Cosentino… or Not! Blind Tasting
What: Wine Wednesday
When: March 15, 2006 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Louis Benton Steakhouse
Cost: $25
RSVP: (616) 301-1885 or askus@artofthetable.com
The encouragement (from Amy)
As is customary at Art of the Table, we try to come up with creative topics for wine tastings each week and we think we have blown creative out of the water (as far as wine tastings go!) We are itching for this tasting.
Disclaimer: Yes, it’s a blind tasting and I think when some of us read “blind tasting”, we hit the panic button. What you need to know is - there is no need to panic!
We’re an easy going group. It will not be like a stuffy class in which you analyze, get called on for the answer and become red faced because you got it wrong. It will be all fun. Really. Now that you know that, sign up for next Wednesday as you’re sure to have fun and learn a lot!
The official word (from Mike, the wine guy)
It was great to see so many new faces along with familiar faces at the Northeast Italy tasting on Wednesday! We had a blast and are really looking forward to next weeks tasting,
“Cosentino…or not!?” It’s a blind tasting pitting Mitch Cosentino’s wines against similar wines, hint, they’re almost all Napa Valley.
Mitch Cosentino employs a distinctive style which gives his wines intense extraction and concentration of fruit. We’re going to go through three flights of two and for each flight you will identify which wine is Cosentino and then for additional points you will identify varietal.
A special quiz will be given during the tasting with which you can accrue points (and of course effort does count!). At the end of the night the taster with the most points will win a $40 bottle of a Cosentino red wine. Additionally, correct answers will also allow tasters additional discounts on their wine purchases this evening. This will be fun, interactive and the wines will be awesome. I can’t think of a better first date or fun night out. Make a special effort to attend this unique and unpredictable event!
And wouldn’t you like to know…we have some new wines on the shelves at Art of the Table…
New Wines In-Stock
Patricia Green 2004 Four Winds Vineyard Chardonnay, $22.75
Just in the door this morning, we got one of the five cases of this gem that made it to Michigan this year. Patty notes that the fruit was picked especially late this vintage and displays unusual intense richness while maintaining piercing acidity and zip. She used 100% neutral oak barrels so as not to overpower the fruit, which she says has “nice aromatics of lemon candy and sliced apples.” I haven’t tried it yet but our friend Leslie tried it at the winery recently and said it’s gorgeous and yes, super hard to find. Get it while you can!
Carchelo 2004 Monastrell - Jumilla, $10.25
On the shelf for a day now, this is one of those overachievers that drinks twice its price. Suzanne and I tried this about a month ago and were both blown away at its quality and purity of fruit. Blackberry and more blackberry, smoked meat and tar with whiffs of black rose petals eeking through. You get the picture, this one’s for real and not to be taken lightly. Buy it by the case and fool your friends.
Cheers!
Amy and Mike