Garnacha (Grenache in France) has long been known as a workhouse grape.  It was always thought of as a low quality varietal that was only useful in blends.  Because of this, it was at one time the most planted red grape in both France and Spain.  Nowadays, Garnacha or Grenache, is starting to see a rejuvenation.

In Spain, there are 3 clone varietals of Garnacha as well.  There is the more common Garnacha Tinta.  Garnacha Peluda ("Hairy Grenache") is the varietal that is widely planted in Priorat.  It is named because their leaves have a fuzzy, soft texture.  Another clone is Garnacha Tintorera.

Garnacha Tintorera is a hybrid of Grenache and Petit Bouschet.  It is widely planted in Southeastern Spain.  You will also see smatterings of plantings in Portugal, France as well as California.  A fun fact, Garnacha Tintorera or Alicante Bouschet, as it is also known, was extremely popular in the United States during prohibition.  Thanks to the grapes thick skin, it was easy to get fermentable juice from and it also transported well.  

What I like about Garnacha from Spain is that is a wine that usually shows great fruit but it is still a dryer wine.  It is very versatile to different palates.  Honoro Vera is no different in this regard.  It shows great notes of juicy plums and sweet berries on the palate.  It is not very tannic either. Even though it shows great fruit, it is not sweet.  This is highlighted by the touch of pepper on the finish.  

Overall, it is an extremely enjoyable red wine.  It is not an extremely complex wine but that is what is great about Garnacha.  It does not try to be something that it isn't.  I think Garnacha's are some of the best value wines on the market today.  Honoro Vera is no different as you can find it on the shelves for $8 to $10.  That is an absolute steal!

Honoro Vera Garnacha in a Nutshell:

Description:  100% Garnacha.  Great fruit on the nose of cherry and blackberry.  Fruit is extremely evident on the palate with notes of juicy plums and currants.  This is all balanced out by a touch of pepper on the finish.  Extremely easy to drink, fruitful red wine that is not sweet.


Food Pairings:  Versatile red wine that can compliment a variety of dishes.  I have it enjoyed it with a ribeye steak off the grill as well as a goat cheese stuffed ravioli in meat sauce.


Vintage/Price:  The current vintage is 2011.  The wine is great but the price is even better.  An absolute robbery at $9.99 on most shelves.


For more information about Honoro Vera and other wines of Bodegas Ateca, please vist:  Oro Wines

After mentioning a kitchen sink blend in my post yesterday, I immediately thought of a story I heard at a recent tasting.  The rep. was pouring La Posta Cocina Tinto.  Someone asked what it meant.  He said the literal translation of Cocina Tinto is Kitchen Sink Red.  The story that I enjoyed though pertained to the brand name.

Translated to English, La Posta means "The Tavern".  It represents the tavern that the growers meet at in Mendoza, Argentina to enjoy and discuss the fruits of their labor.  The back of each bottle highlights the story:

"We have tasted over a thousand wines since we began importing from Argentina. In that time, we have discovered a handful of grape growers whose results in the vineyards with specific varietals have been truly amazing--year in, year out. Our first encounter with many of these growers was at a posta del vinatero, or "tavern of the grape grower". Here they drank wine and spoke passionately for hours about their soils, their vines, and their quest for superior flavors in their grapes. We salute the hard work and skill of these growers by offering these vineyard-designated releases made solely with their special grapes."


In this "kitchen sink" red, the blend is 60% Malbec, 20% Syrah and 20% Bonarda.  This blend creates wine that appeases both types of red wine drinkers.  For those who want a bolder wine, it is oaked just long enough and it contains enough spice on the palate as well as finish for their taste.  For those who prefer their reds to show more fruit, it is extremely evident in this wine at first sip. Overall, it is a easy-drinking red that is an absolute steal at around the $13 price point.


On a side note, I know I have said it before. I believe Bonarda (Charbono in California) is going to be the new buzz coming out of Argentina in coming years.  It is showing extremely well already in wines from Mendoza and I think it will only get better as it becomes more prevalent.  Malbec has put Argentina on the map in recent years but I think Bonarda and Torrontes will be taking their wine production to the next level!

La Posta Cocina Tinto in a Nutshell:


Description:  60% Malbec, 20% Syrah and 20% Bonarda.  Great, juicy cherry and blueberry fruits shown throughout.  A nice touch of cocoa and coffee to balance the fruit and create a wonderful full-flavored red.  

Food Pairings:   Perfect for Carne Asada or Steak Fajitas.  Versatile wine that would also pair well with a burger or pizza as well.

Vintage/Price: Current Vintage is 2010.  Price is a steal at the $13 to $15 mark.

For more information on La Posta and their other wines, please visit: La Posta Vineyards or Vine Connections

My wife and I ventured to the great white north earlier this year.  Well, it was actually Niagara on the Lake in Ontario, Canada.  It is a lovely area and we really enjoy our time there.  One of our favorite stops is Konzelmann Estate Winery.  It is on Lake Ontario and on a clear day, you can see Toronto across the lake. 

Friedrich Konzelmann started a winery in the 1800's in Stuttgart, Germany.  After many years, the land became too valuable as Stuttgart grew in population and production became harder and harder. Enter Herbert Konzelmann, the great grandson of Friedrich Konzelmann.  He became a part of the winery in 1958.  When times got tough, he decided to continue a family tradition of making wine and opened Konzelmann Estate Winery in 1984. Why Canada you may ask?  I will let their website answer that question:

"Herbert chose the site on the shores of Lake Ontario because of the micro-climate, where the wonderful balance of sun, soil, airflow and moisture conditions are ideal for the production of premium quality wines.

The protection provided by the nearby Niagara Escarpment, combined with the moderating influence of the lake, provides a longer growing period for the "noble" Vitis Vinifera vines of Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Chardonnay grapes."

It seems to be a good choice.  In 2008, Konzelmann became the first winery to be featured in the Wine Spectator Top 100 list thanks to their delicious Vidal Icewine.

Konzelmann has a great tasting room and tour.  On top of that, they offer a wide variety of varietals for everyone's tasting pleasure.  One that peaked our interest was their Canada Red.  It is made from the Zweigelt grape which is best known in Austria.  It is actually named for Dr. Fritz Zweigelt.  He created Zweigelt by crossing St. Laurent and Blaufränkisch.

Zweigelt tends to be a spicy red with strong tannins.  Konzelmann though has smoothed this out by adding Merlot and created a nice, easy drinking red wine.  It shows great fruit (Raspberry mostly) which almost gives it a sweetness when it first hits the palate.  It is well-balanced though because of great spice on the finish (peppercorns).  The tannins here are softer which allows it to be more food friendly.

Konzelmann Canada Red in a Nutshell:

Description:  Mostly Zweigelt with a touch of Merlot.  Shows good Raspberry fruit on the nose and palate.  Smooth tannins and hints of pepper throughout.  More Pepper shown on a spicy finish.

Pairing:  Great with gamey meats such as Lamb and Elk.  Also good with rich cheese dishes containing buffalo mozzarella or goat cheese.
 
Vintage/Price: Current vintage is 2010.  It costs $12.75 at the Winery.


For more information on Canada Red and other wines from Konzelmann, please go to: Konzelmann Estate Winery

One of my favorite domestic wineries is nestled in the Sierra Foothills in California.  Boeger has been open since 1974.  The fun fact about Boeger's winery is that it sits just about 15 minutes away from where gold was first found in California.  It subsequently started the gold rush.  It's fun to think that once upon a time, where Boeger now has vineyards, people were taking part in the gold rush.

The gold rush is not my reasoning for loving Boeger (I do love that fact though).  It is because they have gotten away from the normal California offerings.  Sure, they make wonderful Zins, Chardonays, Pinots, etc.  What seperates them is varietals such as Tempranillo, Sangiovese and Cab Franc.  My favorite though is their Barbera.

Barbera is a red grape common to Italy.  It is only behind Sangiovese and Montepulciano in terms of red wine production there.  In California, it had been on the rise in recent years.  Before, Barbera was a grape that was used in California to blend.  Now, there are many fine examples of single varietal Barbera being produced with great quality.  There are none finer in my opinion than Boeger's!

Boeger's Barbera is extremely well rounded. The aromatics here are a nice a mix of fruit (Plum) with a touch of black pepper.  It shows a really nice mix of fruit (Black Cherry, Blackberry) and spice (Vanilla and a touch of clove).  Low tannins and good acidity give this wine a wonderful mouth feel. It shows a lot of structure without having the bitterness that comes with it.  Overall, it is extremely smooth and keeps you wanting more.

Boeger Barbera in a Nutshell:

Description:  Great aromatics of plum and black pepper.  Plump red that shows great blackberry and black cherry fruit.  Good spice on the finish with clove and vanilla.  Low tannins and a touch of acid round off this well balanced Cal-Ital wine.

Pairing:  A nice red to accompany anything containing Marinara sauce.  Low acid makes it a great pairing with tomato based meat dishes.
 
Vintage/Price: Current vintage is 2009.  It is wonderful now but 1-2 years in your cellar could make this wine spectacular.  Should find it between 17 and 19 dollars on the net or in a store near you!


For more information on Boeger's Barbera and their other wines, please go to: Boeger Winery

Primitivo is a grape that causes a lot of debate.  Wine connoisseurs used to believe that it was the exact same grape as Zinfandel.  Research has shown that while they are both clones of a Croatian Grape (Crljenak), they are not exactly the same.  So what is the difference...

Primitivo's rough translation is "early one".  (Fun Fact, Tempranillo means the same thing in Spanish.)   Not just being a clever name, Primitivo tends to ripen earlier than Zinfandel.  The plus side of this is that it usually produces wines with lower alcohol content that are easier to drink.  For me, I used to love a huge zin that gave me a headache in the morning.  Now a days, this is not the case.

Primitivo in my opinion shows more fruit and it a plumper wine than your California Zinfandel. Don't get me wrong, it is no pushover.  There is still a little spice on the finish. Because of the fruit that it shows, it pairs easier with more foods.  I always pull out Primitivo whenever my family is eating a pepperoni or sausage pizza.  

Primitivo is finding it's place in more vineyards these days.  There are plantings in California (You actually may find Zinfandel/Primitivo blends these days) as well as Washington state.  The traditional Primitivo comes from Puglia, Italy.  If you are a visual person, it is the heel of Italy.

Petraio Primitivo in a Nutshell:

Description:  100% Primitivo. Deep purple in color. Blackberry and Black Cherry fruit shown.  A touch of clove and spice on a smooth finish.

Pairings:  My favorite is pizza with meat and red sauce.  Also would go great with Lasagna or a big bowl of Spaghetti and Meat Sauce.

Vintages/Price:  Current vintage is 2010.   One of the best parts of this wine is that you'll find it for less than $9 a bottle. 


For more information, please visit http://www.tmarchettico.com/Petraio_PrimitivoDiPuglia.pdf 

One of the more enjoyable varietals that I have loved in recent years is Malbec.  It became the buzz grape in the wine world and it really legitimized Argentina in the wine world.  It had been around forever but never got the critical acclaim that its bordeaux brothers had received.  (The five acceptable red grapes in a Bordeaux are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Some consider Carmenere acceptable as well although it is rarely used)  

Mendoza, the most famous wine region in Argentina, has put Malbec on the map.  The first planting was put in the ground in 1994.  Since then, it has become the largest grown varietal in Argentina.  It thrives in the high altitude (base of the Andes mountains) landscapes of Mendoza.

While Mendoza has exploded on the scene, a new upstart region is beginning to gain steam in Argentina.  That region is Salta.  It is at the north end of Argentina and provides unique climates that help certain varieties thrive.  Their most notable varietal is Torrontes (They are wonderful and I will write about one soon.)  They are also having luck with Malbec but are using it like it as a blending grape.

That brings me to the wine of the day, Hermanos Malbec-Tannat blend.  Tannat is a interesting grape that is known for extreme tannins and racy acidity.  It is rare to find it on its own and not in a blend because of these characteristics.  In Uruguay however, it can be produced soft tannins and less acidity.  It also shows off more fruit.  Some say that Uruguayan Tannat could be the next Argentine Malbec in years to come.  Salta shares some of the characteristics of Uruguay in terms of Climate so they are able to grow Tannat as well.

In terms of this blend, it is unique on the palate.  It's a good mix of fruit (Plum and Black Cherry) and earthiness (Anise and Cocoa).  It's big but not bold.  It's on the smoother side, not the chewy.

Hermanos Malbec-Tannat in a Nutshell:

Description:  70% Malbec and 30% Tannat.  Deep Red in Color with a purple tint.  The fruits tasted were Plum and Black Cherry.  A touch on the greener side, could be a true eye opener with a year in the cellar.

Pairings:  A wonderful for gamey red meat such as Lamb (Shanks, Kabobs, chops, etc).  Also would accompany a nice filet wrapped in bacon well.  

Vintages/Price:  Current vintage is 2010.   The price should be right around $15 wherever you find it.  1500 cases made so may not be around for long.


For more information, please visit http://www.vineconnections.com/viewproduct.php?c=1&pid=292

Today I am writing about a wine from a winery whose name is a favorite of mine. The winery is Duxoup from Northern Sonoma County in California.  Upon looking at the name, people want to pronounce it with a French accent.  It's fun to see people spin it different ways.  The pronunciation however is quite simply Duck Soup.

The winery has some varietals that are not common in California such as Dolcetto, Gamay Noir and Sangiovese.  The varietal that I tasted recently is even more rare than those mentioned.  It is Charbono.  

I had never heard of it before.  Upon looking into the wine more, I found it is a different name for Bonarda, the red varietal that is increasing production and trying to be the new Malbec in Argentina.  The third name the grape goes by is Corbeau.  This is the original name for the grape in its native France.  Some believe that it is related to Dolcetto in Italy as well.

In regards to just Duxoup's Charbono, it is quite delicious.  It is a very dark purple in the glass.  It has a strong nose but upon drinking, it has a lot more fruit than you would expect from the first sniff.  It is full bodied red but big and chewy.  It is also high in tannin's and good acidity.

Duxoup Charbono in a Nutshell:

Description:  Deep purple in color.  Rich with a long finish.  Shows good fruit, mostly plum.  Also has a touch of pepper on the finish.

Pairings:  Great with a Flank Steak or Carne Asada tacos.  The perfect wine for anything with Chipotle seasoning.  

Vintages/Price:  Current vintage is 2008.   $20 should be very close to the price wherever you find this wine.  Goes pretty fast though because there is less than 500 cases produced.

For more information, please visit http://www.duxoup.com/charbono.html 

In my last post, I wrote about a Moscatel that surprised everyone that tasted it because it was not stereo-typically sweet.  Today, I am going opposite. Most times, when someones speaks of an Italian Red, they first conjure up Chianti or even a Super Tuscan.  The stereotype is big and bold.  That all changes when you pop open a bottle of Voulet Antichi Giochi Piemontesi Casorzo.

The first thing that I noticed about this wine is that it is made in a Frizzante style.  Frizzante means Semi-Sparkling.  Yes, you read that right.  It is a red wine with effervescence. After the initial shock of the tongue tickling you experience, more surprises come.

This wine is low alcohol and it is very sweet.  I would almost describe it as a sparkling sangria of sorts. It has a ton of fruit and goes more towards a sparkling grape juice rather than wine.  The bonus is that is does have alcohol!

 This is the wine for the non-wine drinker.  People who say I don't like wine will not say that when this is their glass on your patio!

Voulet Antichi Giochi Piemontesi Casorzo in a nutshell:

Description:  Extremely easy to drink due to very low alcohol content. Surprising effervescence gives an added source of conversation.  Tons of fruit consisting of mostly raspberry, elderberry and concord flavors.  

Pairings:  A perfect wine to accompany chocolate based desserts.  Also, would be great with spicy BBQ on the grill during summer months for something different.

Price: Varies per website/market.  Should be in the $11.99 to $17.99 range.