WWWC September 2012

The September tasting was Italian wines paired with steak simmered in Chianti with orzo pasta. Great meal, topped off with tiramisu dessert. Here are the wines we enjoyed (selected by yours truly).

Gathering wine

2010 Uvaggio Vermintino, Lodi, California                                        around $12

This is an Italian variety that has taken root in Central California. The wine is fruity with hints of citrus, melon and a good acidic balance. Pleasant wine for just sipping or with lighter repasts, like seafood.

Red wines with dinner and dessert

1.      2010 La Cryma Christi del Vesuvio (Mastroberndino)                       around $20

Colorful red wine in the glass, with bright red fruit nose. Flavor echoed the nose with red fruits – raspberry, cherry and strawberry, with hints of spice. Moderate length aftertaste, nice Italian wine for classic dishes. Made from the piedirosso grape, without a lot of oak influence.

2.      2010 Banfi Rossi Di Montalcino                                                         around $19

A different style of sangiovese; nice nose of red fruits. Flavors of red berry and cherry, followed by hints of anise flavors. Good acid balance, decent aftertaste; a real food friendly wine.

3.      2008 Gabbiano Chinati Classico                                                         around $14

Smooth and pretty wine, typical red fruit nose. Flavors were red berry, strawberry and a hint of anise. Similar to the Banfi, but different in the flavors – no cherry and less spice influence. Slightly more oak influence, although not overly done. Aftertaste had some length, a very nice styled Chianti.

4.      2007 Sartori Regolo                                                                            around $21

Nose is slightly modest red fruits. Good flavors of red berry, cherry and cherry cola notes. Bigger wine than the other ones; well made and long on the finish. Made from corvine in the repasso style where the lees from Amarone wines are added to the barrels to soak In some of the expensive older brother flavor. Wine was the groups selection of favorite of the night.

We had 66 folks attend that evening. Hope you enjoyed it – keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you behind the grapevines.

A few more Wines

2006 Concannon Syrah, Central Coast California                                                                 $6.99

A bargain wine that doesn’t measure up to the Petite Sirah from the same producer.  Color was OK although the nose wasn’t much to speak about - some red berry upfront. Flavor was red fruit and dull spice on the mid-palate. Adequate, based on the structure (acid balance) but not one that you’d rush back to stock up on.

2010 Protocolo de Castilla, Bodega Eugenen                        Sale 6.99, reg about 8-9

The next vintage of the favorite Spanish sipper – very similar to the 2009, bright flavors, hints of cherry and easy to drink. Even at seven dollars, a wine to buy in quantity for every day drinking or after the good bottles when friends can no longer tell the difference in the wines.

2008 Estancia Meritage, Paso Robles, California                                                                  $20’ish

A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. Very bright purple color. Open, fruity nose, with cherry and red berry tones. Flavor of red and dark berries, hints of graphite and bell pepper. Well balanced with a few tannins and nice acid backbone. Very nice bottle of wine, not overly big, but well balanced and good quality. Wish I would have kept it longer and drank with friends.

All right - I'll tell you about the WWWC Italian tasting shortly, I've got to type up the notes. Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines!