Affordable Wines for Everyday

Permanent Hiatus

2011-08-23T09:22:00.000-07:00

I obviously haven't posted much recently and I cannot see having the time to devote to it coming up. Couple that with having an obvious conflict of interest in my new position and I am going to have to take this thing on permanent hiatus. If anyone is interested in picking up the torch from me, let me know - I am happy to let someone else carry this forward.

I'm Still Alive... I promise!

2011-07-19T08:17:00.000-07:00

I am sorry I have been so hit and miss lately... mostly miss. I am still committed to this blog, however I have been extremely short on time. The Certified Sommelier exam is 10 weeks away and I still have a LOT of work to do on that, I am working more hours, I have the band thing going and also, it is summertime, so there is yard work and gardening to be done. No excuses, that's just what is going on. With all the wine knowledge going into my brain right now, sometimes I just need a break - and when I do find something interesting in my studies, it is often dry and I don't want to write extremely boring, esoteric blog posts.

I will post a review very shortly, I promise.

French Wine Consumption Drops

2011-06-27T18:19:00.000-07:00

I had a rough day today, but I am sitting here finishing my 2008 Trapiche Broquel Malbec from Argentina that we had with our steak tonight and I was feeling a lot better. Fewer things in life are more beautiful (in my eyes) than a well paired dinner with wine. So, I was bummed when I read this article on how wine is losing ground in French culture.

One can make a parallel argument (one that is my age or older) about how kids today are missing out on a lot of things that slow down time in our culture: downloading songs instead of buying an LP or CD and spending time going over the artwork and lyrics, the days of internet have gotten rid of Sunday mornings with the paper or writing letters instead of email (blogs instead of zines?). But I am not going to make this argument on the basis of being a curmudgeon... nor am I going to denigrate spirits or beer, but...

Wine is different than spirits or beer. And it has been for millennia. I have had great conversations over a cigar and glass of bourbon with friends. I made new friends over pints of Guinness one night stuck in Malahide just outside of Dublin (the suburb U2 is from)... but some of my greatest memories involve wine.

1. Sitting at a Parisian cafe drinking rose with my wife (then fiancee) and people watching the day after getting engaged the night before on the Pont Neuf
2. Sitting with my wife after dinner, drinking Chianti in Venice watching tourists float by in 100 Euro gondola rides and soaking in the Venetian culture
3. Having my first bottle of Chablis with my friend Justin during a brunch on one of my first Saturday mornings living in Chicago

The trend is this - it cements a moment in time. A particular wine, that tastes unique to that day in time, with certain people in a certain place, at a particular moment in time. Tell me you have that memory with Coors Light - or even Bells Two Hearted... or Jack Daniels' (and I love all of the aforementioned drinks, but you get my point).

If the French are losing their cultural connection with wine, who is to save its place in our cultures? I suppose if I have to carry it on single handedly, then I will :)

Are You a Wine Snob?

2011-06-07T18:19:00.000-07:00

I on occasion get accused of being a "wine snob"... most of it is in good humor. However, there was a Facebook thread I was a part of a month or so back that came up in conversation today where, I wasn't called an out-right wine snob, but it was certainly insinuated.

This all came about because I said I had no interest in drinking Oliver Winery's wine. Oliver is a good sized winery just outside Bloomington, Indiana that I have visited a couple times and they make several types of wine from wine (as in from grapes) and fruit wine as well as mead and other things. I have not had a wine from Oliver that is not sweet (I admit it has been years) but my opinion of it is, if you like sweet wine, drink Oliver. I do not like sweet wine usually... unless I am having dessert and with so many great ports, sherries, botrytis wines and others out I see no reason to drink sub-par wines with my desserts either.

One thing to keep in mind about the quality of wine - residual sugar can hide many flaws... both in the fruit and in the wine making.

Why is wine different than other products? You wouldn't call someone a "shoe snob" if they refused to shop at Payless, or a "food snob" if they refused to eat at McDonald's... would you? Maybe comparing Oliver to McDonald's is rough... it is not my intention to attack Oliver... again, if you like it, drink it. But Oliver is not fine wine... and that is what I love and have a passion for. I also don't play shitty guitars... why? Because I also love guitars. I will however drink Miller High Life and Pabst Blue Ribbon, wear Levi's for as many days in a row as I can before they get dirty or I spill something on them, drive an old rusty truck that was built when I was a sophomore in high school (that I've owned for 18 months and never washed), etc., etc.

Everyone is entitled to be choosy about their passions. Wine is different, I believe, because it is so misunderstood by the masses. People believe that those of us with a passion for wine drink with our pinky in the air (as well as our noses) and that it is a status thing... truth is, I've never met anyone who was seriously into wine who fit the profile of a "wine snob". Gospel truth. I've had a customer or two who pretend to know more than they do who were snobby, but those of us in the industry can appreciate a cheap, quality bottle of wine as much as a First Growth Bordeaux... Cheap doesn't indicate that it is of bad quality, but good wine and bad wine is not qualitative, it is quantitative... doesn't mean you can't enjoy drinking it, but you enjoying it doesn't make it quality.

The majority of the tasting notes I have posted here are for wines under $15 and I am committed to making wine approachable to people the same as others made it approachable to me... but you will not see me make tasting notes on Oliver.

Time to go crack a High Life...

Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2010 - $11.99

2011-05-24T17:12:00.000-07:00

This wine is from the Coastal Region of South Africa and is a great deal at $11.99. It is medium to dark pink in color with hints of watermelon, cherries, strawberries, wet stone and a hit of herbaciousness on the nose. Those are complemented by raspberries on the palate. It is big for a rose, medium to medium plus acid level and a long finish.

RATING: 9/10

Tarima Monastrell 2009 - $8.99 (UPDATE)

2011-04-12T17:01:00.000-07:00

I drank this same bottle in June 2010 and since it got, by far, the most amount of views, I thought I'd give it another crack and see how the bottle had changed in 10 months and to see how my tasting skills have progressed (though this bottle might not be the best test - it is very good but not the most complex wine in the world by any stretch of the imagination). So without further adieu, my tasting notes for today.

This is a very aromatic, full bodied, 100% Monastrell. Notes of cooked strawberries, cherry pie filling, blackberries, violets, dried rose petals, straw and dry dirt, elderberry, white pepper and cocoa powder. Nice structure, supple tannins, high acidity, medium plus finish. Like my previous note, despite being 15% abv it does not feel that warm - the structure of the wine downplays the alcohol very well. Very good wine for $8.99.

Affordable Wines for Everyday is 1 year old today!!

2011-04-11T11:53:00.000-07:00

My first post to this blog was one year ago today, it is a little hard to believe. Now, 92 posts later, things have changed. Well, some things have changed.

To begin with the obvious, I left law school to devote myself to wine full-time. I've also started blogging on numerous wine-related topics besides just sharing tasting notes. Nothing earth shattering, just sharing things as I learn about them or passing on things I think others will be interested in.

Some more things are going to change. I am thinking about adding video to the blog but still trying to find how I am going to implement that. There are already a lot of wine vlogs out there, YouTube is littered with them. I am also (hopefully) going to add some new work / wine travel to my experience and will share that as it happens.

My next blog post will be a 2nd tasting of the Tarima Monastrell 2009 which was by FAR the most read entry of the last year with 533 page views. That was done in June 2010 and I will re-visit that wine and see how both the wine and my tasting skills have changed over the last 10 months.

Thanks to all of you who have been reading this over the last year.

Introductory Class for The Court of Master Sommeliers - Review

2011-03-29T18:36:00.000-07:00

I just got back in town from Columbus, OH where I took the Introductory class for The Court of Master Sommeliers - the first step in becoming a Certified Sommelier.

It was tough but extremely inspiring.

I won't bore you with the details beyond these few things:

1. Learning the deductive tasting method as they teach it is worth the $500 admission price alone. I went from guessing yesterday morning to making informed decisions about what was in the glass and nailing wines down to the vintage and appellation. Not that I am now a master taster - but I am not flying in the dark anymore.

2. In spite of not gaining any title with this class and it taking only 60% to pass this test, it was hard and I am proud to have passed. The next test is going to be a LOT harder and not working in a restaurant, I am going to struggle with the service portion.

3. If you love wine and can afford it - I'd take this class even if you have no intention of becoming a sommelier. It's a TON of information that you're mostly supposed to know before you get there but I still learned a lot.

Many thanks to the Master Sommeliers who taught the class:

· Matthew Citriglia - Coordinator

· Brett Davis

· Ron Edwards

· Jennifer Huether

· Melissa Monosoff

First Blind Tasting Practice - Epic Fail!

2011-03-23T07:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon I got together with my new study partner for my sommelier certification and we went to L & N Wine Bar & Bistro here in Louisville. We had the bartender blind taste us on two whites and two reds. We made our notes, discussed why we thought what we thought and then she gave us the answers. I was way off. Fortunately I enjoy this learning process and hey, you have to start somewhere. I consider myself a decent taster but going blind is a whole different thing (the other thing is the lighting isn't great for tasting at L & N, hence there are no color notes). Here are my notes and the results:

1. White - White peach, apple, wet stone minerality, rose hips, grassy, lemon-lime, medium plus acidity, medium alcohol, ligher bodied, long finish.

My guess: California Sauvignon Blanc
Reality: Omrah Chardonnay from Australia (obviously un-oaked and un-maloed)

2. White - Citrus zest, lime, lemongrass, apple, medium plus acidity and spicy. Nose like a Gewurz or Viognier, more like a Sauv Blanc or Pinot Grigio on the pallate.

My guess: Pac NW Riesling
Reality: La Cana Albarino (Spain)

3. Red - Plum, black currant, blueberry, baby shit, cherry, very light tannins (just sides of tongue), a little smoke

My guess: California Pinot Noir
Reality: Chono Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva (Chile)

4. Red - cherry, licorice, mud and hay, tannins on tip of tongue and sides of cheek, blackberry, long finish, high acidity, medium plus alcohol, cooler climate growing region

My guess: Pac NW Merlot
Reality: Plungerhead Zin (Lodi, CA)

I went 0-4, my co-hort 2-4. He got #1 and #3 varietals and we got #4 wrong together. He's pretty sharp. I have my work cut out for me.

Wine & Health

2011-03-14T17:06:00.001-07:00

Forgive me for this string of non-tasting review posts but I am currently drinking very little for dietary reasons. Fortunately I have a backlog of tasting notes to share (and I am still having the occasional glass - I have not become a teetotaler).

However, it is good to take stock of the benefits of wine on health - if it weren't for the calories in the glass (and my current low carb diet) I'd still be drinking wine as I consider it very much a part of a healthy lifestyle when drank in moderation.

Here is a pretty good short piece on wine's health benefits - which are deeper than many know. The information is a bit dated but nothing has gone out of date - in fact, they're finding more and more benefits all the time and the piece about dementia has been proven to be even more pertinent than before.

If you'd like to read more, the Wikipedia page is actually more in-depth and up-to-date - and as always, I believe Wikipedia is an excellent place to start your research.

Should Parents Let Their Teenage Kids Drink at Home?

2011-03-08T17:45:00.000-08:00

Today I read an article in the Wall Street Journal called "Dad, I Prefer the Shiraz". It brought up a scenario that I have long discussed with my wife and friends - what do you do with your kids when they are teenagers when it comes to alcohol? We discuss how our parents handled the situation with us and given our experiences what we plan to do when we have teenagers.

One thing left out of this article that I feel is very important is the attitude regarding alcohol and how it is used culturally. It's not just about when you let your kids begin to have a glass of wine, but the context of it. As an example, in our house, our kids will be brought up in a way where alcohol will not be a mystery to them far before they ever sample it. Alcohol is my business, my career and a big part of my home enjoyment - cooking, eating and having a glass (or two) of wine. They will not see us getting fall down drunk or extremely intoxicated, but seeing us having alcohol socially and as a compliment to a meal. This is a far cry from doing shots or beer bonging some Natural Light.

Sixteen sounds like a decent age - but again, it depends on the maturity of the teenager too - to begin with a glass of wine at home with dinner. Setting the example of enjoying it responsibly will over-take the influence of friends as they throw up Boone's Farm on themselves. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Domaine de Pellhaut 2009 Gascony White - $7.99

2011-03-02T17:19:00.000-08:00

This is a Trebbiano based blend from the Gascony region of France. It is "organic" or "sustainable" according to its tech sheets (Disclaimer - I could not verify this independently). 12% abv. Notes of tree fruit such as apple, pear and a hint of peach with lemongrass and stone minerality. Medium acidity, enough for food but drink now. Light plus or medium minus body. Very pleasant, good, easy drinking, enjoyable white table wine. Great while watching food of the Pyrenees of France on The Cooking Channel.

RATING: 9/10

Grilled Cheese, Tomato Soup & Wine

2011-02-22T17:54:00.000-08:00

Awhile back I posted something to the Facebook page from Wine Spectator Online regarding "8 and $20" - a meal for less than $20 with 8 ingredients or less. Well, the current one really got to me. I love grilled cheese and tomato soup. I've been eating since I was a kid and I still enjoy it, especially during winter. Over the years I have modified it to suit my particular tastes or to make use of things I have in the kitchen already. I am attaching Wine Spectator's article here, but below is my recipe and wine pairing.

I make this on my panini machine rather than in a skillet to save on calories and fat because I don't need the butter, but feel free to cook this as you choose. I also prefer this meal Italian and that makes an easy pairing because who is more used to pairing to tomatoes than the Italians?

2 pieces whole grain bread
Mozzarella, Pecorino cheeses (substitute your own Italian cheese if you choose)
2 tomato slices
Oregano to taste
(You can also use meats in this if you choose)

I use canned tomato soup and add garlic, oregano and other Italian spices to taste.

Pair with an easy, cheap Chianti, such as Gabbiano ($9.99) or Caposaldo ($8.99)

Enjoy!

Cellaring Wine for the Average Oenophile

2011-02-19T15:09:00.000-08:00

There is a lot of bad information out there on cellaring and there are a lot of myths associated with cellaring. I know - I just did a quick Google search and was amazed at the not-quite-100% accurate information out there. There is also not a lot of information out there for folks like me who want to age a bottle for a year or two and who can't afford a proper cellar or the bottles of Lafite Rothschild to put in it. So here are some helpful hints and tips if you want to see what a wine tastes like as it ages.

1. It doesn't have to be expensive. It needs the proper structure to age, but you can find these wines at prices around $15 and up. White wines need a lot of acid and red wines need acid and tannins - these are the natural preservatives in wine. If you're not sure about the wine, ask your friendly neighborhood wine shop employee.

2. Buy two bottles... and take notes. Drink the first one when you buy it and hold the second one for a year. Make notes on both and compare. How did it change in color? Complexity? Etc.

3. Yes, lie them down. But you can store them upside down too if need be. The cork needs to stay moist, if it dries out air will enter the bottle and the wine will be oxidized. This includes sparkling wines. There is a school of thought that this doesn't apply to sparkling wines but if the folks at Veuve lie their champagne down, then it's probably for the best.

4. Constant Everything. You don't have to have a temperature and humidity controlled room, but the wines need to remain cool (if you have a basement, this is best - if not, as far from heat sources as possible - DO NOT EVER KEEP WINE IN YOUR KITCHEN, EVEN FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. The wines need to be in as dark of a place as possible and free from vibration. Again, a basement closet of some sort is the best for those of us without cellars. You might need a dehumidifier in the summer depending on your situation (I will need to invest in one before summer).

The reason for #4 is that heat will cause your wine to change much faster than you want - too much heat and the wine can seem "baked". A little bit of temperature change between seasons is okay, you just don't want drastic or fast change. To be honest, I am not 100% sure why about the vibration issue - it is just something I have always heard and I know certain wines can return to bottle shock in airplanes and such. If anyone reading has the answer to this - please comment - otherwise I will look into it and post when I figure it out.

Ridge York Creek Zinfandel 2006 - $24.99

2011-02-17T20:45:00.000-08:00

This Napa Zinfandel was bottled in April of 2008 and is 99% Zinfandel (1% Petite Sirah). It is a sturdy 14.8% abv and spent 16 months in American Oak (see the breakdown on the tech sheet here). This is a steal even at this price given the complexity of this Zinfandel (see my previous post about the seriousness of this wine). It shows black currant, plum, blueberry, vanilla, caramel, wet stone, mushrooms, olives and peppers - and all of that was when the bottle was just opened and still a little tight, it only gets better with time. Great acidity, silky tannins and a very long finish.

RATING 10/10

Blog notes: I'd like to do some book reviews soon as I know several of you are interested in reading about wine - right now I am using a lot of books as references and not really reading anything. I plan to take a couple breaks between now and fall where I have time to read - I imagine I'll still want to read about wine, just not academic texts. Perhaps I'll get to a George Taber book soon (I own both his book on the Judgment of Paris - coincidently Ridge participated in that - and on cork).

Also, sorry for this being a wine I drank around Thanksgiving, I am really tired tonight and didn't have the energy for something newer, but this wine is still on the shelf and I thought was more than worthy of my time to share it.

Valentine's Day Dinner

2011-02-14T18:51:00.000-08:00

Today's dinner for my wife was also an exercise in pairing (if not also in patience). I will not give you the exact recipes to the three main courses (you can find them in Evan Goldstein's book here) but I will give you some details and the pairing. Also should note, everything was done by me except the pastry shells - this includes toasted bread crumbs, roasted walnuts, aioli, etc.

First Course - Baked Goat Cheese in a Walnut Crust with Greens and Apple
Wine - Grgich Hills Estate Fumé Blanc 2008 - $26.99

This was actually the easy dish. I took soft, mild goat cheese, dipped in olive oil and coated with roasted walnuts, thyme and toasted breadcrumbs. The toasted breadcrumbs was a great use of week old Blue Dog bread and the roasted walnuts, goat cheese, walnut oil based vinaigrette and Granny Smith apple complemented the mixed greens perfectly. The Grgich Hills oaked Sauvignon Blanc paired well with this dish, although not as well as last Monday's mixed greens with candied grapefruits that John Varanese made. All in all - great out of the gate.

Second Course - Steak Au Poivre
Wine - Simi Cabernet Sauvignon Anderson Valley 2007 - $22.99

This was less prep work than course one but harder to actually make. I'd never done steak on a stove top or a white wine reduction before (I substituted Jack Daniels for cognac in the recipe as well). Both the steak and reduction turned out awesome. I paired it with steamed broccoli and carrots with homemade aioli. The aioli actually turned out really well but very, very potent with roasted garlic. Too potent for me, but my wife ate all of it. The work of aioli is a very slow, labor-some process, but as I stated in my last post, I love French food - and this dish from Provence is a must. Even Bourdain didn't try to make it - so I don't feel bad at it not coming out mild enough for me.

Third Course - Citrus Marmalade Tart
Wine - Alvear Pedro Ximinez Solera - $27.99 per 375 ml

THIS was what scared me. I do not bake. I did decide not to try and make the pastry shell and simply focus on the filling and the marmalade. In fact I screwed up two oranges before learning how to properly zest the orange - thank God we had two extra oranges in the house. However, my fear was unnecessary, it turned out perfect. A LOT of prep work, but relatively simple to make if you can follow directions.

All in all - a lot of work, a lot of money, but it panned out. Trying new things is how you conquer the fear of the unknown. I do not think that following a few recipes and having them turn out well makes me a chef, but I am no longer as afraid of cooking as I was yesterday.

Success!!!

Wine Related Movies

2011-02-12T19:48:00.000-08:00

I'm becoming more of a Francophile every single day. I admit it. It's taken me a long time to declare this publicly and I might still refer to my French friends as "Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys" but it's true - there's not much about France (culturally) not to like. I've been addicted to House Hunters International, I've been reading up on French cooking, and been working slowly on my French language skills. You all know I already loved the wine.

So the other night, I turned to Netflix before bed like I usually do and chose Julie and Julia, a recent film that I am sure most of you are aware of. I was intrigued by the positive reviews and the thought of watching a movie about French food. The Julia Child parts were somewhat interesting - here was the woman who brought French food to the American kitchen more so than anyone else and everything had to do with France and French food. I always found Julia Child's voice annoying as hell and Meryl Streep, being the actress that she is, annoyed me to no end too - success! However, the Julie parts bored the daylights out of me. Maybe it's a chick thing and I just don't get it. I sympathized with her husband, he enjoyed the food at first until it became an obsession. I stopped watching halfway through.

This movie did however inspire me to look at wine related movies and I found this article from SFGate.com. So, I will refer to some from the list, but also give you a few of my own.

1. Sideways - we all know this one so I will be brief. Funny, a wine movie for guys and although quite snobbish I enjoy hearing Miles wax poetic about Pinot Noir even though those of us in the know realize he's a little uneducated in French wine.

2. Bottle Shock - not historically accurate really, but wonderful actors, a wonderful story about the "Big Bang" of the American wine industry and damn it, just a really good movie. If you have not seen this one, you must. It is worth a rental.

3. Blood Into Wine - a docu-mockumenty on Maynard James Keenan's (of Tool and A Perfect Circle) vineyard and winery in Arizona. Funny, a lot of wine knowledge about an area not known for wine and a glimpse into the real personality of a very private rock star. See it.

4. French Kiss - not that much about wine, but dammit, Meg Ryan was still hot back then before all the bad plastic surgery and botox and it shows a lot of the French countryside along with being a pretty damn good rom-com.

5. A Good Year - Haven't seen this one, it's my homework. It has Russell Crowe and is set in France. Worth adding it to my queue.

If you have any suggestions, please share.

Casa Lapostolle Carmenere 2008 - $13.99

2011-02-05T18:00:00.000-08:00

This Carmenere (which has a pretty cool story all of its own) is dark purple color with deep intensity. Notes of black cherries (almost like a black cherry pie), blackberry, plum, pepper, spice, dirt and wet hay, composted manure, velvety tannins, high acid and enough body to support it (14.1% abv). A long finish with perhaps a hint of pomegranate in it.

Casa Lapostolle vineyards are organic and biodynamic.

This is a really great wine that matched our beef and black bean burritos very nicely.

RATING: 9.5 / 10

Zinfandel: A "Serious" Debate

2011-02-04T17:39:00.000-08:00

I've just been reading some fine wine blogging and wanted to throw my two cents into this debate. The first thing I read was from Ridge's Tasting Room Manager, Christopher Watkins (here) and I followed his story to the other links.

I took this thread of debate somewhat personally (I admit this - I am a blogger not a journalist) because I love Zinfandel. I accept the counter-argument, that Zinfandel is not on the same plane as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir or Chardonnay (not to mention Bordeaux blends and for those of us wine geeks, Riesling), but that is part of Zin's appeal. It's American (in spite of Primitivo, Italy's clone - it is a minor player in Italy). It's versatile (how many of us started out with White Zin only to move on to serious, age-worthy red Zins?).

And it's unapologetically blue collar. Let me explain.

The first point, is my two previous ones. It's American dammit. And my young redneck lady friends can drink White Zin. But perhaps more importantly, you can get a great bottle of Zinfandel for a very, very reasonably price. The best wine I drank in 2010 (the best I bought a bottle of - not necessarily the best wine I tasted) was a single vineyard California Zin (read about it here).

Where else are you going to get a complex, easy drinking (and easy pairing) red wine for less than $30? That price gets you a good Bordeaux, a good Pinot, a good Chard - but all those wines carry the price tag that comes with prestige - Zinfandel flies under-the-radar like the #6 seed Wild Card team on their way to the Super Bowl (that's for you Cheese Heads). Producers, especially in California think if they produce a decent, age-worthy Cab it has to start at $50... that's why the California wine market is going to change dramatically in the next 10 years - people growing Zin have no expectations to live up to (even the Ridges and Rosenbums of the world have great Zins in that price range).

So yeah, I think Zin is a serious wine, but I just hope that everyone else keeps continuing to question it.

Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc 2009 - $12.99

2011-01-29T19:00:00.001-08:00

Joel Gott is the star (along with one of my favorite winemakers and - I have the pleasure to say, a very nice guy - Charles Bieler of Lou Bar Roux and Charles & Charles) of Three Thieves on the Cooking Channel. His Sauvignon Blanc is fantastic, but let me first say this: the screw top sucks. I had to cut it off with a knife because I could not get it to un-screw. This is one of many problems I have with screw caps and I am a big fan of cork.

All that having been said, this light and refreshing wine (13.8% abv) has notes of peach, lemon lime, grass, wet stones and good minerality. It is medium plus to high acidity with a long finish.

RATING: 9.5 / 10

End of Hiatus

2011-01-23T19:17:00.000-08:00

So I am back writing this blog - trying to be more diligent about it. The holidays were hard and I've been just enjoying my wine (and I have cut back some for the sake of calories) rather than over-thinking it. I've also been studying for my intro class with the Court of Master Sommeliers so I'm sometimes thinking about wine so much it is the last thing I want to do when I come home.

I love studying wine but the great thing about it is just its ability to improve a meal or slow a meal (as in my case) and allow for conversation amongst friends. Sometimes these simplest of pleasures get over-looked in our fast paced life style. As Benjamin Franklin once said, "Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance."

New Year's Eve and Sparkling Wine

2010-12-29T19:04:00.001-08:00

I know I haven't written much lately, as you might know (or suspect), this time of year is crazy for retail and alcohol retail more specifically. I will get back onto things after the first of the year when my studies reach 5th gear. For now, two things:

1) The science of pouring bubbly explored here.

2) Some suggestions for what to drink this new year's:

France
Domaine Bott-Geyl Cremant d'Alsace - $18.99
Gerard Bertrand Cremant de Limoux Rose - $14.99 (we are currently out Wine Rackers, sorry)
Veuve Clicquot - $49.99 (Classic Champagne!)
Duval Leroy Champagne - $42.99

Italy
Stellina di Notte Prosecco - $12.99
Mionetto Brut Prosecco - $13.99
Ill Follo Cuvee Brut Rose - $16.99

Spain
Segura Viudas Brut Reserva - $9.99
Segura Viudas Aria - $10.99
Poema Brut (and Extra Dry) - $10.99

USA
Anything by Gruet (try Brut or Blanc de Noirs)
Anything by Chandon
Anything by Domaine Carneros

We will be drinking Domaine Chandon Etoile - a blend of Napa and Sonoma - $24.99

Douglas Green Chenin Blanc 2009 - $11.99

2010-12-11T19:30:00.000-08:00

I should have taken a picture of this wine because I could not borrow a picture from The Google. Do not be alarmed however, this is a great wine. It has notes of melons, green apples, cinnamon, cantaloupe, honey, tropical fruits, pineapple, banana, a hint of coconut and lemon and lime. It has refreshing acidity, a good amount of body for 13% abv and an excellent finish.

RATING: 10/10

Side note - if you notice an inconsistency sometimes in my notes, you are onto something. I write most of these notes at the end of the day, after work. I am tired and that can affect my senses. Sometimes I've done some tastings at work and I'm on top of my game, somedays I've been dog tired (those reviews rarely make it on here) and somedays I am somewhere in-between. My goal here is to keep myself focused and moving forward in my education and also sharing great wines. That is one of the most rewarding things about my job and writing this blog - turning people onto good wine. I get no bigger thrill than when someone comes into the store and tells me how much they liked the wine I recommended the last time they were in (or just the same, buy the wine again which tells me the same thing without a spoken word).

Quarterback Red Blend 2006 - $14.99

2010-12-09T17:56:00.000-08:00

This full bodied red blend from McLaren Vale in Australia is 27% Shiraz, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 25% Grenache. It is a whopping 16% alcohol - but is well balanced enough to make that work. Notes of cherries, blueberries, mud, hay, smoke, and white pepper. Crisp acidity, softer tannins than I expected, a long finish with hints of cranberries. Very delicious and drinks well even considering the alcohol content.

RATING: 9/10

Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel Richard Sauret Vineyard 2006 - $26.99

2010-12-06T17:07:00.000-08:00

This single vineyard zinfandel is worth the price you pay for it. It is very aromatic and unveils layers of complexity over time. First notes of blackberry, black pepper (almost like black pepper on mashed potatoes), toasted wood, vanilla, black currant, earth and hay. First sips reveal chocolate, velvety tannins, black pepper, dark fruits, etc. It's hefty and tough (14.7% abv), rustic, yet graceful. Clean acidity and opens up further to caramel, nutmeg and cumin. Absolutely delicious.

RATING: 10/10

Cono Sur Pinot Noir 2008 - $12.99 (+Bonus)

2010-11-30T10:05:00.000-08:00

Cono Sur Sustainable Pinot Noir 2008 - $12.99
14% abv

A lot of barnyard on the nose of this really nice pinot noir. Smoke, vanilla, blackberry, smoked meat, bacon, a little horse poop, black cherry, raspberry, olives and tobacco round out the aroma / flavor profile. Don't be afraid, although some of the barnyard notes show up in the nose, they are not in the taste - nice layers to this flavor profile. Sharp acidity, light + bodied, soft and velvety tannins. Moderate + finish.

RATING: 9/10

Smith-Berry Winery Norton Reserve
12% abv

A lot of wood on this complex norton. Black cherry, black currant, blackberries, dirt, plum, vanilla, caramel in addition to crisp acidity (age worthy), nice oak flavors and a long finish.

RATING: Not Rated - due to the fact I am not sure of the price. It is not currently sold at The Wine Rack, but I believe Chuck has it for sale at the farm.

Speaking of Smith-Berry, I have been out there several times but not to do any work worthy of writing about. Mostly social calls and I chip in where I can. As soon as the Chambourcin I worked on is released I will post it. The Vidal I worked on should be out soon as well.

Milbrandt Pinot Gris 2008 - $12.99

2010-11-28T17:05:00.000-08:00

This was the 100th wine I put in my journal - my guess is that this represents about 20-25% of the number of wines I have sampled since taking my job at the store in February - but these are wines I have drank with dinner, etc.

This wine is very aromatic for a pinot gris, with notes of pear, apple, cinnamon, mango, anise, pine and mint. It is medium / medium minus bodied (big for a pinot gris), with medium plus acidity with citrus notes on the long, slightly warm finish.

RATING: 9/10

Domaine Merlin Cherrier Sancerre 2008 - $23.99

2010-11-23T08:51:00.000-08:00

This sauvignon blanc from the chalky, limestone hills of the Loire is fairly aromatic, with notes of peach, grapefruit, pineapple, river stones, vanilla, chalk, vegetables and herbs. Crisp and full bodied, smooth and refreshing with a long finish.

RATING: 9.5/10

Owen Roe Ex Umbris Syrah 2008 - $22 (Thanksgiving Pick #3)

2010-11-21T17:57:00.000-08:00

I will first of all admit my bias - this is the 3rd vintage of this wine I have had and have loved. I found this wine when doing a Rhone vs. New World Rhone varietals tasting at Sam's Wine & Spirits (RIP) in Chicago about 4 years ago. The vineyard once burned down and in that first vintage I had, you could really smell and taste forest fire in it - in a good way. I cannot remember the vintage, but should have been in the '02 or '03 range. All that having been said, I gave this wine the same workout I give all the others, and here are the results:

The previous vintage of this wine received a 92 point rating from Wine Spectator, and although this vintage has not been rated by them, I should suspect it to be scored equally or higher. The notes on the wine state that it has plum, dark cherry, blackberry, peppercorn and licorice notes. All those things jump out of you on the first go-round on the nose, but the real treat in this wine is the complexity and how layer after layer shows up in every sip. I first (after the aforementioned notes) noticed burnt earth and mud, followed by smoked meats and leather. As I continued to drink I got smoke, tobacco, chocolate and vanilla. It has smooth tannins, nice acidity and it is great with food - especially hearty food like the beef stew we had with it.

I cannot get Owen Roe in Kentucky, so I cherish every bottle and it never disappoints. Perhaps the best bottle of wine under $25 I have ever had - time after time.

RATING: 10/10

Escher Haus Riesling 2008 - $8.99 (Thanksgiving Pick #2)

2010-11-18T20:20:00.000-08:00

This dry riesling (just a hint of residual sweetness - not quite off-dry) has notes of apples, peach, pear and other tree fruits with a hint of petrol and honey. Slightly tart citrus finish. Riesling is an excellent pairing for Thanksgiving. This isn't the best riesling in the world, but a good value at the price. If you're not into this one, find a riesling that suits the level of sweetness you want. There are many good ones from Germany, Alsace, New Zealand, Australia and many places in the US.

RATING: 8/10

Estancia Zinfandel 2008 - $12.49 (Thanksgiving Pick #1)

2010-11-16T15:25:00.000-08:00

This is the first of a few wine picks I'll share over the next week with a holiday theme - i.e. things that pair well with turkey.

Zinfandel goes great with turkey, this Estancia is one of the handful I'd prefer at a reasonable price. It is 13.5% alcohol and carries notes of blackberry, cherry, cinnamon, vanilla, earth, spices and black pepper. It is well balanced: nice fruits complement a nice, soft tannic structure and medium acidity with a long and warm finish.

RATING: 9/10

Mas Carlot Marsanne-Roussanne 2008 - $10.99

2010-11-13T17:41:00.000-08:00

Mas Carlot is known for making unique Vin de Pays d'Oc (or table wine) west of the Rhone River. This wine is no exception to being an exception. It is 50% Marsanne and 50% Rousanne at 13.5% alcohol. There are apple, peach and soft citrus fruit notes (pineapple) with a touch of tropical fruit - mango. The fruit is balanced with some nice mineral qualities as well as vanilla, oak and herbal notes. It is medium bodied and medium (slightly plus) in acidity and while not perfectly balanced, very nice and drinkable. This wine gets a few extra style points for being unique (I like things with individuality) but it is a solid white table wine suitable to be paired with many dishes (we're having it with chicken and pasta in a red cream sauce).

RATING: 9/10

Glen Carlou Chardonnay 2007 - $10.99

2010-11-12T20:22:00.000-08:00

This is a nice toasty chardonnay. Notes of apple, pear, nuts, smoke, vanilla, toast, butter and a hint of citrus on the finish. Medium to medium plus acidity, medium plus body (lighter than most chards with this much wood on them) but a very nice chardonnay at the price. 14% alcohol.

You don't see a ton of chardonnays coming from South Africa, but this proves it can be done.

RATING: 8.5 / 10

Screw Cap vs. Cork + Concannon Conservancy Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - $7.99

2010-11-07T07:19:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't posted in several weeks. This is a combination of both time and taking a break. I'd been hitting the books pretty hard before a recent hunting trip and I've had a hard time getting back into it after my return.

The first thing I wanted to tackle was the Screw Cap vs. Cork debate. I don't necessarily want to influence your opinion but I want to lay out some pros and cons as I've seen and experienced them. Some of these have been over-looked by some wine writers in their zest to push everyone into screw caps.

1) Screw Caps - According to some tests, screw caps allow your wine to age properly by creating an air-tight seal. This study that I was recently reading, via a local wine writer, showed that if you put the same wine into natural cork, rubber cork and screw caps that the screw caps allowed for best aging (though that is debatable). It is true that they are air tight and you'll never get a "corked" bottle from a screw cap but something that has happened a LOT in our store recently is screw caps that are laid down can leak - and if wine gets out, air can get in. Many of us store our wine laying down because (a) many wine storage units are built this way (b) it allows more bottles in less space and (c) because it is easier to see what you have and remove the bottle you want to drink without the possibility of knocking things over. Screw caps are just not sexy. As one customer recently told me, very frankly, "if a guy takes me to dinner and opens a screw cap bottle, he's definitely not getting laid". While that maybe a bit extreme, it clearly illustrates the point that a cork goes a long way towards ambiance. Finally, I suppose screw caps are recyclable, but metal is made on machines that use fossil fuels to produce... how much? I don't know.

2) Rubber corks - Honestly, I see very little upside to these things. One, although they're less likely to leak and "cork" your wine, it is still possible. Two, they get tossed in the trash and three, they can be VERY hard to pull out using a typical cork screw.

3) Natural Cork - In my opinion, still the best way to store wine. Yes you have to lay them down for long term storage (though that is for good reasons as stated above). Yes, they can sometimes be "corked" but they're a renewable resource and have been trusted for hundreds of years. A certain amount of risk is associated with wine and your local retailer and restaurant should easily exchange any tainted bottle. I am sure, that like the screw caps, the cutting of the corks uses fossil fuels - again, I don't know enough to make a call on that part, just trying to throw all the info out there for you to make up your own minds.

So, in reality, the jury is still out. If you have an opinion on the matter, feel free to let me know.

Concannon Conservancy Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - $7.99
Livermore Valley

This wine gives off hints of black cherry, vanilla, smoke, chocolate and plums. Medium plus acidity but light on tannins for a Cab. It is smaller than most Cabs but has excellent fruit notes and some nice wood compliments that makes it a heck of a deal for its price. In our store I would say this is the best Cab we have under $9.99.

RATING 8 / 10

Joseph Drouhin Laforet Chardonnay 2007 - $13.49

2010-10-01T09:12:00.001-07:00

First off, I apologize for the delay in posting. A few times I tried Blogger was experiencing issues and it's also been a hectic week. Good news is I have a decent backlog of journal entries to pull from and many of them excellent for Fall and Winter. Beginning with this one...

Joseph Drouhin Laforet Chardonnay 2007 - $13.49
13% alcohol

Very, very nice chardonnay with hints of apples, pineapple, vanilla, oak, citrus peel and is medium bodied - just enough body to be a little rounded but not overly buttery or rich. Maintains a very nice acidity. The 2008 vintage is now what's on the shelves out there and I have had that as well - it is very similar to the '07 but requires a little bit more air to open up. Give the '08 about 15 minutes open before drinking.

RATING: 8.5 / 10

The Politics of Food & Wine

2010-09-14T08:44:00.000-07:00

WARNING: Self-righteousness ahead.

Yesterday I saw this article on Yahoo! News - the First Lady was asking restaurants to use less butter and serve more healthy options for kids. On the surface of it I had two reactions: (1) Offering healthy options in restaurants, especially on kids menus, is a noble cause, and (2) Who the hell is she to tell me I have to eat bland food when I go out to eat? Maybe it is the influence of my wife's Polish culture (especially the food), what I've learned from Anthony Bourdain or the fact I use margarine at home to eat healthy so that I can have copious amounts of butter when we go out to eat. What it amounts to is this: whether it is food or wine, a lot of Americans tend to live one way most of the time and then make some grand gesture in other areas every once in awhile to "make up" for their indiscretions. Like the guy who cheats on his lady and then buys her jewelry because he feels guilty.

How does this affect food and wine you ask? It's about lifestyle. I once read an op-ed piece in Outside magazine about a farmer who got dirty looks in his Ford F-250 when he was bringing his non-hormone and anti-biotic enhanced, free range chickens to market. He talked about how an asshole in a Prius gave him dirty looks – the difference was he went home to his non-central air home without a TV and they went home to their cool condos and flat screen plasmas. Who had the greater carbon footprint? Who is more "green"?

If you want to buy organic – I support that. What I don’t support is people buying organic out of guilt, because they eat McDonald’s for lunch and live in a way that otherwise ignores reality. I say this as a person who is not on board with Al Gore about global warming – I’m not convinced that it is dire yet but am convinced we’re having an impact. I can’t help but get on my soapbox a little on this issue…

Most of the meat we fix at home is venison – killed by my family members and butchered and processed (mostly) by my mother. It is vegetables from our garden or my family’s gardens. Do we go to the grocery store – yes, I don’t have cows in my backyard for milk and cheese, but we try to buy free range, hormone free first, organic second (because USDA organic doesn’t mean a whole lot in reality) and then whatever else, after (and I am a big fan of Kentucky's bison meat). I am very proud of and very in touch with that 25% of me (give or take) that is Cherokee – why white people don’t listen to our red brothers and sisters on ecological issues is beyond me. If Obama wants a “green team” they should all be red in my book. The other 75% of me is poor white farmers and what people today call "sustainable farming", we just called farming.

My garden was entirely organic for a spell – until the Japanese beetles came. My spinach and cilantro had nothing but sunlight, horse manure, my soil and sweat and the touch of Mother Nature – unfortunately because of the beetles I had to spray to protect my banana peppers, cucumbers, blackberries, carrots and rhubarb. I can’t help the beetles – I did the best I could.

That’s what it boils down to – do the best you can. Skip the plasma and McDonald’s and you have a lot of flexibility. We all don’t need to be eco-warriors, we need to be responsible for our communities and our bodies. Those hormones in our food are causing girls to start having their periods as early as 8 years old – that shit ain’t right. What is best for our bodies will probably be best for our Earth because that is the way God designed it. Only human beings are foolish enough to think we can improve on God’s gifts to us. Mostly in the name of greed we do it. It's no different than eating healthy - I mostly eat healthy, so when I on occasion want a Blizzard from Dairy Queen, I don't worry about it. I can afford it. Same principle applies to having something cooked in butter at a restaurant.

Am I a little self-righteous on this issue? Absolutely, but it irritates me that someone is out there trying to take away my treats - the things I work for - just because someone else doesn't have any self-control (or is lazy) and now someone wants to force all of us to live a certain way (the same as everyone else). So to bring the First Lady's idea back around - I think it is a great idea for restaurants, especially fast food restaurants which are where poor people are eating (the people who she says don't have access to nutrition), to offer turkey sandwiches and apples rather than fried chicken leftovers to give the choice to the parents about what their kids eat. However, these people are not eating at Jack Fry's, Spago, Les Halles, etc. Those places don't even have kids menus - asking them to cut out the butter would be like asking them not to serve wine.

Don’t treat “green” or “organic” as a religion. Treat sustainability as a way of life – financially, ecologically, and emotionally – love others sustainably. Believe me, it’ll pay off.

Food & Wine Pairing: Pizza

2010-09-11T09:35:00.001-07:00

Those blogs at Wine Spectator's website really wind my clock sometimes. I was reading this morning one of the editors talking about the perfect bottle of wine with pizza - that he paid $40 for!!! While I would love to be able to afford a $40 bottle with a pie, I don't know that I ever would even if I could. I occasionally drink higher priced bottles and I try to pair them with the right foods when I do to get the most out of them - but I can't see $40 to accompany a pizza even my beloved Chicago style pizza. In this economy who has that kind of dough?

So I am going to make my own suggestions - all under $10

Zonin Montepulciano D'Abruzzo - $8.49 (previously reviewed here) from Italy.

Gabbiano Chianti - $9.99 (reviewed here)

Tarima Monastrell - $8.99 (reviewed here) from Spain

Tamas Estates Sangiovese - $7.99 (here) or Double Decker Red - $9.99 (here) from California

Barefoot Zinfandel - $6.99 from California (here)

And lastly - a new wine review...

AMANO - Primitivo 2007 - $9.99

Primitivo, what Zinfandel is called in Italy, is an excellent pairing. This wine has notes of blackberry, black cherry, black pepper, oak, raspberry, vanilla, chocolate, tobacco and soft tannins, medium body and medium plus acidity.

RATING: 9 / 10

These are just a few suggestions - try your favorite Shiraz or light to medium bodied red with your pizza. There is absolutely no need whatsoever to spend $40 on a bottle to have pizza with. Unless Emeril cooks the pizza I guess... even then, I don't know

First Day at the Farm

2010-09-10T16:31:00.000-07:00

When I started this blog, I said that I would be sharing knowledge as I attained it - I've done that mostly through drinking wine and reviewing it here along with continually reading about wine. As my career plans have changed and I am now going to make a career out of wine (in some way, shape or form) rather than the law, my learning plan has changed as well. I am reading more and in a more studious manner (going so far as to highlight and take notes - things I learned in law school), I begin French class in 2 weeks and yesterday, I started an unofficial, unpaid internship at Smith-Berry Winery in New Castle, Kentucky. It's unofficial because I just sent the guy an email and asked if I could help on my days off in return for what I will learn by helping. He accepted fortunately.

First of all, if you haven't visited Smith-Berry, and you're nearby, you need to. The area around New Castle is gorgeous and the town itself is charming in the way that not too many towns of any size have the town square anymore with little shops lining the street. The drive out to the farm is gorgeous and I found myself driving below the speed limit on the way there taking it all in.

I arrived at 8:30 and Chuck showed up shortly afterwards. Sometime between then and 9 am he took me out to the vineyard and set me loose amongst the Chambourcin with a tub and some clippers and warned me not to cut my fingers. I cut Chambourcin for about 45 minutes or so before four other pickers showed up... I didn't get all their names but one guy's name was Shotgun. No joke. We cut grapes until we had filled up all the tubs. By this time, I had no idea what time it was but while it isn't the best job in the world, I was having a good time. Fortunately I am not afraid of bees or bugs. The vineyard attracts grasshoppers, praying mantis', wasps, spiders (one as big as my hand almost) and honey bees. And more bees, and more bees, and even more bees. I'd filled two tubs myself and was starting to get hungry so I walked back to the farm to get some snacks and water from my truck. When I got there I saw it was 11:00. No wonder I was hungry, I'd picked grapes for 2 hours and time had flown by.

Chuck called for me to help him and Bozo (real name Charles) with the crushing and de-stemming next. We loaded all the tubs up and put them on the trailer and wheeled them over from the barn to the winery. Once over there, we started to weigh the tubs (about 80 lbs. each give or take) and turned on the de-stemmer. I won't bore you with the details of how the machine works - and to be honest I don't think I understand well enough to explain it anyhow - but it takes the grapes off the stems, shooting the stems out the side and then crushes what's left (juice, skins, seeds and bugs) and a pump moves the juice over to the fermenting containers. We put in about 35 tubs of Chambourcin (about 2800 lbs) altogether. After this, honestly, I didn't do much work. I stood around with Chuck and bullshitted, mostly talking about wine and the wine business and issues involved while he cleaned the equipment. I cleaned a few things and moved it around but my hard work was from 8:30 am to 2 pm. After that, my input was minimal but I learned a LOT. Being able to help do what I have only read about before was incredible and I am extremely grateful to Chuck for offering me the opportunity and my boss, John, for suggesting it. As someone who loves wine as much as I do, being able to be a part of that - it's something I hope to do repeatedly, but it is something I'll never forget doing for the first time.

If you're not near us in Kentucky, go visit a small winery somewhere (around harvest time if possible) and see what goes on. Large wineries often have tasting rooms in places where they do little to no work - this is fine, but you can taste in a lot of places - small wineries allow you to see things you wouldn't get to see otherwise.

My Palate's Evolution

2010-09-07T14:15:00.000-07:00

Today I read a blog on Wine Spectator.com and I was inspired to tell my own story. Many of us, definitely myself and probably you as well, have our taste buds evolve over time and hopefully they're refined over that time. So here is a brief chronology of my drinking... perhaps you'll see a little of yourself in this. No matter what, please share your history - I am sure we can all get a laugh at our own expense.

High School - Yes, I started this early. I didn't drink much, most of the people I hung out with preferred other intoxicants which I never cared much for. I took what I could get. Often it was disgusting combinations like Southern Comfort and Mountain Dew or Captain Morgan Spiced Rum and grape juice. One better days it was cheap beer or Apple Jacks (Jack Daniel's and Apple Juice).

After High School 18-21 - Things got a little better. Getting alcohol was easier and I was listening to a LOT of Oasis who fortunately turned me onto a lot of good beers from Europe. I still occasionally drank Jack but it was about the beer at this point - Beck's, Guinness, Pilsner Urquell, Heineken, Bass, New Castle, and California beers such as Sierra Nevada and Anchor Steam. Justin Leone fortunately shared my taste for good beer and I had someone to split the cost with while our friends drank piss water.

Ages 21-24 - I started to refine my tastes... a little. Grey Goose and tonic on occasion at the bars, Jack on the Rocks when I had a gig but I was still drinking good beer, with PBR being the official drink of band practice. I was also living in Los Angeles at this time and I fell in love with Pacifico and fish tacos.

Ages 24-29 - A LOT of change. Two huge factors: (1) My wife being Polish. We drink Gorzka, Vodka, homemade liquers, Polish beers, etc. (2) Justin Leone - by this time he was working in restaurants towards his sommelier certification and he introduced me, not only to a wide range of wines and spirits and pairings that I wouldn't have ever found on my own, but the unpretentious, passionate, creative and exciting world of wine. I had my first good bourbon with Justin, my first Chablis, Sancerre, Chateuneuf-du-Pape, Burgundy, etc., all with Justin. Of course I later, at a church function nonetheless, got drunk on Appletinis (free) and Irish Car Bombs and pissed in the street before throwing up. Not my finest moment, but hey, I'm no wine snob.

Age 30 and Beyond - I mostly drink wine at this point and even then, mostly with food. I like wine - sparkling, white, rose, reds, ports, etc. I may on occasion have a cocktail, bourbons and gin and tonics mostly and I am still fond of microbrew IPAs (Bell's Two Hearted, Founder's Centennial IPA and Red Rye PA, and Steelhead Double IPA mostly). As far as particular wines and my history there, I went through a Rhone phase and I still love Rhones (white and red) but I love wines from Southern France, Northern Italy, California, Oregon, Argentina and all over, even Kentucky.

To put things in perspective, it's like music - no one, no matter how hardcore they claim they are, started out listening to Black Flag or some other, semi-obscure, hip band - pretty much all of us started on the radio and even the music snob I am, I can admit I owned MC Hammer before I owned Texas is the Reason or Fugazi... life is a journey and we all have to start somewhere.

Chardonnay Tasting Report

2010-09-06T12:22:00.000-07:00

The last of six tastings for the Sensory Evaluation class for Wine Spectator School - again shared with neighbors. This time it was two Central Coast Chardonnays - one un-oaked and one moderately oaked. After now having done 6 of these tastings, I have to say that I am really glad I took this course. Sometimes the comparisons were between two very different wines (Nebbiolo vs. Beaujolais) and sometimes very similar (Kabinett vs. Auslese from same winemaker and same vintage). It really reinforced wine's ability to be so unique.

So now to continue my education - perhaps taking a French class, joining a blind tasting group and perhaps the highest professional level class through Wine Spectator School - maybe all three. I'll keep you posted.

Varner's Foxglove Chardonnay 2008 - $15.99
Central Coast
14.4% alcohol

This is a clear, straw colored Chardonnay that has seen no oak. It has medium aroma / flavor intensity with notes of lemon, lime, grapefruit, apple, pear, nectarine, melon, pineapple, papaya, flowers, grass, stone, slate, allspice, ginger and a touch of almond. It has medium plus acidity, light bodied with a moderate finish. I really enjoyed this moderately complex, balanced wine - and it was the unanimous favorite of the women.

RATING: 9 / 10

Santa Barbara Winery Chardonnay 2008 - $14.99
Santa Barbara County
13.8% alcohol

This clear to brilliant moderately oaked Chardonnay is straw to gold colored with slightly less powerful aromas than the Foxglove with hints of lemon, lime, tangerine, apple, pear, peach, fig, melon, banana, mango, honeysuckle, grass, green vegetables, slate, cinnamon, spiced apple, almonds, vanilla, oak, roasted marshmallows, baked bread, butter, caramel, butterscotch and custard. It has medium acidity and is medium bodied, a little rounder and richer than the Foxglove. The flavors on the palette are more pronounced than they were on the nose. Moderate finish, well balanced, moderately complex and was the unanimous favorite of the men. I loved this wine.

RATING: 10 / 10

California Pinot Noir Tasting

2010-08-30T18:07:00.000-07:00

The fifth tasting in the Wine Spectator School Sensory Evaluation class was on Pinot Noir (the last will be on Chardonnay and you will read about that next week). We again met up with our neighbors who are fast becoming expert wine tasters. Afterwards we had Blue Dog Bread, Agri from Sapori d'Italia and cheese from Lotsa Pasta - all of which were delicious (I will soon post on local foods and the importance of lifestyle change vs. buying organic).

De Loach California Pinot Noir 2008 - $13.99
13.5% alcohol

This is a clear, tawny colored pinot noir. Medium aroma intensity delivers strawberry, raspberry, boysenberry, red cherry, jam, violet, dried herbs, eucalyptus, minerals, smoked meat, clove, licorice, oak, cedar, charred wood and molasses notes. It has medium plus acidity, moderate tannins, smooth texture with medium minus body and moderate finish. It is balanced, moderately complex and very good - liked by all.

RATING: 9/10

Domaine Chandon Carneros Pinot Noir 2007 - $24.99
14.5% alcohol

This brilliant, ruby red wine has medium plus aroma intensity. It delivers hints of blueberry, blackberry, currant, black cherry, jam, tobacco, olive, stones, minerals, smoked meats, leather, black pepper, vanilla, oak, charred wood, burnt toast, chocolate and molasses. Medium acidity, medium plus tannins and a velvety texture mix with a medium body to deliver a balanced wine with a moderate finish. I call this very good to excellent and I'd say I love it - though at the price difference, it ranks evenly with its competition.

RATING 9/10

Since I have quit law school and am looking at other Master's programs (specifically MBA's) - I will be seeking my sommelier certification so I hope to take this blog along with me on my educational journey - lucky you :)

Hello Wine Rack Friends & Louisvillians

2010-08-27T08:48:00.000-07:00

Hello Wine Rack Friends & Louisvillians,

If you’re here, thank you for checking out my wine blog. I wanted to take a few moments to fill you in on some basics:

• The purpose of this blog was originally to motivate myself to keep a tasting journal – putting some of those notes online and having people read it kept me from getting lazy. About six months on now, I still need motivation to write on the blog, but journaling is becoming second nature. However, in spite of the small readership, I am getting a few people who actually enjoy reading it – and I enjoy educating people on wine… so it sticks.
• For you Wine Rack friends, almost every wine I review here will come from the store for convenience and financial reasons. If reading this helps you pick a wine or you find a new favorite because of the blog please feel free to tell me how brilliant I am (or perhaps the opposite and feel free to tell me I don’t know Jack Shit). Seriously, let me know what you think – my memory is not as good as John’s so you will get more detail from this blog than you will if you come into the store and ask me. I remember basics, but at this point I’ve tasted over 100 of our wines so it can be hard to keep them straight (I do the best I can).
• DISCLAIMER – these are my opinions and mine alone. John and I tend to agree on things a lot, but not always. I may like a wine more than he does or vice versa. So I speak for myself alone, not John or the store or any other employee.
• Ratings – again, these are completely subjective and they represent, what I believe, to be the value of the wine. My rating system is based on quality for the cost. Therefore if I rate a $10 wine at a 10, it means it would be a great wine for even more money. If it is a 7 for $10, then it is a good table wine for $10. There are great wines out there for $8 and not so great wines out there at $80, therefore this system allows you to find the best wines in your price range.
• Finally, I tag the posts based on type (red, white, rose, sparkling), Country, Region, and Grape. There maybe other categories such as Organic – these are there to guide the reader.

Sorry to go on for so long about boring stuff, but I want to be clear about everything so that no one is mislead. Thank you and if you’re on Facebook, you can get new blog posts in your News Feed by liking my Facebook page.

Thank you!
Jeremy

3 Wine Reviews

2010-08-24T19:02:00.000-07:00

Thought I would try and catch up as I have been lax as of late - a lot going on (I quit law school for one) but I have been drinking and writing everything down in my wine journal - I just haven't been posting, so I am going to give you three today, two whites and a red (don't worry, it'll get red heavy soon and I still have a Pinot Noir tasting tomorrow to write about).

Kunde Magnolia Lane Sauvignon Blanc 2008 - $12.99

Sustainably farmed, this sauvignon blanc is fantastic. Notes of pineapple, peach, pear, apple, a hint of almonds, a touch of grass as well as melons. It is nicely balanced with good fruit notes and the perfect amount of acidity.

RATING: 9.5 / 10

Kunde Chardonnay 2007 - $12.99

I love Kunde, it's true. Also sustainably farmed, this Chardonnay is nutty, with hints of vanilla, oak, great fruit, medium acidity and well balanced. If you have the chance to pick up a wine from Kunde, do it - I will review the 2006 Zinfandel soon. Everything I have had by them has been great (their Syrah is coming up too as I've been told we're getting a deal on it soon).

RATING: 9 / 10

Ravenswood Zen of Zin 2007 - $12.99

Notes of black cherry, black pepper, smoke, tobacco, coffee, cedar, blackberry, blueberry, black currant with just a touch of gaminess, medium plus acidity and alcohol, nice soft tannins.

RATING: 9.5 / 10

Pinot Grigio vs. Pinot Gris

2010-08-17T17:14:00.000-07:00

My 4th tasting for my class was comparing an Italian pinot grigio against an Alsacian pinot gris. For this tasting my wife and I had some of our neighbors over and it was really great seeing how much they've learned and how good their palates and nose have become. This also allowed this tasting to go pretty quickly while still being fairly in-depth.

2008 Albola Pinot Grigio $9.99
Friuli
12% alcohol

This wine is pale with a green tinge but pronounced legs. Hints of tangerine, lemon, apple, pineapple, banana, honeysuckle, green tea, mint, stone, butterscotch and creme brulee. It has medium plus acidity, dry and light bodied. Balanced but with a short finish.

RATING: 7.5 / 10

Domaine Bott-Geyl Pinot D'Alsace $14.99
Metiss
12.5% alcohol

This straw colored wine has very intense aromas of lemon, orange peel, peach, pear, melon, mango, honeysuckle, cinnamon, clove, marzipan, vanilla, oak, and creme brulee. It has medium acidity, is not quite dry, but not quite off-dry, medium bodied and rich. Moderate finish from this well balanced, moderately complex wine.

RATING: 9 / 10

Garnacha: Rose vs Red Tasting

2010-08-01T08:31:00.000-07:00

This was my 3rd tasting (of six) in the Wine Spectator School online course I am taking and it was my third set of tasters. It included my wife (who this was actually her second tasting), my boss - the owner and sommelier of the wine store, one my co-workers along with her sister and boyfriend. The sisters had previously owned a wine bar and so this was my most experienced tasting group yet. It was very interesting and a little relaxing. While I don't have a favorite panel thus far, it was nice to not be the expert at this tasting. There are pros and cons of both set-ups, namely that I really do love helping people learn about wine and trying to share that love and knowledge with others and watching people find something new that they enjoy. Honestly, I probably prefer that, but it was a nice change of pace to be sure to be with some other experienced tasters for a laid back tasting.

Borsao Rose 2009 - $9.99

This Spanish rose is a rosy pink wine, high in alcohol, with notes of strawberry, raspberry, red cherry, jam, roses, dried herbs and mint. It is high in acidity, smooth to silky in texture with a light plus body and moderate finish. It is a well balanced and moderately complex wine that we all liked.

RATING: 7.5 / 10

Bielsa Garnacha 2008 - $9.99
(NOTE: already reviewed earlier in this blog - this is the 2nd review)

This red Spanish garnacha is a dark purple, which like most Spanish garnachas is high in alcohol (14%) and has notes of blackberry, black cherry, plum, prunes, mint, anise, tar, meaty, old leather, black pepper, vanilla, smoke and cedar. It is medium plus in acidity, contains moderate tannins, but is somewhat rough in texture. It is medium bodied with a moderate finish and is balanced, but not as well as it should be. It is moderately complex and we all agreed we liked it, but again, should have been stronger to stand up to the high alcohol.

RATING: 7 / 10

Organic / Sustainable / Bio-dynamic? What's that mean?

2010-07-27T12:47:00.000-07:00

Short post - I'll let the experts fill you in on this one. If you ever wondered what it takes to make a wine organic or what it means when a wine says it is sustainable or bio-dynamic, read here. Also, in Lodi, California they're making large steps towards sustainability and ethical business practices in all facets of the business.

d'Arenberg The Stump Jump Red 2008 - $10.99

2010-07-22T17:16:00.000-07:00

This GSM (Grenache 42%, Shiraz 36% & Mourvedre 22%) is a good representation of a Rhone blend in Australia. It is a little earthy with notes of blackberry, black cherry, plum, spices and vanilla. It's nicely balanced, has a little warmth to it and is smooth with a medium plus finish.

RATING: 9 / 10

Gerard Bertrand Natural Chardonnay 2008 - $11.99

2010-07-19T13:24:00.000-07:00

This Chardonnay from France's top value producer (and former pro rugby player) is an excellent example of his reputation - notes of pears, peaches, cinnamon baked apples and citrus peel with a soft mouthfeel with lots of fruits with low acidity. This Chardonnay didn't see any wood aging and an excellent white for any occasion.

RATING: 10 / 10

Domaine Pierre Guindon Gamay Rose 2009 - $10.99

2010-07-13T17:58:00.000-07:00

This rose is incredible for $10.99. Notes of strawberries, roses, citrus, watermelon (especially on the finish), raspberries and other red fruits. It's got a hint of green apple tartness with medium-light acidity and an excellent smooth finish. Go buy a bottle for your next BBQ!

RATING: 10 / 10

Summer Wine, Beer & Cocktails - Try Something New!

2010-07-11T12:38:00.001-07:00

For those of us on the agrarian / academic calendar, summer is half over but that having been said, there's a couple months of warm weather yet ahead. I am going to try and give you some approachable, yet unique and affordable drink options for summer.

All prices given are for 750 ml bottles unless otherwise noted.

Cocktails
1) Take a new spin on the Gin & Tonic. Skip the Big 3 this summer and try either a Hendrick's ($34.99) and Tonic with a slice of cucumber or a New Amsterdam ($12.99) and Tonic. Hendrick's is a bit pricey but delicious - New Amsterdam is a newcomer and is a very good gin for the price.

2)Vodka Drinks - Vodka lends itself to many summer cocktails, from mixing with fruit juice to vodka tonics - anything you keep in the freezer is great on a hot day. This summer try Tito's Handmade Vodka ($16.99) from Austin, TX or Rain Organic ($19.99)

3) Rum Drinks - Rum is another excellent summer spirit, just think the Caribbean and steel drums. Sailor Jerry's Spiced Rum ($16.99), named after famous tattoo artist and Hawaiian transplant Norm Collins is an excellent alternative to Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum - I'd even go so far to say it is much better than the Captain (I know I am biased considering I have two of Sailor Jerry's pieces tattooed on me but I still believe it to be the superior rum). Mt. Gay ($18.99) is also an excellent rum, a lot better than the $5 difference between it and Bacardi.

Wine

1)Sparkling - While a new convert to sparkling wines myself, I find different sparkling wines to be excellent for summer, especially when pairing with food and eating outside. They range from very dry (Brut) to off-dry (Extra Dry) to very sweet and you can find one to suit your tastes. Since Champagnes tend to be expensive, try a Cava from Spain (Segura Vidas and Poema are two excellent wine makers, both in the $10.99 range), Prosecco from Italy (Zonin and Mionetto in the $14.99 range) or USA's own Barefoot Bubbly at $8.99.

2) Whites - Crack open those Sauvignon Blancs! Nobilo from New Zealand ($12.99), Mapema from Argentina ($12.99) as well as a ton of American wines at less than $10. They are light, crisp, often with citrus notes and go very well with the warm weather. Rieslings are also great and range from sweet to off dry to dry. Try Sagelands (USA $10.99) or something from Leonard Kreusch from Germany ($9.99 - $11.99).

3) Roses - Again, I know I have preached the benefits of roses on this page before but an excellent choice for a summertime BBQ. Pairs well with meats and yet light, cool and refreshing. Try Guindon's Gamay Rose (France $10.99), La Vielle Ferme (France $9.99) or even an American White Zinfandel.

4) Reds - For those of you who just have to drink red with meat, try something lighter such as a Beaujolais from France which can be had very affordably or one of the following:

Finca el Reposo Malbec (Argentina $9.99)
Smith-Berry Flat Rock Red (Kentucky $10.99)
Trapiche Broquel Malbec (Argentina $12.99)
Gerard Bertrand Pinot Noir (France $11.99)
Gnarly Head Zinfandel (USA $10.99)
Barefoot Zinfandel (USA $6.99)

Beer

There are a ton of beer choices for summer - almost anything goes well in the hot sun save for perhaps a stout. So, I am offering alternatives for common choices:

1) Instead of reaching for Corona, try Pacifico - it's the same price but a much better beer and more authentic in the sense that it is much more available in Mexico (in my experience) than is Corona. Shove a lime down it and enjoy.

2) Go with an IPA - Skip the Sierra Nevada and try anything from Bell's Two Hearted Ale ($10.99) to Founder's Centennial ($10.99). Many craft breweries make excellent IPAs and besides Bells and Founders, try Schafly, BBC (Bluegrass Brewing Company), etc.

3) The one thing you won't catch me with is a wheat beer but they're great for summer. Skip the Blue Moon and try Goose Island's 312 Urban Wheat, Bell's Oberon, or Pyramid's Hefe.

Mionetto Brut Prosecco - $13.99

2010-07-10T16:01:00.000-07:00

Mionetto Brut Prosecco is a sparking wine made from Prosecco from the Veneto region of Italy. There are notes of golden apples, pears, honey, minerals and is toasty with a long finish. I have not been much of a sparkling wine drinker historically, but this was an excellent wine to kick off my sparkling wine tour. Previously I have had some mediocre wines at weddings or didn't know how to pair the wine with food. As a wedding gift we were given a great bottle of Champagne and that was good, but would have been better paired with food. Sparkling is something I think I will drink a little more frequently, but not all the time - much like a rose, except it is something that can be enjoyed year round. This is a great refreshing wine and I highly recommend giving this Prosecco a try.

RATING: 9 / 10

Why Does Wine Smell and Taste Like Other Things?

2010-06-22T18:16:00.000-07:00

A natural question, one that I have asked myself and one that others have asked me recently, is "why do I taste certain things, such as fruit, when I drink wine?" Well, I will give you a VERY brief answer to that and point you in the direction of Wikipedia (Aroma of Wine) to take it to that next step - this is like a lot of things, it can get very complicated if you get really into it. For my (and our) purposes, it is good to have a basic understanding, but one does not need to be a chemist.

First of all, we only have five tastes: acidity, bitterness, sweetness, saltiness and umami. You'll experience four of these with wine (let's hope there's no saltiness anyhow). From here it gets more complicated - some things you smell may come from the fruit itself and others from the chemical processes of fermentation and aging. Some of these aromas from the chemical process maybe esters - or chemical compounds found in fruits and also in wine - so if your wine smells like cherries, it is very likely that the wine contains the same ester, or a similar ester, to cherries.

So as to not bore you with chemistry (which is a subject I've never studied anyhow, so don't know how well I could explain it), here is a list of red and white wine varietals and what aromas are commonly associated with them.

Ravenswood Belloni Zinfandel 2007 - $31.99

2010-06-21T17:13:00.000-07:00

While I typically review wines less than $15 (except when I am doing a tasting and reporting on that), we all occasionally buy a more expensive wine as a gift or for a special occasion and so I will report on those every now and again.

This is a single vineyard Zinfandel bottled in April 2009 and is capable of aging and probably has not hit its peak yet. Only 1,300 cases of this old vine Zin was made and it is well worth the price. As advertised it has nice blueberry, boysenberry and raspberry notes but also shows hints of earth, cherry, tobacco, smoke and a touch of game. It is fruit forward but nicely balanced by earth, has medium plus acidity and soft tannins with a very, very long finish. This is a delicious wine.

RATING: 9.5 / 10

I hope to write a note on esters soon...

Trapiche Broquel Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - $12.99

2010-06-20T10:54:00.000-07:00

I was reminded of this wine due to one of my pet peeves: restaurant mark-up on wines. I saw this wine's sister wine, the Broquel Malbec on a wine list last night for $37 - they are the same retail price. I know how much the club paid for the wine from the distributor and 300% mark-up is insane. This is why I usually order beer when I am out - still an insane mark-up but I am not paying $10 for a glass of a $13 wine (which has most likely been open for a couple days).

This is a wine that was in oak for 15 months and can be drank anytime from now to 2015. It is a big, bold Cab that would complement a number of red meat dishes and steaks. Nice red fruits, tannins, vanilla, tobacco - it's thick and chewy and well balanced with a long finish. Grab a bottle for your next steak.

RATING: 9.5 / 10

Beaujolais-Villages vs. Nebbiolo d'Alba Tasting

2010-06-16T07:35:00.000-07:00

My second tasting for my Wine Spectator Online wine course was Beaujolais vs. Nebbiolo. A contrast in styles for sure. Had over a couple of my classmates and one of their boyfriends for this tasting. I have to admit my mistake in planning this tasting - this is the 2nd straight tasting I've had where we ate before tasting. You should taste, ideally, right before eating when your sense of smell is at its best. When tasting with people, I knew we would be there for awhile so I planned for us to eat but everyone showed up hungry and I knew it would be tough holding peoples' attention for an hour while they were hungry. If it had been a quicker situation of tasting a few wines, I'd have held out, but this was an in-depth tasting. I have four more of these to plan, so I hope to do a better job in the future so I don't have to drink four glasses of water trying to get the garlic taste out of my mouth before attempting to taste wine (miraculously none of us found any garlic in the wines!).

Georges Dubeuf Beaujolais-Villages 2007 - $11.99
Alcohol 12.5%

This is a pale, purple wine with some aroma intensity (we rated it Medium). It is most likely a blend of grapes, but the dominant grape in this region and in this wine is Gamay. There all kinds of red fruit, such as strawberries, boysenberries and red cherries. It also has a number of other aromas from across the board: roses, dried herbs, minerals, cinnamon and cedar. It is moderately acidic but should be consumed young - within a couple years (as is the case with Beaujolais). It is well balanced, moderately complex and had a medium finish. Light bodied with low tannins and fruit forward made this my companions' favorite of the two. It is not uncommon for new wine drinkers to prefer fruit forward wines to heavier earthier ones and while they preferred this one to the other, I am not sure they would buy it. It is still an Old World wine and that carries with it certain qualities that newbies have to grow accustomed to (plus I find Old World wines are best enjoyed with foods). No worries, this was true of me as well and finding things you like as you go is good and the more you taste, the more you’ll discover.

RATING: 9.5 / 10

Matteo Correggia Nebbiolo D’Alba 2007 - $29.99
Alcohol 14.5%

In this case, the wine is made from Nebbiolo and is from Alba in Northwest Italy’s Piedmont region. Nebbiolo can be found in some of Italy’s finest wines such as Barolo and Barbaresco. This wine is more of a ruby red and of medium color intensity. It has powerful, complex aromas, including: blackberry, currant, black cherry, plum, raisins, violets, tobacco, earth, smoked meat, leather, clove and charred wood. It is medium plus on acidity and high on tannins making this one that will age gracefully. It is well balanced, big bodied, complex and powerful with a long finish. This was my friends’ least favorite wine, not being able to say they disliked it, but they didn’t like it either – on the other hand, I LOVED IT! It would have been better paired with some good food but I would drink this again any day.

RATING: 9.5 / 10

NOTE: Just a couple notes. One is a reminder that although I rated these wines the same, it is based off of their value. The first one was less than half the price of the second one, so for $12 I loved the Beaujolais but had it been $30 I might have rated it as a 5 or less. It is a great wine for $12 as the Correggia is a great wine for $30.

Also – going to Louisville Uncorked tomorrow night, a fundraiser for local charities ,with my boss. It is more of a wine social for charity than a tasting, but for those of you who enjoy wine, these types of events are a great way to meet people, enjoy some wine and help a good cause.

Umani Ronchi Verdicchio 2008 - $11.99

2010-06-15T07:15:00.000-07:00

Verdicchio (Vehr-DEEK-kyoh) is a white wine grape grown mostly in Italy's Marche region since the 14th century. This wine comes from the Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC in Italy, the main region for Verdicchio in Marches. This wine is floral, fruity and nutty and is a good introduction to Verdicchio (even if it is not its best example).

RATING: 8 / 10

Tarima Monastrell 2009 - $8.99

2010-06-12T19:06:00.000-07:00

Click Here for Update - April 2011This Monastrell (Mourvedre) from Jumilla in Spain is a helluva deal. Notes of licorice, chocolate, black pepper and cherry add to this well balanced, medium bodied red with a long finish and a medium amount of alcohol.

Definitely worth picking up if you see it.

RATING: 10 / 10

Riesling Tasting - Leonard Kreusch Rieslings

2010-06-10T17:04:00.001-07:00

Last night we had a Riesling tasting consisting of two bottles of Leonard Kreusch Riesling - both 2007 vintages but one was Kabinett (harvested at standard time) and one was Auslese (harvested 2 weeks later when the grapes were more ripe... side note, there is a harvesting and a wine in-between these. Anyone know what it is?).

Leonard Kreusch Riesling Kabinett 2007 - $9.99
Alcohol 9.5%

The nose on the Kabinett is somewhat faint, but contains lemon, citrus peel, pear, melon, chalk honey and perhaps a bit of clove. I rated the acidity at medium for this off-dry, well balanced, medium bodied white. I really liked the Kabinett but I thought the finish was a bit short.

RATING: 8 / 10

Leonard Kreusch Riesling Auslese 2007 - $11.99
Alcohol 10.5%

The Auslese was very inviting to the nose. Citrus peel, apple, apricot, melon, banana, orange blossom, honeysuckle, stone, almonds, baked bread and honey were all things I found in this complex white. It is also well balanced, medium acidity but sweeter, fuller, bigger bodied with powerful flavors. The finish was medium but long enough to get the job done. It was very good and I would recommend this wine to anyone who favors off-dry whites.

RATING: 9 / 10

Pinot Noir & Sideways - ABC - $19.99

2010-06-08T07:12:00.001-07:00

The movie Sideways had an undeniable impact on the wine industry, pushing sales and turning people onto wine and wine tourism. I loved the movie, a tale of two guys on a road trip dealing with their own set of issues and I found myself looking for Pinot Noirs in the store - and I was not alone. After the movie Pinot Noir sales went up 16% and Merlot, Miles' least favorite grape, dropped 2%. I tend to think the reason for the numbers is simply more people trying Pinot and not people hating on what is an excellent grape and a staple of a lot of California wineries. What I found though is that although Miles' description of Pinot Noir on the porch that night is quite accurate, it makes it hard to get a good Pinot for a reasonable price. I drank my share of crap Pinot and spent some money finding what a good Pinot is along the way. So while the movie was awhile ago and not likely to influence many peoples' purchasing directly these days, beware of the cult of the Pinot.

The price range where you are going to start to get a quality Pinot Noir is $20+. Right at that point is the Au Bon Climat (ABC) Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County. It is made by one of the original Rhone Rangers and is very, what my sales rep Tim says, "restrained". The grapes were harvested 2 weeks prior to any of the other grapes and it shows. A ton of black fruits - cherry, blackberry, a touch of chocolate and wood make this Pinot Noir a great find for $19.99

RATING: 9 / 10

Plantagenet - Hazard Hill 2008 - $14.99

2010-06-06T10:26:00.000-07:00

This white wine is 51% Semillion and 49% Sauvignon Blanc. There are notes of pear, green apple and grass with just a touch of apricot, passion fruit and chives. It has a mineraly accent and is stainless steel aged. It is dry with medium levels of acid and alcohol and has a medium plus finish. All in all a very good white for a nice warm day with a breeze such as today (here in Louisville anyway).

RATING: 9 / 10

Tamas Estates Sangiovese 2005 - $7.99

2010-06-04T17:27:00.000-07:00

This Italian grape grown in Livermore, CA is done justice by Tamas Estates. There is some spice and a little earth in the nose, cherry, vanilla and earth on the pallet. It is medium bodied and fruit forward, a little hot on the back of the throat but well balanced with a smooth finish.

RATING: 9.5 / 10

Artazuri Garnacha Rose 2009 - $10.99

2010-05-31T17:43:00.001-07:00

This is a great summer BBQ wine. Floral notes complement berries and melons on the nose with a nice watermelon touch on the pallet. It has a very nice, slightly off-dry finish. We paired this with grilled venison burgers and Italian sausages with a Greek style salad and sat by the fire in the backyard on a nice sunny weekend day.

RATING: 9 / 10

Cline Viognier 2008 - $9.99

2010-05-28T20:15:00.001-07:00

Another great wine from Cline (Viognier is pronounced VEE-OHN-YAY)... loads of peach and apricot, some floral and citrus notes. Fruit forward with no hint of oak. It is a nice complement to spicy foods.

Viognier is another great French grape that Cline does well. I discovered this great grape and white wine while doing a Rhone style Old World vs. New World wine tasting. Great if you like unoaked Chards. There is an excellent one out of Virginia as well.

RATING: 9/10

I have been planning to write about Pinot Noir and the movie Sideways for sometime. This is forthcoming, but I'll tell you now this - he says he hates merlot and then names his favorite wine which contains a good amount of merlot :)

Rosemount Show Reserve Mudgee Chardonnay 2007 - $11.99

2010-05-26T16:49:00.000-07:00

This Australian Reserve Chardonnay was better the first time I had it but held its own the 2nd time (when I actually drank it - the first time was sampling at work). For a reserve Chardonnay $11.99 is a deal. It has just a hint of wood, pear, melons, and it was a little bit thicker than you'd expect - usually a very buttery Chardonnay would be thick, but not one who saw more steel than oak. Again, not the greatest Chardonnay in the world but probably one of the better ones you'll see at this price point.

RATING: 9 / 10

Cline Sonoma Syrah 2007 - $8.99

2010-05-24T07:58:00.000-07:00

Quick Earth on the nose, cherries, dark fruit, tad note of raspberries, tons of blackberry with nice structure and soft tannins. We drank this without food, just a late night drink with a friend after picking her up from the airport. We tasted it out Friday night at the shop and almost sold out of it within an hour or so. Excellent value.

RATING: 10 / 10

I have signed up for another online Wine Spectator School class on sensory development. If you're interested in taking your wine knowledge one step further I highly suggest you look at WSS which you can do at your own pace for an affordable cost. I'll be reporting on the class as it goes here and sharing my tasting notes on the wines involved in the tasting exercises.

Santa Rita 120 Merlot 2008 - $7.49 and a Note on Value Wines

2010-05-21T18:42:00.000-07:00

While the majority of the wines I review here are under $15 a bottle (many under $10), I typically will not review your everyday value wines such as Yellow Tail, Little Penguin, Barefoot, etc. (exceptions are made if wines are very good for the money such as the Barefoot Zin). However, there are some cheap wines that you may not see everyday and are worth the gamble - such as Santa Rita's 120 line.

The 120 celebrates 120 Chilean patriots who fought for their freedom. All the 120 wines I have had are very good and worth far more than their $7.49 price tag, especially the Merlot. It has hints of cherries, red berries, spice, leather and soft tannins with a nice structure. The wine is a touch green, but it has nice fruit and is nice with many different meals - pasta with red sauce with pan fried chicken is what we had it with and it worked well.

RATING: 8.5 / 10

A Note on Value Wines

Many people, myself included, will drink a value wine from a major producer such as Little Penguin without thinking about it too much - just something nice to drink with your meal - this is fine, but many of these wines deserve a little more credit than that. Not saying your Barefoot Pinot Grigio is going to compare to some $30 bottle of Italian PG but it deserves at least a swirl and sniff before gulping it down. Many of these wines are simple but good - especially for a Wednesday night wine or bringing to a dinner party for people who may not be wine drinkers.

Some of my favorite value lines are the following (though there are other good ones out there as well):

Barefoot - USA
Little Penguin - AUS
Yellow Tail - AUS
Rayun - Chile
Santa Rita 120 - Chile
Cline - USA (Not technically a value producer because they do some nice mid-range stuff but they have many great wines under $10)

Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2009 - $13.99

2010-05-20T16:41:00.001-07:00

This wine from Marlborough, NZ has notes of grapefruit, pear, mango and kiwi as well as wildflowers, cilantro and wet grass. It has a stone mineral quality to it and is crisp from stainless steel aging. It is dry with medium to high acidity and a medium to long finish. Great wine from a great Sauvignon Blanc New World region.

RATING: 9.5 / 10

D'Orsaria Pinot Grigio - $10.99

2010-05-19T13:29:00.000-07:00

This is a very refreshing Pinot Grigio (the label looks different than this by the way). It has hints of McIntosh apples, pears, melons and grapefruit - light and crisp with loads of citrus notes. Great match for seafood pasta dishes.

RATING 9.5 / 10

My First Wine Tasting

2010-05-18T20:57:00.000-07:00

Spent the day out at Smith-Berry Winery in New Castle, KY with my boss and Chuck Smith, the owner and wine maker at Smith-Berry tasting wine straight from the stainless steel tanks, barrels and a couple bottles. Unbelievable experience - I have always liked Chuck, even though our conversations have been limited before, he has always been nice and talkative in the store when I've seen him and he was an excellent and gracious host today. So in lieu of a regular post today (I will detail my visit there later) I am sharing part of a paper I wrote dealing with hosting my first wine tasting. The entire paper on the Rhône Valley can be found here if you're interested in the history and culture of that wonderful wine region.

A Rhône Valley Wine Tasting

The experience of hosting my first wine tasting began hours before the guests began arriving. Early in the afternoon I went to Sam’s Wine & Spirits, in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, with my wife and our friends Brad and Valerie who were in town visiting us from Columbus, Ohio. We took our time in the store, discussing which areas or wines to choose, what kinds of prices we were looking at, and later, spent about a half hour with a store employee picking out wines, putting some back, then putting back some of the ones we picked because he found another bottle that might better suit our purposes. All in all, he made it a very educational and enjoyable experience.

Around 7 p.m. our guests started arriving and by 7:30 p.m. we were ready to begin. One of the wonderful aspects of our wine tasting was how it brought together people from all different walks of life; we had two Indian immigrants from New Dehli, two Polish immigrants from different cities in Poland, a first generation Polish-French American, a second generation Armenian-American, people from Ohio, Indiana, California and Pennsylvania. Of these people, some were Hindu, Catholic, Jewish, Protestant and Agnostic, the age range was anywhere from mid-20’s to early 60’s and we even had a two week old baby (who of course did not sample the wine).

Once the tasting began, we started with a white, Viognier based, Crozes-Hermitage, which generally went over quite well. We had some experienced tasters who were excellent in helping the less experienced find aromas and tastes and we even had a guy whose response to every wine was, “I smell grapes” or “I taste grapes” and that was okay too. This was balanced by a woman who was a life-long Chardonnay drinker who now says she’s found a new favorite white wine. As a group we went through every stage from looking, sniffing and tasting and we openly discussed each stage, shared our thoughts and helped answer each other’s questions.

Our next wine was also a Crozes-Hermitage, though this time a Syrah based red. We explored the differences between red and whites and began talking about different ways to describe reds and the complexity that is more often found in reds than whites. It was interesting to note that many guests did not expect to like a wine that they said smelled like, “wet hay”, “horse manure”, or “leather”, but most liked this wine as well as the white from Crozes-Hermitage. I believe it was this wine that challenged a lot of guests’ palettes and opened the minds of those used to fruitier wines.

After the first red wine, I stopped and opened a discussion as to what wine meant to everyone, or what they thought of when someone mentioned wine. I wasn’t surprised that most people answered the way I would have, that wine means all of the following things: good food, a slow meal that is not rushed, time with friends, good conversation and religious symbolism. We discussed how in today’s society, it often takes a dinner invitation and a bottle of wine at a friend’s house in order for anyone to enjoy a meal, or eat without a rush to be somewhere, or without the television on. While other alcohols have a reputation for quick drinking (or can in today’s society), no one ever thinks of quickly gulping a bottle of wine – wine indicates relaxation.

We then moved onto a southern red from Gigondas, which was a mix of Grenache, Syrah and Mouvédre. Many people viewed this wine as much heavier and darker and for the first time in the tasting we had a split decision; half of the guests really enjoyed it and the other half thought it was too earthy, or as one guest said, it was like “chimney dust”. We then moved onto the last wine, a Côte-du-Rhône wine from Trader Joe’s. This again split the group. Those who loved the Gigondas didn’t like the wine and those who hadn’t liked the earthiness of the Gigondas, loved this wine. They liked the fact that although it had a hot finish, it was a much fruitier wine and more residual sugars. This illustrated a great point about wine to everyone – they were both good wines, but everyone’s palette is different and that’s okay. There is no rule that says you have to like a certain wine because someone, even someone like Robert Parker, says it is good. Wine is to be enjoyed and not everyone is the same.

After the official wine tasting, we dispersed, but continued drinking and talking. The conversations I was in alone ranged from guitars and music in general to the American Civil War to this year’s presidential election and the policies of the candidates. This further illustrated the point that many people made earlier about wine being conducive to conversation; wine is sipped and enjoyed at a moderate pace that allows for thoughtful, intelligent conversation as opposed to beer or liquor. That is not to say that you cannot have great conversations while drinking anything else – coffee, tea, soda, beer, what have you. But generally speaking, most of the more interesting conversations over drinks I’ve had in my life have been over a good glass of wine, and this night was no exception.

I believe the wine tasting was successful on a number of levels: it brought people from different backgrounds together (some knew each other, some did not); it opened people up to new wines they liked; it gave some their first wine tasting experience; and for others, it was just an enjoyable way to spend an evening.

Gabbiano Chianti 2008 - $9.99

2010-05-17T10:29:00.000-07:00

I don't have any tasting notes for this wine - I can just tell you it's a good basic Chianti, which is from Italy and made from Sangiovese. I drank this wine like wine is supposed to be drank - with good food and good company. My friend Clark was in town for a wedding, met me at work and when we got home I grilled some Italian sausage, corn on the cob and sauerkraut and Joanna made roasted potatoes and a Mediterranean salad and we had this wine. It was excellent with the meal.

No official rating, but it's a good everyday Chianti to have with dinner.

Line 39 Petite Sirah 2008 - $10.99

2010-05-15T14:31:00.001-07:00

Petite Sirah (or Syrah) is an interesting story. It is not particularly petite, but a big, bold fruit and much like a lot of Americans tracing their ancestry, it was once thought to be one thing, then another and then it was finally figured out what its heritage was. It was originally thought to have come from Syrah even though it has always been known as an American grape. It was then thought to have come from another French grape, Durif, which was almost extinct. Then DNA studies were done and it was found that Petite Sirah was derived from Syrah and Peloursin (another French grape). It has been confused over the years with Syrah, Mouvedre, Grenache, and Carignane.

Petite Sirah at its best is "deep-colored, robust, peppery wine that packs plenty of tannin, giving it good aging ability" (Wine Lovers Companion).

This Line 39 Petite Sirah from North Coast in Lake County, CA is medium plus bodied with nice, soft tannic structure, lots of red and black fruits, a touch of barnyard, perhaps a little tart red fruit and spice. Great with red meat or roasted pork.

RATING: 8.5 / 10

Finca El Reposo Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - $9.99 (+ Tortoise Creek Shiraz Closeout)

2010-05-14T20:49:00.000-07:00

This cabernet sauvignon from Mendoza is a helluva deal. It's smoky, with hints of tobacco, plums, black cherry, vanilla and it has a nice tannic structure. (Sorry couldn't find a pic of the wine - but the malbec label looks the same - the cab has blue accents rather than the malbec's orange).

RATING: 9 / 10

Side note - Tortoise Creek is an excellent French Shiraz and they are no longer going to produce Shiraz but several other varieties. This can be had for cheap thanks to the close out (we're selling it for $7.99). This is a really good wine and will be gone soon - get it while you can!

Barefoot Zinfandel - $6.99

2010-05-13T16:23:00.001-07:00

Another same night post. We're having frozen pizza (flatbread pepperoni and roasted red pepper) and this wine was excellent. For $6.99 this wine is hard to beat - it's jammy with cherries, raspberries, with a little vanilla and spice (the label says as much and there's truth in their advertising). Not an extremely complex wine but a great dinner wine for the price. Would be excellent with pastas with red sauce, pizza and simple weeknight meals.

RATING: 9 / 10

Marqués de Riscal Rueda 2009 - $7.99

2010-05-07T20:48:00.000-07:00

This affordable Spanish white from Rueda is made from 100% Verdejo grapes and carries a really nice bouquet for $7.99. Hints of grapefruit, lime, pineapple, mango match a light acidity. It is light and crisp, slightly tart and has a nice finish for an $8 wine.

Pair with anything light and summery.

RATING: 9.5 / 10

Charles & Charles Rosé 2009 - $12.99

2010-05-06T16:51:00.000-07:00

Charles and Charles Rosé is a partnership between Charles Bieler (a Frenchman who has made wines in Provence since 1992) and Charles Smith (of various wine companies in the Pacific Northwest). These grapes, 100% Syrah, come exclusively from the Talcott Vineyard in Columbia Valley in Washington. The 2009 is the 2nd vintage of this excellent rosé (why it’s called Volume II) and it is perhaps the hottest rosé on the market right now.

The 2009 is a light pink color with hints of Granny Smith apples, floral notes, pear, peach, raspberries and a little honey. It is tart and dry with a slightly sweet finish. Crisp, light and delicious. Pair with poultry, fish or light summer meals.

RATING: 9.5 / 10

Zinfandel vs. White Zinfandel

2010-05-03T16:10:00.000-07:00

The other day I had a customer come into the store and ask me about zinfandels; I naively took him to the American Zinfandel section of our store while also pointing out the Italian and Australian Primitivos . He thanked me and I left him and five minutes later he came to the counter with a bottle of Berringer White Zinfandel. This led me to the idea of talking about the difference between the two, as it is something many people don’t differentiate between.

First off, as most of you know, Zinfandel is a grape that for the most part comes from California though it has made an appearance in South Africa and Australia and is known as Primitivo in selected places in Italy. Zinfandel makes a spicy, bold, (and when done right) absolutely delicious red wine.

Secondly, white wine can be made from any grape – it’s fermenting the juice with the skins that produces red wine – fermentation of just the juice makes white wine. Rosés, such as White Zinfandel are fermented with the skins for a time and then the skins are removed, leaving the soft red color behind.

White Zinfandel can range from off dry to sweet and believe it or not, accounts for 10% of the US wine consumption, making it the 3rd most popular varietal and outselling Zinfandel 6 to 1 (Wikipedia). Although White Zinfandel has been made for about 150 years, it was Sutter Home in the early 1970’s that really popularized the wine. It is usually very sweet, like fruit punch and is sometimes served over ice and sipped through a straw.

I love Zinfandels, LOVE them, but every now and again I enjoy a nice White Zin on a hot day. If you like sweeter wines, give them a chance. If you like bold reds, try a Zinfandel if you haven’t already.

Tasting Wine

2010-05-02T14:37:00.000-07:00

Today in place of a review, I want to just mention a few notes on tasting. Most days I post a short review of a wine and list my tasting notes and sometimes I use words that everyone might not know. The following information was referenced from The New Wine Lover's Companion by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst:

Body - the impression of texture or weight in the mouth. Is it thick and chewy or light and crisp?

Structure - a wine's architecture or plan. All wines have structures, is it strong? Adequate? You can say a wine is well-structured.

Tasting is an ongoing education. Your palate will develop the more you learn and the more you taste. When you find a wine you like, do a little research on the grapes, the location and the type of wine it is and what you liked about it. I had a customer wanting a cabernet sauvignon the other day who told me what he liked was chocolate, dark fruits and tobaccos in a wine and I led him to the Cline Ancient Vines Mourvedre which suited what he was looking for although it was not a cabernet sauvignon- the guy came back the next day to buy two more bottles of it. Wine is a journey and it is one way to experience far away places without getting on a plane - with all the things that go into the taste of a wine (soil, elevation, wind, proximity to water, climate, wine making process, etc.) you can experience a taste of a place from your own home.

I would encourage everyone to seek out a basic book on wine and wine tasting. Two of my favorites are:

The Wine Bible - $12.62 from Amazon
The New Wine Lover's Companion (obviously) - $11.55 from Amazon for the 2010 edition

Ercavio Blanco 2008 - $7.99

2010-04-29T20:49:00.001-07:00

Really good day - got my "The New Wine Lover's Companion" in the mail today - if you're into wine, it's the perfect book and will only cost you about $10. It's like an encyclopedia with a ton of awesome indexes. I got mine from Amazon for less than $11.

The Ercavio Blanco is a nice little white wine (and 100% Airen grapes which is the most widely planted grape in Spain). It's not as nice as the Martin Codax I reviewed earlier, but it's also half the price. You get notes of Granny Smith apples, wildflowers and pear. It's light, crisp with good acidity and a smooth finish.

RATING: 9 / 10

Chono Riesling 2006 - $13.99 + California Wine Country

2010-04-28T14:09:00.000-07:00

I first of all want to warn you – for financial reasons I am not buying wine for a couple weeks so I will review from my tasting journal. I already have a shopping list for the next paycheck that is mostly whites: chardonnays, pinot grigios and sauvignon blancs mostly. Don’t worry, still have about 10 bottles in the house to work on as well including a rosé and two whites. Also, below today’s review is some California wine country travel notes.

The Bio-Bio Valley sits on the southern end of Chilean wine country following the Bio-Bio River that flows down from the Andes. It is comparable to Monterey, California as far as a Northern Hemisphere reference point. While Riesling is not a major grape in this area, Chono makes an excellent crisp Riesling. Hints of citrus fruits, MacIntosh apples and pears compliment the lightly tart texture. It has a smooth finish and is fruity but not sugary sweet. Nice for spicy foods, light salads or on its own.

RATING: 8.5 / 10

TRAVEL

I decided to add a little tip about California wine travel on here due to this piece I saw in the news today. If you have not been, Northern California is beautiful and not that busy. Same can be said for Central California wine country although it is its own culture compared to Napa and Sonoma. You can’t go wrong with either. We especially enjoyed our tour of Chateau Julien in Carmel Valley as they do everything on site from grapes to bottling. It is also close to Carmel-By-The-Sea, a beautiful little art community which used to have Clint Eastwood as mayor (if you go to Carmel, eat at the Mission Ranch, Clint’s restaurant, it’s fantastic!).

Este de Bodegas Alto Almanzora - $9.99

2010-04-27T10:31:00.000-07:00

I know I promised another white today but I had an experience last night that I thought would be good to share and it gives a good opportunity for a bit of education.

Typically I have been reviewing wines that all have very high ratings. This is because (1) I find it better to share what wines I think are good rather than what you should stay away from and (2) My boss knows my palate and when I don't pick something for myself, he usually can pick out what he thinks I'd like. This Este is a table wine (Vino de Mesa) from Spain. Here table wine means, for lack of a better term, regular wine - not fortified or sweet and meant to be drunk with food. In many places, including the EU, it also is a classification of wine and is usually the lowest classification of wine. So, don't be turned away by a California Merlot that says "table wine" on the back but maybe ask some questions about a table wine from Europe, or at least look up some reviews online before buying.

This Este is a simple table wine. It does have red fruits such as strawberries, raspberries, etc. but there is just not a lot to this wine. It is not bad, if you served this to me at dinner, I would have no problem with it at all, it's just not great. For $10 you can get a lot better wines for dinner (see earlier blog posts for suggestions).

RATING: 5 / 10

Urban Uco Torrontés 2009 - $9.99

2010-04-26T14:35:00.000-07:00

The first of a couple whites in a row to make up for the string of reds. This torrontés is from Cafayate in Argentina - the grape is originally Spanish but is starting to make a strong showing in South America as well. The grapes are grown at 5,740 feet above sea level and hand picked at the end of March (Southern Hemisphere's growing season is 6 months ahead of ours). This wine has not seen a drop of it touch wood, having been aged in stainless steel. They suggest serving it at 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

This wine gives notes of melons, honeydew, peaches, honey, apricot, citrus (such as lime and pineapple) and floral notes. It is extremely crisp with a nice finish and just a touch of tartness. Best paired with salads, seafood, cheese and crackers or enjoyed on its own.

RATING: 8.5 / 10

Smith-Berry Norton $12.99

2010-04-25T14:50:00.001-07:00

I have been really heavy on reds lately and as the weather warms I want to review more whites and rosés to accompany the change in weather but I wanted to get a review of Smith-Berry out there for those of you who might be travelling this spring or summer.

Smith-Berry is right here in New Castle, KY and strives to be as “green” as they can be (see examples on their website here). The farm was a cattle and tobacco farm and they still farm outside the vineyards today. They make many excellent wines and I can personally attest to the fact Chuck Smith is a helluva nice guy. So, if you’re in the area and want to visit a winery this year, please consider Smith-Berry.

Their Norton is an excellent dry red giving notes of cherry, vanilla, coffee and is slightly jammy yet with some mellow earth tones. It has a very smooth, medium length finish and would complement several meals well as well as on its own. Try this with beef dishes or good ol’ Southern cooking.

RATING: 9 / 10

I promise a couple whites in the next few days!

Marquis Phillips Sarah's Blend 2008 - $12.99

2010-04-24T20:58:00.001-07:00

My boss says this is one of his favorite bottles under $15 in our store and now I know why - I liked this so much that I am reviewing it the same night I drank it (usually I refer to my tasting journal and pick one out to review).

This wine is 63% shiraz, 26% cabernet sauvignon and the rest made up of merlot and cabernet franc. I got pepper, espresso, chocolate, wild berry and dark fruits on the nose and it didn't disappoint on the palate either - nice chewy tannins, excellent structure and balance. We had this with black bean and venison tacos and it was a perfect compliment.

RATING: 9.5 / 10

Matua Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2008 - $12.99

2010-04-22T20:45:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to try this wine at a wine tasting put on by one of our distributors - I am not sure I had ever had a New Zealand wine before this day or not but I sampled about 6 sauvignon blancs from NZ that day and this is one that stood above the rest (although Kim Crawford also gave a good showing). I ended up purchasing a bottle for us to drink at home and was just as pleased the second time around.

This wine has hints of pear, Granny Smith apples, cider, honeysuckle as well as floral notes on the nose. It has a nice fruit touch to it while maintaing a good minerality and texture and has a nice smooth finish. An excellent wine for salads and seafood and some poultry dishes as well as to drink on its own. While we did not pair it with anything spicy, I think this would be an excellent pairing with Indian or Thai food.

RATING: 9 / 10

Cline Cool Climate Syrah 2007 - $15.99

2010-04-20T14:47:00.000-07:00

The third and final Cline installment for this week is the Cool Climate Syrah from the Sonoma Coast. This wine has a lot of blueberries, blackberries, wood smoke and pepper to it - fruity and yet peppery in perfect balance. It is a deep purple with a nice tannic body, but not too much to leave your mouth watering. It has a very nice long finish and is a great wine for many different meals, especially ribs. We had this with pulled pork and an Asian salad and it complemented both extremely well.

RATING: 9.5 / 10

Cline Ancient Vines Mourvedre 2007 - $15.99

2010-04-19T19:32:00.001-07:00

The 2nd Cline wine reviewed in as many days (will probably review the Cool Climate Syrah tomorrow, FYI). The Contra Costa County Ancient Vines Mourvedre is a thick and chewy wine with deep purple fruits such as plums and oak, tobacco and chocolate. It is earthy with a good body and has an excellent finish. As mentioned before Cline and Contra Costa Country do extremely well with Rhône varietals. We had this with pot roast (which was an excellent pairing) and it should be drank with a hearty meal with red meat so it will not overpower your food.

RATING: 9 / 10

Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2008 - $15.99

2010-04-18T15:16:00.000-07:00

So I've already admitted to you that my new favorite wines are Spanish whites, but my old favorites are usually French and usually Rhônes at that. One of my favorite winemakers, and my favorite American producer, is Cline. This is the first of several Cline wines you will see reviewed here.

Cline is based mostly in Contra Costa County, CA south of Sonoma. Their site is a historic one as it was the original site of the last Spanish mission, which, due to the winds, was moved north to Sonoma where it still sits. Cline and Contra Costa County are made to grow zinfandel and certain Rhône varietals and since the soil is sandy, the vines were never subjected to phylloxera (which doesn’t like sandy soil). Zinfandel is the 2nd most planted grape in California and is somewhat of a chameleon, it can be sweet, dry, made into white zinfandel (which was first made in 1972 by Sutter Home) and while known as an American grape, it is the identical twin to Italy’s Primitivo.

This Cline is an old school Zin, big and chewy, rustic and filled with dark fruits. It has blackberries, plums, boysenberries, chocolate, a little tobacco, vanilla and coffee on the nose. It is a little earthy with lots of fruits and about a 30 second finish. Excellent with any number of foods or on its own, though I recommend drinking this wine with food for its full effect – preferably a steak, sausage dish or stew.

RATING: 9.5 / 10

Tamas Double Decker Red 2007 - $9.99

2010-04-16T11:11:00.000-07:00

This Central Coast red blend is perfect for grilling season. It is a blend of cabernet sauvignon, petite sirah and barbera that has notes of currant, cherry, dark fruits and a smooth warm finish. It is a dry wine perfect for grilled steaks and vegetables. A great wine to drink immediately - or by fall when the grill is put away.

RATING: 8.5 / 10

Mapema Sauvignon Blanc 2008 - $12.99

2010-04-15T14:17:00.000-07:00

Argentina is the world's fifth largest wine producer but they are known mostly for their reds. Mendoza is especially known for its fantastic malbecs and cabernet saugvignons. White wines are taking off here and there are fantastic rieslings, torrontes and sauvignon blancs to be found in all kinds of price ranges.

Mapema makes a very nice sauvignon blanc for $12.99. There are hints of pear, citrus fruits, honeysuckle and freshly cut grass on the nose and the medium bodied wine finishes smooth with hits of fresh melons and cantaloupe. This would be excellent paired with grilled fish and greens as well as a grilled chicken salad with some spice to it such as a southwestern style salad.

RATING: 9 / 10

Bielsa Garnacha 2008 - $8.99

2010-04-14T18:57:00.000-07:00

Another Spanish wine and another that's a helluva deal. At $8.99 this is a great bottle.

Garnacha (or grenache in France) is usually found in blends, specifically GSMs (Grenache / Syrah / Mourvedre) though all three make wonderful wines on their own. It is usually a spicy, berry flavored wine that is light in texture and acidity (though can be high on alcohol content). The Bielsa fits this mold. On the nose it is spicy, Earthy, with dark berries, pomegranate, vanilla and toffee. The finish is warm but smooth and is good, though if the finish were just a little bit longer this wine would go a lot farther on the quality scale.

Rating: 8.5 / 10

Sagelands Riesling 2007 - $10.99

2010-04-13T14:53:00.000-07:00

While Germany and Alsace maintain their hold as the major producers of riesling, the New World is almost caught up. New rieslings have been popping up everywhere from California to Idaho in the last few decades. Sagelands makes an excellent riesling from Columbia Valley in Washington state. You get peach, pear, orange blossoms, lemon, lime and pineapple on the nose as well as a nice weight and acidity level with just a touch of residual sugar. It is not the sweetest or the driest riesling you will taste but a nice wine that sits in the middle of that scale. Will be nice with light dishes, salads with fruit and simply by itself.

Rating: 9/10

CORRECTION: The Martin Codax Albarino is actually retailing at $13.99 - I made the mistake of giving the price for their tempernillo which I will review later. The albarino is still a fantastic wine for $13.99 - I can't say enough good things about it.

Zonin Montepulciano D'Abruzzo 2007 - $8.49

2010-04-12T17:50:00.000-07:00

Abruzzi sits in central Italy and benefits from the winds off the Adriatic Sea, the plentiful sunshine and steep hills. In spite of this, most of the wines from this area are basic table wines with one exception: Montepulciano D'Abruzzo. Montepulciano D'Abruzzo is a solid bodied and rustic though with thick dark fruit flavors. This wine comes from the grape montepulciano and should not be confused with the Tuscan Vino Nobile de Montepulciano.

Zonin is a large wine maker and that helps keep the cost of this great wine down. It is more complex than you would expect for $8.99 This wine has a bit of Earth to it and yet carries the flavors of black cherry, blackberry, black currant and more. Very well balanced. Smooth, slightly warm finish. Would be good with a number of dishes: pizza, pasta with tomato based sauce and / or red meat. A great buy for the money.

Rating: 9.5 / 10

Martin Codax Albarino 2008 - $13.99

2010-04-11T15:29:00.000-07:00

I am beginning with this particular wine for a couple reasons: (1) It was excellent and a great value, and (2) Spanish whites are a new discovery for me and they are quickly becoming one of my favorite whites.

Albarino is grown in Rias Baixas, a region in Spain on the Atlantic coast north of Portugal. As in most of Europe, wines are identified by region rather than by grape, but Albarino is one of the exceptions. It is a thick skinned grape that yields less juice than other whites which leads to a more in demand wine.

This Martin Codax Albarino is an excellent deal at $13.99 - It is a crisp, light bodied wine with hints of citrus fruits, pear, peach, and floral notes on the nose. It could be paired with anything from a zesty chicken dish to seafood or other poultry. It also would go over well on its own, especially as the sun comes back to stay and it gets warm outside for awhile.

Rating: 9/10

NOTE TO READERS: My rating system is based on quality for the cost. Therefore if I rate a $10 wine at a 10, it means it would be a great wine for even more money. If it is a 7 for $10, then it is a good table wine for $10. There are great wines out there for $8 and not so great wines out there at $80, therefore this system allows you to find the best wines in your price range.

Introduction

2010-04-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

I am a 30 year old law student and wine shop employee in Louisville, KY. I am starting this blog to share the knowledge I already have and to document and share knowledge as I acquire it. I had a small background in wine before taking this part-time job having studied wine in undergrad classes at DePaul University and through the Wine Spectator Online Education Program. That having been said, I am by no means an expert, but I am learning and I am drinking a lot of wine so I figured the least I could do is share that and hopefully educate some people, make them less intimidated by wine, share some good wines and help expand people's palettes (as mine has expanded a great deal recently).

I will try and review one wine or discuss one tidbit a day if I am able - these will not be long posts as my time (and I am sure my readers' time) is in short supply these days.

Thank you and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!