WINO 101

Hello friends!
Welcome to the last of the Friday Flights for the summer! (or the summer proper). Get ready to send the kids off to school, and start thinking about what to be for Halloween. Okay, maybe not yet. . .the weather surely doesn’t seem like it’s heading into Autumn, and it’s a bit early to be waxing the skis and thinking about mulled wine. So for one more chilled flight I bring you Worldwide Pinot Gris! This white wine variety has been the most requested wine in the shop this summer, and I can see why. Light, crisp, yet generally fruity and not overly sweet. Drop on by on Friday to sample 7 wonderful and reasonably priced Pinot Gris to best decide what to serve at your Labor Day barbequeue. Great with chicken and ribs.

Here’s the lineup for this week:
San Maurice 2001 Pinot Grigio - California
Maryhill 2002 Pinot Gris - Washington
Maysara 2001 Pinot Gris - Oregon
Maso Canali 2002 Pinot Grigio - Trentino, Italy
Weinhaus Heger 2001 Pinot Gris - Baden, Germany

And the Extra Two Premium Pours:
Josmeyer 2000 Pinot Gris - Alsace, France
Quartz Reef 2002 Pinot Gris - Central Otago, New Zealand

As always, the price of the first flight of 5 is $10, and $6 for the Extra Two.

Other wines are also available by the glass.

Bottles may be opened and served here as well with additional charge for corkage and glasses.

What better way to spend your Friday night!
Hope to see you here!

Seize the Wine!
M

Next week: A Shiraz tasting for $8!!!

Greetings Friends!

Welcome to Battle Riesling! This Friday at Carpe Vinum 7 rieslings will go head to head! (Or, head to head to head to head to head to head to head, for redundancy’s sake).

I’m sure everyine has seen a riesling or two at any point that sells wine. It’s a fairly common varietal with a variety of different styles. The grape has its roots in Germany, but is grown worldwide. I have personally found that it is the most widely consumed wine for introducing beer drinkers to the world of wine. The wines I have selected provide a cross-section of regions and styles.

Featuring:
O’Reiley’s 2002 Riesling, Oregon/Washington
Elk Cove 2001 2001 Riesling, Oregon
Keuntz Bas 2000 Riesling Tradition, Alsace, France
J.L. Wolf 1997 Riesling Spatlese, Pfalz Germany
J.L. Wolf 1999 Riesling, Pfalz Germany

And the Extra 2 :
Elk Cove 2002 Late Harvest Riesling, Oregon (Sweet)
Riechsgraf Von Kesselstatt 1999 Dry Riesling Sekt, Mosel Saar Ruwer, Germany (Sparkling)

As always, the price of the first flight of 5 is $10, but considering the lower price of rieslings, the extra 2 will be only $4 instead of the usual $6.

Tasting begins at 4:30 and runs until about 9:00.
The address is 4831 SE Division.

Other wines are also available by the glass. . .AND we still have a game of Scrabble here.
What better way to spend your Friday night!
Hope to see you here!

Seize the Wine!
M

Next week: Pinot Gris!

Hello friends!
I think the most common question I’ve been getting about this current tasting is “What is Viognier, and how does it taste?” Viognier (VEE-oh-nyay) is a grape. It is a white grape once obscure, only found in the Southern Rhone in France, but now becoming more widespread as people have discovered this interesting varietal. Considering its similarities and differences to chardonnay, both in the body and in fruit, the many different styles of Viognier make it an alternative to both chardonnay lovers AND haters. It is also worth a maximum of 134 points in Scrabble, however improbable, if my calculations are correct. Now grown worldwide, I have constructed a cross-section of Viogniers readily available.

Here’s the lineup for this week:
Smoking Loon 2001 Viognier - California
Luc Pirlet 2002 Viognier - Pin de Pays D’Oc, Languedoc, France
Gascon 2001 Viognier - Mendoza, Argentina
Eugene Wine Cellars 2000 Viognier - Wilamette Valley, Oregon
Waterbrook 2002 Viognier - Columbia Valley, Washington

And the Extra Two:
Viento 2002 Viognier - Lonesome Spring Ranch, Washington
and where it all began
Chateau Trignon 2002 Viognier - Cotes du Rhone, France

As always, the price of the first flight of 5 is $10, and $6 for the Extra Two.

Other wines are also available by the glass.

Bottles may be opened and served here as well with additional charge for corkange and glasses.

We still have Scrabble here, and the possibility of bringing other games. We have quite a few. Just ask!

What better way to spend your Friday night!
Hope to see you here!

Seize the Wine!
M

Next week: Riesling! (A baby Ries. .. )

Greetings Friends!

I know I am not alone in feeling that it is just too warm to be drinking red wine. I may, however, be alone in the pursuit of serving of CHILLED flights of wines on Fridays. . .and I think I’ll continue with that theme. Speaking of themes, here’s the theme of the week for the Carpe Vinum Friday Flights: CHILLED French white wines of the Loire Valley. All should be a pleasant respite from the heat. . .

Featuring:
Domaine du Salvard 2001 Cheverny
Andre-Michel Bregeon 2001 Muscadet Sevre et Maine
Champalou 2001 Vouvray
Baumard 1997 Savienerres
Regis Minet 2001 Pouilly Fume Vielle Vignes

And the Extra 2 (And extra-special):
Hippolyte Reverdy 2002 Sancerre
de Ladoucette 2002 Pouilly-Fume

As always, the price of the first flight of 5 is $10, and $6 for the Extra Two.
Other wines are also available by the glass. . .AND we have a game of Scrabble here.
What better way to spend your Friday night!
Hope to see you here!

Seize the Wine!
M

Next week: Viognier!