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July 2nd, 2009
Join Us This Weekend for Two "All American" Tasting Events!
Friday, July 3rd Beer Tasting 4-7 PM
Rogue American Amber Ale $14.99/6-pack
They call it an amber, but this thick, toffee-rich beer has more in a common with brown ales than anything else. Brewed primarily as a cold season beer, the American Amber Ale is a malt heavy beer with bitter amber or ESB pretensions. An extra special dose of hops compliments the coffee-like bitterness already present in the malt and gives the beer a little acidity, which makes it a summer-worthy drink. Because this ale is brewed with Rogue's righteous Pacman yeast, a substantial cap of tan foam remains in the glass from the top to bottom and provides yet another layer of flavor. We haven't had this in the store for awhile, but it's back just in time for the Independence Day celebrations!
Heavy Seas' Red Sky at Night Saison $12.99/6-pack
After hitting up the Publick House this weekend, I decided that bringing in another saison would be a worthwhile endeavor. Though the DuPont is considered by many to be the finest saison in the world, there are so many variations on this style that keeping only one in the store seemed like a crime. Based in Baltimore, MD, the Clipper City Heavy Seas series represents the best of the brewery. Everything on this line is bottle-conditioned and exceeds 7% ABV. Red Sky at Night is approximately 9% and sports a bright golden color with some orange seasoning. It has a vaguely Belgian aroma about it with clove and cinnamon standing out on the nose. At heart it's a saison: the taste is musty and slightly bitter at first, but it warms up with a strong citrus flavor and a distinct spiciness. This is a saison, but tastes nothing like the DuPont we carried.
Coniston's Bluebird Bitter $6.99/500ml bottle
And what would the Independence Day story be without the English? Coniston's is an award-winning English Bitter that has sadly been absent from our shelves, but is now ready for your drinking enjoyment. I can safely say you've probably never had a bitter like this before. An almost tropical fruit aroma drifts off the top of this golden beer, but the flavor is dominated by an up front dry-hop bitterness. A gentle hint of orange then pushes through in the finish and blends in with the gentle grain flavors that permeate the beer from start to finish. A touch of sweetness rounds the beer out, making it even more refreshing. We're excited to have this in the store; it represents some the best of England and is unlike anything else in the store.
Dogfish Head Squall $9.99/750ml bottle
Sometimes you can teach an old dog new tricks. In this case, Dogfish Head has updated their 90 Minute IPA by making it bottle-conditioned and keeping it 100% unfiltered. It retains the same 9% ABV as the 90 Minute IPA, but that's where the similarities end. The yeast is, of course, far more present and contributes a subtle grip that makes the beer feel heavier. Dry-hopped with 6 different varieties of hop flowers, Squall is even more bitter than it's older brother and retains a good deal of hop oils that further enhance the already substantial body. Orange and lemon stand out on first sip, but the hop character is incredibly strong and lends an almost gin-like character to the beer. The pine and caramel qualities of the 90 Minute are still present, but they're amplified. Dogfish Head make some big beers, but this is easily one of their most potent (the 120 doesn't count!).
Saturday, July 4th Wine & Cheese Tasting 4-7 PM
Taft Street '07 Russian River Valley Chardonnay $19.99
The Taft Street story began in the 1970s, when John Tierney & friend Mike Martini began making wine in Mike Tierney's garage on Taft Street. The reputation of the "garagistes" wines (referring to small lots of cult wines produced by Bordeaux winemakers in garages) spread, and family and friends bonded Taft Street Winery on April Fool's Day, 1982, in the Russian River Valley town of Forestville. Today, Taft Street focuses their winemaking in the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast appellations, as well as nearby vineyards in Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley. Their goals have not changed - make the highest quality wines; sell them at a fair price; and most of all, have fun in the process. This vintage of Russian River Valley Chardonnay was largely (75%) barrel fermented, and 50% of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation. A full 80% of the chardonnay was oak aged for 10 months, with the remainder kept in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks to enhance the fruit and acidity. This complex chardonnay seamlessly combines tropical fruit and subtle oak tones. The result is an impeccably balanced and vibrant wine, with a great mouth feel and a persistent finish. Perfectly yummy!
Promisquous White Blend $14.99
From the winemakers lips to the MB&W newsletter, I don't think I could say it better myself! "May we present a casual dalliance with more than one partner, a sensual blend of Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, and other white varietals. No barrel aging in this vintage to safeguard our purity. (Note: Aging is for old folks.) Aromas of Melon. Pear, Tangerine, Rose Petal, Lychee, Lemon Rind. Yummy. You smell good. Can I get your iPhone number? Flavors of - See above. 90% of what we taste is what we smell. And that's a fact. Food Pairing Suggestions - Oysters. Caviar. Grilled cheese sandwiches. Omelets the morning after. Chicken Casserole. Fish tacos. Salads. Seafood. When you're in a lighthearted mood and want to drink lighthearted wine. Practice safe sipping..."
Turtle Creek Zinfandel $16.99
Recently, Andy from Turtle Creek stopped in and re-introduced us to their Zinfandel. We were reminded of the quality of the wine they produce, as well as the unique characters that make this Zinfandel so different from others that we sell here at MB&W. With medium body, elegant fruit and minimal oaking, this wine is far more approachable and fitting for summer than most California Zinfandels. Turtle Creek is a small winery located in the shadow of Boston. They presently produce about nine hundred cases per year, but expect to grow to one thousand cases per year with additional vineyard space leased from the Town of Lincoln. Their plantings include Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, and Riesling. They also purchase fruit from California. This is an idiosyncratic Zin. Half of the grapes were left on skins, after fermentation, for two months. The result shows some loss of color, and is less fruit forward, but there is a discernable increase in earthiness and complexity. Very elegant!
Monte Volpe Rosso '06 $13.99
Gregory Graziano's grandfather, Vincenzo Graziano, and his wife Angela, first planted vineyards in Mendocino County in 1918, where they grew and sold grapes. To support his family during the late 1920's, Vincenzo had to depend on selling grapes to home winemakers on the east coast - and bootlegging wine. In the 1940's, after Prohibition and the Depression, Vincenzo, along with other local grape growers, formed the Mendocino Vineyards Winery, which eventually was sold and merged into the historically significant Cresta Blanca Winery in the town of Ukiah. The Graziano's winemaking tradition continued through Vencenzo's son, Joseph, who later handed it down to his son, Gregory Graziano. Italian grape varieties that were once an integral part of Mendocino viticulture are again drawing the attention of wineries here as well as those in other regions in the United States. The wines they have made at Monte Volpe (which means Fox Mountain) since their first releases in 1991 are rich in color, fragrance, flavor and offer a great deal of finesse. Their structures are reminiscent of their Italian ancestry, but they display a vibrancy that is the hallmark of wines produced from fully ripened grapes. This brand focuses on the classic red varieties of Tuscany and the supple white cultivars of Friuli. Wine Business Monthly just listed Graziano Winery as the "Hottest Small Label Winery" of 2008 - and for good reason. This is a fascinating blend of grapes: Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Negroamaro, Carignan, and Nebbiolo. It shows lots of jammy fruit on the nose and offers quite a juicy mouthful.
Artisanal Cheeses
We have some brand new cheeses that you won't want to miss! Pineland Farms is a Maine-based farm that specializes in Cheddar and Monterey Jack. We currently have their Salsa Jack, Sharp Cheddar and Monterey Jack. So come on in and sample some this weekend!
Other News and Items of Interest
Tortoise Creek Eco-Friendly Practices
All grapes are grown under sustainable viticultural practices. To protect the environment, no farming takes place within 100 feet of sensitive wildlife habitat areas (adhering to the Safe Harbor Agreement). No sulfur is used in the vineyard, and all chemicals are carefully evaluated for their potential impact on run-off and erosion. Vines were originally planted without the removal of any trees or native cover crops; in fact, cover crops are encouraged in the rows to reduce soil tillage. And, to help eliminate harmful pests, Tortoise Creek incorporates eco-friendly options including bird boxes, predatory perches, and the release of beneficial insects.
The Illusive Carménère Grape
The history of Carménère wines is quite similar to that of the Malbec grape. Once prominent in France, both were brought to South America in the mid 1800's by the French, and the unique wines made from them have since become an important part of South American wine making. Both have fallen out of favor in their native France and are produced in extremely small quantities around the world, in addition to the more robust production in South America. But while Malbec, a predominantly Argentinean grape, produces big tannic wines with a lot of red fruits and spice, Carménère is much more mellow, with soft tannins and strong herbal accents.
Viognier
Viognier's main attraction is probably its aroma. Powerful, rich, and complex, it can often seem like overripe apricots mixed with orange blossoms or acacia. Its aroma-flavor profile is as distinctive and sweet as Gewürztraminer. The distinctive Viognier perfume holds up even when blended with a large portion of other grapes. The fruit usually has very deep color, but is somewhat low in acidity. Both Chardonnay and Viognier share tropical fruit flavors and a creamy mouthfeel. Even with little or no wood aging, Viognier can be as full-bodied as an oaky Chardonnay, but has a much more distinctive fruit character. It also has a typically deep golden color, as well as rich and intense flavor.
Wine Glasses
The quality of glassware can greatly enhance the wine experience - or vice versa. While it may seem a bit snobby to have a specific glass for a specific wine, it really does make a difference in how a wine tastes and is experienced. As they say, size really does matter when it comes to stemware, so choose ones that have a large, wide bowl. I recently found a fantastic, all-purpose wine glass that's the perfect size to toggle easily between reds and whites; it is now our official "house wine glass" in the Bergstrom household. Contact us if you are interested in obtaining a set.
Vinho Verde
One of summer's most refreshing wines is Vinho Verde, the cool, crisp, zesty white wine from the northwestern corner of Portugal. Usually light in body and low in alcohol, it has a knifelike acidity and a hint of fizz. The name literally means "Green Wine," referring to its youthfulness rather than its color. Vinhos Verdes are light, fresh, and intended for drinking within a year. At less than 1 bar of CO2 pressure, they do not quite qualify as semi-sparkling wines, but do have a definite petillance. Vinho Verde in particular is very fresh, due its natural acidity, with fruity and floral aromas (depending on the grape variety). Lemon or straw in color, with around 9-11% alcohol, Vinho Verdes are made from the local grape varieties Loureiro, Arinto, Trajadura, Avesso and Azal.
A Vegan Wine... Aren't ALL wines Vegan?
No - wineries may use animal-derived products as finings. To remove proteins, yeasts, and other organic particles that are in suspension during the making of the wine, a fining agent is added to the top of the vat. As it sinks down, these particles adhere to the agent, and are carried away, out of suspension.
Examples of animal products used as finings are gelatin, isinglass, chitosan, casein and egg albumen. (Bull's blood is also used in some Mediterranean countries but is not allowed in the U.S. or France.) An alternative to animal products, Bentonite, a clay mineral, can be used to clarify the wine. And there are even some very patient vintners who let the wine's sediments settle naturally!
A Taste Of Calabria
Calabrian wines are produced from the Calabria region in southern Italy. Over 90% of the region's wine production is red wine, with a large portion made from the Gaglioppo grape. Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) is an Italian quality assurance label for food products - especially wines. Calabria has 12 Denominazione di origine controllata regions, but only 4% of the yearly production is classified as DOC wine.
Rosé: What's it all about?
Most high-quality rosés are made from dark-skinned grapes. After the grapes are crushed, the winemaker chooses how long the juice will remain in contact with the skins: In general, the longer the period of skin contact, the darker and more tannic the wine. To make rosé, the juice is separated from the skins relatively quickly, resulting in the pale color. In addition, we'd like to point out that classic Rosés are dry wines, not sweet like a white Zinfandel. White Zin was actually an accidental discovery by the Sutter Home winery in the 1970's when they experienced "stuck fermentation", a problem that occurs when the yeast dies out before consuming all of the sugar. The wine makers gave it a shot, liked their "sweet success", and it has become the best selling premium wine in the U.S.
April 16, 2009
A great big "thank you!" to all of our loyal and generous customers who attended our Dana-Farber event on Saturday! With your support, we raised over $1200 in just four hours! And, with a corporate match from a loyal customer named Angie, we were able to donate more than $2400 to Dana-Farber. The wines that we tasted had a lot of competition - Rockin' George Leh and his band nearly stole the show with their fantastic, high-energy performance - but the wines were also loved by all and managed to hold their own.
White Bordeaux
White Bordeaux are predominantly and exclusively in the case of the sweet Sauternes. As with the reds, white Bordeaux wines are usually blends, made most commonly of Sémillon and a smaller proportion of Sauvignon Blanc. Typical blends are 80% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc. Additional permitted grape varieties are Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Merlot Blanc, Ondenc and Mauzac.
Acidity and Wine and Food Pairing
Acidity plays a powerful role in the successful matching of food and wine.
High acid wines (those with a ph between 3.0 to 3.4), such as Chardonnay, Viognier, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Italian reds (like Chianti) typically prove an excellent complement to a wide variety of foods.
Low acid wines (those with a ph between 3.5 and 4.0), such as Syrah, Cabernet, Merlot, Grenache, Mouvedre, and Tempranillo, tend to pair better with low acid foods.
Some Suggested Pairings...
High acid wines and high acid foods, like tomato-based dishes;
High acid wines and salty foods; this has a tempering effect on foods such as caviar;
High acid wines with smoked foods, such as smoked salmon - a terrific counterpoint!
Low acid wines grilled meats, vegetables, and cream sauces.
March 5, 2009
Continuing our philanthropic tradition, we will be promoting some new wines with a purpose. One Hope Wines is a for-profit negotiant that donates 50% of their profits to carefully-selected partner charities. Hope is all about making the world better, and One Hope is all about offering people an easy way to make a difference. And of course, the wines are great - would we stock anything lesser on our shelves?? They're very indicative of the varietal: easy to drink and value priced. By purchasing a Chardonnay, you can support Breast Cancer research through the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Proceeds from the Merlot help fund the fight against AIDS through AIDS/LifeCycle, and the Cabernet - which will be featured at this week's wine tasting - supports ACT! Today, an organization dedicated to increasing access to effective autism treatments. And, for MB&W Wine Club members - a full 55% of your One Hope purchases will be put towards helping others. Now that is something to feel good about!
Aging and Wine
I'm sure we've all heard the "statistic" that 94% of all wine is consumed within 24 hours of its purchase. It's true that most Americans do not age their wines, and wineries have taken note. Improved techniques are allowing them to ship their product to market earlier and earlier; in fact, wines are actually being aimed at earlier consumption, and we've all enjoyed the freshness so appealing in many wines.
With that said, you may notice your '08 Cabernets tasting a little "green" (and I am not talking about an herbal quality!) or a little stemmy. It may simply be that the flavors have not yet integrated completely. This even happens to exceptional wines, and it simply means that the wine may need a little more time to develop. The label should be re-visited in 6 months to a year. And something to keep in mind - wines from the southern hemisphere (Australia, South Africa) are a full season ahead of us, so vintages will seem a bit "younger" than they truly are.
A few tips for those who are planning to age wine at home... #1: Nothing destroys wine faster than air! Be sure to store your bottle horizontally, and make absolutely certain that the cork is intact. #2: Proper temperature - between 40 and 60 degrees F - is extremely important. (Perhaps you've noticed that our store can be a little chilly!) #3: Keep your wine away from light - a cellar is the perfect place!
Wines from Germany
Mary has been working hard for you, seeking out the best of the best in German wines - and she didn't stop at Riesling. At this week's tasting, we'll have some great and unusual wines for sampling, including some of Germany's non-Riesling offerings. The fact that they may be less well-known than Riesling certainly hasn't affected their quality! See our Education Corner on the left for more information on Germany's diverse range of wines. We'll also have Argentinean and South African Cabernets, and a California Rhone style blend. This tasting is not to be missed! Stop in to sample the wines, some yummy cheeses, olives and salamis! Karen will be back at the helm this weekend, so get ready for some great conversation 'round the tasting table.
We love it when you, our loyal customers, give us feedback - after all, we're here for your entertainment and enjoyment! Feedback on our diverse beer selection has been overwhelmingly positive - but that doesn't mean that we rest on our laurels! Lucas has been working furiously to bring in a huge selection of Belgian and German beers, so keep an eye on the beer cooler over the next few weeks to watch the transformation. Our beer tasting this week will feature a few of these new selections, including a Saison or Belgian Farm Ale and a Kölsch, a German Spring selection. You won't want to miss these exclusive beers!
Some long-awaited wines are back on the shelves after vintage changes. The '05 Turnbull Cabernet has ripe black fruit flavors, aromatics of blackberry, dark plum, cherry and anise, and oak nuances of toasted oak, roasted coffee, and chocolate. This vintage has rich, ripe tannins, and packs a powerful finish. This Napa Cabernet is fantastic and worth every penny! And the new vintage of Joel Gott Cabernet will be making its long-awaited appearance next week.
We have a new Pouilly-Fuissé on our shelves, the Domaine Larochette Pouilly-Fuissé '06. This wine, from the Mâcon region of France, is tropical, slightly citrusy and exceptionally well rounded. If the Mâcon Lugny Charmes Chardonnay (one of our best selling Chardonnays) is one of your favorites, be sure to pick up a bottle for your next special occasion.
Portuguese wine has been a huge seller for us over the past few months. One of our best selling "value wines" is the Alandra Tinto. This box wine has been selling great, but if you do not want to commit to 3 liters of wine you will be happy to hear the the Alandra bottle will be back in the store this weekend! We will also be tasting on a Rose from Portugal. The makers of Esporao, one of our best selling Portuguese whites, vinifies this fantastic Rose.
Our 4 and 6 pack re-usable carrier bags have been flying out the door. They are the perfect way to carry your purchases home and return, soon after we hope, to fill it back up again! Customers have been loving the design, and they are cheap! At $2.99 for the 4 pack and $3.99 for the 6 pack they are a steal. Stop in and pick up your re-usable wine bottle bag today. Keep in mind that we give back 5 cents every time you bring in your own bag!
Did you know that all of our "green label" wines denotes wines that are organic, made with organic grapes, bio-dynamic, sustainable farming or carbon neutral practices? In addition many wines from Italy and France a made with old world farming methods. We also carry a few organic beers as well including Peak and Wolavers (tasting beer for Friday!)