Melini Chianti Classico

Melini (d'Italia)
2000 vintage from Tuscany (traditional area from which Chianti is produced)
price: $15.99
Alcohol: 12.5%

The Back Label:

"This wine comes from vineyards with optimal exposition in the historical area where Chianti Classico is produced.  The grapes are traditionally vinified, the musts slowly ferment on their skins and the resulting wines are aged for a long time as to obtain their character that made Chianti Classico famous around the world."

At first, very spicy aromas with a bit of oak. After the wine has been sitting the glass outside of the bottle there is almost a rusty aroma to it--very interesting.  I really enjoy the color of the Chianti, a dark red brick.

This wine is light in body fairly easy to drink with a touch of dryness in the finish.  That dryness makes the weight of the wine linger only a touch.  The flavor of the wine is super spicy, very peppery with a bit of cocoa and other spices I'm not experienced enough to recognize.  There is plum as well as a bouquet of floral, especially in finish. 

In my opinion:
It is best when enjoyed with food.  And although this wine is not my favorite, I do respect it.  If you are looking for a spicy wine, by all means please choose this one.

Resources on Chianti
What is Chianti?
What is Chianti Classico?

Saint Croix Vineyards Vignoles 2010

Saint Croix Vineyards
2010 Vignoles
Alcohol: unknown


Back Label:
None yet.

One of the great privileges of working at a vineyard is the common practice not to sell the very 1st case bottle or the very last.  This means employees, such as this gal, get to bring home bottles to try at home.  This wine has just been bottled, but because it is a white drinking it right away is perfectly fine and encouraged.  The Vignoles (sounds like Vin yoll)  is the newest edition to the 2011 spring collection at Saint Croix Vineyards.

Pretty, slight greenish straw color.  Peach and apple right away with a touch of floral notes. This wine makes me feel like I’m walking outside near flowering fruit trees with a bottle of peach schnapps in one hand and a crisp apple in the other.  It is on the more citrus-y/acidic side rather than the sweeter side of the spectrum.  There is still a high level of sweetness to the wine though, comparable to a Riesling from Washington state or Germany.  This semi-dry white has a medium weight and body with a snap finish at the end.  Actually a really, really good white wine. Mmmm…. Can’t wait for this to be on the tasting list!

If you get a chance to try it let me know any ideas for food pairings.  I could definitely see cheese, a sweeter salad, grilled fish, or even chicken pairing nicely.

Bogle Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel

Bogle Vineyards

2008 California Old Vine Zinfandel

14.5% Alcohol

 

Back Label:
   "California is blessed with many historic Zinfandel vineyards.  These grapes were first planted by European immigrants in the early 1900's and are still producing today.
    The old head-trained vines are unique because they produce a smaller crop of fruit that is unusually rich and concentrated.  In selecting grapes from these old vines, we have handcrafted a wine that displays intense blackberry, black cherry, and raspberry flavors, wrapped in a smooth blanket of vanilla and oak.
    We at Bogle salute these old vineyards and those pioneers who brought their dreams and visions to California."

The wine is a pretty color--dark cherry red.  The first notes I pick up in the nose are spicy oak, leather, earthy aromas.  There is a touch of berry, blackberry just as the label noted in the nose, but mostly the earthy aromas take over.  In the mouth the fruitiness of the Zinfandel is picked up.  Most definitely cherry, a berries on the tongue with a spicy finish and a touch of vanilla.  The wine is a medium to full bodies red with a heavier mouth-feel.

I think this wine would taste great with a hearty, meaty pasta dish or a leaner meat.  I don't think it can hold up to a fatty steak because there isn't very astringency.  This wine would be great for someone who likes reds, but doesn't like super dry reds.  It isn't my favorite red Zinfandel, but I won't be pouring any of it down the drain.  For $14.99 a bottle is pretty decent.  I'm slightly shocked that the alcohol percentage is a high 14.5% because it definitely doesn't taste like its that high (whether that's good or  bad I'll let you be the judge.)

Saint Croix Vineyard Tasting Line Up

My new employer, Saint Croix Vineyards in Stillwater, MN has some great wines for everyone to taste right now.  I would love to describe them, but that would take the fun out of coming out to the vineyard and experiencing them yourself!

The current list, which changes periodically, consists of a Chardonnay, a Frontenac Rose, Delaware, Marechal Foch, Frontenac, Marquette, and the Raspberry Infusion I have already tasted and blogged about.  For $5 you can taste all 7 wines and if you purchase 2 or more bottle of wine you get your $5 back.
Saint Croix Vineyards Website

Hope to see you there soon!

KP
PS I finally got my camera back so now I can get back to tasting and blogging wines, sorry for the long break.