Boys Night Out. I am lucky to have joined a second BNO to um, er, compliment my first group of BNO. The BNO I attended on Thursday was wonderful. Like the other too much food wine and fun.
Surprise of the night was the Desiderio Merlot 2001 by Avignonesi from Tuscany. I had this wine in Italy, years ago and was impressed by its weight, style, flavor and all around wicked goodness. I have had it 3 times back here in the states and have been dissappointed each time.
The other night, it was spectacular! I enjoyed it more than the Chateau le Pin 1990 and I prefer older wines to younger.
$49.99 for the Avignonesi. Only one bottle left. If it is not gone by next week, it will be gone down my gullet.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Paul does it again
Paul Cluver of South Africa makes great Gewurztraminer and dessert Riesling. This I know for years. A week or so ago, I tried his Pinot Noir and it is spectacular. I have 25 cases coming in next week.
I just found out about his 2008 Chardonnay. It is spectacular too. But by the time I found out about it, there were only 3 cases left. They are in the store, now. They are $19.99 a bottle. They are more French in style than oaky buttery California Chardonnay. I had it tonight with pan seared scallops and it was a great match. But then again, I love scallops. But then again, the wine is special.
Only 3 cases will be gone soon. Too bad.
I just found out about his 2008 Chardonnay. It is spectacular too. But by the time I found out about it, there were only 3 cases left. They are in the store, now. They are $19.99 a bottle. They are more French in style than oaky buttery California Chardonnay. I had it tonight with pan seared scallops and it was a great match. But then again, I love scallops. But then again, the wine is special.
Only 3 cases will be gone soon. Too bad.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Reverse
Til now the posts have been about new arrival wines. This is a reverse.
One of the biggest selling magnum bottles of wine in the store is Cavit Pinot Grigio. It has been a big selling staple in the store for years. We buy it 100 cases at a time to keep the price competitive. I was down to my last 20 cases and put my order in for the next batch of 100. UNTIL
A very good customer with a very good palate had a glass of the new vintage, 2009, and found it to be very different. Think of you order a Coke at a fast food joint and you get iced coffee, black no sugar. Still a nice beverage but not what you expected.
The 2009 Cavit Pinot Grigio is very different. If you like the 2008 and before, you will be surprised. I have a dozen or so cases of the 2008. I will not be buying the 2009. Salesmen are bringing in new samples daily. I will find another good magnum of affordable Pinot Grigio.
One of the biggest selling magnum bottles of wine in the store is Cavit Pinot Grigio. It has been a big selling staple in the store for years. We buy it 100 cases at a time to keep the price competitive. I was down to my last 20 cases and put my order in for the next batch of 100. UNTIL
A very good customer with a very good palate had a glass of the new vintage, 2009, and found it to be very different. Think of you order a Coke at a fast food joint and you get iced coffee, black no sugar. Still a nice beverage but not what you expected.
The 2009 Cavit Pinot Grigio is very different. If you like the 2008 and before, you will be surprised. I have a dozen or so cases of the 2008. I will not be buying the 2009. Salesmen are bringing in new samples daily. I will find another good magnum of affordable Pinot Grigio.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
South African Chardonnay
The biggest selling white wine in the store is Indaba Chenin Blanc 2009 vintage. When the winemaker, Bruwer Raats was visiting last month, he strongly urged trying the Chardonnay when it arrived. Salesman brought it to taste today. The drought of tasting tons of weak white wines is over. This Chardonnay is tremendous.
It is NOT oaky California style. It is rich South African style. Not lean smokey Chablis either. It is luscious and minerally at the same time. A wine oxymoron. Compared to the Chenin Blanc, it is the extra richness that you notice first, and then you can taste the flavor difference. Chardonnay tastes like Chardonnay and Chenin tastes like Chenin. Raats told me that this 2009 vintage is as great for red as the whites too. Can't wait to try the better ones....in a couple of years.
It is NOT oaky California style. It is rich South African style. Not lean smokey Chablis either. It is luscious and minerally at the same time. A wine oxymoron. Compared to the Chenin Blanc, it is the extra richness that you notice first, and then you can taste the flavor difference. Chardonnay tastes like Chardonnay and Chenin tastes like Chenin. Raats told me that this 2009 vintage is as great for red as the whites too. Can't wait to try the better ones....in a couple of years.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Merlot
Another of my favorite 8 x5 cards is.
To me it was true love, to her it was Meerlust.
Meerlust is one of the historic and top quality wineries of South Africa. They make a tremendous Bordeaux blend, called Rubicon, sorry California, this is better, but we are sold out of it now. They also make a wonderful Merlot, called, Merlot. Plums and minerals and hints of chocolate in a smooth red wine, that gets better with age. Age like 10 + years. Hard to believe in a Merlot. But this is the real deal. I love to serve this with a dish that has lots of herbs and spices in it. Beef, lamb, veal, all work terrificly. This is $24.99 a bottle, tastes 3 times the price.
Some people lust after it too.
To me it was true love, to her it was Meerlust.
Meerlust is one of the historic and top quality wineries of South Africa. They make a tremendous Bordeaux blend, called Rubicon, sorry California, this is better, but we are sold out of it now. They also make a wonderful Merlot, called, Merlot. Plums and minerals and hints of chocolate in a smooth red wine, that gets better with age. Age like 10 + years. Hard to believe in a Merlot. But this is the real deal. I love to serve this with a dish that has lots of herbs and spices in it. Beef, lamb, veal, all work terrificly. This is $24.99 a bottle, tastes 3 times the price.
Some people lust after it too.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Chinon Chinon Harvest Moon
Chinon is among the best red wine towns in the white wine region of the Loire Valley in France. The other night I tried 3 different ones from the great 2005 vintage. I was trying to organize my storage space in the store and found the 3 different cases in 3 different locations in the store room. I took it as an omen. And, quality rules.
Charles Jouget is considered by many to be the best producer in Chinon. The red grape grown in this town is Cabernet Franc. His wines are all delicious. His best wine comes from the Clos du Chene Vert vineyard. At $40 a bottle the wine is still very young and will keep and improve for at least 1o years, maybe longer. Fruit, and hints of brown spice, with some still youthful tannins, this wine is yummy now with fattier cuts of meat. I had it with beef short ribs and that has lots of fat, but the ribs were smoked and I was surprised that the wine did not work well with the smokey flavor. Oh, well, more homework is needed.
Charles Jouget is considered by many to be the best producer in Chinon. The red grape grown in this town is Cabernet Franc. His wines are all delicious. His best wine comes from the Clos du Chene Vert vineyard. At $40 a bottle the wine is still very young and will keep and improve for at least 1o years, maybe longer. Fruit, and hints of brown spice, with some still youthful tannins, this wine is yummy now with fattier cuts of meat. I had it with beef short ribs and that has lots of fat, but the ribs were smoked and I was surprised that the wine did not work well with the smokey flavor. Oh, well, more homework is needed.
Ooops
As promised I tried the Santa Cruz Garnacha from Artazuri at $40 a bottle. You are better off with 3 bottles of the regular. It was dissappointing. Maybe it will be better with a few more years of bottle age, so down in the cellar it goes and lets have time do its thing.
As the saying goes, wine happens.
As the saying goes, wine happens.
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