Beau Vigne, Juliet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2008

Quite possibly one of my all time favorites from Napa Valley, the Beau Vigne Juliet delivers on all accounts.  First encountered at our 2009 Wine at Wholesales Night at the club, we tasted the 2006 and I couldn't believe how supple and rewarding this wine truly was.  And when I sampled the 2008, I immediately bought two cases for the club.

The nose begins with beautiful fruit and cocoa aromas, fruity liqueurs, and overall "an inviting scent that lures you to the sensual vices of the palate."  (This is literally what I wrote in my notebook when I was sampling the bottle!)  Opening with a very sexy fruit forward taste, the wine develops both power and elegance through its clean and easy mid-palate.  There are very dark fruit flavors bursting throughout the glass, with hints of smoke, earth, and tobacco within the luscious and full feel of the wine.  The tannins are incredibly structured to add character to the wine, while not too powerful to ensure a silky, smooth finish.  This is truly has all the excellence of Napa wrapped into one bottle.  And to make the package even better, this is not overly-priced juice.  NapaCabs.com has this phenomenal bottle stock, if you are in the market, at $54.95... an incredible deal.  My guess is you will find the 2008 Juliet in restaurants at approximately $80 to $100.

A remarkable score and review from Robert Parker: 94 pts... "The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Juliet... shows off winemaker Dave Phinney's terrific, sexy, opulent, flamboyant style.  Personality-wise, it is more like a 2007 than a 2008... This is one of my favorite unheralded producers in Napa Valley.  The wines have off-the-charts richness, great balance, and the potential... to be aged for 20 years or more.  There is a striking purity and intensity to these wines that merits serious attention..."  Interesting to note that Parker's review lists the composition of the wine at 76% Cab, 6% Merlot, and the rest Cab Franc and Petite Verdot, however, Beau Vigne's website lists the ingredients as 76% Cab 16% Merlot, 6% Petite Verdot, and 2% Cab Franc.  So, I'm going with Beau Vigne's website on the make up of the wine [they made it :)], but irregardless, I love it, and I highly recommend it for any occasion.

FSU Hospitality Gala 2011: Next Stop, the Checkered Flag

I can't believe it's finally here!  Four days away from the big night: The Road to 20 Hospitality Gala 2011!  The 20th Anniversary of the Program's "main event," the project that builds the following year's scholarships, site visits, new equipment, professional student organization funds, and the seed money for the next Gala, will this year be raising enough funds for an endowment that will produce higher scholarships for future students.  The Gala will be held at the JW Marriott Grand Rapids, and we are incredibly excited for the new venue and exciting changes!

In the above and in previous posts, I keep referring to "we," yet I have never defined "we."  I am referring to our friends who we met first in college, and then developed relationships with over the years through the Hospitality Gala and other projects within the Program.  In some facet, each one of us helped plan, organize, build, and facilitate the Hospitality Galas of our time (makes us sound old).  From this ever-growing experience, we then became friends in school, went on professional education trips together to Anaheim, Orlando, Toronto, Seattle, Washington DC, Las Vegas, and even Honolulu, and simply met for lunch or dinner on a regular basis.  And still today we meet every year for Christmas, and hopefully several times in between.  One big gathering was our wedding... and another wedding is on its way in September for two of our dear friends... and another in a little over a year.  There have been trips to New York City, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, and definately back to Big Rapids to visit Ferris.  I think a group vacation to somewhere tropical is next in order.


There have been some crazy memories throughout the years, whether it has been laughing around a table filled with big yellow buttons, showing our competitive edge at a game of golf, or opening a special bottle of wine for everyone to share, we have made some incredible memories.  People such as Kim from Big Rapids, Joe from Boston/Grand Rapids/Chicago, Lynn from Baltimore, Devin from South Carolina, Alissa from Bay City, Leah & Jason from Novi, and of course, Erica and I from Chicago... these are the people who care so much about this endeavor, that we continually support it every year.  Others who have supported it in the past, or who are on board for the Road to 20 include Scott from Chicago, Amy from California, and Chris from Fort Wayne... and we couldn't be more than happy to see these friends on Saturday.


For instance, Lynn, flying in from Baltimore, reminded me of a time that I, let's say, don't recall... there may have been wine involved and it was totally an accident... but at least I'm always on her mind: "Ben, you'll be pleased to know that I think of you every morning in the shower.  I have a scar on my left wrist that still remains from a cigar burn at our fabulous wine party.  I think fondly of the memories when I see the branding.  That said, 5 years later, the invitation to that wine party and a picture of us, still sits in my kitchen.  It was one of the first times that we started to become as close as we are today, I think."  Again, accident, but good memory... I think... I hope.


And from Leah (Novi, MI), "I have been thinking all week about a juicy Gala story... I don't even know where to start.  From when we were in college, my greatest memories were: the team buildings, running around Big Rapids like crazy people with the catering truck, nights spent in GR as alumni with the Scotch, the after-parties at the townhouses...  The last two years attending Gala as alumni... I have wonderful memories: from Lynn and Devin using the bath tub as a pool... to walking home in Joe's shoes and jacket from the Gate (since Jason left me at the bar).  I have so many wonderful memories and thinking back now, all I can do is smile!!  Being a part of Gala is so much more than putting on an event for our Program... it is about coming together and forming bonds that will last a lifetime.  Just think: if it wasn't for Gala, I wouldn't have known that Jason existed [fiancée: September 2011!!!!]... thank God he drove the truck for two years!  Just think, Ben, who knows if you and Erica would have met without the Hospitality Program!  Needless to say, I love you guys so much and couldn't imagine my life without any of you and I have Gala and the Hospitality Program to thank for it!!!"


These are the kind of memories that the Annual Hospitality Gala from Ferris State University can create.  We hope you are able to support the program in some form or fashion, whether it is in attendance, in sponsorship, or in your thoughts.  If you wish to find out more information about this incredible event, please find the above link with the 'Road to 20" icon at the top left of Juicy Tannins... the future of the Hospitality Industry thanks you from the bottom of their hearts!!  Here's to a fantastic Gala 2011, the 20th Anniversary!!

Mischief and Mayhem, Pinot Noir, Chambolle-Musigny, 2006

http://www.mischiefandmayhem.com/

My Terlato representative, Patrick, recently stopped in with three samples of Mischief and Mayhem, one of which was the 2006 Chambolle-Musigny.  He explained that there is a small stock of these Burgundies at Tangley Oaks (Terlato Wine Group Headquarters), and they have been waiting to find a good home.  I had sampled a few M&M's in late 2008, and while I remembered thinking they were great wines, I was blown away by this outstanding bottle.

The brainchild of two great friends, Michael Ragg and Michael Twelftree, Mischief and Mayhem was born out of the passion for wine and for Burgundy.  Ragg moved to Burgundy after 10 years with Berry Bros. & Rudd, the leading fine wine merchant in Britain to pursue his own wine consulting business.  Twelftree is co-founder of the Australian winery Two Hands.  Their goal in creating Mischief and Mayhem was to produce high quality wine at fair prices, but more importantly to educate the masses about what Burgundy truly can be... a wine region deserving of the appreciation of their new age wine produced in the classical Burgundian style.

The Chambolle-Musigny is just that... a Pinot Noir with a solid Burgundy backbone, but the sexy finesse that will appeal to any Pinot drinker.  The nose begins with a fabulous perfume bouquet, like that of Chanel, and a soft cherry scent with hints of vanilla and pomegranate.  It is truly a beautiful bouquet.  The palate is very light fruit forward of deep cherry, then transitions to earthy, mineral notes with cocoa, and a touch of molasses in the savory middle.  It is light and clean, and then develops leather and dust profiles toward the back.  The light garnet colored wine is elegant throughout the entire seductive experience.  It grows in all aspects very well in the glass throughout the evening, and begins to show more fruit later on, with a definite presence of plum.  The final finish is very clean, and overall, the whole bottle was a delight.  An excellent accompaniment to an 8oz Filet Mignon, Day Boat Scallops, or Citrus Buttered Lobster.  Take your pick, and Mischief and Mayhem will deliver.  I can't wait to sample the other two bottles to compare... and to simply enjoy.

White Cottage Ranch, Napa Valley

At a luncheon with Rudy Zuidema, the winemaker from White Cottage Ranch, we had the opportunity to sample his incredible wines from Napa Valley.  We enjoyed his wines over a great lunch at South Gate, including a Margarita Pizza for an appetizer for the group, and I had the Curry Apple Soup and Salmon BLT for an entree.  Everything was fantastic, especially the wines!

White Cottage is a bio-dynamic winery, and Rudy's passion for his winemaking and for his organic farming is truly evident in the bottle.  The excitement, the hard work, and the incredible care he develops in each of the wines shines in each of the labels we tried that day.  And now on with the show...

White Cottage Ranch, Sauvignon Blanc, Napa, 2009
The nose is crisp with bright grapefruit and citrus aromas.  There are hints of oak in the flavor profile due to 90% of fermentation in Steel Barrels, the juice is transferred to oak barrels to round out the acid and high citrus profiles.  Within this process, the palate develops a Champagne-esk flavor and a slightly creamy edge.  The finish has a clean acid finish that leaves your palate fresh.  As Rudy is transitioning into the 2010 vintage, you may not be able to find much '09 stock, however, in his words, "the 2010 White Cottage is the best Sauvignon Blanc he has ever made."  $18.29 online from the International Wine Shop.

White Cottage Ranch, "Risa," Cabernet Blend, Napa, 2006
The amazing nose is full of rich spice, cocoa, and sweet aromas.  The spice follows through to the palate, with round blackberry and ripe plum flavors, and a dry, cinnamon finish.  This vintage is difficult to find online, however, I did find the 2007 at TheWineCountry for $27.99.

White Cottage Ranch, Cabernet Franc, Napa, 2006
Black pepper, green pepper, and rich, dark fruit on the beautiful nose.  I was surprised how soft the tannins were throughout the front, middle, and back of the palate.  A phenomenal structure lush with rich and deep black and red fruits that burst all throughout the palate, and finally, once again, a very surprisingly easy finish.  This is one of the best Cab Francs I have ever sampled.  This was also a tough find online, but it would retail for about $34-$38, and approximately $50-$65 in restaurants.

http://www.whitecottageranch.com/

White Cottage Ranch, Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate, Howell Mountain, Napa, 2007
A beautiful juicy aroma with stone fruits and a sweet oriental spice ('Chinese Five Spice' was running rampant in my mind - weird, I know, but it worked very well for the wine).  Luscious deep red fruits on the palate with great streaks of ripe strawberries, with rich and easy tannins, that produce a clean, want-more-ful finish.  The 2007 does not seem to be fully out in the market online, but you may find several 2005's and other vintages when searching on WineZap, ranging from $29.99 to $69.88.

I love tastings that have only a few wines to showcase, and White Cottage fit perfectly into that category.  It allows you to spend more time with the wine, and understand it more.  While all four wines were amazing, my favorite was the Howell Mountain Cab.  And as you can see, for the wonderful profiles of these wines, they are not overly expensive.  Given the quality of these wines, I would have placed them in a higher price bracket (but I'm glad they're not!).  Great job, Rudy, and we will be enjoying your wines for a very long time at the club!

Boisset Family Estates: DeLoach, Lyeth, Raymond

I had lunch with my wine rep Dennis a short time ago to revisit a great Napa icon, Raymond Vineyards, as well as sample its sister wineries under the Boisset Family Estates, DeLoach Vineyards and Lyeth Estate.  The lunch was hosted by Boisset's representative, Dan, at Inovasi Restaurant in Lake Bluff, a favorite for wine lunches.  Dan educated us in the ways of Jean-Charles Boisset's core beliefs in Bio-Dynamic Farming for vineyards and the new-world processes of developing a bio-dynamic wine.  It was fascinating to hear these practices were taking place: the development of organic and safe ways to control pests without the use of pesticides or herbicides, the homeopathic techniques to create the world's most powerful fertilizers organically, the need for a certain number of insect and animal life on a farm to properly be bio-dynamic... it was intense.

The best part about these wines was the value.  For bio-dynamic wines, the quality of these labels is incredible for the value.  Most can be found for less than $20 either online or at your local wine retailer.  The following format is the order in which we tasted them... and the order of intensity for food pairings.  As our lunch evolved from cocktails and appetizers, to a first course, entrée, and finally dessert, these wines complimented the dining experience.  Please enjoy...

DeLoach Chardonnay, Sonoma, 2009

The nose is composed of a classic California oak and an added bright acid and citrus with a hint of lemongrass.  The palate is surprisingly bright for a value Chardonnay, with a slight oak presence; however, the middle is lacking body.  I would more appropriately qualify this as a quaffing wine for a cocktail party.  I think the nose promised more than the palate could deliver.  Found for $15.95 here, but I also believe it should be carried at wine retailers in your area... I know the Russian River Valley Chardonnay can be found at Binny's locations around Chicago.

L de Lyeth Chardonnay, Sonoma, 2008

The nose is deep with a strong presence of oak.  The palate is soft and clean with lavender and light oak hints.  It is a very nice wine for the value.  $12.99 at Wine.com here.

DeLoach Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, 2008

The nose is crisp, and has hints of oak and white rose.  An oak and butter beginning and middle gives way for a nice smoke and fruit burst in the late middle and finish.  Very nice.  Found at Binny's here for $22.99.

Raymond Chardonnay, Reserve, Napa, 2009

High acidity and a touch of oak, with ripe white fruit aromas on the nose.  The palate was a delight: nice fruit on the front, juicy, ripe, and crisp apple notes with a touch of tropical fruits in the mix, and a clean dry finish.  This was a fantastic accompaniment to my Organic Pork Shoulder dish, but I believe it would stand alone for sheer enjoyment.  $15.99 at Binny's.  [UPDATE and SPOILER: not to spoil a future post, but we visited Raymond while in Napa, and this was one of our favorite Chardonnays.  Erica does not like Chard, but she couldn't resist this one... it is excellent!]

Raymond Sauvignon Blanc, Reserve, Napa, 2009

The nose is beautifully full with bright grapefruit, lemongrass, and gooseberry with a touch of orange zest.  The palate is hopping with flavor with wonderful citrus, and a bright, crisp feel.  There is a high ratio of acid, but in the end, it balances nicely for an excellent representation of Raymond’s Sauvignon Blanc.  $15.99 online at Liquor Outlet Wine Cellars.

DeLoach Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, 2008

Strong spice, slight cedar, and heavy cherry aromas.  An elegant palate of cranberry and cherry rests on the creamy texture; well-natured spice on the finish; great product for the value.  One of my favorites for the tasting.  $22.99 on Wine.com here.

DeLoach Merlot, Sonoma, 2009

Rich berry, dark fruit, and a classic Merlot scent in the aroma department.  With rich dark fruits on the forward, cocoa and sweet cherry middle, and soft oak finish, DeLoach did an impeccable job of disproving Sideways.  $8.44 on Discount Wine Buys.

DeLoach Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma, 2009

Currant and savory herbs on the nose.  A palate of pepper, dark stonefruit, toffee, and a long, lush finish accompanies this Cab.  $11.99 online from Wine Access.

L de Lyeth Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma, 2009

Nose of deep fruit and berries, and hints of smoke and alcohol rest on the nose.  The palate is full of great fruit notes, including plum and cranberry, and leaves us with an easy tannin finish.  $9.99 on Wine.com here.

Lyeth Meritage, Sonoma, 2008

Defintate Merlot on the nose… in fact, Dan asked what we sensed in this glass, and I immediately shouted out Merlot.  Very rich fruit, with a soft body “appearance,” if scent can be seen.  J  On the palate we experienced lush fruits of plum and other stonefruits, and with a clean body throughout, the Meritage was very easy to drink.  Lovely.  $14.99 at Binny's.

Raymond Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve, Napa, 2008

Ending a positive tasting on a very positive note, the Raymond flagship has a beautiful nose with blackberry and plum flourishing aromas.  I sensed vanilla immediately, and though it was a tad hot, the deep, extravagant dark fruits came through to end doubt if rendered.  With a dry cocoa finish, I wondered whether this would do well to lay down for at least a few months, but I decided it would be a great addition to the list as is.  Within a few minutes, the flavor profile intensified to assure my reasoning.  $26.99 at Binny's.

Overall, an excellent tasting of value wines that any restaurant would be happy to serve... and you will be happy to drink.  Be sure to bring this bio-dynamic family of wines to your table or to your cellar!  Enjoy!!

Ten, Diez, Dix, X, √100... Yes, That's 10 Days to Gala!

Wow.. have I been slacking.  I would like to say I have a reasonable excuse for not posting in so long, but at least the last post (Soffocone... haha) could hold up a couple weeks.  Between getting ready for the club to open and a (really) short trip to Napa (it was awesome), time has been in short measure.  But I assure you I have many notes ready to go, and several pictures from our trip to share.

BUT, before all of that: the Hospitality Gala for Ferris State University is 10 days away!!  We are incredibly excited to attend the event, support the students, and see our best of friends.  We're all extremely excited to be hosted at the JW Marriott Grand Rapids, the epic hotel in which I had the opportunity to be a part of the opening team.  Erica has her long, black dress picked out (it's pretty awesome), and I'll be dressed to the nines, themed tie and pocket square to accompany my new suit... or will I wear my favorite suit?  Ok, I guess I still have a few things to work out.

I am also preparing a few wine baskets to donate from the club to the silent auction for the Gala.  I'm thinking with the 20th Anniversary, a few eye openers will be in order (Soffocone?  Yes.  Perhaps a Stag's Leap or Chalk Hill?  Maybe.)  Either way, I am so happy the club is able to support my addictive habit alma mater.  In the past, the silent auction has been the big money maker for each Gala.  With this year hailing the endowment fund, the funds will be raised through donations, sponsorships, the high number of ticket sales, and yes, the auction, so it is important for alumni and supporters of the Program to donate fantastic golf, hotel, wine, and travel packages.  It's also an excellent opportunity for attendees to buy said items at less than face-value prices... stays at Omni Hotels, Marriotts, Hiltons... golf at Bay Harbor, St. Ives, Arcadluffs... and other great prizes.

The students are in crunch mode for the next ten days to ensure a perfect event, and we feel the pressure they bear, as we have all gone through this process several times when we were students.  We can't wait to see what marvels they will display for us, and we most certainly can't wait to see the works of the JW in process of the event.  Cheers to the movers and shakers of the 2011 FSU Hospitality Gala!