For the past two weeks, I’ve attended two wine classes taught by Skip Williams from Highland Wine. The classes are held Wednesdays at Shaun’s, and there are three classes left! I encourage you to give Skip a call to sign up for one or more of these classes. 404.853.4731.
March 10 – Bordeaux and Cabernet – $50
March 17 – Italy and Spain – $35
March 24 – Champagne and Sparkling Wine – $35
This beautiful label portrays a blended wine of 50% Monastrell and 50% Syrah from Spain. I’ve had some great Monastrells before, but Syrahs are often too pungent for my taste. Unfortunately, the Nabuko was on the too-strong side for me, being very pungent, spicy, and smoky. If that’s your style, go for it! You can learn more about the winemakers on the importer’s website.
Origin: Spain
Where: Highland Wine
Price: $15
Next time: I’ll pass.
This Finca el Origen Reserva Malbec was another star of our Superbowl Party. Not so much a wine for appetizers, this wine paired well with the turkey and veggie chilis. Bold oak, subtle tannins and fruit make this Argentinian Malbec a delicious beauty thanks to winemaker Gonzalo Bertelsen.
Check out their website, too – There’s some great information there as well as some amazing photos of the vineyards. I learned that portions of the Andes Mountains, including the location of these vineyards, was under water at one point during the formation of the continents. As such, there are a plethora of fossils to be found, particularly ammonite, a now extinct marine creature related to today’s octopus and squid. It is the shell of the ammonite creatures that inspired the beautiful spiraled logo that decorates this beautiful wine.
This winery produces a wide range of varietals, ones that I’m eager to taste after enjoying this Malbec Reserve. Keep an eye out for their Chardonnay, Viognier, Cab Sauv, Malbec, Syrah, Cab Reserve, and Malbec Grand Reserve. I’m definitely going to look out for their Cabs and Malbec Grand Reserve. It would be a fun taste test to try their Malbec, Reserve, and Grand Reserve against each other.
Interestingly enough, I’d tasted this wine before at a BBQ pairing tasting — and didn’t love this wine! I guess it’s just an example of how your opinion of a wine can vary based on the situation and tasting environment – what food it’s paired with, temperature at which the wine is served, your mood, etc.
Origin: Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
Where: Highland Wine
Price: $11
Next time: Get a glass!
To tag along with my Fave Red Wines of 2009, here are my star whites from this past year:
When it came time to choose some wines for a Superbowl Party, I had some tough decisions. I had a lot of Pinots to choose from, lots of new Cabs, and an assortment of other random new wines. The main course of the evening, besides the football game, was a pot of turkey chili and a pot of veggie chili. The notes from Highland Wine recommended a pairing of this Dolcetto D’Alba Il Moroso wine with spaghetti… close enough to chili, I figured, and it worked! This Italian Dolcetto reminds me of a more powerful Pinot – enjoyable fruit characteristics with velvety tannins.
To learn more about the Dolcetto grape, check out its Wikipedia page.
Origin: Alba, Piedmont, Italy
Where: Highland Wine
Price: $14
Next time: Get a glass!
Now that we’re a couple of months into 2010, I took a look back at the wines I tried in 2009 and present to you my list of Favorite Red Wines of 2009! Fave 2009 Whites coming soon!
This lovely Pinot debuted on Valentine’s Day Eve with a simple meal of baked chicken with rosemary and roasted red pepper flakes, baked sweet potatos, and steamed broccoli. The garnet-colored Pinot was a great balance of bright fruit and supple tannins. I love a Pinot that shows off its fruit without being a fruit bomb, and this is an excellent example!
Although I can’t find a website for Arthur Wilbanks, the label describes the wine nicely (except for the usage of the “&” sign versus spelling out “and”… grammer nerd, I know!
Wine, like music, should be savored, cherished & involve the senses. Our gentle sloping vineyards rest in a cool maritime climate allowing a lengthy ripening period accentuating the smooth, succulent character. Soft & delicate with elusive tannins, red fruits, and carressing structure, our wine harmonizes with vast cuisine and lively conversation.
Also, this wine goes great with watching the Vancouver Winter Olympics!
Origin: Edna Valley, San Luis Obispo, California
Where: Highland Wine
Price: $12
Next time: Get a glass!
This G5 Puerta Bonita came recommended by my dad, who’d gotten some in October last year at Highland Wine. He raved about this one, so I had to give it a try. I’ve had mixed reviews with Grenachas, so I figured this tasting could go either way.
Well, as they say – father knows best. This wine rocks, hands down. From 120-year-old vines, they only make about 1,100 cases – with 900 imported to the US, so I’m not sure how widely available you’ll find this one. If you run across it, definitely give it a shot.
Origin: Madrid, Spain
Where: Highland Wine
Price: $15ish
Next time: Get a case!
I had high hopes for this $13 California Cab. Unfortunately, I wasn’t overly impressed.
According to the website:
Our Rio Vaca estate vineyard lies 10 miles east of the famed Napa Valley, separated only by the craggy Vaca Mountains. Planted in ancient volcanic and alluvial soils, majestic 25-year-old vines produce grapes with complex and concentrated flavors.
The Vaca Cabernet Sauvignon was fermented in small, separate lots then aged in 60-gallon barrels. reserve lots of Syrah were cold-soaked prior to fermentation. Cold-soaking extracts darker, concentrated colors and fruits leaving behind harsh tannins.
The wine was aged 14 months in barrels, 25% new. a blend of 60% American, 20% French, and 20% Hungarian oak adds toasty vanilla, clove, and cedar highlights. the results is a dark wine, ruby in color, with ripe blackberry and plum flavors. Layered with velvety tannins, the finish is long and enduring.
The high acidity as well as the cedar and oak notes are the source of my sub-par opinion of the Vaca Cab, but if those characteristics appeal to you, give it a try.
Origin: California
Where: Highland Wine
Price: $13
Next time: I’ll pass.
This Big Bang Rioja, also called “BB” made it to my wine collection by way of Highland Wine’s monthly wine club (one of the best things I’ve ever signed up for!). The accompanying wine notes recommended pairing this powerful wine with roasted lamb with rosemary and garlic. Wouldn’t you know that’s exactly what our friends the Glovers cooked for our New Year’s Day feast! Perfect.
We uncorked the Big Bang with high expectations — and it delivered! This blended wine is composed of 50% Garnacha, 40% Tempranillo, and 10% Graciano. Wine Advocate describes this wine as:
The Garnacha was raised in concrete vats, the Tempranillo and Graciano in oak for nine months. Dark ruby colored, it offers up an exceptionally spicy nose (from the Graciano) along with floral notes, underbrush, cassis, cherry, and plum. Medium-to full-bodied on the palate, it has layers of flavor, excellent acidity, savory fruit, and enough structure to evolve for 2-3 years. It will be at its best from 2010 to 2017.
I’d tried some Riojas in the past at tastings and was never particularly fond of them. The more I’ve thought about it, I think it comes down to the massive power of these wines – oftentimes, they have strong tannins, so they’re just not going to come across at their best at a tasting without a big powerful meat to go with it. They’re just too much to really enjoy as a solo beverage. So next time you have a spicy, flavorful lamb – definitely give this wine a try!
Origin: Rioja, Spain
Where: Highland Wine
Price: $17
Next time: Get a glass!