WINE TASTINGS
Living in New York, we attend many wine tastings each month.
Here we list only our "discoveries" as well as our favorite wine(s).

 I am fortunate to attend these events with my personal sommelier, Irene. Our plan of attack:

    1) We first study the program and taste those wines and wineries that we have a prior interest in.
    2) Then we wander around and let our nose and eyes guide us.
    3) Closer to the end, we ask friends and associates present for their favorites.

Finally, we close each tasting by revisiting our show favorite and often talk with and "award" our winning winery.

 For the larger tastings with hundreds of wines, we often use a simple strategy: Irene tastes the whites, while I the reds. Whenever we discover a special wine, we taste each others findings. Later in the tasting, I become highly selective given I prefer not to spit but to taste fewer wines, initially  20 to 25. Thereafter, I  benefit even more from my personal sommelier Irene. She knows my taste and given her youth and European cultural background, her capacity for alcohol consumption is greater than mine. By the end, I am tasting just those special or unusual wines she has selected for me.

When preceded by "HW:" the notes below are my responses to Irene.

SPRING 2011

The 3rd Annual Rioja GRAND TASTING EVENT was an excellent, first class event - fun, friendly and most important, DElicious (drinks & food). Of course it didn’t hurt that 2010 should be a great year like 2005. I spent well over 5 hours there instead of my usual two to three. Thankfully, I was quite relaxed as markets were dropping heavily (Intermediate term I am a market bear). That, along with May 5 being Cinco de Mayo, made it a perfect day to relax and celebrate.
I attended in person their first live webcast of a guided Rioja T (Tempranillo) tasting expertly moderated by Marnie Old with perfect Rioja liveliness and knowledge. The ten wines presented were a tasty broad selection of Rioja along with commentary by a well chosen panel. Note: Next year non-New York oenophiles may be able to purchase special tasting portions in advance. Wine aficionados can watch it shortly at www.vibrantrioja.com/riojabuzz along with interviews by Tish of key Rioja winemakers and importers. Tish (editor: NY Wine Salon) is one of New York’s best wine entertainers/educators.
In addition to tasting many delicious wines (out of 350+, the largest selection of Rioja wines outside of Spain) we experienced
  • The introduction of Tempranillo Blanco, a surprisingly flavorful white wine. Will it join Albarino as a “classic” Spanish white? Could happen!
  • Innovative Food combinations - Being somewhat of a traditional wine romantic, I naturally associate T (Tempranillo) and Rioja with Spanish cuisine. But here they served delicious tidbits from around the world both East and West, a continual encouragement to taste, sip, taste sip. The champion to my mind would be Korean Barbecue! Somewhat obvious in retrospect, given grilled meats match Rioja T "To a T" at least as well as Malbec does.
  • Spanish wines offer great value and are pre-aged in bottles and barrel and most are ready to drink. I find this far easier and cheaper than waiting 7+ years for cellaring and/or spending a fortune for their northern neighbor's aged noteworthy wines.
MY THREE FAVORITE SOULFUL 90+ RIOJA WINES.
Bodegas Marques de Murrieta Reserva 2005 ($22) & Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2001 ($50)
Bodegas Faustino Fastino I Gran Reserva 1998 T, Graciano, Mazuelo ($36) Bright cherry red, both complex and powerful.
Fun fact: I learned that the thin intricate decorative bottle wires were initially created to prevent forging.
FINE WINES WORTHY OF MENTION
Bodega CVNE CVNE Imperial Gran Reserva 1999 ($60): Elegant
Prado Enea Gran Reserva 2004 ($66): Excellent
SPANISH WHITES 100% VIURA
Banda Dorado 2010 ($9): Clearly a Best Value white.
Marques de Murrieta Capellania White Reserva 2005 Viura ($18.39): Lovely.
VALUE RIOJAS
100% T Bodegas Bilbainas Vino Zaco 2008 ($15)
T, Graciano & Mazuelo: Campo Viejo Reserva 2006 ($14): Very easy drinking and Marques de Riscal Promixo 2009 ($11)
Bodegas Muga Rosado 2010 ($13) 60% Garnacha, 30% Viura, 10% T Very well balanced tasty Rose.
BEST RIOJA FOR SMOKING CIGARS
Bodegas Lan Vina Lanciano Reserva 2005 ($25): Sports spicy notes that fully coat the mouth- hence cigar friendly.
MOST UNUSUAL FOOD PAIRING
Bodegas Valdemar Conde de Valdemar Inspiracion Valdemar 2006 ($13.33) was recommended to me as the Best Wine to pair with Chocolate and Coffee Baked Potatoes (recipe).
Given there were so many more wonderful Rioja wines there, to mention them all with justice, I would need to write a book on the subject. However, since I still work for a living, do not expect that any time soon. In the meantime, a good day for me is one where I am trading and making money in the AM, and drinking wine in the PM!
Kudos to the Vibrant Rioja; I am already looking forward to your 4th Grand Tasting in 2012.


WINTER 2011
VINO 2011
The one we liked from VINO 2011 was Friulano 09 from Azienda Agricola Eredi Luigi Zorzon. It's a family run winery, founded at the beginning of the 19th century.
The wine is fruity at first, revealing minerality afterwards. There are hints of pear, peach and almonds, and the fruitiness is balanced with acid and minerality.
HW: Wholesale 4.30 euro, if I were an importer or distributor I would have grabbed this bargain on the spot.  This was made to the winemaker's personal favorite taste. I usually find that these are the most interesting of a winery's selection.

The one you liked the most from Cantrina was Garda Classico Gropello 09.
HW: I loved this winery and found each of their wines unique and distinctive.
 
HW:  I had several talks with the wine maker of Val di Toro, a former Scottish Investment banker.  His first 12 year plan for his beautiful Tuscan winery was to break even.  It confirms that while a wonderful family life style, developing a winery has limited financial rewards short term!  Of his wines, Maremma Toscana: Rosso Val di Toro 07, Rosso "Reviresco" 07 and Vermentino "Auramaris" 09, I found the latter the most distinctive.  Vermentino is  becoming a popular white on Tuscan coast.
WALLA WALLA WINE
The white from Walla Walla which we liked was Waterbroo Melange Blanc Columbia Valley 08, retailing for only $14.

The syrahs were Reynvaan Family Vineyards, 'in the rocks' being the best one.
Italian Wine Masters 2011 Tasting

“The Waiting Game- Age Worthy Brunnello di Montalcino, Chianti, Classico and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano” seminar by Kevin Zraly was my highlight of Italian Wine Masters 2011 tasting. I read Kevin’s book early on in my wine studies and often recommend it.  It was a great pleasure to experience this world class educator.   
Three seminar memories:
1)       Students at his Windows on the World Wine School are taught to put their hands over the glass when twirling.  It concentrates the aroma.
2)       He recommends tasting a wine for 1 FULL minute and evaluates primarily the last 15 seconds.
3)    2007 was an excellent year for Chianti and 2006 for Brunello. 
 
My favorite wines from the seminar were:

 The following aged wines proved without a dout that TUSCANY wines age VERY well indeed!

 I spent most of my time tasting the full selections of these four wineries as well as some of the classics.  I also found a few promising wineries to be watched (and tasted) in future. There were hundreds of Tuscany wines at this tasting. What can I say except I became motivated to visit my sister who lives in Tuscany sooner rather than later.  Perhaps I will make it for the 10 days wine festival in June 2011.  
Finally, my winery award goes to Fontodi.

OREGON WINE FLIGHT  FEBRUARY 15

It was wonderful to taste a dozen of deservedly well known top Pino Noirs from Oregon among the 50 presenting wineries.

With one exception (one of the most famous winery families) all presented interesting wines.


My favorite winery award was easily won by Eyrie Vineyards.  They clearly offered the best overall value with their
2009 estate Pinor Noir Dundee Hills $35.
I did not know before that 1/2 of their grape production is devoted to Pinot Gris.  Their  2008 estate Pinot Gris  Dundee hills $17 was delicious as well as excellent value.

I was unable to decide on the THE best Pinor Noir wine.  It came down to a choice of three:
Trisaetum 2009 estate reserve Williamette Valley at $75 was the least expensive but also seemed the most age worthy.
Archery Summit 2008 Arcus Estate Dundee Hills and Dusty Goose 2007 Rambouillet Pinor Noir both from Dundee Hills were also first class.

 The Left Coast Cellars (I like that name) offered fine value with a 2005 cali cuvee Pinot Noir Willamette Valley $24
and 2005 Latitude 45 single vineyard Pinot Noir Willamette Valley $34.

Also worthy of special mention is the 2009 Trisaetum (my runner up for Best winery after Eyrie) offering a flavorful biodynamic Pinor Noir from Williamette Valley for $36.

Germany's Pinot Trio March 2, 2011

Germany = Riesling right?  Well German’s Pinot Trio: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris & Pinot Blanc begs to differ.
It is far from easy to produce good Pinot Noir anywhere, but it is even more difficult in Germany due to its climate. Hence I was not the only taster surprised by the quality of many of the wines there. Still in the competitive global market the price/performance aka value was not compelling. Oregon offers far more and even New Zealand and California is better value. Perhaps these growers are taking the long view and believe this will change over the next 50 years as global warming trends continue.
 
So why am I writing about this now and not waiting?  Primarily because of one interesting discovery: Classically, students of German wine first learn about the different sugar levels (at harvesting) such as Kabinet, Spatese etc. but perhaps no more. Here several of the new younger generation of wine makers preferred international labels such as “Reserve”, “*”, and “***” ratings. I wonder how much of my previous German wine studies will become as absolete as knowing how to conduct commerce in East Germany - no longer relevant in the 21st century?
 
DOES PRICE MATTER?
It appears that it does. My two favorite wines were also coincidentally the most expensive poured.
The Best wine, voted 3-1, was Schmitt Sohne 2007 Markus Molitor Pinot Noir Graacher Himmelreich *** Mosel $150.
Rudi Wiest Selections (2008 Meyer-Noir Dry “S” Estate Ahr ($80) was my runner up. They also offer a drinkable popular wine Pinot Noir Dry “Hooked!” Baden for just $12.90.
 
The best Pinot for aging may be Weingut Bernard Huber’s 2007 Pinor Noir “Reserve” Widenstein $80. I tasted their 1990 Pinot Noir “Reserve” no longer for sale; it aged nicely offering reasonable complexity. It is not surprising that a 700 year old winery knows a thing or two about aging!
 
WHITE PINOT NOIR
One clear favorite among the white wine lovers was the unique white Pinot Noir of Alde Gott Winzer, an inexpensive 2009 Pinot Noir Blanc de NOIR Dry.