Capoccia Vineyards and Winery Noiret 2011

This picture is meant to show you
what a great local holiday gift a
bottle of Capoccia wine would be.

If you're like me and wanted to shop local for gifts this holiday season but haven't even started yet, here's a good tidbit for you-- this week's wine is a true local, and it's available (along with a couple of others from the same vineyard) at PWC.

Made in good ol' Nisky.

Capoccia Vineyards and Winery is located in Niskayuna, NY (which is just more than a stone's throw from my house...in fact I could probably even walk there without being knifed). There are so many reasons why I think this winery is cool. Firstly, it's the only one (that I know of) in Schenectady County. All grapes are either grown on site or shipped from growers in the Finger Lakes area. The family has been making wines for generations, so their dedication to quality is evident-- they are a chemical-free operation. Lastly, for a brand-spanking-new venture (they opened their doors this past July) their wines are quite good.

At PWC you can shop
AND drink local

For today's post I tried their Noiret, which is a pleasingly spicy red. You'll notice its deep red color and warm fragrance right away. I thought I detected a hint of chocolate when I inhaled, but I am still congested so maybe it's just me.

The sip is a little peppery, with some raisin and plum worked in there as well. The bottle says there is a mint aroma, and while I didn't necessarily detect the scent or flavor, my mouth felt oddly refreshed after I sipped*.

The folks at Capoccia Winery recommend that you serve the Noiret with beef, pasta or sharp cheeses. I agree that those all sound delicious. I had a glass with some chef-created ravioli in a light tomato sauce...

don't judge me.

Sorry to disappoint any of you who might have expected the culinary genius you usually find here on the Casual Wine Taster blog, but I'm a grad student and it's the end of the semester, so I don't have time to cook for a few weeks. Thank you, Mr. Boiardi.

*Seriously, if you come to PWC on Thursday for our free tasting, try taking a sip and then inhale deeply through your mouth. Totally wild!


Price: $

My Rating: B+

Maison Nicolas Chardonnay 2010

CWT sez: Oak is for deers, not people.

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this before, but Chardonnay is not generally my white of choice because I'm not a fan of oak. Or rather, I'm not a fan of being slapped in the mouth by a Chardonnay that makes you feel like you're chewing on a tree.
However my opinion of Chardonnay has been challenged recently by my realization that not all Chards are oaked until they are a crusty brown in color and that is all you can taste. Since starting the CWT blog I have found not one, but two Chards that I actually really enjoy, and I'll have one of them open for you at PWC this Thursday: Maison Nicolas.

I like taking pictures of things
in front of my microwave.

What I like most about the Nicolas Chard shouldn't much surprise you: it's not oak-y. It's fermented in stainless steel vats, then aged six months in barrels. This process is evident when you look at the wine as well as when you taste it: It's light in color, though a bit less green than some whites that are aged in steel. And, there is only a small amount oak in the flavor-- in fact I'm not 100% sure it's even oak I'm tasting. It's a little like toast at first and then that hint is completely overwhelmed by refreshing citrus flavors. Both the scent and the flavor are light and refreshing as well as fleeting. This wine won't overload your senses, so it's great with a light meal.

That's right I said "with my lunch."
I have the day off, okay?

In fact, this wine was perfect for today because the weather is totally cooperating. It's cool and a little rainy. There's just that hint of fall in the air and while it's no longer hot out, it's not precisely cold either. It's REFRESHING outside! The Nicolas Chardonnay went very well with my lunch of a grilled chicken sandwich with Munster and BBQ sauce, Saratoga chips, and that light autumnal breeze drifting through my living room window...ahhh... I drank it slightly chilled, but it is definitely still good at room temperature, it will just lose some of its crispness. Which is no biggie.


Price: $

Rating: B+