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