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Wine Show Episodes — No Comments
20
Feb 10

Episode 11 – Off The Beaten Path

Chicago Sommelier Sara Kay shows off some little-known, delicious, and very affordable wines to see you through to the springtime.

  1. La Levraudiere, Muscadet Sevre & Maine. Loire Valley, France
    • This wine has a touch of apricots and a hint of honey with fine crisp acidity. It is fuller in front than normal years because 2008 vintage produced only 30% of the normal crop. (That means it is more complex.) It is long in the mouth with minerals on the farewell.
    • Cost: $13.99
  2. Parrillada Classic, Torrontes. Mendoza, Argentina
    • It has the richness of a Chardonnay, the vibrancy of a Sauvignon Blanc and the lovely floral expressiveness of a Viognier– all in one sip! The generous aromas and flavors of this gorgeous white make it an extremely food-friendly wine. It’s especially good with grilled seafood.
    • Cost: $13.99
  3. Alandra, Tinto. Portugal
    • The color in the glass is a deep ruby red, with aromas of cherries, and other dark red fruit flavors, and a hint of dried red fruit. On the palate the fruit flavors are present, with a good balance, soft and silky tannins, and just the right amount of acidity. For the price this is a very quaffable wine that can be enjoyed on its own. I paired this wine with a Mediterranean stuffed leg of lamb, which was fantastic.
    • Cost: $13.99
  4. Flano, Nero D’Avola. Sicilia, Italy.
    • The nose is kissed with ripened fruits, black pepper and spicy green. It is fallowed with a soft velvety texture of ripened plums and black berries, black currents and Indian spices with earth tones of chocolate and peppery finish. Soft and fruity.
    • Cost: $13.99
Wine Show Episodes — No Comments
20
Jan 10

Episode 10: Sara Kay’s Wine Club

Each month Sara Kay chooses a selection of wines for her wine club members at the WineStyles in Chicago’s South Loop. Since everyone has different tastes, she chooses two sweet wines, two dry white wines, and two dry red wines for her wine club members to choose from. In this episode, we’ll taste the monthly wine club picks for January 2010!

  1. Red #1: Casa de la Vega, Tempranillo. (La Mancha, Spain).
    • This is a fruit driven Tempranillo with minimal oak aging. It is ample and mild, with fresh and ripe fruit notes (of blackberry and cherry) with a bit of vanilla, coconut, mint and laurel. It is much easier access then its Rioja cousin.
    • Cost: $24.99
  2. White #1: Water Color, Chardonnay. (Languedoc, Franc).
    • Bright gold‐yellow color with straw yellow tints. A very elegant nose with a quintessence of pineapple, hazelnuts, lime blossoms and quince aromas with vanilla and toasted bread notes. A rich and mellow palate with very good acidity and a long persistent finish with pineapple notes.
    • Cost: $24.99
  3. Red #2: Twisted Oak: *%#&@. (Paso Robles, California).
    • This is a charming blend of 50% Mourvedre  28% Syrah 22% Grenache. Bright, deep ruby red color. Wildly aromatic with scents of tarragon, lavender and allspice accenting the core of ultra-ripe berries. Rich and ripe on the palate with flavors of blueberry and raspberry supported by complimentary notes of earth and brown spice.
    • Cost: $24.99
  4. White #2: The White Mullet. (Clare Valley, Australia).
    • An intriguing blend of 60% Riesling, 16% Viognier, 16% Sauvignon Blanc, and 8% Chenin Blanc. Made with no oak, it is an unpretentious and zesty white perfect for everyday drinking.
    • Cost: $22.99
  5. Sweet #1: Ca’Dei Mandori, Brachetto D’ Acqui. (Italy).
    • This sweet bubbly is purplish-red color. It seduces you with the aroma of roses, and cherries; a pleasant sparkle and a tasty, inviting finish. This is best pared with chocolate cake.
    • Cost: $22.99
  6. Sweet #2: Colli Piacenti, Malvasia. (Italy)
    • This sweet wine reveals clean, elegant aromas of dried apricot, candied fruit, caramel, peach jam, and a hint of vanilla. The mouth has good correspondence to the nose, a round and sweet attack which is continuously perceivable, intense flavors. The finish is persistent with flavors of caramel, apricot and peach jam.
    • Cost: $24.99
Wine Events / Wine Show Episodes — No Comments
06
Jan 10

Episode 9 – Baby It’s Cold Outside!

In this chilly winter episode, we’ll taste some unconventionally crisp and refreshing winter wines, and some more conventional deep warming ones too. Also, look out for sweet wines!

  1. Adega Coop, Ponte Barca (Vinho Verde). Portugal.
    • This is a crisp refreshing White, with lively notes of lemon lime, and honeydew melon, with a touch of natural effervescence. It is perfect to have before a meal.
    • Cost: $13.99
  2. Seven Sisters: Yolanda (Chenin Blanc). South Africa.
    • This Chenin Blanc is full of upfront tropical flavors with underlying green pepper and vegetative notes. Acid is clean and fresh on palate with lingering fruity aftertaste.
    • Cost: $16.99
  3. Robertson, Gewurztraminer. South Africa.
    • A sweet full bodied South African white chocked full of intense tropical notes of pineapple, banana leaf and fresh honey. It is a perfect match for spicy food.
    • Cost: $13.99
  4. Le Mourre De L’isle, Côtes du Rhône. France.
    • This is a blend of 60% Grenache Noir, 40% Mourvèdre with aromas of blueberry on the nose and smooth tannins in the mouth with sweet little red berry fruits and coffee hints in the finish.
    • Cost: $18.99
  5. Koyle, Cabernet Sauvignon. Miapo Valley, Chile.
    • Koyle Cabernet Sauvignon is dark ruby, with a nose showing a great amount of blackberry, dark chocolate, cedar, tobacco, and coffee and spice notes typical of the Maipo Valley. Tannins are well-formed, and come together beautifully, with a silky and balanced finish.
    • Cost: $22.99
  6. Sweet Baby, Cagnina di Romagna. Italy.
    • This is a sweet, grapey red, with hints of ripe fruits, and lots of berries, it is smooth, silky and devilishly sweet. It is a great match with dark chocolate cake, and fairs well with a little chill on it.
    • Cost: $16.99

This week at WineStyles SOLO we have all of these wines open to try by the glass as well, so if you’re in Chicago come in and see us!

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