Tag wine

Wine Tasting

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     The Monongahela Area Library Wine Tasting and Vineyard Tour Fundraiser was held Saturday evening under a spectacular blue sky at the Ripepi Winery and Vineyard.  The guests were treated to a vineyard tour by owner and winemaker Rich Ripepi.  Rich kept the crowd entertained with his ability to weave his encyclopedic wine knowledge and storytelling together to create an atmosphere of fun, humor and learning.  We returned from the vineyard to find our tables had been set with a variety of cheeses to complement that evenings wines.  Rich conducted the tasting with a detailed explanation of each wine while fielding questions.  I had a great time at this event and urge any wine lover to take any opportunity to meet and talk to a seasoned winemaker because their abilities are truly impressive.  Rich Ripepi has reason to be proud knowing that four of his wines had just won medals at two different wine competitions.

The 36th Annual International Eastern Wine Competition in Santa Rosa, CA:    Niagra – Silver Medal      De Chaunac – Silver Medal      

The Finger Lakes International Wine Competition: Diamond- Silver Medal    Vidal Blanc – Bronze Medal

Congratulations to all the members of the Ripepi Winery family.

 

Roll Out The Barrels

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     American Oak barrels rest on the floor of the Ripepi Winery.

Picnic Basket Wine

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A green wine grape.

A green wine grape. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

     I have just finished another enjoyable white wine from the New York Finger Lakes Region.  Swedish Hill Vineyards in Romulus produced my latest subject for review and it is Cayuga White 2010.  This wine is a light bodied semi dry that is crisp with aromas of apple and floral notes.  I think this wine would be a perfect choice for a picnic on a warm summer day.  Imagine reaching into a cooler and pulling out a bottle of Cayuga White and pouring a glass while sitting under a large oak tree in a lush meadow.  These were probably the same images that the researchers at Cornell University had in mind when they developed the Cayuga White grape for the Finger Lakes Region.  What they were thinking is open to debate but what is not in doubt is that they did an excellent job at the NYS Agricultural Station in Geneva, NY when they perfected this variety of wine grape.  All I have to say is “Job well done and Thank You”  

Party Time!!!

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Wine Tasting

Wine Tasting (Photo credit: gibsonsgolfer)

     The Friends of the Monongahela Area Library will be hosting a fundraiser on Saturday, May 19th from 5:30 P.M. until ?.  The event will be held at the Ripepi Winery and Vineyards located at 93 Van Voorhis Lane Monongahela, PA.  The evening will feature wine tastings and vineyard tours along with other activities.  This is an excellent opportunity to get a close look at the Ripepi Winery and Vineyards plus the added benefit of helping out an organization that provides essential services to the community.  Tickets cost $25 and are available at the Monongahela Library 813 W. Main St Monongahela Pa. 724-258-5409.  Hope to see you there. 

Why Wait?

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WAIT HERE I HAVE GONE TO GET HELP

WAIT HERE I HAVE GONE TO GET HELP (Photo credit: thefuturistics)

     I just could not wait any longer to open the bottle of Pinot Project 2010 that I bought in New York City.  It was very drinkable and was well worth the under $20 price.  It is hard to find an enjoyable bottle of Pinot Noir for a reasonable price but the Pinot Project 2010 did provide a satisfying wine that can be poured for friends during a relaxed evening at home.  I do want to repeat a recommendation from an earlier post (Keeping Score) and it is Louis Latour Volnay 2007.  I think you would like either of these wines but since the PA L.C.B. stores do not stock the Pinot Project you will be happier with the Louis Latour Volnay. 

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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