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

Lesser Known Italian Wines at Brookhaven Wines

Lesser Known Italian Wines 
at Brookhaven Wines

When:  Thursday, September 21st, 2017 - 7:00pm

Bring:  TWITs paid $20/person and everyone brought a potluck side dish to go with the wine

Theme:  Lesser Known Italian Wines - Eddie from Brookhaven Wines curated the wines for us

Menu:
Lamb Bolognese
Gluten-Free Baguette
Bruschetta Spread
Italian Cheese
Salami
Heirloom tomato salad with basil, onion, and balsamic vinegar dressing
Italian Olives
Saksuka
Arancini with spicy tomato sauce

Tasting Notes:
1) NV Cinzia Sommariva Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Superiore
100% Prosecco (Glera), 11.5% alcohol

2) 2014 Benanti Etna Biano
100% Carricante, 12% alcohol
Carricante, grown as alberello (free standing bush). This indigenous vine is cultivated only on Etna. Its name seems to be attributed by the vine-growers of Viagrande because of its characteristics of allowing a good, constant production over the years. The bunches, at ripeness are of average length, usually scattered; the grape is medium-sized with very pruinose skin and a green-yellowish color. 
The pulp is juicy and the taste is simple and sweet.

3) 2015 La Miraja Grignolino D'Asti
100% Grignolino, 13% alcohol
Grignolino is a red-wine grape from the Monferrato hills of Piedmont. The pale red wine that Grignolino grapes produce is a local curiosity (particularly in eastern Piedmont), and its lack of depth and charm means it has very few fans outside the region. The name Grignolino derives from the Piedmontese dialectal term grignolo, which means "pip". It serves as a warning that the variety produces grapes abundant in pips, and therefore tannins. The name does not, however, give any hint as to the grapes' searing acidity. Naturally high levels of tannin and acidity might suggest that Grignolino could rank alongside Piedmont's two most successful red varieties, Nebbiolo and Barbera, whose tannin and acid structure is a key element in their success. But this has not proven to be the case. The absence of warmth and intrigue in Grignolino wines has left the variety as a kind of back-up; it performs a similar role to Dolcetto (a fill-in wine to provide something to drink while the "proper" wines develop in barrel and bottle). If Grignolino had Dolcetto's depth, or if Dolcetto had Grignolino's acidity, things might be quite different, but fate has consigned these two grape varieties to the lower echelons of Piedmont's red wine grapes.  Despite the current lack of demand for Grignolino wines in general, there are two DOC titles devoted to the grape: Grignolino d'Asti and Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese.

4) 2013 Lechthaler Teroldego Rotaliano
100% Teroldego 13% alcohol
Intense ruby red. Bright nose of ripe black cherry, distinct sweet earth and tobacco. Smooth texture with notes of cherries, black raspberry, earth, and a touch of spice with ample acidity and medium tannins. Pairs well with vegetarian dishes, fish, poultry, pork and beef

5) 2008 Isole e Olena Syrah Collezione Privata, IGT
100% Syrah, 13.5% alcohol
"The 2008 Syrah Collezione Privata jumps from the glass with expressive, pungent aromatics and waves of super-expressive dark red/black stone fruits. Mint, sage, tobacco, rosemary and plums all develop in the glass, adding further dimensions of complexity. An intensely floral, savory finish laced with lavender, violets, rose petals and spices rounds things out. At six years of age, the 2008 Syrah remains fresh, vibrant and impeccable in its purity. In particular, the interplay of dense fruit and cooler, varietal Syrah notes is compelling. 94 points"
–Sept 2014, Antonio Galloni - Vinous Media

6) 2010 Tenuta Castelbuono 'Carapace', Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG, Italy
100% Sagrantino, 15% alcohol
"Intense, slightly mature garnet. Pleasurable nose of black berry fruits, orange peel and fine spices. Robust, full palate that is still fairly reticent and supported by a robust structure. Vegetal presence marks the finish. Promising. " Gilbert & Gaillard

Farewell to Marnie at Kaleidoscope Bistro

January TWITs:

When:  Saturday, January 16th, 2016 6:30pm ET

Theme:  Farewell to Marnie at Kaleidoscope Bistro

Where:  

Kaleidoscope Bistro and Pub

Village Place Brookhaven

1410 Dresden Drive Suite 100

Atlanta, GA 30319

          404-474-9600 
Wines:
 We tasted 
"Parallele 45" Cotes du Rhone
Prosecco di Valdobbiadene, La Marca

Champagne, Laurent Perrier 

Prosecco - SOMEDAY in 2010 - Ms. Kat

Prosecco - hopefully SOMEDAY in 2010 - Ms. Kat (the Sept 15 and Oct 15 mtgs were cancelled due to low attendance)

Speaking of sparkling wines - read this article...

Wikipedia: Prosecco is an Italian wine, usually a sparkling white wine.
Pairings: Gorgonzola, Humboldt Fog, or Robiola due Latti cheeses, oysters, melon wrapped in proscuitto, honey, nuts, apples, citrus fruits, roasted pork, sage gnocchi, apple butter, salmon, horseradish relish, etc.
About: made from Prosecco grapes, primarily grown in Veneto region of Italy. Prosecco grapes can also be used to make spumante or frizzante. Prosecco is often used as a mixer for the Bellini or Poinsettia mixed-drink. Prosecco is similar to the French Champagne, but the name Prosecco can only be applied to wine that is made from Prosecco grapes grown in the Valdobbiadene/Conegliano regions of Italy. Dalmation Prosecco is made from dried grapes not fresh ones and is a sweeter wine akin to sherry.

Tasting Notes:
Coming soon