4 Great Value Wines To Keep In The House – October 14th and 15th Tasting
Zum Martin Sepp Gruner Veltliner 2015 (1 liter) – $17.99
Zum Martin Sepp is a small restaurant and inn located in Grinzing, a little town on the northern outskirts of Vienna. For generations, the region has supplied wine almost exclusively for the Viennese market, with little or none exported to other countries or even other parts of Austria.
Today, Carlo Huber brings the wines into the US and is one of the few importers to focus on Viennese wine.
Kevin’s Notes: Anybody who likes Pinot Grigio and other dry white wines must try a wine made of Gruner Veltliner and I strongly suggest it be from Austria. Austria’s climate as you can imagine is very cool and dry so your typical grape varieties will not do well here. However, if you like dry, vibrant and expressive white wines, Gruner Veltliner is for you! This wine will go with many cheese selections, veal, pork, cream sauces, and difficult vegetables like asparagus and broccoli. One of its greatest attributes as well is their low alcohol content, so unlike Chardonnay you will not get that heavy head after 1-2 glasses.
House of Independent Producers (HIP) Chardonnay – $11.99
The House of Independent Producers (HIP) Chardonnay is from Hedges Family Estate, Columbia Valley, WA. It was Tom Hedges’ contact in the produce export market that “planted the seeds” for Hedges Cellars. Tom was asked to produce a Washington State table wine for sale in Sweden. A winery was born. The first two vintages (1987 and 1988) of Hedges Cellars Cabernet-Merlot were sold exclusively in Sweden. Today, four different wines including the 1997 vintage of Cabernet-Merlot are sold in 45 states and 15 foreign countries. Hedges Cellars is being hailed as one of the country’s “Great Red Meritage Producers.” This single vineyard Chardonnay is as close to a Chablis style white as you can find on the west coast. The wine sees no oak, and is a true definition of terroir winemaking, highlighting the beautiful vineyards of Sagemoor Farms, specifically the Dionysus Vineyard. HIP is a project directed by Christophe Hedges, bringing to the table some of the more compelling Columbia Valley AVA vineyard sites.
Stephen Vincent Sonoma County Pinot Noir – $16.99
Founder of the early Boutique Winery, La Crema, Bob Goyette grew in skill and experience at the Benziger Winery combining his French Heritage with a New England upbringing. He uses traditional winemaking methods while keeping an eye on the creative use of modern technology to create superior wines of great value for the current market. Today, he leads the winemaking team at Stephen Vincent and Robert Goyette wineries.
Winemaking Notes: 35 years of experience taught winemaker Bob Goyette the importance of trial blends before bottling. Before blends are made, Bob pursues the best possible wine profile that is superior to its parts. The final bottle is blended for body, flavor, and mouthfeel. Wine is aged for 14 months in 50% American and 50% French oak.
Tasting Notes: Dark ruby color, blackberry with hints of cloves and cinnamon. Great forward fruit and soft tannins make this beautifully balanced wine very accessible.
Charles & Charles Cabernet Syrah 2015 – $12.99
The 2015 vintage was the warmest year on record in Washington State, lapping the 2014 vintage as the prior record-holder. Perfect hot dry weather persisted throughout the growing season and extended all the way to harvest, with cooler temperatures coming just in time to extend ripening, made for an excellent vintage. The heat kept berries and clusters small, which resulted in highly concentrated and dense wines.
The resulting wine is bold, rich and textured but not over the top – it remains wonderfully restrained and focused. Aromas of black cherry, blackberry, and earthy, savory notes of tobacco and herbs, vanilla, and cocoa. A full mouthfeel with a long and supple finish. It’s an intense dark blue / purple in color with tremendous purity, depth, and focus. Tannins are elegant, and refined. The blend this year is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Syrah
