Archive for the ‘Easter’ Category

Wine Party/Italian Wines for Easter

Thursday, April 9th, 2009

Saturday, April 11, 2009
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person
      Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264,
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

Easter brunches and dinners are not necessarily heavy meals which places the wines of Italy at an advantage in creating a balance at the table.  Of course, all this is predicated on how much one drinks.  Typically, the white wines of Northern Italy are light in body, delicate in the fruit profile and flinty or mineral infused to create a sense of complexity.  This is why everyone loves them, or should.  The reds of Northern Italy can go either way; Barolo and Barbaresco come from the same general area as Dolcetto and Barbera and there is a world of difference between the two groups.  Of the reds we will sample, Barbera would seem the better choice for an Easter brunch and Rosso di Montalcino for dinner.  The whites are good any time and would serve well as an apéritif.

2006 Rocca delle Macie Orvieto Classico, Umbria
Regular price 11.99; Our price 8.99
This delightful white wine from the heart of the Classico dell’Orvietano in Umbria is a blend of 50% Trebbiano Toscano, 20% Verdelho, 20% di Grechetto-Drupeggio, and 10% Malvasia Toscana (probably more than you needed to know).  The color is pale straw with green reflections.  The wine is quite fruity and fresh, showing some elegance and finishes dry with a slight note of bitter almonds in the aftertaste.

2006 Canaletto Muller Thurgau, Trentino
Regular price 9.99; Our price 8.50
Muller-Thurgau is grown primarily in Germany (where it is planted more than any other grape).  Wine made from this grape is usually dry to semi-dry and is lightly aromatic.  Muller-Thurgau is a variety that was created in the late 19th century as a cross between Riesling and Sylvaner.  It is early maturing and can grow well in cool climates, which makes it a good candidate for growing in Trentino which is located in the foothills of the Alps   The wine has peach-like aromatics and is fruity in the mouth.  It is light and refreshing and shows crisp citrus flavors in the finish.

2005 Cantine Riondo Spago d’Oro Pinot Grigio, Veneto
Regular price 11.95; Our price 8.99
This Veneto version of Pinot Grigio is light and fruity, showing textbook qualities we associate with the varietal: flowers, and fruit, with the typical mineral strain much in evidence.  It is dry, with good acid and has a moderate length.

2004 Tenute dei Vallarino Barbera d’Asti, “La Ladra”, Piemonte
Regular price 14.99; Our price 7.99
Tenute dei Vallarino is part of Fratelli Gancia, one of the grand old houses of Italian sparkling wine.  Its perfumed fruit coincides with complex minerality and is actually complex in a classy way.  It has good body and texture, plenty of succulent black fruit and is balanced with refreshing acidity.

2007 Fontanafredda Barbera d’Asti, “Briccotondo” Piemonte
Regular price 11.99; Our price 9.99
The wine was aged partly in new barrels made of oak from Allier, and partly in large Slavonian oak casks.  It stayed in wood for around five months and was bottled in late spring.  The nose is packed with black fruit, especially blackberries and plums, with slight spicy overtones hinting at black pepper and cinnamon.  Sweet, soft tannins come together in a closely-woven texture that merges with the fruit, while a crisp freshness provides a long, tasty finish.  It received a 90- points rating and a “Best Buy” designate from Wine Spectator magazine.  Wine & Spirits Magazine also gave it a 90-point rating.

2004 Fattoria Pinino Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany
Regular price 24.00; Our price 15.95
Rosso di Montalcino is produced from the same grape as Brunello, Sangiovese Grosso.  In is produced with a much shorter period of maturation and is ready for drinking only two years after the vintage.  This wine is harmonious, elegant and spicy and a perfect match to a large variety of meals.  It can be enjoyed while young and does not necessarily have to be aged, although it matures well with increasing age and the tannins become even more elegant.  Great price, but limited stock.

Posted in Easter, Pinot Grigio, imports, bargain, entertaining, Italian wine, wine knowledge, wine party | No Comments »

Wine Party Featuring Chardonnay

Thursday, March 20th, 2008

Saturday, March 22, 2008

4 to 6 pm
$5.00 per person
Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264
327-7701

Although many varietals would pleasantly support an Easter dinner, I thought it would be instructive to choose one varietal, Chardonnay, and offer a stylistic comparison. There are many ways to render a varietal; light to heavy and delicate to bombastic. Here is a line-up of Chards that will provide balancing accompaniment to most menus, especially if the meal is being served midday, with temperatures in the eighties.
The following week we go to France for a visit to Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Ventoux, Loire and Bandol. Paul Chatterton will be here representing import company Maisons Marques & Domaines.

2006 Pavilion Chardonnay, Napa
$9.99
The wines for Pavilion are crafted by Brian Mox and Larry Levin, both who are among the most experienced winemakers in the Napa Valley. Their resumes include a who’s who of Napa giants. This wine was barrel aged in French oak and shows aromas of pear, vanilla, and toasty oak with hints of white peach. Ripe fruit flavors of pear, caramel apple and melon lead to a long soft lingering finish. The balance of this lush medium bodied wine makes it a pleasure to savor on its own or enjoy with a wide variety of foods.

2006 Tormaresca Chardonnay, Puglia, Italy
$9.99
The vineyard for this wine lies near the Adriatic Sea off of Italy’s heel. The name itself refers to the towers that line the coast. The grapes are fermented in barriques, after inoculation with a special yeast, and then allowed to proceed with the malolactic fermentation. After ageing for about 3 more months in barrique, the wine is moved to Inox tanks at a controlled temperature, where it goes through the fining process until ready for bottling. The fruit element is towards the exotic end of the spectrum, but with good minerality and bracing acid. Citrus, pear and pineapple notes round out the experience.

2006 Edna Valley Chardonnay, Paragon, San Luis Obispo Co.
$9.99
Edna Valley uses the processes of barrel fermentation, malolactic fermentation, lees stirring and aging in new oak barrels to achieve the desired balance. The wine has smoky aromas of vanillin oak and sweet spice balanced by white peach, pineapple and citrus notes. On the palate, full, round flavors of white peach and citrus are accompanied by a subtle minerality on the long finish. Serves well with creamy pastas, baked sea bass, seared scallops, roast chicken with lemon and herbs and, yes, roasted pork as well.

2006 Jacuzzi Family Vineyards Chardonnay, Sonoma
$13.99
The fruit for this blend is sourced from three vineyards. The lion’s share came from their Sonoma Coast vineyards with their Los Carneros Vineyard on the home ranch providing much of the rest. A small lot of grapes come from Knight’s Valley, the warmest Sonoma County appellation, to complement the cool area grapes. After cold fermentation and settlement, the wine bypasses oak contact and proceeds directly to bottle. Pears and grapefruits are the dominant characteristics of this flavorful and medium-bodied Chardonnay. Serve with grilled salmon or roasted chicken.

2004 Steele Chardonnay, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Barbara
$19.95
In 1991, Jed Steele made the decision to produce his own label and is now entering his fifth decade as part of the California wine business. Bien Nacido is a well-known vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley. The wines are typical of Santa Barbara with lots of tropical fruit aromas and flavors. The wine received a 92-point rating from Wine Enthusiast Magazine: “Plenty of richness here, mangoes, pineapple custard, Key lime pie, not to mention smoky, caramelly, butterscotchy oak, but there’s also a streamlined, sleek minerality that leaves a lip-smacking steely feeling behind. Part of that is acidity. Really fine wine.”

2005 Byron Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley
$19.95
The wine was 100% barrel fermented with 100% malolactic fermentation. Additional layers of complexity were achieved through sur lie aging and weekly hand stirring of the barrels known as batonage. This wine combines vibrant fruit character with a rich texture and a silky finish. Aromas of orange blossom, pear and hazelnut are accented by hints of mineral and toasty oak. On the palate, the wine is well balanced with traces of peach, mandarin orange and toasty spice with a long, lingering finish.

Posted in Easter, Chardonnay, holiday dinner, wine party | 5 Comments »