Third Thursday Wine World-Dec. 15

Event: A lively crowd packed Wine World for their Third Thursday tasting, sipping on six great wines and three cheeses. Everyone seemed to be having a great time. There were several outstanding wines, but clearly one of the favorites was the Gruet Blanc de Noirs, a Champagne-style sparkling wine from New Mexico. It recently was named one of the Wine Spectator’s top 100 wines of the year, and at $15.99 it was a steal.
Where: Wine World, 133 Georgia Ave., North Augusta, SC
803-279-9522

When: Thursday, December 15, 2011, 5 to 8pm
Cost: $5 per person with rebate on purchase of a featured wine.

Here are the wines presented (click to see more):

1. Gruet Brut Blanc de Noirs
2. Hanna Sauvignon Blanc 2010
3. Haut Marin Gros Manseng 2010
4. Dom. de Chateaumar Cuvée Bastien Grenache 2009
5. Cholila Ranch Malbec 2010
6. Kenwood Jack London Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Here are the detailed wine notes:
Gruet Brut Blanc de Noirs
What: Elegant, focused, yet rich. Beautiful flavors of raspberry, pear, apple. 75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay grown at over 4,000 feet elevation.
A long-time Wine World favorite. Very food friendly. A wonderful sparkling wine. Yes, New Mexico. (Gruet, a French émigré family, has a tasting room at the northern edge of Albuquerque, but their vineyards are near Truth or Consequences, NM.) Yes, Wine Spectator “Top 100.” WS has at last given this wine the recognition it deserves! Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Most Exciting Wines of 2011, No. 43, Dec 31, 2011 issue
From: New Mexico
Winery: Gruet

Hanna Sauvignon Blanc 2010
What: Full aromas of grapefruit, pear, herbs, and fresh grass. Fresh lemony flavors of herbs and citrus with a bright, clean finish. One of the very best California Sauvignon Blancs we’ve had recently.
From: Russian River Valley, California
Winery: Hanna
Year: 2010
Goes with: Wonderful with shellfish, flounder or sole filet. Roast chicken. Pork Loin in cream sauce. Leek & potato soup with broccoli. Bruscetta with Greek yoghurt (or goat cheese) with Mediterranean seasonings.

Haut Marin Gros Manseng 2010
What: This terrific white wine from Gascony (SW France) is crisp & bright, with flowery and slightly lemony aromas, nice hint of minerality. Pear and apple flavors with hints of pineapple. Medium body. Lingering finish.
From: Gascogne, France
Winery: Haut Marin
Year: 2010
Goes with: Very food friendly. Sautéed sea scallops in a white sauce. Fish fillets cooked in foil packets with Cajun succotash. Spicy Asian. Salads. Aperitif.

Dom. de Chateaumar Cuvée Bastien Grenache 2009
What: Old vine, single vineyard Grenache. Deep, nearly opaque purple, with aromas of blackberry, hints of eucalyptus, black pepper, and anise. Full and bright flavors of red raspberries, blueberries and blackberries with touches of spice finishing with ripe tannins and a lingering finish.

From: Côtes du Rhône, France
Winery: Domaine de Chateaumar
Year: 2009
Goes with: Match with something spicy, smoky, or rich. Braised pork roast with carrots & onions, grilled red meats, sausages. Gruyere.

Cholila Ranch Malbec 2010
What: A handsome 100% Malbec with lots of fruit. Nicely balanced with great length. A truly powerful yet balanced wine with a persistent finish. This is a wine named for the Ranch formerly owned by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. From Importer Fran Kysela: 2009 Cholila Ranch Malbec is made from 100% Malbec. The estate-grown grapes are manually harvested, carefully sorted, and destemmed. The wine undergoes traditional maceration for 21 days with selected yeasts. Cholila Ranch Malbec is aged both in American and French oak for 9 months, followed by a minimum of 6 months bottle aging prior to release. Deep purple color. Aromas of ripe plum and mulberry with violet hints. Ripe black fruits and fig on the palate with touches of smoke and vanilla.

From: Patagonia, Argentina
Winery: Cholila Ranch
Year: 2010
Grapes: 100% MalbecGoes with: Indulge in a really good steak with mushrooms. Venison stew. Portobello mushrooms.

Kenwood Jack London Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
What: A sensational big red from the Sonoma vineyard owned by Jack London at the beginning of the twentieth century. The blend of 99% Cab Sauv and 1% Merlot is big, earthy and complex with aromas and flavors of red currants, figs and dried cherries and a hint of spice, mint, and even — chocolate covered cherries. A rich mouth feel, elegant tannins and a beautifully balanced finish. Delicious now, this Cabernet will continue to develop and improve for at least a decade.
From: Sonnoma, California
Winery: Kenwood
Year: 2007
Goes with: Fine match for hearty main dishes, including steak, lamb, venison and other roasted meats. Aged Gouda.