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T he great thing about wine tastings is you meet really nice people. Wine lovers tend to be people who know how to slow down and enjoy life. It helps when you have some nice wines to sample along with them. Tonight there was a variety of flavors and tasting experiences from a smooth slightly sweet Riesling to a bold Pinot Noir.
At Monday night’s In-Shop tasting at Ninth Street Wine Market I met several tasters who I enjoyed meeting. One gentleman says he is new to the area after living for several years in North Carolina . While living there he said he visited all 150 wineries in North Carolina. Now that is a wine lover.
The other was Dr. Joe who has a very discriminating palate. His comparison of the two Sauvignon Blancs of the evening was very enlightening pointing out how much more fruit was available in the Justin Sauvignon Blanc from California as compared to the Chateau Grand Renom White (100% Sauvignon Blanc) which is from the region where the grape was made famous. He really enjoyed the Robin K Chardonnay because it had a taste of flint, something he appreciates more that the usual buttery California Chardonnays.
My simple palate really enjoyed the Justin Cabernet Sauvignon. A nice oaked cab that has a variety of flavors that balance nicely as it starts out oaky with dark fruit to a more light sweeter fruit at the finish. A very nice wine to end the evening.
Where: Ninth Street Wine Market
12 Ninth Street, Augusta, GA 30901
When: Monday, October 1, 2012, 5:30-7:30 pm
Cost: $10 per person.
Here are the wines to be presented (click to see more):
- Justin Sauvignon Blanc 2011
- Landmark Overlook Chardonnay 2010
- Landmark Grand de Tour Pinot Noir 2007
- Justin Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
- Su Yeun Riesling 2009
- Chateau Grand Renom White
- Robin K Chardonnay
- Backstory Merlot
- Kitfox Foxy Red
Here are the detailed wine notes:
Justin Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Appearance: Starbright, with a pale straw color with green highlights Aroma: An alluring mix of lime, grapefruit, green apple, pear, citrus flower and blackcurrant bud Palate: Balanced and clean with lemon-lime and guava on the entry, a mid-palate of white peach and passionfruit, and a touch of minerality and green apple on an amazingly crisp and refreshing finish. A perfect pairing with pear and goat cheese crostini, calamari fritti or on its own as a refreshing summer sipper.–From their Website
From: Paso Robles, California
Winery: Justin
Year: 2011
Landmark Overlook Chardonnay 2010
On the nose, the wine has notes of brioche, preserved lemon, vanilla, and white peach. This unfiltered medium weight Chardonnay features flavors of citrus, sweet oat straw, grilled nectarine, and white chocolate followed by nutmeg spice and a hint of oak toast.
Suggested Food Pairing | This well-structured wine will pair well with seafood entrees, roasted poultry dishes and even spicy Asian cuisine. –From their Website
From: Sonoma County, California
Winery: Landmark
Year: 2010
Landmark Grand de Tour Pinot Noir 2007
The 2010 Grand Detour is an elegant blend of five Sonoma vineyards: Flocchini Vineyard, Kanzler Vineyard, Spring Hill Ranch, Armagh Vineyard, and Juul Vineyard. Landmark has focused its attention on the Sonoma Coast appellation for sourcing the fruit that goes into each year’s Grand Detour. This region benefits from the cooler climate that proximity to the Pacific Ocean affords. Since Pinot Noir is an early ripener, the cooler the site, the longer the growing season. A longer growing season allows the grapes to attain better overall structure and thoroughly mature tannins. This translates into rich and full-bodied wines with silky mouthfeel, a hallmark of well-crafted Pinot Noir.
On the nose, the 2010 Grand Detour Pinot Noir shows wild strawberry, plum and anise notes along with grilled portabella mushroom. In the mouth, the wine unfolds to show ginseng and blood orange along with balanced acidity and silky tannins.
Suggested Food Pairing: This elegant and well-balanced wine will be a good accompaniment to lamb, salmon and mushroom accented dishes.–From their Website
From: Sonoma Coast, California
Winery: Landmark
Year: 2007
Justin Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
The appearance is bright with a deep ruby core and violet rim. The aroma is an attractive mix of red and black fruit of currants, cherry and blackberry layered with spicy notes of anise, vanilla and with a subtle cedar character from an American oak influence. The palate is complex with bright fruit of blackcurrant, cherry, and boysenberry mixed with licorice and subtle cedar notes on a long finish along with some mineral and cherry candy notes supported by smooth rounded tannins.–From their Website
From: Paso Robles, California
Winery: Justin
Year: 2010
Su Yeun Riesling 2009
Composed of 100% Riesling grapes grown in the cool climate of Monterey County, the juice is fermented in stainless steel until the wine achieves an off-dry level of sweetness. This wine offers beautiful aromas of tropical fruit and ginger, a crisp, refreshing edge of green apples and minerals, and lush, juicy flavors of pineapple, peaches and lime. A succulent white wine with just a touch sweetness. Perfect accompaniment to spicy dishes, strong cheeses and Asian cuisine.–From their Website
From: Geyserville, California
Winery: Francis Ford Coppola Winery
Year: 2009
Chateau Grand Renom White
100% Sauvignon Blanc. Fresh and fruity on the nose with hints of apricot and lemon. Peach and citrus flavors on the palate make for a crisp, well-balanced wine. Enjoy as an aperitif with hors d’oeuvres, or with seafood entrees.–From importer Website
From: Bordeaux, France
Winery: Chateau Grand Renom
Robin K Chardonnay
This Russian River Chardonnay is honed in classic Burgundian style. Sixteen months of aging in 30% new French oak yielded bright, expressive wine with well-articulated flavors of lemon custard, tropical fruits, and orange blossom. The viscous, firmly-structured palate adds notes of nutmeg, ripe lemons and spicy oak, all merging in an elegant finish. The balance of this wine makes it incredibly versatile with your favorite dishes, and demands creative food pairings.–From their Website
From: Russian River, California
Winery: Robin K Wines
Backstory Merlot
Smooth and ripe, with a strong floral note running through the cheery and spice flavors. Finishes with finesse.–From the evening’s tasting notes.
From: California
Winery: Back Story
Kitfox Foxy Red
Arguably our best Foxy yet, we used the best fruit from all over California to put this masterpiece together. Only from KitFox will you see such a unique blend with roots in France, California, Spain and Portugal. Darker than Jack Nicholson’s sunglasses this wine is so rich and saturated with gobs of dark berry and fruit flavors it is hard to put your finger on it but here goes… Black cherry and Dragon Fruit make up this wines hedonistic core with floral aromatics of violet and rose. It’s as big and beautiful as a hug from Dolly Parton–From their Website
35% Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa Valley, 25% Syrah – Dry Creek, 15% Zinfandel – Dry Creek, 10%, Grenache- Paso Robles, 10% Touriga Nacional – Paso Robles, 5% Tempranillo – Paso Robles
From: Napa, California
Winery: Kit Fox
