In Shop Tasting-Ninth Street-Monday, Feb. 1

Event: A nice way to start off the shortest month of the year. Eric Norviel, of Quality Wines, presented 6 wines that seem to satisfy a wide range of tastes and palates. Several tasters said they liked the Matchbook Chardonnay, the Chris Rigland Shiraz and the Palachios Remodo Rioja. One taster, Jeffery, ranked them in that order saying the Chardonnay has just enough sweetness to suit him.

Three other tasters said the Ringland Shiraz and the Matchbook Cabernet Sauvignon were right on the money. The Cab was very fruit forward, very complex with a slight tannin finish.

The Palacios Remondo La Vendimia Rioja was interesting in that it has a little bit of spritz on the first taste, obviously from the fact it goes through a partial carbonic maceration that infuses a bit of a bubbly presence. Very fruit forward yet dry.

As usual Donna, at Ninth Street Wine Market, had a nice selection of appetizers and hors d’oeuvres to accompany the wines.
Where: Ninth Street Wine Market
12 Ninth Street, Augusta, GA 30901

When: Monday, Feb. 1, 2010, 5:30-7:30 pm
Cost: $10 per person

Here are the wines that were presented:

MatchBook Old Head Chardonnay 2008
What: The grapes were crushed, pressed and settled on the first day, then inoculated with yeast and barreled down. After barrel fermentation, the wine was allowed to age in barrels for eight months while being stirred regularly. The wine was then racked off the lees and blended. 22% of the barrels used were new; 78% of the wine was aged in “Old Head” French oak – used barrels – to add weight to the mouthfeel without masking the fresh fruit flavors of the wine.
From: California
Winery: Crew Wines. Crew’s motto is “Produce wines we love to drink at prices we don’t mind paying.” They have four labels: MatchBook, Chasing Venus, Mossback, Sawbuck.
Cost: $15.99
Year: 2008

MatchBook Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
What: The grapes were bled of 15% of their juice after 18 hours of soaking to concentrate flavors. The must was
inoculated with yeast and pumped over twice a day using aeration carts. After fermentation, the wine was
pressed, settled, then racked to French and American oak barrels . The wine was blended in March 2009 and
bottled in April.
From: California
Winery: Crew Wines
Cost: $15.99
Year: 2007
Grapes: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon (75% Lake County, 10% Chalk Hill), 10% Petit Sirah
Solano County, 5% Malbec, Matchbook Vineyard, Dunnigan Hills**Comments: **In California a varietal must have 75% of at least one grape before it can a “varietal.” In this case it is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon but from two sources. 75% of the total is from Lake Country. So the bottle on the front label says it’s a Lake County Cab although it contains 3 types of grapes from 4 different regions of California.

Weinart Carrascal Tinto 2005
What: This is Argentia’s answer to Chateau Musar: traditionally made with an unusual, old-fashioned character that toys with the border of faultiness. And in an age when all wines appear to be beginning to taste the same, it’s a very welcome change. A blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, it has a rich, savoury, slightly leathery nose. It’s not overtly fruity, and there’s a little bit of volatile acidity. The medium-body palate shows some herby, spicy character, and there’s a touch of sweetness to the fruit. Some meatiness emerges after a while and there’s a spicy complexity. Old fashioned in a nice way. –From the Tasting Notes provided

A brilliant ruby tone combined with deeper red makes this wine particularly atractive. Its bouquet is well developed, combining a touch of oak for its ageing of 2 year is French oak casks, with ripe red fruits. Harmonious, smooth, flexible and with a deep flavor, it is well balanced wine with just the right level of acidity to keep it lively and rounded. A wine of great distinction. (Uncork: 30 minutes before drinking).–From the Bodega y Cavas de Weinert website.
From: Argentina
Winery: Weinart
Cost: $13.99
Year: 2005
Grapes: 45% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot.

Chris Ringland Shiraz 2007
What: An inky/blue/purple color is accompanied by extraordinary scents of flowers, blackberries, and cassis as well as hints of espresso, roast truffles, roasted meats, and incense. This sexy beautifully balanced, loaded Shiraz should keep for three decades or more. Robert Parker 90 points. –From the evening’s tasting notes.
From: Australlia
Winery: Chris Ringland
Cost: $19.99
Year: 2007

Palacios Remondo La Vendimia Rioja 2007
What: In 2007, the majority of the grapes owned by Palacios Remondo were hand-picked and only a very small amount was mechanically harvested. The Garnacha and Tempranillo were selected, first in the field and again on a sorting table at the winery, before being put into stainless steel tanks for a partial carbonic, whole cluster maceration followed by alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. Following the 20-day maceration, the wine was aged for 4 months in used 70% French and 30% American oak barrels. The wine was then clarified using natural egg whites, but not filtered, and was bottled in May of 2007.
From: Rioja, Spain
Winery: Bodegas de Palacios Remondo
Cost: $16.99
Year: 2007

La Craie Vouvray 2007
What: This wine has a floral bouquet of honeysuckle, with the taste being lightly sweet with apricot hints. Nicely light and refreshing. This wine, when tasted by several attendees was chilled to around 60 degrees and still excellent. The 2008 vintage of this wine was recently featured at the Bistro 491 Wines of the Loire Valley Dinner, January 26th.

“100% Chenin Blanc from hillside parcels just outside the village of Vouvray. Produced from young vines (15-25 years old), this bottling is almost always a light demi-sec (8-12 grams of residual sugar). A delicious introduction to Chenin Blanc!
Vouvray “La Craie” is a custom cuvée of this amazing varietal, taken from some of the best parcels in the appellation. It is assembled in Vouvray, sees no wood, is bottled fresh and young, and is designed to offer the striking crispness that one expects from the Loire but with a very small amount of residual sugar for an added layer of complexity.
“La Craie” (or “chalk” in French) refers to the abundance of white, soft rock in the area known locally as “Tuffeau.” High on the hills of Vouvray, one can tour the homes of locals who live in caves dug from this soft chalk. It is found in the vineyards as well, ensuring good drainage down the slopes and keeping the soil warm at night to help keep the roots from experiencing drastic temperature changes.–From the John David Headrick website.
From: Loire Valley, France
Winery: Jon David Selections
Year: 2007