It was an exotic and sometimes raucous evening at Zinful Wine Bar and Restaurant during the Toledo Wines and Vines South of the Equator tasting. Wines from Argentina, Australia, Chile and New Zealand were featured.
Six wines were on the tasting menu plus a seventh bonus wine. Chef Mike prepared four dishes to accompany the wines. The wine lineup was:
- Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand
- Carrick "Unraveled" Pinot Noir, New Zealand
- Santa Ema Reserve Merlot, Chile
- The Lucky Country Shiraz, Australia
- Allamand "H" red blend (50/50 Malbec, Cab), Argentina
- Bramare Cabernet Sauvignon, Argentina
- Bonus Wine (extra charge) Montes Purple Angel Carmenere, Chile
The lone white on the list was the Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc, from New Zealand. It was a very good choice. We love the vibrant Sauv Blancs from the Marlborough region and this was spot on. The refreshing wine had zesty citrus flavors with a touch of herbaciousness. The acidity was not teeth-rattling and so it was a nice kickoff to the evening. This was picked as the group’s second favorite wine.
We next visited Australia’s McLaren Vale region for The Lucky Country 2010 Shiraz. When selecting the wines for the tasting, we had previously sampled another Shiraz that had a good dollop of sweetness. We opted for this drier version and were not disappointed. It paired nicely with some Poppyseed Cheesecakes. This is a savory wine with a focus on dark fruits. It tends more to the rugged flavors of Syrah than the Shiraz style (both the same grape!).
You can’t have a South of the Equator tasting without Malbec. The Allamand “H” red blend is 50% Malbec and 50% Cabernet. Our tasters either loved it or could leave it. The wine is finished in oak, giving it the sturdiest tannins of the lineup so far. Malbec is a plush wine, but here the softness is balanced with the Cabernet.
The bonus wine was the Montes Purple Angel Carmenere from Chile. Carmenere is Chile’s most famous red grape – with the prominence that Malbec has in Argentina. It is a member of the Cabernet family of grapes, but has a softer body and richer red berry flavor. It also has a dash of Petit Verdot. This was the most complex wine of the evening and had several layers. Beyond the berry rush there was a nice mixture of toast and tea leaves. Just luscious.
Thanks to everyone who came out to enjoy the evening. A special tip of the cap to Joyce Franzblau and her staff at Zinful for making it an extra special night. We promise we won’t wait another three years until our next TWAV tasting.
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