Jiggledy Snork's Grape Mash Stash

Something Different

2011-08-09T09:20:00.000-07:00

Tonight I tried something a little different and a little bit out of my zone of preference. Our local grocery store had a 20% off coupon for wines and I wanted to take advantage of those prices. Fortunately, this store offers a good selection of wines. I spied this one in what I call the “Weird White” section (the store calls it "misc. whites"). It’s Columbia Crest’s 2010 Grand Estates Moscato— $8. Made up of 75% Muscat Canelli, 15% Morio Muskat, and 10% Black Muscat, it’s described as a semi-sweet wine that “can be enjoyed as an aperitif or as a refreshing complement to fruit salad or light cheeses.” With those grapes, it sounded just off the beaten track enough that I had to try it.

Black Muscat Grapes

Pale yellow in color, this slightly effervescent wine has pretty aromas of sweet flowers, lychee, and peach with flavors of tangerine, peach, with a lychee kicker. True to its description, it’s semi-sweet but it has enough acidity to hold it’s own with spicier dishes as well as being delicious with lighter fare. It would also be great to sip on its own. I’m heading back to the store to pick up a couple more bottles.

Jiggledy Returns

2011-02-17T08:37:00.000-08:00

Is it possible I haven’t posted since late October 2010? This is exactly why I could never write for money. I’m the kind of writer that has to be “inspired” or at least “in the mood.” (The idea of “forced” creativity even when it comes to blogging about wine makes me want to curl up into a fetal position and whimper.) Since I have had a lot of very good to great wines in the past few months, inspiration hasn’t been a problem. But being in the mood to write has. And while I have visited my poor, lonely blog during this dry spell and, on occasion, longed wistfully for something to get me to sit down and put thoughts to screen, it hasn’t happened.

But today I picked up a bottle of Bogle 2007 Phantom, California for $15.99 at Costco. (It regularly sells for around $20.) I’ve always wanted to try the Phantom because it gets a lot of good press and I’ve been curious about the hype. Bogle’s Petite Sirah—an inexpensive, robust red is a perennial favorite of mine vintage after vintage so I figured why not? I picked it up and the light bulb went on. This was the perfect impetus to get back to my blog. So here I am for better or worse.

Released in August 2009, the 2007 Phantom is a blend of 53% Petite Sirah, 44% Zinfandel, and 3% Mourvèdre (the percentages do change slightly from year to year). It hails from Clarksburg, Lodi and Amador, California. Dark, almost opaque purple in the glass, this wine has tantalizing aromas of dark fruit and white pepper—something I crave in a Petite Sirah. Nicely balanced cherry, blackberry, and vanilla flavors are slightly tinged with oak. I expected the tannins to be bigger but wasn’t disappointed that although firm they were softer than I anticipated. With a smooth, slightly peppery finish, Phantom was easy to drink yet just complex enough to be interesting—definitely a gem, particularly at the Costco price.

A Snorkin’ Good Tasting!

2010-10-22T15:55:00.000-07:00

It’s widely known that I have some “issues” with Italian and Italian-style wines. It’s not the wines; it’s me. For some reason my palate just doesn’t take to them well. But never one to say, “die” when it comes to wine, I always hold out hope that I’ll stumble across something that floats my boat. So I was wonderfully surprised and more than a little blown away at a recent meeting of my wine tasting group where Sangiovese was the wine that left us all excited and somewhat giddy.

Here’s what we tasted:

Suncé 2006 Sangiovese, Alice’s Vineyard, Sonoma Valley—$28. The most expensive bottle of the evening this wine featured a woodsy, sour cherry nose that was fruit forward on the attack, dried out mid-palate, and finished with cherry and clove. Light to medium-bodied and nicely balanced, the mouth feel was smooth and silky..

Mount Baker Vineyards 2007 Sangiovese Barrel Select, Yakima Valley—$15. This winery is in our own backyard (literally only 20 minutes away) and continues to surprise. Dark cherry, sweet clove, and vanilla aromas melded into flavors of cherry, tomato, black pepper, and clove. There was more fruit to this one and yet to me it had a rustic and edgy character to it that I loved. Another light to medium-bodied wine and absolutely delicious.

Villa Ritina 2006, Italy—$20. Elegant, polished, and lovely this medium-bodied wine had both a nose and palate of dark cherries with the essence of licorice. The long finish started off slightly sweet and ended with a spicy black pepper kick.

La Carraia 2008 Sangiovese, Umbria—$14. The most interesting wine of the evening it surprised with flavors of tomato, red bell pepper and fennel. Imagine a red sauce with Italian sausage and you’ve nailed it. It was well balanced, medium-bodied and delightful.

All of the wines were scrumptiously food friendly and yet a pleasure to drink on their own.

2007 Château de Montfaucon Côtes du Rhône Blanc Comtesse Madeleine

2010-09-21T16:38:00.000-07:00

Generally speaking, I don’t get too excited about white wines. Give me a nice Chablis, a Pinot Gris from Alsace, or a really good Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc once or twice a year and I’m good. But thanks in large part to several excellent selections from the Purple Smile Wine of the Month Club (if you live in town, check out their new look after the first phase of remodeling), this will be the year that moved white wines from just the occasional summer sipper to wines that I actively seek out and excite me enough to blog about them.

One such wine is the 2007 Château de Montfaucon Côtes du Rhône Blanc Comtesse Madeleine ($20). Made from 30% Marsanne, 40% Viognier, 10% each of Clairette, Bourboulenc (as much fun to say as it is to drink) and Picpoul. It has a nice, golden color with citrus blossoms, honey, flint, and stone fruit on the nose. Its crisp palate of peach, grapefruit, something tropical, and mineral overlaid with the essence (but not the sweetness) of honey is complex and enticing. This is a very dry, medium bodied wine that finishes long and rather silky and left me wishing there was more in the bottle. This wine is great by itself or with grilled fish or roasted chicken.

Raising the Bar on Cab Franc

2010-09-03T15:37:00.000-07:00

Every month at the Purple Space, Wick from Purple Smile Wines here in Bellingham, WA, hosts a tasting for his wine club members. Not only does he showcase the club selections at the tasting but he also has winemakers there to offer other premium wines to taste. To date, the events have been great, but this past Thursday the tasting was exceptional with Washington State being represented by Hightower Cellars and Woodinville Wine Cellars.

Hightower Cellars featured their 2007 Red Mountain Red (Red Mountain) $51, 2007 Pepper Bridge Vineyard (Walla Walla) $30, 2006 Merlot (Horse Heaven) $28, and the 2007 Murray Cuvee (Red Mountain) $20. All were varying degrees of great but I thought the Red Mountain Red, a 78% Cab-22% Merlot blend, was by far their best.

Woodinville Wine Cellars poured their 2007 Little Bear Creek (Columbia Valley) $20 2007 Cab Franc (Columbia Valley) $38, and 2007 Indomitable (Columbia Valley) $40. All three of these wines were truly spectacular as well. But what stole the show was the Cab Franc!

My personal bar for excellent Cab Franc was set back in November 2005 with Schneider Vineyards 2001 Cabernet Franc (Long Island, New York). That was the wine that put Cab Franc at the top of my favorite varietal list and since then I’ve been looking for one that equaled or exceeded it. My search had been in vain until this Woodinville Cellars 2007 Cab Franc danced across my palate and subsequently raised the bar. A small production wine (only 95 cases made), it is 100% Cab Franc sourced from two Columbia Valley Vineyards: Conner Lee and Chandler Reach. It has succulent dark fruit and violets on the nose, with heady blackberry, plum and a hint of spice on the palate. With its pitch perfect balance, luscious mouth feel, and silky long finish, it is very drinkable and yet complex. I don’t remember being this excited about a wine in quite awhile (and I get excited about wine all the time). In fact I was so excited that my non-wine drinking, but nonetheless wonderful, husband, Ira, bought a case of it for my upcoming birthday. (It’s a big one this year. I turn 50!).

So kudos to Woodinville Wine Cellars for its stellar 2007 Cab Franc and a big thanks to Wick at Purple Smile for introducing me to this fabulous wine.

The "Big Yahoo" for a Petite Sirah

2010-06-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

If you read my last post (and I sure hope you did) then you know that I like my Petite Sirahs BIG and peppery. I think my description was, “I want it to slam me against the wall.” When I take a first sip of that inky black juice and it feels like my hair is standing on end and my teeth turn purple, then I’m happy girl. You would think that because Petite Sirahs are, in contradiction of their name, really big wines to begin with, finding one that meets the aforementioned criteria would be easy. But it’s not as easy as it might seem. One of the complaints most leveled at Petite Sirah is that they can be overwhelmingly uninteresting. So I’m always on the lookout for those that are “my kind” of Petite Sirahs.

Enter Ira and his quest to find wines I’ll love at prices that don’t slam him against the wall. Last fall, during one of our runs to Bottle Barn, Ira once again treated me to a case of wines that he picked out. In that case was this gem: McManis Family Vineyards 2007 Petite Sirah, California that I pulled out of the stash this past week. Let me tell you, it was, the “big yahoo!” And for $8.69 (a Bottle Barn price to be sure but his wine is still in the “yahoo” price category of around $11-13), well let’s just say it isn’t often that a wine comes through this house that makes both Ira and I this happy.

With big, jammy blackberry, creamy vanilla, and white pepper on the hedonistically long finish, its sturdy, robust structure slaps you around a bit but just enough to put a smile on your face. Having said that, this wine, while big, bold, and aggressive also has an aura of elegance and finesse. Ultimately, though this wine makes you stand up and pay attention and creates the kind of excitement a roller coaster instills—exhilarating with a tinge of terror—and when the ride is over, you can’t wait to go back and do it again.

Part 3: The Winery Tour

2010-06-23T10:24:00.000-07:00

About a month before the wedding, I got a call from Gary who asked me if I’d be interested in helping out with the wedding by organizing a little wine tour for the wedding guests. Was he kidding? Did he even have to ask? I jumped at the chance. While I’m no expert on Sonoma wine country, I’ve gone wine tasting there enough times to have a pretty good idea of where to take 20 people to taste some great wines. Our group was very mixed in terms of wine experience. There were a few of us who were really into it, a few who were sort of into it, and a few who had never gone wine tasting before. Gary had two limos booked for the Saturday afternoon after the wedding (which was on Friday) and my only instructions were to get us to approximately three wineries in five hours and perhaps have some kind of meat and cheese plate available at one of them so we didn’t starve to death and end up hammered. And, because most of the guests were from out-of-town, Gary wanted to the experience to be well…special. Since we would be loading into the limos from his mother’s house after what would turn out to be a fabulous brunch, I also needed to stick to wineries in that general vicinity which meant the Healdsburg-ish area. Oh and I had to try and keep the cost of the tasting at or under $30.

So with those criteria in mind, I started doing a little research. With 20 people in our tasting party, I knew we couldn’t just show up at any winery unannounced and expect the kind of experience Gary had in mind. In fact, several smaller wineries I called simply told me that they could not handle 20 people at once. After a couple of hours of serious phone time, I had booked visits with three wineries that covered a good spectrum of Sonoma wine country: Dry Creek Vineyards, Rosenblum Cellars’ tasting room in Healdsburg (where we contracted for a meat and cheese plate), and Suncé Winery. Dry Creek and Rosenblum both asked that we book a private tasting for our crowd, which drove the cost up a bit but Matt, tasting room manager at Dry Creek gave us a discount because I’m an amateur wine blogger and “in the industry.” (How cool is that?) And while Rosenblum didn’t give us a discount, the tasting experience there was so outstanding…well more on that in a bit. So without further ado, here’s my rundown on “Gary and Catherine’s Wedding Wine Tour 2010.”

First stop was Dry Creek Vineyard. This postcard-ready, chateau-like winery exudes cool, literally. It would be a great place to bring a picnic lunch and share a bottle of wine in the shade of the huge trees that grace the premises. Our private tasting was hosted by Matt and held in the cavernous barrel room off of the tasting room. In addition to the discount, Matt provided some cheese, crackers, and fruit for us to nibble on. Because this was a private tasting, I was able to select the wines from their website well in advance of the tasting. The wines we tasted were:

2007 Estate Fume Blanc DCV3 $20.00
2007 Taylor’s Vineyard Musque (pronounced, “moose-kay”) $20.00
2007 Somers Ranch Zinfandel $27.20
2006 Beeson Ranch Zinfandel $27.20
2006 The Mariner $32.00

My personal favorites of the bunch were the Taylors Vineyard Musque—100% Sauvignon Blanc with peach, apple, pear, wet rocks and a definite French flair; and The Mariner—a fabulous, award winning Bordeaux blend. Matt did a great job hosting our group, providing information about the wines and answering our questions. After the tasting we hung out under the trees for a while and then it was off to Healdsburg proper for our date with Rosenblum.

The Rosenblum tasting room is located in the center of Healdsburg. It was bright, cheerful and very welcoming. Their private tasting area was large with several tables and chairs. The meat and cheese plate they put together from the grocery next door was amazing. Our hostess and pourer, Joyce, was equally amazing. She poured everyone a little Sauvignon Blanc while she and I went over the tasting menu. Because I paid attention at Dry Creek, I was able to give Joyce a decent idea of what everyone was interested in. For example, when she asked me what we might want in Zins, I told her anything but “hot” and alcoholic. With that information she gave us two very distinctive and different ones to try. When we got to the Petite Sirahs, I told her I wanted one big enough to slam me against the wall and she came through with that as well. She even gave us a little wine education by pulling out a bottle of “corked” wine and letting us smell what that was like. She was informative, accommodating, and patient. She seemed to be having as much fun as we were. She even pulled out a Chocolate Port for us to try as a special treat.

2008 Kathy's Cuvee Viognier, California $18.00
2007 Arpacio Zinfandel, Amador County $25
2007 Rockpile Road Zinfandel, Rockpile $35 (which received 90 pts from Wine Spectator)
2007 Miguel’s Medley $45
2007 Pato Vineyards Petite Sirah, Contra Costa County $25.00
Désirée Chocolate Dessert Wine, California $20.00

To my horror and shame, I lost my notes from Rosenblum so I know I’m missing a delicious Syrah but the above list is pretty comprehensive and all of these wines were knockouts. My personal favorites were the Pato Petite Sirah, the Desiree Chocolate Dessert wine (both of which I purchased), and Miguel’s Medley—a delicious Rhone-style blend, which seemed to be the favorite of the entire group. Alas, Joyce told us that their Healdsburg tasting room was going to close this summer. But you can still enjoy their tasting experience at their Alameda location.

We left Rosenblum extremely happy and enjoyed the 20-minute or so scenic ride over to Suncé Winery and Vineyards. Suncé is the Croatian word for “sun.” In addition to being one of the first and most memorable wineries I ever went to with Danny and Esther, it also reminds me a bit of my great Uncle who was born in Croatia and made wine in his basement. By now the temperature was in the 80s with nary a cloud in the sky. We pulled into this tiny winery’s parking lot and the gals in the tasting room showed us to the back of the building where we were served through the open “drive–thru” style window. Then we dispersed to sit in the shade on the deck or play Bocce ball. Even though the tasting room itself was packed, the gals handled our large group with a wonderful sense of ease. Their tasting list of old world-style wines was extensive and, because we had drivers, we were allowed to taste anything or everything on the list. Here, we were on own as far as tasting went so I’ll list my favorites:

2008 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Zora’s Estate Vineyard $44 — Full bodied and earthy.
2006 Sangiovese, Sonoma Valley, Alice’s Vineyard $24 — One of the best California Sangioveses I’ve tasted.
2005 Cabernet Franc, Dry Creek Valley, Mazzera Ranch $30 — Only 24 barrels were made of this delicious, true-to-varietal Cab Franc.

Since I couldn’t decide which of these three wonderful wines to take home, I decided to take home two bottles each. (I was totally enabled by our pourer who told me that since I was flying Horizon Airlines out of Santa Rosa, I could check a case of wine at no extra cost.)

This may be one of the longest posts I’ve ever written and I still feel as though I haven’t done these three wineries justice. It was just an awesome experience. I’d also want to say that the people who shared the experience with me were equally awesome. Thank you all.

Part Two: Wedding & Wine Extravaganza

2010-06-14T17:17:00.000-07:00

I’ve just spent the past week perusing the myriad of photos taken of Catherine and Gary’s wedding and its related events. One theme that runs through all the photos no matter the photographer is that everyone looks happy—like they’re having the time of their lives. I know that Catherine and Gary put every ounce of who they are into this occasion and it says a lot about them that all their guests had such a spectacularly good time. The wedding held in the pasture at Danny and Esther’s ranch was a fun, elegant, joyous affair filled with family and friends who all seemed to revel in each other’s company. There were so many awesome aspects of this event that I could effuse about it for pages. But since this is a wine blog, I shall exercise considerable restraint and get to the point.

The wines they served during the reception that followed also reflected the diligence and care that this remarkable couple put into this affair. In a stroke of genius, Gary took Danny along with him to pick out the wines and let him make most of the selections. Danny’s never failed yet in selecting great wines and he didn’t fall down on the job this time either. You’ll have excuse the fact that I don’t have specific tasting notes…I was having way too much fun to jot anything down. But even though I’m just giving the “CliffsNotes” version, each of these wines falls squarely into my “awesome” rating. They were all simply delicious.

Lynmar Russian River Valley Pinot Noir: I believe this was the 2006 (the 2007 is only available to Lynmar’s club members). Served with charcuterie while the photographer snapped pictures of the wedding party and family after the ceremony. Danny introduced me to this wine a few years ago back when it was a fabulous Pinot at a great price, around $25. Today, it’s still a fabulous Pinot but with a higher price tag, around $40. (I hate it when that happens!) Regardless, if you want solid, elegant, sophisticated Pinot, you can’t go wrong with Lynmar.

2005 Mayo Meritage Sonoma County “Carlo’s Cuvee”: This is a rich, silky, well-structured wine that in my opinion sets the benchmark for Meritage. I shouldn’t be surprised. The Mayo Family Winery consistently produces a wide variety of excellent wines.

2008 Owen Roe’s Abbott’s Table: I know Gary had some influence getting this one on the menu as both he and Catherine have been big fans of this wine for a couple of years. This Bordeaux blend from the Northwest is a wonderful, round, bodacious wine that finishes long and well. I have this one in the stash and can’t wait to crack it open.

Hanna Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc: Alas, I did not get a chance to have some of this although I’ve tasted Hanna Winery’s Sauvignon Blanc several years ago and the fact that I still remember it fondly speaks volumes.

So thank you Catherine and Gary for one of the best times I’ve ever had. Your happiness permeated each and every moment of your nuptial extravaganza and was highly contagious. (I’m still smiling!) May that joy last you a lifetime.

Weddings & Wine — A Trilogy

2010-06-09T11:33:00.000-07:00

This is the first of three blogs devoted to the week we spent in Santa Rosa, California, visiting family, attending a wedding, and of course, drinking some fabulous wines. It began with a visit with my stepson, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter (Danny, Esther, and Misha) at their beautiful, pastoral Bennett Valley ranch; climaxed with the awesome nuptial festivities of Gary and Catherine (also my stepson and, obviously, my new daughter-in-law); and ended with a lovely brunch hosted by Judy (Gary’s Mom) and an afternoon wine tour organized by yours truly. This trip will go down in the annals of my life as one of the best times I’ve ever had so let’s get started.

Part One: The Ranch

Danny and Esther’s Bennett Valley ranch is the perfect place to enjoy wine. Although close to Santa Rosa’s city limits, it’s out of the way enough from the city so that you feel as though you’re miles away from it all. Surrounded by vineyards, it is the perfect place to recharge and enjoy a glass of wine. From their front window and deck, you can gaze at Mayacamas mountain range that separates Sonoma County from Napa and watch the deer, rabbits, and wild turkeys doing their thing. Danny and Esther have always had a great bottle (or several bottles) of wine to share with me, and this visit was no exception. They paired a local, cured ham with Copeland Creek Vineyards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir —$25 ($21.99 from Bottle Barn).

This silky, medium bodied wine embodies everything I love about Pinots. Lush cherries, spice, earth, and smoldering embers make up its aroma/flavor profile. Balanced and graceful with a long finish, it was positively scrumptious with the ham. It was easy to see why this wine scored 95 points in the February 2008 PinotReport. I enjoyed this wine so much that it made it into my shopping cart during my obligatory trip to Bottle Barn. (So did 23 other bottles of wine, but hey… I was doing my part for Sonoma’s wine industry, as I’ll illustrate again in my dénouement.)

After spending several days visiting and relaxing at the ranch, we moved on to the hotel where all the wedding guests were staying and prepared ourselves for three days of serious fun. Stay tuned.

Wine, Food, and Friends

2010-05-17T14:30:00.000-07:00

If wine in the garden is a good thing…and it is…then wine, appetizers, and friends in the garden should prove to be a great thing. That theory was put to the test and proven beyond a shadow of doubt this past Sunday when we had our friends, Emily and David, over for dinner. Emily and David were among a handful of amazing people who kept me going and sane during the three weeks Ira was in the hospital trying not to kick the bucket from an almost lethal pneumonia and 3 weeks in-house rehab recovering from almost not kicking the bucket. These two wonderful people came over several times and cooked dinner for me, made me laugh, and let me cry. They invited me over for a wonderful Valentine’s Day meal so I wouldn’t have to spend it alone. In brief, they totally rock! So I was extraordinarily grateful for the predicted rain that never showed up and the bountiful sunshine that completely bamboozled with weather people.

Appetizers were dates stuffed with blue cheese, a creamy but light artichoke dip, celery, and crackers for dipping and a bit of extra blue cheese for spreading served with a 2009 Frog’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford, Napa Valley ($21) — a special offering from my Purple Smile Wine of the Month Club (see side bar). The garden was the perfect venue for this pairing. The wine, made from 100% sauvignon blanc, was full of floral, lychee, and delicate peach aromas, with clean, refreshing citrus flavors and that wonderful essence of wet rocks. This engaging wine was light and crisp with a pretty finish. It went quite well with the garlic-laced artichoke dip and held its own against the strong but creamy blue cheese and sweetness of the dates.

Dinner was a light but slightly spicy Jamaican Chicken, Beans and Rice dish, a perennial favorite of Ira’s. The first wine that came to mind was the 2008 Erath Pinot Gris, Oregon ($12). But then, in a moment of indecisiveness, I briefly considered serving a sweeter, Tokay Pinot Gris from Alsace. And while I think the Alsace Pinot Gris would have worked, it wouldn’t have been as perfect as Erath. It’s cheerful aromas of banana, pear, and melon, melded into bright, clean tropical flavors with floral and citrus undertones, ending in a lingering finish. It was a stellar match with the meal.

I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the awesomeness of close friends.

"I Smell Solvent"

2010-05-10T17:48:00.002-07:00

This title in no way reflects on the wonderful wine, I’m about to describe. However, it will give you an idea of how wide the gulf is between Ira and I when it comes to wine. That wine drinking at home is a rather lonely endeavor for me is a lament often heard here at the stash, but what Ira lacks in his appreciation for wine he makes up for with an acute ability to reduce the sublime to the ridiculous without even trying. He certainly keeps life interesting.

The scene: Our garden on a gorgeous, sunny afternoon. A gentle breeze was blowing through the garden and we had just taken the time to sit and relax after a day of nursery hopping and planting our purchases. The wine: 2005 Ramazzotti Raffinto, Sonoma County—a Super Tuscan blend of 60% Sangiovese, together with 16% Cabernet, 12% Merlot, 7% Syrah and 5% Cabernet Franc and a Bottle Barn October 2008 wine of the month selection. I was just about to expound on the many qualities of this wine, its rich, chewy flavors of black cherry, plum, earth, and spice, solid structure, and balance, with a lingering toasty vanilla finish when I noticed Ira was sniffing the breeze much like a dog might who has just caught a whiff of something in the air. I thought he was enjoying the scent of freshness that often marks a spring day here in Bellingham. But alas, Ira piped up and said, “I smell solvent.” I looked at him. I looked at my glass of wine. I looked at him again and simply handed over the glass. He stuck his nose in it and said, “Yep, that’s it!” All I could do was laugh. Of course, the wine did not smell like solvent and my apologies to the makers of Ramazzotti Raffinto. The crazy thing is (if this whole scenario isn’t crazy enough), while this wine was absolutely delicious, its aroma profile was very subtle, just a little dark fruit and oak and I had to work hard to get that. How Ira smelled it from five feet away is beyond me, but then, along with his aforementioned ability, he has a definite aptitude for detecting aromas and flavors that he doesn’t particularly like. (He can perceive the existence of cilantro in a dish at 30 paces.)

A friend asked me once if I could change anything about my husband what would it be. My reply was that I’d change nothing but I would give him the gift of being able to enjoy wine. That being very unlikely to ever happen, I can live with the fact that I get to have delicious wines like the Raffinto all to myself.

More Wine In the Garden

2010-04-24T06:15:00.000-07:00

Last week, we had a gorgeous 70-degree spring day. Ira and I had been working in the yard and later in the afternoon I decided to enjoy a glass of wine out in our patio garden. It was a pretty random thing for me to do as I usually have my wine with dinner. But the day was just too idyllic. The green tapestry of new foliage provided rich backdrop for the vivid emergence of spring blooms in startling violet, soft pink, coral, red, and white. The birds were singing and there was a heady, spicy, cinnamon scent of Viburnum in the air. As I was sipping my wine, Ira and I laughed and talked and generally had a great time—an almost ethereal experience. It occurred to me then that my goal for the season was to enjoy more wine out in our garden (another random thing for me to do since well, I’m pretty random and not in the habit of making goals or resolutions).

So when this week provided another nearly perfect day (it wasn’t quite as warm—mid 60s), I took a glass of Barnard Griffin’s Rose of Sangiovese 2009, Columbia Valley $11 (refer to picture taken by awesome photographer husband). This fabulous rose perfected the “wine-in-the-garden” paradigm. Its clean, almost bracing, flavors of strawberries with a hint of orange was so sip-worthy on this gorgeous day that I decided then and there that if wine perfectly compliments the garden, then rose is the ultimate wine for garden sipping. And since I seem to be a little heavy in superlatives, let me end by saying wine in the garden is the ideal way to sit back and just take pleasure in the simple act of being.

The Right Tool for the Job Postscript

2010-04-18T09:08:00.000-07:00

This is an update to my post about my collection of Schott Zweisel Top Ten wine glasses, from last October. In that post, I referenced a not so stellar experience I had with Bestwineglass.com. This past week, after reading my post and brief flurry of communication, Mr. Frederic Arnal of Bestwineglass.com, sent me a new glass to replace the one I lost. My new piece of stemware and I got acquainted with a wonderful Malbec, Finca Decero Remolinos Vineyard, 2007. Cheers!

2007 14-Hands Merlot

2010-04-08T09:07:00.000-07:00

Back in 2005, I wrote about my quest to find a Merlot that wasn’t merely passable but one that was really very good. I admitted back then to a certain anti-Merlot bias and I can’t say that my preconceived notions have changed much since then. For the most part, I still find them flabby and uninteresting and even when I’ve spent some money on them (up to $40), I always feel let down. Before the outcry from devoted Merlot fans begins, I should say that there are a few Merlots I’ve enjoyed but they have been few and far between.

Fast forward then to April 2, 2010. Ira and I were celebrating our anniversary at Bellingham’s Hearthfire Grill. I ordered their Flank Steak with Chipotle Butter and Cranberry Salsa. Not sure which way to go with wine, I asked the waiter what he would recommend off of the wine-by-the-glass list and he was very adamant about 2007 14-Hands Merlot, Washington State.

Well, wine is always an adventure. While it wouldn’t have been my first choice, I decided to roll the dice and go for it. The pours at the Hearthfire Grill are generous—seven ounces a glass—so I kept my fingers crossed that this Merlot would at least be somewhat enjoyable.

Let me just say here and now that I received a chink in my “almost anything but Merlot” armor with this wine. Its dark fruit aromas with hints of herb, leather and oak were extremely inviting. The lush flavors of black cherry, mocha, just the right touch of oak and cedar went perfectly with my dish. The wine was well structured with just the right amount of acidity and firm but not overbearing tannins and the finish was long, a little sweet and spicy. When I came home and looked this wine up on the web, I almost fell on the floor at the $10-$12 price tag. Seriously, the quality price ratio on this wine is nearly off the charts.

This is what I love about wine. If you can keep an open mind, or at least take a chance every once in awhile, something comes along and knocks your socks off. Maybe someday it will happen for me with new world Chardonnays.

Tasting Cabs

2010-04-01T16:02:00.000-07:00

In March, my wine tasting group met to taste and, hopefully, enjoy Cabernet Sauvignon. This was the fourth time we’ve met as a group and we have settled nicely into a routine that allows us both to “officially” taste and discuss the wines and then, after the tasting, enjoy them with food. Members of the group are, Emily, David, Kathy, Chuck and myself. Ira attends to provide comic relief, pet kitties (we all have cats), and eat. We take turns meeting at each other’s homes and plan our menus around the wine. Right now, we are making our way through some of the more standard varietals. Each couple picks a wine from a different area and we try to cover both new and old world wines with price limit of $20-$25 or less. Our tasting process is fairly standard. We pour one wine, sniff, swirl, taste, and then write down our impressions: color (when we think about it) aroma, flavor, tannins, body, acidity, finish, how the wine develops over time, etc. We pay attention to QPR (quality price ratio), whether the wine is a pure varietal or blend, and alcohol content as well. Then, once the tasting is over, we see how each holds up to food. Sometimes we have three bottles and sometimes there’s been as many as six, but always the tastings (and the eating) have been educational and a whole lot of fun.

Our recent Cab tasting was no different. The wines we tasted were:

Three Rivers Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Columbia Valley, Washington, 14.8% alcohol — $18
Château Greysac Médoc 2004, France – Bordeaux 13% alcohol — $22
Two Angels Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Maycamus Mountain, Sonoma County, California 14.6% alcohol

We let the wines decant for about a half an hour then began the tasting. The hands-down favorite was the Médoc. This had everything going for it: Aromatic, luscious fruit, excellent body and finish. The Three Rivers Cab was also very nice but it lacked the finesse of the Médoc. Two Angels was a complete disappointment. Maybe because I brought it to the tasting, I was particularly harsh about it. To me, it lacked the body and polish that I would expect from a California Cab in this price range. Frankly, I would have been disappointed in this wine if it had an $8 price tag.

Dinner was a super delicious, stew with short ribs, thanks to Emily and David and a mushroom tart, provided by Kathy. (I brought a roasted pecan blue cheese dip that we had during the tasting, which served nicely as a “cheese.”). Perfectly wonderful on its own, the Médoc sang with the food. I think we could have easily downed two more bottles of it had that been an option. Three Rivers was a very good pairing with the stew and the tart. But having totally busted on the Two Angels, I was rather surprised how the stew in particular brought out rich dark fruit and a chocolaty sweetness it totally lacked on its own. Then came the stunner of the evening. We had all heard that dark chocolate and Cabs went well together so we gave that a try. It was a stunning disaster. The chocolate was excellent but it did not pair well with the wines—any of them! It was so awful that it was funny.

The thing I love most about these wine tastings is that even when a wine doesn’t quite make it or is a disaster with the food, it’s still an adventure. Okay, so I’d prefer it if all the wines we tasted were marvelous, but you get my drift. Next month, our varietal is Pinot Noir. We haven’t decided on a menu yet but my mouth is already watering in anticipation.

2004 Cantina del Pino Barbaresco

2009-12-19T15:41:00.000-08:00

This Sunday is my last day working at the yarn shop. It was a great run and only very part time but frankly I’m ready to NOT work. I wanted to celebrate my re-entry into being a kept woman with a nice bottle of wine. But hmm…the Stash is full of nice bottles so the decision was tough. For some reason, I was leaning toward Italian. That surprised me because I don’t often lean that way and as a consequence I don’t have too many Italians lurking down in the Stash. But I did have the 2004 Cantina del Pino Barbaresco (Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco).

Made from the Nebbilio grape, like Barolo, and produced in the Piedmont region of Italy, Barbarescos are often described as the Burgundies of Italy. The grape is as difficult to work with as Pinot Noir but done well the wines are supposed to be great. “Powerful” is an adjective I’ve seen time and time again.

The Cantina del Pino has the honor of being my very first Barbaresco and I have to say that I’m dutifully impressed. It had flowery aromas of cherries with a smidge of oak and black licorice. Tart cherries, tar, and leather round out the flavors. It has stiff tannins but I found the wine nicely balanced and it finished wonderfully. Make no mistake about it, this wine is dry…dry…dry…as Barbarescos are supposed to be, but I like dry so it was a great celebratory quaff.

Priced at $26.99 from my favorite wine store, Bottle Barn, I know I got an excellent deal on this style of wine. I don’t know that I’d be willing to spend much more than that but I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to try another if the price was right.

Tamarack Cellars 2007 Cabernet Franc

2009-11-14T16:38:00.000-08:00

Cab Franc when it’s done well is still one of my favorite varietals. It is a “cozy-in-the-nest” kind of a wine that is perfect for cold, dark, autumn and winter nights and delicious stews. It stirs my imagination conjuring images of a toasty fire in a stone hearth in simpler times. (Yeah, I know... I’m kind of whacked, but what can I say?) Anyway, even though really good Cab Francs are relatively elusive, I will jump at the chance to try one forgoing just about anything else that’s offered.

Since it had been quite a long time since my last Cab Franc, I was very excited when our friends, Dan & Jane, served Tamarack Cellars 2007 Cabernet Franc (Columbia Valley) at a dinner party early in November. Made up of 100% Cab Franc from both Wahluke Slope and Rattlesnake Hills AVA vineyards, it exudes everything I love about the varietal. Rich and elegantly balanced with superbly structured tannins, this wine flaunts rich black cherry and blackberry flavors with understated hints of herby brambles, spice, tobacco, and chocolate with a sublime velvet finish. It was so good that I ignored the Chardonnay that was offered with Jane’s delicious Cliff House Whisky Crab Soup (quelle horreur!) and had a second glass of the Cab Franc.

The Right Tool for the Job

2009-10-12T11:53:00.000-07:00

A year or so ago, I made the leap and purchased several different shapes of wine glasses designed to go with specific styles of wine. “Leap” is probably a gross understatement because the glasses I chose, after a lot of research, were Schott Zwiesel’s Tritan Top Ten Series — a line of titanium crystal (no lead), “dishwasher safe,” and “break-resistant” (more on those two little semi-misnomers later) created by seven of Europe's greatest Sommeliers to optimize the aroma and flavor of each varietal. I loved the look of the glasses, and their dishwasher safety and break-resistance sold me on them. I shelled out big bucks for these glasses and I haven’t regretted it.

Ira was, however, a little more skeptical and rather nonplussed. I think his commentary upon the arrival of my first glasses was something along the lines of: “What’s the matter with the wine glasses you have? Can the shape of wine glass really make that much of a difference?” And the kicker, “They cost how much?!?” All of this included varying degrees of arm flapping, eye rolling, and clutching of his chest when I told him how much each stem cost (anywhere from $12-18 per stem depending on the source). Imagine this happening all over again, when one of the glasses cracked while he was hand washing it (again, more on that in a bit). As much as I tried to convince Ira that the shape of the glass actually affects the bouquet, taste, balance and finish of wines, he wasn’t buying it, certain that I was just caught up in a bit of wine aficionado hoo-ha. I even reminded him of his mantra: Always use the right tools for the job! No dice. He remained skeptical, convinced I had purchased the emperor’s clothes.

Then my friend, Lisa, and I put the theory to an actual test. One evening we sat down with a standard wine glass, one of the Schott Zweisel glasses, and nice bottle of wine. The difference between the aroma, taste, and feel of the wine was quite stunningly pronounced with the Schott Zweisel glass giving off much more aroma and opening so much flavor that convinced as I was that the glass indeed made a difference, I was quite surprised as to how much that difference was. As for Ira, it was Lisa’s corroboration that persuaded him I wasn’t completely out of my mind. In all fairness to Ira, I have to admit that my enthusiasm for any one thing has, on occasion, overridden my honest assessment of said thing.

Now for the much ballyhooed “more later.” Schott Zweisel’s Top Ten series are beautiful glasses. They are a delight to hold and drink from so that, in and of itself, was worth the price. That they actually make the wine taste better (which is why I bought them in the first place) simply adds to the pleasure. However, I think that advertising these glasses as safe for the dishwasher and break resistant is stretching things a bit. First of all, the stems are too tall to fit in the upper rack of our dishwasher. I’m not sure if all dishwashers have a similar upper rack to ceiling ratio but I’d bet it’s close. Secondly, these glasses do break…and quite easily. In fact, one broke about 10 minutes after I opened the box when Ira washed it by hand. Ira didn’t do anything wrong. The man is quite meticulous. The glass simply cracked as he rinsed it. I purchased these first few glasses from Bestwineglass.com. I haven’t provided a link to Bestwineglass.com because when I e-mailed them to let them know that a glass broke basically right out of the box, they sent me a curt, tough-luck sort of response that indicated to me that their customer’s satisfaction with a product was the least of their concerns. While I really didn’t expect them to send me another glass, I did at least expect an apology. And frankly, had they sent me another glass, which would have cost them whatever wholesale price they get the glass for plus a little shipping, I’d have been a customer for life. Instead, I found the glasses cheaper and the service better at Replacements.com (notice the link?) and have since ordered several more from them. The only other problem is that the white wine glasses have a such a narrow, tall chimney that they are difficult to clean without a bottle brush and if you plan on draining your glass, be prepared for some head and neck gymnastics as the chimney slams against your upper lip and nose before you’re able to get that last drop. But nothing is perfect so we treat these glasses like the expensive stemware that they are. I wouldn’t put my Waterford Crystal goblets in the dishwasher and I wouldn’t give them to a two-year old thinking they couldn’t break. As far as the white wine glasses go, Yoga classes have helped.

I now have a wine glass for full-bodied reds like Syrah, Zinfandel, Cabernet, Merlot, Rioja, Chianti, Duero; one for light reds like Pinots; one for mature reds like Burgundies and Cotes du Rhone; one for full-bodied whites like Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, White Bordeaux; and the aforementioned glass for light white wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Sancerre, Gruner Veltliner, Riesling and Pinot Grigio. And of course, I have glasses for Champagne and sparkling wines. I absolutely love these “right tools for the job.” They have made my wine-drinking experience that much more enjoyable.

The Italian Challenge

2009-10-01T09:13:00.000-07:00

I’ve been slowly navigating the vast array of Italian and Italian-styled wines even though I have been dubious of them in the past. It’s not that I haven’t found any that I enjoy because I have, but I’ve also had some huge disappointments. Not as much as I’ve had with wines from say, Chile (which I am disappointed with more often than not) but enough that I think I’ve earned at least some of my skepticism. But putting my doubting attitude aside, I’ve taken Italian wines on as a challenge. Here is a sinossi (which, if my bilingual dictionary is correct means “summary” in Italian) of three Italian wines and one Italian-American wine that I’ve had recently.

2004 Conte di Bregonzo Amarone della Valpolicella Classico $17 (Veneto, Italy) — Before the Amarone drinkers out there immediately begin to gnash their teeth and start screaming that this doesn’t really represent an Amarone, let me assure you that I know that. But I was cruising through Trader Joe’s wine section a while back and I thought I’d take a chance. (Normally, I avoid buying wine at Trader Joe’s because I find their wines inexpensively unsatisfying.) This wine had the raisiny, dark fruit, and licorice flavors reminiscent of a Ripasso (which is made from the solids left over from pressing the Amarone), but it didn’t do anything special for me. (Sorry, Trader Joe… but if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!) While it was certainly tasty, it wasn’t as good as the Zenato Ripasso that I dearly love. Perhaps one day, I’ll get to try an Amarone worthy of the name.

A really good Amarone is going to cost $50 and up. The reason why they are so expensive is because of the process. Briefly, Amarone wine is made from grapes (Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara) that are harvested perfectly ripe in the first two weeks of October. The grapes are then allowed to dry which concentrates the sugars and flavors.

2005 Vino Noceto Sangiovese (Sierra Foothills, Shenandoah Valley, CA) $13 — Sangiovese, the primary grape in Chianti, has been grown in California since 1991 and the best wines are coming out of Napa, San Luis Obispo, and the Sierra Foothills. This is a wonderfully aromatic wine with aromas of cranberries, earth, leather, flowers and pepper. Earthy cranberries, cherries, leather and a slight hint of vanilla comprise the flavors with good structure, and a longish peppery finish—delicious with pizza and spaghetti.

2006 Càntele Primitivo Salento (Puglia, Italy) $8-10 — I had this recently at an Italian Restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed it. Then I came home and checked my notes and realized that I’d had a similar experience with an earlier vintage. This is a particularly lovely wine for the price. Aromas of dark cherries and flowers float out of the glass and flavors of rich fruit and spice comprise this full-bodied wine. It’s a cozy wine and great to drink on a cool, crisp autumn day.

Stella Montepulciano d'Abruzzo (Abruzzi, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Italy) $9 — I’m not sure if this was the 2006 or 2007 vintage as I had it “by the glass” at the same restaurant as the Cantele Primitivo (different days, however). First of all, I have to admit that up to this point I have never had a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo that I’ve liked, finding them acidic, hollow, and completely uninspiring. But this was the only red wine the restaurant offered by the glass on this particular evening so I thought, “why not?” Besides, I keep reading that these wines coming from the rugged Abruzzi hills above the Adriatic coast of central Italy, are being taken more seriously by some producers and the quality keeps improving. (Abruzzi is a region that in the past has been noted for the mass production of just “adequate” wines.) Much to my surprise, I actually enjoyed this one. It was nicely balanced with earthy fruit flavors, vanilla, and spice surround by decent tannins and good but not overbearing acidity. The finish was a little short but overall it was a tasty wine. It didn’t knock my socks off but I’ve decided to keep an open mind on Montepulciano d’Abruzzos.

This may seem a like a total no-brainer but as I drink more Italian wines, I find myself more comfortable with them. Being more at ease with them means I’m enjoying them more as well. Now to work on Chile…

2005 Laurel Glen Counterpoint Cabernet Sauvignon

2009-09-24T08:39:00.000-07:00

So I walked into Bottle Barn a couple of weeks ago and asked for a wine that would go with a Heritage Turkey. I had never had a Heritage Turkey before but knew it would be a bit “gamier” than the kind of turkeys most of us are used to. (If you don’t know what a Heritage Turkey is, it’s sort of the turkey version of an heirloom tomato.) I knew I’d probably want something with a bit more oomph than an affordable Pinot and I really did not want to go the Gewürztraminer route, which is why I asked my question. The guy looked at me for a moment and then pretended to bang his head against a non-existent wall. It seems I broke the record for the earliest Thanksgiving/wine pairing question, even though Thanksgiving wasn’t even on my radar. I guess it was the Autumn-turkey thing. And, with this particular person, food/wine-pairing questions weren’t his favorite anyway. Who knew? But I get it. I work in a yarn shop and around Octoberish crazed knitters come in and start asking about Christmas Red yarn. The thing is, Christmas Red means something different to almost every knitter. It’s a no-win situation! So I generally just start pulling every ball or skein of red yarn I can find off the shelf and hope that one will be the Christmas Red to match the one in their head. (You won’t believe how many people walk away without buying their Christmas Red yarn because they didn’t find the exact shade.)

The guy at Bottle Barn recovered nicely though and he didn’t pull out every “red” on the shelves. He managed, with some finesse, to steer me towards a Cabernet Sauvignon. I had been thinking along the lines Syrah or Bordeaux Blend so I was both surprised and intrigued. He recommended two Cabs: a 2005 Laurel Glen Counterpoint (Sonoma Mountain, CA) — $24 and a 2006 Mill Creek Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Kreck Family Vineyard (Sonoma County) —$18. He said the Counterpoint could age another 20 years but with a couple of hours of decanting it would be terrific and the Mill Creek was also a fabulous wine that would cellar for several years. So I got them both: The Counterpoint for the turkey and the Mill Creek to ship home for the Stash.

Counterpoint went into the decanter precisely two hours before dinner. I tasted a bit of it right from the bottle and OH BOY! I hoped two hours would be enough. But I could already tell that it was going to be a great wine. After the two hours plus some sitting in a glass time, wonderful aromas of dark berry fruit, floral, and what I like to describe as Santa Rosa herbs (there is a very unique and pungent herbal smell this time of year in Sonoma County…tarweed maybe?) greeted my nose. Rich blackberry, cassis, floral, mineral, and licorice flavors were held within a very structured body and the finish was long with some sweetness. This young, it was a HUGE wine but it paired surprisingly well with the Heritage Turkey…and the stuffing…and the squash…and…

Ira's Choice: Season 1

2009-09-18T07:41:00.001-07:00

Two years ago on one of my many pilgrimages to wine nirvana, more commonly known as Bottle Barn in Santa Rosa, Ira purchased a case of wine for me. Being the bargain-master that he is all the bottles had to be $10 or less but they also had to get a thumbs up from the gurus at Bottle Barn. (For those who are new to my blog, I’m a big Bottle Barn fan. They offer very good wines at discounted prices. I belong to their wine of the month club in addition to making regular trips when I’m in town. I’ve yet to be disappointed with anything I have purchased there.)

What makes this so much fun and interesting is that, as many of you know, Ira isn’t into wine. In fact, he doesn’t like the stuff. His nightly glass of Carlo Rossi Sangria is, as he likes to say, for “medicinal purposes only.” But he does pay attention to what I like (poor guy can’t help but pay attention as I can be quite enthusiastic about my wine) and he makes his choices by reading price tags, tasting notes, and ratings.

If you’ve been following this blog since September 2007 (and if you have an amazing memory), you’ll recall that I promised to blog about these wines once I had tasted them all. I’m just a bit behind on the blogging part but better late than never.

2006 Woop Woop Shiraz (Australia) $9 — a very tasty Shiraz loaded with blackberry/blueberry jam, licorice and a hint of spice.

2005 Napa Creek Petite Sirah Stags Leap District (Napa Valley, Stags Leap District, CA) $8 — regularly a significantly more expensive wine but available at closeout prices. This was a big, juicy wine with classic dark berry/peppery flavors, firm tannins and a nice finish.

2005 Chono Cabernet Sauvignon (Chile, Central Valley) $8 — my personal favorite of all the “Ira” wines. An awesome wine for the price. Rich Dark fruit, leather and tar on the nose with juicy dark fruit and leather on the palate. The tannins were firm, the acidity good. The finish could have been longer but at this price I can’t complain.

2004 Laurier Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley, CA) $6 — a good “everyday” uncomplicated wine.

2003 Langmeil Three Gardens (Barossa Valley, Australia) $9 — Shiraz, Grenach, and Mouvedre, this Rhone-blend was full of dark berries with a bit of tobacco and chocolate.

2005 Clos LaChance Chardonnay Glittering-Throated Emerald (Monterey County, CA) $9 — a nice fruity Chardonnay with hints of citrus, pear, and pineapple of the nose and pear and apple with a twist of lemon on the palate. Medium finish, crisp and tart. Loved it with a quinoa and calamari salad with Dijon vinaigrette.

2005 Bulletin Place Shiraz (Australia) $6 — a decent introduction to Shiraz. Dark berry and a little smoke on the nose. Dark fruit, smoke, and spice on the palate. Not as rich and deep as more expensive Shiraz's but not a bad everyday sort of wine. I particularly enjoyed this with Chicken Korma.

2006 Bogle Chardonnay (California) $8 — a little more oaky and buttery than I personally care for in a Chardonnay but a good value wine.

2001 Silver Peak Zinfandel (Napa) $8 — Nothing special but a decent “everyday” sort of wine.

Ira did a great job at picking out these bargain wines. I really enjoyed going through them and have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised. Bulletin Place Shiraz and the Silver Peak Zin lacked the polish and finesse of their more expensive counterparts but they were certainly well suited for the everyday table. Others like the Woop Woop Shiraz, Chono Cab and Clos LaChance Chardonnay were absolutely delightful in every way.

Stay tuned for Season 2 (and I promise to be more timely with this one.) On our most recent trip to Bottle Barn in mid-September, Ira picked out another 12 bargain wines for me to try. I can hardly wait!

First Wine of Autumn

2009-09-05T13:49:00.000-07:00

Summer blasted through so fast this year up here in the northwest corner of the country that some of my summer favorites—New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs and Roses—didn’t even make it to my table this year. But with the cool kiss of autumn definitely in the air now, there’s no time for past regrets. Rich, luscious red wines are dominating my thoughts. So recently when invited to bring a wine to a garden party, I dug a 2006 Domaine de la Terre Rouge Syrah Les Cotes de l'Ouest (California, Sierra Foothills) —$15— out of the stash. The Terre Rouge seemed like a great wine to ring in the first days of the change of season and I was eager to try it.

The hostess put my bottle on a table with a case of a rather generic, local Merlot-blend and I thought for sure that it would get lost in the morass. Wine etiquette dictates that if you ask a guest to bring a bottle of wine, that’s the wine you should serve. If a guest brings a bottle as a gift, then it’s up to you whether you serve it or put it in your stash. Being a total wine geek, I understand that not everyone has boned up on the proprieties of serving wine so I always steel myself to say goodbye to a keenly anticipated bottle without ever getting a taste. It’s just the way of things. But I needn’t have worried. Our hostess was fabulous and served wines that guests brought first. The others were just for backup.

Terre Rouge Syrah is a wine done in the old world style. It had aromas of dark berries, smoke, cinnamon and a wonderful undertone of gaminess that I always find so pleasing in a wine. Black raspberry flavors were tinged with tobacco, herbs, and pepper. It was rich, silky, and well balanced with a long peppery finish. A memorable wine and one I’d purchase again.

Wine, Socks, and a Little Cheese

2009-08-19T07:59:00.000-07:00

August 6, 2009 was the kick off day for the first ever Sock Summit. Billed as “taking sock knitting almost too far,” it was absolute paradise for anyone who ever took the time to knit a pair of socks. Having knit hundreds of socks myself, Sock Summit was the culmination of everything good about socks, knitting, and knitters. Sock knitters from all over the country and beyond (I met one woman who flew in from London), converged for four glorious days in Portland, OR filled with classes, yarn buying, and geeking around with other sock knitters. Yowza!

Okay so what does this all have to do with wine? Well one of the local Portland knit shops, Knit Purl, hosted a wine and cheese tasting at Square Deal Wine & Steve’s Cheese. Both Square Deal & Steve’s Cheese occupy the same building and it’s a perfect pairing. The tasting featured local wines and cheeses with the exception of a sparkling wine from France. To be honest, I didn’t pay much attention to the cheese because the wines were so delicious they blew my socks off. (Okay, you knew I had to throw that in here somewhere.) But I can say this… what little cheese I had was absolutely delicious.

But the wines! Oh man! Each one was better than the next! We started off with the bubbly from France that was delightful and festive. Then we had a white from Square Deal’s own REAL label, REAL Wine Company "IV" 2007—a blend of Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Chardonnay. This juicy, refreshing white sipper sold for $18. Next came the REAL "B-Side" Pinot Noir 2007. When I tasted it, I almost passed out from ecstasy on the spot. It was a delicious blend of red fruits and berries with some floral and earthy notes that were reminiscent of red wines from Burgundy. Silky in texture, it finished long and elegantly. Because it was every bit as good as some Pinots I’ve had at $50 and $60, I just knew it was going to be well out of my price range. But I composed myself checked the price. At $24 a bottle, the ecstasy thing almost happened for the second time.

The night just couldn’t get better. But when I tasted 2006 Zerba Cellars Wild Z Red Wine (Walla Walla Valley, OR), I thought this is almost ridiculous as euphoria threatened to reduce me to a drooling idiot. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Petit Verdot, this wine exploded with flavors of cassis, plums, cherries and strawberries with earth and spice. Wonderfully balanced acidity, easy tannins, and a lingering spicy finish made me want to dive into the glass and drink my way out. At $18 a bottle I began to understand why the name of the shop included the words “square deal.” When I spoke to the folks at Square Deal Wines and asked them about their excellent quality price ratio, they told me that great wines at good prices was what they were all about. In a world where the price of wine doesn’t mean much in the way of quality, I say three cheers for that!

I returned from Portland with a little sock yarn, a little wine, and lots of great memories. I don’t know when or if Sock Summit will ever happen again but I do know this: Portland is just a 4-5 hour drive away and I’m pretty sure I could find Square Deal Wines with my eyes closed.

Speaking of Cabs...

2009-07-18T13:34:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine just posted a comment on my blog, telling me she misses my posts. Thank you, Sara, for giving me a little kick in the tuchus. The crazy thing is I’ve had some really wonderful wines in the past three months. So I should catch up.

In my last post, if I can remember back that far, I was complaining about affordable Cabs and the fact that I don’t spend money on them unless I taste them first. Frances Coppola’s Diamond Collection Ivory Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 is now on my list of “Cabs I Wouldn’t Hesitate to Spend Money On.” My friends, Barbara and Jim, introduced me to this wine back in April and it was delicious! It was possibly the smoothest, most easily drinkable Cab I’ve had at any price. Lush beautiful plum and vanilla wafted out of the glass and the flavors of dark berries, currants, and vanilla greeted my mouth with firm but smooth tannins and a scrumptious raisin finish. I don’t often find Cabs an “easy” sip, preferring to temper them with food but this one was a great sipper as well. At around $20 a bottle it is both affordable and better than many others I’ve had at twice the price.

2009-03-07T10:16:00.000-08:00

I’ve virtually given up buying Cabs that I can actually afford, finding most of them to be thin, acidic, and not much on flavor or finish. Because I do like Cabs though, I will splurge on rare occasion and buy one like the Silver Oak Cab, Alexander Valley, California. ($54!) I have just such a bottle residing in the stash. It’s waiting to help me celebrate my 50th birthday. (Not imminent, thank you.) But I’ve tasted that one and convinced myself that the indulgence is justified.

So, I’m very grateful to my friend, Janice, who, without really knowing what I liked, took the time at her somewhat local wine store, Compass Wines in Anacortes, Washington, asked a lot of questions, and picked out Three Thieves "The Show" 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, California yellow label ($11-$13) and gave it (and two other bottles of wine) to me for my birthday last year. The wine, made from grapes sourced from Monterey County, is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, with smaller percentages of Merlot, Cab Franc, Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot blended in as well.

This is a very nice, affordable Cab! It has earthy, blackberry, bramble, and cedar aromas with blackberry, spice, and coffee flavors. A little tight at first, it opens nicely. Medium bodied with a nice finish, this is delightfully drinkable.

As for Ira, his thoughts were that this wine certainly wasn’t any nastier than the wine we had last week (the absolutely delicious 2005 Zenato Valpolicella Superiore Ripassa). His one other comment was that he thought he’d like the wine better if it were cold like his Sangria. Yikes! That rubber tree plant just got a lot heavier.

Grapefruit Juice and Chocolate

2009-02-16T11:30:00.001-08:00

I’ve decided to drop the 20 lbs that have been plaguing me for the last 8 years or so and for that effort I’m willing to temporarily limit my standard glass of wine with dinner to two nights each week. Of course, this puts forth a terrible dilemma. Since I’m the only one currently drinking any wine worth drinking in this house, it means that I either have to try and keep a bottle of wine over two weeks—not happening. Or I have to dump the remaining 3 glasses of each bottle down the drain—also not happening. Because, my husband, Ira, is one terrific guy, he offered to help by drinking my wine with me and finish the bottle.

Now for those of you who know Ira, you are well aware of his lack of appreciation for wine. He drinks his one glass of Carlo Rossi Sangria each night for dinner for “medicinal purposes” only. So not only is this offer beyond HUGE, it also opens the door for opportunity. I’ve always said that if Ira liked any wine worth drinking, he’d probably develop a terrific palate. The man is amazing at detecting aromas and flavors…mostly the ones he dislikes, but nevertheless… if I could just get him over the hump that all non-jug wine is nasty (and let’s face it, he doesn’t have much good to say about the jug wine either), then maybe, just maybe, he might actually find some real wines that he likes or at the very least tolerates enough to appreciate. And if “appreciate” is a little far-fetched then perhaps he would learn just enough to be able to talk wine with me on occasion.

So, we started tonight with the Magnificent Wine Company’s House Wine, 2006, Columbia Valley. This is one of Wine Spectators favorite value wines and for good reason. For $9 this is a gem! I had Ira swirl and sniff. After some coaxing (me) and complaining (him), he was able to pick up a roasted coffee bean aroma and he got that the wine was dry (a taste he despises). Further prompting got nothing more than an acerbic comment that the wine tasted like alum, but hey… it was a start. (And no, the wine doesn’t taste like alum…more like peppery blueberries with some tobacco.) Later that evening, striking a thoughtful pose, Ira said, “I can sum up what most red wines taste like to me—grapefruit juice and chocolate. And that’s not a great combination.”

Yes, I realize that in this effort I maybe the ant who tried to move the rubber tree plant, but hey… in the end that ant did move the rubber tree plant—and I’m the eternal optimist.

2005 Desert Wind RUAH

2008-12-24T09:33:00.000-08:00

At the time of this writing, it’s 12 degrees outside with 9 inches of snow on the ground and another storm predicted for tonight and tomorrow that could dump up to another 9 inches. We sure could use a desert wind right now. But I’ll settle for Desert Wind Vineyard’s 2005 RUAH, (Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope) $18 — a perfect, cozy, delicious wine for a cold winter’s day…or any day.

This is the kind of Bordeaux-style wine I just love and that Washington State does so well. The 2005 scored 90 points with Wine Spectator and past vintages have consistently scored in the 90s. Made up of 15% Cab Franc, 40% Cab Sauvignon, and 45% Merlot, it has old-world aromas of blackberries, cedar, leather, and earth. Well-balanced flavors of blackberry, earth, and toasty oak with a hint of licorice and nutmeg on the velvety finish transported me to the French countryside and gave me a tiny holiday from all the snow. (Yes, wine sometimes transports me to different locales, which is great because I hate to travel.) This is a dry, elegant wine that pairs well with grilled or roasted meat or tomato-based sauces, and I bet it would kill with goat or sheep cheeses.

I have my very good friends, Yvonne and Doug, to thank for this gem. They always amaze me with their ability to pick out wines they know I’ll fall head over heels for. Thanks you two!

2007 Clean Slate Riesling

2008-12-18T16:54:00.000-08:00

I haven’t had much practice navigating the labels of German Rieslings. I tend to look at the labels stating Trocken (bone-dry), Halbtrocken (half-dry), Kabinett (wine made from grapes that are harvested at normal harvest times and are usually light and low in alcohol), Spatlese (grapes harvested later than those in a Kabinett, having a fuller, riper taste–read, sweet), Auslese (sweeter), and Beerenauslese (sweetest), and my eyes cross. I tell myself I’ll delve into German Rieslings later but “not today.” Maybe it was the lack of the confusing jargon that made me snap up a bottle of Clean Slate Riesling (Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer). For $8.99 it was certainly worth the gamble.

Well, the gamble paid off! Put this in the column of favorite Rieslings. Beautiful floral aromas with stone fruits, apple and mineral delicately float out of the glass while lush nectarine, pear, slate, and citrus flavors hit your palate. This wine is off dry (I’d guess halbtrocken—although it doesn’t say that on the label) with a beautiful silky texture, balanced acidity, and clean, mineral finish. Pairs wonderfully with food, easy to drink. Delightful.

Of course, now that I’ve taken the time to look all this terminology up and bring it to you, I’ll probably be able to work my way through the labels.

2008-12-13T12:33:00.000-08:00

I think I’ve mentioned this before but it’s gooood to have wine-loving friends who like to share their favorite wines with me. Our friend Kit, who lives down in Richland, WA in the heart of our State’s wine country, brought a bottle of Cowan Vineyards Cabernet Franc Estate 2004 (Yakima Valley, WA) when he and his wife, Janet came up for Thanksgiving this year. Kit is a huge fan of Washington state wines and rightly so.

Nose the wine just a bit and it screams Cab Franc with strawberry, cherries, briar, and a hint of barnyard earthiness on the nose. It has juicy strawberry and cherry flavors with a bit bramble, oak and earth. This is a nice introduction to Cab Franc And while it lacks the depth and body of some the heavier hitters, at $18 a bottle (Sorry Kit and Janet. It’s impossible to blog about wine without mentioning the price), it’s also half the price.

The Climber

2008-11-20T07:51:00.000-08:00

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted. Between mourning the death of my father, John, and celebrating the birth of my granddaughter, Misha, blogging about wine took a back seat to just about everything. I was simply too preoccupied and overwhelmed to put words on paper. (Or on the computer screen.) But I’m back and the wine that launched me into the driver’s seat again was a fairly random selection during a visit to Bottle Barn in late August. I say “fairly” random because Dan, Misha’s dad, pulled Clif Family Winery’s “The Climber” 2004 North Coast Red Wine from the shelf and said he’d heard good things about it. And yes, these are the same folks behind CLIF BAR® and LUNA®, which in some macabre way, only made the selection more intriguing. I mean who’d have thought that the makers of power bars could do a decent wine?

I can honestly say right here and now that this is the best $12 bottle of wine I’ve ever had. It even rivals wines I’ve had at twice the cost. A blend of 59% Zinfandel, 20% Syrah, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, and 6% Petite Sirah, this wine is deep red/purple in color with aromas of cherries, vanilla, nutmeg and oak. The flavors are well-balanced cherry/raspberry, spice and just a hint of oak. This deliciously easy-to-drink wine has good body and jammy finish. And, even though its main grape is Zinfandel, it isn’t over the top in its alcohol content.

So while I’ve toasted the passing of my Dad and the arrival of Misha many times before. I’d like to hold up a glass of The Climber in honor of two people that have impacted my life in incalculable ways:

Dad…Misha…here’s to you! I love you both more than words can say.

It's French So How Bad Can It Be? Pretty Bad!

2008-07-26T17:23:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, my friends, Lisa and Jason, joined me for what was supposed to be a Red Burgundy wine tasting. I had a difficult time finding any Red Burgundy (let alone an affordable one) at my regular wine haunts, so I went to a little specialty shop that carries a small but interesting selection of European and Middle Eastern wines. The only Burgundy I could see on the shelf was a low-ender—LaForet. I’ve had it before and it was only mildly okay so I sure didn’t want to bring it to a tasting.

Although the shop owner wasn’t there, the wine distributor was there taking inventory. So I asked her if there were any other red burgundies lurking about. She pulled a Louis Latour Valmoissine Pinot Noir 2006 ($12) off the shelf. The label didn’t say Burgundy and the appellation wasn’t familiar. I told her that I was bringing the wine to a tasting and that it had to be a Burgundy. She was emphatic in her assurance that the Latour was, in fact, a Burgundy. Although skeptical, I bought it in an act of desperation. But, I should have listened to my inner wine geek because when I got home and looked up the appellation, I discovered it was from Provence, which is no where near Burgundy. I was ready to bring the bottle back and complain profusely. Lisa, however, decided that it might be fun to compare a Burgundy with another French Pinot so I decided to listen to my inner Buddha (who resides near the inner geek) and live with it. As it turned out, Lisa and Jason didn’t have an easy time finding an affordable Burgundy either, but they had scored a 2005 Domaine Mongeard Bourgogne for $24 and the tasting was on.

The night of the tasting was one of the first truly warm and beautiful evenings of the season here in Bellingham so we held the tasting out on my patio among the roses, trees, and hostas. We each had two glasses, one for each wine. We poured. We swirled. We nosed. We tasted. We chatted about their Tai Chi weekend. Swirled. Nosed. Tasted. We chatted about politics. Poured. Swirled. Nosed. Tasted. We ate very nice cheese. As the swirling and nosing increased and tasting decreased, we realized we had been avoiding discussing the wine at all. It took us forever to talk about it and when we did, we were as unenthusiastic about this wine as we had been about a previous tasting when we did Barbera.

We thought that perhaps the Mongeard needed to open more but once it opened it completely fell apart. It did have recognizable Burgundy aromas and flavors, a little silkiness, and some finish but that was about it. It was, however, a much better wine than the Latour which was thin, slightly acidic, and tasted of strawberries that needed a healthy dose of sugar to make them palatable. I’ve had had $5 wines that were better than this. (Stay tuned for my upcoming blog on that one.)

While the wine itself was a huge disappointment, the company was great, the weather was beautiful and the cheese was wonderful. We haven’t given up on Burgundies either. We just have to learn to be more selective. Perhaps the most important thing I learned from this tasting is to trust my inner wine geek and not let someone talk me into something that feels wrong.

Ira Does It Again

2008-06-30T15:16:00.000-07:00

I’ve got one terrific husband. Ira doesn’t like wine much. As I’ve mentioned before in this blog, he drinks Carlo Rossi Sangria for “medicinal purposes” only. So night after night, he has to hear me proclaim things like, “big juicy berries with a hint of anise” or “mmm…barnyard.” He doesn’t really get it but he does appreciate that I just love it. Every once in awhile, he likes to both treat and surprise me with wines that he personally chooses. And, while he may not “get it,” he does pay attention. He reads the shelf talkers and picks out wines he thinks I’d like. Of course, they are always “bargain” wines. Ira’s big into bargains but honestly, he does a better job at bargain wine shopping than I do.

I was absolutely delighted with one of the more recent wines he brought home—Domaine de Pajot Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne Les Quatre Cépages 2007 (Southwest France, Gascony, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne), under $8. This marvelous country wine is a wonderful, lazy summer evening sip. Crisp and refreshing, it has aromas of pear, citrus, pineapple, and flowers. The brisk citrus flavor has candied pear and pineapple nuances as well as a bold mineral streak. The texture is firm but silky and the finish is long enough to enjoy and savor.

Baby, if you’re reading this (and I know you are). You did good! How about a couple more bottles?

Murphy-Goode Liar’s Dice Zinfandel 2004

2008-06-16T05:58:00.000-07:00

I very seldom meet a Zin I dislike so I openly admit to a little bias, but this gem from Alexander and Dry Creek Valleys of Sonoma County exceeded all my lofty expectations and launched itself to the top of my favorite Zin list…or would if I kept such a thing.

Classic Zin aromas of raspberry jam, pepper, a bit of bramble, herb, and earth all coalesce into this deliciously juicy wine with the added plus that for Zins, the alcohol percentage is fairly moderate, hovering at 14.5. This is a full-bodied wine, with a lovely texture that was slightly silky and slightly rustic. Its lengthy finish was also a tiny bit peppery. But what I loved most about this wine was its aura of the old world with that touch of earthy aroma and a dash of herbs.

I liked this with everything from grilled pork tenderloin to pizza.

Celebrating a Sunny Day

2008-06-04T07:57:00.001-07:00

It’s been a long, and I mean looong, gray, wet winter and spring here in the Pacific Northwest so when friends were due for dinner on a recent and rare warm sunny day, I decided to celebrate and opened a bottle of Livio Pavese Prosecco N.V. Extra Dry—$10. It was the perfect sip out on the patio amidst the blooming Rhododendrons, Clematis, and Azaleas.

Light, dry, festive, and refreshing, this straw colored wine was effusive in its bubbles. A zesty but light lemon flavor was predominant but there were nutty overtones and a touch of honey.

My experience with Champagne-style wines is rather limited but I know what I like and I loved this Prosecco. Not only was it delightful out in the garden, it went surprisingly well with the mildly spiced Jamaican Chicken and Rice dish I served for dinner.

A Little Vacation

2008-06-03T16:25:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I've posted. I guess you could say I was on a little blogging hiatus but I'm back. I'm currently working on two posts: A delicious Prosecco and Zinfandel. Stay tuned.

How Not To Drink Wine Before or After Its Time

2008-01-17T11:03:00.001-08:00

About a month ago, I discovered CellarTracker. CellarTracker is this great site where you can participate in a large, active wine community, browse a very comprehensive wine database, read an incredibly large selection of wine reviews from real users, manage your wine stash inventory, rate your wines and keep personal/public tasting notes, track the value of your collection (if you’re of a mind to do that), learn more about wine, and download your file to Excel. This is a fabulous site and the good part is it’s free (although donations are greatly appreciated).

I signed up, entered my stash, and learned more about what’s in my stash in a relatively short period of time than I have over months of web searching. One of the most useful tools on the site that I’ve found is the “drinkability report’’ which is based on the judgments of CellarTracker members or other reliable wine resources. Not every wine has a drinking window listed but in my stash more had one than not. Anyway, after running the report, I discovered that there are about 7-8 bottles of wine that I need to drink now. I consider these wines to be in my “red zone” and I can feel the pressure. I have this image of the robot from Lost In Space waving his tube arms and saying “Danger Jiggledy! Danger Jiggledy! Drink right away!”

So for the past few weeks, I’ve been steadily drinking up the wines in my “red zone” not just to quiet the robot, but to get any enjoyment from them I can. Unfortunately, nothing spectacular has stood out so far. I had one Lang & Reed Cab Franc 2003 that was okay, but I had opened it about a year too late and I can’t help wonder if this would have been better had I opened it sooner. A couple of the bottles in the red zone were ones I bought a few years ago before I started enjoying wines that cost a bit more. And one or two had simply been forgotten.

I have about 14 bottles in the stash now that should be opened sometime this year and one or two that shouldn’t even be opened for another 10 years. It’s important to be able to track this methodically. I want to get the best out of every bottle in the stash. Thanks, CellarTracker!

The Marlborough Trifecta

2007-12-19T15:26:00.001-08:00

This has been my year for delving into Sauvignon Blancs from Marlborough, New Zealand. Marlborough is practically synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc and it’s easy to see why. Nothing else matches the steely, clean, “gooseberry-ness” that goes so perfectly with a warm summer’s day. These are to my mind bracing; ball-busting wines and I dearly love them.

Recently, I hit the Marlborough Trifecta with a bottle of Whitehaven 2006. After tasting St. Clair and Kim Crawford earlier this year, my husband’s son who lives in the heart of Sonoma wine country said I had to give Whitehaven a try. And, he was right. Although, St. Clair is still my favorite (I seriously liked the cat pee-esqueness of it), Kim Crawford and Whitehaven are more readily available and tie for second only by a nose.

Full of herby grass and citrus aromas, Whitehaven is a full-flavored medium bodied wine loaded with gooseberry and grapefruit flavors. I even detected a hint of guava, pineapple, and mineral. A clean, crisp, and lingering finish follows.

While sipping this would be perfection on that warm summer’s day, I would gladly drink this in the heart of winter when everything is gray and rainy here in the Pacific Northwest and any hint of summer is greatly appreciated.

A Wine Even My Husband Likes

2007-12-09T08:50:00.000-08:00

You know you have to blog about a wine when your “I-don’t-like-wine-it-all-tastes-like-pischacts (that’s “pish-achkts,” Yiddish for “pee”) husband tells you it’s “not so bad.” Even though Ira doesn’t care for the taste of wine, he always likes to sample a new bottle. So when I opened up a bottle of the Jade Mountain Mourvedre 2004 Evangelho Vineyard, from Contra Costa Country in California, I was blown away when my husband took a sip and declared, “Hey! This isn’t so bad.” In fact, he was concerned I wouldn’t like because he “almost” did.

I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’d never had a straight Mourvedre before. Any previous experience with it had been in wines from the Rhone, where it is a blending grape, adding deep color, acidity, and tannins. But I’ve learned that it is also a primary grape in the wines of Jumilla in Spain where it is known as Monestrell. Here in the states it was first planted in Contra Costa County so it seemed fitting that my first taste of the straight varietal was from that appellation.

And what a first taste it was. To my husband’s surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It had a deep, rich, red-purple color and its aromas were of dark berries, clove, and sweet wood. It was rustic and warm with blackberry, toast, smoke, and spice flavors. A little edgy in the mouth (something I really love about a wine), the finish was bright, clean and had a burst of acidity.

After all that, I was rather surprised that other half almost liked it. But then again, I’ve always thought that if he could get to the point where he actually enjoyed wine, he’d have an excellent palate. I’m not holding my breath, however. He’s got a long way to go from pischachts.

“Love In a Bottle”

2007-12-03T12:33:00.000-08:00

At a lovely holiday dinner at a local Italian Restaurant called Giuseppe’s I had an Italian wine that rocked my world. This is saying something since I’m rather skeptical about Italian wines in general, finding that the lower-priced are more often than not disappointing. Sure, I’ve had (and even blogged about) a few that I’ve enjoyed, but overall, I still shy away from them.

The dinner was sponsored by my boss, (although I hesitate to call her that because she is much more of a friend than a boss), Andrea, who owns Apple Yarns where I work a couple of days a week. Andrea had originally pre-ordered the wine earlier in the week asking for Zenato Valpolicella, but the restaurant was out and “upgraded” us to the Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella 2005 ($24). As the waiter explained the upgrade, he assured us that we would not be disappointed, calling the Ripassa, “Love in a Bottle.” Having the so–so relationship with Italian wine that I do, I internally winced at his description. Nevertheless, I decided to be as open-minded about it as possible.
I swirled the deep purple-red wine for a bit and then stuck my nose in the glass. Rich, dark berry jam, coffee, and licorice aromas wafted up from the glass. The first sip filled my mouth with velvety flavors of blackberries, licorice, and chocolate. The wine was silky smooth, round, and firm with perfect acidity. The finish was long and luxurious.

Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella 2005 from the Veneto region in northern Italy is a blend of 80% Corvina, 10% Rondinella, and 10% Sangiovese. These grapes are dried to make Amarone. As soon as the dried grapes for the Amarone are fermented, selected batches of Valpolicella wine are “re-passed” over the Amarone’s settling sediment (also called “lees”) during fermentation. This starts a second fermentation that increases the alcohol content a bit and gives the wine deeper color, increased extract, and more complex aromas. After being refined in a tank for six months, Ripassa is then aged in small oak barrels for 18-24 months.

Everyone at the table, including those who aren’t into wine at all, loved the Ripassa and we all had more than a glass or two. The waiter was absolutely right. The Ripassa was, indeed, “Love In a Bottle.”

Pinot Noir and Gefilte Fish—Mmmmm….Good Pairing

2007-11-26T17:50:00.000-08:00

I had a bit of a dilemma recently when trying to come up with a wine to serve with an early Chanukah dinner. The dinner consisted of basic Jewish fare: homemade gefilte fish (served with a healthy dose of hot horseradish), a potato latke casserole, and beets—nothing fancy, just good old-fashioned comfort food. Okay. So what wine to serve? Sure, I could have gone white—a clean Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, even a Gewürztraminer would have been just fine. But I didn’t want “just fine.” I wanted something that might be a bit more interesting and frankly a bit more red. Of course, it would have to be a lighter-bodied red and since the words “Pinot Noir” kept skittering through my brain, I went for it.

Down in the stash was a bottle of Lutea 2006 Pinot Noir from Sonoma County—a biodynamically produced wine from California’s North Coast. I’d been looking forward to trying this bottle for a while and decided this was the time. Just in case this was the biggest fiasco in wine/food pairing history, I had a glass before dinner was served. The wine needed to open a bit so I poured a glass and worked on dinner for about 10-15 minutes. Then my wine and I went into the living room to watch the sunset together. It was a beautiful sunset and a gorgeous glass of wine. Aromas of cherries and earth wafted up out of the glass and lovely flavors of ripe cherries and a hint of clove danced on my tongue. Both tannins and acid were almost perfectly in sync and the finish was long and silky.

Sunset over and dinner ready, it was time to see if this lovely wine would complement the meal as well as it did the sunset. As it turned it out, it was a wonderful pairing. It even held its own against the horseradish. I don’t know. Maybe a Pinot Noir isn’t as an absurd pairing with Gefilte Fish as I made it out to be but I enjoy pushing the envelope a bit even if that envelope is in my own head.

Idaho Reds Worth Blogging About

2007-11-10T17:22:00.000-08:00

The last time I went to Idaho and tasted wines, I was not impressed with any of the reds. There were some lovely whites but the reds just didn’t make it. I found them to be thin, acidic, and just not up to par with other similarly priced reds from other regions. This time, however, both my Mom and I tried a couple of reds from The Winery At Eagle Knoll just outside of Boise and I was rather impressed with their offerings.

Their 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon ($14) was a decent representation of the varietal. Oaky and fruity, with flavors of dark cherries and plums and a hint of chocolate, this wine was quite tasty. Definitely not a heavy hitter, but what it lacked in ooomph, it made up for in drinkablity and food friendliness. This one was Mom’s favorite.

The 2004 Eagle Head Red Table Wine ($13), my personal favorite, was a very good, everyday red that smelled of blueberries and blackberries with dark cherry flavors—very drinkable and food friendly. It was a little short on the finish but delightful nonetheless.

We also tried their 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, which won a bronze medal at the 2007 Grand Harvest awards. Mom didn’t like it much and I thought it was a bit young and green. I’m not very good at predicting what might be good with some aging but I did think this had possibilities. I’d like to taste it again in a year or so.

The Last if Its Kind—Mayo 2004 Cabernet Franc Dry Creek Valley

2007-10-03T15:22:00.000-07:00

The Mayo Family Winery in Sonoma County is one of my all time favorite wineries. I’ve never been anything but totally thrilled with their wines. So last May when I was at Bottle Barn in Santa Rosa searching out Cab Francs, I didn’t hesitate to pick up a bottle of Mayo Cabernet Franc 2004 Dry Creek Valley, Bradford Mountain Vineyard, Hillside Block, 2004 for the whopping price of $27. That was a remarkable leap of faith for me since I hadn’t a clue about it. I don’t throw down $27 easily on any bottle of wine but I figured it was Mayo Winery, how disappointed would I be?

Anything but as it turned out. This dark purple wine had many layers of aromas that started out rich and earthy with definite notes of “barnyard,” (I love that in a Cab Franc). As the wine sat in the glass, the aromas opened up with warm scents of flowers, cinnamon, dark fruits and sweet wood, with the tiniest hint of vanilla. This was one of those wines that I could nosed all day long without getting bored.

On the palate, the wine gave me the sensation, if not the actual flavor, of eating chocolate. Creamy, rich dark fruits, flowers, spice, and a long finish of vanilla rounded out the taste. The tannins were firm but not overbearing. This was a wine to savor to the absolute last drop. If my tongue could have reached it, I would have licked the bottom of the glass—a completely tasteless act for such an elegant wine.

I am very sad to say that when I visited the Mayo website, I learned that this Gold Medal/Best Of Class winner at 2006 Sonoma County Harvest Fair is the last of its kind. To quote the website:

“This is the last wine ever made from this small block of Cabernet Franc from the Bradford Mountain Vineyard. This block was removed after the 2004 vintage. And it's a shame, too. The hillside vineyard sits at 1,500 feet overlooking the Dry Creek Valley with a perfect southwest exposure. The low yielding Cabernet Franc produced lovely, ripe berries that we turned into a rich, complex wine with amazing floral and berry aromas. Get it while you can.”

This is one of those wines that if I knew it was so delicious and the last of its kind, I would have purchased a few more bottles for the stash. Ah well, I’m not one to speculate that wildly on bottles in this price range so I’m happy that I had the opportunity to have five exceptional glasses of wine from this remarkable bottling

A Pinot Noir Tasting Plus 1

2007-09-21T09:34:00.000-07:00

I love Pinot Noir. I loved Pinot Noir even before it was “cool” to love Pinot Noir. It’s just one of those wines that, when it’s done right, can send shivers right up my spine. I remember watching the movie Sideways when Miles was rather eloquently expressing his feelings about Pinot Noir and thinking ‘That’s it! That’s exactly it!’ I haven’t been drinking as much Pinot Noir as I’d like because the ones I really love usually cost more than I want to spend on a regular basis. (I’m thinking of the Tandem Pinot I tasted in August that ran about $48.)

I used the word “usually” because at a recent gathering of my wine tasting group, we had four Pinots, all under $13, and there wasn’t a stinker in the bunch. In fact, there were a couple that were so good that they belied their prices completely. All the wines at the tasting were tasted blind.

It was a close call, but my favorite wine of the evening was St. Josef Pinot Noir 2005, Willamette Valley, Oregon ($12). It took first place simply because I wrote the most tasting notes about it. With aromas of strawberries, roses, and oak, and flavors of strawberry jam, this wine had good body, good acidity, and a nice finish. My personal rating, “Very Good.”

Coming in a very close second was Greenstone Point Pinot Noir from New Zealand ($10). This was a superbly structured wine, with subtle aromas of fresh strawberries and a hint of oak. Flavors weren’t quite as concentrated as the St. Josef’s but they were full of strawberries, cherries and with a hint of tea. This had the best finish of the bunch, long and slightly spicy. Everything about this wine screamed, "FRESH!" Again, I’d rate this “Very Good.”

La Foret Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2005, France ($10) had aromas of fruit and black pepper. Flavors were of strawberries and oak. This was a bit thinner and a tad greener to my mind than the first two. Still it was tasty and I would have been quite pleased with it on its own. I’d give this a rating of “Good.”

Morandé Pinot Noir 2006, Chile ($7) was my least favorite, but had I tried it alone, I would have thought it was just fine. What struck me about this wine was the strong aroma of burnt match. Flavors of not-quite-ripe strawberries and vanilla were a little overpowered by the acidity. Looking back through my notes, I discovered I’d had this before in a previous vintage—one that Robert Parker rated a 90. My tasting notes were quite similar to these and while I don’t agree with the 90 rating, I would say that this was a perfectly acceptable Pinot. Like La Foret, I would rate it as “Good.”

Another very good Pinot is Yamhill Valley Vineyards Reserve Pinot Noir, 2002 ($15). My friend, Doug, an avid Pinot fan himself, served this at a dinner a couple of weeks ago and it was wonderful. Aromas of raisins and figs burst from the glass. Elegant flavors of rich dried red fruits, creamy texture, and a silky finish completed the picture. This wine was great to sip on its own but went spectacularly with the delicious salmon Doug made (and caught). I’d rate this a “Very Good.”

So, I have to regroup a bit on the Pinot thing. There are tasty Pinots at affordable prices. They may not be the ultra luxurious Pinots at the Tandem level, but these tasty little Pinots mean that I can enjoy Pinot more and strain the stash budget less

Pairing Wine and Indian Cuisine

2007-09-17T07:33:00.000-07:00

Matching wine with Indian cuisine always seems to make me a little anxious. My first thought is to go sweet—say an off-dry Riesling or Gewurztraminer. But that solution is just a little too easy and too banal. So when I cooked up a batch of Chicken Korma this rainy, damp evening, I wanted something a little more interesting and something I wouldn’t have to chill. I did a little web searching and found a great article from the San Fransisco Chronicle on pairing wine with Indian food. Read the article. It had some wonderful suggestions (including and admonition to skip the Gewurtz), reducing my “what-to-serve-with-Indian-anxiety” to almost nothing. Tonight, I decided to take a chance and go to Spain to find my match and pulled a bottle of Bodegas Borsao, “Red Wine”, Campo de Borja 2005 ($8) out of the stash.

Borsao is one my favorite “go to” wines. It’s tasty and inexpensive—one of those wines I like to serve to my less enthusiastic wine-drinking friends because it always wows them. It’s a well-structured wine, fruity, bold, and peppery with luxurious tannins, and is able to hold up to a variety of hot, garlicky, or spicy foods. I thought it might be just the thing for my Korma and I was right. It went remarkably well, making for a thoroughly enjoyable dinner.

Now that I’ve ventured off to Spain to complement India, next time I think I’ll try Alsace but I’ll skip the Gewurtz and try a Pinot Blanc or Pinot Gris. Yeah, I’ll have to chill ‘em, but just the thought of that pairing is making my mouth water.

A Wild Couple of Weeks

2007-09-05T07:05:00.000-07:00

It’s been a wild couple of weeks. Down to Santa Rosa for a fun family visit (and the much anticipated trip to Bottle Barn) and then it was off to Maryland for a funeral. This was much more airplane time than I would want to do within 6 months let alone 2 weeks but all was not lost. We had an excellent visit with family and caught up with old friends. I also had some terrific wines. Now that I’m home and settled back into my life, I can finally recount my latest wine adventures of the latter half of this month.

The visit to Santa Rosa was, in a word, awesome! I had several very good wines while I was there. One of my favorites was Tandem Silver Pines Vineyard Pinot Noir 2005 from the Sonoma Mountain appellation. This Pinot reminded me more of the old world than the new and was lush and rich with an earthiness to it that made it truly special. The problem I have with California Pinots is that I generally love them but their price tag is pretty hefty. The Tandem runs about $50. Next on the list was Lucien Albrecht Pinot Gris from Alsace. We had this with an heirloom tomato soup and tomato risotto and the pairing was fabulous. We also had a Vouvray with a Japanese flavored salmon, also an excellent pairing.

One of the highlights of this trip was a trip to Healdsburg for a Julian Laige concert. Laige is a Jazz guitarist, a local favorite, and somewhat of a phenom. I enjoy jazz but admit to being completely ignorant. The music Laige was playing was a bit advant garde and even though I enjoyed it, I kept waiting for them to play the Snoopy Song. I did have a glass of Navarro Pinot Noir Mendocino County 2005, which was very tasty (think cherries vanilla and a kiss of oak). Before the concert, we did a little wine tasting around town—the only worth noting was the Tandem Pinot.

The trip to Bottle Barn was, as expected, too much fun. I loaded up on a couple of Syrahs/Shiraz, a Sancerre, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, a couple of Cabs, a California Mouvedre, a Verdejo, and Petite Sirah to name a few. My most exciting (and most expensive) purchase was a 2003 Silver Oak Cab. I will hit a landmark birthday in 3 years and decided cracking open the Silver Oak would be the perfect way to celebrate it. It’s good until 2026 so I could hit a couple more landmark birthdays with it, if I wanted to. Even my husband got into the wine-buying act. He decided to buy an extra case for me that included all bargain wines. I plan to do a blog on those once I get through them all. I’ve had two so far and they’ve both been wonderful.

The trip to Maryland included a visit to our friend, Gene (you know, the guy who got me started in this wine thing) and his lovely wife, Charlene. We had a surprisingly nice Merlot from Virginia of all places. But Gene says Virginia is putting out some nice wines and if this Merlot was any indication, he is right. We also had a very nice Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc-Viognier, Clarksburg (CA) 2005 loaded with floral aromas and crisp pear/citrus flavors and an absolutely wonderful Emile Willim Cuvee Riesling Reserve, Alsace 2004 that had classic Riesling flavors and was perfectly dry.

I’m not the best traveler in the world. Sitting for hours on an airplane is not my idea of a good time but when there are good friends, family, and great wines at the end of the flight, I’d say it was worth it.

A Case With My Name On It

2007-08-09T05:56:00.000-07:00

This weekend I’ll be in Santa Rosa, California, visiting family. This means that I’ll be making a pilgrimage to wine Mecca, otherwise known as Bottle Barn (BB). I have never had a disappointing wine from BB so I’m always anxious to shop there.

This visit I’m looking for Syrahs. I’ve realized that I haven’t been paying too much attention to Syrahs lately and after having a stellar Northern California Syrah at a restaurant lately, I’m in the mood.

This visit has an added plus. Not only do I get to shop for a case for myself, I also get to help shop for a case for another family member. Yee Haw! Bottle Barn here I come!

Screeeeeech!

2007-07-29T17:11:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago I had a 2-glasses-of-wine kind of day. So I finished up what was left of my Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, NZ) and decided to continue with the SB theme by opening up a Bordeaux Blanc—Chateau Ducasse 2005 to be exact. I knew the two would be different not just because of their different origins, but also because I knew the Bordeaux was actually a blend. But even with that in mind there was a serious culture shock! It was like showing up at a black-tie dinner in a cowboy hat, boots, and jeans. Everything I was experiencing with the Marlborough SB came to a screeching halt and I had to focus and regroup to enjoy the Bordeaux Blanc. Let’s just say there’s nothing remotely similar between these wines except they share the same grape.

The Chateau Ducasse Bordeaux is made up of 55% Semillon, 35% Sauvignon, and 10% Muscadelle. It had a light, clear yellow color and smelled of what I can only describe as an old wet basement—the unfinished kind with concrete walls. (I guess could have been a bit more lyrical and said it smelled like wet river rocks, but wet basement is what came to mind first.) But the taste was very light and dry with a bit of white fruit. Instead of hitting you over the head with big tropical flavors like the New Zealand SBs, this wine was poised and polite with a touch of elegance that can only come out of France.

After my initial jolt, I have come to really appreciate this wine even though it isn’t the kind of wine I’d recommend for summer drinking. In fact, I’d say that this is the perfect white for autumn or winter especially if you’re looking for something other than Chardonnay. It would be terrific for lighter dinner fair like seafood, hearty soup, or salad.

Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2006

2007-07-24T09:34:00.000-07:00

Hoo Boy! I just opened my second Marlborough (NZ) Sauvignon Blanc—Kim Crawford 2006—of the season and I have to admit, they’re becoming quite addictive. I just love the hard-edged steeliness of these refreshing wines. They demand to be consumed on sunny warm days and if they could sing, I’m sure their refrain would be, “roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer!”

It’s almost embarrassing to fess up to this, but this is my first taste of Kim Crawford SB. My friend, Yvonne, who’s a big fan (as is my buddy Gene who got me started in all of this to begin with), brought me a bottle a couple of weeks ago after reading my blog on the Saint Clair SB.

This pale, pale green-gold wine knocks you over the head with aromas of passionfruit and grapefruit. But swirl the wine in the glass for a while and subtle hints of grass and citrus flower begin to waft up as well. On the palate tart flavors of gooseberry, passionfruit, and white grapefruit are complemented by a bit of grass and mineral. Bright acidity, and a longish, tart finish round out the wine. The folks over at Wine.com suggest pairing it with asparagus (not an easy food to pair wine with), oysters, and summer salads.

I rated this a “Very Good,” feeling that the Saint Clair SB was just slightly better. There was just a je ne sais quoi about Saint Clair that put it in the ranks of “Awesome” on my scale. Although honestly, I’d have to blind taste the two side-by-side to be able to tell you just what the “quoi” is.

Even so, Kim Crawford is an absolutely wonderful wine. Rated a 92 by Wine Spectator and on their top 100 wines of 2006, it is readily available here in the Northwest (Costco) and the $14-15-ish price tag is just right. This will be a regular visitor in the stash during the short but sweet summers that grace this part of the country.

Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc 2006

2007-07-08T08:56:00.000-07:00

I just love it when a wine blows me away. It’s like the rush you get being on a thrill ride, having great sex, or hitting a home run. I drink a lot of good wine, but the truly awesome ones are few and far enough between that it still makes me catch my breath when I have one. I opened just such a wine a couple of days ago—Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Marlborough, NZ ($16 — another Bottle Barn wine of the month club selection.) I’ve had very tasty Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs in the past but Saint Clair was on another order of magnitude.

One the first day, heady aromas of passionfruit, grapefruit, and pineapple with mineral and floral notes burst out of the glass. With the second and third day, the passionfruit aroma dissipated into more of a “cat pee” smell, which I had actually never experienced before and found it surprisingly pleasing. The dominant flavor of the wine throughout was grapefruit and passionfruit, with a long citrus and mineral finish. Medium-bodied and silky smooth, this wine also had almost perfect acidity. It was good ice cold or delicately chilled and was terrific on a warm to hot summer day.

Di Mjo Norante Sangiovese 2004, Italy

2007-06-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

Looks like for the next few days my home menu will consist of Italian dishes. Tonight I opened up a bottle of Di Majo Norante Sangiovese 2004, Italy to go with Chicken Scallopini and was quite pleasantly blown away. In fact, when my husband poured the wine and took a small sip he pronounced that I would love it. (He’s getting pretty good at that. He figures if he tastes a wine and thinks it’s disgusting, I will like it.) He was absolutely right-on this time too.

This was a very pleasant surprise for me. If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you’ll know that I’m kind of wishy-washy when it comes to Italian wines. But there’s nothing irresolute about this Sangiovese. Vivid, ruby red in the glass, this wine is loaded with aromas of violets, berries, and earth. The ripe berry flavor is perked up with bright, but not overpowering, acidity. The texture is smooth and a little cleansing, making it a great match with food.

This is one of those wines that I wish I’d bought more of. At $9 a bottle, it’s a steal. If it matters to you, Wine Advocate rated this a 90. Oh! What does this week's menu consist of? Homemade pizza, spaghetti bolognese, and chicken with sundried tomato pasta. Yum!

Eagle Eye Voluptuous Red, Napa Valley

2007-06-22T12:35:00.000-07:00

“If I told you that a wine was “sexy,” would that mean anything to you?” That’s a question I posed to some friends recently. Because as much as I hate to admit it, there have been times when a wine has struck me as exactly that—sexy—even though I knew that using that descriptor for wine is essentially useless. After a lot of discussion and a few laughs, three out of four agreed that describing a wine as “sexy” was absolutely meaningless. Interestingly, the only guy in the group said that it would make him think that the wine was “voluptuous” — big, round, ripe, and with soft tannins. Add perhaps a little decadence and hedonism, and bingo! That’s exactly what I’m talking about.

This conversation came to mind this week when I opened up another Bottle Barn Wine of the Month Club selection — Eagle Eye Voluptuous Red, Napa Valley $22-$25. Made up of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 20% Syrah, 9% Zinfandel/Primitivo and, 3% Sangiovese from the 2002, 2004, and 2005 vintages. This wine is aptly named. It is truly voluptuous. The color is a deep, ripe violet purple, with aromas of blackberries, earth, and spice. It’s a big, round, wine with a luscious, soft, silky texture. Flavors of blackberry jam and spice linger long on the finish. A lip smacker if I’ve ever had one.

Voluptuous Red is the creation of Bill & Roxanne Wolf, Napa Valley growers of world class red wine grapes and Italian varietal olives for oil. They own and operate AlphaWOLF Vineyard & Olive Ranch. To quote from their website, “Eagle Eye brand was created to make small quantities of high quality wine from the Napa Valley that we are able to blend, with our winemaker, to create fruit forward, approachable young blends that are affordable and age worthy. We want the consumer to count upon and recognize the Eagle Eye brand as great wine for a great price.”

Voluptuous Red is ready to drink now but could stand some time in the cellar as well. My club notes came with the suggestion of decanting one hour before serving. Otherwise this might be just too voluptuous to drink.

Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Colchuaga Chile – $12

2007-06-13T16:32:00.000-07:00

I consider myself to be very lucky because I have great friends who understand my passion for wine. When my birthday rolls around (and sometimes for no reason at all), I receive some truly delicious bottles of wine. Last birthday was no different. My good friend, Debra, gave me a bottle of Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon from Colchagua, Chile. This was one of those perfect gifts because I probably would not have picked it out for myself. While there are some really wonderful wines coming out of Chile, there is also a lot of drek and I’m hesitant to take a chance. So, Debra did us both a favor (me and Chile). Thank you, Debra!

Vina Los Vascos, owned by parent company Domaines Baron de Rothchilds, is located in a closed valley in the central zone of Chile, approximately 24 miles from the sea, at an elevation of 1,000 feet. The valley provides a perfect microclimate for high quality winemaking. All of the grapes used in their winemaking comes from their own vineyard.

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the grape that made the Los Vascos Estate famous, the color of this wine is a deep ruby red with red berry, cherry, and a bit of bay leaf aromas. Rich, juicy red fruit dominates the flavor with a hint of chocolate and bay. This wine is very drinkable and yet a little complex with a wonderful body, a hint of ripe fruit sweetness. It’s a well-balanced wine, delicious and smooth.

"Wine Enthusiast gave this Cab 89 points and gave it the following praise: "Wines like this helped Colchagua earn its Wine Region of the Year award for 2005. For not much cash you get a ripe, smoky Cabernet with black plum and cassis aromas as well as flavors of raspberry and cherry . Balanced and pure, with some vanilla and oak on the finish.”

If you like delicious but reasonably priced Cabs, you must try Los Vascos! You wont’ be disappointed!

What To Do With Bad Wine

2007-06-05T14:15:00.000-07:00

I blog about wine. I blog about homemade bath and body products. Finally, an opportunity to combine these two passions in this cross-post. You might be wondering where this going. How to connect wine with natural beauty treatments? Well, it’s simple. If you’ve ever tossed wine down the drain because it had turned or was otherwise undrinkable, there is another option — pour it in your bath.

My friend, Kim, laughs every time I’ve mentioned this idea. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because she has two little boys and the idea of taking time for a bath is just absurd. Or maybe she thinks soaking in your wine is absurd. Maybe a little of both. She has a terrific laugh, though, so it’s worth bringing this up now and then. I got the idea from Natural Beauty at Home written by Janice Cox. According to Janice, women in old Europe used to do this on a regular basis. Today both men and women should give this a try. It’s a terrific skin softener and helps return your skin to its normal PH balance.

Personally, I love taking a soak in Vin Aigre (sour wine). It smells wonderful, feels a little decadent, and is good for your skin. About 1 cup per bath is all you need so if you have an entire bottle that’s gone bad, that’s worth about three luxurious, skin-softening baths. And that beats dumping wine down the drain anytime!

Special Note: Since I can’t blog about every wine I drink, (really, I do have other things I like to do), I’ve put “what I’m drinking now” on the sidebar with a simple rating. Good, bad, or indifferent, each wine I drink will get its 15 seconds of fame or infamy.

Cheers!

Make New Friends But Keep The Old

2007-05-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

That song, from my early childhood, came to mind this week when I had a favorite wine that I’ve been drinking for quite a while now and discovered a new wine that I fell in love with. Both were excellent values coming in at $7 a bottle and, interestingly, both were from France. I can just hear my friend and Franco-oenophile, Lisa, say, “Nothing ‘interesting’ about that. They’re well…French!”

My new “friend” is Abel Clément 2006 Cotes du Rhone Rosé, made from a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault. This delightful rosé wine has a light bricky-red color with floral and red fruit aromas. Strawberry and hint of spice bucks up the flavor. This is a bright, cheerful wine perfect for warm weather sipping.

My old friend is Oisly et Thisée Sauvigonon Blanc. Affectionately nicknamed, “Wally” my friends and I have been drinking this now for about 3 years and each vintage has been wonderful. The word that most often comes to mind about this wine is “lovely.” The 2006 vintage is a pale, pale yellow with delicate aromas of peach and fig. These aromas carry through on the palate with a bit of mineral and citrus. The smooth, silky textures coats the mouth with a nice, lingering finish.

For local readers, both the Wally and Abel Clément Cotes du Rhone Rosé are being featured at Haggens in Barkley Square. If you’re not local, keep your eyes open. These are remarkably good wines for the price.

Columbia Crest Grand Estates 2003 Merlot $10

2007-04-26T16:21:00.000-07:00

It is a well-established fact that Merlot is not my favorite wine. But the more I drink it, the more I appreciate it especially as a very food friendly wine. But due to the fact that there’s so much junky Merlot out there, I don’t often buy it unless I’ve tasted it or have received a recommendation from a trusted source. So, when Wine Spectator gave Columbia Crest Grand Estates 2003 Merlot (Columbia Valley, WA) a 90-point Best Value rating, I just had to try it. Say what you want about Wine Spectator, but I’ve never been disappointed with any of their recommendations. At only $10, there also wasn’t much to lose. Plus, I’ve always had a pleasant to downright enjoyable experience with the wines coming out of Columbia Crest.

This wine is a blend of 98% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas include dark fruit, spice, oak, leather, caramel, and a hint of coconut with plumy, spicy, cigar box flavors. The real joy of this wine though is its wonderful structure—firm but not overbearing tannins and acidity—and luxurious mouth feel that is round and seductive. A great sipping wine, this Merlot would also be great with a variety of foods.

As a consistent producer of good, affordable everyday kind of wines, Columbia Crest occasionally produces a wine that breaks away from the pack and turns out to be a real gem. Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot 2003 is just such a wine. With wines like this, it’s no wonder that Washington State is renowned for making world class Merlots. Yum!

As Thoughts Turn to White

2007-04-09T13:57:00.001-07:00

Something strange is occurring here in the Pacific Northwest. There’s an odd golden orb in the sky. Oh yeah, I remember what that is. It’s the sun. After a particularly long, wet, gray winter, spring’s been a little slow in coming in this part of the country. But for the last few days spring has definitely been in the air. It’s been partly sunny to sunny and relatively warm. And, as always when the weather begins to clear up and get warmer, my thoughts turn from red to white. I’ve already changed my wine club subscription from two bottles of red wine to one red and one white and I’m beginning to think that the stash is woefully low on great summer drinking wines.

In anticipation of “white wine” season, I recently opened up a bottle of Castillo de Monjardín 2005 Chardonnay Unoaked “El Cerezo”, Navarra, Spain-$10. Bodega s Castillo de Monjardín lies in the northwest corner of Navarra, in the foothills of the Pyrenées, not far from the French border, which is probably why this wine reminded me so much of a white Burgundy. The estate’s Chardonnay grapes are grown in the limestone and clay soils of the “El Cerezo” (The Cherry Tree) vineyard.

Made from 100% Chardonnay with no malolactic fermentation, this light gold, medium-bodied wine has old world charm. Aromas of mineral and pear, lead to clean, refreshing flavors of mineral and green apple, particularly after it opens. This is a great wine to bring along on a picnic or to serve with seafood.

Cycles Gladiator 2004 Syrah

2007-03-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

Last week was unusually weird for me in terms of pairing wine to food. Because a bottle generally lasts me 4 or 5 days, I try to pick a wine that will go with most of the dishes I make for that time period. But last week, I was all over the board with meals. So I’m downstairs staring at my stash wondering what would go best with spaghetti and meat sauce, chicken biryani, cod, and garlicky chicken pasta with sun dried tomatoes, capers and olives, and bison burgers. A Riesling would have gone nicely with the cod, garlicky pasta, and biryani, but would be kind of sketchy with the spaghetti and bison. An unoaked Chardonnay would have gone wonderfully with the cod and passably with the pasta but again not so with the others. While a hearty red would have gone nicely with the spaghetti and bison, it would have totally overpowered the rest. And so it went. What I finally settled on was a Syrah. I figured it would pair fine with the meat and garlic dishes. I also figured if the wine had a spicy component to it that it might just work for the biryani too. I wasn’t sure about the cod but, hey, four out of five wasn’t bad.

Just to be safe, in case this was a total bust, I went for a very reasonably priced 2004 Cycles Gladiator Syrah from California’s Central Coast—$8. Cycles Gladiator wine brand, owned by Hahn Estates Winery, is surprisingly good for a California Syrah in this price range. Aromas of dusty red berries spice, and oak, are followed by jammy boysenberry and black pepper on the palate. Dark purple in color, this wine was full bodied, had nice, smooth tannins, and an intriguing spicy vanilla finish. It was a deliciously easy to drink wine—one you could sit, sip, and enjoy the sunset with on a late winter’s day.

As far as my pairing adventure, I’m very pleased to say that Cycles paired very well with the spaghetti, garlicky pasta, and bison. It was just spicy enough to hold its own with the biryani too and made for an intriguing pairing with that dish. (However, if I were going to pair wine and biryani for guests who weren’t quite so daring, I’d probably choose a Riesling or maybe even a Gewürztraminer.) I didn’t even mind Cycles with the cod even though a tiny voice in my head kept asking, “Where’s the Chardonnay?”

Villa Tonino Nero D’Avola 2004, Sicily

2007-03-17T14:54:00.000-07:00

Wouldn’t you know it! After admitting (and facing) my issues with reasonably priced Italian wines, I’ve stumbled across another one, I thoroughly enjoy. Is it just sheer coincidence or is there some psychology involved? Whatever the reason, I’m happy to add another one to the plus column. The wine in question is a very reasonably priced Villa Tonino Nero D’Avola 2004 from Sicily ($8-9).

Also known as Calabrese, Nero d'Avola, the “black grape,” is the most popular and important grape grown in Sicily. These wines are not blended. They’re made entirely from the variety. Nero d’Avola wines are dark in color, big in fruit flavors, able to age for quite a few years or ready to drink young. Often compared to Syrah, Nero d’Avola makes a hearty, wine that includes cherry, plum, raspberry, spice, smoke, and oak flavors.

With Villa Tonino, I can easily understand the parallels to Syrah but it’s definitely got its own character. Deep inviting purple in color, it has aromas of vanilla, flowers, spice, and a little oak. On the palate there are flavors of dark plums, vanilla, pepper, and the slightest hint of smoke. It is a well-structured, elegant wine with just enough of a rustic edge to make it both delicious and interesting. It has depth and length on the finish.

I’m beginning to detect pattern here. I seem to enjoy the more robust Italian wines that come from Puglia (Primitivo), Veneto (Allegrini-see last post), and Sicily. So perhaps my Italian wine issues have more to do with style and region than with the entire country itself. With many more Italian regions to explore, I’m hoping to eventually put my issues to rest.

The Wine that Put Italy on the (my) Map: Allegrini Pelazzo Della Torre (Veneto, Italy) 2003

2007-03-08T10:35:00.000-08:00

I’m going to come right out and say that I have issues with reasonably priced Italian wines. I keep hearing how wonderful they are but I’ve had more disappointing wines from Italy than good ones. With the exception of a couple of Primitivos and a Chianti Riserva or two, the Italian wines I’ve tried, including Barbera, Dolcetto d’Alba, and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, have been mediocre or worse. These wines to me have no aroma to speak of, are thin, virtually flavorless, and very acidic.

Then along comes Allegrini Pelazzo Della Torre Allegrini (Veneto, Italy) 2003 $19-another Bottle Barn wine of the month selection. It’s made from a blend of 70 % corvina, 25 % rondinella and 5 % sangiovese. Two-thirds of the grapes are fermented immediately after harvest and the rest are put on racks to dry until the end of December — similar to how Amarone is made.

Its dark purple red color looks inviting as aromas of flowers, vanilla and dark fruit, lead to smooth, rich flavors of dark fruits and raisins. The finish is long and silky. This wine has the depth, flavor, and richness to make it truly spectacular.

While I would dearly love to try some of Italy’s heavier (read: expensive) hitters such as Barolo or Amarone, I’m thrilled to have found a delicious and elegant Italian wine that won’t break the Grape Mash Stash budget.

2004 Domaine de l'Ecu Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie, Expression de Granite (Loire, France)

2007-03-04T15:31:00.000-08:00

Ah! The Loire Valley. The one region in the world where I have yet to discover a wine I don’t like. In fact, I have loved each and every bottle from the light and lovely Sauvignon Blancs and Chenin Blancs, to the earthy and warm Chinons and Saumer Chamapignys made from one of my favorite grapes—Cabernet Franc.

The 2004 Domaine de l'Ecu Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie, Expression de Granite, another Loire Valley wine, is no different. It was a gift from my good friend and fellow oenophile, Lisa, who couldn’t resist the label, “expression de granite.” Given my penchant for that “wet rocks” flavor, she felt this would be a sure hit.

And she was right. Made from 100% Melon de Bourgogne (Muscadet), this straw-colored wine has lemon, pear and soft floral aromas. Its wonderful “wet rock” flavor was well-balanced, rich, and crisp. A long citrusy, mineral finish put this right up there with my favorite whites. This wine would be absolutely fabulous with oysters and a wonderful accompaniment to any seafood. Price ranges between $10-$16.

Feel the Earth Move with Earthquake Petite Sirah 2004 (Lodi)—$19

2007-02-19T09:26:00.000-08:00

Okay, the title is a bit cheesey, but honestly if a Petite Sirah doesn’t rock my world, I’d just as soon pass. Saying that I’m fussy about Petite Sirah is a bit of an understatement. My first introduction to this varietal was a big, rich, awesome, peppery wine from Suncé Winery in the Russian River Valley—the first wine I ever described as “knocking my socks off.” And now, that’s just what I want out of a Petite Sirah.

So, when my Bottle Barn Wine of the Month Club selections arrived for January, I was thrilled to find Earthquake Petite Sirah 2004 (Lodi) from Micheal-David Vineyards in the package and I couldn’t wait to try it. The wine is an inky, near blackish purple. Big, ripe dark berries leave just a hint of sweetness on the tongue with overtones of chocolate and tobacco. A long peppery finish follows. Ample tannins and substantial body make this one enormous and delicious swallow of wine.

This wine not only rocked my world, it also left me with a purple smile. You can’t beat that!

Jiggledy Does Napa—Snoot Free

2007-02-15T14:57:00.000-08:00

I do think we actually made it out of the building before we started laughing about our adventure at Opus One. With that experience in mind, I had no idea what to expect at our next stop, Silver Oak—another top Napa winery—but I was pretty sure the snoot attack was over. And if not, well… it certainly couldn’t be any worse

Whereas Opus One was ostentatious and sterile, Silver Oak was rustic and homey. The crowd here was enormous, spilling out into the parking lot, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. The tasting room/gift shop was large and open, the folks friendly. For $10 we got to taste both of their offerings, a 2002 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and 2002 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon going for $100 and $60 per bottle respectively. The pourer was more than happy to discuss anything about the wines or the winery and it was readily apparent that he, too, was having a good time. I thought their Napa Valley Cab was one of those “to-die-for” wines. Big and rich with a fabulous finish, I could just imagine drinking it with a nice, juicy prime rib. This was so good, in fact, that I momentarily thought of buying a bottle but the price tag was just a bit too steep. Although, with my 50th birthday just a few years down the road…

After we were done tasting at Silver Oak, we turned in our glasses and they gave us a clean, complimentary glasses to take home. And yes, there were even crackers! Just goes to show you. A big, luscious, expensive wine doesn’t have to come along with a lot of pretense...or with any for that matter.

All in all, I enjoyed our Napa experience. I’d do it again for sure, but this time without the stop at you-know-where.

Jiggledy Does Napa—Attack of the Snoots

2007-02-15T14:36:00.000-08:00

Before I go on a complete rant about our next stop, let me just say that I knew well in advance that Opus One would cost $25 for a taste so I did expect a certain level of snootiness. What I didn’t expect was to be brow beaten by it. Pulling into Opus One, we marveled at its modern architecture that is at once very impressive and sophisticated yet seemingly out of place amidst the more bucolic wineries in the area. Beautifully manicured grounds almost sweep you inside. But that’s where the good impression ended.

It wasn’t readily apparent where the tasting room was. There was a sign pointing to the “Partner’s Room” (and yes, if you check the website it says that the Partner’s Room is, in fact, the tasting room but I failed to remember that). So we went to the lobby. A concierge sitting at a desk, reacted to our entrance as if he had just noticed he stepped in something smelly. That should have been our first clue. Dressed in a suit and tie, the man exuded what I can only describe as affected ennui—only as helpful as he had to be. I made the huge faux pas of telling Gary and Cari that Opus One was a collaboration with the Baron Phillipe deRothschild and Robert Mondavi (which it was in the beginning). With a heavy European accent, the concierge informed me, as a professor might address a rather dull student, that the partner was Constellation Brands and not Mondavi. I don’t know about you, but to me having a snoot over the fact that one of partners is an entity that swallows up small wineries right and left is sort of like getting snooty about working at WalMart. Finally, with no little disdain he managed to direct us to the tasting room.

As we walked through the door into a rather barren room, we didn’t even make it to the counter before the pourer with yet another European accent said, “It’s $25 a glass—and you can’t keep the glass!” No “hello.” No “welcome to Opus One.” Actually she barked it as if it was a challenge and my first reaction was to say, “Golleee, Bubba, for $25 we could get enough White Zinfandel to last a month. Let’s go buy us a few boxes!” But I held my tongue. I was sure she wouldn’t have appreciated the humor.

We had decided in advance to share the taste since none of us thought $25 was remotely reasonable for a couple of swallows of wine. But, hey, this was Opus One and the chances were growing exponentially that it would be our only visit. The pourer never cracked a smile as she slapped the glass on the counter and splashed what I would consider to be a decent pour but certainly not a “glass” of their Opus One label. She didn’t talk about the wine or the winery. In fact, she didn’t say anything at all. She turned her back and basically washed her hands of us.

Gary took a sip, made face, and decided to explore the grounds. Cari took a sip and seemed to like it but the $165 price tag made her wince. I took a sip, shrugged, and looked for the crackers which were non-existent. To add insult to injury, Cari tried with little success to find out about their second label, which at $45 was more budget friendly. The pourer said with a fair amount of disgust that they didn’t offer tastes of the second label. It didn’t matter how Cari phrased this question, the pourer either couldn’t or wouldn’t tell us about that wine; she simply stood there and dried some glasses. Just then another Opus One employee came in and informed us that the second label came from grapes they felt “weren’t good enough” to go into their first label. How much snoot can you possibly take before you either scream or give them a raspberry. But again I showed restraint and simply rolled my eyes.

Finally, a woman tasting next to Cari leaned over and softly said that she’d tried the second label and couldn’t tell the difference between the two wines. Cari, who rather liked the wine, decided to give the second label a try. I gave her credit for her patience. I could have loved the wine and wouldn’t have paid a nickel for it at that point. The kicker was, they didn’t deduct even part of the tasting fee from the purchase—and we really didn’t get to keep the glass.

I still can’t say if I was unenthusiastic about the wine because the wine itself was unimpressive or because the snoot factor was so high it was impossible for me to be objective. It would be interesting to taste it blind with a couple of other top Napa Cabs in a different environment. Yeah…that’ll happen…just as soon as Opus One donates a bottle for the cause.

Jiggledy Does Napa—Some Pleasant Surprises

2007-02-15T14:11:00.000-08:00

Visiting Napa Valley has long been on my list of things to do. With family living in Sonoma County and Napa just a tempting hour away, opportunity, as they say, was simply around the corner (or over the ridge). So during a family get-together recently my husband’s son, Gary, his significant other, Cari, and I decided to go. On a sunny, warm, late December day, we made the trek to America’s wine Mecca.

With a lot of word-of-mouth and a little research, I understood that Napa was not going to be Sonoma. I was quite prepared to shell out some major dinero just to taste and I allowed that there might be a certain degree of snootiness.

Imagine my surprise and delight when we stumbled upon Baldacci Vineyards quaint, rustic little place along Hwy 29. Libby, the dog, served as greeter and it seemed the only requisite to tasting here was to give Libby lots of pets. There was no charge to taste, the folks at the winery were charming and patient, and the wine was wonderful. I went home with their IV Four Sons Cab (Stags Leap District), figuring $30 for a tasty Napa Cab was a virtual bargain. The folks at Baldacci recommended that we stop at Regusci winery just down the road. So off we went.

Equally humble and friendly but without a greeting committee, Regusci’s rustic tasting room was much larger and it was $10 to taste. The wine was wonderful. In one of those “I should never say never” moments, I plopped down $40 for a Merlot—which in my wildest of wine dreams, I never thought I’d do. (Read my blog on the “Quest for a Great Merlot.” http://grapemashstash.blogspot.com/2006/01/quest-for-great-merlot-tilting-begins.html) Its rich, smooth, dark fruit with just a hint lavender taste was just too good to pass up. Cari took home their Cab, which was equally as tasty as the Merlot.

Clos du Val was next and had actually been on our “official” list. Their spacious tasting room was homey and friendly. There wasn’t a winery dog in residence but the folks here actively welcomed dogs accompanied by tasters. The tasting fee was $10 for three or four wines. We didn’t really care for any of their wines—the reds being a little too tannic for my taste and the whites unimpressive—but I’m not sorry we stopped.

After Clos du Val, we had an absolutely sumptuous lunch at Mustard’s Grill (reservations highly recommended) on Hwy 29. Gary had the quail. Cari had a citrus salad and tamales. I had the BBQ ribs. Everything was decadently delicious. We ordered a wine flight featuring three reds and the hands-down favorite was Lang & Reed’s Cabernet Franc, Napa. For dessert we shared a to-die-for chocolate hazelnut tort with Jack Daniels ice cream and a piece of lemon meringue pie. Stomachs full, we were now ready to try the two heavy hitters on our list wineries

Two Wine Club Treasures

2006-11-26T12:35:00.000-08:00

Recently, I made the leap and joined a wine club. I’ve been toying with the idea for well over a year now. So as a birthday present to myself this year, I decided to go ahead and do it. (The fact that my husband was going in for his second round of open-heart surgery the day after my birthday was also added incentive to spoil myself.) In early November, I signed up for Bottle Barn’s Red Wine Club. My first two bottles happened to arrive exactly on my birthday and the plan was to enjoy them with my husband’s sons while we waited out the surgery and the hospital stay.

The first bottle was a Norman Vineyards 2004 Zinfandel “The Classic” (Paso Robles). This dark purple wine was creamy, medium-bodied, and very well balanced. Rich blackberry and spice flavors blossomed from the earthy raspberry aroma. It had a long, tasty finish. Easily, the smoothest Zin I’ve ever had, it also a had relatively low alcohol content for Zin (13.9%) so we were able to enjoy a couple of glasses and still get up from the table. We paired it with an extra garlicky Pasta Puttenesca and it was perfect. At $11, this was a fabulous bargain.

After visiting my husband in the hospital and attending a yoga class the following night, we came home and decided to have a light dinner that consisted of “everything” bagels, cheese, apples, and red Jell-O. Bottle Barn described the 2004 Tandem Peloton Red Blend (North Coast) as one of the “most off the wall and flat-out delicious blends” they ever had so we decided it was just the thing to go with our whacky dinner. And, it was the perfect—it even went well with the red Jell-O! Made from Zin, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Carignane, and Sangiovese, this was a big wine and hugely yummy. A dark berry fruit bomb that had the added interest of underlying earth and tobacco notes, with depth, complexity, and a major WOW factor. The Peloton was one of those wines I will not soon forget and probably crave for quite awhile. Like the Norman Zin, it was decently priced at around $20.

I have always been a big fan of Bottle Barn. Their recommendations have always been right on the mark. Their wine club is no exception. If the selections continue to be as good, I will be a very happy girl!

Lucien Albrecht Gewürztraminer Reserve, Alsace 2005

2006-11-12T09:01:00.000-08:00

My first introduction to Gewürztraminer was Fetzer. Although, it was rather cloying in its sweetness, some of the varietal character was still present and I liked it enough to buy more. Then I began to experiment. I grew to thoroughly enjoy Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Gerwürtz with its lychee and fruit cocktail flavors. Still on the sweet side and slightly effervescent, it was step up from Fetzer. Gewürtz began to intrigue me and my experimentation brought on a “what-could-I-have-been-thinking” disaster. In the quest for a drier Gewürtz, I opened the one I’d bought at an Idaho winery when I visited there. At the time I’d thought it was interesting. But “interesting,” I soon learned, does not necessarily mean good. I dumped the bottle after the first glass. After this experience, a friend who’s in the know said, “I have one word for you: Alsace!” (France)

I found two Alsatian Gewürztraminers at a local grocery store—Trimbach and Lucien Albrecht. (I’m very fortunate. Our grocery stores have large wine sections with a wide variety of wines.) I snapped them up and recently opened the Lucien Albrecht Gewürztraminer Reserve, Alsace 2005 ($17).

In a word, “WOW”! Aromas of honey and roses, give way to succulent flavors of pineapple, roses, and spice with a dash of honey. The wine was fairly dry and quite refreshing. But what knocked my socks off about this wine were its body, texture, and finish. Lush and round in the mouth, its creamy, satiny texture was almost decadent and the finish was exquisitely long and a little spicy.

After days of being positively effusive about this wine my husband noted that it was three times the cost of my previous Gewürtz’s and he asked me if I thought Lucien Albrecht was three times better. My answer was a quick and unequivocal “Yes!” It was so far above and beyond any other Gewurtz I’ve tried, that for the few times a year I feel for a Gewürtz, I would splurge on this one every time.

Cantele Primitivo 2003

2006-10-25T12:20:00.000-07:00

I don’t know exactly what it is about Primitivos that always makes me think of them as a “fun.” Maybe it’s the way Primitivo goes so well with simple and pleasurable food (pizza for instance) or perhaps it’s just the name, which denotes something innate or primal. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoy them.

Grown in the Puglia region of Italy (think heel of the boot), Primitivo is closely related to (if not the same grape as) Zinfandel. And while there are some similarities, Primitivo is definitely an old-world style wine and not nearly as fruit-driven as Zin.

When I opened the bottle of Cantele, the aroma brought me back to my great uncle’s basement in Seattle where he made wine, including Zinfandel. There was a deep, rich earthy quality to the fragrance that had my taste buds quivering in anticipation. Deep red-purple in color, the wine tasted of dark fruit, earth, violets and the slightest bit of coffee. Medium bodied with a velvety texture, it finished with a rustic warmth.

If you’re into rating, Wine Enthusiast gave this a 90 and Wine and Spirits calls it an “amazing bargain” and “rich and powerful stuff.” For right around $10 a bottle, you can’t go wrong.

A Nice Surprise North of the Border

2006-09-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

Tucked in on a side street just off the inner harbor of Victoria, British Columbia, sits Lucianos Italian Restaurant & Lounge. Selected at random after a wonderful but exhausting day of walking through Butchart Gardens and exploring the old-world, European-styled downtown area, Lucianos turned out to be a remarkable find. It was here that I had my first taste of Canadian wine.

Ravenous from the day’s activities, I quickly decided on seafood linguini in a red sauce. Then I took a serious look at their “by the glass” wine list. One wine in particular caught my eye: Kettle Valley Brakeman’s Select Pinot Noir/Merlot blend. I love Pinot Noirs when they’re good and I’m developing a healthy respect for some Merlots, but I just wasn’t sure about the two together in a blend. So I closed the wine list and asked the waitress what she would suggest to pair with my meal. For a white, she suggested a Canadian Gewürztraminer, but I wasn’t really in the mood for that, having just had a bottle at home. For the red, she recommended—you guessed it—the Pinot Noir/Merlot blend. Still a little skeptical, I decided to go for it anyway.

This dark purple-red wine arrived in a small carafe—a very healthy pour for a restaurant. After swirling and sniffing a bit, catching some promising aromas of red fruit, earth, and licorice, I took a sip. Wow! The wine was bone dry, with the silkiness I’ve come to expect from a nice Pinot. Flavors lived up to the aromas, with some added spice and crisp acidity. The finish was long and peppery. When my dinner arrived I got to enjoy this wine all over again as it perfectly complemented the mildly spicy sauce and sweetness of the mussels, clams, calamari, and shrimp. Like Victoria itself, the wine had an old-world feel and was a delightful surprise as well.

Hugues Beaulieu Picpoul de Pinet Coteaux de Languedoc 2005

2006-08-26T09:47:00.000-07:00

The last time I was this excited about a white wine was last November when I had my first taste of a Premier Cru Chablis. This time, the wine hails from the Languedoc area of France (near the Mediterranean coast) and is a bit gentler on my pocket book at around $9 per bottle.

The Picpoul Blanc is a grape I never heard of before. Picpoul (pronounced “peek-pool”) de Pinet (a village near where the wine is crafted) is as much fun to say as it is to drink.

Classic Picpoul de Pinet aromas are lime, smoke, honeysuckle and white flowers with flavors that include minerals, melon, lemon, lime and/or grapefruit. It tends to be a medium-bodied wine with a dense mouth-feel. While you could serve this with just about any great “white wine” meal, it truly shines with seafood and shellfish.

The Picpoul de Pinet from Hugues Bealieu is made from 100% Picpoul grapes. It has a pale yellow/green color with floral, mineral, citrus, and upon warming, slight hints of peach aromas. Lip-smacking flavors of zingy lime and minerals are well balanced with stimulating acidity. Nice body and lengthy finish follows. This wine is crisp and dry, reminding me of a Sauvignon Blanc but edgier. Although delightfully refreshing served well chilled, I preferred it a bit warmer.

Once again, a French white wine has rocked my world. Picpoul de Pinet is a gem among whites. So run, don’t walk to your favorite wine store and give this a try.

Le Grand Noir 2003, France

2006-08-21T10:33:00.000-07:00

This was one of those wine acquisitions based solely on the label that pictures a funky black sheep. Add to the fact that the wine hales from France, and both the fiber artist and French wine lover in me just couldn’t resist. For those who’s French is as rudimentary as mine, you might think that Le Grand Noir means, “black night.” Au contraire, it appears that it can also mean, and in this case does (pay careful attention to the label, the translation is right there), “black sheep.” Oh well, c’est la vie.

This is a 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Shiraz blend with a Vin de Pays d’Oc designation. Unlike the Appellation d'Origine Controlee (AOC) which is the top of the line and applies to French wines from precisely specified regions, and with the most rigid controls, specified by the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine (INAO), Vin De Pays D’oc is a high class table wine, from a particular region of France and with a specific vintage. It literally means “wine of the country.” This designation is controlled primarily for the source of the grapes, for the amount that can be produced per acre. Phew!

The wine is a deep purple-black color with classic aromas of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz—dark fruits and spice. A hint of fruit and oak accompany dominating flavors of black pepper and spice. The body wasn’t has hefty as I would like but it finished nicely. Just imagine combining a decent Cab with a nice Shiraz and you’ll get the idea.

This was a perfectly nice, food-friendly wine for around $9.

Sawtooth Muscat Blanc 2004

2006-08-14T16:33:00.000-07:00

The windswept, high mountain desert vineyard in Idaho’s Treasure Valley (think Boise) may seem like the most unlikely place to be producing quality wines. Just one look from the hilltop where Sawtooth Winery is located and you just might believe that you have landed on the moon. That is, until you scan across the barren landscape (dotted with sagebrush) and see the mountains looming in the distance. Hot, arid summers and cold, dry winters are the norm and there never seems to be an abundance of rain. But quoting Sawtooth’s website,

“The unique combination of geography, climate and soils found in Idaho's vineyards can produce grapes with outstanding varietal character. High vineyard elevations, extra long hours of daylight during grape ripening, cool nights, volcanic ash soils, and ungrafted vines all contribute to producing grapes with concentrated flavors and naturally high acidity.”

I certainly can’t argue with that statement when it comes to Idaho’s white wines. Many are quite delightful, including Sawtooth Winery’s Muscat Blanc 2004.

This wine is sweet. Unless we’re talking Sauternes or Port, sweet isn’t generally my cup of tea (or more aptly stated, my sip o’ mash). However, I found myself truly enjoying the Muscat Blanc.

In the glass, the color is a very pale yellow, like the tips of hay right before it is harvested. The wine has wonderful floral and fruity aromas and when served nicely chilled (about one hour in the ‘fridge), the flavor is a dead ringer for yellow grapefruit with a bit of sugar sprinkled on top. The sweetness is balanced by a generous amount of acidity and the finish is long enough to count. I found that I enjoyed this wine most with extra spicy dishes but it would certainly serve as a wonderful dessert wine as well.

While the 2004 vintage is sold out, 2005 is currently available. Since it’s only sold at the winery, you won’t find it listed on their website. But you can call the winery and order it. And, if you ever find yourself in the Boise area, take some time to visit Sawtooth and other area wineries. I think you’ll find it worth the effort.

Domaine de la Janasse Cotes du Rhone Villages — A little Autumn in Summer

2006-08-02T09:36:00.000-07:00

Cotes due Rhone is a very image-evoking wine for me—more so, actually than almost any other wine except perhaps a Cab Franc. One sip and I begin to think of a forest floor carpeted with fallen leaves, a good book by a mellow fire, a hot bath on a chilly, autumn day, stone hearths, and drizzly mornings. So, after a few sizzling hot days when some very Fall-like weather moved in, I couldn’t wait to pull a bottle of CdR out of the stash.

The chosen bottle, a 2003 Domaine de la Janasse Terre d'Argile Côtes du Rhône Villages ($16-$19), was given to me by my youngest stepson, another wine enthusiast. He chose well. Made from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignane, and Cinsaut, this wine had great CdR aromas of fruit, earth, and herbs. Deep flavors of dark fruit, wood, earth, and herbs—thyme, lavender, and rosemary came to mind—finished long and rich. Domaine de la Janasse is a bit fruitier than most CdRs I’ve had and the first pour was a little hot, but that mellowed the next day and it has been simply wonderful.

It looks like this cooler weather will last about as long as it will take me to finish off the bottle. And then, according to the weather forecast, it’s back to summer wines for a while. No complaints. I love having a little autumn in the middle of summer.

Guenoc Petite Sirah & Ribs—a Sizzling Match for Summer

2006-07-28T17:02:00.000-07:00

Once or twice each summer, (and usually we unintentionally pick the hottest days of the year) we make Memphis-style dry rub baby back ribs. After cooking for 5 hours or more, these ribs come out juicy, spicy, and so darn good it’s hard to match anything with it including the wine. So when we make the ribs, we opt for a simple green salad to accompany it. The salad is innocuous and doesn’t compete. As for wine, the ribs demand something that not only can stand up to the big flavor but compliment it as well. My favorite wine match to this dish has generally been a big, bold Petite Sirah.

This weekend we invited friends over to share some ribs and they brought a perfect bottle—Guenoc Petite Sirah 2004, California. Don’t ask me how you pronounce it. My friend pronounces it “gooey knock” and I’m more inclined towards “gay-no” but we’re both probably wrong. Nonetheless, this dark, purplish-red wine was as big and juicy as the ribs. It had bold but uncomplicated blackberry and plumy flavors with a bit of vanilla, spice, and oak. But what really makes this wine special is its long, smooth finish and its ability to hold its own with the ribs. No dish-to-wine intimidation at all.

No matter how you pronounce it, this is a very nice wine whether you drink it with ribs, or sip it on its own.

Color Me Awesome — Muga Rioja Rosé 2004

2006-07-18T12:09:00.000-07:00

I haven’t shopped for wine in awhile, mostly because I already have 52 bottles in the Grape Mash Stash. Considering that I’m the only one drinking the stuff and it takes me a few days to get through a bottle, that’s enough wine to last me for about a year. Well, maybe not quite a year, if I take into account bringing a bottle or two to a friend’s house for dinner or on the rare occasion when a dinner guest in my home doesn’t bring a bottle and I pull something out of the stash. But 52 bottles for one person is still a lot.

But it’s summer and I don’t keep a lot of “summer” wines in the stash. This week as it happened, my husband treated me to a little wine-shopping spree. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular just something summery, new, and/or different. One of the wines that have been catching my eye lately is Muga Rioja Rosé (Spain). (Hey, just because I haven’t been buying wine lately doesn’t mean I haven’t looked!) And the sole reason it had perked my interest is because of it’s lovely and unusual coral color. Sure, I like Riojas but I’m not that well versed in rosés so I figured buying for the color was as good a reason as any. So, along with a couple of French wines and a favorite Viognier, the Muga went home with me.

As I mentioned this wine reminds me of the coral-orange-red color of a ripe peach. Made from 60% Garnacha, 30% Viura and 10% Tempranillo, it has a delicate peachy aroma with berry, yellow peach, and mineral flavors. It’s crisp, clean, juicy, and dry—a completely refreshing sip o’ mash. Upon my first taste, I declared the wine to be “awesome”—a designation that tops the list of my wine descriptors.

At just under $10, Muga will definitely be a returning summer resident in the Grape Mash Stash.

Good Wine and Simple Meals

2006-05-28T09:52:00.000-07:00

Fourteen weeks into my weight-losing, cholesterol-lowering, only-one glass of-wine-wine-per-day, healthier lifestyle and I’m feeling wonderful. I’ve lost 8 lbs, have more energy, and am loving life. The thing of it is, I don’t feel as though I’m sacrificing or deprived. Yeah, I’d still like to be able to have more wine more often but what the heck? I do on occasion have that second glass of wine just like, on occasion, I have that pastry with almond paste, or that skirt steak rolled up with blue cheese and oil-cured, sun-dried tomatoes. I gotta splurge once in awhile.

But overall, I’m happiest and feel better when I’m making healthy choices. Over the past several weeks, I’ve leaned-down some of my more fattening favorites, and have discovered that fabulous food doesn’t have to be laden with fat and calories. And while I still love to cook and make more elaborate (but healthy!) meals, I’ve also discovered the culinary magic of just simple, unadorned food. And, with the right wine, the plainest meal can be transposed into something truly spectacular.

During a recent trip to the grocery store, I picked up fresh California corn on the cob, locally grown Washington asparagus, and Alaskan Copper River Salmon. (If you’ve never had Copper River Salmon, think of it as the Chateaux Margaux of salmon—it’s that superior to other salmon.) What could be simpler? Get a pot of water boiling for the corn, season the salmon with a bit of Meyer lemon olive oil, garlic, and crushed red pepper, plop it under the broiler, and steam the asparagus. In 10 minutes, a great meal is ready. (Ya hear that, Rachel, ten minutes!) It doesn’t get much healthier or simpler than that. But wait, then add a lovely bottle of red Burgundy, and a great, good-for-you meal rockets off the charts.

The Burgundy in this case was 2003 Bouchard Pere et Fils Bourgogne Rouge, France ($15)—100% Pinot Noir and 100% delicious. The wine with its red fruit and earth aromas and flavors of dried cherries, spice, and minerals encompassed in a firm tannin structure with balanced acidity is a perfect pairing with the salmon.

I love complicated, elaborate food but sometimes, trite though it is to say, simple pleasures are indeed the best — especially with a good bottle of wine.

Two Shining Examples of Washington Cab Franc

2006-05-23T08:18:00.000-07:00

The half dozen of you who read my blog know that I’m a big Cab Franc fan. That earthy (or as I like to describe it, “barnyard”), slightly floral aroma will bring me to the table every time. Recently, I’ve had two terrific Cab Francs from here in Washington State.

Zerba Cellars Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley, 2003 $28 — Friends of mine, who know my love for everything Cab Franc, served this to me at a dinner a couple of weeks ago. In a word, “Fabulous!” Besides that wonderful “barnyard” thing going on, it had rich dark fruits with a touch Mexican chocolate and poblano pepper (and no, that’s not a bad thing), and a hint of licorice surrounded by a smooth, almost silky body and long finish.

Barrister Winery Cabernet Franc 2003, Columbia Valley, $24 — This wonderful wine is 88% Cabernet Franc and is blended with Cabernet Sauvignon. Generally speaking, awards don’t mean a lot to me but I did pick this up, in part (the other part being it was the only “affordable Cab Franc in the wine shop), because it won Best Of Show, Best Wine Of Washington, Best Red Wine, and a Gold Medal at the 2005 Northwest Wine Summit. I can see why. Aromas and flavors of black cherry and strawberry with hints of vanilla, and spice. The barnyard element is a bit softer with this one, but still present. It, too, has a smooth body and long lingering finish.

If you don’t already know, Washington sits on the same latitude as Bordeaux, France and produces some excellent Bordeaux-style reds and red blends. And these two Cab Francs are both stellar examples.

Vive La Difference

2006-05-06T15:46:00.000-07:00

There’s an interesting broo-ha-ha emerging in the wine world—one I’ve been following with some interest. It’s sort of the French vs. California and it started back in 1976 with a seemingly insignificant wine tasting that ended up rocking the wine world and putting California wines on the map. The tasting put California Cabs and Chardonnays up against French Bordeaux and White Burgundy. The tasters were all French. At the end of the day the tasters declared the victors and all were convinced that they had picked two French wines. Au contraire, the winners were a Napa, California Cab and a Napa, California Chardonnay. Needless to say the Americans were thrilled and the French slightly less so.

Fast forward 40 years and the French want a redo except they don’t want the tasting to be blind. They want it held sort of blind—where the tasters will know what regions they taste but not the specific wine. Ummm, I don’t know about you but this doesn’t exactly add up to a redo and I don’t see the point if the tastings aren’t held blind. To be fair, the Americans aren’t exactly knocking down the doors to have their wines involved—seems no one wants to come in last.

I was pondering all of this while I was drinking a Beaujolais-Villages from Labourie Roi, Saint Armand—wonderful cherry flavor with leather and earth—knowing that there was nothing quite like Beaujolais. I had to wonder then about this upcoming tasting and what the French were so afraid of. They produce wonderful wines that are generally distinctive and original.

I also had to ask myself why it would be necessary to hold this tasting at all? Just from my own perspective as an avid wine consumer, do I care if a California wine bests a French wine? The answer is no simply because to me, it’s like comparing a croissant with a bagel. If I’m in the mood for a bagel, the croissant simply won’t do and visa versa.

I love French wines. I love California wines. I love wines from Washington state, Australia, South Africa…well you get the idea. And the great thing about it is they all have their own style, their own flare, and their own niche in the world. As I was savoring the last drop of my lovely Beaujolais, I thought how sad it would be if the wines of the world were indistinguishable from one another. Forget the croissant and the bagel and just give me a loaf of Wonder Bread.

Calina Reserva Carmenere 2003 (Valle Del Maule, Chile)

2006-05-03T14:27:00.000-07:00

At a time when my dearly beloved bargain wines are no longer such a bargain, it’s nice to stumble across something new and different and a bargain to boot.
Calina Reserva Carmenere 2003 (Valle Del Maule, Chile) fits the bill perfectly. At around $7 a bottle, this wine is surprisingly tasty. My first Carmenere, it reminded me a bit of a rustic Tempranillo. Nothing elegant or terribly complex just a good, solid, everyday sort of wine—the kind you break out for burgers on the grill or pizza.

Carmenere is actually one of six varieties that are allowed for use in making red wines in Bordeaux. It is renowned as a good blending grape. But you probably won’t find it growing in Bordeaux anymore due to ripening issues.

The grape was imported to Chile in 1850 and was mistaken for Merlot and continues to often be mislabeled in Chile as Merlot. In fact, Carmenere and Merlot were planted higgledy piggledy amongst each other. Once the vines were analyzed and separated, the Chileans began to think of Carmenere as their grape. And the marketing was on.

Calina Reserva is a deep purple with bright aromas full of dark plums, and blackberries with a subtle trace of smoky oak. On the palate, flavors of dark fruits and berries are combined with silky tannins, firm body, and a touch of oak, smoke, and spice. A pleasant, medium-length finish follows.

Many malign Carmenere and think its use outside of blending isn’t worth the effort. The wines tend to be soft and mellow without the aging power of some of the more powerful reds. But the Chileans deserve some credit. They found that Carmenere wines had low tannins and big, bright blackberry fruit making it a pleasure to drink and an ideal match for a range of foods. And they’re right.

Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumer Champigny 2004

2006-04-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

Whenever someone asks me what my favorite French wines are, I seem to always immediately answer, “anything from the Loire.” From Sauvignon Blanc to Cabernet Franc, I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every bottle of Loire wine I’ve tried. The same is true for my most recent venture into Saumer Champigny appellation of the Loire with Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumer Champigny 2004.

Winemaker Thierry Germain produces a wonderful wine out of 100% Cabernet Franc from low-yielding old vines. Hailing from a long line of Bordeaux winemakers, Germain established himself in the Loire Valley around a decade ago. Shortly after moving to the Loire, Germain began growing his vines biodynamically to keep the vines and soil as healthy as possible. With one sip of this wine you’ll be able to taste the care he takes at every step of the winemaking process. The harvest is done manually, vinification is done in small batches, and bottlings are unfiltered.

The wine has rich purple color with lusty dark berry and earthy tobacco aromas that make your mouth water. A lingering, luxurious, and sweet finish follows hearty blackberry flavors with tobacco, toast, mineral, and earth. Wine Spectator gave this a 91 rating and ranked it #67 in their Top 100 wines for 2005.

More substantial than a Chinon—another Loire appellation where Cabernet Franc is the primary grape in red wines—this wine captures everything I love about French reds in general and Cab Franc in particular. For the $13 price tag, I should have about a case in the stash.

Selbach Dry Riesling 2004

2006-04-11T13:08:00.000-07:00

Riesling is a wonderful white wine that deserves more attention than it gets. I think part of reason for its lack of attention is that some Rieslings are honey sweet, which is fine for a dessert wine but not necessarily great with entrees. Although there are a couple of off-dry Rieslings that I dearly love, I have to say that I’m particularly enamored of dry Rieslings which have very little residual sugar and give the impression of a dry wine. Since meals here at home consist of a lot of garlic and spice with lighter meats, I like a dry Riesling because it holds up exceptionally well against those strong, intense flavors.

This week, I tried Selbach’s Dry Riesling 2004 which sells for around $9-$10. This pale, straw yellow wine is wonderfully refreshing, crisp, and clean. Aromas of apple and citrus are mellow, but the tart flavors of green, Granny Smith-type apples and lemon, explode in your mouth. Bright acidity and a medium-length, spicy finish make this a wonderful wine to serve with your lighter and/or spicier dishes, fish, or garden salads.

This Riesling is a great addition to anyone’s cellar—or stash, whatever you call your own collection. Try it sometime this summer when your want to reach for that Sauvignon Blanc. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Idaho Wines—No Small Potatoes

2006-04-06T15:20:00.000-07:00

When you think of Idaho, if you do at all, you probably think of it as the potato state. But believe it or not, it’s also coming on as wine growing region. In fact, Idaho was one of the first states in the Pacific Northwest to have wineries, the first one being established there in 1870. After Prohibition, Idaho would have to wait until the 1970s before another winery would sprout up. Today, 18 wineries grace the landscape—most located in and around Boise in the southwest corner of the state known as the Treasure Valley.

I lived in Boise for about 12 years. Back then, there wasn’t much to the city and I eventually left. Because I promised my Mom I wouldn’t “dis” Idaho too badly, let’s just say that Idaho and I weren’t a good fit and leave it at that. So, with some formidable attitudes about Idaho in general, and its wine in particular, I went back recently to visit my family. One of the planned activities was to do a bit of wine tasting. I have to admit that while my ‘tude about Idaho is still basically intact (sorry Mom), my opinions about the wines is not. I had some very pleasant surprises.

“It’s a wine kind of day” is the motto of the first winery on our little tour. The Winery at Eagle Knoll, is located in the dusty hills near Eagle, Idaho, just outside of Boise. This was a great little place with beautiful landscaping. The woman pouring the wine was friendly and enthusiastic. We got to taste four reds and four whites at the tasting bar and also were able to enjoy a meat and cheese tray. (They smoke their own meats on site and sell both the meats and the cheese.) Although they had an interesting Chianti-style Sangiovese that caught my attention, I was most excited about the whites. My personal favorite was an absolutely perfectly dry Gewürztraminer that tasted of rose petals. They also had a nice Chardonnay and an interesting white/red blend, called Pinot-Pinot — a sweetish blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc. I’m not generally fond of sweet reds but this was really good. I went home with a four pack — a Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer (I bet I’ll wish I’d bought more than one bottle), and two Pinot-Pinots (one for me and one to share with my family—their favorite).

Somewhere out in the middle of nowhere, we landed at the estate vineyard of Sawtooth Winery. Surrounded by the dusty plains and acres of vineyards, I felt as though we were miles away from civilization. For all I could tell, we might as well have been on Mars. It was so bleak and tremendously windy that day, I felt kind of sorry for the gal pouring the wine. It didn’t look as though she was too busy. Most of the whites here were okay, but the reds needed some work, I thought. One white really intrigued me though, the Muscat Blanc, which could easily serve as a dessert wine. Floral, dried fruits, citrus, and unique, this found it’s way into my hands as I left.

Closer to civilization is Ste. Chappelle, perhaps Idaho’s most renowned winery. Located atop a sandy, windblown hill, Ste. Chappelle is picturesque if not a bit commercial. They host weddings, have a huge gift shop, well you get the picture. I skipped the reds entirely in the tasting room and stuck to the whites. Famous for their Rieslings, I was intrigued by their Dry Riesling and their Sparkling Riesling and ended up taking home the Dry Riesling for a very budget friendly $7.

Overall, I was rather surprised by the quality of Idaho wines, the whites in particular. Sonoma or Napa have nothing to worry about, but Idaho made a respectable showing. What was disappointing though is that while Idaho is known for its great late harvest and ice wines, none of the wineries we visited were pouring those. Ah well. I shared two bottles with my family and came home with four more so all was not lost.

Naiades Verdejo 2003, Rueda, Spain

2006-03-18T07:26:00.000-08:00

I don’t know why exactly, but whenever I have a really good white wine I’m always surprised. Maybe it harkens back to the days in my early 20s when I used to drink a jug wine that called itself Chablis. I can’t tell you now why I drank that swill but it probably had something to do with the price and the fact that I didn’t know any better. Or, maybe it’s because I’m a big red wine lover at heart. Regardless, I find that I thoroughly enjoy a good white wine now and then.

Recently I opened a bottle of Naiades Verdejo — a limited-production, barrel fermented wine that comes from ungrafted, 80-100 year old vines. The vineyards are located in the town of La Seca, Spain, and the locals will tell you that La Seca is the “grand cru” village Rueda. Rueda is a huge wine producing area in Spain, located northwest of Madrid, and they’ve been making wine there commercially since the 11th century. So they have some idea of what they’re doing.

Produced from 100% Verdejo grapes — the same grapes Sherry is made from — Naiades was advertised as being reminiscent of a Grand Cru Chablis, which of course comes from a completely different grape, Chardonnay. Admittedly, I’ve never had Grand Cru Chablis, but I have had a Premier Cru or two and thought if it’s that good, it’s worth try. Although I found nothing similar in taste between Naiades and Premier Cru Chablis, its style, body, and texture, were very similar.

Pale gold in color this marvelous white had peachy/mango aromas with a hint of citrus. The rich flavor echoed the aromas with peach, mango, lemon and some melon. A finish of toasty vanilla rounded the flavors out nicely. Light in body and delicate in texture, Naiades was smooth as silk. If I could sum up this wine in one word, it would be “balanced.”

The price tag was a bit steep for this bargain-hunting, red wine loving girl but at $25 (around $21 online), I thought it was worth every cent.

Wine and Health—My Take

2006-03-04T12:05:00.000-08:00

By now any wine drinker worth their salt has heard of the French Paradox—the idea that even thought the French diet is loaded with rich, buttery, creamy, cholesterol-laden foods, the French have very low death rates from cardiovascular disease when compared to people in America. Why? The thought, supported by several studies, is that moderate drinking of wine, particularly red wine, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and the French are very much moderate consumers of wine. They consider wine to be food. Most Americans on the other hand consider wine to be a part of the ‘cocktail hour’. And while Americans drink milk, soda, iced tea, or coffee with their meals, the French in particular, and Europeans in general, drink wine or water.

The French Paradox is nothing new and I knew that drinking wine was good for me. But when my cholesterol numbers came back higher than they have ever been. I was dazed, stunned, and a bit confused. You see, I get regular exercise, eat a very healthy diet, and of course, drink red wine, Now, I should explain that while my numbers were higher, they weren’t that much over where they should be so this wasn’t a catastrophe. But I knew that I had to get it under control before it became one. My doctor suggested that I lose 10-15 lbs, really watch my diet (i.e., consume less than 200mg of cholesterol daily), and see if I couldn’t bring the numbers down.

So, I got down to business. I had toyed with the idea of losing some weight anyway, and this was a darn good reason to do it. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to lose some weight since I am cursed with the metabolism of an alligator so I decided to go back to the basics—counting calories. I installed a diet program on my computer that calculates every aspect of nutrition you can imagine, including calories, cholesterol, vitamins, percentage of fat, protein, carbs, well you get the idea. I like toys and gadgets so this was a perfect place for me to start.

Then I did a little research on wine and diet, particulary wine, women, and diet. What I learned was that “moderate” consumption was a little different than what I had originally thought. I considered myself — with my one glass of wine a night with dinner — a moderate drinker. Sadly, what I considered moderate and what really is moderate didn’t exactly jive. And what is moderate alcohol consumption for men isn’t exactly the same for women (sorry gals, equal rights doesn’t extend to our health issues). Moderate consumption for men is 1-2 drinks a day; for women, it’s one drink a day—and that one drink a day is equal to 5 ounces of wine. Yikes! Considering that I thought of a glass of wine as being about 6-8 ounces, this was kind of a surprise and honestly, a bit of a momentary let down. Then I learned that there are about 106 calories in 5 ounces of red wine (a little less for white wine). That’s about 20 calories per ounce and when you’re counting, that’s important. In addition, we metabolize alcohol exactly like we do fat.

So what does all this mean? Well it doesn’t mean I’m giving up my wine anytime soon, but it does mean that while wine is healthy, having too much of it isn’t. So, armed with all of this information, I’ve embarked on my new weight loss adventure. I’m counting calories. I’m squeezing a bit more exercise into my life. I’ve cut back my wine consumption to 5 ounces a day. Some of my friends who understand my passion for wine feel a bit sorry for me and are worried that I might feel deprived. But I can honestly say nothing could be further from the truth. Do I wish I had a different metabolism. You bet. Wouldn’t it be great if I could drink all the wine I wanted without consequences? Yessirreee. Does that change reality? Absolutely not. And even if I didn’t feel this way, something the actress, Kate Jackson said on “Larry King Live” during a show about women and heart disease has stuck in my mind and has become something of a mantra with me. “You don’t have to like it, you just have to do it.”

The bottom line is, wine in moderation is healthy. But you have to know what “moderation” means. Do I enjoy my wine any less at 5 ounces a day than at 8? No way! In fact, I seem to enjoy it more because I savor each and every sip.

Pairing Wine with Food — A Place to Start

2006-02-24T13:53:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine recently asked for some advice on pairing wine with food. She said it was always a bit of a dilemma to decide which wine to serve with which food. In particular she wanted to know what wine would go with chicken and her homemade barbecue sauce. Choosing a wine to go with a specific meal confounds a lot of people but it doesn’t have to be difficult. At the very least, one can always serve what one likes and not worry about it. But most of us who truly enjoy wine do worry about it — or at least think about it to some degree.

Since I am the only one who drinks good wine in my house (my husband only drinks Sangria jug wine, despite all my efforts to get him to move up and on to something a bit more, well, sophisticated), I often don’t have the luxury of fitting every night’s dinner with my wine because one bottle will last 4 or 5 days. And, although we very seldom eat red meat, I just love big red wines. However, I do enjoy the process of matching wine to food and if I can’t always manage it for every day dinners, I do pay particular attention to it when entertaining.

There are probably as many opinions on pairing food with wine as there are wine drinkers, but there are some basic guidelines anyone can follow.

Pair light-bodied wines with lighter food and fuller-bodied wines with heartier, more flavorful, richer and fattier dishes. White wines from lightest to fullest bodied are: Riesling, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Fumé Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Sémillon, Viognier and Chardonnay. So you might want to serve a Sauvignon Blanc with a grilled Chicken Salad and an American Chardonnay or French Chablis with a rich Crab Alfredo.

Red wines from lightest to fullest-bodied are: Gamay, Lemberger, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Côtes du Rhone, Syrah/Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. A classic match up — and one I particularly enjoy — is Pinot Noir and salmon. But in the case of my friend trying to match up wine with barbecue sauce, she could choose a Côtes du Rhone, Syrah/Shiraz, or a Zinfandel.

Choose delicate wines to pair with delicately flavored foods — those that are poached or steamed. For example, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, or even a light Rosé pair up well with salads, vegetables, fish, and lemon-based sauces. Earthy, heartier foods (such as poultry or pork) that are roasted, baked or sautéed go well with Chardonnay, Viognier, Pinot Noir, or Merlot. And for meaty, spicy foods that are grilled or braised, think Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah/Shiraz, or Zinfandel.

You can also pair opposites. I love a nice Riesling with Thai food or a light but garlicky pasta, and for one of my own very spicy dishes, a habeñero, pork-based chili, nothing else matches as well as a Gewurztraminer.

A very fun thing to do is to think regionally. Pair French wines with French foods, Spanish wines with Spanish foods, Italian with Italian, etc. During the winter I often make pork tenderloin with roasted root vegetables that feature Herbes du Provence. A nice Chinon or Saumur Champigny go great with this dish. Both wines are Cab Franc based, medium bodied wine that pair well with the earthy quality of the roasted veggies.

Some other favorite food and wine pairings of mine are:
Champagne and Sparklers: Sushi, smoked oysters/clams, goat cheese.
Sauvignon Blanc: Chicken Piccata.
Riesling: Spicy Shrimp Creole.
American Chardonnay: Shrimp Scampi.
Chablis: White clam sauce with spaghetti, oysters on the half shell.
Chianti: Spaghetti with Bolognese sauce.
Syrah/Shiraz or Petite Sirah: Pork Ribs with a Memphis-style rub.
Cabernet Franc: Elk steak.
Cabernet Sauvignon: Buffalo steak.

Food and wine definitely play off one another. The right wine with the right food can certainly heighten the enjoyment of both but I don’t advocate stressing out over it. There’s a lot of information on this subject on the web and in numerous books. When in doubt, or when it really matters, look it up. Otherwise, drink what you like and enjoy.

Château de Ségriès Côtes du Rhône $11

2006-02-17T09:13:00.000-08:00

Last week, I wrote about Goats Do Roam, a big red wine from South Africa whose name is a cute twist on the legendary Côtes du Rhône wine region in France. As I mentioned, France got a little testy about the name play and sued to keep Goats Do Roam from registering its trademark here in the U.S. The thinking behind the lawsuit was that Americans might confuse Goats Do Roam with a Côtes du Rhône. Aside from the fact that this appears to be a little condescending and slightly insulting, I just can’t imagine anyone buying a “Goats” thinking that it was actually a “Côtes.” In fact, when I bought my first Goats Do Roam, I didn’t even catch the play on words right away. I bought the wine because it had a Goat on the label. (Goats, chickens—I guess we all have our shtick.) Once I did get it, I thought it was absolutely hysterical, but I never even considered that the two wines would be similar. The entire brouhaha seems kind of silly because comparing the two is like comparing, well, apples to oranges. So, I thought I’d review a true Côtes du Rhône this week to point out the contrasts.

The Côtes du Rhône region of France stretches 125 miles from just south of Lyon to just south of Avignon along the Rhone River. It was the first area in France to begin producing wines. And it’s here in the stony, granite soil where famous wines such as Côte Rôtie and Châteauneuf du Pape are made. The Côtes du Rhône appellation itself is huge and has about 10,000 wine growers, producing mostly red wines but some white wines also hail from this area. The red wines are generally light to medium fruity and have flavors of dark cherries, violets, leather and tobacco just to name a few.

Château de Ségriès is located in Lirac, France in the southern Rhone region where the Mediterranean weather produces mild winters and hot summers. Chateau de Ségriès has been owned and operated by Henri de Lanzac since 1994. The wine is made from 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Cinsault, 10% Carignan off of 30 year old vines.
This is a delightful wine — dark ruby red with a stark dark cherry aroma that mellows out to more understated aromas of dark fruits, earth, and little smoke. It has lovely subtle flavors of black cherry, tobacco, leather, and earth, medium body, and a nice peppery finish.

I have a friend who insists that you can hardly ever go wrong with a French wine and I’d have to agree. And, Côtes du Rhône reds are at the top of my list of favorites from France.

Goats Do Roam 2003—Another Good Everyday Wine

2006-02-11T08:46:00.000-08:00

Yes, it was the cute label that drew me to this wine but it’s the wine itself that keeps me going back for more. Out of South Africa’s Western cape and from Fairview Wines’ vintner/cheese maker, Charles Back, this label caused quite a stir in France with its play on the Cotes du Rhone appellation. In fact, back 2002 when Back tried to register the “Goats” trademark here in the states, France's terroir creator and protector, the INAO (Institut National des Appellations d'Origine) got their lingerie in a twist over this thinking that Americans wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between a wine originating from Cotes du Rhone, France and the Goats Do Roam from South Africa. You may be interested to note that the trademark was registered in Europe without incident.

France should relax a bit because the name is where any similarity ends. While “Goats” is good and is made from similar Cotes du Rhone grapes, it doesn’t taste at all like a Cotes du Rhone. The distinction is clear. Think of Goats Do Roam as the crescendo in the William Tell Overture complete with guns and cannons. It has a big, hit-you-between-the-eyes flavor. A Cotes Du Rhone, on the other hand is more along the lines of Chopin, more depth and delicacy, giving you something to think about. There is some irony here too. This is the top selling South African wine in the United States. Easy to drink and a label that’s fun to look at so no wonder.

Goats Do Roam is a blend of Shiraz, Pinotage, Grenache, Cinsault (the type of grapes can change depending on the vintage). It is a dry wine with, deep ruby red/purple color. Dark fruit and earthiness on the nose compliment flavors of tartish cherries, leather, and tobacco. A spicy medium-length finish follows. This wine does seem to get better with a little aging. I had this wine 6 months ago and it was fairly tannic. So much so that we had to break out the cheese to settle it down a bit. But now, the tannins have mellowed significantly. But even though it can be sipped without the assistance of food, this is still one big, mouthful of wine.

We’re not talking refined elegance here, simply a good value wine for everyday drinking.

WBW#18 — My Favorite Wine Store(s)

2006-02-01T08:55:00.000-08:00

As the jingle goes, “you can never have just one potato chip.” Me, I can’t have just one favorite wine store. So, for Wine Blogging Wednesday #18 I have two. If you don’t already know, WBW sets aside one day a month where wine bloggers post about the same topic. This month, Dr. Vino chose the topic. Here’s my contribution:

Purple Smile Wines located in the historic but trendy Fairhaven district of Bellingham is a wonderful little wine shop. The owner, Jeff Wicklund, is down-to-earth and very friendly. You feel right at home the minute you walk in. Although the shop is small, it carries a wide variety of wines from all corners of the globe with a special emphasis on Northwest wines. It also has some stemware and other wine accessories. The wine selection is interesting and runs the gamut of price ranges. But what makes this place so special, despite the homey, corner-store, atmosphere, is the wine tastings offered every Saturday from 1pm to 5pm. Each week is a different theme—local Northwest wineries or importers and/or distributors from around the world. I went to the Spanish wine tasting a couple of weeks ago that showcased the portfolio of wines from Jorge Ordonez and went home with a bottle of Naiades 2003 made of 100% Verdejo grapes. It was so awesome; I sprung for the $25. There is a great selection of wine here in this area but Purple Smile Wines is the first place to actually offer tastings. It’s much easier to make a selection when you can actually taste the wine.

Just a couple hours south by plane in the heart of Sonoma County is a place I consider to be wine buying Mecca. Bottle Barn located in Santa Rosa, California, is an incredible place to shop. It’s basically a warehouse filled with wine (and other spirits). Here, too, the wines span the globe but there is a predominance of wines from California. You can often find small winery bottlings here. The selection is just enormous. And they offer wines that range from moderately available to extremely limited and they even carry some that are nearly non-existent. But what gives Bottle Barn the edge is that they offer their wines at low (and I mean VERY low) prices. (It actually cost me less to buy the wine there and pay for the shipping than it would have cost me to buy the wines locally—if I could even get some of the wines locally.) Plus their staff is incredibly knowledgeable and eager to help. The last time I visited, it was the day before Thanksgiving and the place was packed, but the friendly staff took their time and helped me navigate my way through their French section where they pointed out an absolutely superb Chablis and Sauternes at a great value. If you plan to visit save your shekels. This is the kind of place where you will want to go home with at least one case. And, they ship right there from the store. I received my shipment a couple of days after we returned home and everything arrived in pristine condition. The only drawback to Bottle Barn is that they don’t list the wines they carry. The staff jokes that even they don’t know everything they have. So, shopping online can be difficult. But if you know what you want, you can order via email

If There’s a Chicken on the Label…

2006-01-24T09:21:00.000-08:00

I don’t know what it is about chickens but I’ve always liked them, particularly in the abstract. I have a couple of weird yard ornaments that are artistic impressions of chickens. Decoration-only coffee mugs that feature, among other barnyard animals, colorful chickens adorn open shelves in my kitchen. I even have a pair of socks or two with chickens on them. Anything that has a chicken on it is bound to get my attention. And that’s how I stumbled across the Rex Goliath label—or I should say, my husband stumbled across it but more about that later. The label catches your eye immediately (being into chickens helps here). It’s a replica of a banner from the turn of the 20th century Texas Circus that had, as one of its spectacles, (according to legend) a 47-lb rooster named His Royal Majesty (HRM). Bill Legion, a Texas native and Hahn Winery president, was fascinated by the legend of HRM. This ultimately lead to the Rex Goliath line of wines. Quoting from their website: “The Rex Goliath wines are crafted at the Hahn Estates winery in Monterey County by winemaker Adam LaZarre. Owned & operated by the Nicolaus Hahn Family, the winery is also home to the Hahn Estates and Smith & Hook wines.”

But back to my story. My husband and I were invited to Christmas dinner at a friend’s house a couple of years ago and she asked us to bring some wine that would go with prime rib. This called for a Cabernet Sauvignon. Since none of the guests were big wine connoisseurs, I wanted to bring a Cab that I would enjoy but that wouldn’t be too over the top for the others. And, I didn’t want to spend a lot either. After perusing the selections of Cabs, my husband found Rex Goliath. He said, “Look, it’s a Chicken!” In fact, it was a $6.99 chicken. (Okay so it was really a rooster but who’s paying that much attention to the details.) The label was just too good to pass up, the price was right, so we took it to the dinner. It was an enormous hit. It even passed muster at a blind wine tasting I attended later in the year, coming off as a very drinkable and approachable Cab. I’ve kept a bottle or two in the Grape Mash Stash ever since.

Recently, our grocery store featured other Rex Goliath wines, so I loaded up on their Cab, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Shiraz. This line of wines has a huge following and was named one of the Hottest Brands of 2003 by Wine Business Monthly Magazine. They also have received high ratings and have been given “best buy” status from other prestigious wine magazines. With that kind of press and the $6.99 across the board price, I decided I couldn’t go wrong. And, I didn’t, at least as far as the Chardonnay and Cab are concerned. (I haven’t had the Merlot or Shiraz yet.) These wines are solid, everyday sort of wines that are good enough to serve to your friends.

HRM Rex Goliath 2004 California Chardonnay — Rich and tropically fruity, this light gold (think ginger ale) Chardonnay has flavors of pineapple, apple, and lemon with just the barest hint of oak. (I’m pretty cranky about oakey Chards and the oak in this one barely caught my attention.) Bright acidity and a creamy but not overbearing texture (big, buttery Chards do little for me as well) combined with a nice finish makes this a good wine at a great value.

HRM Rex Goliath 2003 California Cabernet Sauvignon Free Range — I’ve had Cabs at two and three times the price that weren’t this good. It has a deep, dark purple-black color with flavors of plum, coffee, forest and oak. These big dark fruit flavors are complimented by structured tannins and lead a nice, long finish. When I want a nice Cab with dinner, I reach for this one every time!

Word in the wine world is that the choice of quality wines priced at $10 and under is slowly diminishing. And sadly, the Rex Goliath price has jumped $1.25 at the time of this posting. But, let’s face it, not everyone wants to spend $15 or more on a bottle of wine, at least not all of the time. Thank goodness that there are labels like Rex Goliath that are dedicated to providing good wine at good prices.

Pergolas Crianza 2000 Old Vine Tempranillo — A Sultry Winner from Spain

2006-01-18T14:32:00.000-08:00

When you think about it, the availability of good wines from around the world is quite amazing. Going into a wine store can be like a trip around the world—France, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, the U.S. Recently, I’ve become quite smitten with the wines of Spain. Noted for high quality and good value, Spanish wines have captured my imagination, leaving me only wanting more. One that I’ve tried recently is Pergolas Crianza 2000 Old Vine Tempranillo, Valdepeñas, Spain, $8.

But that label! I had to do some reading to figure it all out. Some of it was obvious—Pergolas, for example is the winery. And Tempranillo is Spain’s finest and most widely grown grape renowned for making both wines that age well and tasty young wines. But what the heck does Crianza refer to? Well, it refers to how long the wine has been aged before it’s been released—two years total. Six months in a barrel and 18 months in a bottle. (Reserva on a Spanish label means the wine has been aged for three years, and Gran Reserva means it’s been aged five for years.) And last but not least, Valdepeñas is the wine growing region and is located in the south central plateau of the country.

Okay, enough wine geekery. I’ve had the Pergolas in the Grape Mash Stash for quite a while. I bought it because of the “Old Vines” designation. (I later learned that Pergolas produces it’s Tempranillo from 40 year old vines.) It sounded good so I thought I’d give it a try. Then I sort of chickened out once it was in the stash. For some unexplained reason I was hesitant to open it up. That has never happened to me before. I usually approach an untried wine with a healthy amount of gusto. So when I finally got brave enough and opened it up, I was wonderfully surprised.

This is one terrific wine! If I had to describe it in one adjective, I’d say “sultry” even though that’s a pretty useless term when trying to describe a taste or flavor. But it was the first word I thought of when I tasted it. It has a deep purple color and appealing aromas of fruit and earth that lead to dark cherry flavors with coffee, earth, and just the tiniest hint of smoke and oak. A medium bodied wine it has perfect acidity and a lengthy, spicy finish. It held its ground with a very garlicky pasta dish, as well as pizza, and pork tenderloin with a Memphis-style rub.

The $10 and under girl in me couldn’t be happier. I wish all wines $10 and under were this good. Actually, I wish all wines $18 and under were this good. That’s two wishes so I might as well go all the way and make my third wish…I hope I can find the Pergolas again.

Quest for a Great Merlot — The Tilting Begins

2006-01-11T12:51:00.000-08:00

My quest actually begins with a little research. (I am an aspiring wine geek after all.) I found myself wondering if I was trying to turn Merlot into something it just wasn’t meant to be. So I did some reading. In a nutshell, this is what I’ve learned. Merlot started out primarily as a blending grape for the much sought after red wines of Bordeaux. It was combined with Cabernet Sauvignon to help smooth out some of Cabernet’s rough edges. But in France’s St. Emilion and Pomerol appellations, Merlot is the primary grape producing soft, luscious, and velvety wines, and many people believe that this where the grape is at its best.

In the U.S. during the 1990s, Merlot became wildly popular as a varietal (a wine made almost entirely out of one grape instead of a combination of grapes). With its softer tannins and less distinctive taste, many found Merlot easier to drink and pair with food than Cabernet Sauvignon. Of course producers jumped on the bandwagon but there just weren’t enough Merlot vines in the U.S. to supply a demanding public so producers were buying Merlot grapes wherever they could find them. The result was a glut of unremarkable to downright awful wines often at ridiculously high prices. And even when producers were putting out good Merlots, the prices were outrageous. Fifteen years later, we’re still feeling some of those results.

After reading-up on Merlot, I began to feel as though there might just be too many windmills to tilt at. And yet, Merlot is known for the flavors of plums, currants, black cherries, raisins, violets, roses, chocolate, and leather. Those are flavors I really want to taste so I’m willing to tilt a little. But where do I start?
Very close to home as it turns out. Sharing the same latitude as Bordeaux and Burgundy, Washington State is renowned for being one of the best, if not the best, Merlot region in the United States. Its cooler climate is much more amenable to growing Merlot. So it’s here’s where I thought I’d start my quest for a truly great Merlot that wouldn’t break the piggy bank.

Hogue Cellars Merlot, Columbia Valley, 2003 $7 — This is a great solution if you want a completely inoffensive, totally quaffable wine that you could feel good about serving at a friendly get-together. Mostly Merlot with a little Syrah and Lemberger added to the mix, this is a tasty, everyday sort of wine. Aromas are subtle with a bit of oak, fruit and spice. It has plummy flavors with a hint of spice, mild tannins, nice body, and an acceptable finish. Notice my lack of exciting descriptors. Exciting it’s not — but I wouldn’t turn my nose up at it.

Sagelands Merlot, Columbia Valley, 2002 $11 — Touted as “One of the Northwest’s most awarded wines in 2003.” It won Best of Class at the Pacific Rim International Wine Competition and gold medals at the International Eastern Wine Competition, Riverside International Wine Competition, and West Coast Wine Competition. (Whatever all that means.) What I actually found were berry and oak aromas with a dark fruit and coffee taste. Good body and decent finish. Still, a little rough around the edges.

Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot, Columbia Valley, 2002 $13 — This made me see why it’s renowned as an easy to drink varietal. Fruit and ginger aromas lead to a big cherry (think jam) taste with a long, spicy finish. It also had enough complexity to be interesting. I had this over the course of four days and it went well with every meal, but my favorite pairing with this was with Greek Moussaka.

Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot, Columbia Valley, Indian Wells 2002 $16—Windmills be damned! I can honestly say I loved this Merlot. Nothing blasé or wimpy about this one. It was recommended by my friend, Gene, (the guy who got me into all of this,) and he has never steered me wrong yet. Its color is a deep, dark purple-black with big aromas of dark berries and coffee. Blackberry, chocolate, and peppery flavors are rich and lush. The spicy finish is delightfully long and silky. This wine would bring me to the table every time and will have its own space in the Grape Mash Stash.

I have to admit I’ve gained a healthy respect for Merlot. Although I’m not done with the process, (next on the Merlot map is the state of California), I have learned that while Merlot, like Chardonnay, may have a lot of bad to mediocre examples out there, it’s worth swimming through some plonk to find one that you’d have over and over again.

Note: Here’s a very important thing to know about Merlot. It’s meant to be chilled—to about 64 degrees (10-20 minutes in the refrigerator). It does make a difference.

A Bit of Bubbly

2006-01-05T13:56:00.000-08:00

My wine tasting group got together for the holidays and had a Champagne tasting. As with all of our tastings, we did this one blind and we didn’t know what we were drinking until the bottles were unveiled at the end of the evening. We’re a pretty laid back, casual group so venturing off into Champagne was both festive, fancy, and fun. Our hostess used to run the wine cellar of a prestigious restaurant and she knew what she was doing…thank goodness. My experience with Bubbly has been limited—Cold Duck, whatever it is restaurants put in Mimosas, and most recently, Korbel’s Blanc de Noir—a California-style Champagne. Korbel would probably not be very happy with me citing its Bubbly in the same sentence with the other two and rightly so. It was really very nice on its own but we used that for Mimosas as well. So, when it comes to true Champagne (as in, “from France”), I was among the uninitiated. But that’s all behind me now. Here is what we tasted in order of my preference:

Cristalino Cava, Spain $8 — Did you know the word cava means "cellar" in Catalan? “Cava” refers to Spanish sparkling wine. So this wasn’t a true Champagne but it was my favorite of the three we tried. Delicate, light, and dry with a nice lemon-mineral taste. And who can beat the price?

Bollinger Special Cuvee Ay, France $45 — Ay is a small village in the middle of France’s champagne country. This was complex but elegant with flavors of citrus, roasted hazelnuts, and baked bread.

Nicolas Feuillatte Premier Cru Brut Chouilly, Epernay, France $23 — Citrusy and bright with a hint of honey. Nice honey finish.

What I found surprising about these fizzy wonders was how well they went with food…any food. The appetizers at the tasting included smoked oysters and clams, goat cheese, peppered salami, egg rolls, and Crab Rangoon. I don’t know that I’d serve Champagne with a steak, but I wouldn’t hesitate to serve one with just about anything else.

Medici 2000 Pinot Noir, Block I and II, Estate Reserve, Willamette Valley (Oregon) $20

2005-12-28T06:53:00.000-08:00

When it’s good, Pinot Noir is one of my favorite wines but it’s not a wine that holds up well to mediocrity. I can drink a mediocre Cabernet Sauvignon or Sirah but when a Pinot is just “okay,” I’d as soon dump it down the drain. This is one wine that I rarely, if ever, buy by the seat of pants—my preferred mode of wine shopping. Medici’s Pinot Noir came highly recommended by the owner of a wine shop/restaurant that I frequent. He assured me this one would blow me away and he was right.

From one of the oldest vineyards in the Willamette Valley and winemaker, Peter Rosback, Medici 2000 Pinot Noir, Block I and II, Estate Reserve will turn you into a true believer of Oregon Pinot prowess. And, if you’re familiar with the cult wines of Sineann Winery then this should be right up your alley as Peter Rosback is Sineann’s winemaker as well.

Now about the wine. Aromas of cherries and a hint of spice, this elegant Pinot has a deep purple-red color that lives up to its promise of rich dark fruit and cherry flavors. There’s something sweet in there too. The winemakers’ notes say it’s caramel but I didn’t quite get that, maybe vanilla. It has great body and a somewhat spicy, long finish. I’m going back for more.

Wine By the Seat of My Pants

2005-12-12T15:16:00.000-08:00

Every once in awhile I seriously consider joining a wine of the month club. The intrigue of receiving a mystery bottle or two each month is extremely tempting. But when I think how much I enjoy shopping for wine myself, I nix the club idea. As appealing as a wine club sounds, I just can’t imagine it could be more fun than strolling through aisles of wine, reading winemakers notes, looking at labels, searching for something that I hope will be absolutely wonderful at a really good price Yes, I’ve had my disappointments with the seat-of-my-pants approach, but I have also found some fabulous wines that now are permanent residents in the Grape Mash Stash. Here are five of my favorites.

Oisly Et Thesée, 2003 Sauvignon Blanc, Touraine (France) $6.99 — This was the wine that turned me on to anything (vinoculturally speaking) French. It was summer and I was going through a Sauvignon Blanc craze—not a bad crazy to have in the summer. I found this in the French section and the only thing I knew about it was the price. There were no winemakers notes, ratings or anything, but the price seemed right so I gave it a try. And what a wonderful surprise it was. This is a lovely, light, even somewhat delicate wine, particularly in comparison to the New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs that had found their way to my table. Flavors and aromas of flowers, peach, honey, citrus, with a hint of minerals with a wonderful finish. I was so excited about this wine that I recommended it to several friends, who along with me always have a Oisly at the ready.

Borsao, Campo de Borja (Spain) $6.99 — Confession time. It was the funky label that attracted me to Borsao. I was just beginning to appreciate Spanish wines too, so I thought why not. It turned out to be a terrific find. Literally, the first word out of my mouth when I tried Borsao was “Wow!” And, after several bottles, I still can’t come up with a better descriptor. I served this to a couple of friends who only drink wine under duress and even they loved it! Mostly made from Grenache with a little Tempranillo tossed in, Borsao has wonderful aromas of flowers, raspberries, other dark fruit, oak, vanilla, and pepper. It has a soft, velvety texture, with huge berry flavors and a hint of spice and vanilla. Another keeper for the stash, this is just one terrific wine.

Dry Creek Vineyards 2002 Chardonnay, Sonoma County (California) $6.99 — Having been to Dry Creek Vineyards and being very pleased with their wines, I couldn’t pass this up. I discovered this wonderful Chard at my grocery store where the original price was listed at around $20. But because Dry Creek Vineyards was in the middle of a label change, they dumped cases of their wine with the old labels and the store was selling it at an amazing $6.99—another good reason to give it a try. The vintage was rated in the 90s for Chardonnay and that fact really shines through in this wine. No heavy oak or butter here, just a nice, clean Chard where tropical fruit and minerals are in the forefront, followed by a great finish. To me this is the standard by which I measure all New World Chardonnays.

Colvin Vineyards 2003 Walla Walla Red, Walla Walla Valley (Washington) $17 — Okay. I bought this because the winemaker’s notes mentioned blueberries and chocolate. I happened to love blueberries and chocolate, plus I have a special affection for Washington Bordeaux blends. Walla Walla Red is blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 3% Syrah and 2% Carmenère. This is a big red too! With heady aromas of fruit, leather, and eucalyptus and big, rich flavors of dark berries, chocolate, eucalyptus, and spice, this wine has a chewy texture and nice finish. I loved this so much that I bought more to cellar for another few years. Although I never did actually taste the blueberries, I thought this was stunning example of the great reds blends coming out of Washington.

Bogle 2003 Petite Sirah (California) $9.99 — I happen to love Petite Sirah. The problem is there aren’t many out there and the ones that are tend to be pricey and rather well…boring. When I stumbled onto the Bogle, I figured the price was right enough to give it shot. Dark, inky color, big, jammy berries and light spice aromas, this has an even bigger blackberry taste with just a hint of pepper. Lovely balance, creamy texture, big fruit finish. Fitting under the category of having to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince, this wine is awesome and one that I always keep in the Grape Mash Stash.

So what made these five my favorites? They’re the ones I would go back and buy time and again—the ones that I’m excited to mention to my friends. And, I picked them out all by myself.

This is My Quest: To Find a Great Merlot

2005-12-05T09:35:00.000-08:00

One of the things that I love about wine is the many expressions one varietal can have. And one of my goals is to try as many varietals, styles, and blends as I can, finding one or two “keepers” in each category. When I found myself turning my nose up at Chardonnays and dismissing them out of hand, I had to ask myself, Why? The answer was rather simple, really. All of the Chardonnays that I had tasted up to that point were either too buttery, too oaky, or both and I didn’t love that taste. But I also knew that done well, Chardonnays could exhibit wonderful tropical fruit or mineral qualities that I had yet to find. Somewhere out there I instinctively knew there was a Chardonnay that I could love. The quest was on. After wrinkling my nose at a more than a few, I would eventually discover a wonderful Chardonnay from Dry Creek Vineyards and an exquisite Chablis—both of which are now happily residing in the Grape Mash Stash.

Now I’m determined to do the same with Merlot. But I’m afraid this quest will be a bit more Quixotic. Not because of the grape; it’s perhaps due to my weird palate. You see I don’t exactly love Merlot. I don’t dislike it as with some of the Chardonnays but I did think there was something more to Chardonnay than what I had been tasting. I don’t necessarily get that “there’s-got-be-something-more-out-there” vibe from Merlot. The problem is I always find myself bored with it. I take a sip, shrug my shoulders, and think, “It’s just okay.” I have had some nice-to-great blends with Merlot being the primary grape, but to me what makes those wines worth drinking is the interest and edge other grapes like Cab Franc or Cabernet Sauvignon add to it. In spite of all that, I’m pretty sure there is a Merlot or two out there that just might possibly blow me away. The only problem may be the price.

It never fails, when discussing my feelings about Merlot with other wine enthusiasts, someone always recommends “an excellent” label that they’re sure I’ll just love but the word “excellent” is almost always synonymous with a price tag of $40 or over. Yikes! It’s not that I’m opposed to spending some money to find a great Merlot, but if all the great ones cost that kind of money than honestly, I’d rather spend $24 on an outstanding Cab Franc. Nevertheless, I’m going to give it a try and I’ll post my progress here. Windmills beware!

My Top 5 Wines for 2005

2005-12-05T07:55:00.000-08:00

When I started my list of favorites for 2005, I discovered that my top five favorites were in the upper reaches of what I will pay per bottle. I love good wine and I don’t mind paying a little money for it but I do have a budget and subsequently, there are limits to what I can and will spend. In general, if I can find a good wine for $10 or under, I’m ecstatic, but over the course of time my average bottle price has risen to $12-$18. So when I noticed that the wines that topped my list were between $20 and $32, I was rather surprised. There’s a lesson in this discovery somewhere but I can’t hear it over the squealing of my piggy bank. Regardless, I would consider the wines in this list to be special occasion wines—the occasion to be determined by me…snowed today, time to break out the $25 bottle!

Schneider Vineyards 2001 Cabernet Franc, Long Island (New York) around $20 – Who would have thought that a wine so wonderful could come out of Long Island? I certainly didn’t, although I knew Long Island was gaining some renown for their Rieslings. Well, it seems as though it is also the perfect climate for Cab Franc. I may not have ever had the pleasure of drinking this luscious Cabernet Franc either had it not been for a terrific, if not psychic sommelier at the Farmhouse Inn in the Russian River Valley in California. We were discussing which of several Cab Francs to get when the sommelier pops by from out of nowhere, saying, “Are you thinking of a Cab Franc? Do you like earth or fruit?” When three of us said “barnyard” at the same time, he recommended Schneider. I’m so happy he did as it tops my favorites list for 2005. I have to admit that I was a little skeptical about the appellation (AVA), never having had anything from Long Island before but my skepticism proved false. This tasty treat embodies everything I love about my favorite varietal—earth, berries, and violets. Schneider’s 2001 vintage was lush with floral aromas with a hint of barnyard (an aroma and flavor that sets my senses on fire) berries, and a hint of vanilla, spice and smoke. Wonderful dark fruit/berry flavors with well-balanced tannins and acidity along with a nice, lingering finish. This was truly one of the more elegant wines I’ve ever tasted.

La Chablisienne, 2002 Premier Cru Chablis, Vaillons (France) $24 – Chardonnay was one of those varietals I had to learn to like. The big, buttery oak flavor never did anything for me, so the rare ones that I do like are unoaked, clean, and austere. Then a friend of mine, who is a French wine nut, told me that I should try Chardonnays in the French style, most notably Chablis. Unfortunately, the occasional Chablis I’ve found here in my area have been outrageously priced. Although I’m sure a $300 Chablis would be yummy, I’m not sure it would be $300 worth of yummy. So the search was on to find a tasty Chablis that wouldn’t break the piggy bank. Then I met the sagacious guys at Bottle Barn in Santa Rosa, CA, who recommended this little gem. These wine gurus have the reputation of giving advice that is generally right on so I bought three bottles untried. Now, I wish I had bought a case! This is an amazingly elegant wine (the second most elegant wine I’ve ever had—and that’s only because I tend to favor the reds and give them the edge). Bright with minerals, seashell, apple, and citrus, this wine has a wonderful ‘mouthfeel’ and a great finish—one that hums merrily along your tongue long after the glass is empty. And, if you keep track of such things, Wine Spectator rated this a 92.

Suncé 2003 Pleasant Glen Vineyard (California) North Coast Petite Sirah $32 — Early spring 2005 we were visiting family in Santa Rosa, CA. Our wine tasting adventures took us on a Pinot Noir search through the Russian River Valley where we found Suncé Winery. The Pinots were quickly forgotten the minute I tasted this Petite Sirah. It almost literally knocked my socks off. From its inky black color, flavors of black cherries, plums, and spice, great balance and a huge white pepper finish, this wine was spectacular in every way. It had to be good for me to stretch the piggy bank! If more Petite Sirahs showed this kind of depth, they’d be in the forefront of great reds.

Mayo 2003 Old Vine Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, Ricci Vineyard $25 — You read a little about this wine in my previous post—at least I hope you did. This old vine Zin has everything an old vine Zin should have. Heady aromas of darkish fruits and juicy flavors of strawberry and raspberry, this wine feels deliciously creamy as it goes down. The finish is lush and long, making this a terrific addition to the Grape Mash Stash.

Lynmar 2002 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Quail Hill Vineyard $25—Mmmm….juicy, jammy, spicy, this Pinot Noir is exceptional—complex and interesting with just enough earthy elements to make very special. Unfortunately the 2002 is now difficult to find and the 2003 vintage has seen a relatively large price increase. Fortunately, the Grape Mash Stash is harboring a bottle of the 2002 vintage.

I have a confession to make. I used to strictly be a $10 per bottle kind of a gal and I still drink plenty of good wine in that price range but my horizons have been wonderfully expanded by wines in higher price ranges. Had I stuck to the $10 and under rule, I certainly wouldn’t have had the absolute pleasure of the Schneider Cab Franc nor the Chablis and I would probably think that all Pinot Noirs were iffy at best and total plonk at the worst. And while I probably will never pay much more for wine than the prices listed here (yes, I know, “never say never”), I have to admit that when I see say a Bordeaux at around $100, I stop, hesitate a moment and say to myself, “mmmmm…I bet that’s yummy.”

A Fine Finish to All Gluttons’ Week

2005-12-01T12:38:00.000-08:00

Our family spent Thanksgiving week in Sonoma County, where my oldest stepson and his wife live. Between celebrating a birthday, celebrating being together, and celebrating the holiday, we were drinking wine and feasting on terrific food for six days straight. The unremitting decadence caused my stepson to remark, “Forget Thanksgiving, this was All Gluttons' Week.” A perfect name and perhaps, a perfect holiday.

All Gluttons' Week or no, there’s no better way to end a trip down to Sonoma County than to go wine tasting. (There’s no better way to begin the trip either but that’s another story.) So, I was quite excited about the Heart of Sonoma Valley’s 21st Annual Holiday Wine Tasting, held the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. This event showcases twenty-two wineries in the Sonoma Valley—wine country that’s both beautiful and humble. The wineries are open for wine tastings and some even had hors d’oeuvres paired to match the wine. There was no way we were going to make all twenty-two wineries so we picked five and headed down the road.

Actually, we headed down out of Bennett Valley, then up to Moon Mountain Vineyard through a rolling countryside dotted with vineyards, the vines in deep golds, oranges, and reds. An organic vineyard, Moon Mountain is located 2,000 feet up on the Sonoma Valley side of Mt. Veeder. It is remote, rugged, humble, and breathtaking. (Think of the movie Heidi with a vineyard in it.) Having made the trip up the winding, narrow road (I’m not sure but I thought I saw a mountain goat or two with wine bags hanging around their necks), I can see why it’s normally only open for tastings by appointment and why having a designated driver is a really good idea. But it’s worth the trip. Moon Mountain Vineyard did a fabulous job matching food to wine. They had a lovely, reasonably priced Sauvignon Blanc paired with a green olive and almond tapenade. Next came their Cab Franc, which was perfectly acceptable but not very exciting, but I’m a Cab Franc freak so I’m fussy. It was paired with dynamite organic Brie covered in chocolate. Their Syrah was very nice and the rosemary bread with olive oil was a perfect match. Most interestingly, they paired their Cabernet Sauvignon with Fromage Blanc with persimmons. The Fromage Blanc was sweet and tasty and went well with the Cab. Perhaps the most exciting thing offered out of Moon Mountain was their Cabernet Sauvignon Port—dark, dense, and sweet but not overdone, I was sorry I didn’t take a bottle of this home. But this was the first winery and I was, unfortunately, pacing myself.

Stop number two was Arrowood Vineyards and Winery. A far cry from rugged and remote, this winery screamed charm and elegance. Inside the rather sumptuous wine tasting area the crystal chandeliers and sweeping staircases made the place festive and I must admit, raised my expectations about their wines. And, the panoramic view from the veranda was spectacular. Alas, I wasn’t wild about the wines they poured (although their Cab was rather tasty) but they had great cheeses and chutneys that paired well with their wines.

Next door to Arrowood was Imagery Estate Winery and Gallery. As you might guess by the name, they are rather focused on well…image…and art. Their bottles host labels that have original, commissioned artwork, which are admittedly quite beautiful, but I usually don’t buy wine because it has a pretty label on it. (Now, if the label has a rooster on it…again, another story.) I don’t know exactly what it was about this place but I got the sense that they were trying a little too hard and not quite succeeding at being a gallery and perhaps, even a winery. Their meager attempt at hors d’oeuvres kind of completed this incomplete picture. Now I know I wasn’t there for the munchies but somehow a dwindling bowl of crackers didn’t quite work. (The box of Costco-esque truffles they served with their Port, sort of clashed with the image thing too.) To their credit, Imagery poured several wines (their Malbec held some interest) but I thought their wines were overpriced and undergreat.

Following the sound of a heavenly chorus (okay, so I really liked this place) we ended up in the parking lot of the Mayo Family Winery. The atmosphere was down-to-earth, the pourers were real, and the wines—all of them—were excellent. They even poured us a lovely Petite Syrah that wasn’t even on the list. The trick was figuring out how to not end up going home with all of them. (Why? Because the piggy bank was already squealing from a trip two days earlier to Bottle Barn—honestly, UPS just delivered the case I bought there now.) So I went with the one that caused me to remark, “Oh my God, this is like buttah!” That happened to be their 2003 Old Vine Zinfandel from Ricci Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, one of their flagship reds. This was a classic with aromas and flavors of strawberry and raspberry. Velvety in the mouth, it was just a true pleasure to drink. Since I cranked about the munchies at the previous winery, I should also mention that Mayo had a very tasty Manhattan Style Clam Chowder for their guests.

The last stop on this trip was the young (1 1/2 years old) Loxton winery where the focus is on Syrah, Shiraz (the owner is an Aussie who was brought up in a Shiraz vineyard), and Zinfandel. Located in a humble, metal building, they poured their wines right in the barrel room—no tasting room yet for them. Although their wines just weren’t quite there for me, I gave them a “B+” for effort and think that in a few years, they probably will be putting out some very nice wines.

The next day we were one the plane home and while my waistline was happy to see the trip end, the rest of me wasn’t so sure. There’s certain magic about Sonoma wine country. Maybe it’s the magic of wine country everywhere—a place where good food and good wine dominate. Even when the wine isn’t so good, there’s still an aura of something special, a different kind of energy that I’ve never felt anywhere else. And that’s rather cool.

A Beginning of Sorts

2005-11-28T12:00:00.000-08:00

I love wine. It’s just that simple. I love the way it looks, smells, and tastes. I love reading about wine and talking about wine. I love shopping for wine and sometimes, just browsing. I love the anticipation of what awaits in an unopened bottle whether the result is wonderful, mediocre, or disappointing. Some of my friends think I’m crazy but most call me “passionate.” I happen to agree with both views.

Where it all started is anyone’s guess. My great-uncle, a Yugoslavian immigrant, made wine in his basement where Zinfandel was predominant. Whenever we visited, he always gave me a taste of his “grape juice”—a splash of his homemade wine with lots of water. He even let me help him press the grapes a time or two. To this day, the smell of a deep, red Zin, conjures up childhood memories of a chilly, unfinished basement filled with dusty bottles full of dark, tasty liquid.

Then there was my husband’s friend, an old college roommate who was an avid wine enthusiast and collector. He was responsible for giving me my first truly fine wine and the idea that enjoying wine didn’t have to be expensive. Laid-back, low-key, this guy told me, “The best wine is the wine you like best and don’t let anyone tell you differently.” I’ve approached wine with that attitude ever since. Don’t get me wrong, I love to swirl, sniff, and taste wine, noting its qualities or lack there of. When a taste or aroma hits me in the face and I can declare tobacco! peach! or ask what the heck is that?... I am truly a happy girl…gal…woman…whatever.

I often think that people make wine too difficult and attach a certain level of arrogance to one of life’s truly great pleasures. There’s nothing wrong with being knowledgeable about wine. I like to know everything I can discover about the wine I’m drinking (A friend of mine even accuses me of being a wine-geek in the making.) But then again, there’s nothing wrong with not knowing that stuff either. Knowing what you like, don’t like, and why (too acid, tannic, sweet, etc.) is enough. The important thing is to enjoy the experience and have some fun in the process.