Wines for the Holidays

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy"

Unlike Thanksgiving, when the mainstay is Turkey, the feasts of Christmas and of New Year's Eve/Day - when there is a greater variety of foods - call for a greater variety of wines. We, the staff of Harney's, wish all of you happy holidays, and suggest the following wines - in conjunction with the wines suggested in the November Newsletter for Thanksgiving - for your pleasure. When you are in the store, be sure to check out our new BOUTIQUE WINES section.

WHITE
CHARDONNAY: Woodwork (new to Harney's, tasted very favorably at our November open house, as well as its Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.); Bread and Butter, creamy and buttery.
PINOT GRIS/GRIGIO: St. Michael-Eppan.
SAUVIGNON BLANC: Whitehaven, from New Zealand.
RIESLING: Willm, from Alsace, France, my favorite white wine area in the world.

RED
CABERNET: Carnivore, inexpensive, yet highly rated; Woodwork.
ZINFANDEL: OZV, our best selling Zinfandel of the year; one of the best I have tasted in my six-year connection with Harney's; 7 DEADLY ZINS.
PINOT NOIR:  Woodwork; Sean Minor.
COTES DU RHONE: Guigal, classic French blend of Syrah and Grenache, a benchmark wine.
RED BLEND: enTycement, which has proven to be one of our most popular boutique wines, a thoroughly-satisfying, deep and dark red blend of five (5) grapes; OVEJA NEGRA, a blend of Cabernet Franc and Carmenere from Chile, inexpensive with a very rich taste.  
MARINA CVETIC: the red grape is Montepulciano d' Abruzzo, rated in the top 100 of the year by Wine Spectator, one of my favorite wines in the store.

CHAMPAGNE
KORBEL: Rose', Brut, Extra Dry (which actually has a hint of sweetness).
LAMARCA: our most popular Prosecco, 750 or 1.5 (for a larger gathering).
J CUVE'E 20

VEUVE CLIQUOT. mentioned in a 1890's short story by Chekhov, the great Russian writer.

Pairing Your Wine With Turkey

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy" 

We, the staff at Harney's, recommend the following wines for your Thanksgiving enjoyment. They are "tried and true" wines; Thanksgiving is a feast of tradition, a time of familiar and comforting food and wine, it is not the time for experimentation.

WHITE

Trimbach Pinot Blanc, Alsace, France. Elegant, dry (not sweet), with delicate hints of apple, peach, and apricot. 

Kris Pinot Grigio, Italy. Our best selling Italian-style Pinot Grigio: light-bodied, crisp, with satisfying, refreshing acidity. 

King Estate Pinot Gris, Oregon. A softer, creamier style than the Grigio. Also from Oregon, similar in style to the King Estate: Erath, Acrobat, A to Z, Big Fire. 

Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand. A perennial favorite. Also, First Crush: a less intense style of Sauvignon Blanc.

Chardonnay: 

Belcreme De Lys, California: oaky, creamy and buttery, a complement to roasted turkey.
Simi, California. A perfect balance of fruit and acidity with a minimum of oak.

Dr. L Riesling, Germany. Crisp, slightly sweet, with hints of fruit and mineral.

RED

Meiomi Pinot Noir, California. Our second largest selling California Pinot Noir, and, with good reason.

Centine, Banfi, Italy. An inexpensive, delicious red blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet, and Merlot.

14 Hands Columbia Valley, Washington State. A delicious red blend. Also their Merlot and Cabernet
Gascon Malbec, from Mendoza, Argentina, of course. Intense fruity flavors and spice (and everything nice).

Columbia Crest Grand Estates, Washington State. An inexpensive, satisfying Cabernet Sauvignon and a lush Merlot.

ROSE

Moulin de Gassac, France. Dry (not sweet), with hints of fresh strawberry. Our largest selling Rose' for both 2013 and 2014.

Wine of the Week, November 02, 2014

CAMERON HUGHES CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009 LOT 279

NAPA, CALIFORNIA

By: Ed “The Wine Guy”

We are fortunate here at Harney's to have such a hard-to-find Cabernet Sauvignon. Arguably, no area in the wine world gets the most out of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape than California, and, no area in California than Napa Valley. Location, location, location! After a recent wine lecture, one of the audience said to me: "Thank you for the geography lesson." She had grasped the meaning of terroir: the environmental conditions, especially climate and soil, in which grapes are grown and that give a wine its unique aroma and flavor. This Cabernet Sauvignon is a robust, chewy, dense, rich wine, exhibiting aromas and flavors of plum, cassis/black currants (an earthy-tasting berry), dark cherries, licorice, and vanilla. And, there's even more: unmistakable hints of espresso and dark chocolate.

Wine of the Week, October 26, 2014

MICHAEL POZZAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010
KNIGHTS VALLEY, SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy"

This offering from Michael Pozzan satisfies fully the expectations one has of a Cabernet Sauvignon: deep color, good tannin* structure, moderate acidity, with aromas and flavors of plum, black cherry, black currant, dark spices, and cedar.

*Tannin: an acidic element naturally occurring in plants, seeds, bark, wood, leaves, and fruit skins; its taste is astringent: puckery, pungent. Grape tannin comes from the skins, seeds, and stems of a wine grape. Wine tannins are most commonly found in red wine, although white wines have tannins from being aged in wooden barrels. Red wines tend to have higher levels of tannins because of the extended contact of the solid matter of the grapes with the juice.

Wine of the Week, October 19, 2014

FEUDO MACCARI NERO D'AVOLA 2011
SICILY, ITALY

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy"

Believe it or not, there are over 10,000 varieties of wine grapes in the world. 10,000! And the average wine consumer may be familiar with and have tasted, perhaps, at most 10: Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio (Gris), Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah (Shiraz), Zinfandel, Malbec, and Sangiovese (Chianti). How many more varieties can you add to this list? From its inception, the purpose of this Wine of the Week column was to present not only familiar varieties of wines, but also to introduce new varieties, such as Carmemere, from Chile, similar to Merlot, but with a layer of satisfying spice; Albarino, Spain's most popular and distinctively aromatic white wine; Torrontes, a white wine from Argentina, with subtle spice notes and floral bouquet; and Nero D'Avola, Sicily's most important and widely planted red grape. Feudo Maccari is rich, zesty, velvety, with aromas and flavors of cherry, raspberry, plum, black pepper, spice, smoke, and clove. It pairs well with puttanesca sauce (tomato sauce with anchovies, capers, and olives).

Wine of the Week, October 12, 2014

HIGH HOOK PINOT NOIR 2012
WILLAMETTE VALLEY, OREGON

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy" 

This Pinot Noir comes from a single, sustainably-farmed vineyard, which uses techniques that protect the environment and public health; no pesticides are used. It is medium-bodied, balanced, dry (not sweet, but fruity), with aromas and flavors of chocolate-covered cherries, raspberry, pomegranate (which I'm beginning to detect and appreciate more and more, especially in a Pinot Noir), plum, vanilla-cola, with just a hint of oak, and a long, smooth finish. See how many aromas and flavors you can detect. This is one of those wines that makes you smile and say yes.

Wine of the Week, October 5, 2014

HACIENDA LOPEZ DE HARO RIOJA RESERVA 2005 SPAIN

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy"

From north-central Spain comes this very satisfying red blend: 90% Tempranillo, 5% Garnacha (adds body and acidity), 5% Graciano (adds aromas). This wine is typical of the Rioja wine style which features oak as an essential component. The designation Riserva means that the wine has aged for at least three years, one of them in oak. The vintage is 2005, almost 10 years old, and I dare say that it will drink well for another 5 or more years. It is medium-bodied, concentrated, soft, exhibiting aromas and flavors of spicy dark fruit (black currants, plums), a touch of leather, and a hint of vanilla.

Wine of the Week, September 28, 2014

SEAN MINOR PINOT NOIR 2012
CENTRAL COAST, CALIFORNIA

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy" 

What a good vintage-year 2012 was in California, for both white and red wines! Even an average vintner made a better than average wine. This Sean Minor production is an affordable, everyday style wine, made from grapes selected from sites throughout the Central Coast region. The Pinot Noir grape is thin-skinned and hard to grow; it requires careful, attentive growers. Strange that it is thin-skinned and, yet, prefers to grow in cool regions: Burgundy, France; New Zealand; Oregon; certain areas of California. The grape may be grown in warmer climates, and the wine that is produced may even taste good, but it does not have the classic aromas and flavors of Pinot Noir. This wine is medium-bodied, exhibits aromas and flavors of cherry cola, raspberry, and strawberry, with a hint of spice, and with sweet oak that leads to a lingering finish.

Wine of the Week, September 21, 2014

ALTOS LAS HORMIGAS MALBEC 2013
MENDOZA, ARGENTINA

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy"

Another very satisfying Malbec from - where else but - Mendoza, Argentina, where the Malbec grape has found its true home. Located in the eastern foothills of the Andes, the geography there is similar to Columbia Valley in Washington State: a semi-desert climate (very hot daytime, very cool nights), with abundant run-off water from a mountain range: the Cascades in Washington, the Andes in Argentina. I venture to say - although I suspect that I would be vehemently contradicted by the people of Mendozza - that the Malbec grape would do equally well in Columbia Valley. Both settings enable red grapes to grow to their fullest potential, resulting in lush wines. This Altos Las Hormigas Malbec is deeply purple in color, has a concentrated, fruit-forward character, exhibiting aromas and flavors of smoky cherries, raspberry, plum, a touch of spice, with hints of vanilla and chocolate, and with smooth tannins.

Wine of the Week September 14, 2014

KING ESTATE PINOT GRIS 2012
OREGON

By: Ed "The Wine Guy"

A great Pinot Gris! I dare to say that it, along with the Pinot Gris of Alsace, France, is the standard, the benchmark, of this type of wine. Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio is made from the same white wine grape. Both wines are dry; the difference between the two is a difference of style: Pinot Gris has a creamy, oily texture, resulting in a fuller mouth-feel; Pinot Grigio is light-bodied, crisp, and refreshingly acidic. Please confer my Wine of the Week (9/8/2013) for a description of how these qualities are achieved. King Estate Winery is credited with bringing the Pinot Gris varietal into national consciousness in the United States. The 2012 vintage exhibits aromas and flavors of green apple, citrus, honeysuckle, peach, pear, and melon - the more sophisticated and sensitive your wine palate is, the more aromas and flavors it will detect - all ending in a long smooth finish.

Wine of the Week, September 07, 2014

MARTA'S VINEYARD 2011 RESERVE  MALBEC

                       MENDOZZA, ARGENTINA

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy"

The Malbec grape originated in France, as most grape varietals did. For this, we owe France a huge debt of gratitude. In France it was, and still is, a blending grape in the region of Bordeaux. Over the years, other countries have taken the original varietals from France and produced quite a different taste than was possible or even desirable in France: Cabernet Sauvignon in California; Merlot in Columbia Valley, Washington State; Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand; Malbec in Argentina, to name just a few. The difference of taste is due to terroir: the environmental conditions, especially soil and climate, in which grapes are grown and that give a wine its unique flavor and aroma. Malbec found a home in the Mendoza region of Argentina (the USA cultivates 3, 400 acres of Malbec; Argentina 76, 700). It is in Argentina that it reaches its full potential. As all good Malbecs have, Marta's Vineyard Reserve 2011 has bold flavors and richness, exhibiting aromas and flavors of blackberry, plum, and black cherry, with hints of chocolate, leather, spice, and smoke.

Wine of the Week, August 31, 2014

BREGGO CELLARS PINOT GRIS 2012
ANDERSON VALLEY, MENDOCINO
CALIFORNIA

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy"

Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are wines that are made from the same grape. In most cases it's a matter of difference of styles. Wines called Pinot Gris, following the example of Alsace, France, tend to have a creamy mouth-feel and, because of that, seem to have a fuller body; Pinot Grigio wines, e.g., Kris from Italy, tend to be lighter and crisper. I enjoy both styles. That said, the Breggo Cellars Pinot Gris 2012 is an elegant wine, with a creamy mouth-feel, exhibiting aromas and flavors of peach, citrus, and apple, with hints of pineapple, melon, and minerality. Enjoy these final days of summer with a memorable wine.

Wine of the Week, August 24, 2014

enTycement RED BLEND 2012
SONOMA, CALIFORNIA

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy"

This is one of our boutique wines, a new and exciting venture for Harney's Liquors. A Boutique Wine is one that comes from a small winery, offering a limited production of very distinctive, high quality wines; it is handcrafted by a master of wine-making, who oversees all aspects of production from soil management to the bottling, with attention given to wine-making as an art rather than as a business. enTycement 2012 is a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Syrah, Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a dark, purple color, with aromas and flavors of blackberry, boysenberry (a sweet-tart fruit), and rich dark fruits, with a touch of chocolate, and a lush mouth-feel. The smooth, lingering finish is accentuated with a touch of spice.

Wine of the Week, August 17, 2014

TRIMBACH PINOT BLANC 2011
ALSACE, FRANCE

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy" 

This wine represents the traditional and dry Alsace white wines. The house of Trimbach dates back to 1626, so its knowledge of wine-making is unrivaled. (As an aside, this region is my favorite for white wines. One sip, and you will know why.) This Trimbach Pinot Blanc is dry (not sweet), soft, fresh, well-balanced (harmonious whole: no one element dominating), with aromas and flavors of apple, citrus fruit, and mineral. Excellent as an aperitif, elegant enough for a formal dinner, a perfect accompaniment to light meals, and, yes, clam chowder. 

Wine of the Week, August 10, 2014

RODNEY STRONG CHARDONNAY 2012
SONOMA, CALIFORNIA

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy"

California is noted for, and rightly so, its Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay. The Chardonnay grape - unlike the Pinot Noir grape, which is thin-skinned, and, like thin-skinned people, difficult to deal with  - is relatively easy to grow just about anywhere. It adapts well to different soils and different climates. Its native home is in Burgundy, France. The year 2012 in California produced extraordinary grapes, both white and red. I suspect that before long the 2012 vintage will be hard to find. This Rodney Strong Chardonnay is medium-bodied, fruit-forward, exhibiting aromas and flavors of apple, lemon, pear, and pineapple, and a hint of oak. The mouth-feel is very satisfying from the start to the long finish.

Wine of the Week, August 03, 2014

FRANCISCAN EQUILIBRIUM WHITE BLEND, CALIFORNIA

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy" 

From one of the most prestigious vineyards in Napa comes this very delicious and refreshing white blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Muscat. It lives up to its name: Equilibrium is a harmonious balance of flavor and acidity. It is relatively dry, with a touch of sweetness, and exhibits aromas and flavors of pears and peaches and suggestions of other fruits, including apricots and melons. A wine may be chosen because its taste is similar to the taste of a food, making it complementary, for instance, a spicy Zinfandel served with a spicy barbecue, or it may be chosen to create an opposite or offsetting effect. Equilibrium is a perfect (offsetting) accompaniment to spicy foods.

Wine of the Week, July 27, 2014

ARTAZURI GARNACHA 2012
SPAIN

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy"

The Spanish Garnacha grape is similar to the French Grenache grape. Some people (but neither the Spanish nor the French, out of national pride, I suspect) would say that they are identical. But, even if they were identical, the influence of location, soil, and climate - terroir - would make the resulting wines very different. Artazuri Garnacha is a good everyday red wine, bright-ruby in color; medium-bodied; with aromas and flavors of black cherry, raspberry, and plum; well-balanced (the fruit, acidity, and mild tannins combine harmoniously); and the flavors hold through the finish. A slight chilling period, perhaps a half-hour in the refrigerator, will control the taste of alcohol, which is sometimes apparent in a red wine on summer days, and it will not harm the flavors; in fact, I think that chilling the wine slightly concentrates the flavors. A thoroughly enjoyable wine!

Wine of the Week, July 20, 2014

ROSE 'N' BLUM PINOT GRIGIO 2011
CALIFORNIA

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy"

The name Kent Rosenblum summons up tastes of great Zinfandels and Syrahs. I was fortunate enough to sample his wines at the Rosenblum Cellars tasting room in Alameda, California, on more than one occasion. Extraordinary! He is so skilled a vintner, that he probably could make wines out of mushrooms! Kidding, of course. Mushrooms cannot ferment because of the lack of sugar. This Pinot Grigio of his is delightfully refreshing. It is light and fragrant, fruit-forward, exhibiting aromas and flavors of peach, pear, and green apple. Serve it chilled on its own, with appetizers, or with  a crisp salad or light meal. One taste, and you may choose it as your summer wine.

Wine of the Week, July 13, 2014

   DURNBERG GRUNER VELTLINER 2013, AUSTRIA

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy" 

The world gets smaller and smaller, and tastier and tastier. Near at hand, we have a jammy Shiraz from Australia; a spicy Malbec from Mendozza, Argentina; an intensely fruity Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand; a luscious Merlot from Columbia Valley, Washington State; an earthy Montepulciano d'Abruzzo from Italy; a Gruner Veltliner from Austria. Yes, Gruner Veltiner, a variety of white wine grape grown extensively in Austria. This wine is light and dry, crisp, with aromas and flavors of citrus, apple, and peach, with hints of white pepper and minerals. It is a very food-friendly wine. Perfect for summer salads, and the perfect accompaniment with raw oysters. Or, on its own, it is a refreshing aperitif.

Wine of the Week, July 06, 2014

LA VIEILLE FERME BLANC
 2013
FRANCE

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy"

Translated as The Old Farm, this is a white Rhone wine. Many of you are already familiar with the red version; the white is equally satisfying. It's an inexpensive ($7.99), unpretentious but delicious, fresh-tasting, everyday wine, crisp and dry (fruity, but not sweet), exhibiting aromas and flavors of peach, melon, and nut. Serve as an aperitif or with a simple meal of fish or chicken. It pairs very well with lobster salad.

Wine of the Week, June 29, 2014

JOEL GOTT CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012CALIFORNIA

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy"

I have often heard it said: "I don't drink red wine in the summer." But, there is no need to forsake red wine during the warm months. The optimum temperature of a red wine is around 65 degrees; warmer than that and the taste of alcohol will be pronounced, and it will create an unpleasant experience - drinking wine should never be an unpleasant experience -, cooler than that and you will sacrifice flavor. (A white wine is at its best between 55 and 62 degrees.) A half hour to forty-five minutes in the refrigerator should do the trick. Experiment. The Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 (a very good year for the red grape in California) exhibits aromas and lush flavors of blackberries, black cherries, mocha, and vanilla. The wine is made from grapes produced throughout California, each contributing to the complexity. There is balanced acidity, soft tannins, a long smooth finish, and it is moderately priced. Good luck with "chilling" a red wine!

Wine of the Week, June 22, 2014

KING ESTATE WINERY, OREGON    

ACROBAT PINOT GRIS 2013

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy"

King Estate, the largest organic vineyard in the world, produces Acrobat Pinot Gris, using the same grape that is used to make Pinot Grigio. For a fuller review of Acrobat, I recommend reading my review of 9/8/2013. Based on sales and feedback, Acrobat was one of the finalists for Harney's Wine of the Year 2013, which was won, most deservedly, by Whispering Angel, a Rose from Provence, France. As I said in the previous review, Acrobat is distinctively Oregonian in aroma, taste, and texture. This is the new vintage. It exhibits aromas and flavors of citrus, pineapple, honeysuckle, honeydew melon, and apple. Perhaps the words lemon-cream best capture the essence of this truly delicious wine.

Wine of the Week, June 15, 2014

WINE OF THE WEEK (6/15/2014)

PINE RIDGE CHENIN BLANC + VIOGNIER
2013 CALIFORNIA

We owe gratitude to France for giving us so many varieties of grapes and for the wine-making techniques that bring out the best of those grapes. Bordeaux, Cotes du Rhone, Provence Rose, Champagne, Burgundy are among the very best wines in the world, thanks to France. Chenin Blanc and Viognier, white wine grapes, originated in France, but France never would have blended the two grapes as Pine Ridge, California has done. The result is a truly unusual, unique wine: 80% Chenin Blanc, contributing acidity and honeyed fruit, and 20% Viognier, contributing softness and intense aromas; there is no oak in this wine. It is a dry wine (not sweet). Dry and sweet (sugar) are at opposite poles; you can have a fruity dry wine, and you can have a fruity sweet wine. Hopefully the distinction will help you purchase the wine that you are looking for. This wine is a fruit bomb! I defy anyone to detect all of its aromas and flavors. A partial list would have to include: honey, peaches, honeydew melon, pineapple, grapefruit, etcetera. The cooling effect that this wines produces makes it a perfect deck-wine on a hot day, and it is an excellent complement to spicy Asian food.

Wine of the Week, June 8, 2014

Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc, 2012 

Marlborough, New Zealand

By: Ed “The Wine Guy”

This wine exhibits what has become known as the classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc taste: highly aromatic, zesty, powerful fruit flavors (tropical fruit, tart gooseberry, lime peel, lemon-grassy), with an acidity that makes the wine crisp and fresh-tasting. The screw cap, becoming more and more popular throughout the wine world, makes for easy opening. I suspect that in a few years, the screw cap will be the rule, not the exception. No loss, except, perhaps, for the romantic pop of the cork. A cork, if tainted, can impart a musty smell and taste to a wine. I know of a vintner (wine maker) in Italy who bought back his wine because of a tainted cork. Pair Astrolabe with summer salads, cold noodle salads, seafood, or, now that the warm weather is finally here, have it on its own out on the deck.

Wine of the Week, June 1, 2014

MOULIN DE GASSAC ROSE 2013

LANGUEDOC, FRANCE

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy" 

Over the last few years, imports of French Rose wines to the United States have increased by 40%. This wine is the new release of our largest selling Rose of 2013, with which many of you are already familiar. A blend of mainly Grenache and Syrah, it is very dry (not sweet), light, crisp, and easy-to-drink, with aromas and flavors of strawberries and citrus, and with mineral notes. It is very food-friendly; I suggest pairing it with tossed salads, potato salad, and just about any of your favorite summer dishes. Harney's has an ample supply of Moulin de Gassac to carry us through the entire summer season and beyond.

Wine of the Week, May 25, 2014

ESTANDON ROSE 2013
PROVENCE, FRANCE

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy"

Provence, France is the prime area for a certain style of Rose wines: light-bodied, crisp, dry (not sweet), with aromas and flavors of berries, usually strawberry, raspberry, or cranberry. Harney's best selling Rose wine of 2013 was Whispering Angel, also from Provence, which is now available in a new vintage, and, I feel, is even more satisfying than the previous one. Estandon is a blend of red grapes; the juice - all grape juice is initially white - remained in contact with the skins for only a few hours, accounting for its pink/salmon color. I recently had a tasting of Estandon in the store, and received only favorable reactions. If we ever get hot weather, this is the perfect out-on-the-deck wine, accompanied by, perhaps, a crisp, leafy salad, and a loaf of crunchy French bread.

Wines of the Week, May 18, 2014

TRURO VINEYARDS OF CAPE COD

By: Ed "The Wine Guy"

As we approach the tourist season here on Cape Cod, I would like to feature for both residents and tourists the Truro Vineyards located on 6A in Truro between Wellfleet and Provincetown. You can't miss it: the wine barrel atop a tower, clearly visible from Route 6, shows  the location. There are daily free tours in-season, and, for a nominal fee, you can taste several of their wines. The most memorable wines for me are the Chardonnay, the Cabernet Franc (initially a French blending grape), and the Zinfandel. Also, taste the Vignoles (both the name of the grape varietal as well as the wine), a fruity late-harvest style sweet white wine. I must confess that, in my meat-eating days, I have used their Cranberry Red (a wine in their Lighthouse Series) as a glaze for turkey; it may be used for duck and ham also. Bring the wine to a simmer, turn the heat to low, and let it develop into a syrup, then baste the meat. The color and flavor is extraordinary. Harney's has a limited number of Truro wines. I suggest going online for information about the vineyard's activities, and then spending a few delightful hours there.  

Wine of the Week, May 11, 2014

FOLIE A DEUX SONOMA COAST
PINOT NOIR 2011
CALIFORNIA

By: Ed "The Wine Guy" 

Of course, the quintessential Pinot Noir wine is produced in the Burgundy region of France, where many of the wines are made in very small quantities and can be very expensive, often reaching peak 15 or 20 years after the vintage. One of the great wines in the history of wine! The Pinot Noir grape is grown around the world, mostly in cooler regions (Burgundy, New Zealand, Oregon, California) which tends to bring out its best qualities. Thin-skinned and finicky, it is a difficult variety to cultivate and transform into wine, and many a vintner has abandoned the effort. The 2004 movie SIDEWAYS which features Pinot Noir wine brought about a rise in sales volume and price. Folie a Deux (translated as a passion shared by two) is medium-bodied, with aromas and flavors of plum, dark cherry, and raspberry, with a hint of cocoa; it has soft tannins, a long satisfying finish, and is very food-friendly.

Wine of the Week, May 04, 2014

ROSA REGALE SPARKLING RED 2012
PIEDMONT, ITALY

This very pleasant and elegant wine, which is made from the Brachetto grape, is produced in the Piedmont area of northwest Italy, bordering Switzerland and France. The area is famous for its Barolo and Barbaresco wines. Rosa Regale is cranberry in color, very aromatic, soft, sweet - but not excessively so, the acidity balances the sugar - with aromas and flavors of rose petals, raspberries, and strawberries. A perfect wine for celebrations. Enjoy it as an aperitif or a dessert wine paired with cheese and/or chocolate.

Wine of the Week, April 27, 2014

ALLEGRINI PALAZZO DELLA TORRE 2010
VERONA, ITALY

By: Ed "The Wine Guy"

This is a BIG wine! It is a blend of 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 5% Sangiovese, full bodied, earthy, spicy, firmly acidic, exhibiting aromas and flavors of dark cherries, blackberries, figs, and dates, with a hint of mocha. 70% of the grapes are vinified according to the traditional fermentation process, and 30% of the grapes are first air-dried (similar to the Amarone method which gives the grapes a raisin-like flavor) and then they are added to the already fermented wine for a second fermentation, resulting in a deep concentration of flavors. I would pair this wine with a full-flavored tomato sauce, like a Puttanesca, which contains Kalamata olives, capers, and anchovy fillets. Emeril has an excellent recipe for Puttanesca Sauce online. Robert Parker, whose opinion can make or break a wine, gives it 90 points.

WINE OF THE WEEK, April 20, 2014

WHISPERING ANGEL ROSE 2013
PROVENCE, FRANCE

This is the new release of a superb wine; the 2012 version was rated as Harney's WINE OF THE YEAR 2012. This is not the syrupy-sweet Rose wines of yesteryear. Provence, France, in my opinion, now sets the standard for Rose wines. The dominant grape in this blend is Grenache. The aromas and flavors are the same as the previous year (rose petal to the nose, and strawberry to the taste, with hints of raspberry and cranberry), but are more pronounced. Pale pink in color, dry (not sweet), fresh, with a creamy texture, and very clear and clean through the finish. This is the finest, most satisfying Rose that I have ever tasted.

WINE OF THE WEEK (4/13/2014)

By: Ed "The Wine Guy" Makuta

I recommend the following wines for your enjoyment during the upcoming holidays:

WHITE WINE

KRIS PINOT GRIGIO An Italian-style Grigio: light and crisp, a perfect complement to turkey and ham.   

ACROBAT PINOT GRIS Oregon-style Grigio, creamy in texture. Also ERATH, and A TO Z.

TRIMBACH RIESLING Dry (not sweet) from Alsace, France.

TRIMBACH PINOT BLANC Also from Alsace. Elegant, dry, with hints of fruit.

HERMANN WIEMER DRY RIESLING Some sugar here. Very satisfying. From New York Finger Lake Region.

SIMI CHARDONNAY A store favorite. Classic California Chardonnay.

OYSTER BAY SAUVIGNON BLANC Perennial favorite from New Zealand.

FIRST CRUSH SAUVIGNON BLANC Dr. Puzio's delicious wine produced here on the Cape from grapes in an area adjacent to Napa Valley. Less intense that New Zealand.

WHISPERING ANGEL ROSE The new vintage is due this week, more intense in aroma (rose petal) and flavor (strawberry).

RED WINE 

MEIOMI Succulent California Pinot Noir. The perfect complement to lamb or salmon.

MARK WEST Our best-selling California Pinot Noir.

14 HANDS RED BLEND A delicious wine from Columbia Valley, Washington State.

14 HANDS MERLOT A more complex Merlot than you may be used to.

CUSUMANO NERO D'AVOLA A lighter red from Sicily. The name of the grape is Nero d'Avola.

KRIS ROSSO A lighter red blend from Italy. The first vintage of this wine from Kris, the same producer as the Pinot Grigio.

Wines of the Past Year

As you may have noticed, Ring Brothers Marketplace, including Harney's Liquors, is undergoing renovations. Over the next two months, you will see an evolution of many new features to better serve you. At this time, I would like to highlight some of the wines of the past year or so that have been particularly popular, and deservedly so. You may check out my reviews of these wines by going to:  http://harneysliquors.blogspot.com/

CUSIMANO NERO D'AVOLA SICILY, ITALY

WILLIAM HILL ESTATES CABERNET SAUVIGNON NORTH COAST CALIFORNIA

HERMANN WIEMER DRY RIESLING FINGER LAKES REGION, NEW YORK

LA VIEILLE FERME ROUGE FRANCE

TRIMBACH RIESLING ALSACE, FRANCE

MASCIARELLI MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO MARINA CVETIC VINEYARD ITALY

OZV ZINFANDEL LODI, CALIFORNIA

ACROBAT OREGON PINOT GRIS

14 HANDS RED BLEND COLUMBIA VALLEY, WASHINGTON STATE.

SIMI CHARDONNAY SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

WHISPERING ANGEL ROSE PROVENCE, FRANCE. The new vintage will be arriving shortly.

-Ed the Wine Guy

WINE OF THE WEEK, March 30, 2014

KRIS ROSSO 2009
ALTO-ADIGE
NORTHEAST ITALY

Many of you are already familiar with the Kris vineyard. For years Kris Pinot Grigio has been a best seller here at Harney's. Now, we would like to introduce Kris Rosso 2009, a blend of Merlot, Montepulciano D'Abruzzo, and Cabernet Sauvignon. This is the first vintage of this wine. The Merlot makes it fruit-forward, the Montepulciano full-bodied, and the Cabernet gives it a firm structure. It exhibits intense aromas and flavors of berries and leather. What impressed me immediately was its lively acidity. Kris Rosso is a fine complement to roasted meats, tomato-based pasta sauces, flavorful cheeses, and chocolate. 

WINE OF THE WEEK (MARCH 23)

CHARLES & CHARLES CABERNET SAUVIGNON/SYRAH 2012
COLUMBIA VALLEY, WASHINGTON

Those who have been following my Wine of the Week reviews are probably sick and tired of me singing the praises of red wines from Columbia Valley, Washington. Well, here goes another song. During the summer, Washington averages more than two hours more sunlight each day compared to California. That fact, undoubtedly, contributes to the lushness/richness of its red wines. This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (58%) and Syrah (Shiraz, as it is known in Australia) is medium-bodied, with aromas and flavors of rose petal, dark berry, black cherry, plum, chocolate, and vanilla. It satisfies from the tip of the tongue to the long finish. Wine Spectator has given it 90 well-deserved points. Charles & Charles is a very good addition to our already fine selection of red blends. 

WINE OF THE WEEK (MARCH 16)

Ed the Wine Guy's
WINE OF THE WEEK (MARCH 16)

STERLING VINTNER'S COLLECTION
MERITAGE 2011
CENTRAL COAST CALIFORNIA

The three top categories of wines for 2013 here at Harney's - and the trend continues into 2014 - were Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, box wines, and red blends. Red blends, I feel, are made to be immediately drinkable, without the need for decanting: removing sediment, or aeration: exposing a wine to air to release aromas and flavors. (As an aside, white wines never need to be aerated.) Sterling Meritage is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot, a little-known grape varietal, which adds tannin, color, and flavor to the blend. This wine has aromas and flavors of cherries, plums, berries, chocolate, caramel, and vanilla, and is very satisfying from start to finish. A delicious and inexpensive everyday wine.

Wine of the Week, March 9, 2014

WINE OF THE WEEK, March 9, 2014

RIOJA GRAN FAMILIA 2010 SPAIN

Spain is the third largest wine producer in the world and has the most land dedicated to vineyards - over a million acres. Gran Familia is an excellent example and introduction to the wines of the Rioja region of north-east Spain. It is a blend of 90% Tempranillo (Tempranillo and Garnacha are Spain's two most important red grapes) and 10% Graciano, a grape which contributes aroma and longevity to the wine. It is an easy-drinking wine, well-balanced (fruit, tannin, acidity), medium-bodied, with aromas and flavors of blackberry, cedar, leather, and spice, with a long finish. Pairs well with meat dishes, especially with beef, including hamburgers.

Wine of the Week, March 2, 2014

CUSUMANO NERO D'AVOLA 2012
SICILY, ITALY

Nero d'Avola is the name of this grape, which is the most important and the most widely-planted red grape in Sicily. It is native to Sicily and thrives in the hot and arid climate, taking its name from a small town, Avola, in south-east Sicily. If you are unfamiliar with Nero d'Avola, it has been compared to Syrah. Until fairly recently it was used in blending, but is also now produced as a varietal on its own. It is fruit-forward, with firm but not harsh tannins, spicy, having aromas and flavors of berries, plum, and black pepper. It is complementary to tomato sauce dishes. 

Wine of the Week, February 23, 2014

WILLIAM HILL ESTATES
CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2012
NORTH COAST, CALIFORNIA

What a delightful surprise! It's extremely rare to find a California Cabernet Sauvignon that tastes so good and, at the same time, is so affordable for everyday consumption. William Hill is both a treat for those, such as I, who enjoy Cabernet, and a good introduction to this varietal. I was satisfied because it met my expectations of a California Cabernet: good body, aromas and flavors of blackberry, black cherry, currants, cedar, with hints of caramel and cocoa. It is young but, surprisingly, very enjoyable now, and sufficiently complex to develop further in the bottle. While William Hill Estates has a long history in Napa, this is the initial vintage from the North Coast.

Wine of the Week, February 16, 2014

HERMANN WIEMER DRY RIESLING 2012

FINGER LAKES REGION, NEW YORK

New York produces more wine than any other state in the U.S., more than Oregon, more than Washington State, with the exception of California. Historically, Riesling, in this country, was known as syrupy sweet. Modern American vintners, following the example of Alsace, France, where Rieslings (Trimbach, for example, which we have at Harney's) are typically dry and highly aromatic, are now creating dry (fruity, not sweet) Rieslings which are very food-friendly, meaning that the wine complements the food with which it is served, does not overpower it or conflict with it. Hermann Wiemer Dry Riesling 2012, an outstanding example of this style of Riesling, has aromas and flavors of lime, apricot, and grapefruit, with a mineral component, a refreshing crispness, and a long, satisfying finish.

Wine of the week, February 09, 2014

VITIANO ROSSO 2011 UMBRIA, ITALY

Vitiano, consistently good vintage after vintage, is produced in the Umbria region of Central Italy, north of Rome. It is a blend of equal parts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangiovese, rustic and earthy in character, medium-bodied, well-balanced (meaning that one characteristic does not dominate over the others), with a deep ruby red color, with aromas and flavors of black currant, black cherry, plum, licorice, smoke, and spice. It received 86 points by Robert Parker (whose opinion about a wine can make or break it) in The Wine Advocate. Ho-hum, another delicious, inexpensive wine from - where else but - Italy!

Wine of the Week, February 2, 2014

WINE AND CHOCOLATE

By Ed the Wine Guy

1) Wine may have naturally occurring aromas and flavors of chocolate/mocha from the combination of the grapes, the fermentation process, and wooden barrels. (Oak may impart a wide variety of flavors: butter, vanilla, nuts, smoke, cedar.) Such chocolate aromas and flavors are characteristic of red wine, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir. Meiomi 2012, a California Pinot Noir, and Wine of the Week 1/ 26 , has a pronounced naturally occurring chocolate component.
2) A red wine may be infused with chocolate, i.e., chocolate is added to the wine. Similarly, Vodka is now known for its infused flavorings: Raspberry, vanilla, caramel, blueberry, etc. Harney's has a chocolate-infused wine that tastes like the traditional candy: chocolate covered cherries.
3) Chocolate may be paired with wine for a delicious dessert. Pair a good Port with chocolate (and toasted walnuts, a ripe pear, and blue cheese; each food brings about different taste sensation), a Pinot Noir with milk chocolate, a Zinfandel with a bittersweet chocolate. Experiment. Your own taste buds are the best judge.

Wine of the Week, January 19, 2014

OVEJA NEGRA 2011 CHILE

The translation of Oveja Negra is Black Sheep, the connotation of which, at least in our culture, means a disreputable member of a group, as in the black sheep of a family, one who does not conform to the values of a particular family, a renegade. Therefore, understandably, my expectations in drinking this wine were that it would be bold and brash. But, the vineyard uses the term only to signify that this wine is distinctive, that it is different than the rest of the sheep in the flock, which are white. It is different in the sense that it is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Carmenere, two grapes which are not usually blended together, and which I enjoy separately on their own. The result is interesting, and enjoyable. It is a pleasant wine, with a low level - for a red wine - of alcohol: 10.5%.  It would certainly be an excellent introduction to red wine; I find it hard to believe that it would offend any novice to red wine. In my mind I immediately paired it with pizza; it is a very pizza-friendly wine. It is aromatic and soft, light- to medium-bodied, with light tannins, exhibiting flavors of plum, black currants, berries, and a dash of black pepper, with a hint of spice, and a light touch of oak. At the low cost of $9.99, I would certainly recommend it.

Wines of the Week, January 12, 2014

LOUIS MARTINI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011
SONOMA, CALIFORNIA 

LOUIS MARTINI CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010
NAPA, CALIFORNIA 

I'm departing from my usual format this week by offering two (2) wines for your consideration. Both are by Louis Martini, both are Cabernet Sauvignons, and both are very good. Many vineyards release multi-tiered wines: from an inexpensive everyday, entry-level wine up to a high-end wine. The differences are more than just the price, and include where the grapes are from, who the vintner is, how long the wine has aged, etc. The Cabernet from Sonoma is made from grapes from Alexander Valley and Dry Creek Valley. It is a well-balanced wine, with aromas and flavors of plum, blackberry, and raspberry, with hints of chocolate, vanilla, and oak. Although 2011 was a difficult grape-growing year in California, the vintner has produced a very good wine for everyday drinking. The Cabernet from Napa Valley, a more expensive, high-end wine, is more complex in aromas and flavors (smoky cedar, an earthiness, unsmoked cigar tobacco, leather) than the Cabernet from Sonoma. Also, it has a fuller body, a higher level of alcohol, and a longer finish. Taste the two Cabernets side by side, and the differences will become immediately apparent.