Celebrating Lambrusco Day

Did you see what I just did to that guy? Get me a drink now!

How did you celebrate the official start to summer? I did so by taking part in Lambrusco Day. Props to one of my favorite neighborhood wine stores 67 Wines for sponsoring this and introducing me to some great summer wines.

Anyone who thinks Lambrusco is just a dressed up Rose is completely missing the mark. I tried a Manicardi Vigna Ca del Fiore Cru and it’s a deep dark, ruby red with a much more aggressive taste then most of your “summer” wines. You get a nice hint of strawberry and dark cherry with a surprisingly more “tannic” quality than what you’d normally find in a sparkling wine.

This particular wine comes from a region north in Italy called Emilia Romagna. This is a premier region of the country which comprises Parma and Ferrera. (Fun Fact: Some of your chicest car manufacturers like Maserati, Lamborghini, and Ferrari come from this region.) Lambrusco's been a mainstay in Italy for centuries and was actually popular amongst the ancient Romans. Toga party, anyone?  

Wines of Chile Grand Tasting

From the Morande table

Carménère is one of my favorite grapes in the entire world. I am so happy that it was rediscovered in Chile after many assumed it died out in Bordeaux. To those awful European settlers who plundered through Chile in the sixteenth and seventeenth century, I salute you (well sorta, what you did was still terrible even if you did unbeknownst to yourself safe an entire grape varietal).

Last week I actually went to a Grand Tasting of Chile’s Wines in Chelsea. It was a great big show with about sixty vineyards and all the scrumptious ceviche you could down. Let’s take a look at some of the standout Carménère.

From Geo Wines in the Maipo Valley is the Chono San Lorenzo 2007. This is a great wine to pair with steak. And because it’s actually a blend with 20% Syrah it would work well with lamb too. There’s a great earthy vibe to this that balances out the pleasant fruit and floral flavors with the Carménère. Bonus points because it’s biodynamic. 

Much farther south in the Maule Valley is where J. Bouchon makes the Mingre 2008. This is a blend of 32% Syrah, 30% Malbec, 20% Carménère, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a little pricey at $50.00 a bottle (retail), but it is totally worth it. There’s a most divine bouquet of blackberry and raspberry with just a hint of an earthy tobacco. Again, this is another great wine to pair with steak.

For a more affordable bottle of Carménère let’s take a look at the Pionero Carménère 2010 from Morandé in the Rapel Valley. This is 100% Carménère (with grapes actually from Maipo) that has a very nice finish, with that same bouquet of blackberries, vanilla, and a whiff of honeysuckle (in my opinion). This has been aged for about four to five months in French oak. Divine.

So let’s raise a glass to Carménère, the lost Bordeaux grape re-discovered  

A Roussillon Tasting

On the left is the Clos des Fees

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted on here but after a recent tasting I went to about Roussillon I just felt I had to share.

Roussillon is at the Southern edges of France and is pretty much overshadowed by Languedoc. Most restaurants in New York may have just a few bottles from Roussillon if any at all.

And that’s a shame because what you find with these wines is something very unique. Fitting for a region that’s best known for Hannibal’s trek to Rome.

Let’s start with the Clos des Fees Cotes de Roussillon Blanc 2005. This is 90% Grenache Blanc with some hints of new French oak. There is definitely a stone fruit working here, most notably apricot. For a white, it’s very different than what you’d think for “Southern France.” It is crisp, but it’s got a lot of texture; a nice kick. One of the sommeliers leading the seminar says she even gets a hint of “saltwater taffy.” That’s new!

Next up we have the Domaine La Tour Vielle Banyuls Reserve. This particular vineyard lies on a very craggy hill so it relies on manual grape picking.  The climate is very sunny and dry which definitely affects acidity. This is a very interesting wine that could actually be paired with ham. The bacon fat smell really carries through and makes you crave a nice meat. Yum!