Tasting Summary: 2016-0219
Local and Global
Hosted by: Larry and Marion
Notes:
We tasted in pairs. Each pair matched a local (PA, NJ, DE, MD or VA) wine against a wine from a more established region (California, Italy, Germany) of the same grape varietal, and in the same price range and within a year of the same vintage. We blind tasted each pair to see (i) which of the two we preferred and (ii) whether we could identify which was the local wine.
Kathy won the latter competition, correctly guessing the provenance of four of the five pairs. The rest of us got two or three right. The consensus was:
- The Pinot Grigios were both very good. We split 4/4 on our preference between the two, but we all liked both. The local wine (Paradocx, from Chester County PA) made a strong showing against its Italian counterpart.
- We overwhelmingly preferred the Virginia (Horton Tower) Viognier to the California counterpart, which was a surprise to everyone.
- The home team struck out, however, on the Merlots, with everyone preferring the California Merlot to the Delaware entry (which, frankly, nobody liked).
- The Barberas were more evenly matched, but in another surprise, the New Jersey entry (Hopewell Valley) was preferred by 6 of us, with only one person preferring the Italian entry. That said, we felt that both entries were very good.
- The Rieslings were an interesting match: the German Riesling was clearly drier than the Maryland (Boordy) version, and preferences were accordingly mixed and weak (3 for the Maryland, 1 for the German). Again, though, most of us felt that both of the wines were very good for what they were.
We served local foods. Mushrooms from Kennett Square, soft pretzels and mustard, Herr's Old Bay Potato Chips, fresh local bread, New York Cheddars and, of course, TastyKakes (Butterscotch Krimpets and Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes.
We were largely well behaved. Singing only broke out once, when someone (who shall go nameless) suggested the following modification to the Beach Boys song: "I Wish They All Could Be California Grapes."
Wines Tasted:
| Wine |
Region |
Varietal |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| PDX (Paradocx) 2014 | Chester County, PA | Pinot Grigio | $14.49 |
| Kublewieser 2014 | Alto Adige, Italy | Pinot Grigio | $13.99 |
| Horton Tower Series 2013 | Orange County, VA | Viognier | $15.99 |
| Sobon Estates 2014 | Amador County, CA | Viognier | $14.99 |
| Harvest Ridge 47 2013 | Marydel, DE | Merlot | $16.99 |
| Dominican Oaks 2013 | Napa Valley, CA | Merlot | $16.99 |
| Hopewell Valley 2013 | Pennington, NJ | Barbera | $17.95 |
| Mauro Veglio Barbera d'Alba 2014 | Annunziata, Piedmont, IT | Barbera | $17.99 |
| Boordy 2014 | Hydes, MD | Riesling | $11.99 |
| Dr. Heidemanns Bergweiler 2014 | Bernkastel/Mosel, Germany | Riesling | $12.99 |