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I'd like to wait until Tues the 2nd of April, I've some family commitments coming up and will be off line for a couple/3 days at the end of the week. However, if the group wants to go ahead, it would be interesting to read while I check up.
The first week of April should work for me as well. This week is busy as it falls into the Spring Break in BC (my wife is an elementary school teacher).
What about Saturday night, 06 April 2019? Sandra's friend Marlene will attend the ballet with her, freeing me up to stay home and enjoy a nice wine.
Backup date for me would be Tuesday night, 02 April 2019. I prefer Saturday night though.
I'm good either way - let's do Saturday.
Done. Saturday it is for now. 06 April 2019.
Sounds good - I'll e-blast twice.
If it is April 6th, I'm in.
I already have my white wine. It is a blend from Chile.
A Sauvignon Blanc perchance? - or perforce, a Chardonnay from the cellars of Don Melchor - should one actually exist? I have little to choose from in whites, so will opt for a Sauvignon Blanc from the Leyda Valley.
It is a blend of 55% Riesling, 25% Chardonnay and 20% Torontel grapes, which is one I haven't heard of before. From Maule, Chile.
@BigAl , that blend is eclectic, but might work - especially the Torontes and Riesling components (Chardonnay is more neutral so will not contribute muchly to the flavour). I may change my choice to a Chardonnay from Concha y Toro (Marques de Casa Concha level) as the value is better.
Wait a minute, you mean that Torontel and Torontes are the same varietal? Oh, well now that makes sense I suppose. This wine stuff gets confusing sometimes.
I may have missed the distinction; Torontel is Tornontes; I just ignored the distinction (you know, the tricks of the mind) so read past the "L" and forgot that Chile prefers to call the grape Torontel. I think the grape is also a major ingredient in the brandy-like concoction known as "Pisco" (I have never tasted it, though I have tasted a variety of other similar forms of fire water).
Al - That is a yes and a no - this from Wiki - " Recent research using DNA profiling has shown that the different Torrontés are genetically closely related but distinct grape varieties, and that Torrontés Riojano, Torrontés Sanjuanino, and Torontel (also known as Moscatel Amarillo) are all separate crossings of Mission (originally reported as Criolla Chica) and Muscat of Alexandria."
Now it's really confusing.
I didn't know that there was a chardonnay with the Don Melchor label on it, so I looked up the history of the storied wine. Having not bought any for awhile, I thought I'd missed something. I found plenty with the Concha Y Toro label, they own the Don Melchor label and started it in 1987, but no Don Melchor chardonnay. Where did you get your info - I'd really like to try some.
Yeah, I know Paul. I guess I got your hopes up... a Don Melchor Chard would be a wonderful idea, but you are correct: they ain't got none.
I thought maybe you got wind of something pre-1987 when CyT starting making it - like maybe he was doing something stellar on his own and was it sort of an underground type thing.
OK - back to topic. Here's my wine for tonight.
The wine you were talking about.
I just opened our wine, the 2017 Vistalago Mezcla Blanca. It is totally dry (just an initial taste mind you), with 55% Riesling, 25% Chardonnay and 20% Torontel grapes. I do like it. Different yet not weird in how it tastes on the tongue. Sorry for opening 1.5 hours early. For a white wine, I give it three glasses. That's saying a lot. I guess it's a good blend.
Interesting group of grapes. Dry is not uncommon down there. But, that says something.
Almost time to open your South American wines. Do any need to be decanted? Open those now.
I opened our South American wine a bit early because I knew Sandra (my wife) and Marlene (our friend) were coming home shortly from the ballet this afternoon at The Kennedy Center. I wanted Marlene to try the wine before she headed home in her car. We all like the white blend. I might even buy more in the future.
Well, what are you guys drinking tonight?
Here is a modest - but always pleasing - Marques Casa Concha Chardonnay (Limari Valley - a well-known growing area for whites in Chile). With a bouquet of spicy apple and light oak, this three year old wine is turning a light golden colour, having been aged in French Oak and allowed to sit for a year extra. The entry is quite spicy - with oak and vanilla fighting it out with the pear and apple fruit flavours. Could use a slightly less aggressive oak treatment, but this is not a heavy-handed misuse of wood. Fruit less concentrated than, say, a slightly more expensive California Chardonnay - more like something from Washington or Oregon. Finish is pleasant, and you won't say no to a second glass. A lighter style. Let's say... 3 glasses?
If you might find it in Oregon, that would also suggest Burgundy. But they don't use much oak in Burgundy, do they?
Côte de Beaune: This is the “crème de la crème” of White Burgundy. Wines are typically oak-aged wines with rich, fleshy yellow apple and starfruit flavors with undertones of truffle, hazelnut and vanilla. Oak-aging costs more to make so don’t be surprised if you spend more than $40.
Bourgogne Blanc: unoaked simple wines with mineral and apple notes. Expect to spend $15–$20 for a tasty bottle of everyday Bourgogne Blanc.
Chablis: unoaked wines that are zippy and lean with lime-like mineral flavors. Expect to spend $20–$30 for a good bottle of Chablis.
Mâconnais: Mâconnais wines are usually unoaked with fruit-forward with melon and starfruit notes. Expect to spend $15–$20 for a tasty bottle.
Steve - "Here is a modest - but always pleasing - Marques Casa Concha Chardonnay (Limari Valley - a well-known growing area for whites in Chile)" Agree totally - right now I have just about all the the Marques line offers except that.
Could not agree more with your remarks, Paul. Your students are lucky to have you. We pay about 20-25% more for these wines in the Great White North, but if you are selective, wine from Macon is a great bargain and flavourful. Of course, Beaune whites from the better vineyards are going to be marvels in the better vintages - as are Chardonnay wines in the Willamette Valley. Compare the Drouin "Arthur" (Oregon) to a decent Beaune - say a Cote-de-Beaune Blanc from Drouin. I admit it is hard to make exact comparisons since everything is ultimately quite unique, but such a comparison might be fun to make, notwithstanding.
I like Chablis when it comes to French white wines.