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Cahors Broodingly Black Wine and the 2007 Reininger Malbec
A chateau in Cahors, France
After reading our 2007 Reininger Malbec tasting note and our general Malbec flavor profile, you know that this varietal is deep and dark in all the right ways. Malbec is often referred to as inky, purple and brooding- but have you ever heard of it described as “black wine?” If you haven’t heard of black wine, that’s probably because “Côt Noir” is hardly ever found here in the United States. Feel free to pause, pour yourself a glass of Malbec (in the name of research, of course) and enjoy this mini wine history lesson.
The Origins of Black Wine
Wine has been produced in the Cahors region since the Ancient Roman times, at least as far back as 50 bc, and has gone down in the history books as the wine of choice for many of greatest rulers. Côt Noir, or “the black wine of Lot” (Lot is the Continue reading “Cahors Broodingly Black Wine and the 2007 Reininger Malbec” »
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2006 Helix Sangiovese: What Sangiovese SHOULD Taste Like
Sangiovese grapes
Remember the other day when we talked about how cheap mass produced straw-covered Chiantis had ruined many people’s relationship with Sangiovese? If you’re one of those people who had an unfortunate encounter, you probably know full well what Sangiovese shouldn’t taste like. A good Sangiovese, like the 2006 Helix Sangiovese, will make you fall in love with this classic Italian varietal for good. So, what should a good Sangiovese taste like?
Sangiovese Flavor Profile
In the words of wine writer Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl, good Sangiovese is “tasty, tasty, tasty.” While that might not be too specific, Continue reading “2006 Helix Sangiovese: What Sangiovese SHOULD Taste Like” »
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What’s in a Name? 2007 Helix Syrah
One of the reasons some people steer clear of Syrah is that they’re not clear how to pronounce it. As trivial as pronunciation might seem, it can be intimidating to order or talk about wine when you know just enough to know you might be wrong. For some of us, the potential embarrassment is enough to make us pass over a potentially wonderful wine and stick to the Merlot or Chardonnay. So, what has caused all this confusion around Syrah? Is it Shiraz, or Syrah, or both?
Shiraz v. Syrah
Actually, Shiraz and Syrah are correct pronunciations, but refer to two distinctly different styles of the same varietal. The quick and easy answer is that Shiraz refers to Australian style wines, while Syrah indicates old world French wines. But don’t rush to label “Shiraz” as New World wine, it has been grown in Australia since 1830’s. The confusing part of this name game is when countries other than France/Europe or Australia/South Africa start claiming whatever label they want, usually loosely based on the style and resulting flavors.
Flavor Profiles of Shiraz vs. Syrah
Generally wines made Syrah/Shiraz wines are full bodied and powerful and need time to age in the bottle, or in other words, definitely not subtle, soft wines. There are typically dark berry flavors, chocolate, espresso, black pepper or violet notes. As Syrah’s age, the primary notes mellow and secondary earthy notes (think leather, or truffle) emerge. “Syrah” wines tend to be more typical of Northern Rhône reds, eliciting descriptors such as elegant, tannic, restrained fruits, wisps of smoke. On the other hand, “Shiraz” wines tend to be more New World and display more overy fruits, riper berries, higher alcohol and subtler tannins. Shiraz wines are typically more drinkable when young than Syrah and seem sweeter in comparison. Unfortunately though, these rules of thumb are very often broken, so do your research if you’re looking for a certain style.
Order the 2007 Helix Syrah, or go visit the Reininger tasting room to try some more delicious Reininger Syrahs!
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The Perfect Pair: 2007 Reininger Malbec and Beef
When we talked about the flavor profile of Malbecs, we gave you some easy and loose guidelines for Malbec food pairings. If you recall, Malbec thrives in Argentina. As always, a good rule of thumb is to pair wine with food typical to the region the wine is from. So to put it all together, Malbec truly shines when paired with typical Argentinian cuisine such as grilled meats. This South American inspired grilled beef will shine when paired with the 2007 Reininger Malbec. Bon Appetite!
Grilled Beef Brochettes (Anticuchos de Lomo)- adapted from Gourmet, 2009
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Super Tuscans Save Sangiovese and 2006 Helix Sangiovese
Super Famous Super Tuscan: Brunello di Montalcino
Remember our discussion about how many wine drinkers were scared away from Sangiovese by unfortunate encounters with Chianti? We hinted about the movement that paved the way for the salvation of a truly delicious varietal, and now we’ll tell you all about it.
The Downfall of Chianti
If you’re fortunate enough to be sipping a glass of 2006 Helix Sangiovese, you should raise your glass in thanks to the Super Tuscan movement (If you’re not, what are you waiting for, go get some!). In the late 1960′s, some Tuscan winemakers were entirely fed up by the antiquated Italian wine making restrictions. They felt the old socialist inspired rules that forced them to incorporate mediocre varietals into their Chianti blends were ruining the region’s reputation and limiting their potential. These bold vintners believed so strongly that the old rules were holding them back that they were willing to leave behind the Chianti label and strike out on their own.
Super Tuscans
Leaving the old blending restrictions behind, in 1968 Azienda Agricola San Felice created Vigorello, the first ever “Super Tuscan.” Soon after, in the 1970′s, Piero Antinori, a man who could trace his family’s wine making roots back more than 600 years, followed suite and thwarted generations of restricting traditions. Antinori scrapped the Chianti blend’s traditional white grapes and instead added Bordeaux varietals (remember our posts about Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot?) and created a richer red wine called Tingenello. So to sum it up, Super Tuscans are Tuscan red wines that do not follow the strict DOC or DOCG blending regulations and restrictions of the region.
No Mere Table Wine
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2007 Reininger Syrah and the Rhône Rangers
Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon, an original Rhône Ranger
As you know from our blog post last week, Syrah was traditionally grown in southern France. We promised to tell you how it made its way to the new world and became such a well known and loved varietal.
Introduction of Syrah to America
American winemakers like Robert Mondavi had been seriously stepping up their game and working on producing good quality New World wines since the 1970′s. In the 1980′s, some of these wine growing pioneers realized the terrain of Napa Valley was similar to wines grown in the Rhône Valley. These insightful vintners banded together and decided to strive to grow the best Rhône style wines they could. And what could make innovative wine makers taking a brilliant step forward for New World wine even more fun? A sassy name such as the Rhône Rangers.
Rhône Rangers
The Rhône Rangers started making wines out of the traditional varietals of Southern Continue reading “2007 Reininger Syrah and the Rhône Rangers” »
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What to Expect When You’re Expecting Malbec
We love Malbec here at Reininger, and we often hear the sentiment echoed from visitors at our tasting room. Despite Malbec’s ability to charm wine drinkers, many people still haven’t tried it yet. Many people are not quite sure what to expect of a Malbec. The sheer number of wines on a simple restaurant menu or the wine wall of a grocery store can be intimidating or overwhelming and many people stick with what is tried and true. Don’t get us wrong, we clearly love a good Chardonnay, and don’t get us started about Reininger Merlots, but part of the magic of wine is exploring new varietals. Whether you’ve already fallen in love with Malbec, or you have yet to discover it, here’s a quick description of what you can expect when popping the cork on a bottle of Malbec.
Malbec Flavor Profile
Malbec is characterized by its deeply hued purple color, often described as inky red. The flavors of Malbecs tend to be very lush and full of ripe, juicy berries and purple Continue reading “What to Expect When You’re Expecting Malbec” »
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2006 Helix Sangiovese Reinvents a Tuscan Classico
Anyone who has tasted the 2006 Helix Sangiovese knows that Sangiovese makes one fantastic single varietal wine. That being said, historically Sangiovese has been best known as a blending varietal. Sangiovese is an Italian red wine grape grown that has historically been produced in central italy. Although Sangiovese on it’s own isn’t as well known, most people recognize Chianti, the name of the blend Sangiovese is a main component of.
Chianti Crisis
Did you turn away as soon as we said Chianti? For many people, Chianti conjures memories of flabby, jammy cheap straw basket-ed bottles and kitschy Italian restaurants. Your caution is well deserved. Following the late ninetieth century, Continue reading “2006 Helix Sangiovese Reinvents a Tuscan Classico” »
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Origins of Syrah and the 2007 Reininger Syrah
The history of wine can be pretty interesting. Similar to a person’s life story, the back story of wine varietals shapes their modern identity. So how did Syrah go from being a humble grape to what some estimate to be the fifth most planted variety in the world? How did the varietal end up in Walla Walla, made into the delicious 2007 Reininger Syrah, and onto your tables? Pour yourself a glass of the 2007 Reininger Syrah and learn the origins of this delicious varietal.
The Beginnings of Syrah
The exact origin of Syrah causes serious debate. Some scholars attribute the varietal to Sicily, others to Persia. Scientist have determined the vine to be a blend of two varieties from the southeast of France, but don’t expect the Sicilians or Iranians to relinquish their claim anytime soon! Regardless of where it started out, by the time Continue reading “Origins of Syrah and the 2007 Reininger Syrah” »
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Chuck Tells What Reininger is Best Know For
Welcome to our first conversation with Chuck! As many of you know, Chuck Reininger is Reininger Winery’s Winemaker. He’s not easy to coax in front of the camera, but once you get him rolling, he’s full of fun information. In this video, Chuck answers the question many people discovering Reininger Winery ask. What is Reininger Winery best known for? Watch the video to find out.
If you have a question you would like Chuck to answer, leave us a comment below.
