WoW, Seminar

Greetings from Gosford Wine . . . the hundred-year-drought trudges exhaustingly on, and the cool weather we’re owed breaks through all-too intermittently.  Such climactic intemperance might drive some to drink . . . it certainly makes me thirsty.

Our Wine of the Week . . . is the 2005 Puerto Viejo Carménère, Curicó Valley, Chile; $9.99/btl.  For all those unfamiliar with the Carménère grape, the Puerto Viejo offers a nice chance to catch a glimpse of one of the wine world’s hidden treasures.  It was originally one of the six noble red grapes of Bordeaux (along with the Cabernets, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec).  Its Bordelaise heritage is immediately obvious on the nose – it’s got that indescribable melange of mint, herbs, green pepper, red fruit acidity, and subdued caramel and butterscotch which so readily characterize the best in Bordeaux.  The wine is very expressive on the nose, while the palate is nicely soft, fruity, and plush.  The finish features a resurgence of the aromatics first noticed on the nose, which are now underpinned by a pleasantly dark register of licorice, bitter cherry, and charcoal.  It finishes as smoothly as you please, with nice aromatic length . . . very tasty.

Call or e-mail ahead to reserve your cases and/or bottles.

Don’t forget about our Wednesday Seminar . . . we’ll be featuring Spanish wines this week, with regions like Priorat, Bierzo, and the little known Rioja all making appearances.  We will be pouring the 2005 Artadi “Viñas de Gain” from Rioja, which is one of the early favorites for ‘Winepress Darling of the Year’ honors, and is therefore certainly not something to be missed.  The near-miracle is that the Artadi won’t even be the highlight of the show. . . .

As usual, drop in anytime between six and eight on Wednesday evening; bring your own casual self, a measly $5, and a thirst for – ahem – knowledge.  (I’m still cultivating the art of understatement. . . . I’m off to a very slow start.)