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Sips of the Week
Quivira Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2010 $18
Winemaker’s Notes:
Named for the 130-year-old fig tree that stands majestically among the vines, the Quivira (pronounced key-VEER-ah) Fig Tree Sauvignon Blanc block lies at the confluence of Dry Creek and Wine Creek. Here, gravelly soils and a unique microclimate give the grapes a lovely grassy character and minerality uncommon in the Dry Creek Valley, where Sauvignon Blanc usually leans toward intense tropical tones. Biodynamic farming techniques enhance the expression of terroir, as we encourage the vines to soak up the character of the site. Judicious leaf thinning exposes the clusters to just the right amount of sunlight, intensifying the Sauvignon Blanc’s fresh citrus characteristics.
The nose of this vintage is strikingly similar to the wines of the Loire, with a notable, yet mild, grassiness reminiscent of “fresh hay”. A small percentage of the Musque clone adds lifted floral notes with subtle citrus and tropical fruit tones. On the palate, dried fig and a lovely lemon zest quality emerge, and the assertive acidity is nicely balanced by a textured mid-palate. The bracing acidity of this wine makes it a good match for slightly richer foods. Try it with a goat cheese tart or richer seafood dishes. This wine will stand up to a year or two of bottle age.
Quivira Vineyards Zinfandel 2009 $20
Winemaker’s Notes:
Ruggedly enigmatic and powerfully built, Zinfandel is the reigning celebrity of Dry Creek Valley. And, like any star, Zin has a 
challenging, quirky side that demands attention: it ripens very unevenly on the vine and its thin skins can break if overcropped or over-irrigated. It’s typical to find slightly under-ripe, perfectly ripe, and raisin-like berries all within the same cluster. 2009, however, was beautifully balanced and even – an exceptional vintage that allowed the Zinfandel clusters to ripen much more uniformly than usual throughout the valley.
Aromas center on brambly fresh blackberry and deep, dark boysenberry. There is an uncommon brightness and vibrancy to the fruit flavors here: dark-fleshed plum and blackberry expand on a plump, round mid-palate accented by just a pinch of black pepper. Full-bodied and bold, the clean, lingering finish exemplifies the quality of the vintage. Enjoyable upon release, this Zinfandel will age nicely through 2016.
All “The Sips of the Week” are of course available at Wells Discount Liquors check them out at www.WellsWine.com
Wine and Dine with Laurie & Michael:
In partnership with Crystal Cruises and French Wine Explorers, Michael and I will be hosting a group during the Romancing the Riviera Cruise July 25-August 6, 2012 on board the breathtaking Crystal Serenity. We’ll sail our way from Lisbon to Rome with stops in Lisbon, Gibraltar, Barcelona Palomos, Cannes, Monte Carlo, Florence and Rome. Along the way we’ll have exclusive activities for our group that center on our shared love of food and wine. Crystal Cruises is now an all inclusive cruise ship which means your fare includes everything–food, wine, cabin and YES, wine and alcohol are included!! Learn more by clicking here
Tune in next week:
Next week we’ll talk to Paul Girouard from Crystal Cruise Lines, talk great Valentine’s gift ideas from Susannah Siger of Ma Petite Shoe…and so much more!
Special thanks to Wells Discount Liquors, Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis, Crystal Cruises, The Cavit Collection, J Brown Jewelers and Santa Rita Winery.
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