New wine, food and music festival looks promising
I just left an enjoyable meeting with some of the principal organizers for the first Annual Southern Delaware Wine, Food and Music Festival. The event is scheduled to coincide with the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival weekend Oct. 17. Be sure to add the date to your calendar. I will keep you updated in the short term. The wine program looks very exciting. Many of our top local restaurants and musicians have signed on already, as well. I will be presenting a few component tastings with aroma training for the apprentice winos. In addition, there will be a cheese tasting; a cigar, scotch, barbecue, raw bar with real Cubans will be hosted by Rob Bagley of Michy’s; a 100-point wine tasting; a chef competition; and many food and wine sampling areas. The net proceeds will benefit Lewes Meals on Wheels and Rotary International Global Polio Eradication Effort. Since many hands make light work, any who wish to be part of this event will be welcomed. Contact sodelfest@gmail.com.
Jos. Phelps Freestone Vineyards Fog Dog Chardonnay, love the name and bought some of the 2011 for $22, so I loved the price as well and you will also. Reminds me of the Innisfree that Phelps formerly produced. Sourced from Dutton Ranch, the wines were aged eight months in 2- or 3-year-old oak barrels. Pale yellow, they open to tropical and peach aromas enhanced with barrel notes of spices, flowers and oak. On the palate, creamy citrus, medium body. It finishes cleanly with pleasing acid supporting the fruit. As you all know, I enjoy the more complex chardonnays but many are too pricey. Fog Dog is a welcome relief. It gets 92 McD points, 90-91 by others.
Want to test yourself? Go to this Snooth article: www.snooth.com/articles/wine-quiz. Tough test of wine knowledge. I thought I was a smarty pants but missed seven answers.
In the rush to join the crowd being driven to the Super Tuscans, many now eschew good ole Chianti Classico. That is sad, because sharing a plate of spaghetti and Chianti with your favorite lady was a college rite of passage since Joe Grant wrote “the book” for "Lady and the Tramp." I just sampled a small vertical of Fattoria Viticcio Chianti Classico Riserva 2008-12. They rated: '08, 89 points; 2009 was best of class at 91-92 and has most cellar time left. The '10 and '12, 90 points and 2011, 87. These are priced in the $17 range Add 2 price points if you buy them under (case) $16. The 2008 were starting to slide but the rest should be fine, if stored properly, until 2019. Many Chianti fans will go for the Castello di Monsanto $46 or the Felsina Berardegna $26 or the Principi Corsini at $32. They are buying the name in most vintages. You must shop Chianti. When you find one you enjoy, buy as much as you would use in two or three years. You can buy three cases of Viticcio for the case price of Monsanto. The expression of ripe cherry flavors in the 2009 is right up my alley. Nicely balanced with firm tannins. One of my gurus, Anthony Galloni, wrote that the Riserva was better than the Beatrice (Viticcio’s top Chianti label, $40). Suckling writing for WS, ”Blueberry and fresh mushrooms with hints of flowers.” Hopefully a typo or note snafu. Be careful who you choose for your guru.
Haas is an American name long associated with the Perrin family (Chateauneuf du Pape) in the Rhone region of France. Several years ago they formed a business arrangement and established Tablas Creek in Paso Robles. Over the years, as the vineyard gained maturity, the wine from Tablas has consistently improved. Tablas Creek Vineyard Patelin de Tablas is blended of sourced grapes grown from clonal stock propagated by Tablas. Syrah brings dark fruit, minerality and spice. Grenache adds acidity. Mourvedre adds structure. Cunoise, no clues but Neill Collins, the winemaker added it in and he is very well regarded. These are $20 entry-level but I found them delicious. Look for currant, strawberry and bitter cherry character with floral and spice accents. Has good depth and acidity balance. Excellent for grilled meat complement.
