Fàilte! Welcome to the next installment of Exploring the Wine Glass. Mike and I are big proponents of you should drink what you like and you are the only one who can taste like you. We advocate the fact that everyone experiences the wine differently, so in these posts we do not discuss our tasting notes. Instead we include basic information about each of the wineries, and/or a bit about what was happening in our lives while we were enjoying them. With that said, if you are interested in reading our tasting notes and our ratings head on over to Delectable and check us out. We tell it as we taste it over there. Click here to see the chart we use to describe the color or if you want to see the wines themselves as they are poured, visit our YouTube Channel and watch for yourself. As always, since as oenophiles we love to celebrate #WineWednesday, our week runs from one Wednesday to the next.
Week 1
Mike and I have committed to participate in the Protocol Wine Studio’s 9-week program about Rías Baixas. If you are unfamiliar with the #WineStudio project, they are an educational program that run monthly programs. We get together on Tuesday nights at 9pm EST and discuss the topic and wines. It is truly an enlightening experience and I am honored to be able to participate. Read my first post about this program here.
The first week’s wines included the 2015 Gran Vinum Nessa and the 2014 Marin Códex Albariño from Galicia, Spain. This is our first time experiencing Albariño and we were blown away by the differences between the two. The Nessa was bright and crisp while the Códex was a fuller bodied and more layered wine. I will be writing a more elaborate post about these wines, so stay tuned!
This Friday, Mike and I poured our Cabernet Franc at the
Preakness Hills Country Club in Wayne, NJ. It was a very nice experience, and I was impressed with not only the beauty of the club but the food they were serving. I didn’t really get a chance to see the golf course, but if it is anything like the clubhouse, I’m sure Mike wouldn’t mind playing a round or two. We did take turns to sample some other wines that were being poured. Two of our favorites ended up both being Pinot Noirs. [Gary Farrell Sonoma Coast and Flowers] We also enjoyed the Wente Sauvignon Blanc. It was the first time I tasted their Sauvignon Blanc, it was a very different profile. It had the crispness and acidity of a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc but no overpowering grapefruit.
Saturday we went out to dinner with our dear friends John and Karen of Jean Edwards Cellars. As always, when we get together, it is a great time with fantastic wine. The time flies and before we know it, it hours later and we have several dead soldiers!
Sunday, (this has been a very busy weekend) we participated in our first Meetups group. I was a little nervous since a friend of mine told me it was more about “hooking up” than meeting people, but we had a great time. We met at a BYOB and there were 14 of us. It was really a very nice time and we are looking forward to the next get together.
Just in case you weren’t aware, today (April 17th) is World Malbec Day. We are huge fans of Malbec. If you are interested in learning about why today is the chosen date, please click here and if you would like to see how you can celebrate click here!
Week 2
This week’s #winestudio Albariños included 2014 Rectoral do Umia Viñablade and the 2015 Señorio de Rubiós Robaliño. I thought maybe the Viñablade would be similar to the Nessa since it was also a 2014 and it came from the same region [Salnes Valley], but it was significantly different. I am amazed by how many expressions this grape varietal can show off! As I stated last week, I don’t want to go to in depth about the wines here since I will writing a couple of posts dedicated to Rías Baixas. I will share the phenomenal salad I made to go along with the Albariño. Take a look at this lime chicken salad. So easy to make and its healthy! Can you ask for anything more?
It’s Wine Wednesday and since we didn’t get to drink some Malbec on Malbec World Day, we decided to do a little post celebration. We opened a 2012 Norton Reserve from Argentina. This wine has received a 90 from Wine Spectator and we always find it a pleasurable drink. Bodega Norton’s story began in 1895 when Edmund J. P. Norton planted vines he had imported from France. These plantings were the first winery in the area. 100 years later Gernot Langes–Swarovski acquired the winery with the desire to make wines recognized worldwide for their quality.
This Saturday we went out for dinner. It was a rare moment that we went to a restaurant that was not a BYOB. We are very spoiled in that there is a large number of restaurants that do not have a liquor license and there is no corkage fee! We did, of course, choose a Paso Robles wine. From their website:
Synthesis blends the power and complexity of Cabernet Sauvignon with the richness and elegance of Syrah. A harmonious combination, this wine offers aromas of red and black fruits with flavors of currants and blackberries leading to a smooth finish with well-integrated tannins. Enjoy this wine on its own or pair with virtually everything.
We had a 2013 Halter Ranch Synthesis (76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Syrah.) I ordered a wood oven thin crust asparagus and goat cheese pizza. Between the two, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. In fact, I was so involved in the food and wine (oh yeah, and the conversation) that I completely forgot to take a picture of either the wine or the pizza! After we left the restaurant, I was sitting in the car and yelled out, “DAMN!” Mike asked what and I told him I forgot to take pictures of the meal. He wasn’t quite as upset as I was. So you will have to just envision the awesomeness of the evening!
Hope you have had some great wines and times these past two weeks. Remember, always Pursue Your Passion. We would love for you to leave a comment telling us what your favorite recent wine was.
~Sláinte
