Friends & Wines March 18, 2017

Total Wine, Roseville, MN

The Great US Wines Tasting

Facilitated by Vee

Hosted by Dennis & Ellen

Friends & Wineswww.FriendsandWines.com

Upcoming eventsApril 29th North Loop European Wines

Thanks for coming!

Thanks for coming!Hope to see you again! Dennis & Ellen Guldan

www.FriendsAndWines.comDennis@FriendsAndWines.com

8. Sextant 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Paired with: ChocolateWinery: SextantGrape: Cabernet SauvignonBlend:Alcohol: 14.9%Appellation: Paso Robles, Central Coast, CAPrice, $19.99 Tonight $16.99 (save 15%)Website:www.sextantwines.comRating: Average Critic Score: 88/100Food Suggestion Beef and Venison

Intense.Cherry.Chocolate. Full-bodied, Cherries combine with crushed cranberries to offer a delectable first impression. Accents of pomegranate and dark chocolate are infused with hints of sandalwood. The limber tannins and balanced acidity provide an elastic structure.Customer Ratings & Reviews 4.5 / 5 89% Expertise:Avid ExplorerNovember 21, 20165 / 5Customer rated favorite does not disappoint....I ordered Sextant based on the outstanding customer reviews on line....served it this week at a family gathering to uniformly rave reviews. Nice big friendly, flavorful cab. Don’t hesitate to add this to your list of affordable every day drinkers.Yes, I recommend this product.3of 3voted this as helpful.The aroma has a good amt of strong dark fruits(black berry, plum, grapes) and a good hint of alcohol. The taste is very for-ward and bold with dark ripe fruits, a mark of a classic new world style cab. It is very savory and has a almost smooth chewy texture. The end has a some what dry finish to reminds you that the tanins are there but it is very balanced overall. This wine tastes great slightly chilled but also helps with aeration. I recommend a aerator or decant while quite chilled and drink it slowly so it warms up. Taste wise 3.8 while value wise 4.0. The wine is not cheap but considering the quality, has good value.Average User Rating4 Stars - Very Good 1 ratingRegion/Appellation Paso RoblesCountry Hierarchy San Luis Obispo County, Central Coast, California, USAGrape/BlendWine Style Red - Bold and StructuredThere’s deep density to the aromas of this wine, with black ol-ive, crushed lava rocks and baked black-plum scents. An herbal kick to the front of the palate conveys bay leaf and oregano, fol-lowed by rich blackberry, turned loam and black-rock flavors. Variety Cabernet Sauvignon Appellation Paso Robles, Central Coast, California, US Winery Alcohol Category Red

8

Welcome to the March Friends & Wines Great US Wines Pairing

Tonight’s PairingGreeting wine1 Non-Vintage Jacqueline Leonne Sparkling Rose, New Mexico $14.99 Paired with Popcorn

Whites2 St. Croix Vinyards 2015 Frontenac Gris, Stillwater, MN $12.29 Paired with Smoked Salmon

3 Coelho Renovacao 2014 Pinot Gris, Oregon $22.99 Paired with Asiago Fresco Cheese

4 Amici 2014 Chardonnay, Sonoma, CA $24.99 Paired with Almonds

Reds5 River Road 2014 Pinot Noir Stephanie’s Cuvee Green Valley (of Russian River Valley, CA) $24.99 Paired with Gruyere Cheese

6 Coelho Atracao 2013 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, OR $22.99 Paired with Comte Cheese

7 Macchia 2013 Barbera ‘Delicious’ Barbera from Lodi, CA $22.99 Paired with Cherry Tomato

8 Sextant 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, CA $19.99 Paired with Chocolate

Thank you for coming.

Tonights Schedule7:00 Greeting wineAbout 8:15 After wine four a ten minute breakAbout 9:15 Done

Tonights PresenterVee Hammond, Wine Associate, Total Wine

Vee’s love affair with food and wine began with the American wine boom of the 1980’s. An avid home chef, she discovered a true passion for pairing wine with food while working for several years as a cook with a focus on organics. Traveling and exploring the wines of California and Italy as well as the Southeastern and Southwestern regions of the US brought an appreciation for the diverse styles of wine the world has to offer. Vee joined the To-tal Wine team where her understanding and love of wine continues to grow.

7. Macchia 2013 Barbera ‘Delicious’ BarberaPaired with: Cherry Tomato Winery: Macchia WineryGrape: BarberaBlend: 100% BarberaAlcohol: 14.6%Appellation: Lodi, CAPrice: $22.99 Tonight $19.55 (save 15%)Website: www.MacchiaWines.comRating: 88.3 Cellar Tracker, 4.2 out of 5 ViVino Intense . Blackberry . Chocolate . Full-bodied

This rich, dark-hued wine with its black fruit aromas and bal-anced tannin is exploding with fruit. Blackberry, chocolate, and spice meld together to create an amazing wine. This wine won the gold medal at the International Barbera Competition in Italy.The name says it all, Intense, but smooth, perfectly balanced - This is my go-to intense wine.Expertise:Avid ExplorerEvery time I go to total wines I hear about how good the Macchia wine are, so I decided to give one a shot. I decided on the Barbara and I was not disappointed in the slightest. At first it had an in-teresting nose, but I was instantly hooked at the first sip. The rich lush flavors and smoothness make this wine a real winner. I will definitely be back for more!Barbera arrived in California along with the early Italian im-migrants. This makes sense since it is one of the most widely-planted grapes in their country. It is cel-ebrated around the world as an extremely food-friendly wine with refined tannins and lively acidity. At Macchia, 100% of our Barbera is aged in oak barrels for increased complexity which serves to highlight the v i -brant red fruit and blackberry flavors that Lodi Barbera is so famous for. This Barbera is known for deep colors, low tannins, and high lev-els of acids, but it’s the Delicious fruit that is the centerpiece of this wine.

Notes: ________ _______________ ______________ ______________

7

1 Non-Vintage Jacqueline Leonne Sparkling RosePaired with PopcornWinery: Jacqueline LeonneGrape: Pinot NoirBlend: 100% Pinot NoirAlcohol: 12.5%Appellation: Albuquerque, New MexicoPrice, $14.99 Tonight $12.75Website: NONERating: 4 of 5 stars based on 202 Ratings

A saucy little traditional method (champagne meth-od) sparkling wine made from 100% Pinot Noir,

Crisp . Berry . Floral . Medium-bodied New Mexico- A lovely sparkling wine made with 100% Pinot Noir grapes in the Methode Champenoise style. It possesses flavors of berry, white flowers, and light notes

of lavender. Vivacious and pleasantly effervescent, it finishes crisp and bright.

Translucent pink in the glass. Loads of raspberries and strawberries. Definitely conforms to the Methode Cham-penoise like none other.Light hints of sweet strawberry on the nose. Light body on the palate, with notes of red berries and citrus. Crisp acidity on the finish.Surprisingly quaffable sparkling wine from New Mexico. Better than most California sparkling wines, including anything from Roederer. A real value.Another interesting little thing from New MexicoBrand Name Jacqueline Leonne, Wine Name RoseWine Type Pinot Noir Dry/Sweet Level (1-5; 5 being the sweetest) 1 Body Range (1-5; 5 being full-bodied) 2 Site Rating 8 (on a scale of 1-10)I figured that I would try this, as I love some of the sparklings wines from Gruet, which is also in Alberquerque. This wine has demure scents of strawberry in the nose and a little bit on the palate. Honestly, I think I am catching a cold so I will have to try this one again. However, I taste what also seems like a little bit of honeysuckle as well as some muted strawberry in this one. For $13 this is not a bad purchase, especially if you were to jazz it up with a liqueur. Notes: _____________________ ____________________________ ____________________________

1

6. Coelho Atracao 2013 Pinot NoirPaired with Comte Cheese

Winery: Coelho Estate VineyardGrape: Pinot NoirBlend: Alcohol: 12.9%Appellation Willamette Val-ley, ORPrice, $22.99 Tonight $19.54 (Save 15%)Website: www.coelhowin-ery.com/pressRating: 91 Points, 90 points Wine Advocate, 90 Points Wine Spectator

Elegant . Cherry . Cedar . Medium-bodied

- This delicious Pinot offers alluring aro-mas of spice, cherries and toasty cedar. Its velvety texture is enhanced by flavors of cherry, cranberry, and chocolate. Vibrant and supple, this beauty offers a lovely smooth finish.

The 2014 Pinot Noir Paciência Estate comes from Dijon and Pommard clones, and raised in 16% new oak for ten months. It has a pure and well-defined bouquet with dark cherries and boysenberry fruit – all very focused. The palate is well defined and lithe in the mouth, the acidity is well judged, gently building with light spiced dark cherry and black currant pastille notes on the tender finish. Very fine.

Review by Neal MartineRobertParker.com#224 (Apr 2016)Drink 2016-20232014 Atração Pinot noir, Willamette Valley AVAThe 2014 Atração Pinot Noir was aged on the lees for ten months and was matured in a judi-cious 6.5% new oak. It has a very commendable nose with brambly red berry fruit and blackcurrant – admirable varietal expression here. The palate is well balanced, a little “soft” in the mouth, but there is plenty of attractive, slightly meaty red berry fruit here and commendable definition on the finish. This comes recommended – especially at the suggested retail price.

Review by Neal MartineRobertParker.com #224 (Apr 2016)Drink 2016 – 2021

6

2 St. Croix Vinyards 2015 Frontenac GrisPaired with Smoked Salmon Winery: St. Croix VinyardsGrape: Frontenac GrisBlend: 100% Frantenac GrisAlcohol: 12%Appellation: Stillwater, MN Price: $12.29 Tonight $10.44 (Save 15%)Website: www.scvwines.comRating: No Rating

This new U of MN variety is very full bodied and has an enticing straw color. Subtle spice and citrus aromas are complemented nicely by rich peach and pear flavors on the palate.Saint Croix Vineyards has grown to become one of Min-nesota’s largest and best known wineries, producing award win-ning wines each year. Our tast-ing room is located in a restored century-old barn and is located just west of scenic Stillwater. Visitors are also encouraged to pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the beautiful Minnesota land-scape. Free tours are offered ev-ery Saturday at 1pm.

Read more: http://www.snooth.c o m / w i n e r y / s t - c r o i x - v i n e y a r d s -stillwater/#ixzz4Yr1zlLp6

2

5. River Road 2014 Pinot Noir Stephanie’s Cuvee

Paired with Gruyere CheeseWinery: River Road Family Vineyards and WineryGrape: Pinot NoirBlend: Alcohol: 14.3%Appellation: Green Valley of Rus-sian River Valley, Sonoma, CAPrice: $24.99 Tonight $21.24 (Save 15%)Website: www.riverroadvine-yards.comRating: 90 Points Wine Enthusi-ast

River Road Family Vineyards and Win-ery, in the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, has since 1976 been committed to producing the best quality wines at a great value. Winemaker Joe Freeman sources grapes from both estate-owned and local family vineyards to create wines that express the unique character of a wide range of varieties and growing sites. These include both River Road and the new We are Sonoma wines.Deeply rooted to the region, the Rubin family, proprietors of River Road, support a number of local nonprofits and are work-ing to certify the vineyards’ sustainable agriculture practices.Earthy forest floor and Asian spice ride atop layers of tangy orange and cherry in this wine defined by lively acidity and a juicy core. Medium bodied in weight and breadth, it finishes in chocolate and vanilla, the oak subtle and supportive.

Notes _______________________________ _____________________________________

5

3. Coelho Renovacao 2014 Pinot GrisPaired with Asiago Fresco CheeseWinery: Coelho Estate VineyardsGrape: Pinot GrisBlend: Alcohol: 13%Appellation: Willamette Valley, ORPrice, $22.99 Tonight $19.54 (Save 15%)Website:www.coelhowinery.com/pressRating: 87.5 Cellar Tracker

Location: Willamette Valley, OregonA unique Pinot Gris that was vini-fied in 100% stainless steel

Crisp . Apple . Citrus . Light-bodied

- A bright, fresh wine with pure flavors of pear, white nectarine, and melon that are balanced by a crisp finish laced with mineral undertones. A positively radiant and refreshing example of Oregon Pinot Gris. Wine Enthusiast Editors’ Choice.Coelho Estate Vineyards, Vineyard, 100% dry, and 100% malolactic degrada-tion. The nose has a whiff of sea mist, fresh cut grass, and white flowers. A lifted acid profile drives this wine on the palate with phenolic tension. Ripe and tropical with bright yellow citrus. The soft viscosity on the finish leads to a clean and crisp Pinot Gris that will be greatly enjoyed chilled on the porch, and pairs deliciously with white fish.

Notes: _______________________________________________________

3

4 Amici 2014 ChardonnayPaired with AlmondsWinery: AmiciGrape: ChardonnayBlend:Alcohol: 14.2%Appellation: Sonoma Coast, Sonoma, California, USPrice $24.99, Tonight $21.24 (Save 15%)Website: www.amicicellars.comRating: 90 Points Wine Enthu-siast, 92 points James Suckling

Amici 2014 Chardonnay (So-noma Coast, Ca)Salty caramel rises to the fore of this lovely, medium-built wine, which begins thickly concentrated in Gravenstein apple and vanilla before finding its rhythm in more nuanced, elegant undertones. Lemon and lime lead the way to a hint of guava before finishing fresh and focused. Variety Winery https://amicicellars.com/ Alcohol 9Very pretty dried fruit with hints of mushroom and light toast. Lemon too. Medium to full body, very fine and tight. Hints of tof-fee and fresh fruit. Decadent and flavorful. Tight and textured. 90 points Wine EnthusiastSalty caramel rises to the fore of this lovely, medium-built wine, which begins thickly concentrated in Gravenstein apple and vanil-la before finding its rhythm in more nuanced, elegant undertones. Lemon and lime lead the way to a hint of guava before finishing fresh and focused. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Their 2014 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast also represents a fair value and an excellent proposition for consumers trying to maximize their buying power. Orange blossom, tangerine oil, white peach and pineapple are all present in this excellent, nicely textured, crisp, fresh Chardonnay that shows minimal influence of oak. Drink it over the next 3-4 years. This winery has a large and varied portfolio of wines, including their four value picks, which consumers need to notice. Wine Spectator

Taut and vibrant, with a tender edge to the ripe pear, melon and spicy oak notes. Has room to mellow and grow. Drink now. K&L Notes

The 2014 vintage was excellent in Sonoma, with rains during February and March giving way to a mild spring, a perfect summer, and an early harvest. The wine shows the intensely ripe aromatics of the vintage, with the structure and acidity of the cool Sonoma Coast. Barrel fermented in 40% new French oak. From the winery: “Beau-tifully balanced aromas of vanilla bean and toasty oak are underlaid with notes of tropical fruit, fresh ripe apple, and melon. On the palate, initial flavors of lemon-lime zest lead to rich, full-bodied flavors of ripe apple, hints of toasty pie spice, and a clean, crisp finish.”Notes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4