Zinfully Decadent.
Nothing says fall quite the way Zinfandel does. Ripe, plump fruit and autumn spice welcome the cooler temperatures- assuming we eventually get cooler temperatures- in a warm, toasty, spicy way that no other wine will.
Each Saturday at 2:00 pm, we open four different wines and talk about them- where they come from, who makes them, and what makes them special. A couple of light hors d’oeuvres accompany the tasting and those who attend are eligible for discounts on the wines. Reservations are required, and web and email reservations will not guarantee you a seat, to please make your reservation by calling (520) 326-9363
Nothing says fall quite the way Zinfandel does. Ripe, plump fruit and autumn spice welcome the cooler temperatures- assuming we eventually get cooler temperatures- in a warm, toasty, spicy way that no other wine will.
This week Kevin's got four wines for you to pour before, during and after your celebrations of el Día de los Muertos. Some are red, some are white, all spooky, all tasty.
When I was just starting to get a handle on wine, early on in my foodslinging career, a waiter said to me, "California wine, learning about that, it's like going to college. French wine, that's like getting a Master's degree. But Italian? That's a Ph.D."
It's all Pinot Grigio, from four different locales. This tasting serves to remind you- to remind us all- that while there are plenty of iterations of Pinot Grigio that exist purely for the sake of the person who unthinkingly says to their server, "I'll have a glass of Pinot Grigio," not knowing who produces it and not caring, as it's most likely a safe bet, light and clean, but probably not worth discovering who produces it, there are also some really delicious Pinot Grigios.
This week, we're celebrating the fact that the Monroe Doctrine had no effect on the importation of grapes and the subsequent populating of South American vineyards with European varietals. Kevin is opening up two wines from Chile and two from Argentina, all red for the impending cooler weather, and all delicious with food at their side.
Once in a while, a producer makes such delicious wines across the board that we like to feature them in a tasting with no interference from the outside world. Paul Jaboulet Aine is one such producer.
This week may be a bit cooler than last, but face it: we're still in Arizona, and it's still well within reason to think about a crisp bottle of white wine with dinner, or even without dinner.
Kevin is getting into the spirit of our much-anticipated autumn by pulling out some heartier red wines this week, at our Saturday tasting themed "By Rhône inspired." Not a one from the Rhône proper, but Rhône varietals- two from elsewhere in France and from sunny California.
The red wines of Bordeaux are a trifecta of fruit, power and brilliance. There's the terroir, to be sure, and the winemaking, and the oak, and styles favoring one aspect or another way throughout the region, and each varietal brings to the table a different aspect: Cabernet Sauvignon brings tannin- power and body and grip. Merlot brings abundance of dark fruit and plush texture.
I don't imagine you'll find anything particularly savage about these Sauvignon Blancs, but this Saturday, Kevin will be opening SB's from all over the place, so whether you're fond of the grapefruit-and-gooseberry style that hails from New Zealand or the dry, gravelly stuff from Cheverny, you'll find something interesting here.