I have put together a few wines for this month’s article that are sure to beat the heat and take you away if only for a few minutes to a cool, grassy knoll, far on a hill with gentle winds blowing through your hair. OK, not really but we can always wish. These wines are wide and varied. We start with Rolando Herrera, who was hired at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in 1985 to build a stone wall at the home of Warren Winiarski. Look at the boy now! Rolando now makes wine for Paul Hobbs, Spotted Owl among several other prestigious wineries. Next are a couple of whites that are untouched by wood, adding purity of fruit expression and crisp clean elegance. Lastly we’ll feature a standby leader in my portfolio of wines using a Chardonnay from the Los Carneros region of California. This white is simply amazing as are all of these wines for the unrelenting heat.
SPOTTED OWL VINEYARDS, 2008 MOUNTAIN CUVEE, NAPA VALLEY - $34.99 – Jill and Michael Gishzky established this winery with daughter Alexandria to experience how nature, science, art and business come together to make a positive impact. With the help of Rolando Herrera’s masterful blending capabilities, this 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Syrah from high atop Mt. Veeder straddling the Napa/Sonoma County line, is a jammy, earthy festival in your mouth. Unbelievable for such a young wine composed of grapes with high volcanic influences.
DOMAINE CHANDON, 2008 CHARDONNAY, CARNEROS - $13.40 – Primarily known as a Sparkling Wine house owned by Moet and Chandon, this is one of my top ten wines picks of 2011. Rich and luscious, this supple white expresses layered aromas of dried apricot, green apple and brioche. Accented by nutmeg and a hint of minerality that is characteristically the trade mark of Los Carneros. Tropical melon flavors mingle with ripe apple leading to an expressive yet subtle vanilla finish. Yumm! Yumm!
MER SOLEIL, 2008 SULVER LABEL “UNOAKED”, SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS - $17.99 - “Silver Label” unites the crisp mineral essence of the classic Chablis style with the tropical elements found in Chardonnay from the Pacific coastline. This Chard has a mineral driven nose and palate from start to finish with a citrus core. This summer white is soft and round with an acidic backbone revealing the coastal influence on grapes grown in a cooler climate. Lemons, gooseberry and grapefruit round out the mid palate. Perfect for most grilled fish.
CHARLES DUPUY, 2008 SAUVIGNON BLANC, VIN d’ PAYS du VAL de LOIRE - $13.49 – By far my favorite wine for summer. An absolute home run in the glass, this wine is paramount in matching well with most any summertime fare that you can throw at this charming white. Full of mineral expressive fruit that is crisp with citrus and tropical fruit flavors with aromas of green chilies, grass, herbs, asparagus and gooseberries. Un-oaked whites allow the fruit to shine through highlighting what Sauvignon Blanc should be.
Hopefully you can find a wine or two here that will help you escape the summer heat and monotony of this Northwest Arkansas heat wave. If not, there are 3000 different selections at County Line from which to choose. I can be found at County Line Liquor Tuesday through Saturday for any of your entertaining or wine related questions. Riedel Stemware is on sale with a 25% discount off our already low prices
Enjoy!
Mark Hatwig
479.750.7575
mark@slausa.com
Friday, October 28, 2011
JULY WINES
If I do nothing else in this lifetime, it will be convincing people that Rose’ is not White Zinfandel. So go turn your nose back down to where it belongs and take a deep, healthy sniff of Rose’ and prepare to be amazed. Some of the most amazing food matches and times with friends have had a Rose’ attached to it whether it was in the Willamette Valley or right here at home on the front porch. This month’s discussion will include Pouilly-Fume and Pinot Blanc for these hot, hot, hot days of summer. Oh, I can’t forget the newest addition to Arkansas’ Cabernet portfolio, Burly Cab from Simpskins Vineyard in Coomsville (soon to be the next California AVA for great Cabs). We welcome Hank and Bernice to this quirky but loving market.
CHARLES AND CHARLES, 2010 ROSE’ OF SYRAH, COLUMBIA VALLEY, WASHINGTON -$10.78 – Yes you can drink Rose’ and still be a bad A##! This is not a White Zin. I repeat this is not a Blush or a White Zinfandel. Wild strawberries and raspberries with some sage, rose petals and a bucket full of watermelon Jolly Ranchers thrown in. Young, lively and spry. A super summer refresher that is going to please everyone involved. Perfect for these sultry, unbelievably warm days with an assortment of fine cheeses and fresh seafood that match perfectly with this Rose’.
PASCAL JOLIVET, 2009 POUILLY FUME, POUILLY FUME, FRANCE - $25.19 – With the heat being what it is I will always splurge a little for a great Loire Valley white to take the edge off. In this case the wine comes from across the river (east bank) in Pouilly Fume’. The house of Jolivet is the youngest winery in the Loire and Pouilly Fume. Their ability to get the most amazing expression from the fruit is their claim to fame for me. Explosive minerality balanced with perfect acidity gives this bottle top marks in my cellar.
BURLY 2007 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, NAPA VALLEY, CA - $58.48 – For us die hard Cabernet fans I have to mention the newest Napa Cab to the Arkansas market despite the heat. A striking balance of fruit purity, layered flavors and a thick viscous mouth fell, this Napa Cab will provide years of enjoyment. Complex aromas of currants, blackberries and cassis arrive on the nose, accompanied by a silky palate that delivers dense blackberry concentration balanced by well-rounded and sweet oak tannins. Layered, complex and lingering, it is truly a wine drinking experience!
TRIMBACH, 2004 PINOT BLANC, ALSACE, FRANCE - $15.43 -The Trimbach’s settled in Alsace and founded the family wine business in 1626. Today, they continue the centuries-old dedication to wine with beautiful pure fruit, precise, fine flavors and astonishing longevity. Their Pinot Blanc is fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks, and has a beautiful fruitiness. It is elegant and easy to understand. This beautiful white is fresh and clean, medium-bodied with good fruit acidity, with a smooth finish. Seafood weeps for this beautiful white as well as most shell fish.
We can only pray for these blistering days of summer to come to an end soon. Everyone have a happy and safe Fourth of July. I can be found at County Line, Tuesday through Saturday for any of your wine or entertaining questions. Remember friends don’t let friend’s drink White Zinfandel!
Enjoy!
Mark Hatwig
mark@slausa.com
CHARLES AND CHARLES, 2010 ROSE’ OF SYRAH, COLUMBIA VALLEY, WASHINGTON -$10.78 – Yes you can drink Rose’ and still be a bad A##! This is not a White Zin. I repeat this is not a Blush or a White Zinfandel. Wild strawberries and raspberries with some sage, rose petals and a bucket full of watermelon Jolly Ranchers thrown in. Young, lively and spry. A super summer refresher that is going to please everyone involved. Perfect for these sultry, unbelievably warm days with an assortment of fine cheeses and fresh seafood that match perfectly with this Rose’.
PASCAL JOLIVET, 2009 POUILLY FUME, POUILLY FUME, FRANCE - $25.19 – With the heat being what it is I will always splurge a little for a great Loire Valley white to take the edge off. In this case the wine comes from across the river (east bank) in Pouilly Fume’. The house of Jolivet is the youngest winery in the Loire and Pouilly Fume. Their ability to get the most amazing expression from the fruit is their claim to fame for me. Explosive minerality balanced with perfect acidity gives this bottle top marks in my cellar.
BURLY 2007 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, NAPA VALLEY, CA - $58.48 – For us die hard Cabernet fans I have to mention the newest Napa Cab to the Arkansas market despite the heat. A striking balance of fruit purity, layered flavors and a thick viscous mouth fell, this Napa Cab will provide years of enjoyment. Complex aromas of currants, blackberries and cassis arrive on the nose, accompanied by a silky palate that delivers dense blackberry concentration balanced by well-rounded and sweet oak tannins. Layered, complex and lingering, it is truly a wine drinking experience!
TRIMBACH, 2004 PINOT BLANC, ALSACE, FRANCE - $15.43 -The Trimbach’s settled in Alsace and founded the family wine business in 1626. Today, they continue the centuries-old dedication to wine with beautiful pure fruit, precise, fine flavors and astonishing longevity. Their Pinot Blanc is fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks, and has a beautiful fruitiness. It is elegant and easy to understand. This beautiful white is fresh and clean, medium-bodied with good fruit acidity, with a smooth finish. Seafood weeps for this beautiful white as well as most shell fish.
We can only pray for these blistering days of summer to come to an end soon. Everyone have a happy and safe Fourth of July. I can be found at County Line, Tuesday through Saturday for any of your wine or entertaining questions. Remember friends don’t let friend’s drink White Zinfandel!
Enjoy!
Mark Hatwig
mark@slausa.com
JUNE WINES
Keeping with the “The Thrill of the Grill” theme I have selected some amazing wines that match perfectly and quite excitedly to grilling fare. These wine matches are ones that I have used to great success in the past. Tariquet’s beautiful salmon colored Rose’ wine is a wonderful accompaniment to a grilled Sea Bass as is Rodney Strong’s Pinot from the Russian River Valley adjacent a Cowboy Ribeye both create strong contenders for best grill meal of the summer. Grilled pears with marscapone and fresh blue berries are a perfect match to the Marco Negri’s Moscato di Asti and a grilled Double Chocolate Cake with Mount Langi’s Sparkling Shiraz is sure to blow the neighborhood up with aromas of fresh raspberries, orange and fudge.
TARIQUET’S, 2010 ROSE’ de PRESSIE, GASCONY, BAS-ARMAGNAC – $12.93 – This Rose’ is not your typical Rose’ coming from the Armagnac region of France. The blend of 40% Merlot, 40% Syrah, 20% Tannat is an extraordinary experience for anyone’s palette. Delightful raspberries and flower petals mingled with spicy notes. The fruit is the treat as the wines intensity retains an ethereal quality, leaving a trace of rich flavors and salty spiciness on the finish. This baby will jump straight from your glass onto the grill with no hesitation. What a perfect match to a grilled Amberjack or Sea Bass with wild spring onion risotto.
RODNEY STRONG ESTATE, 2009 RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY, PINOT NOIR - $18.99 – Rodney Strong was one of the first pioneers to plant Pinot in the Russian River Valley. He planted vines in 1968 at the River East Vineyard in the alluvial clay-loam soils adjacent to the winery in Healdsburg. Supple in texture, with rose petal and red fruit aromas, this lively, medium bodied wine is aged entirely in small French oak barrels, which adds a subtle, toasty vanilla character along with a hint of spice. Copper River Salmon grilled to perfection with a Tarragon butter sauce over wild rice is slap your Momma good.
MARCO NEGRI, 2010 “MARSILLIO”, MOSCATO DI ASTI, D.O.C.G. - $18.37 - A wine of soft yellow color and a rich, fruity bouquet with aromatic herbal flavors. Found somewhere between elegant and rich, the fruity bouquet and a taste of this wine is beautifully balanced between sweetness and acidity. Located in the heart of the Asti region of Piedmont, Negri produced its first sparkling wine in 1993. There are 15 hectares total, with 11 hectares planted to the Moscato grape, known for its grapey, musky aroma. Grilled pears with Madagascar vanilla bean infused mascarpone are just the thing for a lighter dessert.
MOUNT LANGI GHIRAN, CLIFF EDGE NV, SPARKLING SHIRAZ - $35.99 -The vineyards of Mount Langi Ghiran are nestled between two dramatically beautiful mountain ranges on the southern edge of the Great Dividing Range in Western Victoria, Australia. Deep color; serious bottle-fermented style with some lees age; is neither oaky nor sweet; good length and finish. A perfect accompaniment to an old Boy Scout grilling item I learned way back. Grilled Chocolate Cake baked over the fire in hollowed out oranges. Strange, right? No. Genius! What a perfect match with the fresh raspberry flavors of the Shiraz.
I hope I have ignited a few palates with these grilling ideas and wine matches for the summer season. Innovation and experimentation are the keys to the grill and the wines from which to match them. Hopefully you can find one of these wines to suit your palate with the summer heat looming in the near future. If not, I have several thousand others from which to choose for that perfect picnic or backyard BBQ. I can be found at County Line Tuesday through Saturday for any of your grilling, wine or entertaining questions.
Enjoy!
Mark Hatwig
mark@slausa.com
479.750.7575
TARIQUET’S, 2010 ROSE’ de PRESSIE, GASCONY, BAS-ARMAGNAC – $12.93 – This Rose’ is not your typical Rose’ coming from the Armagnac region of France. The blend of 40% Merlot, 40% Syrah, 20% Tannat is an extraordinary experience for anyone’s palette. Delightful raspberries and flower petals mingled with spicy notes. The fruit is the treat as the wines intensity retains an ethereal quality, leaving a trace of rich flavors and salty spiciness on the finish. This baby will jump straight from your glass onto the grill with no hesitation. What a perfect match to a grilled Amberjack or Sea Bass with wild spring onion risotto.
RODNEY STRONG ESTATE, 2009 RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY, PINOT NOIR - $18.99 – Rodney Strong was one of the first pioneers to plant Pinot in the Russian River Valley. He planted vines in 1968 at the River East Vineyard in the alluvial clay-loam soils adjacent to the winery in Healdsburg. Supple in texture, with rose petal and red fruit aromas, this lively, medium bodied wine is aged entirely in small French oak barrels, which adds a subtle, toasty vanilla character along with a hint of spice. Copper River Salmon grilled to perfection with a Tarragon butter sauce over wild rice is slap your Momma good.
MARCO NEGRI, 2010 “MARSILLIO”, MOSCATO DI ASTI, D.O.C.G. - $18.37 - A wine of soft yellow color and a rich, fruity bouquet with aromatic herbal flavors. Found somewhere between elegant and rich, the fruity bouquet and a taste of this wine is beautifully balanced between sweetness and acidity. Located in the heart of the Asti region of Piedmont, Negri produced its first sparkling wine in 1993. There are 15 hectares total, with 11 hectares planted to the Moscato grape, known for its grapey, musky aroma. Grilled pears with Madagascar vanilla bean infused mascarpone are just the thing for a lighter dessert.
MOUNT LANGI GHIRAN, CLIFF EDGE NV, SPARKLING SHIRAZ - $35.99 -The vineyards of Mount Langi Ghiran are nestled between two dramatically beautiful mountain ranges on the southern edge of the Great Dividing Range in Western Victoria, Australia. Deep color; serious bottle-fermented style with some lees age; is neither oaky nor sweet; good length and finish. A perfect accompaniment to an old Boy Scout grilling item I learned way back. Grilled Chocolate Cake baked over the fire in hollowed out oranges. Strange, right? No. Genius! What a perfect match with the fresh raspberry flavors of the Shiraz.
I hope I have ignited a few palates with these grilling ideas and wine matches for the summer season. Innovation and experimentation are the keys to the grill and the wines from which to match them. Hopefully you can find one of these wines to suit your palate with the summer heat looming in the near future. If not, I have several thousand others from which to choose for that perfect picnic or backyard BBQ. I can be found at County Line Tuesday through Saturday for any of your grilling, wine or entertaining questions.
Enjoy!
Mark Hatwig
mark@slausa.com
479.750.7575
MAY WINES
The rites of spring abound in this month’s wine picks with a German May Wine from Leonard Kreusch that is perfect for front porch swinging, swilling and swirling. The Zinfandel from Paso Robles that I have picked is the perfect grilling wine for the diehard backyard chefs that will put anything that will stand still long enough into a smoker. A new twist on our old favorite Pinot Noi, is a Pinotage from South Africa with its smokey influences. Finally one of my favorite white wines for the onslaught of summer is a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc that will not overwhelm one with too much grapefruit but enough acidity to dance on the tongue. If none of these are to your taste please come see me at County Line. I have 3011 more choices for you to choose from.
LEONARD KRUSCH, 2011 MAY-WINE, MOSEL, GERMANY $ 8.28 – May Wine is a German rite of spring, with its annual appearance on May Day, a holiday enthusiastically observed by both younger and older Europeans alike, where villagers would erect a tall trunk of a pine tree decorated with ribbons then dance and sing to celebrate the new season. This coincides with the blooming of Waldmeister or Sweet Woodruff, a forest plant that is traditionally dried and steeped in white wine overnight imparting a festive herbal fragrance and a hint of vanilla to the wine.
VAN RUITEN, 2008 OLD VINE ZINFANDEL, PASO ROBLES, CA - $13.45 – 86% Zinfandel and 14% Petite Sirah is the blend that makes up this not so little Zinfandel from Lodi. A perfect place for growing Zinfandel and Petite Sirah due to the even sun exposure and long warm nights. The grapes for this Zin were hand-selected from the first vineyard John Van Ruitten planted in 1952. Packed full of blackberry, cherry and blueberry jam flavors which lead into barrel aromas of coffee and cedar rounding out this amazing Zinfandel’s flavor profile.
SOUTHERN RIGHT, 2007 PINOTAGE, WALKER BAY, SOUTH AFRICA - $19.99 - Southern Right is redefining Pinotage with this intense classically styled, clay-grown wine, packed with complex berry fruit, beautiful tannins and subtle wood spice. Full ripeness and the longer hang-time afforded by cooler sites, combined with the complex, more classic fruit aromas and structure resulting from clay-rich soil, make this wine a highly individual expression of South Africa's unique grape variety. Smokey and fleshy, but with good aromatics and vibrancy lead to black currant, fig, roasted sage and bramble notes. WS 90
STARBOROUGH, 2008 MARLBOROUGH, SAUVIGNON BLANC - $14.46 -The Marlborough district of New Zealand’s South Island has set the world standard for crisp Sauvignon Blanc wines. Marlborough is on the east coast of the island, with a ridge of mountains to the west, which limits rainfall and helps make it one of the sunniest areas of New Zealand. The long, cool growing season helps the wines of this region to develop rich layers of flavor with a distinctive, refreshing character of citrus and ripe tropical fruit with some herbal notes. WS 88
These wines and many more can be found at County Line. Your “Citiscapes Magazine” Award Winning Wine Selection for 2010. I can be found here Tuesday through Saturday for any of your entertaining and wine related questions. Let me help you put together the perfect wedding, rehearsal dinner, reception or bachelor/bachelorette party. This is what we do and we do it well.
Enjoy!
Mark Hatwig
mark@slausa.com
479.750.7575
LEONARD KRUSCH, 2011 MAY-WINE, MOSEL, GERMANY $ 8.28 – May Wine is a German rite of spring, with its annual appearance on May Day, a holiday enthusiastically observed by both younger and older Europeans alike, where villagers would erect a tall trunk of a pine tree decorated with ribbons then dance and sing to celebrate the new season. This coincides with the blooming of Waldmeister or Sweet Woodruff, a forest plant that is traditionally dried and steeped in white wine overnight imparting a festive herbal fragrance and a hint of vanilla to the wine.
VAN RUITEN, 2008 OLD VINE ZINFANDEL, PASO ROBLES, CA - $13.45 – 86% Zinfandel and 14% Petite Sirah is the blend that makes up this not so little Zinfandel from Lodi. A perfect place for growing Zinfandel and Petite Sirah due to the even sun exposure and long warm nights. The grapes for this Zin were hand-selected from the first vineyard John Van Ruitten planted in 1952. Packed full of blackberry, cherry and blueberry jam flavors which lead into barrel aromas of coffee and cedar rounding out this amazing Zinfandel’s flavor profile.
SOUTHERN RIGHT, 2007 PINOTAGE, WALKER BAY, SOUTH AFRICA - $19.99 - Southern Right is redefining Pinotage with this intense classically styled, clay-grown wine, packed with complex berry fruit, beautiful tannins and subtle wood spice. Full ripeness and the longer hang-time afforded by cooler sites, combined with the complex, more classic fruit aromas and structure resulting from clay-rich soil, make this wine a highly individual expression of South Africa's unique grape variety. Smokey and fleshy, but with good aromatics and vibrancy lead to black currant, fig, roasted sage and bramble notes. WS 90
STARBOROUGH, 2008 MARLBOROUGH, SAUVIGNON BLANC - $14.46 -The Marlborough district of New Zealand’s South Island has set the world standard for crisp Sauvignon Blanc wines. Marlborough is on the east coast of the island, with a ridge of mountains to the west, which limits rainfall and helps make it one of the sunniest areas of New Zealand. The long, cool growing season helps the wines of this region to develop rich layers of flavor with a distinctive, refreshing character of citrus and ripe tropical fruit with some herbal notes. WS 88
These wines and many more can be found at County Line. Your “Citiscapes Magazine” Award Winning Wine Selection for 2010. I can be found here Tuesday through Saturday for any of your entertaining and wine related questions. Let me help you put together the perfect wedding, rehearsal dinner, reception or bachelor/bachelorette party. This is what we do and we do it well.
Enjoy!
Mark Hatwig
mark@slausa.com
479.750.7575
Saturday, April 16, 2011
The rites of spring abound in this month’s wine picks with a German May Wine from Leonard Kreusch that is perfect for front porch swinging, swilling and swirling. The Zinfandel from Paso Robles that I have picked is the perfect grilling wine for the diehard backyard chefs that will put anything that will stand still long enough into a smoker. A new twist on our old favorite Pinot Noir is a Pinotage from South Africa with its smokey influences. Finally one of my favorite white wines for the onslaught of summer is a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc that will not overwhelm one with too much grapefruit but enough acidity to dance on the tongue. If none of these are to your taste please come see me at County Line. I have 3011 more choices for you to choose from.
LEONARD KRUSCH, 2011 MAY-WINE, MOSEL, GERMANY $ 8.28 – May Wine is a German rite of spring, with its annual appearance on May Day, a holiday enthusiastically observed by both younger and older Europeans alike, where villagers would erect a tall trunk of a pine tree decorated with ribbons then dance and sing to celebrate the new season. This coincides with the blooming of Waldmeister or Sweet Woodruff, a forest plant that is traditionally dried and steeped in white wine overnight imparting a festive herbal fragrance and a hint of vanilla to the wine.
VAN RUITEN, 2008 OLD VINE ZINFANDEL, PASO ROBLES, CA - $13.45 – 86% Zinfandel and 14% Petite Sirah is the blend that makes up this not so little Zinfandel from Lodi. A perfect place for growing Zinfandel and Petite Sirah due to the even sun exposure and long warm nights. The grapes for this Zin were hand-selected from the first vineyard John Van Ruitten planted in 1952. Packed full of blackberry, cherry and blueberry jam flavors which lead into barrel aromas of coffee and cedar rounding out this amazing Zinfandel’s flavor profile.
SOUTHERN RIGHT, 2007 PINOTAGE, WALKER BAY, SOUTH AFRICA - $19.99 - Southern Right is redefining Pinotage with this intense classically styled, clay-grown wine, packed with complex berry fruit, beautiful tannins and subtle wood spice. Full ripeness and the longer hang-time afforded by cooler sites, combined with the complex, more classic fruit aromas and structure resulting from clay-rich soil, make this wine a highly individual expression of South Africa's unique grape variety. Smokey and fleshy, but with good aromatics and vibrancy lead to black currant, fig, roasted sage and bramble notes. WS 90
STARBOROUGH, 2008 MARLBOROUGH, SAUVIGNON BLANC - $14.46 -The Marlborough district of New Zealand’s South Island has set the world standard for crisp Sauvignon Blanc wines. Marlborough is on the east coast of the island, with a ridge of mountains to the west, which limits rainfall and helps make it one of the sunniest areas of New Zealand. The long, cool growing season helps the wines of this region to develop rich layers of flavor with a distinctive, refreshing character of citrus and ripe tropical fruit with some herbal notes. WS 80
These wines and many more can be found at County Line. Your “Citiscapes Magazine” Award Winning Wine Selection for 2010. I can be found here Tuesday through Saturday for any of your entertaining and wine related questions. Let me help you put together the perfect wedding, rehearsal dinner, reception or bachelor/bachelorette party. This is what we do and we do it well.
Enjoy
Mark Hatwig
LEONARD KRUSCH, 2011 MAY-WINE, MOSEL, GERMANY $ 8.28 – May Wine is a German rite of spring, with its annual appearance on May Day, a holiday enthusiastically observed by both younger and older Europeans alike, where villagers would erect a tall trunk of a pine tree decorated with ribbons then dance and sing to celebrate the new season. This coincides with the blooming of Waldmeister or Sweet Woodruff, a forest plant that is traditionally dried and steeped in white wine overnight imparting a festive herbal fragrance and a hint of vanilla to the wine.
VAN RUITEN, 2008 OLD VINE ZINFANDEL, PASO ROBLES, CA - $13.45 – 86% Zinfandel and 14% Petite Sirah is the blend that makes up this not so little Zinfandel from Lodi. A perfect place for growing Zinfandel and Petite Sirah due to the even sun exposure and long warm nights. The grapes for this Zin were hand-selected from the first vineyard John Van Ruitten planted in 1952. Packed full of blackberry, cherry and blueberry jam flavors which lead into barrel aromas of coffee and cedar rounding out this amazing Zinfandel’s flavor profile.
SOUTHERN RIGHT, 2007 PINOTAGE, WALKER BAY, SOUTH AFRICA - $19.99 - Southern Right is redefining Pinotage with this intense classically styled, clay-grown wine, packed with complex berry fruit, beautiful tannins and subtle wood spice. Full ripeness and the longer hang-time afforded by cooler sites, combined with the complex, more classic fruit aromas and structure resulting from clay-rich soil, make this wine a highly individual expression of South Africa's unique grape variety. Smokey and fleshy, but with good aromatics and vibrancy lead to black currant, fig, roasted sage and bramble notes. WS 90
STARBOROUGH, 2008 MARLBOROUGH, SAUVIGNON BLANC - $14.46 -The Marlborough district of New Zealand’s South Island has set the world standard for crisp Sauvignon Blanc wines. Marlborough is on the east coast of the island, with a ridge of mountains to the west, which limits rainfall and helps make it one of the sunniest areas of New Zealand. The long, cool growing season helps the wines of this region to develop rich layers of flavor with a distinctive, refreshing character of citrus and ripe tropical fruit with some herbal notes. WS 80
These wines and many more can be found at County Line. Your “Citiscapes Magazine” Award Winning Wine Selection for 2010. I can be found here Tuesday through Saturday for any of your entertaining and wine related questions. Let me help you put together the perfect wedding, rehearsal dinner, reception or bachelor/bachelorette party. This is what we do and we do it well.
Enjoy
Mark Hatwig
Friday, March 11, 2011
DIERBERG, THREE SAINTS AND STAR LANE WINES
Had an icredible chance to try the entire lines of Three Saints, Dierberg and Star Lane wines.
STAR LANE 2008 SAUVINGNON BLANC - Super acidity with an interesting almost metallic finish. Completely different from any other S.B. I have ever had. Would be great with a great big pot of Crab Legs and Lobster with all the potatoes and corn you could eat.
STAR LANE 2007 CABERNET SAUVIGNON - Full of red fruit and berries. Very austere and comfortable in the glass. Santa Barbara fruit was quite impressive and solid.
STAR LANE "ASTRAL VINEYARD" CABERNET SAUVIGNON - Amazing, Amazing, Amazing. This huge Cabernet jumped out of the glass on just the nose. Enter into the mouth and it exploded all over my pallate. Quite a bottle of wine for it's $78 cost. But was well worth it if we could have pryed it from Greg's hands for the second glass.
THREE SAINTS 2008 CABERNET SAUVIGNON - A definite Cab drinkers Cab. Full of red fruits and tannins. Won't bite to hard fresh out of the bottle. Needs a few minutes to open up and commit to being a Cabernet.
THREE SAINTS CHARDONNAY - Full of oak and summer blossoms. Delicous the more it warmed up in my glass. Tropical notes and a few mineral hints. Nicely oaked without overwhelming the pallate.
THREE SAINTS PINOT NOIR 2007 - Rustico at its best. Full of flavors of mineral and spice as well as raspberry, blueberry and a slight hint of strawberry leading to an amazingly long finish.
DIERBERG PINOT NOIR - A lot pricey for such a splendid bottle of wine. Could have used a few more months in wood but was quite nice. The $45 price point is a little steep. I can find ten more that are ten less.
DIERBERG SYRAH - Great bottle of wine. Syrah's are just not selling very well. I can't put my finger on what the deal is but I believe it is fear.
STAR LANE 2008 SAUVINGNON BLANC - Super acidity with an interesting almost metallic finish. Completely different from any other S.B. I have ever had. Would be great with a great big pot of Crab Legs and Lobster with all the potatoes and corn you could eat.
STAR LANE 2007 CABERNET SAUVIGNON - Full of red fruit and berries. Very austere and comfortable in the glass. Santa Barbara fruit was quite impressive and solid.
STAR LANE "ASTRAL VINEYARD" CABERNET SAUVIGNON - Amazing, Amazing, Amazing. This huge Cabernet jumped out of the glass on just the nose. Enter into the mouth and it exploded all over my pallate. Quite a bottle of wine for it's $78 cost. But was well worth it if we could have pryed it from Greg's hands for the second glass.
THREE SAINTS 2008 CABERNET SAUVIGNON - A definite Cab drinkers Cab. Full of red fruits and tannins. Won't bite to hard fresh out of the bottle. Needs a few minutes to open up and commit to being a Cabernet.
THREE SAINTS CHARDONNAY - Full of oak and summer blossoms. Delicous the more it warmed up in my glass. Tropical notes and a few mineral hints. Nicely oaked without overwhelming the pallate.
THREE SAINTS PINOT NOIR 2007 - Rustico at its best. Full of flavors of mineral and spice as well as raspberry, blueberry and a slight hint of strawberry leading to an amazingly long finish.
DIERBERG PINOT NOIR - A lot pricey for such a splendid bottle of wine. Could have used a few more months in wood but was quite nice. The $45 price point is a little steep. I can find ten more that are ten less.
DIERBERG SYRAH - Great bottle of wine. Syrah's are just not selling very well. I can't put my finger on what the deal is but I believe it is fear.
HEALTH AND SPRINGTIME WINES
Here’s to your health with a couple of great bottles of wine from our amazing selection at County Line! I will introduce you to our best selling Pinot Grigio from Mendoza as well as a couple of California Pinot Noirs that are new to the market. Saving the best for last is an interesting Chardonnay from the Dundee Hills of Oregon showing floral characteristics and soft subtlety in the glass. These wines are sure to make you laugh with enthusiasm and drink with gusto as you await the spring flowers in quiet earnestness.
INACAYAL VINEYARDS, 2009 PINOT GRIGIO, MENDOZA - $13.98 – Inacayal’s vineyards benefit from variations in both temperature and an altitude of 3,000 feet above sea level. These factors both play an important role in the ripeness of the grapes, allowing natural acidity and fruit retention as they reach full maturity. The perfect balance between sugar and acidity make this wine outstanding. It has a rich, round and vivacious mouth feel. It is fresh and floral, with citrus notes mixed with white fruits and delicate traces of licorice. Our best selling Pinot Grigio.
FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA, 2009 VOLTRE SANTE PINOT NOIR, SONOMA COUNTY - $11.57 – Maria Zasa, Francis Coppola’s mother, with each sip of wine would offer a toast, "À votre Santé" – to your health. Profusely aromatic and elegantly textured, this Pinot Noir offers a nose redolent of cherries, spices and tea. Bright, vibrant flavors of raspberries, cloves and cranberries are accentuated by light notes of smoky minerals. Lively, structured, and long on the finish. Soft floral notes round out the base of this well structured Pinot. What a bargain from such a prestigious winery.
BLOCK NINE, 2009 CAIDENS VINEYARD PINOT NOIR, CALIFORNIA - $13.48 –Caiden’s Vineyard’s Block Nine is a small production winery focused solely on Pinot Noir. Their niche: quality Pinot Noir at an affordable price. If you aren’t particular where your Pinot grapes come from, this non-AVA California Pinot Noir based in St. Helena, Napa Valley encompasses all of the bright red fruit and toasted oak that we have come to expect from a California Pinot. Flavorful and silky in the mouth with good body, this wine shows wild strawberries, raspberry and a hints and wood to complete its complex finish.
DOMAINE SERENE, 2006 COTE SUD VINEYARD CHARDONNAY, WILLAMETTE VALLEY - $40.31 –True to the prevailing Oregon penchant for Chardonnays of subtlety and understatement, this energetic, faintly flowery wine brings together green-apple fruit, a light infusion of lemons and very noticeable hardwood spice in a well-balanced package. Propagated from the Dijon Chardonnay Clone this amazing wine is ripe and ready for the onslaught of spring.
You should be able to find a definitive wine out of these four that you can ring in the new spring season with revelry, exciting the neighbors and friends into a spring time sampling of great wines out on the front porch. Here is to our health and well being in the Spring 2011 season. I can be found at County Line Tuesday through Saturday for any of your entertaining or wine related questions. All Riedel Stemware is 20% off for the Month of April.
Enjoy!
Mark Hatwig
mark@slausa.com
479.750.7575
Here’s to your health with a couple of great bottles of wine from our amazing selection at County Line! I will introduce you to our best selling Pinot Grigio from Mendoza as well as a couple of California Pinot Noirs that are new to the market. Saving the best for last is an interesting Chardonnay from the Dundee Hills of Oregon showing floral characteristics and soft subtlety in the glass. These wines are sure to make you laugh with enthusiasm and drink with gusto as you await the spring flowers in quiet earnestness.
INACAYAL VINEYARDS, 2009 PINOT GRIGIO, MENDOZA - $13.98 – Inacayal’s vineyards benefit from variations in both temperature and an altitude of 3,000 feet above sea level. These factors both play an important role in the ripeness of the grapes, allowing natural acidity and fruit retention as they reach full maturity. The perfect balance between sugar and acidity make this wine outstanding. It has a rich, round and vivacious mouth feel. It is fresh and floral, with citrus notes mixed with white fruits and delicate traces of licorice. Our best selling Pinot Grigio.
FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA, 2009 VOLTRE SANTE PINOT NOIR, SONOMA COUNTY - $11.57 – Maria Zasa, Francis Coppola’s mother, with each sip of wine would offer a toast, "À votre Santé" – to your health. Profusely aromatic and elegantly textured, this Pinot Noir offers a nose redolent of cherries, spices and tea. Bright, vibrant flavors of raspberries, cloves and cranberries are accentuated by light notes of smoky minerals. Lively, structured, and long on the finish. Soft floral notes round out the base of this well structured Pinot. What a bargain from such a prestigious winery.
BLOCK NINE, 2009 CAIDENS VINEYARD PINOT NOIR, CALIFORNIA - $13.48 –Caiden’s Vineyard’s Block Nine is a small production winery focused solely on Pinot Noir. Their niche: quality Pinot Noir at an affordable price. If you aren’t particular where your Pinot grapes come from, this non-AVA California Pinot Noir based in St. Helena, Napa Valley encompasses all of the bright red fruit and toasted oak that we have come to expect from a California Pinot. Flavorful and silky in the mouth with good body, this wine shows wild strawberries, raspberry and a hints and wood to complete its complex finish.
DOMAINE SERENE, 2006 COTE SUD VINEYARD CHARDONNAY, WILLAMETTE VALLEY - $40.31 –True to the prevailing Oregon penchant for Chardonnays of subtlety and understatement, this energetic, faintly flowery wine brings together green-apple fruit, a light infusion of lemons and very noticeable hardwood spice in a well-balanced package. Propagated from the Dijon Chardonnay Clone this amazing wine is ripe and ready for the onslaught of spring.
You should be able to find a definitive wine out of these four that you can ring in the new spring season with revelry, exciting the neighbors and friends into a spring time sampling of great wines out on the front porch. Here is to our health and well being in the Spring 2011 season. I can be found at County Line Tuesday through Saturday for any of your entertaining or wine related questions. All Riedel Stemware is 20% off for the Month of April.
Enjoy!
Mark Hatwig
mark@slausa.com
479.750.7575
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