2008 Four Vines “Old Vine Cuvee” Zinfandel (California)

The Paso Robles winery Four Vines has always been a staff favorite at Surdyk’s because of their rebellious
winemaking style. Award winning winemaker and Zinfandel master, Christian Teitje, leads Four Vines and the result is a wine that tastes like it should be far more expensive than it is. The Old Vine Cuvee 2008 is a multi-appellation Zinfandel blend and has been aged in both French and American oak barrels. The nose is full with ripe berries and toasty oak. On the palate the wine is rich and spicy with layers of blackberries, raspberries,
plum and black licorice. Zinfandels have an amazing range when it comes to food pairing so try this wine with sharp cheddar, blue cheese or dark chocolate. If you want this Zin to really rock your world, try it with BBQ
chicken!

2009 Cline “Ancient Vines” Mourvedre (Contra Costa County, California)

The delicious Mourvèdre grape (pronounced moor-VEH-druh) likes to fly under the radar but you’re probably already enjoying it under one of its many aliases. In Spain it is called ‘Monastrell,’ in Australia ‘Mataro,’ and it is responsible for delicate Rosés from Provence, the rich reds from Bandol and it is a main component in Southern Rhone’s GSM blends. Cline has given this grape a chance at center stage. The grapes are from some of Cline’s oldest vines, allowing yields of only 2-3 tons per acre. These low yields, combined with sustainable farming techniques, produces higher quality grapes, all of which shows through in their wines. Cline’s 2009 Ancient Vines Mourvèdre is full of exciting flavors of dark cherries, ripe plums, chocolate, smoke and a touch of eucalyptus. Its young age comes through on the palate with bold ripe fruit but this wine can be cellared up to ten years. Try this Mourvèdre paired with savory meats like lamb, duck or beef or a vegetarian mushroom dish. I especially like Cline’s new idea to include a recipe on each bottle for Braised Bacon with Mixed Chicories and Spring Onion-Green Garlic Purée. A great wine that finally deserves some recognition.

2009 Strub Niersteiner Bruckchen Riesling Kabinett (Rheinhessen, Germany)

The name of this wine is a mouthful but don’t let that stop you from enjoying this excellent Terry Theise selection. The Niersteiner Brückchen vineyard is part of the Rheinhessen region located at the crook of the Rhine River between the Nahe and the Pfalz. While the Rheinhessen used to be known primarily for Liebfraumilch, Terry Theise is now calling it “Germany’s most interesting wine region.” Strub’s 2009 Riesling Kabinett is a well balanced wine with a pleasantly mild sweetness. It has notes of apricots, citrus, herbs and a distinct minerality which is true to the Rheinhessen. It pairs perfectly with Thai food (my favorite is Thai Green Curry) because the refreshing sweetness and acidity cut through the spice. The 2009 Strub Riesling Kabinett Niersteiner Brückchen is delicious, and I think you’ll love it, even if it is a mouthful to say.

Holiday Wine Picks

*This wine was recently selected as one of Wine Spectators Top 100 List! http://www.winespectator.com/display/show?id=top100-2010

Saint Cosme Côtes-du-Rhône 2009

This wine is a complex and an exciting peek into what’s to come from 2009 Côtes-du-Rhône!  It has all the delicious blackberry and raspberry flavors of a young wine but also shows meatiness and earth of a dynamic Syrah.  The Saint Cosme CDR displays such balance and harmony of flavors, each sip will make you long for the next.  Not only is this wine drinking beautifully right now but will be interesting and expressive through 2011.  Rhône wines are a favorite of mine to match with foods because the earthiness pairs so well with meat-based dishes.  The perfect way to compliment hearty winter food is comforting red wine!

Bishop’s Peak Chardonnay 2008

In the interest of making your holiday season less stressful, Bishop’s Peak Chardonnay is an ideal wine to pair with all of your festivities.  This wine is a full-bodied white and because of its rich, creamy mouth feel it is excellent with a variety of foods. Unlike many other California Chardonnays, Bishop’s Peak ages theirs in mostly stainless steel, which lets all of the clean tropical and citrus fruit flavors to come out rather than being covered with oak.  The wine displays buttery richness and vanilla making it irresistible for a dinner of honey glazed ham and cheesy potatoes with the family.  Mostly, I love this wine because it pairs with food so beautifully, it takes one thing off my list.  Cheers to simplicity and cheesy potatoes!

Fall Wine Sale Catalog Recommendations

Félines Jourdan Picpoul de Pinet 2009

In Southern France, along the coast of the Mediterranean, is the wine region of Languedoc. Historically overshadowed by the acclaimed regions of Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Loire, this up-and-coming area is producing some little known, yet delicious, wines such as Picpoul de Pinet. The Picpoul grape is known for its refreshing acidity and literally means “lip-stinger” but when supported by great fruit flavors, can be an excellent wine! The Felines Jourdan Picpoul de Pinet 2009 has delicious aromas of apple, pear, and minerality. On the palate this Picpoul is dry and true to its name as refreshingly acidic and has dynamic flavors of lemon and fresh herbs. Seafood is a classic pairing for this wine but I prefer a nice creamy cheese to compliment the wine’s bright flavors. Try this wine as a pairing for your cheese plate with one of my favorites, Bent River Camembert from Mankato. As a lesser know region, this wine provides a great value and as we come into fall and away from the summery Sauvignon Blancs, Picpoul is a refreshing change! Enjoy!

Château Bellevue Peycharneau 2006

This delicious full-bodied Bordeaux red wine is one of my favorites and a great value for this region. Château Bellevue Peycharneau has consistently been an award winning winery and year after year they produce exceptional wines. A blend of 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, this wine has great tannic structure to support its array of complex flavors. Many Bordeaux wines have bold fruit in the aroma and palate and this wine is no different, with flavors of cherries and blackberries. Beyond the fruit, my favorite element is the comforting spiciness of cloves, anise and nutmeg. As I am a long-time enthusiast of bold, spicy wines, this is a natural wine to love! It is also a great food paring wine and begs for a lamb dish with cherry glaze. A great addition to any cellar collection, I would lay this down for 8-10 years or give it a good couple hours of decanting before drinking. I’d love to have a bottle every year to see how this beautiful wine develops! Enjoy!

Refreshing Summer White: Giesen SB 2009

We love Sauvignon Blancs, especially in the summertime. The bright, refreshing flavors are perfect for drinking on the patio on a nice day. A classic example of a New Zealand style Sauvignon Blanc is Giesen SB 2009 from Marlborough. It has notes of citrus (primarily grapefruit but also lemon and lime) and is fairly dry. There seems to be a divide in opinion about the level of grassiness in this wine, I enjoy the fresh, herbaceous quality but Isaac is a bit overwhelmed. Because of the intense citrus flavor, this wine may be difficult to pair with food but there is really no need as it should be drunk alone...in the warm sun.