Weekend wines – new to the state

Looking for something new and interesting to grace your glass this weekend? Our local partners in the wine business, Vine Lore, have these three wines – new to Utah shelves – for your consideration.

Tasting notes: This tasty and accessible 2013 chardonnay has delicate aromas of orange blossom and guava wrapped with the sensation of warm honey. A touch of smoky pineapple greets the beginning of the palate, filling out to flavors of lemon curd and orange zest. The vibrant acidity has subtle layers of oak and just a touch of butterscotch that lingers in the clean finish.

aCrisp Chardonnay 2013
California
Code: 948101
Price: $14.99

Piattelli Torrontés comes from the Torrontés Riojano grape, a crisp and complex grape considered the best of the sub-varietals. Grown at 5,890 feet elevation, where extreme thermal amplitudes produce grapes bursting with flavor. Piattelli Torrontés is an elegant rendition of this varietal showcasing the freshness and floral qualities this wine is known for, moderated lightly with oak. Delicious paired with spicy foods.

Tasting notes: A refreshing, fragrant wine, the color of yellow topaz. This Torrontés bursts with tropical aromas of pineapple, peach and orange blossom. Aromatic notes resonate in the mouth with fresh apricot and lychee and a hint of orange zest. Acidity is well-balanced in the mouth with a citrusy medium finish.

90 Points – Stephen Tanzer 2013
89 Points – Wine Advocate 2013
89 Points – International Wine Cellar 2010
90 Points – Robert Parker 2009
Highest rated Torrontes – Wine Spectator 2009

Piatelli Vineyards
Torrontés Reserve 2014
Code: 918461
Price $14.99

Tasting notes: A complex, elegant wine with a deep ruby hue, Trinità tantalizes the senses with an aromatic bouquet of coffee and spice, unfolds across the palate with sweetness and a hint of chocolate, and lingers with a moderate tannin pull and a finish reminiscent of plums.

Piattelli Vineyards
Trinita Grand Reserve 2010 Red Blend (70% Malbec, 12% Merlot,18% Cab. Sauv.)
Mendoza, Argentina
Code: 949505
Price: $24.99

92 Points Wine Spectator 2010

* Gastronomic SLC is a proud local partner of Vine Lore.

Stuart Melling

Hi, I’m Stuart, nice to meet you!  I’m the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC; I’m also a former restaurant critic of more than five years, working for the Salt Lake Tribune.  I’ve worked extensively with multiple local publications from Visit Salt Lake to Salt Lake Magazine, not least helped to consult on national TV shows.

I’m a multiple-award winning journalist and have covered the Utah dining scene for the better part of fifteen years.   I’m largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration and the use of big words I don’t understand.   What they’re saying about me: “Not inaccurate”, “I thought he was older”, “I don’t share his feelings”.