Adventures in Pursuit of the Perfect Cab
A Men’s Wine Council Tasting
The Mens Wine Council
I get a lot of different pleasures from attending the three wine councils (Men’s, Women’s, Occasional) I coordinate: the thrill of discovering a really great bottle of wine , sharing the abundance of my vendor samples , learning about new grapes and new processes, and the feeling of connection I have with other members that I’m so very privileged to review wines with. So it’s no big surprise that I look forward to these meetings with great anticipation.
Every Council meeting is special. They all have winning selections that we love to share with our readers. There are also a few duds – but we learn from those, so we really don’t mind. Sometimes the moon and the stars and the planets align just so and bam! the perfect wine presents itself. I can always feel the electricity in the room when we come across “the great ones.” The special wine or wines that we will all still be talking about next year. It starts slowly as we take our first sip. I see a raised eyebrow. I note the momentary glances at each other. The quiet in the room is deafening. Each of us begins to check around the table to see if anyone else is also experiencing the magic. A couple of more sips, a couple of more smiles, some light ooh’s and ahh’s and I know we’ve all boarded the same train heading to wine nirvana. By the time someone pops out with, “Boy did (insert name here) (insert adjective here) up by missing this Council meeting. In this particular case it would be Scott V. who missed the best darn Council Cabernet – ever!
Tasting Line Up
I want to explain before I move on that our wine council writer members don’t think much about the price of the wines. In general we are guided by how much we like (or love) a particular wine. We sip, swirl, taste and debate each wine’s finer (or not so fine) points. We examine its food friendly characteristics and whether the nose delivered on the palate. We can get silly with identifying aromas and back notes. We sometimes prefer the more affordable wines to the more expensive ones. The price is secondary to the review. So when we all voted the 2008 Pina Mimbre Cabernet Sauvignon as our number one favorite of all the wine council meetings to date, at an approximate (not released yet) $115 per bottle, there were shock waves in the room. I checked – would you really buy this wine at this price? “Yup” was the resounding war cry.
Here is my review of our September Men’s Wine Council meeting. It was mixed vintages and wineries. I begin with the number one favorite.
1. 2008 Pina Mimbre Cab – Approximately $115. : Not yet released, this wine is stunning. This is a must have for your cellar. Pull it out when you’re looking to impress. The nose is going to pull you right in. You know you have something really special on first sniff. The taste is going to capture you. Expect chocolate, cassis, blackberries and licorice in complex layers so elegant you might hear an angel sigh. The wine shows good structure and enjoyable tannins on the finish. I always like to encourage you to pair wines with food but in this case… everything you need is right in front of you. Relax, and enjoy the ride.
2. 2010 Graffigna Malbec Reserve – $13: Two thumbs up for this affordable wine. The color is lovely with deep red and purple hues. The dark berry aromas are complemented with subtle black pepper and toasty notes. Nice tannins, smooth body and a pleasant finish. Pair with Black Bean Soup (Tom Plant’s was a hit), a big meat- loaded pizza, or ginger lemon cookies . 14% Alcohol
3. 2008 Dry Creek Vineyard Meritage-$28: Blend of the five noble Bordeaux varietals. Soft tannins with a rich nose. Initial aromas of blackberry, vanilla, plum and black pepper. On the palate, the wine comes through when cassis and plum mingle with toasty oak nuances creating a pleasant blend. 14.5% Alcohol. Excellent with Prime Rib Toast Points, Black Bean Soup, empanadas, and chocolate graham crackers smeared with whipped cream, chocolate bits and Kaluha crème (A Ken Barnes’ creation).
4. 2011 DCV Fume Blanc – $14: This wine was very popular with the group and for good reason. Prominent grassy overtones, kaffir lime, citrus, and a touch of white pepper on the nose invites you right in. The palate is surrounded by refreshing citrus and mineral notes that mingle together with Meyer lemon, Granny Smith apple and orange zest flavors. Pair with deviled eggs, vegetarian pizza and ginger lemon cookies. A great wine at a great price.
5. 2010 Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay -$15: Buttercup yellow with vibrant green hues. Great example of how good a cool climate varietal can be. Loved the aromas of citrus and nectarine. Subtle spicy oak and oatmeal notes add complexity to the nose. Oatmeal notes mingles with citrus and fresh stone fruits and a textural creamy weight. Great sipping or reception wine.
6. Puma Road 2010 Silver Cap Chardonnay, Vigna Monte Nero– $22: tastes quite a bit like a traditional French Chablis. You’ll like the light citrus and Honeydew Melon notes. A bit flabby for my taste, but I bet it is absolutely delightful with chilled prawns with lemon-caper mayo.
Sláinte!
