I put on a wine tasting for a local service group. Two whites and two reds were served that I picked for easy to taste differences and some great values.
The tasting started with the Indaba Chenin Blanc 2009. I have blogged about it before and it still the best tasting wine for summer for all foods for under $10.
Second in the tasting was the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc from Sole Beech of New Zealand. Also under $10 a bottle, the classic smell and flavor of grapefruit zest leapt out of the glass so easily that ever taster in the group recognized it. Great summer seafood wine.
The Cono Sur Carmenere was spectacular again. Previously blogged here, the taste of the chocolate, the smoothness and the sweet oak flavors combined in the wine to make just a juicy drink. I would like this with spicy hot jalapeno seasoned foods.
Back to South Africa for the final wine and Indaba again, but this time the red Shiraz was stunning for under $10 a bottle. Easy to find smells of smoke, bacon and spice should encourage you to serve this with your next barbque.
Monday, June 28, 2010
From the cellar
I have a sweet tooth. I love well made sweet wines. I buy too many for the store and myself.
Tonight I met up with some friends for some quahogs done Portugese style, and pork tenderloin with mango salsa, ricotta polenta and garlic broccoli. I don't do dessert.
My friends, who were enjoying a delicious homemade cheesecake without any topping, went crazy over a half bottle of 1998 Kracher #4 Welschriesling Trockenbeerenauslese. It displayed the typical honey-apricot flavors but but but, it had amazing brown spice flavors, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, as well as drying acidity that made the wine taste not too sweet. It was a head slapper and a thigh banger. For those of you that don't know me and since this is on the internet so for the billions of you that don't know me, I have this habit of either slapping my head or banging on my thighs when I get excited about a great wine and/or a great wine and food pairing. This was a double.
Tonight I met up with some friends for some quahogs done Portugese style, and pork tenderloin with mango salsa, ricotta polenta and garlic broccoli. I don't do dessert.
My friends, who were enjoying a delicious homemade cheesecake without any topping, went crazy over a half bottle of 1998 Kracher #4 Welschriesling Trockenbeerenauslese. It displayed the typical honey-apricot flavors but but but, it had amazing brown spice flavors, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, as well as drying acidity that made the wine taste not too sweet. It was a head slapper and a thigh banger. For those of you that don't know me and since this is on the internet so for the billions of you that don't know me, I have this habit of either slapping my head or banging on my thighs when I get excited about a great wine and/or a great wine and food pairing. This was a double.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
New Vintage
A little over a month ago, I raved about a red wine from Navarra, Spain made with the Garnacha grape, the 2007 Artazuri. Once the staff and I tried it, we bought all we could find in Massachusetts, and it sold out of the store in weeks. This week the rep brought us in the 2008 to taste. It's good but different. It shows more fruit and less spice and weight. Still a good wine and probably even better with burgers and dogs than the 2007. The price is still $12.99 a bottle and you will get more than your moneys worth each time. Perhaps with another six months of time in the bottle, it will develop some more weight and spice. In the meantime, it's a fun wine to bring to someone's barbque.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
The Other Argentine Wine
Just about everyone knows that Argentina produces great Malbec. Malbec is a variety of grape that originated in France but something in the climate and soil make the Malbec excel in Argentina. Hottest red grape out there. We just found a fabulous Malbec from Ben Marco for $19.99 a bottle. Sizzle up a steak and serve it, great match. But...
There is a grape from north-central Italy named Bonarda. Makes an ok but not great red dinner wine. The same grape grown in Argentina makes a rich complex tasting red wine. Much better than what you can get from Italy at the same price. Spend $11.99 for a bottle of Santa Hermida and serve it with the same steak. Delicious. Not as rich as the Malbec, but the Bonarda has much more complex aromas and flavors. Makes the steak taste better.
There is a grape from north-central Italy named Bonarda. Makes an ok but not great red dinner wine. The same grape grown in Argentina makes a rich complex tasting red wine. Much better than what you can get from Italy at the same price. Spend $11.99 for a bottle of Santa Hermida and serve it with the same steak. Delicious. Not as rich as the Malbec, but the Bonarda has much more complex aromas and flavors. Makes the steak taste better.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Yay, Newton
What goes up must come down.
The Euro has lost a lot of its value against the dollar in the past few months. Bad news for exports, but good news for imported wine. One of my most favorite wines in the world, I refused to buy at the holiday's based on price, not on quality. I just couldn't justify $100 a bottle for it. But today, I contracted to buy a bunch of Michele Castellani Amarone Stelle. This wine is only made in the best years. It is a red wine that is very strong with flavors of ripe dark fruit, earthy foresty, and well, just think of a mouthful of all the different flavors of jelly beans in your mouth at once. The price dropped 20 % to $ 80 a bottle. I am happy at this price. The wine is too strongly flavored to go with normal food. A Gorgonzola cream sauce on red meat or pasta works perfectly. Only thing is, this wine won't be in for a month, and you shouldn't drink it till the frost is on the pumpkin or the end of hurricane season,whichever comes later. In other words, wait til it is cold outside, the wine will warm you up.
The Euro has lost a lot of its value against the dollar in the past few months. Bad news for exports, but good news for imported wine. One of my most favorite wines in the world, I refused to buy at the holiday's based on price, not on quality. I just couldn't justify $100 a bottle for it. But today, I contracted to buy a bunch of Michele Castellani Amarone Stelle. This wine is only made in the best years. It is a red wine that is very strong with flavors of ripe dark fruit, earthy foresty, and well, just think of a mouthful of all the different flavors of jelly beans in your mouth at once. The price dropped 20 % to $ 80 a bottle. I am happy at this price. The wine is too strongly flavored to go with normal food. A Gorgonzola cream sauce on red meat or pasta works perfectly. Only thing is, this wine won't be in for a month, and you shouldn't drink it till the frost is on the pumpkin or the end of hurricane season,whichever comes later. In other words, wait til it is cold outside, the wine will warm you up.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Victory
South Africa beat France today in the World Cup.
South Africa has been beating France in wine for years.
Tonight I tasted the 2008 vintage of Glen Carlou Chardonnay from South Africa. It sells in the states for $14.99 a bottle. It is delicious. Balanced fruit, oak and acidity that would cost twice the amount if it was from France. Richer than a Macon/Pouilly Fuisse, it not quite as rich as a Meursault. Just a good drink. As well as a cocktail wine, there is enough stuffing and acid for this wine to be a worker with food. I am thinking more chicken and pork rather than fish. Unless it is a highly seasoned fish. Cream, butter sauce is optional.
Glen Carlou is in the Paarl region of South Africa. The estate has a reported good place to eat, I did not eat there when I last visited, but the view is wonderful. I tasted on the deck that overlooked a ridge of mountains that gave credence to "purple mountains majesty above the fruited plane." In addition Glen Carlou is owned by Hess of Switzerland. Hess is one of the great modern art collectors in the world. The gallery there is everchanging and is even enjoyed by me, a modern art boor.
South Africa has been beating France in wine for years.
Tonight I tasted the 2008 vintage of Glen Carlou Chardonnay from South Africa. It sells in the states for $14.99 a bottle. It is delicious. Balanced fruit, oak and acidity that would cost twice the amount if it was from France. Richer than a Macon/Pouilly Fuisse, it not quite as rich as a Meursault. Just a good drink. As well as a cocktail wine, there is enough stuffing and acid for this wine to be a worker with food. I am thinking more chicken and pork rather than fish. Unless it is a highly seasoned fish. Cream, butter sauce is optional.
Glen Carlou is in the Paarl region of South Africa. The estate has a reported good place to eat, I did not eat there when I last visited, but the view is wonderful. I tasted on the deck that overlooked a ridge of mountains that gave credence to "purple mountains majesty above the fruited plane." In addition Glen Carlou is owned by Hess of Switzerland. Hess is one of the great modern art collectors in the world. The gallery there is everchanging and is even enjoyed by me, a modern art boor.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Fathers Day Wine
Here's a dilemna most people don't have. It's Fathers Day, I picked king crab legs with butter and Old Bay, cole slaw and stuffed quahogs. And the wine was? I couldn't make up my mind. I wanted something fresh but with bottle age. Minerally and fruity. Light and rich. Arghhh.
Rummage, pick, poke, lift and separate the wine cellar until VOILA
2002 Tiefenbrunner Feldmarschal Muller-Thurgau from Italy. It was perfect. So if you need a wine for showing off, goes great with steamed lobster or crab and costs about $40 a bottle, I have about a half dozen bottles left. And the race is on. Will you buy them before I drink them? They cannot get any better than they are this summer!
Muller-Thurgau is a grape developed over 100 years ago by Professor Muller of Thurgau Switzerland. It is planted extensively in Germany and used to make good but not great quality table wine. In the cooler climate of the Alps the grape makes wonderful dry white dinner wine, that needs at least 5 years of age to be drinkable. This wine is from one of the highest vineyard sites in the Italian Alps. I need to order more now for a lobster in 2015.
Rummage, pick, poke, lift and separate the wine cellar until VOILA
2002 Tiefenbrunner Feldmarschal Muller-Thurgau from Italy. It was perfect. So if you need a wine for showing off, goes great with steamed lobster or crab and costs about $40 a bottle, I have about a half dozen bottles left. And the race is on. Will you buy them before I drink them? They cannot get any better than they are this summer!
Muller-Thurgau is a grape developed over 100 years ago by Professor Muller of Thurgau Switzerland. It is planted extensively in Germany and used to make good but not great quality table wine. In the cooler climate of the Alps the grape makes wonderful dry white dinner wine, that needs at least 5 years of age to be drinkable. This wine is from one of the highest vineyard sites in the Italian Alps. I need to order more now for a lobster in 2015.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Fore!
South African golfer Ernie Els is the best celebrity wine estate owner in the world. Well the Rothschilds are celebrities but they have been wine owners for so long that they are more famous for their wines than the original banking business. But I digress.
Ernie has hired a crackerjack team to make wine from his estate and his label. The wines with his name on it are very expensive and very good. Just down the hill from his named estate is another property he owns that has a fab restaurant run by another Els, no relation. This winery is Guardian Peak. I have mentioned in an earlier blog about the best wine from the estate, SMG, that retails for $24.99 a bottle and is sold out awaiting the next vintage from South Africa. Recently I found another blended wine from Guardian Peak named Frontier. This yummy blend is from Cabernet, Syrah and Merlot and retails for $14.99 a bottle. This wine is delicious now for a barbque, but has enough tannins to improve for a couple of years in the cellar. Crowd pleaser and gourmet pleaser for reasonable money. Sounds like a double eagle. Golf reference, 3 under par on one hole.
Ernie has hired a crackerjack team to make wine from his estate and his label. The wines with his name on it are very expensive and very good. Just down the hill from his named estate is another property he owns that has a fab restaurant run by another Els, no relation. This winery is Guardian Peak. I have mentioned in an earlier blog about the best wine from the estate, SMG, that retails for $24.99 a bottle and is sold out awaiting the next vintage from South Africa. Recently I found another blended wine from Guardian Peak named Frontier. This yummy blend is from Cabernet, Syrah and Merlot and retails for $14.99 a bottle. This wine is delicious now for a barbque, but has enough tannins to improve for a couple of years in the cellar. Crowd pleaser and gourmet pleaser for reasonable money. Sounds like a double eagle. Golf reference, 3 under par on one hole.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Garagista Extrordinaire
Four to six times a year I am lucky to have the best and most knowledgeable Italian wine palette visit me at the store and we taste wines together. Jeannie Rogers is the former co-owner of Il Capriccio in Waltham, Ma. and now co-owner of the tiny but spectacular wine import firm Adonna Imports. She represents her friends in Italy that just happen to make some of the most amazing wines in the world. The smallest of these great producers is Rovi. He is so tiny, he doesn't have a garage so he uses his neighbors garage to make his hand-picked wines. I am very lucky to get at least one 6 pack of his wines. Sometimes I get more, but not always. His wines are not cheap, $45-60 a bottle. His wines need to age a year or two minimum to show off their greatness. Right now I have two wines from him. The local red grape Marzemino, sort of a cross between a Rhone and a Burgundy, but no description can do it justice I would serve with a ham dinner. The other is a Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This wine needs to cellar two more years, but already you can taste amazing complexities of flavors that scream to be served with lamb or game meat. You can taste the wildness of the forest in the wine.
If you cannot leave these wines in your cellar for at least a year, don't buy them. If you have the patience, you will be rewarded.
If you cannot leave these wines in your cellar for at least a year, don't buy them. If you have the patience, you will be rewarded.
Shhhhhh again
One of my favorite sleeper wines of California is the Ferrari-Carano Sienna. The 2007 is in the store, but not for long, at $29.99 a bottle. I tasted a bottle last night with some steak tips. The wine was a PERFECT match. I called the wholesaler first thing this morning and just like a Sam Jones bank shot, I was too late. You have to be over 50 to know the provenance of that reference. Anyway, Sienna is a Sangiovese blend from California. Think of a super-Tuscan around $100 a bottle for the same quality. This is a wine, if you can't get some from me, you really should try and find some. It's that wonderful with a steak on the grill.
Oh and Jeff, I have put a couple of bottles away for you for your bride. Ciao.
Oh and Jeff, I have put a couple of bottles away for you for your bride. Ciao.
Name that wine
There is a family of South African wines you can get in the US but not in South Africa. Sounds silly, but true. The Jardin wines of South Africa are fabulous and only available in the US. The reason? The family name is on the label in South Africa and the family name is Jordan, no relation to the California Jordan's but that is way the name is changed here in the US.
Jardin best Chardonnay is a barrel selection of all their Chardonnay. It is called Nine Yards Chardonnay, because it is the whole nine yards. Ok, I just made that up, I don't know why its called Nine Yards. What I do know that another South African winery has joined the style of California and France to make a delicious wine. The 2005 vintage is $29.99 a bottle. Not a typo, 2005! Most Cal Chards are long gone by 5 years of age, this one is just starting to peak. Noticeable oak in harmony with great fruit flavors, crisp acidity and some mellow yellow color are evident in this wine. Closer in style to a Meursault with some hints of hazelnut, you can serve this wine with or without food. I pick the food because this allows the wine to show more versatility. There is also a 2003 Cabernet available from Jardin, that is equally as yummy and has the one thing a winemaker cannot create, bottle age and the flavors that come with it.
Jardin best Chardonnay is a barrel selection of all their Chardonnay. It is called Nine Yards Chardonnay, because it is the whole nine yards. Ok, I just made that up, I don't know why its called Nine Yards. What I do know that another South African winery has joined the style of California and France to make a delicious wine. The 2005 vintage is $29.99 a bottle. Not a typo, 2005! Most Cal Chards are long gone by 5 years of age, this one is just starting to peak. Noticeable oak in harmony with great fruit flavors, crisp acidity and some mellow yellow color are evident in this wine. Closer in style to a Meursault with some hints of hazelnut, you can serve this wine with or without food. I pick the food because this allows the wine to show more versatility. There is also a 2003 Cabernet available from Jardin, that is equally as yummy and has the one thing a winemaker cannot create, bottle age and the flavors that come with it.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Tempranillo
The red grape of Spain is Tempranillo. It may be the most versatile red grape in the world. I have tried some that taste like Pinot Noir,or Cabernet Sauvignon and even one wine tasted like, gulp, Coca Cola.
Tempranillo is magical with grilled, wood or gas, foods. The old 1+1=3. Food makes the wine taste better and wine makes the food taste better. The chicken and the egg come at the same time.
Two reasonably priced and good quality Tempranillos are the Ramon Bilbao from the Rioja region, and the Raimat from the Costieres del Segre region of Spain. Rioja is the most famous region of Spain and Tempranillo is king there. Bilbao produces textbook Tempranillo, fruity, dry, smokey, earthy and a middleweight, perfect for outdoor dining. Costieres del Segre is east of Rioja, equally mountainous, dry and hot. The wine has a tiny bit more fruitiness than the Rioja, but it is not a guarantee that all from Segre are fruitier than Rioja.
A side story from Segre. I visited there in 2002. The estate we visited was established by railroad barons of the late 1800's. But the history of the estate goes way way back. It was blazing hot and windy on the day we visited. Everything was dry and dusty. Except these straight as an arrow lines of trees that crisscrossed the propery as far as I could see. Giant fields of grapes and vegetables were enclosed by these trees. Upon commenting on the greeness of the trees in such an arid area, I was encouraged to walk over to the trees. Humongous roots were coming out of the trees and snaking into, ice-cold water from melting snows of the Pyranees brought to the property by Roman aquaducts 2000 years old. And still working. That night we had spring lamb cooked over wood fires for a spectacular way to enjoy Tempranillo and grilled meat.
Tempranillo is magical with grilled, wood or gas, foods. The old 1+1=3. Food makes the wine taste better and wine makes the food taste better. The chicken and the egg come at the same time.
Two reasonably priced and good quality Tempranillos are the Ramon Bilbao from the Rioja region, and the Raimat from the Costieres del Segre region of Spain. Rioja is the most famous region of Spain and Tempranillo is king there. Bilbao produces textbook Tempranillo, fruity, dry, smokey, earthy and a middleweight, perfect for outdoor dining. Costieres del Segre is east of Rioja, equally mountainous, dry and hot. The wine has a tiny bit more fruitiness than the Rioja, but it is not a guarantee that all from Segre are fruitier than Rioja.
A side story from Segre. I visited there in 2002. The estate we visited was established by railroad barons of the late 1800's. But the history of the estate goes way way back. It was blazing hot and windy on the day we visited. Everything was dry and dusty. Except these straight as an arrow lines of trees that crisscrossed the propery as far as I could see. Giant fields of grapes and vegetables were enclosed by these trees. Upon commenting on the greeness of the trees in such an arid area, I was encouraged to walk over to the trees. Humongous roots were coming out of the trees and snaking into, ice-cold water from melting snows of the Pyranees brought to the property by Roman aquaducts 2000 years old. And still working. That night we had spring lamb cooked over wood fires for a spectacular way to enjoy Tempranillo and grilled meat.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Blue Moon
The blue moon occurs when there are 2 full moons in one calendar month. The rarest is when it happens in February. I don't know how often it happens, my guess is once in two and a half years for any month. Hopefully, not once in 10 years. But then Mother Nature can be fickle.
In 1996 a red wine made from the Bonarda grape in north central Italy was made. Zaffo was its name-o. Mother Nature conspired with the winemaker in 2006 to make Zaffo once again. We waited impatiently for 10 years, and what do we get?
A wine that needs to age for 10 years to show its greatness.
Zaffo is the name of the big black horse on the label. He was a working horse, used to pull the plow in this classic vineyard.
If you even think about tasting this wine now you will be dissappointed. If you know how to taste through massive but ripe tannins you will recognize how great this wine will be. If you are not familiar with massive but ripe tannins, you will hate the wine. Either of you will love the wine in 5 years, but if you can store it properly and wait the full ten years, you will learn the true meaning of life, well not life, but why some wines need to age.
In 1996 a red wine made from the Bonarda grape in north central Italy was made. Zaffo was its name-o. Mother Nature conspired with the winemaker in 2006 to make Zaffo once again. We waited impatiently for 10 years, and what do we get?
A wine that needs to age for 10 years to show its greatness.
Zaffo is the name of the big black horse on the label. He was a working horse, used to pull the plow in this classic vineyard.
If you even think about tasting this wine now you will be dissappointed. If you know how to taste through massive but ripe tannins you will recognize how great this wine will be. If you are not familiar with massive but ripe tannins, you will hate the wine. Either of you will love the wine in 5 years, but if you can store it properly and wait the full ten years, you will learn the true meaning of life, well not life, but why some wines need to age.
I aye eye
I Clivi 2007 Collio Malvasia at $19.99 a bottle is the perfect summer dry white dinner wine. Or you can guzzle it.
Rich ripe hints of peach and spice and citrus and flowers and great mouthfeel. When I sampled it, I gave the rep and goofy smile and refused to spit it out. It was that yum. I believe it will stand up to salads, swim well with fish, and work well with grilled thingies.
I Clivi is the winery, Collio is the region so far north and east in Italy that you are practically in some Slavic country. The churches up here have onion domes. Malvasia is the name of the grape. With the proximity to some former part of Yugoslavia, I betcha this is great with ham and pork dishes come the fall. But I expect all of it to be gone this summer. It is just too good for the money.
Rich ripe hints of peach and spice and citrus and flowers and great mouthfeel. When I sampled it, I gave the rep and goofy smile and refused to spit it out. It was that yum. I believe it will stand up to salads, swim well with fish, and work well with grilled thingies.
I Clivi is the winery, Collio is the region so far north and east in Italy that you are practically in some Slavic country. The churches up here have onion domes. Malvasia is the name of the grape. With the proximity to some former part of Yugoslavia, I betcha this is great with ham and pork dishes come the fall. But I expect all of it to be gone this summer. It is just too good for the money.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Soccer, Futbol, wines
Yeah yeah yeah, the World Cup will be in South Africa for the next month. Big Deal.
One of the oldest and best wineries in South Africa is Rust en Vrede. Their flagship wine, among many, is the Estate wine. A blend of roughly 60 Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 Shiraz and 10 Merlot, this complex and flavorful wine was tasty with tonight's steak. In comparing the 2003 vs. 2004, the 03 was softer and easier to drink and enjoy tonight. The 04 had much more tannic structure and will continue to develop over the next 5 years. Each at $44.99, drink the 03, cellar the 04.
Really want to try this wine again with a lamb dinner.
One of the oldest and best wineries in South Africa is Rust en Vrede. Their flagship wine, among many, is the Estate wine. A blend of roughly 60 Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 Shiraz and 10 Merlot, this complex and flavorful wine was tasty with tonight's steak. In comparing the 2003 vs. 2004, the 03 was softer and easier to drink and enjoy tonight. The 04 had much more tannic structure and will continue to develop over the next 5 years. Each at $44.99, drink the 03, cellar the 04.
Really want to try this wine again with a lamb dinner.
3 DeTrafford
One of the best winemakers and smallest is De Trafford in the "Golden Triangle" of Stellenbosch South Africa.
Tiny, with only 3000 cases made, and meticulous and enormous quality for the price, David De Trafford makes some of the best bang for the buck wines in the world. Tonight I tried 3: Caberent Sauvignon, that most in my party thought was great Bordeaux even after they saw the label, the Blueprint Shiraz, generally thought to be not as good, but was amazing with the barbqued ribs and his dessert wine the Vin de Paille aka Straw Wine, which I am shocked to the flavor and quality.
Each of these wines is between 40 and 50 a bottle, the dessert wine is $44.99 a half bottle. World class wines that will continue to benefit from aging, but are truly delicious right now.
Tiny, with only 3000 cases made, and meticulous and enormous quality for the price, David De Trafford makes some of the best bang for the buck wines in the world. Tonight I tried 3: Caberent Sauvignon, that most in my party thought was great Bordeaux even after they saw the label, the Blueprint Shiraz, generally thought to be not as good, but was amazing with the barbqued ribs and his dessert wine the Vin de Paille aka Straw Wine, which I am shocked to the flavor and quality.
Each of these wines is between 40 and 50 a bottle, the dessert wine is $44.99 a half bottle. World class wines that will continue to benefit from aging, but are truly delicious right now.
Monday, June 7, 2010
One, two three, RED NIGHT
Wicked thunderstorms with wind and rain last night brought in some nice cool dry Canadian air. Windows are open, breeze is blowin' and the grill is goin'. The night is perfect for red.
Grilled some chicken kielbasi, if I was 20 years younger it would have been pork, ahhh, age, and drank the Sanguineto Rosso di Montepulciano 2007. Montepulciano IS the most confusing wine in Italy. The most prolific red grape in Italy is Montepulciano, except that it doesn't grow in the TOWN of Montepulciano. The town is in Tuscany and the grape Prugnolo Gentile is grown there. The grape is a relative of the Sangiovese, the grape of Chianti and Montalcino. Prugnolo Gentile has that slight sour cherry flavor that is perfect with grilled sausages. The Sanguineto is made by two sisters that run the farm by themselves. Only tiny amounts of the wine come into the USA and I am lucky to be on their list. The wine retails for $19.99. Open the bottle at least a half hour before serving. Perfect timing is to open the wine and then light the grill.
If you want a splurge bottle the sisters also make in more limited quantities a Vino Nobile de Montepulciano at $34.99 a bottle. This wine is aged one more year in wood barrels and needs a few more years in the cellar to show off its best flavors. And then in miniscule quantities and only in the best of the best years, they make a Vino Nobile de Montepulciano Riserva. Aged another extra year in wood and requires more years in the cellar. I only have one case of this, a measly 12 bottles at $49.99 a bottle, but you have to ask. I don't display it.
OOOh, now that would be a fun trio to bring to a tasting. And informative too.
Grilled some chicken kielbasi, if I was 20 years younger it would have been pork, ahhh, age, and drank the Sanguineto Rosso di Montepulciano 2007. Montepulciano IS the most confusing wine in Italy. The most prolific red grape in Italy is Montepulciano, except that it doesn't grow in the TOWN of Montepulciano. The town is in Tuscany and the grape Prugnolo Gentile is grown there. The grape is a relative of the Sangiovese, the grape of Chianti and Montalcino. Prugnolo Gentile has that slight sour cherry flavor that is perfect with grilled sausages. The Sanguineto is made by two sisters that run the farm by themselves. Only tiny amounts of the wine come into the USA and I am lucky to be on their list. The wine retails for $19.99. Open the bottle at least a half hour before serving. Perfect timing is to open the wine and then light the grill.
If you want a splurge bottle the sisters also make in more limited quantities a Vino Nobile de Montepulciano at $34.99 a bottle. This wine is aged one more year in wood barrels and needs a few more years in the cellar to show off its best flavors. And then in miniscule quantities and only in the best of the best years, they make a Vino Nobile de Montepulciano Riserva. Aged another extra year in wood and requires more years in the cellar. I only have one case of this, a measly 12 bottles at $49.99 a bottle, but you have to ask. I don't display it.
OOOh, now that would be a fun trio to bring to a tasting. And informative too.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Bargain Cabernet Sauvignon
Shhhhh.
A rep brought in a sample of 2009 Alto Sur, not to be confused with Cono Sur, Cabernet Sauvignon and we sell it for $11.99 a bottle. After I tried it and my eyes did the cartoon bug-out, I sampled Linda with it and she couldn't believe the price to quality ratio either. New rep, will keep him for a while. We bought plenty, enough to get us to the fall, hopefully.
Foodable and guzzleable.
A rep brought in a sample of 2009 Alto Sur, not to be confused with Cono Sur, Cabernet Sauvignon and we sell it for $11.99 a bottle. After I tried it and my eyes did the cartoon bug-out, I sampled Linda with it and she couldn't believe the price to quality ratio either. New rep, will keep him for a while. We bought plenty, enough to get us to the fall, hopefully.
Foodable and guzzleable.
More Riesling Dry
German wine laws change more often than a model at a fashion show.
If you are a lover of the greatest German dry Rieslings you must learn the words Erstes Gewachs. Roughly translated to First Growth, wine with these words on the label, must be from the best vineyard sites and produced in the highest standards and be dry. They are not cheap, but when compared to what you would pay for First Growth French wine, these are a steal.
At $44.99 a bottle the 2006 Schloss Reinhartshausen Erbach Schlossberg monopole, (they have a monopoly on this vineyard, sorta like owning Park Place and Boardwalk)Riesling Erstes Gewachs. Another mouthful of words the are overridden by the mouthful of flavors you get when you drink the wine. This is too good for summer quaffing. Personally, I would wait for the fall to show this wine at its best, root veggies, roast of pork or chicken or even some game. This is super special occasion wine. I get very little of them, and I am very susceptable to drinking them. Not many left. And yes, you can blame me.
If you are a lover of the greatest German dry Rieslings you must learn the words Erstes Gewachs. Roughly translated to First Growth, wine with these words on the label, must be from the best vineyard sites and produced in the highest standards and be dry. They are not cheap, but when compared to what you would pay for First Growth French wine, these are a steal.
At $44.99 a bottle the 2006 Schloss Reinhartshausen Erbach Schlossberg monopole, (they have a monopoly on this vineyard, sorta like owning Park Place and Boardwalk)Riesling Erstes Gewachs. Another mouthful of words the are overridden by the mouthful of flavors you get when you drink the wine. This is too good for summer quaffing. Personally, I would wait for the fall to show this wine at its best, root veggies, roast of pork or chicken or even some game. This is super special occasion wine. I get very little of them, and I am very susceptable to drinking them. Not many left. And yes, you can blame me.
My ship has come in from Germany
I love Riesling, bone dry to super sweet and everywhere in between I love Riesling. It surprises many people to see the word dry with Riesling. Good. More for me and it keeps the prices down. A couple of months ago a rep brought in some German wines for me to taste and offer an opinion on. 3 stunk, 3 were very good and one was spectacular.
The spectacular one was a dry Riesling! The St. Nikolaus Hospital Bernkastler Badstube Rieslilng Hochgewachs Trocken for $19.99 a bottle is personal perfection . Sorry about the long name but if you ask for the St. Nick wine, I will get it for you. The flavor of this wine is wonderful with pork dishes, fresh water fish, salmon and trout especially and just watching the sunset. The intensity of the aroma, the crispness of the wine and the lovely color make me very happy.
Happy is good.
Bonus note.
Just drank another bottle with my bridge partners. It was freakin awesome. Subtle flavors of melon and pineapple with a zip of spritz in the wine. Even the bridge guys were oohing and ahhhing.
The spectacular one was a dry Riesling! The St. Nikolaus Hospital Bernkastler Badstube Rieslilng Hochgewachs Trocken for $19.99 a bottle is personal perfection . Sorry about the long name but if you ask for the St. Nick wine, I will get it for you. The flavor of this wine is wonderful with pork dishes, fresh water fish, salmon and trout especially and just watching the sunset. The intensity of the aroma, the crispness of the wine and the lovely color make me very happy.
Happy is good.
Bonus note.
Just drank another bottle with my bridge partners. It was freakin awesome. Subtle flavors of melon and pineapple with a zip of spritz in the wine. Even the bridge guys were oohing and ahhhing.
New Zealnd Trio
New Zealand makes some wonderful Sauvignon Blancs. They come in two styles. Think Picasso and Rembrandt. One style, the style I dont like, is reminiscent of jalapeno pepper flavor in the wine without the heat. Yuck.
The other style, the good one, starts off with the wine tasting like tropical fruit, but before you can swallow, the wine changes into freshly grated grapefruit zest flavor. It rock all summer long and citrus works with fish.
My 3 favorites are Sole Beech $9.99, Oyster Bay $13.99 and Seresin $24.99, The difference between them, think 2% milk, milk and half and half. So save the Seresin for a serious summer meal. The others are guzzable.
The other style, the good one, starts off with the wine tasting like tropical fruit, but before you can swallow, the wine changes into freshly grated grapefruit zest flavor. It rock all summer long and citrus works with fish.
My 3 favorites are Sole Beech $9.99, Oyster Bay $13.99 and Seresin $24.99, The difference between them, think 2% milk, milk and half and half. So save the Seresin for a serious summer meal. The others are guzzable.
Hotter still
There is only one white wine that I will drink on a day so hot,not only you cannot walk on the sand, but also fry the egg on the hood of the car. So hot, your underwear feels like flypaper and your shoes stick to the floor five steps after you walk into the beer chest. And the wine is cheap.
Gazela Vinho Verde at 2 for $10 is the cafe wine of Lisbon and all other Portugese beaches, sailboats and pools. It is low in alcohol. it is snappy like a green apple, it is slightly fizzy like some people I know and it can be and should be served ICE cold. A tuna sandwich overpowers it, I grilled swordfish is too much, but when the weather is too hot, it is the wine of the thermometer.
A trick to make the wine colder. Add salt to the water and ice in the bucket with the wine. Wont make your lips turn blue, but makes the wine colder.
Gazela Vinho Verde at 2 for $10 is the cafe wine of Lisbon and all other Portugese beaches, sailboats and pools. It is low in alcohol. it is snappy like a green apple, it is slightly fizzy like some people I know and it can be and should be served ICE cold. A tuna sandwich overpowers it, I grilled swordfish is too much, but when the weather is too hot, it is the wine of the thermometer.
A trick to make the wine colder. Add salt to the water and ice in the bucket with the wine. Wont make your lips turn blue, but makes the wine colder.
Watermelon salad part 2
It was hot the other night. And Humid. I wanted cold wine. I knew I was having watermelon salad. I grabbed the wrong bottle out of the cooler. Great mistake.
I dont really like the grape Viognier. It is a white grape native to the Rhone Valley of France. The trade has been trying to talk up the grape for over 20 years. I don't get it. I keep one of two in the store just to have them. People ask for them, I got them, but I try to turn them to other wines.... until now.
Peirano Estate in Lodi California made an unbelievably delicious Viognier in 2007. Fruit flavors with hints of spice, that are different from any other white grape I know. Delicious and only $12.99. And it goes with my favorite watermelon salad, and it went with the ribs too, and the whole red snapper with jambalaya stuffing. Nice to find a summer white that can stand up to the whole meal, spicey fruity, smokey, and all the other flavors of summer.
Funky and fabulous.
I dont really like the grape Viognier. It is a white grape native to the Rhone Valley of France. The trade has been trying to talk up the grape for over 20 years. I don't get it. I keep one of two in the store just to have them. People ask for them, I got them, but I try to turn them to other wines.... until now.
Peirano Estate in Lodi California made an unbelievably delicious Viognier in 2007. Fruit flavors with hints of spice, that are different from any other white grape I know. Delicious and only $12.99. And it goes with my favorite watermelon salad, and it went with the ribs too, and the whole red snapper with jambalaya stuffing. Nice to find a summer white that can stand up to the whole meal, spicey fruity, smokey, and all the other flavors of summer.
Funky and fabulous.
Crabby Cook
A long time friend, great gastronome and blogger on hiatus, Crabby Cook, texted me all agog from entertaining friends in the back yard and getting unanamous approval for Mulderbosch Rose of Cabernet as the ultimate summer wine. So I had to retest it.
I liked it so much when I first tried it in winter, I bought it. I like it more now. Dry rose with a brilliant color of dark rose, the essence of both cherry and strawberry are subtle but noticeable in the wine. I served it chilled with some very nice barbqued ribs and it was a good match, but I loved it with a wild salad of watermelon, feta, onion, cucumber, mint, parsley, balsamic and a touch of EVOO. It's hard to find any wine that works with a salad, but this salad? WOW.
Oh, I LOVE this salad.
I liked it so much when I first tried it in winter, I bought it. I like it more now. Dry rose with a brilliant color of dark rose, the essence of both cherry and strawberry are subtle but noticeable in the wine. I served it chilled with some very nice barbqued ribs and it was a good match, but I loved it with a wild salad of watermelon, feta, onion, cucumber, mint, parsley, balsamic and a touch of EVOO. It's hard to find any wine that works with a salad, but this salad? WOW.
Oh, I LOVE this salad.
Ketchup time again
This writing thing can be time consuming, interfering, and fun. Having missed a few too many now, tonight I play catch up. So the first wine tonight is a wine that is yummy with ketchup covered cuisine. Since we eat a lot of this style of cuisine, you will see quite a few of these wines through the summer.
Tenuta Migliavacca is the name of the winery and the grape is Freisa. I pronounce Freisa as Muhammad Ali would pronounce Joe Frazier's name. It works. Check the tape. Anyway Freisa is another of the lesser known grapes of the great Piedmont region of northwest Italy. Freisa produces a wine that is light in color, light in flavor with some noticeable fruitiness and a bit of spritz, that slightly effervescent sensation that works well with a slight chill to the wine. So you get the chill for hot days, the red to go with ketchup, the lower alcohol to stay awake, and a nice flavor with a reasonable price. $14.99 a bottle.
Nice wine if you are in the mood for something different.
Tenuta Migliavacca is the name of the winery and the grape is Freisa. I pronounce Freisa as Muhammad Ali would pronounce Joe Frazier's name. It works. Check the tape. Anyway Freisa is another of the lesser known grapes of the great Piedmont region of northwest Italy. Freisa produces a wine that is light in color, light in flavor with some noticeable fruitiness and a bit of spritz, that slightly effervescent sensation that works well with a slight chill to the wine. So you get the chill for hot days, the red to go with ketchup, the lower alcohol to stay awake, and a nice flavor with a reasonable price. $14.99 a bottle.
Nice wine if you are in the mood for something different.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Pinot Grigio
Sadly, I will be discontinuing Cavit Pinot Grigio in the store. The 2009 is not typical and the staff at the store and myself were not happy. I have been tasting tons of Grigios and the winner was picked by my bridge group, cards, not river crossings. Another big company, but the quality made this an easy pick.
The Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio will be the new quality-price Pinot Grigio in the store. It was rich and smooth and tasty and reasonably priced. $13.99 for a 1.5 liter bottle and the regular sized bottle 750ml. will be priced $9.99, 2 bottles for $18.00. An honest bottle of wine. Oh, wait, Lincoln's birthday was in February. My bad.
The Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio will be the new quality-price Pinot Grigio in the store. It was rich and smooth and tasty and reasonably priced. $13.99 for a 1.5 liter bottle and the regular sized bottle 750ml. will be priced $9.99, 2 bottles for $18.00. An honest bottle of wine. Oh, wait, Lincoln's birthday was in February. My bad.
Dry Riesling and more
Months ago a rep came in and tasted me on a bunch of German wines with mixed results. That's being kind. The wines were all average with the exception of one of the best DRY German Rieslings ever. I am embarrased to say I don't have the wine's name here, but will edit this tomorrow. It is $19.99 a bottle, dry, and delicious. It is a classic, you cound not mistake it for anything but a great dry Riesling. I am bumming a bit because my bride just made a yummy slowed roasted chicken that would be awesome with the Riesling.
I couple of blogs ago, I mentioned the Paul Cluver Pinot Noir. The 25 cases arrived today. I have had the wine again, and my words do not do it justice. I have learned that its flavors and aromas expand exponentially with time. I suggest a 3 yes three hour breathing time as a minimum to allow the flavors to properly expand. Pour it in a decanter if you have one, make sure the decanter is clean. This wine will improve in your cellar for 5-10 years, although it is wicked awesome now. If you are an early planner, there will be no better wine with your Thanksgiving turkey this year or your holiday roast of beef. I tell you this now because people who know wine will buy this by the case. I am already trying to get more more more more.
I couple of blogs ago, I mentioned the Paul Cluver Pinot Noir. The 25 cases arrived today. I have had the wine again, and my words do not do it justice. I have learned that its flavors and aromas expand exponentially with time. I suggest a 3 yes three hour breathing time as a minimum to allow the flavors to properly expand. Pour it in a decanter if you have one, make sure the decanter is clean. This wine will improve in your cellar for 5-10 years, although it is wicked awesome now. If you are an early planner, there will be no better wine with your Thanksgiving turkey this year or your holiday roast of beef. I tell you this now because people who know wine will buy this by the case. I am already trying to get more more more more.
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