For our monthly wine tasting on Thursday, September 7th, from 5-8 PM, we want to introduce you to our newest discoveries of this summer. Many of these gems are from emerging wine producing regions and offer fantastic value. We have also selected several wines from Maine’s growing roster of small, independent distributors, notably DaVine Wine Selections and Mariner Beverages. So come and kick off your Indian summer properly with a sip of eight great new wines.

 

 

Quinta da Alorna, Arintho Ribatejo 2004, $8.99 - Quinta da Alorna has been an agricultural and forestry company since 1723 and is one of the Ribatejo’s largest companies in this field. Since 1918 the property has been in the hands of four generations of the same family. Ribatejo is located in the south central part of Portugal, just northeast of Lisbon. This area is known for it’s native grapes, Arintho being one of them. This quality white grape is known for its high acid content, even when grown in hot climates. Light straw in color, this Arintho has great aromas of fresh citrus. In the mouth it has a fresh crisp flavor with a lingering finish.  September’s White Wine Best Buy - Cases for only $86 all month.

 

Château La Grave, Minervois "Expression" Blanc 2005, $11.99 - Château La Grave is located a mere 500 meters from the Canal du Midi in southern France’s Minervois appellation. The estate’s 90 hectares of property are divided between arid land covered with gravelly stones from which the château takes its name, and much more verdant soil comprised of wet clay overlaying banks of sandstone. These cooler, damper soils ensure higher acidity and are preferable for the growing of white grape varieties. Although only 15% of the property at La Grave is planted to white wine grapes, it represents 2% of the total area under vine for the entire appellation. Winemaker Jean-François Orosquette’s philosophy is that the ideal wine is one which yields everything that was considered while watching the vines growing and the grapes ripening. For the Expression blanc, he blends 80% Maccabeu with 10% Vermentino and 10% Marsanne. A portion of the Maccabeu comes from vineyards older than 70 years and forms a solid  backbone, while the rest, from slightly younger vines, is utilized for its balance, simplicity and purity. The 2005 is a light crystal yellow color and exudes aromas of stone-fruit tinged with herb notes which follow through on the palate. In all it is a well balanced, full and quite expressive white.

 

Morgan, Chardonnay Monterey "Metallico" 2005, $18.99 - The 2005 Metallico is composed of fruit primarily from the Arroyo Seco appellation, but also includes fruit from Morgan’s own Double L Vineyard, and its neighbor, the Lucia Highlands Vineyard, in the Santa Lucia Highlands. The lots selected were chosen for their aromatic complexity, balanced acidity and charming fruit. The 2005 vintage was a long, cool vintage, with Chardonnay harvest starting in mid-October and finishing on November 2nd. The long growing season produced exceptional quality, finely detailed fruit with plenty of balancing acidity. Whole cluster pressing produced a clean, high-quality must. The must was then cold-tank fermented to retain the essential bright fruit that cool climate Chardonnay offers. The wine was racked to neutral three year-old French barrels for brief aging and lees stirring to soften it and add complexity without adding oak character. The wine did not undergo malolactic fermentation, so it retains all of its natural acidity. Morgan’s 2005 Metallico is pale greenish-gold with lemon grass, mango, white peach, green apple and pear aromas and flavors. Mid-weight on the palate, it is intensely flavored, and showcases the region’s cool climate Chardonnay style in its purest form.

 

Crossroads Winery, Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2005, $16.99 - Crossroads Winery and Vineyard is situated in Fernhill on the sunny east coast of New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay. A boutique winery founded in 1990, it has rapidly established a reputation for producing elegant wines of high quality and consistency. There are 140 acres on the north facing terraces of the beautiful Ngauroro River in Mangatahi, Hawke’s Bay, as well as dedicated vineyards in the Gimblett Gravels area and 200 acres in Marlborough, where Sauvignon Blanc vines have been planted. Matthew Mitchell, Crossroads’ Winemaker, selects premium fruit from the vineyards in Hawkes Bay and Marlborough for Crossroads Wines. The quality of its wines, the ambience of the winery and vineyards and the warmth of the welcome from the cellar door team make it a very attractive place to visit. Bold and exuberant the aromas explode with ripe aromas of passion fruit and gooseberry that dominate the typical herbaceousness of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. A fine structural balance and a hallmark Marlborough zing keep the wine fresh and the finish sustained and juicy. Enjoy with grilled fish fillets, steamed shellfish and pasta

 

Quinta da Alorna, Vinho Regional Ribatejano Tinto 2003, $8.99 - Quinta da Alorna is a large 3000 hectare estate in Portugal’s Ribatejo region. Family owned, this was primarily an agricultural estate that did a bit of wine on the side, but fairly recently they decided to focus more on wine, and now have an impressive 280 ha of vines. These are planted on sandy soils, and there is no irrigation, with yields of about 6 tonnes per hectare. The wines themselves are very impressive in a fruit-forward, almost new-world style. If this is your thing, then they come very highly recommended and offer good value for money. The Ribatejo is emerging as a really good source of well made, modern-styled Portuguese reds at attractive prices. This red is a blend of Tinta Roriz, Castelão, Syrah and Alicante Bouschet. The wine was aged four months in three-year-old American oak barrels prior to bottling. It has ripe, red fruit aromas and finishes full and round with soft tannins. It pairs well with game, roasted meats and soft cheeses.  September's Red Wine Best Buy - Cases for only $86 all month.

 

Herencia Antica, Tempranillo Utiel-Requena Reserva 2001, $8.99 - To produce Herencia Antica Reserva, the finest Tempranillo grapes from the 150-hectare estate were selected. The wine obtained from these carefully handpicked grapes is then aged in new American oak barrels for 12 months, finally maturing in bottle to integrate the wine’s complex aroma and structure. The result is a traditional medium bodied tempranillo, with well-balanced fruit that is soft and rich. Herencia Antica Reserva Tempranillo, is simple and cheerful, with red-fruit and tobacco aromas. Goes well with or without food.

 

Cloudline, Pinot Noir Oregon 2005, $17.99 - Made under the careful eye of consulting winemaker Véronique Drouhin-Boss, Cloudline is a delicious, great value Pinot Noir from Oregon’s Willamette Valley with true varietal character. Since the brand’s debut less than two years ago, the response from retailers, sommeliers and consumers has been overwhelming, and the 2005 will only continue the love affair. 2005 will be remembered as a superb vintage in Oregon. After an unusually dry winter and rainy spring, weather returned to more normal patterns, including a dry hot summer. Much needed September rain extended harvest well into October, allowing for lovely ripening and excellent complexity, which is reflected in the wine. The 2005 Cloudline has an inviting, ruby-red hue, and fresh aromatic nuances of raspberry, violets and a touch of spice. On the palate, the wine is all cherries and red fruits, with great balance and length. The tannins are soft, and the overall fruit-forwardness makes for a wine that is thoroughly enjoyable now and for the next several years to come.

 

Los Maquis, "Lien" Colchagua Valley 2004, $16.99 - The Hurtado family has owned the Maquis vineyard for more than a century, but it was only ten years ago that they decided to begin making a wine themselves from the terrific grapes in their own backyard. They built a gorgeous, state-of-the-art, gravity flow winery and set out to make a wine using the vineyard’s best red grapes. Located in Valle de Colchagua, Viña Maquis produces grapes that bear the deep influence of terroir. The vineyards are surrounded by the Tinguiririca River and the Chimbarongo Creek--two large waterways that once brought alluvial sediments from the Andes. Today, they act as pathways for cool coastal breezes that help moderate the warm Colchagua summers, contributing to the intensity of the wines. The distinctive 2004 Maquis Lien is made from a finely tuned blend of 50% Syrah, 23% Carmenère, 12% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petit Verdot, and 7% Malbec. To make this fruity and concentrated blend, winemakers Ricardo Rivadeneira Hurtado and Alejandro Jofré kept yields in the vineyards exceedingly low. Only the ripest grapes are picked, and then sorted by hand at the winery. Lien is barrel aged for 12 months in French oak. In Chile's native Mapuche language, lien means “silver metal”--a reference to colonial Spanish coins that were once melted to make fine jewelry such as the lizard depicted on the label. Wine Spectator described the 2004 Maquis Lien as, “A clean-cut, modern style, with a layer of mocha and toast leading the way for ripe plum and blackberry fruit. Fleshy, fruit-filled finish has a nice loamy hint.”

 

     Please join us at THE CLOWN on Thursday, September 7th as we continue to bring you new and exciting wines for your enjoyment.

 

     As always there is no charge for participating in the tasting, and it is accompanied by a new showing of artwork in our gallery upstairs. This month: THEODORE TIHANSKY & ALISON HILL--Life & Love on Monhegan Island.