   |  Newsletter ArchiveGerman Engineering, Week-O-Wine, and 30 Pounds of Rasberries German Engineering, Week-O-Wine, and 30 Pounds of RaspberriesWell, Summer has officially begun and the fancy schmancy June Bugs are out, feeling all superior that they have a whole month to their name. For us, of all the wines you might pop open on a really hot day, the often overlooked Riesling is unbeatable. It is strange because Riesling is commonly considered the most noble white grape varietal but is often one of the last grapes you try as you delve into the world of wine. Maybe it's a marketing flaw or maybe it's those impossibly labyrinthine German wine labels, but we're going to play our part and hold a German Riesling tasting this Sunday the 5th (see tasting schedule below).
The new Week-O-Wine selections for June are in and ready for drinkin'. Week-O-Wine - $37.99 We’ve selected 4 diverse wines, dropped them in what some call "a cute box", knocked off a couple dollars and made your wine buying easy for the week.
Hedges Cellars CMS 2003, Columbia Valley, Washington
The "CMS" stands for Cabernet/Merlot/Syrah. The last two vintages from Tom and Ann-Marie Hedges have been great, affordable, big blends with coffee and tobacco flavors suited for lamb, ribs and strong, hard cheeses. This red blend is comprised of 50% Garnacha (Grenache) old vines and 50% Carinena old vines and is fermented in stainless steel allowing bright and penetrating red licorice, plum and vanilla flavors. Protocolo Tierra de Castilla Rose 2004, Spain We first learned of the wines from Dominio de Eguren from an $8 red we tried and fell in love with in NY. This was one of the first wines that really made us realize how good affordable wines could taste and one of the first steps towards opening Colorado Wine Company. The Protocolo is our choice for an everyday dry Rose for summer. It's a pink wine with a backbone, perfect with everything from BBQ to a light salad. Routas Wild Boar White 2004, Provence, France The Routas Winery is located in the heart of Provence and the surrounding woods are apparently teeming with wild boars. Hence the current name, beating out the runner up, "My Business is Being Attacked by Terrifying, Hairy Swine - White." This medium-bodied white is comprised of Ugni Blanc, Chardonnay and Viognier creating a rich, peachy flavor with floral and citrus aromas.
Wine Tasting Schedule
Metropolitan Wine Tasting Friday, June 3rd 5:30-8:30pm Cost: $15/person (Call or Email for Reservations) We've got an interesting selection of wines for this Friday's tasting but I'm going to play favorites. Kris Curran, winemaker for Seasmoke and one of the founding forces behind Koehler (one of our favorite Santa Barbara properties), somehow finds time to have her own line of wines including this remarkable Grenache Blanc we're pouring Friday night. Wines Brander Cuvee Natalie Sauvignon Blanc 2004, Santa Ynez Curran Grenache Blanc 2002, Santa Ynez Samantha Starr Chardonnay, Monterrey County Brander Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, Santa Ynez DiBruno Sangiovese 2003, Santa Barbara County
I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Riesling Sunday, June 5th 1:00-4:00pm Cost: $10/person Come learn why Germans are known for their engineering. And though I put down their overly complex labeling above, you can tell everything about a German wine from its label. As opposed to that California red in the grocery store wine aisle that just says, "RED: Contains Sulfites." Wines Dr. Loosen Riesling 2002, Qualitatswein, Mosel-Saar Ruwer Werner & Son Schweicher Annaberg Riesling 2003, Kabinett, Mosel-Saar Ruwer Dr. H. Thanisch Riesling - Classic 2002, Qualitatswein, Mosel-Saar Ruwer Dr. Weins-Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling - Spatlese, Qualitatswein
Aqua Perfecta Rasberry Liqueur - $22.99 I almost left off the "liqueur" part because this is like no liqueur we've ever tried. Instead of that syrupy texture you're used to, it is light and bright and tastes like you're sucking raspberries through a straw (with the nice added bonus of catching a buzz). An average of 30 pounds of raspberries go into the making of EACH small bottle. Yes, we thought that was pretty ridiculous as well. Chill this bottle and take it out to share with a friend or two because the reactions to this juice are almost as good as the taste.
See You Soon, John and Jen
"Nothing! It wasn't until oh-three hundred, when we were polishing off the fourth bottle of blood wine that he even mentioned Jadzia!" O'Brien, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine |