Saturday, we have wines from around the world that Jim Futrell will be sampling with you and The Beerman says "Dogfish Head Fort is not going to last very long. If you want it you better act this weekend". What else can I say?
We returned from our trip to Austria late yesterday. While we were exhausted from the pace and the flight, it was one of the best trips we've made in the last 6 years. Not only were the wines, in general, very good and made with great care(several were absolutely outstanding); not only was the food was as good as we've had on any trip, but to top it off in the most enjoyable way, the people (winemakers and fellow travelers) were way beyond any reasonable expectation!!
I'll endeavor to provide more information about the vineyards and the winemakers over the next several weeks and I'll highlight the new wines when they arrive in the shop (unfortunately, it will be a month or so before the first hit these shores). I will say this now - 2009 could be the best vintage for Austrian wines in quite a long time. This was the consensus of both the winemakers and the tasters. Spring brought hail several times and because of that 30-40% of the possible harvest was lost in some areas, summer brought ample rain into the early fall and then sunshine in amounts equal to 2006 provided the perfect ripening environment for the small intensely flavored harvest.
There were a number of memorable elements to the trip, but one that I felt that I had to share immediately was the recipe for Hungarian Goulash from the Netzl Family. It is below and it is the best thing I've eaten in nearly a dozen trips to Austria. Enjoy it!!
We began celebrating the yearlong observation of Kate's big birthday (no, of course I won't say which one) this month and we will continue with our little present to each of you. Mention it's your birthday and take an additional 5% off any wine purchase during the month of January!! If this gets any more popular, we may have to do it every month!!
Whether on the tasting tables (where you get a 10% discount from the first bottle) or in the stacks on the aisles where you can find wines to met any budget. We can deliver a better bottle of wine than anywhere else and still stay within your budget!!
Holly, Nancy, Kate, Dave(the Beerman), Rande and Mike
need directions??
This Week's Tastings
Winemaker Miguel Merino
A traditional Tempranillo that reflects the elegance and tradition of Spanish winemaking.
Miguel Merinno “Unnum” 2002 $55
A special barrel aged “Super” Rioja made from Tempranillo grapes.
Mazuelo de la Quinta Cruz 2008 $27.
One of the very few Mazuelo wines in Rioja, but also one of the rare single-estate brands in the region. It comes from La Quinta Cruz Vineyard, and it is made by Miguel Merino and his friend and Swedish winemaker Lars Torstenson, who has spent much time working with the Carignan grape (the French sister of our Mazuelo).
And from Miguel’s portfolio of Spanish wines we will have a red and white from the Campo de Borja area the Collado White $10 (from the Macabeo grape) and the Collado Red $10 (a blend of Garnacha and Tempranillo). Both represent a TERRIFIC value.
We’ll also have a delightfully flavorful white blend from Rueda- the Grupo Yllera Tierra Buena $11- a cirtrs infused combination of Verdejo, Viura and Sauvignon Blanc.
It will leave you craving fresh oysters!
5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
10% Off all wines on the tasting table!
Saturday Afternoon
Republic National's Wide World of Wine!!
Sauvignon Republic, Stellenbosh, South Africa $20: A highly aromatic wine filled with fresh fruit and light grassiness in the bouquet. The body and flavors show mouth-filling melon, pear and tropical flavors. All balanced with a crisp clean finish.
Sokol Blossor Evolution "Lucky 9", Oregon $21: Intense fruit up front and a crisp, clean finish. This unique white is truly a parade of flavors across the palate. The 9 grapes tie together perfectly, creating a smooth, layered white wine that can hold its own or stand up to just about any food pairing you dare to serve it with.
Franciscan Magnificat $39: Elegant, well-structured mouthfeel, with cherries, rich chocolate, black pepper and vibrant plum flavors filling the palate. Very supple, with fine texture and firm structure, giving an immediately approachable richness. The finish is a seamless continuation of fruit and cocoa-like tannins.
Jean-Luc Colombo, Cote Du Rhone $12: Plumy and blue berry notes in the fruit with hints of tobacco and spice. This wine shows a nice tannic structure in the finish.
1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Free of Charge
10% OFF all wines on the tasting table!
The Beerman -Dogfish Head Fort
An ale brewed with a ridiculous amount of pureed raspberries (over a ton of em!). Fort has a Belgian Ale type base, then we follow a similar fermentation process as we use on our other high ABV beers, 120 Minute IPA and World Wide Stout.
Fort is also an excellent food beer. Our favorite pairings include anything chocolate or a nice piece of duck.
Drink less, drink better !
Upcoming Events and Articles of Interest
Friday, January 22 - Winemaker Miguel Merino
Friday, January 22 - Landmark Vineyards Wine Dinner, Fleming's Steakhouse and Wine Bar, Tyson's Corner
Tuesday, January 26 - Catena Wine Dinner, Capital Grille, Tyson's Corner
Wine and Healthy Living
Top Health News Stories of 2009
Happy New Year! We're looking forward to a fresh year of covering the intersection of drinking wine and healthy living. But before we move forward, we'll raise a glass to the top health stories of 2009 at WineSpectator.com as chosen by you, our readers. Here's the line up:1. Red Wine Improves Sex Lives of Tuscan Women: A study finds those who drink a glass or two a day score higher on a sexual function questionnaire
2. Red Wine Helps the Heart: Polyphenols like resveratrol and quercetin may work together to promote cardiovascular health
3. Heavy Alcohol Consumption a Cancer Risk: But moderate wine drinking lowered risk of several cancers, according to Canadian study
4. Red Wine Helps Kick-Start Good Digestion: Portuguese study finds the beverage triggers chemical reactions inside the stomach
5. Resveratrol Shows Anti-Viral Abilities: Italian study finds that the red-wine compound prevents viruses from replicating inside cellscourtesy of The Wine Spectator read the full article by clicking on the headline
Grape Growing Region of the Week - The Wachau, Austria
The Wachau (German pronunciation: [vaˈxaʊ]) is an Austrian valley with a landscape of high visibility formed by the 
Danube river. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations of Lower Austria, located midway between the towns of Melk and Krems. It is 30 km in length and was already settled in prehistoric times.
A well-known place and tourist attraction is Dürnstein, where King Richard the Lion-Heart of England was held captive by Duke Leopold V.
The Wachau was added to the UNESCO list of world heritage sites in recognition of its architectural and agricultural history.
Related to the Austrian Wachau is the Wachovia area in North Carolina, comprising most of Forsyth County. Founded in 1753 by members of the Moravian Church the colony of 100,000 acres (400 km²) was named "die Wachau" after the valley in Austria because western North Carolina reminded their leader Bishop August Gottlieb Spangenberg of the ancestral home of the Moravians' patron Nicolaus Ludwig, Imperial Count von Zinzendorf 1700-1760. Now the Latin form of the name, Wachovia, is used, hence the name of the Wachovia Corporation founded there in 1879.
Holly, Nancy, Kate, Dave(the Beerman), Rande and Mike
need directions??