Wine Spectator Recognizes Montelle Winery

The October 15, 2012, edition of Wine Spectator contains a feature article by Kim Marcus that lists 200 American value wines under $20. There are no wines included below 85 points. Some wine enthusiasts are quick to insist that wines that achieve 85 points are very good wines and, in fact, personal opinion gets involved with scores above that. You can pretty much be assured that if you have purchased a wine rated 85 or more, you have a very nice wine.

The article "Great American Values" (p. 81) is divided first by reds or whites, and then rolls out by state and by score. After California, Oregon, and Washington is the category "Other U. S." In that section, we read "Montelle Vignoles Missouri Dry 2010" with 86 points. A Brief mention that speaks volumes! What an honor to be listed among great wines from California, Washington, Oregon, and New York! Congratulations to Tony Kooyumjian, family, and staff! Thanks for putting Missouri in the national spotlight!

I am on my way with several friends to enjoy Montelle winery in a couple weeks. (Although, I didn't need Wine Spectator to tell me Tony and his crew make great wines.) The Missouri leaves are turning a myriad of fall colors and Montelle has one of the best views of the Augusta Valley from that hilltop location. This is a great time to head just west of St. Louis to the Augusta AVA to enjoy the fall colors and some top quality midwestern wines! Way to Go, Tony!

Kansas City Wine Discussion

Just got back from Kansas City, MO.  What a fantastic visit. Besides the wedding that took me there (which was an amazingly beautiful), I participated in an unplanned wine tasting and discussion at a new restaurant in Country Club Plaza called Seasons 52. They have a nice wine list and create low calorie dishes with locally grown foods.

While waiting for my food to arrive, I wondered over to take a closer look at a bottle of wine on the bar. That led to a great conversation with a delightful, knowledgeable, and attractive young bartender I will call Georgia (name changed to protect her privacy). Among the 9 wines we tasted from around the world, there was a unique Treehouse Pinot Gris Rose from the Vista Hills vineyard in the Willamette Valley near Portland, Oregon.This richly colored rose is nice and crisp but pleasantly dry. A myriad of fruit flavors display through the nose and on the palate.  Tropical fruit, strawberry, watermelon? A veritable fruit salad!  Insightfully produced by Dave Petterson, only 50 cases were made. It's a steal for under $18.00 on the Vista Hills website.
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A Sensuous Cabernet

I love a good Cabernet Sauvignon!  And, I have noticed that since I have returned from my Sommelier training that I am indeed more sensitive to quality -- oh I love good wines -- and less tolerant of mediocre wines.  I would rather wait for a quality wine than drink the average stuff.  Does that make me a wine snob or just someone with a more refined palate?

Since I am sure you rushed to agree that it is my refined taste, let me add that to me, developing a mature palate is like learning to appreciate Shakespeare's writings. You have to acquire a taste for it over time as you are exposed to a multitude of fine literature. The more good literature you read, the more you can identify excellence. The superior quality (cleverness) of Shakespeare's writing eludes the average reader because of their limited encounters with great writings. Training yourself to recognize fine wines is a long (albeit enjoyable) process as well. You must experience a great number of well-made wines and thereby learn to recognize quality wines.

 

All that said, this Cabernet is a "delightful, sensory experience." I sampled the Starmont 2008 from Napa Valley at a recent wine tasting. It was a delicate yet full bodied dry red with dark cherry and plum flavors.  This Cab is gently oaked with a smooth, lingering finish.  I prefer the softer cabs, and the Starmont 2008 is definitely supple and tantalizingly tasteful. You can find it for around $25.00 in the St. Louis area. If you are willing to spend more than $20, this is well worth the additional money. Thanks for picking this one, Jody!