Almathea Cellars Fall 2019

Amalthea Cellars is one of the oldest wineries in the state of New Jersey. Located in Atco, the property has a rich history. It was once a stop for the local stagecoach. History is still being made there, but today the history is being made by the wines produced by owner and winemaker, Lou Caracciolo. Last year his Europa I, a Bordeaux style red blend, was the highest rated New Jersey wine, receiving a score of 97 from the Beverage Tasting Institute.

You will be hard-pressed to find more knowledgeable servers. Though Caracciolo does not serve his wines at the winery, he has three certified sommeliers working there.

Tastings are done by the flight. You can choose a White Flight, a Red Flight or a Sweet Flight. A flight costs $6, but if you choose two or three, the cost is $5 per flight. While Amalthea is best known for its amazing red wines, they also produce several white wines of note, as well as a few sweeter wines and even a sherry style wine called Solera, with a nod to the Spanish style of making sherry. You will not be able to taste that one, but if they have it available and you enjoy Sherry, you should definitely check it out.

Their lineup of whites may include a wonderful Chardonnay and an understated white they call a Petit Chablis. Both are definitely worth a try. These were not on the menu on a recent visit. However…

The following were on the Menu:

• Elara– a white blend of Chardonnay, Riesling and Rayon d’Or; reminded me of a Traminette-very fragrant.
• Green Dragon* Fume Blanc-Sauvignon Blanc made in the French style, but produced here with California grapes.
• Breede River Valley Sauvignon Blanc-Made with grapes from South Africa
• Leda-Tavel style Dry Rose-made from Cab Franc; winner of Best of Philly Local Rose

*Green Dragon wines are those made at Amalthea, utilizing grapes from elsewhere (especially California).

The red wines, generally sampled in the barrel room, are the drawing card here. They procure some of their grapes from California and beyond (even South Africa). However, their most notable wines (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot) are estate grown. They also form the basis for Amalthea’s classic Europa Legends Series. These are Bordeaux-style wines (seven different, with each mimicking one of the famous Bordeaux Regions in France).

Reds Currently on the Tasting Menu

• Green Dragon Cabernet Sauvignon-This one sourced its grapes from Lodi, California; delicious, fruit forward with soft tannins
• Carme– a dry red blend of Syrah, Merlot, Grenache and Carignan
• Old Vine Zinfandel-Sourced from Amador County, California, this is a bargain priced Zin that delivers a ton of flavor.
• 2017 Chancellor Reserve-The oldest grape on the property; interesting hybrid.

While not on the tasting menu, our server offered the following bonus red pours:

• Europa V-a 50-50 blend of Cab Franc and Merlot
• Dream Barrel Zinfandel-Sourced from Napa, an amazing full-bodied Zin
• Cantina Mas-See below

If you are not new to Amalthea Cellars, chances are you are already familiar with their Cantina Mas, a seasonal red blend, with new blends being produced every three months or so and offered only in their 3 liter plastic, reusable jugs. I try not to miss one of these, as they are one of the best deals on wine in the state. The math works out to be around $7 a bottle. I have yet to have one that didn’t taste like a bottle costing twice that (or more). Amazingly, if you follow the instructions to press down on the jug regularly to minimize the unwanted air, I have enjoyed the wine three weeks after my purchase (assuming it lasts that long). Its great for parties-wine on tap! Their most recent blend for the fall consists of Primitivo, Syrah and Chancellor (a dark hybrid grape).

While I did not do the Sweet Wine Tasting, Amalthea offers a Riesling, a Villard Blanc, Metis (a Blush wine), Callisto Blanc and Emilio’s Red (utilizing Concord grapes).

Some souvenirs from recent visits:

Cheers!

Coming Attractions

• New Jersey’s newest winery, The Federal Twist Vineyard
• New Jersey Coeur d’Est wines

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