PWS Member Selections

by Scott Casper——————– 

On Friday evening, November 12 at 7:00 p.m. at the Hilton Harrisburg, we will be experiencing a unique and fun event featuring eight wines presented by PWS board members and members. This event is unique because instead of being seated at a table, you will be able to socialize and walk around to different pouring stations to taste each wine. It’s fun because…well, because it is!

The wines will be presented and poured by the board member or member who selected that particular wine for this event.  The presenter will give you the name of the wine, the winery that produced it, the grape varietals in the wine and the country and wine region it comes from, as well as, a discussion of tasting notes.  The presenters/pourers and their wines:

Averill Shepps, Presenter/Pourer – Burgundy, France – White – Domaine de la Tour Penet Macon-Peronne Vielles Vignes 2018 – 100% Chardonnay

Description and Tasting Notes: Sustainable. Ample bouquet of peach, pear, hazelnut and vanilla. Deep and full-bodied on the palate with a juicy core. This wine has good acid and a long grippy finish. It is fresh and youthful. It should drink well for another five years at the least. This is a Weygandt Importer wine.

Laura Reich, Presenter and Barry Einsig, Pourer – Middle Rio Grande Valley AVA, New Mexico – White – Gruet Blanc de Noirs – American dry sparkling wine – Non-Vintage – 75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay – Grapes sourced from New Mexico, California and Washington.

Description and Tasting Notes: Methode Champenoise. Salmon color, full-bodied with aromas and taste of raspberry, baked pear and cherry, with a hint of toasted vanilla. It has a balance of fruit and minerals with crisp acidity. It was aged for a minimum of 18 months. This wine pairs well with green chili chicken enchiladas.

Score and accolades: Wine Spectator 90 points, a Smart Buy and Top 100 Wines. One of the Top 10 Wines of New Mexico.

Scott Casper, Presenter/Pourer – Piedmont, Italy – White – Vietti Roero Arneis 2019 – 100% Arneis

Description and Tasting Notes: Pale straw yellow color with fresh floral, citrus and melon on the palate with almond hints. It is an unoaked, dry, medium-bodied wine with crisp acidity. This Arneis is a well-balanced, elegant wine with good complexity and a lingering finish. This wine is an excellent aperitif and pairs well with light hors d’oeuves, seafood, salads, light soups, veal, pork, chicken and creamy cheese.

Score: Wine Advocate 91 points.

Sheila Hagg-Rickert, Presenter/Pourer – Sicily, Italy – Red – Tascante Ghiaia Nera Etna Rosso 2018 – 100% Nerello Mascalese

Description and Tasting Notes: Aromas of hazelnut, eucalyptus and violet lift out of the glass. Linear and elegant, the polished palate features Morello cherry, blackberry and hints of ground clove alongside lithe tannins and fresh acidity for a salty finish. Drink through 2025. Ghiaia Nera is Tenuta Tascante’s demonstration of the possibilities for Nerello Mascalese from young vineyards. It is the perfect blend between the Nerello Mascalese grape and the volcanic soils of Etna. It offers juicy plum and cherry flavors framed by polished pebbly tannins. Notes of bay leaf and citrus peel enliven the finish. This is enhanced by a lighter touch with oakwood aging. It is aged in large non-invasive Slavonian oak barrels to which the Nerello Mascalese variety is well-suited. Bright and approachable, it’s priced to pour by the glass at the trattoria. The name means ”black gravel” which describes the volcanic vineyard soil.

Robyn Meadows, Presenter/Pourer – Mendoza, Argentina – Red – Catena Malbec 2018 – 100% Malbec

Description and Tasting Notes: This Argentinian wine is a blend from four unique vineyards in Mendoza, a region known for its Malbec, resulting in an intense aroma, deep violet color and rich, concentrated mouthfeel.  This New World Malbec shows berry flavors with hints of leather and cinnamon with well-integrated tannins and bright acidity followed by a dry, long pleasant finish. It’s an excellent representation of the quality of Mendoza Malbecs.

Score: Wine Advocate 91+ points

Robyn Meadows, Presenter/Pourer – Cahors, France – Red – Chateau Vincens Origine 2018 – 100% Malbec

Description and Tasting Notes: Although now associated with the New World and Argentina in particular, Malbec originated in France and is still produced in the Cahors region.  Although made from the same varietal, this Cahors Malbec will show notes of chocolate, coffee and spice over its berry flavors.  The tannins are more apparent in this representation of Malbec than will be detected in the Catena.  This wine could easily age for several more years.  Also highly rated, the Cahors is well-suited for comparison with the Catena.  Tasters will have a chance to determine whether they prefer the more common Argentinian or the traditional Cahors presentation of Malbec.

Score: Wine Enthusiast 93 points

Scott Casper, Presenter/Pourer – Tuscany, Italy – Red – Cafaggio Basilica del Cortaccio 2015 – 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Description and Tasting Notes: The wine’s appearance is darkly saturated and rich, with little light breaking through. The bouquet offers full-force black fruit with shadings of spice and cedar. The wine’s Tuscan side is also very apparent thanks to those Mediterranean aromas of summer cherry and Italian rosemary and dried oregano. The tannins are soft and well-integrated into the thick fiber of this medium to full-bodied Tuscan red. This wine pairs well with tomato and basil tortellini. Drink 2019-2028.

Scores: Wine Advocate 93 points, James Suckling 93 points

Cathy Boyd, Presenter/Pourer – Sauternes, France – White Dessert – Chateau Carmes de Rieussec 2017 – 94% Semillon, 3% Sauvignon Blanc and 3% Muscadelle

Description and Tasting Notes: This wine opens with gorgeous lemon marmalade, peach preserves and preserved kumquat notes with touches of preserved mandarin peel and honeycomb. It fills the palate with rich, spiced apricot preserves, with a racy backbone to balance and a good, long finish.

Scores: James Suckling 93 points, Wine Advocate 92 points, Wine Enthusiast 91 points

You do not want to miss this event! Join us for a fun evening tasting and discussing eight sumptuous wines.  I promise you will not be disappointed with any feature of this event.

100% COVID 19 vaccination proof with follow-up 14-day waiting period completion is required to confirm event reservations.  All Center for Disease Control and Pennsylvania Department of Health distancing and safety precautions as well as the Hilton Harrisburg’s practices and policies will be followed as we are their guests. Tables of 4 persons each may be reserved via communication with your reservation, or to the Treasurers. Click here to sign up online.

Member: $60                     Patron: $55                    Nonmember: $70