The pro cyclist's road race season has ended and now cyclocross is where the action is. The change in season signals a change in the Lucha Vino Challenges. The spotlight will start shining on wines from non-cycling regions as well as some interesting intrastate challenges. This week's matchup had its origins rooted in October, AKA Merlot Month.
Merlot dominant blends from Washington battle it out in the inaugural Merlot Maniacs challenge. It's Walla Walla vs. a Red Mountain / Horse Heaven Hills / Yakima Valley Tag Team in a no holds barred Washington State Merlot fueled feud!
Kontos Cellars 2008 Alatus v. Nota Bene Cellars 2008 Miscela
Showing posts with label Horse Heaven Hills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Horse Heaven Hills. Show all posts
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Monday, August 4, 2014
Washington Merlot v. St. Emillion
The latest edition of the Tour de France finished up during the last weekend of July. This year's tour was light on drama in the context of overall victory - Vincenzo Nibali established a lead in the first week of the race and never let go. Well, he did give up the Yellow Jersey on Bastille Day "as a gift to the French" according to his team's Director Sportif, Alexander Vinokourov.
The race itself was still interesting as the route traced its way through the Alpes and the Pyrenese mountain ranges. This year the race spent a considerable amount of time traversing the South of France and through the Pyrenese where the final mountain top finish was waiting for the racers. Once the Hautacam was conquered all that stood in the way of the Paris finish was a sprinter's stage and long (54 km) Time Trial.
The Time Trial started in Bergerac and finished in Periguex, slightly East of the Bordeaux wine region. That is close enough to Bordeaux to earn top billing on this week's Lucha Vino challenge.
2009 Alexandria Nicole Gravity Merlot v. 2009 Chateau Lyonnat Lussac St. Emilion
The French had their best Tour de France finish in almost 20 years placing two riders on the podium in second and third place. Can the Ch. Lyonnat follow up that performance with a victory in this week's challenge. Let's find out...
The race itself was still interesting as the route traced its way through the Alpes and the Pyrenese mountain ranges. This year the race spent a considerable amount of time traversing the South of France and through the Pyrenese where the final mountain top finish was waiting for the racers. Once the Hautacam was conquered all that stood in the way of the Paris finish was a sprinter's stage and long (54 km) Time Trial.
The Time Trial started in Bergerac and finished in Periguex, slightly East of the Bordeaux wine region. That is close enough to Bordeaux to earn top billing on this week's Lucha Vino challenge.
2009 Alexandria Nicole Gravity Merlot v. 2009 Chateau Lyonnat Lussac St. Emilion
The French had their best Tour de France finish in almost 20 years placing two riders on the podium in second and third place. Can the Ch. Lyonnat follow up that performance with a victory in this week's challenge. Let's find out...
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Washington Pinot Noir vs. Burgundy
Things are slowing down on the pro cycling scene while the anticipation for the 100th edition of the Tour de France is building. This past week saw some action on the Pro Continental scene at the Tour des Pays de Savoie. The route is in the general vacinity of Burgundy. That sounds like a good enough reason to break out some Burgundy.
This week's challenge features a Washington Pinot Noir from the Horse Heaven Hills facing off against a Pinot Noir from the Cote Chalonnais sub-region of Burgundy.
2010 Gilbert Cellars Pinot Noir v. 2009 Domaine Michel-Andreotti Bourgogne Vieilles Vignes
This week's challenge features a Washington Pinot Noir from the Horse Heaven Hills facing off against a Pinot Noir from the Cote Chalonnais sub-region of Burgundy.
2010 Gilbert Cellars Pinot Noir v. 2009 Domaine Michel-Andreotti Bourgogne Vieilles Vignes
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Washington Barbera v. Piedmont
The Giro d'Italia finished up in Northern Italy last weekend passing through Piedmont or Piemonte, one of the most famous Italian wine regions. The final three days of racing were extremely demanding with two huge mountain stages on Friday and Saturday followed by an Individual Time Trial on Sunday. The General Classification was so close that the final result was in question until the completion of the Time Trial in Milan.
This Giro was a series of firsts including the first Grand Tour win by a Canadian - Ryder Hesjedal, first Grand Tour win for Garmin Baracuda and the first Giro d'Italia put on by new race director Michele Acquarone.
This week's Lucha Vino match features its own trifecta with an Old World Barbera grappling with two New World opponents. One from Washington the other from Oregon. Both featuring Washington grapes.
2008 IULI Rossore Barbera v. 2007 Hard Row to Hoe Shameless Hussy Barbera And 2009 Cana's Feast Barbera
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Washington Cab Franc v. Loire Valley
Paris-Nice is an early season stage races that tests Tour de France contenders. This race is also known as the Race to the Sun since it starts in Paris and traces a route South East to Nice, finishing on the Mediterranean Sea. At this time of year the weather is usually cold during the early stages of the race and the riders are eager to finish in Nice where they can anticipate nicer conditions.
The second and third stages of the race passed through the Eastern reaches of the Loire Valley. That is enough of a reason for Lucha Vino to feature a clash of Cabernet Francs. This week features a Bartholomew Cabernet Franc v. a Cab Franc from The Loire.
2008 Bartholomew Cabernet Franc v. 2010 La Grange aux Belles Anjou
Tale of the Tape
2008 Bartholomew Cabernet Franc
100% Cabernet Franc sourced from the Coyote Canyon vineyard located in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA.
Production was two barrels - one second use and one neutral.
Purchased from the winery for $28.
2010 La Grange aux Belles Anjou Rouge 53
This French challenger is a bit of a mystery. Garagiste says it is 100% Cab Franc. Some other clues suggest it is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Regardless, this fresh upstart Luchador isn't giving away very many secrets.
One thing we know for sure, this Luchador is from the Loire Valley.
Purchased from Garagiste for $16.84.
Round 1. First Opening
Bartholomew is stomping on would be contenders and stomping into the ring with a nose of dark fruit, coffee, herbs and dusty underbrush. The palate is dark fruit, spicy clove and hints of cocoa that linger on to the finish.
La Grange aux Belles is reminiscent of a classic ZZ Top tune singing the praises of border town girls. This Luchador is interesting, but not in the way that Bill Gibbons made those Texas girls sound. The nose has character of creamy currants, mineral and woodsy dry underbrush. The palate shows medium red notes of cranberry and woody brambles with a dry finish.
These Luchadors are showing very different styles facing off in the Lucha Vino ring of doom. In the ring of doom you need to be big and burly and in this round the Bartholomew is living up to the billing. Round one goes to Bartholomew, our Washington State Cab Franc luchador.
Round 2. One hour after Opening
Bartholomew is gaining power boasting a nose of dark currant, black cherry, menthol and cocoa. The palate is also up to the challenge with notes of black cherry, clove spices and cola with a cedar spiced finish that ends with semisweet chocolate.
La Grange is getting more eccentric with a nose of creamy vinegar, cranberry and brambles with a palate that is also showing cranberry along with notes of tobacco and a tart cedar finish.
Eccentricity can be enticing when you are visiting the border town ladies, but not when you are trying to deal pain in the wrestling ring. Round two goes to Bartholomew.
Round 3. One day after Opening
About the only shot that La Grange has is to angle for a knock out.
Bartholomew has already shown some significant strength through the first two rounds. Round three leaves no doubt. The nose is showing currant, floral earthy notes along with some chalkiness. The palate is also showing currant, black cherry and clove with cocoa that finishes with semi sweet chocolate.
La Grange has a nose of cranberry and earthy brambles. The palate is also showing cranberry tartness and tobacco with a tart cedar dry finish that has the tobacco coming back again at the end.
Bartholomew continued building muscle mass through all three rounds while La Grange slid from interesting to eccentric to flat out crazy perhaps the result of too many head blows delivered by Bartholomew the Bruiser.
Bartholomew takes round three and the match 3 - 0.
Wrap up and over all observations
These were two very different styles of Cab Franc. The Loire Valley Cat Franc was full of earthiness, herbal notes and underbrush. These characteristics held on over the course of the entire bout. I'm going to leave my other bottle in the cellar for a couple years to see if this crazy Luchador will stop bounding off the walls of its padded cell.
The Washington Cab Franc was big and bruising the herbal notes along with some brambly notes were present but subdued. The dominant characteristic of dark fruit, clove spices and semi-sweet chocolate carried this luchador over the top inflicting serious damage like a flying body slam off the top rope.
I give the Bartholomew a solid 88 and La Grange an 85.
The second and third stages of the race passed through the Eastern reaches of the Loire Valley. That is enough of a reason for Lucha Vino to feature a clash of Cabernet Francs. This week features a Bartholomew Cabernet Franc v. a Cab Franc from The Loire.
2008 Bartholomew Cabernet Franc v. 2010 La Grange aux Belles Anjou
Tale of the Tape
2008 Bartholomew Cabernet Franc
100% Cabernet Franc sourced from the Coyote Canyon vineyard located in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA.
Production was two barrels - one second use and one neutral.
Purchased from the winery for $28.
This French challenger is a bit of a mystery. Garagiste says it is 100% Cab Franc. Some other clues suggest it is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Regardless, this fresh upstart Luchador isn't giving away very many secrets.
One thing we know for sure, this Luchador is from the Loire Valley.
Purchased from Garagiste for $16.84.
Round 1. First Opening
Bartholomew is stomping on would be contenders and stomping into the ring with a nose of dark fruit, coffee, herbs and dusty underbrush. The palate is dark fruit, spicy clove and hints of cocoa that linger on to the finish.
La Grange aux Belles is reminiscent of a classic ZZ Top tune singing the praises of border town girls. This Luchador is interesting, but not in the way that Bill Gibbons made those Texas girls sound. The nose has character of creamy currants, mineral and woodsy dry underbrush. The palate shows medium red notes of cranberry and woody brambles with a dry finish.
These Luchadors are showing very different styles facing off in the Lucha Vino ring of doom. In the ring of doom you need to be big and burly and in this round the Bartholomew is living up to the billing. Round one goes to Bartholomew, our Washington State Cab Franc luchador.
Round 2. One hour after Opening
Bartholomew is gaining power boasting a nose of dark currant, black cherry, menthol and cocoa. The palate is also up to the challenge with notes of black cherry, clove spices and cola with a cedar spiced finish that ends with semisweet chocolate.
La Grange is getting more eccentric with a nose of creamy vinegar, cranberry and brambles with a palate that is also showing cranberry along with notes of tobacco and a tart cedar finish.
Eccentricity can be enticing when you are visiting the border town ladies, but not when you are trying to deal pain in the wrestling ring. Round two goes to Bartholomew.
Round 3. One day after Opening
About the only shot that La Grange has is to angle for a knock out.
Bartholomew has already shown some significant strength through the first two rounds. Round three leaves no doubt. The nose is showing currant, floral earthy notes along with some chalkiness. The palate is also showing currant, black cherry and clove with cocoa that finishes with semi sweet chocolate.
La Grange has a nose of cranberry and earthy brambles. The palate is also showing cranberry tartness and tobacco with a tart cedar dry finish that has the tobacco coming back again at the end.
Bartholomew continued building muscle mass through all three rounds while La Grange slid from interesting to eccentric to flat out crazy perhaps the result of too many head blows delivered by Bartholomew the Bruiser.
Bartholomew takes round three and the match 3 - 0.
Wrap up and over all observations
These were two very different styles of Cab Franc. The Loire Valley Cat Franc was full of earthiness, herbal notes and underbrush. These characteristics held on over the course of the entire bout. I'm going to leave my other bottle in the cellar for a couple years to see if this crazy Luchador will stop bounding off the walls of its padded cell.
The Washington Cab Franc was big and bruising the herbal notes along with some brambly notes were present but subdued. The dominant characteristic of dark fruit, clove spices and semi-sweet chocolate carried this luchador over the top inflicting serious damage like a flying body slam off the top rope.
I give the Bartholomew a solid 88 and La Grange an 85.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)