Intro to Beers II

On Monday March 31st we will hold our second beer tasting/class. Intro to Beers II is the second part of our Intro series before venturing into individual styles. Another six types of beer will be tasted and discussed. Class begins at 6:30 with reservations requested.

For information please call

Marquette Restaurant and Bar (573)332-0769
Celebrations Restaurant (573)334-8330

Syrah or Shiraz?

Is there a difference between Syrah and Shiraz? Is this all just marketing hype? Is there a point to all of this??

Well of course there is, on Tuesday, March 18th you can make the call! At Celebrations Restaurant starting at 6:30 we will be pouring a number of different Syrah and Shiraz. Taste these wines yourself and decided if there is a difference, and what it is. Please call for reservations as seating is limited.

Celebrations Restaurant (573)334-8330

NWW III

It seems to be Wednesday more often than any other day in the week. It creeps up on me and then, out of nowhere, there it is again.

Anyway, this weeks NWW has another trio of diversity.

With the weather acting like we may be finished with the ice and snow, I tend to look towards crisp whites. A really nice bright and acidic white wine, full of minerality and with a nose of flowers and stone, just screams that spring is imminent. Last week we featured a "Terry Theise" riesling, this week rolls down the hill to Austria for a fantastic Gruner Veltliner. For those of you unfamiliar with "Gru-Vees" (as the tie die set tends to call them), these are some bright wines that have a wonderful mix of fruit, minerality, and spice. Green apple, slate, and white pepper are common descriptors of these wines. We just picked up the 2006 Nigl Kremser Freiheit Gruner, and is this a treat! This wine oozes apple, herbs, and melon. It has quite a bit of flavor for such a light and acidic wine. Try this with beets and goat cheese.

A few years ago I was in Chicago at the Vinexpo. Walking through the maze of wines, I stumbled upon the spanish section and decided that a thorough tasting was in order. While a good number of the wines left me with a renewed interest in Spain, it was the Kios Tempranillo. This intense medium bodied wine left me both overjoyed at the find, and saddened by the fact that as of then there was no American importer. Well things have changed since then, Eric Solomon and his European Cellars decided to pick up this tasty treat as did we. The 2004 Kios is 100% Tempranillo with 8-10 months in oak barrels. Pair with Pulled Pork or Antelope.

Finally a wine extremely close to my heart. Those who know me are aware of my love of the Rhone Valley and Syrah. Put those two things together during 2005 in Cote Rotie and you have magic. We have had this for a few months, but I can't help but feel joy over picking this up. The 2005 Bernard Burgaud Cote Rotie is a monster. This dark, rich, brooding syrah has all of the tell tale things that make them what they are. The dried fruit (dates and figs), smoke, seared meat, chocolate, and acidity roll around in every possible good way. Pair this with juicy tannins and we have a winner! This is a very small production wine, so if you like syrah and aren't familiar with Cote Rotie do yourself a favor and give one a try.

http://www.skurnickwines.com/

http://www.europeancellars.com/

www.mwines.com

Till next week

NWW II

As part of our wine service we try to have a very ecclectic range of bottles to choose from. Be it Kabinett Riesling, Gruner Veltliner, Malbec, or Carmenere, there are small wineries producing jewels for everyone to try. Our job is to alert you to some of these.

This weeks "New Wine Wednesday" is composed of 3 very different wines.

First off is the 2006 Hoffmann-Simon Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Kabinett. This crisp, fruity white has a nice bright acidity which doesn't allow the sweetness to really overwhelm you. Floral notes on the nose really let this "Therry Theise" selection stands out. Pair this with tangy seafood or pork dishes.




Next up we flip the world over and travel to the Mendoza Valley of Argentina. The Benegas family is the first family of Argentinian wine. Owning the oldest vineyards and wineries in the country, along with the consultation of Michel Rolland, have helped them make some of the finest wines in South America. There, at Bodegas Benegas, they make this rich, thick, and smoky Malbec under their "Juan Benegas" label. The 2005 Malbec is a fabulous fruit bomb, though after the fruit passes you by, the tannin and minerality finish you up and leave you wanting another sip. Born to be consumed with you New York Strip, try this with your Steak, Antelope, or Quail.

Finally, we are washed up onto the shores of California. As we wind down the roadways of Napa Valley there are quite a few wineries that are considered in a class of their own, Viader is one of them. At Viader, Delia Viader has been crafting some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon based wines of the past decade. In 2003 she began bottling single varietals and labeling them "DARE". This wine is a new offering for us, and we are quite excited to have the 2005 DARE Cabernet Sauvignon. Fruit for the wine is grown on Howell Mountain and the Lewelling Vineyards of St. Helena.

The winemake states; "The DARE Cabernet Sauvignon emits concentrated aromas of ripe black cherry, dark currant, cassis, tobacco and cedar notes with faint hints of caramel. On the mid-palate, the vibrant tannins and well-integrated oak flavors give the impression that the wine is lightly dancing over one’s taste buds. Firm tannins grace the finish. "


Until next week, this sips to you.


www.skurnikwines.com/
www.bodegabenegas.com/
www.viader.com/