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Whether you are searching for a holiday gift or a tasty sip to pair with a meal, I recommend the following five wines from Argentina, Italy, Oregon, Washington, and Virginia to add to your shopping list!  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Unánime Signature Malbec 2018 Mascota Vineyards is located in La Consulta, San Carlos, a small wine-growing sub-region in the southern Uco Valley of Mendoza, Argentina. Winemaker Rodolfo Sadler founded Mascota and has crafted wines for over 30 years. This 100% Malbec is aged for 14 months in French oak barrels.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Nose: Violets, fresh red fruit, and baking spice. Palate: Bing cherries, red plum, with a hint of dark berries and subtle notes of dark chocolate, espresso, and pepper on a lengthy finish. Smooth and balanced with complex layers. Alcohol: 14.5% SRP: $40 Pairing suggestions: Hearty stews, roasted meat, fowl, or mushroom risotto. Intrinsic Red Blend 2021 Intrinsic Wine Co is a Washington state wine brand created by Juan Muñoz Oca, head winemaker at Columbia Crest, and his team. Columbia Crest and Intrinsic are both owned by the largest wine company in Washington, Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. According to available information, the Intrinsic Red Blend 2021 is a blend of Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon, originating from the Columbia Valley region of Washington state.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Nose: Lovely notes of raspberry, dark cherry, and sweet plums, along with hints of violet, tobacco, and herbs. Palate: This rich and juicy blend shows off notes of chocolate, espresso beans, and pepper that blend well with ripe fruit. Silky tannins and well-balanced acidity lead to a long finish with spice and berries lingering on the palate. Alcohol: 14.5% SRP: $20 Pairing suggestions: Sip on its own or head to the dessert table with your glass! FIOL Prosecco DOC Extra Dry FIOL (pronounced FEE-yol) means “son” in Venetian dialect and “chap” in English. FIOL was founded in 2011 by Gian Luca Passi and co-founder Giovanni Ciani Bassetti. They are childhood friends who grew up surrounded by Prosecco. “Most local winemakers have been drinking sparkling wine for 50 years and need an extraordinarily strong bubble to really feel it. We wanted something gentler, more subtle, more fruity.” says Gian Luca Passi.” This sparkling wine is 100% Glera. Prosecco DOC requires a minimum 30-day secondary fermentation in tank. This wine remains in tank 40 days for extra depth and complexity.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Nose: Green apples, a touch of white flowers, and citrus. Palate: Smooth bubbles with emphasis on the grape. It is crisp and refreshing with notes of apple, pear, minerality, and a touch of lemon zest. Alcohol: 11% SRP: $19 Pairing suggestions: Enjoy as an aperitif, in cocktails, or with appetizers, entrees, and dessert! Appassionata Andante Pinot Noir 2017 J. Christopher Winery, located in northern Willamette Valley, Oregon, is owned by iconic winemaker Erni Loosen, creator and owner of Germany’s Dr. Loosen and Villa Wolf estates. Following his passion for Pinot Noir, Erni set his sights on J. Christopher, eventually purchasing 40 acres and planting the Appassionata Vineyard. The grapes for this 100% Pinot Noir are sourced from 33-year-old vines in the Dundee Hills appellation. The wine was aged for 20 months in French oak barriques (25% new). The wine is released five years after vintage. Andante means ‘gently, unhurried.’  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Nose: Exotic flowers, brioche, red berries, red plums, baking spice, herbal notes, and a whiff of orange. Palate: This is a lively wine that balances delicate and savory. Silky texture with bright cherry, pomegranate, baking spice, and orange zest. A long and tasty finish awaits. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $135 Pairing suggestions: Roasted fatty fish such as salmon, stuffed artichokes, duck, grilled meat, venison, and most cheese. Early Mountain Rise 2021 Early Mountain Vineyards is owned by Jean Case, who started the company in 2012. They are located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Madison, Virginia, with more than 55 acres of planted vineyards. Rise is reserved for only the finest vintages with specific selections from exceptional mountainside vineyards. It is a beautiful blend of 58% Merlot, 17% Petit Verdot, 15% Tannat, and 10% Cabernet Franc. The wine is aged for 20 months in French oak barrels (52% new) and 18 months in bottle prior to release. If properly stored, this wine will drink well from 2024-2050.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Nose: Floral, dark berries, plum, cedar, baking spice, and forest floor.
Palate: A perfect dance of structured tannins merging with acidity leads to an elegant wine. Aromas segue onto the palate with lingering notes of chocolate, spice, and decadent berry pastries on a long finish. Alcohol: 14.8% SRP: $150 Pairing suggestions: Hearty stews and soups, roasted red and white meat, mushroom risotto, pasta, seared tuna, charcuterie board, and spinach quiche. I hope these wines have aroused your curiosity. Your palate will appreciate it! Happy tasting! Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] Many tend to drift toward white or rosé wines as the temps begin to climb. However, red wines should not be overlooked during the summer months. Many light-bodied to full-bodied reds are ideal for sipping outdoors while enjoying grilled fare. For instance, unoaked or lightly oaked red wines tend to be lighter and fruitier. And slightly chilling many red wines for no more than 30 minutes can enhance the flavors, minimize the focus on alcohol, and make the wine more refreshing.  Photo credit: Kelsey Knight on Unsplash I recommend staying below 14% in alcohol content when choosing a wine to drink outside on a hot day. Alcohol is a diuretic that contributes to dehydration. And when combined with outside heat, which leads to sweating, one can become dehydrated quickly. Therefore, it is also essential to drink water and stay hydrated! I have chosen five red wines that range from 12.5% to 13.5% alcohol and can be enjoyed with whatever is sizzling on the grill. These wines pair beautifully with grilled red and white meats, game, fowl, tuna, and veggies. And if it’s too hot outside, bring your picnic and wine indoors, and sip away!  Photo credit: Vincent Keiman on Unsplash Trapiche Oak Cask Wines Trapiche Winery is located in Mendoza, Argentina. Grapes for this collection are sourced from vineyards situated 2500 ft above sea level. The wines are aged for nine months in oak barrels. Trapiche Oak Cask Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 This wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Nose: Dark berries, cherries, and spice. Palate: Ripe blackberry, plum, spice, chocolate, and toasty notes with smooth tannins. Nice finish with a hint of tobacco lingering. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $8.99  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Trapiche Oak Cask Malbec 2021 This is 100% Malbec wine. Nose: Dark cherry, plum, spice, and vanilla. Palate: Ripe dark berries spill onto the palate with a creamy mouthfeel and notes of pepper on a sweet finish. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $8.99  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Saget La Perrière Saget La Perrière is a family-run company located in the Loire Valley, France. With 890 acres of vines in the finest appellations and six estates, it carries on the tradition of nine generations dedicated to producing the best wines. La Petite Perrière Pinot Noir 2020 This 100% Pinot Noir is mainly sourced from the Saget family’s estate vineyards in Touraine (Loire Valley), and part of the blend is sourced from the South of France through long-term partners. Nose: Cherry, floral, earthy Palate: Blueberry, dark plum, cherry, and balanced acidity with a fruity and long finish. Alcohol: 12.5% SRP: $13.99  Photo credit: Penny Weiss San Felice San Felice estate is located in the heart of Chianti Classico territory in Tuscany, Italy. The estate covers an area of more than 650 hectares in the municipality of Castelnuovo Berardenga, at an altitude of about 400 meters above sea level. Over 140 hectares are devoted to wine vineyards, with about 17,000 olive trees, experimental plantations, and a hotel complex. San Felice Il Grigio Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2018 Grapes for this 100% Sangiovese are sourced from the San Felice estate. 80% of the wine is aged for 24 months in 60 or 90 hectoliters in Slavonian oak casks, and 20% is aged in 225-liter French barriques, followed by nine months or so in the bottle. Nose: Floral, red berries, dark cherry, and earth. Palate: Fresh red fruit spills onto the palate with spice, floral, a hint of herbs, and a lovely balance of acidity and smooth tannins. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $27  Photo credit: Penny Weiss J. Christopher Winery This winery is located in northern Willamette Valley, Oregon, and is owned by well-known winemaker Erni Loosen, creator and owner of Germany’s Dr. Loosen and Villa Wolf estates. Following his passion for Pinot Noir, Erni set his sites on J. Christopher, eventually purchasing 40 acres and planting the Appassionata Vineyard. J. Christopher Medici Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018 The grapes for this 100% Pinot Noir are sourced from one of the oldest vineyards in the Chehalem Mountains appellation, and it is just a few miles east of the winery. The oldest blocks were planted in 1976, and in 2015 the vineyards were converted to organic farming. This wine was aged 18 months in barriques (25% new) and is unfiltered. Nose: Strawberry, floral, stone, and a trace of baking spice. Palate: Succulent red berries, cherry, vibrant minerality, and spice. Smooth and well structured with a long finish. Alcohol: 13.5% SRP: $60  Photo credit: Penny Weiss In addition to the above wines, Grenache, Cabernet Franc, and Gamay make excellent grilling partners.  Photo credit: Kamil Kalbarcz on Unsplash Until next time…
Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] In case you haven’t heard, Willamette Valley AVA in Oregon is an ideal place for growing and producing cool-climate varieties of wine, in particular, its award-winning Pinot Noir, which the region is best known for. Other grape varieties that do well here include Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling.  Photo courtesy of Willamette Valley Wineries Willamette Valley is located in western Oregon and is Oregon’s largest AVA stretching over 150 miles long and 60 miles wide. It borders the Columbia River to the north and runs south to the Calapooya Mountains outside Eugene. Willamette Valley has seven appellations within its borders and has the largest concentration of wineries and vineyards in Oregon. There are approximately 23,524 vineyard acres planted and it is home to 564 wineries.  This is a cool-climate, maritime region named after the Willamette River that runs through the heart of it. The region is cushioned from Pacific storms on the west by the Coast Range and borders the Cascades to the east with a series of hill chains to the north. Willamette Valley enjoys a long and gentle growing season with warm summers and cool evenings. This diurnal temperature variation allows the grapes to slowly develop flavor and complexity while retaining their natural acidity. Many of the region’s vineyards are planted on hills consisting of soil derived from an old volcanic and sedimentary seabed. The major soils are marine sedimentary, volcanic and windblown loess. Jory, (red volcanic soil) is the most common soil here and runs four to six feet deep allowing for excellent drainage for these quality wine grapes. Ponzi Vineyards Ponzi Vineyards is one of Oregon’s original winegrowers and will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. It began with a passion for wine and a spirit for adventure that motivated Dick and Nancy Ponzi to purchase 20 acres southwest of Portland in 1970. As founder Dick Ponzi said, “it was about the adventure of doing something we truly believed in.”  Dick and Nancy Ponzi Photo courtesy of Ponzi Vineyards Having moved to Willamette Valley with their young family in the 1960s, they did extensive research to find an ideal location to make world-class Pinot Noir. By 1974, the first barrels of Pinot Noir were produced. Over the next 30 years, Ponzi purchased more vineyards in premium appellations while winning awards and recognition for their wine.  For over 25 years now Dick and Nancy’s daughters, President and Director of Sales and Marketing, Anna Maria and Winemaker & Co-owner Luisa have continued their parents’ legacy with the methods, philosophies and winemaking passion established 50 years ago. Anna Maria and Luisa acquired ownership of the winery in 2012 and it became one of the country’s few sister-run wineries and one of Oregon’s few second-generation wineries.  Anna Maria and Luisa Ponzi Photo courtesy of Ponzi Vineyards Today, Ponzi has over 140 acres of family-owned vineyards, which are LIVE Certified Sustainable. (Low Input Viticulture & Enology) It is the world’s highest standard for sustainable viticulture and enology. “Driven by the concept that the varietal must match the terroir and climate, Ponzi Vineyards continue to set the bar for Oregon.”  Ponzi Estate Photo courtesy of Ponzi Vineyards I was very excited to receive a bottle of Ponzi’s Pinot Noir Reserve 2016. Luisa Ponzi said, “I would liken 2016 to the 2006 vintage where we saw lush, beautiful wines with unexpected elegance and acidity. Truly, a stellar vintage for Oregon.”  Photo credit: Penny Weiss Ponzi Pinot Noir Reserve 2016 Grapes for the Reserve were sourced entirely from Laurelwood soils in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. Selected barrels are from Ponzi’s prized Aurora, Abetina and Avellana Vineyards, which make up the majority of the blend with a few barrels from Linda Vista Vineyard. This wine did not go through filtration and was aged for 20 months in French oak barrels (30% new) and then aged for an additional five months in bottle before release.  Photo credit: Penny Weiss This wine has a ruby-red color with succulent notes of red fruit, cherry, raspberry, violets, baking spice, chocolate and hints of earth on the nose. It is silky and beautifully structured with concentrated layers of red cherry, pomegranate, red plum, refined tannins, and a touch of graphite on the palate. Hints of candy apple, chocolate, nutmeg and a dash of white pepper linger on a long finish. Drink now or hold for a few years.
Alcohol: 14.4% SRP: $65 I used my Coravin system to pour a glass of this heavenly wine and I plan to cellar the bottle for a year or so before popping the cork. However, I might be tempted to open it much sooner! Until next time… Cheers! Penina To leave a comment or if you have an inquiry, please contact me at [email protected] The arctic blast is upon us and as I sit here sipping peppermint tea, I’m thinking that hot toddies, Irish coffee, spiked cocoa and hot buttered rum are the go to drinks for the next few days. Any hot drink can be transformed into a festive and interesting alcoholic beverage that will warm you and your friends up! If you’re not the creative type, there are a host of recipes to be found on the Internet.   As much as I wanted a hot drink while visiting with friends last night, I was more than happy with the 2012 Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Noir that they served. This Pinot Noir is from the Eyrie Winery in Williamette Valley, Oregon. It is a blend of 84% estate grown Pinot, and 16% is sourced from the Cattrall Brothers, Pearl, and Bishop Creek Vineyards. The color is bright red with intoxicating aromas of dark fruit, cherries, spice and a touch of earth. The palate offers intense layers of dark cherry, dark berry, rich spice, and raspberry coupled with a savory and fruit driven finish. This is a silky and medium-bodied wine with lively acidity and is beautifully balanced. This wine is a true gem! Pairs well with most any food such as fish, meat, fowl, pasta, stews and chocolate desserts! http://www.eyrievineyards.com Alcohol: 13.5% Stay warm and have a great Thursday!
Cheers! Penina |
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