Friday, June 20, 2014

The Cider Brothers from Lodi

Freshly fermented apple juice has characteristics similar to wine - tannins, acids, flavors, aroma and body, according to cider experts Michael and Paul Scotto, also known as the Cider Brothers. The Scottos, 5th generation vintners from Lodi, California, know a thing or two about wine and and wanted to dip their toes into the rapidly growing artisan Cider market.

Their recently released William Tell craft ciders, both a Hard Apple Cider and a Pinot Grigio Hard Apple Cider made with a base of California Pinot Grigio wine are bright, tangy, and much dryer than commercial ciders made from concentrate. Each 22-ounce bottle retails for $8.99, and they are Gluten-free.


For more information, visit www.CiderBrothers.com

© Copyright 2014 Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis, Planet Grape LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Spicy Catalan Reds for Dad's Day


Cellar Vall Llach, Priorat, Spain




Famous Catalan singer Lluis Llach and his friend Enric Costa founded their winery in 1992 in Porrera, part of the prestigious Priorat appellation just south of Barcelona, Spain.



Llicorella Soil



Slate hillsides here, some with a special "tiger stripe", or "llicorella" soil, produce gorgeous wines from 60-90 year old vine Carignan and Grenache, and more recently planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah.


Albert Costa
Today Enric's son Albert Costa  runs the winery and makes the wine.


Three new releases to check out, especially for Father's Day as stand alone gifts or to pair with BBQ, are:

 - 2011 Vall Llach Embruix DOQ Priorat $24.95

 - 2010 Vall Llach Porrera Vi de Vila DOQ Priorat $50

 - 2009 Vall Llach Idus de Vall Llach $65



"Embruix", or "bewitching" in Catalan, is made with the youngest vines - in this case 15-20 years old,  grown in rocky soil in this abundantly warm region. It is soft, plummy, and spicy with notes of dark chocolate, raspberry pie, earth and tar. It is rich and "manly" but very well-balanced.

The quaint, remote village of Porrera is 12 miles inland from the Mediterranean Sea and counts just 450 residents. There is more humidity hear on the eastern side of the Priorat appellation, just as there is in Carneros in southern Napa Valley. So the resultant wines are fresher, lighter on their feet, than those grown in the hottest parts. "Vi de Vila" refers to the new list of 12 sub-appellations, ancient villages with prime vineyards, that may now be listed on the label. This blend of the local old vine Carignan and Grenache boasts an alcohol by volume of 15.7%, so do serve with food. It is intense yet light on its feet, with notes of dark cherry, mulberry, aged balsamic vinegar, mushroom, dried herbs, and cedar.

"Idus," named for the Ides of March, has the same blend as "Embruix" (say "Em-broosh"), but the vine age is 50-100 years so the wine is far more complex. This one is 15.4% and has notes of cassis, fig, blackberry cobbler, fennel sausage, slate, vanilla, cigar box, and grilled bread. It is muscular, powerful, intense and focused.

© Copyright 2014 Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis, Planet Grape LLC. All Rights Reserved.