Some of the early Friday crowd
I n his weekly newsletter Roger pointed out that “there are just 10 countries producing 80% of the wine on the planet ….France, Italy and Spain. They produce almost half of all the wine produced in the world.”
Luckily he didn’t stick to just those. He also visited Germany, Australia and the US. I stopped by on Friday afternoon and I have to admit one reason was the MollyDooker. I generally don’t buy MollyDooker wines because being a cheap wine bastard they are too expensive for me. I only buy their wines when I’m in the doghouse and hope it will be my get-out-of-jail card.
I consider a $8 tasting a bargain when I can try the MollyDooker Maitre D’. It did not disappoint. This was the nicest wine I’ve tried in some time and I’ve had some nice wines lately. I know their 2015 is older than the northern hemisphere’s 2015 vintages so it’s not fair to compare the current 2015’s hitting the market to this one. I’m sure there are some 2015’s out there that match it but I don’t have the deep pockets to find them.
I was glad to see a 2014 Zin on the list. I wasn’t impressed with the 2012 vintages of any label. 2013 was slightly better. I’m glad to see 2014’s hitting the market. This one, Manifesto Lodi Zinfandel, was very nice but it had a flavor I’m not used to. I detected a hint of watermelon, something I never taste in a red. But I enjoyed it. At $13.99 I might have to break my $10 limit for this one.
On the white side I liked the St. Urbans Hof Estate Riesling because I was in the mood for a slightly… and I mean slightly, sweet white. I like to sip a glass …. one glass I add … of a nice smooth slightly sweet white every now and then. More than one glass then I lose interest especially if I’m nibbling. The Maso Canali Pinot Grigio was the kind of white that has a touch of minerality and earthiness but with some nice fruit to balance it. That I like to drink when nibbling.
Nice little tasting. And it was Roger’s birthday. I had everyone sing to him. He turned 29 today…. again.
Where: Vineyard Wine Market (map), 4414 Evans to Lock Road, Evans, GA. (706) 922-9463
When: Friday, August 19, 2016, 4:30-6:30PM. Saturday, August 20, 2015, 3 to 6 pm.
Cost: $8
Here are the wines to be presented (click to see more):
- St. Urbans Hof Estate Riesling 2014
- Maso Canali Pinot Grigio 2015
- DeMorgerzon DMZ Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2015
- Chateau Les Granges Bordeaux 2012
- Manifesto Lodi Zinfandel 2014
- MollyDooker Maitre D’ 2015
Invalid Displayed Gallery
Here are the detailed wine notes:
St. Urbans Hof Estate Riesling 2014 | Mosel, Germany
A classic representative of Mosel Rieslings. Our Gutswein opens with the delicate aromatics of refined fruits. Artfully balancing sweetness with acidity, it fuses freshness with filigreed minerality to deliver a simple, sincere white wine for every day.
Website
Cost: $16.99
Maso Canali Pinot Grigio 2015 | Trentino, Italy
The artful stitch of a fine leather bag. The sleek edge of a handcrafted table. We know luxury is in the details. That’s why we stay so close to our wine, from the vineyard to the bottle. Maso Canali Pinot Grigio is a study in meticulous attention to detail.
We craft this wine in Trentino—the birthplace of Italian Pinot Grigio—in an elegant, crisp style, with citrus aromas and floral notes. It is at once delicate and rich, refreshing and complex, understated and grand. A palate of ripe nectarine is matched by a plush mouthfeel, culminating in a crisp, dry finish.
Website
Cost: $15.99
DeMorgerzon DMZ Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2015 | Stellenbosch, South Africa
This wine has a pale, bright gold colour with green reflections. Upfront aromatics of passion fruit and citrus greet the nose following through to a rich palate yielding ripe fruit flavours with a nettle edge. A brisk acidity and stony minerality give natural freshness and length.
Website
Cost: $12.99
Chateau Les Granges Bordeaux 2012 | Bordeaux
A wine fit for a king that won’t break the bank. This wine is of a deep garnet color with a nose of ripe red fruit discreet, blackcurrant and toast. Round mouth and light, with a hint of freshness, gives pride to the fruit. Château Les Granges is fully expressed with a roast beef on red pepper and browned potatoes. 40% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc.
Website
Cost: $12.99
Manifesto Lodi Zinfandel 2014 | Lodi, California
Rising star winemaker, Jamey Whetstone, made his mark as Assistant Winemaker at Turley Vineyards before launching his own Whetstone Wine Cellars. Behind the scenes he co-founded Manifesto, a wine for the people, taking his boutique winemaking practices and applying them to everyday priced wines. In 2012, Alcohol by Volume became a partner in Manifesto. Now we’re on a mission to bring the revolution to the world.
2014 marks the third vintage in a row (count ‘em!) that Mother Nature has seen fit to grace California with another banner harvest. Once again we got off to a warm, early start to Spring and enjoyed a fairly mild summer with a handful of heat spikes between late May and early August. Normal yields across the board led to a mid-August harvest and some perfectly ripe grapes.
The Manifesto Zinfandel is beautifully ruby red in color, with high tones of bright fruit, raspberry, and blueberry on the nose. On the palate, this Zin is full of spice, red fruits, oak, and currant.
Website
Cost: $13.99
MollyDooker Maitre D’ 2015 | Australia
The newest vintage. Blackberry, cherry, and coffee on the nose with all the beauty of a classic Cabernet. The palate is full and generous, with intensified flavours becoming evident as it lingers in the glass. A soft and supple mouthfeel gives way to polished tannins and delivers a silky smooth Cabernet Sauvignon that is rich and profound.
Website
Cost: $26.99
