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Glory Days

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Lamoreaux Landing Wines Photo Courtesy Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars

     I received an E-mail from my friends at Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars letting me know that the harvest has begun in earnest.  The harvest this year at Lamoreaux will be a little easier due to the addition of a new harvester that will pick the vines cleaner and allow the fruit to get to the press pad faster so even more of the flavor will be preserved.  They were also proud to announce that four of their new releases will be featured in Wine & Spirit Magazine.  I hope that I will get the opportunity to try any or all of these exceptional white wines.  2011 Estate Bottled Dry Riesling 93pts $13.99,  2011 Estate Bottled Semi-Dry Riesling 91pts $13.99,  2011 Estate Bottled Red Oak Riesling 92pts $19.99 and 2010 Estate Bottled Chardonnay 89pts $14.99.  Congratulations and Thank You to everyone at Lamoreaux Wine Cellars for your hard work and dedication.

          

Altus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2005 $35.99?

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Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Photo taken at Skil...

Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

     If you are looking for a wine that can be described as Bold, Plush, Opulent, Intense and Concentrated then you should look no further than Altus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2005.  This Cab has potent dark fruit flavors like currant, blackberry and black cherry along with wild berry flavors.  The tannins are velvety but the finish is firm with a creamy minerality.  This wine is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 3% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot.  Wine Spectator bestowed a 92 point rating upon it in 2008 and because of the structure of this blend, time has been kind to it.  You can purchase this Altus wine in Pennsylvania only online from the PLCB website where it is listed on the Wine Sale page.  The regular price is shown at $74.99 but the sale price is $35.99 and I believe that is a fair price for this bottle.  PLCB Product Code 11238.  http://www.finewineandgoodspirits.com

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Argyle Pinot Noir Spirithouse $39.99?

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Argyle Winery, Dundee, Oregon

Argyle Winery, Dundee, Oregon (Photo credit: PnP!)

 We often complain about the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board that regulates alcohol sales here but there are times when they get it right.  I have to say the Chairman Selection offering of 2007 Argyle Pinot Noir Spirithouse for $39.99 (a savings of $ 35.01 from its quoted price of $75 ) is one of those times.  This Oregon Pinot Noir was produced by the Knudson Vineyard in the Dundee Hills AVA of the Williamette Valley.  It is currently listed as Sold Out by the winery but that should be no surprise after Wine Advocate rated it 93 pts and Wine Spectator gave it a 90 pt rating in 2009 which means it has only gotten better since then.  Spirithouse exhibits plenty of ripe fruit flavors especially raspberry and red cherry and just enough tannins with a smooth textured finished.  This is a very good quality Pinot Noir that has more than sufficient acidity and the hint of pepper that is the signature of a good Pinot.  I will tip my hat to the PLCB on this one and say  “Job well done”.   PLCB Code 32593

IT’S VEGAS BABY!!!!

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English: The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign

English: The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We are back home from our trip to Las Vegas and I thought you would enjoy seeing two of the wine collections I saw there.  Aureole features a wine tower where the “Wine Angels” are attached to cables that lift and lower them so they can retrieve the bottle of your choice.  Aureole is located in the Mandalay Bay Resort restaurant row area.  Joe’s in the Forum Shops line their glass walls with wine so everyone can take a good look at the inventory. 

This was one of the more memorable trips to Sin City for me because of the flash flooding that I could monitor from the safety of my hotel room on the 15th floor.  The night sky on Tuesday was brightly lit by massive bolts of  lightning over the Strip and the surrounding desert followed by booming thunder that rolled to the horizon.  Not to be out done by Mother Nature Prince Harry made some noise of his own at the MGM Grand.  We attended a unforgettable performance by Enrique Iglesias and Jennifer Lopez where I saw first hand that Enrique was not only a spokesman for Atlantico Rum but also a big fan.  Reports had him showing up after the show at Hyde wearing a hoodie. Hyde is the newest lounge at the Bellagio Hotel and it’s patio overlooks the famous Bellagio fountains.  I can tell you that wine is expensive in Vegas and good wine is very expensive so it only makes sense that great wine is obscenely expensive. Enough said!

Aureole & Joe’s Wine

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Wine on display at Joe’s

Wine Tower at Aureole

Joe’s Restaurant Las Vegas

Wine Time at the Colony

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English: Portrait of a middle-aged William Pen...

English: Portrait of a middle-aged William Penn (founder of the Pennsylvania colony) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

     Penn’s Colony will be hosting a Wine-Tasting that will also include gourmet fare and artisans.  The event is Saturday September 8th from noon to 6 p.m. on the Grounds of Penn’s Colony  365 Saxonburg Blvd. Rt. 228E., Saxonburg, Pa.  Admission will be charged and with a tasting admission you will receive a souvenir glass.  Visitors must be 21 years old and provide a valid I.D. to participate in the wine-tasting.  More information is available at Winetimeatthecolony.com or by calling 724-352-9922

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Seven Springs Wine & Food Festival

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Wine Tasting

Wine Tasting (Photo credit: cheesy42)

     The 20th Annual Seven Springs Wine & Food Festival will be held on the 25th & 26th of August.  Wine-tasting will be offered by 30 Pennsylvania wineries and there will also be seminars and musical entertainment.  The hours are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days.  You must be at least 21 years old to attend this event and children, minors and pets are not permitted on the festival grounds.  Tickets are $36 for Saturday and $26 for Sunday and can be purchased online or at the event.  This celebration of Pennsylvania food and wine is being held at Seven Springs Mountain Resort  777 Waterwheel Dr,  Seven Springs, PA.  800-452-2223   

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Trip Around The Sun

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      I have just completed another trip around the Sun, so my wife and I decided to celebrate in our usual way by having dinner at an interesting new restaurant.  This year we decided on the Out Of The Fire Café in Donegal, Pennsylvania.  I will keep this review short and simple because we agreed that after dining there that it was the most exceptionally delicious meal from start to finish that we have ever eaten.  We are comparing our meal to meals we have had at restaurants that were owned by Mario Batalli, Wolfgang Puck, Todd English, Emeril Lagasse and other celebrity chefs just to give you some point of reference on how good this meal was.  I won’t bore you with my perception of the evening I will report it just as the BBC reports the news with just the facts.  We began with the Seasonal Soup which was Crab Chowder that evening.  The entrées were as follows per their menu description.  My wife had Pan Seared Maine Monkfish with Carmelized Onions & Herb Polenta, Bristol Farms Cherry Tomatoes, Crooked Neck Summer Squash & Zucchini, Smoked Tomato Pesto and I had Orange & Fennel Crusted Chilean Sea Bass with Sweet Corn & Lump Crab Griddle Cakes, Grilled Scallions, Orange Section Salsa.  This is how I would describe our dessert ” Strawberry Marscapone Parfitt, Marscapone Cheese Layered in Balsamic Vinegar Infused Strawberries with a Topping of Crumpled Thin Oatmeal Wafer.  Out Of The Fire Café is a B.Y.O.B. establishment that has a $2 per person corkage fee.  I have always avoided B.Y.O.B. places and I must tell you I was wrong in doing so.  The atmosphere was festive and the bottle of Swedish Hill 2009 Reserve Chardonnay (Finger Lakes) we brought was excellent.  I would recommend making reservations any time you plan on going because they are always crowded.  Out Of The Fire Café 3784 State Rt 31 Donegal, Pa 15628.  724-593-4201   www.outofthefirecafe.com      

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Summer Nights

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Moscato d'Asti

     As we enter into the final weeks of summer you don’t want warm weather to pass before you try some light-bodied young wines.  These fresh flavored immature wines are made from low-sugar early harvest grapes that yield a high-sugar and low-alcohol wine.  You will find these wines to be sweeter than average and more acidic on your taste buds but lighter on your wallet.  I think a good place to start would be with an Italian-Style Moscato so we can savor its delectable floral and fresh fruit aroma.  Some interesting choices can be found including an offering from Cavit at $8.99 for 750ml PLCB code 3602 and Moscato D’ Asti Montefiore $11.99 for 750 ml PLCB code 5021.  The 2010 Vintage of Moscato D’ Asti Montefiore was rated as the highest scoring Moscato under $15 by Wine Spectator.  When pairing these wines you should think sweet foods, like desserts and local farm market fresh fruits.  The French are excellent producers of this next category of wine and because of their skill I recommend sampling a French-Style Vouvray.  Barton & Guestier Vouvray $11.99 PLCB code 5525 and Château de Montfort $14.99 PLCB code 8747 are the two most easily found examples at PLCB stores.  These wines pair well with cheese plates, dried fruit and cold seafood appetizers.  Before summer ends be certain to try some of these refreshing young white wines while conditions are ideal.

Wagner Vineyards

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     We are back on the road again and on our way to Wagner Vineyards where they have a winery, brewery, restaurant and gift shop.  I would like to take this opportunity to advise you to be careful when tasting and driving and also ask you to be sure that you act in a responsible manner to ensure public safety because if you don’t the police around the Finger Lakes will.  Wagner is probably the most commercially developed winery around the lakes and should be on your must see list.  They produce an extensive variety of wines and if you are fortunate enough to have Bill serve you in the tasting room  you will get to experience every one that your heart desires.  I asked him for a good red for making Sangria and he suggested the Sunset Red then he gave me his favorite Sangria recipe.  I tasted all of their Chardonnay and chose the dry 2011 Barrel Fermented.  I didn’t taste at the brewery this trip but I remember that the last time I did their portions were the same as the wine room samples and let’s just say they were more than generous.  The Ginny Lee Cafe has a trendy menu and we have had lunch on the deck overlooking the vineyards on several occasions.  If you do decide to stop for lunch try one of their wraps, my favorite is the Tuscan.  Wagner Vineyards is located at 9322 State Route 414 Lodi, New York.