Andy Tasker

Colheita Port (vintage-dated Tawny)
A Colheita port is a vintage aged tawny. The date of harvest will be printed on the label. Colheitas are like aged tawnys, but often with an extra bit of character from the year of harvest.

FULL LIQUOR

Most vineyards in Argentina do not face the problem of Phylloxera and do not graft the European grape varieties onto North American rootstocks as is necessary in most of the world. The soils in most of Argentina’s vineyards are very high in mineral content which adds complexity to the taste of the wines. The temperatures during the growing season are quite warm during the day and the nights are cool.

American Liquor Alliance

Full Liquor: Veuve Clicquot
Sparkling wines from other regions that are made in the traditional method will also differentiate their non-vintage and vintage bottlings, just as Champagne. Non-vintage sparkling wine from most wineries will often have a house style, just as the Champagne houses.
RSVP Wine and Spirits
RSVP FINE WIN AND SPIRITS
GLOBAL WINE AND SPIRITS

Pinot Noir
Just as Merlot was pooh-poohed by Miles in Sideways, Pinot Noir was worshiped in its glorious difficulty. Pinot Noir is a finicky grape. It only grows in the right climate, with the right soils and the right care. Perhaps because it is so difficult is why it is so loved. Pinot Noir’s home and the classic wines from the grape hail from Burgundy. Pinot is the only grape allowed for AOC wines of the region. It is also essential in Champagne, where it is one of the three main grapes of creating Champagne and sparkling wines in other regions. Pinot Noir mutates easily and so there are many different clones floating around in each wine region.

Notable Facts
Other than Burgundy, Pinot has been successful in areas like Oregon, California and lately, New Zealand - the Central Otago region to be exact. Pinot Noir from France gives flavors and aromas of red fruit, summer pudding and baking spices. As the wine matures - and great Burgundies are able to do so for years - the flavors become more like the earth the wine comes from- mushrooms, truffles - and the wine gains tremendous complexity. Pinot Noir from the new world like Oregon and California typically exude stronger fruit intensity, some wine able to reach a high level of complexity, structure and age. Others are wonderful for drinking now with a myriad of foods. Many may wax poetic about this grape, the reason being that Pinot Noir produces an amazing contradiction in wine - something so delicate and subtle, yet powerful and mesmerizing.

Keith Lawes
Full Liquor: Right Place, Right time
You won’t often find this grape bottled as a single variety as it can lean towards earthy, vegetal tendencies (think green pepper & olives). Its typical place is in a blend with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or both. Cabernet Franc’s home is the right bank of Bordeaux. It is an integral part in the blends of St-Émilion and Pomerol, adding structure and backbone to the softer Merlot. Yet some feel its potential has been overlooked. If Cabernet Franc has the right soils and it’s harvested at the right time- it can produce a delicious wine all by itself.

Global Wine and Spirits
Dry, rich flavored and served at cellar temperature

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are the dominant grape varieties from which these wines are made. They are richly flavored, medium bodied, dry red wines and they often have very high levels of tannin in their youth. They should be served at very cool room temperature (upper 60`s F.) and allowed to warm in the glass. These wines often require aging to show their best.

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