WineTimers Last Hurrah for the Season!

So the last event before our summer break for the WineTimers took place at Bobbie and Frank's on May 28th. All of the WineTimers were present for the "Summer Wine" theme of the night. We enjoyed a wonderful evening in the backyard that ended with a fabulous bon fire.
The Summer Wines started out with Risata Moscato d'Asti - Italy. Bobbie's research revealed that "Risata" means laughter, and as usual there was much laughter to go around. Risata Moscato d’Asti is fresh and fragrant with vibrant flavors and aromas of ripe stone fruit, tangerines, and honey. The wine is concentrated and flavorful, but not overly rich or heavy; sweet, yet balanced. The grapes are hand harvested and grown in a combination of limestone and sandstone soils from the cool, hilly Asti region in northwestern Italy. The grapes are crushed, chilled to almost freezing in stainless steel vats, then fermented and bottled to capture the resulting carbon dioxide. The result is a low alcohol, slightly effervescent wine, or what the Italians call vino frizzante.
Nothing is better than hanging out with friends on a warm summer evening with a glass of muscato and a bowl of fresh fruit. You won't be disappointed-- and we weren't!
Next we had Barefoot Pinot Noir - California. This light red wine is billed as "Great wine without attitude! Barefoot began as a "garage wine" back in the sixties. They are teamed up with the grass roots non-profit, the Surfrider Foundation, to create the Barefoot Beach Rescue Project, designed to clean up beaches and ensure they are "Barefoot friendly."
Pinot noir, a red wine made from black grapes, thrives in France's Burgundy region. Pinot noir grapes are an ancient variety that may be only one or two generations removed from wild vines. By volume most Pinot noir in America is grown in California. Barefoot Pinot Noir is a medium bodied wine with tantalizing flavors of ripe cherry and wild raspberry. Hints of vanilla and spice complement a smooth lingering finish.
Next we were treated to a taste of Trapiche Torrontes. Torrontés is the characteristic white wine grape of Argentina, producing fresh, aromatic white wines. A good Torrontes will have an intense nose of flowers and tropical fruits but don't get confused and think that means it will be sweet. Torrontes is usually bone dry with a light to medium weight, good acidity and a long finish. This was a very dry, light wine, perfect for any patio gathering.
Last but definitely not least, Clos du Bois Cabernet Sauvignon was served. The Alexander Valley in the heart of Sonoma Valley is best known for their outstanding cabernet savignon grapes. This reserve Cabernet Savignon exhibits rich aromas of blackberry and currants, and dried herbs and olives, with round and supple tannins typical of Alexander Valley cabernet. Rich and chewy, it is plush and smooth on the palate with perfectly integrated oak. New world cabernet savignons, such as this one, often have more pronounced ripe fruit flavors than Old World wines from regions like Bordeaux.
And of course we can't forget the healthy benefit of Reservatrol--naturally occurring substance in grapes is believed to reduce the chance of heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. I'm sure this is the number one reason that WineTimers drink wine!As usual we had a great time enjoying summer wine and food with our wine loving friends.
We all look forward to the first gathering of the Fall season of WineTimers in September and hosted by Debi and Rick. Stay tuned this summer for an occasional entry and a re-cap of all the great wines we have tried since the beginning of WineTimers!

WineTimers March On!

The March WineTimers meeting commenced on Friday March 12^th at Nancy and Mike’s. They planned a picnic theme and despite 30 some degrees and a stiff wind off the Lake, Mike grilled fabulous bratwurst from Superior Meats out on his patio. As he said, the weather wasn’t a great deal different than some of the days we have during the summer when the wind is strong off of Lake Superior, with fog and heavy mist.

WineTimers were introduced to 3 wonderful wines prior to our picnic fare. The first up was a 2005 Monterey County Pinot Noir called Irony. The description boasted “layers of sweet cherry, fresh raspberries,cola and earthy mushrooms”. We weren’t too sure about the “mushroom” flavor, but found the wine to be a very pretty, light red wine that would be an excellent accompaniment to any picnic. Mike and Nancy invited the group to share a story of “irony” in our lives, and that provided many laughs for the group… “Embracing Life’s Strange Twists”.

The next featured wine was a 2008 Domaine Pichot Vouvray from the Jean-Claude Pichot winery (France), produced in the family tradition, dating back to 1734. This wine is described as a “fresh, floral chenin blanc with crisp acidity and rich concentration, the Vouvray is slightly dry, pure and intense”. I don’t think anyone goes immediately to vouvray, when we think about a white wine, but what a wonderful selection for a very early Spring(?) picnic.

The third offering of the night is a special wine that Mike discovered at an event at the Kitchee Gammi Club in Duluth, MN. The Triton 2005 Vinas Del Cenit (Spain) hails from the remote region of Zamora, where they have cultivated a unique clone of Tempranillo for centuries. For this wine, small, hand harvested clusters of fully matured grapes were carefully chosen from 100 year old vines which have grown as thick as one’s torso. “The wine has an elegant balance of ripe red fruit flavors and a delicate spiciness. A hint of dark chocolate completes the long finish”. This is a very “grown-up”, rich red wine that is now on my list of favorites. Although not usually available in our area, it can be found online.

Last but definitely not least, Nancy provided a chocolate experience for all. Chocolat by Quintessential Chocolates (California Cabernet), a European style liquid center chocolate with a sugar crust creating a barrier for the true Liqueur Praline found inside. The key is to place the entire piece in our mouth, then bite to capture all of the liquid essence. This was a wonderful chocolate experience and what can be better than chocolate and wine in one bite!

The WineTimers enjoyed a wonderful picnic with fabulous wine and look forward to our next meeting as we forge ahead in our quest to learn about and sample different wines of the world. So much wine… so little time…