol is one of the smallest areas for wine production in the Bordeaux region, producing approximately 350,000 cases of red wine per year. Merlot dominates these Bordeaux blends and is the main grape variety grown here, along with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Due to its distance from the sea, Pomerol has a more continental climate rather than a maritime influence experienced by Medoc. The soil here is a mixture of clayey and sandy gravel with iron oxides that tends to give the wines rich and expressive character. Situated on one of the highest plateaus in Pomerol is the 26-hectare vineyard of Château Gazin. Louis Soualle became the owner of Château Gazin at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, his descendants represent the 5th generation of vineyard owners here.  Photo credit: Château Gazin The Château Gazin vineyard is composed of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc and the average age of the vines are 35 years old. The terroir has subsoils of blue and green clays and iron oxide which make up the bulk of Château Gazin terroir.  Subsoils of blue and green clays and iron oxide, Photo credit: Château Gazin The vines are treated with organic fertilizers and the grapes are harvested by hand. Once the varieties are blended after fermentation, the wines are aged for 18 months in 50% new French barrels. In honor of my friend’s birthday, I decided to open my last bottle of Château Gazin Pomerol 1989.  The wine was vibrant and didn’t really need to be decanted except to remove some sediment.  The color was deep red with satisfying aromas of berries, dark cherries, spice and earth. The palate offered rich flavors of dark cherry, plum and hints of licorice. This was a very smooth and velvety wine. It did not disappoint! And, I think the guest of honor was quite pleased!
It’s always fun to open noteworthy wines for special occasions, but I also love opening them for a “just because” kind of day! Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com It was a beautiful summer evening and I was off to a block party.  Guess what I was responsible for bringing? Wine, of course! Since I had recently received two 1.5L bottles of Frontera Chardonnay and Frontera Cabernet-Merlot, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to taste and share them with my friends and neighbors.  Frontera wines are made by Concha y Toro, world-renowned wine producers from Chile. Concha y Toro wines are no strangers to my blog and I have tasted and reviewed many of their brands. Their Frontera label is an entry–level line with a variety of wines that are nicely focused, easy to drink and have a definite appeal to the millennial crowd. However, the wines that I brought to the party were enjoyed by a wide range of generations! The Frontera 2016 Chardonnay is pale yellow with pleasant aromas of apple, pear and citrus. The palate offers apple, tropical fruit and hints of wood. It is light and refreshing.  Alcohol: 13% SRP: $12 for 1.5L bottle The Frontera 2016 Cabernet-Merlot has a color that borders on purple. This is not a complex wine and it leans toward the fruity side. The nose offers dark berries, plum and vanilla that segue onto the palate. Soft tannins and a medium finish make this an easy wine to pair with foods.  Alcohol: 12% SRP: $12 for 1.5L Check out this link for interesting cocktails and sangria to make with these wines. http://www.virtualcookingschool.com/tag/frontera/ Have a very Happy Wine Wednesday!
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com  As I sit here waiting for “Blizzard Stella” to arrive, I’m reminded of another blizzard that took New York by “storm” in 1996 and dumped over 22 inches of snow. The Blizzard of 96’ has the distinction of being included in the list of the 10 biggest snowstorms in NYC history! Will “Stella” make this list? It certainly could according to the latest snowfall predictions! And speaking of lists, the 1996 Chateau Pavie Macquin, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru is included in the list of best vintages of this Chateau. And one can truly understand why. This is an amazing wine and I express gratitude to my friend who shared it with me.  Chateau Pavie Macquin is located in Saint-Émilion on the right bank of Bordeaux. Agricultural engineer Albert Macquin purchased the Chateau in 1887. Macquin is known for producing more than a million plants that were less susceptible to chlorosis and who is at the origin of using the grafted plant to help eradicate the phylloxera epidemic, saving his vineyard as well as the entire Bordeaux region! He also developed scientific vine plot monitoring. Albert’s three grandchildren and great grandchildren now own the chateau.  Albert Macquin Photo courtesy of Chateau Pavie Macquin This Bordeaux blend is Merlot dominant with 25% Cabernet Franc. We decanted the wine, but didn’t wait to start enjoying it. As a rule Bordeaux wines reach their peak 10 to 12 years following the vintage. After 21 years in the bottle, this wine drank beautifully! It still had a lot of character and intensity. Aromas of dark fruit, cherry and hints of spice were present. The palate offered rich black fruit, spice and silky tannins. The finish was long. Although the wine had lost some of its complexity, it was still an impressive pour. http://www.pavie-macquin.com  As I watch Blizzard Stella roar through here tomorrow, I’ll be reveling in the winter wonderland from my sofa with a snifter of cognac, a roaring fire and a good book!  Happy Monday!
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com  A few days ago I posted a story about Teton Glacier Vodka along with a photo of the bottle. Since then, Teton Vodka reposted the story and photo including an explanation of the bottle’s history, clearing up the age of the vodka for me. This is the original decanter bottle packaging from their 1996 launch! So, this bottle has been hiding in my house for quite a long time! And what’s more amazing is that the vodka is still good! Read my last post for the review. The other evening I opened my last bottle of 2011 D'Isanto & D'Isanto I Balzini Black Label Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT. I reviewed this wine a few months ago and it was every bit as good and consistent in flavor this time. My review of this wine is the same as last time. The wine is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot. “Aromas of dark berries, spice and cocoa were present. The wine had a rich mouthfeel with concentrated berries, dark cherry, plum, licorice and dark chocolate on the palate. As the wine opened over the course of the evening the flavors became more intense. The tannins were soft and the finish was long with cherry and pepper lingering.”  I paired the wine with a delicious Spaghetti Zucchini Shrimp dish accompanied by homemade bread. It was perfect!  Have a great Wine Wednesday! What will you be drinking?
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com  Hopefully everyone has been enjoying the holidays so far. All the wonderful posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram certainly depict the joy, love and celebrations that are going around!  I have been doing my fair share of celebrating, dining and wining as well and is the excuse for my absence here for a few days! I have much to catch up on, but the holiday season is far from over, so my posts will be spread out over the next week or so.  To get the season off to a fun start, I had dinner with a friend prior to Christmas at a lovely French restaurant. We ordered a bottle of 2009 Rombauer Napa Valley Merlot that carried us through appetizers and entrees. This elegant Merlot is blended with 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petite Verdot. The color is dark ruby with enticing aromas of dark berries, plum and black cherry. The palate offers juicy notes of blackberry, plum and oak with smooth tannins and a silky mouth-feel. The wine paired beautifully with the appetizer of Mini Pumpkins filled with Mousseline, Wild Mushrooms and sautéed shrimp and the cod and lobster entrees. Koerner and Joan Rombauer founded Rombauer Vineyards in 1980 with first, second and third generation family members running it today. An interesting note: Koerner’s great aunt was Irma Rombauer, author of the “Joy of Cooking”. http://www.rombauer.com Whatever you’re celebrating, I hope it’s filled with love, laughter, family and friends!  Happy Monday! Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at wineknittercomments@gmail.com
 With the much-needed rain pouring down, it’s a perfect time to catch up on writing and sample a few wines. Let’s travel to Italy. Astoria Wines is located 50 miles north of Venice in one of the most beautiful wine-growing regions, the Veneto. This northeastern region of Italy stretches from the Dolomite Mountains to the Adriatic Sea. The Alps and the sea protect the region from harsh northern winds which in turn provide ideal conditions for growing grapes and producing wine. Astoria Wines is owned by the Polegato family and represents four generations of winemaking. The first winery, Vinicola Polegato, was established in the 1950s. Several decades later, Vittorino Polegato found an ideal location in the heart of the DOCG area to launch the next stage of the family business, the Val De Brun estate in Refrontolo. In 1987 Vittorino renovated an old 18th century home and converted it into Astoria’s headquarters. Giorgio and Paolo Polegato, (Vittorino’s sons) along with the next generation of Polegatos, led by Filippo, Carlotta and Giorgia, uphold the family name and winemaking tradition.  Photo courtesy of Astoria Wines Although Astoria Wines is noted for being the largest private producer of Prosecco DOCG in Italy, their portfolio includes Pinot Grigio, Moscatos (both red and white), Pinot Noir and a Red Blend.  The first thing I noticed when unpacking the wines was the unusual shape of the bottles. The packaging is eye-catching and original. The 2014 Alisia Pinot Grigio I.G.T is light yellow in color with intriguing aromas of fruit, floral and stone fruit. This 100% Pinot Grigio surprises the palate with fruit, peach and lemon. It is medium-bodied and dry but still fruity and nicely balanced. The long lemon zest finish is a treat! This wine would pair well with pasta, cheese & fruit, grilled vegetables and light fish. Alcohol: 12.5% SRP: $11  The 2012 Primo Rosso Red Blend I.G.T is made with 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Pinot Noir and 20% Merlot. The color is dark ruby. It is quite aromatic with berries, herbs and spice tickling the nose. The palate offers red berries, fennel, pepper and hints of plum. The finish has hints of cocoa and dark cherry. Medium-bodied with soft tannins make this an easy wine to pair with most foods. Alcohol: 13% SRP: $11  The wines are priced well and would make great little gifts to give out at holiday time. Keep a few bottles around for that spur of the moment party as well!
Next stop might be New Zealand. Stay tuned! Happy Friday! Cheers! Penina  I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I certainly did! Family and friends filled up my home with good cheer as well as the wonderful aromas of food emanating from the kitchen.  As usual, I made more food than was necessary and now I will have fun getting inventive with all the leftovers. Of course I overdid it with the desserts, so perhaps I’ll put together little dessert packages for a few people today.  Two wines graced the Thanksgiving table yesterday. We opened a 2013 Acrobat Pinot Noir from Oregon and a 2011 I Balzini Black Label. Both wines complemented the meal from appetizers to dessert. I reviewed the I Balzini a few weeks ago. You can read it at http://thewineknitter.com/1/post/2015/11/day-375.html The Acrobat Pinot Noir comes from the King Estate Winery, founded in 1991. The color of the wine was cherry red with aromas of expressive berries and spice. The palate offered smooth and velvety flavors of cherry, plum and cranberry with hints of oak and spice. The finish was long. https://www.kingestate.com It’s a beautiful day and time to start changing the décor inside and outside to acknowledge the upcoming holidays.
Have a great Friday! Cheers! Penina It was a long but productive Wednesday. I managed to squeeze in a photo shoot, meet with clients and write a story. By the time I got home it was dark…and not even 6:00 pm yet! Ugh!  While waiting for my dinner guest to arrive, I opened a bottle of 2011 D'Isanto & D'Isanto I Balzini Black Label Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT. After having tried and reviewed their White and Red Label, I was anxious to finally taste the Black Label. Made with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this bold wine was the color of deep purple. Aromas of dark berries, spice and cocoa were present. A quick sip and swirl upon opening, told me this was going to be a treat. The wine had a rich mouthfeel with concentrated berries, dark cherry, plum, licorice and dark chocolate on the palate. As the wine opened over the course of the evening the flavors became more intense. The tannins were soft and the finish was long with cherry and pepper lingering. I think the Black Label is my favorite so far! You can read more about these wines on my previous posts: Day 347 9/22/15 and Day 230 3/19/15. http://www.ibalzini.it  In anticipation of traveling a lot over the next few months, I finally got my flu shot this week. If you plan to travel by plane, subway, train, etc., I would suggest protecting yourself, by getting a flu shot soon!
Happy Thursday! Cheers! Penina  I was in a store the other day and not only were there displays for Halloween and Thanksgiving, but they had twinkling Xmas trees as well! Retailers need to take it down a notch and chill. Let’s enjoy the day and not get too ahead of ourselves! Life goes by fast enough without having to plan so many months in advance for the holidays.  Speaking of “chilling”, I had a lovely and relaxing dinner the other evening with a few friends. As we sat outside in the crisp autumn air with the fire pit keeping us warm, we sipped on 2011 Shafer Merlot from Napa. It is 76% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. It was full-bodied and the color was what I like to call “passionate purple”. It had inviting aromas of black cherries, dark fruit, spices and a touch of musk. The wine was dense and heady with licorice, dark cherries, spice and herbs on the palate. There was a hint of pepper as well. The finish was long and well balanced. It paired well with the grilled root vegetables and swordfish. http://www.shafervineyards.com  Here is a little trivia: Merlot is the most widely planted grape in the Bordeaux region. The name is derived from the French word “merle”, which means “young blackbird” and refers to the dark blue color of the grape. I need to put some finishing touches on two knit pieces that are being displayed in an upcoming art show. I hope to have photos tomorrow to show you.
Happy Friday! Cheers! Penina |
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