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

Rose Tasting at Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar - Hosted by Jackie's Fine Wine & Spirits - April 21st

Rose Tasting at Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar - Hosted by Jackie's Fine Wine & Spirits - Saturday April 21st 2p-4p

There were 7 tables of delicious Rose to taste!

Table 1:
I tasted the Henri Bourgeois Pinot Noir Loire - $15.99
and the Henri Bourgeois Sancerre Loire - $20.99.  The 2nd was my favorite.

Table 2:
I tasted Le Fervent Costieres de Nimes France $20.99, it was very light.

Table 3:
I tasted none of these, but I had in the past tasted the Chapoutier "Belleruche" France $11.99.

Table 4:
I tasted the Barville Cotes-du-Rhone "Esprit" France $14.99.  It was a bit funky.
The Castels des Maures - France - $16.99 - good
The Fragile France - $20.99 - it was meh
The Foncalieu PiquePoul France - $15.99 - it was too light
The Elena Walch from Italy - $17.99 - good and funky
The Portlandia from Oregon - $15.99 - CA COW!

Table 5:
The Ayres Oregon - $21.99
Bruliam Rose of Pinot Noir California Elemental - $25.99 - loved it
Champagne Lallier France - $54.99 - was AMAZING
Fabre en Provence, France, $16.99 - delicious, wanted to buy a bottle.
The Ned from New Zealand - $14.99 good
Fabre en Provence Cru Classe France - $24.99 - delicious

Table 6
Sedosa from Spain - $14.99 - good
Fleurs de Prarie France - $14.99 - loved it
Pasas from Spain - $11.99 - olive juice briny end, liked it
Minuty from France - $18.99 - good
Hecht & Bannier from France - $19.99 - good
Stoller from Oregon - $19.99 - limey

Table 7
Rousseau Freres from France - $18.99 - loved it
Lefond "Roc Epine" Tavel from France - $19.99 - liked it
Le Zolle from Italy - $14.99 - ewww too sweet, dumped it. No Way Rose!

Drift served appetizers also.  it was a delightful day for it, perfectly sunny with a light breeze.  not too hot either. 

TWITs 10 Year Anniversary Party - March 10th, 2018 - hosted by Abbie & Matt

TWITs 10 Year Anniversary Party - March 10th, 2018 - hosted by Abbie & Matt

TWITs is turning 10 years old!  Can you believe we've been doing tastings as a group for an entire DECADE?!?  It boggles the mind.  So to celebrate the New Year and an entire DECADE of TWITs, we are hosting an Anniversary Party.

Theme:  TWITs 10 year Anniversary - Bring a bottle of your favorite wine from 2017 to share

Bring:  TWITs should bring a bottle of your favorite wine that you tasted in 2017


How has TWITs changed your life?
"We are more knowledgeable about wine."
-Rachel & Chris

"I moved to Atlanta a few years back I did not know anyone, having been introduced to Abbie via Rheinallt, she invited me to TWITs and this has given me social events every month to look forward to, a lot of good laughs, fine food, and amazing wine. But most of all, I have made new friends!! I am now encouraging my parents to start a wine club modeled on TWITs back home, because after their last move they have not yet managed to make new friends."
-Crystal

"We have really enjoyed finding a community of folks who enjoy and take wine seriously, but don't seem to take themselves to seriously. Everyone we've met in TWITs has been warm and generous, interesting and insightful, and we've truly enjoyed the camaraderie we've experienced so far, along with learning more about and tasting some great wines!"
-Chase & David

"TWITS has expanded my vocabulary for describing wine, and I've tasted varietals I wouldn't have even have considered before."
-Karin

"TWITS helped me see wine in a more vino-culturally sensitive and socially savvy way."
-Joshua

"We’re so new, TWITs hasn’t had much change on our existence ... and I don’t know if we have fully realized how much TWITs will change our lives in the 10 years to come, but we look forward to finding out!!"
-Crissy & Steve

"TWITs changed my life by opening me up to wine regions around the world I would not have considered before.  It was a TWITS gathering that encouraged us to plan a trip to Burgundy which was one of the best trips we've had.  Our passion for wine has grown so much, we are now having a wine cellar put in our house to hold all our wine - must keep our Burgundian wine at the correct temps!"
-Christy & Chad

"We have learned so much in the years we have been members of Twits! We have learned about different varietals of wine we would have never have normally tried and about different regions and how the terroir impacts the wine. We have also made some wonderful friends and had a lot of fun. Here’s to 10 more years! Cheers!"
- Kathy, Jamie, and Jackson

"I think the most important thing about TWITs for me is the lovely people I've met.  I have a feeling that's going to be a lot of people's answer.  But regardless, the monthly gatherings seem to attract high quality people & the wines themselves make for the perfect conversation starter.  It helps me get out of my introverted shell. Thanks for all you guys do." 
- Val

**FOOD**
1 lb of Foie Gras Torchon (from the Feeding Hannibal cookbook, this time I marinated the Foie in Fonseca Porto Bin No 27)
Toasted Baguette Slices 
Sage Plum Berry Sauce
Caviar w Cremé Fraiche
Prosciutto wrapped melon
Stuffed mushrooms (soy chorizo & Italian cheese)
Mini quiche
Fromages (Dubliner, goat cheese, Brie)
Olives
Charcuterie
Strawberries
Crudités
Chocolate bites

**WINES**
Welcome Wine: NV Gruet Blanc de Noirs, New Mexico ~ $15 @ most wine shops
sometimes can get a good price on a case via Woot.com
75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay
12% Alcohol

1) NV Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs, California ~ $50 @ the winery itself
85% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay
12.7% alcohol
Sparkling, bubbly, fruity, bubblegum aroma, strawberry, smoked bamboo (just kidding),
Guesses:
Abbie guessed Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc but definitely not La Marca Prosecco
RH says it's too sweet to be that one

2) 2017 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, NZ  ~ $13 @ CostCo or $20 elsewhere
100% Sauvignon Blanc
13% alcohol
still white wine, green apple, pith, sweet note, muscat, white flowers, quince, apple, honeysuckle, would be good in the hot tub, or on the porch
Guesses:
Karin - Albarino
Kathy - Sauvignon Blanc in USA
Chad, Janssen, Lauren, Val, Rachel - Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand

3) 2014 Yonah Mountain Chardonnay ~ $40 from winery
100% Chardonnay
13.3% Alcohol
floral, not quite as strong as a Jura, a lil funk, oaked, soft palate,
Guesses:
Abbie - French? no wait Semillon from Australia
Kathy - Chardonnay from California
Val - Chardonnay from Napa
Crissy - not 100% chardonnay, a blend?
Joshua - North GA wine
Karin - Semillon

4) 2016 Chateau d'Esclans Whispering Angel Rose, Provence - $23 @ Whole Foods
Rose Blend - varietal info not found online - assume GSM ?
13% alcohol
faint nose, light, refreshing, berries on finish, lot of citrus, pine tree, floral, minerally, mild, doesn't standout, pairs well with chocolate, light pepper on finish, the Vanishing Rose, it kissed the grape skins, made out, but no tongue, the palest pink.
Guesses:
Kathy - French

5) 2015 Domaine Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape - $80 @ PH Wine Merchant
Southern Rhone Blend
14.5% alcohol
cassis, grape nose, back in North GA?, Welch's grape jelly, menthol, licorice
Guesses:
Abbie - Gigondas
Lauren - French Bordeaux/young
Crissy - a sweet red
Kathy - Gamay from France
Matt - North GA
Joshua - Carmenere
RH - Oregon Pinot Noir

6) 2012 E. Guigal Chateauneuf du Pape - $40 @ CostCo
Southern Rhone Blend
14.5% alcohol
smells like foie gras, licorice
Guesses:
Abbie - Italian Barbera
Joshua - Bonarda
Rachel - West Coast CA
Crissy - Willamette, Oregon

7) 2014 Stinson Vineyards Cabernet Franc, Virginia - $23 @ Ansley Wine Merchant
100% Cabernet Franc
13.5% alcohol
Jammy, new oak, IDFK (I Don't F---ing Know)  LOL
Guesses:
Kathy - Pinot Noir
Abbie - Sonoma Pinot Noir
Chad - Santa Barbara Pinot Noir

8) 2000 Podere Rocche dei Manzoni Vigna Cappella di Santo Stefano, Barolo DOCG, Italy - $60 from RH's personal cellar
100% Nebbiolo
14.5% alcohol
robusto, black licorice, currants, sherry, raisins, brandy, worcestershire sauce, tar on the nose
Guesses:
Abbie - Nebbiolo from Italy
Joshua - Tempranillo (but then changed his mind to Syrah from USA)
David - Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

9) 2013 Michel Schlumberger Deux Terres Cabernet Sauvignon - $35 on WTSO or $75 from Winery
100% Cabernet Sauvignon (50% each from each Terres, thus the name)
14.9% alchol
caramel, sweet nose, mmmmmm, honey and caramel, rainbows in the forest, dark and inky, we smell unicorns!,
Guesses:
Crystal - older wine, Australian Shiraz
David - 8 yrs old
Kathy - Chianti
Joshua - Tannat
Karin - Lebanon - no a French Cahors?
RH - Syrah from Sonoma
? - 2011 Brunello di Montalcino ?

10) 2012 St. Clair Winery D.H. Lescombes Petit Verdot New Mexico - $45-50 @ winery
100% Petit Verdot
15% alcohol
tar, asphalt, bell pepper, Cab Franc ? leather, desert, scrub brush, funky, earthy, smells like taint (we had to explain what taint meant, it was hilarious), New World Palate, Spices, pepper, fruit,
Guesses:
Karin - France
Abbie - Cabernet Franc

11) 2015 La Crema Pinot Noir, Sonoma - $21-22 @ most stores
100% Pinot Noir
13.5% alcohol
funky in a different way, bald eagles and freedom, rescuers down under, pine, mineral, earth, chewy, cassis note but not overpowering, soft nose
Guesses:
Chad - Pinot Noir Sonoma
RH - Pinot Noir Burgundy
Joshua - Pinot Noir Argentina
Abbie - Pinot Noir Willamette

12) 2016 Rue de Perle Grand Vin Bordeaux - $15 @ Kroger
Bordeaux blend
13% alcohol
grandma's perfume, flabby, don't like, plums, cinnamon
Guesses:
Karin - Italian

WINNERS:
We had 4 prizes for those who did well with guessing the wines.  Our winners were:
RH, Chad, Kathy, & Joshua

Rose' - June 19th - hosted by Mr Janssen

Rose' - June 19th - hosted by Mr Janssen

About: " Rose, is a type of wine that has some of the color typical of a red wine, but only enough to turn it pink. The pink color can range from a pale orange to a vivid near-purple, depending on the grapes and wine making techniques." NOTE:  Rose is not the same thing as White Zinfandel.

Bring: TWITs should bring a bottle of Rose' within the specified price range (Up to $20/bottle for Singles, between $20 - $40/bottle for Couples).

Food Pairings: Vino For Dinner site says"Roses are nick-named a summertime "patio" wine, as they are refreshing on warm summer days and are lower in alcohol, which makes them easy to drink. They are a great party wine, as they can have broad appeal (not too sweet and not too heavy)... Rose is a versatile wine that pairs well with shellfish and can stand up to a bit of spice. "

Tasting Notes:
Welcome Wines (yes plural)
NV Louis Perdrier Brut Rose, Cote D'Or 11.5% alcohol ~ $10
NV Charles Bove Brut Touraine Cuvee Reserve, Montrichard Loir et Cher 12% alcohol ~ $20

1)  2012 Wolf Mountain Brut Rose ~$25 @ Wolf Mountain Winery
12.5% alcohol
light pink color, sauerkraut finish, sour nose, crisp, wow, sickly strawberries, minerally, strawberry fields, light, after I eat bell pepper it smells like chocolate, latex balloon, whoopee cushion, rubber

2)  2013 Bandol Rose $46 @ Le Caveau
11-14% alcohol (doesn't say)
melted cheap chocolate nose, tar, smoke, charcoal, minerally, less limestony, finish dies on the palate, sugar, caramelized onion, sour-y nose, tastes like fire, rhubarb pie, salami, bitter finish, odd finish, flat, paint thinner, guessing Cotes Du Rhone Grenache, Mina likes it, most do not, not sparkly, after tasting cheese it smelled like dried hay.

3) 2014 Domaine Andre Neveu Sancerre $22 @ Le Caveau
12.5% alcohol
mushrooms, lovely, perfumey, musty, tea roses, floral on palate, Marilyn  likes it, has some age on it, more substance, depth, balanced, light, Rh guesses Pinot Noir, no aftertaste, sophisticated, you can see yourself on a porch, on a beach, or a moon, drinking this one, Grandmas house, acidic, vibrant, similar to a Sauvignon Blanc, low country water, grandma's closet, but good, light/orange pink color, burnt sugar but not sweet

4)  2014 Domaine Dupeuble Pere et Fils Beaujolais $15 @ Le Caveau
12% alcohol
candy pink color, might be a white zin, strawberry, dissipates quickly, easy to drink, fuzzy peach smell, nice finish, nice viscosity, fuzzy peach smell, easy to drink, perfect for the pool, better cold, soho cup, horsiness, Mr. Ed, Rh guessed Gamay correctly!

5) 2014 Chateau Puech-Haut Saint Drezery "Tete de Belier" $40 @ PH Wine Merchant
13.5% alcohol
stanky, bubble gum, cheap after shave, teen spirit, perm solution, ammonia, honey palate, reminds me of lipstick on a pig, more like pig on lipstick, Wilbur from Charlotte's Web, too cloy, Languedoc ?

6) 2014 Chateau Puech-Haut Saint Drezery "Prestige" $20 @ PH Wine Merchant
13% alcohol
Val likes this one, no nose tastes amazing, light, more acidity, melon, musk melon, it was good, I want six more please, forgettable, generic, not the Natalie Cole, smooth and easy to drink

7) 2014 Round Pond Estate Proprietary Nebbiolo, Napa $24
14.6% alcohol
cloudy turbidity, bazon-gas joke, tart, peachy, fresh, apricot, apple juice, lime and lemon, sprite without bubbly, tastes good with almonds, Mina likes this one, I want my sweet and unsullied,

8) 2013 Clos Roche Blanche Touraine, Loire $24.99 @ Le Caveau
12% alcohol
grapefruit, orange peel that lasts, pepper, possibly volcanic soil, Matt guesses Syrah from Northern Rhone, Rh says Jura or Sicily, good with chocolate, smoky, like a cured sausage, hard salami, really complex, "this sh*t is amazeballs" bloody mary

9) 2013 Chateau Cantelaudette Bordeaux 
12.5% alcohol
butter, smells like f*cking butter, diacetyl, tossin' butter, wankin' butter, simple, doesn't last, for the pool or boat, pepper

10) 2014 Feudi Di San Gregario Ros'Aura , Campania $18 @ Savor in Kirkland
13% alcohol
no nose, Tyrion, amazing, yum, very light, melon, subtle, delicious

Holiday TWITs - Sparkling Wines - Friday December 5th, 2014 - Hosted byMs. Marilyn

The Holiday TWITs - Sparkling Wines - Friday December 5th, 2014 - 7pm ET - Hosted by Ms. Marilyn

Bring: TWITs should bring a bottle of sparkling wine

• made in the champagne method or methode champenoise, 
• from any country, any region, in the world, 
• within the specified price range (Up to $20/bottle for Singles, between $20 - $40/bottle for Couples)

AND

Blanc Elephant Gift Exchange:  Bring a homemade or small wrapped gift $5-10 (not expensive), for the gift exchange.

Tasting Notes:
Welcome Wine:  NV Gruet Blanc de Blanc, New Mexico - $15.99 @ Minx

1) NV Tattinger Brut Reserve Champagne, Reimes - $39 @ CostCo
12% alcohol,
(Reimes is pronounced Rhahmce, like it rhymes with France)
tastes French, very nice, crisp, dry, very dry, green, grapefruit, tart, slight sweetness, greenish tinge to the color

2) NV Gruet Blanc de Noir, New Mexico - $15.99 @ Minx
12% alcohol, Pinot Noir
white grape juice, sweeter, pleasant sweetness, palatable, golden color, more effervescent, tart, leaves me thirsty, chalky, minerality, bitterness at the end.

3) NV Laherte Freres Grand Brut 'Ultradition' Champagne - $49.99 @ Le Caveau
60% Pinot Meunier (rare to have so much), 30% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Noir
more clear gold color, acidity, sharper, peaches & apricot, tart, floral, elegant, yeasty, savory, Val guesses cremant, champagne, Gwen guesses Prosecco,
"92 points The new release of Ultradition is absolutely lovely, offering up a complex nose of lemon, apple, bread dough, stony minerality, citrus zest, and a top note of white flowers (from the Pino Meunier?), On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, crisp and complex, with lovely mid-palate depth, elegant mousse and superb length and grip on the crisp and focused finish.  This is one high class bottle of non-vintage Brut!  2013-2025.  - John Gilman, A View From the Cellar #46, Jul/Aug 2013."

4) 2012 Peter Jakob Kuhn, Spatburgunder Rose Sekt Brut - $35-39 @ Le Caveau
13% alcohol, German Rose from Rheingau
pinky/orange hue, funky nose, Kathy guesses Blanc de Noir, apple juice, Matt says "awful", peachy, Rh says cider-ish, obscure, "better as a spritzer", we also tried this wine mixed with Anasazi Vineyards Choke Cherry wine.

5) 2010 Ironhorse Wedding Cuvee - $38 @ Toco Giant
13.5% alcohol, 75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, aged 3 years
Rose-ish, softer, effervescent, berry, yeasty nose, not so elegant, dry, tart, honey, tight on the palate, not as satisfying, very forward, flabby/flat, might be a cava, sparkling wine begs for food

6) NV Mumm Napa Brut Rose - $15.99 @ Candler Park Market
12.5% alcohol
sparkly, rose, dry, very mainstream, very drinkable, "what you think of when you think of champagne but fruitier", this is a burpy wine!, french wine making technique, bing cherry, dark plums

7) NV Roederer Estate Brut, Anderson Valley California - $22.99 @ World Market
12% alcohol
yeasty honey nose, CA wine, asparagus pee, bready, tastes like Californian, toasted nuts, smells good, this is awesome, tastes like asparagus pee, I could drink all day, Rh guessed French

8) NV Sommariva Prosecco di Conegliano -Valdobbiadene, Superiore, DOCG, Brut - $20-29 @ Dunwoody Kroger
11.5% alcohol
clear color, perfumey, pear, swedish au pair (joke), totally different nose, light green, Marilyn guesses 2013 ?

Rhone Wines - Friday November 21st, 2014 - Hosted by Ms. Val and Mr.Rheinallt

Rhone Wines - Friday November 21st, 2014 - Hosted by Ms. Val and Mr. Rheinallt

Theme: Rhone Wines
Bring:  TWITs should bring $20 / person to cover the cost of the wines.  Our host and hostess will be hand-selecting the wines for us.
Information: The Rhône wine region in Southern France is situated in the Rhône river valley and produces numerous wines under various Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) designations. The region's major appellation in production volume is Côtes du Rhône AOC.  All things being equal, Rhone Valley offers far better value, but equal quality to Burgundy and Bordeaux wines.

The Rhone Valley terroir and varietals can be split by Northern Rhone vs. Southern Rhone.

The Northern Rhone Valley terroir is described as a Continental climate, gorge, steep limestone and shale terraced vineyards, all grapes harvested by hand.  Red varietal is Syrah (90-95%), White varietals are Rousanne, Viognier, Marsanne, (5-10%).  A lot of the winemakers use 95% Syrah and perhaps 5% Viognier in their wines.  The winemakers in the appellation Condrieu use Viognier.

The winemakers from the appellation Cornas have to use 100% Syrah.  We think this is because Cornas wasn't making very good wine until about 10 yrs ago, so they are sort of on "Syrah probation".  Cornas is a hanging valley.

Hermitage is considered the "spiritual home" of the Syrah grape, which is why wines from that appellation may cost more than wines from Crozes Hermitage (nearby appellation).  Cote-Rotie, Rotie means Roasted.  The welcome wine and the first 3 wines we tasted, were from Northern Rhone.

The Southern Rhone Valley terroir is more of a Mediterranean climate, similar to Languedoc and Provence.  Red varietals (13 allowed) Grenache (main grape 50-70%), and then the supplementary red grapes, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Carignan, and 8 others (30-50%).  White varietals are Rousanne, Viognier, Marsanne, Viognier, Clairette Blanche, Grenache Blanche, etc.  The appellation of Lirac is known for it's briny tasting wines (like sucking on an olive).  Tavel is known for it's Rose' wines.  Wines 4 through 8 were from Southern Rhone.  Cotes = slope, Coteaux = slopes (plural).

(CDP) Chateauneuf-du-Pape = The Pope's New Castle.  Not many people may know but in 1308 Pope Clement V moved the papacy to Avignon.  A total of 7 popes reigned at Avignon, all French.  They increasingly fell under the influence of the French Crown.  In 1377 Gregory XI moved his court to Rome.  This conflict gave rise to the Western Schism in catholic church, and France had a few "anti popes".  The popes in Rome wore white, and the anti-popes in France wore black. There are two different types of terroir in Chateauneuf-du-Pape.  One is flat soil, the other is rocky, stony, galetes, which warms and cools quicker, and provides better irrigation also.

Cotes du Rhone AOC has 3 designations.
1) Cotes du Rhone - generic level, 100 miles, highly variable quality
2) Cotes du Rhone Villages (no name) 95 communes, better quality, rules about % of Grenache and Syrah planted.
3) Cotes du Rhone Villages (with a named village), 18 of the appellations are authorized to include their village name on the label, one of which is Sablet  (we tried one), and they have even more strict rules about % of Grenache and Syrah planted.

Garrigue - low, soft-leaved scrubland on limestone, kermes oak, lavender, thyme, white cistus, blows on the grapes.

Tasting Notes:
Welcome Wine:  2011 Crozes Hermitage les Champs Libres Blanc (13% alcohol) - $31
Marsanne varietal

1) 2012 Collines Rhodaniennes, GAEC Jamet (12.5% alcohol) - $22
butter, I can't believe it's not butter, rich, shortbread, nice nose, ground white pepper, lighter red fruits, dried fruit, silky, lighter, easy-drinking wine, subtle milk chocolate, creamy, clove spiced, pepper bomb.
good to pair with a meat that has no pepper.

2) 2009 Cote-Rotie Cuvee Classique 'Ampodium', Domaine Rene Rostaing (13% alcohol) $80
(he had this opened to breathe from 4:30p-8:30p)
fennel, tar, asphalt nose, cassis, well balanced, lingering finish, floral, chewy, delicate edges, but big! more rounded, you can roll off it.  big full flavor with delicate edges like frosting, is it worth the extra $?  TWITs say yes!

3) 2008 Franck Balthazar Cornas Chaillot, Rhone (13% alcohol) $50
herbs, pickles, dill, briny, peppery, tickles the nose, it's more bold of a wine, dry wine, like you can taste the skin of the grapes, this one you can kind of escond yourself into the cracks, it stays with you longer, torrid.

4) 2010 Domaine Saint Gayan Cotes du Rhone (14% alcohol) $15
GSM blend, traditional classic Cotes du Rhone style blend,
apples, caramel, easy drinking wine, medium fruit, bit of stinkiness

5) 2012 Domaine Les Genestas Cotes du Rhone (14.5% alcohol) $19.99
fresh soap nose, cloudy colon turbidity, viscous, thicker, toasty, olive oil, tart, bitter, marshmallow toasted, most interesting palate, heterogeneity (lots of variation), citrusy, lemony bouquet, garni, crazy different, black licorice

6) 2010 Chateau Du Trignon, Sablet, Cotes du Rhone Villages (14% alcohol) $19.99
*Rh thought this one was corked, but we tried it anyway.  you can see the photo of the cork compared to a non-breached cork below.
cake nose, nursing home hallway, wet, medicinal funk, tart, oxidized
Replacement: # 6) 2010 Domaine de L'Espigouette Bernard Latour, Plan de Dieu (14.5% alcohol) $18
Plan de Dieu means God's Plan.
garrigue, herbal, changing gear oil, black licorice, gasoline, tar, petrol, savoriness, earthy, raking dried leaves, crunchy, bitter after-palate, berry, herbaceous nose, good acidity

7) 2012 Domaine Bertrand Stehelin Gigondas (14% alcohol) $36.99
dry, musty, cloisters, leather bouquet, saddle sway, barnyard, chickens, she was a good cow, jammy mouth,

8) 2011 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Mas de Boislauzon (13% alcohol) $49.99
(castle of new pope)
rich nose, thicker, this you can latch on to, chewy, elegant, bold leathery

Le Caveau - Chateau Le Noble Tasting - 03/07/2012

*note, the White Bordeaux has 40% Sauvignon Blanc, not Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a typo we believe.

Chateau Le Noble is a family owned vineyard established in 1820. Located at Saint Germain du Puch on the left bank of the Dordogne River, between Bordeaux and Saint Emilion.

Thomas Bonnefan is heir to an ancient tradition of winemakers rooted in the region of Languedoc and the southwest of France. He is a graduate of the prestigious wine agricultural and oenology school in Bordeaux, Blanquefort. His studies were completed by internships and hands-on perfecting at several Bordeaux Chateaux, including the famous cru classe Chateau Rauzan-Segla in Medoc.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone