This Week at The Tasting Bar—5/23-25

What’s a Memorial Day cookout without great wines? Pretty boring, we say. This weekend at The Tasting Bar you can sample four wines that are perfect for this holiday weekend entertaining.Come on over Thursday and Friday from 5 to 8 and Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. and taste for yourself. Here’s what we’re pouring…

Red Tail Ridge Winery Sans Oak Chardonnay, 2011, New York (Seneca Lake) This wine was crafted without the use of oak. It opens with aromatics of juicy pear, golden delicious apples, apricots and vanilla. You’ll find more of the same clean, crisp tree fruit on the palate, combined with obvious minerality. The finish is primarily crisp with a slightly rounded mid-palate that provides an extended finish. Food Pairing: Semi-soft cheeses; lighter style pasta dishes; great with white fish like Tilapia, Cod or halibut. Great to sit and sip.

Illahe Vineyards Viognier, 2012, Oregon, (Willamette) This newly released 2012 Viognier, which has turned into a cult favorite, is delicious this year.Last year was a perfect vintage for a Willamette Valley Viognier.The aromatics jump out from the glass with tropical scents of pineapple and kiwi on the nose.The palate offers stone fruit flavors of peach and nectarine, with a fleshy texture reminiscent of a ripe peach.The mouthwatering finish is bright and vibrant. Food Pairing: Perfect with grilled chicken or salad with chicken; try with sea bass or sushi. This makes a terrific pairing with roast turkey or pasta primavera. 

Rutherford Wine Company Predator Old Vine Zinfandel, 2011, California (Lodi)“Aromas of chocolate espresso bean, smoked bacon, and baked berries with a silky, fruity-yet-dry medium-to-full body and a juicy, seamless raspberry, cherry, mocha, and spice driven finish. Wonderfully flavorful and rich with a great meaty character.” —95 Points, Exceptional Beverage Testing Institute Predator Zinfandel is sourced from 50+year old vines that produce rich and intensely flavored fruit. The resulting wine is big and bold with hallmark "old vine" velvety texture, spice and vibrant varietal flavors. The lady bug is a natural predator that feeds on insects harmful to plants."Natural predation" is just one of the many sustainable vineyard practices that eliminates the need for synthetic pesticides. Food Pairing: Burgers with Red Onion Compote (Savvy Recipe of the Week); burgers with ketchup; burgers with bacon, onions and mushrooms. Not a burger fan? Try with grilled steak. 

The Dreaming Tree Cabernet Sauvignon, 2010, California (North Coast) The 2010 North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon continues the legacy of The Dreaming Tree’s inaugural 2009 vintage, with elegant and supple fruit flavors. Each of the North Coast’s renowned winegrowing regions brings unique fruit character and structure—including herbs and blackberry flavors from Sonoma County, cherries and spicy notes from Mendocino County, and earth tones and mouth-filling tannins from Lake County. Food Pairing: The 2010 North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon is a true crowd-pleaser. It is delicious with grilled tri-tip, a wood-fired pepperoni pizza, or eggplant parmesan.