We gathered a panel of local wine aficionados to sip, savor and evaluate a collection of wine based on value and overall quality. In the process, participants were exposed to some wines they had never tasted, but beyond that, friendships were forged, and fun was had by everyone involved.
by FWTX Staff
Panel of Experts
Jeff Davis, chairman of the Board of Republic Title, lent his expertise to our wine panel. Davis was born in Greenland and graduated from Princeton University with a major in religion. He got his JD degree from SMU and practiced law for years before opening his own law practice and title company. When he was 27, he was elected to the first single member district City Council in Fort Worth and served two terms representing East Fort Worth. He authored the City's current economic development policy and co-authored the City's Ethics Code. His greatest passions are his daughters, the Texas Rangers, theater and wine.
Another spot on our panel was reserved for Renie Steves. Her list of qualifications is impressive to say the least. Steves is the driving force behind Cuisine Concepts, and besides teaching and creating recipes, she developed a network of activity from choosing wines to go with food, menu consulting for restaurants and organizations, food styling for photography for magazines, newspapers, and television, freelance journalism and restaurant critiquing.
She is constantly in pursuit of the best dishes, as well as modern versions of all time favorites, and wines to match. While she says her greatest accomplishment is being a two-time cancer survivor, Steves has authored multiple published books on food and wine and written more than 900 articles on the subjects. Steves was the perfect fit for our panel as she has judged wine competitions in California, New York, Indiana, New Mexico, Texas, and in Italy at Vinitaly in Verona and Banco d"Assagio in Torgiano.
Chief Financial Officer at WDS Logistics, Colby Siratt, began working with his family in 2001. He left a position at Ernst and Young to help with financial paper work for the Siratt family's real estate practice, Montserrat, and freight company, WDS. This transition has given him flexibility in his job and the ability to stay close to home with his wife and children. Siratt was the youngest palate on the panel, and his participation was essential in picking the top wines of the evening.
Our liveliest panel member, by far, was Dana Schrick, owner of Schrick's Liquor located in Hudson Oaks. After retiring from a 30-year career as a court reporter, Schrick opened the store with her husband in 1992 with 99 bottles of wine on the wall. Schrick says that in a given year she tastes and judges more than 5,000 wines. She wrote the From the Wine Cellar column for local papers for several years and writes guest articles for different periodicals occasionally. Fifteen years ago, Schrick began a monthly wine and food appreciation dinner that is still going with more than 60 seats filled each month. In addition to sitting on our wine panel, she has been a judge at numerous international, national and local wine events.
Wine connoisseur, Jerry Conatser, is president of Conatser Construction. He is known in Fort Worth for being a self-reliant businessman and philanthropist. Conatser is the president of the Mira Vista Country Club board of directors and one of Cook Children's Health Plan board of trustees. In his spare time, he enjoys good wine, which is why he was chosen to participate on the panel.
While Lee Tennison has spent most of his career as a financial advisor, he has always had a passion for fermented grape juice. For more than 30 years, he has worked with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith in Fort Worth. Tennison is imbedded in the culture of Fort Worth. He has sat on the board at the Fort Worth Zoo, where his father, wildlife conservationist Harry Lee Tennison, was president. His humorous commentary aided in setting a nice tone for the evening.
The facilitator for the evening was advanced sommelier and wine broker, Ryan Tedder, of Graileys Fine Wines. He was the sommelier at Fort Worth's Grace Restaurant, and he has been exposed to the highest level of dining and pairing possibilities having executed more than 50 wine dinners and 120 tasting menus. Tedder has earned praise fromWine Spectator, receiving the "Best of Award of Excellence" in 2011-2012 – only one of 19 awarded in Texas. More recently, he received TexSom's "Texas" Best Sommelier 2012" award as the best young wine professional in the entire state. Ryan is an Advanced Sommelier (one of 20 in the state) through the Court of Master Sommeliers and a Certified Specialist of Wine. He brought a personal, consultative touch to the wine tasting.
An Ideal Venue
Classic Wine Storage and Services, located at 2915 Riverglen Drive in Fort Worth, set the perfect stage for our tasting. In addition to being ideal for special gatherings or wine-related events, the facility provides different types of customized storage as well as home storage consultation. While there are many clients that store their wine collection at Classic Wine Storage and Services, many like to keep a smaller supply at home for convenient access.
The inventory management service provided by Classic includes an inspection of your collection for any label or cork issues. Clients can access the detailed assessment of their wines online. Classic has facilities in Dallas and Southlake as well.
Whether moving local or across the country, Classic offers moving services for collections of any size. They will pack and unpack your collection and haul it in refrigerated TABC-permitted transportation.
Owners Mark Nelson and Terry Perkins emphasize that Classic is dedicated to secure storage conditions that encourage enduring quality and the proper aging process over the long term.
The Tasting
Each of the six judges was asked to bring two wines they appreciate. One of the bottles had to be under $40, and the other bottle had to be more than $40 but less than $100. This requirement was put in place to test the value of the wines being tasted based on more than just price point.
The blind tasting consisted of three different flights with six wines being tasted in each. Tasting facilitator, Ryan Tedder, hid the wines" identities with brown paper bags as he poured each judge a few ounces to taste.
As the guests on the panel took their seats, they bantered about common acquaintances and each other's families. They discussed how the Cowboys did last weekend as they started to swirl, sip, sniff and hold their glasses up to the light in order to see the wine's true color.
During the first flight, each judge shared what he or she liked and didn't like about wines enjoyed personally. Steves said she doesn't like to chew her wines, referring to the tannins. Shrick said she liked "anything with alcohol." She also demonstrated her discerning palate as she likened the third wine she tasted to a candy apple she tasted at the circus as a little girl.
Things were a little livelier during the second flight. The volume in the room certainly increased as the judges loosened up. Unlike in the first flight, each of the wines in the second flight was decanted. The most memorable comments during the second flight came from panel member Lee Tennison. "I like to compare each wine to a woman. There are those wines like Audrey Hepburn, and then there are those like Miley Cyrus. Some have a natural elegance, and some are just unpleasant…and life's too short."
The third flight took the top three highest ranked wines from the first two flights and compared them against one another. After long deliberation, the panel made their final comments and ranked the wines. It was interesting how the results indicated that some of the lesser priced wines ranked higher than the more expensive ones. Surprisingly, the overall opinion of the wines tasted was extremely similar. On only a few occasions did a panel member's ranking of a wine differ drastically from the general consensus.
Background onthe Bottles
Here are the 12 wines tasted at the event. The numbers indicate how the top wines were ranked by the panel of judges.
Priced Under $40
Altamira de los Andes Reserve Malbec 2010 - $27
Expressive wine with blueberry/blackberry fruit, violet, vanilla and tobacco notes. It is full bodied and acidic.
Dry Creek Vineyards "Heritage" Zinfandel 2009 - $17
Balanced wine with aromas of raspberry and red berry. Denser elements such as blackberry and pepper are present once on the palate. Smooth finish.
Ridge 3 Valleys Zinfandel 2011 - $25
Fresh raspberry and cherry flavors with a savory oak spice. This wine is medium bodied with moderate acidity, round tannins and a lively finish.
Michael David Petite Petit 2010 - $17
This is a bold wine. It's full-bodied and packed with black fruit and vanilla flavors and finishes slightly dry.
Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 - $22
Black plum, cherry and boysenberry jump right out at you, as well as violet, cedar and chocolate notes. It's smooth with round tannins.
Bodegas Alto Moncayo Garnacha 2006 - $39
With an intense smoky quality, tannins are firm in this wine. It offers a perfume of blackberries and toasty oak with a fruity palate.
Priced $40 - $100
Darioush Duel Blend 2010 - $55
Flavor notes include ultra-ripe red cherries, wild blackberries and bold cassis. There is a lingering spicy finish.
Stoller "S.V." Pinot Noir 2010 - $40
This wine features bright acidity and medium tannins with pure red fruit flavors.
Hall Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - $43
Rich and dense, this wine is full-bodied with hints of mocha and black licorice balancing out the flavors of currant and black cherry.
Bello Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 - $95
A bold wine with notable intensity and tannins. Flavors of dark red cherries, plums, mint, flowers and minerals with traces of smoke, iron and tar.
Jones Family Vineyards "The Sisters" Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - $95
With floral notes, this wine fills the palate with elements of leather, black olives, sweet tobacco and cedar. Light tannins on the finish.
Domaine Charvin Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2007 - $56
With terrific density, this elegant wine is loaded with intensity. It has a spicy bouquet and red fruit flavors.
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