Don Lahey, Author at Wine Blog from The International Wine of the Month Club

Wines for Valentine’s Day 2015

February 9, 2015 by Don Lahey

Men and women are different, and, when it comes to wine, men and women don’t always think alike or share the same tastes in wine. Valentine’s Day is all about love and making that special someone feel special, so consider that special someone before you give them a Valentine’s Day wine gift or choose a wine to share.

Tips for Guys: You may love that big, brawny Cabernet that you drank at the steakhouse last week with the guys, but chances are she won’t be so enamored. Why not appeal to her sensual self and desire for romance with a fine bottle of Champagne or Prosecco? Many good sparkling wine choices abound, beginning with Magenta Brut – a tasty, reasonably priced traditional style Champagne. For a fuller, more complex Champagne, consider Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale Brut. However, if a lighter and more delicate sparkling wine is in order, any Valdobbiadene Prosecco from Umberto Bortolotti is sure to provide charm and send the message I am thinking of you. And, if she prefers red, Pinot Noir can say “I love you, too.” There is no shortage of fine Pinot Noir from California on the market. Fore Family Vineyards, Pietra Santa, and Solomon Hills are just a few producers of excellent fairly priced California Pinot Noir that should appeal to her.

For the Ladies: Men are visual creatures and delight in adventure and surprises. Power is usually more exciting to them than subtlety, so unless he just can’t wait for another glass of the Chardonnay you adore or the delicate, complex Pinot Noir you crave, consider something more appealing to him. A big, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon from California, South Africa or elsewhere that he has never had before will make a statement to him. Edgebaston GS and Rustenberg John X. Merriman are two of South Africa’s finest Cabernet-based wines that should appeal to your guy’s senses as well as his taste for adventure. Châteauneuf-du-Pape and rich Syrah or Shiraz offerings will likely strike his fancy as well. Domaine du Grand Tinel and Domaine du Vieux Lazaret craft several excellent Châteauneuf-du-Papes worth considering, while Australia, California, and South Africa all produce a bevy of great Syrah/Shiraz. Chapel Hill and Mr. Riggs from South Australia are two Shiraz producers that are hard to beat.

So, guys and gals: compare notes at the end of the evening, taste each other’s wines, enjoy the communion, and have a happy Valentine’s Day together.

Don

South African Wines: Where the Quality and Values Are

January 23, 2015 by Don Lahey

A decade ago, finding an exciting bottle of South African wine in the United States was a hit-or-miss proposition at best. Not so today. In the past decade, South Africa has ramped up both the quality and variety of wines available for export. Today, South Africa offers a wide selection of very high-quality red and white wines at affordable prices. Thanks to the strength of the U.S. dollar versus the South African rand, even the most compelling South African wines remain in the reach of most American oenophiles. Some of the most exciting recent offerings from that other land down under include:

Bellingham-Vineyard — Vineyard at Bellingham

2013 Bellingham Ancient Earth Pinotage/Shiraz: A smooth, succulent blend of Pinotage and Shiraz that is nearly impossible to resist because it goes great with all kinds of foods (or all by itself). The estate’s flagship offering, the 2011 Bellingham’s Bernard Series Syrah/ Mourvedre/Viognier, provides even more pleasure. It is a deep, rich Northern Rhône-style wine that will thrill those looking for a powerful, complex wine of noble bearing.
2012 Rustenberg Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon and 2011 Rustenberg John X. Merriman: The 2012 Rustenberg Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the finest values in Cabernet Sauvignon on the market from anywhere, while the 2011 Rustenberg John X. Merriman is the estate’s iconic super premium red Bordeaux blend that puts to shame more than a few big name Bordeaux châteaux.
2012 or 2013 Black Pearl Mischief Maker Shiraz: These two wines are a perennial favorite of Mary Lou Nash, the American-born winemaker who never misses a beat.
2012 Boschendal S&M (Shiraz/Mourvedre) and 2013 Boschendal Chardonnay: These two excellent wines offer the best value in red and white wine on the market today.
2012 Groot Constantia Pinotage: The ideal medium-bodied red wine for purists who want unadulterated Pinotage from one of the longest surviving trademarks in the world, and the oldest wine producing farm in South Africa.
2010 or 2011 Edgebaston GS Cabernet Sauvignon: A staggering Napa Valley-style of Cabernet Sauvignon that won’t set you back a king’s ransom. And, for those seeking exceptional, every-day drinkable wines, try any vintage of the Edgebaston Berry Box, an easy drinking blend of Cabernet and Merlot, or the Edgebaston Honey Shale Hill white, a delightful, fruity white wine with a zip.

Equally impressive are South African Sauvignon Blancs and Chenin Blancs from the above producers.

Salute!
Don

Don’s January Collectors Series Top Pick

January 20, 2015 by Don Lahey

Whether it is Domaine Fournier’s super premium 2012 Cuvée Silex Sancerre or any number of the month’s exceptional reds, all of January’s Collectors Series features should please the most discerning of palates. We had an unusually high level of interest from our membership in this month’s Primary Collectors Series red wines, which necessitated us choosing two outstanding Italian wines for the same category: the 2008 Il Palazzino Bertinga and the 2010 Revello Barolo. Each expresses the essence of its respective region. The 2008 Bertinga hails from one of Tuscany’s most renowned vineyards and producers, and it epitomizes the greatness of Cabernet, Merlot, and Petit Verdot in Tuscany. Revello’s 2010 Barolo emanates from several choice vineyards in La Morra, Barolo’s most renowned commune. Moreover, Revello’s Barolo captures both the elegance and power of Barolo, and this is particularly true in the outstanding 2010 vintage. For these reasons, the 2008 Il Palazzino Bertinga and 2010 Revello Barolo share this month’s Top Pick.

Enjoy!
Don

Don’s January Premier Series Top Pick

January 19, 2015 by Don Lahey

The January 2015 Premier Series offers an exceptional lineup of wines from three different countries. It took an unusual amount of searching and tasting to come up with the four wines we ultimately chose for this month. With that said, Massone’s Vigneto Masera Gavi has always been a personal favorite. And who makes better Cru Beaujolais than Château Pizay? Beautiful, balanced Viognier is very hard to come by, too, but Château du Trignon nailed it with their 2013 Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc. Yet, this month’s Top Pick goes to the 2013 Bellingham Ancient Earth Pinotage/Shiraz, a smooth, satisfying red wine that simply blew us away. There is plenty to like about this wine’s savory aroma and lively black cherry and mulberry flavors, all which come wrapped in ripe tannins with nary an edge. In fact, our two tasting panels for the 2013 Ancient Earth Pinotage Shiraz enjoyed this wine so much that they immediately stopped spitting and began drinking – always a good sign for the wine, but a bad omen for the wines to follow. One sip of the 2013 Bellingham Ancient Earth Pinotage/ Shiraz and you’ll see why we stopped spitting. In addition, this excellent wine is an International Wine of the Month Club exclusive.

Enjoy!
Don

New Year’s Resolution: Drink the World’s Best Undiscovered Wines

January 9, 2015 by Don Lahey

Some of the world’s least known grape varieties can offer the wine world’s best undiscovered treasures, so why not make 2015 the year you drink new, exotic wines beyond the usual Chardonnay and Cabernet? At least once or twice a week, make it a point to search out little-known wines and undiscovered varietals. A whole cache of exciting wines and little-known grape varietals awaits those looking for the most exceptional of wines. Here are a few of the undiscovered grape varietals wine lovers shouldn’t miss.

White Wine Grapes

Garganega might not be on the tip of everyone’s tongue, but it sure does know how to please the palate. Garganega is a grape indigenous to Northern Italy, and it is, in fact, the premium grape variety responsible for just a handful of authentic, exceptional estate-bottled Soaves. Commercial Soave contains a high percentage of innocuous Trebbiano grapes and does no justice to the elegant, rich flavor of Garganega. Unfortunately, few Soave producers make Soave from 100% Garganega, but those that do are worth seeking out. Look for Tamellini, Inama or Anselmi for exceptional Garganega-based wine.

Another little-known white grape varietal is Godello from Galicia and Bierzo in Northwest Spain. Overshadowed by Albariño, the region’s better-known grape, Godello is just beginning to emerge from its compatriot’s shadow. Godello produces a softer, richer and, often, more complex wine than Albariño. Two exceptional values in Godello grapes emanate from Casal Novo, in Valdorreas, and Pazo de Arribi, in Bierzo, though many others are worth seeking out.

Red Wine Grapes

Mencia grapes, from Spain’s cool northwest corner, deserve more recognition. Though it languished in obscurity until recently, Mencia grapes are, by most accounts, a very old varietal whose origins go back nearly two millennia. A resurgence of interest in Mencia in Spain, and now elsewhere, may make this grape the world’s next hot varietal. Mencia produces complex, potentially long-lived wines that evolve slowly, which has made some aficionados dub it the Burgundy or Pinot Noir of Spain. Losada, Dominio de Tares, and Pazo de Arribi are three especially reliable producers. Losada fashions three particularly outstanding Mencia wines in various styles and at different price points, all of which offer exceptional quality and value.

With a name like Tannat, you would think the grape variety would garner a bit more attention. But not so. Tannat, the grape that gives us the name tannin, has remained hidden and forgotten for far too long. Although Tannat does contain an ample amount of tannin, modern Tannat is no mean monster, and is no chewier than a good Cabernet or Syrah. Indigenous to Southwest France, but more closely associated with the finest wines of Uruguay — yes, I said Uruguay — Tannat can stand on its own as a varietal, or blend harmoniously with Merlot or Malbec. Artesana, one of Uruguay’s best boutique wineries, fashions a particularly fine Tannat that is well worth seeking out. Pair it with a good steak or rich stew and you may never order Cabernet again.

Learn more about the different wine grape varietals here!

Salute!
Don

photo credits: TARLANT via photopin cc

Bursting the Bubbles: Champagne and Sparkling Wine Basics

December 30, 2014 by Don Lahey

In America, sparkling wines, and Champagne in particular, have become synonymous with celebration and holiday revelry, but fine sparkling wine can turn any Friday evening, Saturday dinner party, or mid-week meal into a special occasion. So, why wait until New Year’s or some other once-a-year celebration to bring a little sparkle into your life?

Let’s start off with the Champagne basics.

Is Sparkling Wine the Same as Champagne?

All that sparkles is not Champagne. Champagne comes in a variety of forms, including still (no bubbles) and sparkling. Since most of the world has only been exposed to Champagnes that sparkle, the name “Sparkling Wine” has been used interchangeably with Champagne and any other wine that bubbles.

How Exactly is Traditional Champagne Made?

Real Champagne hails from the Champagne district of France and is made only from proscribed grapes using a painstaking process known as the Méthode Champenoise, or the Champagne Method, a traditional method of production in which the wine undergoes secondary fermentation and ageing in the bottle. This secondary fermentation process is what makes bubbles.

What is Cava?

Cava is Spain’s answer to Champagne. The best examples are made using the same painstaking method as Champagne and are labeled as Méthode Traditionnelle, or Traditional Method. Good Cava, like Mont-Marçal Brut Reserva Cava 2011, is a proven crowd-pleaser, and constitutes one of the best buys in sparkling wine, as it can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of Champagne. This is one of the reasons why Cava is currently the #1 selling Champagne method sparkling wine in the world!

What is Prosecco?

Prosecco, the sparkling wine of Venice and Italy’s Veneto, is a light, charming wine that seems to be all the rage around the country. It is not always made in the same painstaking way as Champagne or the best Cava, but it can play to a crowd. Wedding planners and those looking for a mid-week treat take note: for a truly authentic Italian Bellini, mix white peach juice with Nino Franco Prosecco Rustico Brut, the original Prosecco introduced in the early 20^th century.

What is Brut?

Brut is normally the driest of sparkling wines in a producer’s portfolio, though some producers will offer a Brut Zero, Nature or Natural dry sparking that will be drier still.

What is Extra-Dry Sparkling Wine?

Extra-dry sparkling wine is not very dry – it’s actually sweeter than Brut, though it is not a dessert wine.

What Does Sec or Dry Mean?

Sparkling wines labeled Sec, Dry, Demi-Sec, Doux, Dolce or Sweet are quite sweet, as many of the names suggest, and are probably best served with dessert.

What Does Non-Vintage or NV Mean?

Most Champagnes and sparkling wines are products of more than one vintage. This is why they are labeled as Non-Vintage or NV.

What are Champagne Bubbles Called?

The frothy head of sparkling wine is known as the mousse. And although tiny bubbles are often considered a sign of quality, the size of the bubble can vary, so relax and enjoy.

Serving Tips

When Should You Serve Champagne or Sparkling Wine?

Most sparkling wines, and Champagne in particular, make great aperitifs and equally fine accompaniments to many kinds of foods, so don’t be shy about pairing sparkling wines with meals. However, most high-quality sparkling wines are best enjoyed early in the evening or with a meal rather than at the end of an evening or with dessert when the palate is fatigued.

What Glassware Should You Use for Champagne or Sparkling Wine?

Although tall, thin flutes remain in vogue for sparkling wine, almost any fine thin bowl-shaped glass will do. No need to run out and buy a whole new set of glasses.

How do American Champagnes Compare to French Champagnes?

Many Californian and Oregonian sparkling wines made using the Traditional Method are truly top notch. The best examples, like the Signal Ridge Bubbles Brut Sparkling Wine, can compete with high quality French Champagne at a lower price. No wonder so many French Champagne producers have set up shop on this side of the Atlantic!

How Should You Serve Champagne or Sparkling Wine?

Champagne along with other sparkling wines are truly under pressure, so always give sparkling wine a good chill (40° or less) before opening, and remember to exercise caution while opening, pointing the bottle away from people and delicate objects.

Treat yourself or give a gift to the Champagne lover in your life with one of The International Wine of the Month Club’s four wine club memberships. Learn how our international wine clubs work here.

The 12 Wines of Christmas

December 13, 2014 by Don Lahey

What does any self-respecting wine lover want for Christmas? Wine, of course, and the prospect of having twelve days of Christmas with which to receive an enviable supply of fine wine makes the gift all the more exciting! So, what would be a fitting selection of wine to receive for Christmas from my true love?

On the first day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
A bottle of Magenta Cuvée Supérieure Brut Champagne
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the second day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Two bottles of Bellingham The Bernard Series Small Barrel S.M.V.
A Bottle of Magenta Cuvée Supérieure Brut Champagne
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the third day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Three bottles of Cambridge Cellars Limited Monterey Chardonnay
Two bottles of Bellingham The Bernard Series Small Barrel S.M.V.
A Bottle of Magenta Cuvée Supérieure Brut Champagne
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Four bottles of Barista South Africa Pinotage
Three bottles of Cambridge Cellars Limited Monterey Chardonnay
Two bottles of Bellingham The Bernard Series Small Barrel S.M.V.
A Bottle of Magenta Cuvée Supérieure Brut Champagne
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Five bottles of Domaine William Fèvre Champs Royaux Chablis
Four bottles of Barista South Africa Pinotage
Three bottles of Cambridge Cellars Limited Monterey Chardonnay
Two bottles of Bellingham The Bernard Series Small Barrel S.M.V.
A Bottle of Magenta Cuvée Supérieure Brut Champagne
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

12-Wines-of-Christmas-2 On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Six bottles of Valenciso Rioja Reserva
Five bottles of Domaine William Fèvre Champs Royaux Chablis
Four bottles of Barista South Africa Pinotage
Three bottles of Cambridge Cellars Limited Monterey Chardonnay
Two bottles of Bellingham The Bernard Series Small Barrel S.M.V.
A Bottle of Magenta Cuvée Supérieure Brut Champagne
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Seven bottles of Chappellet Cervantes Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
Six bottles of Valenciso Rioja Reserva
Five bottles of Domaine William Fèvre Champs Royaux Chablis
Four bottles of Barista South Africa Pinotage
Three bottles of Cambridge Cellars Limited Monterey Chardonnay
Two bottles of Bellingham The Bernard Series Small Barrel S.M.V.
A Bottle of Magenta Cuvée Supérieure Brut Champagne
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eighth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Eight bottles of Domaine de Saint-Guirons Pauillac
Seven bottles of Chappellet Cervantes Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
Six bottles of Valenciso Rioja Reserva
Five bottles of Domaine William Fèvre Champs Royaux Chablis
Four bottles of Barista South Africa Pinotage
Three bottles of Cambridge Cellars Limited Monterey Chardonnay
Two bottles of Bellingham The Bernard Series Small Barrel S.M.V.
A Bottle of Magenta Cuvée Supérieure Brut Champagne
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Nine bottles of Rosenthal The Malibu Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Eight bottles of Domaine de Saint-Guirons Pauillac
Seven bottles of Chappellet Cervantes Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
Six bottles of Valenciso Rioja Reserva
Five bottles of Domaine William Fèvre Champs Royaux Chablis
Four bottles of Barista South Africa Pinotage
Three bottles of Cambridge Cellars Limited Monterey Chardonnay
Two bottles of Bellingham The Bernard Series Small Barrel S.M.V.
A Bottle of Magenta Cuvée Supérieure Brut Champagne
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Ten bottles of Denis Dutron Mâcon-Fuissé
Nine bottles of Rosenthal The Malibu Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Eight bottles of Domaine de Saint-Guirons Pauillac
Seven bottles of Chappellet Cervantes Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
Six bottles of Valenciso Rioja Reserva
Five bottles of Domaine William Fèvre Champs Royaux Chablis
Four bottles of Barista South Africa Pinotage
Three bottles of Cambridge Cellars Limited Monterey Chardonnay
Two bottles of Bellingham The Bernard Series Small Barrel S.M.V.
A Bottle of Magenta Cuvée Supérieure Brut Champagne
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Eleven bottles of Querciola Sori Barolo
Ten bottles of Denis Dutron Mâcon-Fuissé
Nine bottles of Rosenthal The Malibu Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Eight bottles of Domaine de Saint-Guirons Pauillac
Seven bottles of Chappellet Cervantes Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
Six bottles of Valenciso Rioja Reserva
Five bottles of Domaine William Fèvre Champs Royaux Chablis
Four bottles of Barista South Africa Pinotage
Three bottles of Cambridge Cellars Limited Monterey Chardonnay
Two bottles of Bellingham The Bernard Series Small Barrel S.M.V.
A Bottle of Magenta Cuvée Supérieure Brut Champagne
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me
Twelve bottles of Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale Brut Champagne (because you can never have enough great Champagne)
Eleven bottles of Querciola Sori Barolo
Ten bottles of Denis Dutron Mâcon-Fuissé
Nine bottles of Rosenthal The Malibu Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Eight bottles of Domaine de Saint-Guirons Pauillac
Seven bottles of Chappellet Cervantes Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
Six bottles of Valenciso Rioja Reserva
Five bottles of Domaine William Fèvre Champs Royaux Chablis
Four bottles of Barista South Africa Pinotage
Three bottles of Cambridge Cellars Limited Monterey Chardonnay
Two bottles of Bellingham The Bernard Series Small Barrel S.M.V.
A Bottle of Magenta Cuvée Supérieure Brut Champagne
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

These amazing wines come from my true love, The International Wine of the Month Club™, and I would enjoy these exceptional wines with the partridges and the pears from the pear tree.

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