Page 22 - Staff Tastings

‘Tis the season to share some bubbly, and this Grower Champagne by Vilmart is perfect to share at just $64.95. With such a creamy texture and long finish, your guests will assume that they are drinking a bottle that costs 3-4X the price!

Vilmart & Cie has been in the Champagne business since the late 19th century. The vineyard is located in the northern section of Champagne known as the Montagne de Reims. The cliffs in this region are known for their limestone powder and cool climates, perfect terroir for the very old vines that the estate relies on for their wine. The estate is currently run by Laurent Champs, the fifth generation to work the estate, and he employs sustainable and organic practices. His use of oak barrels, most of them neutral, is determined by the complexity of the wine – only

If several big name producers come to mind when you think of Champagne, you might be in for a pleasant surprise. An increasing number of smaller Champagne producers are easier to find in the US than ever before!

One of these is Henriot, a seventh generation family business which has produced Champagne going back some 200 years, and they were one of the first to graft new stock in their vineyards after the phylloxera crisis at the end of the 19th century. Their perseverance paid off, and they became the Champagne of choice among European royalty.

They are among a small number of independent houses remaining in Champagne, and they are known for an artisanal approach that results in elegance, sophistication and richness. They select from only the best vineyards and concentrate on the purity of the grapes, balancing the finesse and elegance of Chardonnay with the structure of Pinot Noir. The bottles have a very long maturation process, twice what is required by law, in the dark,

About two years ago, the following 91 point review for 2008 Ricominciare Altisimo Malbec was posted in Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate:

“Sandalwood, exotic spices, cherry cola, incense, and assorted black fruits titillate the nose while pointing to an incipiently complex, ripe, plush Malbec with good balance and length. Give it 2-3 years to fully blossom and drink it from 2013 to 2023.” Release Price: $36

Now that’s a lovely review, and I would have been happy to try a sample…except that we were just offered the sample last week. To be clear, this is the current offering from Ricominciare, not like the bounty of 2010s – 2012s on most shelves. I mean there are some 2008 Argentine Malbecs out there like Catena Zapata’s luxury cuvee Argentino or their historic single vineyard Nicassia which run around $100 a pop. But most of the moderately priced 2008s are leftover inventory taking up space, so I was very intrigued when

Tenuta Sette Ponti lies on historic land in the heart of the Chianti zone at the end of the Via del Monte.  Their first release was the 1998 Crognolo, named after a wild bush, Cornus, which grows on the estate.  The estate's second release, Oreno, is named after a small river running through the estate.  I first came to know of the Sette Ponti name when the 2001 vintage of Oreno was released.   I would say that was their break-out year when the Oreno received 95 points from Robert Parker.  

Each year the Sette Ponti estate has ratcheted up the quality and regularly receives above 90 point scores from the critics.  Their newest arrival and release is the  that just received a huge score from James Suckling of .  In fact, James Suckling called this “…the best ever Crognolo.”

We were very eager to give this wine a try when it recently arrived.  Once we pulled the cork and poured our first glass, we knew we were

Autumn is my favorite season.  I just love everything about it – the sweaters that return like long lost friends, the changing colors of the landscape with colors so bright I am convinced they were created by an artist’s brush and heartier dishes that fill the house with savory aromas.  Since beginning my career as a consultant at Sokolin, I have a new reason for  anticipating the season – the rich, sweet wines I enjoy more when the temperatures are a bit chilly like the .

On a recent Sunday, after attending a fall festival at an outdoor history museum and miles of walking, my husband and I settled in for a quiet evening.  We dined on a winter vegetable stew from earlier in the week, the kind of dish that just gets better and better with a few days in the fridge.  Since it was still early enough to embark on a bit of baking, I decided to make a chocolate spice cake, a recipe I found online that claimed to be very close to one served

Don’t be afraid to go after a big and bold Barolo in the summer!  The   (94 points - Wine Spectator) is a rich and inviting Italian bottle – and it’s under $40!  Yes!  Rich and under $40.

The 2007 Schiavenza has the classic cherry and plum Barolo characteristics.  This wine is still young and should be decanted for a few hours if you’re going to enjoy it now.  Decanting will allow the fruit and spice nose to open, bring out the cherry and plum, and also open up and soften the finish.
 
2007 was a standout vintage for Barolo.  It was warm in 2007, which lent to excellent ripeness and acidity in the wine.  This is a main reason why this vintage is considered to be approachable significantly sooner compared to other vintages.  For instance, you can go after a 2007 well before a 2006 Barolo.

The 2009 Stella di Campalto Rosso di Montalcino (93 Points - Sokolin Tasting Panel / $39.99) is an exceptional value alternative to often pricier Brunello di Montalcino bottles.  Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate called Stella di Campalto “…one of the most promising young producers in Montalcino…”  Antonio Galloni (formerly of The Wine Advocate) has also noted that “these handmade, artisan Rossi and Brunelli are some of the most exciting wines being made in Montalcino today.”

Right away, you can tell this Sangiovese has soft tannins and bright red fruit.  There is a subtle smoky aspect in the middle and noticeable minerality throughout.  The soft tannins make the finish on this wine smooth, and the bright fruit provides a burst that will make you go for another glass.

The 2009 Stella is nicely balanced and drinking perfectly right now!

Food Pairing: 

In recent history, no other category of Italian wine has had such an impact as that of the Super Tuscan.  It is single-handedly responsible for the “Renaissance” of Italian wine.  Specifically, the term arose as more and more Chianti producers opted out of their historical term “Chianti Classico” in order to make a more modern and expressive wine.  Many are of high quality and are normally somewhat higher priced.  They are typically Sangiovese based with the addition of Cabernet Sauvignon, a varietal not permitted in the Chianti blend.  However, a Super Tuscan can be pretty much anything.  It can take the form of a mono-varietal, like Isole e Olena’s 100% Sangiovese Cepparello or Ornellaia’s 100% Merlot Masseto, or any blend of varietals, for example Antinori’s blends of Sangiovese and Cabernet in its Tignanello and Solaia wines.  In the end, a Super Tuscan is the true expression of a winemaker, with no bounds

The black grape Tempranillo is considered by many to be Spain’s noble grape.  It is used as the primary component in red Rioja, with Garnacha and a touch of Mazuelo or Graciano often added in.  However, slightly south and to the west are the regions Ribera del Duero and Toro where you’re more likely to find it showcased on its own.  Here, Tempranillo goes by Tinta del Pais (or Tinto Fino) and Tinta del Toro, and each can provide a slightly different expression of the varietal.  We recently checked in a high scoring example of each from the fabulous 2009 vintage, and I was fortunate enough to sample both with brunch last weekend.  

Bodegas y Vinedos J.A. Calvo Casajus is located basically in the heart of Ribera del Duero, near the small village of Quintana del Pidio of the Burgos province.  The soil on this family estate is composed mostly of sand and stone, ideal for drainage and supplying the lower layers of soil with the moisture the deep vine

I just recently got back from an amazing trip in the Napa Valley where we tasted through wonderful wines and ate some delectable food.  I’m going to share with you some of the places that we visited and also talk about one of my favorites from the trip.  Hope you enjoy!

We arrived to the Napa Valley on a beautiful Wednesday morning with the sun shining, blue skies and the Mayacamas Mountain range as the backdrop.  Our driver met us at our hotel at 10:00 AM and just like that, we were off for the day.  We kicked off our first day in Napa at Robert Sinskey Vyds., and it was definitely one of the highlights of our  trip.  They have a kitchen at the winery and a chef on staff, so you get to drink their amazing wines paired with house made peach preserves, salami and an assortment of cheeses.  All of this gets served to you out on their patio to make a truly memorable experience.  It’s a must stop if you like Pinot Noirs.