Here are the wines
we're recommending:
Care Tinto Rioja,
2007, Spain (Cannena DO)-50 % Syrah/50% Tempranillo ($12.99/bottle)
Juveniles
Crozes-Hermitage, 2007, France (Rhone Valley)-100% Syrah
($12.99/bottle)
Doña Paula Los
Cardos Malbec-Rose, 2008, Argentina (Luján De Cuyo-Mendoza
($10.99/bottle)
So pick out one of the burgers, pick up one (or two) of the recommended
wines and let us know how it worked!
Tonight's Class
Tonight is our "Tiny Bubbles" class with Forrest Harpur that
closes out our month-long Tour de France. Show up at 7 p.m. to taste four
"can't miss" sparkling wines and Forrest's presentation...as
only he can give.
This Week at the Tasting Bar
"To the moon, Alice." If you're of a certain age, you
might remember "The Honeymooners" from the old Jackie Gleason
Show. Every time Alice (Audrey Meadows) got the best of her husband Ralph
(Jackie Gleason), he'd look her in the eye and shout, "To the moon,
Alice.' Well, we're going to the moon ourselves this weekend.
But we're going to Valley of the Moon Winery in Sonoma, California.
Our tasting this week will be five incredible wines from Valley of the
Moon. They are fantastic and you'll want to taste them all!
Here they are:
Valley of the Moon
Pinot Blanc, 2007, California (Sonoma County)
Tasting Bar price $13.49/bottle (regular price $14.99/bottle)
This is the perfect wine for summer! Aromas of honeysuckle, kiwi
and pear are accented with an underlying note of Braeburn apple. Rich and
complex flavors of pears, tropical fruits and a hint of tangerine lead to
a creamy finish balanced with bright acidity. This perfectly balanced
Pinot Blanc pairs well with seafood, shellfish (particularly oysters),
poultry, salads, fruits, light pastas and mild cheeses. Its structure and
fruity flavors also complement spicy cuisine. This is a Four Plus Plus
Cork wine rating from the Savvy Wine Cellar.
Valley of the Moon
Unoaked Chardonnay, 2007, California (Russian River Valley)
Tasting Bar price $14.39/bottle (regular price $15.99/bottle)
There is no oak in this Chardonnay. But there's an explosion of
flavors in your mouth! Citrus blossoms and newly ripened nectarine
highlight the delicate aromas of this fresh and vibrant wine. Nuances of
honey, apple and banana add to its complexity. On the palate, bright
tropical citrus and grapefruit flavors are balanced with the roundness of
ripe pear. Mineral notes come to fore on the crisp, yet long and balanced
finish. The bright acid and rich finish make this unoaked Chardonnay a
delightful accompaniment to salads, seafood, spicy Asian dishes and
cream-based pastas. This is another Four Plus Corks rated wine from The
Savvy Wine Cellar. Wine Enthusiast scored it at 88!
Valley of the Moon
Chardonnay, 2007, California (Sonoma Coast)
Tasting Bar price $14.39/bottle (regular price $15.99/bottle)
Aromas of tropical citrus and vanilla are followed by flavors of
nectarine and spice. The rich, full-bodied texture is accented by hints
of toasty oak, and balanced with bright green apple acidity on the
finish. Valley of the Moon Chardonnay is a delightful accompaniment to
salads, seafood, poultry, lighter grilled meats, and cream-based pastas.
The Savvy Wine Cellar staff really likes this wine and so we rated it at
Four Plus Corks. Wine Enthusiast scored this year's vintage at 88
points. Wine Advocate rated the previous year's vintage (2006) at 88
point but they haven't rated the 2007 vintage yet.
Valley of the Moon
Zinfandel, 2006, California (Sonoma County)
Tasting Bar price $14.99/bottle (regular price $16.99/bottle)
From the aromas of fresh blackberries and raspberries with hints of
molasses and clove to the ripe, rich flavors of mixed berries enhanced
with black pepper and light toasty oak, you will be absolutely delighted
with this wine all the way to its long, delicious finish. You'll want to
enjoy this versatile Zinfandel with Mediterranean and spicy ethnic dishes
as well as barbecued meats and hearty pastas. Check out the awards this
wine has received: San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition,
Silver, January 2009, CA Grapevine, 89 Rating/Highly Recommended, 2008.
We love this wine and rate it at Four Plus Corks.
Valley Of The Moon
Syrah, 2006, California (Sonoma County)
Tasting Bar price $14.99/bottle (regular price $16.99/bottle)
This Syrah has complex aromas of blueberries and lavender accented by
chanterelle mushroom, blackberry and cedar in the nose. The concentrated
fruit, floral and earthy notes of this wine are balanced with ample
acidity and supple tannins. This wine was fermented in stainless
steel tanks; subsequently, 60% of the wine was aged for 24 months in
French oak barrels, and 40% in American oak barrels. The elegant and
full-bodied flavors of this wine make it an ideal accompaniment to game,
lamb, beef, and pork dishes.
"Pick of the Week"
This week's pick comes to you highly recommended by Dale. It is the
Los Vascos Chardonnay, 2008 vintage from the Colchagua Valley in
Chile. This vintage has a brilliant and clear color with golden
reflections. It has an explosive nose of melon, grapefruit and exotic
fruit coupled with the typical Chardonnay note of hazelnut. In the mouth,
it is rich, fresh and pleasantly fruity with good structure and a long
finish. In Dale's words, "I like it!" and we know you will,
too. You can have a taste Thursday through Saturday before you
buy. And we're offering it to you at a special Pick of the Week
price of $9.99/bottle.
Upcoming Events
August 1: Katy Deehan of Empire Merchants North hosts our Saturday
tasting and will be pouring wines from Valley of the Moon.
August 2: Beach, Blues & BBQ. The Savvy Wine Center is
participating in a live auction at the Skaneateles Country Club for the
benefit of the Samaritan Center, an interfaith program in Syracuse that
feeds and assists hungry and homeless men, women and children. A
home wine tasting hosted by The Savvy Wine Cellar with appetizers paired
to the wines from Joe's Pasta Garage will be one of auction entries. Call
315-472-0650 for more details and ticket information.
Savvy Samplers
Just a reminder that our popular Savvy Samplers (cases of mixed white,
mixed red or mixed white/red wines) are still available. We're
currently in the process of updating and changing the wines that are in
them, so look for details about these in our next newsletter.
12% Tuesday
Keeping with our dog days of summer theme, next week's 12% discount goes
to all of our Rosé wines. No matter where they're from or what
grapes are used, if you buy one or 21 or more, you'll receive a 12%
discount. So stop by next Tuesday, August 4, between 10 a.m. and 7
p.m. and check some out! (12% Tuesday discount cannot be combined with
any other discount.)
How Savvy Are You?
So, how are you doing answering the questions on the web
site? Here are the answers to last week's:
You
just bought a bottle of 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (or Zinfandel or
Chardonnay) that is produced in the United States. Can you be
assured that 100% of its contents are from that year?
Answer:
You can be sure that 95% of it is from the vintage year. The other
5% can be from another year(s).
Answer:
Cognac is distilled from wine made primarily from the Italian grape,
Trebbiano. In France the Trebbiano grape is known as Ugni Blanc.
What
are the three identifying factors of a wine?
Answer:
You identify a bottle of wine by the vintage, varietal and the
vintner. The vintage is the year that the grapes were harvested.
The varietal is the type of grape; i.e., Chardonnay, Pinot Noir,
Zinfandel, etc. The vintner is the winery that is the maker of the wine.
CinCin!
Allison and Dale
