Rose season is sneaking up on us and this week we are tasting two new roses as well as a Cabernet and a Merlot. Join us from 4-6pm on Thursday, April 30.
We will begin with an Oregon Rose, then move on to an Italian Rose from Abruzzo region. From there we travel to California for a Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Some details below.
This is a free event and very casual. Come anytime between 4pm and 6pm and stay for as long as you like. Of course we will be providing a well appointed charcuterie board to help to cleanse your palate.
Make a night of it in Sunapee Harbor by using the tasting as a starting point to finish at Wildwood Smokehouse, the Blue Canoe or Hoptimystic.
Domaine Serene R
“r” is a delicate, dry style rosé artfully blended to achieve a graceful balance of freshness and richness along with an array of exotic fruit characteristics. This fascinating blend delivers on aromatic complexity, flavor intensity and textural balance.
Fresh and vibrant with bright acidity, this rosé envelops the palate in fruity notes, proving to be a perfect pairing for a sunny afternoon.
Podere Castorani Cadetto Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC
Color: intense pink.
Aroma: intense notes of red fruits, reminiscent of morello cherries, exotic fruits and mature almonds with a persistent finish
Taste: full bodied to the palate, with notes of red and exotic fruits, ending with long notes of mature fruits and almonds.
Food pairing: perfect on its own or to accompany fried seafood, fish stews or soups. Also appreciated with pizza.
Orin Swift Advise from John Merlot –
YOU HAD ME AT HELL NO! ADVICE FROM JOHN
Like many things at Orin Swift, what started as a fascination quickly turned into an obsession. Samantha Smith, Dave Phinney’s longtime executive assistant (read: chauffeur, gopher, right-hand ma’am, therapist, etc.), managed amidst her daytime job to multitask away at a book, Advice From John—an anthology of the brilliant, idiotic, and sometimes deep thoughts found at the bottom of a cocktail and then subsequently scribbled and scrawled onto the walls of dive bar bathrooms.
“You Had Me At Hell No,” captured at a dive in Texas, caught Dave’s eye while ruminating ideas on how to bring Merlot back into the mainstream fold—long pilloried for its second of fame in that movie two decades ago. All good things circle back around, so let’s revitalize this delicious, luscious, and fun varietal.
Like many things at Orin Swift, what started as a fascination quickly turned into an obsession. Samantha Smith, Dave Phinney’s long time executive assistant (read: chauffeur, gopher, right hand ma’am, therapist, etc.), managed amidst her daytime job to multitask away at a book, Advice From John—an anthology of the brilliant, idiotic and sometimes deep thoughts found at the bottom of a cocktail and then subsequently scribbled and scrawled onto to
Like many things at Orin Swift, what started as a fascination quickly turned into an obsession. Samantha Smith, Dave Phinney’s long time executive assistant (read: chauffeur, gopher, right hand ma’am, therapist, etc.), managed amidst her daytime job to multitask away at a book, Advice From John—an anthology of the brilliant, idiotic and sometimes deep thoughts found at the bottom of a cocktail and then subsequently scribbled and scrawled onto to the walls of dive bar bathrooms.
‘You Had Me At Hell No’, captured at a dive in Texas, caught Dave’s eye while ruminating ideas on how to bring Merlot back into the mainstream fold—long pilloried for its second of fame in THAT movie two decades ago. All good things circle back around, so, let’s revitalize this delicious, luscious and fun varietal. Grab a bottle of some good ole Advice and enjoy!
WINEMAKER’S NOTES Dominating aromatics abound without effort—notes of blackberry pie, black plum, sage and lilac come from the glass. A flooding sensation on entry drives dark fruits onto the mid-palate with touches of savory, fennel and licorice as complements. Long on the finish, the espresso bean and continued concentration of blackberry throughout fades slowly with gentle and soft tannins.
BLEND Merlot
MATURATION Aged for 14 months in French Oak, 25 % New
ALC/VOL 14.9%
Martis Cabernet
Martis proudly celebrates Sonoma County’s rich, diverse landscape and its community. Martis, named after Mars—the Roman guardian of agriculture—embodies strength and protection, like its namesake. This Cabernet reflects our unwavering commitment to capturing the rugged agricultural essence of Alexander Valley.
About the Wine Our flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, primarily sourced from Barrelli Creek Vineyard, delivers complexity and notes of: • Baked blackberry • Dark morello cherry • Layered nutmeg and sage • Fine tannins and well-structured acidity
Varietal Content: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Syrah, 5% Zinfandel
Sustainability Statement: Certified Sustainable (CSWA)
Varietal Origin: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
Alcohol Content: 14.9%
Aging: 16 months in 100% American Oak (neutral)
Aging Recommendation: Drink now or lay down for 7 years
Viticulture & Winemaking Notes The 2022 vintage began with plentiful winter rains, followed by an even, temperate summer with warm periods that accelerated ripening for an early harvest with excellent quality, concentrated flavors, and complexity. The grapes were picked early to preserve flavor and structure, with 5-9 days of skin contact at lower temperatures for refined tannins, and a full delestage process at 14-10 Brix incorporated air for rich texture and vibrant color.