I was greatly disappointed that I could not stop by Wine World tonight. The Drops of Jupiter Red and J Lohr “Wildflower” Valdiguie are some of my favorites. The Valdiguie is a popular wine at tastings. It’s been featured at 8 different area tastings since Bottle Report was founded.
I wanted to try the Casillerio del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc. I’ve enjoyed several of the reds from the “Cellar of the Devil” for many years but have never tried their white wines. This white sounds like it would be something that would appeal to me. If you don’t know about where the name comes from, Don Melchor, founder of Concha y Toro winery created a rumor in 1891 that the devil lived in his cellar to keep strangers away from his private reserve.
Next up for Wine World is a Wines of Southern France on Friday, August 15, 2014 at 7PM. Jean Pierre Chambas will be the host. Better make your reservations now. And don’t forget their Third Thursday tasting on August 21.
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Where: Wine World, 133 Georgia Ave., North Augusta, SC
803-279-9522
When: Friday, August 1, 2014, 5 to 8 pm
Cost: $5, with rebate on the purchase of 1 bottle of the featured wines.
Here are the wines to be presented (click to see more):
- Casillerio del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc 2013
- Underraga Chardonnay / Riesling 2012
- Blüfeld Riesling 2013
- J Lohr “Wildflower” Valdiguie
- Trivento Cabernet Sauvignon / Malbec 2012
- Drops of Jupiter Red 2012
Here are the wine notes Sally provided to tasters Friday night:
Casillerio del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc 2013 |Casablanca Valley, Chile
Here’s an exceptionally good value in Sauvignon Blanc. Bright & fresh! Big citrus & grassy aromas lead to delicate fruit flavors: peach,citrus & grapefruit with notes of green pepper and flinty minerality. Nice acidity for a refreshing finish. Enjoy it by itself as an aperitif or with seafood, fish, chicken, vegetables, Pasta with artichoke hearts & pesto. Summer squash with green chilis and cheese.Perfect hot weather “refresher.”
Winery Website: Concha y Toro
Underraga Chardonnay / Riesling 2012 | Valle Central,Chile
This appealing white is a blend you don’t see often: 85% Chardonnay, 15% Riesling. Exhuberant ripe fruit aromas suggest pears & apricots. Soft creamy texture carries through to a smooth finish. Aperitif. Roast chicken. Shrimp with fennel & feta. Risotto with peas, salami and sage. Pork loin with fruit salsa or baked with peaches.
Winery Website: Underraga
Blüfeld Riesling 2013 | Mosel Valley, Germany
Medium-sweet, yet crisp and refreshing. Blüfeld offers aromas of citrus and peach with floral notes. Flinty fresh with a juicy mid-palate, balanced acidity and a lingering finish. The blue slate in the Mosel valley adds an intriguing minerality to the wine. Aperitif, sushi, spicy Asian dishes, smoked meats & fish. German style dishes. Roasted onions with proscuitto & Parmesan. Chicken in Orange Sauce. White Stilton with Lemon Zest or with Mango & Ginger.
J Lohr “Wildflower” Valdiguie | Monterey, California
A wonderfully appealing light-bodied red made from the Valdiguié grape, a grape originally from the southwest of France. It is now almost unique to Jerry Lohr’s windy, cool Arroyo Seco properties in Monterey County, where it produces a wine reminiscent of the ‘Crus’ of Beaujolais – Morgon, Fleurie and Moulin-a-Vent. Wildflower is a vibrant, red-purple in color with bright aromas and flavors of boysenberry, Bing cherry, pomegranate, and raspberry. The luscious fruit and lingering acidity make this wine ideal as an aperitif. Pairs very well with many foods. Grilled salmon. Great summer Summer Grilling wine. Serve slightly chilled.
Winery Website: J Lohr Vineyards & Wines
Trivento Cabernet Sauvignon / Malbec 2012 | Mendoza, Argentina
The grapes for this 50%- 50% blend are hand- harvested, vinified separately by variety and aged for six months in French oak.
“Deep ruby red in color, with powerful plum and red fruit aromas upfront which combine harmoniously with hints of vanilla from the oak aging. Well-structured on the palate, with fleshy tannins and a pleasant, persistent finish.”—from the website. Earthly with slight herbal notes and generous currant and dark cherry fruit, this wine is a great match for grilled meats & spicy sauces. Bring on your burgers with tasty cheeses or steaks with chimichurri sauce. Vegetable kebobs. Stuffed mushrooms. Robust cheeses.
Winery Website: Trivento
Drops of Jupiter Red 2012 | California
This fruit-forward, full-bodied red blend is the product of a collaboration between Jimmy Stafford of the rock band Train and winemaker James Foster at Concannon. It’s a Petite Sirah-based blend with soft,supple tannins and rich blackberry, boysenberry fruit. The wine is produced under the label of the Save Me San Francisco Wine Company (which makes donations to Family House Inc). (Their Chardonnay is named for another Train song “Calling All Angels,”) Give ’em credit for knowing where to go for really good Petite Sirah. Concannon is a first-rate PS producer (and the first California winery to produce a Petite Sirah as a separate varietal), This an affordable beauty with big fruit and beautiful flavors. Hearty dishes. Steaks, burgers. lamb kebobs, moussaka, ratatouille, grilled eggplant. Eggplant lasagna. Dark, dark chocolate cake. Aged Gouda. One of our very favorites!
Winery Website: Save Me, San Francisco Wine Co.
