We're enjoying the lazy down-time in between the two holidays. Daryl is working half days, and the weather has been mild enough that the kids can get out to ride their bikes in the afternoons. We haven't done too much wine drinking lately, save for the usual glass at dinner.
Christmas dinner was excellent. We visited some friends, who prepared a wonderful feast. We drank sparkling wine from California--hand-carried from their trip to Napa. For dinner, we brought a Santa Barbara Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir. Good eating, good drinking, and wonderful company!
We opened a bottle of Garnacha (Grenache) from the Carinena region of Spain: 2002 Vino Tinto Castillo de Monseran. Very nice, and a great bargain at $8. We're enjoying it with dinner this week.
Daryl promised to pick up some Prosecco for New Year's Eve. Cheers!
Friday, December 29, 2006
Friday, December 15, 2006
Our Weekly Wrap-Up
What can we say? It's the holidays--busy, busy. Another round of The Crud is going through our house, too, which always puts a damper on wine tasting and other amusing activities. Kath is trying to come up with entertaining things for the kids to do over vacation that do not involve eight hours in front of the television, and Daryl is pushing through the final round of office Christmas parties (Chili cook-offs! Pizza buffets! Sugar, sugar and more sugar!).
We're still drinking our cheaper stuff. After Thanksgiving, our cellar is somewhat depleted; the remaining bottles are either too fancy for ordinary nights or possess some sort of sentimental value that prohibits their opening. We'll probably head to Trader Joe's this weekend to get another affordable case.
We opened a red table wine from our 2005 trip to Prince Edward Island. Ummm...not the greatest wine but not the worst. Very strong--grapey, peppery. One glass was enough, so it sits in our fridge for now. We also tried Kendall-Jackson 2002 Vintner's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Now that is a good bottle! A well-crafted, delicious cab. Daryl picked this one up, and he's pretty sure he paid well under $20. Nice choice!
We've been asked to bring the wine for Christmas dinner: turkey and all the trimmings. We're unsure what to pick up: a Pinot Noir? Chardonnay (but not an oaky one)? That'll be something fun to look for in the next week.
Cheers!
We're still drinking our cheaper stuff. After Thanksgiving, our cellar is somewhat depleted; the remaining bottles are either too fancy for ordinary nights or possess some sort of sentimental value that prohibits their opening. We'll probably head to Trader Joe's this weekend to get another affordable case.
We opened a red table wine from our 2005 trip to Prince Edward Island. Ummm...not the greatest wine but not the worst. Very strong--grapey, peppery. One glass was enough, so it sits in our fridge for now. We also tried Kendall-Jackson 2002 Vintner's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Now that is a good bottle! A well-crafted, delicious cab. Daryl picked this one up, and he's pretty sure he paid well under $20. Nice choice!
We've been asked to bring the wine for Christmas dinner: turkey and all the trimmings. We're unsure what to pick up: a Pinot Noir? Chardonnay (but not an oaky one)? That'll be something fun to look for in the next week.
Cheers!
Monday, December 04, 2006
Disappointed
We hate when we open a bad bottle! On Saturday, we were in the mood for a white, and we dug deep into the cellar to find a Pinot Grigio from Ohio. We had tried this back in June at the Ohio Wine Fest, and obviously enjoyed it, as we purchased a bottle.
The top of the cork was damp and discolored. Uh oh. We uncorked it, and the entire cork was discolored, moist and crumbling. It reeked of vinegar. Ugh.
The wine didn't smell bad, and we hoped that it had somehow survived. Nope. It was very, very acidic. That one went down the drain. Too bad--this was a wine from the Lake Erie region of the state, and we haven't seen it in local shops.
Last night we opened Nobilo 2005 Marlborough Savignon Blanc. As always, it was delightful--lots of citrus and peach.
We took a picture of the cork, as we had never seen one this bad. Don't know if its poor condition is obvious in the above shot.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Bragging Rights
Woo hoo! It's done...sort of. I got my 50K and I still have a chapter to go.
Long live NaNoWriMo.
Reflections on Thanksgiving Wine
We drank quite a bit of wine this holiday week (and some beer, too)...opened some old favorites and tried some new stuff also. Here's a little summary of what we sipped:
Kath's parents spent some time in Italy earlier this fall, and they brought us two wines from Castello Il Palagio. We shared the very nice red table wine, and we are saving the 2001 Chianti Classico Riserva.
Liz brought a lovely semi-sweet red wine from Georgia, which we served with Thanksgiving appetizers. Aptly named Scarlett, this was a pleasing bottle--and the first from Georgia we've ever tried. Good stuff!
With dinner, we drank Fetzer Chardonnay and Ortman 2005 Syrah Rose. Those are two of our favorites. We also opened several Charles Shaw wines throughout the week.
Finally, we decided to open our 1996 Quintessa to enjoy Liz and Colleen's last day with us. This was our first foray into the world of cult wine, and we weren't disappointed. It was a lovely, delicate red--very pretty. We did agree that it was probably past its peak--there was no noticeable finish and it tasted a little pale, so to speak. It was good, very good, but not phenomenal. Lesson learned--we'll open our 2001 before the ten year mark.
It was an excellent week--good company and good wines!
Kath's parents spent some time in Italy earlier this fall, and they brought us two wines from Castello Il Palagio. We shared the very nice red table wine, and we are saving the 2001 Chianti Classico Riserva.
Liz brought a lovely semi-sweet red wine from Georgia, which we served with Thanksgiving appetizers. Aptly named Scarlett, this was a pleasing bottle--and the first from Georgia we've ever tried. Good stuff!
With dinner, we drank Fetzer Chardonnay and Ortman 2005 Syrah Rose. Those are two of our favorites. We also opened several Charles Shaw wines throughout the week.
Finally, we decided to open our 1996 Quintessa to enjoy Liz and Colleen's last day with us. This was our first foray into the world of cult wine, and we weren't disappointed. It was a lovely, delicate red--very pretty. We did agree that it was probably past its peak--there was no noticeable finish and it tasted a little pale, so to speak. It was good, very good, but not phenomenal. Lesson learned--we'll open our 2001 before the ten year mark.
It was an excellent week--good company and good wines!
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Updating
From Kath: We haven't been doing much wine drinking these past few weeks, save for our usual Two Buck table wine during the week. Reasons? A nasty cold has run its course through our house, pretty much making all of us miserable and rendering our noses and taste buds useless. Not good for trying new wine. Also, we've been busy with a variety of activities, and we haven't been around much.
NaNoWriMo has kept me very, very busy this month. I'm happy to report that I'm at 43K words--not bad with less than two weeks to go! I pretty much did marathon writing sessions the first part of the month, knowing that I wouldn't get much done over Thanksgiving. It's been fun.
We've been thinking about our Thanksgiving wine. Daryl already picked up a 1.5L bottle of Fetzer Chardonnay for our table wine. We are considering opening our 1996 Quintessa--that'll be fun to try, and we'll write it up here. Kath's family may bring a couple of bottles to share, and we're looking forward to their selections.
That's it for this Saturday. Go Buckeyes!
NaNoWriMo has kept me very, very busy this month. I'm happy to report that I'm at 43K words--not bad with less than two weeks to go! I pretty much did marathon writing sessions the first part of the month, knowing that I wouldn't get much done over Thanksgiving. It's been fun.
We've been thinking about our Thanksgiving wine. Daryl already picked up a 1.5L bottle of Fetzer Chardonnay for our table wine. We are considering opening our 1996 Quintessa--that'll be fun to try, and we'll write it up here. Kath's family may bring a couple of bottles to share, and we're looking forward to their selections.
That's it for this Saturday. Go Buckeyes!
Friday, November 10, 2006
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Late, Again
Really and truly, we did sip on Saturday but never got around to posting our little review. My excuse (Kath speaking as the usual poster)? I'm participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), so I've been a little busy attempting to write a 5oK word novel in 30 days...less, actually, when you consider that I'll be taking time off over Thanksgiving to play hostess. But anyway, FWIW, here are our impressions of this past Saturday's wine.
Silver Syrah 57% Mourvedre 43% (Santa Barbara, 2002) was this month's wine of the month selection from our local wine shop. It has a beautiful appearance: dark, rich, opaque red with just a touch of brightness when held up to the light. (Daryl noted that this hint of clarity meant it would be more of a medium-bodied wine, as compared to a full-bodied like a Cab...and he was right!) We both smelled blackberries. It was smooth in taste, hitting the front of the palate and mellowing at the finish. We both noticed that familiar Syrah pepper, but it wasn't as sharp. Influence of the Mourvedre blend, no doubt. The alcohol content was high at 14.6.%, but we couldn't smell or taste the alcohol.
We picked this wine up for around $23. A very good red!
Silver Syrah 57% Mourvedre 43% (Santa Barbara, 2002) was this month's wine of the month selection from our local wine shop. It has a beautiful appearance: dark, rich, opaque red with just a touch of brightness when held up to the light. (Daryl noted that this hint of clarity meant it would be more of a medium-bodied wine, as compared to a full-bodied like a Cab...and he was right!) We both smelled blackberries. It was smooth in taste, hitting the front of the palate and mellowing at the finish. We both noticed that familiar Syrah pepper, but it wasn't as sharp. Influence of the Mourvedre blend, no doubt. The alcohol content was high at 14.6.%, but we couldn't smell or taste the alcohol.
We picked this wine up for around $23. A very good red!
Friday, October 27, 2006
Island Memories
So, this is where we were, five months ago! Hard to believe how quickly the time has passed.
To remind us of those fine Mallorcan days, we opened one of the bottles we brought back:
Jose L. Ferrer Veritas Anada 2003, D.O. Binissalem, Mallorca. It's a blend of local grapes Mantonegro and Callet with Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo. The taste? Unusual.
"Cranberries. Fermented cranberries." Daryl's first response. Kath took a sip and agreed. Not much aroma to this wine, just the slightest hint of cranberry. In appearance, it resembled a Pinot Noir--clear red. Taste: almost exclusively cranberry. Light-bodied, different. It's probably something we wouldn't ordinarily drink, but as it holds much sentimental value, we enjoyed it.
Salud!
Saturday, October 21, 2006
The French Journey Begins...
So, at Saturday Sippin', if we say we're going to learn about a new wine, we stick to our word. While out running errands, Daryl stopped by our local wine shop and requested a French wine that would go well with Chipotle burritos (our dinner). He came home with a semi-sweet white for under $10 ($9.99 actually).
J. Moreau & Fils 2004 Vouvray Demi-sec. For starters, Kath loved the fact that there was a little map of the Vouvray region on the front label. Also, the varietal was listed on the back label: 100% Chenin Blanc. Very nice. This wine was sweeter than what we normally look for in a white. Lots of fruit and a little honey. Very supple--but not syrupy--texture. Quite tasty with our smoky, spicy chicken and pork burritos.
Next week, a French red, perhaps?
(Oh, and check out their website, linked above. Funny how seeing pictures and reading detailed explanations of winemaking can lessen the intimidation factor.)
J. Moreau & Fils 2004 Vouvray Demi-sec. For starters, Kath loved the fact that there was a little map of the Vouvray region on the front label. Also, the varietal was listed on the back label: 100% Chenin Blanc. Very nice. This wine was sweeter than what we normally look for in a white. Lots of fruit and a little honey. Very supple--but not syrupy--texture. Quite tasty with our smoky, spicy chicken and pork burritos.
Next week, a French red, perhaps?
(Oh, and check out their website, linked above. Funny how seeing pictures and reading detailed explanations of winemaking can lessen the intimidation factor.)
Friday, October 20, 2006
A Discovery
We love a bold Syrah, but we rarely drink Petite Syrah--don't know why, just never think to pick up a bottle. We added this bottle to fill up a case, and we were very pleased with what we sipped. (For more about Petite Syrah, see here and here.)
Dashe 2002 Petite Syrah (Ripken Vineyard, Lodi): Daryl picked out the finer nuances of this wine, so we'll use his tasting notes for a more complete overview. Aroma: black raspberry. Taste: slightly peppery start; smooth chocolate finish. Interesting to note that when Kath tried this, we had just pulled it out of the cellar, and she tasted cinnamon instead of pepper. She also noticed a subtle hint of thyme.
This is an excellent wine, and we have a new varietal to explore.
Cheers!
Dashe 2002 Petite Syrah (Ripken Vineyard, Lodi): Daryl picked out the finer nuances of this wine, so we'll use his tasting notes for a more complete overview. Aroma: black raspberry. Taste: slightly peppery start; smooth chocolate finish. Interesting to note that when Kath tried this, we had just pulled it out of the cellar, and she tasted cinnamon instead of pepper. She also noticed a subtle hint of thyme.
This is an excellent wine, and we have a new varietal to explore.
Cheers!
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Kath's Thoughts on French Wine
French wine intimidates me. That sounds like an odd reaction to what is essentially bottles of fermented grapes, but I cannot drink French wine because I'm afraid of it. Maybe it's a language thing: I had no problem learning Spanish and use that language to help decipher Italian and Portuguese bottles. French--I see names of regions, chateaux, rivers, etc., and I feel I need both a dictionary and an atlas.
Maybe I'm too American when it comes to wine. I like knowing which varietal I'm drinking up front. When I open a red, I want to know if it's a Cab or a Zin or some sort of blend. However, Spain, Portugal and Italy use the D.O. in labeling their wines, and while I don't always know which grape I'm drinking, I have a general idea what the wine will be like. For example, I know that Italian Barolos and Barbarescos are excellent (and generally out of our price range), but Barberas, produced in the same region, are generally tasty and affordable. So maybe it isn't a grape versus region issue after all.
I don't want to be intimidated by wine, and as a wine lover, I feel that I should develop at least a basic understanding of French wine (and, yes, I know that Burgundy and Bordeaux are supposed to be tops).
So, starting soon, I'm going to try to select French wines for our Saturday Sippin' selection. Since I tend to shop in the under $30 bin, I'm not quite sure what I'll find. But isn't that the fun of wine: opening a bottle and seeing what you get?
Until Saturday...
Maybe I'm too American when it comes to wine. I like knowing which varietal I'm drinking up front. When I open a red, I want to know if it's a Cab or a Zin or some sort of blend. However, Spain, Portugal and Italy use the D.O. in labeling their wines, and while I don't always know which grape I'm drinking, I have a general idea what the wine will be like. For example, I know that Italian Barolos and Barbarescos are excellent (and generally out of our price range), but Barberas, produced in the same region, are generally tasty and affordable. So maybe it isn't a grape versus region issue after all.
I don't want to be intimidated by wine, and as a wine lover, I feel that I should develop at least a basic understanding of French wine (and, yes, I know that Burgundy and Bordeaux are supposed to be tops).
So, starting soon, I'm going to try to select French wines for our Saturday Sippin' selection. Since I tend to shop in the under $30 bin, I'm not quite sure what I'll find. But isn't that the fun of wine: opening a bottle and seeing what you get?
Until Saturday...
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
A Little Late...
So, we actually drank this past weekend's wine early (last Thursday), and we kept meaning to do the write-up. Alas, things have been busy, and we're finally getting to it. We did take notes, so we're not just relying on memory.
Monticello Vineyards 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley):Very nice cab! Rich, dark red in color; typical full-bodied taste, with a tiny undernote of smoke. We were nervous upon opening the bottle. A strong aroma of alcohol wafted from our glasses, and we wondered if we'd end up tasting vinegar. Nope! Just a good cab.
Only a few more days till Saturday!
Monticello Vineyards 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley):Very nice cab! Rich, dark red in color; typical full-bodied taste, with a tiny undernote of smoke. We were nervous upon opening the bottle. A strong aroma of alcohol wafted from our glasses, and we wondered if we'd end up tasting vinegar. Nope! Just a good cab.
Only a few more days till Saturday!
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Wonderful White
This weekend's wine is Cinnabar Mercury Rising Blanc 2005 (Paso Robles, CA), a delightful, fruity (but dry, of course) blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and Semillon. We picked this up at our local shop and are thoroughly pleased with what our $20 bought.
The color is gorgeous--a pale, delicate straw. Aromas of grapefruit and kiwi. Kath thought this wine tasted very close to her favorite New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc but with some unusual undertones, like honeysuckle (yes, really...). Daryl couldn't pick out individual flavors but liked the brightness and noted that the acidity is very low. It went well with our lumpia and fried rice.
Cheers!
The color is gorgeous--a pale, delicate straw. Aromas of grapefruit and kiwi. Kath thought this wine tasted very close to her favorite New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc but with some unusual undertones, like honeysuckle (yes, really...). Daryl couldn't pick out individual flavors but liked the brightness and noted that the acidity is very low. It went well with our lumpia and fried rice.
Cheers!
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Rueda Rose
One of our favorite summer wines is Verdejo from Rueda, Spain. This light, fruity (but not sweet) white wine has been at the top of our list since we tried it at our very first tasting in October, 2002. It is becoming more popular -- and therefore easier to find -- and overall, the quality of this wine remains high.
We were delighted to find Rose from Rueda on our last visit to our local wine shop. Vida Nueva, 2005, is made from 100% Tempranillo and is a fun, light wine. Like a white Rueda, it is bright and clean with berry tones...but definitely dry, much to our liking. A nice end-of-summer wine, we served it with a fall meal: grilled pork, roasted potatoes, steamed broccoli, and homemade applesauce.
Our very first review (here) was a Syrah Rose, and Vida Nueva compares favorably to that wine. An unexpected find!
Until the next...
We were delighted to find Rose from Rueda on our last visit to our local wine shop. Vida Nueva, 2005, is made from 100% Tempranillo and is a fun, light wine. Like a white Rueda, it is bright and clean with berry tones...but definitely dry, much to our liking. A nice end-of-summer wine, we served it with a fall meal: grilled pork, roasted potatoes, steamed broccoli, and homemade applesauce.
Our very first review (here) was a Syrah Rose, and Vida Nueva compares favorably to that wine. An unexpected find!
Until the next...
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Miss Harry
A few years ago, Australian Shiraz was all the rage. That was right around the time we were learning about wine, and many of our early tastings were of this varietal. We tried Shiraz from Yellow Tale and Lindemans, and recently, we fell in love with Bremerton's Old Adam Shiraz (that'll be a separate posting someday).
Tonight's wine is a Shiraz blend from Australia and, at around $20, is a real find: Hewitson Miss Harry 2004 (Grenache 44%, Shiraz 43%, Mourvedre 13%). It is a delightful, rich wine. Our notes: Aromas of mineral and earth. Dry. Low tannins, low acidity. We both tasted complicated minerals. Full-bodied but not overwhelming.
We sipped it without a food pairing, but we think it would go very well with a sharp cheese or a good steak. It is a great wine!
Tonight's wine is a Shiraz blend from Australia and, at around $20, is a real find: Hewitson Miss Harry 2004 (Grenache 44%, Shiraz 43%, Mourvedre 13%). It is a delightful, rich wine. Our notes: Aromas of mineral and earth. Dry. Low tannins, low acidity. We both tasted complicated minerals. Full-bodied but not overwhelming.
We sipped it without a food pairing, but we think it would go very well with a sharp cheese or a good steak. It is a great wine!
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Western Wines
Yesterday, some friends joined us for an excellent Filipino feast (prepared by Daryl's mom), and they brought two wines from a recent trip West.
Gruet Pinot Noir 2004 New Mexico: Nice Pinot! Berry notes, smooth, low tannins and low acidity. Very refreshing and went well with the roast pork and fried rice.
The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey Chardonnay 2004 Canon City, Colorado: We aren't big fans of American Chardonnay. We have tried this varietal at all different price points but never found one we truly enjoyed, with a couple exceptions. However, this Colorado Chardonnay was very good! No oak and lots of juicy fruit. Delicious with lumpia and baked shrimp.
(Oh, and the two Chardonnays we recommend: Fetzer and Jewell Towne Vineyards.)
We also opened a Mallorcan rose and finished a Rueda. Not a bad afternoon!
Gruet Pinot Noir 2004 New Mexico: Nice Pinot! Berry notes, smooth, low tannins and low acidity. Very refreshing and went well with the roast pork and fried rice.
The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey Chardonnay 2004 Canon City, Colorado: We aren't big fans of American Chardonnay. We have tried this varietal at all different price points but never found one we truly enjoyed, with a couple exceptions. However, this Colorado Chardonnay was very good! No oak and lots of juicy fruit. Delicious with lumpia and baked shrimp.
(Oh, and the two Chardonnays we recommend: Fetzer and Jewell Towne Vineyards.)
We also opened a Mallorcan rose and finished a Rueda. Not a bad afternoon!
Saturday, September 09, 2006
"I've never seen a wine that looks so pink!"
That's a quote from one of our future Saturday Sippers when we poured today's wine: Folonari Pink Pinot Grigio 2005, Venezie, Italy. And indeed, all is pink -- screwcap, label, and liquid. Clearly, Folonari wants to appeal to women. A whimsical blonde walks a pink poodle on the label's front, and there's a catchy write-up on the back: "...the fresh aroma and juicy taste of Folonari Pink Pinot Grigio makes life a breeze. The easy screwcap does, too. So your pretty pink nails will stay that way."
We were dubious, but this wasn't a bad wine. Light tannins, touch acidic, dry. We served it with a chicken stir fry and rice, and this pink pinot grigio went well. It's a pleasant end-of-summer wine and only cost $8.
We were dubious, but this wasn't a bad wine. Light tannins, touch acidic, dry. We served it with a chicken stir fry and rice, and this pink pinot grigio went well. It's a pleasant end-of-summer wine and only cost $8.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Hiatus
Saturday, August 19, 2006
"Bigger than life"
"You're a serious Cabernet drinker. You want a wine that's bigger than life. CABZILLA. And the price won't eat you alive."
That catchy quote is from the back of this weekend's bottle: Cabzilla 2002 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($15). We picked up this wine two years ago and uncorked it last night for our belated anniversary dinner.
Our notes: Aromas of berry -- raspberry and cherry. Dark, opaque maroon color. Strong, bold taste with moderate tannins. It complemented last night's bacon-wrapped filet mignon and went very well with tonight's spaghetti and meatballs. Kath noticed an underlying smoothness, almost buttery.
We both love big, bold Cabs, and this one satisfied.
Happy anniversary, Kath's mom and dad!
Until the next...
That catchy quote is from the back of this weekend's bottle: Cabzilla 2002 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($15). We picked up this wine two years ago and uncorked it last night for our belated anniversary dinner.
Our notes: Aromas of berry -- raspberry and cherry. Dark, opaque maroon color. Strong, bold taste with moderate tannins. It complemented last night's bacon-wrapped filet mignon and went very well with tonight's spaghetti and meatballs. Kath noticed an underlying smoothness, almost buttery.
We both love big, bold Cabs, and this one satisfied.
Happy anniversary, Kath's mom and dad!
Until the next...
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Wine gone bad...
Tonight, we decided to do Saturday Sippin' a few days early since we actually have plans for Saturday (woo hoo!). We selected a 2003 bottle from D.O. Bierzo and had high hopes for this Spanish red. Alas, the wine was extremely acidic, and we ended up pouring it down the drain. Double-checked the cork: it looked fine. We had been storing it properly, and it came from our local wine store, so we assumed that it was taken care of there. Somewhere, something had happened to this particular bottle. We've always enjoyed Spanish reds from Jumilla and Rioja, and we were curious to taste one from Bierzo. It wasn't meant to be tonight.
As consolation, we opened Two Buck Chuck Shiraz. It's cheap and basic but drinkable.
Here is a neat website all about Spanish wine.
We might try to sneak in another review this weekend, but otherwise, look for an update later in August. We're on the road again starting next week. Maybe we'll try to hit some Southern wineries, as long as the kids are willing.
Salud!
As consolation, we opened Two Buck Chuck Shiraz. It's cheap and basic but drinkable.
Here is a neat website all about Spanish wine.
We might try to sneak in another review this weekend, but otherwise, look for an update later in August. We're on the road again starting next week. Maybe we'll try to hit some Southern wineries, as long as the kids are willing.
Salud!
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Back to Reality
We first spent nearly two weeks in New Hampshire, and then Kath attended a writing conference at Antioch College. Hence, we haven't been very consistent with our blog recently, but now it's back to business...at least until our next trip, which will take us South. Anyway, on to the drinking!
We did some sipping on Saturday, but it was of the gin variety and not our usual wine. Following our sojourn in Spain, Kath had been obsessed with finding lemon soda so she could make a ginlemon. Her search took her 45 minutes south to Jungle Jim's, a Cincinnati-area grocery store known for having pretty much any international product imaginable (we also went there to pick up some Asian produce). After scouring the massive market, we found Italian limonata and happily went home to make our beverages. Later that evening, we stumbled across the exact same Italian soda - for fifty cents less! - at our nearby Trader Joe's. The moral of the story: stay local, especially with spiking gas prices.
Today it was back to wine, and we opened a bottle of Masi Campofiorin Ripasso 2002. This wine was paired with a Maple Smoked Cheddar made by Grafton Village Cheese Company, Vermont. We should quickly point out that we did not do the pairing; rather, our lovely, local wine store has a wine and cheese of the month club, of which we are members.
The wine was a warm, cherry-red color, which contrasted nicely with the golden pale cheese. Daryl's mom also joined us in our tasting, and she was first to note that the wine was semi-dry, although Daryl thought it leaned a little more towards dry. He described it best: It hit the entire palate smoothly with an enjoyable finish. Tannins and acidity were low to medium. It balanced very well with the sharp, smoky cheese. Kath, in a poetic mood (she did, after all, just finish an intense writing workshop), rambled on for a few moments about the yin and yang of the wine and the cheese, of the contradictory pairing of the subtle wine and the strong cheese. Daryl was quick to remind her that she was no longer surrounded by other like-minded folks and that he had no idea what the hell she was talking about.
To sum things up, we liked the wine and really enjoyed nibbling the cheese in between sips. We'll be back next weekend!
We did some sipping on Saturday, but it was of the gin variety and not our usual wine. Following our sojourn in Spain, Kath had been obsessed with finding lemon soda so she could make a ginlemon. Her search took her 45 minutes south to Jungle Jim's, a Cincinnati-area grocery store known for having pretty much any international product imaginable (we also went there to pick up some Asian produce). After scouring the massive market, we found Italian limonata and happily went home to make our beverages. Later that evening, we stumbled across the exact same Italian soda - for fifty cents less! - at our nearby Trader Joe's. The moral of the story: stay local, especially with spiking gas prices.
Today it was back to wine, and we opened a bottle of Masi Campofiorin Ripasso 2002. This wine was paired with a Maple Smoked Cheddar made by Grafton Village Cheese Company, Vermont. We should quickly point out that we did not do the pairing; rather, our lovely, local wine store has a wine and cheese of the month club, of which we are members.
The wine was a warm, cherry-red color, which contrasted nicely with the golden pale cheese. Daryl's mom also joined us in our tasting, and she was first to note that the wine was semi-dry, although Daryl thought it leaned a little more towards dry. He described it best: It hit the entire palate smoothly with an enjoyable finish. Tannins and acidity were low to medium. It balanced very well with the sharp, smoky cheese. Kath, in a poetic mood (she did, after all, just finish an intense writing workshop), rambled on for a few moments about the yin and yang of the wine and the cheese, of the contradictory pairing of the subtle wine and the strong cheese. Daryl was quick to remind her that she was no longer surrounded by other like-minded folks and that he had no idea what the hell she was talking about.
To sum things up, we liked the wine and really enjoyed nibbling the cheese in between sips. We'll be back next weekend!
Monday, July 03, 2006
Some Summer Samples
We're on vacation but couldn't resist posting a few wines that we've been drinking, in addition to the various beers (love the Sam Adams Summer Brew).
Tonight, Daryl grilled up some delicious Angus Ribeyes, and with these we drank our favorite Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon (2003). We also opened a Smoking Loon 2004 Syrah, recommended by Liz, and Frontier Red 2004 from Fess Parker Winery. This we picked up in a very nice little wine shop in Wallingford, CT.
At dinner last night, we ordered a Chateau Ste. Michelle Johannesburg Riesling (Columbia Valley, WA...not sure of the year, most likely 2003 or '04). Liked it, but a little sweeter than what we normally prefer. It went very well with Kath's salmon and Daryl's seafood assortment.
Kath's mom loves Talus 2005 Pinot Noir (California), and we picked up a bottle to bring home. Not a bad wine for under $10, and we're always looking for a good buy!
Happy 4th!
Tonight, Daryl grilled up some delicious Angus Ribeyes, and with these we drank our favorite Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon (2003). We also opened a Smoking Loon 2004 Syrah, recommended by Liz, and Frontier Red 2004 from Fess Parker Winery. This we picked up in a very nice little wine shop in Wallingford, CT.
At dinner last night, we ordered a Chateau Ste. Michelle Johannesburg Riesling (Columbia Valley, WA...not sure of the year, most likely 2003 or '04). Liked it, but a little sweeter than what we normally prefer. It went very well with Kath's salmon and Daryl's seafood assortment.
Kath's mom loves Talus 2005 Pinot Noir (California), and we picked up a bottle to bring home. Not a bad wine for under $10, and we're always looking for a good buy!
Happy 4th!
Friday, June 23, 2006
Wine on Wednesday
Before we get ready to go on another trip, we wanted to quickly report on a wine event that we attended this Wednesday. Our local wine bar hosted the founder of Juno Wines (South Africa) and its American distributor, and they presented four of their wines: a Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Shiraz blend, Shiraz, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Both the founder and the distributor went around to each table to introduce themselves and talk more about their wines.
Some things we learned: South Africa has been making wine for over 350 years, and Napoleon and Marie Antoinette are said to have enjoyed South African wines. The Juno brand is only 2.5 years old, and so they are working hard to get the brand sold in the States - those attending Wednesday's tasting were one of the first groups in the U.S. to try these wines!
We tasted all four wines, plus two of their higher-end boutique wines (sold under a different label). The Sauvignon Blanc was delicious...light, citrusy, and refreshing. It reminded us of a Marlborough, which is saying a lot, as New Zealand SB has always been our favorite. The Chardonnay was pleasant, as was the Cab blend. We both loved the Shiraz; the distributor pointed out that it was made differently from Australian Shiraz, which tends to be very bold and spicy. Juno uses French oak to mature this wine, and the result is underlying creamy toffee and caramel notes. It was something we had never tasted before in a Shiraz, but it was excellent! Kath noted that she could picture having a glass of this on its own, whereas a strong Australian Shiraz really needs to be paired with a steak or burger.
At around $10, Juno's wines are a true value. Keep an eye out for them as they expand their U.S. market!
Some things we learned: South Africa has been making wine for over 350 years, and Napoleon and Marie Antoinette are said to have enjoyed South African wines. The Juno brand is only 2.5 years old, and so they are working hard to get the brand sold in the States - those attending Wednesday's tasting were one of the first groups in the U.S. to try these wines!
We tasted all four wines, plus two of their higher-end boutique wines (sold under a different label). The Sauvignon Blanc was delicious...light, citrusy, and refreshing. It reminded us of a Marlborough, which is saying a lot, as New Zealand SB has always been our favorite. The Chardonnay was pleasant, as was the Cab blend. We both loved the Shiraz; the distributor pointed out that it was made differently from Australian Shiraz, which tends to be very bold and spicy. Juno uses French oak to mature this wine, and the result is underlying creamy toffee and caramel notes. It was something we had never tasted before in a Shiraz, but it was excellent! Kath noted that she could picture having a glass of this on its own, whereas a strong Australian Shiraz really needs to be paired with a steak or burger.
At around $10, Juno's wines are a true value. Keep an eye out for them as they expand their U.S. market!
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Saturday Skippin'
Alas, we are forgoing this Saturday's wine tasting, as we did too much sippin' on Friday, and tomorrow we are celebrating Father's Day with some beer drinking friends. Currently our plan is to attend a winemaker's tasting this Wednesday, and perhaps we'll do a quick write-up of that later this week. If not, we'll see you all sometime in July, towards the end of the month. We're busy with vacation, classes, and family, but we will continue to expand our wine horizons and hopefully have some new finds to write about later.
Happy Father's Day!
Happy Father's Day!
Saturday, June 10, 2006
A Fine New Hampshire Find
Continuing with last week's theme of trying local wines...
Today, we dug out a bottle that we purchased last year when in New Hampshire for a couple weeks:
Flag Hill Winery 2002 Marechal Foch, Lee, New Hampshire. It has a lovely color, best described as a deep red with honey notes. It has an earthy aroma that reminded us of fresh-picked grapes. It is a pleasant red table wine: medium bodied and more of the fresh, earthy grape, especially mid-palate. Low tannins.
Like Seyval Blanc, the Marechal Foch varietal is common on the East Coast. For more information on this grape, please click here.
Again, we enjoyed sampling a wine not widely available, and we liked this relaxed red. Next weekend, we're thinking to try one of our California wines that has been sitting in our cellar for a few months now. Kath is also fervently hoping for the return of warm, sunny weather so she can have her first gin & tonic of the summer.
Happy drinking!
Today, we dug out a bottle that we purchased last year when in New Hampshire for a couple weeks:
Flag Hill Winery 2002 Marechal Foch, Lee, New Hampshire. It has a lovely color, best described as a deep red with honey notes. It has an earthy aroma that reminded us of fresh-picked grapes. It is a pleasant red table wine: medium bodied and more of the fresh, earthy grape, especially mid-palate. Low tannins.
Like Seyval Blanc, the Marechal Foch varietal is common on the East Coast. For more information on this grape, please click here.
Again, we enjoyed sampling a wine not widely available, and we liked this relaxed red. Next weekend, we're thinking to try one of our California wines that has been sitting in our cellar for a few months now. Kath is also fervently hoping for the return of warm, sunny weather so she can have her first gin & tonic of the summer.
Happy drinking!
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Home and Away
Following a lovely week in Mallorca, Spain, we are back in Ohio and are now enjoying brilliant blue skies and delightful temperatures. Taking advantage of the nice weather, we set out earlier today to check out the Ohio WineFest, and we spent a couple of hours sampling locally produced wines, in addition to picking up fresh bread, maple syrup, and Amish cheese. Like most wines from the Northeast, Ohio wines are generally sweet and fruity, normally not to our liking. However, we did try a nice Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir from St. Joseph Vineyard, located near Lake Erie, and we also enjoyed a Vin de Rouge from Henke Wine near Cincinnati.
This afternoon, we opened one of our Mallorcan wines (D.O. Binissalem): Macia Batle blanc de blancs 2005 (7.90 Euro, around $10-11). This white wine is a blend of Chardonnay and Prensal/Moll, a local grape. Spanish wines are becoming well-known in the States, and it's very easy to find wines from Rioja, Rueda, Rias Baixas and Penedes. However, Mallorcan wines are seldom exported, and while they don't have the same excellent reputation as Rioja does, the region is known for producing decent table wines at reasonable prices. Hence, we stocked up while on vacation.
And what did we think? Striking color - warm gold without a greenish tone. No discernible aroma. It is semi-dry with low acidity. No one particular flavor popped out when we tried it. Kath thought she tasted the tiniest hint of melon, but Daryl noticed nothing. It is pleasant and simple. A nice, clean table wine - perfect for summer!
A quick note: This Saturday, we elected to write about wines with limited availability. Ohio wines are usually only found within the Buckeye State; it is our understanding that, at present, Mallorcan wines are solely available on the island. By focusing on this category of wines, we hope to encourage our readers to find and support small, local wine producers, whether they are next door or halfway around the world. We have enjoyed finding and trying different wines from Ohio, Spain, Canada, New Hampshire, etc. True, these wines might not necessarily be the most sophisticated or spectacular, but we always look for them because they remind us of where we have been. Wine can be a special memento from home or a unique souvenir.
This afternoon, we opened one of our Mallorcan wines (D.O. Binissalem): Macia Batle blanc de blancs 2005 (7.90 Euro, around $10-11). This white wine is a blend of Chardonnay and Prensal/Moll, a local grape. Spanish wines are becoming well-known in the States, and it's very easy to find wines from Rioja, Rueda, Rias Baixas and Penedes. However, Mallorcan wines are seldom exported, and while they don't have the same excellent reputation as Rioja does, the region is known for producing decent table wines at reasonable prices. Hence, we stocked up while on vacation.
And what did we think? Striking color - warm gold without a greenish tone. No discernible aroma. It is semi-dry with low acidity. No one particular flavor popped out when we tried it. Kath thought she tasted the tiniest hint of melon, but Daryl noticed nothing. It is pleasant and simple. A nice, clean table wine - perfect for summer!
A quick note: This Saturday, we elected to write about wines with limited availability. Ohio wines are usually only found within the Buckeye State; it is our understanding that, at present, Mallorcan wines are solely available on the island. By focusing on this category of wines, we hope to encourage our readers to find and support small, local wine producers, whether they are next door or halfway around the world. We have enjoyed finding and trying different wines from Ohio, Spain, Canada, New Hampshire, etc. True, these wines might not necessarily be the most sophisticated or spectacular, but we always look for them because they remind us of where we have been. Wine can be a special memento from home or a unique souvenir.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Bon Viatge
In honor of Monday's trip to Mallorca, Spain, we popped open a bottle of Spanish Cava. We have been big fans of Spanish sparkling wine since we first tried Frexeinet in 1997, back when it retailed for around $6.
This wine, Casteller Cava Brut, is light, bubbly, and nicely dry. It has a slight hint of citrus but isn't sweet. So many inexpensive sparkling wines taste like fermented ginger ale, but this one definitely does not. At around $11, Casteller Cava is a great value, and we wholeheartedly recommend it!
Next weekend, we'll still be in Spain, so look for our next post (hopefully a write-up of more Spanish wines) the first weekend of June. Happy Memorial Day!
This wine, Casteller Cava Brut, is light, bubbly, and nicely dry. It has a slight hint of citrus but isn't sweet. So many inexpensive sparkling wines taste like fermented ginger ale, but this one definitely does not. At around $11, Casteller Cava is a great value, and we wholeheartedly recommend it!
Next weekend, we'll still be in Spain, so look for our next post (hopefully a write-up of more Spanish wines) the first weekend of June. Happy Memorial Day!
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Celebration!
In honor of Daryl's birthday (we won't say which) and his mom's arrival, we opened a bottle of one of our favorite red wines: 2001 Franciscan Oakville Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. This was given to us as a gift just about a year ago, after we had written enthusiastically about their 1999 vintage. Once again, we were not disappointed!
This cab is full-bodied, rich and striking. Upon opening, Daryl immediately smelled cinnamon and could taste various spices when sipping. Kath loved the rich, dark cherry notes. It paired very nicely with a T-bone steak accompanied by jasmine rice and a simple green salad - a perfect birthday meal! We paid around $25 for the '99 and have seen other vintages priced comparably. We love this wine.
Before we sign off for this week, we wanted to give special recognition to the season finale of The Office - how awesome was that kiss???!!!
This cab is full-bodied, rich and striking. Upon opening, Daryl immediately smelled cinnamon and could taste various spices when sipping. Kath loved the rich, dark cherry notes. It paired very nicely with a T-bone steak accompanied by jasmine rice and a simple green salad - a perfect birthday meal! We paid around $25 for the '99 and have seen other vintages priced comparably. We love this wine.
Before we sign off for this week, we wanted to give special recognition to the season finale of The Office - how awesome was that kiss???!!!
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Southern Seyval
We first visited Tennessee in 2003 and brought back quite a few bottles of locally produced wine. With two exceptions, we have drunk all of those bottles. So, when Daryl passed through there on a recent trip South, he purchased several bottles from Sumner Crest Winery in West Portland. Today, we opened their Seyval Blanc Table Wine (around $12).
Its color is golden, much like an American Chardonnay, and it has aromas of butter, cream and Swiss cheese. Kath could taste the cheese upon sipping, and Daryl noted that it had a subtle finish. Last summer, we tasted a Seyval Blanc from Prince Edward Island, Canada, and we noted that the Canadian wine was slightly syrupy and rather sweet. This Tennessee wine is much drier and has a cleaner mouth-feel to it - interesting how the same grape grown in different areas can produce two wines with distinct qualities. Is this the influence of terrior, a term so often used in describing French wines?
We enjoyed it - both agreeing that this was a nice wine for a relaxed weekend afternoon!
Its color is golden, much like an American Chardonnay, and it has aromas of butter, cream and Swiss cheese. Kath could taste the cheese upon sipping, and Daryl noted that it had a subtle finish. Last summer, we tasted a Seyval Blanc from Prince Edward Island, Canada, and we noted that the Canadian wine was slightly syrupy and rather sweet. This Tennessee wine is much drier and has a cleaner mouth-feel to it - interesting how the same grape grown in different areas can produce two wines with distinct qualities. Is this the influence of terrior, a term so often used in describing French wines?
We enjoyed it - both agreeing that this was a nice wine for a relaxed weekend afternoon!
Sunday, April 30, 2006
The First
For those of you following the link from our website, you'll note that this is not our first wine review, nor certainly our last. For those of you just joining us for the first time, welcome! We've been posting wine recommendations on our family website for a couple of years now, and we just decided to post them publicly. We are by no means wine experts; in fact, the more we drink, the more we realize that we have only begun to experience the wonderful world of wine! Since we enjoy trying new bottles, and are fortunate enough to have an excellent wine store nearby, we want to pass on our recommendations and hopefully read some of yours.
Anyway, our goal is to post one wine review per week, hopefully each Saturday, as our Blog name would indicate. We usually try bottles ranging from $4 to $30, and we look for wines a little bit out of the ordinary - varietals that are less common or wines from other parts of the world besides California and France. And we try not to get too technical; after all, we're definitely not professionals.
This weekend, we opened a wonderful rosé : Ortman Family Vineyards 2005 Paso Robles Syrah Rosé . Daryl described this as "vibrant and exciting", and Kath declared it "beautiful". It really is a lovely, dry rosé , with hints of strawberry, and it smoothly strokes the palate with an elegant finish
(*ahem*, Kath is also an aspiring romance writer). It went very well with grilled chicken and steamed broccoli, and we think it would nicely complement a risotto. This is one of the better wines that we have enjoyed this spring, and at around $19, it comes highly, highly recommended.
Cheers!
Anyway, our goal is to post one wine review per week, hopefully each Saturday, as our Blog name would indicate. We usually try bottles ranging from $4 to $30, and we look for wines a little bit out of the ordinary - varietals that are less common or wines from other parts of the world besides California and France. And we try not to get too technical; after all, we're definitely not professionals.
This weekend, we opened a wonderful rosé : Ortman Family Vineyards 2005 Paso Robles Syrah Rosé . Daryl described this as "vibrant and exciting", and Kath declared it "beautiful". It really is a lovely, dry rosé , with hints of strawberry, and it smoothly strokes the palate with an elegant finish
(*ahem*, Kath is also an aspiring romance writer). It went very well with grilled chicken and steamed broccoli, and we think it would nicely complement a risotto. This is one of the better wines that we have enjoyed this spring, and at around $19, it comes highly, highly recommended.
Cheers!
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