Bordeaux Varietals from Around the World

Bordeaux — the very name evokes words like power, elegance and nobility. What is it about the wines from this largest fine wine region on earth that has the ability to so capture the imagination of wine lovers? Certainly, the terroir, coupled with the experience and skill of the region’s growers and producers has a lot to do with it. But, how about the native varietals themselves? Without a doubt, the success and popularity of Napa Cabs says something about the ability of Bordeaux varietals to shine when planted in carefully selected locations. On Friday, April 8, at the Harrisburg Hilton and Towers, with the pre-pour beginning at 6:45 p.m., Mark Vitale of Geandre Imports will take us on an around-the-world tasting tour of some of the world’s great wine regions, particularly those that have shown success and promise in growing varietals from their Bordeaux homeland. Here are Mark’s thoughtfully selected picks in tasting order:

• Lucky 7 Sauvignon Blanc 2009 (Central Valley, Chile)

  (Pre-pour) Expressive and aromatic on the nose with herbaceous overtones and hints of tropical and citrus fruit. In the mouth it has balanced acidity, is rich and silky, with medium body and good persistence.

• Friday Monkey Cabernet-Merlot 2007 (New South Wales, Australia)

  Rich, attractive dark plum red color. The nose shows lifted, aromatic, blackcurrant and raspberry fruits along distinctly varietal Cabernet and Merlot characters of savory oak and spice.

• Anna Spinato Cabernet Franc 2004 (Veneto, Italy)

  Full and intense fragrance with distinctive bell pepper and floral notes that, with time, open up to red berries and tobacco. Medium bodied and intriguing on the palate. Intense and complex with flavors of dark chocolate and dark fruits.

• The Wait Malbec 2008 (Mendoza, Argentina)

  Pleasant aromas of mature plums and sour cherries followed by the same fruits on the palate. Full bodied with sweet tannins, balanced acidity, good structure and a lengthy and complex finish.

• The Deck Carmenère 2008 (Rapel Valley, Chile)

  Dark red color. In the nose it has red cherries and plums with a whiff of toasty oak. Hints of chocolate and berries. Round tannins, soft but well structured.

• Tulip Hill Cellar Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (Tracy Hills AVA, California)

  Offers a gorgeous nose of black cherry, clove and licorice with pepper and hickory smoke notes. Flavors are rich and concentrated with black currant intertwined with chocolate and espresso. Plush and silky tannins add to the persistence.

• Cantine Paolini Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (Marsala, Sicily)

  Deep garnet in color and dense, with a rich bouquet of red cherry, wild berries, vanilla, black pepper, tobacco, cinnamon, mint and sage. Silky yet concentrated, elegant and balanced with a lengthy finish.

• Canyon’s Edge Merlot 2005 (Horse Heaven Hills AVA, Washington)

  “Lush” Merlot flavors with tastes of sweet vanilla, wild blackberry, marionberry and a long balanced finish. While retaining grace, more earthy and powerful than most California Merlots.

• Chateau La Tour de By Cru Bourgeois Du Medoc 2007 (Medoc, Bordeaux)

  Our benchmark wine of the evening! You be the judge!

For years, Bordeaux has inspired the imagination of wine connoisseurs like no other area in the world. Its wines are elegant but substantial, earthy yet divine. Producers from all over the world have sought to imitate the wines of Bordeaux, occasionally with great success, by planting the varietals associated with this most famous of fine wine regions. Just how well they have succeeded will be the subject of our upcoming event on Friday, April 8, at the Hilton Harrisburg and Towers, beginning at 7 p.m.

We will have the opportunity to sample wines made from the familiar Bordeaux varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot; the less familiar varietals such as Carmenère, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Sauvignon Blanc; and various blends of the above. Our worldwide excursion in search of worthy competition to the wines of the world’s largest fine wine area will take us to Argentina, Chile, Australia, Italy, and the United States. All of the evening’s aspirants will be graded against a benchmark Bordeaux from the Medoc, the most famous wine district in Bordeaux. YOU will be the judge! Are the wines the same, better, worse or just different from our Bordeaux archetype? Come and decide for yourself just how well the progeny of Bordeaux have done in their adopted homelands.

Our speaker for this event is Mark Vitale of Geandre Imports. Mark’s presentation at last year’s “Intro to Italian Wines” was a fantastic treat for all who attended. He has that rare ability to entertain and educate at the same time, and to come up with selections that are delicious, affordable, and attainable. If you are a fan of Bordeaux-style wines, you owe it to yourselves to reserve seats while you still can!

Ask someone to tell you which varietals are associated with Bordeaux, the largest fine wine producing area in the world, and chances are pretty good that they will answer Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot or both. They would definitely be correct, but they would also be correct if they added Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Carmenère and Sauvignon Blanc. All of these are Bordeaux varietals and all are now grown in diverse locations around the world, and in some cases have achieved more fame and recognition in their new homelands than they did in Bordeaux.

On Friday, April 8, at the Hilton Harrisburg, beginning at 7 p.m., we will have the opportunity to sample all of the above from areas far and near to Bordeaux, as well as a benchmark Bordeaux from the world famous Médoc region. Decide for yourself just how well the progeny of Bordeaux have done in their adopted homelands.

Our speaker for this event is Mark Vitale of Geandre Imports. Many of you will remember Mark from his superb presentation last year at our “Intro to Italian Wines” tasting. His selections were not only superb, but reasonably priced and many were available in the local stores. The same will hold true for this event. If you are a fan of Bordeaux style wines, and I know many of you are, then you need to reserve yourself a seat soon as seats will be limited.

Event Registration Instructions