1. Presenter and Participants
Wines presenter: Hugo Benito
Participants: Mario Aguilar, Marcello Averbug, Hugo Benito, Rolando Castaneda, Alfonso Caycedo, Ruth Connolly, Clara Estrada, Jaime Estupiñan, Jorge Garcia-Garcia, Emilio Labrada, Alvaro Lopez, Orlando Mason, Ítalo Mirkow, Alfonso Sanchez, Raúl Sanginetti, Ginger Smart, Pedro Turina, Carlos E. Velez, Ricardo Zavaleta, German Zincke
Type of Tasting: Blind
2. The Wines
All the wines selected for this tasting are whites as follows:
- 2012 – Emmolo Napa Valley-Sauvignon Blanc
- Abadia de San Campio – Rias Baixas – Albariño
- Champagne Montaudon Grande Rose
3. The Menu
1- Mussels in saffron sauce
2-Angel hair and lobster sauce
3-Arugula salad
4 -Loin Medallions in mushroom sauce
4- Coffee and dessert
4. Information on the Wines
(The information below has been compiled ferom varios insternet sources)
Champagne Montaudon Grande Rose
Winemaker’s Notes
Appearance: Very lively deep soft pink colour with a multitude of fine bubble.
Nose: Expressive note – signature of red fruit (raspberry) and more generally fresh fruit.
Palate: The rounded clear effect is followed by typical red berry flavors (raspberry and redcurrant). Finally, this rose champagne shows its character in a feminine style.
Alcohol: 12.5 %; Price: $
Expert Ratings: Wine Spectator – 90 pts. “Showing lovely balance, this is fresh and aromatic, with a lightly frothy bead, a smoky undertow and black currant, dried cherry, biscuit and candied ginger flavors. Drink now through 2016.”
2012 Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley
Emmolo’s Rutherford property was originally planted with vines in the 1920’s by winemaker Jenny Wagner’s great-grandfather, and the wines are made in the winery that the family opened in 1934. The 2012 Sauvignon Blanc was vinified partially in seasoned French oak and partially in stainless steel with weekly lees stirring. From the winemaker: “An elegant and refined style of Sauvignon Blanc that is subtle and balanced, with minerality and bright natural acidity. On the nose, aromas of citrus, iron, wet stone and a hint of D’Anjou pear tempt your senses, while a crisp lightness, balanced acidity and underlying notes of fleshy grapefruit and lime zest please the palate. The significant minerality and soft body rounds out the wine. This Sauvignon Blanc was made to pair with food, yet is very versatile.”
Winemaker’s Notes. An elegant and refined style of Sauvignon Blanc that is subtle and balanced, with minerality and bright natural acidity. On the nose, aromas of citrus, iron, wet stone and a hint of D’Anjou pear temp your senses, while a crisp lightness, balanced acidity and underlying notes of fleshy grapefruit and lime zest please the palate. The significant minerality and soft body rounds out the wine. This Sauvignon Blanc was made to pair with food, yet is very versatile. Bottled using a Guala twist top in lieu of cork.
Jenny Wagner, Winemaker
Read more here: http://emmolowines.com/tn/2012EmmoloSauvBlanc.pdf
Alcohol: %; Price: $
Expert Ratings: TBA
Abadia de San Campio – Albariño – Rias Baixas
About the Winery. Founded in 1989, Terras Gauda is a leader in the vinification of premium Albariño grapes in the Rosal valley of DO Rias Baixas in northwest Spain. Albariño is wisely blended with autochthonous varieties such as Loureira and Caiño Blanco, an heirloom white variety that the winery saved from extinction.
Wine Description
This 100% Albariño grapes for the Abadia de San Campio 2010 were selected from the Goian vineyards and picked during the last two weeks of September. The must extracted from these grapes ripened to perfection, giving the wine great varietal strength that is expressed by its breadth and balance of flavors. This wine was sourced from vineyards 150 to 450 feet above sea level with an average annual temperature of 59°F, very little frost, and abundant rainfall.
Tasting Note
Albariño can ripen to peachy, even apricot notes in some of the subregions of Rías Baixas, especially the warmer sites such O Rosal. San Campio offers a citrus- and mineral-focused wine with a delightful, almost fat character, but it never loses the delightful mineral tanginess of the Albariño grape. Drink now or over the next several years.
See more at: http://winesfromspainusa.com/wine/abadia-de-san-campio-albarino#sthash.jNJyPwEA.dpuf
The Wine
Alcohol: 12.5 %; Price: $30
Expert Ratings: TBA
4. Club del Vino Members Rating :
Criterio para calificar:
Excepcional: 96-100 puntos; Excelente: 90-95 puntos; Muy Bueno: 86-89 puntos; Bueno: 81-85 puntos; Aceptable: 75-80 puntos.
El primer vino Blanco, fue calificado como Muy Bueno con Average de 88 puntos; el Segundo Blanco tambien como Muy Bueno con una Media de 86 puntos. Se degustaron solamente dos vinos Blancos y el Champagne Montaudon Grande Rose el cual no fue calificado pero si, bien aceptado. En resumen, este Festival de Blancos permitio para todos, un buen ejercicio para el criterio de calificacion y una buena experiencia, como lo explican los resultados.
Vinos degustados:
- 2010 Albarino, Abadia de San Campio – Rias Baixas.
Calificacion Media: 88
Desviacion Estandar: 2.7
Mediana: 88
Moda: 88
Impresion General: Vineria que fue fundada en 1989 y fue un lider en la preparacion para el premio de uvas Abarino en lel Valle del Rosal en le noroeste de Espana. Este vino fue preparado con 100% de uvas Albarino de la Abadia de San Campio. La perfeccion y cuidado para su elaboracion, permiten obtener como resultado un excelente vino, muy bien aceptado , con mucho balance y sabor.
- 2012 Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley.
- Calificacion Media: 86
Desviacion Estandar: 4.0
Mediana: 87
Moda: 88
Impresion General: Estos vinos provienen de una vina que fue plantada inicialmente en el ano 1920, la familia alli establecida empezo a crear estos vinos desde el ano 1934. Este Sauvignon Blanc fue envasado y madurado inicialmente en en barriles Franceses de Oak y luego parcialmente guardados en contenedores de acero. Son vinos de elegante y refinado estilo, muy bien balanceados y con una natural acidez y aromas a citricos. Gran versatilidad, buen final y agradable sabor.
Club del Vino - Washington DC area 