When: Thursday August 17th, 2017 @ 7:00 pm ET
Theme: Arizona Wine Tasting & Blood Into Wine Documentary Viewing - Take a look inside the life of one of Rock music's most mysterious and interesting figures. With winemaking in his blood, multi-platinum recording artist Maynard James Keenan (Puscifer, A Perfect Circle, & TOOL) sets out to bring notoriety to Arizona's burgeoning wine regions. Amidst industry prejudice and the harsh desert terrain, the transition from Rock Star to farmer is an amazing journey.
BRING: Due to the difficulty in procuring these wines, please bring $30/person (cash, check, PayPal or Venmo) for the wine tasting.
Welcome Wine: Gruet Brut New Mexico
1) 2014 Merkin Vineyards Chupacabra Blanca,
Chupacabra Blanca is our white Shape Shifter Kitchen sink blend
• Varietals: 55% Riesling, 45% Sauvignon Blanc
• Vineyard: Buhl Memorial Vineyard in the Kansas Settlement of Cochise County, AZ
• Elevation: 4200 feet
• Handling: Whole cluster pressed; barrel fermented @ 52 degrees
• Aged: Stainless steel
• Winemaker: M.J. Keenan
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Impressions: A good showing of Arizona Riesling. Floral and lime zest nose. Tart like kiwi fruit or a key lime merangue pie, minus the cloying sweetness. A seeming natural effervescence. Would pair well with a butter leaf lettuce salad or mildly spicy cuisine.
2) 2014 Merkin Vineyards The Diddler,
White Blend, Rich seductive palate suitable for hanky panky. Enjoy with a friend.
• Varietals: 55% Viognier, 45% Pinot Grigio
• Vineyard: Buhl Memorial Vineyard in the Kansas Settlement of Cochise County, AZ
• Elevation: 4200 feet
• Handling: Whole cluster pressed; stainless fermented @ 52 degrees. Aged in stainless.
• Alcohol: 12.6%
• Winemaker: M.J. Keenan
• Impressions: The Pinot Grigio here is well balanced with the Viognier. Meyer lemon and orange zest, with mango, mineral and spice. Creamy/velvety with a long finish, Clouds parading across a blue autumn sky. Another day to cherish - snapshot this moment.
3) 2015 Merkin Vineyards Chupacabra Rosa,
Chupacabra Rosa is our pink Shape Shifter Kitchen sink blend
• Varietals: 40% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 30% Mourvèdre
• Vineyard: Buhl Memorial Vineyard, Cochise County, AZ
• Soil: Sandy loam, gravely and sandy clay & silt loam Elevation: 4200ft
• Process: Whole cluster pressed, barrel fermented, aged in stainless & new and neutral French oak.
• Alcohol: 13.7%
• Winemaker: MJ Keenan
• Impressions: The bottle to open when you're not sure what will pair best with lunch or dinner. Great freshness, with tangerine and apricot notes that almost tingle your tongue, and rich, almost like a creamy flan. A stony, crystalline-crisp finish. There are no rules here…enjoy gulping this down to your heart's delight!
4) 2015 Merkin Vineyards Chupacabra,
Chupacabra is our Shape Shifter Kitchen sink blend. This red blend changes from year to year depending on where our Alchemistic inclinations lead us but is usually rooted in French/Alsatian varietals.
• Varietals: 45% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre
• Vineyard: Buhl Memorial Vineyard in the Kansas Settlement of Cochise County, AZ
• Elevation: 4200ft
• Process: Hand picked and sorted; open top and submerged cap fermentation; barrique aged 11 months, new and neutral French oak.
• Winemaker: MJ Keenan
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Impressions: Immediately enticing with scents of desert campfire smoke, leather & spice. Hints of plums and figs, dried apricots, tobacco, creasote and iron. Like a rich visceral and meaty tomato sauce followed later by cherry fruit rollups. Did I mention that it's fun to drink?
5) 2013 Merkin Vineyards Shinola,
Our ITALIAN Red Blend, Currently this bright acid-driven Red is made from Italian clones, including but not limited to Sangiovese, Refosco, Aglianico, Montepulciano, Dolcetto, Barbera depending on the vintage. Recognize the difference.
• Varietals: 44% Sangiovese, 26% Montepulciano, 16% Dolcetto, 7% Refosco, 7% Primitivo
• Vineyard: Luna Rosa Vineyard, Luna County, NM
• Elevation: 4300ft
• Process: Hand picked and sorted; barrique aged 12 months, new and neutral French oak.
• Alcohol: 13.9%
• Winemaker: MJ Keenan & J Bechard
• Impressions: Medium bodied, easy drinking aromatic blend of Italian varietals. Recalls many aromatic memories: pine and cedar forest floor, vanilla, cinnamon, licorice, cherries off the tree, a raspberry thicket, slate chalkboard, fresh bread in the oven. Pair with a chair and that personal journal you always wanted to keep.
6) 2014 Merkin Vineyards Tarzan Red
This is a big hairy old world Iberian beast of a blend. Mostly Tempranillo with a dash of something Iberian depending on the year.
• Varietals: 85% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano
• Vineyard: Buhl Memorial Vineyard in the Kansas Settlement of Cochise County, AZ
• Elevation: 4200ft
• Process: Hand picked and sorted; open top & submerged cap fermentation, barrique aged 11 months, new and neutral French oak.
• Winemaker: MJ Keenan
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Impressions: Violets spring from fallen tree trunks holding leather saddles deep in a shady forest. Campfire smoke; meat on a charcoal grill; savory spices and black olives…comfort. Watching grazing horses in the distance, the first sip brings your palate back to the fore. Mexican chocolate, and cherry pie with a hint of vanilla add to a lingering finish.
