Cork Poppers Go for the Reds, Whites, and Blue (label!)

Our wine tasting group, the Cork Poppers, met with the theme "The Red, White and Blue," and the assignment to bring a red, white or blue wine (don't laugh, someone once did); a wine from a red, white or purple state, or just something reflecting those colors.

 

In other words, a good "anything goes" theme!

We started out with some Proscecco, neither red nor blue (or American) but clearly white! It's one we've shared here often, Mionetto, so I won't go into it other than that it's a favorite of mine!

Dick was up first with Aragosta Vermentino de Sardigna DOC from Italy. Not American but definitely white. Dick had this one stored outdoors on this very cold winter day. Similar to Sauvinon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and dry Riesling, it was very fresh and, as Dick reminded us, should be served very cold.

I said immediately "Oh yeah! This is really good!" and later added, "I want to drink this at the lake on a really hot day at sunset."  Kate agreed. "This is very nice and I don't say that about white wines. This could turn me into a white drinker on a hot day!" The price was about $15.

At this point we discussed the possibilities of emigrating to Sardinia and what was playing on Broadway. I knew we would be having a very fun afternoon but probably not learning much about wine. 

That point was backed up by the fact that I wrote nothing about our second wine, Nortico Alvarinho 2022 from Portugal, another white, except "great bottle!" I was very glad Dick gave me his notes! I do remember it was cold and crisp. His notes describe it as "light, refreshing, with lots of floral and green fruit notes, often with a slight carbonation, though not enough that it could be referred to as a sparkling wine."

We all agreed we tasted no carbonated sparkle in this one, but it was  very nice and would great with seafood. (Later Rick and I did a taste test with the leftovers from these two bottles and we both agreed the Aragosta was our favorite.)

And now, for something completely different, we had Barb's Chateau de Seguin 2021, Bordeaux Superieur 2021. This one was quite the gem at at $12 from Trader Joe's and probably worth far more.

 

"This doesn't taste like a cheap wine," one of us noted. "We don't call 'em cheap, we call them inexpensive," Bob said.  

Barb then told us about her great aunt who sailed on the Queen Mary in 1952. She brought the menu along to share (they ate well back then!) The red and white Bordeaux were $5 a bottle on the ship and $1 a glass, inflating out to $59 and $10, respectively in today's market. 

Someone, probably Barb, said, "I'm going to have to go back and get more of this," and Dick -- who probably knows more about wine technically than anyone in our group, added, "It's really good. I wish TJ's was closer." (He lives on the far side of the city!)

At this point we discussed Trench Art made from WWII shell cases. (I have to admit, things were a bit disjointed. I have been having an ear infection with some severe hearing difficulties in one ear so a lot of what I heard was very scattered and the ambient noise didn't help!)

 

I was up next with Portlandia, an Oregon Pinot Noir. It was peppery and light after the Bordeaux and Barb, Bob and I all said we liked it. Kate said "It's something to drink in the summer if you don't want white," while Barb said "I think this Pinot is a good choice." I will definitely get this again. Unfortunately, I didn't buy it in the first place (it was a Christmas gift) so I don't know the price! 

(My notes at this point say we "spent more time talking than drinking!"

Kate was up next with Farmhouse, a California red. She described it as a very humble wine from Petaluma, California, with a plush finish. Barb said, "It's very good," and I agree. I've had this one before -- the price ranges from $10-13, depending on where you buy it. Kate got hers at a small local shop; I have found it at much larger wine shops but not seen it in a larger store.

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Conversation then moved on to the worst wine we've had had Cork Poppers, and Bob said it was a Chateau Neuf de Pape he brought last fall. I would opt for the blue wine Barb brought once at Christmas (I believe it was Boone's Farm) and we all agreed the time Roger hosted "Wines of Minnesota" might have topped the cake.

Bob wrapped it up with Decoy 2021, a popular red blend.  Operating with a logical frame of mine, he said, "I bought it because I love ducks." Barb (again) said "It's very good!" (Do you detect a pattern here?) and Bob noted that he liked 2021 for red blends (this had Merlot, Cabernet grapes.) From California, it was $13.99.

It was about here that Kate said I should try on her pretty flowing vest and I did! Now I want one!

 

I feel a responsibility to remind you all that we don't do this on an empty stomach. In fact, we eat very well (and very often) during our tastings. Our gathering includes foods from all of us and our table was practically straining from the weight of it all! Crackers and cheese from Bob went on the table in the living room. On the dining table we had Barb's warm BBQ kielbasa and her Braunschweiger ball, Cheryl's ham roll-ups, and deviled eggs and an antipasto tray from me (with olives, pickles and nuts and fruit). 

The dessert table included Scotcheroos and salted caramel cookies from Kate, along with mandarins from me.

 Your Cork Poppers tasting team today was: 

Top: Dick and Cheryl, Kate and Bob; Middle: Barb and Mike S.; Bottom: Jeanie and Mike M. Thanks to Cheryl for the portraits!

(Alas, we were missing Rick the sickie and snowbirds Anne and Clayton and Roger and Meredith -- which may explain why there was so much wine left over. Let's just say I'll be adding it to pasta sauces and soup for days to come!)

For other Cork Popper posts (usually with better wine notes) check the tab on the menu bar at the top of the blog!