Friday 2/11

Wine is Passion. It soothes our soul, caresses our senses,
enlivens our spirit, stimulates our intellect, and brings us
closer in touch with our deepest desires. Is there, in fact,
a more perfect accompaniment to Valentine’s Day? Yes, yes,
a flower has power. Candy is dandy. But come on – liquor
is quicker!

So make a date for a Friday Night Tasting on February 11th,
and pursue your passion! It’s only $10 and includes 7 wines
plus savory snacks. The rendezvous begins at 5 pm.

The lovely Lea from Goldschmidt Vineyards will join us
to discuss this luscious lineup of lip-smacking wines:

Boulder Bank Sauvignon Blanc 2008, $10.97 – 91 points Spectator (“best buy”)
Boulder Bank Pinot Noir 2008, $15.97 – 88 points Enthusiast
Chelsea Goldschmidt Merlot 2008, $14.97 – 87 points Spectator
Katherine Goldschmidt Cab 2008, $15.97 – not yet rated
Forefathers Cab 2007, $39.97 – 93 points Enthusiast (“cellar selection”)
Goldschmidt Vineyards Cab Vyborny Vineyard, $53.97 – 92 points Enthusiast
Dow Port Trademark Reserve, $19.97 – 88 points Spectator

Come on in and try these. Who knows, one of them might
be your next true love!

And here are our tasting notes, written by Jim:

BOULDER BANK SAUVIGNON BLANC 2008

Everyone who’s been to New Zealand falls in love with the place at first sight, like Romeo’s first glimpse of Juliet.  For me Kiwi Sauvignon Blancs have always been a case of love at first sip.  This is “ripe and tangy, brimming with pear and juniper aromas and flavors that keep singing through the long, refined finish” like a troubadour beneath his lover’s window.  91 points Wine Spectator and a “Smart Buy.”  $10.97.

BOULDER BANK PINOT NOIR 2008

Pinot Noir is a lover’s wine if ever there was one.  Redolent of earthy flavors that are “some of the most ancient in the world,” this is “strongly floral, almost like potpourri as the dried-leaf character envelops the fruit and spice flavors, finishing with refinement.”  If Isolde had returned to Tristan with this wine, instead of that whole white sail/black sail trick, maybe things would have turned out better!   87 points Wine Spectator.  $15.97.

CHELSEA GOLDSCHMIDT MERLOT 2008

As smooth as Cleopatra, yet as bold and forward as Marc Antony, this shows light herbs blending with dark fruit on the nose.  The palate starts out juicy, with perfect Valentine’s Day flavors of chocolate-covered cherries, then yields to softly drying tannins on a finish that lingers like the feel of a soft kiss.  87 points Wine Spectator.  $14.97.

KATHERINE GOLDSCHMIDT CRAZY CREEK CABERNET 2008

Nick Goldschmidt loves winemaking the way Queen Victoria loved Prince Albert – passionately and eternally.  He massages the fruit from the old, low-vigor vines of the Crazy Creek Vineyard to produce a Cab with power and depth, displaying elegant and round blackberry and plum flavors wrapped in spicy oak.  When Albert passed, Victoria never stopped mourning, wearing black for 40 years.  There’s no reason for grief here, though; we have plenty of this terrific wine.  $15.97.

FOREFATHERS CABERNET 2007

This wine is as gorgeous as Helen of Troy, but there’s no need to kidnap it, start an epic war over it, or hide it in an enormous wooden horse.  You can just pick some up at North County Wine Company.  An incredibly well-structured wine that will cellar for years, this is now showing beautifully, with cherries, cocoa and red currants mating with herbs and soft tannins.  Decant this for an hour, at least.  93 points Wine Enthusiast and a “Cellar Selection.”  $39.97.

GOLDSCHMIDT VYBORNY VINEYARD CABERNET 2006

Another incredible wine that will cellar well, yet drinks wonderfully right now.  This adds thyme and sage notes to ripe blackberries, cherries, currants and cedar, with dusty tannins holding everything together like a perfectly fitted corset.  Share this with the one you love; you may reach the passionate heights of Rhett and Scarlett, but hopefully without all those Civil War battles raging aound you.  92 points Wine Enthusiast.  $53.97.

DOW PORT TRADEMARK RESERVE

This Port is as sensuous as the secret meetings of Lancelot and Guinevere, with “intense chocolate and meat overtones to the rich, plush flavors of dried dark fruits and spice.”  The sweet seductiveness of Port is a great prelude to a romantic evening; put some on your own Round Table and let the night go where it may!  88 points Wine Spectator.  $19.97.