2019 Easter Wine Suggestions by Philip S. Kampe

                                                Easter 2019 Wine Suggestions

                                          DANGIN Champagne  ($38)
Lovely, elegant and balanced. Bright fruit and wonderful depth.

                                         Ca di Pesa 'TRAMONTO' dry Rose 2017  ($28).
This lovely 100% Sangiovese Rose is from Tuscany. Medium-bodied with lively acidity makes this a perfect
holiday wine.

                                         Le CARTUJA  Prorat Red   2016 ($21)
Pure, full-bodied Garnacha (70%) Mazuelo (30%) mix that possess dark fruit notes paired with high acidity.If you grill meat for the holiday, this is your wine.

                                        Il GRULLAIO Costa Toscana 2016  ($16)
An usual Tuscan wine that is made from equal amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Earthy with dark fruit and lather blend to make this a perfect wine for the holidays.

                                        Storia Italia AMARONE della Valpolicella 2015  ($48)
A wonderfully balanced, newly released Amarone with wonderful underlying structure.  Pure concentration of fruit makes this wine explode with flavor.

The BOBAL Journey Begins by Philip S. Kampe

                                                      The Bobal Journey and Quiz

The pursuit of red wine has always been one of my goals. Whether it’s a red Burgundy, a glass of Amarone or Primitivo or a Cabernet Sauvignon, I am a happy person when the juice of the red grape hits my discerning palate.

Not so long ago I sampled a red varietal (grape) that was overly friendly (juicy and delicious) and destined to be one of my new ‘go to’ grapes.  I attended a seminar on the Bobal varietal, led by one of the wine world’s luminaries, Nora Favelukas. Within the seminar hour I was converted.

The next day, I  arrived  home (western Massachusetts). It was time to  to pursue my  Bobal studies at home. I did my homework. (I always like to understand the muse I follow)

I learned that Bobal was Spain’s third most planted grape, after Tempranillo and Airen. Why hadn’t I heard of the grape until now? It is planted elsewhere, (France and Sardinia) but in small plots, In Spain it thrives.

D.O.Utiel-Requena, is known as the ‘Land of Bobal.’

Located in southeast Spain, about an hour plus from beautiful Valencia, Utiel-Requena is sun-drenched. The region has produced wine for 2700 years. It is also on the list to become a UNESCO Heritage World Site in the near future. With over 100 vineyards and 70,000 acres of Bobal, the future growth of this region and the grape should be immediate. That is why I am writing this article.

The problem is, its difficult to find Bobal in your neighborhood wine shop. I have tried and have had to order online to secure bottles to sample. I don’t want to be the only Bobal voice, but, once you taste the wine, you will understand my position.

Bobal means ‘bull’. According to folklore, the large clusters of grapes resembles a bull’s head. The grapes are thick-skinned, deep in color and rich (full) bodied. Its not until recently that the grape has headed towards stardom. In the last 2700 years, the grape was mainly a blending grape and a grape whose skins were used to color Rose wine.

With the latest generation of young winemakers throughout the region and their pursuit  to success, coupled with the older winemakers of the region, the direction of Bobal production has changed or done an about face.

Now, the grape will be defined by the winemaker who will certainly retain the elegance and robust complexity that make Bobal special. Sure, notable dark fruits dominate the palate. Think fig, prune, plum, blueberry and blackberry,

The province of Valencia has three D.O’s, Valencia, Alicante and Utiel-Requena, home of Bobal.

Bobal’s newly acquired nobility has created a unified need for the local wine association to represent Utiel-Requena, (Learn more at: www.utielrequena.org).

Utiel-Requena is located less then fifty miles from the Mediterranean Sea. The  combination of both the Mediterranean and Continental climate is defined simply as dry and hot, with short summers and cold and long winters.The air is often windy. Insects don't like wind. Vineyards do, so, many vineyards are organic and practice sustainability.

Alluvial soil and clay with limestone deposits are the home base of Bobal. The warm, dry winds of the Piniente, from the west, passes through the region. The altitude is between 1,950 feet to 2,960 feet. 80% of the vineyards are planted with Bobal. Bobal is grown mainly in Utiel-Requena, as well as neighboring Manchela, Alicante and Murcia.

The region is quite historical, establishing a D.O. in the 1930’s. In those days, Bobal was used as a blending grape, as were many other international varietals. The problem with Bobal is the fact that the clusters ripen unevenly. A positive note is with late flowering, frost is rarely a problem. Bobal likes heat and with the new generation of winemakers, we are learning that Bobal ages well.

The wines from Utiel-Requena follow the Spanish classification rules. Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva are common, as well as the word ‘Tradicion’ , which is on the bottle, guaranteeing a minimum of at least 70% of the varietal is in the blend. Vinification of Bobal is called doble pasta.

With over one hundred wineries and cooperatives, Utiel-Requena has the potential to become well known. Aren’t wine drinkers looking for the next, new varietal to try?

It may take a few years for this to happen, but, little by little, Bobal will reach the wine shops in your neighborhood. And if you are curious, ask your wine merchant to order Bobal or order Bobal online.

What you will get: a wine with low alcohol, elegant acidity and smooth tannins. Lots of fruit, while the bouquet is herbaceous. Plus, bottles are reasonably priced.

I sampled Bobal from the list of wineries below:
Sierra Norte
Marques del Atrio
Covinas
Dominio de la Vega
Chozas Carrascal
Bodegas Vibe
Valsangiacomo
Pago de Tharsys
Ladron de Lunas

Hope you find your Bobal.

Are you ready for a Bobal quiz?

The BOBAL Quiz

On a recent trip to the Utiel-Requena region of southeast Spain, near Valencia, I had the opportunity to learn about the Bobal varietal. Several years ago, I attended a seminar on Bobal, led by charismic wine educator Nora Favelukas, who opened my curiosity about this ‘fabled grape.’

I’m wondering how much you know about the Bobal grape?  
Let’s take a Quiz.
The correct answers are at the bottom…

1) Bobal is grown where?

a) Spain, France and Sardinia

b) Spain, France nd Portugal
c) Spain and Portugal
d) Spain, Sicily and Portugal

2) Bobal is the ……. most planted grape in Spain.

a) first

b) second

c) third

d) forth

3) Does Bobal have pyrazines?

 a) Yes
 b) No

4) Bobal generally grows on what type of soil(s)?

a) alluvial

b) clay
c) limestone
d) alluvial, clay with limestone

5) What percentage of the Bobal varietal is planted in Utiel-Requena, as compared to all other grapes planted in the region?

a) 50%

b) 60%

c) 70%
d) 80%

6) The word Bobal derives from bovale, meaning?

a) donkey

b) fox
c) bull
d) bobcat

7) Bobal follows the Spanish classified rules. Crianza is aged in oak for three months, Reserva has a minimum of twelve months in oak.  What is the minimum aging in oak for Gran Reserva?

a) 18 month

b) 24 months

c) 36 months

d) 48 months

8) Bobal grows in what type of climate(s)?

a) Continental
b) Mediterranean
c) Continental and Mediterranean

9) The Bobal grape has…..and is…..

a) thin skins and early budding
b) thick skins and is late budding

10) Bocal is permitted in the wines of……

a) Murcia

b) Alicante
c) Manchuela

d) Valencia
e) Valencia, Manchela, Alicante and Murcia


Answers:
1) a

2) c

3) b

4) d

5) d

6) c

7) b

8) c
9) b
10) e

The quiz was a way to introduce you to BOBAL, as well as a selfish way for me to learn about the varietal.

Philip S.Kampe
philip.kampe@thewinehub.com 

BOBAL- The Wine Quiz by Philip S. Kampe

                                                                  BOBAL

                                                                The BOBAL Quiz

On a recent trip to the Utiel-Requena region of southeast Spain, near Valencia, I had the opportunity to learn about the Bobal varietal. Several years ago, I attended a seminar on Bobal, led by charismatic wine educator Nora Favelukas, who opened my curiosity about this ‘fabled grape.’

I’m wondering how much you know about the Bobal grape?  
Let’s take a Quiz.
The correct answers are at the bottom…

1) Bobal is grown where?

a) Spain, France and Sardinia

b) Spain, France nd Portugal
c) Spain and Portugal
d) Spain, Sicily and Portugal

2) Bobal is the ……. most planted grape in Spain.

a) first

b) second

c) third

d) forth

3) Does Bobal have pyrazines?

 a) Yes
 b) No

4) Bobal generally grows on what type of soil(s)?

a) alluvial

b) clay
c) limestone
d) alluvial, clay with limestone

5) What percentage of the Bobal varietal is planted in Utiel-Requena, as compared to all other grapes planted in the region?

a) 50%

b) 60%

c) 70%
d) 80%

6) The word Bobal derives from bovale, meaning?

a) donkey

b) fox
c) bull
d) bobcat

7) Bobal follows the Spanish classified rules. Crianza is aged in oak for three months, Reserva has a minimum of twelve months in oak.  What is the minimum aging in oak for Gran Reserva?

a) 18 month

b) 24 months

c) 36 months

d) 48 months

8) Bobal grows in what type of climate(s)?

a) Continental
b) Mediterranean
c) Continental and Mediterranean

9) The Bobal grape has…..and is…..

a) thin skins and early budding
b) thick skins and is late budding

10) Bocal is permitted in the wines of……

a) Murcia

b) Alicante
c) Manchuela

d) Valencia
e) Valencia,Manchela, Alicante and Murcia


Answers:
1) a

2) c

3) b

4) d

5) d

6) c

7) b

8) c

9) b

10) e


Philip S. Kampe

philip.kampe@thewinehub.com 

Finally a Pinot Grigio I Like by Philip S. Kampe

                                                          Terlato Pinot Grigio 2017

Its really been a long time since I have truly liked a Pinot Grigio to the point that I want to write about my experience. For years, Pinot Grigio wines seem to be the wines one drinks at receptions or weddings. Its been quite awhile since I have taken the initiative to purchase a bottle on my own.

Recently, a wine friend influenced my decision to purchase a bottle (under $20) of Estate Grown Pinot Grigio from Terlato Vineyards. The vineyards are in northeastern Italy, in the Fruili Colli Orientali region.
Doing a little homework on the wine before sampling the bottle, I learned that this wine was handcrafted from start to finish. The vineyards are hillside and lie on soils of schist and marl. The vines are 20-30 years old and are Guyot-trained. They are hand harvested and bottled in darker bottles to help protect the quality of the wine from the sun.

My first sip of the wine found the 2017 to be complex and crisp. Flavors of fresh fruit burst in my mouth.It was obvious to me that concentrated flavors of peach and grapefruit sang their tune, while pears and apricots pierced my palate in-between the primary notes. The combination lent itself to a floral, fruity bouguet, one that was appealing in all aspects. Layers of fruit filled my mouth which burst into a crisp, acidic finish.

This luscious wine is 13% abv and is aged 6-8 months on the yeasts with weekly battonage. It is fermented in stainless steel tanks. There is no malolactic fermentation used in the process.

As of late, this is the best Pinot Grigio I have tasted in several years. Its worth a buy and should be rated at 94 points.
Philip S. Kampe

The San Miguel de Allende, Mexico Experience by Philip S. Kampe

                The San Miguel de Allende Experience

(We took a little break from the wine world for a  month or so to see what the world has to offer, tourist wise. We traveled to California, New Orleans and Mexico. This article is on one of the highlights of our travels)

San Miguel de Allende was the first town in Mexico, that I visited that was home to a large number of ex-pats. Close to twenty per cent of the population, or about 28,000 retires from America plus thousands from Canada line the cobblestone streets in numbers, searching for cultural events, restaurants, outdoor markets and that street side taco stand. Besides all of the above, San Miguel is an artistic learning center, full of art related lectures that educate and stimulate the mind, strolling musicians, opera, flamingo and musical entertainment in a hefty number of restaurants and bars. Many of the ex-pats are artists or are on their way to becoming artists. Every block has art galleries,some owned by ex-pats and others owned by locals.

If art is your thing, then San Miguel de Allende should be on your bucket list.

A multitude of art studios and art galleries dot the colorful town in all of the districts. The houses and businesses are all painted in similar dark red, brown and orange colors, making this town of 140,000 unique.

If you desire to visit or even move to San Miguel, the easiest route to visit this elegant town is to fly into Mexico City. Once at the airport, you will prepay a taxi vendor to book a taxi that will take you to the Norte bus station. It’s a 20-30 minute drive that will set you back $10-$15 dollars. At the bus station, you must book a bus to San Miguel de Allende. There are two reputable companies that vie for the four hour ride. Both ETN and Primera Plus follow the same route. It’s always best to take the next bus that is leaving.

Once in San Miguel, another taxi will be required to get you to your destination. Ours was a weeks stay at a penthouse above the popular Arroyo Gallery, located within walking distance of everything in San Miguel.

The owner of the penthouse and studio is Suzy Taylor, an ex-pat, who most recently (2007) lived in Washington Depot, Connecticut. Like so many others, she realized that San Miguel would fill her dream of opening a working studio and gallery. After purchasing land, Suzy Taylor designed the 3,000 sf multi-purpose building. Her dream became reality.

Today, Ms.Taylor, is a successful gallery owner that not only paints, but, designs clothes, focusing on women’s blouses ($85-$200) and furniture, which is made by local artisans. She also has a line of  jewelry that she sells.

Suzy’s background is in interior design. She was a photo stylist and magazine editor for Victoria Magazine and other publications. Her painting career has evolved through the years. Focusing on light, airy colors and composition, Suzy’s artwork is like none other in San Miguel.

The third floor penthouse that we stayed in was breathtaking, both inside and out. The views of the city, with its architecture and countless steeples could not have been better. A beautiful silhouette of the city could be seen from inside the penthouse. There are two outside terraces, as well, to take in the scenery while having a cocktail on the veranda. We preferred to hear the birds sing as we took breakfast on the covered terrace. The apartment has a galley kitchen, a coffee maker (coffee beans and milk provided) and a two burner hotplate with utensils as needed. With so many restaurants within walking distance,why cook?

San Miguel has happy hours daily. Normally 2x1 Margaritas are the prize. The Margaritas are not made with a mix. They are only made with two parts of Tequila, one part lime juice and one part Contreau (you can use triple sec).

With a Mardi Gras attitude and art mixed with local architecture, San Miguel is hard to beat.
Beware--Summers are very hot.

If you want to stay at Suzy Taylor’s penthouse or visit her studio at Arroyo Gallery, visit her at www.suzytaylor.com

                                                                 Arroyo Gallery

                                                       Artist Suzy Taylor, at work.

Piper-Heidsieck Flows Liberally At The 2019 Oscar Party by Philip S. Kampe

                                     
Let me be honest.

I attend Oscar parties, not for the nominated movie announcements, but, for the Champagne. This is the fifth year, Piper-Heidsieck is the Champagne of choice at the 91^st Oscars, which takes place on February 24^th. Fortunately, thanks to contacts in the industry, I received an invite to view the live announcements from Hollywood.

The announcement party takes place at a popular iPic theater in Manhattan, where the seats have tables-sorta like boxes at concerts. Champagne, at each table is flowing as we watch the big screen with the announcements.

I was a bit surprised that the hosts, Kumail Nanjiani and Tracee Ellis, making the Oscar announcement did not have a glass of the red labeled Piper-Heidsieck Champagne in their hands.

My Piper Heidsieck days go back to Cannes Film Festival (1999) when Piper-Heidsieck started their twenty year run as the official Champagne of the festival. My father remembers seeing Rex Harrison standing next to a 48 liter bottle of Piper-Heidsieck in 1964, celebrating his role in ‘My Fair Lady.’

Historically, Piper-Heidsieck, originally supported the cinema in 1933, when a bottle appeared in a Laurel and Hardy movie, ‘Sons of the Desert.’ The first bottle of Piper Heidsieck was created for the Queen in 1785. The brand has always been synonymous with quality and excellence.

The 2019 Oscar nominations ran the gamut, from predictable, ‘A Star Is Born’ to new wave, home viewing movies like ‘Roma.’ Other nominations for Best Picture included, ‘Vice’, ‘BlackKlansman’, Green Book’, Black Panther’, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘The Favourite.’

For the 91^st Oscar nominations, Piper-Heidsieck created a limited edition magnum-which you can see in the photo. It is being  held by MC Michael Green (the guy in the red and gold jacket..)

The Oscar nominations each year carry a lot of surprises, Noticeable milestones this year included the ‘Black Panther’, the first Marvel Studio movie and the first superhero movie to receive a Best picture nomination. Popular, ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ was passed over, as was Bradley Cooper for Best director in ‘A Star Is Born.’ And last, but not least, Netflix streaming movie, ‘Roma,’ received ten Oscar nominations.

The 91^st Academy Awards take place at 8pm (EST) on ABC.
Make sure your Piper-Heidsieck is chilling…

Philip S. Kampe
Philip.kampe@thewinehub.com 

                                                         The Oscar Party Begins

                                                                 MC Michael Green

                          Working on this article at home, with my Favorite Beverage.

Whats worse? Drinking Beer From a Tennis Can or Drinking Wine from a Pringles Can? by Philip S. Kampe

  Whats worse? Drinking beer from a tennis can or drinking wine from a Pringles can?

I am a copycat wine drinker.

Most people believe that I listen to my own drummer. And that really is the case, but, in certain circumstances, I follow someone else’s beat.

In this instance, a Texas woman was banned from Walmart for life because she drank wine from a Pringles potato chip container, while riding around a Walmart parking lot in an electric shopping cart. Mind you, she was caught at six thirty in the morning. Witnesses noticed her driving in circles and attempting wheelies for an hour or so before being apprehended..

This monumental event didn’t go unnoticed by me. It brought up a lot of questions, while raising my curiosity about this woman’s resourcefulness.

What I want to know: What flavor of Pringles potato chips (BBQ, Spicy, Original) container did she drink from? What type of wine was her preference? Did she clean the Pringles container out first or did she leave the residue inside the canister?

With all of these unanswered questions, I took to the task and set up my experiment during the Sunday football playoffs.

Having grown up in New Orleans, I have to admit that I am experienced with drinking beer from tennis ball cans. I’m guessing that the rubbery canned odor will be much worse then drinking wine from a Pringles can. The rubbery scent is foul. The Pringles odors vary, but, in a good sense.

One of my wine friends and Master Sommelier, Fred Dexheimer, suggested that I start my experiment with a Riesling. Apparently, he has had some prior experience with Pringles and wine somewhere in his illustrious career. Freed sets up bars and restaurants with unique spirit and wine concoctions.

My experiment began with two BBQ Pringles cans. Both cans were emptied. One was washed with water, the other was left with the debris (powder) from the chips. I pored half a bottle of Riesling in each canister. Apparently, a Pringle canister can hold a full bottle of wine and have room to spare. That was my first finding. Secondly, I put the transparent lid on top of each canister and turned each can upside down. No leaks.

Maybe I was onto something?

I turned both cans upright, It was time.

I drank from the clean can first. The aroma was noticeable-a vibrant BBQ odor that was mixed with honeysuckle and orange blossom. It didn’t turn me off, but, quite the opposite, it intrigued my palate. I was now ready to drink from the BBQ Pringles can. No surprises here. The Weingut Maximin Grunhaus Herrenberg Riesling 2016 was as fruity as ever. The 50mg of sugar disappeared and was replaced with a faint smoky taste. Could that be the BBQ potato chips or just part of the wine? 

I sampled the second can, with the residue and believed that the results were the same, residue and all. The next sampling was an obvious pairing, pizza Pringles with  Chianti.
The classic twosome were like a match made in heaven. The Ruffino Ducale Chianti Classico Reserva 2015 was well balanced, velvety on the palate with hints of rosemary and tomato sauce on the palate. Did a hint of tomato sauce sneak its way into my mouth by way of the Pringles can? To answer this question, I went one step further. I poured a glass of the Chianti in a wine glass and proceeded to sample. What disappeared was the tomato sauce flavor. It was replaced with rosemary, an herb that normally dominates whatever it comes in contact with.

What I have learned from this experiment: Drinking wine from Pringles cans does add nuisances to a wines flavor. If you are not satisfied with a wine that you buy, try drinking it from a non-rinsed Pringles canister. Your results will vary, of course.

note: Save your empty Pringles cans and use them as wine glasses for your next together or experiment on your own.

                                                                   Philip S.Kampe

Philip.kampe@thewinehub.com  

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