Spring Grand Tasting at Spirited Gourmet

We look forward to the Spirited Gourmet’s (Winchester, MA) Spring Grand Tasting with great anticipation. It’s our first good chance to discover wines that we can coronate as our summer selections. You need good wines for barbeque, desserts, and for just plain social sipping on a lazy sunny day. This year the Spirited Gourmet featured another bumper crop of good summer selections.  Below is our review of the four tasting stations and the high points. But first…cut to the chase.

What to Buy
Whites
•    N.V. Schoenheitz Edelzwicker                    $15
•    2007 La Poule Blanche Vin de Pays           $11

Reds
•    Domaine Houchart Côtes de Provence Rosé  2008                       $11
•    2005 Mendel Unus Mendoza (Malbec/Cabernet Sauvignon)         $47
•    2006 Raw Power Shiraz, Australia                                                 $13

Table One

• 2003 Ronchi Barbaresco—This wine is intense with a deep cherry, licorice nose and delicious spicy plum-currant palate.  The tannin structure leads to an extra-long finish, with some dryness.  This would be a perfect match for a delicious dry-aged rib eye steak on the grill. While a bit on the expensive side (@ $45), this is definitely a wine that you’ll want to serve your in-laws at the Father’s Day barbeque!
• Domaine Houchart Côtes de Provence Rosé 2008—The epitome of a great summer sipper and, at $11, a VinoDuo best buy!  Made of Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah this light ruby-colored Rosé is a perfect match for Spicy Tuna Maki rolls or mild cheese and crackers. We bought a bottle at the Spirited Gourmet and put our tasting notes to the test the following week at Sushi Yasu in Waltham. This little-known BYOB sushi joint is our favorite local haunt and the Rosé held up beautifully with the Ikura, spicy tuna, and tempura rolls. 
• 2005 Mendel Unus Mendoza (Malbec/Cabernet Sauvignon)—Gary’s initial comment was “Awesome!”  With deep, dark concentrated blueberry and blackberry on the palate this wine is intense with terrific round tannins and a lasting finish.  This is yet another great wine to add to your summer barbeque list of fine beverages!  At $47 it’s a bit pricey, but it is a special wine that’s ready to drink now.
  

Table Two

• N.V. Schoenheitz Edelzwicker—A very good example of the fine white wines from the Alsacian region.  Some of the grapes blended into this wine are relatively new to us (Chasselas, Sylvaner, and Auxerrois) while others are quite familiar (Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris & Gewurztraminer).  This wine is pale yellow in color with a nice bouquet on the nose.  We liked this wine’s clean palate and found it to be simply delicious.  Whether sipping it on the deck with friends or pairing it with cheeses or even Thai food, the Edelzwicker is on our buy list at $14.99.
• 2007 Girasole Pinot Noir Mendocino—Yes! You can still get a nice Pinot Noir for less than $20!  The fruit forward style of this organic wine was yummy.  The folks at OZ Pacific Wines (local distribution) suggest that the wine is ready now (possibly due to the organic nature of the wine).  At $15.99, this is a bargain!
  

Table Three

• 2007 La Poule Blanche Vin de Pays—Excellent!  We just loved this wine.  Its peach and honeysuckle nose is complemented by a vanilla-mineral palate that will accompany many of your summer weekend lunch favorites.  At $10.99 this is definitely on our by list.
• 2007 Le Coq Rouge Vin de Pays—Nice fruit forward style; reminded us of a good burger wine, and at $10.99, it’s priced right!
  

Table Four

• 2006 Raw Power Shiraz, Australia—($13) Excellent! Chocolate blueberries and blackberries! Just an amazing value that gets even better with decanting.  This is our pick of the tasting!

Other wines worthy of mention

• 2005 Mas d’en Compte Priorat—($45)
• 2007 Clair Pinot Noir, Marlborough—($20)
• 2006 Murray Syrah Central Coast—($19)