Finally: We're News Worthy
As noted last week, we were visited by Janet Podolak, the Food and Travel Editor for the News-Herald. She was studious and took copious notes about the wines tasted and each of our occupations, etc...
Also as noted last week, I used mind control on her and I expect a fabulously celebratory article about our tasting group in the News-Herald in the coming months. I know a reporter's work is never done, and it may take ten or twelve more visits to the tasting group for Janet to really grasp the whole tasting thing. Never fear. W'ell guide her safely through all the tribulations of wine and martini consumption.
Liquoring Up the NewsLady
Cascina Pian D'Or Moscato D'Asti
Bricco Riella
Tasty and sweet, as are all Moscatos D'Asti. Not very musky, but clean and chipper instead.
Winzer Von Erbach 2004
Erbacher Honigberg Riesling
I sell this wine, so I'll shamelessly say it's REALLY GOOD. And cheap.
Di Bruno 2004 Pinot Grigio Santa Rita Hills
Sanford & Benedict Vineyard
Very lean and slightly grassy, making it slightly against the grain for California PG. But also this stuff is quite classy and very Euro in texture. Of course, an Italina winemaker might do that to cool-climate California juice. Tasty and super-sophisticated.
Brandborg 2002 Pinot Gris
Umpqua Valley, Oregon
A damaged bottle always kills the buzz. And based on the fine quality of the Brandborg Pinots Noirs, I would have liked to taste a high-caliber Pinot Gris from this tiny winery. Since Corky didn't show up this week, somebody had to bring the bad bottle of wine...
Lagar de Carvera 2003 Albarino
Not really as vibrant as some of the other fine Albarinos tasted in the past months. And also higher-priced than most, at $20. I still haven't tasted an Albarino that really screams World Class. Maybe someday we'll be calling it the Burgundy of Spain.
Col de Lairole 2004 Rose
Nice sweet-tart fruit and plenty of acidity. Fairly rich for under $10. Personally, I would have liked a little more fruit, but everybody else seemed to like it just fine.
Chateau de Cabriac 2003 Corbieres Rose
Slightly more powerful and definitely more austere than the first rose. When first tasted , this one was not as appealing as the cheaper rose, but later I thought it was every bit as good-if not better. This is probably a more classic European-styled dry rose.
Kios 2003
A Grenache/Tempranillo blend from central Spain, the wine was pretty spicy and had lots of peppery attack. I felt it was missing mid-palate mouthfeel and I've probably tasted better Eric Solomon selections in that same category. But I ain't no Robert Parker - he gave this wine 90 points. I probably would've opted for an 88 instead. Or maybe an 89.
Smith-Madrone 2002 Napa Valley Chardonnay
Very rich with great fruit flavors and good acidity. Plenty of wood on this puppy, but the fruit has enough weight to balance. Good acid for Napa Chard. Still not enough for me, but good for Napa.
Il Palagetto 1999 Toscana Rosso
Sottobosco
I don't know what the exact translation of Sottobosco mioght be, but this stuff was GOOD. Medium bodied, but with long, long, long tart cherry flavors that evolved into a gentle, bakers' chocolate (powdered) finish. This wine might have been more powerful two or three years ago, but it is just exceptional with proper bottle age. I'd like to make this my house wine and have it served from huge earthen tankards by naked, olive-skinned women who lived at my estate. It's that good.
Bennett Lane 2001 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
We couldn't agree on how this wine was faulty.
But we pretty much all agreed the wine was faulty.
A rare shot of the afternoons' nourishment as these sandiwches were scarfed. As always, thanks to Chefguy RJ and the Kitchen Kidz at Molinari's.
T-Bud explains her job in depth to Janet Podolak. I'll tell ya what: T-Bed is a virtual one-girl presskit. She can expound upon all aspects of her job, wine tasting, foodie foodishness, this tasting group, and wine tasting in general.
If I ever have another job interview, I'm gonna send her to my interview instead of me.
Also as noted last week, I used mind control on her and I expect a fabulously celebratory article about our tasting group in the News-Herald in the coming months. I know a reporter's work is never done, and it may take ten or twelve more visits to the tasting group for Janet to really grasp the whole tasting thing. Never fear. W'ell guide her safely through all the tribulations of wine and martini consumption.
Liquoring Up the NewsLady
Cascina Pian D'Or Moscato D'Asti
Bricco Riella
Tasty and sweet, as are all Moscatos D'Asti. Not very musky, but clean and chipper instead.
Winzer Von Erbach 2004
Erbacher Honigberg Riesling
I sell this wine, so I'll shamelessly say it's REALLY GOOD. And cheap.
Di Bruno 2004 Pinot Grigio Santa Rita Hills
Sanford & Benedict Vineyard
Very lean and slightly grassy, making it slightly against the grain for California PG. But also this stuff is quite classy and very Euro in texture. Of course, an Italina winemaker might do that to cool-climate California juice. Tasty and super-sophisticated.
Brandborg 2002 Pinot Gris
Umpqua Valley, Oregon
A damaged bottle always kills the buzz. And based on the fine quality of the Brandborg Pinots Noirs, I would have liked to taste a high-caliber Pinot Gris from this tiny winery. Since Corky didn't show up this week, somebody had to bring the bad bottle of wine...
Lagar de Carvera 2003 Albarino
Not really as vibrant as some of the other fine Albarinos tasted in the past months. And also higher-priced than most, at $20. I still haven't tasted an Albarino that really screams World Class. Maybe someday we'll be calling it the Burgundy of Spain.
Col de Lairole 2004 Rose
Nice sweet-tart fruit and plenty of acidity. Fairly rich for under $10. Personally, I would have liked a little more fruit, but everybody else seemed to like it just fine.
Chateau de Cabriac 2003 Corbieres Rose
Slightly more powerful and definitely more austere than the first rose. When first tasted , this one was not as appealing as the cheaper rose, but later I thought it was every bit as good-if not better. This is probably a more classic European-styled dry rose.
Kios 2003
A Grenache/Tempranillo blend from central Spain, the wine was pretty spicy and had lots of peppery attack. I felt it was missing mid-palate mouthfeel and I've probably tasted better Eric Solomon selections in that same category. But I ain't no Robert Parker - he gave this wine 90 points. I probably would've opted for an 88 instead. Or maybe an 89.
Smith-Madrone 2002 Napa Valley Chardonnay
Very rich with great fruit flavors and good acidity. Plenty of wood on this puppy, but the fruit has enough weight to balance. Good acid for Napa Chard. Still not enough for me, but good for Napa.
Il Palagetto 1999 Toscana Rosso
Sottobosco
I don't know what the exact translation of Sottobosco mioght be, but this stuff was GOOD. Medium bodied, but with long, long, long tart cherry flavors that evolved into a gentle, bakers' chocolate (powdered) finish. This wine might have been more powerful two or three years ago, but it is just exceptional with proper bottle age. I'd like to make this my house wine and have it served from huge earthen tankards by naked, olive-skinned women who lived at my estate. It's that good.
Bennett Lane 2001 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
We couldn't agree on how this wine was faulty.
But we pretty much all agreed the wine was faulty.
A rare shot of the afternoons' nourishment as these sandiwches were scarfed. As always, thanks to Chefguy RJ and the Kitchen Kidz at Molinari's.
T-Bud explains her job in depth to Janet Podolak. I'll tell ya what: T-Bed is a virtual one-girl presskit. She can expound upon all aspects of her job, wine tasting, foodie foodishness, this tasting group, and wine tasting in general.
If I ever have another job interview, I'm gonna send her to my interview instead of me.
posted by BWIII @ 12:14 AM
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