So which wine is coming up this weekend?

Used to be a fun idea, finding out what others are drinking!
For myself, the `06 Moulin de Gassac Guilhem "Aniane". Appellation is Vins de Pays de l`Herault.
(Also thinking Mourvedre as Ian is setting up an Open Mike!!).

This is the weekend that I host a fundraising wine tasting for my church so I will have eleven wines open--I won't bother looking up the vintages of those I don't know offhand but the lineup includes a Burgans Albarino, a Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie, a Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand; Lucien Albrecht Cremant d'Alsace Brut Rose', Bugey Cerdon; 2006 Gary Farrell Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, 2004 Jeriko Syrah (Mendocino from organically grown grapes), and 1999 or 2001 Ciacci Piccolomini d"Aragona Sant' Antimo Rosso "Ateo" (blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot); Monchhof Urzig Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett, Torres Vina Esmeralda (blend of Moscato di Alejandria and Gewurztraminer) from Spain, and Santa Julia Torrontes Tardio (Late Harvest) from Argentina.

[David M. Bueker]

Nice set of wines JC! Curious to hear your take on the Pepiere based on Salil's recent note, as well as the Monchof.

I did report on the Monchhof earlier:
"Screwcap closure. 10% abv.
Very pale, almost colorless. Enticing stone fruit and muted ginger spice on the nose and palate. Well-integrated acid; crystal-like focused note. Suggestion of grapefruit juice along with white peach. Slides down the throat all too easily.
I will be contacting the store for more bottles this fall or winter if still in stock. I think this would be delightful with sauerbraten and red cabbage or mild dishes from Thailand or India. I had it with a chicken/artichoke/grape salad and with baked pork chops with onions and mushroom sauce. (Also a nice pairing.)"

I went back to the store and got three more bottles--two for the tasting this weekend and one for me to enjoy some evenings at home. I'm serving it in the dessert wines grouping because it seemed a bit off-dry to me.

[David M. Bueker]

Which vintage was that?

Nice set of wines JC! Curious to hear your take on the Pepiere based on Salil's recent note, as well as the Monchof.

Mine was a lousy bottle (courtesy either heat damage or the plastic cork gremlin), I hope JC's fares better!

Monchhof Wurzgarten Kabinett is a really tasty wine. I've really enjoyed what Eymael's been making there in the last few vintages (plus the wines are under screwcap and great value ).

For the weekend, I'm eyeing a bottle of 2008 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich Anrecht Spatlese.

I'm putting on a wine tasting for a group of younger people from church. They wanted something that would fit their budget so I'm pouring Gruet Blanc de Noir (may change to Brut), Dry Creek Chenin Blanc, Erath Pinot Noir, Peirano Estates Petite Sirah, K-J Meritage and Gnarly Head Zin.

Then they get to choose one wine from my cellar that is a higher priced (and hopefully better) analog to the above wines so that can experience what can be obtained by doubling the price. Among the choices are St Innocent Pinot Noir, Domaine Carneros Brut, Geyser Peak Meritage, Ridge Lytton Springs and Page Springs El Serrano.

Sorry, David. The Monchhof is a 2006. I too hope the Pepiere is not heat damaged. I bought two bottles at different times and also one bottle of the Briords which I will open later on. Also, the Vina Esmeralda is I believe from 2006 and would probably be better in a more recent vintage--I think it is one for drinking when it is young and fresh but I hope for the best. Most of the wines are in the $15-$25 range so quite affordable if you can find them. I purchased most of them in Raleigh, not Fayetteville and the Gary Farrell I have ordered from the winery or picked up in DC. I had intended to use two bottles of Melville Verna's Estate Pinot Noir but when I opened my shipment I discovered they sent the wrong wines--I wanted three bottles of this and instead got two bottles of Verna's Estate Syrah and only one bottle of the Pinot Noir. I had served 2005 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir at a previous fundraiser and it may have been better than the 2006 but we will see.

2006 Gary Farrell Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

I'm looking forward to reading that review. Have a fun tasting!

The recent thread on pairing Pinot Gris and peking duck has inspired me to dig out a '92 ZH PG Rangen. Unfortunately the local source for Peking Duck has closed so I'm going with the suggested substitute of Cantonese Roast Duck. I'm looking forward to it.

The recent thread on pairing Pinot Gris and peking duck has inspired me to dig out a '92 ZH PG Rangen. Unfortunately the local source for Peking Duck has closed so I'm going with the suggested substitute of Cantonese Roast Duck. I'm looking forward to it.

Dan, is your recipe close to this one.....>

http://www.yumyum.com/recipe.htm?ID=5829

Thanks Bob.

Bob, it will be take out. My cooking skills are sorely lacking. The restaurant I use leans more to a orange/cherry/soy/spice sauce than the probably more usual hoison sauce. Still pretty good though.