Tweet Tweet!

I love Twitter! Well, now that I know how to use it...I love it. Because at first I was not a big fan. Just sending out random thoughts and comments in hopes that maybe someone will hear you and possibly, maybe, hopefully respond back. It was really like having a conversation with yourself, always a good time. But now that I've met other wine professionals and wine bloggers, twitter is great! I participated in 2 Twitter tastings this week, one for the wines of NY, and one for the red wines of Argentina. Already being really familiar with Argentine wines, I was definitely excited going into this one. But I was very impressed with the wines of NY.

Under the hashtag #tasteny, we went through a tasting of a 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, NV Red, and 2007 9 Barrels Reserve Merlot. The Sauvignon Blanc was very light and crisp with good acidity and citrus notes. I didn't get a lot of those grassy notes that are characteristic of SB, which is good since I don't like those flavors. This went well with the cheeses and crackers that were available during the tasting. The 9 Barrels Merlot had a nice cherry cola flavor with a bit of herbs and figs. Since I'm not as familiar with producers or the wines of Fingers Lake, NY, this tasting was especially helpful for me and of course it's always better to taste with and discuss wines among wine lovers. But the true highlight of the evening was opening of the Chateau Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape as a celebration for our host's new job. And celebrate we did! Made from all 13 of the accepted CdP grape varieties, this is a very earthy dark red wine. Red fruits and spice on the nose with leather, pepper and licorice on the palate.

Next day was the tasting of red wines from Argentina! It's so nice to know people that are in the biz because they know about these tastings...and have the wine. This tasting had 6 or 7 different wines, most of them malbec or malbec was a part of the blend. I was intrigued by the merlot from Luiga Bosca. But my favorite of the night was the Bodegas Norton Privada. It had a nice spicy, earthy thing going on with loads of dark cherries and plums. My host was nice enough to let me take this bottle home. She's alright with me! For other wines tasted and wine notes, see the hashtag #winesofargentina #ttl

Virtually tasting wine with other people all across the US is a different kind of idea but it's really catching on. Hearing in real-time what other people think of the wines, and also being exposed to a people that you wouldn't have met or have anything in common with otherwise... I mean seriously, the internet really brings people together!

I'm looking forward to the next tasting, maybe I'll even host one soon myself!

Notes From A French Winemaker

While at the International Malbec Days event in Cahors, France, we had plenty of activities to keep us busy and sipping. We had morning seminars and guided wine tastings, but I really wanted to see the vineyards, where the grapes are grown, feel the soil. Luckily I was able to have that opportunity. One of the guys that was on the trip with me, Fred Minnick spoke with Phillipe Vincens of Chateau Vincens and he agreed to take us to his vineyard to give us the grand tour and maybe even sample a few.

As we rode to the vineyard with Philippe, Fred was interviewing him in the front seat. Clearly I was able to hear what he was saying and I was able to learn quite a bit about Chateau Vincens and their winemaking process. One thing of note is that there seemed to be a new generation taking over the vineyards of Cahors. The parents are passing down the winery operations to their children, which is infusing the wine and also the region with newer winemaking techniques and innovative labeling and marketing ideas. Chateau Vincens is right on with that trend, Philippe Vincens is 29 yrs old and has only been in the wine business for 2 years. He studied business and finance at a school in Paris and learned winemaking in Bordeaux. Him and his brother now run the vineyard that they inherited from their father, who inherited it from his father. And although some of the winemaking techniques are new things that Philippe is trying, most of the techniques that he is using come from his grandfather.

Chateau Vincens makes 4 wines using mostly Malbec grapes, Le Prestige is 20% Merlot. The vineyard is in St-Vincent Rive d'Olt and sits on 36 hectares of land. The vineyard is settled on a hillside on a 300 meter plateau which allows for better water drainage and sun exposure. The ground between the vines alternates between grass and soil (ie, grass, vine, soil/rocks, vine) because too much grass makes the vines suffer by taking minerals and nutrients away from the vines. But, the vines and the ground still need the grass for water retention and heat hence the alternating. Chateau Vincens is not a certified organic vineyard but minimal pesticides are used for grape growing. Grapes are picked by mechanical harvest but sorted by hand. Grapes are then fermented in stainless steel tanks and put into new and old oak barrels for aging. The oak comes from different makers and also different barrels in order to impart a distinctly different flavor into each style and vintage of Chateau Vincens wines.
After the tour of the vineyard, winemaking facility, cellar, and bottling area, Phillipe gave us a barrel sample from the 2009 simple Malbec. This particular wine was meant to be young and sees no oak. Very earthy and leathery on the nose with a strong fruit flavor of dark cherry. Strong gripping tannins and full body melt into a great fruit flavor. This is a great expression of Malbec and I can't wait to import this to DC!

Philippe walked us into a room that overlooks the cellar to taste a few of the wines he currently has on the market.

2009 Rose
If this were in the states right now, it would sell like hotcakes. More malbec producers should push their roses into the market more to get Americans to buy into their heavier tannic malbecs. This is a great one to start with! Salmon pink in the glass, crisp and refreshing to the taste. Not fermented to dryness, this wine has a bit of residual sugar which lends to a sweeter more honeyed peachy flavor.

2007 Le Prestige
Truffle, earth, dark berry fruit on the nose balanced by medium acidity and dark berry fruit on the palate. May need another year or 2 for this wine to fully develop into complete magnificence, but you can drink it now if you can't wait.

2003 Prestige
Light tobacco notes on the nose with ripe cherry and black currant on the palate. Such a strong fresh fruit flavor that was not overpowered by the oak aging.

2002 Les Graves de Paul
A little tight at first, but after a few minutes in the glass a few swirls...this malbec opened right up. Fresh fruit and licorice met strong tannins to finish in a perfectly round and well balanced wine

I had an amazing afternoon touring the vineyard, learning about winemaking techinques, and sipping wine with new friends. I can't wait to import Chateau Vincens wines to DC. Look out for them in a store near you soon!!

The Land of Purple Teeth

I've talked about the dark Malbec wines of Cahors, France and I just had the opportunity of a lifetime. I just came back from a weekend in Cahors tasting the wines!! It was such an amazing place! The beauty of the chateaux, the vineyards, the food...foie gras anyone. I'm still trying to overcome a bit of jet lag so my brain isn't functioning enough for a full post. But please believe me there will be a couple of posts, pics included, about my trip. I even spoke with a couple of winemakers and will highlight their wines.

Stay tuned!!

Return of the Purple Teeth

We've all probably tasted a few red wines that turned our teeth colors...but there is nothing like a black wine to give you that sexy purple hue to your teeth. Tuesday was the Cahors tasting at the Hotel Palomar. Cahors is an AOC in France which is actually the original home of Malbec.

The grapevines were brought to this region by the Roman Empire about 2,000 years ago. the wines of this region grew in popularity, much to the detriment to Italian wine consumption. A royal marriage in 1152 encouraged the production of winegrowing in Cahors and it began to flourish throughout Europe. The dark color of the wine allowed it to remain intact during maritime voyages and was found to withstand the long journeys and the test of time. But as time passed, and palates changed, the strong as liqueur flavor of Cahors wine began to be less and less favorable, being replaced by lighter, fruitier red wines.

But as we all know, what's in style at one time will come back in style again! Cahors wines are rich, full of flavor, and back in style!

Cahors wines are broken up into 3 distinct styles: tender & fruity, feisty & powerful, and intense & complex. Some typical fragrances are violets, black currant, cherry, licorice, vanilla, and menthol. And while most wines from the region are 100% Malbec, Merlot and Tannat may be used as well to smooth out the finished flavor of the wine.

Next time you're in your local wine shop, ask about Cahors. You'll be glad you did!

Wine with a View

Standing in a loft on the 19th floor looking out across the Baltimore Harbor with a glass of 2007 Familia Zuccardi Bonarda Serie A. This was the scene at The Last Tango wine tasting with Wine Express Tastings hosted by Rita Blackwell. What a fantastic way to spend the evening. Guests walked around the Silo Point loft and were treated to a sparkling chardonnay, torrontes, and sauvignon blanc in the marble topped kitchen; then we adjourned to the upstairs loft area for the reds, bonarda, carmenere, malbec, and cabernet sauvignon.

With the sweeping views of the harbor and the delicious wines...the whole atmosphere of it all makes me wonder what I enjoyed more, the ambiance or the wines! But being a wine lover, and after tasting that Bonarda with those ripe cranberry and blackberry flavors with the slightest hint of oak and the 2007 Andeluna Malbec Select again with hints of oak, vanilla and dark cherries...the wines were definitely the highlight of my night.