Okoboji Wines tasting; 37 wines tasted
I've been a bit slow getting back to this. Sorry for the delay.
Okoboji Wines have an extensive, diversified portfolio of wonderful wines from all over the world. Their tasting each year is the most work for me because they pour many wines that aren't available to taste year round due to small allotments or availability. Plus I want to get caught up on the current vintage of some of my "standards". On top of that there are many new wines to try each year. I tasted 110 wines one year and over 160 another year. This year the show was scaled down quite a bit which was understandable, economy being taken into consideration. The tasting was still extremely nice and much more manageable from the tasting perspective. Des Moines Golf & Country Club is a beautiful setting and the food superb. Could have used a bit more room for notes but vintage and pricing were nice.
So what was good?
A nice, crisp and brightly fruited Italian white, Contesa Pecorino Colline Pescaresi 2010 is a wonderful wine to pair with fish, cream sauces and it's namesake cheese.
A few tasty reds stand out including;
Warwick Estates 2008 Three Cape Ladies, a wonderfully drinking blend of Cabernet, Shiraz & Pinotage from South Africa. Great by itself, even better with food. Sharp cheeses, red meat as well as stews, chilis and casseroles would smile.
Villa Giada 09' Barbera "I Suri Russ", a northern Italian red that can go with most anything but shines with tomatoes is a great every day drinker.
Domaine la Garrigue Cotes du Rhone "Cuvee Romaine", a southern French red that stands out most every vintage as a standard for CDR's. Black & blue fruit, earthy and spicy, this is cassoulet wine. Or whatever game or fowl you can haul in.
Raptor Ridge 2008 Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir - From an Oregon winery that's making a lot of good pinot, the 08' Reserve was my standout. Beautiful nose of autumn leaves and blue fruits turns into blackberries, blueberries & black cherry on the palate accented by earthy notes. This is the pinot this wine and food guy wants on his table Thanksgiving Day.
Lastly, to finish off the evening Broadbent Selections makes a wonderful line of Madiera's to sip on. Yes, madiera is for cooking but there are also luxurious ones to sip on over coffee or with a cigar after a meal. The 10 yr. old Malmsey was superb with dried fig, date & orange peel as well as toffee and caramel notes.
That's the lot. I'll get out my review of MJ Distributing's holiday show in the next couple of days.
Eat well, drink well, live well.
Howard Bernstein
Wine and Food Guy
Des Moines Wine & Food Connection
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