We’re making some fun and educational changes to our free week end tastings. First of all, we’re adding a blind tasting component to Friday’s tasting, and we’ll be slimming down the number of wines we announce for Saturday’s shindig. From now on, for Friday’s tasting from 3 to 6, we’ll have 2 different wines brown bagged for you to try, and if you can guess the grape variety or region, you win yourself a 10% discount off of your purchase, and your purchase doesn’t have to be either of the two wines you try. This is all in an effort to keep you engaged in wine and learning about it with no preconceived notions of it.
As for the Saturday tastings, they will continue, but we’re going to just announce 4 of the wines we’re tasting. Whatever is left over from Friday night’s bottles will also be included, but for obvious reasons, I’m not going to announce them. Saturday’s tasting runs from 2 to 5, and Lynn will be here again with the massage chair to practice her trade on those of you that missed out last week end.
1. 2009 Primaterra Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie – Primaterra is sort of the “house wine” Domaine Select, a super high quality wine importer based in New York. Made with grapes they source from top growers, this is serious Pinot Grigio at a great price. It offers up lovely notes of rose petal over the top of ripe citrus, apple and pear fruit.
Regular Price: $10.99
Special Tasting Price: $9.89 or $8.79 in a mixed case
2. 2009 Sean Minor Chardonnay Central Coast – Quite a few of you have tried his Pinot Noir, and I find a lot of the same high quality attributes in the Chardonnay. Fruit is sourced from Edna Valley, Monterey and Santa Barbara to create this clean and elegant version of Chardonnay marked by bright pear, apple, tropical fruit and spicy oak notes.
Regular Price: $12.99
Special Tasting Price: $11.69 or $10.39 in a mixed case
3. 2009 Domaine les Ondines Cotes du Rhone “La Buissonade” – I had a bottle of this Saturday night with friends and a classic French bistro styled meal, and let’s just say I was really happy. 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah from an old vineyard right on the edge of the Vacqueyras AOC, this is brightly fruited and spicy with cherry and raspberry fruit teaming up with subtle pepper and herb nuances. It is a great value to try with roasted chicken or other bistro fare.
Regular Price: $11.99
Special Tasting Price: $10.79 or $9.59 in a mixed case
4. 2008 Quinta de Cabriz Dao – This wine will receive a 90 point mark in the next issue of Wine Spectator, but we’ve been selling it since we opened……..meaning to say I didn’t buy it because of the favorable press. It’s a traditional Portuguese red blend that is big and muscular with lots of Asian spices over the top of wild plum and dried raspberry fruit. Drink now with sturdy proteins or throw it in the cellar for 5-7 years.
Regular Price: $10.99
Special Tasting Price: $9.89 or $8.79 in a mixed case