This week's Grapevine features a NEW restaurant and concept from wine and food aficionado Michael Fine. Stop in and see what all the buzz is about with Michael's transformation at the southwest corner of Fifth Ave and Marshall Way in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, with the opening of his latest venture, Fine's Cellar.

For our Wine Pick of the Week, we'll taste Gnarly Head Zinfandel, 337 Cabernet Sauvignon, and Irony Cabernet Sauvignon paired with Fine's Cellar menu items.

Gnarly Head Zinfandel
Brash Old Vine Zinfandel from Lodi that makes a bold statement on the palate. Robust berry flavors and exotic spice notes from the small grape clusters are balanced with French, American and Hungarian oak, which creates heady layers of vanilla and chocolate and a lingering finish.

This luscious wine pairs well with raucous fun at barbecue or pizza parties, a family dinner of hearty pasta or chili, and on its own to celebrate personal triumphs.

Gnarly Zin grapes are from Lodi, the zinfamous appellation due to its ideal climate – long, warm summer days and cooling nighttime breezes from the ocean – and its well-draining, sandy soil. Gnarly Head grapes are grown following the Lodi Rules for sustainable farming, which aims to protect the ecosystem. A byproduct of these earth-friendly farming practices is complex and flavorful wine.


337 Cabernet Sauvignon
The winemaking process for the 337 Cabernet Sauvignon begins in the vineyard, with three distinct blocks that are managed to yield a balanced ratio of fruit-to-vine. The winemaker visits the vineyards on an almost daily basis during the growing season, evaluating the development of flavors and most importantly, the evolution of the tannins. When the tannins achieve optimal ripeness, the grapes are picked at night and delivered to the winery cold.

At the winery, the grapes are destemmed, but not crushed, resulting in a good mix of whole berries to crushed berries. These grapes sit in the tank for 24-36 hours cold before the fermentation begins. After the grapes go through primary and malolactic fermentation, the wine is barrel-aged in a mix of French and American oak.

The 337 Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 exhibits inviting aromas of spice and blackberry, with a raspberry top note. Smooth and velvety tannins wrap themselves around a core of fruit intertwined with chocolate. Big and bold, but luscious, this Cabernet Sauvignon drinks equally well on its own or with generous cuts of meat or charbroiled salmon.

Irony Cabernet Sauvignon
This Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon offers layers of flavor, reflecting its varied terroir. Aromatic violets, tobacco, cocoa and bright red berry character leads into rich, concentrated fruit flavors of raspberries, currants and succulent black cherries. The ripe fruit flavor is juxtaposed with natural acidity for a balanced, well-structured wine with medium tannins and a supple finish.

Enjoy this wine with grilled and roasted meats, strong cheeses or pasta with a hearty red sauce.




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