 Wednesday, August 27th
Vintage Point Wines ~ Partners In Wine
Vintage Point is a company that emphasizes that "Partners in Wine" signifies not only the relationship of the three founding partners, but the many long-term partnerships they have enjoyed with independent, luxury wine producers and the specialty wine trade that supports them. These brand partnerships may be from Napa, Sonoma, Santa Barbara, the Pacific Northwest, and select import markets. Clay Kriss, Pacific Northwest Regional Manager for Vintage Point, will be our guest presenter for the evening.
Reserve Tasting Wine Features
Luna Sangiovese: This award winning 2006 Napa Valley Sangiovese is the deep color of garnets. The aromas of raspberries, black cherries, milk chocolate and rose petals come forward on the nose. The Merlot supports a plump blueberry core on the mid-palate, accented by chocolate and hints of orange. An interesting mineral note appears on the back of the palate, and firm, silky tannins hold the wine together. The finish is a lush thirty second trail of perfectly ripe, but not overripe, cherries. The blend is 75% Sangiovese, 18% Merlot, and 7% Petite Sirah
Joseph Carr Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon: When you sit down with Joseph Carr it's obvious you are meeting a man with a passion for the wine business. Full of life and teaming with excitement over his wines, Joe just can't wait to give you a glass of his Cabernet. With a dream in hand and a nose for the "Old World" wine business Joe Carr came west from his perch in upstate New York to set up shop in the Napa Valley. In France, Joseph Carr would be known as a 'negociant' or one who employs growers, coopers and artists to create boutique wines to offer at an affordable price. To those of us stateside, Joe is an entrepreneur dedicated to one mantra, "world class wine should be elegant yet affordable."
His Napa Valley Merlot evolved from a real passion for the wines of Pomerol and St. Emilion, where they stand apart as wines with an elegance and softness that are approachable today. In Napa Valley, he sought out growers from Howell Mt. and Oakville, specifically with this style in mind. This limited bottling reflects what great vineyards might yield and has a European influence and inspiration. Deep crimson in color, aromas of black cherry and sage, set the stage for a complex ripe plum palate with hints of cocoa and spice flavors. A lush, smooth mouthful of Merlot.
The Carr Cabernet Sauvignon is their raison d'être. It is why his company began, and from whence it continues to evolve. This notion of a traditional Bordeaux style blend, handcrafted, and sourced from the finest growers and friends, aspires to an élan of distinction. The flagship wine is a traditional Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. This wine displays a deep purple hue, with scents of black currant, smoke and saddle. The palate is rich and accessible, with dark cherry and ripe plum flavors; the finish is long and elegant with soft tannins.
Reserve Menu Pairings
Cherry-Rose Quick Bread with a Chocolate Straw and Orange Marmalade
Sage Poached Plum in a Cherry Chocolate Port Sauce
Main Tasting Wine Features
Freakout White Blend: freakout, n: an experience of unrestrained excitement.
Looking to challenge the traditional ways of Friuli winemaking on the Italian-Slovenian border, maverick Italian winemakers began experimenting with new styles of winemaking, creating unique and exciting white wine blends. When Mike Drash, Winemaker for Luna Vineyards in Napa Valley, tasted these exotic white wines, you could say he freaked out.
Each varietal is treated individually and then married together two months before bottling to create the ultimate blend. To promote the aromatics of the wine, the Chardonnay starts fermentation in tank before moving to French oak barrels. Meanwhile, a portion of the Sauvignon Blanc is fermented on the skins like a red wine and punched down twice a day until fermentation is completed. The Pinot Grigio is fermented stainless steel tanks for a crisp finish. The distinctive Ribolla Gialla (sourced from the only Ribolla Gialla planted vineyard in the U.S.) provides minerality and is fermented in small barrels providing good weight and texture. Taste what happens when inspired winemaking meets unrestrained excitement.
Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc: Grown primarily in Southeast Asia, the Pomelo is a member of the citrus family. Although closely related to the grapefruit, the juice of the Pomelo is often a bit more sweet and tangy with a bit of a dry finish. It's not much different than that of Sauvignon Blance, hence the inspiration for Randy Mason of Mason Cellars. A wine for daily consumption, Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc is Randy's latest addition to his table of hand crafted growing regions like Lake County and the Central Coast for a very structured palate. Primarily stainless steel fermented with just a bit of barrel fermentation for mouthfeel. Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc offers a flavor profile most similar to that of the fruit; crisp and lean while refreshing and smooth on the palate.
Joseph Carr Chardonnay: Carr chose to offer a more food friendly elegant style of Chardonnay; shying away from a dominance of oak, and preferring a more exotic tropical presentation. Very limited, less than 2000 cases produced. This 2006 Chardonnay from Carneros offers a tropical expression of citrus, pineapple, and layers of elegant fruit flavors. The use of small French Oak barrel fermentation adds to the balance of what can be characterized as a more typical French style Chardonnay. The long mineral finish pairs with many types of seafood, but is light and elegant enough for an aperitif.
Layer Cake Primativo and Malbec: The Layer Cake wines represent countries, people and traditions of craftsmanship. The wines are all rich, lush and complex expressions of a unique vareital from a place like no other; a place winemaker Jayson Woodbridge and his team feel cannot be recreated or replicated. These place have a sense of history and family; the Layer Cake symbolizes time, terroir and something that can only be handmade. Every Layer Cake wine is a true and distinct reflection of the place, the farmers, the land and Layer Cake's own style of winemaking.
"My old grandfather made and enjoyed wine for 80 years. He told me the soils in which the vines lived were a layer cake. If properly made, the wine from these vines was like a delicious cake layerd with fruit, mocha, chocolate and hints of spice ...and rich, always rich. 'Never pass up a good Layer Cake', he would say. I have always loved those words." -A. Orlando Tribute, Jayson Woodbridge
Goose Ridge Red Blend: Goose Ridge Estate Vineyards and Winery is a family-owned and operated winery dedicated to limited production, handcrafted wines from select, estate-grown grapes. The Monson family's vineyard is planted on a south-facing slope in Washington's Columbia Valley adjacent to Red Mountain that consistently yields rich, ripe grapes. This big full bodied red wine has a deep garnet color. Luscious raspberry and other red fruit flavors mingle with a hint of spice and cedar. Aged for 20 months in French and American oak barrels this wine is a blend of 36% Syrah, 31% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec.
Main Menu Pairings
Seared Scallop with Pomelo Butter Sauce and Grapefruit Dust
Pineapple Baked Grouper with Hawaiian Clay Sea Salt and Micro Greens
Pork Carnitas en Mole with Corn Pudding
Cedar Smoked Raspberry Brulé
Wine Club Details
The reserve tasting begins at 6:30 and will be $15.00 per person. The main tasting will begin at 7:30 and will cost $45 per person. Food is included with both the reserve and main tasting. A credit card is required to hold your reservations and a $10 fee for the reserve and a $35 fee for the main tasting will be assessed for all cancellations (if made after the RSVP deadline) and no-shows. Please RSVP by 9 a.m. on July 21st to be included as our guests for the evening. Call 339-1500 or email us at wineclub@gsfw.com with your reservations.
We have two components to our GoodSpirits Wine Club tastings. The first component is our reserve tasting which begins at 6:30 p.m. This portion of the evening includes an educational and informational program from our guest speaker. We feature spectacular wines with appropriate food pairings. It is a very fun way to kick-start the evening. The reserve tasting costs $15 per person and includes the wine and appetizers. Seating is limited to 40 people.
The second component of the evening is our main tasting which begins at 7:30. Our guest speaker will also give a short presentation on the wines presented in this portion of the evening. We serve at least 6 wines and a complete meal is included. Our meals are specifically created to pair with the wine we are highlighting. Gourmet cheese, meats and crackers from GoodSpirits are also featured at the beginning of the event. The main tasting costs $45 per person.
We meet at Minnehaha Country Club and dress is business casual. Valet parking and wait staff gratuities are included in the price of the event.
Remaining Wine Club Dates
Wednesday, August 27th - Clay Kriss, Pacific Northwest Regional Manager - Vintage Point Wines
Wednesday, September 24th - Michael Clausen, FWE Imports
Wednesday, October 29th - Rob Tedder, Frederick Wildman
Friday, November 21 - GoodSpirits Holiday Show
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Visit our store and see South Dakota's only touch-screen beverage information center. It can help plan a party, recommend wine and food pairings and give hundreds of drink recipes. Of course our staff is here to assist you as well, but it is a great tool and fun to use!
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