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 WineSquire
Holiday Wine Tasting
Holiday Tasting
@ Esquin Wine Shop
Saturday, 28 December 2002
1pm to 4pmJoin John Schultz, President of
WineSquire (aka “The Squire”), for an afternoon of tasting recent
recommendations found on WineSquire.com, Seattle’s local online wine
guide!
If you’ve never been to Esquin, this is the perfect opportunity to
check out one of the finest wine selections in the Northwest. Esquin has
a very knowledgeable staff, great prices and excellent customer service.
See below for a list of the fabulous line up of excellent quality
wines we'll be tasting on Saturday, 28 December: |
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Greg Norman Sparkling Brut NV (Australia)
This super blend of traditional Champagne grapes (Chardonnay and
Pinot Noir) from down-under, is a stunner. It took me a few minutes
of contemplation to fully appreciate how well this bottle drinks at
such an amazing price. Rich and creamy, with soft pear flavors well
balanced by whiffs vanilla and lime. This sparkler is dry and has a
smooth luxurious finish. It’s a beauty of an Aussie and would be a
perfect New Years Eve Popper! Cheers Mate! -John
Schultz
Gray Monk Pinot Gris 2001 (Canada)
Who knew this little white from the “Great White North” could be so
good? Discovered on a recent trip up to beautiful Kelowna, B.C.,
this is the flagship wine for Gray Monk (Translated in Austrian is
“Gray Friar” which means Pinot Gris!). It has citrus and orange
blossom notes, creamy texture and lime flavors. A great wine to
match with salmon. –Andrew Campbell
Smoking Loon Viognier 2001 (California)
This California negociant is turning out a fabulous line of great
drinking budget wines. With the glut of high-end finished wine in
California, this smart winery is buying excellent quality “juice”
for a fraction of what it would normally cost and bottling it under
the Smoking Loon label. If they could tell the public who actually
made these wines, I’m sure a few well know vintners and winemakers
would blush. This Viognier is better than most at twice the price.
The vibrant perfumed nose has aromas of fresh flowers and melon.
It’s dry and well balanced with rich tropical fruit on the palate
and a lush pleasant finish. If you’ve never had a Viognier, this is
a great opportunity to try one, as it just might become the next
“new, new” thing. (If it continues at its current pace that is.)
Their Syrah is a winner as well. An excellent bottle for a great
price; a super choice for parties! -John
Schultz
Arrowood Chardonnay Sonoma County 1999 (California)
Balance and precision are key words when describing this wine. It is
very complex, full bodied, and supple tasting of roasted nuts,
pineapple and citrus with an ultra long finish. Enjoy this with a
multitude of dishes, goes great with cream based sauces. -Andrew
Campbell
Caymus Conundrum 2001 (California)
A super, yet puzzling (thus the name) blend of Sauvignon Blanc,
Chardonnay, Viognier, Muscat and Semillon. Round and full in the
mouth with creamy oak nuances that weave nicely into the juicy pear,
fresh lemons, warm spices and ripe fig flavors. There is a great
balance of fruit and oak in this beautiful white, with nuances of
toasty vanilla oak, roasted almonds and a hint of yeast from the
malolactic fermentation. The long, lingering finish is soft yet
juicy. This is a great wine to serve with most white wine fair, in
addition to Pan Asian and very spicy food. Cork dorks and the
Vino-novices will enjoy this wine. -John
Schultz
Hangtime Pinot Noir 2000 (California)
Wow…It’s tough to find a good Pinot Noir at a nice price! This wine,
made by Byron in Santa Maria, California, is a nice example of a
young Pinot Noir. It shows nice bright fruit and a slight tart
cherry finish. Drink with lighter beef dishes or tenderloin of pork.
–Sean Boyd
Ornellaia “Le Volte” Toscana IGT 2000 (Italy)
From the essence of Ornellaia, this second label, “Le Volte” is of
similar grapes: the Tuscan personality of Sangiovese and the rich
plummy flavors of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It exhibits the
cabernet and merlot grapes up front, with fresh scents of chocolate
and dark berries, while the sangiovese makes it a long smooth
experience. This wine is very intense and focused and decanting is
recommended to encounter the vastness of this wine (or you can
cellar for a few years). -Andrew Campbell
Riddoch Cabernet Shiraz 2000 (Australia)
This wine kicks the pants off of wines ten times the price!
Literally, I tasted it next to Napa Valley Cabernets that were
“boring” compared to this. Deep rich black fruit, bright acidity and
a smooth finish with grip make this wine a keeper. -Olé
Thompson
Ryan Patrick Vineyard Meritage 1999 (Washington)
This is a fine blend of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Paterson area,
and estate Merlot which is also blended with Red Mountain fruit.
Bold, yet well balanced tannins, with dark black fruit such as plum,
cherry and cassis. Gentle, creamy oak smoothes out the ripe tannins
with a long silky finish. Potentially one for the cellar, but it’s
just too tempting to drink now! -John
Schultz
As always, Esquin’s wine tastings are free. See you there! |
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