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Playoffs!... Playoffs??... Playoffs???
In my opinion, the only thing good about January is
that it's the month of my birth, and of many other
people that I care deeply about. Other than that? ...
you gut nuttn lemon! That being said, with the lack
of snow and frigid cold weather, this one hasn't
really been all that bad, agreed? However, even if
all that changes for the worse, at least you'll have
something delicious to lift to you mouth after you
put down the shovel... note to self... find my shovel.
Our wines this month kick off another stellar year of
delicious and unique selections, this time
highlighting the grape Grenache (or possible
variation thereof) and some of it's many variations.
Le Cirque Grenache Gris, Cotes
Catalanes, France
Produced by Les Vignerons de Tautavel Vingrau
cooperative in the Cotes Catalanes appellation of
France - just across the Pyrenees from Catalonia in
Spain, "Le Cirque" refers to the vast, amphitheater-
shaped bowl of vineyards where this wine's grapes
(100% Grenache Gris) are grown.
Grenache blanc or "white" Grenache is a very
important grape variety in France where it is the
fourth most widely planted white variety after Ugni
blanc, Chardonnay and Semillon. In Southern France
and Sardinia, the mutants Grenache rose and
Grenache gris are also found making pale rosé and
lightly tinted white wines.
The Wine: The wine is aged in stainless steel, with
no malolactic fermentation, so don't go looking for
the oaky, creamy flavors or texture that you might
associate with Chardonnay. However, the wine
does have a lot of body and is quite aromatic. Give
it a good sniff and you'll find lots of pretty floral
notes -- some honeysuckle in there.
Ripe melons, some pineapple, and white peach on
the palate. If you're really paying attention, you
might notice a little green tang at the end of a sip.
There's a hint of something that tastes like charred
Anaheim pepper in the finish. Pretty cool.
(Link)
"The Le Cirque 2010 Grenache Gris - which I tasted
just after its winter bottling - smells alluringly of iris
and honeysuckle atop ripe melons and pineapple.
Luscious and infectiously juicy, it saturates the palate
with watermelon, Persian melon, and pineapple,
mingled with walnut oil, peat, crushed stone, and
saliva-liberating salinity, all of which collaborate on
an exuberant finish, delivering an amazing value
that will certainly continue to satisfy for at least a
couple of years."” – Robert Parker, The Wine
Advocate, June 2011, 90 points
In my opinion, the only thing good about January is
that it's the month of my birth, and of many other
people that I care deeply about. Other than that? ...
you gut nuttn lemon! That being said, with the lack
of snow and frigid cold weather, this one hasn't
really been all that bad, agreed? However, even if
all that changes for the worse, at least you'll have
something delicious to lift to you mouth after you
put down the shovel... note to self... find my shovel.
Our wines this month kick off another stellar year of
delicious and unique selections, this time
highlighting the grape Grenache (or possible
variation thereof) and some of it's many variations.
Le Cirque Grenache Gris, Cotes
Catalanes, France
Produced by Les Vignerons de Tautavel Vingrau
cooperative in the Cotes Catalanes appellation of
France - just across the Pyrenees from Catalonia in
Spain, "Le Cirque" refers to the vast, amphitheater-
shaped bowl of vineyards where this wine's grapes
(100% Grenache Gris) are grown.
Grenache blanc or "white" Grenache is a very
important grape variety in France where it is the
fourth most widely planted white variety after Ugni
blanc, Chardonnay and Semillon. In Southern France
and Sardinia, the mutants Grenache rose and
Grenache gris are also found making pale rosé and
lightly tinted white wines.
The Wine: The wine is aged in stainless steel, with
no malolactic fermentation, so don't go looking for
the oaky, creamy flavors or texture that you might
associate with Chardonnay. However, the wine
does have a lot of body and is quite aromatic. Give
it a good sniff and you'll find lots of pretty floral
notes -- some honeysuckle in there.
Ripe melons, some pineapple, and white peach on
the palate. If you're really paying attention, you
might notice a little green tang at the end of a sip.
There's a hint of something that tastes like charred
Anaheim pepper in the finish. Pretty cool.
(Link)
"The Le Cirque 2010 Grenache Gris - which I tasted
just after its winter bottling - smells alluringly of iris
and honeysuckle atop ripe melons and pineapple.
Luscious and infectiously juicy, it saturates the palate
with watermelon, Persian melon, and pineapple,
mingled with walnut oil, peat, crushed stone, and
saliva-liberating salinity, all of which collaborate on
an exuberant finish, delivering an amazing value
that will certainly continue to satisfy for at least a
couple of years."” – Robert Parker, The Wine
Advocate, June 2011, 90 points
Cantina di Gallura, Cannonau di
Sardegna “Templum”, 2007,
Sardinia, Italy
One hundred and sixty members [of this
cooperative] cultivate the vine on 325 acres
located between 500 and 600 meters above sea
level, sandy soils of granite, which allow the
production of grapes of high quality. The
selection systems; the processes of modern
winemaking and aging in barrels or barriques; of
producing wines of high quality and
characteristics in tune with the changing tastes
and demands of the international consumer; all
fall within the scope of the member-farms.
The origins of the Cannonau grape are
unknown. The general belief is that it appeared
on the Italian island of Sardinia in the 14th
century, brought from Spain, during a period of
Spanish domination of the island, and that it is
either the canonazo grape of Seville or the
granaxa grape of Aragon. There is also a belief
(also unsubstantiated) that the cannonau grape
is actually grenache! However it got there,
cannonau vines acclimated quickly to Sardinia,
spreading throughout the island and now
making up over 20 per cent of the island's grape
vine plantings. (More on Cannonau)
Despite the vast plantings of cannonau, the wine
is produced in relatively limited quantity. This is
so because of what is known as short-pruning, a
system of training the vines that drastically
curtails fruit production. (Link)
The Wine: Medium-deep red. Simple but fresh
violet, quinine and inky aromas. Lively acidity
gives a bright, precise quality to the palate,
which hints at ripe black fruits, grilled meat,
black pepper and mushroom. Finishes with
modest length. 87 Points, Stephen Tanzer's
International Wine Cellar
Try these wines with the following
suggestions.
Kung Pao Chicken
Spanish-Style Oxtail Stew
Cheers!!
Dan & Colleen
Sardegna “Templum”, 2007,
Sardinia, Italy
One hundred and sixty members [of this
cooperative] cultivate the vine on 325 acres
located between 500 and 600 meters above sea
level, sandy soils of granite, which allow the
production of grapes of high quality. The
selection systems; the processes of modern
winemaking and aging in barrels or barriques; of
producing wines of high quality and
characteristics in tune with the changing tastes
and demands of the international consumer; all
fall within the scope of the member-farms.
The origins of the Cannonau grape are
unknown. The general belief is that it appeared
on the Italian island of Sardinia in the 14th
century, brought from Spain, during a period of
Spanish domination of the island, and that it is
either the canonazo grape of Seville or the
granaxa grape of Aragon. There is also a belief
(also unsubstantiated) that the cannonau grape
is actually grenache! However it got there,
cannonau vines acclimated quickly to Sardinia,
spreading throughout the island and now
making up over 20 per cent of the island's grape
vine plantings. (More on Cannonau)
Despite the vast plantings of cannonau, the wine
is produced in relatively limited quantity. This is
so because of what is known as short-pruning, a
system of training the vines that drastically
curtails fruit production. (Link)
The Wine: Medium-deep red. Simple but fresh
violet, quinine and inky aromas. Lively acidity
gives a bright, precise quality to the palate,
which hints at ripe black fruits, grilled meat,
black pepper and mushroom. Finishes with
modest length. 87 Points, Stephen Tanzer's
International Wine Cellar
Try these wines with the following
suggestions.
Kung Pao Chicken
Spanish-Style Oxtail Stew
Cheers!!
Dan & Colleen