Wines my friends brought to the weekend BBQ!

Fate and good fortune.  Thanks to my friends for bringing such great and eclectic wines to our BBQ this past weekend.  Here are a few of the highlights.

Diemersfontein Pinotage 2008  $19.99

I think the label accurately sums up this wine.  It smells like a box of chocolates.  Dark and milk chocolate, mixed with dark candied cherries and smoked sea salt.  Yum!  92 Points.

Pinotage is the signature grape variety of South African reds.  It is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut, know in South Africa as Hermitage, hence the name Pinotage.

I think this is a wine worth searching out, it is very distinctive.  And the price seems pretty reasonable given its quality and unique flavors.  I don't think it is widely distributed in the U.S., but I did happen to find it at KL Wine Merchants.  Might need to order a couple of these.

Naudin Tiercin 2004 Savigny-Les-Beaunes  $22.99

This is an easy going Burgundy.  Red wines from Burgundy are made from the Pinot Noir grape.  It is medium garnet in color with a slight rust color at the edges.  There is a nose of sour cherries and there are rhubarb and fennel flavors as well.  Light tannins and crisp acidity also help define the wine.  I prefer a bit more earthiness in Pinot Noir, but this is still a wine that would pair well with lighter dishes that might require some decent acidity.  86 Points.

Burgundy wines are where the term "terroir" originated.  It is also referred to as "climat" in Burgundy.  The idea of terroir, which is a hot topic in the wine world these days, can apply to any distinct wine growing micro climate.  One of the best examples of how the concept of terroir has impacted the wine world over the past 10-15 years is the growth of single vineyard bottling here in the United States and throughout the world.

Evans and Tate, Margaret River 2004 Semillon

I am not sure this wine is available in the States.  My friend brought it back from a recent trip to Australia.  She swears by this wine and it was great with the BBQ.  The wine was straw yellow in color and there were great citrus elements on the nose.  Flavors of grapefruit, lime, pineapple and pear are mixed with flavors of ginger ale and aged cheese.  Nice round mouth feel and decent tart acidity are also present.  88 Points.

The Semillon grape is commonly used as one of the blending grapes in dry white wine in France's Bordeaux region.  But it is used more famously in the Sauternes region of France to make the ubiquitous sweet Sauternes wine.  Chateau Yquem being the most renowned, and expensive!

Marcato 2007 Barattaro, Pinot Nero

So I met my wife and son at a birthday barbecue at a friend's house last night and was given a glass of red wine.  I didn't ask what it was, thought I would try and guess.  Well I guessed it was Pinot Noir, which is usually a pretty easy red to identify, as it is usually lighter and more delicate than Cabernet, Shiraz, etc.  After my educated guess, I headed over to the bottle and I was right, but it was a Pinot Noir from Italy, known as Pinot Nero.  The wine was the 2007 Marcato Barattaro.  Usually one thinks France or California, or even Oregon for Pinot Noir, but this was a pleasant little surprise from Italy.  Not sure I have had a Pinot from Italy and I don't think they are that common either.  But, I really liked this wine, it was very easy to drink and it had delicate berry and floral aromas, but also backed it up with some nice earthy flavors and decent acidity.  I was able to find out that this is an estate grown Pinot Nero from Veneto, vinified in stainless steel and wood for nine months before aging 16 months in Moldavian oak casks.  This is not the most complex Pinot ever, but it goes a bit further than your average everyday priced Pinot in the flavor department.  Great wine for summer I think as you can pretty much enjoy this with anything from burgers (notice one on the bottom right of the photo!) to fish tacos or a hearty salad.  Drank great on its own as well at the BBQ and I was sad when it ran out.  I asked the host who brought it and she said, in fact, my wife had.  She said she had picked it up at our local shop on he way and had paid $18.  I think this sounds like a fair price for an above average Pinot with some great character.  88 Points.