Last night was the official grand opening for Grapes & Tastes, the new wine shop in Cedarburg.  The owners, Brad and Joni, were busy greeting the public and making sure everyone felt welcome.  Sue and I perused shelves full of interesting (and affordable) bottles from around the world while sampling some curious South African wines and nibbling on delicious hors d’oeuvres. Eric, a member of G & T’s friendly and very knowledgeable staff, greeted us and asked all of the right questions, looking to discover our particular tastes.  He quickly steered us to a several selections suited to our palates and our budget. We took Eric’s advice and picked a young Chilean pinot noir and some gourmet cheese to pair with it.  I’m happy to say that Eric’s suggestion was spot on.  The 2008 Tabali Reserva Especial Pinot Noir ($22) is excellent!  Here is a little bit about Tabali…

The Tabali vineyards and winery are in the Limari Valley, one of Chile’s most northern grape growing regions.  On the edge of the Valle del Encanto (Enchanted Valley), Tabali’s vineyards grow in a sunny, semi-arid climate kept in check by the high altitude and cooling effects of fog that flows in every morning from the Pacific Ocean. This tempering of the climate keeps the grapes from ripening too quickly and produces wines of great depth and character.

Tasting Notes:

I’m happy we took Eric’s advice. This wine has all of the characteristics of a fine pinot noir at a very affordable price.  Soft, fruity aromas of cherries and strawberries amplify juicy flavors of strawberries and tart cranberries with bright acidity. Ten months of aging in French oak barrels creates a lingering toasty finish of vanilla and peppery spice.

Thanks to the entire G&T team for the fun experience.