At The Traveling Vineyard, we’re passionate about wine!
Our mission to demystify wine, by offering fun and
informative in-home wine tasting events.
Taste wines from boutique wineries from all over the world,
while enjoying a wine tasting lesson.
Email Shannon for more information.
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Read about it today, experience it tonight.
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Casillero del Diablo 2005 Carmerere, Chile
Smoky, fragrant nose hints at a dense canvas of flavors.
In the mouth, the wine offers notes of
roasted tomatoes, pencil lead, caramel tones over a blackberry canvas.
Impressive for the money.
-BF
$10
Bonnie Brae, Primo Vino, Reserve List, Heritage Wine and Liquor, Wilburs Total Beverage in Fort Collins, and Incredible Wine and Liquor carry this wine.
Are you a retailer that carries this wine?
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Don Rodolfo 2004 Malbec, Vina Cornejo Casotas, Cafayette Valley, Salta, Argentina
I opened this wine at a home wine tasting.
As soon as I tasted it I realized that it was a winner.
Then it disappeared off the table.
Needless to say, it took a trip to the back porch.
It tasted so good I spent fifteen minutes looking for it,
even though there were ump-teen different bottles still awaiting me on the dining room table.
This malbec is bright with a medium body.
It is smooth on the palate and offers tones of
pomegranate, chocolate, and coconut.
Integrated, ripe, and worth spending fifteen minutes to find.
$10
Wilburs Total Beverage in Fort Collins carries this wine.
Are you a retailer that carries this wine?
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Castano Hecula 2005 Monastrell, Yecula, Spain
Okay, I know this one is not from South America,
but it is well worth talking about.
This is a favorite unknown grape.
Super ripe flavors of blueberries and red raspberries fill the mouth.
It has a touch of tannins, as most monastrell does (a.k.a. mourvedre or mataro),
but the fruit forward profile creates a sultry balance.
Great with a steak or burger.
$8
Crossroads Wine and Spirits in Grand Junction,
Wilburs Total Beverage in Fort Collins,
and Heritage Wine and Liquor carry this wine.
Are you a retailer that carries this wine?
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Is your favorite retailer listed in the where-to-buy-it reference?
If not, tell them about
redwhiteandrose.com.
Retailers are listed for FREE in the where-to-buy-it reference.
All they need to do is email us and we will add them to the list of retailers who
get to see the draft of this newsletter before it goes out.
Use the forward link at the bottom of this newsletter to forward to a friend.
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Zolo 2004 Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina
This is a dense wine.
Deep violet in color,
it offers flavors of black raspberries and sugar cookie dough on the palate.
Blueberry prevails on the finish.
A full bodied wine with tannins and acidity balanced against the brooding fruit.
-BF $14
Libations Wine & Spirits, KaCee's Wine & Spirits in Westminter, Primo Vino,
and Wilburs Total Beverage in Fort Collins carry this wine.
Are you a retailer who carries this wine?
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Mont Gras 2004 Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, Colchagua, Chile
Caramel, black cherries, bitter chocolate, tobacco,
vanilla and a touch of charred marshmallows on
the finish. Interesting and complex, this blend is a winner.
$12
Bonnie Brae, Wilburs Total Beverage in Fort Collins and Heritage Wine and Liquor carry this wine.
Are you a retailer that carries this wine?
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Amancaya 2005 Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza, Argentina
A layered and elegant wine offering hints of wild cherry, chocolate and a hint of vanilla.
Densely layered on the palate, it is smooth and balanced.
It is a great value for the money, produced from two of the worlds
most prestigious wine houses, Lafite-Rothchild
(First Growth)
and Nicholas Catena,
(the guy that build a replica Mayan pyramid to house his winery.)
-BF
$18
City Wine, Heritage Wine and Liquor, and Primo Vino carry this wine.
Are you a retailer that carries this wine?
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Oops Carmenere-Merlot, Chile
A soft red with notes of blackberry and cassis.
Smooth, integrated flavors that are a touch smoky.
A great wine for the merlot drinker who is looking for a
slight change of pace with their red wine.
-BF
$10
Are you a retailer who carries this wine?
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Terrazas 2004 Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina
This was one impressive malbec.
We opened this wine on Friday night.
I took the remainder home and didn't gas it or use the Vac-u-vin on it.
I opened it on Tuesday night, a full four days later.
It was smooth, soft, with good acidity.
Blueberry flavors, smoke and vanilla, soft tannins.
(Polished it off on Thursday evening and was thoroughly impressed with the quality, six days later.)
-BF
$12
Crossroads Wine and Spirits in Grand Junction, Corks,
KaCee's Wine & Spirits in Westminter,
Wilburs Total Beverage in Fort Collins, Bonnie Brae,
Heritage Wine and Liquor,
and Incredible Wine and Liquor carry this wine.
Are you a retailer who carries this wine?
Email
us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Casa Lapostelle Cabernet Sauvignon, Rapel, Chile
This cabernet sauvignon is a candidate for a few years in the cellar.
Ideally, it should be open for an hour or more so the fruit can bloom
(a clear sign of quality grapes).
It is smooth, with notes of cassis, cherries, and hints of mocha.
A very elegant wine that intersects new world and old world profiles. -BF
$14
Reserve List, Crossroads Wine and Spirits in Grand Junction,
County Line, Bonnie Brae, Heritage Wine and Liquor, KaCee's Wine & Spirits in Westminter, Wilburs Total Beverage in Fort Collins, Incredible Wine and Liquor and Heritage Wine and Liquors carry this wine.
Are you a retailer who carries this wine?
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Casillero del Diablo 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Chile
A refreshing lighter bodied white wine that
brings tastes of white grapefruit, lime, and hints of flowers.
Good acidity, that makes it a great food pairing for lighter fare
such as chicken, fish, pasta, and shellfish.
$10
Primo Vino, Bonnie Brae, Heritage Wine and Liquor, and Wilburs Total Beverage in Fort Collins carry this wine.
Are you a retailer that carries this bubbly?
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Chile (Chee-lay)
Chile is a sliver of land, no more than 277 miles at its widest and 56 miles at its thinnest point. It is isolated from the rest of the world because of four natural barriers. The nearly rain-less Atacama Desert is on the northern border of Chile and is considered the driest place on earth. It is an uninviting partition between Chile and its neighbors to the north Peru and Bolivia. The Pacific Ocean stretches the entire side of Chile's 2,500 mile western border as does the Andes Mountain Range on the eastern border. To the south, Chile is flanked by Patagonia and beyond is Antarctica. Many believe it's Chile's geography that has kept the root eating louse phylloxera from invading its vineyards.
Chile got its start in the wine industry in the mid-eighteen hundreds. In an attempt to flaunt their wealth, the successful business men of Chile created estates similar to the grand Châteaus of Bordeaux. It was during this time that the vineyards of Europe were mysteriously dying off from phylloxera. French winemakers escaped to Chile, seeking relief and hope in the New World. They brought their talent, technology, and their favorite Bordeaux varietals, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and carmènere.
Chile's very fertile valleys sit comfortably beneath the Andes mountain range, where grapevines flourish with ease. These central valleys are very Mediterranean-like. There is little rain to cause uneven growth during the summer or dilute the grapes at harvest. The Andes provide all the controlled irrigation a grape grower could ask for.
Even though Chile was a welcome environment for growing grapes and had the attention of one of the most talented winemaking regions in the world, Bordeaux, it wasn't until the 1990s that Chile entered the world wine market as a major player. Plagued by political and economic instability, Chile's grand Chateaus focused on the low quality, workhorse grape called pais. Pais was used for the production of jug wines in Chile for much of the twentieth century. It was in the 1990s that Chile got a boost economically from a change in political regimes. This attracted influence and money from the established wine producers of Bordeaux once again. This influence guided Chile into the world wine market and specifically onto our shelves here in the United States.
Many of Chile's vineyards are located around the city of Santiago. The Maipo Valley includes the city of Santiago and the areas within a few hours drive. The northernmost growing region is the Aconcagua Valley, named for the highest mountain in the Western and Southern Hemisphere, Mount Aconcagua. Casablanca, also to the north, is one of the coolest grape growing areas in Chile, because of its maritime environment and altitude. It is in Casablanca that most of Chile's quality white wines are made. Rapel, Maule, Italta, Colchagua, Curicó, and Bio-Bio are all located in the central valleys of Chile, south of the city of Santiago.
In the last few decades Chile planted more mainstream varietals such as chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, carmènere, cabernet sauvignon, and merlot. Recently, Chile has taken an interest in producing better quality, collectable bottles of wine. Utilizing the natural resources, such as its rocky terrain and altitude and lowering yields, winemakers are producing some incredible, cellar-worthy, bottles of wine. These wines are attracting the attention of the market-makers in the wine world. Chilean 'Reservas' are able to rival wines of Bordeaux and Napa Valley and are very reasonably priced.
Chile's everyday wines are fruity and ripe, following the New World recipe that Australia and California embrace. Collecting a few bottles of higher-end Chilean wines is easy on the wallet and if you're a bit impatient, they're very approachable without years of cellaring. Weather you're looking for value in your everyday selections or looking to drink a special bottle of wine, your dollar goes far in the Chilean section.
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Cousiño Macul 2004 Antigus Reserva, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile
A touch earthy, with prominent ripe black cherries flavors, skins and all.
Cassis, truffle, a hint of licorice mingle on the palate.
Vanilla and a touch of clove linger on the finish.
-BF
$14
Reserve List, Bonnie Brae, Heritage Wine and Liquor, Wilburs Total Beverage in Fort Collins, and County Line carry this wine.
Are you a retailer that carries this wine?
Email
us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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PKNT, Carmenere, Chile
Carmenere is known for under-ripening.
Under ripe grapes offer flavors of green pepper.
For some varieties of grapes,
the flavor of green pepper is an interesting, delicious flavor.
This offering of carmenere plays the green pepper flavor well.
The notes of ripe black cherries are complimented by
the spicy notes of peppers and fresh cut oregano.
$7
Heritage Wine and Liquor and Apple Jack carry this wine.
Are you a retailer that carries this wine?
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Finca El Portillo 2004 Merlot, Mendoza, Argentina
Lighter bodied merlot has bright wild cherry
flavors. Old world in style with more acidity, yet a
slightly fruit forward and smooth red wine.
-BF
$9
Wilburs Total Beverage in Fort Collins and
Heritage Wine and Liquor carry this wine.
Are you a retailer that carries this wine?
Email
us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Argentina
Europe was devastated by a root eating aphid, phylloxera in the mid 1880s. Hundreds of thousands of Spanish, French, and Italians left Europe for Argentina. During this period, Argentina established an agricultural school, upgraded the Mayan aquaducts, re-planted European grape varieties, and finished a main highway from the wine producing Mendoza to the crossroads of trade, Buenos Aires. At the turn of the twentieth century, the ground work was laid for producing wines worthy of the global wine market.
Argentina didn't enter the market with the rest of the "New World" wine producers. Its economy, once one of the richest in the world, was in shambles the later part of the twentieth century when the likes of California, Australia, and New Zealand were turning heads in Europe.
But, Argentineans were making wine at that time too, lots of wine. In fact, most of its wine was drunk domestically. This is impressive if you consider that it was ranked fifth in global wine production for much of the twentieth century. This may be another reason Argentina didn't enter the global market; it had no need.
Lifestyles have changed in Argentina. People now drink less wine and are willing to pay more for it. The excess is exported, mostly to the United States. The quality of the wine has improved. The winemaking community tore up the workhorse varietals and looked to the grapes of their homeland. They planted cabernet sauvignon, malbec, and merlot from Bordeaux, chardonnay and pinot noir from Burgundy, dolcetto, barbera, and bonarda from Piedmont, and tempranillo and torrontes from Spain.
Malbec, the meek Bordeaux variety, roars with finesse and flavor when grown in the foothills of the Andes. Malbec is Argentina's flagship offering, boasting notes of ripe cherries and hypnotic smoke. Argentina's rugged terrain, scarcity of water, and varying altitude offers grapes the kind of struggle that produces top-quality wines. Whether it is an inexpensive bottle for everyday drinking or a limited production, cellar worthy bottle, Argentina offers an interesting array of wines.
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Bodegas Lurton 2005 Pinot Gris, Argentina
Melon, peaches and a touch of honey. The finish
offers a hint of lemon zest.
Jacques and Francois Lurton are two legendary winemakers
who travel the world looking for the best vineyards.
Their experience and financial resources allow them to offer
many great wines under their various labels.
-BF
$10
Reserve List carries this wine.
Are you a retailer that carries this wine?
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Crios 2005 Syrah-Bonarda Susanna Balbo, Medoza, Argentina
This unusual red wine blend has
nuances of smoked meats on the nose and roses.
On the palate, it offers flavors of
black cherries, blueberries, blackberries, bacon, and roses.
A great food pairing with hearty dishes.
$15
City Wine, Heritage Wine and Liquor, KaCee's Wine & Spirits in Westminter,
Primo Vino, Wilburs Total Beverage in Fort Collins, and Crossroads Wine and Spirits in Grand Junction carry this wine.
Are you a retailer that carries this wine?
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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Crios 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Susanna Balbo, Medoza, Argentina
Another cabernet sauvignon that could be a candidate for the cellar.
The wines flavors bloom as it is open,
so allowing it to breathe an hour or so is very beneficial.
Crios is produced by winemaker Susanna Balbos,
one of Argentina's most prominent vignerons.
(She designed Nicolas Catena's replica of a Mayan pyramid that serves many
wine producers in Mendoza as a winery.)
$15
Primo Vino, Heritage Wine and Liquor, and Wilburs Total Beverage in Fort Collins carry this wine.
Are you a retailer that carries this wine?
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us and we'll add you to the 'where to find it' listing.
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The Essential Wine Tasting Guide
It comes in a handy little clear plastic case.
It unfolds to show information on flavor descriptors, recommended serving temperatures,
a color reference, and descriptions of flaws.
A wine reference that offers color, aroma, and flavor descriptors for specific
grape varieties.
If you like to take notes about wine,
or like to be able to describe wine with exact descriptors,
this is a great reference for you.
The size of a standard playing card,
it is perfect for carrying in a wallet.
Look for The Essential Wine Tasting Guide at these retail outlets:
Reserve List, Colorado Liquor Mart, Total Beverage in Northglenn, Tony B's Winelist at Tony's Market on Dry Creek,
Mondo Vino in the Highlands,
Ken Caryl Village Liquors on West Ken Caryl Avenue--off 470,
Divino Wine & Spirits, Davidson's Liquors, Daveco Liquors, Total Beverage, and Wine Complements
$6
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Brews
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Do you make your own beer?
If you make your own beer we are interested in your thoughts, recipes, and experiences.
If you would like to share with our readers, we will include you on our weekly newsletter and-or
add your contribution to our Do It Yourself section.
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Events
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Denver Restaurant Week is a seven-day celebration of the culinary scene in Denver.
For the week of Febuary 24 to March 2, participating restaurants will offer a multi-course
dinner for the fixed price of $52.80 for two, or $26.40 for one (not including tax or gratuity).
It is a wonderful opportunity to visit some of Denver’s classic restaurants –
and some of the city’s newest – to sample a variety of the exceptional dishes now
being prepared by Denver chefs.
Please visit their web site at
www.denverrestaurantweek.com
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Want to get the best of Denver without having to search for it?
Sign up for ThisWeekInDenver's weekly eCalendar and they’ll keep you up to date on
all the city has to offer, including arts and entertainment, music, nightlife, shopping and
dining. Where will your week take you?
View a sample
eCalendar.
ThisWeekInDenver follows a strict anti-spam policy.
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