Jane's Weekly Wines from the Atlanta Wine School PRINT AND GO VERSION January 19th, 2006 Central Coast Gems *************************************************************************************** EDITOR'S NOTE TO SELLERS OF WINE: Since Nov 1st, 2005, we have been diligent in calling around to ensure your shop in fact carries a wine that we report. Beginning, February 1st, 2006, the retailers who "sponsor" our efforts will be provided the Weekly Wine Reviews TWO WEEKS prior to publishing, allowing them time to order & receive the wines for buyers. Beginning February 1st, these will be the only retailers whom we direct buyers to in Georgia. *************************************************************************************** Vin-Sanity Chardonnay 2004 Central Coast (50% Monterrey; 50% Santa Barbara) Score: 88 Points Tasting Notes:Medium-bodied dry white wine; bright greenish yellow, typical of Chardonnay. Very clean aromas of tropical fruits (pineapple) and pear, clean fruit flavors focus on pear with a touch of fig in the finish, which is just a mite hot. Good acidity. Just half went through malolactic fermentation, to round the flavors. Serve moderately chilled, about 55 degrees, in medium-sized tulip-shaped glasses at 55 degrees. Food Pairings: Likes exotic seasonings better than herbs. Best pairing, curried chicken salad; also good with raw oysters (skip the lemon), pasta with saffron cream sauce; salads with sesame oil (Dekalb Farmers Market's bok choy salad), roast breast of chicken rubbed with aromatic spices (not pepper), fried seafood and fish with tartar sauce, hummus, goat cheese, Three Little Pigs' Pàté de Volaille au Armagnac (rougher textured than a pâté, though, so more like a terrine) Price: $15 Wholesaler: Quality Wine & Spirits Where to Get: At DeKalb Bottle House #2 (Brarcliff Rd./Clairmont), Embry Village Wine & Spirits, Merchants Package, Parkaire, Peachtree Road Liquor. Restaurants: Blackstone, Five Seasons Brewing, TWO Urban Licks (in keg), Vinocity, Company, Sala Sabor de Mexico, Spotted Dog ************************************************************************************ Rock Rabbit Sauvignon Blanc 2004 Central Coast Score: 88 Tasting Notes: Medium-bodied slightly off-dry white wine; medium pale greenish straw. Aromas of freshly cut herbs, white peach with a touch of grapefruit blasts out of the glass; white peach and grapefruit flavors throughout the palate. Perhaps a notch of residual sugar rounds out texture, while good acidity keeps flavors fresh. Long finish. Very nice. No oak. 6% Gewürztraminer, perhaps an odd pairing with Sauvignon Blanc, but it's tasty. First-rate value. Serve moderately chilled in medium-sized tulip-shaped glasses at 55 degrees. Food Pairings: Fresh herb-accented foods best with this wine: Tabbouleh; raw oysters (dab of lemon ok); mild fish baked in lemon-basil butter; potato or pasta tossed with Boursin cheese or other herbed, garlic-scented cheese; goat cheese; tarragon chicken or shrimp Price: $13 Wholesaler: Prestige Wine Wholesale Where to Get: Atlanta: Alon’s; Dekalb Farmers Market; Fresh Market; Tower (Piedmont); Whole Foods (all); The Wine Store; Restaurants: The Globe; Muss & Turners (glass & bottle); Perlino’s (Norcross); Athens: ABC Package; Wine & Spirits Warehouse; Restaurant: Mia Madonna; Augusta: Oconee Wine Cellars; J&L Wine & Spirits (Centre at Fury's Ferry; Martinez); Summerville Ace ************************************************************************************** Delicato Monterra "Encore" Dry Rosé Medley 2002 San Barnabe Vineyard, Monterey County Score: 90 Tasting Notes: Medium-bodied medium light red dry rosé wine. Aromas of cranberry and brown aromatic spices, with clean, spicy red fruit flavors, ranging from cranberry to red cherry. Complex, with a decently long crisp, dry finish. More of a light red than a pink rosé. Rosé classicists may take issue with it, as it's something of a controversial style. But I say just enjoy it. Grapes: Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir--a cross-regional blend. Don't let this vintage scare you; it's drinking beaituflly. Tasted twice. Serve moderately chilled, about 55 degrees, in a medium-sized tulip-shaped glass, such as Riedel's Zinfandel glass. Food Pairings: Shrimp with mild rémoulade sauce (Whole Foods); pizza with goat cheese, eggplant, garlic and onion; mild salami, such as Rosette de Lyon; Serrano ham; chorizo; picadillo; slightly spicy fried chicken; thinly sliced rare flank steak, chipotle-flavored sweet potatoes; Moroccan dishes if not too hot (so watch the harissa), baked spaghetti Price: $17 Wholesaler: Georgia Crown Where to Get: At Cost Plus World Market, Dixie Beverage (Woodstock); Sigman Bottle Shop (Conyers); Augusta: The Vineyard at Evans Restaurants: Shrimp Docks at Kilkenny (Richmond Hill, near Savannah) *************************************************************************************** Zaca Mesa Z Cuvée 2002 Santa Ynez Valley Score: 91 Tasting Notes: Full-bodied dry red wine; medium deep dark cherry red. Big red and black fruit aromas, with a touch of crushed dried herb, and an occasional whiff of animal, perhaps contributed by the Syrah. Flavors focus on the blackberry/red raspberry profile. Rich, deep, distinctive, with easy tannins. Good acidity makes for a mouthwatering finish. Likely has 5-7 yeas to go if well cellared. Grapes: Grenache; Mourvèdre' Syrah; Cinsault. French oak. Cool room temperature, about 60-65 degrees, in generous tulip-shaped glasses. Food Pairings: Likes spice, especially black pepper. Black peppercorn-crusted liver pãté; cold rare steak with garlic mayonnaise; braised ox tails with vegetables (awesome); smoked meats; portobello muishrooms, either sliced and sautèed or stuffed; steak and mushroom pie; Winery recommends: Herbs & Spices - Basil, oregano, rosemary, fennel; Vegetables - Beets, eggplant, tomatoes, beets, mushrooms' Fish & Seafood - Salmon, tuna (baked, grilled, sautéed)' Meats - Bacon, beef, duck, lamb, game; Cheeses - Aged cheddar, brie; Other - BBQ, pizza, tapas Price: $16 Wholesaler: Georgia Crown Where to Get: Available chiefly in restaurants, so order from retailer: Mostly at restaurants, such as Blackstone, Pano's & Paul's. ************************************************************************************ Austin Hope Westside Red 2002 Paso Robles Score: 92 Tasting Notes: Full-bodied dry red wine; deep purple red. Aromas of blackberries, touch of blueberry, luscious juicy black fruit flavors, blackberries. Easy, very fine tannins. Voluptuous texture. Long finish, with fruit/acidity in harmony. Well balanced. Grapes: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, all Rhône varieties. Serve at cool room temperature, about 60-65 degrees, in large-bowl tall glasses. Food Pairings: Ok with simple red meats, such as baked ham, steak, or grilled or roasted lamb or pork tenderloin. But really shines with spicier fare, such as lamb rogan josh (keep the heat down, tho), steak and mushroom pie, dishes flavored with cumin; lasagne, well-seasoned legume dishes, rabbit or dark meat turkey with tomato and country ham; smoked meats, tamarind-rubbed beef short ribs, lamb barbecue. And for dessert, dark chocolate. Price: $19 Wholesaler: Empire Distributing Where to Get: Good availability: DeKalb Bottle House, The Grape (all), Marietta Wine Market (off the Square), Southern Wine & Spirits Restaurants: Blue Ridge Grill, Garrison's, Taurus, The Warren City Club (a dining club in Virginia-Highland) ************************************************************************************** Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir 2001 Santa Cruz Mountains Score: 88 Tasting Notes: Medium-bodied dry red wine; bright dark cherry red color. Aromatic, definite, but not overpowering, red cherry and brown spice, flavors focus on red cherry and spice, but pick up a bit of dried herb. Soft tannins. Lingering finish, especially one the wine has had a chance to develop in the glass. Gets downright seductive, in fact. 2002 vintage is bigger, pairs better with grilled lamb, but still isn't over-the-top, as are so many California Pinot Noirs. Suggest decanting perhaps 30 minutes to an hour before serving at cool room temperature in generous bowl-shaped glasses. Federally recognized as an AVA since 1981, the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA lies along the Pacific Coast south of San Francisco. Food Pairings: Creamy goose liver mousse; peppered dishes; roast duck and grilled duck breast, quail and chicken; grilled portobello mushrooms, cold thinly sliced rare steak, braised or roast breast of veal, dark meat turkey cooked with tomato, pappardelle or other pasta with rabbit sauce, lamb or pork tenderloin Price: $28 Wholesaler: Quality Wine & Spirits Where to Get: Order from retailer. At Charlie's 2 (Bell's Ferry Rd., Acworth), and they love it there.