Holiday TWITs and Annual Blanc Elephant Gift Exchange - 2019

Holiday TWITs and Annual Blanc Elephant Gift Exchange - 2019
hosted by Mr Matt & Ms Abbie
Thursday, December 5th, 2019

TWITs should bring $20/pp to cover the cost of the wines.
AND 
1 wrapped gift per person for the Blanc Elephant Gift Exchange.  Recommend gift is $15 or less, doesn't even have to be wine-related.

Theme:  Wines from Wineries affected or near the California Wildfires.  These wines were not easy to get.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/10/29/kincade-fires-destructive-toll-on-sonoma-wineries-vintners/ 

Menu:
Pot Roast w carrots, onions, and mushrooms
Foie Gras

Foie Gras Mousse

Pork & Duck Pate
GF crackers
Sourdough bread bites
Goat Cheese

Cranberry Chutney
Dubliner Aged Cheddar
Crudites
Olives
Nuts

Berry Tart

Tasting Notes:
Welcome Wine: NV Gruet Blanc de Blancs Bubbly - $12.99/bottle at Tower Liquor Store

1) 2018 Alexander Valley Vineyards Gewurztraminer ~$15/bottle @ Brookhaven Wines
Organically grown 13.2% alcohol
Gewurtz =  Spice, Traminer is the varietal, notes of tobacco, fruit, apricots, dry, orange rind

2) 2018 Alexander Valley Vineyards Chardonnay ~ $20/bottle @ Brookhaven Wines
99% Chardonnay 1% Viognier
14% alcohol
tastes French, stone fruits, long finish, stronger than French, not butter more margarine, "I can't believe it's not butter", not getting the apples described on the label

3) 2018 Alexander Valley Vineyards Dry Rose of Sangiovese ~ $16/bottle @ Brookhaven Wines
100% Sangiovese
13% alcohol
smells of candy, honeydew melon, watermelon jolly rancher, viscous, pithy, fresh orange slice w bitter rind, this is actually what you want in a rose! the best rose I've had in a while

4) 2017 Alexander Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon ~ $25/bottle @ Brookhaven Wines
Cabernet Sauvignon 83%, Merlot 12%, Malbec 1%, Cabernet Franc 3%, Petit Verdot 1%
14% alcohol
spicy, yummy, heavier, cherries, tannins, bitterness on finish, wormwood, malort like (Jepson's Malort from Cook County Illinois, wood notes, off a sea ship

5) 2016 Michel-Schlumberger Cabernet Sauvignon Benchland Wine Estate ~ $40/bottle from the winery
87% Cab Sauv, 12% Merlot, 1% Malbec
14.2% alcohol
red berries, dark fruit, leather, velvety on the tongue, damsons

6) 2016 Chateau d’Oupia Minervois Languedoc-Roussillon ~$12/bottle

13.5% alcohol

ok ok it's not from California, but someone brought it to share, so we tasted it.  Yum!

TWITs own Ms Crystal won!!!

TWITs own Ms Crystal won a wine tasting competition Saturday at the Decatur Wine Festival!

Courtesy of Sommify.

“ You had to pick two varieties. And countries they were from. I picked Albarino from Spain for the white. And I went with Nebbiolo from Italy for the red. Apparently I got 3 out of 4 correct. It was a Sangiovese”

“ I could taste prunes on the after taste and thought maybe I was wrong on the Nebbiolo but I didn't have a better guess. ”

TWITs - We Aren't Done Yet - Red Wines from Washington State - October 12th, 2019

TWITs - "We Aren't Done Yet" - Red Wines from Washington State - October 12th, 2019

Hosted by Ms. Vicki
Menu:

• Turkey Chili
• Spicy Cornbread & Regular Cornbread
• Baked Brie
• Pate & Crackers
• Manchego & Crackers
• Foie Gras with Cranberry bread
• Roasted Carrots with Balsamic glaze
• Braised Oxtail Lasagna
• Apple Pie Bites
• Salted Chocolate Bites

Tasting Notes: 
Welcome Wine:  NV Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut - Columbia Valley ~ $13
Varietals:  Blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier,
12.3% alcohol

1) 2016 Andrew Will Merlot - Vashon, Washington, Columbia Valley - $38 @ Ansley Wine Merchant,  100% Merlot,
14.5% alcohol
powdered chocolate, herbacious, baking chocolate, smooth, rustic rough edges, touch of tannins, good starter wine, goes w lasagna perfectly, sage

2) 2014 J. Bookwalter "Readers" Merlot ~ $20 @ Hinton Wine Store
80% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 2% Syrah,
14.8% alcohol,
spicy, peppery, slides across the tongue, dark chocolate, good viscosity, pairs with cheese

3) 2015 Double Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon - $25 @ Toco Giant
14% alcohol
light, fruity, sweetness, fruits, bitter finish, cherries, chocolate, soft, needs food pairing

4) 2015 Sineann Cabernet Sauvignon - Columbia Valley ~$34 @ Ansley Wine Merchant
14.2% alcohol
green chile nose, licorice, toasted coconut, like sun tanning oil, sea oats, volcanic ash on after-taste, burnt, charred wood, graphite, minerality,

5) 2017 Stormchaser - Wild Ride Red Blend - $7 @ Aldi's
13.2% alcohol
no nose, cherry pie, manure, bitter, luscious, soft

6) 2014 Hedges Family Estate - Descendants Leigeois Dupont - Red Mountain Syrah - $28.99 @ Brookhaven Wines
14.5% alcohol
fruit forward, opens up with caramel chocolate, some spice, not too much, delicious, pairs with the turkey chili and cornbread

TWITs (almost) Farewell Party - August 10th, 2019

TWITs (almost) Farewell Party

MENU:

Cheese & Honey 

Caprese Salad 

Ceviche 

Shrimp cocktail in filo cups 

Baked Tomatoes & Bell Peppers

Winey Briny Pickles

Stuffed mushrooms 

Tuscan Rubbed Pork Butt 

Strawberries dipped in chocolate 

La Béte Noir (flourless chocolate cake)

WINES:

NV Gruet Brut 12%

2016 Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs 12.3%

2018 Lynmar Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir 14.1%

NV Albino Armani Extra Dry Rosé 11%

2018 Winesmith Grenache Dry Rosé Santa Cruz Mountains Bates Ranch 12.9%

2016 Anne Amie Amrita Cuvée Williamette Valley 12.7%

2012 Ambyth Estate Syrah Paso Robles 12.8%

2016 Tenuta Di Ghizzano “Il Ghizzano” 13.5%

2012 Schweiger Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Spring mountain Napa 14.9%

2013 Joel Gott “Gott 13” Cabernet Sauvignon 14.1%

2016 Big Six Bourbon Barrel Aged Zinfandel 15.6%

2016 Storyteller “Got Away” Cabernet Sauvignon 14.1%

2017 White Hall Vineyards “Edichi” Monticello dessert wine 17%

PAIRINGS:

Cheese & Honey paired with the 2016 Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs and 2018 Lynmar Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir

Ceviche paired with NV Gruet Brut

Winey Briny Pickles paired with NV Albino Armani Extra Dry Rosé

Stuffed mushrooms paired with 2018 Winesmith Grenache Dry Rosé

Shrimp cocktail in filo cups paired with 2016 Anne Amie Amrita Cuvée

Caprese Salad paired with 2012 Ambyth Estate Syrah Paso Robles

Baked Tomatoes & Bell Peppers paired with 2016 Tenuta Di Ghizzano “Il Ghizzano” 

Tuscan Rubbed Pork Butt paired with 2012 Schweiger Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Strawberries dipped in chocolate paired with 2013 Joel Gott “Gott 13” Cabernet Sauvignon and

2016 Big Six Bourbon Barrel Aged Zinfandel

La Béte Noir (flourless chocolate cake) paired with 2017 White Hall Vineyards “Edichi” Monticello

The World of Alternative White Wines - Saturday March 16th, 2019

The World of Alternative White Wines - Saturday March 16th, 2019
Hosted by Crissy & Steve

We learned about white wines other than Sauvignon Blancs, Chardonnays, and Pinot Grigio.
The wines were curated for the occasion.  TWITs brough $20/pp to cover the cost of the wines.

Tasting Notes:
Welcome Wine:  NV Borrasca Cava Brut ~ $9
12% alcohol, faint nose, dry, light, delicious.
appetizers: strawberries chips, cheese bites, salamis, crackers.

1) 2017 Boutari Santorini Assyrtiko, Greek ~ $20 @ Total Wine Brookhaven

13.5% alcohol, 100% Assyrtiko

very faint nose, not acidic, melon, thick viscosity, full bodied, very clean, great summer wine.

Food pairing:  Salmon and mango with cream cheese on a cracker.  DELICIOUS!

2) 2016 Sandgrube 13 Chremisa, Gruner Veltliner, Austria ~ $20 @ Total Wine

13.5% alcohol, Gruner Veltliner is the varietal

dry, high acid, very green, medium viscosity, 

Food Pairing:  Homemade Mac n Cheese, garnish with tomatoes or onions and bacon. YUM!

3) 2015 Le Salse Belisario, Verdicchio di Matelia, Italy ~ $20 @ Whole Foods

12.5% alcohol, Verdicchio is the varietal

viscous, green, fresh, almost like a French Chardonnay, moldy cheese like bleu, briny, some bitterness, minerality, woody notes, a nice harshness, a little more grippyness (?) more jagged on your tongue.

Food Pairing:  Pho with a dumpling - FanTASTIC!  I would never have thought to pair an Italian wine with Pho but it works, the basil in the pho really compliments the wine!

4) 2016 Marcel Servin Chablis, France ~$25 @ CostCo

12.5% alcohol, Chardonnay is the varietal (yeah yeah we know we said no Chardonnay but just taste it!)

white burgundy, dried fruit, honey, low acidity, creamy mouth feel.

Food Pairing:  Prosciutto wrapped asparagus

5) 2016 Susana Balbo Crios Torrontes, Argentina ~$15 @ Total Wine

13/5% alcohol, Torrontes is the varietal

smells like almost bad wet laundry but not bad yet, funky, muscadine, spicy, pithy, Hing spice ?

Food Pairing:  Jerk Shrimp. WOW!

6) 2016 Conundrum, California ~ $20

13.2% alcohol, white blend (winery secret)

citrus notes, dry then sweet finish,

Food Pairing:  Chick pea, Coconut, Basil salad.  delicious!!!

7) NV Skyriver Sweet Mead, Washington State ~ $18.99

10.5% alcohol

sweet honey wine, the sacred drink of the gods, descended from heaven then by bees, etc.

bubblegum nose, strawberry flavored lip gloss from Claire's.

Food Pairing:  Tortilla Espanol (potato tortilla with berbere spice - an Ethiopian spice)

Salmon and mango with cream cheese on a cracker

The Mac n Cheese with garnishes of Tomatoes or onions & bacon.  YUM!

Chick pea, Coconut, Basil salad 

and

Tortilla Espanol (potato tortilla with Berbere (an Ethiopian spice)

Prosciutto wrapped asparagus

Jerk Shrimp

All the yummy foods!

Wines of Portugal and Blanc Elephant Gift Exchange - December 1st - hosted by Abbie & Matt

Wines of Portugal and Blanc Elephant Gift Exchange - December 1st - hosted by Abbie & MattWHEN:  Saturday, December 1st - 7 pm

THEME:  Wines of Portugal

BRING:  1) TWITs should bring $20/pp cash (or Venmo, Paypal, etc) to cover the cost of the wine.  AND 2) Each person attending should bring 1 wrapped gift under $15 for the Blanc Elephant Gift Exchange.  The gift does not need to be wine related.  We had some hilarious ones last year.

Portugal is a European country and part of the Iberian Peninsula.  Portuguese wine is the result of traditions introduced to the region by ancient civilizations, such as the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, and mostly the Romans. Portugal started to export its wines to Rome during the Roman Empire. Modern exports developed with trade to England after the Methuen Treaty in 1703. From this commerce a wide variety of wines started to be grown in Portugal. 

While there are 250 varietals in Portugal and many wine regions, we will focus on a sampling of these.  Tonight we will taste wines from Vinho Verde, Alentejo, and Porto e Douro.

The appellation system of the Douro region was created nearly two hundred years before that of France, in order to protect its superior wines from inferior ones. The quality and great variety of wines in Portugal are due to noble castas, microclimates, soils and proper technology.

• QWPSR or VQPRD  - Quality Wine Produced in a Specific Region (QWPSR) or VQPRD - Vinho de Qualidade Produzido em Região Demarcada

• These are the most protected wine and indicates a specific vineyard, such as Port Wine, Vinhos Verdes, and Alentejo Wines. These wines are labeled D.O.C. (Denominação de Origem Controlada) which secures a superior quality.

• IPR - Wines that have more regulations placed upon them but are not in a DOC region fall under the category of Indicação de Proveniência Regulamentada (IPR, Indication of Regulated Provenance)

• Regional Wine - Vinho Regional Carries with it a specific region within Portugal.

• Table Wines - Vinho de Mesa carries with it only the producer and the designation that it's from Portugal.

Tasting Notes
Welcome wine:  NV Broadbent Vinho Verde $10.99 @ Brookhaven Wines
WINEMAKERS: Bartholomew Broadbent in collaboration with partners in Portugal.  The way to make a proper Vinho Verde is to suppress the malolactic fermentation and inject carbon dioxide at bottling to give the wine its characteristic spritz. We use pneumatic presses for gentle pressing to extract the free run juice and fermentation is around 16°C, which gives a slow fermentation that protects the character of the Loureiro grape. We use a special yeast QA21 which was developed in our vineyards and is now used all over the world. It gives a special character to our wines, which are produced at Quinta de Azevedo.  Bursting with tongue-tingling, spritzy, lemon zest & white peaches
GRAPES: 50% Loureiro, 40% Trajadura, & 10% Pedernã
ALCOHOL: 9%
REGION:  Vinho Verde - This region is mainly in the Minho province and is in the extreme north-west of Portugal. Vinho Verde derived its name from the fact that the grapes used are 'green' meaning slightly under-ripe. Vinho Verde wines are now largely exported, and the most exported Portuguese wines after the Port Wine. The most popular variety in Portugal and abroad are the white wines, but there are also red and more rarely rosé wines.
PAIRINGS: Creamy rice with hunks of cod or monkfish, or shrimp. White Vinho Verde is high in acidity, which makes it ideal for pairing with all forms of seafood, particularly when complimented by a rich sauce or a coating of fried breadcrumbs; pork and potato dishes would also work, etc.

2) 2014 Terra d'Alter Alfrocheiro (Alentejano) $17.99 @ Brookhaven Wines
WINEMAKER:  Peter Bright
GRAPES:  Alfrocheiro is sometimes called the Pinot Noir of Portugal for its smooth, red cherry flavors and sometimes earthy character. Those attributes are found in this cherry-flavored wine with its bright acidity and fruitiness. The whole effect is spoiled by a green edge that shows tight tannins at the end.
ALCOHOL:  14%
REGION:  Alentejo – This region’s wine is produced from grapes planted in vast vineyards extending over rolling plains under the sun which shines on the grapes and ripens them for the production. Some producers of this region still do wine in great potteries as in Roman times
PAIRINGS:  accompanies red meats, roast beef and grilled meats

3) 2013 Terra d’Alter Reserva Tinto $21.99 @ Brookhaven Wines
WINEMAKER:  Peter Bright
GRAPES:  30% Trincadeira, 30% Tinta Caiada, 20% Aragonez, 15% Alicante Bouschet and 5% Petit Verdot.
ALCOHOL:  15%
REGION:  Produced from grapes from the highest region of Alto Alentejo
PAIRINGS:  Beef, Venison, etc.

4) 2013 Quinta Das Carvalhas Douro Tinto $14.99 @ Total Wine
WINEMAKER:  Real Companhia Velha (the oldest wine company of Portugal)
GRAPES:  60% Touriga Nacional, 20% Touriga Franca, 20% Tinta Roriz (Single Estate Varietals, vines are post-phylloxera and a century old).  Decant before drinking
ALCOHOL:  14%
REGION:  Douro (left bank of the Douro River, in Pinhao)
PAIRINGS:  Cold cuts, cheeses

5) NV Porto Kopke Fine Tawny Port $19.99 @ Brookhaven Wines

WINEMAKER:  Pedro Sa, Kopke existed even before there was a Demarcated Region of the Douro. Established in 1638, the oldest Port wine house built an impeccable reputation based on the highest quality. A leader in the production of Port Tawny Colheita wines, including white port, Kopke has a remarkable range of special category Ports, also producing excellent DOC Douro wines.

GRAPES:  Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Tinto Cão, Touriga Franca

ALCOHOL:  19.5% 

REGION:  Douro.  Port wine vines need to grow in schist rich soil and require a specific micro-climate. It is produced through a unique vinification method. The red varietals are the most common. The wine is produced in the beautiful landscape of the Douro Valley in Alto Douro region, a region that is classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. The wine is exported from the city of Porto, thus acquiring the name Porto (or "Port" in English-speaking countries). There are several varieties of Port wine: some of the most popular are the Tawny, White, Ruby, and Late Bottled Vintage (L.B.V.).

PAIRINGS:  blue cheeses, desserts with caramel, coffee, apricots and dried fruits. caramelized nuts, tiramisu, hazelnut meringue pie and brie cheese.

To pair with the Port (dried fruits, buttermilk blue cheese)

Bring Your Favorite Holiday Wine - November 17th - Hosted by Kathy & Jamie

Bring Your Favorite Holiday Wine - November 17th - Hosted by Kathy & Jamie

WHEN:  Saturday, November 17th - 7 pm

THEME:  Bring your favorite Holiday Wine - aka TWITsGiving!

Our hosts provided a smorgasboard of food including crudites, fromages, charcuterie, crackers, that amazing BLT dip, a turkey, cranberry sauce, baked brie, chex mix, brussel sprouts, roasted veggies, quiches, chocolates, tarts, and fruits.

This was a great way to discover some new wines that we could serve/drink during the holidays.  

BRING:  TWITs should bring 1 bottle of their favorite holiday wine (could be for any winter holiday, as we are approaching that time of year), within the suggested price range - $20/bottle for singles, up to $40/bottle for couples.

TASTING NOTES:  
1)  Welcome Cocktail:  Prosecco, cranberry juice, raspberries, w/a mint garnish.

2) NV Deutz Champagne Brut Classic  - $40 @ Greenes on Ponce
12% alcohol
sparkling, yummy, reminds me of Schramsberg, I love it!  Exactly what you want with a Champagne.  This was selected by Alexis, he says his family drinks it every year in France for the holidays.

3) 2009 Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvee Brut - $37 @ wine club direct
12.5% alcohol
67% Pinot Noir, 33% Chardonnay 
slightly funkier nose, delightful, crisp, green apple, honey, stone fruit, citrus, black cherry, bright acid, long finish with meyer lemon zest.

4) NV Franciacorta Ronco Calino 'Radijan' Brut Rose - $34 @ Savi Provisions
13% alcohol
This is my JAM!

5) 2017 Clos de la Roilette Beaujolais - $25 @ Brookhaven Wines
13% alcohol
100% Gamay
French! "Nothing screams Fall like a Beaujolais!"  it's a turkey wine!

6) 2016 Stoller Oregon Pinot Noir - $27 @ Wahoo Wines
13.5% alcohol, Dundee Oregon
100% Pinot Noir
Guessing Pinot Noir, red fruits, strawberry, lingering finish, delicious

7) 2015 Gloria Ferrer Carneros Estates Pinot Noir - $50 @ winery direct
13.9% alcohol 100% Pinot Noir
jammy, peppery, olive brine, white pepper, cinnamon, a little bit o'cherry on the nose, very slight fireball on the end, Gravel Knob vineyard (RH had a funny joke about the meaning of Knob where he's from).

8) 2010 David Coffaro Zinfandel - $20 bought from a friend's cellar
15.9% alcohol, Russian River Valley
75% Zinfandel, 25% Petite Sirah
plum and spice (baking spices not pepper), cinnamon, winter spice, almost raisiny, "Imma chew on this one!" cola on the end.

9) 2014 Yoakim Bridge Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley - $20 bought from a friend's cellar.  14.8% alcohol
more alcohol, heat on it, earthy, chewy, pepper bomb, more fruit, love it!

10) 2016 Fortunati Napa Zinfandel - $38ish @ wine club direct
15.5% alcohol
light red, berries, that berries, gravel, dust, gravelly knobs (ha ha), brambly