Tag wine

The Big Grape

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ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL     We were in New York City on Saturday walking through  Midtown Manhattan.  It was a beautiful spring late afternoon and we on our way to Central Park for a carriage ride then onto St. Patrick Cathedral for Saturday evening Mass when it happened.  Yes, right there in front of me was Morrell Wine Bar & Cafe and next to that was their wine store.  Talk about Divine intervention, how was I supposed to pass by without stopping in and at least making a purchase.  The bottles neatly lined the shelves like soldiers at attention.  I looked up and down the aisles totally conflicted as to which one would accompany me on my journey home.  My wife broke my confusion with a simply suggestion “Trust your gut and just pick one ,  you can’t make a mistake here” and she was right as usual.  I chose The Pinot Project 2010, a California product that the tasting notes described as ” Pure aromas and flavors of black cherries, kissed by oak and complimented by just the right amount of Asian spice”.  The food at the Wine Bar & Cafe looked delicious, very trendy and upscale.  Clients having lunch or dinner at the Wine Bar & Cafe receive 10% off their wine purchases at the Wine Store.  Morrell Wine Bar & Cafe is located directly on 49th St between 5th and 6th Ave at 1 Rockefeller Plaza.   

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South of the Equator

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A glass of Malbec wine from Argentina

A glass of Malbec wine from Argentina (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

     I really like a good Malbec and that is why I was pleased with La Posta Malbec Paulucci Mendoza 2008.  First I noticed the opaque purple color, then the firm structure that balanced the lush core of succulent fruits like blueberry, fig, raspberry and black cherry.  The finish was spice tinged with a feel of slightly dry tannins.  Another thing that I really liked was that this wine spent 12 months aging in 20% new french oak barrels.  Final facts IWC/89,  WS/88,  WA/88,  $16.99 with PA L.C.B. product code 16970.

Keeping Score

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     I usually only recommend rated wines because to put it simply I see no reason to reinvent the wheel by trying to rate wines myself.  When a wine is rated you can check its rating against the rating opinion of several other reviewers to see if it deserves your further consideration.  The scale is a 100 point scale with the two most important ranges to me being 85-89 for a very good wine with special qualities and 90-94 for an outstanding wine that has superior character and style.  

     Pinot Noir is a popular wine that can be expensive but if you do your research some good examples can be purchased at a reasonable price. Louis Latour Volnay 2007 is Wine Spectator rated at 89 and can be found as a Chairman’s Selection at PA L.C.B. stores for $19.99, a sizable discount from its quoted price of $55.oo.  This Pinot Noir is broad and sweet with a juicy ripe fruit body that offers cherry and raspberry flavors plus a silky texture.  Look for it with the product code 13223 in the store or online. 

Pinot noir Grapes

Pinot noir Grapes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Red Red Wine!

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     I would like to tell you about a wine that I have always kept in my wine rack, while others have come and gone this one has never disappointed. The wine is Cantina Zaccanini Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. This wine is a Proprietary Blend Dry Red that has an alcohol content of 12.5% to 13% depending on the vintage. The first thing you will notice is the beautiful dark ruby-red color with a touch of violet. The nose is one of ripe red berries and the taste is that of dark fruit and well-balanced tannins that gives way to a dry oak finish. This wine is made from Montepulicano d’Abruzzo grapes that are pressed and fermented with their skins on in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. It is then aged in oak barrels for 6 months then left to bottle refine for an additional 3 months. Bottles are released for sale 2 years after harvest and can be cellared to bottle refine for 3 or more years. This selection is a good match for dishes with a hearty Italian red sauce and entrée’s of roasted meats. You don’t have to remember that long name just look for the bottle with the little grape-vine clipping tied to it and you will have found one of my favorite reds. Item number 4560 and $14.99 at PA LCB stores.

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To Age or Not to Age

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     When I was growing up I can remember old Hollywood movies of  G.I’s in WWII finding wine cellars in french chateaus that were filled with cobwebs and dusty old wine bottles. It was from those images that most of us got the idea that any wine just got better with age. That idea just isn’t true. The truth is that wines are like people, they come into the world young and underdeveloped. The next phase is the prime years, that is when they have achieved the most character and depth of flavor. Finally they reach a stage that is past their prime and go down hill from there. Most wines are made to be consumed within 2 to 3 years from their production. The time frame from harvest to your glass has so many variables that it is mind-boggling. Every wine maker has a vision for each wine that they will make and this plan is fluid so that adjustments can be made as needed. I would say that any wine you buy today is ready to drink and enjoy because it wouldn’t have been released if it wasn’t. You can find vintage charts online that will tell you if a wine is ready to drink and the time horizon for its prime years. Now take that bottle  your Great Uncle Joe brought back from the war and clean it up and use it as a decoration.  

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Mission Accomplished

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I am pleased to report that I have a new bottle of Riesling resting safely in my wine rack at home. I bought a Chateau Ste Michelle 2010 Riesling, which is a blend of Riesling from the Columbia Valley of  Washington. Blending the best qualities from several different wines allows a wine maker to use the strong attributes of one wine to complement the short comings of others. When done with a skillful hand you end up with a wine that is greater than the sum of its parts. This product is always a consistent example of a off-dry that is pleasant to drink and matches a wide variety of foods. The Wine Enthusiast gave it a 90 point rating and I would agree with that assessment. The other choice I considered was the Chateau Ste Michelle 2010 Harvest Select Riesling, but it had a R.S. of 4.98 compared to the 2.29 R.S. of my purchase. The much sweeter style of the Harvest Select would have been a good pick for asian dishes especially Thai food so I will remember that for another day.

Riesling hunting

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Ripe grapes of Riesling.

Ripe grapes of Riesling. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

     I will be going to the State Store soon to look for a bottle of Riesling. That in itself doesn’t seem like a difficult task but considering the last bottle I bought was a Hermann J. Wiemer 2009 Semi-Riesling it may prove to be a challenging search. The Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard and Winery is the premier Riesling producer in the New York Finger Lakes Region and perhaps the entire country. Riesling is one of the few varietals that is good in all ranges of sweetness. This wine uses its sweetness (2.4 Residual sugar) and acidity to show off its true flavor. It is a good choice for those who can’t seem to decide on a white wine. Fruit forward with a citrus fruit nose and finish makes this a balanced well made wine. The usual pairings include poultry, shellfish and asian dishes. These are all good pairings and you can’t go wrong with any of them but I have found it very drinkable at a family holiday gathering where ham is the main course. I will do my homework and follow my own guidelines that have appeared in previous posts and will try to pick the best Riesling available for my taste. I will let you know if I score a hit or a miss. 

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You are correct

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     There was an interesting article in the Greensburg Tribune Review today. It reinforces the theme of this blog and my personal opinion. The Bloomberg article cited a report in the American journal of Enology and Viticulture that wine makers and critics surveyed in Canada had a much better ability to sense the tiny differences in wine  than the average human can. The main point that I got out of this article was summed up in a quote from John Hayes director of Pennsylvania State University’s Sensory Evaluation Center. John said “But to me the simplest rule in wine is if you like it, drink it”. I totally agree and I like his attitude but just one question “How do you get a job like that?” If it is true that we mere mortals can not enjoy all the subtle nuances of truly great wines then I have to ask why should I pay a lot for wine when I am not going to able to taste the small differences. This theory leads me to share my search to locate very good wines between $10 and $20. The economics of the wine market makes for the pricing of these wines below others of lesser quality because of simple supply and demand. When I find a candidate I will be sure to share it with you for your consideration.

     Let’s start with a favorite of friends and neighbors that populate my deck during the summer. J Lohr Estates Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon is a steady sure pick and at $15.99 is available at Pa State Stores or by special order code number 8785. Check store availability and location online at www.finewineandgoodspirits.com 

Late winter at Ripepi winery

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I would like to express my deepest sympathy to Rich, Mike and Anthony Ripepi on the passing of their mother Adelaide. I had known Mrs Ripepi for over 30 years and she was a wonderful and kind person that loved her family dearly. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her.

     Rich Ripepi is the owner of the Ripepi winery in Monongahela Pa. I stopped by the winery today and talked to Zach and Mike as they were pruning vines in the vineyard. The vineyard looked good and well maintained coming out of this unusually mild winter. I couldn’t help thinking that with a little wine makers good luck this years harvest could be something special.

Time to pull the cork!

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     Welcome to the wpawinepirate blog and thank you for stopping by. We will have an ongoing conversation about wine in general but more importantly wine and food in Western Pennsylvania. The enjoyment of wine, food, family and friends dates back to ancient times so I will do my best (with your help) to keep the tradition going. This blog is for everyone because there are no good or bad wines only wines that you enjoy or do not enjoy. Do you remember the baseball great Reggie Jackson’s famous saying that opinions are like noses because everyone has one. I feel wine drinking is like that, if you don’t like a wine try others because the search is the real fun. Now that you know how I look at things let’s go in search of good wine. 

     The Mountain Playhouse in Jennerstown Pa has what they call the First Friday Wine Tasting at their restaurant The Green Gables.This Friday March 2 will focus on the Piedmont region of Italy.The Piedmont is in the northwest corner of Italy and is the second largest of the country’s 20 wine-producing regions. This region is best known for making great Barolo and Barbaresco. You can find more information at their website about this and future tastings.Go to www.greengablesrestaurant.com then click wine and dining events then dates for reservations or call Tresa at 814-629-9201 ext300