Perfect Patio Wine – KECI NBC Montana Today and WineGuyMike

Posted on August 7, 2012 by WineGuyMike

This mornings KECI Montana Today Feature with Rob Hudson and WineGuyMike; http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/Mike-Tornatore-8-7-12/-/14594602/15999458/-/67a5ri/-/index.html

This Week on the WineGuyMike™ Radio Show© Wine Cellar Craftsman and Designer Philippe Leiritz

Posted on August 5, 2012 by WineGuyMike

Check out the radio show on The Trail 103.3FM and U 104.5FM. The live stream feed is online at www.trail1033.com where you can click on “Listen Live”. The WineGuyMike™ Radio Show© airs on both radio stations Sunday mornings at 10:00AM MST.

Social Media links;

This week’s podcast; Philippe Leiritz and Your Custom Cellar http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/08/05/wine-guy-mike-for-august-5/

Recent podcast; What You Need To Know About Wine http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/07/15/wine-guy-mike-for-july-15/

Last week’s podcast; Perfect Patio Wines http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/07/01/wine-guy-mike-for-july-1/

Recent podcast; (full length conversation) with Maximilian Riedel, CEO Riedel Crystal of America http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/06/24/wine-guy-mike-for-june-24/

Father’s Day podcast, Special Father’s and Special Wines http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/06/17/wine-guy-mike-for-june-17/

Recent Podcast with John Balletto of Balletto Vineyards & Winery http://bit.ly/WineGuyMike2

WineGuyMike with Perfect Patio Wines on KECI NBC Montana Today; http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/Mike-Tornatore-8-7-12/-/14594602/15999458/-/67a5ri/-/index.html

NBC Montana Today TV Segment on Easter wines and food pairing; http://www.nbcmontana.com/video/30847522/index.html

YouTube; My YouTube channel of course is WineGuyMike™ or the actual URL link: http://www.youtube.com/user/WineGuyMike?feature=mhum

Facebook; WineGuyMike please “like”

Twitter; @WineGuyMike please follow me

Ciao Mambo, “Eat Like You Mean It”, located in Missoula on The Hip Strip. Find them online at www.CiaoMambo.com

Sleep City Missoula www.SleepCity.com

Liquid Planet “Best of Beverage” and a great place to WineGuyMike show wines for the lowest price. Located in the heart of downtown Missoula.

www.WineChateau.com

Georges Distributing in Helena, Montana.

Philippe Leiritz from YourCustomCellar.com

Philippe Leiritz was this week’s featured guest on the WineGuyMike Radio Show. Leiritz is a native of Alsace, France and by professional trade worked as a mechanical engineer. Leiritz and his wife Frederique worked together in Geneva, Switzerland prior to moving to and settling in Michigan. Leiritz continued working in the engineering field but had no time to spend with his family. Frederique and Philippe made a decision to move to Missoula, Montana in pursuit of their dreams.

Collectively the Leiritz family is owner and proprietor of the Missoula Winery and Event Center. Frederique who is from Champagne, France grew up and worked in a winery. She is now the winemaker for her family winery and Philippe designs and builds wine cellars.

Leiritz truly is a master craftsman with the mechanical engineering background. A functional combination that comes together in the form of beautiful wine cellars custom built for all types of homes and businesses.

Learning how light, humidity and temperature are crucial for the finest wine storage. There are four things that affect wines as they are stored; Temperature, Humidity, Light, and bottles need be stored horizontally on their side.

Temperature 55°F – 59°F
Humidity 50-70%
Light – wines that are stored in areas with ample light often time indicates incorrect storage temperature. Constant direct light is another factor to consider as it will begin breaking down wine.

In today’s world 90% of wines are made to be drunk within one year. If you are a collector of vintage wines you already know how and where you should be storing your wines. The bottom line; temperature is far more critical than a dark wine cellar.

Lying the bottle down is critical, especially if you intend to store the wine for any length of time. The purpose of this is to keep the cork moist, if your bottle is setting upright there is no liquid to keep the cork wet and swollen thus sealing the bottle correctly and keeping the oxygen out until you are ready to drink the wine.

With synthetic corks do not need contact with the wine to protect the bottle but then you should still be laying the bottle down. This is important for unfiltered wines with sediment being spread out evenly through a horizontally stored bottle rather than collecting on the bottom of one that is stored upright. Remember the wine in the bottle is alive and changing every day and the sediment in the bottle plays its part in this too, but that is another story for another day…

Commercial wine rack at a local tasting room

Master craftsman Leiritz also points out the choice of wood used in a cellar is critical for your cellar. Redwood, mahogany, oak and alder are a few of the recommended choices for cellars. Price, relative humidity, home décor, and personal preference all become a part of making the right choice for your wine cellar, Leiritz’s expertise is crucial when it comes to assisting you in these decisions.

It is important to note that Leiritz builds cellars for all types of homes from modest to elegant custom homes. There are even nice small racks that allow for proper wine storage for common guys like me.

This was a fun and informative radio show this week and Philippe Leiritz craftsmanship is extraordinary, having a nice cellar makes collecting and drinking wine just that much more enjoyable. For more information please visit the website at; http://www.yourcustomcellar.com/home

Here are two WineGuyMike wines that I recommend for your wine rack, pick them up at Missoula’s finest wine shopping experience, Liquid Planet located in the Heart of Downtown Missoula.

The wines reviewed today all receive the WineGuyMike™ Seal of Approval™

From my table to yours,

This Week on the WineGuyMike™ Radio Show© Dessert and Aperitif Wines

Posted on February 5, 2012 by WineGuyMike

Check out the radio show on The Trail 103.3FM and Fresh 104.5FM. The live stream feed is online at www.trail1033.com where you can click on “Listen Live”. The WineGuyMike™ Radio Show© airs on both radio stations Sunday mornings at 10:00AM MST.

Social Media links;

Today’s Podcast; http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/02/05/wine-guy-mike-for-february-5/

NBC Montana Today TV Segment with Christmas wines; http://www.nbcmontana.com/video/30063511/index.html

YouTube; My YouTube channel of course is WineGuyMike™ or the actual URL link: http://www.youtube.com/user/WineGuyMike?feature=mhum

Facebook; WineGuyMike please “like”

Twitter; @WineGuyMike please follow me

Sponsors

Ciao Mambo, “Eat Like You Mean It”, located in Missoula on The Hip Strip. Find them online at www.CiaoMambo.com

Sleep City Missoula www.SleepCity.com

Liquid Planet “Best of Beverage” and a great place to find your holiday wine located in the heart of downtown Missoula.

W.J. Deutsch & Sons since 1981 has been marketing quality wines produced by prestigious families from major wine regions of the world.

Georges Distributing in Helena, Montana.

Good Sunday morning and welcome to the WineGuyMike™ Radio Show© This week on the show I decided to discuss Dessert and Aperitifwines as a prelude to a special guest that will be joining me on the show in the coming weeks. Donald Ziraldo ,co-founder of Inniskillin Wines Inc., Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario and current President of Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards Inc., Oliver, British Columbia, the world authority on Icewine.

Stay tuned for this show it’s one you will not want to miss. A friend of mine recently was asking about Dessert and Aperitif wines so I thought this would be an appropriate time to explore this area of wines that many are just not sure about.

My friend Aimee Ryan asked me; Mike I like to drink dry or crisp wines but I never seem to like aperitif or dessert wines. Can you recommend how I might approach these types of wines? Aimee thanks for asking, let’s take a moment to understand these wines types and styles a little bit better.

There are some naturally sweet grape varietals such as Muscat, Huxelrebe, and Ortega that are used to produce sweet wines. The Sweetness of these particular varietals is enhanced by pruning techniques – eliminating bunches of grapes on the vines to concentrate sugar and flavor.

There are a few techniques that are used to produce sweet wines as well. One winemaking technique that is used is Chaptalization. This is when sugar or honey is added prior to fermentation process. Süssreserve is a German technique of winemaking that adds grape juice to the wine after fermentation has been completed.

Today though we will be focusing on Icewine, a winemaking style where grapes are naturally frozen on the vine, harvested during the middle of the night or early morning and pressed in the extreme cold to separate the juice from the ice crystals. The fermentation requires special yeast and many months of time. This remarkable process concentrates the sugar and acids and intensifies the aroma and flavor of the grapes. The result is very special wine that expresses aromatic flavors of white and tropical fruits.

Natural Icewine by wine regulations require a hard freeze; in Canada the temperature must drop to (-8C or 17°F) colder, and in Germany (−7 °C or 19 °F), this usually occurs months after a typical harvest. If the freeze does not come soon enough the entire crop can be lost to rot and if the freeze is too severe it can prevent any juice from being extracted when the grapes are pressed. Animals also love these sweet grapes and left to hang to long grapes will naturally drop from the vine. This is a very tenuous circumstance waiting for the “perfect” climatic conditions. Canada and Germany are the world’s largest producers of ice wines. About 75 percent of ice wine in Canada comes from Ontario.

Late Harvest or Noble Rot wine is made from moldy grapes, a fungus known as Botrytis Cinerea. This process occurs best in vineyards that experience heavy evening moisture with hot sunny days. This fungus dehydrates the water from the grape and imparts nuances of Honey, and Apricot once the wines are made. Sauternes from Bordeaux, Hungarian Tokaji, or Germany’s Trockenbeerenauslese are some of the world’s finest examples of Late Harvest and Noble Rot wines.

In Austria, Germany, the United States, and Canada, the grapes must freeze naturally to be called ice wine. Cryoextraction is yet another method (that is, mechanical freezing) used to simulate the effect of a frost. The grapes are not left to hang for extended periods as is done with natural ice wines. These non-traditional wines are sometimes referred to as “icebox wines”.

Good Dessert and Aperitif wines are sweet but remain balanced due to balanced acidity. These wines can be served alone or with foods less sweet than the wine. Quite often, the wine itself can be a dessert, but bakery sweets can be a good pairing.

Whites Dessert or Aperitif wines should be served slightly chilled while the red wines should be served at room temperature or ever so slightly chilled.

A sweet or dessert wine that I really enjoy and recommend is the 2010 Deglace Dessert Wine from Adelsheim Vineyard. This is a beautiful example of a very sophisticated dessert wine made in the Cryoextraction method.

Adelsheim Vineyard

Wine Background:

Dessert wines from red-skinned grapes – especially Pinot noir – are relatively rare in the world. Adelsheim Vineyard produced their first Deglacé, almost as an experiment, in 2001. Initially, the wine was created for use at the end of winery dinners. Neither of the two ways in which dessert wine is traditionally produced – using grapes that have been desiccated by Botrytis Cinerea (“noble rot”), or pressing after the grapes had frozen on the vine – would work for us. A Pinot noir producer would never want Botrytis in its vineyards (it ruins red wines), and they couldn’t remember a fall when a freeze came before the rains of winter. That year, winemaker Dave Paige selected one block of grapes to take to a freezer instead of the winery, and then followed the traditional approach to producing an ice wine. (Well, not entirely traditional. He didn’t have to do any of the work in the middle of the night which is when grapes for Ice Wine are traditionally harvested.) Their Deglacé dessert wine has a soft pink color produced from contact with the Pinot noir skins. The residual sugars are on the low end as compared to traditional ice wines, resulting in a consistently balanced wine.

The Wine

Even with this sweet wine, they have stayed true to their winery philosophy that a wine’s highest use is in pairing with meals. That means retaining enough of the grapes’ natural acidity to ensure that the wine never becomes too cloying. The Deglacé has amazing strawberry shortcake, citrus blossom, and nectarine aromas that meld with the viscous yet firm texture on the palate. It should prove to be a perfect match with red berry tarts, pumpkin cheesecake, and a wide range of other desserts.

"from my table to yours"

Appetizers and Wines for Superbowl XLVI This Week on the WineGuyMike™ Radio Show©

Posted on January 29, 2012 by WineGuyMike

Social Media links;

Today’s Podcast; http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/01/29/wine-guy-mike-for-january-29/

NBC Montana Today TV Segment with Christmas wines; http://www.nbcmontana.com/video/30063511/index.html

YouTube; My YouTube channel of course is WineGuyMike™ or the actual URL link: http://www.youtube.com/user/WineGuyMike?feature=mhum

Facebook; WineGuyMike please “like”

Twitter; @WineGuyMike please follow me

Sponsors

Ciao Mambo, “Eat Like You Mean It”, located in Missoula on The Hip Strip. Find them online at www.CiaoMambo.com

Sleep City Missoula www.SleepCity.com

Liquid Planet “Best of Beverage” and a great place to find your holiday wine located in the heart of downtown Missoula.

W.J. Deutsch & Sons since 1981 has been marketing quality wines produced by prestigious families from major wine regions of the world.

Georges Distributing in Helena, Montana.

A preview to Superbowl Sunday appetizers and wines that make them score the touchdown, welcome to the WineGuyMike™ Radio Show© this Sunday morning. Today I have chosen a number of wines that are affordable, most are $10.00 to $16.00. These selections are very good wines that will match up, (football lingo), well with a few of my favorite football appetizers.

Next week’s Superbowl XLVI television audience will approach 110 million viewers but the the first Superbowl championship was contended in 1967.

Bowl games are not new to football, but the Super Bowl took the concept and elevated the idea to an entirely new level. This was a way for the champions of the two existing football leagues at the time, the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL), and decide who was the best team. The first Superbowl was born.

Superbowl I took place on January 15, 1967 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. This game determined the champion of the 1966 football season. There were nearly 62,000 fans in the stadium to see Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers school the Kansas City Chiefs in a painful lesson about who was top dog, the final score was 35-10. Millions of viewers witnessed this cool new Superbowl game on TV. Superbowl Sunday 110 million people will watch the extravaganza this event has morphed into.

Where there is a Superbowl, there is a celebration and that means food and drinks. I’m not talking about Beer and Soda, but they’re great too. On today’s show I want to share some of my favorite Superbowl Sunday snacks, treats, and appetizers and what wine I’m going to matching up(that’s football terminology, so I’ll use that today rather than pairing, or wine terminology).

Superbowl Sunday is a fun day to enjoy but you really need to pace yourself. Otherwise you can’t begin to enjoy this event throughout the entire day. I’ll be posting a few recipes up on my blog at www.wineguymike.wordpress.com for you to use along with my Suberbowl wine recommendations.

I normally write about healthy eats but the following appetizers are real party pleasers. These apps are so good with the wines I’ve paired them with you, your friends and family will love them. Disclaimer; I’ll be omitting the nutritional information for the following recipes.

Tim’s Cascade potato chips with blue cheese and bacon, we’ll call this recipe the “Triple Threat”

Servings; 1 if you’re a glutton, 6-8 if you share

Recipe Ingredients; One baking sheet, 1 large bag of Tim’s Cascade (plain) potato chips, and two wedges of inexpensive Blue Cheese. Side note; if you really want to take it up a notch with this appetizer use 4-5 strips of pre-cooked bacon chopped into small pieces

Preparation:

Pre-heat heat broiler on low or if you only have one setting on your broiler lower the rack in the oven so it’s not to close to the broiler. Remember we’re just melting cheese

Take a baking sheet and cover with foil

Spread chips out over the baking sheet, let them overlap one another

Take one wedge of the Blue Cheese and with a knife slice through the cheese until it’s crumbled into small to medium size chunks. The second wedge is for the second batch of this appetizer, because you’ll just need more.

Distribute the Blue Cheese over the top of the chips and place the baking sheet of chips in the oven. If you are adventurous feel like living large distribute the bacon over the blue cheese and chips before placing your appetizer sheet in the oven.

Watch the cheese and let it melt, usually around 3-5 minutes, then pull they sheet of chips out of the oven. The Blue Cheese should be melted but not to the point of running off the chips.

Velveeta Queso Dip with tortilla chips, okay this dip is just downright addictive. That’s why you make an entire crockpot full of this gooey crowd pleaser.

Ingredients

1 lb. (16 oz.) VELVEETA Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1 whole jar of Pace Picante Sauce, I prefer the hot Picante Sauce

1 lb. of lean ground beef that has been browned and drained

Optional for a spicier dip; Tabasco or a hot sauce to taste(consider your guests)

Directions

Combine Velveeta and Pace Picante Sauce in a crockpot and melt cheese. When cheese is melted add browned ground beef and a little Tabasco or hot sauce and combine.

Serve

In a bowl as a dip or pour over your favorite tortilla chips. This dip is delicious.

Wines to pair with these first two appetizers:

Wallace Brook 2009 Pinot Noir ($15.99)

Good Pinot Noir is hard to find at this price point but this wine is made by one of my favorite Willamette Valley wineries, Adelsheim Vineyard. This Pinot Noir offers a complex nose of red fruits and vanilla. The supple mouth feel layers raspberry and red cherry fruit, and is complemented by balanced oak and well-integrated tannins.

2009 Balletto Pinot Gris ($13.99)

This Pinot Gris is a complex, pale, straw-colored wine that opens with musky and exotic fresh fig and floral honey tones. The secondary aromas reveal ripe red apple, melon and lemon. The aromas are ever-changing and intoxicating, and on the palate this wine is lush and perfectly viscous with a dose of tartness that balances and holds the wine together.

Tuck Beckstoffer’s 75 Sauvignon Blanc ($11.00)

This wine presents as a classic Graves-style Sauvignon Blanc. The light straw color is reminiscent of classic left-bank Bordeaux Blanc, while the flavors are a perfect blend of old-world complexity and crisp North Coast fruit. The nose is just right on this gem, neither to fruity or grassy, but a nice aromatic of grass and grapefruit. On the palate this wine offers bright fruit flavors of apple skin and pear balanced by undertones of cherimoya, fig and melon.

Little Smokies, now I have a special way I like to prepare these delectable little pork parts in a tube. First you open the package and find a big sauté pan that will hold 2-3 packages of the smokies. Take two bottles of dark beer and turn up the heat just high enough for a low boil to cook off the alcohol. Drain the pan and dump them into a crock pot with a fresh bottle of dark beer, add two bottles of your favorite barbeque sauce and a few shots of Tabasco sauce. Cover them up, start them on high to bring all that goodness together in the crock pot, stirring occasionally, and then turn the heat down enough to keep heat consistent. Yikes these things are just redneck delicious.

Lucien Albrecht Reserve Riesling

A beautiful French Riesling from the Alsace region of France. This wine has a lovely nose that offers up both minerality and nice floral notes. In the mouth this wine is both elegant and robust. It has such great structure and being an Alsatian Riesling is beautifully dry and crisp.

2008 Balletto Gewurztraminer

The aroma of Lychee fruit, guava, red pear and granny smith apple aromas are ever present in this wine. Bright fruit and citrus flavors highlight the dominate aromas of this beautiful Gewurztraminer. Once in your mouth tropical flavors from the nose translate to the palate and are accompanied by subtle tangerine and lemon.

The wine is lushly textured and light, balanced tannins and a delightful finish of toffee, lingering apple, and pear make this a perfect wine to compliment your thanksgiving turkey and all of the lovely side dishes.

2010 Hugel Gentil

The Hugel Gentil revives an ancient Alsace tradition that wines produced from a blend of noble varietals were called “Gentil”.

Hugel Gentil is a traditional Alsace blend of primarily Gewurztraminer paired with varying amounts of Pinot Gris, Riesling, Muscat and Sylvaner.

The Gentil blend of Noble grapes from Alsace region display a light youthful color in the glass and is ripe with floral, fruit and notes of spice. This wine is rich, yet dry with a hint of lemon zest and mineral is the perfect complement for your dinner. This is an outstanding Thanksgiving wine selection.

Burgers, I have you covered here. I have recipes from Chef Bob Waggoner, host of PBS’ Ucook with Chef Bob. Chef Bob was a guest on the show and I have the recipes he matched up, there is that football lingo again, with Beaujolais. I’m making a few other wine suggestions for you to enjoy with these delicious burgers.

RECIPE #1- ANGUS BURGERS (For 2 people)

INGREDIENTS:

· 2 regular sesame buns

· Angus ground beef – 160z

· Red heirloom tomato – 4 slices

· Vidalia onion – 4 slices

·Smoked bacon – 4 slices – diced finely

· Fresh rosemary -1 tablespoon

· Peeled shallots – 3 diced thinly

· Butter lettuce – half of a small head

· Salt

· Fresh ground white pepper to taste

· Aged white cheddar cheese – 2 oz diced into small cubes

DIRECTIONS:

In a small sauté pan cook the bacon until crisp. Add the shallots and cook for 3 more minutes on low temperature. Add the chopped rosemary and cook for another 30 seconds. Remove from pan and let sit at room temperature.

Form 4 thin patties of beef approximately 4 oz each. Then place bacon, shallot and rosemary mix on top of 2 of the patties. Add diced cheddar, salt and fresh ground pepper. Cover with other patty. Pinch the sides together to form one big burger. Salt and pepper the top of the patty. Preheat grill and grill burgers. When the burgers are almost done, lightly grill the bun. On the bottom bun place the burger, Vidalia onion rings, tomato rounds and lettuce. If you like you may add mustard, mayo or ketchup. Top with other bun.

RECIPE #2 – GRILLED PORTABELLA (BURGER) (For 2 people)

INGREDIENTS:

· 2 large portabella mushrooms – Stems removed and gills scraped

· Fresh thyme – 2 tsp

· Green onions – 4 each

· Yellow tomato – 4 slices

· Large eggplant – 4 round slices

· 2 Kaiser Rolls

· “Beaujolais Wine” – 4 tbsp

· Olive oil – 4 tbsp

· Salt

· Fresh ground white pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Gently drizzle the olive oil over the sliced tomatoes, eggplant and green onions. Salt and pepper all. Gently grill and set aside -1 1/ 2 minutes on each side. Salt and pepper portabella mushroom. With a small paring knife make checkerboard cuts going halfway into the mushroom. Drizzle 2 tbsp each of “GDwine” onto each mushroom and let it seep in for 2 min. Add a tiny bit of olive oil on the mushrooms and grill for 2 1/ 2 minutes on each side. Once pulled from grill sprinkle with fresh thyme. Gently grill Kaiser Roll. Stack portabella mushroom, tomato, green onions and eggplant on the Kaiser Roll.

RECIPE #3-TURKEY BURGER SLIDERS with SUNDRIED TOMATO&BASIL (For 2people)

INGREDIENTS:

· Ground turkey meat with 15% fat -1/2 pound

· Sundried tomato – 2 oz

· Shallots 3 each – sliced thinly

·Medium sized garlic cloves -3 each – sliced thinly

· Fresh basil- 8 large leaves – roughly chopped

· Olive oil – 2 tbsp

· Water – 11/ 2 cups

· Baby arugula – 1/2 cup

· Red onion – 4 slices

·1 ripe avocado

· Mini pita pockets – 4 – split in half

· Salt

· Fresh ground white pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

In a 10 inch saute pan, heat the 2 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced shallots and cook for 1minute. Add the sliced garlic and cook for another minute. Add the sundried tomato. Add 1tsp of salt, 3 cranks of fresh ground white pepper and 11/ 2 cups of water and let simmer until all water is evaporated. Add chopped basil, remove from pan and set aside. Leave at room temperature. Form 4 small patties using 1/2 pound of turkey meat. Salt and pepper both sides. Gently grill for 11/ 2 – 2 minutes per side, depending on temperature of your grill. Grill the red onion slices at the same time. Just before the burgers are done, lightly grill the pita pocket that you have split in half. When the burger is cooked, place a small amount of arugula in the bottom of the pita. Top with a turkey patty and arrange your slider with the grilled red onions and the sundried tomato basil mixture.

Choose a couple of these wines for your burgers:

The Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages 2009 is so well made, wonderful tannin, this wine is lush and full of its beautiful berry self. It is a wonderfully balanced wine that will be so food friendly due to its fruit and acid companionship. It doesn’t stop there though this wine for me delivers a great little nuance of toast and butter too. It’s like a great mildly toasted piece of bread with homemade raspberry and cherry jam; yes it’s a really great wine to complement the burger recipes.

The 2009 Brouilly has nice dark fruit, plum, and black cherry. The palate displays silk like tannin, it’s chewy with a little tobacco, yet the texture of this confident wine is like that of the very finest velvet. This is a beautiful wine that those of us who enjoy a slightly fuller body to our wines will absolutely love, enjoy, and crave more.

2010 Balletto Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

This dark, garnet-colored Pinot Noir is floral with aromas of rose petals, spice, ginger, cassis and fruit aromas of raspberry. There is a bit of dusty earth with just hint of vanilla too. This wine is showy with a seamless viscosity that is balanced with a healthy bit of tartness to keep the wine fresh and lively. It’s full in the palate with fine, coco-powder-like tannins. A long beautiful finish.

Paul Hobbs has always been committed to crafting unfiltered and unfined wines and utilizing native yeasts in the fermenting process. His commitment to winemaking technique results in exceptional wines that are well structured. Paul’s wines are a product of classic old world technique.

The Felino wines express great balance of pure, concentrated fruit that is lively with acidity and smooth, fine, tannins. The Viña Cobos Felino label offers Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Chardonnay that is vibrant, lush, mouth-filling wine with beautiful texture that pairs exceptionally well with food. Did I mention these wines sell for under $16.00. These wines offer incredible value as many of Paul’s California wine offerings are far north of $100.00.

The 2009 Viña Cobos Felino Cabernet Sauvignon is 88% cabernet sauvignon, 8 % syrah, 4% petit verdot. A deep ruby hue paves the way for a nose that is ripe with aromas of saddle leather, subtle sweet tobacco, minerality, and earthiness. The palate is lush with a rich well rounded mouth-feel that is complex. There is a great balance of dark fruit, black currant and boysenberry, mineral, sweet tobacco, and acid. This wine is both rich yet remains lively and well structured with perfect tannin.

2009 Felino Viña Cobos Malbec ($16.99)

Visually this 2009 Malbec presents a beautiful crimson color in the glass. The nose of this South American beauty is ripe with red raspberry, anise, with a slight nuance of cocoa, a wonderful aroma. The palate delivers a rich spicy mouth-feel that reveals fruit, a hint of caramel and mineral. This malbec has a nice round balance with sturdy structure. This wine is supple, smooth with refined tannin that makes this a great wine to drink and pair with food. A long finish from this wine that you don’t want to end.

Cannonau di Sardegna D.O.C. Riserva (Under $11.22)

This wine is Old World and rustic in nature. The Cannonau is native to Sardinia and is unique in aroma and on the palate. I don’t recommend drinking this wine without a food accompaniment. With food this will be one of the best food wines you will ever taste. I recommend this a prime rib, roast beef, stew, and heavy appetizers. An amazing food wine.

Bright ruby color, with purple hues, the aromas project ripe red berry, including strawberry and raspberry jam. In the mouth, coffee, spices and herbs, including an aroma of violets, plummy fruit flavours and aristocratic oak overtone. Full, round, fruit forward, consumer friendly taste profile. Oak aged for two years in large Slavonian casks with several additional months in the bottle.

Le Clos ($11.99)

A terrific companion to accompany a big juicy burger. The wine blend is comprised of 45% Merlot, 20% Carignan, 20% Grenache, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.

It is unique in that it has a slight, refined oak character, highlighting a sturdy base of red fruit and oriental spices. Bringing into play terroir and savoir-faire, tradition and exotic flair, Le Clos seems to be like something out of “The Arabian Nights.”

This wine displays an attractive raspberry red color with hints of garnet. Its nose is lively and complex, with notes of red and black fruits. Refined oak fragrance(very subtle) with hints of incense, spices (nutmeg, clove, ginger), anise, autumn woods and tobacco. Le Clos is very soft on the palate, with a fresh, tangy acidity, and delivers wonderful balance. It is well-structured yet elegant, with fine tannins.

My Superbowl game prediction; Giants 21-Patriots 17, but I’m hoping I’m wrong. I’m rooting for the Patriots, Tom Brady is still the best quarterback in football because he’s smart and he’s experienced.

"from my table to yours"

This Week on the WineGuyMike™ Radio Show© Chenin Blanc and Fondue for You

Posted on January 22, 2012 by WineGuyMike

Social Media links;

Today’s Podcast; http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/01/22/wine-guy-mike-for-january-22/

NBC Montana Today TV Segment with Christmas wines; http://www.nbcmontana.com/video/30063511/index.html

YouTube; My YouTube channel of course is WineGuyMike™ or the actual URL link: http://www.youtube.com/user/WineGuyMike?feature=mhum

Facebook; WineGuyMike please “like”

Twitter; @WineGuyMike please follow me

Sponsors

Ciao Mambo, “Eat Like You Mean It”, located in Missoula on The Hip Strip. Find them online at www.CiaoMambo.com

Sleep City Missoula www.SleepCity.com

Liquid Planet “Best of Beverage” and a great place to find your holiday wine located in the heart of downtown Missoula.

W.J. Deutsch & Sons since 1981 has been marketing quality wines produced by prestigious families from major wine regions of the world.

Georges Distributing in Helena, Montana.

Good Sunday morning and welcome to the WineGuyMike™ Radio Show©.

The Loire Valley is well known not only for its wines but it also is the summer playground of the rich, famous and royalty. The countryside of the Loire Valley is embellished with elegant and enormous chateaux.

While the Loire Valley is the largest white wine producing region in France, it is also the second largest producer of sparkling wine in France. But what the region is truly famous for is Chenin Blanc.

This wine whether you prefer an Old World or New World style of Chenin Blanc made in a dry style pairs very well with my favorite dinner this winter, Cheese Fondue. The blend of cheeses in this delectable winter comfort food is a staple for the Swiss. The wines that I’m recommending today are perfect partners with the Cheese Fondue recipe I’m also sharing with you, (see this recipe at the end of today’s blog post).

Chenin Blanc is such a very versatile grape that it can produced as a standalone varietal or as a blending grape, typically with Chardonnay. It is dry, very crisp, acidic, high in alcohol content, yet is smooth and a full bodied white wine. Chenin Blanc wines are intense, aromatic, and floral on the nose. On the palate this grape will deliver a wide spectrum of flavors and textures. One’s palate may experience everything from slight citrus, grasses, spiciness, a little bit of honey, and lush tropical fruit.

This grape is commonly referred to as the “chameleon”, it is diverse and can be made in many styles. In the Loire Valley of France Chenin Blanc is known as Vouvray, it is the best example of French Chenin Blanc.

In the Old World Chenin Blanc is frequently used as a blending grape with Chardonnay. These two grape varietals are wonderful companions in a wine and I’ll be sharing one of these with you today. In the New World Chenin Blanc is typically produced as a single varietal wine.

Old World winemakers ferment their wines at higher temperatures and age their Chenin Blanc wines in acacia and chestnut barrels. This Old World technique produces wines that are well rounded with a greater depth of desirable color. New World winemakers will use steel tanks for fermenting and aging. This technique preserves crispiness, acidity, and fruitiness that are terrific attributes of a well made Chenin Blanc wine. New World style Chenin Blanc’s are typically lighter in color than its Old World counterparts. Color varies with style and approach in making wine, wood barrels vs. steel tanks produce different results.

The versatility of Chenin Blanc allows winemakers the flexibility to transform this chameleon of a grape into many different styles ranging from dry to sweet, or as a sparkling wine. This wine is often described as having a taste profile driven by minerality, greengage, angelica, and honey. The dry or semi-sweet styles exhibit flavors of chalky minerality, honey, quince, and acacia.

Vouvray from the Loire Valley is offered in three different styles; dry which is known as (Sec), medium-dry or (Demi-Sec), sweet (Moelleux, m wah leuh), or as a sparkling wine. Winemakers of the New World are striving for a dry wine that both intense and floral. A well made Chenin Blanc wine is delightful on the nose, notes of floral aroma and scent of banana, pear, guava, and pineapple. This wine is crisp, acidic, and tropical with a little nuance of spice on the palate. Paired correctly with food this wine is beautiful and can bring out the very best in the food.

Each year weather is a determining factor in the type of wine that is produced in Vouvray. Cool years produce vintages of dry or sparkling wines, while warm years produce sweet wines such as Moelleux, (m wah leuh). Because wines of Vouvray are naturally high in acid they may be aged in some cases up to 100 years.

The soil in Vouvray consists of calcareous clay, producing Chenin Blanc wines that are rounded and balanced, delivering nice body, fruit, and acid. Almost all vineyards in the Loire Valley are planted on sloped plateau with southern exposure. Streams run through the area and this combination offer ideal growing conditions. Old World winemaking technique truly compliment the terroir of this region, the wines are stunning.

Marc Bredif Vouvray 2008 from the Loire Valley, France ($21.99)

This is one of the finest examples of Vouvray I have ever tasted. Visually this wine is sintilating in the glass, presenting a geourgeous pale gold yellow. On the nose this wine is intense with floral and fruit driven scent. Marc Bredif Vouvray is perfectly deceptive on the entry and then reveals itself as lush and full on the mid-palate. Crisp, lush, yet a slight citrusy tart quality that shows a little citrus and a perfect grassiness that while this wine is big on flavor it is beautifully dry. Next you experience wonderful fruit led by exquisite pineapple with layers of other subtle yet a wonderful supporting cast of tropical fruits. color is pale gold yellow. It has a very intense and fruity nose with notes of white flowers and quince. It has a subtle attack on the palette and a fresh structure and aromatic finish.

Tariquet Chenin Chardonnay, a unique recipe 75% Chenin 25% Chardonnay ($9.99)

This wine from the Southwestern Languedoc Rousillon region is a lovely wine and at this price you can’t go wrong. It’s crisp, it’s creamy, yes a treasure of a wine.

The contrast between the Chenin Blanc minerality and the creamy Chardonnay is somewhat reminiscent of sweet and sour cooking. Refreshing, bold and full of flavor on the entry with underlying notes of crisp ripe grapes, followed by a satisfying finish. Faint floral shades of vanilla and toffee take turns revealing their delights, while a touch of saltiness leads to a pleasant lingering finish.

L’Ecole N° 41 2010 Chenin Blanc – Columbia Valley ($10.99)

This second generation, family-owned artisan winery located in the historic Frenchtown School depicted on our label. Founded in 1983, they are the third oldest winery in the Walla Walla Valley. As a traditional brick and mortar winery they grow and make 100% of their wine. The focus is on terroir-driven, distinctive, and expressive wines. All of L’Ecole’s Walla Walla Valley wines are made from grapes which are certified sustainable.

This fresh, tart and delightfully fruity Chenin Blanc shows Asian pear, perfumed honeysuckle and orange blossom aromas with flavors of apple, apricot, and grapefruit on a crisp mineral, lightly sweet finish.

L’Ecole Nº 41 has produced this old vine, Vouvray style Chenin Blanc since 1987. Jean Ferguson, L’Ecole Nº 41’s founding winemaker, loved this wine and crafted her version of Vouvray through cold fermentation to enhance the fruity and floral esters. This wine offers great value.

WineGuyMike’s™ Cheese Fondue Recipe

Preparation – Chop on Shallot finely, 1 loaf of crusty cubed bread, grated 2 cups of Gruyere cheese, grated 1 1/3 cup Emmenthal cheese, cube ½ cup of Brie cheese, have one real lemon and corn starch

Combine one finely chopped Shallot
Add 1 ¼ cup of Cristilino Extra Dry Cava(Sparkling wine)
1. Combine and bring to a medium boil for 2 minutes, then turn off heat
2. Add all cheeses and stir to combine, cheese will begin to melt
3. In a bowl mix 4 tsp. of corn starch with 1 Tbls. Of real lemon juice
4. Return mixture to a medium heat and stir for 10 minutes
5. Mixture will melt and then begin to thicken. At about the 8 minute mark add about 4-5 healthy shakes of nutmeg and about 4-5 generous shakes of white pepper
6. Continue to stir and combine all ingredients, once mixture thickens reduce heat to a consistent medium-low heat

Grab your fondue fork and poke a piece of cubed bread, dunk it in the Cheese Fondue. Choose one of the wines I have recommended today and enjoy a perfect mid-winters meal.

Cheers from WineGuyMike™

"from my table to yours"

What’s Your Wine Style? This Week on the WineGuyMike™ Radio Show©

Posted on January 8, 2012 by WineGuyMike

Social Media links;

Today’s Podcast; will be posted as soon as it is available, thank you.

NBC Montana Today TV Segment with Christmas wines; http://www.nbcmontana.com/video/30063511/index.html

YouTube; My YouTube channel of course is WineGuyMike™ or the actual URL link: http://www.youtube.com/user/WineGuyMike?feature=mhum

Facebook; WineGuyMike please “like”

Twitter; @WineGuyMike please follow me

Sponsors

Ciao Mambo, “Eat Like You Mean It”, located in Missoula on The Hip Strip. Find them online at www.CiaoMambo.com

Sleep City Missoula www.SleepCity.com

Liquid Planet “Best of Beverage” and a great place to find your holiday wine located in the heart of downtown Missoula.

W.J. Deutsch & Sons since 1981 has been marketing quality wines produced by prestigious families from major wine regions of the world.

Georges Distributing in Helena, Montana.

Good Sunday morning and welcome to the WineGuyMike Radio Show. It’s 2012 and I’m ready to rock this year’s vintage with you. Together we are going to take a new approach and a new look at great wines that I can’t wait to share with you.

Pick up your empty glass and hold it up to the sky as you look out the window. Imagine the beautiful color of your favorite wine adorning the glass, bend your elbow and pull the glass close and tip your nose deep into the glass. Breathe deeply and imagine the wildest exotic aromas of your favorite wine rising from the juice in your glass. Lower the glass to your lips, tilt your head gently back and take an imaginary sip of the finest wine you have ever tasted. Swish the wine all about as it invigorates your palate. Swallow the liquid nectar and imagine The Trail that it has left behind, the finish of the best wine you have ever tasted. It lingers on your palate just like a song you hear on the radio and then it is stuck in your head. You play it over and over, on your palate and in your mind.

That’s right this I’m going to take you on a new virtual wine journey week after week in 2012. We are going to meet interesting new people from the vast world of wine. Virtually traveling to new places we have yet to visit, experiencing wine in a way you and I have never imagined.

Welcome to 2012. Today I’m going to talk about style, your wine style preference is what I’m referring to. So far this winter Western Montana has been a little bit strange. Why you ask, well it has in the high 30’s to low 50’s and the last time I checked it is early January. As memory serves me it is usually about zeroish this time of year in the Rocky Mountains. This is more than a little disconcerting, it is just downright unusual.

Did you know that all throughout the decade of the 60’s that grape farmers in Burgundy, France harvested their grapes on average at the end of September? In the first few years of the millennium that harvest took place in the first week of September. I don’t begin to know what that means but it is a huge change. When I think about having Spring in the middle of Winter in the Rocky Mountains and major climate changes in wine country around the world it is one of those circumstances that make me go hmm……………..

Old World, New World, what’s your style? Let’s take a closer look and see if we can define this. First of all let’s consider these terms; Old World wine, Old World winemaking, New World wine, and New World winemaking. What do these terms mean and why are they relevant?

When I think about terminology that best describes Old World vs. New World these are a few thoughts that come to mind.

Old World; Ancient, Europe, tried, apprenticeships, craftsman, details, tradition, experience, patience, aged, practical, these are my thoughts when I think of Old World.

New World; Young, new, melting pot, now, in the moment, technology, science, instant gratification, excess, impatient, brash, learn as I go, these are a few terms that come to mind when I think of New World.

I’m not suggesting that one is better that the other, what I am suggesting is that when it comes to wine, these are styles. Styles should be considered for the situation, perhaps a style to suite your mood, or your frame of mind.

For me Old World vs. New World could be compared to the difference between those who cook with feel and experience and those who cook with recipes. Old World draws on centuries of experience thus allowing for intuitive multi-dimensional winemaking. New World has decades of experience, it may still be developing its formula, striving to become more dimensional. Experience enables chef’s to create and cook with intuition; the same can be said for winemakers as well.

Winemakers from the Old World are very much in the background. Current winemakers are a result of many years of understudy and apprenticeship with the winemaker who made wines at that particular Chateau or Estate. Rarely do you know the name of a famous Old World winemaker, but it is common to be aware of a famous Chateau or Estate that produces excellent wine. This is because European wine laws typically dictate what grapes can be grown, how much of them can be grown, harvested, and dictate how the wines are made. Wine regions of the Old World have be growing grapes and making wine for centuries. The New World does not yet have this type of experience to draw from. The Old World quite literally has this down to a formula and they understand their terroir, or sense of place.

Let’s remember that Old World wine is made by design, it is made to complement foods that are indigenous to that particular region. These wines are blends of grapes that are smooth and easy to drink and are easily enjoyed with foods they are designed to pair with. Old World wines exude restraint but express subtle nuances of sense of place, are understated yet complex, these are sophisticated wines that present as simple.

Wine in the New World in the most historic sense may only be a century old. Cavalier vineyard owners and young winemakers are still discovering new places to grow grapes as they understand terrior. Historic floods, fossils, seismic activities, and cataclysmic eruptions up and down the west coasts of North and South America are now the home of multitudes of renowned vineyards with serious potential.

If you look closely at the pedigrees of New World winemakers almost all have wine related degrees of Enology or Viticulture from UC Davis or Oregon State. What does this mean for you and me? Most new young winemakers have these degrees prior to having the opportunity to utilize their specialties at a wine estate. This is unlike the Old World that is steeped in the tradition of apprenticeship. New World winemaking comes at wine from a very different direction than Old World in some respects and I believe it is reflected in the wine, not that this is bad, it is just different.

New World wines are not made as a result of foods indigenous to regions. These wines are driven by science and now are also by an understanding of the terroir. Vineyard owners and winemakers understand terroir now in a way the Old World has for centuries. So how are the wines different, well to start with most New World wines are single varietal wines, although many winemakers that are beginning to blend wines well. Most New World wine has a much higher percentage of alcohol than Old World wine. This presents wines that are much bigger, much bolder than their European counterparts. In general most New World wines are designed to drink and not necessarily made with a food pairing purpose in mind. That is not to say New World wines do not pair well with food, they are not made to complement food localized to a region.

I find that New World wines have a much sturdier frame or structure, are much more pronounced visually, aromatically, and certainly on the palate. This is the New World style of wine, is this better, less than, no they really cannot be compared because they are simply different. As for me it really comes down to what is the circumstance and what kind of mood I’m in. Do you want wine to enjoy dinner with or do I want to sip on wine to be social, a lot to consider. New World and Old World alike both produce wonderful wines, but perhaps with a different focus.

2009 “In the Rocks” Syrah from Reynvaan Family Vineyards

This is an example of an Old World style of wine made by Matt Reynvaan who last year was noted as one of the top 30 winemakers under 30 years of age in the world. Nobody does wine better that Reynvaan Vineyards from Walla Walla in the Columbia Valley AVA.

The 2009 “In The Rocks” is packed with dark fruit aromatics, smoked meats, crushed gravel, and white pepper. It is very animalistic with hints of sweet creme brulee and will benefit from 5 years of cellaring if you are able to resist the temptation to drink it. Terroir driven wine that is outstanding, you don’t want to miss this. Check this wine out at Liquid Planet in the heart of Downtown Missoula.

2009 Truchard Vineyards Syrah from Carneros Napa Valley

The 2009 vintage produced fruity wines with intense flavors, great texture, and beautiful balance. This terrific example of a New World style of wine from the Carneros area in the Napa Valley has aromas of plum, boysenberry, and blackberry; highlighted with vanilla, earth, and white pepper. On the palate this wine is fills your mouth with rich flavors of cassis and black cherry; followed by mineral and cracked black pepper. Ripe tannins provide an opulent, long finish of fruit and spice. This wine is well made and a beautiful wine to drink.

*Both of these wines are upscale wines that represent the Old World vs. New World styles reffered to in today’s blog. There will be selections of both styles available at your favorite place to shop for affordable wines too.

"from my table to yours"

“A Good Friend And A Glass Of Bubbly” this week on the WineGuyMike™ Radio Show©

Posted on January 1, 2012 by WineGuyMike

Social Media links;

Today’s Podcast; http://trail1033.podbean.com/2012/01/01/wine-guy-mike-for-1112/

NBC Montana Today TV Segment with Christmas wines; http://www.nbcmontana.com/video/30063511/index.html

YouTube; My YouTube channel of course is WineGuyMike™ or the actual URL link: http://www.youtube.com/user/WineGuyMike?feature=mhum

Facebook; WineGuyMike please “like”

Twitter; @WineGuyMike please follow me

Sponsors

Ciao Mambo, “Eat Like You Mean It”, located in Missoula on The Hip Strip. Find them online at www.CiaoMambo.com

Sleep City Missoula www.SleepCity.com

Liquid Planet “Best of Beverage” and a great place to find your holiday wine located in the heart of downtown Missoula.

W.J. Deutsch & Sons since 1981 has been marketing quality wines produced by prestigious families from major wine regions of the world.

Georges Distributing in Helena, Montana.

WineGuyMike™ Radio Show© special fan of 2012, my Granddaughter Elle Marie

Happy New Years and welcome to the WineGuyMike™ Radio Show© this Sunday morning. Out with the old and in with the new, that’s today’s agenda and with that I had the pleasure of sitting down with a special friend who has been a pioneer throughout his career. Earl Sherron founder of Earl’s Distributing in Missoula, Montana joined me this week on the radio show to share his insight about Champagne and Sparkling wine.

Earl Sherron

Earl is a man of integrity, wisdom, and experience and he gave me the opportunity to become involved in the wine industry some fifteen years ago. He has been a mentor, an inspiration and source of encouragement every since.

A little bit about Earl Sherron:

Earl Sherron was the youngest beverage distributor in the state of Montana when he created Earl’s distributing in Missoula in 1968.

At the time the company only represented two brands of beer–Great Falls Select and the Olympia brewing company. Earl’s continued to grow as it acquired many more brands of beer throughout the years.

The state of Montana controlled the sale of wine until 1979. After this time distributors were able to make wine more accessible to the public by offering placement in grocery and convenience stores.

During this time Earl’s was the only member in the state belonging to the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America. The WSWA is a national trade organization representing the wholesale branch of the wine industry.

By cultivating relationships with vintners, the company was able to grow its portfolio of domestic and imported brands of wine.

Earl had a commitment to the industry by promoting wine as part of a gracious lifestyle. The culture and education of wine was available to the consumer through popular wine festivals. The most important component of these events was not only experiencing a variety of wines, but giving back to the community as all events sponsored a local non-profit organization.

After 38 years in the business the company had 100% market share of domestic & imported wine for the western Montana territory.

Earl’s philosophy of striving to deliver positive results to the community and its employees was the core system of the company. The tradition of sharing wine and champagne makes every day events a celebration.

I want to thank my featured guest and special person who has meant more in my life than he realizes. Thank you Earl, and Happy New Year’s to you and all of your family.

Champagne and Sparkling wines are drinks of celebration, so it is important to understand what’s out there, and more importantly how they are different.

The Champagne region of France produces some of the finest sparkling wines in the world. Typically there are three grapes used in the blend for sparkling wines; Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Different vintages are used to create the blend, or the “cuvee”.

Pink Champagne is strained through the Pinot Noir grape skins which create its beautiful color. Blanc de Blancs is true French Champagne; it is produced entirely from the Chardonnay grape.

Designations of quality:

Prestige cuvee:

This Champagne is the highest priced and is available only in small quantities. It is designated “Prestige” because the grapes come from the best grapes grown in the highest rated villages. It is made from the first pressing of the grapes, produced only as a vintage, and will have been aged longer than vintage and non-vintage Champagnes.

Vintage Champagne:

Some select years produce an outstanding grape harvest. The Vintage Champagnes are aged for at least three years. Remember, a Vintage Champagne will be identified by an actual year marked on the label, but expect to pay a premium for this.

Non-Vintage Champagne:

The majority of Sparkling wine on the shelf of a store is non-vintage. These are a blend of wines aged for two years.

How to identify your Champagne

Brut is Dry
Extra Dry is Semidry
Sec is Semisweet
Demi-sec is Sweet

Other sparkling Wine Regions:

Loire Valley of France produces Crémant, while the Asti region of Italy produces Asti Spumanti, and Prosecco comes from the Veneto region. The Catalonia region of Spain produces the world’s most popular sparkling wine, Cava.

Prosecco is mainly produced as a sparkling wine in either the fully sparkling (spumante) or lightly sparkling (frizzante, gentile) styles. Prosecco spumante, which has undergone a full secondary fermentation, is the more expensive style. Depending on their sweetness, Proseccos are labeled “brut”, “extra dry”, or “dry”, with the brut being the driest.

Asti Spumante is a sweet sparkling wine with a mellow effervescence. It is produced in the Italian province of Asti and made from the Moscato grape. Spumante is a fruit forward sparkling wine that is grapy, and has low alcohol content usually around 8 percent. Moscato d’Asti is a sparkling wine that is frizzante in style and more refined than the Asti Spumante.

Cava originated in the Catalonia region at the in the late 19th century. Cava is produced in different styles ranging from dry to sweet; Brut Nature, Brut (extra dry), Seco (dry), Semiseco (medium) and Dulce (sweet).

Suggestions:

$$$(20.00 & up) = Expensive, complex, sophisticated selections

$$(14.00 -20.00) = Excellent quality, some of the nuance and complexity of $$$

$(under 14.00) = Simple, fun, value

Gosset Champagne $$$

This champagne presents in the glass as crystal clear, pale golden hue with persistent fine, lively bubbles. The bouquet of this Champagne is intense, elegant and inviting on the nose. Fresh floral notes reminiscent of honeysuckle, wisteria and white jasmine seamlessly give way to exotic aromas of pineapple, guava and mango with hints of caramel, gingerbread and cinnamon. A trace of pear liqueur completes the harmonious finish.

The taste of this invigoratingly fresh and refined champagne is characterized by rich density and volume. On the palate, delicate floral notes give way to flavors of sweet peaches and nectarines over subtle notes of spices like cardamom and green pepper. The finish is delicate and smooth, with irresistible and deliciously sensual flavors of candied fruit, cinnamon and licorice.

L’Ermitage 2002 $$$

L’ERMITAGE is Roederer Estate’s special Tête de Cuvée, which has consistently been rated one of California’s top sparkling wines since its debut in 1989. Taking a cue from owner Champagne Louis Roederer, Roederer Estate produces its sparkling wines in the traditional French methode champenoise and adds special oak-aged reserve wines to each blend. L’ERMITAGE is made only in exceptional years, of pre-selected grapes that come from the very best lots.

Fine tiny bubbles and a long lasting mousse are the usual footprints of the L’ERMITAGE cuvée. This cuvée from the palindromic vintage 2002 is showing great notes of “tarte tatin”: baked apples and buttery crust, with notes of apricot and delicate vanilla bean. The mouthfeel is creamy, expresses flavors of quince and bread crust, with a clean and crisp yet long finish.

Roederer Estate Brut NV $$

Roederer Estate Brut, the first California sparkling wine produced by Champagne Louis Roederer, builds upon a 200-year tradition of fine winemaking that has made Roederer Champagne among the most sought-after in the world.

The Roederer Estate Brut is crisp and elegant with complex pear, spice and hazelnut flavors. It is fresh and lightly fruity with great finesse and depth of flavor.

Gruet Brut Rose $

This nearly garnet Rose, like all our non-vintage sparkling wines, is aged 24 months en tirage. It has a lovely, bright floral bouquet with hints of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry. On the palate, it is rich and fruity in a dry, Brut style. The flavor of berries continues on the palate, revealing more strawberry, raspberry, cherry. This sparkler is lots of fun and very festive, but production is limited to 5000 cases per year, so don’t miss out!

Vietti Moscato d’Asti Cascinetta 2010 $$

Straw color, frizzante, peach, rose petal, ginger, sweet & delicate on the palate. Good balance of fruit and acidity, complex, apricots on the finish.

Lamberti Prosecco $

This non-vintage Prosecco Extra Dry offers lovely balance in a perfumed, crisp style defined by green apples, flowers and sweet spices. The finish is long and polished.

Jaume Serra Cristalino Brut $

This fine Spanish sparkling wine is made using the Traditional Method, in which the secondary fermentation producing a sparkling wine’s bubbles occurs in the bottle. Its fresh, toasty nose, beautiful citrus, green apple and mineral flavors, supple, lively mouth-feel, and clean, crisp finish make it the ultimate celebratory wine.

Jaume Serra Cristalino Brut – Extra Dry $

Slightly off-dry, it offers fresh pear and apple aromas and rich citrus, peach and green apple flavors. A subtle yeasty tone and a refreshing, elegant finish.

2008 Argyle Brut $$$

63% Oregon Pinot Noir, 37% Oregon Chardonnay, Sparkling Wine

In the glass this wine presents a soft straw color with tight tiny streams of bubbles. On the nose you get full aromas of creamy vanilla poached pear and fresh sour dough starter. The first impression on the palate is of how well balanced this wine is, playing the purity of fruit off of the fresh acidity while showcasing the wine’s natural mineral notes. There are notes of ripe guava, red Anjou pear, Meyer lemon, and lightly toasted brioche, finishing with notes of honeysuckle and lemon curd. A great vintage of sparkling wine from Argyle in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.

Saint-Hilaire Blanquette de Limoux $

This sparkler is probably the oldest sparkling wine in the world. We know that in 1531, the Benedictine Monks of the Abbey of Saint-Hilaire were already producing Blanquette de Limoux which certainly makes it France’s Oldest Sparkling Wine preceding Champagne by more than a century.

This Cremant Dry, toasty, smooth and clean SAINT-HILAIRE truly captivates with an attractive yeasty aroma and luscious creamy texture. The palate is light and crisp with citrus and apple flavors and the body is just hefty enough.

Rotari Talento Brut $

Rotari was born in the heart of the Dolomites. The mountain climate, the special care of the vineyards, the dedication of our winemakers in the manual selection and harvest of the grapes give life to the fresh and fragrant bubbles that are both complex and enjoyable reflections of the characteristics of the region. The Metodo Classico, its history, and its long aging process on its yeast bestow upon Rotari unique and unrepeatable characteristics.

Produced with Chardonnay grapes that are selected and harvested by hand and originate exclusively from the best vineyards in the hills of Trentino. At the foot of the Dolomites, where the Chardonnay expresses best its fresh and fruity character, the Rotari Brut is fragrant, intense and elegant.

I would like to offer a New Year’s toast to all of you, may your New Year be filled with health, happiness, and prosperity. I thank each and everyone of my audience for making my year what it has been.

"from my table to yours"

Posted on December 25, 2011 by WineGuyMike

Social Media links;

Today’s Podcast; http://trail1033.podbean.com/2011/12/25/wine-guy-mike-for-1225/

NBC Montana Today TV Segment with Christmas wines; http://www.nbcmontana.com/video/30063511/index.html

YouTube; My YouTube channel of course is WineGuyMike™ or the actual URL link: http://www.youtube.com/user/WineGuyMike?feature=mhum

Facebook; WineGuyMike please “like”

Twitter; @WineGuyMike please follow me

Sponsors

Ciao Mambo, “Eat Like You Mean It”, located in Missoula on The Hip Strip. Find them online at www.CiaoMambo.com

Sleep City Missoula www.SleepCity.com

Liquid Planet “Best of Beverage” and a great place to find your holiday wine located in the heart of downtown Missoula.

W.J. Deutsch & Sons since 1981 has been marketing quality wines produced by prestigious families from major wine regions of the world.

Georges Distributing in Helena, Montana.

Merry Christmas and welcome to the WineGuyMike™ Radio Show© this Sunday morning. Today I have chosen a number of wines that are affordable, most are $10.00 to $16.00. These selections are very good wines that will pair well and enhance the meal you will be serving at your Christmas dinner.

A couple of the wines I share with you today are made from the Chenin Blanc grape varietal, this wine is seeing a slight trend. French winemakers are masters when it comes to producing beautiful wine with the Chenin Blanc grape. In France this wine is known as Vouvray and the two Chenin Blanc wines I’m recommending today will pair beautifully with the ham and turkey dinners you may be preparing for your family and friends today.

First a little background on Chenin Blanc and Vouvray:

What is Vouvray? Vouvray (voo vray) is a town located near the city of Tours in one of the most recognized wine growing areas of France, the Loire Valley. This specific area we are discussing, Vouvray, is located in the central Loire Valley.

A snapshot of the Loire Valley:

The Loire Valley runs across the Northwest region of France following the Loire River from Central France in the east to the Atlantic Ocean in the west. This northern region of France is cool and produces lighter bodied wines.

*Wine in this region will be chosen by a style and best years*

Vouvray is produced in three different styles; dry (Sec), medium-dry (Demi-Sec), sweet (Moelleux, m wah leuh), or as a sparkling wine.

Chenin Blanc is a very versatile grape that is produced as a standalone varietal or as a blending grape, typically with Chardonnay. It is dry, very crisp, acidic, high in alcohol content, yet is smooth and full bodied. Nuances of slight spiciness, hints of honey, slight fruitiness. This can be a very special wine, such as Vouvray, an excellent wine exhibiting many different styles. It is known as the “chameleon”.

The Marc Bredif Vouvray I have recommended is dry yet sophisticated while the Tariquet Chenin Chardonnay is crisp yet creamy from the Chardonnay blend. These two wines are a true companions for your Christmas dinner.

Just as foods have a texture and firmness wines also have a quality of texture. Remember we are looking for balance and a synergy between wine and the foods they are paired with. A full bodied wine bold on texture should not be paired with delicate dishes nor should they be paired with a food dish that is big on flavor. Big wine and big flavor just don’t work well together, we are looking for harmony. A mild food dish would do well to be paired with a medium to light body wine which is what we are doing today in considering your Christmas Day wine list. NBC Montana Today TV Segment with Christmas wines; http://www.nbcmontana.com/video/30063511/index.html

Saracco Moscato D´ Asti ($15.00’ish)

Wine with the perfume of fresh peach, pear and aromatic white flowers. A gentle sparkle brightens the fruit and a tingle of sweetness hints of candied fruits. This wine is perfect as refreshing aperitif or a light finish to a meal. Saracco has perfected the balance of acid and residual sugar to make an incredibly light and floral sparkling wine.

Gruet Rose Brut ($10.59)

The Gruet can be enjoyed before and during dinner. Rose is a diverse wine that pairs well with most foods so don’t be afarid to enjoy this selection during your dinner. This is a delightful wine that really delivers.

This nearly garnet Rose, like all of Gruet’s non-vintage sparkling wines, it is aged 24 months en tirage. It has a lovely, bright floral bouquet with hints of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry. On the palate, it is rich and fruity in a dry, Brut style. The flavor of berries continues on the palate, revealing more strawberry, raspberry, cherry. This sparkler is lots of fun and very festive.

A-Z Pinot Gris ($10.49)

The Willamette Valley produces very good wine and this selection from A-Z will not disappoint. I recommend this wine with Vegetarian dishes, Turkey or Ham dinners. You’ll love this wine it is with your dinner.

The 2010 A to Z Pinot Gris leads with bright aromas of tropical fruits (lemon, lime, lychee, mango, passion fruit and kiwi) as well as melon, ginger, lemongrass and wet stone. Succulent and juicy on the attack, the mid-palate is drenched with peach, spiced pear, baked apple, quince, hibiscus, white flower and mineral flavors. On the finish, the acidity wraps up the wine with a clean, fresh palate and lasting impression of a wine with great purity and typicity balanced by some richness and depth.

Anselmi San Vincenzo ($12.25)

Turkey, Ham, or a Pork Roast is my recommendation for this lush and sophisticated wine. This wine paired with a glazed pork tenderloin roast would be incredible for your Christmas dinner.

80% Garganega, 10% Chardonnay, 10% Sauvignon Blanc

Color – Light straw

Bouquet – Crisp and pure, with scents of minerals, lemon/lime, apricot and yellow apples.

Taste – Medium-bodied, dry and fresh, with notes of citrus fruit

Marc Bredif Vouvray 2008 from the Loire Valley, France ($21.99)

Chenin Blanc at its finest with this dry Vouvray. Vouvray can be made in a dry to sweet style and the French do it best. This holiday wine selection I have chosen for you is more expensive than most Vouvray’s, but when you take one sip you will understand why. This selection will go well Vegetarian dishes, white meats, Ham, and most seafood dishes.

The color is pale gold yellow. It has a very intense and fruity nose with notes of white flowers and quince. It has a subtle attack on the palette and a fresh structure and aromatic finish.

Tariquet Chenin Chardonnay, a unique recipe 75% Chenin 25% Chardonnay ($9.99)

Turkey, Ham or even just a wonderful wine to drink. This wine from the Southwestern Languedoc Rousillon region is a lovely wine and at this price you can’t go wrong. It’s crisp, it’s creamy, yes a treasure of a wine.

The contrast between the Chenin’s minerality and the creamy Chardonnay is somewhat reminiscent of sweet and sour cooking. Fresh, bold and full of flavour at entry with underlying notes of ripe grapes, followed by suave complexity. Faintly floral shades of vanilla vie for position with lingering traces of toffee, while a touch of saltiness leads to a pleasantly surprising finish.

Wallace Brook 2009 Pinot Noir ($15.99)

Good Pinot Noir is hard to find at this price point but this wine is made by one of my favorite Willamette Valley winery’s, Adelsheim Vineyard. This wine pairs fantastic with lamb, salmon, pork, or turkey. An excellent choice for your Christmas dinner.

This Pinot Noir offers a complex nose of red fruits and vanilla. The supple mouth feel layers raspberry and red cherry fruit, and is complemented by balanced oak and well-integrated tannins.

Cannonau di Sardegna D.O.C. Riserva (Under $11.22)

Le Clos ($11.99)

A terrific companion to accompany a duck terrine laced with olives, a roast rack of lamb, roasted beef or pork roast with fines herbes, as well as pheasant with wild mushrooms or boeuf bourguignon.

45% Merlot, 20% Carignan, 20% Grenache, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon

2009 Felino Viña Cobos Malbec ($16.99)

I love to drink this wine from Paul Hobbs who makes wine in Napa and Sonoma during our summer months. His wines fetch prices north of $100.00 in the U.S. But in Argentina he makes wine that is sophisticated and complex yet inexpensive. Sit down to dinner with any beef dish and you will think you are in heaven with this selection.

"from my table to yours", Merry Christmas to all

Montana Today's Christmas Wine List From WineGuyMike™

Posted on December 23, 2011 by WineGuyMike

Yesterday TV Segment with wines; http://www.nbcmontana.com/video/30063511/index.html

Today I have chosen a number of wines that are affordable, most are $10.00 to $16.00. These selections are very good wines that will enhance whatever you may be serving for your Christmas dinner.

Christmas Wine Flight

Saracco Moscato D´ Asti ($15.00’ish)

Perfume of fresh peach, pear and aromatic white flowers. A gentle sparkle brightens the fruit and a tingle of sweetness hints of candied fruits. This wine is perfect as refreshing aperitif or a light finish to a meal. Saracco has perfected the balance of acid and residual sugar to make an incredibly light and floral sparkling wine.

Gruet Rose Brut ($10.59)

A-Z Pinot Gris ($10.49)

Anselmi San Vincenzo ($12.25)

Turkey, Ham, or a Pork Roast is my recommendation for this lush and sophisticated wine. This wine paired with a glazed pork tenderloin roast would be incredible for your Christmas dinner.

80% Garganega, 10% Chardonnay, 10% Sauvignon Blanc

Color – Light straw

Bouquet – Crisp and pure, with scents of minerals, lemon/lime, apricot and yellow apples.

Taste – Medium-bodied, dry and fresh, with notes of citrus fruit

Marc Bredif Vouvray 2008 from the Loire Valley, France ($21.99)

Chenin Blanc at its finest with this dry Vouvray. Vouvray can be made in a dry to sweet style and the French do it best. This holiday wine selection I have chosen for you is more expensive than most Vouvray’s but when you take one sip you will understand why. This selection will go well Vegetarian dishes, white meats, Ham, and most seafood dishes.

The color is pale gold yellow. It has a very intense and fruity nose with notes of white flowers and quince. It has a subtle attack on the palette and a fresh structure and aromatic finish.

Chenin Chardonnay, a unique recipe 75% Chenin 25% Chardonnay ($9.99)

Wallace Brook 2009 Pinot Noir ($15.99)

This Pinot Noir offers a complex nose of red fruits and vanilla. The supple mouth feel layers raspberry and red cherry fruit, and is complemented by balanced oak and well-integrated tannins.

Cannonau di Sardegna D.O.C. Riserva (Under $11.22)

Le Clos ($11.99)

A terrific companion to accompany a duck terrine laced with olives, a roast rack of lamb, roasted beef or pork roast with fines herbes, as well as pheasant with wild mushrooms or boeuf bourguignon.

45% Merlot, 20% Carignan, 20% Grenache, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon

2009 Felino Viña Cobos Malbec ($15.99)

I love to drink this wine from Paul Hobbs who makes wine in Napa and Sonoma during our summer months. His wines fetch prices North of $100.00 in the U.S. But in Argentina he makes wine that is sophisticated and complex yet inexpensive. Sit down to dinner with any beef dish and you will think you are in heaven with this selection.

"from my table to yours" Merry Christmas

Posted on December 18, 2011 by WineGuyMike

Social Media links;

Today’s Podcast; http://trail1033.podbean.com/2011/12/18/wine-guy-mike-for-1218/

YouTube; My YouTube channel of course is WineGuyMike™ or the actual URL link: http://www.youtube.com/user/WineGuyMike?feature=mhum

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Sponsors

Ciao Mambo, “Eat Like You Mean It”, located in Missoula on The Hip Strip. Find them online at www.CiaoMambo.com

Sleep City Missoula www.SleepCity.com

Liquid Planet “Best of Beverage” and a great place to find your holiday wine and wine accessory gifts located in the heart of downtown Missoula.

W.J. Deutsch & Sons since 1981 has been marketing quality wines produced by prestigious families from major wine regions of the world.

Georges Distributing in Helena, Montana.

This week on the WineGuyMike™ Radio Show© I share with you an affordable wine flight from a benefit wine tasting that I hosted. This was made possible because of the kind support of the WineGuyMike™ Radio Show© show sponsors.

St. Patrick House

This past Thursday’s wine tasting was a benefit for Missoula’s St.Patrick House. The mission of St. Patrick House is to provide compassionate shelter to patients and their families during their time of need. When patients have extended therapy or stays in the hospital the St. Patrick Home provides shelter in an environment just like home for $25.00 a day. The home’s budget comes exclusively from donations. This is why I volunteer.

I want to thank the Montana Radio Company, The Trail 1033, U 104.5, Ciao Mambo Missoula, Sleep City, and Liquid Planet. This tasting was made possible by these businesses and I hope that if you have the opportunity to support them.

Tasting wine For A Cause Wine Flight

A-Z Pinot Gris

Anselmi San Vincenzo

In the annals of winemaking, Roberto Anselmi is a legend, a charismatic motorbike-riding rebel whose uncompromising quality-over-quantity approach has helped redefine the image of north Italian white wines.

Since taking over management of his family’s winery in the Soave district of northeast Italy’s Veneto region two decades ago, Anselmi has been motivated by an emotional and professional commitment to tapping the unrealized potential of the wines he grew up with. This has entailed a significant parting of ways with traditional vineyard and winemaking practices that have historically characterized the Soave district, and given birth to a new generation of north Italian white wines of unprecedented quality, character and finesse.

The Anselmi San Vincenzo is 80% Garganega, 10% Chardonnay, and 10% Sauvignon Blanc. In the glass the color is light straw while the bouquet of this Northern Italian gem is crisp and pure, with scents of minerals, lemon/lime, apricot and yellow apples. On the palate the mouthfeel is medium-bodied, dry and fresh, with notes of citrus fruit. A delightful white wine selection from the Soave region.

Gruet Brut Rose

Gruet Winery was awarded the very prestigious title of the United States Wine Producer of the Year in 2010 by The International Wine and Spirits Competition in London.

Gilbert Gruet founder of Gruet Winery was born in Bethon, France in 1931. He grew up in a poor family, and began working at a young age. In 1952, Gilbert Gruet, along with his wife Danielle, dreamt of producing fine quality Champagne. Gilbert followed his heart and in 1967 created the U.V.C.B. (Union Vinicole des Coteaux de Bethon), a co-op in the village of Bethon.

In 1983, the Gruet family was traveling through the Southwestern part of the United States, and while in New Mexico met a group of European winemakers who had successfully planted vineyards In Engle, near the town of Truth or Consequence, 170 miles south of Albuquerque. The land was inexpensive and the opportunity golden. In 1984, Gilbert Gruet, whose Champagne house, Gruet et Fils had produced fine Champagne in Bethon, France, since 1952, made the decision to plant an experimental vineyard, exclusively planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. His children, winemaker Laurent and daughter Nathalie, and family friend Farid Himeur then relocated to the great state of New Mexico to begin their American wine making adventure.

At 4300 ft. the vineyards are some of the highest in the United States, so regardless of how hot the days might be, the temperature at night can drop as much as thirty degrees, cooling the fruit and slowing down the maturation process on an otherwise short growing season. Sandy and loamy soil, and a lack of humidity that might contribute to rot, give us a consistency of fruit year in and year out, and allow us to produce our award winning wines without the use of pesticides.

Gruet Brut Rose

Errazuriz Carmenère Single Vineyard, Aconcagua Valley

In the last few years, Errazuriz has become known as perhaps the single top quality producer of Chilean wines. Its wines were either the top-rated or shared the top rating in the last major Chilean reviews from the Wine Spectator, the Wine Advocate, and Tanzer.

Don Maximiano Erraz u riz founded Viña Errazuriz in 1870 in the Aconcagua Valley, 65 miles north of the capital, Santiago. Recognizing that this valley, with its hot, dry summers and moist Pacific Ocean breezes, was ideal for growing grapes, Don Maximiano sent for the finest clones from France and with tenacity and perseverance transformed this barren land into a world-class vineyard. Today, the tradition of quality lives on with Don Maximiano’s descendant, Eduardo Chadwick. Eduardo is the fifth generation of his family to lead this exceptional estate, and his work has been colossal, bringing Errazuriz into a new era where it is acknowledged as a producer of world-class wines, and opened eyes around the globe as to Chile’s incredible and diverse sites.

As an estate winery, Viña Errazuriz strives to produce the finest wines by controlling every stage of the winemaking process, from grape growing in the Aconcagua, Casablanca and Curico valleys, to winemaking with the most natural techniques. An emphasis is placed on the delicate handling of the wines, with the aim of producing wines with elegance and complexity. It is this dynamism and passion for wine that has made Errazuriz such an internationally respected producer of quality wines.

Winery of the Year 2008, Wines of Chile: On November 20th, 2008 the Chilean government’s international wine association named Errazuriz the 2008 winery of the year.

“Producer of the Year 2008”, International Wine & Spirits Competition: Also in November 2008, the largest and arguably most prestigious wine competition in the world named Errazuriz its producer of the year for its tremendous results across a range of competition categories.

Errazuriz Carmenère Single Vineyard, Aconcagua Valley

“Focused on fruit, this Carmenere emphasizes blackberry and cherry flavors in a simple line, along with soft touches of pepper. The lovely texture and rich depth of flavor are its best assets.” 90 Points Wine & Spirits Magazine, Best Buy

“Deep red. Fresh red and dark berries, violet and minerals on the aromatic nose. Suave and attractively sweet on the palate, offering lively blackcurrant and cherry flavors and a hint of vanilla. Packs a solid punch but this wine is quite elegant and seamless. The finish repeats the cherry note and clings with very good tenacity.”

Sella& Mosca Cannonau di Sardegna D.O.C. Riserva

Sella & Mosca among Italy’s most outstanding wine estates. Sella & Mosca’s

I Piani estate in Sardinia constitutes one of the largest contiguous vineyard in Italy and counts itself among the country’s most impressive wineries. Situated in the northwest corner of Sardinia, just inland from the pretty, historic port of Alghero, this 1,600-acre property with more than 1,200 acres of vines is one of the largest wine estates in Europe.

As Sardinia’s foremost wine producer, Sella & Mosca is renowned for premium wines made exclusively from estate-grown grapes. In addition to native varieties such as Vermentino, Torbato and Cannonau, the winery has successfully pioneered the introduction of international grape varieties, notably Cabernet Sauvignon.

Cannonau di Sardegna D.O.C. Riserva

Robert Parker called this the best wine in the world under $25.00 “A light to medium-bodied style that emphasizes ethereal, perfumed aromatics rather than an overt expression of fruit.”

2009 Felino Viña Cobos Malbec

Paul Hobbs has always been committed to crafting unfiltered and unfined wines and utilizing native yeasts in the fermenting process. His commitment to winemaking technique results in exceptional wines that are well structured. Paul’s wines are a product of classic old world technique.

2009 Felino Viña Cobos Malbec. This 100% malbec undergoes a 3 to 4 day cold soak with a 15 to 18 days total maceration. There is secondary native malolactic fermentation in the barrel taking 4 months to complete. Visually this 2009 Malbec presents a beautiful crimson color in the glass. The nose of this South American beauty is ripe with red raspberry, anise, with a slight nuance of cocoa, a wonderful aroma. The palate delivers a rich spicy mouth-feel that reveals fruit, a hint of caramel and mineral. This malbec has a nice round balance with sturdy structure. This wine is supple, smooth with refined tannin that makes this a great wine to drink and pair with food. A long finish from this wine that you don’t want to end.

'from my table to yours"

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