Triple Point Treasures! Wed, Feb 14, 24 The first wine education class of 2024 was held on February 7, and it was so good to be back in Wineology talking about and tasting wines! The theme was Wine & Chocolate. We tasted some very fine wines that hopefully made some peoples' Valentine's Day extra special, though good wines with good company make any night special. A couple of stand-outs were the Moet Chandon Nectar Imperial Rose, the Chateau Montlabert Bordeaux, and the Pasqua Passimento with the label featuring love note scribblings from Juliet's Wall in Verona, Italy.In this post I want to bring some distinctive Triple Point wines to your attention. When a wine is featured as "triple points" here at Exit 9 it means that you earn three times the number of points you'd normally earn for their purchase. A $20 bottle, for example, would earn you 60 points. Points add up for store gift cards and they never expire. Picking up some of these is like being rewarded for exploring, and who doesn't like that?! I was excited to see a wine from the Finger Lakes among the current Triple Point selections. It's the 2020 "Circle" Riesling from Red Newt Cellars in Hector, NY. Red Newt was founded in 1998 by David and Debra Whiting, who in short time were earning praise for their wines from critics around the world. Red Newt was named one of the Top 100 Wineries of the Year from Wine & Spirits magazine in 2011. They're still at the forefront of distinctive wine production in the region. The Circle Riesling is crisp and slightly sweet, with notes of tangerine, apricot, citrus and honeysuckle. Fabulous with cheese of all kinds. Another intriguing Triple Point is the 2020 Finca Costanillas from Rioja in Spain. It's a blend of 86% Tempranillo, 12% Graciano, and 2% Viura (a white varietal). Aged 10 months in French and American oak barrels, this multi-layered dry red pops with aromas of red fruit and vanilla, and on the palate it's balanced and bright, with notes of cherry and a hint of spice. Rioja is in northern Spain and it's known for its varied topography, strong sense of pride of place, and dedication to winemaking and lifestyle. The Finca Costanillas's inclusion of indigenous grapes brings out lots of layers and puts this wine at home with all kinds of foods and occasions. Similarly, the 2022 Encore Heritage Vineyards Pinot Noir from Monterey, California, is an all-around wine that can complement dishes from pepperoni pizza to tuna steaks. Monterey is a town along California's central coast, close to Carmel by the Sea. The vineyards there get lots of sun during the day and nice coastal breezes and moisture at night. On the nose and the palate, this wine sings with notes of cheery, toasted wood, raspberry, and pomegranate. It has plush tannins and a clean finish. If you're like me and you like to have a bottle of bubbly in the fridge at all times, you'll want to check out the Louis Vallon Cremant de Bordeaux Brut Rose from Bordeaux. Wine Enthusiast Magazine rated this lovely sparkler at 90 points. The reviewer said, "Crisp, perfumed and attractively fresh, this is full of red currant and citrus fruits. A lively mousse and tangy acidity give a fine wine that is balanced and ready to drink." It's made with a blend of hand-harvested Merlot and Cabernet Franc in the methode traditionale typical of fine sparkling wines. It's celebratory on its own, and pairs beautifully with everything from shellfish to fruit tarts. You really can't go wrong with these wines, so stock up, save big, and earn Triple Points. And let me know what you think. I love hearing your thoughts about these and other wines. Cheers! By Dominique De Vito
