WINE OF THE SEASON

SILKY     ELEGANT     COMPLEX

   

Once the cooler weather arrives, I start gravitating towards red wines. Pinot Noir is a wonderful wine for the autumn season because it is a transition into fuller body reds. It is light and more delicate than most reds. In a quality Pinot Noir you will find delicious berry flavors, mushroom, and earth. It is a wine that pairs with almost anything, especially roasted foods... perfect for fall weather!

aromas of: tart cherry, strawberry, rose

(French Burgundy is known for being very aromatic)

flavors of: cherry, strawberry, raspberry, cranberry, licorice, mushroom, earth

• semi dry - dry
• body: light - medium
• acidity: medium - high
• alcohol: low - medium
• tannin: low

Many would label Pinot Noir as a complex wine. It is a favorite by many wine lovers and wine enthusiasts because, when made well, Pinot Noir delivers so many intriguing tastes. It's also very difficult to grow and needs a lot of attention. The character of the wine depends very much on the land and the weather, as well as the work done in the vineyard throughout the year.

Because it is so temperamental, it will taste very different depending on where it is grown and how it is made.

Most Pinot Noir in the world comes from...

• USA (Oregon, California, New York, Washington, Michigan, Ohio)
• FRANCE (Burgundy, Champagne)
• NEW ZEALAND

Pinot Noir grows best in cooler regions, or in areas with cool breezes, although it can grow in warmer climates with a lot of care and good farming. Here is a bit of what to expect from various regions.

COOLER CLIMATE

• lighter body
• higher acidity
• less alcohol
• very fragrant
• more earthy flavors

• dry
• lighter body
• medium acidity
• tastes of sour cherry, strawberry, rose, leaves, mushrooms
• more fragrant
• more subtle
• longer lasting

TRY: Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir

• dry
• light - medium body 
• medium - high acidity
• tastes of tart cherry, fresh berries, cranberry, earth, mushroom
• silky tannin
• more fresh fruit flavors and aromas
• more delicate

TRY: A to Z Pinot Noir

WARMER CLIMATE

• fuller body
• lower acidity
• more alcohol
• richer
• slightly darker
• more ripe fruit flavors

• dry
• medium body 
• medium acidity
• tastes of black cherry, strawberry, raspberry, flowers, spice
• meaty aromas

TRY: Kim Crawford Marlborough Pinot Noir

• dry
• medium body 
• medium acidity
• richer tastes of black cherry, black raspberry, vanilla, clove, cola
• more concentrated

TRY: Kendall Jackson Vintner's Reserve Pinot Noir

Happy Fall!

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SIMPLE     BRIGHT     CLEAN

+

ELEGANT     BRIGHT     SOFT

Summer is here and the Pinot Grigio is out! This is the easy drinking sunshiny wine that pairs great with any type of seafood or light dish because of its simplicity. It has no extreme characteristics which make it such a popular crisp summer wine.

OH...AND it grows in Ohio too!

aromas of: apple, lemon, honey, mineral

flavors of: lemon, lime, apple, pear, melon, nut, honey

• semi sweet - very dry
• body: light to medium
• acidity: medium - high
• alcohol: low - medium

Pinot Grigio is a mutation of Pinot Noir (yes, the red grape) and it can range from blueish to dark yellow in color.

Most Pinot Grigio in the world comes from...

• ITALY
• FRANCE (Alsace)
• USA (California, Oregon, Ohio)

Pinot Grigio grows in Italy. Pinot Gris grows in France (they are the same grape). In the U.S. we use the names interchangeably. Depending on where the grape is grown the flavor and body can be slightly different.

- PINOT GRIGIO

• very dry
• lighter body
• higher crisp acidity
• neutral tastes of apple, lemon, lime
• usually less expensive ...definitely good to know

TRY: Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio 2012

 

- PINOT GRIS

• dry
• light-medium body
• balanced acidity
• softer tastes of apple, citrus, melon, honey and nut
• usually pricier

TRY: Joseph Cattin Pinot Gris 2011

 

- PINOT GRIGO/GRIS

• dry-sweet
• light-medium body
• lighter acidity
• more fruit forward with tastes of apple, citrus, and pear

TRY: A to Z Pinot Gris 2011

photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/elkaypics/8070062231/">eLKayPics</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>

photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/joe57spike/5412453784/">byJoeLodge</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">cc</a>

German Riesling

Ah Germany... a country known for producing some of the most incredible Rieslings in the world. 

Take a look at the four most significant regions:

...and a little bit about the wine from each:

• where many of the FINEST Rieslings in the world are produced
• more mineral (wet stone) flavors with lemon, lime, citrus, apple, and apricot
• crisp wines with great acidity
• steepest vineyards in Germany with vines facing the south
• along the Mosel river (where Rieslings were said to have originated)
• less sunlight than other regions
• slate in the soil (creates the mineral flavor in the wine)
• traditionally green bottles

• more exotic fruit flavors of citrus, tropical fruit, honey, and ginger
• lush and tangy flavors with less acidity
• flatter land surrounded by mountains
• limestone and sand in the soil
• the most inventive and creative region

• riper rounder fruit flavors of peach, pear, citrus, honey, and some earth
• extremely rich and elegant
• serene region on a continuous slope
• known for their famous village Johannisberg  

• earthier flavors and juicy fruit flavors of peach, apple, and melon
• smallest production of riesling
• flat fertile farmland
• red sandstone and slate in soil
• very plain compared to other German regions

In Germany the quality of the wine relates to the ripeness of the grape. Here is how they classify their Rieslings in order of less ripe (dryer) to most ripe (sweeter) wines. These are usually printed on a German bottle of Riesling.

KABINETT * picked at normal harvest and usually dryer

SPATLESE * picked later, riper, and a bit sweeter (off-dry)

AUSLESE * very ripe, much sweeter, and a touch of noble rot

BEERENAUSLESE * extremely ripe, selected and hand picked grapes with noble rot

TROCKENBEERENAUSLESE * extremely ripe, smaller quantities that are individually picked with noble rot, some of sweetest wine in world

EISWEIN * grapes are picked when frozen, the sweetest of all

CRISP     DELICATE     AROMATIC

   

If I could pick a wine to portray the feeling of SPRING, it would be Riesling. With a delicate body and fresh, lively flavors, this wine is the one you want while the flowers are blooming!

Riesling is also a grape that can grow well here in Ohio... and we all know I love that.

aromas of: peach, honey, apple, citrus

(Riesling is one of the most aromatic wines)

flavors of: peach, apricot, apple, lime, honey, wet stone, flowers

• very sweet - dry
• body: light
• acidity: high - very high
• alcohol: low

Riesling is unlike any other grape variety because it can produce exquisite wine even when the grape is not fully ripe. Riesling grapes also have the ability to absorb a lot of taste and character directly from the land they are grown on. For this reason your glass of Riesling can taste very different depending on where it is from.

Most Riesling in the world comes from...

• GERMANY
• AUSTRALIA
• USA (California, New York, Washington, Oregon, Virginia, Ohio…)
• FRANCE (Alsace)
• AUSTRIA

The Riesling grape is better suited to cooler regions, but it can thrive in sunnier and warmer regions. Here is a bit of what to expect from both cool and warm areas.

COOLER CLIMATE

• lighter body
• higher acidity
• crisp
• sharper and shorter finish
• tastes of apple, peach, lime, citrus, and mineral
• very elegant and precise flavors

• very sweet - dry
• lighter body 
• high crisp acidity
• tastes of citrus, apricot, apple, wet stone
• some of the best Rieslings in the world

TRY: Dr. Loosen Dr. L Estate QbA 2012

• semi-sweet - dry
• light - medium body 
• medium - high acidity
• more dynamic tastes of citrus, apple, peach, mineral
• less delicate than German Riesling

TRY: Trimbach Riesling 2011

• sweet - dry
• medium body 
• medium - high acidity
• strong tastes of citrus, peach, apricot, floral
• more potent than German Riesling

TRY: Domane Wachau Riesling 2012

• almost always dry
• light body 
• medium - high acidity
• tastes of lemon, lime, apple, peach
• most popular around the Finger Lakes area

TRY: Red Tail Ridge Dry Riesling 2012

• sweet - dry
• light - medium body 
• medium - high acidity
• rich tastes of citrus, apricot, peach
• wonderfully balanced

TRY: Chaeau Ste. Michelle Sweet Harvest Riesling

• sweet - off dry
• light body 
• medium - high acidity
• bright tastes of citrus, apricot, peach, honey
• delicate

TRY: Debonne Vineyards Riesling Reserve

WARMER CLIMATE

• fuller body
• lower acidity
• juicy
• longer smoother finish
• tastes of exotic fruit (peach, mango, melon), honey and flowers

• off-dry - dry
• light - medium body 
• medium - high acidity
• tastes of tropical fruit, flowers, mineral
• powerful and complex

TRY: Howard Park Riesling 2013

• off dry - very sweet
• light - medium body 
• medium - high acidity
• bright tastes of citrus, apple, apricot, peach, honey
• often used in late harvest dessert wines

TRY: Firestone Riesling 2012

There are so many others to find and enjoy... this just gives you a head start!