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The Savory Grape Wine Shop Newsletter |
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Greetings!
At The Savory Grape, we are presented daily (as you
might guess) with numerous, and often very diverse
wine
questions, but there are two we hear
consistently: "How do you
know about all of these wines and have you really
tried them all?" The answer is we know about the
wines because yes we do taste all of them. We
sample them to ensure their quality and
charateristics before
placing them on TSG shelves, so that we can
accurately guide those of you who may need our
direction. If you are not familiar with a particular
wine, we understand the difficulty in selecting the
correct bottle just by the label or winemaker's
notes.
However, in addition to our weekly newsletters and
in-store advice other wine rating resources exist to
which you can refer. (Note: subscription fees exist
for
accessing these ratings.) This week's article
highlights
the top industry wine rating systems - those of
Robert Parker, the
Wine Spectator and Stephen Tanzer.
Remember to plan for your corporate and
holiday parties - we are happy to help you
provide "tasteful" gifts (wine baskets, wine club
memberships, wine tasting parties) for your special
clients, friends, colleagues and of course employers.
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Wine Rating Resources |
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There are occasions when you want a bottle of
wine - a gift, special event or treat for
yourself at the end of the day - and you want to
ensure your selection is stellar. But how can you
really know without uncorking the bottle and taking a
sip? (Giving a gift that's missing a glass probably isn't
the best
way to go.) Several reputable
wine resources are available that can guide you:
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (WA), the Wine
Spectator (WS) and Stephen Tanzer's (ST)
International Wine Cellar. There are ratings
provided by other publications such as the Wine
Enthusiast and Wine & Spirits, but we
focus only on the aforementioned three.
Robert Parker retired from a successful law career in
1984 to pursue wine
writing full time. Today, his WA has more than
40,000
subscribers, and he is considered the premiere
wine
authority. (Although we consider other aspects of
wine than just ratings, we are big Parker fans.) His
rating system is
based on a 100 point.
96-100: An extraordinary wine of profound and
complex character.
90-95: An outstanding wine of exceptional
complexity and character.
80-89: A barely above average to very good wine
with no notable flaws.
70-79: An average wine with little distinction except
that it is a soundly made.
60-69: A below average wine containing noticeable
deficiencies.
50-59: A wine deemed to be unacceptable.
Aside from Parker, the next most trusted wine rating
source is the WS. WS is a monthly publication which
features about 400 to 1,000 wines in each issue. WS
uses a small group
of editors who each specialize in a geographic area
called a "tasting beat." Although several different
individuals are responsible for rating the wines, WS
uses a strict system to help ensure a common
standard among tasters.
95-100: Classic; a great wine.
90-94: Outstanding; a wine of superior character and
style.
85-89: Very good; a wine with special qualities.
80-84: Good; a solid, well-made wine.
75-79: Mediocre: a drinkable wine that may have
minor flaws.
50-74: Not recommended.
Then there is Stephen Tanzer, editor and publisher of
the critically acclaimed bimonthly International Wine
Cellar (IWC), an independent journal read throughout
the world.
Like Parker and the WS, Tanzer also uses a 100-point
rating system.
95-100: Extraordinary.
90-94: Outstanding.
85-89: Very good to excellent.
80-84: Good.
75-79: Average.
70-74: Below average. Anything below 70: Avoid.
Like we said above, the ratings should be a general
guide and not the single determining factor for wine
buying. You just may realize that the one you
like best is not rated at all....but should be.
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Gluten Free at TSG |
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Many of our customers have inquired about the
arrival of gluten free beer. We are pleased to
announce that we are carrying Lakefront's New Grist
beer, which is suitable for those with celiac disease.
We also will offer gluten free snacks at our weekend
wine tastings.
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This Week's Savory Selections |
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This week's Savory Selections feature some of
our favorite rated wines.
2004 Di Majo Norante Sangiovese - $10.49.
One of the world's best values in Sangiovese is Di
Majo's 2004 Sangiovese. Made from 100% organically
grown Sangiovese grapes, this red from Italy's Molise
region is aged six
months in oak barrels. At first sniff, Sangiovese
immediately comes to mind. It offers you aromas of
strawberries, black cherries, a slight earthiness, and
rich spices. This expressive, medium-bodied, fleshy
Italian red is meant to be drunk over the next 1-2
years. A great pizza, pasta, burger wine. Robert
Parker: 90 Points. We concur!
Agricola Punica Barrua 2002 - $51.99.
The estates of Agricola Punica are situated in the
southwest corner of the island of Sardinia and within
the IGT of Isola dei Nuraghi, a name
referencing ancient stone towers built by the
Nuragic civilization that shaped the island's
development from the Neolithic age until 238 B.C.,
when Sardinia was brought under the Roman Empire.
The vineyard lies inland from the coast and is
planted to 25 acres of old Carignane vines and 50
acres of new Carignane, Cabernet Sauvignon and
Merlot vines. Barrua exudes aromas of crushed fresh
blackberries and plums with nuances of violet and
licorice. Its silky palate is supported by sweet,
refined tannins that lead into a long, lush finish.
Surprisingly versatile considering its concentration
and complexity, it complements rich foods and
piquant spicy dishes, and is a great
partner for spicy meat pizza or risotto with porcini
mushrooms. A great wine gift! WS Rating: 91 points.
2002 Dehesa de Rubiales Alaia - $8.49. This
is one of our favorite inexpensive Spanish red wines.
The varietal composition of Alaia has varied, but
Prieto Picudo has always played a significant role.
The 2002 edition is made from 35% Prieto Picudo,
60% Tempranillo, and about 5% Merlot, and was
aged several months in new American oak. The
geography and nomenclature are confusing, but the
winery is located in the town of Villacalviel-San
Esteban within the DOC of Tierra de Castilla y
León. León is part of the larger region called Castilla
y León which is well north of Madrid and includes
Ribera del Duero as well as the Rueda subdistrict.
Alaia has a deep color, a wonderfully fragrant
bouquet, and some toasted notes, but fruit is what
really shows. It is perfect for food - steak, rich pasta
or Spain's Paella. WS Rating: 87 points.
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Weekend Tasting Selections |
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Friday, Oct. 13 (5 pm - 8 pm):
Italy's East and West
2003 Dievole Rinascimento: When you
look at
each bottle of Rinascimento you will notice a
different face on each bottle. These faces are
Dievole's vintners, lifelong residents of the Dievole
estate in Tuscany, whose sole passion is to produce
only the best wines. Rinascimento is sourced from
native Tuscan vines of Sangiovese combined with
other native varietals of Canaiolo, Colorino, Foglia
Tonda, Malvasia Nera, Ancellotta and Barsaglina.
Rinascimento reflects an Old World style, also
accompanied by full flavors of blackberry fruit and
notes of spice. When you take a sniff and swirl of
the glass you will experience a part of Dievole that's
more than 900 years old. ($11.49)
2005 Monte Schiavo
Verdicchio Dei Castelli di Jesi: The classic white
of the Adriatic for centuries, Verdicchio is at its best
in Castelli di Jesi, near the coastal city of Ancona,
and in Matelica, a higher inland zone not far from
Fabriano. Verdicchio takes its name from the deep
green skin (Verde) of the Verdicchio grape, and is a
chic, dry white that should be enjoyed young!
Verdicchio is Italy's most underrated white grape and
actually won popularity before Pinot Grigio or
Soave. The Monte Schiavo property is owned by the
Pieralisi family, the most prominent producer of olive
oil equipment in the world and the second largest
land owner in the Classico sub-zone of Castelli di
Jesi. A brilliant, pale straw color with green
reflections, this elegant white is fruity, has a vinous
fragrance and shows nuances of ripe apricots, lemon
and almonds. A fresh, crisp taste and a clean finish is
apparent, and this structured dry white will develop
in the bottle for 3 to 5 years. ($14.49)
Saturday, Oct. 14 (5 pm - 8 pm): Big, Bold
Aussies
2004 Red Head Yard Dog Petit Verdot:
This was one of our newest selections last week, and
we wanted to share its boldness with you. In stark
contrast to some of the Australian mega-wineries
which make
competent but often boring wines, four self-
proclaimed rebels in McLaren Vale banded together
and bought a wine bar called "Redheads" which they
converted into a winery. Using tiny lots of
high quality grapes, they handcraft small batches of
wine. Instead of 100,000 gal. stainless steel tanks,
they use very low-tech tubs that hold only one to
two tons of fruit.
Being young, passionate, and unrestrained, these
Aussies have come up with some wild labels. Who
else would create "Yard Dog Red?" The vicious-
looking dog on the label may not be cute like so
many of the animals on labels today, but it sends the
appropriate message that this is a wine of menacing
proportions. A big, juicy, spicy, and soft blend of
Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec, this
wine has a rich texture and intense, ripe fruit that
makes it a winner. It's a wine for barbecued meats or
other gutsy fare. ($10.99)
2005 Kiss Chasey White: From a great,
relatively new, producer, this Margaret River blend of
Chardonnay, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and a hint of
Verdelho is made from fruit from highly selective
vineyards, and fermented in stainless steel tanks,
giving us as consumers a "no-oak" taste. Zesty and
full of young vine fruit, we get a bouquet and flavors
of grapefruit, orange zest, apricot and fragrant
honeysuckle - all in one bottle!! The wine has a
light-to-medium bodied style with an elegant, crisp
finish. It is a lovely sipping wine - a great aperitif.
($10.99)
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