Rodney Strong Night at Rio Secco!

I don’t often talk about special events, but this one is a little different. The wine event at Rio Secco Country Club on Thursday evening, April 26, was pretty nice. In fact, I got to learn quite a bit about wines from one of my old standby producers, Rodney Strong.

It was promoted as a wine and networking event, and it lived up to the publicity. While I didn’t take the time to count how many people were there, I would guess about a 100 or so. Give or take.

Of course, my primary focus was less on the networking and more on the “wine” part of the evening! There were two pourers, Nick Litersky, DM of On Premise Wine at Southern Wine and Spirits, and Mitch Preston, Mountain States Sales Manager for Rodney Strong. There were nine wines from the Rodney Strong portfolio that were poured, and I’d like to share some of my tasting observations (such as they are) with you. Remember, I’m not an actual wine professional, and I don’t even play one on TV! With that being said, I am always on a quest for good “house wines,” that is, those wines that I can pop and pour at a moment’s notice, whether it’s for company who’s just stopping by or for myself! Just like about every other wineau, I have those wines that require great pomp and circumstance when opening, but those are the exceptions. I call those my “I paid *what* for that wine?!??” wines.

Unfortunately, the vintage years weren’t printed on the information sheet about the wines, so I’m going to presume that all of these are the current releases. I don’t remember what the years were. Sorry! But I took lots of notes.

Nick poured the whites and the Pinot Noir. They were as follows:

Charlotte’s Home Sauvignon Blanc. The only screwcap of the evening, this was meant to be drunk now. Lightly scented with melon and citrus, it offered pear, melon, grapefruit and a slight mineral quality on the palate. It’s an interesting balance between the highly fragrant SBs of New Zealand and the more austere Sancerres of France, but it can easily compete. Word to the wise …don’t serve this ice cold. Frigid temps shut down the fruit both on the nose and the palate. I revisited this later in the evening and discovered that once slightly warmed, it unleashes its bouquet and becomes a good NZ competitor!

Sonoma County Chardonnay. Immediately I detected butter, cream, lemon, and apple (as in Golden Delicious) fragrances. Lots of oak on the palate, but the taste confirms the fragrance. Nice mouthfeel, with bright fruit and toasty oak nuances. This would be a nice, everyday Chardonnay, even with the amount of oak.

Chalk Hill Chardonnay. Woo hoo! What a nice wine! And the price (I found it for $13.99 at Costco!), can’t be beat. The cream, butter, and lemon were there, but so were bright citrus, pineapple, and a hint of tropical taste. Amazing mouthfeel, with tongue-coating creamy qualities that washed fruit all the way to the back palate. With the minerality and great acidity, I was trying to figure out a great chicken or cheese dish I could pair with it!

Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. Surprisingly Burgundian in character (especially for a California wine), it was very light in color and had the characteristic cherry, strawberry, and roses bouquet. It also had an interesting earthiness which I would have expected from an Oregon Pinot. Wonderful acid balance, with the taste confirming the smell. At under $20.00, it’s a very nice Pinot for quaffing. And yes, I did go back for a second (or so) glass.

Over on the red wines side of the clubhouse, Mitch was pouring:

Sonoma County Merlot. I have to admit that it was the stuffed mushrooms that drove me to the Merlot in the first place. They were delicious and they screamed for a deep red wine. While I will usually pair a Pinot with mushrooms, I didn’t think that it would be the best match this time. However, the Merlot made an ideal pairing with this dish. On the nose, there were plums, blueberries, coffee, and maybe a little bit of vegetable (this is a good thing), and earth. The fruit and earth came to the forefront on the palate, especially with the mushrooms. Very nice, surprisingly full-bodied and lush. At under $20.00, it’s definitely a good candidate for a house Merlot. Even Miles would like this one.

Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon. Excuse my French – what a kickass, quality wine! Wow! The nose on this was fabulous – cassis, berries, chocolate, with a hint of coffee. There was some toast on the aroma as well. Great mouthfeel, full-bodied, and the taste confirmed the fragrance. Not overly complex, but a very nice wine. Gimme a steak.

Alexander Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. This one had a little sweeter nose than the Sonoma. Maybe a bit more berries or cherries? Not as much chocolate or cocoa? But it still was definitely a Cab. Luscious mouthfeel and longer finish than the Sonoma. I found that I enjoyed the Sonoma a little more, but for different reasons. As I look back, I recall a little more earthiness on the Sonoma, and a little more fruit on the Alexander Valley. I tend to like earthier wines overall a little better (Aussie Shirazes excepted), so this strictly a matter of taste.

Alexander’s Crown Cabernet Sauvignon. Cassis, currant, berries, earthy, and maybe a bit of eucalyptus on the nose. With those descriptions, it still could not be called fruit forward or herbally – those characteristics are well integrated into a structured whole. I revisited this wine a couple of times to get my brain around the palate. Lush mouthfeel, firm tannins, and nicely lingering finish. More complexity than the other two Cabs, which makes this a “sit down and think” wine, rather than a quaffing wine.

Symmetry. This is Rodney Strong’s flagship wine, and at about $50.00, it’s a definite contender. Mitch said that it’s their Bordeaux blend, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cab Franc. The color was striking, as it was an inky purple. On the nose, you’re immediately hit with the ripe plums, cassis, blackberries, leather, and spices. On the tongue, it’s all of those things plus a touch of earth, integrated tannins, and cocoa. Nice long lingering finish that lasts and lasts. There is an almost sweet (as in fruity, not in sugar) quality, but that doesn’t mean that it’s fruit forward. Now, while I loved this wine (thanks Mitch, for pouring it for me several times), I’m not so ready to give up my Robert Young Scion. However, if anyone out there is generous enough buy a bottle of each so that I could suitably compare them, I’d be more than willing!

My favorites were the Chalk Hill Chard, the Merlot, the Sonoma Cab, and the Symmetry. My wine of the evening was the Symmetry. Of course. Unfortunately, I have an Opus One palate paired with a White Zin wallet. Sheesh.

If you were at Rio Secco and would like to share your observations, tasting notes, or opinions, just drop me a line!

By the way, Rio Secco did a great job of ensuring that the appetizers were replenished and that dirty dishes and napkins were cleared away. The staff was unobtrusive and very courteous.

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Rant Time!

After paying $75.00 for a ticket to UNLVino, I feel in retrospect that I should have been given a cigarette and a towel. While quite nice, it wasn’t $25.00 more nice than last year when the price was $50.00. Maybe I’m being picky, silly, and petty, but there were several things that occurred this year that I’d never seen before.

1. The Auction. In previous years the auction had a variety of things at potentially different price points for attendees. This year was radically different. It seemed that every item was a high-ticket, multiple-wine, golf-package-included item, and that left many of us out of the running, especially at bid prices starting at $400. The packages were well worth what they went for – and then some! – but if you don’t play golf ….!!!

2. Riedel. I love Riedel glasses. So much so that I bought a dozen of them at UNLVino last year at a great price. One of the reasons I barely flinched at the $75 entry fee was because of the anticipation of being able to get another dozen or two Riedels. Well, that did not happen. What they had was a set of Vinums, four for $95.00. Or you could buy two “O” glasses for $20.00. Because each glass in the Vinum set was different, you’d have to buy two sets in order to have something decent for two, let alone with friends. And I hate (really hate) the “O” glasses. They are, in my opinion, a high-end Scotch glass. Except without the Scotch. Single malt, of course.

3. “Nevada Wine Partners.” Never heard of them before and was shocked once I looked through the souvenir book to see many of the wineries that I’d been hoping to find, but because I associated the name with a particular winery with mediocre wines, I didn’t explore the options. My bad.

4. The Bags. Handing out the bags that were loaded with valuable information as everyone *left* made no sense at all. There was information in those bags – including the latest edition of Wine Spectator with tasting reports and scores of some of the wines at UNLVino – that would have been nice to have during the event.

OF COURSE there were good things!

1. Thomas Arvid prints. ‘Nuff said.

2. The food. Phenomenal, as always. Does anyone know what the green cheese was?

3. Chocolate Row. A long table of strictly chocolate vendors. Heaven.

4. The People. Seeing friends having a great time and seeing those who were pouring whom I hadn’t seen in months was a pleasure. It’s funny how people make up for any rants one might have.

5. The Wines, of course! So many wines. Only one of me! By the way, if you haven’t explored New Zealand Pinot Noirs, brace yourself. I see a huge Pinot wave coming in from the Land of Oz, and it will be terrific. I was only able to taste a few, and there are a few characteristics in those wines that stand out to me. First, they are more similar to the Pinots of Oregon or the Burgundies of France than they are the big California Pinots. However, they aren’t quite as earthy as the former, and carry California-style fruit without losing Burgundian character. And phenomenal with food! Buy now, ‘cause I’m sure the prices are going to skyrocket once they’re discovered!

Okay, that’s all for UNLVino. Overall opinion, nice, but not as great as previous years. And a lot smaller. I remember a couple of years ago when I had to walk from one venue to another, overwhelmed by the sheer size of it. It’s smaller now, and I haven’t quite decided if that’s good or bad.

Now for the next rant. A few weeks ago, Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Heidi Knapp Rinella wrote a column about the prices of meals at restaurants in Vegas and how the quality doesn’t always measure up to the premium prices. I read that and said “Hallelujah Sister!” There are a few restaurants that I will go to no matter what, and they always have good food and excellent prices. So I’m a repeat customer! Marché Bacchus in Desert Shores and King’s Fish House in The District come immediately to mind.

There are others, however, where one visit was enough. To say that I felt violated would be an understatement. Once again, looking at the bill made me wonder why I wasn’t given a cigarette and a towel. To read Heidi’s column, just click here. Let me know what you think of my letter to her!

 

Hi Heidi,

I love reading your columns and truly appreciate your insights. I’d like to give my two cents’ worth on the prices of restaurant food.

I love wine. One of the latest trends in wine has been new winery owners releasing their first vintage at “are you kidding?!?” prices, for no other reason than they happen to be located in Napa.

I see the same mentality here in Vegas. Open a restaurant and charge “celebrity chef” prices just because you’re in Vegas. I don’t think so.

What these phenomena have done is to send me in other directions. Because I refuse to be a Napa slut (although I have several very nice Napa wines in my coolers), I have branched out to other, less well known areas. That means really good – if not great – wines at affordable prices. I love Gil because of his practical column and recommendations of enjoyable, affordable wines.

For food, the ridiculous prices/mediocre quality has sent me happily into my own kitchen, where I prepare my own miraculous dishes, usually higher quality than the hoity restaurants (I’m often in learning mode with some dishes), and always at a better price. And my friends love having the opportunity to enjoy good food and drink a bottle of wine that would cost extortion prices in a restaurant, without having to worry about what hissy fit “Chef” may throw.

I realize that my little bit of money here and there in a restaurant will not change the minds of the overinflated egos that open these altars to self-worship. They are after the big wallets and, frankly, I’m not one. Unfortunately, what that means is that I have to do a lot of word-of-mouthing before I’m willing to go the extra $$$ for an enjoyable evening out. For the most part, that leaves out the greedy restaurants – no good QPR (Quality Price Ratio) there!

Don’t get me wrong. There are some places where the high prices are justifiable. For instance, having a dinner at Panevino, while somewhat pricey, is so worth it with the food, the service, and the fantastic view.

But I’m just as happy having a lunch at Marché Bacchus by the water and sharing a bottle of wine with friends. Where a lunch for four will cost about the same as a dinner for one at any of the mega-ego restaurants. And enjoying a meal with friends is what makes dining out special.

Irene King
Vini, Vidi, Velcro
I came, I saw, I stuck around

Let me know what you think of my little blog. I’ve been having a lot of fun working on it and love sharing my insights with everyone. Please share it with your wine buddies! And time for an announcement! Along with the Blog, I think that a website for Vegaswineaux is in order and have been working on it. The website will be http://www.vegaswineaux.com. It’s not up yet, and all you’ll get now is a generic page.

More next week on what will be on the website and stuff about wine club allocations.

Stay tuned …

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Wine Sense does Italy

Okay. I can write about this now. I’m enrolled. Call me selfish. Call me arrogant. I will agree. It’s all about me.

But once you attend one of Fritz Reese’s wine classes, you will do the same!

Beginning Thursday evening, May 24, Fritz will be instructing “Wine Sense does Italy” at the West Sahara CCSN Satellite campus. I’ve attended several of Fritz’s Wine Sense courses (all at the same place) and have just accepted the fact that I’m addicted to them. The Community College website is: http://www.ccsn.edu/workforce/community/courselist/culinary.asp . They have an error in that they describe the class as “Wine Sense” which is Fritz’s basic beginner class.

Other than Chianti Classico Riserva, I’m not a big fan of Italian wines. But, like just about everything else, I know that comes from ignorance about Italian wines. I love wines from California, Australia, New Zealand, Oregon, Washington, South Africa, Argentina, and Chile. I love some French wines, and know that I would love even more of them if they weren’t priced at extortion levels. I enjoy the wines from Germany and Austria, too, even though they specialize primarily in cold-weather whites. And despite Fritz’s very careful explanations, I still view their labels as indecipherable.

I will mention that a new (to me) grape from Sicily has caught my attention: Nero d’Avola. It’s a rich red and somewhat reminiscent of a Shiraz, but with berry tones and a touch of the Mediterranean. Open a bottle and you will discover that it REQUIRES air before it begins to evolve in the glass. And it’s great with Italian food! Imagine that!

Fritz has a passion for wines that shows in each class session, and he makes every one enjoyable. Which is why he doesn’t have *students* in class; he has *fans*! What makes it even more fun is that the students have gotten to know each other and often bring food to the class that pairs (we hope) with the wines that Fritz will pour. And since he uses a measured pourer, each glass is exactly enough to enjoy the taste (not too skimpy) but not make it a party. Well, not *quite* a party.

So, dear locals, I hope that you will be able to make it to one of Fritz’s courses in the future.

Okay, now for a few shout-outs:

Congrats to Michael (never Mike) Breyer on moving into his (brand) new home in Anthem Solera!

Look for Zach Benson (okay, so he’s my kid) on commercials/ads/newspaper inserts beginning next month. He went to a casting call for the heck of it and got chosen as an athletic model.

A pat on the back for me for *finally* making the Kosta Browne allocation list and getting my full allocation! Take THAT, Williams Selyem!! It’s an ugly story, but I’ll gleefully share it with anyone who wants to know.

Are you part of a wine club somewhere? I belong to five, all directly from wineries. I don’t do the “wine of the month” thing. I did it once for about four months and nearly every wine was dreck. Never again!

If you belong to a wine club (of any kind) please share with us which ones they are and the good and bad with each one. I will write about wine clubs next time! No, I lied. I will be talking about a day at UNLVino!

Meanwhile, if you have something worthy of a shout-out, just let me know!

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