WINO 101

Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

It’s really hard to believe it’s that time again! A week from today, it’s another Thanksgiving. A day when we say our “Thanks” and start “Giving” our hard-earned cash to the retail stores to bolster the economy! But, really. . it’s all about the food! For some of us, we are able to show off our culinary prowess, while others may show their utter capacity for imbibing. Wine is essential in these seasonal feasts, and a wonderful compliment to a meal well done! Or, sometimes, it takes center stage when someone’s culinary prowess is not quite up to par.

So what we have here are 7 wonderful selections to wash down that poultry (the one Benjamin Franklin wanted as the National bird). The Turkey! (And as a disclaimer for those of you bucking the turkey trend and going with the ham: All these wines go well with ham, as well.) Our special Carpe Vinum Food-and-Wine-Matching Test Laboratory, with our Wine Test Monkey (me), has genuinely approved these 7 wines as delicious and perfect for the Thanksgiving meal. (Tofurkey notwithstanding.)

But this year, I have brought back an old favorite from last year: the Brick House Gamay Noir! This wine goes with just about anything, in my opinion, and unfortunately for us, there is half as much around as there was last year. I will have some on hand, and will order as much as I can until it’s gone, but it holds the “Mike the Carpe Vinum Test Monkey Seal of Approval.” Also approved is a blend from the winery Erin Glenn. It’s my first selection from the newly recognized AVA of the Columbia Gorge, and a blend of Pinot Noir, Merlot and Barbera. Yum.

So Friday, November 19th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Wines to Go With Turkey (Or Not)!
Amity 2002 Gamay Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Brick House 2003 Organic Gamay Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Bodegas Palacio 1999 Glorioso Reserva, Rioja, Spain
Marc Bredif 2001 Chinon, Loire, France
Erin Glenn 2003 Tantrum Red, Columbia Gorge, Oregon

The Extra-Special Premium Pours:
Lapierre 2002 Morgon, Beaujolais, France
Telegramme 2002 Chateauneuf du Pape, France

A stellar deal at $10 for the first 5, and $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours.
Hope to see you here!
Seize the Wine!

There will be not tasting the following Friday (Day after Thanksgiving.) I need a day to recover too!
Next Friday tasting is Wonderful Wines of Spain! (December 3rd)
M

Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

At long last, it is finally time for the tasting we’ve all been waiting for! It’s the Big Bordeaux tasting! Bordeaux is the most renowned regions of France, if not the world, and a certain standard to which many wines are held. I had always assumed that they would be too expensive to pour in a tasting, as certain growths and certain Chateaus in Bordeaux are the most expensive and exclusive wines in the world. But as it turns out, there are quite a few wines of exceptional quality from Bordeaux that won’t break the bank.

Now, when we’re thinking about Bordeaux, we hear about the wines sold on the auction block for $1000 or more, and assume that these bottles are made of solid gold. . .or liquid gold. Many of these are certain Chateaus with longstanding reputations for good wine, in part of a classification from 150 years ago, and so highly sought-after in their limited availability that drives up the prices.

How do these wines taste, and are they worth the cost? I don’t know. Will I ever get to try one? Probably not. Opening a bottle worth that much seems like buying a Ferrari and driving it directly into a wall. It might be fun while it lasted, but it cost a lot, and all you have left is the story to tell. (“Guess what I did over the weekend!”) So what we have is a few famous Chateaus in Bordeaux making wines we’ll probably never see, taste, or be able to afford, surrounded by thousands of others making what is still the legendary Bordeaux!

Bordeaux is divided into 5 major regions, and I tried to put together a good cross-section of these 5 regions. I was unable to find a representative from Graves, but I have others from the Libournais, Bourg and Blaye, Medoc and Entre-Deux-Mers. Geographically speaking, it’s a lot to wrap your head around, and there are many sub-appellations, so I’ll have a map available for reference.

So Friday, November 12th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

The Big Bordeaux!
Chateau des Ormeaux 2000 Lalande de Pomerol
Chateau Segonzac 2001 Premiere Cotes de Blaye “Vielle Vignes”
Chateau Beuasejour 2001 Montagne Saint Emilion
Chateau Loudenne 2000 Medoc
Chateau Legonzars 2000 Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux

The Extra-Special Premium Pours:
Chateau Lafite 2001 Pauillac Reserve
Chateau de Bellevue 2000 Vino Lussac-St. Emilion

A stellar deal at $10 for the first 5, and $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours.
Hope to see you here!
Seize the Wine!
Next Friday is Wines That Go Well With Turkey!

M

Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

We’re heading to Italy! Not literally, unfortunately, but if we think hard enough, and wish hard enough, and imagine ourselves there, it just might happen! We’re still here. Somebody isn’t wishing hard enough. At any rate, that’s where we’re figuratively heading this week for the burly red wines of winter, here at Carpe Vinum. It seems appropriate that the wines that taste best in the winter come from warmer regions. Imagine it as summer in a bottle. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? On to the wines!

Italy produces, exports and drinks more wine than anyone else in the world. Perhaps that’s why they seem to be such a pleasant people. (Sopranos notwithstanding). I imagine Italy to be one giant vineyard, rolling over the hills, coast to coast, with happy Italians speeding through the grape clusters on Vespas, underneath the canopy of grapevines trellaced over the roads. If I think hard enough, that’s how I see it.

Tuscany, is one of the most famous of wine regions, being the home to the most highly-recognised Italian wine: Chianti. There are actually quite a few different designations of Chianti, the most pronounced being Chianti Classico. Also, there are Chianti Ruffina, Chianti Colli Fiorentini, Chianti Colli Senesi, Chianti Colli Pisani, Chianti Colli Arentini, and Chianti Montalbano, Chianti Montespertoli and possibly some newer ones, as well. Tuscany is also home to the the uber-expensive Brunello di Montalcino, as well as plenty of newer Super-Tuscans (IGT), of which 3 of Friday’s selected wines happen to be.

So Friday, November 5th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Tuscan Pleasures!
Castel Pietraio 2001 Tegrimo IGT
Fattoria Capannacce 2001 Rosso della Maremma Toscana IGT
Le Corti 2002 Chianti Classico
Le Pupille 2002 Morelino di Scansano
Aia Vecchia 2002 Lagone Rosso IGT

The Extra-Special Premium Pours:
Capanna 2002 Rosso di Montalcino
Avignonesi 2001 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

A stellar deal at $10 for the first 5, and $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours.
Hope to see you here!
Seize the Wine!
Next Friday is Wines of the French Bordeaux!
M

Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

Okay. This political season has been akin to a dentists drill. The closer it gets to the nerve, the more painful it is. Tuesday being the nerve, that is. And the election being the drill, of course. I will be extra-glad to have this all over with, and I’m sure everyone else will be too. So as a celebration, tomorrow, Election Day, the most important date in this country every four years, I will be having an extra special tasting!

I’ve selected 3 very good All-American wines, with names that ring true to American Politics: “Liar’s Dice”, “Power and Glory”, and “Coup D’Etat”! All are super-bold, wonderful, and are going to be exactly what we need while we watch the numbers roll in on my not-so-special 23″ TV screen, here in the shop.

As an extra-added bonus, I’ll throw in my salute to the American Way by offering a 5% discount on everything in the store! This means a 15% discount on full cases! This might be a good time to stock up for the wintry season approaching so quickly.

I’ll start pouring at 4:30, and continue until about 7:00, when I normally close, or stay open a bit later if Florida hasn’t been decided yet. However, if it’s at all like the last election, I’ll close at 9. I can’t stay open all night. . .or for the whole month. Gotta sleep sometime.

So Tuesday, November 2nd, between 4:30 and 7.00 PM, (or a bit later) it’s:

Extra-Special Bonus Election Day Tasting!
Murphy-Goode 2002 “Liar’s Dice” Zinfandel, Sonoma County, California
Lattitude 46 N 2002 Power and Glory (Syrah-Grenache), Walla Walla, Washington
Andrew Rich 2002 Coup d’Etat, Columbia Valley, Oregon/Washington

A stellar deal at $8 for three pours!
Hope to see you here!
Seize the Wine!
This Friday is Wines of Italy’s Tuscany!
M