November Wine Night - Montepulciano

Host

Phil & Jennie

Date

November 19, 2010

Bottles

2003 Rocca dei Bottari Riserva - Kevin
2006 Vigna Franca - Phil & Jennie
2006 Rocca dei Bottari - Brett & Katie
2007 Cantina Zaccagnini - Nicole
2009 Colle Sori - Evan & Jess
2009 DaSole - Sean & Tara

Montepulciano

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is a type of red wine made from the Montepulciano wine grape in the Abruzzo region of east-central Italy. The grape is however recommended for 20 of Italy's 95 provinces. Up to 10% Sangiovese is permitted to be added to the blend. It is typically a dry wine with soft tannins, and as such is often consumed young. The Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is classified as DOC and DOCG in Teramo (where it is officially called Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane). If aged by the winery for more than two years, the wine may be labeled "Riserva." This wine should not be confused with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, a Tuscan wine made from Sangiovese and other grapes, but not the Montepulciano variety.

The Results

WINNER: 2006 Vigna Franca - 59.5 points out of 90
Producer: F. Ili Barba S.r.l.
Vineyard: Vigna Franca
Country/State/Region: Italy/Montepulciano
Price: $15.99
Aroma: Herbal, Spice, Oak
Appearance: Purple
Body: Light
Nose: Pepper, Vegetables, Prune, Cedar
Taste: Cherry, Blackberry, Prune
Finish: Short
Individual Points: 8,5,6,7,8,6,7,5,7.5

2007 Cantina Zaccagnini - 59 points out of 90
Producer: Az. Agricola Cicco Zaccagnini s.a.s.
Vineyard: Cantina Zaccagnini
Country/State/Region: Italy/Montepulciano
Price: $15.99
Aroma: Oak
Appearance: Purple
Body: Medium
Nose: Prune, Raisin, Cedar
Taste: Coffee, Prune, Raisin
Finish: Long
Individual Points: 7,6,5,5,8,8,7.5,6.5,6

2009 Colle Sori - 57.5 points out of 90
Producer: C.V.B.C. & C. S.p.A.
Vineyard: Colle Sori
Country/State/Region: Italy/Montepulciano
Price: $9.99
Aroma: Spice
Appearance: Ruby
Body: Light
Nose: Raspberry, Cherry, Pepper
Taste: Raspberry, Cherry, Pepper, Peach
Finish: Short
Individual Points: 8,7,8,4,7,6.5,6,6,5

2009 DaSole - 54.5 points out of 90
Producer: Velenosi S.r.l.
Vineyard: DaSole
Country/State/Region: Italy/Montepulciano
Price: $15.99
Aroma: Herbal, Spice, Oak
Appearance: Purple
Body: Medium
Nose: Violet, Cherry, Blackberry
Taste: Allspice, Cedar, Cheese, Blackberry, Cherry
Finish: Long
Individual Points: 6,8,7,7,7.5,2,7,5,5

2003 Rocca dei Bottari Riserva - 54 points out of 90
Producer: Rocca dei Bottari
Vineyard: Villa Cervia Com S.r.l.
Country/State/Region: Italy/Montepulciano
Price: $20.99
Aroma: Oak
Appearance: Purple
Body: Medium
Nose: Plum, Cedar, Raisin
Taste: Plum, Cedar, Raisin, Blueberry
Finish: Long
Individual Points: 6,6,6,7,6,4,6,6,7



2006 Rocca dei Bottari - 46 points out of 90
Producer: Rocca dei Bottari
Vineyard: Villa Cervia Com S.r.l.
Country/State/Region: Italy/Montepulciano
Price: $9.99
Aroma: Spice, Oak
Appearance: Purple
Body: Medium
Nose: Pepper, Cedar, Raspberry
Taste: Cedar, Raspberry, Cherry
Finish: Long
Individual Points: 5,4,4,5,7,1,7,5,8

Meet This Crazy Wino - Jennie

Name: Jennie
Alias: The Assassin (my friend’s husband calls me that… don’t ask)
Occupation: Duhhh, an assassin (well really it’s Manager, Sales Administration & Distribution Services… Say that one 5 times quickly… And in case you’re wondering, I agree, assassin sounds much more interesting)

When you brag, you brag about: how incredibly intelligent I am… just kidding… well, I am incredibly intelligent. I just don’t brag about it.

What would you do if money was no issue? Buy an enormous house on enormous property and travel the world. Donate to a ton of charities. Knowing me I’d also open a home for homeless animals.

Favorite Vintage: if you need an actual year, forget it.. favorite wine was always Pinot Grigio (don’t make fun!) but I’ve actually moved onto really liking Malbec and Shiraz. Ok, so I named several wines.. sue me!
Why? um, I like how they taste

Your First Wine Experience: no clue, but was probably sneaking a taste from my dad’s glass or something

What makes you a crazy wino? I use wine instead of milk in my coffee and cereal.

Favorite Quote: “I’m at the corner of 1^st and 1^st. How could the same street intersect itself?! I must be at the nexus of the universe!" - Kramer

Personal Motto: "Never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut."

Top 3 items on your Bucket List: make sure I visit every state in the U.S., become a real CSI, be the next Food Network star (well at least the first one is feasible).

Top Choice Actor to play you for Our Monthly Wine Club - The Movie: Idina Menzel…I only chose her because crazy Nicole thinks I look like her, though I don’t see the resemblance. I don’t have her beautiful green(?) eyes, gorgeous hair, or amazing voice… but I’ll take it!

October Wine Night - Merlot

Host

Derek & Joe

Date

October 22, 2010

Bottles

2006 Franciscan - Jess & Evan
2006 St. Francis Winery - Tara & Sean
2007 Brisco Reserva - Joe & Derek
2007 Blackstone Winery - Danielle & Anthony
2007 Clic Delle Venezie Rosso - Nicole
2007 Cupcake Vineyards - Danielle & John
2007 Hansom - Jennie & Phil
2008 Fetzer Vineyards - Katie & Brett
2008 Bodega Navarro Correas - Danielle & Anthony
2008 Yellow Tail Reserve - Jodi & Tim

Merlot

Merlot is a red wine grape that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to derive from the Old French word for young blackbird, merlot, a diminutive of merle, the blackbird (Turdus merula), probably from the color of the grape. Merlot-based wines usually have medium body with hints of berry, plum, and currant. Its softness and "fleshiness", combined with its earlier ripening, makes Merlot a popular grape for blending with the sterner, later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon, which tends to be higher in tannin.

Along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, Merlot is one of the primary grapes in Bordeaux wine where it is the most widely planted grape. Merlot is also one of the most popular red wine varietals in many markets. This flexibility has helped to make it one of the world's most planted grape varieties. As of 2004, Merlot was estimated to be the third most grown variety at 260,000 hectares (640,000 acres) globally, with an increasing trend. This put Merlot just behind Cabernet Sauvignon's 262,000 hectares (650,000 acres).

The Results

WINNER: 2007 Hansom Wines - 122.5 points out of 170
Producer: Hansom Wines
Vineyard: Hansom Wines
Country/State/Region: Healdsburg, California
Price: $18.99
Aroma: Spice, Oak
Appearance: Ruby
Body: Full
Nose: Chocolate, Prune, Plum, Cinnamon, Blackberry
Taste: Brown Sugar, Blackberry, Raisin, Prune, Plum
Finish: Long
Individual Points: 8, 7, 5, 9, 7, 8, 8, 10, 7, 8, 8, 7.5, 10, 2, 6, 5, 6

2006 Franciscan - 119 points out of 170
Producer: Franciscan
Vineyard: Franciscan
Country/State/Region: Oakville, California
Price: $16.99
Aroma: Spice, Oak
Appearance: Ruby
Body: Medium
Nose: Blueberry, Vanilla, Oak, Blackberry, Raspberry, Cherry
Taste: Oak, Pepper, Vanilla, Blueberry, Cherry, Raspberry
Finish: Long
Individual Points: 7, 7, 5, 8, 6, 7, 7.5, 9, 6, 7, 9, 10, 8, 7, 8.5, 4, 3

2008 Fetzer Vineyards - 117 points out of 170
Producer: Fetzer Vineyards
Vineyard: Fetzer Vineyards
Country/State/Region: Hopland, California
Price: $10.99
Aroma: Spice, Oak
Appearance: Ruby
Body: Light
Nose: Vanilla, Cherry, Plum, Strawberry
Taste: Spice, Cherry, Earth, Strawberry, Blackberry
Finish: Short
Individual Points: 5, 7, 8, 7, 9, 9, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 6.5, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6

2008 Bodega Navarro Correas - 107.5 points out of 170
Producer: Bodega Navarro Correas
Vineyard: Bodega Navarro Correas
Country/State/Region: Argentina
Price: $9.99
Aroma: Herbal
Appearance: Ruby
Body: Light
Nose: Rose, Cherry, Strawberry, Plum
Taste: Plum, Prune, Blackberry
Finish: Short
Individual Points: 9, 8, 8, 8, 7, 7.5, 7.5, 7, 4, 5, 0, 5, 9, 4, 7.5, 6, 5

2008 Yellow Tail Reserve - 103 points out of 170
Producer: Casella Wines
Vineyard: Casella Wines
Country/State/Region: Yenda, Australia
Price: $11.99
Aroma: Oak
Appearance: Ruby
Body: Full
Nose: Blueberry, Raisin, Raspberry, Chocolate, Vanilla, Smoke
Taste: Oak, Raspberry, Cedar, All Spice, Coffee
Finish: Long
Individual Points: 7.5, 8, 7, 9, 5, 4, 5, 3, 3, 7, 10, 7, 7, 5, 5, 5, 6

2006 St. Francis Winery - 85 points out of 170
Producer: St. Francis Winery
Vineyard: St. Francis Winery
Country/State/Region: Santa Rosa, California
Price: $23.99
Aroma: Oak
Appearance: Ruby
Body: Medium
Nose: Blackberry, Blueberry, Vanilla, Rose
Taste: Raspberry, Coffee, Smoke, Olive
Finish: Long
Individual Points: 6, 6, 6, 8, 3, 4, 5, 8, 5, 4, 4, 4.5, 4, 3, 5.5, 4, 5

2007 Briseo Reserva - 84 points out of 170
Producer: CVSCS
Vineyard: CVSCS
Country/State/Region: La Consulta, Mendoza
Price: $9.99
Aroma: Oak, Herbal
Appearance: Ruby
Body: Medium
Nose: Blackberry, Raspberry, Grass, Blueberry
Taste: Blackberry, Raspberry, Blackberry, Cedar, Pepper
Finish: Long
Individual Points: 6, 6.5, 6.5, 7.5, 6.5, 7, 6, 4, 5, 5, 0, 3, 9, 5, 4, 2, 1

2007 Blackstone Winery - 82.5 points out of 170
Producer: Blackstone Winery
Vineyard: Blackstone Winery
Country/State/Region: Woodbridge, California
Price: $12.99
Aroma: Spice, Oak
Appearance: Ruby
Body: Medium
Nose: Cinnamon, Pepper, Vanilla, Hazelnut
Taste: Cedar, Smoke, Earth, Pepper, Coffee, Grass, Vegetables
Finish: Long
Individual Points: 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 2, 2, 2, 8, 8, 6, 7, 3, 3, 5.5, 7, 5

2007 Clic Delle Venezie Rosso - 77 points out of 170
Producer: Ronco Dei Tassi di Coser Fabio & Co.
Vineyard: Ronco Dei Tassi di Coser Fabio & Co.
Country/State/Region: Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Price: $13.99
Aroma: Spice
Appearance: Ruby
Body: Medium
Nose: Blackberry, Raspberry
Taste: Pepper, Prune, Mold
Finish: Long
Individual Points: 3, 5, 7, 7.5, 1, 6, 7, 6.5, 2, 3, 0, 9, 4, 2, 5, 4, 5

2007 Cupcake Vineyards - 58 points out of 170
Producer: Cupcake Vineyards
Vineyard: Cupcake Vineyards
Country/State/Region: Livermore, California
Price: $9.99
Aroma: Spice, Oak
Appearance: Ruby
Body: Medium
Nose: Rose, Pepper, Raspberry
Taste: Rose, Pepper, Strawberry, Black Cherry, Mocha
Finish: Short
Individual Points: 6, 6, 3, 3, 6, 3, 3, 2, 2, 8, 1, 3, 1, 1, 2, 4, 4