Sirah, Noir or Fusion: It's All a Matter of Grape

In my  I made the foray into Masala-land, with appreciably good results (no leftovers). My guests asked to contribute to the cause and I thought it might be both fun and educational to host a mini-wine tasting. So, what complements a turmeric-cumin medley the best? Here's what we came up with (ratings are out of a maximum 5 grapes):

2009 Four Bears Pinot Noir (Sean Minor, Carneros, CA)

This poor representation of a Carneros region pinot is why many people distrust and say they "hate" pinot noirs, or are under the misapprehension that all pinots must cost a small fortune in order to be decent. Unbalanced, un-pinot-like, practically undrinkable, this was an unfortunate mouthful of grapes gone wrong. However the winemakers tortured these (normally) wonderful grapes are details I don't wish to have contaminating my brain. At over $22 a bottle, this constitutes an actual fiscal offense.

Not rated: Stay far, far away.

2006 Proulx: 95% Petite Sirah, 5% Zinfandel (Blackburn Wines, Paso Robles, CA)

This was everything a petite sirah should be on the front-end: a nice mouthful of black pepper, plums and blackberries. However, the tannins were a bit unbalanced, and the uneven finish left a somewhat lingering sourness, which was a bit off. Normally, this type of California grape complements spicy sauces, game meats, and lamb extraordinarily well, so it was likely to be a well-performing candidate. But, sipped alongside the Indian-based spice dishes, the 2006 Proulx could not hold its own.

Rating: 2 Grapes 

2008 French Fusion Lot 21: 60% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre (90+ Cellars, Languedoc, FR)

This is not only an interesting wine, it was the hands down favorite of the night and a stellar complement to the heady spices in both Indian-inspired dishes. Eminently sip-able, the French Fusion Lot 21 is a gorgeous assemblage of all three grapes, with a lush raspberry zip that bellies the satisfactory rich fullness of the wine. I hadn't heard much about this particular vineyard, or is it a company?

While the "story" on the back of the label gave a lovely précis of an unnamed family-owned vineyard in the foothills of the Cevennes (Languedoc region of France) it was all rather mysterious—who are these vinters and what is 90+ Cellars all about?

A little Internet trawling and the mystery is somewhat solved:

90+ Cellars is a "virtual winery" whose company is predicated on sourcing wine with ratings of 90 or higher from publications or wine authorities such as Robert Parker, Wine Spectator and The Wine Enthusiast.  

90+ Cellars is the brainchild of Kevin Mehra of Latitude Beverage Company and apparently, his business plan incorporates purchasing these highly rated finished wines directly from wineries at steep discounts, which are then passed on to the consumer with reductions ranging between 25-80 percent.

Unlike other companies that buy overstock or distressed wines, these 90+ Cellars Lot's (defined as a wine from a particular winery) are considered the chosen winery's best. Due to the current economy and the not-suprising downturn in high-end wine sales, the wineries in question are willing to partner with 90+ Cellars in trade for complete anonymity.

It was evident this was an incredible wine for an equally incredible price. My guest found this gem at on Columbus Ave.

Rating: 4 Grapes (Winner)