November TWITs - Tempranillo & Tapas - hosted by Rachel & Chris

November TWITs - Tempranillo & Tapas - hosted by Rachel & Chris

Date:  Saturday, November 4th, 2017 - 7pm ET

Theme:  Tempranillo & Tapas
"Wine is sunlight held together by water" - Galileo Galilei
Pronunciation: “Temp-rah-NEE-yo” - Tempranillo is derived from the word temprano, which in Spanish means “early.” Among red varieties in Spain, it’s considered an early ripener. Tempranillo is an easy to find and wildly diverse food-pairing wine that also happens to have great a great flavor profile for its value.

Tempranillo Characteristics: 

• Fruit: Cherry, plum, tomato, and dried fig 
• Other: Cedar, leather, tobacco, vanilla, dill, and clove 
• Oak: Yes; typically aged 6-18 months in American or French Oak 
• Tannin: Medium-plus tannin 
• Acidity: Medium-minus acidity 
• ABV: 13-14.5%

A Brief History of Tempranillo

• Proof of wine in ancient Spain was discovered in 1972, when archaeologists unearthed a mosaic of the wine god Bacchus at Baños de Valdearados in north-central Spain. Tempranillo may well have been the wine shown in the mosaic because it has been in Spain since 800 BC. 
• The Phoenicians brought wine to Southern Spain. Tempranillo originated from this area, so it’s quite possible that Tempranillo is related to the ancient Phoenician species in Lebanon.

"Beer is made by men, wine by God" - Martin Luther

Tempranillo Wine Profile: 

Major Regions: Spain (over 80% of vineyards worldwide), Portugal, Argentina, Australia, USA 575,000 acres / 232,700 hectares (2010) 

Common Synonyms:  Tinto del Toro, Tinta Fina, and Tinto del Pais (Spain); Tinta Roriz and Aragonez (Portugal) Other Names Rioja, Valdepeñas, Ribera del Duero

"Wine is the most healthful and most hygienic of beverages" - Louis Pasteur

Tempranillo is known by other names in certain regions:  Albillo Negro, Aldepenas, Aragon, Aragones, Aragonez, Aragonez 51, Aragonez da Ferra, Aragonez de Elvas, Arganda, Arinto Tinto, Cencibel, Cencibera, Chinchillana, Chinchillano, Chinchilyano, Cupani, De Por Aca, Escobera, Garnacho Fono, Grenache de Logrono, Jacibera, Jacibiera, Jacivera, Juan Garcia, Negra de Mesa, Negretto, Ojo de Liebre, Olho de Lebre, Pinuela, Sensibel, Tempranilla, Tempranillo de la Rioja, Tempranillo de Perralta, Tempranillo de Rioja, Tempranillo de Rioza, Tempranillo Rioja, Tinta Aragones, Tinta Corriente, Tinta de Madrid, Tinta de Santiago, Tinta de Toro, Tinta do Inacio, Tinta do Pais, Tinta Fina, Tinta Madrid, Tinta Monteira, Tinta Monteiro, Tinta Roris, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Santiago, Tinto Aragon, Tinto Aragonez, Tinto de la Ribera, Tinto de Madrid, Tinto de Rioja, Tinto de Toro, Tinto del Pais, Tinto del Toro, Tinto Fino, Tinto Madrid, Tinto Pais, Tinto Ribiera, Tinto Riojano, Ull de Liebre, Ull de Llebre, Valdepenas, Verdiell, Vid de Aranda.

"I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food" - W.C. Fields

What does Tempranillo taste like?  Spanish Tempranillo delivers contrasting flavors of leather and cherries. The finer the wine, the more balance there is between earth and fruit. The finish is typically smooth and lingers with the taste of tannin on both sides of your mouth. Tempranillo wines from New World regions, including Argentina, Mexico, and the United States, generally offer more fruit flavors like cherry and tomato-sauce, followed by chunky tannins and less earthy notes. Tempranillo can be characterized as either a medium- to full-bodied, with red fruit characteristics. If you’ve never tried Tempranillo before, you may find it has a similar taste profile to both Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tempranillo Food Pairing:  Tempranillo pairs well with all types of food because of its savory qualities. Regional Spanish cuisine, which includes roasted vegetables and cured meats, like the lusty Jamón Iberico de Bellota creates an exceptional pairing. However, the wine is diverse and not only pairs with local Spanish food, but it also works well foods from all over the globe. 

▸ Lasagna, pizza and dishes with tomato-based sauces 

▸ Barbecue grilled-meats, smoky dishes 

▸ Grits, polenta, and dishes with corn as a major ingredient 

▸ Mexican food such as tacos, nachos, burritos, and chile rellenos

"Wine is bottled poetry" - Robert Louis Stevenson

Crianza:  

▸ Tasting Notes: Sour Cherry, Plum, Spicy Black Pepper and Bay Leaf 

▸ Average cost: $10–20 USD 

▸ Regions: Rioja Crianza, Ribera del Duero Roble and Crianza, Valdepeñas, Tinto de Toro, La Mancha, CastillaLeón, Extremadura 

▸ A juicy and spicy style of Tempranillo that typically receives less than a year of aging. Because wines are not aged long, they are spicy, fleshy and tart. Most value-driven Tempranillo tastes this way and the most well-known example of it is Rioja Crianza. In Central Spain, there are sub-$10 wines which are ideal for traditional Spanish Sangria

"Wine can of their wits the wise beguile, make the sage frolic, and the serious smile." - Homer

Reserva & Gran Reserva:  

▸ Tasting Notes: Cherry, Dried Fig, Vanilla and Cedar 

▸ Average cost: $25–35 USD 

▸ Regions: Rioja Reserva, Ribera del Duero Reserva, Toro Reserva, Aged Castilla-León 

▸ Bold high tannin wines that embellish Tempranillo’s best qualities that are aged for several years in oak and bottle. The aging of Tempranillo softens the variety’s spiciness and flavors become almost sweet and dried. The extended cost of aging explains why this style typically costs more. Keep your eyes peeled for wines labeled with Reserva and Gran Reserva.

*** This year International Tempranillo Day is November 9th, 2017!!! ***

Tasting Notes:
Welcome Wine:  2015 Estylo Puro Albarino ~ $18-19 @ Brookhaven Wines
12% alcohol, 100% Albarino
refreshing, tasted light, great beach wine.

1) 2015 Storyteller Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon  - $ purchased @ the winery
13.5% alcohol, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
OOPS this isn't a Tempranillo, but we didn't know that when we tasted it blind.
tomato, dry, cedar note, mineral, chalkiness, "let's just move on"

2) 2008 Dehasa la Granja - $18.99 @ Brookhaven Wines
14% alcohol, 100% Tempranillo
chocolate, perfumey nose, oaky, lighter, leather, velvet pepper finish, cherry, a lot more fruit, graphite,

3) 2012 Gomez Cruzado Haro Rioja Crianza - $20 @ H&F Bottleshop
14% alcohol, 100% Tempranillo
sweeter nose, a lot of pepper, younger than the last one, lighter, clay, high tannin

4) 2010 Vina Alberdi Reserva ~ $20 @ Brookhaven Wines
13.5% alcohol, 100% Tempranillo
leather, tobacco, cherry, pepper, I need this in a perfume, a study filled with books, acidic yet smooth, it has a really good feel in the mouth, velvety,

5) 2015 Campo Viejo Rioja - $12.99 @ Publix
15.5% alcohol, 100% Tempranillo
different nose, smells of cassis, lots of pepper, star anise, licorice, the nose keeps disappearing, tobacco-y, no flavor, it's flat, non-descript, nothing about it finishes, it's a wedding wine - approachable, a stereotypical tempranillo, not amazing.

6) 2010 Gran Reserve Cune ~ $35 @ Total Wine
13.5% alcohol, 100% Tempranillo
black cherry, smooth, mmm, bright red fruit, not as much tannin, apricot, spice @ finish, smooth, fuller taste, rounded, (if you said this was Sangiovese), pairs well with nachos, vanilla on the end, love it on the front but not on the finish, flat on the finish, one of my faves, orange rinds, a bit bitter.

7) 2006 Gran Reserva El Puntido - $40 @ CostCo Brookhaven
14% alcohol, 100% Tempranillo
got grip, tomatoey, peppery, dark, old musty leaves under a rotting log, tomato sauce and plum, got some age, wise old grandmother

8) 2011 Muga Rioja - $35 @ Savvy Provisions
14% alcohol, 100% Tempranillo
peppery, hot nose, very dry, sweet?, cherry bomb, luxardo, got grip, chewy, musty cherry vanilla,

9) 2014 Tinto Pesquera Crianza  - $36.99 @ Brookhaven Wines
14.5% alcohol, 100% Tempranillo
a smack in the face, serious pepper, urine odor, dry, tannic, grass, makes you pucker, I like the taste better than the smell, tart, dip-sticks candy, raisiny, port-thing going on, an olympic swimming pool of tannins, pairs with pepperoncini, green pepper, a pairing wine, needs food.

10) 2012 Ercavio Tempranillo Roble - $12.99 @ Jackie's Bottle Shop
14% alcohol, 100% Tempranillo
orange rind on the nose, vanilla, chocolate, spicy, cinnamon chocolae, cocoa, cherry.

11) 2014 Tridente Tempranillo ~ $15.99
15.5% alcohol, 100% Tempranillo
wow, holy crap, dark mellow fruit, noms, interesting, chewy, got grip, raisins, fruit salad, sangria

Food Pairings:
Patatas Bravas, romesco sauce, jamon, quesos, olives, jamon stuffed rolls, banderillas veggie skewers

Scooby!!! 

Spooky-good-to-be-true Bargain Bin Wines - Saturday October 8th, 2016

Spooky-good-to-be-true Bargain Bin Wines - Saturday October 8th, 2016

Happy HalloWine!  

When:  Saturday October 8th, 2016 - 2 pm - 5pm ET   

Theme:  Spooky-good-to-be-true Bargain Bin Wines

Where:  

Le Caveau Fine Wines

5256 Peachtree Rd. 
Suite 102

Atlanta, GA 30341
770-837-0710

Recipe:   Chilled Creamy Cucumber Soup - Deb said she didn't need to add water to it.
All cheese purchased at CostCo, Whole Foods, Kroger (on Hammond in Sandy Springs)

Cheese to Wine Scale:
(Affinage is French term describing the aging and maturity level of cheeses)
Soft Cheeses  <------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> Hard Cheeses
Fresh, High water, milky                                                  Affinage                                     Moisture evaporates - leaves
delicate,                                                                                                                                        behind the fat and protein (flavors) 
                                                                                                                                                       older more rich and savory

Delicate Wines  <-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> Bold Wines
Young wines have primary                                                                                                      Time spent in cask or bottle knit
notes: fresh, spirited, lively aromas                                                                                       together and acquire nuance.
bright flavors of fruits, flowers, citrus,                                                                                  Secondary notes of oak, toast, 
herbs and spice                                                                                                                           earth, oxidation, minerals, umami
                                                                                                                                                        more complex and savory


Tasting Notes:
1) 2014 La Grange Tiphaine 'Noveau-Nez' Petillant Montlouis-sur-Loire - $28
13% alcohol,
100% Chenin Blanc farmed organically (certified ECOCERT in 2008) practicing biodynamic.  Damien and Coralie Delecheneau are based in Touraine-Amboise but work many vineyards in Montlouis.  This petillant naturel is made in the typical, minimal-intervention manner. The grapes were picked at a potential alcohol of 13.8%, Still in fermentation, the wine is bottled with 14 g/l of residual sugar after which secondary fermentation happens naturally in the bottle.  In the glass it has a vibrant gold with a fine yet plentiful bead.  There is a nose of grilled peaches and rose petals, peppered with nuances of marzipan and a touch of baked apple, yet despite this, it feels fresh with bright and powdery edges.
Cheese Pairing:  Blue Castello St. Agur

2) 2015 Chateau Ducasse Blanc Bordeaux  - $17
12% alcohol,
60% Semillon, 35% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Muscadelle.
Made from 45+ year-old sustainably farmed vines planted within the Graves appellation of Bordeaux in limestone and clay soils, the wine is a blend of 60% Semillon, 35% Sauvignon Blanc, and 5% Muscadelle.  Aged entirely in stainless for 6 months before bottling, the wine displays fresh fruited, lively mineral character.  Fresh citrus, honeysuckle, and a bevy of tropical fruits, green mango, papaya, passion fruit, plantains.  The finish is long and oily lingering for some time.
Cheese Pairings:  Dubliner Aged Cheddar, Lancashire, Mahon, Derby, Brie

3) 2015 Domaine du Couron Rose Ardeche - $ 11
14% alcohol
100% Grenache
Jean_Luc and Marie-Lise Dorthe produce this dry rose exclusively from their 39-year old, sustainably farmed vines of Grenache.  The juice is rested on skins for precisely 8 1/2 hours to get this exact color and fresh-fruited aromas of strawberry, watermelon, and citrus.  With a rich, fresh-fruited palate and a slightly honeyed texture, it is easy to understand why this was handily our best-selling rose last summer, selling out in 3 weeks.
Cheese Pairings:  Oussau-Iraty, Azeitao, Tete des Moines, Gruyere, Cheshire

4) 2013 Bodega de Pinoso 'Flos de Pinoso' Alicante - $13
14% alcohol
100% Monastrell
Vinified from 100% organically farmed Monastrell entirely in stainless tanks, the 'Flos de Pinoso' boasts a remarkably perfumed, fresh-fruited nose.  Wild red and black berries along with dark spice, combine with integrated tannins and acidity on the palate.  Decidedly fresher and more toned than a lot of the chewy, dense Monastrell coming from this eastern Spanish region, the wine is an easy match with BBQ
Cheese Pairings:  Manchego

5) 2015 Domaine Duseigneur 'La Chapelle' Cotes du Rhone  - $14
14% alcohol
50/50% Grenache/Syrah Blend
composed of equal parts biodynamically farmed old-vine Grenache and Syrah, this delightful fruit-driven Rhone is easy to love.  The grapes are sourced from clay hills above the Rhone river, just across from Chateauneuf du Pape.  Fermented entirely in stainless, the wine has wonderful freshness. Founded in 1967, the domaine's principles of respecting soil and environment lead it to be among the first to embrace organic farming in the Rhone.
Cheese Pairings:  Dubliner Aged Cheddar, Cheshire, St. Nectaire, aged Gruyere, Manchego, Gouda

6) 2010 Quinta do Mondego 'Mondeco' Tinto Dao  - $11
13.5% alcohol
Blend of Tempranillo, Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro, Jaen & Baga
Made from hand-harvested Tinta Roriz (aka: Tempranillo), Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro, Jaen & Baga.  Fermentation in small stainless steel tanks, with 10% of the blend aged in French Oak casks for 12 months.  Intense, dark garnet color and elegant aromas of fresh dark fruits with a touch of mint and cigar box.  A full bodied palate of rich, ripe dark fruits is balanced with good acidity and firm tannins.  91 pts from wine enthusiast.
Cheese Pairings:  sharp cheddar, Azeitao, Mahon, Manchego

(not planned, but Marnie brought a bottle to share)
7) 2014 Cooper & Thief Cellarmasters Select Red Wine Blend  ~ $30
17% alcohol
Cooper & Thief is a dark and jammy red blend comprised of 38% Merlot, 37% Syrah, 11% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% other red varieties, and loaded with bourbon-inspired flavors and aromas. Aging for three months in ex-bourbon barrels gives way to soft velvety tannins, with a subtle heat. The combined result is a rich flavor with a long, lingering finish.
Reminded me of Orin Swift's The Prisoner but with more Port-like notes.
Cheese Pairings:  Blue cheese

Photos:

Australian Wines - Friday July 31st, 2015 - hosted by Ms Kat and MsAngela

Australian Wines - Friday July 31st, 2015 - hosted by Ms Kat and Ms Angela

Theme:  Australian Wines

About:  The Australian wine industry is the world's fourth largest exporter of wine with approximately 750 million litres a year to the international export market with only about 40% of production consumed domestically. The wine industry is a significant contributor to the Australian economy through production, employment, export and tourism.

Wine is produced in every state, with more than 60 designated wine regions totalling approximately 160,000 hectares; however Australia's wine regions are mainly in the southern, cooler parts of the country, with vineyards located in South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland. The wine regions in each of these states produce different wine varieties and styles that take advantage of the particular Terroir such as: climatic differences, topography and soil types. With the major varieties being predominantly Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Semillon, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. Wines are often labelled with the name of their grape variety, which must constitute at least 85 percent of the wine.

Bring: TWITs should bring a bottle of Australian Wine in the specified price range (Up to $20/bottle for Singles, between $20 - $40/bottle for Couples).  We did our usual blind-tasting format, and then unveiled the wines at the end.

Why did our hostesses pick this theme?  Why Australia?
Angela's fiance' Nerino is from Sydney, and as they say, "It's God's Country!"  It also gave Angela and Kat a fun time cooking some authentic Australian food.  We had meat pies, sausage rolls, Marmite, and Pavlova (a dessert).  Australians are known to put beets on their hamburgers.  Did you know a Didgeridoo is a wood instrument, naturally hollowed out by termites? We learned that a "Larican" is an urban hooligan, or gangster / prankster. Someone joked "Have you ever been to the Outback?" and one replied "The bloomin' onion is amazing!"

Tasting Notes:
Welcome Wine:  2012 Dynamite Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon $6.99 ~ 12.99 @ Whole Foods.
Delightful at a great price point.

1) 2012 Vinaceous "The Red Right Hand" Margaret River, Perth, $15.99 @ Total Wine
69% Shiraz, 23% Grenache, 8% Tempranillo - 14% alcohol
nose:  Australian! light, sweet, faint berry, prudish nose (joke:  It's Michael Jackson's nose, not much there, too much rhinoplasty)
palate:  pinot noir-ish, a little tart, a bit bitter, some oak on it, "I don't love it", needs to breathe, has some heat, needs some meat, dark cherry, higher alcohol, dry, non-descript, thick-legged Scottish, nothing to write home about, olivey, briney, not showing anything, carbonated, like a soda, table wine, nothing special, Tuesday night wine at somebody else's house, this has to come back from a long way, maybe Cleveland.  some green privet bush, licorice, pulls on your tongue, disappointing finish, hay.

2) 2012 Vinaceous "Snake Charmer" McLaren Vale - $15.99 @ Total Wine
100% Shiraz, 12.5% alcohol
mineral water, cherry, smooth on the tongue, grapey nose, dark, deep syrup, dark chocolate, tart, soft, cassis-y, syrup, earthy, like dirt, a bit dirty, dirt track rubber, dried dusty dirt, from the outback, would pair with dark chocolate, beet juice, cranberry

3) 2013 Mollydooker "Maitre 'D" McLaren Vale  ~ $30 @ Total Wine
100% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15.5% alcohol
(Mollydooker is slang for "Left Hander") good nose, floral, the legs stain the glass, inky, purple, black currant, berry, cassis, punches you in the face and caresses you, "Chris Brown wine, tastes like velvet, like any good first date, good from start to finish, delicious, high alcohol, warmth at back of the tongue, viscosity, all around winner, menthol finish, camphor, guessing it's a Mollydooker,

4) 2013 Mollydooker "Blue Eyed Boy" McLaren Vale ~ $44 @ Total Wine
100% Shiraz, 16.5% Alcohol
(named for Sarah and Sparky's son)
smells yummy (with 3 M's!), the alcohol is like YEOW! this wine is enormous!  high alcohol, dark chocolate, super cassis, cassis-bomb, anise, strong, high alcohol, licorice, needs more air, alcohol-bomb, like a scotch, it burns, tastes smooth, punches you in the face than caresses you, I hit you because I love you, too warm, you could light this on fire, you'll regret it in the morning, 'the wine before fireball', smoky, heavy, the heavy set, a wine with a self-righteous 20-something New York Attitude, Jam-bomb, two tense

5) 2013 Mollydooker "Blue Eyed Boy" McLaren Vale ~ $44 @ Total Wine
100% Shiraz, 16.5% Alcohol
antiseptic, hospital, bandaids, it burns, cassis-ish, yet smoother, "the wave cheers", "I like this 'effin' wine, Kampai!, Mushrooms in marsala sauce, earthy, tart, olive/brine finish, with cherry, chocolate, pear and pepper on the finish, like dirt, dirty beast, powdery chocolate, not much nose, derp-face, smells like a "white walker".

6) 2011 Michel Chapoutier "King of the Rhone" Tournon, Shays Flat Vineyard Pyranees Shiraz - $23.99 @ Toco Giant
He has Braille on the bottle.  100% Shiraz, 14% alcohol
dirty underwear, perm solution, mature wimes (ha), toilet water, funky, french toilet, slow your swirl, effervescent, does NOT pair well with dessert, petrol, new tupperware, latex, condoms, sharp turn down under left, we've cleansed Johnny, no do it again, velvety, not hot, older, browner, pretty much no one liked it except Abbie, (clarification, I'd like it on a different night).

7) 2012 Red Knot Shingleback Shiraz McLaren Vale - $15 @ Bottleshop on Collier
100% Shiraz, 14% alcohol
olive, sticky sweetness, cloying, rubbing alcohol, not a good finish, band-aid also, mud, swampy mud, asphalt, malbec?, older, grounded, very clean, antiseptic, rain on the ground, pavement, bitter finish, medicinal, Nyquil, not feeling it, hard to like, harsh, "you get no pleasure from drinking this" "the blue balls of wine", knotty.

8) 2010 Mollydooker "Two Left Feet" $25~30 @ Total Wine
72% Shiraz, 16% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon
16% alcohol
dark, elegant nose, this is nice, smells dirty, it doesn't taste as dirty as it behaves, it's a freak in the streets, a lady in the sheets, a Jedi in the streets, a Sith in the sheets.  A Dorothy in the streets, a Blanche in the sheets, a Charlotte in the streets, a Samantha in the sheets, "This is pithy goodth", it's puppy tongue!

Photos:
Australia Wine Map

Spanish Red Wines - Wednesday October 22nd, 2014 - hosted by Ms.Abbie & Mr. Matt

Spanish Red Wines - Wednesday October 22nd, 2014 - hosted by Ms. Abbie & Mr. Matt

Theme: Spanish Red Wines
Bring:  A bottle of red wine from Spain. This can be a blend, or a single varietal.  We will do our usual blind tasting format for this evening.
Price range: Up to $20/bottle for Singles, between $20 - $40/bottle for Couples
Information: Spanish Varietals.  Spain oaks their wine more than any other country, and Spain is one of the oldest wine producers in the world.

• Joven (Ho-ven) - no age
• Crianza (Cree-an-tha) - barrel aged 12 months, then bottle aged 12 months
• Reserva - barrel aged 12 months, bottle aged 24 months
• Gran Reserva - barrel aged 36 months, bottle aged 36 months

Tasting Notes:  
Welcome Wine:  2013 Morgadio Rias Baixas Albarino ~ $19.99 @ Le Caveau Fine Wines
12.5% alcohol
light, delightful, tart, slightly viscous finish, dry, great structure, from Western Spain

1) 2008 Dinestia Vivanco, Rioja, Crianza ~ $20-22 @ Le Caveau Fine Wines
13.5% alcohol
deep red fruits, has some heat on it, big oak, vanilla, slight hint of dill, creamy, slightly bitter, dry, that's some big one, almost sweet, sour cherry sweet, cassis, thick, syrupy, luscious, pairs with short ribs well

2) 2004 Casado Morales Gran Reserva Rioja Alvesa $35 @ Total Wine
90% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 12.5% alcohol
chill on the oak, more peppery, tart, hits back of the mouth, tar, relaxed, fresher, lighter, burnt caramel, slight acidity, dark cocoa powder, not sweet, palate is more fruity, toasted almonds, RH guesses French oak, says the oak is more subtle.

3) 2009 Vina Sastre, Ribera del Duero, Crianza ~ $30-35 @ Le Caveau Fine Wines
14.5% Alcohol
dark color, port-like, dark, deep and mysterious, Matt says closely related to the first wine but not as long lasting of a finish, French Oak perhaps?  Harsher nose, easy drinking, dry, olive/bitter end notes, brinier, maybe coastal wine? more rustic, not as complex, has some spice

4) 2009 Clos Pissarra, Monsant & Priorat, $29.99 @ Le Caveau Fine Wines
14% alcohol
a bit of perm solution, ammonia, similar to #2, dry, higher alcohol, hits back of the mouth, cherry mouth water on the tongue, the colors are all so deep, this one lets you down a little, the beginning of the palate is nice, soft on tongue, may need food with it? Rh & Deb says it's not ready, not as as well as the others, Matt says it's a good Football game wine, Abbie loves the nose, not going to dump it, Jaffet says it's a great date wine,
Side note: the winemaker is the first American somm to pass the master sommelier on the first try (he did this 15 yrs ago).

5) 2010 Faustino VII Rioja - $8.98 (on sale) @ Kroger
13% alcohol
smells French, a big stinking pile of barnyard, takes my breath away, I could smell it across the room as he was pouring it, maybe Pyrenees terroir?  stinky fart, what the dickens is this? softer, watery in a good way, could drink too easily, vanishes too fast, geosimin? very tart, puckers, I could drink it (more than #4).

Attendees voted that #1 and #2 were our favorites, but Jaffet liked #4 the best.

TWITs Takeover Southbound - Thursday Sept. 4th, 2014

TWITs Takeover Southbound - hosted by Southbound restaurant in Chamblee

Date:  Thursday, September 4th, 2014 7:30 pm ET

Bring:  TWITs attendees should bring $20/person to cover the cost of the wines.  The Southbound Menu will also be available if you would like to purchase any food.

Theme:  Transition into Autumn

Tasting Notes:

1) 2012 Domaine Mosse 'Magic of Ju Ju' Chenin Blanc

13.5% alcohol

Acidic, hint of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, fruity notes of pear and apple. Hints of live yoghurt. Resembles a Jura wine.  natural wine

2) 2010 Bodegas Gerardo Mendez Albariño Do Ferreiro Rias Biaxis, Galicia Spain

13% alcohol 

Citrus nose, honeydew melon, parm chz, sour cherry, Goes Great w spicy chicken, pickle, Good viscosity,  Matt says Chardonnay from burgundy Sancerre?

Melissa guessed Albariño 

3) 2012 Negretta La Roc Fronton "La Falle Noire d'Ambat" , France near Cahors

13% alcohol 

Funky nose, Maybe a tannat or cab Sauv, stinky oregon pinot? Better on palate than nose, Thick on the mouth, some acidity, spice, Opens up, heat on the nose, Grenache? Syrah? Mourvèdre, Dark syrupy, dirty, earthy, Priorat? From the boot? Cab franc blend, tannat, Hermitage, Sangiovese, Barbera ?

4) 2001 Tempranillo, R Lopez De Heredia, Vina Tondonia Reserva, Rioja Spain 
13%alcohol

Thanksgiving, cinnamon, nutmeg, a sweet potato, nice balance, skins of sweet potato, old cabinet, cigar box,

Roasted just out of the oven, a lot of butter, Italian Nebbiolo, dryer than it smells, fruity, dark, love the nose,

Cherries, leather, fruit forward, heat on the nose, it's got grip on the tongue, dill, black olives,  Sangiovese, Italian, Tempranillo, cab?

Thursday March 6th, 2014 - A Red Wine You Love - hosted by Ms. Abbie &Mr. Matt

Thursday March 6th, 2014 - A Red Wine You Love - hosted by Ms. Abbie & Mr. Matt

Theme:  We did it for white wines previously.  Now we want to know what your favorite RED wine is and why you LOVE it  Bring your favorite red wine (within the price range), and come prepared to tell us WHY it's your favorite. (suggested pricing:  singles $20 or less/bottle, couples $20-40/bottle).  Anecdotes and funny stories encouraged.

Originally this TWITs was scheduled on February 27th, but we postponed due to another amazing event occurring the same night.  Since the theme was rather "Valentine's Day" related, yet we were having the tasting in March (the month which has the St Patrick's Day Holiday), our Hosts opted to serve Corned Beef and Cabbage with the other appetizers.

To make it more fun, we blind tasted the wine first, took some notes and made some guesses, then unveiled it so we could hear the story of the wine from the person who brought it.

TWITs Tasting Notes:
Welcome Wine)  2009 Domaine Olivier Pithon Cuvee Lais, Cotes du Roussillon $28.99 @ Le Caveau Fine Wines
13.6% alcohol, blend of Carignan, Grenache, Syrah varietals
The Story:  Abbie and Matt first tasted this wine at Le Caveau (it was in the $60/Terroir Club Wine selections for July 2013). We fell in love with this wine.
"This wine is dense and very clean with a delicate nose of dark berries, minerals, and bright herbs.  The palate shows rich, concentrated black fruits and licorice with an impression of iron and stone.  the fresh acidity keeps everything in balance with a cinnamon note on the finish." 
We went back to buy more.  We shared it with our friends, and they bought more too.  We bought so much that eventually Le Caveau ran out of it.  We tried to find ways to buy more of it, but the one internet deal we found- ended up not panning out.  Eric Brown of Le Caveau gave an amazing presentation on Natural Wines for the TWITs in July 2013, and we learned that this wine was a Natural Wine also.  Since our supply was limited, we saved the wine for special occasions and birthdays, etc. Many night, as we were deep into our cups, someone would say "Let's open up a Cuvee Lais" and someone saner would say "no no not now, we need to appreciate it more, wait a bit". When we were prepping for the Languedoc TWITs  tasting, we learned Eric could get 2 other wines from the same winemaker (The Le Pilou and the Mon P'tit Pithon), so we obtained those for ourselves and the TWITs.  Finally, Eric's distributor found a few more bottles of our beloved Cuvee Lais. He emailed us immediately and we reserved a few bottles, thus we were able to share some with the TWITs tonight.

1) 2011 Lynmar Estate Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $40-45 from the winery
13.9% alcohol, Pinot Noir
TWITs tasting notes:  notes of strawberry, "smells like California", fern, green fern, bitter, Rheinallt guessed Pinot Noir, another person guesses Santa Barbara?
The Story: Kathy & Jamie brought this wine.  They visited the winery and Kathy says this is one of her very favorite wineries.  It tastes like outside, and smells just like being there.

2) 2012 Domaine du Vieux Chene - Beatrice et Jean Claude - Cuvee de la Haie aux Grives - $12 @ Le Caveau - Cotes du Rhone 14.5% alcohol, 80% Grenache 20% Syrah
TWITs tasting notes:  fresh cut grass, tobacco, cherries and chocolate, peppery, very peppery, green bell pepper, mild tannins, southern France, the garrigue, Rh and Janssen both guessed Cotes du Rhone,
The Story: Rheinallt brought this wine, because it's his "budget friendly mid-week wine".  He loves the nose, it's richer than a $12 wine, and the palate is rustic, he can imagine a farmer sweating over this wine.

3) 2010 Rombauer Vineyards Zinfandel Napa - $26-27 from a shop in Connecticut
15.9% alcohol 100% Zinfandel
TWITs tasting notes:  funky nose, rich, dark chocolate, cacao, after-dinner-mint, that's a funky mint, "I just got punched in the tongue" - Jackie, "Cassis on the tongue" - Rheinallt, creme de menthe,  Andes mint, mouthwash, it tastes denser than it looks.  would pair well with chocolate
The Story: Alexandra brought this wine.  She worked at a wine shop about 10 years ago in Connecticut, and she remembers having this wine and loving it, it was the best wine in the shop at that time, but it was a bit pricey for her then. she did buy a bottle recently to share, she doesn't drink alone, so she brought it tonight.

4) 2007 Scherrer Syrah Russian River Valley - $31.99 @ Le Caveau
14.1% alcohol 10% Syrah
TWITs tasting notes: guessing Shiraz or Syrah, Rh guesses California, bell pepper, good bitterness, oak and tobacco, delicious!
The Story: Jackie brought this wine because she LOVES Scherrer, he's a cool wine maker, very passionate about his wines and his Syrah.  It's a luscious wine, reminds her of biting into a ruby.  It's earthy, fulfilling, pairs with food and can stand on its own.  Jackie recently hosted a Syrah TWITs, and served the 2008 vintage that evening, and she says she likes the 2008 better than this vintage.

5) 2001 Valduero Gran Reserva Ribera del Duero Spain - $40-45 @ Wines Till Sold Out (WTSO)
14% alcohol, 100% Tempranillo
TWITs tasting notes:  malolactic, ritz crackers, buttery, Jackie is in love with this wine, dry, a "rub and tug" wine, "one and done", "2 pump chump", subtle spice, soft, somewhere between a Syrah and the adopted stepchild of a Syrah, same round juiciness, not edgy, like a Cab Sauvignon, Kathy said maybe a Cab Franc?, jamminess on the end with it.
The Story:  Abbie and Matt first drank this wine with Janssen.  We cannot remember where we had it first, it may have been a restaurant?  anyhoo, we loved it SO much, and shortly AFTER we had tasted it, we found it at Le Caveau for a bit, so we bought it and it was sort of our "fancy wine" for a while.  this wine has been served at many a party or dinner with friends. Then Le Caveau ran out of this wine, and we saw the 2001 Gran Reserva on Wines Till Sold Out, so we jumped and bought some to cellar for a bit.  We brought it out tonight, as this was a smaller TWITs and we still have 1 more bottle left.

6) 2009 Signaterra Cabernet Sauvignon Three Blocks Sonoma Valley - $40-45 from Benziger Estates
14.5% alcohol, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
TWITs tasting notes: oak, perfumey nose, earthy, mushroom, milk chocolate,
The Story:  Val brought this wine, because this was one of the first wineries where she and Rheinallt did the cellar tour and they had such a nice experience, plus the wine is amazing.  They had this wonderful wine-geek-nerd tour guide, who took them into the cave, etc. They tried all the high end wines, and heard 15 minutes stories on each of the wines.  Then out of the blue Rheinallt said he wanted to join the wine club.  He "never" wanted to join a club before.  This is the only club they joined.

Matt talking, but it looks like he's dancing!

Sometimes things get blurry for a moment...

The Lady TWITs in attendance