Our featured wine of the week, the Casa Lapostelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 from Chile score 90 Points from the Wine Spectator, a very high score for wine that retails for about $12. Lapostelle wines from the Rapel Valley region of Chile are made on 3 different vineyards and produce about 200,000 cases of wine a year. Harvested by hand, this Cabernet blend is about 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Carmenère, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Syrah and 1% of Petit Verdot. With a complex scent and a very good complex flavor, this solidly dry medium bodied wine. This is a solid wine and we recommend it for the $12, which is an excellent price, but the 90 points from Wine Spectator is a bit much. Fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged in French Oak barrels this wine pairs well with pastas, pork and grilled red meat.
“Our Casa Cabernet is the perfect wine to celebrate with friends and family: this wine can transform a simple celebration into a memorable occasion.” Jacques Begarie, Chief Winemaker.
Normally the Francis Coppola Wines are pretty solid for the price usually having great complexity, flavors and crispness. However, we can’t say the same for the 2009 Coppola Shiraz. For those that don’t know, Francis Ford Coppola is the infamous director of the Godfather who’s turned his film fame into a very successful winery and vineyard with many styles of red and white wines available all over the world ranging from about $12 and up. The 2009 Coppola Shiraz was about $14 and simply underperformed from the first sip. We tried to let it breath a bit but over the course of an hour the wine was still flat and lacked complexity, bite and any type of crispness, bitterness or anything remotely indicating a good wine. Yes, it’s easy drinking but that’s about it. We would certainly try it again just in case it was a bad bottle however we wouldn’t recommend the 2009 Coppola Shiraz. This is a below average wine.
According to the web site, the Coppola Shiraz pairs well with burgers, BBQ and pasta.
From Coppola Vineyard
Easy-drinking wine perfect for summer BBQs or hearty, winter stews.
Small amount of Viognier added for light floral notes.
Ripe, lush texture and moderate tannins are the trademark characteristics of our Shiraz. To achieve this, we source fruit from old dry-farmed vineyards in Lodi. These grapes are blended with fruit from Paso Robles, which gives the wine its intense berry and spice flavors.
Our Shiraz is aged in both French and American oak barrels, achieving more complexity of flavor; French oak imparts a vanilla character, American oak helps sustain the inherent spice qualities.
There is a time and place for delicate, complex wines that carefully weave complementary flavors and textures into a dining experience. The middle of winter at a table featuring Wagyu Pot Roast is neither that time nor that place. Pot roast is a big, hearty dish of comforting, familiar flavors as American as the apple pie often served afterwards. So what better wine to serve with Wagyu Pot Roast than an equally big and hearty Syrah direct from America’s West Coast. Syrah is often blended with other grapes, creating wonderful, layered reds. But Master Sommelier George Miliotes suggests seeking out a single-vineyard Syrah for this dining occasion. It will be a big, briary wine with aromas of spice and flowers, flavors of ripe forest berries, and substantial tannins that beautifully balance the richness of pot roast. Consider Alban Vineyards’ Reva Syrah, grown in Edna Valley of California’s Central Coast. Alban Vineyards is actually the first American winery and vineyards established exclusively for Rhone varieties, and their Syrah is exceptional. Another favorite of ours is Radio-Cocteau’s Timbervine Syrah, created from grapes grown in California’s Russian River Valley. And from farther up the coast in Walla Walla, Washington, comes Cayuse Winery’s savory Cailloux Vineyard Syrah. There will be time enough for lightness and frivolity come spring. Winter is about gathering indoors with friends, indulging in robust comfort food, and curling up with a good Syrah.
Our team has been on the lookout for inexpensive organic wines to see if there are any wines on the market that can compete in terms of complexity and price with the rest of the wine world as a whole. To be fair, organic wine grapes like all other organic fruits and vegetables are still sprayed with pesticides. Hard to believe but yes, all organic farms in the world use pesticides, however these pesticides are all natural, as opposed to the more modern man made pesticides which would be considered non-organic. (Many scientists in the industry claim that the non-organic pesticides are actually safer for human consumption.) Time will tell which is better for us…
For now, let’s discuss these two organic wines that we found at Wegman’s Pub this past weekend. Let’s start with the Green Truck Petite Syrah. According to Green Truck, “organic farming requires a commitment to a method of farming that eliminates dependence on chemical fertilizers and toxic fungicides and insecticides in favor of natural practice.” The Petite Syrah Grapes were organically grown at the Mendocino County vineyards by the Barra family and the grapes underwent gentle de-stemming and crushing. Unfortunately, the Green Truck Petite Syrah was basically flat and completely lacked any complexity. The scent of the wine was solid and sharp, but the rest was all downhill. Tasting Notes: Mild, smooth, not very grainy, with a thin mouthfeel and having legs in the glass. Flat and watered down, more like unsweetened grape juice. The Green Truck Petite Syrah has no body and no structure. This is a below average table wine and we most likely would try it again. Retail price $12.00
The Parducci Sustainable Red was definitely better than the Green Truck but nothing to write home about. The Parducci Sustainable Red is a red table wine and the Parducci Vineyards are locally owned and operated in California’s Mendocino County. Parducci practices “sustainable winegrowing, protecting the environment and supporting our communities and local farmers.” The Parducci table red has a slight bite, and a bit of flavor with a better concistency than the Green Truck but overall is flat with no aroma. This organic wine was also a bit disappointing and we would not go out of our way to try this again. Retail price $11.00
In the new Morton’s Steakhouse blog, Sommelier and certified mixologist Sara Fasolino kicks some serious knowledge when it comes to pairing food & wine, making cocktails and killing it with the best drinks at the holiday party. “In yesterday’s blog, I recommended Pinot Noir as a red wine for your holiday party, because it’s a well-liked wine by most everyone. So I wanted to feature a Pinot in today’s issue of ‘Wine Wednesday’…the Ponzi Tavola Pinot Noir. It’s a nice choice for any get-together, and we also offer this on our ‘Wines by the Glass‘ list.”
PRODUCER
Ponzi Vineyards
REGION
Willamette Valley
VINTAGE
2009
THE HIGHLIGHTS
Ponzi Vineyards is a family-owned and operated winery
Their Pinot Noir is recognized by top critics, and every vintage receives strong accolades
They have a long-standing reputation for delivering the highest quality
LIVE certified sustainable vineyards and Salmon Safe
FLAVOR PROFILE
“Perfumed nose of spiced cherry, red raspberry, clove, licorice and sandalwood. A bright mouth of red currant and plum lead to a soft, lingering finish.” – Winemaker Luisa Ponzi
ABV%
13.70%
RATINGS
92 pts and “Best Buy” from Wine & Spirits
Best of luck as you prepare for your holiday feast with friends and family. If you choose to pour Ponzi Pinot Noir, I think you and your guests will be highly satisfied. Happy holidays!
Cheers!
Sara Fasolino
Beverage Manager/Certified Sommelier and Mixologist
A Blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo Nero & Cabernet Sauvignon Grapes
By Matt Goldstein
When choosing Chianti, the first rule is to always choose a Riserva. A Chianti Reserva has been aged at least 27 months in the winery and has much more character as a wine. The Riserva Chianti might be a few more dollars but it’s worth it, as the complexity of the wine, more than makes up for it. The second rule for drinking Chianti is to always let it breath. Most red wines should breathe for a few minutes but the Chianti must breathe for at least 30 minutes to reach its full potential. Open the bottle of wine, and don’t touch it for 30 minutes. When you pour the Chianti in your glass, make sure you swirl it around a bit. You can also swirl the bottle. The glass swirling does not make you a wine snob; it just makes the wine good. As evident with all Chianti’s the Banfi Chianti Classico Reserva was flat and almost flavorless when first opened. However, after it opened for about a half hour, the wine reached its full complex potential. This is a solid wine with a well balanced dry and bitterness in the finish. Most all Chianti’s are made with the Sangiovese grape, about 70-80% of the blend. The other grapes in the Banfi Riserva are the Canaiolo Nero and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. This is a solid wine for $15 but we probably wouldn’t pay $20 for it. The Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva is worth a try, just make sure you let it breath.
About the Banfi Chianti Classico Reserva
GRAPE VARIETIES
Almost exclusively Sangiovese.
PRODUCTION TECHNIQUE
The alcoholic fermentation with a medium period of maceration is followed by 2 years of aging in Slavonian oak barrels (60-120 hl). The wine concludes its evolution with an at least 6-month bottle aging.
DESCRIPTION
Colour: mauve red. Bouquet: intense with notes of vanilla, liquorice and chocolate. Taste: round, spicy, elegant and well structured.
WINEMAKER’S NOTES
Celebrating the best Tuscan tradition Banfi offers a family of Chianti wines varied and complementary, unique in its style. Chianti Riserva is produced from selected grapes grown in the “Classico” region of Chianti between Siena and Firenze. It is elegant, well-balanced, full-bodied with a very long aging potential.
FOOD PAIRINGS
It superbly accompanies meat dishes and typical Tuscan cuisine.
Alcohol content: 12,5 to 13% vol. following the season condition.
Recommended By the Sommelier at the Union Trust Steakhouse
The Michael David Winery in Lodi California is now producing 18 different types of wine and over 600 hundred acres. The Michael David Petite Petit is a blend of 85% Petite Sirah and 15% Petit Verdot. This Syrah is full bodied and full flavored, but just slightly dry. With hints of fruits and vanilla, this is a rich and beautiful finish, especially for only $15 retail, it’s also a perfect red wine for a steak dinner, as recommended by the Sommelier at Union Trust, the best steakhouse in Philadelphia.
“The vineyards are irrigated by the Mokelumne River, which carries crystal-clear water from the Sierra Nevada Mountains, depositing minerals into the rich soils upon which the grapes thrive.” We recommend the Michael David Petit Petite Syrah blend as it’s an excellent buy for $15.
Casillero del Diablo wineries are the most recognized Chilean wine brand and for good reason. There are multiple wines from Diablo available for under $15 and some for even $10. Chilean and Argentinean wines have exploded in popularity, much because of the quality but also because of the price. Simply put, wines from Napa Valley are on average more expensive because of the cost of land and labor. Chile and Argentina have taken advantage of the lower price range but still maintain excellent quality wines. Our featured wine of the week, Casillero del Diablo Syrah, costs about $12 retail and is available throughout the United States. Made by Concha Y Toro wineries, Casillero del Diablo Syrah is flavorful, slightly bitter and complex with hints of chocolate and pepper and perfectly matched with spicy foods, and or red meats. This is a solid wine for about $12. We would definitely drink it again, but probably wouldn’t pay $15 for it. Casillero del Diablo translates to Cellar of the Devil.
Production Area: Rapel Valley, Chile.
Grape Variety: 100% Syrah.
Description: Casillero del Diablo Reserva Syrah is an opaque purple wine with well developed, densely packed black fruit notes on the nose. The palate is round and mouth-filling with ample black cherry, currant and cedar flavors mixed with sweet tannins and finished with lively acidity for balance.
Casillero del Diablo offers wine lovers the very special opportunity to participate in the propagation of a century old legend known throughout the world. In the 19th century, the founder of Concha y Toro, Don Melchor, discovered that his vineyard workers were sampling his greatest wines. To discourage this action, Melchor spread the rumor that his deepest, darkest cellar was the Casillero del Diablo (Cellar of the Devil), so that no one would dare go in there. It worked, and a legend was born. Today this mysterious and legendary cellar continues to hold the finest wines of Casillero del Diablo.
Our featured wine this week is a red Sangiovese from the Tuscany region of Italy, one of our favorite styles. The Cesari Sangiovese DOC di Romagna Riserva is made with 100% of the Sangiovese grape and aged for 24 months in Slavonian and Italian oak barrels. This Sangiovese is ready to drink right out off of the shelf but has a 5-7 year aging potential. Winning a silver medal in Germany in 2007, the Cesari DOC Reserva is available for about $15-17. Tasting Notes: The Cesari DOC Riserva is a full bodied red, slightly dry and slightly tart. A thick and dark red, a bit tannic, this Sangiovese will pair well with meats and aged cheeses. This is a solid red wine and less expensive than most other Sangiovese reds.
A Red Wine Blend of of Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Syrah
By Matt Goldstein & Carolynn Chapman
The Cline Cashmere is a very easy drinking and light Red blend of of Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Syrah. From the Contra Costa County vineyard in California with 30 year old vines, the Grenache and bulk of the Syrah grapes come from Oakley. Fermented in stainless steel and then aged for 6 months in French Oak Barrels, the Cline Cashmere is a great wine for about $14. Very smooth, light and fruity, any type of wine lover will enjoy the Cline Cashmere. The Cline Cashmere pairs well with grilled salmon, pork roast and duck.
Great Bang for Your Buck
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