Wednesday 3/16

Peanut butter and jelly. Romeo and Juliet.
Sinatra and “My Way.” Joe Montana and Jerry Rice.

What do these have in common? They’re all
great combinations, or, in other words, blends!

Join us this Wednesday, 3/16, as we lay out a
beautiful batch of bitchin’ blends. Blending is as
much an art as a science for those winemakers
who practice it. For those of us who drink them,
however, it’s primarily just fun!

Stop by anytime from 5-8. A mere $10 will get you
tasty snacks plus these six delicious blends:

Conundrum White (from Caymus) 2008, $16.97
Fog Hill Red, $9.97
14 Hands Hot To Trot 2009, $9.97
Vino Valpredo Squeezebox Red 2007, $9.97
Donati Tal Padre 2006, $19.97
Flora Springs Trilogy 2007, $43.97

Make the most of your Wednesday;
enjoy the magic of the blend!

And here are Bill’s tasting notes:

The Blending Arts
Conundrum 2008: mmmm, What’s in there?  That’s the question when winemakers combine different grapes to create a blend.  When done well the result is harmony in a glass; one element combining with others to create a totality greater than the sum of the parts.  The blend in this wine results in a wonderfully robust, floral and bright tropical taste.  Could it possibly be apricot, tangerine or honeysuckle? Perhaps green apple, melon, pear or light vanilla.  That’s the Conundrum.  What’s your guess?  $16.97

Fog Hill Proprietary Red: A blend of Cabernet, Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot and a splash of Petite Sirah.  Dark black fruits on the nose with hints of dusty earth.  Spice and smoke integrate with the fruit on the palate.  A dance of complex, savory flavors which beguile the taste buds.  Finishes with subtle minerality.  87 points Tobin Bros  $9.97

14 Hands Hot to Trot 2009: Syrah, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Mourvedre.  In a skilled winemaker’s hands this blend produces generous aromas of ripe berries and dark stone fruits on the nose.  Fleshy flavors of cherries and plum are met with soft and velvety tannins, finishing with a hint of mocha.  This much flavor for $9.97? The art of blending indeed.

Vino Valpredo Squeezebox Red 2007: The winemaker squeezed in Zinfandel, Cabernet and Syrah to produce a wine soft and easy in texture, with a silky mouthfeel, framing flavors of cherries and herbs. Each of the three varietals come together and shine as an ensemble. Try this blend with rich meats or hard cheeses.  From vineyards spread throughout Sonoma County; only 1500 cases produced.  $9.97

Donati Tal Padre 2006: Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cab Franc, and Syrah join together to produce intense color, tannin and fruit, resulting in a wine of great potential longevity.  The mid-palate delivers plum and cherry notes as the grapes mingle to dance across your tongue.  This blend produces layers of complexity which harmonize like Rascal Flatts.  88 points Tobin Bros $19.97

Floral Springs Trilogy 2007: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot combine to produce a great, smooth wine that opens to reveal Napa ripeness and elegance at its best, finishing with classy tannins.  The three elements join together to flood the mouth with blackberries and oak.  Hedonism in a bottle.   93 points Robert Parker.  $43.97