First Friday Tasting-Wine World-Nov. 7

T ime for First Friday. Good time to start looking for those holiday wines. Six wines featured, 3 white and 3 reds. Don’t forget those cheeses.
Where: Wine World, 133 Georgia Ave., North Augusta, SC
803-279-9522

When: Friday, Nov. 7, 2014, 5 to 8 pm
Cost: $5, with rebate on the purchase of 1 bottle of the featured wines.
Here are the brews presented (click to see more):

1. Villa Pozzi Pinot Grigio
2. Morning Fog Chardonnay 2012
3. Robertson Gewürztraminer Late Harvest 2011
4. Chateau Les Ancres Bordeaux 2010
5. Ernst & Co Pinotage 2011
6. 365 Blackberry Semi-Sweet “Noah’s Fruit”

Here are the detailed brew notes:
Villa Pozzi Pinot Grigio | Sicily
Aromas of rose with notes of honeysuckle. The fruit is well-balanced with good lemon-lime acidity giving a silky body and a rounded,refreshing finish. Goes with everything. Seafood. Salads. Chicken. Spicy Asian Chicken Thighs. A wonderful “crowd-pleaser” at a good price.
Morning Fog Chardonnay 2012 | Livermore Valley, California
An exceptionally lovely Chardonnay with very subtle oak influence. Aromas & flavors of green apple & tropical fruit with spice notes with rich texture and balancing acidity. Refreshing finish. (50% barrel fermented in neutral oak and 50 % fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve the natural Chardonnay fruit flavors; aged sur lie for 7 months for complexity & texture.) Certified sustainable farming practices. Wente was founded in 1883, its proud winemaking legacy is now in its sixth generation with winemaker Karl Wente. Chicken thighs braised in wine with leeks & cream. Fresh corn casserole with Gruyere.
Winery Website: Wente Vineyards
Robertson Gewürztraminer Late Harvest 2011 | South Africa
Sumptuous honeysuckle and rose petals in the bouquet. Rich and smooth. Beautifully balanced sugar and acid given added interest by a touch of honeyed botrytis, an earthy complexity, and nuances of exotic spice. Complements chicken, turkey, seafood. Goes well with curry. Excellent with Asian spicy dishes. A splendid match for lighter sweets. A favorite Thanksgiving Day wine.
Winery Website: Robertson
Chateau Les Ancres Bordeaux 2010 | Bordeaux, France
An outstanding Bordeaux value. Shows delicious ripe red-berry fruits with a lively, long finish. Toasty oak notes. The grape blend is 68% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, & 2% Cabernet Franc. (2010 vintage won a coveted gold medal in the Vinalies International 2012 competition.) Roast Chicken. Herbed Pork Loin. Great match for roast beef, steaks, beef stew. Lamb. Venison. Vegetable casseroles. Cheeses.
Ernst & Co Pinotage 2011 | Western Cape, South Africa
This Pinotage gives us rich flavors of bluberry, raspberry & plum with hints of dark chocolate, smoke & leather. It has a soft texture and a fruit-filled finish. 9 months in French oak (2nd use) adds complexity. (This uniquely South African wine is a cross between Pinot Noir and Hermitage (Cinsault) developed in the 1920s. Rich meat stews. Braised Lamb Shanks. BBQ, Grilled meats & vegetables.
Winery Website: Ernst & Co
365 Blackberry Semi-Sweet “Noah’s Fruit” | Armenia
Lucious blackberry fruit fills the aroma and flavors of this semi-sweet fruit wine. Slight hints of raisin and toast frame the ripe fruit and add complexity. This is a fun wine with many possible uses. Great match for meats with dark fruit salsas and/or use this wines as a marinade and baste. Venison and game. With lightly sweet desserts or by itself with cheese & fruit at the end of a meal. So good with so many of our traditional holiday treats.