During several of our tastings this year, we have needed to open some very old wines; this can sometimes result in disaster IF you are not prepared for 'crumbly' old corks.  The link below will take you to a tried-and-true method for your use, if/when needed.

removingoldcorks.jpg

This link provides a method for decanting old wines:

decantingoldwine.pdf

Selected tasting topics and presenters in recent years have included:

·      The DOCG Wines of Tuscany, Scott Rosenberg, Culinary Institute of America (CIA) Graduate, General Manager of Il Bariloto Enoteca in Fishkill;

·      Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux, Tracy Ellen Kamens, Ed.D., Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW), of Grand Crus Classes;

·      Wines and Artisan Cheeses, Wendy Crispell, CSW, Advanced Certification with Merit, Wine and Spirit  Education Trust; 

·      Sherries, Marcy Favila, manages the sale of fine and rare wines at the Wine Cellarage and holds an Advanced Certificate from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust.

·      Aromatic Whites, Andrew Sarubbi, Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator and manager of McKinney & Doyle, Pawling, NY

·      Bordeaux: Second Wines of 2nd Great Growths , Rick Schofield, Certified International Wine Judge, Accredited Bordeaux Educator, CWE and Advanced Sommelier.

Tasting Notes: Wines of SW France (11-14-17)
 
White Wine
Camino Larredya “La Part Davant” Jurancon Sec 2015 (white) [Gros & Petit Manseng + Corbu]
Serious yellow color (skin maceration prior to fermentation); not fruity in the nose, but very interesting anyway; dry, somewhat viscous, fairly crisp, has some tannin, very appetizing, a white wine with real weight without oak flavoring.
 
Pink Wine
Domaine des Terrisses Gaillac Rose’ 2016 (pink) [50 Syrah, 25 Braucol, 25 Duras]
Light color (saignee); very attractive somewhat complex nose; delicate on the palate but dry.
 
Red Wines
Dom. Philemon Jurancon Noir IGP Cotes du Tarn (Gaillac) 2014 [Jurancon Noir]
Nice deep color; good but slightly barnyardy nose; light tannins, soft acidity- a quaffer with complexity
 
Domaine du Cros Vieilles Vignes Marcillac 2014 [Fer Servadou]
From 80-year old vines that are grown in iron-rich limestone clay; medium red color; excellent ‘top’ aroma (floral), lean, pleasant but needs food and time; flavors of Szechuan peppercorns, notable in the finish.
 
Ch. La Caminade “La Commandery” Cahors 2012 [Malbec/aka Cot with small amount of Tannat]
Good, deep color; noticeable oak in nose and on palate; has good, intense blackberry fruit; medium structure, good length.  [This vineyard was spared the devastating hail that damaged much of the Cahors fruit in 2013]. 
 
Domaine Brana “Harri Gorri” Irouleguy Rouge 2013 [60 Cabernet Franc, 20 Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 Tannat]
This is a wine from the French Basque region.  Good color, very appealing overall, but not complex.  The nose smells like the 2 Cabernets, and it’s got nice acidity.  Aged before release.
 
Ch. Laffitte-Teston Madiran Vieilles Vignes Madiran 2012 [100 Tannat]
Deep red-purple color.  A rich, plummy nose (with a sense of alcohol like a liqueur) is followed by a palate that is rich and full and not all that tannic (considering it’s made from Tannat!).  The acidity balances the richness and is especially evident in the finish.  The vines are 80 years old.
 
Domaine Roumagnac “Authentique” Fronton 2014 [50 Negrette, 25 Syrah, 13 Cab. Sauvignon, 12 Cab. Franc]
Medium red-purple color; coffee-toffee nose with a bit of ‘’funk’ (reduction?); medium-light in body with light but firm tannins, flavors are very ‘primary’ and seem to reflect carbonic maceration fermentation (like Beaujolais Nouveau).  The vineyards are just outside Toulouse.
 
Tim Free

Slide show from Southwest Wines.  Note due to file size restrictions, the presentation has been split into three parts:

Part 1: presentation_of_the_wines_of_south_west_france_1.pptx

Part 2: presentation_of_the_wines_of_south_west_france_2.pptx

Part 3: presentation_of_the_wines_of_south_west_france_3.pptx