Wine Winter Project: Jean-Claude Dagueneau Domaine des Berthiers Pouilly-Fume

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. ”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

As much as I love Ralph Waldo Emerson, describing my passion for this next style of wine as "enthusiastic" may be a bit of an understatement. In this post, I will review of one of my personal favorites, Pouilly-Fume! 

Every time I start a new post, I look back to see what I have written on the topic previously. Since the blog is relatively young, I usually find a few sparse details. However, when it comes to Sauvignon Blanc, specifically the French style from Pouily-Fume, there is an abundance of information on the topic already. (Not surprising, since it's delicious!). If you want a review my earlier posts, be sure to check out my comparison of California style Sauvignon Blanc with a Pouilly-Fume from France here. I also discussed Pouilly-Fume in my French Wine 101 magna-post.

But today the focus is on Pouilly-Fume, so let's get to it! When I initially tasted Pouilly-Fume, I assumed that the "Fume" meant the wine may have a smokey flavor. While there are many theories on this, most industry people (including Kevin Zraly - a favorite!) suggest that the name came from the "white morning mist that blankets the area." Personally, I think the "Fume" stands for steely gun barrel and minerality with a citrus finish. I know, what a crazy description, but when you taste it you will understand what I mean! A few final facts, this wine is not typically aged in wood and ready to drink within three to five years.

Remember to note the distinction between Pouilly-Fume (Sauvignon Blanc from Loire Valley) and Pouilly-Fuisse (Chardonnay from Loire Valley). 

Jean-Claude Dagueneau Domaine des Berthiers Pouilly-Fume

(2009)

Grapes. 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Where it's From. Pouilly-Fume AOC, located within the Loire Valley. Pouilly-Fume is considered within the Central Vineyards (called Central because they are located within the center of France, not the Loire Valley). The climate is continental. The soil consists primarily of clay and limestone topped with gravel and flinty pebbles (flint = gun barrel).

Alcohol. 12.5%

Winemaker's Notes. No official winemaker's notes were readily available, but the Wine Spectator did give it a 90.

My Thoughts. This was a total impulse buy that gave me a bit of sticker shock at the register, since it cost $24. Now even with the tax-free shopping available in the great state of Delaware, this is a bit over my usual price range for a weeknight wine. However, just the smell alone reminded me immediately of how much I love this style of wine. It smelled of steely citrus, spice and green pepper. The taste was much softer than the aroma - I expected an acid bomb - but it was super smooth and mouthwatering with a hint of lemon. I would argue that the wine is the best choice for sipping - it would really thrive if paired with food. I was thinking fish, or similar seafood, with a citrus based sauce.

Cheers!

Winter Wine Project: Red Knot Shiraz

I don't know what it is about this Winter Wine Project, but each time I write a new review the weather is at least 15 degrees colder. That's right folks, I'm writing my latest wine review while its a balmy 7 degrees outside. Sounds like perfect red wine drinking weather to me.

Surprisingly,  this is one of the firsts posts discussing wines made in Australia. But the Aussies can definitely hold there own when it comes to New World wine-making. Australia is the 4th largest exporter of wine. The key wine regions are located primarily in the south, including: South Australia, South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. The major grape varietals grown here are Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Semillon, and Riesling. Wines are typically labeled by the grape varietal and the labeled grape must constitute  at least 85% of the blend.

A fun fact about Australia, GSM blends are very popular. GSM stands for a common red blend made of Grenache, Shiraz and  Mourvèdre. This blend was traditionally associated with Southern Rhône, including Châteauneuf-du-Pape.  The most famous label out of Australia (which I'm sure you have seen once or twice) is Penfolds Grange. Now let's get to the real wine review.

Red Knot Shiraz McLaren Vale Australia (2012)

Grapes: 92% Shiraz, 8% Grenache.

Where it's From: Southern Australia, grapes source from McLaren Vale Vineyard.

Alcohol: 14%

Winemaker's Notes: Deep magenta color. Aromas of black cherry, strawberry, milk chocolate with hints of roasted coffee and vanilla. The palate comprises of summer berries balanced with mild tannin and fresh acidity. Medium body.

My Thoughts:  This wine only gets better the more you allow it to breathe. I feel like a broken record, but I almost every red I drink definitely benefits from decanting. Initially, I thought this wine was off-balanced, but after decanting to really opened up. The berry fruit flavors became more prominent and it was very smooth. Definitely uncomplicated, but very drinkable. 

Until next time, Cheers!

Winter Wine Project: A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir

Get excited for the first wine review for 2014 - a Pinot Noir from Oregon's Willamette Valley, produced by A to Z Wineworks!

I love January! It's a fresh start, everyone has new goals and is excited for the new year. And if you celebrate Christmas, then you may have some extra pep in your step after receiving a perfect gift or two. One of my favorite gifts of the season was a wine tasting journal given to me by my sister. Lately, I have been keeping track of my wine tastings through various wine apps, but  I would argue serious wine tasters should invest in a journal. Writing down your thoughts forces you to slow down and think about the wine in greater detail. The drawback? - it's yet another thing to carry and you will likely look like the biggest nerd at the dinner table. My advice, carry a big bag. (As for looking like a nerd, I'll get back to you on that one).

Another outstanding value from the great state of Oregon. And the people at A to Z Wineworks are winemakers after my own heart, offering "Aristocratic Wines are Democratic Prices." (I love a good political pun, even more so when its paired with wine). A to Z Wineworks is located in Willamette Valley, along with approximately 200 other wineries. The region is known for its cool climate and increasingly popular Pinot Noirs.

Let's nerd out about weather for a second. The weather during the growing season is extremely important to wine quality. The 2011 vintage for Willamette Valley was full of surprises. Early on it seemed that the vintage was going to be disastrous, with large grape production and a concern that it would never get warm enough for the grapes to ripen. Eventually, some late fall weather saved the vintage and the results have been comparable to other quality years. Overall, I think it affect of weather on wine would better explained through a vertical tasting (the same wine across different vintages) - a hopeful goal for 2014! Now, let's get to the specifics...

A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir 2011.

Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir.

Where it's From: Willamette Valley, Oregon. The grapes for this wine are sourced from multiple vineyards across Willamette Valley.

Alcohol: 13%

Professional Notes: Apricot, bing cherry, white pepper, sweet tobacco. 

My Thoughts: Initially, I felt this wine was off balanced. It was a beautiful garnet color and a mild cherry aroma, but the taste seemed to be dominated by the alcohol. It wasn't undrinkable, it just seemed to be on mute. However, after 20 minutes the wine really softened and tasted delicious. The initial tastes were complimented by the subtle yet spicy finish.

Generally, this is the first wine from the Winter Wine Project that didn't wow me immediately, but did grow on me over time. Pinot Noir is a tough grape, especially when selling at bargain prices, and 2011 was a tough vintage. So in light of those factors, I would still recommend this wine to a friend, but would recommend decanting it before drinking. Stay tuned for the next wine - Red Knot Shiraz from Australia.

Cheers!

Winter Wine Project: Kung Fu Girl Riesling

This post will definitely put the "winter" in Winter Wine Project! Why? Because of all the snow! As a February baby, I have always loved winter. Sure it's chilly, but I love getting outside and then coming back home to warm up with some hot chocolate or coffee. This time around, however, I decided to warm up with a different drink of choice - wine! More specifically, the next wine from my winter wine project, the 2012 Kung Fu Girl Riesling from Washington State. Check out my review below, along with some fun action shots from my snow day!

My snow day, views from winery (bottom left) and the park near my house!

So fun fact about the Kung Fu Girl label, it was one of the first wine's I picked up early in my wine-drinking career. I had just turned 21 and I was visiting my sister in Boston. We stopped in a random wine store downtown and I saw the Kung Fu girl label and thought, "this is a fun label and I like riseling, so let's try it!" These days I go into the wine shop with a little more direction about what I may buy, but that goes to show that using a fun label that jumps off the shelf is definitely helpful in the U.S. wine market. With that said, I was so excited to see Kung Fu Girl on not only WS 100 Outstanding Values, but it made the cut for Top 100 Wines of 2013. Way to go Kung Fu Girl! I am excited to see if the wine lives up to both this ranking and the delicious wine that I remember. 

But first, let's chat about wine making in Washington State. This state produces the most wine in the U.S., after California of course. The top varietals grown in Washington include: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewurtztraminer. But the most notable wines are often made with Merlot or Syrah grapes.

Charles Smith Riesling Columbia Valley Kung Fu Girl Evergreen 2012.

Grapes: 100% Riesling. Classically, Riesling produces white wines with a strong citrus flavor balanced with a complex minerality. Many of the best Rieslings are made in Alsace or Austria. Please don't knock this grape until you try it. Also, if you have a sweet Riesling that you don't like, keep trying them, it is definitely a complex grape that requires patience to appreciate because there are so many styles out there!

Where it's From: Washington State, Columbia Valley AVA (American Viticultural Areas). Columbia Valley is one of the largest AVAs in the United States, approximately 30,000 acres. Kung Fu Girl is grown specifically at Evergreen vineyard.

Alcohol: 11%

Winemaker's Notes: "This wine kicks ass with tons of complexity, showing shoes of white peach and slate. Focused acidity finishing with mandarin orange and lots of minerality." Pairs well with spicy dishes or grilled seafood.

My Thoughts: I have missed this wine!!! First thing you notice off the bat is the strong notes of peach - they were not lying! I can also smell hints of slate or stone (kind of like the smell of a stone beach - weird description I know!). The taste is awesome and definitely deserving of its awards - soft citrus fruit up front with the perfect bite of acidity at the end. You should run, not walk, to your nearest wine store and pick this up ASAP. I'm beginning to wonder if my skepticism against WS has been mistaken for all these years.

So that brings us to the end of today's tasting for the Winter Wine Project. Please be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below. Next time, we will be tasting A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir 2011, from Oregon. 

Happy Holidays and Cheers!

Winter Wine Project: A.A. Badenhorst Family Chenin Blanc

My winter wine project is officially underway! I decided to start with Chenin Blanc from South Africa - why, you may ask? - mostly because I thought it would go well with my dinner that night. Plus, if my first trip to the wine store is any indicator, it is going to be very difficult to find 10 wines on this list, let alone the 25 I hope to taste. But let's get this show on the road!

First, let's hit some background on the wine region (my personal favorite) - South Africa. I have had several very interesting wines from this region and look forward to the wines of the future. South Africa has 4 main wine regions: Klein Karoo, Breede River Valley, Olifants River Valley and the Coastal Region. The Coastal Region includes the most well-known districts, such as, Darling, Stellenbosch, Paarl and Swartland. This wine comes from Swartland, which is known for it's non-conformist winemakers who like to push the envelope. Perfect - let's get to tasting!

A.A. Badenhorst Family Chenin Blanc Swartland Secatuers 2012

Grapes:  100% Chenin Blanc. This grape is known for its good acidity levels, thin skin and high natural sugar levels. Thus, you will commonly see it in sparkling or sweet wines. Though it is growing in popularity with dry versions.

Where it's from:  There is a lot going on with this label - so much so I had to throw a few words into Google to double check whether they were indicators of the winery or not. The wine was made in the Swartland wine region of South Africa. The term "Secateurs" is a brand name of the A.A. Badenhorst Family winery.

Winemaker's Notes:  Wine was matured for 7 months on it's gross lees.*

Alcohol: 14%

What the label says:  "Flinty with honey, orange blossom and white stone fruit notes."

My thoughts:  First, I am so excited for this project because of how much I am learning already. Specifically, I learned that *gross lees typically refers to the size of debris (grape skins, seeds, stems, yeast, etc) that sits at the bottom of the fermented with the juice. Winemaker's typically filter the juice to remove these debris systematically until you end you with clear fermented grape juice, aka WINE. Maturing wine with gross lees for too long and lead to some issues later on with regard unintended chemical reactions, so I definitely thought this was an interesting winemaker choice. Regardless, the wine was delicious! It had a crisp aroma, clear elements of fresh minerality. The taste was as expected for chenin blanc, biting acidity with fresh fruit flavors. Definitely a great start to the winter wine project!

Up next -- 2012 Kung Fu Girl Riesling from Washington State and A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir from Oregon.

Happy Holidays and Cheers!