On Sunday afternoon the Rudder Club hosted the first of several wine tastings. Rigel Aldridge introduced four summer wines for guests to taste and compare. We started out with a 2010 Diseno Torrentes followed by a 2009 Parducci Pinot Grigio. Both whites offered a crisp, clean perfect-for-torrid-summer opening for the a pair of palatable reds that Aldridge had chosen for us. We sopped up the fruit of the vine with fried, stuffed olives; prosciutto wrapped asparagus and onion confit on crisped bread. A perfect late afternoon treat!

With Lake Champlain water levels almost back to normal the boat flecked waters offered the perfect backdrop to chat with friends new and old. I enjoyed meeting two ladies from the Crater Club who had discovered the tasting via the blog and Facebook page. Bravo, Rigel, for spreading the word!

We moved on to a 2009 Diseno Old Vine Malbec which boasted plenty of dark woodsy berries with a hint of vanilla. An unabashed fan of Argentine and Chilean wines, the Malbec was an easy second favorite for me. I’m especially fond the the concentrated fruit essence that tends to emerge from old stock, so I’m giving one and a half thumbs up for the Diseno Malbec. But the winner, in my humble grape juice loving opinion was the 2008 Hogue Cellars “Genesis” Syrah. A complex, playful red with fruit and herbs aplenty, the Genesis left my tongue tingling for more.

Bravo, Rigel an enjoyable wine tasting. I’m looking forward to next time!

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