Prosecco Can Age. Who Knew?

I love finding out about white wines that age well… This was truly surprising! Thanks Tom!

Tom's Wine Line

With a lot of curiosity and an only slightly smaller amount of skepticism, I last month accepted an invitation to a vertical tasting of Prosecco, a wine that is usually drunk young and fresh. The producer so bravely putting himself and his wine on the line was Primo Franco, owner of the Nino Franco winery (Nino was his grandfather) in Valdobbiadene, the heart of the heart of classic Prosecco country.

I knew his wines to be excellent examples of the breed, with charm and elegance and fruit and an ever-so-slight hint of sweetness in the finish – lovely Proseccos, all of them, and I and a lot of other wine professionals regard his Prosecco Rustico as one of the best bargains in sparkling wine of any kind from anywhere.

And since I also knew him to be a serious winemaker, devoted to the highest standards of quality in the field…

View original post 482 more words

Of Esters & MLFs. (Wine Snark Repost)

This blog post was very educational, and fun, I had to repost!

Of Esters & MLFs..

Pre Harvest Mosel Tour, Germany 2014 Video

I was fortunate enough to go to Germany this summer, and while I was there, I drank some of the best, and oldest Riesling I have ever had, I climbed to the top of some amazing and steep Grand Cru Vineyards and enjoyed some fantastic traditional German food with of course, more excellent Riesling… I could go on, but the pictures and video tells it all… except the part when I jumped in the Mosel… yes that was after a great, late night of, once again, more excellent Riesling (and maybe some Gin…) I hope you like the video, make sure you fill your glass, it’s a little long… Cheers. Drink More Mosel Riesling!

NorthWest NJ Wine Event @ Panther Valley CC on April 12, 2014!

Don’t miss this great event open to the public! I will be there to check out the scene,and to show off some excellent value wines! Check the flyer for more information… I hope to see you there! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!

Best,

Sean

Taste of the Town Wine Tasting Event

NJ Wine Festival: 2nd Annual Winter Festival 2/21/14!!

I came across this event, and thought I’d share… Sounds like a nice Valentines Gift!

For Immediate Release:
New Jersey Wine Festivals Hosts 2nd Annual Winter Wine Festival at the Hilton Short Hills, Friday, February 21, 2014

Winter Tasting to feature 150+ Wines plus Contemporary Jazz Live on Stage

New York, NY – January 21, 2014: New Jersey Wine Festivals will present their 2nd Annual New Jersey Winter Wine Festival at the Hilton Short Hills on Friday, February 21, 2014. The wine tasting event includes 150+ wines selected by the experts of the Wine Library, plus an array of light fare prepped by the Hilton’s AAA 4-Diamond award-wining chefs. The event also features a top contemporary jazz act performing throughout the evening, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Tasting tables located throughout the Hilton’s Grand Ballroom, Livingston Room and Patio Pavilion will feature a wide array of unique, quality wines from around the globe. Selections include wines from classic regions like Bordeaux and Rioja, plus newer styles from California, New York, Chile, Australia, and more.

”We’re delighted to return to the Hilton Short Hills with our winter tasting event featuring an array of wines curated by the experts of the Wine Library as well as tasty light accompaniments from the Hilton’s culinary team, and live music from guitarist JJ Sansavarino and his band,” notes S.W. Kimball, founder of New Jersey Wine Festivals. “For nearly a decade, our popular spring and fall wine festivals have packed the venue and we look forward to continuing the tradition with our winter event for years to come.”

Musical guest Joe “JJ” Sansavarino has reached millions with his music, touring the US, Canada, Europe, Africa, Asia, the South Pacific and the Caribbean. He has worked with the best in the business, both live and in the studio, and has appeared on hundreds of recordings. JJ’s music features diverse guitar styles including R&B, jazz, rock, fusion and his trademark ballad style.

In order for attendees to easily recollect and access their favorite wines from the event, this year’s festival will showcase and utilize Winevento, the free iPhone app that lets users Rate, Favorite, Save & Share wines at participating tasting events. An Android version of the app will be unveiled in early February. WiFi access will be available for attendees to download and use the app and screens placed in the venue will note users’ top-rated wines in real time.

Sponsors (to date) include: Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, John Wm. Macy’s CheeseSticks, Jam’s by Kim, Dr. Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars, The Naked Grape Wine, Take Things Personally, Traci Lynn Fashion Jewelry, Well Dressed Nut, and Wine Sisterhood.

Tickets are $79 (Final 2 Weeks: $89.) There is an additional charge of $25 per ticket for those who wish to attend an exclusive VIP Wine Class featuring a special side-by-side tasting of five select wines, led by a wine aficionado. Classes are held at 7:30pm and 8:30pm. Additionally, the Hilton Short Hills is offering a special $159 room rate to festival attendees who call 1-800-HILTONS and mention promo code: WWF.

For more details and to purchase tickets to the New Jersey Winter Wine Festival, visit http://www.newjerseywinefestivals.com or order by phone at (866) 811-4111. Space is limited and advance purchase is highly recommended as the event sold out in its inaugural year.

About New Jersey Wine Festivals
New Jersey Wine Festivals hosts elegant wine tasting events at the Hilton Short Hills. The company’s goal is to provide a wine tasting experience that allows guests to sample as many different wines as possible while enjoying great music and the company of other wine lovers. Learn more at http://www.newjerseywinefestivals.com.

Wine Tasting Event & Classes in New Brunswick – Sunday 10/28/12 3-8pm

Attention All Notable Wine-ers!!!  Here’s a great opportunity to learn a great deal about some of the best wines in the world, from people who know how to pick, taste, and talk about good wine!  Take 1 or 2 of the 1 hour classes, or just go to the Tasting… or do it all for $159!!!  As long as I’m not DJing a party, I’m pretty sure I will be there… I have a feeling they are going to open up some pretty nice bottles of wine!  If you’ve thought about taking wine classes, you don’t want to miss this opportunity, it really is a great deal.  And Just so you know, I currently have absolutely nothing to do with this event… I hope that will change if enough of you mention my name when you reserve your tickets😉  I just wanted to share it with all my wine lovin’ peeps out there, cuz it looks like a fun time!  Cheers!

Wine Sunday     October 28

Wine Classes, Wine Tastings, Wines With Dinner

We declare October 28 Wine Sunday in New Brunswick.  We’re going to offer Two Classes and a Walk Around Tasting from 4 PM – 8 PM.  It’s basically our own little wine festival.  It’s an opportunity to have some fun, to learn a little something and, if you’re so inclined, to stock up for The Holidays!

Class: Champagne & Friends 3- 4 PM

It’s not just for launching ships you know.  Champagne is one of the most celebrated wine regions in the world and also a victim of it’s own success. Yes, Champagne means celebration, but it also means serious wine!  Learn about differences in grape varieties, wine making methods, and places of origin for sparkling wines.  Sure, you can pour them over the head of the winning team, but it makes a seriously great dinner companion!  Taste ten sparkling wines side-by side, in a sit-down tasting, guided by me, and prepare yourself to navigate some bubbly holidays.  And in case you’re wondering, we’ll be pouring Dom Perignon as a reference point.

Class: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc and Malbec 4:30- 5:30 PM 

These are the most prominent of the Bordeaux grapes, almost always blended together, but why?   How is a California Cabernet different from a Bordeaux?  Why is Argentina Malbec-crazy when Bordeaux has almost forgotten about the grape?  What’s with all this Cabernet Franc on the market now?  And what about Washington State?  I will answer all (or at least many) of your cabish questions in this sit-down comparative tasting of 10 wines with a discussion led by … me!

Walk-Around Tasting 4- 8 PM 

Every year brings us new wines to get excited about.  When you guys come in to dinner, Mark and I are often bursting with a million different recommendations. Here’s an opportunity to sample Mark and Francis’ new finds for late 2012.  We’re going to open at least 25 bottles of wine in a walk-around style tasting.  These will be new finds and new vintages of corked excitement in many different price-ranges and styles.  What unites them is that the will all be selected by Mark and me to be the creme de la creme of the current vintage.

Walk around Tasting    $50    ($49 credited to purchase of first case of wine)

One Class                    $100

Both Classes                $159  (if you take both classes, the wine tasting is included)

Reserve a spot at 732-828-4444 ext 200 or JAlexHall@stageleft.com

Homemade Wine 2012: The New Trend

Have you been tired of paying retail prices for wine? Have you thought, “I can make wine just as good as this wine I just paid $14 + tax for ! ” … “Why am I paying so much for a bottle of wine anyway ? ”    Have you bought a Make-Wine-From-Home-Kit? Have you gone to the Vintner’s Circle, or Corrado’s, or another place that can help you really make your own wine?  Do you want to make your own wine?… Then this post is for you… (sales pitch over)

I have a good buddy (who’s name will remain a secret in the off-chance it creates a little suspense)… This buddy makes his own wine and beer alongside his father(who will also remain unknown to protect his investment… because once you tasted it, you’ll want to drink it all !!!)… so I must assume his dad has been making both for much longer than him.   Anyway, about a month or 2 ago, my buddy gave me a bottle of 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon he himself made from scratch without his father’s help.  It sat in my cellar untouched, though I almost drank it a few weeks ago, but I wanted to wait until I could really sit down and analyze it.  So  I decided to pop it open today.  I’ve had nothing to do all day but take care of my wife, and enjoy the weather… and I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed that time!   I also took care of a few loose ends that I’ve been putting off for a while, and though there are still more things to accomplish, all I want to do is write this blog post… so here it is !!!

So I’m drinking this bottle of 2008 Cabernet from “My Buddy’s” Cellars  (By the way I’m already working on that label, so if you have one or are thinking of making one FOR US, make sure you send it to me first, OK!?!, this is my copyright! you can’t have it without my permission… I like doing things the old school way, OK ?)…  I can’t tell you it was the “Best” wine I ever tasted, but, I also can’t tell you it was like any other Cabernet I’ve tasted, and I especially can’t tell you that you’ll get ever get a chance to taste this profoundly interesting bottle of homemade wine … So what can I tell you?  Well…

I can tell you that for a home made bottle of California Cabernet, made by a  25 year old  apprentice wine maker, raised in Northern New Jersey… this was a Damn good bottle of wine!  While not perfectly balanced, and not exactly my favorite style of wine, I wouldn’t be surprised if Robert Parker himself gave it  87+ point score in the first 10 minutes of tasting it for it’s over the top fruit forward style, and drinkability!   Sure 87 is not the best score, but when you think about the expenses involved in making wine, and you think about all the potential this young winemaker has yet to realize, I think RP and Advocate, Spectator, Tanzer, and even Enthusiast should jump on board, if not now… maybe in a couple of years (just let me know)…!!!   This wine offers unobtrusive, rich and typical yet simple Cabernet Sauvignon fruit aromas, with some gamey notes and a slight alcohol burn on the nose. On the palate, it is light, fruity and pleasingly balanced, with a warm slightly tannic and earthy finish.   There are no sign of serious fault, and so far I didn’t die from drinking it….  After a few hours of being opened, I realized that although it is still very drinkable, it is not meant for long term aging.  However,  it’s impressive for a homemade wine from 2008 !  Thanks A….Awesome Wine!!!    I almost said his name!  I am no good at keeping secrets!!  Anyway,  I’ve tasted wines from established California winemakers that were just as good as this bottle, which makes me wonder, is making your own wine really the way to go?  Could it be cheaper?  Could it be better?   Could it be worth it?

I admit, I have tasted wines that I know is too good to be be reproduced by making them myself (or even asking my buddy and his dad to make them)…partly because the best wines in the world are made from the “Best” grapes.(period). which always come at a premium, and are usually bought up by the richest and thus most prestigious winemakers and producers in the most expensive and fancy winemaking regions, if they can even convince the intelligent and talented growers to part with them!   These days, grapes are growing everywhere, but certain grapes definitely grow better in certain areas, climates, and soils, and of course the summer weather always plays a part in just how well they ripen.  Where you get your grapes from, and who you get your grapes from are THE Single most important decision you will make when you choose to make your own wine ( unless of course you grow your own grapes)…  So again I ask, do you still want to make your own wine?

If the answer is yes, more power to you! I think now more than ever, good quality grapes are offered at “Make-Your-Own-Wine” Institutions, so if you want to give it a shot, go for it! There is nothing quite like the feeling of creating your own product and enjoying the “Fruits of your Labor”.   Make sure you are prepared for an adventure and expect to be disappointed in your own skills, no matter how great you think you are… I assure you, you will never get the Best Grapes that way, and even though you may make a good quality bottle of wine that you can proudly share with family and friends, chances are slim that you will win any awards. That said, I do believe this 2008 Homemade Cabernet either did or should have won some kind of medal.  So thanks again buddy!🙂

Now if you like drinking the finest wine (which I’m sure you are a part of the very small percentage of the wine drinking population that actually appreciates it), I would say don’t waste your time trying to make your own wine, and find a trusted source (like Notable Wine ;-)) to get advice from and purchase good quality, fairly priced wines made by tried and trusted Wine Producers, from your favorite local or online retailer.  You will have a better wine drinking experience, spend less money, and likely run into a neighbor or colleague you can share your experience with.  That’s one thing I love about this wine business…  Every year there is something new to expect, and and something great hope for!

Well I hope this post was fun and informative for you, if you enjoyed it… or even if you hated it, can you act like you give a shit?  Write a comment, the shorter the better ;-)… unless you have something intelligent to say…  Thanks for Reading and thank you for being so interested in the wonderful world of NOTABLE WINE !!!!!!!