The Pinnacle Club Wine Tasting-Jan. 28

It was a great event in Augusta to watch the day fade into night. The view from the 17th Floor of the Wachovia Building added to the scene as more than 120 tasters enjoyed the Annual Pinnacle Club Wine Tasting held Thursday night. Five distributors presented 32 wines from around the world. New Zealand was well represented with 6 different wines. Special chocolate treats from La Bonbonniére were served. Wine assistance was provided by Vineyard Wine Market. Hors d’oeuvres were provided by The Pinnacle Club.

(There are more photos below)

When there are 32 wines and 120 tasters opinions on what’s popular abound. One wine brand mentioned several times was Mohua from New Zealand, a second label for Peregrine Wines now carried by Empire Distributing. Their Riesling and Pinot Noir was on several taster’s notes list. A popular sparkling wine was the Candoni Prosecco from National Distributors.

Dottie K., Jill N. and Heather H-D, all said the Waterbrook Melange Noir was excellent. Nice fruit without being too heavy.

The Vina Robles Petite Sirah was on Kurt M.’s thumbs-up list (and Heather N-D’s) saying it was “outstanding.” He also gave an “outstanding” for the Cifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc.

Completing Jill N. and Heather H-D’s list was C&T Rooftop Red Cabernet Sauvignon, the B-Side Cabernet Sauvignon (one of the first to run out), St. Francis Sonoma Red, Van Duzer Pinot Noir and the Estancia Red Meritage. Katie T. gave a thumbs up as well to the Estancia saying “I’m buying a case tomorrow.”

Here are the wines that were presented:

Trimbach Pinot Blanc
From: Alsalce, France
Winery: Trimbach
Cost: $15.99*
Comments: Presented by Atlanta Wholesale

Torres Viña Esmeralda
Notes: In the mountainous area of the Upper Penedès the more delicate and aromatic white grape varieties are grown. Moscatel and Gewürtztraminer form the basis for Viña Esmeralda, an exceptionally delicate and strikingly fragrant wine. Wine and Food: Excellent with shellfish (a sublime match for an avocado and shellfish salad, for instance), as well as with fish, fresh melon with cured Spanish ham, pâtés, poultry or pork in a sweet and sour sauce. Tasting Notes: A voluptuous, exotically perfumed nose, with deliciously well-defined primary aromas (some floral notes, roses, lilies…), complemented by secondary aromas derived from the wine’s controlled fermentation. Silky and sappy on the palate –from the Torres Vina Website.
From: Penedès, Spain
Winery: Torres Vina
Cost: $14.99*
Comments: Presented by Atlanta Wholesale

Van Duzer Pinot Noir
Notes:With the 2005 Estate Pinot Noir, the telltale whiff of violet and fresh picked basket of red and black fruit flavors persist across vintages. Yet the 2005 Estate Pinot Noir evokes a finesse and complexity that reminds one of the highly rated 2002 and 2003 bottlings. The smoothed tannic structure seems perfectly proportioned to the subtle play of floral notes, fruits and sweet spices that slowly reveal themselves to the senses.

A beautiful dark red garnet color meets the eye as the nose detects aromas of ripe red fruits and a subtle interplay of blackberry and black cherry. Complex spice notes derived from the Dijon clones and French oak barrels mingle with floral notes of violet and purple jasmine. This is not an astringent or aggressive wine, rather, soft textured and smoothed tannins greet the mouth. Integrated spicy oak marries with the fruit to carry through on a moderately long finish
From: Williamette Valley, Oregon
Winery: Van Duzer
Cost: $34.99
Comments: Presented by Atlanta Wholesale

Carmenet Cabernet Sauvignon
From: Sonoma, California
Winery: Carmenet Vineyards
Cost: $12.99
Comments: Presented by Atlanta Wholesale

Kim Crawford Chardonnay
From: New Zealand
Winery: Kim Crawford
Cost: $17.99*
Comments: Presented by Atlanta Wholesale

Sandeman’s Porto Founders Reserve
Notes: Named in honour of the Founder, this Reserve is one of Sandeman’s greatest Portos. Selected from the finest «lots» of each vintage and aged for 5 years. Full of the power, fruit and fire that distinguishes classic Porto, Sandeman Founders Reserve is the culmination of two hundred years of expertise. TASTING NOTES: Intense ruby red colour, brilliant and clean. Rich red fruit aromas with a touch of age create an elegant reflection of powerful flavours, the fruit and fire characteristic of young classic Porto balanced with the finesse of age.–From the Sandeman Website
From: Portugal
Winery: Sandeman
Cost: $19.99
Comments: Presented by Atlanta Wholesale

Waterbrook Melange Blanc
From: Columbia Valley, Washington
Winery: Waterbrook
Cost: $13.99
Comments: Presented by Empire Wines

Waterbrook Melange Noir
From: Columbia Valley, Washington
Winery: Waterbrook
Cost: $13.99
Comments: Presented by Empire Wines

Mohua Sauvignon Blanc
From: New Zealand
Winery: Mohua (Peregrine)
Cost: $13.99
Comments: Presented by Empire Wines

Mohua Riesling
From: New Zealand
Winery: Mohua (Peregrine)
Cost: $15.99
Comments: Presented by Empire Wines

Mohua Pinot Noir
From: New Zealand
Winery: Mohua (Peregrine)
Cost: $21.99
Comments: Presented by Empire Wines

Latour Simonnet Cremant Bourgone
From: Burgundy, France
Winery: Louis Latour
Cost: $18.99
Comments: Presented by Empire Wines

Estancia Red Meritage
From: Monterey, California
Winery: Estancia
Cost: $29.99
Comments: Presented by Georgia Crown

Cifford Bay Sauvignon
From: New Zealand
Winery: Cifford Bay
Cost: $10.99
Comments: Presented by Georgia Crown

Paso Creek Zinfandel
From: Sonoma, California
Winery: Paso Creek
Cost: $15.99
Comments: Presented by Georgia Crown

Simi Sonoma Chardonnay
From: Sonoma, California
Winery: Simi
Cost: $16.99
Comments: Presented by Georgia Crown

Franciscan Sauvignon Blanc
From: Napa Valley, California
Winery: Franciscan
Cost: $16.99
Comments: Presented by Georgia Crown

Covey Run Riesling
From: Washington State
Winery: Covey Run
Cost: $10.99
Comments: Presented by Georgia Crown

Candoni Prosecco
From: Italy
Winery: Candoni Wines
Cost: $14.99
Comments: Presented by National Distributors

Columbia Cellarmasters Riesling
Notes: Sweet wine. A beautifully balanced wine that has classic floral, Riesling aromas. This wine is almost clear in color as Rieslings have very little pigment and are generally tank fermented. These grapes are selected for this wine because of their higher acidity. This excellent acidity emphasizes the apricot, peachy flavors and creates a good match for strong cheeses, desserts or extremely spicy foods. This wine has a long finish. Tasting Notes: Floral aroma with hints of peach, quince, lime and clove delight the nose. Rich and full-flavored fruit on the palate is balanced by refreshing, crisp acidity. –From the Columbia Website
Winery: Columbia Winery
Cost: $11.99
Comments: Presented by National Distributors

Noblio Sauvignon Blanc
Notes: COLOR: Light yellow in color with green hues and brilliant clarity. NOSE: A distinctive Marlborough bouquet of ripe tropical and citrus fruit. PALATE: Nobilo Regional Collection Sauvignon Blanc is bursting with flavors of lemon, passionfruit and melon. Crisp and zesty, the palate has excellent weight and balance, lingering in a full, refreshing finish. –From the Noblio Website
From: New Zealand
Winery: Noblio
Cost: $12.99
Comments: Presented by National Distributors

St. Francis Sonoma Red
What: A succulent blend of 48% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, 3% Zinfandel and 6 % Mixed Blacks (Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Alicante, Malbec), RED is lush with succulent ripe red fruit flavors and spicy aromas. Full-bodied and versatile, RED pairs with a variety of foods for any occasion. –From the St. Francis Red Website
From: Sonoma, California
Winery: St. Francis
Cost: $11.99
Comments: Presented by National Distributors

B-Side Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: The 2007 vintage of our B Side Cabernet Sauvignon shows excellent fruit and balance without sacrificing tannin, backbone, and potential for aging. A blend of two different Napa benchland vineyards, this dark, garnet red Cabernet opens with wild strawberry and boysenberry aromas, a touch of caramelized oak, bittersweet chocolate, and hints of charcoal from the rich and multifaceted Napa Valley soils. It is textbook Napa Cab on the palate, with an essence of black current and dark red raspberry contrasting with firm structure and dusty tannins on the finish. Aged for over two years on French oak, this wine has both the fruit necessary for immediate enjoyment, and the balance and depth to improve with age.
A family gathering with beef brisket and oven roasted potatoes would be the perfect accompaniment to this excellent Cabernet. A short rib stew makes a natural pairing, and for something lighter, try a mushroom cream sauce with thyme over fettuccini to pair with the savory flavors in this vintage.
B Side Cabernet Sauvignon tells the story of the flip-side of Napa Valley. Nestled in rural areas and rolling hills along the eastern edge of the Valley, these vineyards are just a few miles from the glamorous, high-priced wineries featured along Highway 29. The eastern side of Napa Valley includes areas such as Pope Valley, Chiles Valley, Wooden Valley, Stags Leap District and lower Calistoga. Vines in these areas are grown in thin volcanic soils, which yield smaller, more concentrated fruit, producing Bordeaux-style Cabernet Sauvignons with classic berry and cassis flavors.–From their Website
From: California
Winery: Don and Sons, A Don Sebastiani Company
Cost: $29.99
Comments: Presented by National Distributors

Flock Paso Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: From its dark crimson hue, the aroma that drifts out of the glass is pure Paso Robles: plenty of currents with a dusty minerality. Layers of fruit open up further on the nose, with a hint of Cabernet Sauvignon’s herbaceous secondary flavors peeking through. Powerful, juicy blackberry and boysenberry jam flavors reign on the initial taste, followed by a wave of chocolaty texture on the mid-palate. Full-bodied but not unbalanced, the dark cocoa core branches out into hints of toasted nutmeg and molasses. A nice underpinning of tannins show through on the finish, with a delicate caramel note from the well-integrated French oak. Our Flock Cabernet Sauvignon gains its added complexity from the red soils in Paso Robles, which frame this wine’s character with a level of depth that breaks from the mundane Cabernet mold.
The complex chocolate and spice flavors of a molé sauce would work wonders in a pairing with our Flock Cabernet Sauvignon. Other refined comfort foods come to mind as well, such as a rich pot roast over creamy mashed potatoes, or a simple red wine risotto. This wine’s refined approachability evokes thoughts of these sorts of dishes, refined and reinvented comfort food. –From their Website
From: Paso Robles, California
Winery: Don and Sons, A Don Sebastiani Company
Cost: $14.99
Comments: Presented by National Distributors

Rionda Prosecco NV
From: Veneto, Italy
Winery: Rionda
Cost: $15.99
Comments: Presented by Ultimate Distributors

Tolosa Edna Ranch Chardonnay 2006
From: California
Winery: Tolosa
Cost: $21.99
Year: 2006
Comments: Presented by Ultimate Distributors

Leese-Fitch Merlot 2007
From: Sonoma, California
Winery: Leese-Fitch
Cost: $12.99
Year: 2007
Comments: Presented by Ultimate Distributors

Four Vines Old Vine Zinfandel 2007
From: Paso Robles, California
Winery: Four Vines
Cost: $14.99
Year: 2007
Comments: Presented by Ultimate Distributors

Vina Robles Petite Sirah 2007
Notes: Medium dark to purplish ruby with aromas of spice box and blackberry fruit. Big, rich texture; spicy and cedary with highly extracted blackberry flavors; full tannins with a lingering aftertaste. Enjoy now through 2014 –From their Website
From: Paso Robles, California
Winery: Vina Robles
Cost: $26.99
Year: 2007
Comments: Presented by Ultimate Distributors

C&T Rooftop Red Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: C&T Cellars is a small operation that focuses on quality wines from the Napa Valley. Our goal is to bring our customers the best possible wine at the best possible price. We’re confident that this wine does just that! The 2006 Rooftop Red Cabernet came from two different vineyards in the Napa Valley. The Cabernet Sauvignon was from a small rocky vineyard in St. Helena that was planted in 1997. This vineyard sits just north of the town in one of the narrowest sections of the Napa Valley. The second vineyard is in the Oak Knoll District between the towns of Napa and Yountville. The aroma of blackberry and cranberry with hints of mint and cedar. On the palate the wine screams pure cabernet with nice deep fruit, nice firm tannins and juicy fruit. The finish has a touch of vanilla from the French and American oak. 40% New French Oak adn 18% New American Oak. —From their Website
From: St. Helena, California
Winery: C&TCellars
Cost: $23.99
Comments: Presented by Ultimate Distributors

Leese-Fitch Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: The color of dark rubies, this Cabernet presents itself with a nose of bourbon-soaked cherries, chocolate, and cedar, complemented by flavors of red currants, blackberry cobbler, and subtle notes of walnuts, wild game, and rich French oak. This would be an excellent Cabernet for grilled lemon-peppercorn New York steaks alongside white-cheddar potato gratin, roasted squab drizzled in a port reduction sauce with roasted winter vegetables, or Italian sausages on potato rolls with grilled onions and peppers topped with provolone cheese, and sliced green tomatoes. –From San Clemente Wine Company site
From: Sonoma, California
Winery: Leese-Fitch
Cost: $12.99
Comments: Presented by Ultimate Distributors

Four Vine Naked Chardonnay
From: Santa Barbara, California
Winery: Four Vines
Cost: $13.99
Comments: Presented by Ultimate Distributors

*All prices shown are suggested retail.

–Our thanks to the staff of the Pinnacle Club for their hospitality in covering this event.