Sunday, November 4, 2007

Grand Wine Tasting-Grapevine Travelers

Yesterday, I led a group of the North Shore Winers to a Grand Wine Tasting at The Grapevine Travelers in Medford. The Tasting had 13 different vendors (10 wine vendors, 1 beer vendor, 1 martini vendor & 1 single-malt scotch vendor). There will about 60 different wines, 9 beers, 4 single malt scotches & a variety of martinis.

With so many wines and drinks available, I could only taste a fraction. So here is a list of my favorites of what I tasted. Please know that there were other good wines available that I was not able to taste. I will list my favorites by the distributor so that if you cannot get to Grapevine Travelers, you might be able to find these wines elsewhere. I was most impressed by some white wines at this tasting.

Adonna Imports:
2006 Blanc de Morgex Vevey, D'Aoste, Italy $22.99
2004 La Granera Barbera d'Alba, Italy $13.99
2004 Massa Vecchia Bianco, Tuscany, italy $41.99 (One of my top favorites of the tasting. Mostly Vermentino. It is a white wine that seems like a red. Aged in chestnut. Crisp, aromatic. A very unique flavor)

Boston Wines:
2001 Lingenfelder Scheurebe, Pfalz, Germany $21.99 (Very interesting white wine from an uncommon varietal. Lots of good tropical fruit flavors.)
2004 Spiropoulos Red Stag, Nemea, Greece $16.99
2003 Chateau Auzias, Cabardes, France $12.99

Genuine Wines:
2004 Gine Gine Priorat, Spain $17.99
2004 Spann Mo Zin, Sonoma, California $20.99

Ideal Wines:
2004 Gracciano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Italy $20.99

Martignetti Co.:
2005 Chateau Haut-Colombier, Cotes de Blaye, France $16.99
2003 Chateau Notton, Margaux, France $31.99
2005 Chateau St.-Andre Corbin, St. Georges, France $22.99

Negociants USA:
2003 Yalumba Tricent, Grenache, Barossa, Australia $36.99

Ruby Wines:
2006 Vinos Sin Ley M1, Valencia, Spain $10.99
2006 Vinos Sin Ley M5, Yecla, Spain $15.99
2006 Occhio Vento Vermentino, Maremma, Italy $16.99

United Liquors:
They held an interesting experiment, offering three Chardonnays with differing levels of Malolactic Fermentation. One wine had 100% Malolactic, one had 50% and one had 0%. It very fascinating to taste these three wines and see how Malolactic actually does affect a wine. I would love to see more tests like this at local wine tastings. It certainly adds something to the usual tasting, and is very educational. Out of the three Chardonnays, my favorite was the 2005 Coppola Director's Cut Chardonnay, Russian River, California $24.99. It had 50% Malolactic.
I also enjoyed:
2005 Ruffino Libaio Chardonnay, Tuscany, Italy $13.99 (No Malolactic)
2005 Cave de Rasteau Cotes du Rhone, France $11.99

Violette Imports:
They also offered their own experiment, another excellent idea which I hope is replicated at other wine tastings. They had two of the exact same wines, 2006 Estelle Sauvion Muscadet, France ($15.99), except one had sulfites and one did not. I preferred the wine without the sulfites. It seemed to be a bit fruitier and had less of a bitter edge to it.
I also enjoyed:
2004 Cenay Pinot Noir, Napa, California $36.99
2006 Erbaluna Dolcetto d'Alba, Italy $20.99

Wine Cask Imports:
2005 Blauuwklippen Semi-Sweet, South Africa $12.99 (Another unusual white wine that really impressed me)
2005 Pinecrest Pinotage, South Africa $17.99

Grapevine Travelers
18 High Street
Medford, MA
Phone: (781) 396-8463

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