#100varietals

[thearizonawinemonk]

Post-harvest wine: new varietal: Kerner. 2007! And it's still absolutely lovely. Slight rs, but super big mouth feel. Ages very well, clearly. Notes of fig, pear, and peach. Mellow acidity. It is possibly the grape incarnation of @bessity (if so, this is good, I like this wine, need to track down more expressions of this varietal) #kerner #100varietals #wine #postharvestdrink

[thearizonawinemonk]

New Varietal: Melon, 2014, from @dirtyandrowdy winery. Antle Vineyard (Chalone AVA, Monterey County). Skin-fermented Amber. Decanted 2 hours. Nose: melon, ripe apircot, peach, rosemary, mint. Palate: mint, apircot, super high tannins give it a rosemary/herb de Provance thing. Medium acidity. Minty finish, lasting 1:11. Pairing: porkchops. Or drink this while prepping something else. Impressions: damn fine amber wine. Solid. Brick house. She's an SCA hard-suit fighter. #100varietals #100varietalschallenge #dirtyandrowdy #amberwine #getyourselfacastironskillet #wine #melon #chaloneava

[thearizonawinemonk]

New varietal: Auxerrois 2011. Ribbon Springs, Ribbon Ridge, Adelsheim Vineyard, Oregon. Nose: bright citrus, musk melon. Palate: muskmelon, high acidity. Finish lasts 45 seconds. Mountain tea/white tea. Pairing: salmon. Impressions : interesting. Light, acidic. High-strung investment banker. #100varietals #auxerrois

[thearizonawinemonk]

The Germans like their practical jokes when it comes to wine, apparently. Assumed this might be a rosé, due to the pink bottle... Whoops. New varietal: Scheurebe. "Guntrum: Scheurebe Kabinett 2007" Rheinhessen, Germany. Louis Guntrum Winery. Color is darker yellow, about what I'd expect for an aged white. Nose: classic German nose: petrol, figs, earthy. Petrol smell reminds me of a gas station in a peach/fig orchard. Palate: light residual sugar. Notes of petrol, figs, peaches, and flint. Not much acidity, but I wouldn't call it flabby. Finish lasts 32 seconds Pairing: Asian cuisine, Bratwurst. Impressions: Not my favorite German wine, it's not bad either. Just not my thing. We're going to try it with some French Onion Soup and see how it goes. He's kind of that dull friend who says very little, and is always tired and doesn't want to do anything. #100varietalschallenge #100varietals #Scheurebe #rheinhessen #germanwines #wine #winereviews #newgrapes #whitewine

[thearizonawinemonk]

While I was tasting in Sonoita, I met a new varietal at Charron Vineyards: Chancellor. Here is my notes from that tasting: Chancellor/ Merlot blend. 2nd place winner SC County fair and whole foods people choice awards. New varietal. Chancellor is coming from Deming, New Mexico. Guessing about 2% residual sugar. Mostly chancellor, approximately 15 percent of sweet White Merlot is added to the blend, according to the winemaker. Nose: sweet plum, blueberry, cherry, raspberry, slightly foxy hybrid character. Palate: juicy. Like drinking a blackberry\raspberry pie. No tannins, plum. I am assuming the berry flavors are imparted by the chancellor, I don't encounter Merlot that juicy very often... Juicy finish lasting 39 seconds Pairing: red velvet cake. Totally. Impressions: An interesting light bodied Dessert wine. She's Tomboyish. Likes to climb trees. Grew up to be a botanist in the Australian Outback. #100varietals #100varietalschallenge #chancellor #chancellorwine #newvarietals #wine #newmexicowine #charronvineyards #redwine

[thearizonawinemonk]

Torres Viña Sol. Calatayud, Spain. 2014. 100% Parellada NEW VARIETAL Nose: Intense citrus (lime) and apircot, with notes of peach, mint, and some other herb (thyme?). Reminds me of Chenin Blanc, actually. Palate: crisp, high acidity. Pear, apple, lime, and apircot. Also mint. Light bodied. Finish lasts 28 seconds. Pairing : Treat like Chenin Blanc. Fish or chicken tacos! Or a salad with pine nuts. Impression: I can see why this wine is popular blended and sparkled in Cava, otherwise it's unexciting. Cromulent, but unexciting. Kinda like a trophy wife! #torresviñasol #parellada #leapwine #wine #spanishwhites #whitewine #100varietals #100varietalschallenge #calatyud

[thearizonawinemonk]

New Varietal: Lacrima di Morro D'Alba. "Rosae," Casal Farneto, 2012. D'Alba, Italy. Super dark red. Drinking this with a few friends as a memorial for a recently deceased local, as the name of the grape is literally "Teardrop" Wine is dark, brooding red. Suspect also aged on French Oak. 100% Lacrima di Morro D'Alba, as far as I can tell. Nose: very subtle: vanilla, cedar, blackberry, lilac, myrrh. Palate: robust. Full-bodied, high acidity. It almost tastes like there's residual sugar, but I suspect it's just fruit forward. Blackberry, bright cherry, cedar, cinnamon, nutmeg, frankincense. High tannins, and rosemary and thyme notes on the finish. Finish lasts for 1 minute, 45 seconds. Pairing: I'd serve this with either steak with mushrooms, or grilled eggplant. Could work well with a heavy pasta dish also. Impressions/Personification: Dark and Brooding, I could have aged this one longer. This wine is a brooding activist, once deeply in love with the world, dreaming now of being a stylite. He was wounded, badly once. (This wine is not whom we mourn.) #jerome #duetothedead #libationsforthedead #100varietals #100varietalschallenge #Lacrimadi MorroDAlba #Lacrima #albawines #italianred #italianwine #redwine #teardrop #lacrimadalba #ghosttowntours

[thearizonawinemonk]

So instagram ate my notes on this wine. Damnit. It was a good new varietal to drink on a night with tears due to the dead. New varietal: Lacrima. (And then some). It was a brooding activist, atop a fortress brooding in the cold winter. Dark red, medium tannins, high acidity, subtle nose but a really expressive palate with a finish that lasted for almost 2 minutes #100varietals #100varietalschallenge #Lacrima #lacrimadalba #lacrimadimorrodalba #redwine #italianred

[thearizonawinemonk]

In answer to @willcoxwines plea of "what are we drinking tonight," I went French instead of Italian. Specs are as follows: NEW VARIETAL: Pinot d'Aunis. Coteaux du Loir, "Cuvée du Rosier." 2013 vintage (or was it 2014? Freaking wine fridge ate my label). From Pascal Janvier. Loire valley, France. Specifically, Val du Loir, on the Loir River (a tributary of the Loire) Wine: 100% Pinot d'Anuis, grown in sandy soil, vines approximately 25 years old. Light color, reminiscent of a Pinot Noir. Fun fact, this is also known as Chenin Noir. Fun fact 2: a favorite of Henry Plantagenet Nose: Spicy, with black pepper and fennel, intermingling with raspberry and rosemary. Palate: Odd. Spicy, earthy, and fruity at the same time; lots of pepper, raspberry, cherry, with forest floor and gravel. Finish is very herbal, lasting for 55 seconds. Pairing: I'd pair this with the goat roast last spring, with perhaps less citrus and more rosemary. Vegan pairing: something with lots of truffles. Impression: This is an odd one. Off kilter, a little hipster. At first I didn't like it, but the more I sip, the more interesting it becomes. This wine is a woman who wears odd glasses, slightly dyed hair, but who also is an artist and a hairdresser....wait, I think this may be the grape equivalent to my recent acquaintance, "Hoppy." Well, there's that answer to that inevitable question! Industry Suggestion: with the success of other Loire grapes in Arizona, plant this grape here, specifically in Chino Valley. #prayerspace #pinotdaunis #100varietals #100varietalschallenge #thatwinemonklife #winemonkandchill #loirevalleywine #wine #winetasting #winerelaxation #wineresearch #palateexpansion #researchnight #research #redwine #aunis #cheninnoir #grospineau

[thearizonawinemonk]

NEW VARIETAL: NEGROMARO. 2013 Four-Eight Wineworks red. 100% Negromaro, 100% Verde Valley Fruit, from the Yavapai College Vineyard. Neutral? Oak. Nose: bright eucalyptus and mint overall, with hints of rosemary and slight plum. Palate: deep eucalyptus and black pepper with plum, blackberry, and cherry. Lots of tannins. Finish lasts for 34 seconds. Pairing: elk Personification: Brooding woman poet with blue eyeshadow. #negaromaro #azwine #100varietals #redwine #wine #winephoto #foureightwineworks

[thearizonawinemonk]

Went to FLG Terroir today on a whim (the old Wine Loft) and was not dissapointed. Picked up a few bottles for research and encountered Varietal 156: Piedirosso. Iovine, Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio rosso. 2011 vintage. Deep, dark red in color. Nose: spicy, and earthy. Hints of cinders and subtle herbs: rosemary, violets, and sage. Fruit notes of cranberry and black currant. Palate: medium-bodied, has a velvety mouthfeel, and much lower acidity than I would have expected for an Italian red. I detect notes of vanilla (suggesting French Oak), currants, cherry, blackberry, and violets. Decent tannin structure as well. It's also quite earthy on the finish, intermingling with notes of sage; the finish lasts for 1 minute and 52 seconds. Pairing: spaghetti with Italian sausage: Italian sausage in general, actually. For a vegetarian pairing, go for a stuffed portobello mushroom. Impressions: This is not your average Italian red, thanks to that mellow acidity and mellow tannins. It's friendly, and approachable, though more aloof than Sangiovese. She's related though, you're best friend's aloof, cute, slightly goth sister who really is quite sweet once you get inside her walls. Drink now, or cellar for another 3 years. #100varietals #piedirosso #LacrymadelVesuvio #100varietalschallenge #redwine #wine #winemonkandchill #vintage #italianwine #italianred #research #wineresearch (at FLG Terroir)

[thearizonawinemonk]

New Varietal: Fetească Regală. Varietal number 153. Recas Winery, 2014, Romania. Bright yellow in color. Super lemon nose, with hints of key lime, apricot and pear. On the palate, apricot continues with more citrus, sea salt, and white tea. Finish lasts for 45 seconds. I'd pair this wine with seafood, or a light pasta, or a salad with a bright vinaigrette. Personification: blonde, feminine, sharp. Witty. I like this wine. Great value, and a great introduction to Romanian white wines. #100varietalschallenge #100varietals. #fetascăregală #whitewine #romanianwine #wine #winemonklife #winemonkandchill

[thearizonawinemonk]

New Varietals: Cavuş and Vasilaki. Corvus Vineyards, 2010 Blend Bianco. Blend of Cavuş, Vasilaki, and Chardonnay, from Bozcaada Island, Turkey. Nose: evidence of malolactic fermentation, that sort of malo cream quality, with hints of herbs, butter, vanilla, kiwi, honey, and apple. Palate: creamy mouthfeel, but nice acidity on the back palate. Honey, citrus, and green apples and cream. Finish lasts 22 seconds. Pairing: iced oatmeal cookies! As AK says, "like Christmas time in my mouth!" Or Chicken/fish Tangine. Impression: this wine reminds me of a California Chardonnay... except with acidity, so it's good. This wine, if a person, would be a confused woman with a deep sarcastic bent, originally coming from a hot climate suddenly finding herself in 32 degree Fahrenheit weather. I'd like to see what the two native Varietals are like without the Chardonnay. #Cavuş #Vasilaki #Chardonnay #turkishwine #Bozcaadaisland #100varietalschallenge #100varietals #wine #whitewine #celebratingapartmentcleaning

[thearizonawinemonk]

NEW VARIETAL: Souzao, an Arizona take on a classic Porto grape. Barrel sample of new port from Cellar 433, AZ fruit, fortified with grape spirit made from wines smoke damaged in the 2011 forest fire season. Nose: porty, slight smoke, dark chocolate, cinnamon, blackberry, mullberry. Palate: hot, but young, should age well. Blackberry, smoke, blueberry, little bit of cedar. Finish lasts about 40 seconds. Slight tannins. Pairing: chocolate. Impressions: I want to see what this wine does as a non-port, still, here in Az. I suspect it would be intriguing. #100varietals #100varietalschallenge #port #souzao #azwine

[thearizonawinemonk]

Forgot to post this new varietal a while ago.. shoot. Muscadet. I honestly have no idea how many varietals I've tasted. Lost that information when the laptop died... #100varietals #muscadet #oops #forgotone

[thearizonawinemonk]

New Varietal: Petit Mansang. "La Befana," 2014. Raffaldini, North Carolina. Dessert wine. ~10% Residual Sugar. Nose: soft, quiet. Citrus, cliff rose. Palate: decidedly sweet. Limestone, I intermingling with bright acidity, citrus, jasmine, and lavender. Muscadine grapeish in flavor. Pairing: pumpkin pie. The flavors intermingle quite well. Impressions: very interesting and acidic dessert wine. I'd be interested to see what this grape does in its dry form. This wine is a younger woman on the beach, blonde, enjoying the sun and a glass of wine. #100varietalschallenge #100varietals #petitmansang #raffaldinivineyards #raffaldini #winemonklife #winereview