Standing Stone Vineyards to host a vertical tasting of their popular Saperavi on Sunday November 16, 2014. Tom & Marti Macinski become the first vintners in the nation to bottle the Saperavi grape under its newly recognized and rightful name. The N.Y. Wine & Food Classic double gold medal-winning 2012 vintage will be part of the November 16th tasting. This vintage is featured in the November 30th issue of Wine Spectator Magazine where it was awarded a 88 point rating. Owner and winemaker Marti Macinski will be leading the two Saperavi vertical tasting sessions Sunday afternoon at 1:00 and again at 3:00. This is a great opportunity for guests to learn from the leading expert on this up and coming wine grape. Tickets are $20 and include food pairings from Dano’s. Reservations can be made by calling 607-582-6051 or by e-mail at ssny@standingstonewines.com.
Category Wine news
2013 Cossetti Dolcetto d’Asti
I tried this wine purely on a recommendation made by Trib Total Media wine expert Dave DeSimone and I am glad that I did. 2013 Cossetti Dolcetto d’Asti is offered by the P.L.C.B. as a Chairman’s Selection on sale for $15.99 (Product code Luxury 33495). The Cossetti family have grown wine grapes and made wine since 1891 in the rolling hills of Castelnuovo Belbo. To keep the pure flavor and aromas of the delicate Dolcetto grapes they are fermented in stainless steel tanks. In the glass it displays a light ruby-red color with a floral nose. The flavors of cherries and red berries are contained in a medium body of fresh acidity and mild tannins. The finish is dry but retains some fruit flavors. I think if you pair this wine with Italian food you should avoid the red sauces and match it with the light sauces especially if they contain mushrooms or mild cheeses.
Wine review: S.Giorgio Amarone della Valpolicella DOC Classico 2009
Good wine is good wine, it makes no difference where it came from or where you drink it.
Then to the topic; Amarone della Valpolicella, usually known as Amarone, is a typically rich Italian dry red wine made from the partially dried grapes. For this wine grapes used in production are Corvina 50%, Corvinone 35%, Rondinella 10% Croatina & Dindarella 5%.The final result is a very ripe, raisiny, full-bodied wine with very little acid with over 15% alcohol content.
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Complimentary Tastings @ Morrell Fine Wine
Bodega Goulart Malbec Clasico 2010
It is no secret that I am a fan of Goulart Malbec simply because they consistently market a quality wine at a fair price. Bodega Goulart Malbec Clasico 2010 doesn’t disappoint on either of those points. The deep red color of this malbec proves to be an accurate prelude to flavors of red fruit carried in a firm body that displays a friendly structure. The surprisingly smooth tannins are held throughout a short finish. I.W.C. gave this offering an 88 point rating. It would be hard to find a glass of comparable malbec for less than the $11.99 a bottle price at P.L.C.B. stores or the even lower prices that can be found online.
Norwegian Wine Dinner
2014 TASTE Philadelphia Festival
The 2014 TASTE Philadelphia Festival of Food, Wine and Spirits will be held at the Valley Forge Casino Resort King of Prussia, Pa October 15th – 17th, 2014. This year’s festival will showcase the talents of local and celebrity chefs. The featured guest Rocco DiSpirito will be joined by chefs Nicholas Elimi and Nicole Gaffeney. The festival will also include wine, beer & spirit seminars, wine & spirit tastings, bottle signings and much more. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.gourmetshows.com/philly or by calling 609-398-4450. Some of the events are being offered at a reduced price online and group discounts are available by phone.
Jimmy Buffett’s Wine List
If you aren’t a Jimmy Buffett fan (A.K.A. Parrothead) you probably don’t know that Jimmy is a wine lover. During a recent trip to Pensacola, Florida my wife and I had the pleasure to stay at his Margaritaville Hotel on Pensacola Beach. When I say on Pensacola Beach I mean ON Pensacola Beach. A strong storm came through and the ocean flooded the 1st floor of the parking garage with 4 feet of salt water. Luckily we had parked on the second floor after returning from a Blue Wahoo game earlier that evening. You can enlarge the photo to see what wines Jimmy offers and their prices. The Frank and Lola Café has great fresh fish just ask your server what has just come in off the boats.
Goulart 2010 “The Marshall” Malbec
The 2010 vintage of Goulart’s “The Marshall” Malbec keeps this winery’s tradition of giving us a good Argentine Malbec at an exceptional price alive and well. This vintage will not disappoint the followers of “The Marshall” because it checks all the boxes that has made this wine a perennial favorite. If you are looking for a fruit forward wine with cherry and berry flavors this is not the wine for you. “The Marshall” has fruit but it is dark fruit that is integrated into the body of the wine. This classic Malbec has mid-range tannins contained in a firm structure that is carried from start to finish. The aroma is one of spice and there is oak to spare for those who prefer an exotic oak component in their Malbec. Malbec is a perfect pairing for grilled meat, especially beef, so if you are planning a cook out be sure to grab a couple of bottles of Goulart 2010 “The Marshall” Malbec to enjoy with your meal. This wine has been rated 88 points by Wine Spectator and 87 points by International Wine Cellar. P.L.C.B. stores are currently offering this wine as a “Chairman’s Selection” for $13.99 Product code 33356.
What I’m Drinking 1686 B.C.
I have often asked my friends if they thought the quality of wines produced now have improved with the advent of modern technology or if the wines of centuries ago made by monks and kings were superior. Since the ancient wines have disappeared long ago we can only speculate on their taste profiles. With the discovery of a Canaanite palace in Israel we now have a glimpse into the chemical composition of ceremonial wines reserved for the select few within the palace walls. The findings of a team from George Washington University suggests through careful lab analysis that a sophisticated process was used in the production of the wine that once filled the 40 thirteen gallon ceramic jars found. Signs of a wine that was blended with honey, mint, cedar, tree resin and cinnamon bark were found in the jars although no liquid remained. A program of quality control must have been followed because the results remained consistent for all 40 vessels tested. This discovery sheds new light on the development of winemaking in Canaan, which then spread to Egypt and across the Mediterranean. This finding also vindicates my opinion that wine should be enjoyed now and not be saved for some special occasion because look at what happened in Canaan. What a waste of good wine!








