Sage Wine & Spirits
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • TASTING
  • Events & Weddings
  • Sage Selection Bag

Sage Advice
Questionable wit & wisdom from the bottom of the bottle

Last Week's Tasting Notes (4.6.18)

4/11/2018

0 Comments

 
​Owen Roe Mirth Chardonnay ($13.99)
Washington
From the producer:
"The Mirth is quintessential Chardonnay exhibiting bright tropical notes and excellent purity of flavor and balance unencumbered by oak flavor. The wine is fermented and cellared in stainless steel to preserve its freshness and varietal character."

From me:
This unoaked Chardonnay is a good crossover white: while it can be nice in summer because of its fruitiness, its creaminess on the palate makes it a good fall or spring wine, too. The notes of buttery Meyer lemon complement roasted fowl or a meatier fish.

The Curator White ($9.99)
South Africa
From the producer:
"The CURATOR is a range of dynamic wines that are selected after the vintage each year. The grapes are grown in the Swartland region on the West Coast of Southern Africa. The vineyards are mostly bushvines growing in granite and slate soils, sourced from a number of traditional farmers. Chenin Blanc is the backbone and structure of this blend. The Chardonnay was naturally fermented and took a long time to complete fermentation, resulting in great texture and wacky aromas of dried peaches and apricots
and ripe citrus. The Viognier, from one of Badenhorsts favorite growers and vineyards, completes the Swartland canvas and brings some spice and palate length to the wine.
Grapes are picked by hand, chilled overnight and then pressed to settling tanks. The following day the juice is drawn off into tanks for fermentation. The winemaking team lets the wine run its course. Six months after fermentation the wine is blended after a series of intense tastings and dinners with the blend options. The blend that is finished first at one of these dinners is chosen as the final blend." 

60% Chenin Blanc 20% Chardonnay 20% Viognier

From me:
The Curator is a great introduction to South African wines from a well-regarded winemaker. This is an entry-level blend that drinks above its price. The blend allows the acidity of the Chenin Blanc to come through, while the Chardonnay balances with ripe fruit flavors. The Viognier rounds it out, producing a fruit-driven, but dry wine. 

Clos LaChance Meritage ($15.99)
California
From the producer:
"Clos LaChance Wines was established by the Murphy family in 1987. Through careful environmental stewardship of their 150 acre estate vineyards, the winery was one of the first to be sustainably-certified. Their wines showcase balance and integrity to capture the unique character of each varietal.

The aroma of this Meritage is a mixture of red fruits with a tinge of green pepper. Initial taste is dominated by huckleberries and spice as a hint of vanilla leads to a smooth finish."

From me:
Meritage is a designation for wines that are Bordeaux-style blends, but that are produced outside of that designation of origin. The word is a portmanteau of "merit" and "heritage," so do pronounce the third syllable "idj" instead of "azh."  This is mostly Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, so there is plenty of dark fruit tempered by soft tannins, with a slight underlying vegetal note. This is a smooth and supple wine with just enough structure to appeal to both Cab and Bordeaux drinkers.
0 Comments

Last Week's Tasting Notes (3.30.18)

4/4/2018

0 Comments

 
Menade Verdejo ($14.99)
Rueda, Spain
From the producer:
"It represents freshness, the wildest side of the Verdejo variety. The grapes come from different plots with clay-calcareous soils and pebbles from the Rueda area, which are made separately.

Fermentation with natural yeasts to achieve the maximum expression of our environment, aromas of fresh grass, minerality and liveliness. The personality of Bodegas Menade.

​Aroma: Concentration of varietal and mineral aromas. Highlights of white fruit aromas interspersed with notes of laurel, fennel and aromatic plants of low mount like thyme.

Palate:
Dry, tasty and balanced. Certain bitter touches typical of the verdejo, round with volume. The natural acidity sustains an elegant and long finish."

From me:
This fresh, lively white is a great alternative to Sauvignon Blanc, and an excellent introduction to Spanish whites. Verdejo is an indigenous grape, and Menade is run by young siblings who are determined to craft better quality wines that reflect the terroir of Rueda. Mild citrus, white flower, and mild herbal tones dominate this lovely, mineral wine.

La Salceta di Ettore Ciancico "La Nocetta" Toscana Rosso ($29.99)
Tuscany, Italy
From the producer:
"Tuscany is a land of history and traditions, with unique landscapes, hills and clay gullies, vast expanses of vineyards and olive groves alternate with small villages or typical stones farmhouses.

In this triangle, between Florence, Siena and Arezzo, surrounded by the mountain ranges of Pratomagno and the Chianti hills, we find the Vald’Arno, an area dominated by clay, recognized as an area of excellence already in 1716 with the Bando of Cosimo III de’ Medici.
Between the Agna river near the village of San Giustino and the ancient Etruscan and Roman road CassiaVetus, along the Setteponti road, La Salceta is totally embedded and integrated into the land. Since our foundation, the estate has been conducted in compliance with the rules of organic farming, using the latest knowledge and technology for the enrichment of the soil and the self-defense of the our grapes and olive trees.
We work with the utmost respect of the soil, with is always protected by a completely natural grass cover, a layer of herbs, both selected and spontaneous, which act as a filter protecting the desiccant power of the sun and from the compacting and erosion of the rain and wind and simultaneously enhance the activities organism naturally present in the ground.

65% Sangiovese, 35% Cabernet Franc

The name comes from a type of hunting, typical of this region, which used to take place in the woods facing our vineyards.

We wanted to produce a wine that expressed all of the complex characteristics of our Val d’Arno terroir. So we used a selected autochthonous Sangiovese and a Cabernet Franc; our vinification techniques ensured the utmost expression of the terroir, without using wood. Bright and luminous ruby colour; a rich, complex and mature bouquet with a persistent flavour of red berries, chocolate, mushrooms, currants, strawberry, wild rose, violet with the aromatic vegetal and bell pepper hints of Cabernet Franc; Flavourful and balanced, with silky and elegant tannins, enlivened by a pleasing freshness, La Nocetta is valued for its beautiful minerally quality and long finish."

From me:
I had the pleasure of meeting the owner and winemaker, Ettore Ciancico, when he visited my shop this month. He is a lovely, joyous man, who is eager to talk about his wonderful wines. La Nocetta is the top wine from his vineyard, and it's also the most compelling of the line; Ettore loves Cabernet Franc (a grape that is not so commonly used in Italy), and here he has very successfully created a wine that showcases it, while allowing the Sangiovese to complement without overwhelming. It is earthy and robust, with a nice balance of fruit in vegetal undetones. 
0 Comments

    Author

    Jes Rich

    I am the owner of Sage Wine & Spirits. I have a background in English Literature, organic agriculture, horticulture, and of course, alcohol appreciation. This blog will reflect my own experiences in those fields. I will provide educational and interesting information about my products, and about trends in the industry that affect my customers. If you have any suggestions for posts, please drop a line.

    Happy Drinking!

    Archives

    February 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016

    Categories

    All
    Argentinian Wine
    Armenian Wine
    Australian Wine
    Chardonnay
    Chilean Wine
    Cider
    French Wine
    Gin
    Italian Wine
    Kosher Wine
    New York Wine
    Portuguese Wine
    Real Writing
    Recipes
    Sage Selection Bags
    South African Wine
    Spanish Wines
    Sparkling Wine
    Spirits
    Tasting Notes
    Whiskey
    Whisky
    Wine Terms

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • TASTING
  • Events & Weddings
  • Sage Selection Bag