Saturday, October 20, 2007

The Spirited Gourmet: Fall Wine Tasting

Today, I attended the first half of the Grand Wine Tasting Extravaganza at The Spirited Gourmet in Winchester. The first half of the tasting was from 2-5pm and there were 34 wines available for tasting. The second half is from 5-8pm and will have 35 wines available for tasting.

Six distributors were present in the first half, including Classic Wine Imports, Ideal Wine & Spirits, Martignetti Companies, Cafe Europa, Ruby Wines and Boston Wine Company. Six other distributors were present for the second half.

For me, the highlights of the tasting were:

2005 Kiara Pecorino ($17.99). An Italian white wine from the Marches region. It is made from 100% Pecorino, a less common grape that is more often used in blends. The wine has a nice citrus nose and interesting citrus flavors on the palate too. It is a crisp wine that is very smooth. A delightful wine with character.

2005 Cornacchia Montepulciano d'Abruzzo ($11.99): Another Italian wine, a red though. Light, good cherry flavors, very easy drinking. A simple wine but with good flavor. Enjoy with pizza or pasta.

2006 Montinore Pinot Noir ($17.99): This Pinot from Oregon was very good, and I have had others of their wines before. The wine has more of a spice nose and flavor, including cinnamon. It is more Burgundian in style, with subtle fruit flavors.

2006 Anne Amie Cuvee A Amrita ($15.99): Another wine from Oregon, this time a white blend that is predominantly Muller-Thurgau. An intriguing taste, with lots of citrus and a tinge of sweetness. Lots of flavor for a reasonable price. Reminds me of the Caymus Conundrum.

2004 Bravante Merlot ($39.99): A more expensive wine but worth its price. This is a very low production wine. It has a nice melange of flavors, fruit and spice. It is complex, well balanced and smooth. An intriguing wine that is sure to impress.

2005 Sorgenti Chianti Colli Fiorentini ($19.99): Bright cherry flavors with muted spices. This wine has character and would be a great companion for Italian dishes. One of the better Chiantis I have tasted in awhile.

2005 Domaine Newman Beaune ($42.99): Another more expensive wine but also an exceptional one from a great vintage. Everything a classical Burgundy should be. Great subtle flavors and much complexity. A mere taste does not do the wine justice. If you are going to splurge, this would be a great choice.

I should also mention that The Spirited Gourmet's new wine store in Belmont is tenatively scheduled to open on November 12.

The Spirited Gourmet
600 Main Street
Winchester, MA
Phone: 781-721-WINE

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