Wine of the Week, Summer Reds

WINE OF THE WEEK

SUMMER REDS

By:  Ed “The Wine Guy”

I hear it often said: I don't drink red wine in the summer, because I don't like the taste. The reason for this, as far as I can see, is the harsh taste of alcohol which becomes more pronounced in the warm summer months. If red wine is drunk at a temperature around 65 degrees, which is recommended for all red wines, the taste of alcohol will be balanced, and will not stand out. I recommend refrigeration for about 30 - 45 minutes. Any longer than that, and the flavors will be muted. On my last trip to Tuscany, I and three friends stopped at a restaurant on a hot afternoon. The waiter presented us with a chilled (not cold) bottle of red wine: Santa Cristina. It was refreshing and delicious. No flavor had been lost because of the chilling. In addition to Santa Christina, Harney's offers many other light red wines, such as Centine, Beaujolais, Tempranillo, and Grenache. There is no need to sacrifice the pleasures of red wine in the summer.

New to our Boutique section.....

By:  Ed  "The Wine Guy"

FULCRUM (among the finest wines that I have ever tasted)

• Fulcrum 2011 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley, California. Elegant and complex. Dusty and earthy aromas and flavors of cherry, violet, strawberry, and molasses. A long, savory finish.

• Fulcrum 2011 On Point Pinot Noir Chalone Appellation, California. Sweet, spicy nose with dark fruit and wilted rose. Aromas and flavors of raspberry, blueberry, and minerality. A long, lingering finish.

• Fulcrum 2012 On Point Gap's Crown Sonoma Coast, California. Ripe berries with sweet spice on the nose. Flavors of berries, cherries, red licorice, and spice. Plush mouth-feel, with a lingering finish.

• Cloisonne 2013 Pinot Noir St. Lucia Highlands, California. Flavors of cherry and plum. Bold, rich texture, dense, with a hint of vanilla. The play between sweet fruit and earthy notes.

• Cloisonne 2013 Chardonnay Russian River, California. Aromas and flavors of green apple, honeydew, apricot, with a hint of smoke. Crisp, balanced acidity, with flavors that linger.

Wine of the Week, Unparalled Sauvignon Blanc

WINE OF THE WEEK

UNPARALLELED SAUVIGNON BLANC

NEW ZEALAND 2014

By:  Ed "The Wine Guy"

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc put New Zealand on the wine map of the world about fifteen years ago. It introduced a style of taste (intensely fruit-forward) which was unlike the Sauvignon Blancs of France (Sancerre, Pouilly-Fume' from the Loire Valley, and from Bordeaux), where Sauvignon Blanc had been produced for many years, and it was unlike that of Chile and California which exhibits a softer, more food-friendly style. Many say that Cloudy Bay is the benchmark for Sauvignon Blanc, just as Santa Margherita is the benchmark for Pinot Grigio. There is no denying their track records, but, ultimately, it's a matter of taste. Chacon a son gout (each to his own taste). Sales at Harney's would bear it out that New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Red Blends have been the most popular wine categories for the recent past. Oyster Bay, our most popular New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Kim Crawford, and Whitehaven, my personal favorite, continue in the tradition of Cloudy Bay. So, too, does Unparalleled, our Wine of the Week, which is new to Harney's. It is fruit-forward, with lime and grapefruit notes, and with hints of grass and minerals.