Tasting Notes

Miscellaneous / Tasting Notes / Wine Review — No Comments
08
Jul 14

Quick Sips: Abecela Reserve Tempranillo “South East Block” 2009

The Back Story: This is one of 10 wines that found its way to me so that I could become better acquainted with Oregon Wines thanks to Trellis Growing Partners. It is produced by Earl & Hilda Jones in Southern Oregon’s Umpqua Valley. This couple has a a passion for bringing spanish varietals to America. I am 90% sure that I met Earl a few years ago when I was tasting wines for Eno Wine Room in the Intercontinental in Chicago, and he was showing his Alberino at the time… I remember loving it, so naturally I was excited to taste and share my thoughts on their Tempranillo for you.

THE FACTS: Abacela Temp

Winery: Abacela abacela.com

Wine: Reserve Tempranillo “South East Block”

Grape: Tempranillo

Region: Umpqua Valley AVA, Southern Oregon

Vintage: 2009

Harvest Date:  October 6,  2009

Bottling Date: August 11,  2011

Release Date: October 1, 2013

Cooperage: French (100%); 17% New, 79% 2-­yr old, 4% neutral oak

Alcohol: 13.9%

MY EXPERIENCE: 

Sight: Clear/ Transparent/ Shiny/ Rich Color Saturation/ Granite Core to Pink Rim/ No Gas or Sediment

Nose: No Faults/ Leads with: Dark Chocolate/ Black Cherry/ Dried Strawberry Followed by: Vanilla/Cinnamon/Leather/ Hibiscus Jam

Palate:  Medium Plus Body/ Medium Tannin/ Medium Acid/ Medium Plus Alcohol/Medium Plus Complexity/ High Quality Leads with: Jammy Cherries/ Strawberry Fruit Rollup/ Chocolate Powder Followed by: Gauloises Tobacco/ Saddle Leather/ Vanilla/ Hazelnut

Final Thoughts: This wine was truly a tasty treat that I feel is worth every penny of its suggested retail price of $50. I do think however right now it is young and gushingly fruit forward and it will only benefit from bottle aging another 5-10 years, at that point I think it can surely hold it’s own next to its Spanish Brethren. I enjoyed this wine with some spicy black bean and veggie chili, and it made my palate smile, I could also see it as a perfect match for aged gouda and dark chocolate, or seared pork belly.  This was a very exciting off the beaten path treat for Oregon, and I highly recommend sharing it with your most adventurous friends.

 

Tasting Notes / Wine Show Episodes — No Comments
04
Jan 13

The Veneto Wine Show 2013!

Wine From Today’s Show: 

Nino Franco “Rustico“, Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superior DOCG,  NV (2006)

http://www.ninofranco.it/

Grape: 100% Prosecco AKA Glera

Dead Nino Franco

Alch: 11%

Sight: 

  • Color: Yellow to a watery rim
  • Bubble: Fat and erratic (Tank Method)
  • Brightness: Day bright
  • Viscosity:  Medium minus viscosity
  • Age/ Condition: Healthy and a little developed by the color

Nose: 

  • Condition:  A hint of oxidation
  • Primary Notes: Dusty tulips, beach wood, brused golden apple, & over ripe Anju pear
  • Secondary Notes: Meyer lemon, shortbread, & limestone

Palate: 

  • Acid: Medium minus
  • Sugar: Dry
  • Body: Flat
  • Complexity: This wine is sadly dead!
  • Primary Notes: Apple Cider Viniger
  • Oak: None
  • Finish: Sad
  • Possible Pairings: This bottle needs to be taken back from whence it came. This is when bad things happen to good wines.

Pieropan Soave Classico DOCG 2010

http://www.pieropan.itSauve

Grapes: 85% Gargenega & 15% Trebbiano

  • All estate grown & bottled
  • Fermented in cement lined with glass

Alch: 12%

Sight: 

  • Color: Bright straw to a watery rim
  • No Gas or Sediment
  • Brightness: Brillant
  • Viscosity: Medium
  • Age/ Condition: Healthy with just a touch of age

Nose: 

  • Condition:  Bright and slightly developed
  • Primary Notes: Dried orange peel, thyme, Meyer lemon, & Napa cabbage
  • Secondary Notes:  Chalky, sea salt, & bruised jasmine

Palate: 

  • Acid: Medium
  • Sugar: Dry
  • Body: Silky
  • Complexity: This is a nice layered wine with ripe lemon and apple notes and classy signs of age
  • Primary Notes: Ripe Meyer lemon, thyme, & honey
  • Oak: None
  • Finish:Lingering
  • Possible Pairings: This would go well with a cream based risotto  or a creamier goat cheese such a Bijou from Vermont Creamery (Possibly one of the most addictive goat cheeses of all time).

 Zenato, Valpolicella Superiore DOC 2009

http://www.zenato.itValpo 2010

Grapes: 80% Corvina, 10% Rondenella, & 10% Sangiovese

  • 12 Months in Slovenian Oak

Alch: 13.5%

Sight: 

  • Color: Deep ruby to a salmon rim
  • No Gas or Sediment
  • Brightness: Dull
  • Viscosity: Medium plus
  • Age/ condition: Healthy with just a touch of age.

Nose: 

  • Condition: Day 1 really strong BRET, Day 2 healthy, & developed
  • Primary Notes: Dried rose petal, under-ripe raspberry, sour cherry & rye bread
  • Secondary Notes: Granite, leather, & dill

Palate: 

  • Acid: Medium plus
  • Sugar: Dry
  • Body: Medium
  • Complexity: This is a complex sandwich of dried fruits and earth
  • Primary Notes: Sour Cherry, muddy leather
  • Oak: Slovenian Oak
  • Finish:Lingering, and thought provoking
  • Possible Pairings: This would be great with squab, or a nice aged Gouda riddled with crystallization.

Check Back for my Veneto 101 post for everything you ever wanted to know about Veneto…

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!