Monday, August 13, 2007

jim enjoying his wine....


Jim, Wine & a white background
Originally uploaded by dawnmg



...at the wedding we attended on Saturday in Portland. All I know is that it was a Pinot Noir, I believe from Oregon and it was pretty darn yummie. I had at least 4 or 5 glasses myself...

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Wine Color Guide

Not sure that this is to helpful since the color of wine does not only speaks to the quality of the wine, but also about the grape varieties. Still this is a nice blog about the various wine colors.

Wine Color Guide for Quality and Age



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Monday, August 6, 2007

Photos from Chilean Tasting


2007.08.04 - Wine Club
Originally uploaded by jimgskoop
Here are some photos from the recent Chilean tasting. Enjoy!

Saturday, August 4, 2007

Concha y Toro Terrunyo Carmenere


Our wine club Chilean offering is the Terrunyo Carmenere from Concha y Toro.

Block 27, Peumo Vineyard in Rapel Valley, Chile
85% Carménère
12% Cabernet Sauvignon
3% Cabernet Franc
Harvested by hand in April. The wine is aged in new and used French oak barriques for 13 months followed by an additional 8 months in the bottle.
Color: Dark, deep red.
Bouquet: Hints of berries, chocolate, cigar box, pepper and mineral notes.
Taste: Tasty and full-bodied with a bright, deep red color. It is an elegant, powerful wine which lingers in the mouth.
Alcohol Content: 13.9%
Total Acidity: 5.74 g/l

Bright, deep red in color; exhibits hints of chocolate, pepper and mineral notes. Tasty and full-bodied, with strong tannins imparting the particular style of this very unique varietal which grows virtually nowhere else.

"Concha y Toro’s Terrunyo Carmenere gets my vote as the finest Carmenere produced in Chile. The 2004 Carmenere is other-worldly. Opaque purple in color, it has a sexy perfume of smoky oak, blueberry jam, and blackberry liqueur. This is followed by an ultra-rich, unique wine with sensational depth, concentration and tons of flavor. It can be enjoyed now and over the next 20+ years. The winery also presented a vertical tasting of other Terrunyo Carmeneres. Among them were the 1999 (93 points), 2001 (94 points), 2003 (95 points) and a barrel sample of the 2005 (92-94 points)... among the greatest values in red wine anywhere."
-Wine Advocate

Friday, August 3, 2007

amplus one 2004


amplus one 2004 is what we (sm) are bringing to wine club chile.
here is what we have found on the winery and the wine...

Santa Ema

Another one of T.G.I.C’s first imports, Santa Ema was established by Pedro Pavone, the son of Italian winemakers from Piedmont in Italy. Having arrived in the Maipo valley of Chile in 1917, Pedro was an engineer by trade and spent his early years grape growing for other wineries, having planted his first vineyards in 1931 and harvesting his first cabernet, Merlot and sauvignon Blanc grapes four years later. He then established the winery with his son Felix in 1955. Santa Ema produces Chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc in addition to a reserve range, Barrel Select line, and a Bordeaux-style red blend called “Catalina” which consistently earns praise for each vintage. Santa Ema was named one of the 20 “World’s Finest value Brands” by Wine Spectator in 2005.

From Wine & Spirits
92pts Santa Ema $19
2004 Maipo Amplus One
Rich with exotic spices, sweet red cherry and mulberry flavors, this wine's tannins keep it balanced, instilled with energy. (W&S 6/07) T.G.I.C. Importers, Woodland Hills, CA

Amplus, a blend of 70 percent cabernet sauvignon, 26 percent syrah and 4 percent carignan, amps up Santa Ema’s smooth, rich style with an enchanting mix of chocolate and exotic spice aromas and sweet red cherry and mulberry flavors. It would be too much if it weren’t for the tannins, which gently yet firmly support the fullness of the wine and instill it with energy.