Saturday Tasting at The Gourmet Shop, Columbia, SC 8/30/2014

Jessica from The Country Vintner was our hostess today. Outside it was a typical Columbia, SC. late August, 97 degrees with absolutely no breeze afternoon. Luckily, the humidity was surprisingly tolerable. The crowd trickled in by two's and three's so we all were able to enjoy Jessica's charm and knowledge on almost a personal basis. This is also the first tasting since the passing of longtime regular and really, really good friend David Braught who lost his battle with brain cancer this past week. This is probably the strongest lineup I can remember ever for The Gourmet Shop, which is saying a lot. The weakest taste, which was by no means weak was the Silver Peak 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, which is an excellent $13 offering slightly above the rest of this very crowded price point. We had Chapoutier, Gassier, and Klein, so life is very good for the tasting public in Columbia today.

• 2013 M. Chapoutier Tournon Mathilda Blanc 89 Points

  Australia, Victoria

  A really intense and vibrant mouth full of "New World" fruit. 85% Viognier and 15% Marsanne from someone who knows these varietals like the back of his hand. The color is greenish golden. The nose is more herbal, and less like typical Viognier than you would expect. There are plenty of floral aromas, but also some minerals and lime. The palate has the lifted mouth feel of Viognier with lots of fresh orchard fruit, but also has a very interesting nutty contribution from the Marsanne. Boldly acidic in a lemon/lime style. Flirting with the 90 point "glass ceiling"

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• 2012 Michel Gassier Cercius Blanc 90 Points

  France, Vin de France

  Very nice combination of vibrant, fruit forward aromas and flavors, with some "Old World" mineral earthiness. The color is surprisingly clear. The nose shows fresh squeezed citrus and some grass with peaches and honey. The nicely controlled fruit profile has a little of everything from apricot, peach, honeysuckle, and melon to many things tropical. Medium plus bodied. Very smooth and delicate on the palate for a white wine with this much fruit. The finish is moderately zesty with plenty of fruit and substantial minerality.

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• 2011 Silver Peak Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 86 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Evidently this producer has raised the bar over previously reviewed offerings of this Cabernet. This is nothing special, but is a totally serviceable $13 price point California Cabernet. There is enough light vegetative and mineral character to distinguish it from the under $10 stuff. It has the polish of some barrel aging. Solid core of mostly red fruit. Clean, balanced, relatively non controversial. Some lingering graphite, tobacco, and road tar supporting flavors. Stains the glass red.

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• 2011 Klein Constantia 90 Points

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Cape Peninsula, Constantia

  Still just a baby, this distinctive red Bordeaux blend from South Africa shows what their terroir and inspired wine making can accomplish. This wine has lots of those concentrated, somewhat exotic, and hard to describe secondary enhancing flavors. The brooding, stewed tomato, incense, ripe plum, blackberry and wet earth nose is great indication of what is to follow on the palate. Young, waiting to be decanted, black fruit and many flavors are still integrating with gobs of medium heavy toast oak. Though quite enjoyable for it's depth and character today, this one has a rosy future with some bottle age.

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