This Week's Events at Seattle Wine World

Here's a few things going on this week at Seattle Wine World.  I'll be attending the tastings on Thursday, Friday and Saturday - if anyone is interested in going with me, let me know! I'd love some company.  :)
CHEERS!

Arnie's Pick of the Week!
Bila Haut Occultum Lapidem - Was $31.99 Today Only $24.99
 This bold blend from Michel Chapoutier is Grenache from 70 year old vines and slowly ripened Syrah giving powerful, silky-smooth tannins and an elegant bouquet and a sophisticated flavour in the mouth.
92 Points Robert Parker

Free Tastings Every Day At Our Tasting Bar
 
WEDNESDAY - MEET THE BREWER
 Tonight Featuring Widmer Brewing
 
Tonight We Are Launching Our Growler Bar!
Thanks for your support in bringing this new feature to life!
 
 Now featuring these 5 brews not available in bottle and only on tap:
Fremont Seasonal
 Mac n Jacks Amber
 Georgetown Manny's Pale Ale
 Diamond Knot Porter
 Emerald City Pale
 Bring In Your Growler or Squeeler Bottle or Buy One Here!
 
THURSDAY - OVER 90 Pts Under $20
 Try selections from our 90 Under $20 Wall!
 Free - 6-8 pm
 
FRIDAY - ROBERT HALL TASTING & SIGNING
 Meet the legendary Robert Hall himself and try his current releases from this premier Paso Robles winemaker!
 Free - 6-8 pm
 
SATURDAY
 Heirloom Tomato Tasting, Pinot Noir & Garnacha
 Free - 2-5 pm
 
 Also Featuring
Waving Tree Winery
 
SUNDAY WEDDING TASTING
 Free - 2-5 pm
 If you have a big event or are getting married, this free tasting features over 50 wines under $10 that are perfect for your party or reception! Our experts can help you plan what you'll need and keep your costs down!

 Private Wedding Tastings Available For $100 By Appointment
 email davidl@wineworldspirits.com
 
 Sounders Fans - Come By Next Monday!
 Try a selection of Columbia Crest Wines & Meet Marc Burch
 Get Your Picture Taken With Him & Autographs/Memorabilia Signed
 Tasting 6-8 pm
 
 
 

Wine Quiz and a Couple of Local Seattle Wine Events

Here's a couple little fun things for ya that I found from The Juice.  Enjoy!

Wine Quiz Question

Methyl octalactones imparted to wine by the wood from aging in oak barrels can be an important source of aroma development in wines meant for aging. What aroma characteristic do they give to a wine?

A. Leather
B. Vanilla
C. Toasted bread
D. Coconut




Did anyone guess D - Coconut? 
The coconut smell that often marks older wines that have been aged in oak is the result of methyl octalactones, isomers that originate from lipids. These are often seen in older Gran Reserva wines from Rioja, which undergo significant periods of aging in American oak.


Seattle Local Featured Events

Aug 25
Fundraiser for Seattle Humane Society
http://www.localwineevents.com/events/detail/433420
Kirkland | $20

Sep 09
Barbera Release Party
http://www.localwineevents.com/events/detail/438585
Bothell | Free

Sep 15
Jazz and Juice
http://www.localwineevents.com/events/detail/434369
Kirkland | $20

Sep 16
Chocolate and Wine: The 2 Basic Food Groups
http://www.localwineevents.com/events/detail/434370
Kirkland | $25



Cheers!!

A New View on Riesling's

I’m not sure how many of you out there enjoy Rieslings, or if many of you are like me and usually steer clear of them, because I’ve always thought they were too sweet.

Well, I decided to not be close minded any longer and venture out and try some different Rieslings (with the suggestions from some of my ‘wine-o’ friends) and have found that there ARE some very good Rieslings out there, that aren’t as sweet as I thought they all would be – in fact, I discovered that a Riesling is almost a wild-card wine, if you will.  There are several taste combinations such as: tart and dry, soft and slightly sweet, super sweet with more sweet and of course, tart and sweet.

I tasted 2 from Washington State:

Charles Smith Kung Fu Girl 2011 – This Riesling was quite tasty…it had tastes of green apple with other citrus fruits on the front of the palate, but the finish was a nice and soft melon flavor that was not dry at all. When I first tasted it, I almost thought “Oh no! This is exactly why I don’t drink Rieslings!” But as I finished the taste, it was really nice. I love a wine that pleasantly surprises me. Once again, Charles Smith Wineries knocked it out of the park. J  This wine will retail anywhere from $12.00 to $16.00.

Milbrandt Traditional 2010 – Now this one surprised me…It was the first one I tasted when I started my “research”.  A friend of mine poured me a taste and asked me to blindly guess the varietal – I guessed a Sauvignon Blanc – Wrong! See what I mean…Rieslings are the wild card wine, I swear!  J This has flavors of peaches, apricots and grapefruit all rolled in one, on the front of the palate. As it finishes it softens with a subtle hint of spice – it was delicious.  Another good “go-to’ wine….I’m really starting to have too many of those.  J This wine will retail anywhere from $10.00 - $15.00.

Then….I tasted 2 from Germany along the Mosel River

Selbach Oster Kabinett 2010 – Two words…Dee Lish! I think I liked it this one so well because it was right up my alley as far as taste and tannin’s go. The flavors in this Riesling were similar to the Milbrandt, peaches, soft melon flavor and just really, really light. The tannins were active on the front of the palate but settled down really quick.  This wine would go good with or without food and is served best (I think) with a light chill – not super cold, just lightly. It’s too light to be served to too chilly.  This wine will retail anywhere from $13.00 - $20.00.

Monchhof Estate 2010 – Completely different from the Selbach - but just up on the Mosel Rover, not far away.  This wine had its own character – a little sweet for me but still very good.  The flavors on this wine were apples and nectarines on the front palate, with a light sweet finish. The taste kind of hangs with you a little after wards.  So, to balance the sweet, I enjoyed this wine with a couple slices of damgoode pies pizza,(yes, its the name of a pizza place) which went together quite well.  Some of you “sweet” wine drinkers, I think, will really like this one if drinking without food.  Funny how 2 wines from the same grape and same region can taste almost like 2 different varietals.   This wine will retail anywhere from $16.00 - $25.00.

Well, I hope I’ve shed some light for some of you who may have been steering clear of Rieslings, there really are a lot of different flavors in a Riesling and like I said above, I like being pleasantly surprised. Hope y’all try some of the ones I’ve tasted and send me your tasting notes…what did you think of the wine?

Cheers!