Search This Blog

Wine of the Week, July 28, 2013



SANTA MARGHERITA PINOT GRIGIO 2012 

Alto Adige region of Northern Italy
$23.99

For many years Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio has been the standard for a certain style of Pinot Grigio: a dry (fruity, but not sweet), light, crisp white wine, with hints of apple, pear, and citrus fruits; this style is produced primarily in Italy and California. Examples of this style with which you may be familiar: Pighin, Kris, Ecco Domani. Stainless steel vats (no oak) help to maintain its lightness and freshness. A different style is exhibited by Oregon Pinot Gris. Both Grigio and Gris refer to the same grape. It's a matter of different styles, not different grapes. A to Z, Erath, King Estate, are examples of Oregon Pinot Gris. Oak vats impart a fuller body, a creamy feel, with a hint of butter. The best way to tell the difference is to taste a Grigio and a Gris side by side. I enjoy both styles, and the particular style is determined by the food I am eating. A tossed salad on a hot day cries out for a Grigio; a quiche needs a Gris. But, your own taste buds, as always, are the final judge in determining what wine goes with what food.

Wine of the Week, July 21, 2013


90+ CELLARS CHARDONNAY 2011 LOT 85
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS CALIFORNIA
$11.99

Except for France, where it originated, no other wine region in the world does more with the Chardonnay grape than California. Chardonnay is one of most widely-planted grape varietals, mainly because of the relative ease of cultivation and its ability to adapt to different conditions. The grape itself is neutral-tasting which lends itself to many different styles, from the light, crisp, mineral style of Chablis to the buttery, creamy, oaky, tropical fruit style that California is known for. I enjoy both styles, and the preference at a particular time is determined by the food I am eating. Because it is neutral-tasting, terroir, the unique combination of the local geography, geology, and climate, plays such a dominant role in determining the taste. This Chardonnay exhibits aromas and flavors of ripe pear, green apple, and citrus; butter, cream, and oak are present but they do not dominate. The initial burst of full flavor ends in a soft, long, satisfying finish. Serve with your favorite chicken and fish dishes.

Wine of the Week, July 14, 2013


Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Star Spangled 

First Crush Winery Cape Cod, $13.99 

It is my pleasure and privilege to introduce the wines of Frank Puzio, a well-known eye-care practitioner here on Cape Cod. Along with Marty, Harney's manager, I recently visited his state-of-the-art facility near Harwich center, where he crushes the grapes (from vineyards that are adjacent to the Napa County line in California), ferments, nurtures, and bottles on-site. Marty and I tasted his five wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, Cranberry-Raisin, Cranberry-Raisin-Sauvignon Blanc, each one of them producing a smile of satisfaction, an ah!, and a yes! I will be introducing all of these wines in this column in the near future. This Sauvignon Blanc is crisp and very refreshing with aromas and flavors of grapefruit and guava; it is well-balanced, a harmonious whole with no one element dominating, with a lengthy finish. At present time, the Sauvignon Blanc, the Cabernet (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 10% Malbec), and the Zinfandel (75% Primitivo Zinfandel, 25% Petite Syrah) are available for purchase. Thank you, Frank, for making your wonderful wines available here at Harney's.

 


 

 


Wine of the Week, July 7, 2013



CAMERON HUGHES LOT 324 CHARDONNAY 2010 ATLAS PEAK NAPA VALLEY
CALIFORNIA $12.99

Cameron Hughes has entered into partnerships with the finest growers and wineries in the world, and has become one of the most trusted wine brands in the industry. Their philosophy makes so much sense to me: take advantage of already existing, proven vintners and vineyards. Why try to reinvent the wheel? Get Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina; Pinot Grigio from Italy; Riesling from Germany; Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from California; Grenache from Spain; Shiraz from Australia; Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. Other familiar companies that have taken the same approach are Layer Cake, Cupcake, and 90+ Cellars. While one can't argue with their approach, I myself would rather get my hands dirty with soil and stained with wine. Lot 324 delivers what one expects from a creamy and buttery (oaky) Chardonnay. There are aromas and flavors of orange blossom, lemon, almond, pear, and honeysuckle. It's a big wine, with 14.2% alcohol. Harney's has a full line of Cameron Hughes offerings, as well as the wines from Layer Cake, Cupcake, and 90+ Cellars, all of them very affordable.