Cork Poppers Taste Summer Favorites!

Our Cork Popper gang gathered recently at hosts Roger and Merdith's to taste "Summer Wines." What kind of wine do you enjoy in the summer? Bring that!"

Our selection of wines!

Roger kicked things off with a mango mimosa. 

Host Roger and his Mango Mimosa. 

 Oh my, it was good. It was made by Cooks and he got it at the Meijer store here. (Meijer is a midwest chain, similar to a Wal-Mart in that it carries everything from food to clothing to medicine to bed sheets!) I don't have a price on it, though. 

We usually are very red-heavy with wine in our group. But summer often means "bring out the white!" and that happened here, too. Rick was first with Pelee Island Pinot Grigio.

 

This wine is from Canada, and Rick discovered it on last summer's cycling journey. He picked it up when we went to Canada to see the plays at Stratford. I liked it, cold and crisp, but wanted to hear the verdict of our two members who drink only white wine. Both Cheryl and Meredith gave it a thumbs up. Anne noted some green apple and lemon notes. 

Rick said that in Canada he paid about $13 for it, including the tax. My exchange rate calculator said that came to about $9.25 in US dollars.

Roger was next with Touraine Sauvignon 2023, Domaine du Courtillet. 

 

He picked up this French wine from the Loire Valley at Costco for $14.99. Barb immediately weighed in -- "This is good!" (I agreed. Clayton pronounced it "A good buy." 

Cheryl and Dick then offered another Sauvignon Blanc, Babich Black abel 2024 from Marlborough, NZ.

 

I noted that it felt a bit  stronger than the first Sauvignon Blanc Roger presented. Cheryl said it was "more lemony" than the first. They found it for $14 at Horrocks, a local market with a great wine section. Barb asked, "Is there any more of that?" (There was.)

Bob was up next with A-Z Wineworks Pinot Gris 2023. A-Z is a company that purchases grapes from a variety of places. It's sustainable and organic and made by women. 

 

I didn't get the price but I happily wrote "I could drink that!" 

Cheryl does lots of animal photography and she gave Barb a portrait of her dog!

Dick was next with The Guilty, 2020 Shiraz from Shinaz Estate, with their vineyard in Marananga, Australia. 

 

I took one sip of this and said, "Whoa!" Barb instantly said, "Oh, yes!" and "This is smooth!" Anne asked "What are the flavors (she was picking up cherry). Dick said it had "Busty cherry vanilla," which, of course, sent us off on another tangent. 

With Barb and Kate -- savoring the reds!

 Barb called it a "Whitman's Sampler of flavors" and Anne asked where he discovered this, "It's very complex."  

Bob, Mike, Rick and Anne -- conveniently seated by the cheese and crackers!

Our last non-red was from Kate -- Campuget Tradition Rose, from the Dalle Family Estate. It is a blend of Syrah and Grenache grapes and oh, so good! (This one got served out of order; it should have come before "The Guilty."

  

This was a marvelous Rose and one of my favorites of the day. "I could drink that!" I said, after my first taste. And the second! It would be wonderful while sitting on the porch at the cottage, watching the sunset. 

Rick said "The most interesting wine so far," while Barb called it yummy and Rick encouraged everyone to try it. He said it had a "red wine impact." 

Kate found it at Dusty's, a local wine shop and before her 10 percent discount, it was $16.99. She has seen it listed online for less. 

Barb was next. "The reds are about to descend!" she said, as he presented a Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 from California.

 

Clayton told  us this was Taylor Swift's favorite wine. (How did he know this? Is Clayton a closet Swiftie?) Barb described it as "fruit forward with soft tannins" and it was a good price -- $15 at the Meijer store, which means probably available most places.

When it's warm, the shorts come out! Rick and Clayton rocking them!

Clayton was last with Gaetano D'Aquino Chianti Reserva DOCG fro Tuscany. 

 

I found it really smooth and Meredith noted that Clayton was "sticking his nose in the bottle." (With good reason, I might add -- the aroma was lovely!) I didn't get the price on this one either -- what can I say? It was late in the afternoon and by then the conversation had degraded! 

Fortunately, we'd been enjoying crackers, bread and cheese during the tasting. But it was time for more substantial food!

 

 And what a feast it was! Meredith had shrimp and sauce and I brought caprese skewers with balsamic glaze.

  

 Barb made a wonderful veggie pizza and Cheryl had her ham and pickle roll-ups, which we all love! 

 

Kate contributed orzo salad and Anne had skewered fruit. 

  

I brought individual strawberry shortcakes and Meredith made a gorgeous Flag cake! No one went home hungry.

 

But we all went home very happy, and with lovely boxes of Taffy that Meredith pulled together to extend the sweetness of the day. (I feel compelled to add here that we only have small tastes and there were 12 of us -- and there is still wine left in some of those bottles!)

For more Cork Poppers of the past, check out the link on the MENU TAB above!! 

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