Wine Party: Wines for Entertaining

Saturday, November 8, 2008
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

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This Saturday we will be tasting a cross section of wine varietals that would fit very nicely into your entertainment needs.  At this time we are thinking “Thanksgiving dinner”, but today’s wines would enhance any offering to your guests and family.  You might even think of enhancing your own pleasure. 

2006 Saddlerock Chardonnay, Central Coast
9.99
The Semler family owns the 1000 acre Saddlerock Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains.  This Chardonnay is from their Malibu Family Wines offering which is produced in Santa Maria.  This wine is pale gold in color, with hints of apples and tropical fruits fused with floral notes of honeysuckle and lemon blossom.

2007 Zilliken Riesling “Butterfly”, Saar Valley, Germany
22.50
The Zilliken family of winemakers goes back over 250 years producing wines mostly from their Saarburger Vineyards.  The wine is medium dry and focuses on apple and pear fruit.  The fruity elements are held in check by the steely minerality that is typical of the area.

2007 Schnaitmann Rosé “Evoe!”, Wurttemberg, Germany
17.50
This dry rosé is absolutely lovely.  It is a blend of Pinot Noir and Trollinger grapes which give it a rich mouth feel.  Besides the full flavored berry character there is a complexity created by the interplay of spices and herbs, including a hint of cinnamon.

2005 Trentadue Red Wine “Old Patch Red”, Sonoma
11.95
Leo and Evelyn Trentadue have been making wine in Geyserville forever, it seems…and doing a fine job.  The blend here is Zinfandel (70%), Petite Sirah (20%), Carignane (5.5%) and Syrah (4.5%).  Trentadue offers this as a “bistro” style wine leaning towards the jammy berry end of the spectrum.  There is a plumy character that yields to black cherries and is enhanced by pepper and other spices.  The Sonoma County Harvest Fair presented this wine a gold medal and “Best of Class” award.

2006 Kaiken Cabernet Sauvignon “Ultra”, Argentina
17.99
The Montez Winery of Chile has a sister winery in Argentina producing most exceptional wines.  Their regular Cabs and Malbecs are excellent values, but the “ultras” are amazing.  This wine has a deep ruby red color, while showcasing red fruit flavors with spices and cedar notes.  There is considerable elegance and complexity on the nose, owing largely to the French oak in which most of it is aged.  In the mouth there is a unique combination between the Cab’s intensity, given by the old vines some 50 years of age, combined with the silkiness of the tannins.  Could age at least 10 years.

2003 Krohn Port L.B.V., Portugal
17.99
The time for delving into Ports is upon us.  This is a fine rich Tawny aged 4 years in cask and bottled in 2007.  Krohn’s LBV Ports are neither fined nor filtered and may thus throw some sediment.  You may want to decant them before serving, just to be on the safe side, or pour very carefully after opening.  This 2003 is an affordable, fruity wine to drink after a meal with cheese, nuts and all types of melon and berries, or just to sit, sip and savor.  It is really good.