Wines by Jennifer - Wine Tasting Selections

Parkville, Missouri 64152

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Tuesday - Saturday
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"March Madness - The Surviving Six"

Week of March 31st, 2009

Wines by Jennifer's "Road to the Surviving Six"

The final two berths in our March Madness tournament were earned last week in our Down Under Regional. And what a regional it was!

While the smooth and complex South Africa Chenin Blanc cruised to an easy victory over New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Australia Riesling in the white side of the bracket, it was the red portion of the regional that provided all the drama.

In the closest contest of the entire tournament, only a furious Australia Shiraz rally in the dying moments of a snowy Saturday night in the Wines by Jennifer Tasting Room prevented a South African sweep Down Under, as the Aussies edged surprisingly strong South Africa Pinotage by one and New Zealand Pinot Noir by only two in advancing to this week's Surviving Six.

After the match, there was much soul-searching in the Pinotage locker room as they wondered how they could come so close, only to see it slip away. A disconsolate Sou R. Grapes, coach of the Pinotage squad, even called out his fans for what he clearly considered lack of support late in the game:

"So many people picked us to win, but when the time came that we needed them most, they spurned us in favor of the Shiraz," lamented Grapes, rightfully sounding for all the world as if he had just been jilted at the altar.

But in the end, Grapes and the rest of the Pinotage faithful were only left wondering what might have been...

So then there were Six.

The best of the best will face off this week, as one of the strongest lineups to ever grace our Tasting Room table will battle it out for the right to be called Champion Wine of 2009. Don't miss your opportunity to witness greatness and participate in the selection of this Champion Wine, not to mention enhance your odds of winning the Grand Prize.

Remember, the more you taste, the better your odds!

Vinho Verde literally means "green wine," referring to its youthful freshness rather than its color. Made from the best Loureiro, Trajadura and Arinto grapes in the Minho region of Portugal, this non-vintage Vinho Verde is a fresh, fruity light wine that offers freshness to the palate and romanticism to the spirit. Its simple label and the deep green bottle reveal what you are about to experience: a vivacious and smooth white Vinho Verde that can be the perfect match for light meals, seafood, or served as an appetizer.

The 2007 vintage of this Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc is a starbright color with a vibrant green tinge. Beautifully expressive sweet fruit aromas of yellow Golden Delicious apples, ripe pears and floral notes dominate the bouquet. A tropical fruit salad of melons, guavas and pineapples fills the palate. Sun-ripened Chenin has a subtle honey and raisin flavor that adds to the layered complexity and smooth, silky texture on the finish.

Yellow gold with beautiful emerald highlights, the initial aromatics of this 2007 Willamette Valley Pinot Gris are redolent of ripe citrus fruits, acacia flowers, tropical fruits (mango, papaya and kiwis) and lychee. With more time in the glass, powdered sugar, honeysuckle, nectarine and pineapple notes all add to the overall aromatic complexity. The concentrated attack is balanced by ripe acidity that gives classic Oregon Pinot Gris proportions to the wine. The lasting impression is a wine of great power, richness and length balanced by ripe acidity and structure. This wine will drink wonderfully for the next two years.

We'll admit it: what first attracted us to this 2008 Shiraz was the label. But upon tasting this Aussie red, we were pleasantly surprised that the juice lived up to the bottle. This is a lush, ripe, full-bodied example of a solid South Australian Shiraz. Playful, fun, and balanced, the ripe raspberry, blackberry, plum, and peppery spice make this a great pairing for burgers and pizza.

The 2007 vintage was exceptional for Rioja. These vineyards are located at some of the highest points within all of Rioja and are farmed organically. The wine is a blend of Spain’s two original star varieties, Tempranillo (50%) and Garnacha (50%). Full of bright red fruit with ripe undertones of blackberry jam, fresh plums and hints of the Mediterranean country herbs, this wine is simply harmonious and very well balanced. Meant to drink now through the next four years, this wine can be served slightly chilled and is the perfect accompaniment to any dish.

Some of California's most distinctive Zinfandels come from the Redwood Valley in southern Mendocino County, and it was largely on the strength of those wines that Redwood Valley finally became an AVA in 1996. This 2005 Zin comes from ten different Zinfandel vineyards scattered throughout the hillsides of Mendocino County, many of which are still farmed by 3rd and 4th generation Italian-Americans. This vintage displays a rich, dark purple garnet color and deep aromas of raspberry, wild strawberry, spicy white pepper and hints of toasty oak. Uplifting flavors of ripe raspberry and earth combine to give this full-bodied Zinfandel a generous mouth feel. Rich, full tannins and mouthwatering acidity dance across the palate into a long, lingering, elegant finish.

For more specific information on these great wines, or to taste for yourself, stop by the Tasting Room at Wines by Jennifer this week. We look forward to seeing you!