Rooftop Champagne – Medium Plus Summer Party
Wine Tasting, September 4th, 2019
Domaine Leflaive Meursault – Archetype Tasting Group
Wine Tasting, August 29th, 2019
Blind Wine Classics, August 22nd
Wine Tasting, August 22nd, 2019
The theme for this week is Blind Wine Classics; a tasting focused on hallmark styles from around the wine world, and the top quality wineries who produce them. Red and white styles are featured.
Wine List:
- 2015 Benziger Family Winery Sonoma County Chardonnay, North Coast, USA
- 2015 Domaine Roulot Meursault Les Tessons Clos de Mon Plaisir, Cote de Beaune, France
- Nikolaihof, Grüner Veltliner, Wachau
- 2017 W.T. Vintners Underwood Mountain Vineyard Gruner Veltliner, Columbia Gorge, USA
- 2016 Chateau Couhins Rouge, Pessac-Leognan, France
- 2009 Domaine Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre Cuvee Ortus, Loire, France
- 2015 Trimbach Gewürztraminer Alsace
- 2012 Domaine La Roquete Chateauneuf-du-Pape Clos La Roquete Blanc, Rhone, France
- 2018 Domaine Sigalas Santorini Assyrtico, Aegean Islands, Greece
- 2015 Malat Riesling, Kremstal, Austria
- 2015, Regis Bouvier, “Clos du Roy” Marsannay Rouge, Burgundy, FR
- 2016 The Calling Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, USA
- 2018 Yalumba Samuel’s Collection Bush Vine Grenache, Barossa, Australia
- 2014 Maison Denuziere Cornas ‘En Sauman’, Rhone, France
- 2013 Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas, Rhone, France
- 2011 Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’, Piedmont, Italy
- 2008 Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Annata, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Italy
- Vignai da Duline Schioppettino Venezia Giulia IGT, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
- 2009 Breckenridge Jen Mar Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, St Helena, USA
- Chateau de Pellehaut Armagnac-Tenareze, France
Blind Wine Classics, Aug 7
Wine Tasting, August 7th, 2019
The theme for this week is Blind Wine Classics; a tasting focused on hallmark styles from around the wine world, and the top quality wineries who produce them. Red and white styles are featured.
Wine List:
- 2016 Pazo de Barrantes Albarino 2016, ES
- 2015 Maison Trimbach, Gewurztraminer, Alsace, FR
- 2010 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz), Saarburger Rausch Riesling Kabinett, Mosel, DE
- 2009 Flowers, Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, CA
- 2015 Benziger, Chardonnay, Sonoma County, CA
- 2015 F.X. Pichler, “Loibner Federspiel” Grüner Veltliner, Wachau, AT
- 2015 Maison Denuziere, “En Sauman” Cornas, Northern Rhône, FR
- 2011 Produttori del Barbaresco, Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont, IT
- 2015 Vignai da Duline, Schioppettino, Venezia Giulia, IT
- 2013 Domaine Auguste Clape, Cornas, Northern Rhône, FR
- 2008 Biondi-Santi, “Annata” Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Toscana, IT
- 2016 Guy Breton, “Cuvée Marylou” Beaujolais-Villages, Villié-Morgon, FR
- 2015 Château Bourgneuf, Pomerol, Bordeaux, FR
- 2009 Breckenridge, “Jen Mar Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena, CA
- 2018 Yalumba, “Bush Vine” Grenache, Barossa Zone, AU
- 2016 The Calling, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, CA
- 2015, Regis Bouvier, “Clos du Roy” Marsannay Rouge, Burgundy, FR
Blind Wine Classics, Aug 1
Wine Tasting, August 1st, 2019
The theme for this week is Blind Wine Classics; a tasting focused on hallmark styles from around the wine world, and the top quality wineries who produce them. Red and white styles are featured.
Wine List:
- 2016 Pierre Henri, “Saint-Fiacre”, Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie, Loire Valley, FR
- 2013 Malat, “Steinbühl” Riesling, OTW Erste Lage , Kremstal, AT
- OTW: Österreichische Traditionsweingüter
- 2018 Domaine Sigalas, Assyrtiko, Santorini, GR
- 2015 Maison Trimbach, Gewurztraminer, Alsace, FR
- 2012 Dominio de Pingus, “Flor de Pingus”, Ribera del Duero, ES
- 2016 Guy Breton, “Cuvée Marylou” Beaujolais-Villages, Villié-Morgon, FR
- 2015 Regis Bouvier, “Clos Du Roy” Marsannay Rouge, Burgundy, FR
- 2011 Pierre Péters, “Les Chetillons, Cuvée Spéciale”, Brut Blanc de Blancs, Champagne, FR
2001 Pingus Ribera del Duero – Archetype Tasting
Wine Tasting, July 17th, 2019
As one of the true legends of modern Spanish wine, Pingus has become a producer to carry mysterious gravitas, among hushed circles of wine professionals and collectors. Few will see the wine in the wild, if ever, with more likely siblings Flor de Pingus and Psi finding more common exposure.
For our Archetype tasting this month, the seventh vintage of Pingus is featured, 2001. Danish winemaker Peter Sisseck first began the project in 1995, and the latest release of the wine is now 2016, a cellared release as is every vintage.This 100% Tempranillo is taken to similar heights as wines from Vega Sicilia and Tinto Pesquera, perhaps exceeding them with intensity and focus. The only way to find out for sure is by experiencing the wine, and no better way than with an example in the perfect midspan of its maturity.
Each guest is asked to bring an exciting bottle to share with the group, a format that will make for a truly remarkable evening. With just days remaining before the Master Sommelier Theory exam on July 22nd, Nick is excited to host this Archetype event with the Buddies, from his home in Fremont.
Loire Valley Stunners: Blind Tasting Buddies
Wine Tasting, June 12th, 2019
The Loire Valley of northern France features some of the most unique and dynamic wines of Europe. Splended grapes are found in red and white expressions alike, with the most famous including Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc. In fact, these two grapes are the progenitors of Cabernet Sauvignon, the most-planted variety on Earth.
Charcuterie Party: Blind Tasting Buddies
Wine Tasting, June 6th, 2019
In this session, we celebrate the wonders of cured meats, from all over the world. Proscuittio, Foie Gras, Terrines, Pâté, and more! Some fruits-de-mer might be included too. Nick will be sourcing a full spread of goodies, so come prepared to eat, drink, and learn a few things. Discussion will be focused on the process of winemaking and food preservation, along with tips on food and beverage pairing.
R. López de Heredia – Archetype Tasting
Wine Tasting, May 29th, 2019
In the world of fine art, a Triptych is a three-panel image, often presented in large format display. Our tasting this week will reflect a similar concept, in presenting three individual wines of special prestige, from a single producer. I had the pleasure to visit Lopéz de Heredia in July of 2017, and the occasion remains among my most treasured wine experiences.
As Neal Martin describes below, the winery is very traditional in operations, with the welcome foyer being the most modern aspect of the whole winery. Barrels are produced at the winery’s own cooperage, hundreds of which are squirreled away in the deep caves of the Bodega. Bouncy black cellar mold lines the walls, and a sweet funky odor wafts in the subterranean air. Truthfully, the taste of the wines reflect this cellar terroir, as is the case with all wineries, clean or rustic.
One notable aspect of their winemaking is that the barrels are not new, at least for wines that are destined for market. Pressing juice is used to neutralize the wood, with at least three years for the new oak. Coconut and dill are common terms used for “American Oak” notes with Lopéz de Heredia wines, although my suspicion is that these aromas come more from oxidation, than from Lactone impact itself. Other producers may use some portion of new oak, either American or French, but the practice is varied. As with every region in the wine world, traditions and “classic styles” are ever-changing, and often beyond straightforward condensation.
Regardless, in the case of Rioja, the results are consistently delightful, as the wines from this week will surely indicate.
Nick Davis, May 2019, Seattle
Côte d’Azur and Occitanie: Blind Tasting Buddies
Wine Tasting, May 16th, 2019
Wine List:
- Florensac, Picpoul de Pinet
- 2015, Domaine d’Aupilhac, Les Cocalières, Languedoc
- 2017 Domaine Mas Cremat, Muscat de Rivesaltes, Vin Doux Naturel, Roussillon
- 2018 Minuty, Côtes de Provence Rosé
- 2017 Clos Cibonne, Cuvée Spéciale des Vignettes, Tibouren Rosé, Côtes de Provence
- 2015 Domaine Tempier, “La Tourtine” Bandol Rouge, Provence
- 2015 Les Vignes Oubliées, Terrasses du Larzac
- 2016 Les Vignes Oubliées, Terrasses du Larzac
- Hecht & Bannier, Syrah Grenache Carignan, Languedoc
- Château La Roque, Cuvée les Vieilles Vignes de Mourvèdre, Pic Saint Loup
- Domaine Olivier Pithon, Le Colt d’En Olby
- 2014 Domaine d’Aupilhac, Le Carignan
- 2011 Domaine de Trévallon, Alpilles Rouge
- 2014 Domaine de Trévallon, Alpilles Rouge
- 2015 Betz Family Winery, Clos de Betz, Red Wine Columbia Valley, WA
- 2015 Betz Family Winery, Père de Famille, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, WA
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