Summer Time and a Rose

I love a good Rose wine on a summer day and I found one recently at a wine tasting that I enjoyed.  We hosted a wine tasting this past weekend and did wines from California and chose the Zinfandel.  We didn't have any of the sweet white zinfandel, but went dry and red.

This wine comes from Napa Valley and is called Zin Gris made by the Storybook Mountain Vineyards.  Please note that it may be hard to find as they don't make it every year, but the 2011 version that I had was lovely.  It is patteren after the dry rose wines of Rhone and Provence.  It is aromatic and deeply flavored with a kiss of oak.  This is a rose that comes from a zinfandel grape. 

The winery crushes the fully mature grapes and slowly barrel ferment them to the dryness you experience under the cool conditions of their caves.  It would go great with a smoked salmon.  Ask for it at you local wine store.  It is great this time of year on a hot summer day.   You can see other wines from Storybook Mountain at www.storybookwines.com. 

Farwell Tennessee Durigutti Malbec

I am writing about my last wine that I tasted while working in Tennessee, which was a treat of good friends.  We went to a lovely Jazz Supper Club near Nasville and had a wonderfule meal.  Good friends, good food, good wine, what more is there to ask?

Durigutti Malbec 2011 was one selection for the evening.  This Malbec has a nice dark color with
rustic aromas of currant, chocolate, mocha and leather. Supple and suave but not overly concentrated, with good inner-mouth energy to the flavors of blackberry, chocolate and mint. A rather dry, classic malbec with a savory finish displaying fine tannins and a lingering chocolate note.  We certainly enjoyed it

WineMaker states:  Lush nose laced with black-berry and plum fruit. Soft yet focused on the palate, with additional flavors of strawberry and wild herbs. Medium tannins and balanced acidity.

See more about this and other Durigutti wines at www.durigutti.com

Wine Week at the Beach

Since I was in Delaware last week and I have an upcoming wine tasting the end of July, I thought I would try a bunch of California wines and do some pre-tasting.  I purchased 8 different California wines, mostly Cabernet, but did end up with a few others and was very disappointed.  I must have picked all the worst.  One bottle was so bad I poured it down the drain.  It tasted like grape juice.  YUK.

I will share with you the one I went back for.  It is called Lock & Key Meritage.  It is made by the Trinchero Family Estates and can be found at http://tfewines.com/our-wines/lock-and-key.php.

I did enjoy this wine.  Meritage is fast becoming the US version of Bordeaux.  This blend includes cabernet, merlot and cabernet franc.  It would be a great wine for dinner. 

The grapes are sourced from California's prestigious North Coast Appellation.  It has layered blackberry and plum flavors with hints of dark chocolate and tobacco spice.  I also found the finish to be nice, slightly silky.

The price point in Delaware was great too at $10.99 a bottle.  Overall, nicely balanced, fuller bodied, good fruit levels with the smoothness that comes with a blend.