Go Head to Head with a super California wine...

It's pouring buckets of rain outside, which we desperately need to help alleviate the drought conditions we are under here in Wake County, North Carolina, and pretty much the whole southeast. The rain reminds me that sometimes we need to struggle a little to get ahead...I was buying some grass seed yesterday thinking that I could throw a little seed down in my now very brown lawn just to see what will happen...perchance it may grow, and talking to the very helpful owner of the North Ridge Ace Hardware...she advocates letting your grass struggle so it will develop deeper roots, thus becoming more drought tolerant.

Well, that is what will sometimes help grapes become full flavored...letting the vines stress a little....this helps to develop the sugar in the grape...Now I am hard pressed to believe that the grapes that make this delicious wine have to struggle too awful much, being located in the somewhat Mediterranean climate of the Sierra Foothills. Yes, they get some snow there, and when it rains, it really rains, but is is over and done with (just like the rain we are now getting), not like Seattle where it rains all the time.

So what is this wine? ..and yes, I can get off on a tangent...but back to the wine...Terrre Rouge Tete a Tete. We are offering this wine on our monthly glass pour feature list. This wine was on our bottle list about a year or so ago. We are glad that we had the chance to revisit this Rhone style blend of Mourvedre, Grenache, and Syrah. These Mediterranean varietals are no accident. These grapes excel in the Sierra Foothills climate. This is a very enjoyable everyday drinking wine. Flavors of boysenberry fruit suggestions and a smoky/meaty/gamey flavor with a great texture.

So pull on your favorite pair of rainboots, grab an umbrella and go head to head with a glass of Tete a Tete.

A Featured Favorite: The Black Chook

Mysterious. Complex. Intriguing.

Just a few of the words wine maker Ben Riggs uses when describing The Black Chook, a suprisingly robust blend of Shiraz and Viognier from Southern Australia. Crafted with grapes from two contrasting climates, McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek, this remarkable wine finds balance and harmony far out pacing its modest price. Offered at 518 West for $7.50 glass/$29 bottle, "The Chook" is perfect for the casual wine drinker and experienced palate alike.

This Featured Glass pour has been a mainstay on our list longer than most, and for good reason. The Black Chook is well suited for pairing with our wonderful wood-grilled dishes, and is also perfect for sharing among friends before dinner. Try the classic Chicken Parmesan with "The Chook", and you'll find a touch of "Down Under" here at 518 West.

Cheers!

"Move Over Dear"

Just remember that simple (albeit not likely used) phrase and you will be on your way to enjoying another top finds from our wine buyers. The grape is Mourvedre, and the vineyard is Cline Cellars and the grape is grown in Oakley California, about 40 miles east of San Francisco. Warm days and cool nights offer an ample environment to grow this highly concentrated grape on vines that range from 80 to 120 years old.

The mourvedre grape is a typical grape used in blending grown in Southern France and Spain. The Spanish names of the grape, Monastrell and Mataro are familiar, and the grape is also a principal grape to improve color and structure in Cotes du Rhone, Chateuneuf-de pape, and Cotes de Provence. In Spain, the grape is commonly blended with Grenach (Garnacha).

This grape was once very widely planted in California, but now only a few vines remain, and Cline owns most of those vineyards.

Soft tannins and flavors of chocolate, rich plums, and cherries make this a very delicious wine. It is very easy to drink on its own or with a big steak, such as our Porcini Mushroom Dry Rubbed Grilled Ribeye. The lush mouth feel of chocolate covered cherries belies the higher 15% alcohol found in this wine. At $8.50 a glass and $33.00 a bottle we have uncovered a real winner here. Come in on Monday and purchase this (or any) bottle for half price.

By the glass wines, value finds, and darn good grapes

I wanted to kick off the blog hi-lighting an aspect of our list that is the core philosophy of everything we try to do here at 518...quality, value, and freshness. now it may seem like the word "freshness" may not apply so much to wine, but considering the by the glass pour we are now offering, the Lange Pinot Noir, after trying this wine, I think you may agree. The wine, at $10.25 a glass and $40.00 a bottle certainly offers the value and quality aspect.

When we taste wines to put on the Glass Pour Specials list, we are looking for wines that are unique and special. The wines may be a varietal that is not very common, or a little known winery that deserves some recognition. The wine may be a super value to us and to our customers due to the volume buying we can do. We work very close with our purveyors to pick unique wines that are quality and value driven to offer our guests a little something different when choosing a wine... and the Lange hits a home run on all fronts.

The Lange vineyard is located in the Dundee Hills area of the Willamette valley in Oregon, and with it's steep hills and red soil is considered the best area in Oregon to grow the Pinot Noir grape.

These are the tasting notes from the vineyard:


"Our Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is always approachable upon release and the 2006 i s a very friendly wine that is sure to be appreciated by a broad audience. This juicy palate pleaser is a wine that showcases a warm, dry vintage that demanded every ounce of energy from the Lange production staff . The nose entices with bright , red raspberry , candied cherries and a hint of allspice while the palate displays luscious red plum, red currant and berry characteristics complimented by an earthy note of minerality in the finish. An expansive mid-palate, lively acidity , and a succulent texture that is indicative o f the 2006 vintage make this wine a well - rounded, exceptionally balanced and varietally correct representation of the grape for which the Willamette Valley i s known."

So what does all that really mean? Upon tasting our staff to this wine, nearly everyone was in agreement that this Pinot is a classic representation of a truly great Willamette Valley wine at an affordable price. Here is everything you could want in a Pinot Noir.

Blaine