Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Noteworthy reds- Cal Ital and Cab

Recently we had a couple of nice wines, courtesy of Gold Medal Wine Club shipments. One was available through their Plus program: Brutocao Cellars' 2005 Quadriga, a Cal-Ital.
“…..a triumph of four Italian wine varietals portraying a unique blend of aromas and flavors that have resonated throughout the Mediterranean for centuries. It's a wine that will remind you of authentic old-world Italian field blends, but with richer, brighter and more fruit-forward flavors making it a favorite among many top wine critics. Wine Enthusiast magazine rated the 2005 Quadriga 91 Points & Editor's Choice and says, "This Italian-inspired blend from Brutocao gets better every vintage." The fantastic blend also garnered 91 Points from the California State Fair Wine Competition, a Double Gold Medal from the Tasters Guild International Wine Competition, and 2 Gold Medals from state competitions - wow! With a rich earthy quality to the cherry-blackberry fruit, the 2005 Quadriga has a great balance that's championed with dark stone fruit flavors, soft pepper notes, and plush, velvety tannins that lead into a complex and lingering finish. Try pairing Brutocao's 2005 Quadriga with beef stroganoff and rich pasta dishes. 35% Sangiovese, 31% Primitivo, 18% Barbera, 16% Dolcetto. Enjoy now until 2012.”


We had it with some cheese and crackers and it was really good. I don’t know if it would hold up to too rich of dishes, its not that full bodied, but we really enjoyed it. I can re-order it for about $18 + shipping and we’re thinking about it.

Another was the Winsome 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, part of a regular shipment.
“….produced from the winery's Home Ranch Vineyard in the heart of the San Joaquin
Valley and styled to empha rich varietal character and body in a classic California style. A stunning first release from Winsome, this Cabernet Sauvignon received a Gold Medal from the Lodi International Wine Awards, an Honorable Mention from the California State Fair, a Silver Medal from the San Francisco International Wine Competition, and another Silver Medal from the Orange County Fair. Fragrant aromas of cassis and black fruit are complemented by hints of vanilla, all spice and coffee that carry into ripe and intense berry fruit flavors on the palate. The Cabernet's structure is firm and well balanced, with excellent depth and supple, generous tannins that lead into a lengthy finish with complex notes of dark fruit and oak. Try pairing the Winsome 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon with lamb chops, beef, and rich marinara dishes. Aged 24 months in oak. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 3% Petite Verdot, 3% Syrah. Enjoy now until 2015.”
I decanted it for about an hour, and it was really nice with a grilled filet. Very good deal for the price. The Winsome is available for right about $20/bottle, about half off the winery direct price, probably because they negotiated such a good deal with it being the first release. We're also thinking of getting some of this. So much wine, so little money.....

*Side note for my chard lovers - we’ve also had the Winsome chardonnay and love it as well.

1 comment:

LucyinStLou said...

We got that at Gambino's! We have two bottles. Yum.