Aarón Sánchez and Marcela Valladolid Headline Latin Food Fest!

February 21, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

¡Latin Food Fest! (www.latinfoodfest.com) celebrates its sixth annual festival March 23–24 at Santa Monica Beach. August 17-18 in San Diego, and November 9-10 in Irvine.

The annual Hispanic culinary celebration includes a festival kick-off party “Mexico Mercado” — a high energy party, and “Gran Tasting” – the festival’s signature event featuring food, beverage, wine, beer, and spirits stations, Cooking Demos, Chef Awards, VIP Tent, and Live Music by Latin rock sensations, Sonsoles.

Gran Tasting also includes the most comprehensive tasting of Latin spirits in the U.S., which includes Agave Liquor, Bacanora, Cachaca, Mezcal, Pisco, Popo, Pulque, Raicilla, Rum, Sotol, and Tequila. Wines from Argentina, Chile, Napa, Portugal, and Spain alongside Venezuela Arepas, Salvadoran Pupusas, Cuban Ropa Vieja, Argentine Empanadas, Spanish Paella, Oaxacan Corn, Chilean Cebiche, Dominican Chicken Yora, Honduran Tapado Costeño, Brazilian Moqueca and other Hispanic cuisine. Beer includes Tona Cerveza from Nicaragua, Estrella Damm from Spain, Estrella Cerveza from Mexico, and SOL from Mexico — and a Michelada Bar.

Chefs Marcela Valladolid, Aarón Sánchez, and Enrique Olvera will conduct cooking demonstrations on the main stage, discuss culinary trends, and sign copies of their books.

Marcela Valladolid is the host the Food Network television series Mexican Made Easy and the co-host of the Food Network television series The Kitchen. Enrique Olvera is the world’s best-known chef from Mexico; his restaurant Pujol is widely considered the best restaurant in all of Mexico, and his New York eatery Cosme sets the standard for modern Mexican cuisine. Aarón Sánchez is an award-winning chef, TV personality, cookbook author, and philanthropist.

The Original Wine of the Month Club Announces New Additions

January 3, 2018 by evebushman 2 Comments

MONROVIA, Calif. (PRWEB) – Wine of the Month Club is pleased to announce 4 brand new additions to club offerings. These additions include the Napa, Pinot Noir, Bordeaux, and Rosé Series.

Eve and Paul filming at Wine of the Month Club.

The new offerings are in response to the growing demand for quality curated wines. These additions are available to its existing membership, as well as to new members seeking guaranteed wines at a great value.

Napa: Legendary wines from the iconic makers are featured here as well as boutique start- ups with their new offerings.

Pinot Noir: This is one of the more finicky grapes, and can produce a variety of styles as it takes in what the soil and growing conditions have to offer and expresses it back through the wine.

Bordeaux: From the most well known wine district in the world, we select the most interesting and indicative that the area has to offer.

Rosé: From the Provence in the south of France to Chile, Napa and Australia, Rosé is captivating the palates of wine drinkers all over and is one of the hottest categories in the wine world,

“All of the wines we sell are available somewhere other than just on our site; it’s my job to find wines of quality and value and send them to members. And, you never pay for a wine you don’t like in our club,” shares second generation owner, Paul Kalemkiarian.

Specializing in value-oriented wines, the Wine of the Month Club is open to anyone who has an appreciation of fine wine and is interested in a monthly wine club service. Each and every selection from the Wine of the Month Club is guaranteed for its character and value. A newsletter accompanies each shipment with interesting facts about each wine, storage suggestions, serving suggestions and meal pairings. Each wine also comes with a reorder guarantee of 90 days and no less than a 20% discount.

Paul Kalemkiarian is the second-generation owner of the original WINE OF THE MONTH CLUB™ that brought wine to America’s door. It is the oldest mail order wine club in the United States He personally tastes over 400 wines a month to make the club selections, and sources them across the globe. You never pay for a wine you do not like.

For more information on The Wine of the Month Club or their products, please visit https://www.wineofthemonthclub.com or call 800-949-9463

Guarachi Wine Partners are proud to announce wines included in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 of 2017!

December 30, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Woodland Hills, CA —Wine Spectator, the world’s leading authority on wine, has announced the Santa Ema Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (91 points) has been named the #29 wine and Kaiken Ultra Malbec (90 points) has been named #45 in this year’s list of the Top 100 Wines. The full list of the Top 100 Wines can be found online at http://top100.winespectator.com.

12356874_1662004797414885_8109271538232865059_o “The Top 100 is our selection of the most exciting wines reviewed by our editors this year,” said Thomas Matthews, executive editor, Wine Spectator. “These wines are the comeback stories, the rising stars, the amazing values and the new benchmarks. They mark the wine world’s most impressive achievements in 2017, and we are thrilled to share them with our readers. Each and every winery should be proud.”

Alex Guarachi, Founder and CEO of Guarachi Wine Partners said, “We are thrilled that 2 of our premiere brands have been given this prestigious honor by one of the top wine publications in the world. It shows the level of quality and winemaking that go into both the Santa Ema and Kaiken brands and make them stand out as some of the best wines from Chile and Argentina.”

The winning bottles were selected from a pool of nearly 17,000 wines reviewed by Wine Spectator editors in the magazine’s blind tastings. Selections are based on four criteria: quality (represented by score), value (reflected by price), availability (based on the number of cases either made or imported into the U.S.) and what Wine Spectator calls the “X-factor”—or, in other words, the excitement generated by the wine.

An annual highlight since 1988, the Top 100 list presents a diverse group, ranging from emerging labels and regions to traditional estates exploring new directions. The list is a guide to wineries to watch in the future—a reflection of the producers and wines that Wine Spectator’s editors are most passionate about.

The full Top 100 list will be featured at http://top100.winespectator.com and in print, with profiles for each wine, in the magazine’s December 31 issue, on newsstands November 28.

About Wine Spectator

Wine Spectator is the world’s leading authority on wine. Anchored by Wine Spectator magazine, a print publication that reaches around 3 million readers worldwide, the brand also encompasses the Web’s most comprehensive wine site (WineSpectator.com), mobile platforms and a series of signature events. Wine Spectator examines the world of wine from the vineyard to the table, exploring wine’s role in contemporary culture and delivering expert reviews of more than 16,000 wines each year. Parent company M. Shanken Communications, Inc., also publishes Cigar Aficionado, Whisky Advocate, Market Watch, Shanken News Daily and Shanken’s Impact Newsletter.

About Guarachi Wine Partners

Founded by Chilean wine visionary Alex Guarachi in 1985, Guarachi Wine Partners is committed to representing the best wines of the world. GWP is a leading producer, importer and marketer of fine wines, and relies on enduring connections with national supplier, distributor and retail partners to enrich the consumer experience. They were one of the first importers of Chilean and Argentine wines and today represent brands from around the world. Including Black Ink (California), Surf Swim (California), tenshƏn (California), Tensley (California), Santa Ema (Chile), Kaiken (Argentina), Bodega Norton (Argentina), Nobilissima (Italy), Deor (Italy), and Castillo de Monseran (Spain).

For more information, visit: www.GuarachiWinePartners.com

Vinexpo New York Expands Wine and Spirits Exhibition

November 11, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

NEW YORK – Vinexpo New York – the leading international exhibition for wine and spirits professionals in North America, jointly organized with Diversified Communications – today announced that it has expanded the footprint of its March 5-6, 2018 exhibition, nearly doubling the original floorplan in order to accommodate demand. The event will be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

Open exclusively to the trade, Vinexpo New York, will feature two days of business meetings, tastings and conferences.

“In such a fast-evolving market, it’s the opportunity for the wine and spirits industry to meet and for producers to make strategic decisions for the distribution of their brands in the U.S.” said Guillaume Deglise, CEO of Vinexpo.

To date, exhibitors from Australia, Austria, France, South Africa, Spain and the U.S. have registered, as well as from Argentina, Chile, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Moldova, Russia, Sweden and Uruguay. The current list of exhibitors is available here.

“We are thrilled by the response to Vinexpo New York. It is shaping up to be the must-exhibit, must-attend conference,” said Mary Larkin, executive vice president, Diversified Communications. “With a growing list of more than 115 exhibitors representing 16 countries, it is a testament to just how vibrant the North American market continues to be.”

Attendee registration is currently open at www.vinexponewyork.com/attend/. An early bird fee is available through Nov. 30.

About Vinexpo

Vinexpo was established in 1981 to organize wine and spirits events for the trade and act as the sector’s international partner. Vinexpo Bordeaux takes place in uneven years, while Vinexpo Hong Kong (formerly Vinexpo Asia-Pacific) has been held in even years since 1998. In 2014, Vinexpo expanded into the Japanese market with the launch of a third biennial fair, Vinexpo Tokyo. Vinexpo Hong Kong and Vinexpo Tokyo are now key events in the Asian wine and spirits trade calendar. In January 2017, Vinexpo initiated a new concept, Vinexpo Explorer, two days of business meetings and discovering vineyards. Vinexpo New York, which takes place for the first time on March 5-6, 2018, will open doors to the U.S. market for international exhibitors. For more information, visit www.vinexpo.com. Join Vinexpo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

The 9th Annual “STARS of Cabernet”

November 8, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

LOS ANGELES – LearnAboutWine, a wine education and event website dedicated to the education, service, and enjoyment of wine, is pleased to announce a stellar lineup of wineries appearing at the 9th annual “STARS of Cabernet” event on November 15 at One of the top hotels in the Los Angeles area, The Peninsula Beverly Hills.

Facebook Banner “STARS of Cabernet” is the premier tasting of the year that celebrates Cabernet Sauvignon. Over 36 of the best Cabernet producing wineries in California and the world will showcase their Cabernet as well as other wines. Tasting over 100 wines including cabernet and variety of others. Wineries come from Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, France, Argentina and Chile. The only event of its kind in the Los Angeles area, which showcases some of the top bottles of Cabernet.

There will be guest winemakers that will host an intimate VIP reception before the Grand Tasting and share their experiences and expertise with the select crowd. Featuring Wines from: Hess Collection, Hertelendy Vineyards, Metaphora Wines, St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery, Guarachi Family Wines, Garden Creek Ranch Vineyards Winery, Cornerstone Cellars & Clos Du Val.

A silent auction, containing lots of collectable and large format wines, benefits TJ Martell Foundation. The T.J. Martell Foundation is the music industry’s largest foundation that funds innovative medical research focused on finding cures for leukemia, cancer and AIDS. The Foundation sources and supports early-stage research projects aimed at developing more effective clinical treatments for patients which otherwise might not be funded. Learn more at tjmartell.org .

Tickets now on sale.
For more information about the event and to purchase tickets please visit StarsofCabernet.com

Stars of Cabernet thanks its’ sponsors: Peninsula Hotel, Los Angeles Magazine, Evian, Robb Report, The Somm Journal & Tasting Panel

Confirmed Wineries:

Addendum Napa Valley

Arrowood Vineyards and Winery

Bernardus Winery Bordeaux

CAMi Vineyards

Clos Du Val

Cornerstone Cellars

Derenoncourt (Montesquieu Winery)

Duckhorn Wine Company D

unn Vineyards

Ehlers Estate

Folio Fine Wine Partners

Frank Family Vineyards Frog’s Leap

Gamble Family Vineyards

Garden Creek Ranch Vineyards Winery

Guarachi Family Wines

Hawk and Horse Vineyards

Hertelendy Vineyards

Hess Collection

Hestan Vineyards JH Collection

La Sirena Metaphora Wines Nellcôte

O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery

Oakville Ranch Winery

Silverado Vineyards

Smoking Gun Wines Spire collection/ Mount Brave Spottswoode/ Pilcrow/ True North

St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery

Stanton Vineyards

ZD Wines, Napa Valley

About Peninsula Hotel:
The only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star-rated hotel in Southern California every year since 1993, The Peninsula Beverly Hills offers 194 guest rooms, including 38 suites and 16 private villas, nestled among lush tropical gardens in the heart of Beverly Hills. The Peninsula is located at the intersection of Wilshire and South Santa Monica Boulevards, within easy walking distance of Century City and Beverly Hills’ legendary Rodeo Drive.

About LearnAboutWine and the new wineLA.com
Ian Blackburn, founder of LearnAboutWine, drinks wine for a living. Since it was established in 1995, he has built LearnAboutWine into the leading source for wine education and events in Southern California and as it turns 20 years old in 2015. To celebrate its 20th Anniversary, LearnAboutWine will get a big facelift and a new brand called wineLA (.com) will take over events and classes in Los Angeles. Ian Blackburn say’s “LearnAboutWine has a higher purpose that we intend to grow nationwide in 2015… an exciting time for us indeed.” Ian continues to innovate and focus on demystifying wine for everyone from the casual drinker to the potential collector and was voted as “One of the Top 5 Places to Taste Wine in Los Angeles” by LAist.com (8/2013). Ian’s passion for wine and entertaining makes him one of the top spokespersons in the United States and currently Ian is studying for his Masters of Wine. Ian’s entertaining ways can heard on YouTube, or on many of Los Angeles radio airwaves; ABC’s “The Bachelor” and on Wealth TV.

Concha y Toro Named A Top 100 Winery of 2017 by Wine & Spirits magazine

October 29, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

New York, NY (PRWEB) – Concha y Toro has been named a 2017 “Top 100 Winery of the Year” by Wine & Spirits according to a feature on the magazine website. For Concha y Toro, it marks a record 23rd year that Chile’s foremost wine producer and the preeminent name in South American wines has made it into Wine & Spirits’ annual list of Top 100 Wineries.

Wine & Spirits’ Top-100 status recognizes 100 wineries around the world who have delivered best overall performances in the magazine’s tastings over the previous 12 months. Six estate-bottled wines account for Concha y Toro’s presence in this year’s Top 100 list:

Marques de Casa Concha Carmenere 2014: 92 points / Year’s Best (02/17)
Marques de Casa Concha Pinot Noir 2015: 90 points (06/17)
Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay 2015: 92 points (06/17)
Terrunyo Carmenere 2014: 94 points / Year’s Best (02/17)
Terrunyo Sauvignon Blanc 2016: 95 points / Wine of the Month (06/17)
Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon 2013: 93 points / Year’s Best (02/17)

All Top 100 Wineries are profiled in Wine & Spirits’ 31st Annual Buying Guide out now. Commenting on the top-scoring Concha y Toro Terrunyo Sauvignon Blanc 2016, the editors note: “The 2016 vintage was challenging, with a lot of humidity that threatened rot in the grapes, but [winemaker] Recabarren overcame the difficulties, obtaining a linear sauvignon, one that shares the tension of his best releases, a wine with a clear sense of place that crowns this year’s lineup from Concha y Toro.”

Concha y Toro: Concha y Toro is an international ambassador for world-class Chilean wines. Founded in 1883 by Don Melchor Concha y Toro, it was among the first Chilean producers to champion wines made from French grape varieties. Today Concha y Toro comprises vineyards, wineries and brands ranging over multiple estates located throughout the premier wine regions of Chile.

About Wine & Spirits: Founded in 1982, Wine & Spirits is published eight times a year and read by over 200,000 members of America’s wine community. Consumers and wine professionals read the magazine for information on established and up-and-coming regions and producers, the art and science of viticulture, industry happenings and food and wine pairing. Wine & Spirits, the only wine publication to win the James Beard award five times for excellence in wine writing, evaluates more than 15,000 bottlings every year.

https://www.conchaytoro.com/?lang=en_us
http://www.wineandspiritsmagazine.com/
http://www.excelsiorwines.com/wp-content/uploads/Terrunyo_Sauvignon_Blanc_NV.jpg

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate Matter of Taste Returns to San Francisco

October 22, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

San Francisco, CA – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (RobertParker.com), the leading authority on wine, announces the return of its international Matter Of Taste tour to San Francisco on Saturday November 4, 2017 at The City Club San Francisco.

On the heels of the sold-out events in Zurich and London earlier this year, the San Francisco Matter Of Taste tour continues the global series of exclusive events for RobertParker.com members, non-members and guests. The signature event, the Grand Walkabout Tasting, will feature over 150 outstanding wines, each rated 90 or more points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. This year’s themes will be Right-Bank Varieties and Global Sparkling.

The roster of events will include a VIP preview hour, the Grand Walkabout Tasting, and exclusive rare wine Master Classes. A progression of exceptional wine dinners will take place throughout San Francisco the week of October 30, 2017, including a very special “Vérité Winery Retrospective & Dinner” on November 3, 2017, hosted by Lisa Perroti-Brown MW and Vérité Winery’s Hélène Seillan at Spruce restaurant. The “La Paulée” Grande Finale Dinner, The Ultimate Hedonist’s BYOB Dinner, November 4, 2017, will conclude this extraordinary week, with guests invited to bring up to three bottles of their favorite “90 RP points or above” wines to share with fellow subscribers and members of the Robert Parker Wine Advocate review team. Set in the 12th floor Penthouse of the City Club San Francisco, a sumptuous sit-down, four course haute-cuisine menu will make this an extravagant feast not to miss. Seats are limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. This is a rare chance to participate in a true Hedonist’s Gazette dinner with incredible vintner hosts and reviewers Neal Martin, Monica Larner, and Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW.

The Grand Walkabout Tasting, 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., will include some of the world’s most prized wines, encompassing a range of varietals, regions and styles. Well-regarded winemakers will be pouring their wines, including iconic wineries Abremundos, Cheval des Andes, Lagarde and Marcello (Argentina); Chateau Valandrad, Clos de Sarpe, Fleur Cardinale, Haut Bailly and Charles Heidsieck (France); Hickinbotham, Penley Estate, Giant Steps and Cullen (Australia); Feudi di San Gregorio, Ca’ del Bosco, Le Macchiole and Petrolo (Italy); Cono Sur, Calyptra and Leyda (Chile); Craggy Range, Te Mata Estate and Giesen (New Zealand); Dominio de la Vega (Spain); Prats & Symington (Portugal); Tokara (South Africa); Cadence, JM Cellars and Northstar (Washington); and Daou, La Jota and Peter Michael Winery (California).

In addition to the Grand Walkabout Tasting, six exclusive Master Classes are offered. Wine Advocate Editor-in-Chief reviewer Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW will be hosting “Washington and a Global View of Merlot” – a blind tasting of Washington and new world Merlots including 2013 Blackbird Vineyards Illustration Proprietary Red, 2013 Buty Winery Merlot, Cabernet Franc Conner Lee Vineyard, 2013 Kapcsandy Family Winery Merlot Roberta’s Reserve, 2013 Vérité La Muse, 2014 Cadence Bel Canto, 2014 Craggy Range Sophia Proprietary Red, 2014 Hickinbotham The Revivalist Merlot, 2014 Leonetti Cellar Walla Walla Merlot, 2014 Long Shadows Pedestal Merlot, 2014 Spring Valley Vineyard Uriah, and 2014 Woodward Canyon Estate Reserve.

Wine Advocate reviewer Neal Martin will be hosting “The Best of the Best: South Africa,” focusing on the very best wines of South Africa. The tasting will focus on the artisan South African winemakers, including rare and coveted wines from renowned growers such as Eben Sadie, Chris and Andrea Mullineux, and Bruwer Raats. In addition, Martin will be leading “Right Bank Legends: Rive Droite 2009, 2010, and 2015.” This tasting will examine three exemplary estates from some of the finest terroirs on the Right Bank: Belair-Monange in Saint Emilion, and La Fleur-Petrus and Trotanoy in Pomerol. Attendees will have the opportunity to compare each one from some of the finest vintages of the last 20 years: 2009, 2010 and a preview of 2015. Christian Moueix and Tod Mostero, Winemaker, Dominus Estates, will be in attendance offering insights into these wines and vintages.

Monica Larner, Wine Advocate reviewer, will lead “Italian Cabernet Franc: The Mighty French Grape Finds an Ideal Home in Italy,” where Cabernet Franc expresses its inner Italiano in this fascinating collection of wines. This stubborn grape from France finds a perfect home in the laid-back and sun-drenched vineyards of Italy, discovering its secret soul along the way. Find out why Italy and Cabernet Franc are a match made in heaven. Larner will also lead, with proprietor Luca Sanjust, “A Retrospective of Petrolo’s Galatrona: An Iconic Merlot from the Heart of Tuscany,” a tasting of the 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 vintages. In addition, Larner will host, with proprietor Antonio Capaldo, “A Retrospective of Feudi San Gregorio’s Patrimò: The Wine that put Southern Italy on the World Wine Map,” a tasting of the 1999, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2015 vintages. For a complete list of featured wines as well as tickets for the Grand Walkabout Tasting and all six Master Classes and dinners, please visit www.a-matter-of-taste.com.

“Our members are some of the most passionate and knowledgeable wine consumers in the world. Matter of Taste is the perfect opportunity to share with our members a world-class wine experience they’ll cherish forever,” enthuses Perrotti-Brown.

The Matter of Taste wine experiences began in 2014 and have been in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, London, Chicago, Macau, Miami, Manila, Jakarta, Napa, New York, and San Francisco. Matter of Taste moves to New York on December 3, 2017.

Annual members of RobertParker.com are entitled to discounted tickets ($120 through October 21, 2017) to the Matter of Taste Grand Walkabout Tasting. Non-member discounted tickets ($180 through October 21, 2017) include a one-year membership to RobertParker.com and access to over 500,000 professional wine reviews and articles. A limited number of early entry VIP passes are available for an additional $100. All Master Class prices vary between $100 and $250 depending on the class. Further details and booking information are available at www.a-matter-of-taste.com.

About Robert Parker Wine Advocate

For more than 39 years, The Wine Advocate, and later RobertParker.com, have been the global leader and independent consumer’s guide to fine wine. The brand was established by the internationally recognized Robert M. Parker, Jr., the only critic in any field to receive the highest Presidential honor from three countries – France, Italy and Spain. Robert Parker Wine Advocate provides a wealth of information to its subscribers, including a searchable database of more than 300,000 professional wine ratings and reviews, in addition to articles, videos, daily news content, online retail availability and pricing, an active, professionally moderated bulletin board, a mobile app for easy access to the comprehensive online database of reviews, and much more. For more information, visit www.RobertParker.com.

Vintage Eve Circa 12/2013: Wine of the Month Club Wine Tasting and Podcast

July 25, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

We have so many options for wine clubs these days! Our favorite wineries, wine stores, even newspapers offer clubs. So why Wine Of the Month Club it? Lemme tell ya what I learned during a recent visit, tour and podcast taping with owner Paul Kalemkiarian. (Direct YouTube link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzdbgQI9Gk8)

eve and paul large First of all Paul is Paul the second, his father started the company. And this Paul is doing it all: tasting, rating, negotiating and selecting every wine for their three different monthly clubs. Where that would be it for me, Paul sends a monthly magazine – two-dozen pages – about all of the wines he selected, gifts, recipes and tasting notes. This is the part that got my attention on the cover of the December 2013 issue: Wines evaluated last month: 287; Rejected: 243; Approved: 44; Selected:12. Sounds like Paul has a highly developed palate!

Before we did our video Paul wanted to know more (we had admitted to trolling each other’s websites!) about me. Of course, this was because we would soon appear on film together, but the way he spoke with me showed a real interest. Where I might have expected to meet a salesman, I met a warm, open, compassionate, hard-working business owner. It was an eye-opener for those of us that should never judge a wine by its label. Paul is the real deal, and only provides the real deal.

So let’s see what he sent me home with to taste:

Tasting

2012 Grange Des Dames

Grapes: Clairette and Grenache

Appellation: Ventoux, Rhone

Pale gold in color with aromas of freshly cut sweet pineapple, juicy pear, red Delicious apple, hay and a cool breeze passing over a lush flowerbed; in the mouth I was rewarded with a decent amount of acid – sometimes this characteristic is too bold for me – as well as pineapple juice, a hint of lemon and green honeydew melon. Very pleasant.

2010 Domaine de Poulvarel

Grapes: Syrah and Grenache

Appellation: Costieres de Nimes, France

A full glass elicited a more purple color; aromas of rich dark blueberry, toasted oak, wet stones, pomegranate seeds, and flavors that included blue to black berries, plums, dry, with a very balanced fruit and tannic structure, medium length.

2011 Hermoso Hermosa

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon

Appellation: Valle del Moule, Chile

Greeted by a dark garnet color, followed by pungent aromas of stewing dark fruit, plums, menthol and a lit cigar. On the mouth it was slightly astringent, bright red fruit, smoke, dry and light tannins. Good for the club price.

2010 Prahova Valley

Grapes: Feteasca Neagra

Appellation: Romania

Romania? This was one of the wines that I tasted during the taping with Paul. Never had the Romanian grape, roughly translated as “Black Maiden”, before. And it was good. Now that I had time to linger over it I found the color to be garnet with a ribbon of browner red on the edge, aromas of fresh raspberry, strawberry, mushroom, simmering spaghetti sauce and a hint of red licorice. Once tasted I got the same bright fruit, including cherry, spice, good tannins and a nice round mouthfeel. Another good club bargain.

From the Website

Wine of the Month Club™ is the oldest mail order wine club in America. Specializing in value-oriented wines, the Wine of the Month Club is open to anyone who has an appreciation of fine wine and is interested in a monthly wine club service. Quality wine delivered to your door, guaranteed!

Our search for our wine club selections never ends. Each month I taste over 400 Italian wines, German wines, California wines, Argentinean wine, Chilean wines, and wines from all the other regions of the world—and I only select 2 to represent the best wine values in the world.

Join the Wine of the Month Club™, America’s favorite wine club. See where it all began…

http://www.wineofthemonthclub.com/

Wine Discovery of the Week: Something from Romania? At a Wine of the Month Club tasting I got to try ’10 Prahova Valley made from Feteasca Neagra (Black Maiden) grapes. Aromas alone included fresh raspberry, strawberry, mushroom, simmering spaghetti sauce and a hint of red licorice.

Montes Wine Tasting Part Two: Wine Tasting and Menu by The District by Hannah An

March 10, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Last week I wrote about meeting up again with old wine friend Alex Guarachi of Guarachi Wine Partners that segued into a nice conversation with the two winemakers I was supposed to meet – Aurelio Montes Sr. (Montes, Chilean wines) and Aurelio Montes Jr. (Kaiken, Argentinean wines) – and a splendid wine tasting luncheon. Part One gave the info on the two winemaking regions, ending with the start of my tasting notes. This week I have the rest of the tasting notes (including my favorite) and the menu.

Tasting – aromas and flavors separated by ;

Montes Outer Limits CGM 2015

50% Carignan, 30% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre

Got a whiff of cigar followed by char, blueberry and mint tea; on the palate it was brighter than I expected with bright red fruit, raspberry, dry with a medium acidity. 91 Eve pts.

Kaiken Obertura Cabernet Franc 2014

100% Cabernet Franc

Red fruit, peat, green peppercorn, vanilla and chocolate all on the nose; with chewy red fruit and a palate drying finish. 92 Eve pts.

Montes Alpha M Red Wine 2012

80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot

Developed fruit- POW- on the nose, with cherry liqueur, butterscotch and dried spice; followed by flavors that were big yet balanced, excellent fruit, pepper and spice. Aurelio Sr. said it spent 18 months on new French oak and a year in bottle before the release. 95 Eve pts.

Kaiken Mai Malbec 2013

100% Malbec

In what Aurelio Jr. called a Malbec that was “100% Argentinean taste” I found butter toffee almond, vanilla bean, milk chocolate, mint and velvety fruit up front; then dusty dark fruit, spice, with a pleasantly tart finish, 92 Eve pts.

Taita Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Winemaker’s Secret Choice**

(**I guessed a Bordeaux for that 15% and Aurelio Sr. told me that was what was discovered in a Bordeaux blind tasting as well.) The Taita series (pronounced Tie-Tuh) were all $249 SRP. The wine tasting today began with wines that were $19.90 SRP, so we got a full range. This 2007 was my favorite of the tasting. It was what Aurelio Sr. called a “glacier ” wine as the soil’s rocky makeup indicated water at some point, but a very long time ago. He didn’t irrigate, but instead forced the roots to search for water, which produced less fruit bunches. He also laid wood chips onto the ground. 96 Eve pts.

Taita Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Winemaker’s Secret Choice*

Barrel aged for two years and four years in the bottle prior to release. I got fresh blueberry, black licorice, mixed peppercorns and roasted meat on the nose; and on the palate it was that same blueberry and pepper, as well as a demi glaze/reduction sauce note, all with a perfect balance. 95 Eve pts.

Taita Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Winemaker’s Secret Choice*

Due to the rains there wasn’t a 2008 to try in this vertical of Taita wines. The new 2010 has just been released to the market. Big pungent aromas of blue and black fruit as well as cigar greeted me on the nose; then this younger wine showed bright fruit and more tannins. Will be even better with some age. 91 Eve pts.

Menu

There were several passed appetizers, including a yummy Vietnamese Spring Roll, before the winetasting. After the tasting guests were treated to Tuna Poke with Avocado Puree and Rice Crisps, Crispy Candied Walnut Prawns, Coriander Crusted New Zealand Lamb, Curry Brussels Sprouts, Hannah’s Famous Noodles and a cheese course. Wines paired at lunch, but not reviewed, included the Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Kaiken Terroir Series Torrontes 2016, Montes Purple Angel 2013, Kaiken Obertura 2014 and Montes Alpha M 2012. A very yum worthy pairing was had by all.

Watch it in less than one minute here.

Aurelio Montes Senior in Chile: http://www.monteswines.com/en/

Aurelio Montes Junior in Argentina: http://kaikenwines.com/en/home/

Guarachi Wine Partners: http://www.guarachiwinepartners.com/

The District by Hannah An: http://thedistrictbyha.com/

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

Meeting and Tasting with Montes Winemakers Part One: Story and Starting the Wine Tasting

March 3, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Oh boy what a surprise and a treat was in store for me…

We’re hoping you can join Montes Winemakers Aurelio Montes Senior and Aurelio Montes Junior for an intimate wine luncheon on Thursday, February 23rd. The Father and son are coming together for the first time in Los Angeles, to share their passion for wine and winemaking.

…as my old friend Alex Guarachi (check out our videotaped interview and tasting back in 2012) with Guarachi Wine Partners, long-time importer for Montes Wines, was there too. I got some good quality time with Guarachi and both Aurelio Montes Sr. (Montes, Chilean wines) and Aurelio Montes Jr. (Kaiken, Argentinean wines) within the first half hour of the event. Before, while sipping on non-vintage Montes Sparkling (100% Chardonnay, only been making for a couple of years) and during the tasting I learned:

Father and son had a day in LA before taking a long flight back to Chile, where harvest has already begun. The seasons in the southern hemisphere are opposite what they are here in California.

Aurelio Jr. and Aurelio Sr.

Chilean wines are exported the most to Japan and U.S.

The father and son duo only jokingly refer to the tasting as Chile versus Argentina. Montes Wines is in Chile, and Kaiken in Argentina. While Jr. concentrates on Argentina, Sr. remains in Chile. They explained some of the differences, not limited to the fact that the two countries are separated by the Andes, Sr. said “Chile has a maritime climate” due to its proximity to the ocean while “Argentina is continental.” Both have rain, but at different times.

Guarachi said that Montes was founded 28 years ago, with four partners, and began selling in the U.S. with 60,000 cases of Montes and 2,000 cases from Kaiken. Now they are producing over 7 million cases collectively.

Guarachi joked that years ago when people were presented with Chilean wines they were unsure of where Chile was, mistaking South America (where Chile and Argentina are) with South Africa.

Aurelio Sr. has received several accolades as a winemaker, innovator and importer. Jr. is also receiving amazing reviews, Guarachi said.

Jr. became interested in wine after a trip to Napa with his father at the ripe age of fifteen. The younger man commented that he was “born in a wine barrel”…and looked to his father with curiosity about his passion for the wine industry.

Aurelio Sr. left us with this thought, when he plants on the hillside, and needs to have irrigation, “I play the music and the plant dances” and on the valley floor it’s the opposite. Jr. said that “a Malbec from Argentina is never less than good” and while Malbec got Argentina out in the world it is now time to “open the gates” for other wines.

Tasting – aromas and flavors separated by ;

Montes Alpha Chardonnay 2014

100% Chardonnay

Lemon zest, ripe pineapple, unsalted butter and wet stone on the nose; on the mouth I got lemon-lime, kiwi and a medium acidity. 90 Eve pts.

Kaiken Ultra Chardonnay 2014

100% Chardonnay

Apricot, apple and cool steel; then a balanced front palate with bruised apple and tropical fruit, lingering acidity on the back palate for the finish. 91 Eve pts.

Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot

Sweet plums, black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, mushroom, earth and charred steak all on the nose; black fruit, black pepper, tannins and a very long finish in the mouth. 90 Eve pts.

Kaiken Ultra Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec

Aromas of red fruit, white pepper and milk chocolate; followed by big, dark, dry and dusty notes of blueberry, fig, spice and tannins in the mouth. 90 Eve pts.

Montes Alpha Malbec 2014

95% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon

Dense red to blue fruit, sweet black cherry, and earth all in a velvety nose; with a spicy yet balanced palate filled with dried black berries. 91 Eve pts.

Kaiken Ultra Malbec 2014