 Cahors, the birthplace of Malbec The story of Malbec is full of surprises and plot twists. Originally, the grape grew in Cahors, where it was called 'Côt.' Later, someone with the last name of Malbeck brought cuttings of the grape to Bordeaux, where it became known as 'Malbeck,' and added to Bordeaux red blends. Malbeck travelled to South America, where it became known as Malbec (without the 'k' at the end) and winegrowers discovered it grew quite well in the foothills of the Andes.
At tonight's tasting, try Malbec's origin in Cahors, experience it in a Bordeaux blend, and explore its more recent iterations in Argentina and beyond.
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What is natural wine? Even wine experts disagree on this hot topic. But if we had to venture a definition, it would be wine farmed and made without synthetic chemicals and with little to no sulfur added to the bottle. Natural winemakers typically attempt to let the fruit express itself, so they don't "correct" the chemistry of the wine for acid or sugar by adding water or citric acid. Natural wine tends to have no added preservatives, so the wines usually taste fresh and juicy, like a tank sample.
2017 Vegas Altes Ancestral Cerro la Barca Extramadura, Spain 2018 Rosé Merlot based Domaine des Cognettes Loire, France 2018 Les Tetes Rosé Grolleau/Gamay Les Tetes - Loire, France 2016 Amorro Tempranillo/Palomino/Tintilla de Rota Vinificate - Cadiz, Spain
Rouge - Chateau Unang
Ventoux, France Grape: 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Cinsault The Ventoux is North of Marseille, the site where grape vines were first planted in France! This is an historic region for wine growing in the Mediterranean, with vineyard sites spanning back millennia. Unang is a famous Chateauneuf du Pape producer, and this is their wine from just next door in Ventoux. Rouge - Chateau Mourgues du Gres 'Galets Rouges' Costieres de Nimes, France 60% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 10% other Rhone varieties Compare this tasty wine to the Unang Ventoux. Both wines are Grenache-Syrah blends, but the Mourgues is 60% Syrah and the Unang was 60% Grenache. Comparing these two blends illuminates the difference a predominance of Grenache or Syrah will bring to a blend. Mourgues farms using biodynamics-- a low-intervention form of organic wine making. Their production is small, and the wines are delicious. Rouge - Yohan Lardy 'Les Michelons' Moulin-a-Vent, Beaujolais, France Grape: Gamay The soil in the Michelons vineyards is crumbly pink granite full of Manganese. Yohan is low-intervention, eschewing sulfur and interference during fermentation. He believes in using indigenous yeasts to get complex flavors. He ages the wine in Burgundy barrels. A fine example of Burgundy's Cru of Moulin-a-Vent! Blanc – La Croix des Pins 'Les Villages' Ventoux, France Grape: Marsanne-Roussanne-Grenache Blanc-Clairette Rhone blends made from Blanc varieties tend to be richer and more concentrated than wines of, say, the Loire. The unctuousness of Marsanne and Roussanne, and their deep fruited flavors of peach and melon always give southern Rhone blancs a hefty palate. Blanc - Betes Curieuses 'La Perdrix' Muscadet, Loire, France Grape: Melon de Bourgogne Grown just off the coast of the Mediterranean in France's Loire valley, this vineyard sits on a granite outcropping. The result is a wine with a firm texture, with all the crisp brightness you find from the Melon de Bourgogne grape. Muscadets have long been go-to choices for seafood wine pairings. Blanc - Buisson Saint Romain, Burgundy, France Grape: Chardonnay There is no place quite like Saint Romain. Most villages in Burgundy are dominated by hills that rise up from the landscape. Saint Romain is a little different: here, it seems as if someone scraped a valley into the land. The vineyards are planted on both sides of the valley, and the planting site is small, with just a few producers. When you stand at one end of the valley, you can clearly see the other end, and you can walk to it over the length of a few football fields. Buisson farms organically and makes stunning, breathtaking, wine that unfolds endlessly on the pala Armando Castagnedi of Tenuta Sant Antonio is visiting from Verona, Italy to share his wines with us. He'll present Valpolicella and his famous Amarone. Where: In Vino Veritas When: Tuesday, February 5th Time: 5:30-7:00pm Walk around tasting pop in any time 5:30-7:00pm
Clos Lentiscus 2014 ~ Spain
Sparkling Malvasia Dominio del Urogallo 2015 ~ Spain La Fanfarria B. Taillandier 'Viti Vini Bibi' ~ France Cinsault + more Jonc Blanc 'Fruit' 2016 ~ Minervois, France Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot-Malbec
Italian Wine Dinner with Massimo Bistocchi
Chef Matt Greene of Common House Massimo Bistocchi of Vinea Join us as we explore Massimo's curated selection from Italy at Common House 206 West Market Street Tuesday, July 17th 6:30pm, $95 / pp RSVP erin@invinoveritasva.com Aperitif - Antipasto Mondelo 'Elisabet' Prosecco ~ Veneto Peaches Grille Peaches, Ricotta, Hot Pepper Relish Alessandro di Camporeale Grillo ~ Sicily Eggplant & Shrimp Charred Eggplant, Pickled Shrimp Cakes, Beans Barone di Serramarrocco Zibbibo Secco ~ Sicily Summer Pork Stew Pork, Squash, Tomato, Okra, Sweet Onion, Cauliflower Rocca di Montegrossi 'Geremia' Super Tuscan 2013 ~ Tuscany Chocolate Chocolate and Pine Nut Tart Tagaro 'Pie del Monaco' 2009 Primitivo ~ Puglia Join us as we explore Massimo's curated selection from Italy at Common House 206 West Market Street Tuesday, July 17th 6:30pm, $95 / pp RSVP erin@invinoveritasva.com |
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October 2019
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