Tasting Notes 6/10

Our Food & Wine Pairing on Friday June 10th was spectacular!
Here’s the tasting notes; you’ll notice that “pairing” is a
recurring theme.

CHARLES DURET CREMANT DE BOURGOGNE

Bubbly is an awesome food wine, as you’ll find out when you pair this beautiful French sparkler with Uma’s seafood rolls.  With its rich, creamy texture and balanced flavors, it’s as graceful and elegant at Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.  Like many Champagnes, it’s made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and the Pinot flavors really come through.  It’s the crisp acidity that helps it partner so well with food.  89 points Bill Tobin.  $17.97.

BRYN MAWR PINOT NOIR 2007

Winemaker Jon Lauer shows the creative brilliance of Lennon & McCartney, taking a notoriously difficult grape and making this incredible wine.  Its strong earthy component, showing forest floor and damp loamy elements on both nose and palate, will sing with Ron’s truffled goat cheese buffalo sliders.  Cherry fruit accompanies the earth through the smooth finish of this well-structured wine.  90 points Bill Tobin.  $29.97.

AHNFELDT CUVEE 2006

The folks at Ahnfeldt don’t believe in following the crowd.  They explore the boundaries of blending like Lewis & Clark, blazing new trails by adding Syrah to this Bordeaux-style blend.  See how it marries with Tammi’s amazing beans, showing a beautiful, perfumey nose of vanilla over black cherry and blackberry flavors.  89 points Bill Tobin.  $16.97.

TEAGUE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007

Dark cassis and rich oak aromas serve as preamble to this lovely wine, as pure and harmonious as the vocals of Simon & Garfunkel.  Enjoy how it pairs with Jon’s Spanish tapas style potato frittata.  81% Cabernet with dashes of Cab Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, it’s yet another balanced, elegant wine, with exceptional fruit showing good depth and concentration.  89 points Bill Tobin.  $14.97

RUFFINO MODUS SUPER TUSCAN 2007

At #25 in the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 for 2010, this wine rocks like Mick Jagger and Keith Richard.  It’s also gonna rock with Chuck’s braised short ribs.  Here’s the Spectator:  “This red is phenomenal on the nose, with blueberry, light toasty oak, coffee and sweet tobacco. The palate is full and utterly captivating, with its combination of fruit and very subtle, silky tannins. Goes on and on.”  96 points WS.  $25.97.

SEGHESIO ZINFANDEL 2009

Zinfandel is one of America’s most popular varietals, as well-loved as a Rogers & Hammerstein musical.  Enjoying this with Jack’s Chicago style grilled Italian sausage might make you want to break into song.  Also the Spectator:  “Bold aromas of briary wild berry and cracked pepper lead to plush, layered flavors of black raspberry, toasty sage and espresso that finish with zesty tannins.”  90 points WS, 91 points California Grapevine.  $21.97.

CAYU MALBEC 2007

Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin were pals and huge stars who exuded effortless, fun-loving cool.  Enjoying this Malbec with Karima’s Argentinian style chili with chimichurri sauce will also be effortless fun.  The nose shows rich, jammy fruit.  The palate is equally rich and concentrated, with flavors of black cherry, subtle spice, vanilla and light loamy notes combined with finely integrated tannins and a long finish.  91 points Jim Tobin.  $39.97