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The Savory Grape Wine Shop Newsletter |
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Greetings!
Earlier this week as some of you know I took
a short stint to NYC for a little culture,
R&R, and well of course a touch of work. One
of the
best parts of life in world of The Savory
Grape is that work includes eating, as well as
being exposed to many great wines. During my
fabulous two-day stay, I was pleased to
see many wine labels in NYC wine shops
and restaurants that we offer in the shop.
But I also found an array of different
and unique selections that I hope to bring in
and share with you. So with that in mind,
the next few week's articles will focus on a
menagerie of wines that occupy the
"road
less travelled" for many of us and are also
great for
our upcoming spring and summer seasons.
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The Savory Grape Upcoming Events |
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One-Year
Anniversary Celebration. Again, please
join us for our Grand One-Year Anniversary
Celebration from
Thursday, April 12-Saturday April 14.
Come celebrate with us for a weekend of
special vineyard tastings, food, raffles,
prizes, and lots of surprises!
RI Monthly Magazine "Best Of" Contest.
As we mentioned before, RI Monthly is
holding its "Best of RI" contest,
and we hope to obtain your vote for "The Best
Wine Shop in West Bay." From April 1-May 15,
you can place your vote
either online at www.rimonthly.com
or through a ballot in the April issue of the
magazine. Last year, we won the
"Best New Wine Shop" award, and this year we
hope to obtain your vote for the "Best Wine
Shop, West Bay" award. So tell one, tell all
and please consider The Savory Grape when you
vote!
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European Whites, Part I |
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Ah springtime, when a wine drinkers fancy
turns to white, European whites to be exact.
Why Europe, you ask. Its because of the
varied climates, and wine laws in each
country that allow only specific grapes to be
grown in certain areas. For today, we
focus on virtually the same grape. I say
virtually, because it can be blended with
others, but from our domestic view point the
Alvarinho (Portugal), also known as Cainho
Branco, and Albarino (Spain) grapes produce a
light-bodied, delightful, white wine.
In Portugal, on the northwest coast, just
below the Spanish border in the Minho area,
the Alvarinho grape is the major component in
the production of Vinho Verde. Literally
translated green wine, its meant to be
drunk young. Light peach and apply on the
palate and a
floral character on the nose, this is
Portugals most popular white table wine.
Light in alcohol with a slight spritz on the
finish, this wine is a must for salads and
delicate seafood dishes.
Stylistically different from its cousin,
Spains Albarino wine has slightly more body
and mouth feel than the Vinho Verde of
Portugal. It is a complex wine; its not as
minerally as a Riesling, not as voluptuous as
a Chardonnay, and not as herbaceous as a
Sauvignon Blanc. One can say that it has all
of the qualities of the well-known white
wines of the world but it does so very
subtly. There always seems to be an
almond/vanilla and spice quality that lends
this wine to a myriad of lightly prepared
dishes of both seafood and meats. So choose
with abandon from varied producers. All have
slight stylistic differences but all are
perfect for spring and summer. Get a jump
start and taste them with us this weekend.
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This Week's Savory Selections |
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Hedges CMS White, Washington.
Ah, a great spring white from Washington's
Columbia Valley. This is a fresh and vibrant
wine comprised of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
and Marsanne. It effortlessly balances body
and depth from the Chardonnay, spicy
aromatics from the
Marsanne, and structured mineral flavors from
the Sauvignon Blanc. On the palate, it
exhibits grapefruit, gooseberry and ripe pear
flavors, with some banana, herbal and vanilla
notes. The mouth feel is nicely viscous and
is combined with crisp acidity and a
lingering finish.CMS White is perfect as
an aperitif or accompaniment to shellfish.
($12.99)
Quinta da Aveleda Alvarinho, Portugal.
Although the Quinta has been in existence for
many years the written evidence dates back to
the XVI century. The origin of the name
Aveleda is supposed to be the name of a sage,
a symbol among the Germanic people of all
women soothsayers - Veledas - whose destiny
was to be sacrificed to the Gods. This white,
which we will taste this weekend, is quite light
and just slightly fizzy with aromas and
flavors of
green apple, pear and citrus. Refreshing with
a balanced acidity, it's indeed an excellent
choice for salads and baked ham. Try it as an
accompaniment to your
Easter menu! ($11.99)
Chateau Pimpine, Bordeaux, France.
Ah, an organic Bordeaux that is lovely,
extremely palatable and affordable. It gives
you a medium-to-full bodied wine with rich,
yet subtle flavors of black fruits with a
touch of oak mingling in from some aging. Any
intervention of this wine is minimal,
reavealing a fresh, concentrated selection.
($27.99)
Il Palagetto Sottobosco, Tuscany,
Italy. Azienda Agricola Il Palagetto
was founded in 1991 in San Gimignano and
immediately distinguished itself for its
effort to concentrate on quality. The farm is
no longer a small local entity, and it now
encompasses over 200 acres all of which are
located in Tuscany. This rich Super Tuscan is the
product of meticulous nurturing throughout
the growing and ageing process. Eighteen
months in barriques coupled with an
additional six months of bottle conditioning
lends further to the understated elegance of
this Sangiovese-Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah
blend. Only 1,667 cases were produced, giving
this wine full structure, elegance, and
finesse. Loaded with gentle spice, red fruit
and sot oak nuances, it is a great pair for
beef, polenta and stews. A wine often served
at Providence's Al Forno. ($29.99)
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Weekend Wine Tastings |
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Friday, March 30 (5 pm to 8 pm) Hedges
Family, Washington
- CMS White Blend.
Please see tasting notes above.
($12.99)
- Hedges CMS Red.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and
Syrah, the CMS red is structured yet
approachable with soft fruit flavors. On the
palate, red and black berry fruits
intermingle with toasted oak, vanilla and
hints of caramel and cassis. Its medium-plus
body gives it a lovely mouth feel full of
fruit, vanilla sweetness and a balanced
acidity. The pleasing, fruit forward entry of
this wine makes it drinkable now, but the
darker, richer fruit, acidity and firm
tannins, should make this wine one that will
improve over the next two to five
years.($13.49)
- Hedges Estate Three Vineyards. This is the
Flagship of the estate wines. The Three
Vineyards is a classic Red Mountain wine
showing deep, dense color, firm yet supple
tannins, and well defined acidity. The Three
Vineyards is a blend of fruit from three
estate vineyards: Hedges Estate Vineyard,
Bel'Villa Vineyard and Red Mountain
Vineyard. Always a majority blend of Cabernet
Sauvignon and Merlot, this wine is suitable
for drinking upon release but will
reward those with the patience to age it.
($26.99)
Saturday, March 31 (3 pm to 7 pm)
Portugal/Spain
- Quinta da Aveleda Alvarinho. Please
see tasting notes above. ($11.99)
- Codax Burgans Albarino. Burgans
is made at the famous Bodega Martin Codax by
Luciano Almoedo, perhaps the biggest advocate
of Spain's Albariño varietal. Luciano was
extremely influential in obtaining worldwide
recognition for not only the varietal, but
also Rias-Baixas, where he was the founder
and first leader of the AOC. Today, the
Bodega has grown considerably and is known as
one of the most progressive in the zone.
Albariño is identified by its almond smell,
although it can also have peach, lemon and
floral scents. Burgans Albariño lives up to
its heritage with additional hints of apple.
The large nose it possesses will fool you
into thinking it is full body. But it is not
heavy or rich. On the contrary, it has
bracing acidity, which makes it delightfully
refreshing and an excellent companion to many
foods, including seafood and fresh cheeses.
This is a young wine that should not be aged
but enjoyed right away. ($13.99)
- UDACA Irreverente, Dao, Portugal.
From Portugal's DAO region, we bring a wine
full of red berry flavors that are combined
with notes of cocoa and spice. Produced from
four Portugese varietals - Touriga Nacional,
Tinta Roriz, Jaen and Alfrocheiro Preto - it
has spent some time aging in oak casks as
well as in bottle. It is ready to be consumed
though it may be stored for five years more.
($10.99)
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