December: Guess the Chianti

[No silhouette targets were harmed in the shooting of this photograph.]

The assignment: Guess the Chianti: Everyone brings an Italian wine (not a Chianti), and I will supply the Chianti. -- idea snagged from a fun tasting I went to a few months ago.

The players: E, E, J, A, R

The discussion:

Wine1: "sophisticated" "more floral bouquet" "there's a lot to take in when you're breathing in the wine"

Wine 2: "tight, light, bright" "lemon peel" "citrusy" "could you think of yourself having pizza with this wine? I can." "A nice thin crust"

Wine 3: "more pinot noiry" "I think it's piemonese" "is it sweet or fruity" "it's sweet" "it's fruity"

Wine 4: "does this wine smell fishy to anyone?" "maybe it's just the octopus talk." "i'm looking for the ocean" "it just is salty to me" "hard to decipher"

The votes:

Almost everyone voted that Wine 2 was the Chianti. A decided to go with Wine 1, for good measure.


The unveiling:

Wine1: Peppoli Chianti Classico (Antinori) 2006. Toscana. 13% alc. vol.

Delivers ripe blackberry and raspberry, with pronounced floral and mineral notes. Almost meaty in character. Medium- to full-bodied, with a silky texture and lots of flavor. Finishes long, with an almost exotic twist in the end. Lots to enjoy. Drink now. 50,000 cases made. More.

Wine 2: Matteo Correggia Roero 2007. Piemonte. 14.5 % alc. vol.

Aroma: Fresh berries balanced with the oak of ageing, plus vanilla and roasted scents with touches of strawberry and cherry jams. Slightly reminiscent of rosemary, watermelon, pear and raspberry. Taste: Smooth and elegant flavor of very sweet tannins reminding raspberry jam. A fruity aftertaste mixed with touches of smoked oak. Very balanced and persistent in the mouth. More.

Wine 3: Michele Chiarlo Barbera D'Asti. 2006. Piemonte. 13% alc. vol.

On the nose it shows itself to be rich in ripe fruit and possesses a marked elegance; on the palate it is pleasantly easy to drink, harmonious and tasty. The aforementioned features make it a modern wine, highly successful and suitable for serving with the widest range of dishes. More.

Wine 4: Sesti Rosso di Montalcino 2007. Toscana. 13.5% alc. vol.

Beautifully juicy, plump and sweet fruit on the nose, suggestions of wild strawberries, menthol, and curiously, leather bottles. The palate is rich and extremely succulent, generous yet spiced, playful and somehow grown up. Good complexity here, finish of fresh roasted coffee beans, the inside suede of a well worn tobacco pouch, clove, sweet raspberry, redcurrant, black plum, sweet earth and ground mocha. More. (This is about the 2005 and from a blog, not Sesti's site; I couldn't find the homepage.)

Verdict:

Siamo scemi (we suck)! At identifying Chiantis, that is. If anyone is up for a makeup test, let me know. ;)


Note from the pre-party: Campo Viejo Reserva Rioja 2004 and Lafite Medoc Reserve Speciale 2005 (drunk with dinner, unblind, in case you were wondering).

The Pictures: 

Wine 2? 3? Losing count!

Peppole: the Chianti that wasn't, according to 4 out of 5 people polled. (Standard deviation 4. )
 

"I see hezbollah debriefings in your past and a teddy bear in your future..."

Dopo.

Next: Lucha Libre: Rioja versus Priorat -- bring in one or the other, and let's watch them duke it out. Non-experimental tapas will be provided. Viva Espana!

November: Argentina

The assignment: Argentina. Because of its Tango, because of its midnight dinners, and because of its delicious Malbec. Bring in your favorite, or something new.

The players: Pseudonym, Pseudonyma, Pseudorino, Sudonim, Pseudonetta, Psdudeonym, Psew Do Nymh.

The discussion:

Wine1: "sweet" "not sweet" "Tastes like old leather" "I'd go with leather"

Wine 2: "lighter than 1" "tangy" "citrusy" "this will keep mosquitos away" "a touch of chocolate" "it makes my face feel warm -- I think this could make me buzzed. Understated"

Wine 3: "I like how this smells. Mmm, good!" "I could get drunk on this" "Most complex" "a lot of fruit, but more dry" "you could soak pickles in this" "it's making my eyes water" "i see three phalluses" "hmmm" "you have to write that down"

Wine 4: "a berry nose" "very vinegary" "if I were in the desert I'd drink it" "there's nothing to it" "moldy  blanket" "the kind you had when you were a kid" "it makes me want to see a hairy french man topless" [note: almost two weeks later it's actually innocuous; i've just poured a glass using an aerator and i totally forget that i didn't like it before. for insipid table wine, this totally works! just fyi...]

Wine 5: "winner" "it changes" "higher alcohol content" [comments devolve into satisfied slurps]

The votes: 3 was the hands down favorite. 5 was second. 1 and 2 were tied. 4 was universally reviled.

The unveiling:

Wine1: Finca Lalande, Malbec 2007. Mendoza. 14% alc. vol.

Biodynamical produced fruit sets the standard in this wonderful project from the Lalande family known for producing great wines in Bordeaux. It seems a lot of big names are setting up shop in Argentina and for good reasons; the fruit is fabulous. This wine proves that statement one more time. Berrylicious, bold and spicy all at the same time; this one will be a hot seller. Get it before it's gone. ~Marc Hinton More.

Wine 2: Bodega Septima Malbec 2006. Mendoza. 14 % alc. vol.

Aroma: Fresh berries balanced with the oak of ageing, plus vanilla and roasted scents with touches of strawberry and cherry jams. Slightly reminiscent of rosemary, watermelon, pear and raspberry. Taste: Smooth and elegant flavor of very sweet tannins reminding raspberry jam. A fruity aftertaste mixed with touches of smoked oak. Very balanced and persistent in the mouth. More.

Wine 3: Diseno Malbec 2007. Mendoza. 13.5% alc. vol.

Aromas of blackberry, black tea, and flowers. Bright fruit in the center, with nice acidity. Like the lift of this wine, and its deeper black tea, tobacco, and violet notes. Really nicely made for the price (ca. $13) More.

Wine 4: Tierra Brisa Cabernet Sauvignon 2008. Mendoza. 13% alc. vol.

I found nothing online about this wine from the "Tierra Brisa" people -- apparently it's made by the same conglomerate that produces La Boca and more. For whatever that's worth.

Wine 5: Bodega Norton Malbec 2006. Mendoza. 14% alc. vol.

Deep red colour with purple hints. Expressive on the nose, ripe black fruits, violets, spices and tobacco. Persistent finish. More.

The Pictures:

[To be posted once Psdudeonym uploads them.]

Next: Guess the Chianti: Everyone brings an Italian wine (not Chianti), and I will supply the Chianti. -- idea snagged from a fun tasting I went to a few months ago.

October: Pinot Noirs

The assignment: Pinot Noirs from around the world, between $15 and $30.

The players: Alberto the non-Antonio, Radhika the radical, Julieta the jubilant, Teresa the terrific, Andrei the ambidexter, and Roxana the resolute.

The discussion:

Wine 1: sweet, juicy, fruity, young, very pleasant and drinkable, growing more acidic after cheese consumption.

Wine 2: "a walk in the forest," "Disney movies, birds chirping," oaky, simpler and mellower than Wine 1.

Wine 3: complex, heavy, intense, moderately tannic, small bouquet, maintaining vigor even after eating cheeses, hints of plum. "This is for beef."

Wine 4: round, lush, full bodied, fragrant, "not sweet but strong," possible afterthought of oak, most alcoholic of the bunch.

The votes: The group was split between 1 and 4.

The unveiling:

Wine 1: Domaine Alfred 2006 Pinot Noir from Edna Valley, California. 14.5 % alc. vol.

Toasted brioche and Chamisal spice notes waft from the glass to complement the strawberries with cream, mandarin, and black cherry fruit flavors of our Estate Pinot. Dense, mouth-filling and well-structured, this youthful wine finishes cleanly framed by refined oak and grape tannins, and promises to age gracefully. (more)

Wine 2: Red Bicyclette 2007 from Languedoc-Roussillon, France. 13.5% alc. vol.

The 2007 Red Bicyclette® Pinot Noir showcases dark fruit aromas and flavors of black cherry and ripe plum. The light oak influence produces subtle notes of cinnamon for a soft, yet full middle palate and a smooth, luxurious texture. (more)

Wine 3: Louis Jadot 2006, Burgundy, France. 12.5% alc. vol.

It offers a colour of medium intensity, purplish in its youth changing to ruby and then garnet, after several years in bottle. It is harmonious and balanced, with a plump fruitiness and silky texture offset by round, gentle tannins in a wine of medium body and elegant structure. The very typical, fragrant varietal bouquet is complemented by a deliciously lingering finish. (more)

Wine 4: Estancia 2008, Monterey, California. 13.5% alc. vol.

A classically styled Pinot Noir, adopting the Burgundian philosophy of handling the fruit as delicately as possible. The result is a wine which is lusciously fruity with ripe cherries layered with sweet oak, dried flowers, leather, and spice. (more)

The pictures:

The invitation

You're hereby invited to:

Blind Wine

First Saturday of every month @ 7 p.m. @ [xxxx] Ave.

First one: TOMORROW!!

Here's what I know about wine: that I like it, except when I don't. I'd like to learn more about my preferences, and I think a series of blind tastings is the way to go. If you'd like to join me for any of the dates below, I'd be elated.

The idea: Everyone brings a bottle of wine *already wrapped in a paper bag or newspaper* and, if you want to dork out (like I will), a notebook. I'll mark and repour your wines into numbered carafes.

Wines can be anything within the day's guidelines (see below), but I encourage you to steer away from conventional favorites and try something you're curious about. With respect to alcohol volume: Couples should bring a joint bottle, and solo flyers are invited to bring a friend and a bottle.

Andrei and I will supply various cheeses or, if the mood strikes, heftier fare.

And yes, this is basically a pretext for hanging out and having fun!

Tentative schedule:

• October 3: Pinot Noirs from around the world, between $15 and $30.
• November 7: Argentina. Because of its Tango, because of its midnight dinners, and because of its delicious Malbec. Bring in your favorite, or something new.
• December 5: Guess the Chianti: Everyone brings an Italian wine (not Chianti), and I will supply the Chianti. -- idea snagged from a fun tasting I went to a few months ago.
• January 9: Lucha Libre: Rioja versus Priorat -- bring in one or the other, and let's watch them duke it out. [Formerly January 2]
  
• February 6: Port verus Porto versus oporto? Vintage vs tawny? Lots to learn, which means lots to drink. Bring it on!
• March 6: Happy Hour Whites: For this special Friday tasting, bring in something yummy and cheap. Bottoms up.
• April 3: Celebrated vintages: Hip or hype? Bring a fine French red Bordeaux from a celebrated vintage (I hear 2000, 2003 and 2005 were enthusiastically received). Any grape, any price, but it must be a Bordeaux from those three years. I'm willing to splurge if you're willing to drink. And vice versa, I'm sure. Deal?
• May 1: Decanter go wrong? Bring in anything you want -- from two buck chuck to this Chateau Lafite Rothschild '06 Pauillac. We'll sample it twice: first right from the bottle, then after its relaxing sojourn in the decanter.
• June 5: Champagne or Drano. It all depends on Roxana's dissertation committee... details TBA.
• July 3: Patriotic wine day. Bring in a wine from your home country. Already the options include Romania, Spain, Mexico, Lebanon, India and the U.S. of A. The point is to explore new possibilities, discover enticing new horizons and decide whose country's wine rocks!!
• August 7: White Grapes: Let's stick with $10-$25 per bottle and explore less common white grapes. Viognier, Semillion, Chenin Blanc, Palomino, Vernaccia and more. (Anything but Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc and dessert wines, please.)
• September 4: Time for school to start, so how's this for an assignment: Match the label to the wine. Everyone brings in a red wine with a descriptive label. Transcribe the label separately, with no info about the wine's make, model or year. As we sample, we'll try to determine which of the wines is "fruity with a hint of lavender" and which is "aged in oak barrels resulting in a smooth finish." Detective work! 
• October 2: Underappreciated: Lotsa good Australian wines were overlooked in the Yellow Tail madness. Find such a specimen and enlighten us. (Inspired by this slide show.)
• November 6: Benefits of aging: We'll pick one wine -- anything that ages well -- and everyone who's coming brings one from a consecutive year. The more the merrier. Ideally, we'll get to sample the same wine from 2000-2005, for example. If there's a big price difference between bottles, we can average it out. And if only a few people participate, we can do every other year.
• December 4: Blind paradox: They say knowing a wine is expensive makes a taster prefer it. What happens when the label disappears? We'll need bottles ranging from $5 to $60. To make it fair, I can 'assign' a price point to each person, then bring in your receipt and we'll average them out. 

All ideas are subject to change based on your welcomed suggestions. Same goes for dates -- if Sunday or Friday is better, we can switch.

I realize some of you are not in San Diego, but I still hope you can come for even one!

Please let me know a few days ahead if you can make it. Let me know if you like a tasting theme but can't make that date. Let me know if you want to participate in any of the dates that involve advance planning (like June 5 and July 3). Let me know if you want off this list.

xo,
Roxana