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The Savory Grape Wine Shop Newsletter |
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Greetings!
As some of you may remember, back in October
Chicago's NBC came to Rhode Island to feature wine
and food establishments of the
state, including The Savory Grape, Castle Hill in
Newport and Venda in Providence. You can
now view the footage online by clicking here.
We also continue to be in the midst of developing
more events for you throughout the year. In March,
we are
planning additional wine classes, including a
revisitation of the Wine 101 Class, along with a more
Intermediate Class, and we will hold regional and
varietal specific classes as well. Although
months away, we are planning an Autumn Wine
Tasting event that will allow you to sample numerous
wines from some of the top quality producers,
including selections from wine importers Neal
Rosenthal and Kermit Lynch. A portion of the
proceeds from this event will be donated to a local
nonprofit organization. As always, if you have
particular interests please let us know. We are open
to your thoughts.
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Upcoming Savory Grape Events |
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Artist Reception. We will hold an opening
reception on Saturday, February 24 from 6 pm to 9
pm
for Rhode Island artist Claire Marshak, who is
showcasing her paintings in the tasting room at The
Savory Grape. Please stop in that evening to enjoy a
wine
tasting, appetizers and to meet Claire and see her
work, which can be purchased.
Save the Date. The American Institute of
Wine
and Food (AIWF), along with The Savory Grape will
hold a wine and food
tasting on Monday, March 5th. Mark your calendars
for this event, and stay tuned for full details,
including wine and food selections.
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This Week's Savory Selections |
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1999 Benton Lane Reserve Pinot Noir. We
were quite thrilled to receive the '99 Reserve Pinot
Noir from Benton Lane. The quality and structure of
the wine is outstanding. Our wine club members were
able to experience this wine first, and subsequently
we secured the remaining small allocation of it
because of its impressiveness. Due to the extremely
limited supply, please call if you want us to
reserve any for you. ($29.99)
Don Mendo Carinena NV, Spain. From an equal
blend of Tempranillo and Grenache, this Spanish red is a
medium bodied, fruity, yet dry, style that
is a nice quaffing wine. If you are looking for a
simple, every day, inexpensive red, (as opposed to a
more, complex one) this is a lovely choice. ($8.99)
2001 Rizzi Barbaresco Riserva, Italy. Made
from the same grape as the renowned Barolo, Rizzi's
Barbaresco is top notch, and we are thrilled to have
it at the shop. Blended from various
vineyards within the Rizzi cru, the wine has a fine
balance and complexity. Aging takes place in oak
casks for two years and then an additional year in
bottle. Those familiar with Barbaresco understand the
aromas of violets, leather, and tobacco that are
typical for this varietal. The flavor is one of
earthy fruit that becomes richer and more elegant
with age. This is a superb selection that is a great
with roasted meats and sharp cheeses. ($30.99)
2005 Steele Vineyards Shooting Star Blue Franc,
Washington. This particular wine is made from a
grape varietal probably only a few have ever tried,
Lemberger. Yes, that is the name of the grape
which to you may also conjure up thoughts of stinky
cheese. Often referred to by its ancient name
Blau Frankisch, hence the wine's name Blue Franc,
this is a red wine with full berry and cinnamon
flavors, great color and little tannins or
harshness. It is clean, crisp, and unpretentious. A
great wine worth trying.
($10.99)
1998 Frank Phelan St Estephe, France. This
particular red Bordeaux is the second label to
Chateau Phelan Segur, and the 1998 vintage is a
great find. Its aromas and flavors of blackberry and
cherry are evident, smooth and silky. Due to the
age, any tannic nature and harshness has diminished
leaving you an exceptionally smooth wine with a
fantastic finish. A lovely Bordeaux for immediate
consumption.
($16.99)
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Weekend Wine Tastings |
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Friday, February 9 (5 pm to 8 pm)
California Cabernet Sauvignons
- 2004 Grayson Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa
Valley: Showing deep violet and crimson
colors, this Napa Cab exhibits aromas of cherry,
cassis and blackberry that give way to
vanilla/toasty notes from oak barrels in which the
wine aged. The palate is plush and full-bodied with
fresh berry flavors and a touch of spice. Given a
Best Buy indication by the Wine Advocate, the wine
has a soft and supple texture that will drink well
for the next two to three years. ($10.49)
- 337 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi: Moving east
of Napa is the area of Lodi, from where
337 comes. You may think the name (337) odd, but it
actually comes from the Cabernet Clone 337, hence
the name. Full and impactful, this wine opens with
aromas of sweet baked cherry,
cranberry and hints of vanilla. The brightness
continues throughout a mélange of rich and
broad flavors of cassis and black fruit with notes of
spice. Its full bodied, juicy
and extremely well balanced, showcasing the
virtues of Cabernet structure and solidity. ($14.99)
- 2003 Terra Valentine Cabernet Sauvignon,
Napa Valley: Perfect for Valentine's Day, this
is a great gift for the Cab lover this month. An
underrepresented gem from a small
vineyard, this limited Spring
Mountain wine offers a velvety rich texture with
inviting layers of smoky oak and dark fruits. Having
languished in French Oak for about two years, it
offers ripe flavors of blackberry,
boysenberry, and dark cocoa that are balanced with
toffee textures and creamy vanilla. It is beautiful!
($32.99)
Saturday, February 10 (3 pm to 7 pm)
Red and Whites of Burgundy
- 2005 Domaine Pascal Renaud Macon
Villages: From the Macon area within France's
Burgundy region,
this is 100% Chardonnay but much different from the
Pouilly Fuisse mentioned next! This selection has
more creaminess and less acidity than the next
Chardonnay thus giving you a fuller mouthfeel. It's
nice to see the comparison.
($13.99)
- 2005 Michel Dutour Pouilly Fuisse: This
Pouilly Fuisse is a barrel-fermented and-aged 100%
Chardonnay that offers smooth pear and tropical
fruit flavors accompanied by notes of
vanilla. Although rich, it has plenty of acidity to
keep it balanced and fresh. After tasting this wine
several times, we realized its true finesse and
elegance. It is a classic Pouilly Fuisse at a value
price. ($15.99)
- 2004 Bouchard Aine & Fils Pinot Noir:
Light in body, this Pinot Noir offers us lovely
cherry, raspberry and blackberry notes that are
accompanied by a light note of mint. Aging took
place in oak casks for almost year, giving the wine
a slight note of wood and vanilla that intermingle
well with the red fruit flavors. ($14.99)
- 2004 Domaine d'Ardhuy Cote de Beaune Villages
Pinot Noir: Noticeably different from
the previous Pinot Noir, this selection is from a
single vineyard within Burgundy's Beaune region.
Slightly fuller in body, this
selection displays more complexity and full dark
cherry flavors with a hint of vanilla spice from oak
aging. With lots of finesse, this wine gives you a
silky mouthfeel. ($25.99)
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