June 9, 2017

2nd Annual Rosé & White Wine Dinner

1. 2015 Casa Santos Lima Portuga Vinho Branco Vinho Regional Lisboa Portugal
Portuga Vinho Branco is a light fresh blend of the classic white grapes of this region of Portugal - Arinto, Fernao Pires - with a little Sauvignon Blanc for extra freshness. This is made with free run juice and is a great example of the exciting new wines coming out of Portugal. Chablis at a budget price. NOFFLA Winner 2015-2016, Old World White Under €10

2. 2014 Casa Silva Sauvignon Gris 1912 Vines Colchagua Valley Chile
"Pale yellow. Smoky minerals, dried citrus fruits and jasmine on the fragrant nose. Spicy and precise, offering intense Meyer lemon and green apple flavors that flesh out and deepen with air. Powerful yet lithe and finely etched, finishing with excellent clarity and mineral-driven persistence. That 1912 designation refers to when the vines were planted, not how many of them are planted." Rated 90, Josh Reynolds, Vinous Media

3. 2013 Leyda Sauvignon Gris Single Vineyard Kadun Leyda Valley Chile
Pale straw colour with simple aroma of lime and spice. Very clean and crisp palate with light lime flavours and a touch of floweriness. Tropical fruits also evident finishing with a twist of sherbet. Enotira & Cole

4. 2008 Chateau "S de Suduiraut" Bordeaux Blanc France
"Pale straw-green color. Lovely nose projects an intense sauvignon quality, with bright white peach and green fig aromas complicated by unripe pear and yellow melon. A bit less thrilling on the palate, where the wine offers appealing, zesty citrus and peach flavors but could use more density. The sauvignon gris is very evident this year, adding a welcome muskiness to the blend. Probably no other Sauternes estate other than Yquem has the same bewildering diversity and fragmentation of parcels and soils, a fact that originally led the estate to try its hand at making a great dry white as well." Rated 88-90 - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Ian D'Agata

5. 1995 Poco Do Lobo Arinto Colheita Vinho Regional Beiras Portugal
"The Arinto "Poço do Lobo" is actually a current item, available from the importer. Arinto ages well and the terroir, not far from the ocean, typically provides good acidity. So, this region does have a reputation for aging well in all colors. This is lovely. To be sure, it is fully mature--and wonderfully complex. It is not going to taste fresh or fruity or perky. But if there is any oxidation, it isn't much. This has a fine core of acidity to still provide tension on the finish. It is surprisingly lively and relatively solid in the mid-palate. It awakens and actually seemed a bit fresher with air and warmth, with some notes of dried pear. It is not at all sweet, but its harmony makes it great to drink on its own. Or, it will go well with any number of restrained fish dishes and gentle, fatty foods. I came back to this another six or so hours later. It showed more mushroom and truffle, but its acidity was still fine and the wine was still great. It actually once again got fresher with air and warmth. How much longer does it have? That is always a fine question for wines that probably have already exceeded many peoples' guesses by a lot. At a certain point, it becomes about the bottle. It still seems to have plenty of time left, but let's exercise a little caution and take that in stages. By the way, the price for something this old and this good is exceptional. If it said "Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru" instead of Beiras, that likely wouldn't be the case." Wine Advocate 93

6. 1998 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Art Series Margaret River Australia
The 1998 Chardonnay Art Series, is aged in 100% new oak, and sees either partial or full malolactic fermentation, depending on vintage conditions. This cuvee often requires several years to open, but the 1998 appears to be revealing plenty of buttered nuts, smoke, and mineral-infused, concentrated fruit in a medium to full-bodied, classy, restrained yet powerful style. The Australians feel these wines age well longer than I do, but this is unquestionably a Chardonnay that will keep and improve for at least 4-6 years. Rated 89 Wine Enthusiast Magazine

7. 2016 Teutonic Wine Company Rosé Wine Laurel Vineyard Chehalem Mountains
Wine should always complement food. The Teutonic house style is represented by wines that are lower in alcohol (typically 9% to 12% alcohol by volume), and higher in acidity. Wines with this profile are more elegant, have greater nuance and pair well with many foods. Only neutral barrels are used so the flavor of oak will not be found in our wines which can overpower some delicate flavors in certain dishes. Winery

8. 2016 AIX Rosé Coteaux D'Aix En Provence
AIX Rosé 2016 is the result of great passion and dedication to produce the best possible rosé. The hypnotizing salmon pink color of AIX 2016 reveals the fruity freshness of top quality Provence rosé. Its generous taste, harmonious structure and long finish makes it the perfect rosé to drink with friends all day long! massanois.com