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Wine recommendations and comments from Dean and Lisa Foster, Vintage Connections Wine Educators and Consultants. Most wines are available in Southeastern Pennsylvania and are priced between $10 and $20. Up-coming "wine events" available in the Pottstown Tri-county area are listed.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Wine Tips - Trapiche Malbec and Flora Springs Cabernet Sauv

Cheers from Vintage Connections!

Wine Tips of the Week
Trapiche Oak Cask Malbec 2008

This rich, full-bodied dry red wine is very typical of a Mendoza, Argentina malbec.  It is dark red in color with purple tones.   
 
Very aromatic with aromas of blackberries and plums with hints of smoke and vanilla.  Flavors of dark red fruits compliment the gentle oak flavors from being aged in French oak for 12 months.  It has a rich, velvety mouth-feel and a pleasant long-lasting finish.  Alcohol is 14% by volume.  Great when paired with red meats, mushrooms and cheeses.  Wine Spectator has given this wine a rating of 84.  We think it deserved better.  PLCB product code is 3451 and is on sale at most PA Wine and Spirit stores for $9.99 a bottle, regularly priced at $11.99.

Flora Springs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2005. 

This dry red cabernet sauvignon comes from a family owned vineyard in St. Helena, CA.  It is deep dark red in color.  It has aromas of berries and cassis.   
 
Though not complex, it has rich flavors of berries and currants with subtle tannins.  Robert Parker gave this wine a rating of 90 pts.  It has 14.2% alcohol by volume.  This wine is unfortunately on closeout at PA Wine and Spirit stores, though it is available at some of the stores for $18.99 a bottle.  PLCB product code is 5680.  Many opinions are that subsequent vintages of the Flora Springs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley are consistently just as good.  So if you can't find the 2005, it might be worth trying another year.


Up-coming Events

Check websites of the wineries listed below for events, sales, etc. Below are a few that caught our attention through winery newsletters.

May 21 & 22
Wine in Bloom

We've seen this on the calendar but cannot find additional details, even on the LVWT website.  Hmmmm?

Saturday, May 21st Wine & Swine, Noon-4pm @ Kutztown Winery 

See their website for cost and details.

Last time we heard, Blair still had a few seats left for Sunday's May 22nd's Winemaker's Dinner at the winery.  Reservations are required, $60 per person includes the four course meal, the wine pairing during the meal, tax, gratuity, and barrel or tank tastings in the wine cellar.  Call Blair at 610-683-8463 to reserve your seats!
 
Fun Fact 

Cabernet Sauvignon berries are small, spherical with black, thick and very tough skin. This toughness makes the grapes fairly resistant to disease and spoilage and able to withstand some autumn rains with little damage. (professional friends of wine).
 

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