American Blends
Opening Wine
Peoma Brut Cava NV, Penedes, Spain Around $10 (Sale)
Nicely fruity, good acidic balance with hints of apple, biscuit with a clean finish. Nice cava at this price.
Red Wine #1
2010 Cryptic Red Blend, California Around $14
Decent color, little thin on the nose. Flavors of red fruit – raspberry, hints of vanilla, a somewhat short finish. Better with food than alone. A blend of zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Red Wine #2
2010 Arizona Stronghold Mandala Red Around $18
Nice nose of red berries; big mouthfeel, red berry and blueberry, hints of spices (cedar, pepper and anise). Nice finish. Fruit was sourced from California – Napa and Paso Robles – a blend of Cinsault, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Counoise and other grapes.
Red Wine #3
2010 Orin Swift Abstract, California Around $29
Nose was a little closed, but with some red berry hints. Big mouthfeel, blackberries, pomegranate, spices – cedar box, tobacco and anise. Nice long finish with a tannin backwash. A blend of Grenache, Petite Sirah and Syrah – very Rhone sytyle.
Red Wine #4
2009 Flora Springs Trilogy, Napa Valley, California Around $45
Really nice nose, red berry and herbs. Big mouthfeel with red and dark berries, cigar box, hints of earthiness (the good kind). Good long finish with good acid and tannins to support the wine. A Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec.
The top vote getter was the Orin Swift Abstract, followed closely by the Cryptic Red, Flora Springs and the Stronghold Mandala. 70 plus members attended and enjoyed the wine, food and music by the Thacker children.
Until next time, keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you behind the grape vines.
