First wine was the Domaine de Pouy, a blend of Ugni Blanc & Colombard, from the Gascogne - bright with zesty fruit and good balance. It was lighter than last vintage, but still a nice wine. Next was the Argiolas ‘Costamolino’, 100% Vermentino from Sardegna - rich, fruity and a little less acidity than the first. Then from the Loire Valley, a Philippe Portier Quincy, 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire, clean stony fruit with a nice finish.
The first red was a simple A to Z Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, no faults, but not very interesting. Next was a five-grape blend from the south of France, that was quite enjoyable. Unfortuately, I don’t remember the maker. Third red was a Mas de Guiot Languedoc (60% Syrah /40% Grenache) - very rich, dark fruit with significant tannins. It’ll be quite good in a few years. We finished with a Catena Malbec rich dark fruit, some tannins; it also needs a few years in the cellar.
Then we headed for Andiamo and a nice dinner.
Today after our oyster lunch at the Railyard and a little recovery time at home, we headed to Susan’s for the usual Friday Wine tasting. We tasted wine from Global Wines and Spirits, first, from Argentina, was La Yunta Torrontes - crisp, focused, and flavorful. Then from Mendocino was a bright Graziano Sauvignon Blanc. The last white was a Torbreck Semillon from Australia - rich and fruity. Then on to a rosé - Saint Paul’s Rosé of Lagrein from the Veneto - bright & fruity.
First red was a Terra Andina Carmenere from Chile - simple & fruity. Second red was an Ogier Cave de Papes Heritage Côtes du Rhône Rouge - rich red and dark fruit with a good finish. We finished the tasting with a Torbreck Juveniles - rich fruit like the Ogier, but not as complex. A nice tasting, well coordinated by Dan George, now with Global.
Then on the way out I picked up a couple of the Ogier, a few more Virtuoso, and a couple Wandering Poet sakes. After we got home, we had nothing more to eat since lunch was very filling.
This afternoon we went to Susan’s for a tasting. We tasted through a selection of French, Spanish and American wines from Global Wine and Spirits:
2008 Domaine de la Quilla Muscadet - brisk, fruity with good acidiity, and a medium long finish - too bad there weren’t any oysters.
Truchard Vineyards Roussanne Carneros - simple, no distinct varietal character, but no faults.
Val de Salis Viognier, Vin de Pays d’Oc - again simple, no varietal character, no faults.
Rioja Vega’s Tempranillo ‘Joven’, a 90% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha bland - nice red fruit, good balance, and a medium finish.
Val de Salis Marselan—100% Marselan, a hybrid varietal of Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache - bright red fruit, with little Cab character, ok acidity, and a medium finish.
Adelsheim Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley - light red fruit, very light for the final wine of the tasting; light simple mid-palate; and a medium finish.
This afternoon, while our beef ribs were warming in pasilla sauce, we paticipated in a very nice tasting at Susan’s. The wines were: Viña Godeval 2008, 100% Godello from northwestern Spain; an Allan Scott Unwooded Chardonnay from Hawkes Bay New Zealand, and a 2008 Domaine Bruno Clair Marsannay. The Godeval was quite nice, the NZ Chardonnay was non-descript and weak, the Marsannay was very good. To start the reds we had a Little Chica, a Spanish blend of Tempranillo and Old Vine Garnacha, light but very pleasant. Next was an Esser Vineyards Zinfandel, which blends 8% Petite Syrah with the Zin, and sources fruit from the Central Valley, Central Coast and Amador County. It was an approachable and pleasant light zinfandel. The last wine was a 2006 Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre made from a single vineyard with 20% dried grapes making the wine part Amarone, part Ripasso. It was quite tasty.