Jane's Weekly Wines from the Atlanta Wine School PRINT AND GO VERSION February 16th, 2006 Anything But Chardonnay (ABC) *************************************************************************************** RETAILERS WHO SUPPORT THIS COLUMN AND HAVE HAD THIS LIST OF WINES IN ADVANCE. Pearson's Wines of Atlanta, 3072 Early St Nw Atlanta, GA 30305 -- 404-231-8752 Corner Wine & Art, 1402 N. Highland Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30306 -- 404-875-8810 Home Town Wine & Spirits, 4856 Hog Mountain Rd, Flowery Branch, GA --770-965-6058 The Colors of Wine, 2355 Cumberland Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30339 -- 770-432-2828 Sigman Bottle Shop, 425 Sigman Road - Conyers, GA 30012 -- 770-929-8797 Shiraz, 675 Pulaski Street, Suite 400, Athens, GA 30601 -- 706-208-0010 Windward Beverage, 12915 Hwy 9, Alpharetta, GA 30004 -- 678-566-3301 IS YOUR WINE SHOP NOT LISTED HERE? HAVE THEM CALL 770-668-0435 *************************************************************************************** Bodegas Vińedos de Aldeanuueva Cortijo III Viura 2004 Rioja (Baja), Spain Score: 87 Points Tasting Notes: Medium-full-bodied dry white wine; medium yellow. Aromas of honey and spice, tropical fruit flavors, good acidity. Mouthwatering finish, Bit of lemon drop, a little ginger perhaps?. Another note of the taste of honey in the finish, along with minerals. Exotic character in any event. Lovely value. Grape: Viura (100%) This is a large cooperative, the "Vineyards of New Village," as the bodega's name announces. Moderately chilled, about 50 degrees. Food Pairings: Exotic and assertive seasonings: poached chicken with garlic mayonnaise, Chinese food [egg foo yung, peanut chicken, crab Rangoon (very nice)], grilled garlic shrimp; shrimp or scallops with rémoulade or bacon-grilled with mustard mayonnaise, yucca croquetas with avocado (from Pura Vida)-- superior!, empanadas, paella. Price: $9 Wholesaler: Ulimate Distributors ************************************************************************************ Stellenbosch Vineyards Helderberg Steen (Chenin Blanc) 2004 Stellenbosch, South Africa Score: 90 Tasting Notes: Medium-bodied dry (<.5 RS) white wine; medium straw. Aromas of pear and honey, with the taste of honey (not its sweetness) shaping the ripe fruit flavors. Touch of banana, and other tropical fruits. Mineral accents. Seamless integration of flavors. Excellent value. Steen is the South African name for the Chenin Blanc grape, the most widely planted white wine grape in South Africa. Give this one time to open, and serve just moderately chilled. Food Pairings: Mild curried chicken salad; South African "pan" dishes, a combination of shellfish, calamari, prawns and yellow rice (Famous Fish Co., Peachtree City); chicken pot pie, seafood or chicken-filled crępes; sundry vegetable dishes (squash casserole, stuffed baked Vidalia onion, macaroni and cheese, cannellini beans), grilled or baked salmon; crab, crawfish or salmon cakes; spinach ravioli with chicken and Thai seasonings; satay Price: $9 Wholesaler: Quality Wine & Spirits ************************************************************************************** Loimer "Lois" Grüner Veltliner 2004 Kamptal, Austria Score: 91 Tasting Notes: Medium-bodied dry (.2 RS) white wine; very pale straw. Fine aromas of lime blossom, with flavors blending grapefruit, crisp green apple and lime. Tasty acidity, well integrated with the fruit. Long finish. Stainless steel fermentation keeps fruit fresh. Zesty, palate-refreshing simple flavors. Easy alcohol: 11.5%. Grape type: Grüner Veltliner, the most widely planted white wine grape in Austria. Drink young; not a keeper. Food Pairings: Amazing with Thai (not too spicy) and other Asian flavors; chicken or pork satay; spinach pasta with Thai chicken, coconut milk, ginger and peanut sauce (Saba, near Emory); all manner of cold Asian-flavored noodle dishes; pud Thai; subtle curries. Also oysters with lemon, simple grilled shrimp or scallops, wild striped bass in chipotle lime marinade; grilled chicken sausages with Thai flavors; goat cheese. Skip salmon and other oily fish (UGH!!!). No crawfish either. Price: $14 Wholesaler: Quality Wine & Spirits *************************************************************************************** Cascina Chicco Roero Arneis D.O.C. 2004 Anterisio, Italy Score: 88 Tasting Notes: Light- medium-bodied dry white wine; medium straw. Aromas feature lime with a touch of chalk (signaling minerals), clean, fresh fruit scent, with flavors of mineral-rich white fruits.and ample quince in mid palate, Silky texture. Long finish. Very tasty work. Opens in the glass rather quickly, so consider decanting. Food Pairings: The shellfish wine: Soft-shell crab; garlic, parsley and white wine steamed clams, thus also linguine with white clam sauce; crab-stuffed mild fish; crab cakes; oysters (fried, raw, roasted), Basque-style cod in herb butter; cheese-stuffed pasta with lemon, herbed butter sauce; pasta with butter and fresh herbs; baked striped bass with lime chopotle marinade (Whole Foods) Price: $23 Wholesaler: Vinifera Distributing ************************************************************************************ Stephen Ross Flying Cloud Firepeak Vineyard Pinot Gris 2004 Edna Valley, CA Score: 90 Tasting Notes: Medium-bodied dry white wine; medium pale straw. Aromas of honey and pear, with flavors focused on white fruits, minerals. Think sundry kinds of pears. Brisk acidity pushes the long finish. Clean, crisp, complex. Silky texture. Stainless steel fermentation, with aging in four-year-old French oak sur lies, which accounts for the complexity. No "malo," so the acidity (6.38) is intact. The 2004 vintage is the third release. PG likes cold climate, and Edna Valley is cool. Kinda shy, so consider decanting to open, and serve cool, about 55 degrees. Food Pairings: Oysters with lemon or fried oysters Chinese style; cold sesame noodles; crab rangoon; Chinese peanut chicken; satay; black pepper chicken, squid or clams; egg foo yung or Korean pancakes; fried chicken; squash casserole and layered scalloped potatoes with roast chicken or pork tenderloin; roast turkey, tarragon and almond chicken salad (and I'd bet poulet au estragon, too). Price: $18 Wholesaler: Ultimate Distributors ************************************************************************************** Weingut Kirsten Riesling Brut Sekt 1999 Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany Score: 88 Tasting Notes: Medium-bodied dry white sparkling wine; medium golden straw. Aromas of crushed apples, with flavors that suggest both quince and apple. Creamy texture. Small, persistent bead. Nice acidity, well balanced with fruit, and a fresh, lingering, mouthwatering finish. Serve chilled, about 50 degrees, in tulip-shaped glasses. Food Pairings: A full meal wine, from appetizers to main dishes (but not dessert). Asian fare: dim sum; beef or tuna tataki; pork tonkatsu; tempura; mild curries; deep-fried whole catfish with ponzu dipping sauce; fairly spicy Thai dishes. German fare: chicken with whole grain mustard and cream sauce; fish cooked in beer, served with a mustard béchamel. Roast turkey; grilled scallops with rémoulade sauce. Price: $19 Wholesaler: Continental Beverage