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!