Ukrainian Wines & Food - April 30th, 2022

Ukrainian Wines & Food - April 30th, 2022 - hosted by Abbie

Theme:  Ukrainian Wines & Food

Russia launched a full-scale military invasion into Ukraine on February 24, 2022, fighting has caused over nine hundred civilian deaths and pushed millions of Ukrainians to flee to neighboring countries. More information on the conflict here.  We stand with Ukraine and join the United Nations, G7, EU, and other countries continuing to condemn Russian actions and support Ukrainian forces.  I am appalled to also learn that Russia is forcing deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.  Stealing children?  It is sickening. 

I felt a need to assist in some way.  Yes, donating money is one way, which many of us have done.  However, what else can we do?  War brings about many other casualties, sometimes even cultural extinction.  We have seen this in history many times.  I sincerely hope this will not happen.  In any case, I wanted to bring awareness and understanding of Ukrainian culture, learn about it myself, and perhaps find new ways to help.  So, the TWITs will do what we do best:  experience their wines, their food, and music.  

Trying to find Ukrainian wines in the Atlanta area was nearly impossible.  I contacted nearly every boutique wine shop in town, and also checked with my contacts among local distributers and importers.  Nobody was able to procure much of anything for us (2 bottles of sweet wine were the only options).  Not willing to give up on this challenge, I turned to the internet and began searching.  I finally found two sites which had Ukrainian wines in stock and would ship to Georgia.  Special thanks to https://tipxy.com/ and BestBuyLiquors.com.  Both sent me wines via FedEx.  I was able to procure wines from Chateau Chizay and Shabo.  

The next step was to find Ukrainian food to pair with the wines.  Unfortunately, I could not find any local Ukraine restaurants, although I did find a few Russian ones.  I have read their cuisine is very similar.  I am not boycotting any local Russian restaurants.  However, I opted to order a cookbook  so we could create the food ourselves.  I felt it was a better way to experience the culture. Chateau Chizay in particular, has an onsite restaurant which prepares foods to pair with their wines (of course).  While the website is translated in English, the menu was not.  I did a rough google translate to figure out some of the dishes.  They also had a few menu items on their site translated with photos, so that was helpful also.  

Ukraine has a origins of winemaking dating back to the 4th century BC (in Crimea), going back 2500 years back in the present-day Odesa region.  

"Chateau Chizay is one of the most important wineries of Ukraine. The historical region of Transcarpathia is located in the Western Ukraine, in the area of Carpathian Mountains where Ukraine borders Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. Here the mild sun light is wonderfully combined with optimal rainfall amount, and Carpathian Mountain landscape covers the vineyards from northern winds. Soil, full of minerals and micronutrient elements adds a unique taste to the grapes, and wine gains a very special nature." - from their website

"Shabo Wine Culture Center is located in a resort area in the Odesa Region, southern Ukraine – one of Europe’s oldest regions where winemaking traditions are dated as far back as the ancient times. Shabo Wine Culture Center is the only tourist complex in Ukraine located right on the premises of an active winemaking enterprise – combining state-of-the art, high-tech production process with unique historical and cultural landmarks."

Bring:  TWITs should bring $35/person to cover the cost of the wines

Food Pairings:  TBD I ordered a cookbook, pending delivery

Tasting Notes: (prepped in advance)

Shabo Royal Story Korolevskoe Royal Shabo White 750ML 3/$26.67 REGION: Odes'ka (Odessa) VARIETALs: Blend, Aligote, Rkatsiteli - Made from rkatsiteli and aligote grown in Ukraine. The wine has a light straw color, enjoyable taste, and harmonious aroma with floral tones.  Shabo – one of the oldest terroirs in Europe. Progenitors of winemaking in this region are considered the ancient Greeks. It is they who in VI-II centuries BC founded on the Black Sea the village of Tyre (later – city Ackerman) and had the first vineyards planted here. And it was more than 2.5 thousand years ago.  Rkatsiteli is a highly-valuable Georgian grape variety, inducted to the ‘golden stock’ of Georgian winemaking. This variety originates from Kakhetia. Translated from Georgian, its name means ‘red vine’. Rkatsiteli is considered a universal grape variety, a ‘Jack of all trades’. It is used to produce European- and Kakhetian-type wines, which cannot be confused with anything else. Rkatsiteli shows excellent result in the production of grape alcohol used in brandies and grape vodkas. Finally, it is simply a tasty table grape from which one can make an enjoyable and healthy grape juice.   ***Rkatsitelli pairs excellently with Lebanese, Turkish, Iranian and even Indian cuisines including spiced meats, aromatic rice, lentils, bean dip, and smoked eggplant.

Shabo Chardonnay Grand Reserve 2016 750ML 3/$56.67 REGION: Odes'ka (Odessa) VARIETALs: Chardonnay, dry white wine, 13.5% alcohol, straw core with shiny golden highlights, transparent halo, limpid. tropical fruits, floral, great minerality, melted butter, dry herbs, vanilla, high acidity, high alcohol, medium body.  ***pairs with Chicken Kiev

Chizay Red Blend Kosher × 1 750ml $13.99 - Semi-sweet, Kosher red wine is made from selected Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes of the 2018 harvest.  Blend is a mixture of varieties. The name Red Blend means that we have combined the best bunches of the world's two most famous grape varieties to create a true harmony of taste and aroma - an elegant and balanced wine, with a pleasant tartness in taste and a special floral and fruity range of aromas. Red Blend wine was created specifically for export to the United States. Volume - 0.75 liters, Alc. - 12%, Sugar - 45 g / l, Color - Red, Grape variety - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Aroma - full of floral and fruity nuances, Taste - harmonious, shades of flowers, pleasant tartness, ***In an excellent example of contrast, sweet wines are a natural match for very spicy or salty foods. However, the sweet flavor of semi-sweet or off-dry wines also pairs well with naturally sweet dishes, such as honey-glazed ham, or pork with a port wine reduction sauce.

Chizay Pinot Noir × 3 750ml $56.97 - A special red dry wine made from Pinot Noir grapes of the same name and aged in French oak barrels for 12 months.  The aroma of the wine is complex, with bright tones of ripe black berries, spices and hints of vanilla. In the rich taste of Pinot Noir, dark berries of blackberry, black currant, cherry and plum are harmoniously combined with elegant tannins. The wine is well structured and leaves a long aftertaste. Volume - 0.75 liters, Alc. - 13.9%, Color - Red, Grape variety - Pinot Noir, Aroma - ripe black berries, spices, notes of vanilla, Taste - ripe cherries, blackberries, black currants, plums, elegant tannins, ***Fits to:  wildfowl Game, meat, mature-cheese, Hard cheeses, red-fish

Shabo Merlot Reserve 2018 750ML 3/$29.67 - REGION: Odes'ka (Odessa) VARIETALs: Merlot - Made from selected Merlot grapes, harvested by hand at dawn from special areas of Shabo «terroir», where the highest quality viticulture practices are applied to obtain great quality grape. After double-sorting of grapes, fermentation takes place in oak tanks «Taransaud» (France) with temperature control.  Aging for at least 6 months in oak barrels adds nobleness and complexity to wine.  ***grilled/roasted beef, blue cheese, chicken, berries, garlic, mushrooms, lamb, pork loin

Chizay Cabernet Sauvignon Kosher × 3 750ml $32.97 - Intense pomegranate-colored dry wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Aging in French oak barriques for 9 months. The bouquet of wine is rich in aromas of ripe cherries and currants combined with notes of paprika, tobacco and cocoa. The taste is balanced, with a pleasant tannin structure, which feels the spicy tones of pepper, chocolate and blackberries. The aftertaste is rich and long. Volume - 0.75 liters, Alc. - 14%, Color - Red,  Grape variety - Cabernet Sauvignon, Aroma - ripe cherries and currants, notes of paprika, tobacco and cocoa, Taste - pleasant tannin structure, spicy tones of pepper, chocolate, blackberry, rich and long aftertaste, ***Fits to: wildfowl Game, meat, mature-cheese, Hard cheeses, ribeye steak,

Shabo Royal Story Kagor (Cabernet Sauvignon) Ukrainian 750ML 3/$29.67 - Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Produced from the cabernet sauvignon grape variety grown in Ukraine, The deep, dark garnet color highlights a complex, round, harsh taste with prune, chocolate, and blackcurrant tones  ***beef, mushrooms, lamb, cheddar cheese,

Chizay Moscato Kosher × 1 750ml $10.99 - Semi-sweet, Chateau Chizay MOSCATO semi-sweet white kosher wine is made from Muscat Ottonel grapes grown in Chateau Chizay vineyards. It has a special and extremely pleasant fruity-floral aroma with light notes of spices. The amazing taste of Moscato is characterized by a delicate tingling of tiny bubbles and has a wonderful balance between refreshing acidity and sweet fruity notes. Volume - 0.75 liters, Alc. - 12% Sugar - 45 g / l, Color - White, Grape variety - Muscat Ottonel, Aroma - pleasant, fruity-floral, light notes of spices, Taste - moderately sweet, balanced, harmonious, long aftertaste of nutmeg, ***Fits to: chicken, vegetables, mature-cheese, Hard cheeses, fruit, 

Chizay Ice Wine Riesling × 1 375ml $29.99 - An unusual, rare and world-famous dessert wine made from grapes that froze on the vine during the first frosts. The juice in the berries at this time is concentrated, extremely sweet and fragrant. The high value of this wine is due to the large number of frozen and preserved berries, which are needed to squeeze enough juice. Volume - 0,375 l, Alc. - 12%, Sugar - 110 g / l, Color - White, Grape variety - Rhine Riesling, Aroma - bright, tones of white flowers, exotic fruits, quinces, peaches and citrus, The taste is harmonious with floral and fruity notes, ***Fits to: cupcake or Desserts, fruit

Chizay Butterfly Chocolate × 1 500ml $6.99  Brand: Chizay, Size:500ml, ABV 11.50%, This wine possesses a subtly sweet, natural chocolate flavor with a hint of roughness that is truly delightful. Enjoy chilled, on the rocks, in various cocktails or ***with desserts.

Odessa - V.S.O.P. Brandy × 4 100ml $23.96 - Belonging to world-famous ShustoFF’s Cognac Family, brandy Odessa is currently #4 best-selling brandy in the world according to Drinks International’s Millionaires’ Club 2021. This V.S.O.P premium quality brandy is produced in the ideal climate conditions, because the distillery that was founded by Nikolay Shustov in 1863 is located by the cost of Black Sea. The brandy was named after the city that is renowned for centuries of winemaking and brandy production – Odessa. Tasting notes: Balanced, Bold, Butter, Caramel, Chocolate, Dried Fruit, Fig, Honey, Intense, Oak, Sweet, Toasty, Vanilla, Velvety, Brand: Odessa Brandy Size: 100ml, ABV: 40.00%  - ok ok I know Brandy isn't really wine but... I wanted to try this.

TWITs Battle of the Bottles - June 5th, 2021

TWITs Battle of the Bottles - originally set for March 14th, 2020, but was postponed due to the pandemic.  Rescheduled to Saturday, June 5th, 2021.
hosted by Chad & Christy

Theme:  Battle of the Bottles - blind tastings between various pairs of bottles, you have to guess which one of the two is the expensive wine ($50+), and which is the budget bottle (~$20 or less). 

     1st Place:  The most accurate guesses goes to Drew!  He guessed 5 out of 6 bottle battles correctly!

     2nd Place: Val with 4 correct guesses

     3rd Place: Tie between Abbie and DuPree with 3 correct guesses 
We did not guess on the Welcome Wines (in case you were counting).

I'd like to give honorable mention to Rheinallt for the most hilarious tasting notes I've read in a while.  Great job sassy pants!

TWITs brought $40/pp to cover the cost of the wines.

Food Pairings:

Chad & Christy prepared some wonderful food pairings for us.

Tasting Notes:

All bottles purchased via Wine.com

Welcome Wine

Food Pairing - Charcuterie Board

Bottle 1: J Vineyards California Cuvee - $24.99

12.5% alcohol

vs

Bottle 2:  Champagne Gimonnet-Gonet L'Origine Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs NV - $45

12% alcohol

Riesling 

Food pairing - Shrimp w cocktail sauce

Bottle 1: 2017 Dr Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling - $49.99 

12.5 % alcohol

Petrol, stone fruits, minerality, dry, honeysuckle, tropical, unripe papaya, pear, semi-dry, honeydew citrus, no petroleum, very light, shite, sickly, too sweet, nice acidity, but no petrol, cloying after palate, floral, pear, very dry for Riesling, good pear floral, gardenia, I liked this one just guessed wrong, pear floral dry

vs

Bottle 2: 2018 Pewsey Vale Eden Valley Dry Riesling - $16.99

12% alcohol

kerosene, soapy, musky, stinky, viscous, dry briny, gasoline, clean, dry, lots of gasoline, ribana, layers of minerals, it's a deal it's a steal, very dry, briny, petrol, soapy, mineral, not so good, petroleum, flower, pear, plastic, new toy, dry, flower

Sauvignon Blanc

Food Pairing - Bacon/Goat Cheese/Olive Quick Bread

Bottle 1:  2018 Beyond Sauvignon Blanc Buitenverwachting South Africa - $10.99

13.5% alcohol

citrus, lemony, depth, olive, brine at back palate, peaches, pithy, peach cobbler, mineral, lemon, very nice clean nose, spitting out citrus like a deranged satsuma, RH's fave wine of the evening! lemon, dry, acid, very balanced, lemon, sugar, citrus, sweet but rich smooth, fresh, crisp, not very grassy, citrus, would like to drive this to me, brine, citrus, lemon

vs

Bottle 2: 2015 Cloudy Bay Te Koko Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand - $69.99

14% alcohol

petrol, peaches and cantaloupe, stone fruits in yo face, tangerine candy, rich, no no no no no No Zealand, stone fruit over the top, too much acid, too much mineral, less sweet, crisp, grapefruit, sophisticated, peaches, like 1, crisp, peach cobbler, peach, jackfruit, sweet

Rose

Food Pairing - Strawberry salad (Baby lettuces with feta, strawberries, and almonds)

Bottle 1:  2018 Chateau Romassan Ott Bandol France - $58.99

13% alcohol

almost no nose, drinking air, flavored water, if you put bubbles in it it's a White Claw, light in color, no me gusto, devoid of character, vapid but roughness, why you give me roughness? no want. very delicate strawberry, cream, White Claw flavored water, dry, light, doesn't taste like much, color off, very bland

vs

Bottle 2: 2018 Famille Combard Figuiere Magali Signature Cotes de Provence - $19.99

13% alcohol

better color, better flavors, bitter finish, bland but smells like a rose, bit more biting, some banana but still okay, but not good. more acid, cloying after palate, nice, a little sweeter, pepper, not so good, guest soap in grandma's bathroom

Pinot Noir

Food Pairing - Asian meatballs with sauce

Bottle 1:  2017 J Vineyards Pinot Noir Monterey/Santa Barbara/Sonoma Counties - $18.99

14.3% alcohol

berries, chocolate, spice, light, dark fruits, very good California Pinot, classic Pinot attributes like cola and dandelions and burdock, fruit forward, cola, balanced, very nice, sweet berry, blueberry, rich, peppery, dark berries, devious, best so far, blackberry, light on nose, fruit forward

vs

Bottle 2:  2016 Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast/Sonoma County - $59.99

14.1% alcohol

higher alcohol, headache tomorrow wine, sour, young, very similar to the other Pinot but lighter, brighter, and better, richer mouthfeel, cola, more spice, more alcohol, cherry nose, but less (illegible sorry), 

Malbec

Food Pairing - Roquefort blue cheese Slider/Burger

Bottle 1: 2014 Tapiz Black Tears Malbec Mendoza Argentina - $54.99

14.5% alcohol

lovely, dark chocolate, leather, berries, woody, dark fruit, baking spices, solid little Malbec, so solid with the burger slider, yes so nice, anise spice and cloves and some other stuff, anise, nose all dark fruit

vs

Bottle 2: 2017 Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Clasico Mendoza Argentina - $12.99

13.5% alcohol

f*ck me nose, smooth, sexy, berries, jam yet dry not sweet, smiley face, hotness up the nose, high ethanol, roughness in the extreme, just rough, pickles, brine, pine, didn't like either of these, pine, smooth

Cabernet Sauvignon

Food Pairing - Mini Chocolate Hazelnut Cheesecake

Bottle 1:  2017 Michael Mondavi Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon Napa County - $20.99

13.7% alcohol

bell pepper, chocolate bliss, bell pepper cacao on the nose, solid cab, prob new wood, maybe pedestrian Cab, spice, fruit, nice balance, like, fruity, smooth, good

vs

Bottle 2:  2015 Hall Eighteen Seventy-Three Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - $74.99

15.6% alcohol

spice and chocolate, smiley face, this has mint, just mint, why does it have mint? spearmint at that! butter, pastry fruit nose, tannin, classic cab, more tannin

WSET Level 1 - Abbie's Adventure

WSET Level 1 - Abbie's Adventure

With the COVID-19 Pandemic wreaking havoc across the world, yet online courses being available, I decided to finally get a wine certification through Vino Venue (the APP - Approved Program Provider).

WSET - stands for Wine & Spirits Education Trust.  The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is the largest and most recognised organisation providing formal education in wines (sake and spirits) for professionals and enthusiasts. WSET programmes focus on developing systematic tasting skills and product knowledge of the significant wines and wine producing regions of the world. The skills learnt through WSET programmes can be applied to understand and evaluate all wines, regardless of region. For this reason, many sommeliers choose to study for WSET qualifications to gain their product knowledge, opting to develop their service skills on the job.

I opted to start at the beginning with WSET Level 1.  This course was approximately $250 USD.  This did not include the tasting wines and food samples however.  The course doesn't mandate that you purchase the wines and food samples, but it definitely helps with the learning experience. 

These are the wines I purchased for my WSET Level 1 Course:

The food items needed were:  black seedless grapes, tartaric acid (I found this on Amazon.com), sugar, black tea (I used PG Tips), a sweet biscuit, salt, a slice of lemon, and cooked mushrooms or msg powder. 

The 4-week course is offered online, at your own pace.  There were no set scheduled "classes", only the requirement that you participate in the assignment chats (again at your own pace and timing), and complete all of the assignment modules before taking the exam.  There is an online instructor available for a live chat once a week (scheduled at a specific time - often an odd hour for some, so as to accommodate the time zones of the multiple attendees).  The live chat is optional, but it is useful if you have questions.  The course I registered for started on Monday April 26th and went until Sunday May 23rd, 2021.  These are the dates the online instructor is available to answer questions or reply to your chats.  After the end date, the instructor is no longer available.  I believe I still have access to my course materials for a set amount of time (I forget how long) so I can study. 

I was surprised at how many different people from different countries were in my class.  We had attendees from Italy, Ireland, China, USA, Germany, etc.  so many different places.  This was truly a diverse class.  

I was disappointed that we could not take the exam right after class finished.  Why not the same day or next day?  However, the earliest available exam date was 2 weeks out.  I took that time to make notes and trivia questions for my friends to quiz me on, so I could study for the exam.

The exam was taken online.  I had to have 2 devices (my laptop and either a smartphone or iPad/tablet).  The laptop had to have a camera and microphone, so my exam could be recorded.  The iPad was so I could be recorded from the side using the ProctorExam app.  This helps to ensure you are not cheating on your exam.  No poster or writing can be on the walls.  If you have a glass of water it has to be clear, no bottles with labels or any writing on the glass.  No pieces of paper, even if blank.  No other person can be in the room with you either.  No wine bottles or any alcohol items in the room.  The rules are pretty thorough.

I took my invigilated exam online on Sunday June 13th, 2021.  I must say, it took me longer to setup all my devices, and ensure proper recording, etc. than it did to actually take the exam.  They also have you film 360 degree view of the room, your desktop, under your desk, the ceiling, and all four corners of the room, to ensure there is nothing there to invalidate your test results.  The exam was 30 multiple choice questions, and I had 45 mins to take the exam.  I believe I finished my exam in about 10 minutes (after setup).  

I am still awaiting my results.  I believe the results should be sent out roughly 2 weeks after taking the exam.  I hope I passed.  I feel pretty good about the exam, but unlike the ITIL exams I have taken via the invigilated/online method, the WSET didn't immediately tell me my score.  I understand they have to certify the results, but at least with the ITIL exams they tell you your score immediately, and then you only have to wait a few weeks for them to certify it, and send your certificate to you.  Yes I did put this in my feedback survey.

Overall it was a pleasant experience and I highly recommend this certification, should you be interested.

I'll update you with my score once I get it. :)

UPDATE:  I did not receive my score until October 2021.  I passed. yay!  However, I do not understand why it took nearly 5 MONTHS to get my exam results.  I've taken ITIL proctored exams where they at least give you a preliminary score immediately after your exam - with the understanding they have to certify it officially at a later time.  I would have loved to know if missed any questions right away for the WSET, but no.  I had to wait.  Sigh.  We have the technology, not sure why AXELOS has theirs working great but WSET can't use similar tech?  Now I am wondering if we get a certificate or anything to print out?  Probably will take a year for that though. 

Peter Wasserman Tasting at Le Caveau - Oct 12th

Peter Wasserman (importer) Tasting at Le Caveau - Oct 12th

Nicole, Peter, and Abbie

Abbie, Nicole, Heidi

Winter White Wines - Thursday January 29th, 2015 - hosted byMs.Abbie &Mr. Matt

Winter White Wines - Thursday January 29th, 2015 - hosted by Ms.Abbie & Mr. Matt

Theme:  Winter White Wines & Rabbie Burns Supper
We will do our usual blind tasting method, but after unveiling, we want to hear the story behind the wine you brought to the tasting.

Bring:  TWITs should bring a bottle of white wine:

• it should be a white wine which you like to drink in the winter
• come prepared to tell us why it's a winter white wine
• within the specified price range (Up to $20/bottle for Singles, between $20 - $40/bottle for Couples)

Tasting Notes:
Welcome Wine:  1996 Michel Schlumberger Chardonnay - was a gift from a friend, estimate price around $45/bottle from the winery. 100% Chardonnay,

1) 2013 L'Acino Chora Bianco, IGP, Calabria - $18.99 @ Le Caveau Fine Wines
12.5 % Alcohol
TWITs Tasting Notes:  effervescent, perfumey, pear and grapefruit on the palate, sweeter, viscous, a nice wine, latex, a little petrol, sulfur on the nose, soft tart not harsh tart,

Le Caveau Notes: "Mostly Mantonico a little Guarnaccia Bianca, Pecorello & Greco grown organically.
This white displays layered notes of dried apricots and tropical fruits with undertones of toasted almonds, bulgar wheat, and honey. This white is rich, flavorful, and mouth-filling with vibrant acidity, incredible depth, and a long finish.
About the Wine & Winemaker:  Founded in 2006 by Antonello Canonico, Dino Briglio and Emilio Di Ciann (all natives of the mountain town of San Marco Argentano), L'Acino is a communal effort to showcase the oft-forgotten terroir of Calabria. When the project began, the three friends were working full-time in unrelated fields: Antonello was a film director, Dino a historian and Emilio a lawyer. Though they had no prior viticultural or winemaking experience, their love of wine was enough to start the estate, and the trio's taste for "natural" wine meant focusing their attention on organic viticulture and minimal intervention winemaking.

As far as the grapes planted, the vineyard features the indigenous grapes Mantonico (white) and Magliocco (red), as well as a small percentage of other indigenous varieties.The vines here are young, planted by the L'Acino team 7 years ago from cuttings of older vines (sélection massage) on their own rootstock. The vineyard is being plowed every year following harvest and legumes, grains and other plants have been planted between the rows of vines to promote mineral richness and depth to the soils.

Never heard of Mantonico and Magliocco?...neither had we! Mantonico was once thought to be a color mutation of the common Calabrian red grape, Gaglioppo. Magliocco Canino is found in many of the oldest vineyards in the region, but was supplanted by the more productive Gaglioppo. The wines are fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel vats and aged on the lees. They are bottled unfiltered and lightly sulfured and released in the Spring following harvest. "


2) 2011 Vielles Vignes Pouilly-Fume, Loire - $22 @ Sherlocks Wine Merchant
13% alcohol
crisp, green notes, herbacious, wasn't impressed with the nose, perm solution, grassy-gassy, nose is what we don't like about white wine, astringent, cleaning solution, shy volatiles, acidic, bitter, guessing sauvignon blanc, chalkiness

3)  2013 Peter Jakob Kuhn Trocken Riesling - $18 @ Le Caveau Fine Wines
12% alcohol
white florals, geyser water, petrol, passion fruit palate, papaya or guava, lily-of-the-valley sprayed with gasoline, pinot grigio? sweet, jolly ranchers, a touch of acidity, ripe fruit, sweet-tart, pectin, granny smith, "granny smith's knickers", sour pears, a firm pair (ha ha), magnolias, long and thin, a late honeysuckle

4) 2010 Scholium Project Midan Al-Tahrir, California - $24 @ Le Caveau
15.71% alcohol, blend of Chardonnay Gewürztraminer Sauvignon Blanc Verdelho
cough medicine, cherry, jasmine, saturated sweetness, honey, golden yellow color, natural wine - unfiltered, sweet/bitter, menthol - throat hit, short-chained volatiles, too acidic, would go well with an almond brown butter cake.

5) 2007 Trimbach Reserve Pinot Gris, Alsace - $38 @ Hintons Savvy Cellar
13.5% alcohol
chicken tenders, honey, toffee, butterscotch, olives, mushrooms, golden yummy, mint, herbal, fungi, funky cheese, guessing a Grecian white (slaps you in the face),

6) 2011 Domaine de la Tournelle, Jura, Terre de Gryphees - $34 @ Le Caveau
13% alcohol, 100% Chardonnay
all spice, OMG Goldschlager, red hots, candy cinnamon, tart, capsaicin, "gravel or something in my mouth", marine fossils, salty sea breeze

7)   2011 Red Mare Chardonnay, Dutton Ranch, Russian River Valley - $40 @ Total Wine
13.5% alcohol
doo doo locked in a cupboard, awful, dog poo on your shoe, straight up turd, oak bomb, California Cheek-Twitcher, newly poured asphalt, steaming turd, nasty, skanky weed, cannabis, smells like an old friend, guessing Lodi, CA?

8) 2011 Gobelsberger Riesling, Kamptal, Terry Theise Estate Collection - $18 from a friend
12.5% alcohol
petrol, gasoline, asphalt, hot highway, tickling my tongue, this is a NICE Riesling, expensive tasting, honey on the end, light, drinkable, quaffable,

9) 2013 Tenuta Sant Antonio Scaia, IGT - $10 @ Whole World Beverage
12.5% alcohol, Garganega 60%, Chardonnay, 40%
glass cork, licorice, grapefruit, cat piss, dirty dishrag, pear, unexpected gorgeous acidity, hydrangeas first bloom, stupidly good! FAVE WINE OF THE NIGHT!

10)1982 Chateau Suduiraut Sauternes, 1er Cru Classe mute 1855 - $130 @ Sherlocks Wine Merchant
13.5% alcohol
thick nose of sherry, nose of SueEllen (someone's ex), pear, honey, caramel, rich, sweet, warm apricots, sharp honey, vanilla, pineapple, warm Christmas, minerality, Bordeaux, sweetness, fungus, YUM!

Special thank you to Lauren for sharing this rare treat with us!

Cranachan - Scottish Dessert made of Whipped Cream, Honey, Whisky, with Toasted Oats and Raspberries

Vegetarian Haggis, Neeps & Tatties

Spring Wine Tasting at Le Caveau - Thursday May 8th 2014

Spring Wine Tasting at Le Caveau - Thursday May 8th 2014

1) 2012 Domaine Guillot-Broux Mâcon-Villages - $19.99
100% Chardonnay farmed biodynamically (certified organic) - Natural wine
Pale straw in the glass with pretty tropical fruit and brioche scents.  The palate is elegant and rich with white citrus fruit and notes of minerality framed by a round texture and vibrant acidity.

From 10-80 year old vines, all the grapes are harvested and sorted by hand in the vineyard before going to the winery.  The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation in oak.  Only native yeasts are used.  The wine rests in oak for 6 months and spends 5 months in enamal lined vats before it is bottled.  It was the first vineyard converted to organic farming in Burgundy in 1954.

*we were the first people in GA to taste this wine, they only had 4 cases of this wine.

2) 2012 Dönnhoff Estate Riesling Trocken Nahe - $22.99
100% Riesling farmed sustainably
This wine has a floral nose with ripe citrus and fresh herbs.  The palate is precise, with tart lime and a strong mineral core of structure to complement its elegant dry finish.

This wine comes from the steeply sloping vineyards of the middle Nahe region.  The vines grow in stony, weathered volcanic soils of porphyry and melaphyr with small amounts of slate and quartzite, producing some of the more notably smoky and stony Rieslings.  Sourced mostly from the Grand Cru sites of Felsenberg (90%) Hermannshohle, and Leistenberg.  The grapes are hand harvested, fermented with native yeasts, and matured in stainless steel vats and large oak barrels.

3) 2013 Calstar Cellars Pinot Meunier Rosé Russian River Valley - $19.99
100% Pinot Meunier farmed sustainably
This wine shows notes of peach, golden delicious apple, strawberry and mango with rosewater and undertones of warm cinnamon and vanilla.  Secondary notes of banana, fresh hay, and papaya round out the ripe, fruit-forward nose.  Medium bodied, with some dry extract and fresh strawberry-like tannins filling out the mouth.

This is the first time this Pinot Meunier Rose from Christinia's Vineyard in the Russian River Valley was made, and only 83 cases were produced.  Fruit was crushed and the juice was left in contact with the skins for 4 hours then pressed.  Fermentation with native yeast was 80% tank (to preserve the fruit) and 20% neutral barrel (for mouth feel).

4) 2012 Domaine Rimbert 'Les Travers de Marceau' Saint-Chinian - $16.99
40% Carignan, 30% Syrah, 25% Cinsault, 5% Mourvedre farmed sustainably
Ruby in the glass with purple highlights.  The nose is packed with crushed red berry, plum, blueberry and notes of saddle leather backed by crushed stones.  The palate is supple as it delivers red and black fruit flavors backed by silken minerality and a deft touch of acidity.  
*deceptively light

From 60 year old vines, the grapes are hand-harvested and de-stemmed before they are gently pressed.  Only indigenous yeasts are used, the varietals are fermented separately in tanks before the final wine is blended.  The wine is bottled using gravity and undergoes a slight filtration.

5) 2012 Olivier Cousin 'Pur Breton' Rouge (Anjou) - $24.99
100% Cabernet Franc farmed biodynamically (certified)
Ripe plum, juicy cherry, red apple core and chalk tones dominate the nose.  Crushed strawberries mixed with invigoratingly fresh Bing cherry and red apple flavors explode on the palate.

From 40 year old fines, the grapes are hand-harvested, brought to the winery by a horse, de-stemmed, and gently pressed.  Only natural yeasts are used and the juice undergoes an extended maceration.  Aged in old oak barrels.

Integrity Wines Tasting with Winemaker Christophe Beau

Integrity Wines Tasting with Winemaker Christophe Beau - 3/7/2014

June 20th, 2013 - I Don't Always Drink White Wines, But When I Do, I Drink This One - hosted by Ms. Abbie & Mr. Matt

June 20th, 2013 - "I Don't Always Drink White Wines, But When I Do, I Drink This One" - hosted by Ms. Abbie & Mr. Matt

Theme: As we know, many of the TWITs members are red wine fans.  However, some folks like to drink white wine in the summertime.  We want to know what your favorites are.  Bring your favorite white wine, and come prepared to tell us WHY it's your favorite white wine.  (singles price point for a bottle $20 or less, couples price point $20-40/bottle)

Check out this fantastic white wine info graphic by Sean Seidell:  http://seidell.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/whitewineinfographic_web.png

TWITs Tasting Notes:
Welcome Wine:  2012 Laurent Miquel Chardonnay Pere et Fils -  $9.99 @ Le Caveau
From southern France.
This is Matt's fave white wine because it's an unoaked Chardonnay.  He did not like Chardonnay's much before tasting this one.  It's got crisp acidity, and a simple "Stelvin Enclosure" (fancy way to say screw cap), so if you are at the pool or beach, you don't need to worry about bringing a corkscrew.
Abbie likes this wine because it tastes refreshing, it's cheap, it's good, and the label speaks to her.  If you look at the label, it has a tree on it with roots, and under the roots are the names of the winemaker's ancestors.  Enjoy!

1) 2011 Acrobat Pinot Gris ~ $12-13 @ Vino Venue
From Eugene Oregon.
Marilyn likes this wine.  She first tasted it when she attended the Downton Abbey cooking class at Vino Venue, and it was paired with lump crab and roasted red pepper crostini.  It's good with food, softer than a Chardonnay, and smooth.  She can drink it on its own or with food.

2) 2011 Domaine de Gerbeaux Macon-Solutre Chardonnay - $20 @ Le Caveau
13% alcohol, French Burgundy
Les and Melissa like this wine because it is well-balanced, smooth and can pair with almost anything.  They are not Chardonnay fans, but this is a good one.  We paired it with goat cheese.  They like to enjoy drinking this wine out on the deck.

3) 2009 Domaine Alain Normand Macon La Roche Vineuse - $30 at PH Wine Merchant (but it can also be found at Sherlocks Wine Merchant in Brookhaven.
Valerie likes this white burgundy wine because it's a rare Chardonnay that has minerality and a teeny tiny kiss  of oak.  This particular region is known for its Chardonnay, and has limestone soil.  This wine had long fermentation on the lees.

4) 2012 Tenuta la Marchese Gavi Marchesa - $15.99 @ Hintons
12% alcohol, Italian wine, varietal is Cortese
Susan likes this wine when she first tasted it 2 weeks ago at a networking conference event.  It's easy to drink, good out on the porch, and can be consumed with or without food.

5) 2012 Coteaux du Languedoc-Roussillon Pic-Poul de Pinet - $10 @ Sherlocks, but Le Caveau will be carrying this one in a few weeks.
12.5% alcohol.  Pic -Poul is the varietal, and Pic-Poul de Pinet is the region.
Rheinallt wanted to bring something edgy to the club that he discovered last year.  Pic-Poul is Catalan for stinging lip or "lip stinger".  It is a combination of full body and acidity and has good salinity (saltines).  It would pair very well with oysters or seafood.  Because it is a lesser known region and varietal, it is a cheaper wine.  Rheinallt likes to drink this one on weeknights.  It has great viscosity.

6) 1996 Michel Schlumberger Chardonnay - Dry Creek Valley Sonoma - $40.00 for a Magnum, but only available to the Vintner's wine club members (which Brian happens to be).  This is one of their Library Wines (aka older vintages)
13% alcohol - Benchland (the name of the estate)
"it's a Magnum, big hit with the ladies."  Brian likes this wine because it is an aged-Chardonnay (aged in French Oak barrels), it tastes good, has a golden honey hue, and notes of butterscotch.

7) 2011 Fritz Zimmer Bernkasteler-Kurfstenlay Riesling Spatlese, Mosel - $18.00 at Sherlocks, but once in a while Kroger has it for $9 if you have a Kroger Plus Card.
8% alcohol
Kim says she grew up with Italian parents who did not know good wine.  However, when she went to college, her German roommate introduced her to "German wines" and Rieslings, "the horse-piss of wines".  She says this wine is good with everything, and sometimes she likes to put a little piece of watermelon in her glass when drinking it.  It has faint petrol/gasoline on the nose, but refreshing palate.

*at this point we got side-tracked with a discussion of Riesling and Reefers (I think because the nose of this wine had a faint Marijuana smell?), anyhoo - the joke was that after Pot is legal in Georgia, we should start up a club called PHITS = "potheads in training"

8) 2011 Riesling St. Urbans-Hof - $16 @ Kroger
Janssen is normally a full-bodied red wine drinker (he wants flavor, character, oomph!) and doesn't like white wines.  However, last year he was on a Bachelor party cruise (Carnival cruise lines), and he joked he was only sober when he woke up each morning. BUT he remembered this wine (in the haze), and that is why he likes this particular white wine.

9) 2002 Chateau St Michelle Riesling - he paid about $15 for it in 2002, not sure what it would cost today.
Ken says this is his 2nd favorite white wine.  His first favorite is the Swan Valley Sandalford Sandalera fortified wine, but he can't seem to find anyone in the USA who can get it for him.
Anyhoo, back to Chateau St Michelle.
He has had this Riesling for several years.  He says the 2003 vintage is also very hard to get.  He loves this wine.
It has nose of hot asphalt, diesel (spilled on the road), and the palate reminds Valerie of teriyaki glaze and peaches.

Le Caveau- Weingut Robert Weil - Riesling Tasting 03/01/2012

Special Guests: Thomas Chaffin (Export Manager) of Weignut Robert Weil, and Brian Maddux of Atlanta Wholesale Distributers.

Founded in 1875, Weignut Robert Weil is considered to be one of the Rheingau's younger wine estates. It is located in the heart of Kiedrich, a village first documented in the year 950. Kiedrich Turmberg and Kiedrich Grafenberg, the estate's top vineyards, are among the finest sites in Rheingau.

The estate cultivates 70 hectares (173 acres) of vineyards, of which 98% are planted with Riesling. Today, Wilhelm Weil, the great-grandson of the estate's founder, carries on the tradition of uncompromising, quality-oriented vineyard and cellar practices - a tradition that has been the hallmark of the winery for four generations.

1) 2008 Robert Weil Estate Riesling Dry - $24.99

This full-bodied, estate grown dry Reisling is crafted by one of Germany's most highly rated winemakers. It has a lovely floral bouquet, elegant fruit, fine minerality, and excellent acidity. This wine is a great match for fish, shellfish, and other light dishes.

2) 2009 Robert Weil Estate Riesling Tradition - 24.99

The whole concept at Weignut Robert Weil is to combine modern ideas with the long tradition of viticulture in the Reingau. This wine is a case in point. It's the estate's classic rendition of the traditional off-dry style that made the Rheingau famous. It is a very elegant wine, with flinty stone fruits in the aroma and a silky underpinning of apricot skin that persists on the medium-long finish.

3) 2009 Robert Weil Estate Riesling Kabinett Medium-Dry - $32.99

The Estate Kabinett is made to showcase the traditional, lighter style of Riesling from specially selected parcels adjacent to the top sites (no Kabinett is made from the single-vineyard sites, only Spatlese and above). This is surprisingly delicate, given the full-throated power that is typical of the estate's other wines. It is juicy and clean, with exceptionally pure fruit and an incisive focus, nice length, and a drying, stony finish.

---Abbie's extra notes: Rheingau is near the only part of the Rhein River that runs East-West. Kabinett is a level of quality. I asked Thomas if there was an easy way to tell on the label of the bottle, what the dryness or sweetness of the Riesling is. He said there was no easy way to tell, unless it says "Trocken" or "Halbtrocken" on the label (as this means dry or half-dry). However, the higher alcohol content (aka 12% or higher) usually indicates drier wines, the 10-12% are usually med-dry, and lower than 10% are sweeter. Although it also depends on the grams of sugar/liter as well.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Le Caveau - Wine Tasting - 11/12/2011

Special Guests: Greg Schlagdenhauffen, the North American Market Manager for Kuentz-Bas and Olivier Savoye of Northeast Sales were at Le Caveau Saturday, showing the following wines: 1) 2009 Kuentz-Bas Alsace Blanc The cuvée is a blend of 60% Sylvaner, 15% Muscat, 15% Auxerrois and 10% Chasselas and straddles the line of both rich and light. The Sylvaner and Chasselas grapes add to the precision and definition of the blend, while the Auxerrois and Muscat lend aromatic intensity and a lush texture. This wine is dry, but bold and full in flavor with roasted apples, lemon custard, flowers and an exotic spice tone. 2) 2008 Kuentz-Bas Muscat An explosive nose expresses aromas of white peach, flowers, herbs and apricot .The palate is clean, crisp, full of fruit and finesse. 3) 2009 Kuentz-Bas Riesling Wine Spectator 92 points: "A firm Riesling, with razor-sharp acidity backing fruit flavors of Granny Smith apple, juicy tangerine and pink grapefruit, underscored by stone and smoke notes and a hint of fresh earth. It's all deftly woven together in a focused, elegant package, with a mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2020. " Le Caveau staff showed these Red Wines also: 4) 2008 Domaine Vincent and Sophie Morey Maranges 1er Cru La Fussière This wine has an elegant nose elegant nose with notes of red raspberry and cherry fruit that is echoed on the palate balanced by bright acidity and a wonderfully stony finish. Sophie and Vincent Morey both come from families of wine-growers. They set up their own domaine in 2006 and had their first harvest in 2007. When Vincent's father Bernard Morey, a leading personality in the village of Chassagne-Montrachet, took his retirement, Vincent took over the a part of the holding. In the same year Sophie was making her first vintage for the Ménager-Belland domaine in Santenay. 5) 2009 Pascal Lambert Chinon "Les Terraces" Made from a bio-dynamically farmed vineyard, this 100% Cabernet Franc is free of sulphur additives. This is terrific Chinon with dark cherry, blueberry, and herbs on the nose. It is showing and rich dark and ripe red fruit on the palate with crisp acidity and great length.