Red Trio Wine Club - June 2012
Learn the finer points to many of the wines we offer each month. Our club wines are expertly researched and selected for quality, value and uniqueness and every one has an interesting history. Here are some of the wines we are offering this month:
Watermill Winery - Milton-Freewater, Oregon
2007 Chances R Red Blend Columbia Valley
Watermill Winery was established in 2005 with the vision to create some of the finest wines produced in the Walla Walla Valley. With passion and experience in the vineyard, the Brown family formed an exclusive relationship with Rich Funk of Saviah Cellars to oversee the winemaking operations. In 2007, Andrew Brown took over as winemaker, and is carrying on the tradition of making superb, award winning, estate wines. The winery is located in the historic Watermill Building and is one of the first wineries in Milton Freewater, Oregon, just 10 miles from downtown Walla Walla. Their 2007 red blend is Merlot based (75%) with the remaining 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes were sourced from Milbrandt and McClellan Estate vineyards. The Merlot gains additional structure and color with the addition of Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine displays a dark garnet color with fragrant bright cherry along with hints of tobacco, cedar, and baking spice on the nose. The palate is rich and savory with juicy red cherry, and blueberry flavors. It is a fruit-driven wine with deeply concentrated flavors and the right amount of toasty, sweet oak character. Drink now through 2014. Enjoy it with pork tenderloin, roasted chicken with fresh rosemary, lamb chops or your favorite red-sauce pasta.
Scoprire - Italy
2011 Sangiovese Del Rubicone IGT
The strongly individual characteristics of Emilia-Romagna wines make them northern Italy's most eccentric. They are different, on the whole, from the wines of their neighbors. In Romagna, wines are made primarily from the native Sangiovese, Trebbiano and Albana grapes. Albana di Romagna, which became Italy's first DOCG white wine in 1987, is usually dry and still with a distinctive almond undertone and finish. The king of Romagna wines, though, is Sangiovese, usually a robust red with pronounced fruity flavors, reminiscent of the great variety of produce and fruits gracing the area. Scoprire Sangiovese is made with 100% Sangiovese grapes from the Rubicone river valley. The Rubicone IGT is named for the Rubicone River that flows from the Apennine Mountains to the Adriatic Sea through the southern portion of Emilia-Romagna. The river valley and the adjoining hillsides provide optimal growing conditions for the Sangiovese grape. Grapes are carefully selected and gently crushed. The must is left in contact with the skins for approximately one week. It is then transferred to temperature controlled stainless steel tanks where fermentation takes place over a ten day span. Following fermentation the wine is cold stabilized and bottled. Scoprire then releases the wine in the spring following the harvest. It's a bright ruby color, medium bodied, dry but fruity wine. It has a powerful nose of bitter cherries and a lively palate, with good depth of cherry fruit, crisp acidity and decent structure. The wine may be light on weight but it is long on flavor. The ideal pasta-and-pizza red. An uncomplicated smooth and easy-drinking Italian red wine with delicate aromas and flavors of red fruits and soft tannins. Ideal with crusty tomato and mozzarella pizza. It can also be served slightly chilled as an accompaniment to dining “Al Fresco” on a warm summer evening.
Midnight Ridge - Australia
2011 Shiraz South Eastern Australia
Shiraz is Australia's highest profile wine style, and arguably its best red wine. The grape is believed to have come to Australia first from its home, Hermitage in the Rhone area of France many years ago. Some believe, again arguably, that due to extensive re-planting in France due to Phylloxera, Australia's older vineyards are more like Hermitage used to be, than that region is today. Some Australian vineyards date back over 100 years unchanged (and small amounts of wine are still made from these old grapes.) What is not in doubt however is that Shiraz, called Syrah in France, is the best and best known red wine of Australia. It is the most widely grown red grape variety, grown in almost all regions, and makes the most recognized Australian wines in the world market. Through all of this and in almost every climate, Shiraz makes quality wine. It can be delicious and fruity when young, but can mellow with up to 20 or 30 years in the cellar into magnificent wine showing earthy, velvety, almost sweet fruit characters. This Midnight Ridge offering was just released so it is very young. It is a medium weight Shiraz, with a pleasing balance between ripe fruit and savory, earthy notes on the nose. The palate is succulent and mouth-filling, with lashings of red berry and brambles. This wine is perfect now and will drink well through 2016 or longer. Serve with spiced red meat dishes such as steaks, lamb kebabs or grilled chops.
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