Another sign of summer. About 10 years ago a woman comes in the store and asks if I can get her a wine she had in a fancy eatery in NYC. They charged her $14 a glass and she was willing to spend up to $30 a bottle for it. It took a couple of weeks but I tracked the wine down and at the time it sold for $7.99 a bottle. Since then the wine has gone up to $9.99 a bottle, it is a staple in the store and we sell out every year right around Labor Day.
It just came in today.
Les Rials Loin de l'Oeil 2009 is a light crisp off-dry white wine that is just delightful. Need a bottle to go to someone's house? this works. Need a bottle for the back porch when it is just too hot? This works. Need a bottle with summer salads? This works.
It's somewhere from the south of France. It's cheap. It's delicious. Chill it up, open it up, and have some fun.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
April 23
Even though my brother was a contestant on Survivor, my favorite reality TV show is Project Runway. I am amazed what the designers can create in such a short amount of time. Those who know me have to be shocked, as my fashion sense runs from Hawaiian shirts in the summer to denim shirts in the winter. No joke, that's my idea of fashion. What does that have to do about wine? How about wine from the town that is half my wardrobe.
Yes, I have tried a pineapple wine from Hawaii, but it was not umm, well, umm, nothing to say.
Chateau Grande Cassagne 2008 from the town of Costieres de Nimes, is a tasty spicy earthy fruity red for $11.99 a bottle. Perfect with grilled burgers and dogs as well as cheese and crackers and any mid-week meal, make sure you are wearing denim when you serve the wine. Yes! Denim was invented in de Nimes. De Nimes is in the south for France not far from the Italian border. The material was worn by the Italian Navy in the 1800's and most of it was shipped out of the city of Genoa. Genoa, not only famous for its salami, but it is where the term, Blue Genes came from.
Did you know that the Genovese love green vegetables more than any other food?
Did you know that tonight was the grand finale of this season's Project Runway? That's why the de Nimes was picked. And I am wearing denim shirt and blue jeans as I blog this.
Yes, I have tried a pineapple wine from Hawaii, but it was not umm, well, umm, nothing to say.
Chateau Grande Cassagne 2008 from the town of Costieres de Nimes, is a tasty spicy earthy fruity red for $11.99 a bottle. Perfect with grilled burgers and dogs as well as cheese and crackers and any mid-week meal, make sure you are wearing denim when you serve the wine. Yes! Denim was invented in de Nimes. De Nimes is in the south for France not far from the Italian border. The material was worn by the Italian Navy in the 1800's and most of it was shipped out of the city of Genoa. Genoa, not only famous for its salami, but it is where the term, Blue Genes came from.
Did you know that the Genovese love green vegetables more than any other food?
Did you know that tonight was the grand finale of this season's Project Runway? That's why the de Nimes was picked. And I am wearing denim shirt and blue jeans as I blog this.
April 22
It's Wednesday. Pasta or Pizza night. Keep the price down night. The most popular inexpensive red wine in the store is I Rustici Nero d'Avola from Sicily for $6.99 a bottle.
Nero d'Avola is the name of the grape native to Sicily. It produces an easy drinking red wine that has just enough warm fruit flavors to compliment red sauce. What are warm fruit flavors? I don't know but it sounds like good wine geek speak. I do know that it is easy to enjoy with any southern Italian dish.
Did you know that mint is the herb of Sicily? Or that the eggplants of Sicily are white and shaped like an egg, hence the name eggplant? There are lots of other cool things about Sicily that I will share another time.
Ciao
Nero d'Avola is the name of the grape native to Sicily. It produces an easy drinking red wine that has just enough warm fruit flavors to compliment red sauce. What are warm fruit flavors? I don't know but it sounds like good wine geek speak. I do know that it is easy to enjoy with any southern Italian dish.
Did you know that mint is the herb of Sicily? Or that the eggplants of Sicily are white and shaped like an egg, hence the name eggplant? There are lots of other cool things about Sicily that I will share another time.
Ciao
April 21
A common request in the store is for a wine that is not too expensive now but will be fabulous in a couple of years or more. Not too expensive is a relative term in the wine trade, but rarely can I find a wine under $20 a bottle that will dramatically improve with a few years of time. $30 a bottle is a good place to start and picking a region or grape variety not well known gives the best bang for the buck.
The Domaine le Sang des Cailloux Cuvee Floureto 2007 at $29.99 a bottle is HUGE bang for the buck. When I tasted it, I tried to buy ten cases, but they would only let me have 4, an unusual number. This is a Rhone Valley wine from the town of Vacqueras. Most Vacqueras are $10-20 a bottle, but this is not most Vacqueras. If rob the cradle and taste it now, you will love-hate it, or hate-love it. When the bottle is first opened, it tastes like a California fruit bomb with gobs of lush ripe fruit flavors. Sometime later, between a half hour to a full hour, the wine closes all the fruit down and you are left with tannic, barnyard and peppery flavors. Over time these two separate sensations will meld into one terrific wine. My guess right now is to wait until 2015 for a wine extravaganza. I would serve it on a cold winter's night with a leg of lamb or roast of beef.
Venison would be awesome too.
The Domaine le Sang des Cailloux Cuvee Floureto 2007 at $29.99 a bottle is HUGE bang for the buck. When I tasted it, I tried to buy ten cases, but they would only let me have 4, an unusual number. This is a Rhone Valley wine from the town of Vacqueras. Most Vacqueras are $10-20 a bottle, but this is not most Vacqueras. If rob the cradle and taste it now, you will love-hate it, or hate-love it. When the bottle is first opened, it tastes like a California fruit bomb with gobs of lush ripe fruit flavors. Sometime later, between a half hour to a full hour, the wine closes all the fruit down and you are left with tannic, barnyard and peppery flavors. Over time these two separate sensations will meld into one terrific wine. My guess right now is to wait until 2015 for a wine extravaganza. I would serve it on a cold winter's night with a leg of lamb or roast of beef.
Venison would be awesome too.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
April 20th
Manic-depressive, bi-polar, love-hate.
Viognier is a white grape native to the Rhone Valley of France. For the last 20 years or so, the wine press has been pushing this grape as the next "hot" white wine. It hasn't happened. This is good.
I hate the grape. I have a hard time finding a food for it. My first experience with it was in France about 20 years ago when it was first being touted. I wanted to be on the cutting edge. One night in the Rhone I went to a very fancy restaurant and asked the sommelier about Viognier. He told me it needed to be drunk young and was wonderful with well-seasoned seafood. I spent the money, I didn't get the wine. Next night I went to another very fancy restaurant and asked that sommelier about Viognier. He told me it needed to be drunk after it was ten years old and was wonderful with garlicky poultry dishes. I spent more money, I didn't get it.
I love the Pierano Estate 2007 Viognier from Lodi, California for $12.99 a bottle. It has fascinating aromas of pineapple and tropical flowers in a rich dry white wine. I still don't know what food works with it, but this one is so delicious, I don't need food to enjoy it. Chill it up and serve it to friends in the back yard. After you mowed the lawn
Viognier is a white grape native to the Rhone Valley of France. For the last 20 years or so, the wine press has been pushing this grape as the next "hot" white wine. It hasn't happened. This is good.
I hate the grape. I have a hard time finding a food for it. My first experience with it was in France about 20 years ago when it was first being touted. I wanted to be on the cutting edge. One night in the Rhone I went to a very fancy restaurant and asked the sommelier about Viognier. He told me it needed to be drunk young and was wonderful with well-seasoned seafood. I spent the money, I didn't get the wine. Next night I went to another very fancy restaurant and asked that sommelier about Viognier. He told me it needed to be drunk after it was ten years old and was wonderful with garlicky poultry dishes. I spent more money, I didn't get it.
I love the Pierano Estate 2007 Viognier from Lodi, California for $12.99 a bottle. It has fascinating aromas of pineapple and tropical flowers in a rich dry white wine. I still don't know what food works with it, but this one is so delicious, I don't need food to enjoy it. Chill it up and serve it to friends in the back yard. After you mowed the lawn
April 19th
Patriots Day here in Massachusetts, the official original Marathon Day. The Day of Paul Revere's ride. The Brittish are coming, etc.
No better day to suggest a Massachusetts wine. And it's is delicious!
RJR Brut from Westport Rivers Winery is a world class bubbly. Made in the traditional Champagne method, it is classic bone dry brut style with nice bubbles and flavor. I have served it to visiting European winemakers and they are shocked and surprised to the quality of the wine. Serve chilled with fresh local seafood, lobsters, oysters, bay scallops, striped bass, but not bluefish. $22.99 a bottle is half the price of what you would pay for a similar quality French Champagne.
You can tour the winery in southeast Mass. town of Westport in the morning, go to Horseneck Beach in the afternoon, and have dinner at The Back Eddy for some scrumptious seafood served at the dock. Ask for Sal and tell him I sent you.
No better day to suggest a Massachusetts wine. And it's is delicious!
RJR Brut from Westport Rivers Winery is a world class bubbly. Made in the traditional Champagne method, it is classic bone dry brut style with nice bubbles and flavor. I have served it to visiting European winemakers and they are shocked and surprised to the quality of the wine. Serve chilled with fresh local seafood, lobsters, oysters, bay scallops, striped bass, but not bluefish. $22.99 a bottle is half the price of what you would pay for a similar quality French Champagne.
You can tour the winery in southeast Mass. town of Westport in the morning, go to Horseneck Beach in the afternoon, and have dinner at The Back Eddy for some scrumptious seafood served at the dock. Ask for Sal and tell him I sent you.
April 18th
Is there a blog equivalent to "Stop the Presses!?"
Ctrl, Alt, Delete?
I love the classics. Perfect Foie Gras, Creme Brulee, Hot dog with mustard and relish at Fenway.
Domaine Alain Normand 2008 Macon La Roche Vineuse at $19.99 is a classic.
100% Chardonnay from the town of La Roche Vineuse in the district of Macon in the department of Burgundy in the country of France, is a perfectly made dry white wine that rivals Cote d'Or white wines for a third the price. Stay away from this if you like oaky-buttery California Chardonnays, but if you want to learn and not be dissappointed with classic French style Chardonnay, this is the big big winner. Dry, crisp, fruity, balanced with oak not obliterated by it, this is a wonderful wine to drink all summer, nay, all year, well, as long as we have it. It will make seafood sing, chicken chirp and cheese chime. It is one of those wines that the bottle empties too fast and you will wish you had more.
Buy a single bottle first, then buy it by the case only if you love it. If you don't love it, fine by me, cuz more for me.
Ctrl, Alt, Delete?
I love the classics. Perfect Foie Gras, Creme Brulee, Hot dog with mustard and relish at Fenway.
Domaine Alain Normand 2008 Macon La Roche Vineuse at $19.99 is a classic.
100% Chardonnay from the town of La Roche Vineuse in the district of Macon in the department of Burgundy in the country of France, is a perfectly made dry white wine that rivals Cote d'Or white wines for a third the price. Stay away from this if you like oaky-buttery California Chardonnays, but if you want to learn and not be dissappointed with classic French style Chardonnay, this is the big big winner. Dry, crisp, fruity, balanced with oak not obliterated by it, this is a wonderful wine to drink all summer, nay, all year, well, as long as we have it. It will make seafood sing, chicken chirp and cheese chime. It is one of those wines that the bottle empties too fast and you will wish you had more.
Buy a single bottle first, then buy it by the case only if you love it. If you don't love it, fine by me, cuz more for me.
I'm ba-ack
Sorry for being away, but life happens. Gonna do 2-a-days like football in August til I catch up.
April 17th, more or less.
"Great Question!" Standard answer when someone asks you a tough question and you need a couple of seconds to think up a "great" answer. Yesterday, a customer asked a great question that truly was a great question. "Bob, do you have a grape I have never tried before?" GREAT QUESTION! At least from my perspective.
Bobal is the name of the grape. It is grown only in East-Central Spain mostly in the Utiel-Requena region. It grows no where else on Earth. I love the grape. The red wine produced from Bobal is unique. It reminds me of Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Cabernet all rolled into one. Kinda Sorta. The 2006 Mestizaje, make sure it is 2006, the 2005 is weak, has Bobal and 5 other grapes in the blend, but mostly Bobal. $14.99 a bottle and it pleases wine geeks and typical palates equally. It is delicious with all red meats, roasted or grilled. It is smooth and tasty and aromatic. Yes, it's wicked good for the money.
My name is Bob, my late father's Al. The name of this grape is a good omen for me.
April 17th, more or less.
"Great Question!" Standard answer when someone asks you a tough question and you need a couple of seconds to think up a "great" answer. Yesterday, a customer asked a great question that truly was a great question. "Bob, do you have a grape I have never tried before?" GREAT QUESTION! At least from my perspective.
Bobal is the name of the grape. It is grown only in East-Central Spain mostly in the Utiel-Requena region. It grows no where else on Earth. I love the grape. The red wine produced from Bobal is unique. It reminds me of Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Cabernet all rolled into one. Kinda Sorta. The 2006 Mestizaje, make sure it is 2006, the 2005 is weak, has Bobal and 5 other grapes in the blend, but mostly Bobal. $14.99 a bottle and it pleases wine geeks and typical palates equally. It is delicious with all red meats, roasted or grilled. It is smooth and tasty and aromatic. Yes, it's wicked good for the money.
My name is Bob, my late father's Al. The name of this grape is a good omen for me.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Fuentespina
Moving a bunch of cases today to make room for more wine and lo and behold I found a case of the 2001 Fuentespina Reserva! Yikes!! $29.99 a bottle for perfectly mature Ribera del Duero from Spain. 100% Tempranillo grape from the awesome 2001 vintage in Spain, is a perfect match with any meat cooked on the grill. Pork and lamb are best, though.
I was in Spain in 2002 and the samples we tasted out of barrel were and still are the best barrel samples I have ever tried. Usually when you visit a winery, you spend a few minutes tasting wines still in barrel and most of the time tasting the fresh releases and a few older wines thrown in up in the tasting room In Spain in 2002, every winemaker kept me in the cellar as long as possible. And time has proven this early elation to be correct. The wines are wonderful.
Open the bottle about a half hour before serving, or pour into a decanter and slowly enjoy over the course of a nice evening of wining and dining.
PS. Will be AFK for a bit,will make it up to you later!
I was in Spain in 2002 and the samples we tasted out of barrel were and still are the best barrel samples I have ever tried. Usually when you visit a winery, you spend a few minutes tasting wines still in barrel and most of the time tasting the fresh releases and a few older wines thrown in up in the tasting room In Spain in 2002, every winemaker kept me in the cellar as long as possible. And time has proven this early elation to be correct. The wines are wonderful.
Open the bottle about a half hour before serving, or pour into a decanter and slowly enjoy over the course of a nice evening of wining and dining.
PS. Will be AFK for a bit,will make it up to you later!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
The Times they are a-changin
A customer brings in the wine article from The New York Times about top quality German wines. She wants to know if I have any. Do I have any?
I sold her a bottle and I drank one tonight of the Schloss Schoenborn 2004 Erbacher Marcobrunn Erstes Gewachs. The Erstes Gewachs is a relatively new designation for German wine. It is the equivalent of a First Growth from France. A single top quality vineyard and made into a dry wine from Riesling yields the best of the best of Germany. Prior to WWI, most German wines were made into this dryer style, but when the Allies took back Germany, the cellars only held the sweet, rare dessert wines and after both WW's, people on this side of the pond assumed all German wines were sweet. Wrong.
Tonight I drank the wine with a variety of foods and it worked nicely with everyting but the soup and dessert courses. The aroma of the wine was classic German Riesling fuel-apple and it played a trick on your brain because the wine was crisp and dry. One meat I did not have it with tonight was chicken, and I think that will be the best match.
These wines are not cheap. But when you compare a French First Growth in the hundreds of dollars per bottle, a Riesling of similar breed and quality is a bargain at $39.99.
I sold her a bottle and I drank one tonight of the Schloss Schoenborn 2004 Erbacher Marcobrunn Erstes Gewachs. The Erstes Gewachs is a relatively new designation for German wine. It is the equivalent of a First Growth from France. A single top quality vineyard and made into a dry wine from Riesling yields the best of the best of Germany. Prior to WWI, most German wines were made into this dryer style, but when the Allies took back Germany, the cellars only held the sweet, rare dessert wines and after both WW's, people on this side of the pond assumed all German wines were sweet. Wrong.
Tonight I drank the wine with a variety of foods and it worked nicely with everyting but the soup and dessert courses. The aroma of the wine was classic German Riesling fuel-apple and it played a trick on your brain because the wine was crisp and dry. One meat I did not have it with tonight was chicken, and I think that will be the best match.
These wines are not cheap. But when you compare a French First Growth in the hundreds of dollars per bottle, a Riesling of similar breed and quality is a bargain at $39.99.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Co-inky-dinky
A salesman is about to leave the store without and order for the week, he turns as he is in the doorway and says "oh, that Bordeaux you like is almost gone, want any?" I love the wine and many customers do so I grab a bunch more.
Same day, first time customer walks into store and says " my friends served me a delicious Bordeaux the other night that they bought here, I would like a case."
That night an out of state friend tells me how much he loved that Bordeaux I sent him home with.
The Bordeaux? 2003 Chateau Montlisse from St. Emilion. A Cabernet Franc led Bordeaux blend from an erratic quality year that is pure delicious and tastes like Bordeaux. The heat of 2003 was not nice to many makers of Bordeaux as they tended to taste like American wines. Chateau Montlisse either got lucky or knew what they were doing. Now, it is still a 2003 vintage and I don't wan't any in my cellar 10 years from today, but for a tasty classic example of right bank Bordeaux, you get perfection for only $29.99 a bottle. Cheap by Bordeaux standards, cheap for wine of this quality. As for food, this is Bordeaux, and it loves lamb.
Same day, first time customer walks into store and says " my friends served me a delicious Bordeaux the other night that they bought here, I would like a case."
That night an out of state friend tells me how much he loved that Bordeaux I sent him home with.
The Bordeaux? 2003 Chateau Montlisse from St. Emilion. A Cabernet Franc led Bordeaux blend from an erratic quality year that is pure delicious and tastes like Bordeaux. The heat of 2003 was not nice to many makers of Bordeaux as they tended to taste like American wines. Chateau Montlisse either got lucky or knew what they were doing. Now, it is still a 2003 vintage and I don't wan't any in my cellar 10 years from today, but for a tasty classic example of right bank Bordeaux, you get perfection for only $29.99 a bottle. Cheap by Bordeaux standards, cheap for wine of this quality. As for food, this is Bordeaux, and it loves lamb.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Two old friends
Two of the first batch of South African wines that started me on this happy path for wine fun are the Glen Carlou Chardonnay and the Wolftrap Red Blend. The rep was in today with new vintages on both and both are delicious.
The Glen Carlou Chardonnay new vintage is 2008. An erratic quality year in South Africa, Glen Carlou nailed its traditional French styling with balance between fruit, wood and acid. There seemed to be a touch more oak in the 2008 vintage compared to 2007. This added sensation of oak gave the wine a richer weight that was balanced by crisp acid. It reminded me of Meursault from France. Glen Carlou is $15, Meursault is $50, you do the math.
The Wolftrap is the entry level red wine to the aforementioned Chocolate Block which is made by Boekenhoutskloof in Franschoek South Africa. Wolftrap is a blend of red and white grapes that yields a steal at $9.99 a bottle. Complex in flavor and aroma, it handles red meat and all cheeses with ease. This is a contender for house red wine of the year. Serve with barbque for a wonderful match.
Am very proud of myself, just double-checked the spelling of Boekenhoutskloof and I got it right without looking the first time.
The Glen Carlou Chardonnay new vintage is 2008. An erratic quality year in South Africa, Glen Carlou nailed its traditional French styling with balance between fruit, wood and acid. There seemed to be a touch more oak in the 2008 vintage compared to 2007. This added sensation of oak gave the wine a richer weight that was balanced by crisp acid. It reminded me of Meursault from France. Glen Carlou is $15, Meursault is $50, you do the math.
The Wolftrap is the entry level red wine to the aforementioned Chocolate Block which is made by Boekenhoutskloof in Franschoek South Africa. Wolftrap is a blend of red and white grapes that yields a steal at $9.99 a bottle. Complex in flavor and aroma, it handles red meat and all cheeses with ease. This is a contender for house red wine of the year. Serve with barbque for a wonderful match.
Am very proud of myself, just double-checked the spelling of Boekenhoutskloof and I got it right without looking the first time.
Monday, April 12, 2010
April in Paris
is good, but give me the Cape on a day like today. For you non-New Englanders, the Cape is Cape Cod and today was gorgeous for a Spring day and the last of my Cape wine tasting shows that I attend.
Tasted a lot of mediocre wine, very little bad wine and only a few really yummy wines.
A big surprise was Sawbuck Chardonnay from California. Lots of complex fruit flavors, hints of apricot, pineapple, and apple in a nicely balanced, not too oaky, not un-oaked white wine. The price, well a Sawbuck of course. Very well done California afternoon sipping wine.
Not a surprise was the Nino Negri 2006 Sfursat. Yup, Sfursat is spelled korrektly. The local Chiavanesca grapes, local dialect for Nebbiolo, the grape of Barolo, for this wine are allowed to slightly dry, like an Amarone. You get those big woody fruit flavors in a powerful red wine that screams to be served with a Gorgonzola infused dish. Or just a plate of great cheeses. This will retail for $50 a bottle.
Will blog about a few more, when they come in. The above wines were promised delivery this week. We shall see.
Tasted a lot of mediocre wine, very little bad wine and only a few really yummy wines.
A big surprise was Sawbuck Chardonnay from California. Lots of complex fruit flavors, hints of apricot, pineapple, and apple in a nicely balanced, not too oaky, not un-oaked white wine. The price, well a Sawbuck of course. Very well done California afternoon sipping wine.
Not a surprise was the Nino Negri 2006 Sfursat. Yup, Sfursat is spelled korrektly. The local Chiavanesca grapes, local dialect for Nebbiolo, the grape of Barolo, for this wine are allowed to slightly dry, like an Amarone. You get those big woody fruit flavors in a powerful red wine that screams to be served with a Gorgonzola infused dish. Or just a plate of great cheeses. This will retail for $50 a bottle.
Will blog about a few more, when they come in. The above wines were promised delivery this week. We shall see.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Eureka!
A little over 4 years ago, one of my wine savviest customers was commuting to NYC for business. He always went to the same restaurant, and ordered the same type of wine each time. On his last visit, he asked the sommelier for something my customer had never had before. The sommelier offered him The Chocolate Block and told him he would never find it anywhere as the restaurant had it exclusively in the city. The customer we shared told the sommelier, "No problem, my wine guy in Millis will get it for me."
8 months later I found it and got it for him. I am slow, but persistant.
He was very happy.
I tasted the wine and was overjoyed! At the time, I carried two wines from South Africa. Three with The Chocolate Block. and then another and another and another and now we carry almost 100 different wines from South Africa. I believe they offer the best bang for the buck wine values found anywhere in the world today. And it's not even close.
The 2008 Chocolate Block just arrived. It was promised to me back in November 2009. It is a delicious blend of red and white grapes. It has a sensation of chocolate in a rich dry red wine. I think the 2008 needs another 6 months in the bottle to show how good it is. It was yummy, but still too young with smoked ribs and slaw, and a flan of gorgonzola with andoullie sausage and toast. It overpowered a Coq au Vin Blanc. It retails for $39.99 a bottle in the store and this year my quota was 24 bottles. First come, first served.
Eureka is also a town in California as well as the yell for a gold strike. South Africa has more gold and better wine than California. E?UREKA! dude
8 months later I found it and got it for him. I am slow, but persistant.
He was very happy.
I tasted the wine and was overjoyed! At the time, I carried two wines from South Africa. Three with The Chocolate Block. and then another and another and another and now we carry almost 100 different wines from South Africa. I believe they offer the best bang for the buck wine values found anywhere in the world today. And it's not even close.
The 2008 Chocolate Block just arrived. It was promised to me back in November 2009. It is a delicious blend of red and white grapes. It has a sensation of chocolate in a rich dry red wine. I think the 2008 needs another 6 months in the bottle to show how good it is. It was yummy, but still too young with smoked ribs and slaw, and a flan of gorgonzola with andoullie sausage and toast. It overpowered a Coq au Vin Blanc. It retails for $39.99 a bottle in the store and this year my quota was 24 bottles. First come, first served.
Eureka is also a town in California as well as the yell for a gold strike. South Africa has more gold and better wine than California. E?UREKA! dude
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Homework
I have a dog. The dog has never eaten my homework.
Tonight's homework was to taste two South African reds and write a blog on them. The wines were the Onyx 2007 Shiraz, the Guardian Peak SMG.
I had tasted the Onyx Shiraz at the previous Cape Cod Wine Tasting and it was delicious. Full, rich round smooth and darn tasty, on retaste this week I was surprised how good it was. So I retasted it again tonight. It's wicked good. A little barnyard in the nose and then just luscious flavors all the way through. AT $19.99 a bottle, I will be buying more this week. A potential big hit for summer grilling.
Guardian Peak is a sub-division of the Englebrecht-Els Empire of Wine. It's not really an empire but I wanted to use the aliteration. On my 2008 visit to South Africa, I had a planned visit to Ernie Els, yup, the golfer, winery. He makes, at least his name is on the label, a wonderful Bordeaux style blend, that I enjoy and will write about in depth later. At the end of the visit and tasting, the marketing director told me to visit their smaller winery down the hill, Guardian Peak. He made the phone call and the staff there spoiled me. What I didn't know is that they had a fabulous patio restaurant that was just opening for lunch. (Always visit the best winery in the morning, while your palate is still sharp) I asked if I could have lunch there and SNAP straight out of Goodfellas movie scene, a table was whisked from some hidden alcove and was set up at the edge of the patio with the best view of the mountains. Oh yeah, everyone was looking at who the bigshot was, little did they know it was only me. SMG is a blend of the 3 most popular grapes in a French Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Syrah, Mourvedre and Grenache. This SMG was and is complex in aroma and flavor from the use of these big grapes, with hints of smoke, dark fruit and peppery spice. At $24.99 a bottle it is half the price of Chateauneuf and just as good, if not better.
There actually was a third wine tonight, but its story will run too long for this blog. The Chocolate Block for tomorrow night then.
Tonight's homework was to taste two South African reds and write a blog on them. The wines were the Onyx 2007 Shiraz, the Guardian Peak SMG.
I had tasted the Onyx Shiraz at the previous Cape Cod Wine Tasting and it was delicious. Full, rich round smooth and darn tasty, on retaste this week I was surprised how good it was. So I retasted it again tonight. It's wicked good. A little barnyard in the nose and then just luscious flavors all the way through. AT $19.99 a bottle, I will be buying more this week. A potential big hit for summer grilling.
Guardian Peak is a sub-division of the Englebrecht-Els Empire of Wine. It's not really an empire but I wanted to use the aliteration. On my 2008 visit to South Africa, I had a planned visit to Ernie Els, yup, the golfer, winery. He makes, at least his name is on the label, a wonderful Bordeaux style blend, that I enjoy and will write about in depth later. At the end of the visit and tasting, the marketing director told me to visit their smaller winery down the hill, Guardian Peak. He made the phone call and the staff there spoiled me. What I didn't know is that they had a fabulous patio restaurant that was just opening for lunch. (Always visit the best winery in the morning, while your palate is still sharp) I asked if I could have lunch there and SNAP straight out of Goodfellas movie scene, a table was whisked from some hidden alcove and was set up at the edge of the patio with the best view of the mountains. Oh yeah, everyone was looking at who the bigshot was, little did they know it was only me. SMG is a blend of the 3 most popular grapes in a French Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Syrah, Mourvedre and Grenache. This SMG was and is complex in aroma and flavor from the use of these big grapes, with hints of smoke, dark fruit and peppery spice. At $24.99 a bottle it is half the price of Chateauneuf and just as good, if not better.
There actually was a third wine tonight, but its story will run too long for this blog. The Chocolate Block for tomorrow night then.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Promises, promises
Pizza Pasta!
Two of the most popular red wines in the store are the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo from Zacagnini and the Primativo from Le Sciare.
Montepulciano is the variety of grape that is the most widely planted grape in Italy. It should not, but it always is, be confused with dry red wine from the town of Montepulciano where they dont grow any Montepulciano. The Zaccagnini is the easiest wine to recognize in the store. It has a piece of grape vine attached to the neck of the bottle. It sells for $15.99 a bottle and is easy drinking and full of flavor to compliment pizza and red sauce pasta. Smooth enough for a Merlot drinker, complex enough for classic Italian red drinker.
Primativo is the variety of grape in southern Italy that is the same grape as the Zinfandel of California. But wait. DNA analysis proves that the Primativo is in fact native not to Italy but somewhere on the north east coast of the Adriatic. This wine is equally yummy but has a bit more fruit to it. This works better if you put red hot pepper flakes on your pizza or love your red sauce fra Diavolo. This sells for $12.99 a bottle.
Oh, the new and improved Domino's pizza is better than it used to be.
Two of the most popular red wines in the store are the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo from Zacagnini and the Primativo from Le Sciare.
Montepulciano is the variety of grape that is the most widely planted grape in Italy. It should not, but it always is, be confused with dry red wine from the town of Montepulciano where they dont grow any Montepulciano. The Zaccagnini is the easiest wine to recognize in the store. It has a piece of grape vine attached to the neck of the bottle. It sells for $15.99 a bottle and is easy drinking and full of flavor to compliment pizza and red sauce pasta. Smooth enough for a Merlot drinker, complex enough for classic Italian red drinker.
Primativo is the variety of grape in southern Italy that is the same grape as the Zinfandel of California. But wait. DNA analysis proves that the Primativo is in fact native not to Italy but somewhere on the north east coast of the Adriatic. This wine is equally yummy but has a bit more fruit to it. This works better if you put red hot pepper flakes on your pizza or love your red sauce fra Diavolo. This sells for $12.99 a bottle.
Oh, the new and improved Domino's pizza is better than it used to be.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Get Back Jojo
Tonight I tasted a bunch of wines with friends and the wine that blew everyone's mind out was the Vina Rufina Rosado from Spain blogged a couple of days ago.
It was freakin AWESOME!
Unmistakeable aroma of strawberries, rich flavor, that was delicious chilled or not, great with all the food and three of the friends put orders in for a case for each of them. Calling the wholesaler to buy out the rest of his supply tomorrow morning.
I was planning on blogging about one of the other wines in tonights tasting, but why bother. Nothing else showed as good or as great a value. It was enjoyed by red and white wine drinkers alike.
Will do a couple of red wines tomorrow.
It was freakin AWESOME!
Unmistakeable aroma of strawberries, rich flavor, that was delicious chilled or not, great with all the food and three of the friends put orders in for a case for each of them. Calling the wholesaler to buy out the rest of his supply tomorrow morning.
I was planning on blogging about one of the other wines in tonights tasting, but why bother. Nothing else showed as good or as great a value. It was enjoyed by red and white wine drinkers alike.
Will do a couple of red wines tomorrow.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
92 today
This is just ridiculous. Too hot. And too many bugs too soon. Yech! One last summery wine and that's it for a while.
Portugal and Spain make up the Iberian Peninsula. Geography is done now. Yesterday, it was Portugal and Vinho Verde. Today Spain and Rueda. Tomorrow, red wine I promise.
Due northwest of Madrid, oops, I lied about one geography lesson, is the region of Rueda. It sort of looks like parts of New England with rolling hills of gravel, geology that time. In Rueda there is a white grape grown that makes one of my favorite wines for summer dinners, or apps. The grape, Verdejo, is also grown in Portugal with the same name, different spelling and in parts of Italy, with a completely different name. The wine produced from Verdejo, at least the ones I like, are light and crisp in the style of an Alpine Pinot Grigio, and have a wonderful lemon blossom flavor. To my palate, lemon is one of the universal seasonings, it goes with just about anything and the lemony sensation in Verdejo is a summer classic waiting to be discovered. Waiting for the 2009's to arrive, I have a little of the 2008 Las Brisas at $9.99 a bottle left. The wine can be served straight from a cold condensationally challenged ice bucket.
We will be getting others in the store depending on the tasting of the 2009s. I am optimistic about their quality.
Portugal and Spain make up the Iberian Peninsula. Geography is done now. Yesterday, it was Portugal and Vinho Verde. Today Spain and Rueda. Tomorrow, red wine I promise.
Due northwest of Madrid, oops, I lied about one geography lesson, is the region of Rueda. It sort of looks like parts of New England with rolling hills of gravel, geology that time. In Rueda there is a white grape grown that makes one of my favorite wines for summer dinners, or apps. The grape, Verdejo, is also grown in Portugal with the same name, different spelling and in parts of Italy, with a completely different name. The wine produced from Verdejo, at least the ones I like, are light and crisp in the style of an Alpine Pinot Grigio, and have a wonderful lemon blossom flavor. To my palate, lemon is one of the universal seasonings, it goes with just about anything and the lemony sensation in Verdejo is a summer classic waiting to be discovered. Waiting for the 2009's to arrive, I have a little of the 2008 Las Brisas at $9.99 a bottle left. The wine can be served straight from a cold condensationally challenged ice bucket.
We will be getting others in the store depending on the tasting of the 2009s. I am optimistic about their quality.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
We havin a heat wave
Second day in a row, temps in the 70's and forecast for 80's tomorrow before we return to normal red wine drinking weather of April.
One of my favorite hazy hot and humid white wines of summer is Vinho Verde from Portugal. Literal translation is green wine. It is light, it is dry, it is slightly fizzy and it is cheap. 2 bottles for $10 for the Gazela brand name. There are dozens of brand names, just make sure the one you buy is fresh. My latest Gazela shipment arrived last week, so we are good to go. Serve ice cold with your favorite shellfish. Or just remember to guzzle Gazela.
One of my favorite hazy hot and humid white wines of summer is Vinho Verde from Portugal. Literal translation is green wine. It is light, it is dry, it is slightly fizzy and it is cheap. 2 bottles for $10 for the Gazela brand name. There are dozens of brand names, just make sure the one you buy is fresh. My latest Gazela shipment arrived last week, so we are good to go. Serve ice cold with your favorite shellfish. Or just remember to guzzle Gazela.
Monday, April 5, 2010
A Rose by any other name
Rosado is Spanish for Rose wine. You know that pinkie colored wine that can be bone dry to unctously sweet.
I like my rose's dry, really dry. And I want them to have wonderful fruit flavors, yet still be dry.
About 6 or 7 years ago, I found one from Italy, from the Bardolino region, and it tasted like smooshed strawberries and was rich and dry. It was $20 a bottle at the time and I drank it all summer long.
The replacement for that wine is the Vina Rufina 2009 Rosado from Spain. Don't let the name Rufina fool you. It already fooled me. This delicious dry Rose has an intense aroma and flavor of fresh strawberries. It is a wacky blend of Tempranillo, red grape, Verdejo, white grape, and Albillo, unknown grape. It is only $14.99, a deal compared to my last lovable rose.
I will drink this all summer long and this Wednesday night. It is supposed to be in the 80's that day. And if it is not 80, I will drink it anyway. Gonna keep a stash in the fridge at the store too.
I like my rose's dry, really dry. And I want them to have wonderful fruit flavors, yet still be dry.
About 6 or 7 years ago, I found one from Italy, from the Bardolino region, and it tasted like smooshed strawberries and was rich and dry. It was $20 a bottle at the time and I drank it all summer long.
The replacement for that wine is the Vina Rufina 2009 Rosado from Spain. Don't let the name Rufina fool you. It already fooled me. This delicious dry Rose has an intense aroma and flavor of fresh strawberries. It is a wacky blend of Tempranillo, red grape, Verdejo, white grape, and Albillo, unknown grape. It is only $14.99, a deal compared to my last lovable rose.
I will drink this all summer long and this Wednesday night. It is supposed to be in the 80's that day. And if it is not 80, I will drink it anyway. Gonna keep a stash in the fridge at the store too.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
A is for Alphabetical
Every Christmas my bride gifts me a wine book that I would never buy for myself. Like all gifts, some are winners and some, well, let's just say make great door stops. This past holiday, she gave me 1001 Wines You Must Taste Before You Die. Catchy title. Makes me want to drink my cellar ASAP. Well the first wine listed in the red wine section is Aalto PS 2001. WOW! Not only did I taste this in barrel in Spain back in 2002, I own 5 6-packs of it that I bought in 2005.
This is GONNA be a great wine! Well, it already is a great wine, but it needs years of aging to reach drinking perfection. It is made entirely from Tempranillo grape, all of the vines are over 40 years old, from the Ribera del Duero region. I tasted a bottle when it first arrived and made a note, not to try it again til 2010. Now that it is 2010 and I have tried it again the wine is showing more complexity, and it's big, but it still needs more time. I will try it again in 2014. The price for Spanish perfection is $100 a bottle. No, not cheap, but wicked good, if you have the patience. I am thinking a prime rib roast would be the perfect compliment.
Aalto may go with Aardvark, but I have never eaten Aardvark so I can't be sure. It just makes sense though.
This is GONNA be a great wine! Well, it already is a great wine, but it needs years of aging to reach drinking perfection. It is made entirely from Tempranillo grape, all of the vines are over 40 years old, from the Ribera del Duero region. I tasted a bottle when it first arrived and made a note, not to try it again til 2010. Now that it is 2010 and I have tried it again the wine is showing more complexity, and it's big, but it still needs more time. I will try it again in 2014. The price for Spanish perfection is $100 a bottle. No, not cheap, but wicked good, if you have the patience. I am thinking a prime rib roast would be the perfect compliment.
Aalto may go with Aardvark, but I have never eaten Aardvark so I can't be sure. It just makes sense though.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Chocolate Bunnies
There is a wine that goes with hollow or solid chocolate bunnies. It is delicious with flourless chocolate cakes. It is wonderful with one of those Death by Suicide Chocolate Layer Frosted Ganache Chocolatey Chocolate Cakes. The grape is called Brachetto.
Grown in the Piedmont region of Italy, Brachetto is a variety of grape that is made into a fascinatingly different wine. It is only 5% alcohol. About the same as a beer. We get the American word "Fizzy" from this style of wine the Italians call Frizzante. It tastes like roses and raspberries. It is sweet, but not cloying sweet. And it is awesome with chocolate.
Brachetto does fizz up in your glass. Use a regular wine glass and serve the wine chilled. Brachetto is opened with a regular corkscrew, there is not enough pressure to make the wine "pop." After that, there is nothing regular about the wine. Yummy with Sunday brunch as well as those chocolatey thingies, I love to serve it to wine geeks to see their reaction.
Presently at the store we carry the Alasia brand for $14.99 a full bottle. The most popular brand is Rosa Regale from Banfi. We don't carry this one. And we hope to get back the $19.99 Brachetto from Beppe Marino, if I can only remember who I bought it from.
In my youth, I loved to bite off the ears of the chocolate bunny first. Primarily to see if it was hollow or solid. Not that the ears tasted better, like my wise-%^& cousin told me.
Grown in the Piedmont region of Italy, Brachetto is a variety of grape that is made into a fascinatingly different wine. It is only 5% alcohol. About the same as a beer. We get the American word "Fizzy" from this style of wine the Italians call Frizzante. It tastes like roses and raspberries. It is sweet, but not cloying sweet. And it is awesome with chocolate.
Brachetto does fizz up in your glass. Use a regular wine glass and serve the wine chilled. Brachetto is opened with a regular corkscrew, there is not enough pressure to make the wine "pop." After that, there is nothing regular about the wine. Yummy with Sunday brunch as well as those chocolatey thingies, I love to serve it to wine geeks to see their reaction.
Presently at the store we carry the Alasia brand for $14.99 a full bottle. The most popular brand is Rosa Regale from Banfi. We don't carry this one. And we hope to get back the $19.99 Brachetto from Beppe Marino, if I can only remember who I bought it from.
In my youth, I loved to bite off the ears of the chocolate bunny first. Primarily to see if it was hollow or solid. Not that the ears tasted better, like my wise-%^& cousin told me.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Ham or Lamb?
Thanksgiving, turkey is served but at Easter most people have either ham or lamb. As always with big gatherings, match the wine to the guests first and the food second. After all, they are the ones drinking it, not the cooked meat.
Ham is pork, cured with smoke and salt. To counterbalance the smoke and the salt, most people glaze their hams. The salty, smokey, sweet combination needs to be harmonized with the fruitiest wine you can stand. My first choice would be a German Riesling of Spatlese or Auslese level. Spatlese literally means to pick late. If you leave fruit on the vine longer, it gets sweeter naturally. Auslese means to pick out. As bunches are hand harvested, some of the bunches are noticeably riper, sweeter, than other. These extra sweet bunches are placed in a separate smaller hod attached to the normal size hod on the backs of the pickers. An inexpensive but good Spatlese is the Schmidt-Sohne around $11 a bottle. Most Spatleses are between $20-30 a bottle. I have two from the 2002 vintage, from the same producer but two different vineyard sites. Langwerth von Simmern is the producer, the two great vineyard sites are Hattenheimer Wisselbrunnen and Erbacher Marcobrunn, each around $30 a bottle.
Lamb is easier. Your favorite red wine not Pinot Noir. Yup, this is the show-off meat for any red wine other than Pinot Noir. Bordeaux, California, Italy, Spain, on and on just pick your or your guests favorite. To be fair, some people like Pinot Noir with lamb. I am not one of them.
And of course this year after dinner is done, you can choose to watch the Red Sox play the Yankees in Boston. On a rare warm and dry night in April, if you choose to believe the meterologists.
Ham is pork, cured with smoke and salt. To counterbalance the smoke and the salt, most people glaze their hams. The salty, smokey, sweet combination needs to be harmonized with the fruitiest wine you can stand. My first choice would be a German Riesling of Spatlese or Auslese level. Spatlese literally means to pick late. If you leave fruit on the vine longer, it gets sweeter naturally. Auslese means to pick out. As bunches are hand harvested, some of the bunches are noticeably riper, sweeter, than other. These extra sweet bunches are placed in a separate smaller hod attached to the normal size hod on the backs of the pickers. An inexpensive but good Spatlese is the Schmidt-Sohne around $11 a bottle. Most Spatleses are between $20-30 a bottle. I have two from the 2002 vintage, from the same producer but two different vineyard sites. Langwerth von Simmern is the producer, the two great vineyard sites are Hattenheimer Wisselbrunnen and Erbacher Marcobrunn, each around $30 a bottle.
Lamb is easier. Your favorite red wine not Pinot Noir. Yup, this is the show-off meat for any red wine other than Pinot Noir. Bordeaux, California, Italy, Spain, on and on just pick your or your guests favorite. To be fair, some people like Pinot Noir with lamb. I am not one of them.
And of course this year after dinner is done, you can choose to watch the Red Sox play the Yankees in Boston. On a rare warm and dry night in April, if you choose to believe the meterologists.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Trite April Fools Day Wine
Some wines just fool you. Dry Muscat comes first to mind.
Muscats have rich ripe floral and fruit aromas that are reminiscent of sweet fruit salad. You sip them and they are head shakingly dry. No sweetness on the palate at all. Fools me everytime. Most wines made from Muscat family grapes are made sweet or sweet and bubbly. The dry ones from the Alsace, Marcel Deiss is a master,but 30 a bottle are fun to drink. I do like to bring them out and fool wine geeky friends and serve them with dessert. I giggle when I watch them take a big sip and at first they are about to say that the wine is off, but they quickly realize I have duped them again. Haha, wine geek fun.
I must admit I was fooled badly the first time I had one, but I was congratulated for the "closest guess". On an early 1980's trip to Alsace, I was visiting the Lorentz estate, at the time one of the largest suppliers of good quality Alsace wine to the East Coast. After a great tour of the winery and the region by the grandfather, he never left Alsace but his nationality changed 4 times in his lifetime, we had a lunch at the estate and had a tasting of old wines after the meal. The last wine was the guessing one. My guess, a 1953 Pinot Gris, they all giggled at me and congratulated me for best guess. The wine, a 1928 Muscat. At that age all the fruity-floral aromas had faded away and we were left with a stunningly delicious dry white wine. I was only off by 25 years and the grape variety, everything.
Later I found out that the only strain of Muscat that ages that well is Ottonel. I have successfully aged some Muscat Ottonel over 10 years and have met with similar success. Fools the wine experts every time.
Alas, I have yet to find a food item that really sings with this floral dry bouquet of a wine. Just enjoy it for what it is. A fool ya.
Muscats have rich ripe floral and fruit aromas that are reminiscent of sweet fruit salad. You sip them and they are head shakingly dry. No sweetness on the palate at all. Fools me everytime. Most wines made from Muscat family grapes are made sweet or sweet and bubbly. The dry ones from the Alsace, Marcel Deiss is a master,but 30 a bottle are fun to drink. I do like to bring them out and fool wine geeky friends and serve them with dessert. I giggle when I watch them take a big sip and at first they are about to say that the wine is off, but they quickly realize I have duped them again. Haha, wine geek fun.
I must admit I was fooled badly the first time I had one, but I was congratulated for the "closest guess". On an early 1980's trip to Alsace, I was visiting the Lorentz estate, at the time one of the largest suppliers of good quality Alsace wine to the East Coast. After a great tour of the winery and the region by the grandfather, he never left Alsace but his nationality changed 4 times in his lifetime, we had a lunch at the estate and had a tasting of old wines after the meal. The last wine was the guessing one. My guess, a 1953 Pinot Gris, they all giggled at me and congratulated me for best guess. The wine, a 1928 Muscat. At that age all the fruity-floral aromas had faded away and we were left with a stunningly delicious dry white wine. I was only off by 25 years and the grape variety, everything.
Later I found out that the only strain of Muscat that ages that well is Ottonel. I have successfully aged some Muscat Ottonel over 10 years and have met with similar success. Fools the wine experts every time.
Alas, I have yet to find a food item that really sings with this floral dry bouquet of a wine. Just enjoy it for what it is. A fool ya.
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