July 4, 2008

A-B-C's of the Critics Challenge

One of the most intriguing aspects of the Critics Challenge International Wine Competition is the commentary that flows from the judges -- accomplished wine journalists all.

Each year, following completion of the Challenge in late May, I pore over the judges' tasting notes and post excerpts on the web alongside the corresponding award winner.

Here is but one example, from judge Leslie Sbrocco:

Clos Du Val   
 Critics Platinum 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District $70.00: What draws you into this stunning wine first is the herbal complexity layered with perfectly ripe fruit flavors and integrated oak notes. Curvaceous and supple, the texture is pure velvet. - Leslie Sbrocco

Because there are thousands of wines entered and the judges have a tendency to be loquacious, the editing and posting of the comments takes a considerable amount of time, especially coming, as it does, at the same time as the annual Wine & Roses charity wine tasting and the wrap-up and subsequent move of the competition office into storage for the summer.

Thus, I have only posted the winners with comments A through F.

More of the edited comments will be posted in the coming days.

Click here to read and enjoy!

Judges for the 2008 Critics Challenge included WRO's very own Mary Ewing-Mulligan (as Chief Judge), Ed McCarthy, Michael Apstein, Michael Franz, Marguerite Thomas, Paul Lukacs, Leslie Sbrocco, Linda Murphy, Patrick Comiskey and yours truly (as co-Chief Judge) along with our dear friends and colleagues Nick Passmore, Elin McCoy, Rebecca Murphy, Stephen Brook and Jon Bonne.

July 3, 2008

Alternative Sipping Selections for the Fourth

After listening to colleagues Michael Franz and Paul Lukacs riff with Kojo (you can click here and listen) about their wine preferences for the Fourth of July, I couldn't resist the temptation to add my own two cents to the discussion.

While I agree in principle that lighter reds -- those lower in tannin and alcohol, such as Italy's Dolcetto or France's Beaujolais -- might work best with a plate of barbecued meats on a warm summer day, I wonder about the rest of the July 4th experience -- away from the picnic table.

In my neighnorhood, folks gather hours in advance of the fireworks to sun or wade through the surf or just hang out under an umbrella with a trashy novel and a cool, refreshing adult beverage.

What of these times? What would Robert drink? Heh, heh.

Well, for starters, that Leth Gruner Veltliner I had Wednesday night before the Shakespere Festival at The Old Globe would be high on my list. It was not only crisp and refreshing, but exhibited more heft than is typical of Gruner, and was slightly rounder and softer. The sort of wine you could sip for hours.

Then there is Prosecco, currently all the rage. This festive bubbly from northern Italy is fairly priced (between $12 and $20) and absolutely perfect with tapas or antipasti. Two of my fave producers are Adami and Bisol, and I generally prefer the bruts to the extra dry Proseccos, but in the slightly sweeter realm of extra dry (I know, it seems like a contradiction) the Prosecco from Cartizze, the only cru in the region, is generally well-balanced and a bit more complex despite higher levels of sugar.

Finally, I might want to add a rose or two to the mix. They're fabulous quaffers on a hot summer day, and extremely versatile with all manner of food, from olives and goat cheese to spicy sausages or barbecued salmon.

Two I am almost never disappointed with are the Bodegas Julian Chivite Gran Feudo Rosado, from Spain's Navarra region, and Chateau d'Aqueria Tavel Rose from the south of France.