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| Harvard Hall - DOMBEK photo 2012 |
I recently had the opportunity to go to the Ruby Wines 29th Annual Wine Tasting at The Harvard Club in Boston. Opulent surroundings made for a lush experience. Five rooms on two floors and seventy-five tables of International suppliers and wineries shared their wines and spirits, along with food by the Harvard Club.
Wines from France, Italy, Spain, Austria and Portugal (even one from Napa Valley USA) were among my favorites. While of course there was not enough time to get into in-depth conversations with all, here are a few highlights: From Blason de Bourgogne representing wines from Burgundy, France, Cédric Martineau poured Bailly LaPierre Cremant de Bourgogne "Reserve", a blend of pinot noir, chardonnay, aligote' and gamay. A lovely blend of grapes, with balance and richness, yet straightforward and clean. Delicious and refreshing!
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| Cédric Martineau & Assoc.-Blasons de Bourgogne |
Blason de Bourgogne
represents 800 winegrowing families throughout the region, from Chablis in the
north, through Beaune and south to Mâcon, all taking great care to craft wine that lets the terroir shine through.
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| Cédric Martineau (Blasons de Bourgogne), Lisa Dombek (WINE 24/7) |
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| Sariya Jarasviroj Brown (R) of CIRCO VINO - DOMBEK photo 2012 |
And we are lucky to have some of their wines here in Portland, ME through local distributor SoPo Wine Co. At the Ruby Wines tasting I especially enjoyed the Weingut Markus Huber Grüner Veltliner "Traisental". Spicy, aromatic, lush, clean and sumptuous! Incidentally, "Traisental" means small but mighty!
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| Professional tasters also enjoying some food! DOMBEK photo 2012 |
I came across the table for Angelini Selection, and our friend Rick Pignataro representing Italian wines. Some of you who read this column may remember the article I did about the sparkling Kerner? (http://www.wine24-7.com/2012/06/carpene-malvolti-kerner-brut.html). This was from Angelini Selection.
From the Veneto region, the 2011 Corte Rugolin Valpolicella Classico had wonderful spice and resonant cherry on the palate. While the 2007 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico "Crosara de la Strie" was silky with powerfully ripe fruit.
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| Roy Cloud, Vintage '59 Imports - DOMBEK photo 2012 |
Vintage '59 Imports focuses on representing cutting edge wines from France, working with vignerons whose "wholistic approach requires a great deal of work in the vineyard, but it is work that is embraced because the rewards sought are as much personal and spiritual as they are financial. The aim is to let the wine and vineyard site speak as much as the man, and more than the marketplace." Thank you Roy ... Beautiful wines! Would love to see some of these wines show up in Maine.
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| Michel Moulene - Jean Baptiste Audy Wines |
The 2010 Chateau Cabanes Graves Bordeaux Blanc was perfectly quaffable. And the 2009 Chateau La Fleur Boireau Montagne St. Emilion had beautifully rich fruit, a gorgeous value!
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| Licinia - Madrid (Ole' Imports) |
I was excited to find Ole' Imports, an importer of Spanish wines at this tasting. When writing a wine list for a local Latin style restaurant last winter, I was happy to include the A Portela Mencia from Valdeorras. This approachable red is earthy & spicy, with cherry/currant notes. See my review from last April: http://www.wine24-7.com/2012/04/ladera-sagrada-portela-mencia.html. Also on that list from Ole' were the Baron de Magana from Navara, with spice box, graphite and currant, as well as the Licinia from Madrid, a deep/silky blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo. Other stand-outs included Rugvino "Exopto" 2009 from Rioja, complex and full-bodied this is a blend of Graciano & Garnacha. Also Vinyes Domenech "Furvus" 2008 from Montsant, a Priorat-style red - full bodied, smoky, blueberry, volcanic.
I would love to revisit some others on their list, as I found them very unique indeed. They represent over 100 Spanish wines in their portfolio and have in common with the others I have cited here today that hand-crafted terroir-driven approach to winemaking. Ole' Imports is brought to us in Maine through National Distributors.
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| Winding down ... DOMBEK photo 2012 |
As with the other importers that I've mentioned here, their mission statement reflects the quality hands-on approach that is truly commendable. As follows: "Both in France and abroad, the Cazes family’s mission is to produce great wines respecting the terroir and the character of the local grape varieties".
And lastly, from here in the USA (Napa Valley), Ladera Vineyards. The "Howell Mountain" 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, with estate grown fruit this was beautifully composed with complex flavors of dark cherry, blackberry and cocoa and a smooth, long finish. Thanks to SoPo Wine Co., we do have this one in Portland!
So many wonderful wines ... so little time! Cheers!
