Tintos Californianos - diversas regiões

Na última 5ª feira, dia 17 de outubro, realizamos no Rosmarino mais uma excelente degustação, desta vez de vinhos tintos de diferentes regiões da California, com a presença de 7 confrades. Foram degustados 7 vinhos, das safras 2004, 2007, 2009 e 2010, das seguintes regiões: Red Hills, Mendocino County, Santa Cruz Mountains, Lodi, Sonoma, Paso Robles e Napa. Entre os sete exemplares, estavam presentes cinco Cabernet Sauvignon e dois Zinfandel. A organização desta degustação e o menu estiveram a cargo do nosso confrade João Luiz que nos apresentou um menu bem característico.

Couvert: Pães produzidos na casa, grissini, queijo de cabra, relish de pepino e manteiga.

Entrada: Onion Rings  e Ceasar Salad (alface americana, parmesão, peito de frango desfiado, molho Ceasar).

Primeiro prato: Penne com cogumelos, floretes de brócolis e pinoli.

Segundo prato: Prime rib grelhado, acompanhamento de molho barbecue e rösti de batata crocante.

Sobremesa: Entremet de chocolate, Torta de nozes carameladas, Merengue de chocolate belga e avelãs, Carolinas de creme, Ovos nevados, Profiteroles, Terrine de Frutas, Tiramisú, Creme brulée, Pastiera di grano, Bavarese de chocolate e Tarte Tatin

Em um dia bem tranquilo, a nossa degustação transcorreu sem sobressaltos na nossa mesa tradicional. Como de costume o serviço e a execução dos pratos estava excelente.

A degustação contou com sete vinhos, bem alcoolicos, com níveis variando entre 13,8% e 15,5%.

A seguir uma breve descrição dos vinhos degustados:

Hawk Crest 2004

Produtor: Winiarski Family

País/Região: USA/Red Hills

Graduação alcoolica: 13.8%

Uvas: Cabernet Sauvignon 96% Petit Verdot 3.5% Merlot 0,5%

Confrade: Joubert

Paul Dolan 2009

Produtor: Paul Dolan Winery

País/Região: USA/Mendocino county

Graduação alcoolica: 14.5%

Uvas: Cabernet Sauvignon

Confrade: Paulo Sampaio

Martin Ray 2007

Produtor: Martin Ray Winery

País/Região: USA/Santa Cruz Mountains

Graduação alcoolica: 14.4%

Uvas: Cabernet Sauvignon

Confrade: Joao Luiz

Mettler Epicenter 2010

Produtor: Mettler Vineyards

País/Região: USA/Lodi

Graduação alcoolica: 15.5%

Uvas: Zinfandel

Confrade: Altman

Ravens Wood - Old Hill 2007

Produtor: Ravenswood

País/Região: USA/Sonoma

Graduação alcoolica: 14.8%

Uvas: Zinfandel

Confrade: Marcio

Hilltop 2007

Produtor: J.Lohr Winery

País/Região: USA/Paso Robles

Graduação alcoolica: 14.9%

Uvas: Cabernet Sauvignon

Confrade: Calabro

Revana 2009

Produtor: Revana Vineyards

País/Região: USA/Napa, St. Helena

Graduação alcoolica: 14.5%

Uvas: Cabernet Sauvignon

Confrade: Ricardo

Vinhos degustados

Os vinhos degustados apresentaram aromas bastante característicos de suas uvas, sendo que os Cabernet Sauvignon apresentaram frutas escuras, baunilha, chocolate e café. Já os Zinfandel, principalmente o Mettler Epicenter, apresentaram frutas vermelhas e uma baunilha bem pronunciada.

Nesta degustação, os resultados do nosso painel apresentaram, uma pequena amplitude de notas, em linha com as nossas melhores degustações, sendo na média aparada de 1,8 pontos (de 88 a 89,8).

O vinho que ficou em último lugar foi o Ravens Wood – Old Hill 2007, produzido por Ravenswood winery, na região de Sonoma, com 14,8% de alcool, escolhido o pior vinho por apenas 1 confrade.

O segundo melhor vinho do painel, foi o Hawk Crest 2004, produzido por Winiarski Family (donos do famoso Stags Leap), na região de Red Hills, com 13,8% de alcool, que apesar de ter sido o pior vinho para um confrade, foi selecionado como o melhor por outro.

O Campeão da noite, foi o Revana 2009, produzido por Revana Vineyards, na Região de St. Helena no Napa Valley, com 14.5% de alcool, tendo sido escolhido o melhor vinho por dois confrades e o segundo melhor para outros dois.

Vejam os resultados completos abaixo.

Não se esquecam que no dia 21/Novembro degustaremos Rosso de Montlacino. Até lá....

Não percam a próxima degustação.

California Wine Regions

The California wine country is divided into 15 wine growing counties. Inside each county there may be several wine growing regions or areas.

South Coast

The South Coast region of California is beautiful. Its climate is warmer, its beaches are gorgeous, and it’s loaded with fun tourist destinations.

The South Coast region encompasses the counties of Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, and San Diego. The only notable wine area in the South Coast region is the Temecula Valley.

Central Coast

The central coast area includes 3 counties.

The first is Santa Barbara County which contains the cities of Santa Barbara, Lompoc, Santa Ynez, Los Olivos, Solvang, Buelton, and Santa Maria.

This is the area that the movie Sideways was filmed in. And yes, the region did suffer shortages of Pinot Noir in the years following the release of the film.

These Santa Barbara County areas have flourished in recent years and you will find them a delight. There are dozens of smaller wineries to choose from where you may well speak with the winemaker him or herself. You’ll find reasonable or free wine tastings and beautiful countryside.

Be sure to visit the town of Los Olivos with its charming town square area. You can taste plenty of wines right there if you’d rather not drive.

The second county is San Luis Obispo which contains the cities of San Luis Opisbo and Paso Robles.

Paso Robles wine growth and reputation has grown steadily over that past years and is gaining more prominence all the time. Much like Santa Barbara County, you’ll find a humbleness about this area that is very inviting.

The third county in the Central Coast region is Monterey County. Monterey County has significantly fewer wineries that the two mentioned above (about 45), though they are no less desirable.

Monterey County is unique because of its location between warmer and cooler climates. However, unless this is your destination (they do have a fabulous aquarium and a breathtaking coastline), you may want to save Monterey for a future trip.

Many of the Central Coast wineries charge less for their tastings than the North Coast wineries. You will also find some of their wines to be more reasonably priced.

North Coast

The north coast of California may be the most popular wine tasting area in the state. As shown on the California wine country map, the north coast includes the well-known counties of Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Marin and Mendocino.

Sonoma and Napa were among the first wine growing regions in the state.

Here you will find what many consider the “finest” wines in the state, but you will also find the most crowds the the highest prices to go with them. Even so, it’s a premier area and is not to missed.

All 4 counties contain several smaller sub-regions not shown on the Calfornia wine country map, each a bit different from the others.

Sierra Foothills

The Sierra Foothills is one of the oldest wine growing regions in the state, but one of the least traveled. The counties in the Sierra Foothills are Amador, El Dorado and Calaveras. Here you are surrounded by beauty nestled at the base of the Sierra Mountain Range.

Wine has been grown in the Sierra Foothills since the Gold Rush. Many of its Zinfandels come from old vines. Its colder climates and rocky soils make

it perhaps a more daunting wine growing region. Nevertheless, some excellent wines come out of this area.

If you’re staying in Sacramento or are on your way to Lake Tahoe, it’s the perfect stop.

Central Valley

The least traveled wine region in California may be its Central Valley area. Spread out in the valley between the Sierras and the Northern California Coastal area are close to 100 wineries.

Many of the wineries are in and around the city of Lodi, the small green area at the tip of the Central valley on the California wine country map.

Central Valley has also an additional American Viticultural Area, the The Solano County Green Valley AVA located in Solano County, southeast of the Napa Valley AVA, Green Valley is about 1.6 km long and 6.4 km long. The valley is close to San Pablo Bay and thus has a maritime climate. Most of the vineyards are planted on the valley floor and benefit from moist, cooling winds in the summer afternoons.

Source: www.basic-wine-knowledge.com