Wines, 1st Friday, August 6, 2010 August White Wine Selection Encostas do Lima Vinho Verde 2008. Douro Valley, Portugal  Delightful, fresh, lightly-spritzig Vinho Verde. Beautiful lime and grapefruit aromas, peachy flavors with some complexity, low alcohol and a hint of sweetness. Very refreshing. Encostas do Lima is produced at Adega Cooperativa de Ponte de Lima, a beautiful small town with a Roman bridge and medieval towers. Vinho Verde is natural as an aperitif or served with light seafood such as ceviche. Tangy cheeses. Grilled summer vegetables such as zucchini, eggplant, peppers, red onions, tomatoes also work well with this wine's bright flavors. Blouberg Blanc, non-vintage.  Stellenbosch, South Africa A zesty quaffing blend of Sauvignon Blanc (60%), Sémillon (20%), and Cape Riesling (20%) named for the blue-tinged mountains of the Cape. Aromas of green figs with an herbal note. Lemony and fruit flavors, not quite dry, with a crisp and fresh finish.  A great choice for simply enjoying and sharing. Versatile food wine: pizza and pastas, seafood and chicken, cream-based dishes and cheeses. PX (Pedro Ximenez) 2009, Cucao.  Elqui Valley, Chile Here’s a dry white that is delightfully different!  Aromas of wildflowers and lemon zest with subtle notes of herbs, white pepper and almond.  Flavors of citrus fruit, pear, pineapple, quince and hints of zesty, sea-salt. Silky texture, nice concentration, yet lively and refreshing.  Juicy with good acidity—a delicious, thirst-quenching combination. Appetizers. Grilled chicken or pork with herbs. (Pedro Ximenez grape is well-known for the famous sweet, rich Spanish sherry, but of course the winemaker decides whether the wine will be dry or sweet, not the grape.)           August Red Wine Selection   Pinot Noir 2009, Mirassou. California A charming, simple, black cherry-laden Pinot Noir from several counties in California. Well-balanced, soft black cherry flavors and generous aromas. An outstanding value! Chill it for 15 minutes before serving. Serve it with Italian pasta/tomato sauce dishes, tuna or salmon, grilled veggies. Pairs well with red meat for occasions when you prefer a slightly lighter wine. Zweigelt 2009, Berger. Kremstal, Austria  -  1 liter bottle, crown cap A very pleasing red from a less well-known grape. Big fresh fruit aromas of ripe tangy cherries and full flavors of cherry with a hint of cinnamon. Its refreshing acidity balances the richness of cream sauces and robust meats. A fine match to wienerschnitzel or chicken-fried steak. Very good with BBQ and spicy dishes.  Chill slightly. [Zweigelt was developed in Austria in 1922 by Dr. Fritz Zweigelt. It is a hybrid cross of Blaufrankisch (Lemberger) and Saint Laurent (a pinot noir relative).] Carmenèré Reserva 2008, Santa Rita. Rapel Valley, Chile An exceptionally good, estate-grown red. It gives us rich, ripe black fruits with notes of chocolate and vanilla. Medium-bodied with some complexity, tremendously silky tannins and a lingering finish. Terrific value.  Delicious with steak, venison, robust cheeses. Think steak with Gorgonzola topping. [Carmenèré was brought from France by the 1850’s to Chile, where it thrives in the foothills of the Andes.  It was simply interplanted with Merlot which it strongly resembles and was included as Merlot production until its identification in the 1990’s as a separate grape in Chilean vineyards.  Carmenèré was largely responsible for that distinctively spicy, intense character attributed to Chilean “Merlot.” ]                   Cheers,  Wine World Taste through the wines at your own pace. We are pleased to talk with you about the wines.