We had our first Swirl Up of the year just last month, and we’ve got another one lined up already! Join us at Russell’s Blue Water Grill in Palm Beach Gardens on Thursday, August 23rd from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. to sip some spectacular wines and nibble on perfectly paired bites.

We’ve selected some unusual varietals and blends, all from California.

We start out with a 2011 herbal, grassy sauvignon blanc from Starmont winery in Napa. It’s very aromatic and light on the palate without the extreme tartness of some New Zealand sauv blancs. It will be paired, and especially enticing, with a crab and avocado timbal.

Next we’ll be tasting a 2010 Robert Hall Viognier from Paso Robles. Floral and citrus aromatics, and a bright acidity on an orange citrus and peach palate. It will be exquisitely paired with pan-seared sea scallops with a sweet corn puree.

We then move on to the reds with another Robert Hall, the 2008 Rhone de Robles, a juicy classic Rhone-style blend from Central Coast. With red fruit, earth and spice aromas, and cherry, black raspberry and light oak and spice flavors, the firm but light-natured tannins will appeal to pinot lovers, as well as those who prefer bolder reds. It will be served with roasted loin of lamb in pomegranate reduction.

The fourth delight, packed with spice and blackberry, will be the 2008 Parducci Petite Sirah from Mendocino County. The blackberry and spice is accompanied by rose petal on the nose and its surprisingly soft palate has blackberry, clove, and supple tannins. It will be partnered with a roasted prime short rib of beef.

We’ll end the sweet night with a like wine: the 2010 Robert Hall Orange Muscat. Sweet, but still light and refreshing with orange and honeysuckle, accompanied by a fruit dessert.

Sounds outstanding, doesn’t it? We promise it will be, so call the restaurant now for your reservation. Tickets are $40.

RUSSELL’S BLUE WATER GRILL: 561-318-6344.

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SUMMERY ROUND-UP

The heat and humidity have slowed down some activities in the summer, but not for the Swirl Girls. We’re still tasting through plenty of wines that have been sent to us for review. Here’s a selection we’ve tasted recently.

From Dry Gwen:

2010 McManis Family Vineyards Viognier – California ($9.99, Crown)

A light gold color in the glass with a fragrant nose of honeysuckle, peach, pear and pineapple. On the palate, the wine is full of sweet, ripe peach and pineapple fruit. It’s a medium-bodied wine that’s plush and pleasant, a great value for the price.

2011 Niepoort Docil Loureiro – Vinho Verde ($15 online)

This pale-colored wine has a fresh nose of honeydew melon, pear, citrus, white flowers and minerals. On the palate, the wine is light-bodied with fresh citrus and melon flavors, a nice balance of acidity and a clean, dry finish. A nice refreshing sipper for the summer season.

2009 Dierberg Chardonnay – Santa Maria Valley, Calif. ($32 online)

Grown in one of the coolest parts of the Santa Maria AVA, this pale lemon and gold-colored wine has a subtle nose of apple, pear, peach and pineapple with hints of vanilla, caramel and almonds. On the palate, the wine is full of ripe, juicy peach, apple and pineapple flavors. The fruit is ripe and fresh, balanced by a nice level of acidity for a crisp mouthfeel, supported by subtle oak usage. A complex and elegant chardonnay – one of the nicest I’ve tried recently.

2009 Vesevo Aglianico – Beneventano ($17 online)

This wine from southern Italy has a deep, jammy nose of red and black cherry and currant. On the palate, the predominantly cherry fruit has a slightly candied flavor, mixed with notes of toasted oak, cinnamon and unsweetened cocoa. The wine is medium-bodied with soft tannins and a nice balance of acidity.

2011 Feudi di San Marzano Primitivo – Puglia ($12 online)

A deep ruby-colored wine with a jammy and spicy nose of red cherry, raspberry and blueberry. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied and juicy with candied fruit flavors and a hint of bitterness on the finish.

2008 Tenimenti Angelini San Leonino – Chianti Classico ($15 online)

Made from mostly sangiovese grapes with small amounts of cabernet sauvignon and syrah, this wine is a medium garnet color in the glass and has a nose of sour cherries, red currants, cinnamon and red flowers. It’s a pretty aroma that follows through to a nice flavor of red fruit on the palate. The wine is nicely balanced with a medium body and a dry, slightly sharp finish. Overall a nice sipper.

From Earthy Jennifer:

2010 Beni di Batasiolo Gavi di Gavi Granée, Italy ($14.99 online)

The Gavi di Gavi is made of 100 percent cortese grapes. It tastes of lemon and unripe melon, and was medium-bodied, but finishes light on the palate with a tame acidity. I can best describe it as friendly, easy, and gentle. I threw some sauteed vegetables with oil and garlic over linguine for dinner that night, and the wine was a delightful accompaniment.

2010 Valmiñor Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain ($19.99 Total Wine)

This albariño is bright yellow with sweet smells of peach, honeysuckle and citrus. It’s fruity and aromatic, and even has a very slight effervescence which makes it just a bit tingly and vibrant on the palate. It has snappy acidity and tastes mostly of lemon and other citrus flavors. Sour grapefruit lingers on the finish.

2011 Cusumano Insolia, Sicily ($9 online)

Made with 100 percent insolia grapes, which are grown in Sicily and Tuscany (where it’s known as ansonica), the wine’s color is a dazzling sunflower yellow. It has a tropical citrusy nose, from which I detected lemon, apricot, grapefruit and orange. It tasted mostly of grapefruit with a medium-weight body and high acidity. Sour citrus flavors and minerals evident on the finish.