It’s a “545” wine tasting at Table Wine this Friday – that means you get to try 5 wines for $5. We live in a “Golden Age” of wine where you don’t have to spend a ton of money to get a great bottle of vino. Ben and I have been hard at work tasting a bunch of new stuff from all corners of the globe. In fact, we’ve tasted close to 80 wines in the past 2 weeks and we’ve picked up a bunch of newbies. These are wines that cost less than $15 a bottle but that easily drink like wines that cost $20 or more per bottle. Come by this Friday and let us share some of our top new finds with you……….you won’t be disappointed!
We’ll sample 2 whites and 3 reds, all priced under $15/bottle, all wines that over deliver in a huge way! We’ll start with a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc that has been referred to as a “Baby Cloudy Bay” (if you don’t know Cloudy Bay, don’t worry, we’ll explain) before we jump to a highly fragrant, California white blend that will remind some of Conundrum. In the red category, we’ll start with a 90 point rated Rioja that will make your head spin followed by a 90 pointer from Spain made with a grape that we guarantee you’ve never tried. We’ll end the tasting with a Cabernet-dominant blend from Australia that has a goofy name and a goofy label, but the juice inside the bottle is fantastic.
$5/person…..Free for Grape Nuts
The Wines You’ll Get To Try
1. 2012 Walnut Block Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand) – Walnut Block was founded by brothers Clyde and Nigel Sowman, and their Walnut Block Vineyard actually has a giant, old walnut tree in it. Vintage 2012 was a very low yielding one, resulting in very intensely aromatic and flavorful wines. With a nose or passionfruit, lime and herb leading into a zesty palate of exotic citrus and tropical fruits, this is classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc for a more than fair price!
2. 2010 Civello Proprietary White Wine (Various Regions, California) – This fun and experimental blend of five white grapes (Vermentino, Verdelho, Albarino, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay to be exact) is fun, dry and extremely fragrant and fresh. It’s all about fresh flowers, peach, melon and zesty acidity. Yet another perfect “porch pounder”!
3. 2010 Montebuena Rioja “Cuvée KPF” (Rioja, Spain) – One sniff and sip of this and we think you’ll see that you’re dealing with a fairly serious wine. 100% Tempranillo raised entirely in American oak, it breathes class and sophistication with notes of ripe cherry, strawberry, white chocolate and spices. You won’t believe the price on this one!
90 points Stephen Tanzer, 89 points – The Wine Advocate
4. 2011 Aviva Vino Niel Red Blend (Almansa, Spain) – We bet most of you haven’t tired Garnacha Tintorera (aka Alicante Bouschet), but we could be wrong. Whether you have or not, this has to qualify as one of the great modern-styled, red wine values in the world. 85% Garnacha Tintorera and 15% Merlot fermented in stainless and then aged in French oak for 3 months, it is nearly opaque in color and highly fragrant with jammy dark fruits, spices and that “roasty/toasty” thing going on that so many people love. Come give it a shot! 90 points Stephen Tanzer
5. 2010 Red Head Studios Yard Dog Red (Southeastern Australia) – We’ll be honest………….we hate the name and the label, but the juice inside is great! From assorted vineyards located throughout SE Australia (including McLaren Vale and Langhorne) this is a unique blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 34% Petit Verdot, with 4% Touriga Nacional (a Portuguese grape??). Leave it up to the Aussies to create oddities, but this one is rich and attractive with ripe blackberry, black cherry and raspberry fruit abounding.
Purchase any 6+ bottles of the tasting wines and we’ll give you a 15% discount!