A DIABOLICAL ATTEMPT AT ON-THE-JOB INTOXICATION

Our RNDC/Cumberland rep and DEP’s alum Jen came in today with the guys from Prestige Wine Imports to lead us through a bunch of wines, which I must confess, had me shaking in my shoes a bit. Fortunately, we opted out of some of the selections – ones we carry and sell incredibly well. We did try some wines from the Dolomiti region in Northern Italy, Chianti and California:

Tolloy Sauvignon Blanc Vigneti dei Dolomiti 2008. Grade=Average. A fairly flat SB with not much other then slight mineral and lemon zest.

Axis Sauvignon Blanc Central Coast 2007. Grade=Outstanding. Pretty nice SB with lemon, guava and fresh herbs. Slight minerality frames the vibrant citrus fruit.

Tolloy Pinot Grigio Vigneti dei Dolomiti 2008. Grade=Average. Not much to this Pinot Grigio, with it essentially coming across like lemon water with cucumber rind.

Axis Chardonnay Central Coast 2007. Grade=Outstanding. Solid example of Central Coast Chardonnay with notes of nectarine, nutmeg, spiced apples, pineapples and vanillin oak.

Feudo Arancio Pinot Noir Stemmari 2008. Grade=Outstanding. Always surprising, this PN from Sicily shows off well-balanced acidity, notes of cherries and raspberries, and hints of spice. One of our best selling Italian wines.

Axis Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2006. Grade=Outstanding. Slightly Burgundian, this light-bodied red has hints of cinnamon, cherry, pomegranate, mineral and roasted nuts. Well-made, but a bit pricey.

Feudo Arancio Syrah Sicilia 2007. Grade=Outstanding. Superb value red, this medium-bodied Syrah shows off black pepper, raspberry, rhubarb and coffee notes. Clocking in under $7, this is always a solid pick.

Querceto Chianti Classico DOCG 2006. Grade=Outstanding. I would argue that this is one of the best Chianti Classicos on the market; medium-bodied with bright cherry notes mixed in with mocha, cedar, tobacco and spice box.

Querceto Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2005. Grade=Outstanding. Delicious Sangiovese that sees slightly more oak than the regular CC, this medium-to-full-bodied red is silky, supple and voluptuous for a Tuscan wine (though no surprise to me). Elegance and complexity.

Axis Zinfandel Lodi 2006. Grade=Outstanding. Unique blend of Zin and Cab Franc, this is a jammy, fruity red with notes of blackberry jam, white pepper, violet, chocolate and vanilla. Really nice.

Axis Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2006. Grade=Outstanding. Medium-to-full-bodied Cab from Napa, this isn’t as tannic as many of its counterparts, with hints of black currant, black cherry, licorice, cedar and chocolate. A decent Cab.