We are tasting the Gruet Winery Non-vintage Brut Sparkling Wine. This sparkling wine is made in the Methode Champenoise using 100% New Mexico grapes. The Gruet family started making champagne in Bethon, France since the 1960s and expanded to New Mexico in 1989. The vineyard expansion by the Gruet family continues a winemaking history in New Mexico that started in the late 1600s. This sparkling wine is made in the Champagne method, so we discuss the details of how that is done and compare against Prosecco, Cava, and Cap Classique from South Africa. We also discuss different styles and sweetness levels of sparkling wine.

Gruet winery history: https://www.gruetwinery.com/heritage

How champagne is made: https://champagneschool.com/how-is-champagne-made/

2 articles about styles of champagne: https://www.decanter.com/learn/blanc-de-noirs-champagne-vs-blanc-de-blancs-44916/ and https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/how-to-choose-champagne/

Method Cap Classique: https://glassofbubbly.com/cheers-to-south-african-sparkling-wine-a-guide-to-the-method-cap-classique/

Prosecco: https://www.winemag.com/2018/12/04/everything-about-prosecco/

2 articles about New Mexico wine country: https://nmwine.com/ and https://winerycrasher.com/index.php/2020/07/19/new-mexico-wine/

The Champagne Cartel’s blog on food pairing: https://champagnecartel.com/10-perfect-snacks-serve-champagne/

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We are the Bodega Colome 2020 Estate Malbec. This is a blend of grapes from their different vineyards at very high altitudes, including the highest commercial vineyard, Altura maxima, at 3111 meters (10,000 ft). Pre-phylloxera vines were brought over from France in the 1850s by the daughter of the Spanish governor of the region. Napa Valley wine pioneer, Donald Hess of Hess Select wines, bought the property in 2001 in his search to make great high-altitude wine. Bodega Colome is in the Calchaqui Valley located high in the Andes Mountains and is Argentina’s most prolific wine growing region.

Winery website: https://www.bodegacolome.com/en/homepage/

Article on Malbec wine: https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/what-is-malbec-wine/

Vinepair article discussing impact of altitude on winegrapes: https://vinepair.com/wine-blog/why-wines-made-at-high-elevations-can-taste-so-good/

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We are tasting the Michael David 2019 Inkblot Petit Verdot wine. This wine is as dark as a stormy night with spring-like scents of lilac. Typically, a blending grape with other Bordeaux varietals, this time it is showcased on its own where you can taste the dark black fruit flavors and contemplate the Rorschach-style image on the label. I’ll also give a primer on the Lodi wine AVA and talk the characteristic Lodi flavor. Researching the producer, Michael David Winery, we’ll learn about the “Lodi code” which is one of the most comprehensive wine sustainability certifications.

Producer’s website: https://michaeldavidwinery.com/about/

Lodi wine website: https://www.lodiwine.com/About/Place/Viticultural-Area

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We are tasting a white wine made grapes you usually see in a red wine. And no, its not white Zinfandel making a come back from the 80s – its Left Coast Cellar’s 2021 White Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. This red wine grape is made in a white wine style and we talk about the differences in the winemaking sequences. We also learn about the Van Duzer Corridor AVA in the Willamette Valley wine region.

Producer’s website: https://leftcoastwine.com/

Article about popularity of White Pinot Noir in Oregon: https://greatnorthwestwine.com/2022/01/03/pinot-noir-catches-on-in-oregon-as-white-wine/

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We are tasting two wines by the Davey Family at two different price points. One wine is an Estate Grown Shiraz and the other is a vineyard specific D Block Shiraz. These Syrah or Shiraz wines are grown in the McLaren Vale Australia near Adelaide. We’ll touch the name origins briefly and talk more about wine growing region. Of course, we discuss whether or not if the wines have a perceptible difference after tasting. We finish up with a brief discussion on where some of the costs occur in winemaking.

Article covering the name origins of Shiraz and Syrah: https://winelovermagazine.com/blog/syrah-vs-shiraz-what-is-the-difference/

Wine Folly article about the price difference in wine: https://winefolly.com/tips/truth-cheap-vs-expensive-wine/ and https://winefolly.com/lifestyle/reality-of-wine-prices-what-you-get-for-what-you-spend/

Davey Family wine website (as Shingleback Wines): https://shingleback.com.au/our-story/ 

Introduction to the McLaren Vale wine region: https://mclarenvale.info/

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We are tasting the Margerum Wine Company’s 2019 Viognier from their estate vineyard in California’s  Los Olivos District AVA. Viognier has a wonderful floral aroma that jumps right out of the glass and its medium to full bodied taste makes this a nice alternative to chardonnay. The Los Olivos District AVA is in Central California’s Santa Ynez valley where Rhone varietals grow in the west end and Bordeaux varietals grow in the east end.

• Margerum Wine Company: https://www.margerumwines.com/  
• Discussion of the source vineyards: https://www.margerumwines.com/Our-Story/Vineyards
• Santa Barbara County wine region: https://sbcountywines.com/

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We are tasting the Chateau SABY’s 2020 Bordeaux Superieur Merlot. The Saby family has been making wines in the Bordeaux region for 9 generations. Their winery has offerings of very high end Saint Emillion Grand Cru to the more budget friendly Chateau Saby we are tasting in this episode. I give a primer on the Bordeaux geography and the delineation that also maps to the wines made in Bordeaux. If you have been intimidated with trying Bordeaux wines, this is an excellent wine to dip your toe and try something new.

Producer’s website: http://www.vignobles-saby.fr/?lg=en

Wine Folly introduction to Bordeaux: https://bordeaux.guides.winefolly.com/

Official website of the Bordeaux wine region: https://www.bordeaux.com/us/

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We are tasting the Krupp Brothers 2015 Synchrony Red Blend. This is blend of 2 Bordeaux grapes: Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes came from the Stagecoach vineyard in the Atlas peak region of Napa Valley. The vineyard was started as a passion project for the two Krupp Brothers. In this episode, I address a listener’s question about holding wine after purchase and talk about the components of a wine that might indicate it will benefit from storing.

Krupp Brothers Winery: https://www.kruppbrothers.com/Our-Story/Stagecoach-Vineyard

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