Autumn Reds - October 20th, 2018 - hosted by Rachel & Chris

Autumn Reds - hosted by Rachel & Chris

When: Saturday, October 20th, 7pm

Bring: TWITs should bring 1 bottle of red wine that reminds them of Autumn. within the suggested price range - $20/bottle for singles, up to $40/bottle for couples.

Tasting Notes:
Welcome Wine:  2014 La Crema Chardonnay ~ $17 @ Total Wine
13.5% alcohol

1) 2016 Domaine Loubejic Pinot Noir (Selection Barriques, Dundee, Oregon) - $23.99 @ Total Wine
13.8% alcohol
peppery nose, cherries, pepper bomb, sweet finish, white pepper, red fruits, lighter, I guessed pinot noir, lighter wine, medium body, "Chaddy" guesses New World.
We were both right.

2) 2012 Chalk Hill Pinot Noir - $40 @ Citi Wine and Spirits
14.5% alcohol
grapey, fruity, raspberry nose, richer, darker red fruits, currants, pepper finish,
I guessed it was a Trader Joes wine since it was so jammy, I was incorrect.

3) 2015 Freak Show Cabernet Sauvignon (Lodi, CA)  - $14.99 @ Trader Joes
14.5% alcohol
cassis, sweeter nose, jammy, jam jar, raspberry, dry finish, got grip, I like it better than the last one, inky, almost a port-like finish, my fave so far,

4) 2014 Michel-Schlumberger Cabernet Sauvignon (Dry Creek Valley) ~ $17 (due to close out purchase from winery if we purchased a case).
jammy, leather, olive brine, all the right things going on, caramel, bitter/briny finish, a hint of taint, not much on the nose, weird odor, not quite wet cardboard, tastes better than it smells, bell pepper, probably needs food, "No Chaddity"

https://shop.michelschlumberger.com/xe/xe.asp?page=viewitem&p=CSSA142&cat=reds 

5) 2016 Capitel della Crosara Valpolicella Ripasso (Verona, Italy) - $19.99 @ Total Wine
14% alcohol
rich, pepper, earthy, suede, top grain, buttery, nice finish, "that's what she said", well balanced, yummy, rich

6) 2015 Tinazzi Tenuta Valleselle Aureum Amarone Acinum - $30 @ CostCo
15% alcohol

We decanted this one. alcohol nose, licorice, surprisingly faint, very rich, I want a steak right now, cherry on cherry, dense, shiraz-like, thicc, good.

  

Thursday June 19th, 2014 - La Dolce Vita! Bring your favorite ItalianWine - hosted by Ms. Kathy & Mr Jamie

Thursday June 19th, 2014 - La Dolce Vita!  Bring your favorite Italian Wine - hosted by Ms. Kathy & Mr Jamie

Theme: La Dolce Vita!  Ms. Kathy chose this theme because she loves Italy, and they have some of the oldest wine traditions in the world.  She says the wines that you drink when in Italy are very very good also!  Each TWIT (or couple of TWITs) brought their favorite Italian Wine. we blind tasted them to focus on our senses, and then unveiled the wine, while hearing why it was someone's favorite Italian Wine.

Tasting Notes:
Welcome Wine:  LaMarca Prosecco ~ $12 @ CostCo

1) 2012 Gavi Spinola, Castello Di Tassavolo - $19.99 @ Le Caveau
Piedmont region, 12% Alcohol,
100% Cortese di Gavi (no sulphites added)
floral, clean, clear goldish hints, honeysuckle, hint of citrus, beautiful legs, viscosity, delicate legs that caress the glass, dried oranges, orangey (not orgy), volcanic soil? orangey ash, perfect summer wine
Marilyn brought this wine, because she adores it, and has already bought a case of it.  She keeps it on hand.

2) 2007 Proprieta Gatteschi Chianti Classico Riserva, Ciona ~ $20 @ DeKalb Bottle Shop
13.5% alcohol,
100% Sangiovese
black rooster = DOCG, awesome nose, Chianti guessed, dry as a bone, raisin-ey, classic, oaked, dried fruit, red berries, milk chocolate, would pair well with Bolognese, quote of the night "Respect the cock"
Duncan brought this wine because he thinks it represents a great Chianti, and he likes Chianti a great deal.

3) 2007 Fanetti Vino Noble di Montepulciano Riserva ~ $30 @ Le Caveau
14.5% alcohol,
85% Prunolo Gentile (Sangiovese) 15% Canaiolo & 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
french oak, smells like toasted sugar, tobacco, dry but not tannic, guessing Chianti? dill, brine on the finish, needs food, a bit thin on the end,
Matt & Abbie brought this wine, because we love it, and we have it with an Italian dish for dinner once a week.  The funny thing was, because we were tasting it without a meal, we didn't recognize it during the blind tasting portion of the evening. LOL.

4) 2011 Cantele Primitivo Salento IGT, Puglia, Italy - $12.99 @ Toco Giant
100% Primitivo
grass, french, green nose, sweetness & acid, volatile acids, palate is flat, rustic, country, off-the-beaten-path, Super Tuscan? dry, dusty, arid, "grandma's vagina", lovely, better after it breathes
Rheinallt brought this one, as he wanted us to try something from the "heel of the boot"

5) 2009 Produttori del Barbaresco, DOCG - $25-30 @ Vinings Wine Shop
14.5% alcohol
100% Nebbiolo
tar, asphalt, stinky ole cigar, "dirty old Napoleon from Corsica", volatile acids, burnt rubber, more condom rubber like, smells plastic, tannic, smells like a short man with anger issues, burnt wick.
We learned that Barolo is the King, and Barbaresco is the Queen.
Ardella brought this as it had a 93 point rating in Wine Spectator

6) 2009 Recchia Le Muraie Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore, Veneto Italy - $18-20 @ Le Caveau
14% alcohol
100% Valpolicella blend (see link for details)
tar, asphalt, tannins, "dark mafia guy from Sardinia", "a bandit", "the New Orleans of Italy", dark and swarthy, Robusto!, earthy, fruity, super tuscan?
Jamie says Kathy loves this wine and it puts her in the mood.  She denies this politely blushing.

7) 2006 Giovanni Petrelli Centopietre Salice Salentino, Puglia Italy - $9.98 (on sale) @ Toco Giant
13.5% alcohol
100% Negroamaro (means black/black)
bad breath, funk, oaked feces, grandma after cigar, like coffee & shit, holy shit, "Monday Morning", the Pope shit, dark caves, caverns, soft, super tuscan ?, stank, overwhelming, closest to Africa has character, but it "stink pretty",
pair with curry
Rheinallt brought this one also.

8) 2011 Brancaia Tre - $19.99 @ Sherlocks
13.5% alcohol
80% Sangiovese and 20% Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The basis for this wine, are the grapes from our three estates: Brancaia (Castellina), Poppi (Radda) and Brancaia in Maremma (Grosseto).
nice, subtle, funky nose, barnyard, bell pepper, good with pizza, acidic, easy drinker, super tuscan? smooth, chocolate and berry, solid Italian wine.
Jamie loves this wine thus he contributed this one.

Bella wants to take wine notes too (see the pen?)  - ha ha!