August Tasting Recap

• Gini - Soave Classico (2006) - Italy- Notes: Apricot, apple, pear, great citrus notes and mild acidity. Very good!
• Lolonis Fume Blanc(2004) - Honey, melon, pear, thyme. Good wine. Great finish.
• Bogle Chardonnay (2005) - Nice light gold color, tropical fruits, almonds, butterscotch. - Just OK.
• 7 Deadly Zins (2005) Zinfandel - Tobacco, pepper, berry. Herb finish, creamy - nice wine.
• Fat Bastard Shiraz (2005) - Spicy, good fruits, well structured, mildly complex. It was surprisingly good.
• Monte Antico Sangiovese (2005) - Boysenberry, cedar, pine, earthy, minerals. Traditional, nice.
• Flor de Pingers (2004) Spain - Raspberry, plum, chocolate, oak, leather, medium finish, enjoyed it.
• J. Lohr Estates (2005) Riverastone Chardonnay Arroyo Seco - Just an OK wine…would be better with food.
• Qunita Seare D’Ordens - Branco Reserva (2005) - Amber color, big oak, apple, pear, very nice.

Tonight I think I’ll have Champagne!

I’m thinking that tonight may be the night to break open that 1995 Krug I’ve been dreaming about!  I received a phone call at 12:38 AM this morning (Friday, August 31, 2007) informing me that my niece (Luciana Alfrieda Frattarelli)  had been born.  I couldn’t be happier for my sister and brother-in-law.

So ahead of me today is 8 hours in the car, back to Michigan, a stop at the hospital, then home  to crack open that Krug!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Wine Tasting Etiquette

The following list is intended to be a guide those who are new to the world of wine and wine tastings. The guide is based on free wine tastings, which are common at local area wine shops and restaurants. This list is an excerpt from a full article I wrote which can be found at the online University of Maryland independent student newspaper.  I’m most likely forgetting some important points and will update this if anything comes to me!

Tasting Etiquette

1. A 1 oz pour is traditional at these events, and is the state law maximum at free tastings. The premium tastings are usually more generous with pour volume.

2. You may ask to re-taste a wine, but don’t ask to try them all again, and again, and again! Also, only re-taste if you are serious about buying.
3. Keep in mind that the free tasting is designed to expose the customers to new wines with the hope they will purchase something. If you try a wine you really like, and it’s priced affordable, then support the tasting and buy a bottle. This way you’re getting a wine you know you like and the store has incentive for having more tastings.
4. A rinse in between pours is not necessary. Unless you are going from a red wine to a white wine or a red dinner wine to a dessert wine, there is no need to rinse your glass.
5. Ask questions. The person pouring the wine should know a lot about the particular wines on hand. If you like a wine, but it’s expensive, ask the staff to recommend something similar that is in a specific price range.

Where to practice your newly learned skills:

Calvert Wine and Spirits (www.calvertwine.com) – check website for details.
The Wine Source (www.the-wine-source.com) - Every Friday night, 4:30- 7:30 PM
Mt. Washington Wine Company - (www.mtwashingtonwine.com ) - Last Thursday of the month

Local Premium (not free!) Wine Tastings
Bin 604 (www.bin604.com), $29 for 8 wines, schedule varies
Chesapeake Wine Company (www.chesapeakewine.com), $25 every Tuesday 6:00 PM
Vin (www.vinbaltimore.com), $15 which can be put towards your meal if you stay for dinner, Tuesday 5-7 PM (half-off bottles with dinner on Wednesday)

Chateau Larrivet-Haut-Brion, white - 2005- $30

White Bordeaux’s, as you may know, primarily contain semillion, muscadele, and sauvignon blanc. They are overshadowed by their red grape counterparts in Bordeaux and far less planted. That is not to say that white Bordeaux’s are not very high quality wines with quite unique structure and terroir. They are very elegant, vivacious wines that set the standard for great white wines.

This 2005 Chateau Larrivet-Haut-Brion (sauvignon blanc/semillion) is stunning. It’s a fair priced wine that is outstanding on the nose. Apple and citrus notes shine, with subtle hints of oak and lavender all combined with a mineral undertone. I would pair this with a white pasta sauce or a broiled halibut fillet. My Rating- 90 pts

Inniskillin Oak Aged Vidal Ice Wine (2004) $80 (375 ml)

I really like ice wine. An excellent way to end a great dinner is with a perfectly chilled bottle of a good ice wine paired with a dessert that contains just the right amount of sweetness and acidity to accompany the wine without overpowering it.

The Inniskillin Winery is on the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario, Canada. Growing up in Michigan, I had the pleasure of visiting Niagara Falls, Ontario, at least 3 times a year with my family. But it wasn’t until I began drinking wine myself that I learned that Niagara Falls was not just waterfalls, shopping and Ripley’s Believe it or Not!, but it was also the hub of outstanding producers of wine.

The 2004 Inniskillin Vidal Ice Wine is incredible. We usually have a bottle with our dessert when eating at one of our favorite restaurants Fleming’s. The wine is filled with exotic fruits and is quite complex. Apricot, mango, pear, honey and a touch of vanilla come to mind. The finish lasts forever, leaving an impression that is sure to keep you coming back for more. May do very well with age, but if you’re like me…it’s hard to keep a bottle of this around very long! Although pricey, definitely worth every penny.

Castiglione del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino (2001) -$40

Back to Montalcino…a small town in Tuscany known for it’s brilliant sangiovese (Brunello). This Castiglione del Bosco has very nice color and depth. Big dark cherry and blackberry fruits with oak and vanilla notes augment medium tannins that are velvety and clean. Would benefit from two more years in the cellar, but decanted for over an hour it drank very nice. Another fine example of the amazing 2001 vintage in Montalcino. Buy these up while you still can! My rating- 91 pts

A taste of Tuscany for half the price…sort of!

This weekend my good Brandon came to visit Baltimore. He drove down Friday from Michigan and after a long drive, was ready to relax and have some wine. We went over to The Wine Source (Hampden, Baltimore, MD) for a free wine tasting (every Friday afternoon) of Portuguese wines and picked up a few meats, cheeses, breads, and most importantly some wine.

As I’ve been very interested in Italian food and wine lately, and since Brandon has had very little Italian wine, I focused on Italy. We grabbed some prosciutto di parma and two salami’s, as well as two cheeses. Seeing as all of our food items were from Tuscany, I picked 3 tuscany reds, as well as one bottle of Gavi to get the night started (all 375 mL bottles). The following tasting notes outline our wines for the evening. The half-bottles allowed us to try 4 different wines for less than half the price of the full bottles without wasting a drop!

Villa Sparina Gavi (2004) - Nose of lavender, minerals and reminances of the ocean. Floral notes with pear, honey and melon. Crisp with a light, refreshing, semi-sweet finish. My rating- 87 pts

Ruffino Chianti (2004) - Nice nose - earthy with cherry, raspberry, hint of plum. Acidity is refreshing and balanced with the smooth tannin structure. Great finish makes this a nice everyday wine at a good price. My rating - 90 pts

Avignonesi - Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (2003) - Ruby color. Green pepper, butter, cherry, clay on the nose. Truffles and berry with a hazelnut finish. Needs more time to open up. My rating - 88 pts

La Gerla - Brunello di Montalcino(2001) - Big nose, blackcherry, toasted oak. Silky and well integrated tannins. Nice wine. My rating - 91 pts

One last note: We enjoyed a Bianchetta al Tartufo goat cheese (Tuscany) with all three of the reds, especially the Avignonesi. The truffle in the wine really complemented this truffle-infused goat cheese - one of the best wine/cheese pairings I’ve had to date! Note: Image linked from: http://www.wineroutes.co.uk

Bin 604 Pinot Noir Tasting Recap - August 23, 2007

This week’s tasting titled “Perfectly Pinot Noir” offered a wide variety of Pinot’s from around the world. The selection was quite diverse, with a few very good bottles at good prices. Below are a list of the wines we tasted, with notes and retail pricing.

1. Domaine de Regusse Pinot Noir, Provence, France, 2006 ($9.99) This Pinot comes to us from Southern France. It was very light, with raspberry and cherry notes, as well as some strawberry that came out on the finish. Not much structure or body, but drinkable. - My rating: 83 pts

2. The Jibe Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2006 ($15.99). Marlborough is well known for quality Sauvignon Blanc and is recently making a statement in the pinot noir production. This 2006 pinot has nice acidity and some interesting fruit notes consisting of cherry, strawberry, and a hint of vanilla. The pepper and earth tones were nice, but not well integrated with the rest of the wine. Overall, I thought it was OK, but Kim really enjoyed this one. -My rating: 85 pts

3. Capitain Gagnerot Ladoix, Burgundy, 2005 ($25.99) - The only pinot on our list from Burgundy, this 2005 was very good. The fruits were distinguished and complex, with a light mineral undertone and mild acidity. The finish was very elegant and memorable. An excellent value of a great vintage Burgundy! My rating: 92 pts.

4. J. Hoffstatter “Meczan” Pinot Nero, Alto Adige, Italy, 2005 ($21.99) . A very good example of the pinot noir grape with good berry and cherry fruits and a fine texture. Complex and elegant, fresh, intense and quite satisfying - all from a region better known for it’s white wines! My rating: 91 pts.

5. Lemelson Pinot Noir, 2005 ($35.99) - From the well-known Willamette Valley in Oregon, this pinot provides a good example of a well integrated and structured wine. Mild oak, crisp, mild acidity paired with cherry, plum and vanilla notes. Spices appear on the finish that outline the earthieness and texture quite nicely. Maybe overpriced, but it’s very good. -My rating: 89 pts.

6. Cambria Pinot Noir “Julia’s Vineyard”, Santa Maria Valley, California, 2005 ($21.99) - I didn’t have much written down about this basic pinot from the Santa Maria Valley. There was some nice spice notes, with strawberry and cherry, but it was rather unremarkable. My rating: 84 pts.

7. William James “Gary Ranch Vineyard” Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley, California, 2005 ($35.99). In the glass the William James Pinot is very pleasant with outstanding color and a very impressive bouquet of pomegranate and cherry, as well as floral notes. Smoky and expressive, the velvety texture leads into layers of herbs, cherry and pomegranate. The alcohol content is perfectly matched with the acidity and the tannins, leading to an outstanding finish. The wine took some time to open up and will definitely only get better in the bottle for a few years. - My Rating: 90 pts

8. Dierberg Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley, California, 2005 ($44.99). Our third wine in a row from the Santa Maria Valley, this 2005 Dierberg was a bit bigger than the others. The dark cherry and raspberry nose showed hints of lavender. Good acidity with silky and complex tannins, the wine took some time to open and may do well in the bottle for another couple years. -My rating: 89 pts

What is “overcharging” when it comes to in-store wine tastings?

Last night a few of us attended a pinot noir tasting at Bin 604 (Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD) which is part of their weekly tasting series. As usual, there was a nice display of wine on hand for us to taste, as well as three cheeses, bread and crackers. The price tag on the tasting was $29. In my opinoin, the fee for the tasting is a bit high, especially when one considers the number of free tastings in the area (Mt. Washington Wine Company, The Wine Source). Sure, there are usually a few bottles of really nice wine that range from $20-$50, but let’s consider the math.

Last night there were around 30 people at the tasting, each paying $29. That’s $870. Now, on hand were 8 bottles of wine, which total retail price tag was $212.92, multiply that by 2, because they had two tasting stations…so that puts us at $425.84. KEEP IN MIND: these are retail prices for the wine…the price that Bin 604 pays is considerably less (at least 30% or so).

Finally, add in the cheese, bread, and the hourly rate of two employees pouring wine for 2 hours (4 person work ours total say at approximately $12/hour, and include a generous $150.00.

From these estimated numbers, we’ll round up to $600, for a profit of $200 (again, using their wholesale prices for the wines and we would see this number almost double).

The point of an in-store wine tasting is to expose customers to new or exciting wines knowing that they will most likely purchase the wines they enjoyed. The profit for the shop should come from the sale of the wines after the tasting. Granted it is nice to taste 8 or so good wines, but for around $3.50 / pour, but is that worth it?  A group of 8 friends each contributing $30 would be able to purchase the same 8 bottles of wine, a few cheeses and breads and have the comfort of pouring twice as much wine for the same price (see WINE CLUB link for such an event!).

I realize that this is America and we always are trying to find ways to make money, and I’m not trying to get something for nothing. I realize the time and effort that goes into planning, setup, etc for these tastings as I’ve ran tastings in wine stores before. Charging for an in-store tasting is fine by me, but it should be reasonably priced, especially considering that a lot of the time distributors will compensate the store for a free bottle if they feature one of their wines in the tasting!

I would like to say that Bin 604 is a really great wine shop with an OUTSTANDING wine selection. They have a great $12 and under bargain bin, as well as a “Case of the Month” which is $99 and usually really good. The staff is excellent and the wine manager, Jen, is very helpful and knowledgeable. The prices are generally OK and it’s very conveniently located next door to Whole Foods! Oh and next week they are doing a Cotes-du-Rhone tasting which should offer some great wines! Anyone interested in going?

Toulouse Vin Gris Rose of Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley (2006) - $20

Rose’s are trendy right now for good reason: they can be great.  From the Anderson Valley, the Toulouse (pinot noir) rose has nice complexity of sweet and spice. Strawberry, watermelon and smoke full the palette while a touch of minerals balances everything nicely. It’s a great, refreshing rose that would be a treat on a warm summer evening.

“The Toulouse Vineyard is located in the heart of Anderson Valley in Philo, 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean and two hours north of the Golden Gate Bridge along Highway 128. The vineyard elevation ranges from 400 to 600 feet. Gravelly Pinole soil facilitates deep-seeking roots, with excellent drainage. The climate and daily weather patterns are ideal for quality Pinot Noir. Summer temperatures can reach highs in the 90’s, but afternoon ocean breezes and occasional fog cool the valley and refresh the fruit with nightly lows in the 50’s, creating the perfect sugar/acid balance in the grapes. “

Bin 604 Thursday Tastings - August 23, 2007 - Pinot Noir

Hi everyone,

Just inviting you all to join Kim and I at Bin 604 (www.bin604.com) in Fells Point (Baltimore, MD) tomorrow night at 6 PM for a tasting of some pinot noirs.

The tasting is part of their weekly wine tasting series. More info can be found on their website, or please feel free to drop me a message: michael@foodandwineblog.com. Don’t forget to RSVP soon, they often fill up!

Hope to see some of you there!

Duckhorn Vineyards Cabernet (Napa Valley) - 2002 - $90

A dinner I made a few weeks back featured grilled red potato’s and giant ribeye steaks were paired with a 2002 Duckhorn cab. Although it was a bit young, it opened up quite well after decanting. Aroma of chocolate, currant, leather and green peppers appeared after a good swirl. The dark cherry and blackberry on the palette was intense and rich, with a touch of oak, almond and spice. A nice long finish, earthy finish kept going on and on. Overall it was very good (maybe not $90 good, but $50 would be OK), but I’d like to try another vintage or two as it had potential to be great, but just came short.

Winemaker Notes: The 2002 season began in late August. After harvesting the first white grapes, we entered a heat wave unlike any in recent years. The normal cycle of morning fog that provides natural air conditioning was noticeably absent! September had well above average temperatures dramatically affecting ripening and resulted in a compressed harvest season. Diversification of fruit sources and the dedicated commitment from our production staff helped us to overcome the challenges of the 2002 vintage.

Cono Sur (2006) - A nice Chilean Pinot for under $10

Wow. Black cherry, strawberry, and a bit of pepper invite you into the smoky, complex, big body. The wine had ideal acidity and even with its high alcohol content, was rather soft. A long finish kept satisfying, even when the bottle was empty!

My rating: 87 pts

More information:

http://www.conosur.com/

Louis Jadot Pouilly Fuisse (2002) - $20

The wines of Louis-Jadot are relatively inexpensive, good quality and value wines from the Burgundy region of France. The 2002 Pouilly-Fuisse is a medium bodied, dry chardonnay.

Unlike nearby Montrachet, wines from Pouilly Fuisse tend to be very green and fresh tasting. This 2002 Louis-Jadot displays an apple and cinnamon nose, a medium body, and a fruity, lightly acidic finish. The perfect amount of oak helps bring out the character of the fruits, especially melon while showcasing subtle mineral notes. A nice pairing with roast chicken, white fish in a buttery sauce, or even just cocktail shrimp!

Rotllan Torra Reserva 2001 - $18

I was recently asked by a friend to recommend a Spanish red wine from Catalonia that was to be a gift for a wedding. Without hesitation, I suggested the Priorat region - specifically 2001 or 2003 vintage. I myself really love wines from Priorat. Grown in black slate soil of volcanic origin and containing primarily grenache, often along with carignan and/or cabernet, Priorat wines are earthy and balanced, and usually very unique.

Recently I opened a bottle of the 2001 Rotllan Torra Reserva (vintage on image is wrong). Being of “reserva” classification, this wine was oaked for at least 12 months, then aged for 24 months in the bottle. The color was ruby and the nose was explosive with chocolate and cherry. The complex layers of wine offered raspberry, sour cherry, white chocolate, eggnog, vanilla, and dried cranberry…all wrapped up in minerals and earth. A long, velvety finish was what I expected with the soft tannins and balanced acidity. This was ready to be consumed - I doubt further aging is required.

On a traditional point scale I’d give this a 90. It was very, very good. The 2001 Rotllan Torra Reserva serves as a reminder that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a very high quality, enjoyable wine. The best way to find great wines at good prices is to do some research. Find out what vintages of a specific region excelled, then go to the store and pick a wine from that vintage that is less than $20. It’s quite likely that you’ll be more than satisfied with your purchase!

2001 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano - A perfect wine?

As many of you know, this year for the first time ever we saw the release of not one, but two wines that scored 100 pts from Brunello di Montalcino, one being the 2001 Valdicava Madonna del Piano Riserva (image to the left is from the Valdicava Estate). I really enjoy Brunello’s. I love the rich texture and soft, earthy tannins. The fruits are complex and the finish often goes on and on. I have the 1999-2000 vintages of Valdicava (normale) in my cellar right now. I’ve tasted the 2001 vintage of the non-reserve wine, another stellar wine (98 pts), and hope to pick up a bottle or two for cellaring at some point in the near future. This being said, I had not given much thought to acquiring the low production (500 cases), expensive Riserva which I felt would be too hard to find and possibly, not worth the $250-$400 price tag.

Until last week!

I was in the Wine Source (Hampden, Baltimore, MD) picking up some cheeses, meats, and a nice super Tuscan to go with dinner (2003 Fattoria Capannacce Rosso Della Maremma, $15, which was very good and paired great with the goat cheese we had from the same region, as well as the prosciutto di parma). Among the Brunello’s I saw two bottles of the 2001 Valdicava Riserva…on sale for a lot less than the lowest price one could find anywhere online. Without hesitation…and maybe without thinking clearly, I grabbed one and ran (to the cash register of course).

I do not usually get caught up in ratings, and rarely buy a wine to put in the cellar without having it first, but this wine is different. It’s said to be one of the finest Brunnelo’s ever made. I’ve tasted the 2001 Valdicava non reserve which was young, but very good. I can only imagine what the 2001 Riserva will be like in 6 or more years!

Avinyo Brut Reserva Cava - $15

Let me start off by admitting, I love cava. The less acclaimed (and definitely less expensive) of the sparkling wines in Europe (think Champagne), Cava is a lot of fun. Originating from the Catalonia region of Spain, Cava (literally meaning “cave” or “cellar”) is a sparkling white wine that can, when done right, be a great substitute for Champagne.

The Catalonia region is about 25 miles south-west of Barcelona, situated. Grape vines have been growing in this region for hundreds of years. In 1872 the first Cava was produced. Today, common varietals used in Cava are macabeo, parellada, xarel·lo, Chardonnay, and Subirat. Today’s wine of the day displays macabeo, xarel-lo, and parellada.

This non-vintage, organically grown, Brut Cava is just incredible. A lot of subtle fruits including peach and apple, combined with minerals and mild acidity makes this a treat on a warm summer day. YUMMY!

Cinnabar’s Mercury Rising - $22

My first experience with Cinnabar’s Mercury Rising was at Chesapeake Wine Company in September of 2004. I had just moved to Baltimore from Detroit and stumbled upon Chesapeake while shopping at the Canton Safeway. The name was interesting and I was in the market to try something new, so I picked up the 2002 (which was the current release). A week later, I went back and bought 4 more bottles! The 2002 vintage was incredible. It was a big, juicy wine that was very complex and elegant. Over the course of 2004-05, this was my go-to wine. That was until I had the 2003 vintage!

The story behind the Mercury Rising is that its style attempts to replicate the rich, full bodied wines of Bordeaux. The makers at Cinnabar craft these wines from a variety of grapes from all throughout their California vineyards (Santa Cruz, Sonoma, and Paso Robles). The 2003 vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot,PetitVerdot and Cabernet Franc. The nose is big, with a lot of dark fruits and spice. It immediately opens up with hazelnut and vanilla, and dark cherries. The finish is long and memorable. The tannins are complex which suggests a rewarding 4-5 years in the cellar. Would go great with grilled meats. This is a must try wine that will not let you down.

Fresh seafood with good wine: Does it get any better?

Leaving Block Island, Rhode Island this weekend, Kim and I stopped off at the docks to see what fresh treasures were being brought in from the Atlantic. Live lobster, mussels, scallops, and salmon were on hand, to name a few. We decided to pick up a few things, pack them into a cooler for the 7 hour ride to Baltimore, and feast on fresh seafood and good wine when we got home.

We battled with traffic for a few hours, but all in all the drive was OK. We arrived home around 11:00 PM, unpacked the car, and began making dinner. Kim ran to the store to get a few things we needed (we live near a 24 hr Super Fresh) while I uncorked a bottle of wine and fired up the stove. Below are my pretty simple recipes for what we ate, which turned out very good. We had two wines on hand, but only got to the Pinot Grigio (more below).

Dish: Sauteed mussels in white wine and tarragon

Ingredients

• 1 - 11/2 lbs fresh mussels (washed thoroughly)
• 1 medium shallot
• 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
• 1 cup dry white wine (should have moderate acidity, I suggest a Pinot Grigio)
• 1 lemon, cut in half, seeded
• 3 Tablespoons fresh tarragon
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• EVOO
• Salt/Pepper
• Bread for dipping

1. Heat large saute pan. Add olive oil, garlic, shallots, butter.
2. Remove excess H2O from mussels, pat dry, then place in pan. Immediately sprinkle with salt/pepper.
3. After approximately 2 minutes, add wine. Wait 2 minutes, then add fresh tarragon.
4. Once all mussels are open (about 5 mins) remove mussells, let sauce reduce for another 2 mins.
5. Place mussels in large bowl, cover with sauce. Serve with bread and a chilled glass of wine.

I served this with Marco Felluga Mongris Collio Friuli (Italy) Pinot Grigio 2006 which was inexpensive ($12 or so) and went great with the dish. It had nice acidity, good body, and notes of apple, melon, pear, and ongoing fresh flowers on the finish.

Dish: Thyme Steamed Lobster served with Garlic Tarragon Butter

• 1 (or two) 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 lb live lobster, rinsed
• 1 glove garlic
• 4 cups H2O
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
• Fresh Tarragon (a good handful)
• Fresh Thyme
• 2 Lemons
• 1/2 cup white wine
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Salt/Pepper

1. Place large steaming pot on high heat. Add H2O, 1 tablespoon butter, fresh thyme, salt, pepper, wine.
2. Depending on how you feel more comfortable, either place lobster directly into steamer, or use a knife to first kill the lobster (I use a method similar to this: how to kill a lobster)
3. Allow lobster 8-10 mins per pound to steam. While this is going, grab a small sauce pan.
4. Place 6 tablespoons of butter, a splash of olive oil, and smashed garlic into pan.
5. Allow garlic to infuse for 5 mins, then add tarragon, and salt and pepper to taste. You may not need to add any salt as the fresh lobster will provide a good amount. Set aside to use as dipping sauce for lobster meat.
6. Remove lobster from steamer, serve with fresh tarragon as garnish.

The finished product:

Rosenblum Zinfandel Appellation Series - 2005 - $13

Zinfandels are all around just a lot of fun. They are usually filled with intense fruits and a medium to high alcohol content. They can also be a bit spicy, which makes them a great pairing with wild game. The grape itself arrived in Long Island in the 1820’s by the way of Vienna, Austria (although it has been established that the grape was first found in Croatia). It quickly made its way over to California where it is now flourishing. In fact, California may be the most well known region in the world for exceptional “zins” as they are often referred to as.

Those of you familiar with Rosenblum may know that they produce a variety of zins (19 in fact). They 2005 Appellation Series from the San Francisco Bay is a litlte spicy and has a nice structure. It is a touch earthy for a zin, and has hints of chocolate and cherry. I’ve had this one a few times and have enjoyed it on many occasions. It will pair well with a spicy chicken dish, or even grilled chicken or duck.

Notes: “At one time this historic winegrowing region had more vines than the Napa Valley. As a result of this Appellation’s sedimentary soil and sand, phylloxera did not devastate these marvelous old vines.” - Rosenblum.com

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