tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29307513555947540502023-11-15T08:05:25.965-05:00The Cheap Wine ShrineA blog for fellow wine lovers who don't want to spend an arm and a leg.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-41288672376228809362012-07-17T13:02:00.001-04:002012-07-17T13:02:19.781-04:00HiatusHi all. Yes, I am aware that this blog seems to have gone by the wayside. I haven't been blogging for a couple reasons. The first is, I've been pretty busy. The second reason is I stopped writing for Drinking Made Easy so I have pretty much been drinking wines I've already blogged about (mostly the Double Dog Dare) since I didn't have a reason to buy/try anything new. I have started sharing some of my non-wine DME articles on my recipe blog if you would like to check those out (the link is on my sidebar). I am hoping in the next month or so to start blogging here on a regular basis so stay tuned!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-34422220025172909682012-02-28T12:12:00.000-05:002012-02-28T12:12:05.064-05:00I Double Dog Dare You to Try It<div style="text-align: justify;">Recently I was visiting a friend who is also a bargain wine lover and she told me about Double Dog Dare wines. She said she had picked some up at one of the liquor stores I usually frequent so I was immediately interested. When she told me the price, the deal was sealed. She said it retailed for around $4. Now, some people might be skeptical but she’s never steered me wrong and she insisted it was good. So, one my next trip to pick up booze, I looked for it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Double Dog Dare has several varieties. My friend had tried a couple of the red varieties but she told me they had a chardonnay. So, I picked up the chardonnay, the merlot and the cabernet sauvignon. And like my friend said, they cost $3.99 each for a 750 ml bottle.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My husband and I tried the cabernet first. When we got home from the liquor store, I made a simple marinated flank steak for dinner and I figured the cab would be a good pairing. It had a fresh nose with hints of current and a bit of spice. Both of those carried over to the flavor. The acidity was quite low and I found it to be quite smooth. It wasn’t bold like some cabernets. It was subtler with smooth tannins and a nice, clean finish. It seemed a bit more like a pinot noir to me but I thought it was very good and it went great with the flank steak. Even Hubby approved and said he would definitely get it again.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I tried the chardonnay next. I tried it alone at first. The nose was very citrusy with a hint of apple. It tasted of apple and pear as well as a bit of lemon. It was very light for a chardonnay and I am guessing it is unoaked. It had a very pleasant finish as well. The next night, I used it in my chicken piccata and drank it along with the dish. It went beautifully together. I have to say this went to the top of my list of favorite bargain chardonnays.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The last variety I tried was the merlot. I poured my first glass as I was making a meal of spaghetti, meatballs and garlic bread. Like the cabernet, the nose was fresh with a hint of cherry and a bit of currant. It was medium bodied and smooth and tasted of the cherry and currant. I had a glass with dinner as well and it went great with the meal. It would probably pair nicely with red meat too.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">All of these varieties come in 1.5 liter bottles as well. At my store, they cost $7.99. They also come in boxes that cost $9.99. At the equivalent of 4 bottles of wine, that comes out to about $2.50 per bottle. Who can beat that?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Double Dog Dare also makes a sweet red wine, a moscato, a sangria, a sweet white wine, and a white zinfandel. Hubby and I will be heading back to our store this weekend to get a case of the chardonnay as well as three bottles of the cabernet and three bottles of the merlot (our wine rack holds 18 bottles). These will definitely become wine rack staples. I urge you to go and try this wine. You won’t regret it.</div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-10655291636742225672012-01-17T10:01:00.000-05:002012-01-17T10:01:36.950-05:00Wine Enthusiast’s Top 3 Best Buys<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">I see Wine Enthusiast magazine every once in a while but I have never really read it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wine magazines that I have looked at in the past have rarely contained wines that fit my budget parameters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, when someone forwarded me Wine Enthusiast’s List of Top 100 wines, I was curious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine my delight when I noticed that they also had a list of Top 100 Best Buys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few of the ones on the list I have already tried but when I got to the top, I noticed I had never tried any of the top 3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I went out to my trusty Total Wine and picked them up to try.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">I’ll start with number three which is Bogle’s 2010 Sauvignon Blanc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now this is my favorite varietal so I am always excited to try a new one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to the list, this wine retails for around $9 which was spot on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got it for $8.99.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had a very pleasant nose with hints of citrus zest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was very clean and crisp, just the way I like it, with a lovely citrus taste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also detected a hint of tropical fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sampled the wine alone but Bogle recommends pairing it with appetizers and light dishes like fish and shellfish as well as goat cheese and fruit salsas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will definitely be trying some of those pairings.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Number two on the list was a </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2009 Protocolo Tempranillo by Dominio de Eguren.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t sure if I would be able to find this one but luckily, Total Wine has a large selection of Spanish wines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, the list was spot on with the price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It said the wine retails for $7 and I got it for $6.99.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nose had strong berry flavors, mainly raspberry, with an herbal hint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had a very fruity flavor that was pleasant on the palate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had a bit of spice, which I like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it would go well with any spicy red meat dish.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: small;">And last but not least, the number one pick was a 2010 Riesling by Pacific Rim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The list said this wine retails for around $10 but Total Wine had it for $8.99.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven’t had Riesling in quite some time so it was nice to try a new one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had a nose of tropical fruit and melon which I also detected in the taste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These flavors were intertwined with a hint of spice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was very crisp and not too sweet which I found very pleasant since some Rieslings can be very sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recommended pairings were spicy foods, richer foods and even fish.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: small;">I had to agree that these wines were all very good and the prices couldn’t be beat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are interested in seeing the rest of the list, you can find it </span></span><a href="http://buyingguide.winemag.com/toplists/2011/bestbuys"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;">here</span></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> and you will also find links to their other top 100 lists.</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-42382525259599074502011-10-27T11:22:00.001-04:002011-10-27T11:34:24.222-04:00Coyote Yummy<span class="uistorymessage"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">With summer coming to an end, I am backing away from my use of boxed wines and trying to find some new bottled wines to try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On a recent trip to Total Wine, one of their displays caught my eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The display was for Coyote Creek wines and each bottle was a dirt cheap $6.99.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you know, I love a good bargain so I picked up a couple bottles to try.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span class="uistorymessage"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Coyote Creek Winery is in Santa Rosa, CA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Technically it is part of Adler Fels Winery which also produces Coastline, Kitchen Sink and Leaping Lizard…all favorites of mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I knew that, I figured the Coyote Creek wines had to be decent, at the very least.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><br />
<span class="uistorymessage"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">The bottle I opened was the 2010 Chardonnay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This wine is a blend of 95% chardonnay grapes and 5% mixed white varietals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had the aroma of citrus and fall fruits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I detected pear and citrus in the taste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had a bit of a mineral tone with a buttery ending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really liked it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had hubby try it and he agreed that it was good and he isn’t a huge white wine fan with chardonnay being his least favorite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did drink it alone but Coyote Creek suggests paring it with fresh tomato and cucumber salad, risotto with mushrooms and parmesan cheese and roasted chicken and vegetables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I make risotto quite often so I think I will definitely buy another bottle to accompany it the next time I make it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="uistorymessage"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">The second variety I opened was the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This wine of comprised of 76% cabernet sauvignon grapes, 8% Rubired, 7% ruby cabernet and 9% mixed red varietals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I immediately noticed the aroma of dark berries with a hint of herbs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The taste was full-bodied with hints of berries and plums.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also detected and undertone of rosemary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We drank it with a simple pasta and turkey meatballs and it paired very well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coyote Creek recommends pairing it with pasta with spicy tomato and black olive sauce, beef tenderloin and potatoes au gratin and slow cooked lamb shank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had just mentioned to hubby that I haven’t made pasta puttanesca in a while and I think this wine would go beautifully with it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="uistorymessage"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">With everyone’s budgets being a little tight these days, I think these two budget wines are staples to have in your wine rack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s always great to find good wines that won’t break the bank and these definitely fit the bill.</span></span></span>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-81434736216546967972011-10-06T09:34:00.000-04:002011-10-06T09:34:54.381-04:00Bzzz Bzzz JunebugSo, hubby and I were in Target the other day and he voiced his displeasure at the fact that I had only been buying boxed wine for the last couple of months. We were in need of wine anyway so I went down the wine aisle and grabbed a familiar bottle of Yellow Tail Sauvignon Blanc but I also wanted to try something new. A wine called Junebug caught my eye. When I was pregnant with my oldest daughter, L, she was due in June so we called her Junebug until we knew she was a girl. Pus the bottle was pretty and cheerful so I grabbed it.<br />
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A couple of days later I chilled it and opened it. It was a 2010 Pinot Grigio that had cost $9.99. I didn't see any other varieties but I'll look next time I'm in Target. I tried to do some research on it but I haven't been able to find much info aside from people blogging about it or asking people on Yahoo Answers about it.<br />
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I sampled it alone at first. It was light and fruity with a hint of citrus...perfect for summer. next, I paired it with grilled chicken and it went really well together. I think it would be great with light, summery seafood dishes too.<br />
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I wish I could find more information on it. I'll keep looking and add to this is I find out anything more.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-62838131952615952322011-09-26T14:24:00.000-04:002011-09-26T14:24:46.250-04:00More Thinking Inside The Box<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I posted my last post about boxed wines, I ended by saying I had heard that the Target Wine Cubes were very good and that they were on my list to try. Well, I finally got around to trying a few of them and I have to say that I agree...they are VERY good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The first one I tried was my favorite variety, Sauvignon Blanc. My Target sells the 3 liter cubes for $17.99 though they occasionally go on sale for $15.99.</span> Even at the regular price, that comes out to about $4.50 per bottle of wine which is an excellent deal. Anyway, I chilled the cube a bit and they poured my first glass. The first thing I noticed was the tropical nose. I thought to myself that it was very similar to my favorite Sauvignon Blanc, Nobilo. I took my first sip and I was in love. The wine was light and crisp with a hint of tropical fruit and citrus...much like Nobilo. I had already found a slightly cheaper wine that was very similar to Nobilo but the cube was an even better deal so it has now become my go-to Sauv Blanc.<br />
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The second variety I tried was the Pinot Grigio. It had the aroma of apricots and the taste was light, slightly acidic and a bit dry. The apricot carried over to the taste and I also detected a hint of honey. Like the Sauv Blanc, I thought it was very good. It goes very well with chicken and light seafood dishes.<br />
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Now, my husband is more of a red wine drinker so he asked me to buy one of the red varieties. Consumer Reports had just rated some bargain red blends and had recommended Target's Cabernet/Shiraz blend. Well, unfortunately, once I got to Target, I couldn't remember which one they had recommended so I grabbed the Vintner's Red Blend. I really liked it...it was light and quite fruity with hints of dark berries. My husband however, is not a fan so next time I'll get the Cab/Shiraz blend. I think the Target Wine Cubes have found a permanent place in my fridge and wine rack....good wine for a great price. You can't beat that!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-87254920438715952252011-09-06T11:28:00.002-04:002011-09-06T11:28:59.526-04:00Super Affordable From South Africa<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">My interest in South African wines started when Zane Lamprey went there on Three Sheets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sampled some of Fairview’s Goats Do Roam wines and I went right out to find them myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then, I have tried all three (?) varieties and I LOVE them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve tried some of Fairview’s other wines and I have liked them all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when I needed a new topic, I though why not expand on affordable South African wines?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">I found that our local Total Wine had plenty of affordable South African wines to choose from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My first choice was Star Tree Nouveau Rouge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a 2009 vintage and cost $9.99.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a medium bodied red with hints of raisin and nuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was well balanced and a bit different, which I liked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I drank it alone but I think it would pair well with cheese and red meat.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">My second choice was a 2010 Spier Chenin Blanc that was a steal at $7.99.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I noticed the color at first since it had a bit of a greenish hue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had the aroma of tropical fruit which carried over to the taste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also detected a bit of kiwi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had a nice acidity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sampled this alone as well but Spier recommends pairing it with goat cheese, sushi, pasta and pizza.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Total Wine had several Spier varieties in stock and almost all of them fit my budget criteria so I plan on picking some of them up to try.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">My third and last choice was a 2010 Chardonnay by Excelsior that also cost $9.99.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the Chenin Blanc, this wine also had a bit of a green hue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had aromas of peach and orange and had the taste of green apples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a bit creamy and nicely fruity with a medium body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really enjoyed this one and I am guessing the fact that it is only lightly oaked had something to do with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recommended pairings are grilled seafood and lightly spiced Thai chicken dishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I LOVE Thai food so that is a pairing I definitely want to try.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">In my opinion, South Africa has a plethora of good, affordable wines to offer and I plan to stay on the lookout for more!<o:p></o:p></span></span>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-67679634037898011492011-08-29T20:01:00.000-04:002011-08-29T20:01:12.473-04:00Tour Of Italy <span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a foodie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love to cook all types of food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both of my grandmothers were good cooks and I often baked with my maternal grandmother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess things rubbed off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my favorite kinds of food is Italian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I cook that more than anything, especially in the cooler months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And along with Italian food, you HAVE to have Italian wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a long time I stuck to the two best known varieties…Pinot Grigio and Chianti.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But after looking at the wine list a couple week ago at one of the Italian restaurants in Disney’s Epcot, I realized that there are many more out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I hit my local store looking for some new Italian wines to try.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">I headed to the white section first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were quite a few that fit my budget criteria so it was hard to choose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ended up choosing one with a cute little bee on the label (you know me and cute labels) that cost $8.99.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, the label was in Italian but it APPEARS the vineyard is called Cren dell’ Ape and the variety is Piemonte Cortese 2009.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ahh, I DID know that meant it came from Italy’s Piedmont region and I was right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The back label said the wine was produced from Piedmont’s traditional white grapes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nose was very floral and fruity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tasted fall fruits like apples and pears with a floral hint in the background.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was very crisp and light…perfect for a hot Florida summer evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After sampling it by itself, I had it along with my dinner…spaghetti with peas and pancetta.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It went well with the goat cheese in the pasta and I think it would also go well with chicken and seafood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that price, I’ll definitely be getting it again.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">The second bottle I chose is a 2010 Pinot Grigio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chose it because it was labeled as one of the stores Top 10 White Wines for summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This bottle cost $9.99.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, the label was in Italian but I THINK the vineyard is I vigneti di Albino Armani.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also said the wine was an Alfio Moriconi Selection although I’m not sure what that means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The back label said the wine comes from the delle Venezie IGT area which is comprised of Veneto, Terntino, Alto Adige and Friuli Venezia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The grapes come vineyards that have been owned for four centuries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wine was very good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one also smelled of fall fruit and had a nice crisp flavor with a hint of pear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The label said the wine id very versatile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sampled it alone but I think it would pair well with the same foods as above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’S another good wine to sip on a warm summer evening.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">The last wine I chose was a red.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This particular wine was on the store’s Top 10 Red Wines for summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a 2009 Sangiovese from Mantelassi vineyards in the Maremma coastal area of Tuscany.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This bottle also cost $9.99 and indicated it was an Alfio Moriconi Selection as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wine is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes and aged in steel tanks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a beautiful ruby red color with the aroma of berries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The berries came through in the taste along with a bit of earthiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was fruity and well balanced and very easy to drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The label recommended pairing it with pasta, pizza and grilled meat so my husband and I tried it with grilled flank steak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pairing was wonderful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t wait to try it with some pasta and homemade tomato sauce.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I am so glad I have branched out beyond the run of the mill Italian wines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look <span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">forward to trying more and pairing them with some new Italian dishes!</span></span>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-37492777179043941072011-08-09T12:06:00.000-04:002011-08-09T12:06:55.064-04:00They Come From The Lands Down Under <span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">I’ve always been a bit fascinated by Australia and New Zealand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure if it’s the opposite seasons or the cool accents but I would LOVE to travel to both places one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since a trip like that is not in the budget right now, I have to settle for drinking their fabulous wines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a plethora of affordable wines out there from both countries and I am having a lot of fun trying them all.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">Last weekend I was on the prowl for some new Down Under wines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was shopping at my local ABC rather than Total Wine so the selection wasn’t quite as good but I did manage to find three that fit my budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t wait to go home and try them.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">I picked up two varieties from the Nugan Estate Winery in Australia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nugan is one of Australia’s Top 20 wine exporters and they are the 18</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"> largest vineyard holders in Australia…certainly nothing to sneeze at!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have been in business for more than 65 years so they are obviously doing something right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I picked two varieties from their Vision label which is their second estate label.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both bottles cost $10.99.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first variety I tried was the 2009 Chardonnay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a friend sample it with me and we drank it by itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The color was a lovely light yellow with an almost green tint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I detected the aroma of peaches and spice with a hint of vanilla.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The peach carried over to the flavor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was slightly acidic with a dry finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it would go well with seafood so I think when I buy it again, I’ll try that pairing.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">The second variety tried was the 2009 Shiraz.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a lovely deep red color with hints of chocolate and spice in the aroma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The taste was full-bodied with hints of mocha and spice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband and I tried it alone at first and we both agreed it was very good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also had a glass with our pasta and meatballs one night and I thought it went well with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it would also go well with red meat dishes and anything a bit spicy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll definitely be buying it again.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">The third wine I picked up was from Smythe & Renfield in Marlborough, New Zealand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried the 2010 Sauvignon Blanc and like the other two bottles, it cost $10.99.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon pouring I noticed the hint of citrus and tropical fruit which carried over to the flavor which was very crisp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still have some left and I plan on trying it with some grilled seafood later this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the two would pair well.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">As I continue to sample new wines from the lands down under, I’ll daydream of the day when I can actually drink the wines while in their country of origin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe some day….<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-14432989088704318752011-08-02T13:11:00.002-04:002011-08-02T13:11:50.980-04:00Hola Verdejo…And Other Spanish Wines<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">My sister introduced me to Spanish wines a couple of years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe the first one I tried was a Tempranillo but I’m not sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then I have bought a couple of Spanish wines here and there but I don’t buy them regularly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my effort to expand my wine tastes, I decided to pick up three bottles on my last trip to Total Wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were plenty of affordable options to choose from and since I love to pass on a good deal, a new article topic emerged!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">The first one I tried was a white wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a Verdejo from the Palma Real winery in Rueda, Spain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The card next to the display explained that it was an unoaked white wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The vintage was 2009 and the bottle cost $11.99.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first glass I drank by itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was pleasantly surprised at the floral and citrusy nose and the crisp acidic flavor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was very pleasant to drink on a hot Florida summer day. The next night I paired it with grilled chicken, brown rice pilaf and a salad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It went wonderfully and I later found that grilled chicken was a recommended pairing along with grilled seafood, shrimp scampi and pasta salads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shrimp scampi is a favorite in my household so I will definitely pick up another bottle of this wine the next time I make it.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">The next wine I tried was one of the two reds I had chosen. It came from the Bodegas Montecillo winery in Rioja.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a 2007 Tempranillo which was aged for more than a year in oak barrels and then aged for an additional year in the bottle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It cost an affordable $9.99.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a beautiful garnet color and had the aroma of fresh fruit and vanilla.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I sipped, I detected the taste of dark berries with a slightly spicy and woodsy hint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was fresh and medium bodied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I drank it alone at first but then paired it with a grilled flank steak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two went quite well together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other recommended pairings were meat dishes, mild cheeses, paella, and spicy dishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband liked it a lot so I am sure this will find its way into our cart again.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">The last wine I tried was another Tempranillo from Rioja.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one came from the Monte Clavijo winery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a 2010 vintage and cost an even more economical $8.99.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The flavors were very similar to the one above…fresh with hints of cherry and berry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was light and very delightful on its own so I didn’t end up pairing it with anything but they say it pairs well with pasta and meat dishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband liked this one as well so maybe I will try it the next time I whip up a batch of pasta with homemade sauce.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">I know there are many more Spanish wines out there so I think will continue to say “Hola” to the different varieties and I encourage others to do the same.<o:p></o:p></span></span>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-71963974400869956602011-07-18T14:56:00.000-04:002011-07-18T14:56:46.287-04:00On The Rhône Again<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">When people talk about fine wine, they often mention fine French wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least, that’s the way I remember it being when I was a kid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think for a long time, I thought wine only came from France.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously, as I grew older, I learned that wasn’t the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even so, I think it was a good long time before I actually tried a true French wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just wasn’t really on my radar and I assumed they were all expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But since trying it for the first time, that has definitely changed and I have found quite a few that are very good and very budget friendly. I have found myself partial to Rhône wines though I plan to expand into other French wines in the near future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Chateau De Nages has become one of my favorite producers of Rhône wines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are organic and practice sustainable farming which really appeals to me. I have previously written about their Reserve Red </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Rhône blend and their Reserve Rosé, both of which I enjoyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I enjoyed those, I decided to give their Reserve 2008 White Blend a try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I picked it up at Total Wine for $9.99.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This wine is a blend of 60% Grenache Blanc and 40% Roussanne. The nose was delightful…floral and citrusy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The taste was light and fresh with a crisp finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first I drank it alone but later I paired with simple grilled chicken and a barley risotto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It paired very well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The label also recommended pairing it with grilled fish and seafood which is what I will do the next time I buy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As usual, Chateau De Nages did not disappoint.<o:p></o:p></span></span></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">My other favorite Rhône wine is also probably the most well known variety…Cotes du </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Rhône.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have tried several in the past but never wrote them down so I have no idea what they were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one I tried for this article by Domaine Guy Mousset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a 2009 vintage that cost $11.99 at Total Wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had a dark berry nose and that also carried over to the flavor though I also detected a hint of strawberry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had a nice, smooth finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It went very well with grilled flank steak and I assume it would go well with other grilled red meats as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The third wine was simply labeled as a Red</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Rhône Wine by Domaine de Clairfont.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was also a 2009 vintage and cost $9.99.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I looked closer at the label, I realized it also said Guy Mousset on the label but I couldn’t find much information on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This bottle did not indicate what wines it was a blend of which was a bit disappointing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had a nose of red fruit…maybe a bit of plum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The taste was light bodied for a red.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was acidic with a medium finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both Hubby and I thought it was very good both alone and with a nice steak so it will likely go in our wine rack again.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">Now that I’ve dipped my toe a bit more into the pool of French wines, I can’t wait to expand my horizons and try more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure you’ll see them here.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-40375067801224360892011-05-19T12:11:00.000-04:002011-05-19T12:11:56.078-04:00Thinking INSIDE The Box!Box wines have gotten a bad rap mainly because of wines like Franzia that are, well, they just aren't that great. I do have to admit though, I HAVE bought Franzia, usually the white zinfandel. I would buy it for my daughter's birthday party when we lived in CT. Several family members like white zinfandel so, it made sense. And I'll admit, I would have a sip or 2. It's not AWFUL but it's not something I would want to drink on a regular basis.<br />
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Over the last couple of years, a few higher end box wines have emerged. Box wines are a bit more acceptable in Europe mainly because of the eco-friendliness of it and people in the U.S. began to wonder "Why not here?" <br />
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I'll admit, the first time I tried one of these box wines, I was apprehensive. And hubby looked at me like I was out of my mind. But, budget friendly drinker that I am, I thought it was a great value. I tend to drink more white wine during the summer so I thought it was a good way to cut some of the cost. I was living in CT at the time but bought the box at a liquor store in MA where we bought most of our stuff. I think it was around $15 for the 3L box which is equivalent to 4 bottles of wine. Not too shabby! The brand was Fish Eye and I had tried several of their bottles wines. I bought the pinot grigio and was pleasantly surprised. <br />
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With that purchase under my belt, I decided to try a different brand....Black Box. I bought the sauvignon blanc. Depending on where you get it, the price can be anywhere from $16 to $18. Again, I was pleasantly surprised. If you've read here before, you know sauvignon blanc is my FAVORITE variety so to find it in a box and have it taste good was a huge bonus. Since then I have also tried the chardonnay and the pinot grigio, both of which were very good.<br />
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On my next trip to one of the bigger liquor warehouses, also in MA, I saw third brand called Bota Box. I usually find there for around $18, sometimes a little less. Now, this one really impressed me. I've blogged about eco-friendly wines before and this one is exceptionally eco-friendly. The boxes are made from 100% post-consumer fiber with soy inks and a BPA-free plastic bag. Sadly, they don't make a sauvignon blanc but they may a darn good pinot grigio which is my runner up. Their chardonnay is good too. I've heard good things about their Old Vine Zinfandel so I need to try that too.<br />
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A friend has sung the praises of the Target wine cubes. I haven't tried them yet but they are on my list. With the weather warming up here, I think box wines will be my go to's from now on. Even hubby is starting to come around. He asked last week if they make red wines in boxes. I told they did indeed and they keep for up to 6 weeks. He prefers red wine so he may be coming around to the box side of things too.<br />
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So, forget the stigma of box wines and give some of these a try. With summer coming, they're great to bring to a picnic or barbecue and chances are, you'll get other people hooked too.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-67710649802018837732011-05-10T09:03:00.000-04:002011-05-10T09:03:09.177-04:00What's In A Name?I am not easily offended. I swear like a sailor and unless something obscene is directed at ME, I usually do not get offended by it. So, when I saw a line of wines called Fat Bastard, well, I think it goes without saying that I had to try it. The cute little hippo on the label may have helped a bit too.<br />
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Fat Bastard Wines was started in the South of France by two men. Thierry Boudinaud is a renowned winemaker and Guy Anderson is a friend of Thierry’s from London. One day, Guy arrived to visit Thierry in his wine cellar to sample his most recent vintages. After sampling several, they thought they were good but nothing really blew them away. The next day, Thierry decided to let Guy try an experimental wine he had in the back of his cellar. Thierry explained to Guy that they had left the wine on the lees (yeast cells). After trying this experimental wine, the two knew they had a winner. The wine was a beautiful color with a rich, round palate. After a few minutes, Thierry exclaimed, “Now that is what you call a fat bastard!” Fat bastard was a term Thierry often used to describe something that is great. Both men agree this wine needed to be shared and there was no question about what to name it…Fat Bastard.<br />
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The two men proceeded slowly when it came to distributing the wine. The first vintage consisted of only 5,000 cases of which 2,000 went to an American friend of Guy’s named Peter Click. Even with the small distribution it was clear that people in the U.S. and Europe loved the wine. Many bought it because of the name and liked it so much, they returned to buy it by the case. It seems both the name and wine were home runs. Who knew a lot of people buy wine because of the name? Some retailers in the U.S. were reluctant to carry the wine in the early 1990s but it seems they got over that fairly quickly.<br />
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Fat Bastard carries several varietals. I have only tried two so far. Both wines retailed for around $10. The first one I tried was the 2009 Chardonnay. This wine is fermented in both oak barrels and steel tanks. The wine was a pale gold color. The aroma carried hints of vanilla and a bit of toast. The taste was full bodied with vanilla carrying over. I also detected an almost floral taste. I drank it paired with grilled chicken and barley risotto but Fat Bastard recommends pairing it with cheese, poultry and cream sauced pastas. I liked it a lot and will definitely be purchasing it again.<br />
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The second variety I tried was the 2009 Pinot Noir, a variety I do not drink enough. The wine was a beautiful ruby color. Upon pouring, I detected a floral tone as well as a hint summer berries. The berries carried over to the taste and were joined by cherries. The taste was smooth with a nice finish. My husband and I drank it with grilled flank steak. Recommended pairings are white meats like chicken, veal and pork as well as fresh fish and salads. I think I’ll buy another bottle this week and try it with grilled pork tenderloin. I also look forward to trying the other varietals and maybe buying some merchandise from their online store…I can’t resist that little hippo! In my opinion, Fat Bastard is a winner and not many bastards can claim that!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-58555049100028008202011-04-05T09:07:00.000-04:002011-04-05T09:07:14.752-04:00Yay for Yalumba!While browsing the shelves for wines to write about in this article, I came across a bottle of Pinot Grigio that said “Australia’s Oldest Family Owned Winery” on the label. If that isn’t asking to be written about, I don’t know what is. So I grabbed it and took it over to show my sister who was down visiting from New Hampshire. “Oh yeah…Yalumba, “she said. “We really like their Shiraz.” I made a mental note of that so when I went back to buy more to complete the article, I would make sure to pick up the Shiraz. I ended up trying 3 varieties in all and they were all really good.. But, given the fact that the history is what made me buy these particular wines, I guess I should start out with that piece before I get to the good stuff.<br />
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Yalumba was founded in 1849 by a British migrant and English brewer named Samuel Smith. Smith had brought his family to Angaston, Australia to start a new life. He purchased a 30 acre parcel of land just past the southeast boundaries of the town and he and his son began planting their first vines by the light of the moon. Smith called the land “Yalumba” which is aboriginal for “all the land around.” Now, after 5 generations and more than 160 years, the winery has grown substantially and has become a wine success story that is envied by winemakers all over the world.<br />
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The three wines I bought were part of the winery’s Y series and that series is only one of MANY that the winery has. All three bottles cost $9.99 at my local Total Wine. Since I picked the Pinot Grigio up first, that was the first one I tried. It was a 2010 and the wine was the color of straw. The aromas were fresh with hints of citrus blossoms and honey. Upon tasting it, I detected hints of apple and pear. It was crisp with a nice acidity and the recommendation was to “enjoy with anything and everything.” I had it with grilled chicken and it paired very well.<br />
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The second one I tried was the Shiraz my sister had told me about. It was a 2009 vintage that was deep purple in hue. It had aromas of blueberries, cherries and tiny floral hint. It was a medium bodied wine that tasted of cherry and a bit of pepper. I drank it alone but recommended pairings were Mexican foods such as tacos, burritos and nachos. I may have to try one or all of those pairings since I LOVE Mexican food. As unusual as those pairings sound, I bet they go great together.<br />
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The last variety I tried was the 2010 Unwooded Chardonnay. I was excited to see this one since I prefer unwooded Chardonnays. The color was a bit paler than the Pinot Grigio. I detected aromas of peaches and citrus with a slight hint of cinnamon. It was medium bodied with a crisp acidity. Citrus was the primary flavor I noted but it was fresh, not bitter in any way. I drank this one alone too but am looking forward to pairing it with the recommended grilled eggplant, arugula and hummus. I think it will be delightful to have on hand for summer grilling.<br />
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I have to say that Yalumba is definitely doing something right. Any winery that has been around that long has to know what it’s doing and I look forward to sampling some of the other varieties from their vast collection.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-2164578016831025102011-03-01T09:45:00.000-05:002011-03-01T09:45:55.370-05:00Red, Red Wine - Part 2As most of you know, I prefer white wine to red, but I have been trying to drink more red wine since it has more health benefits. I figured since starting a diet, I would try to be careful about what I drank as well as what I ate. So, I decided that would be the perfect opportunity to try some new red wines. And I knew my husband would be happy to help me with the research since he prefers red wine to white.<br />
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Before I even started drinking more reds, I came upon a red that has become my go to favorite for roasted beef dishes. Over Thanksgiving week, we took a trip to Disney World with my husband’s family. While we were there, hubby and I were able to steal away for a night alone (thank God for grandparents, aunts and uncles!). We decided to try the Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club since we were staying next door at the Beach Club. I remember that I ordered the filet mignon but I can’t remember what my husband had. With one of our entrees, the recommended wine was a 2008 Sterling Vintner’s Collection Meritage. We decided to splurge and get a bottle which cost us $45. But, we both really liked it and it went well with both of our meals. I made a note of the wine in my phone so I could try to find it locally (I live all of 45 minutes away from Disney.). I kind of forgot about it until I was planning our Christmas and New Year’s Day dinners. I was making Chateaubriand and a standing rib roast and I thought the Meritage would go great with both. So the next time we were at our local Total Wine, I looked for it. Lo and behold, I found it…for $9.99. Yeah, you can do the math on that markup. Anyway, I picked up a couple of bottles for our upcoming dinners.<br />
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This Meritage is blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec. It comes from the Central Coast of California and these particular grapes come from a variety of California’s best appellations. It’s a full bodied wine with aromas of dark berries and chocolate. The taste is rich with hints of cherry and chocolate with a lingering finish. The bottle recommended pairing it with grilled or roasted meats and hearty veggies which is exactly what we did. The wine went superbly with both the Chateaubriand and the rib roast. And like I said, it’s become of go to beef wine, especially when we have company.<br />
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My next wine I picked up purely because of the name, Running With Scissors. It was 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon that cost $9.99. This wine is also from California’s Central Coast and claims to “showcase classic Central Coast fruit.” This was another full bodied wine with the aroma of cherries. The taste was a bit toasty almost, with more hints of cherry and a smooth finish. We paired it with skirt steak however the bottle recommends pairing it with filet mignon or any other flavorful meats. I may start alternating this with the wine above for a little variety.<br />
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My last wine was also chosen because of the name…Pigs In The Sky. I chose the 2008 Reserve Shiraz but they also make a Chardonnay. This wine comes from Southeastern Australia and cost an economical $8.99. As I poured it, I noticed a hint of herbs which I also noted in the background when I tasted it. It was fruity with hints of vanilla and dark berries. Hubby and I both liked it so it’s likely we’ll buy it again. I also want to try the Chardonnay.<br />
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Now that I am drinking red wine more, I have found that I have come to like it even more. I still don’t like it as much as white but I definitely enjoy it a lot more. And I will continue to drink it for my health.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-49616155530956691222011-02-10T17:40:00.000-05:002011-02-10T17:40:14.554-05:00Gnarly Wines from Gnarled VineI am sure I have mentioned before that I am not real scientific when it comes to choosing a bottle of wine. Since my thing seems to be bargain wines, price is usually the first thing I look at. The second thing I look at, and I know some people out there will laugh at me, is the label. If I see a pretty or unusual or artistic label, I’ll choose it. And that’s how I came to choose the wines for today’s post. Well, that wasn’t the ONLY way. The price was great. All 3 varieties cost $7.99 each. But after the price, the label is what caught my eye. I am sure some wouldn’t consider it artistic but I did. The artistic drawing of a, well, gnarled vine, caught my eye. I thought it was well done and different. So, I chose 3 varieties and off I went to try them out.<br />
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Gnarled Vine wine is produced and bottled my Oak Ridge Winery in Lodi, CA. Lodi is located between the Sierra Nevada foothills and the San Francisco Bay. The climate is ideal for growing several varieties of grapes and Oak Ridge, as well as most of the other area wineries, is dedicated to being sustainable and environmentally friendly.<br />
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The name Gnarled Vine comes from , obviously, the gnarled vines that are found in Oak Ridge’s vineyard. Many of the vines, specifically Zinfandel, have been growing in there for 120 years. The look of these old vines inspired the name of the wine.<br />
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The first variety I sampled was the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon. It had rich berry aromas which carried over to the taste. The berries were accompanied by a hint of vanilla, a touch of chocolate and a bit of oak. The wine was medium bodied with light tannins and a smooth finish. My husband and I enjoyed it with grilled skirt steak which was a wonderful pairing. Other recommended pairings were barbecue and wild game. The price certainly couldn’t be beat so we added it to our growing list of keepers.<br />
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The second variety I sampled was the 2009 Pinot Grigio. This was also the first variety that I had picked as I was looking for something a little different from my usual Sauvignon Blanc. Right away I detected the aroma of tropical fruit. It had a light acidity and a touch of citrus. I drank it alone at first but then paired with some simple sautéed chicken and a Caesar salad. It went very well with the chicken. Other recommended pairings were light seafood dishes and mild cheeses. I think it would be an excellent wine to serve with a cheese plate.<br />
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The last variety I sampled was the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, my favorite variety. It had the aroma of citrus which was also the dominant flavor I detected along with pineapple and peach. It was light bodied and crisp with a clean finish. I sampled it by itself but the recommendation of pairing it with salad and light appetizers seemed right on. It struck me as a summer wine that would be best enjoyed in hot weather with light foods.<br />
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Overall, I found all 3 of these wines delightful and would definitely get them again. Gnarled Vine also produced a Zinfandel, Merlot, Chardonnay, and a White Zinfandel. I think we will be trying the other varieties soon and I hope you do too.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-71005636642564468482011-01-12T16:10:00.000-05:002011-01-12T16:10:12.885-05:00A Rosé Is A Rosé Is A RoséI have to admit, I am a rosé novice. Rosé wines were not even on my radar until about a year ago…unless you count white zinfandel. While browsing the wine selection on our Costco, I came across a rosé by Francis Coppola’s Sofia line. It was very good (though not on par with my theme of bargain wines) so I started my quest to find rosés that fit into my budget better.<br />
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I have tried a few rosé wines over the past year and I have even posted about one or two in past posts. While browsing my local Total Wine looking for inspiration for my next post, I spotted a rosé by Goats Do Roam (more on why that attracted me in a bit) and realized I had found my next topic. I scoured the aisles for a couple more and off I went.<br />
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The Goats Do Roam rosé was the first one I tried. As many of you know, I am a fan of Zane Lamprey and I contribute to his online magazine, Drinking Made Easy (the link is on my sidebar). I found out about Goats Do Roam from his Cape Town, South Africa episode of "Three Sheets." It’s produced by the Fairview Winery and Zane sampled the red which was very similar to France’s Côtes du Rhône, hence the play on the name since goats roam all over the winery property. I have also tried the red which is very good. I figured I may as well give the rosé a shot. I picked the 2010 rosé which is a blend of 40% Syrah for body, 31% Grenache for fruit, 17% Gamay Noir for freshness and 12% Mourvèdre for spice. It cost $8.49. The grapes come mostly from Fairview though some are harvested from Swartland and Piekenierskloof. The wine was a vibrant pink with the aroma of fresh summer strawberries. It was very fruity on the palate and slightly sweet. It was very refreshing. My husband tried it as well and we both decided it would go on the list of wines to buy again. <br />
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The second rosé I sampled was an organic 2009 Reserve Rosé by Chateau de Nages Costieres de Nimes Rouge from the South of France. You may recognize that name from my post on organic wines <a href="http://cheapwineshrine.blogspot.com/2010/11/drinking-green-without-spending-lot-of.html">here</a>. This rosé is a blend of 70% Genache and 30% Syrah and cost $9.99. The wine was a beautiful rose color, very appropriate for the variety. It had bright aromas of berries with some citrus. It was very crisp on the palate with hints of citrus and nice light finish. I think it would be a delightful summer wine. I sampled it alone but the bottle suggests pairing it with pasta, salads, grilled fish or even cold cuts. This too went on the list of wines to buy again.<br />
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The last rosé I sampled was by Anakena which is located in the Rapel Valley of Chile. In my post on bargain Sauvignon Blancs, I said that theirs was one of my most economical go to’s. And their rosé will go on that list as well. This was a 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé that cost $7.99. You can’t beat that price. It was a vibrant pink, much like the one by Goats Do Roam. I detected aromas of spice and plum. On the palate, it was quite smooth with flavors of red berries. It was a bit drier than the other 2 but not overly so. The bottle recommended it as an aperitif or paired with white meats or salads.<br />
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I have decided that my list of favorite wines now goes like this: white wines (specifically Sauvignon Blanc), Rosé wines and then red wines. I do think that rosés are perfect for summer drinking so once the weather warms up, go out and try a few!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-30064112327120659992010-11-28T14:50:00.000-05:002010-11-28T14:50:18.609-05:00From Good EarthLike many people, lots of wines I try are recommended by people I know. When I mentioned to a friend in California a bit back that I was doing a post on organic wines, she mentioned Bonterra wines. I made a note of the name but with quite a few wines already tried for my post, I put them on the back burner. Once I tried them, I really wished I hadn’t!<br />
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Bonterra means “good earth.” And the folks at Bterra Vineyards take that pretty seriously. Located on 378 acres in Mendocino County, CA, Bonterra’s McNab Ranch has been raising organic grapes since 1987. According to their web site, they “let the land and the fruit tell them what to do.” When they started in 1987, they were just experimenting with wine and food pairings. Once they tasted how wonderful the bounty was, they committed themselves to growing organically. They claim they are one of the first major vineyards in CA to commit to organic and sustainable practices. Today, a natural balance is created between the soil, animals and plants. They are regulated by the government and independently certified to ensure they remain organic. <br />
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They also use Biodynamic™ practices such as cow horns filled with manure that are buried to ripen over the winter. They dig them up in the spring and use the manure to fertilize the vineyard. They have found that only natural horn products produce the correct results.<br />
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OK, as fascinating as all this might be, let’s get to what you all really want to know about…the wines. Bonterra has quite a few, both red and white as well as a rosé. I would have loved to try them all but then this article would have gotten long and probably sloppy. I did try four of them and I will have to save the rest for another time.<br />
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Their 2008 Rosé was the first one I tried. I had bought it for $9.99 at our local ABC Wine Country. I opened it with my husband and a friend of ours. We drank it alone while simply hanging out. It was a beautiful deep pink color with the aroma of berries. It was dry with a crisp acidity. I detected hints of strawberries and melon with a small hint of spice. Our friend proclaimed it “Delish”and I had to agree. I have already bought another bottle and I can’t wait to open it.<br />
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I then moved on to the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon that I had purchased at Total Wine for $11.99. 81% of the grapes in this wine come from Mendocino County while the other 19% come from Lake County. The wine is aged in both American and French Oak barrels. When I poured it, the aroma of cherries and dark berries were the first things I noticed. These also carried over to the taste and were joined by cranberry and a hint of vanilla. There was a bit of spice with soft tannins and a nice lingering finish. I drank it alone but Bonterra suggests pairing it with osso bucco or grilled meats such as hanger steak. They suggest several other pairings as well and I can’t wait to buy more and try them out.<br />
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Next came my favorite variety, Sauvignon Blanc. It was a 2009 vintage which also came from ABC and cost $9.99. Like the Cabernet, the grapes for this wine come from two different counties with 60% coming from Lake County and 40% from Mendocino. The aroma of citrus was quite noticeable. It was mixed with a tropical aroma as well that was reminiscent of kiwi. I detected grapefruit in the taste as well as a bit of melon and green apple. It was light-bodied with a crisp acidity. Bonterra recommends pairing it with sautéed chicken, grilled shrimp and steamed clams. I drank it with a simple grilled chicken breast, a salad and roasted vegetables. It went well together so I plan to try some of their suggested pairings.<br />
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We moved back to the reds for the last wine, the 2007 Merlot. This wine is also barrel aged and light oak comes through in the taste. It had delightful aromas of cranberry and chocolate. My husband noted right away that it was “fruity” and I agreed with him. We both really liked it. In fact, my husband is already on his second bottle. We drank it with grilled flank steak. Bonterra recommends pairing it with a roasted meat ragout, grilled pork tenderloin as well as several other grilled meats. Given the fact that my husband is on his second bottle in only about a week, I think this will go onto our list of wines that we buy regularly.<br />
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These 4 wines are just a sample of the wines Bonterra offers. It seems they have something for everyone and I, for one, can’t wait to try the rest of their wines from the “good earth.”Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-74457302339369920202010-11-14T19:33:00.000-05:002010-11-14T19:33:59.773-05:00Who Doesn’t Love A CupcakeI first heard about Cupcake Vineyard wines when a friend of mine brought one over as a hostess’ gift. The variety escapes me at the moment but my husband and I both liked it. Then, it kind of went off our radar for a bit. Once I started blogging about bargain wines, it went on my lists to try again and then blog about.<br />
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First, a little background on Cupcake Vineyards. According to their web <a href="http://www.cupcakevineyard.com/">site</a>, the winery itself is located in Monterey County, CA. The grapes for their Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot come from California’s Central Coast. The grapes for their Sauvignon Blanc come from the Marlborough Valley of New Zealand. The wines are fermented in stainless steel and then aged in American oak barrels.<br />
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Now, whenever I see an advertisement for Cupcake Chardonnay, it always has this little blurb attributed to James Laube of Wine Spectator who gave it 88 points, “You’ll be hard pressed to find a better $13 Chardonnay than this Central Coast bottling.” Well, I have NEVER seen it selling for $13. I think the most I have ever seen it priced is around $10. I bought it on sale at our local ABC Wine Country for $5.99. Our local Total Wine & More sells it for $7.97 all the time. Either of those prices is fine with me!<br />
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OK, enough about the price. Let’s talk about the Chardonnay itself, which was a 2009 vintage. When I first poured it, I instantly detected the aroma of apples with a hint of tropical fruit. Both of these carried over to the taste. I also tasted a hint of lemon. It had a bit of spice and a touch of oak with a smooth finish. The bottle recommended serving it chilled with crab cakes, seared Ahi tuna or French Bread and Cheese. I drank it alone but made careful note of these suggestions and I plan on trying the pairing with tuna soon. You really can’t beat the price of the wine and I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was.<br />
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Encouraged by how much I liked the Chardonnay, I moved on to my favorite variety, Sauvignon Blanc, also a 2009 vintage. I had bought it at Total Wine for $7.97. As I mentioned above, the grapes for this variety come from Marlborough Valley, New Zealand. The bottle said that due to the cool weather, the grapes mature slowly which gives them a “complexity and a vibrant zing reminiscent of a lemon chiffon cupcake.” Hmmm, now who could resist THAT? As I poured the wine, I immediately detected the hints of citrus, mainly lemon and lime. When I took the first sip, I noted how bright and crisp it was. It seemed perfect for a warm Florida fall evening although I have to say, I didn’t find it reminiscent of a lemon chiffon cupcake. The citrus hints carried over to the flavor with lime jumping out at me more than lemon. I was even more pleased with this variety though the fact that it is my favorite may have had something to do with that. It immediately went onto my keepers list. The bottles suggested serving it with oysters on the half shell or with a creamy lobster risotto. So, for the sake of further research, I plan on pairing it with BOTH in the future!<br />
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The last variety I tried was the Cabernet Sauvignon, my favorite red variety. I purchased this one at Total Wine as well. All their Cupcake wines were priced at $7.97. This wine was 2007 vintage. Aromas of berries and currants were the first things I noticed but I also detected floral hint after a few seconds. As for taste, the tannins were a bit strong and it was a bit too acidic. My husband noted the same thing since he tends to be sensitive to that. The berries and currants came through in the flavor along with a musty hint…tobacco, maybe? Overall, I have to say it’s unlikely I’ll buy this one again.<br />
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I will definitely be buying the white varietals again. I may give the reds one more chance and try the Merlot. After all, who can resist a cupcake?Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-4831041625344069822010-11-07T12:51:00.000-05:002010-11-07T12:51:31.937-05:00Drinking Green Without Spending A Lot Of Green – Part TwoWelcome to part two of my series on affordable organic wines. I learned a lot of interesting things about organic wines and green practices while doing this article and I am so glad to be passing them on since so many people find these traits to be important in the products they buy.<br />
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Out of all the wines I tried, there was one lone French wine. The full name was Chateau de Nages Costieres de Nimes Rouge from the South of France. In other words, it’s a French Red Rhone wine...”an unoaked classic Rhone blend” to be specific. A 2008 vintage, this wine is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. I bought it for $9.99, a great value! <br />
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This wine is not only made from organic grapes but it is also sustainably farmed. The bottle boasts, “…we believe in an ‘Earth Friendly’ approach. Natural fertilization and grass seeding in the vineyard have greatly reduced our need for disease control and given out wines a unique ‘terroir’ signature.” The wine was medium-bodied with hints of dark berries and cherry and I detected a hint of herbs, possibly rosemary? It had ripe tannins and a slightly spicy finish. Serving recommendations on the bottle were Mediterranean cuisine, grilled meats and roasted chicken. My husband and I enjoyed ours with grilled sirloin steaks which made a wonderful combination. My husband really enjoyed this wine so it will definitely go on our list of regular buys.<br />
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All of the other wines I tried came from Sobon Estates located in Amador County, CA. The Sobon web site was a wealth of information on these wines and the sustainable practices of this family owned vineyard. The decision to grow sustainably came in 1989. The family spent a winter researching and then began using as few chemicals as possible. The site states, “Our growing practices have evolved over the years, and today we employ complimentary plantings, beneficial bugs, and other natural growing techniques that we believe encourage healthier grapes and better tasting wines.” On their bottles, they say they are proud of their sustainable practices which include solar power generation, composting of winery and paper waste, as well as maintaining wildlife habitat and natural pest control, cover cropping and erosion control, recycling and social responsibility. In 2007, the vineyard installed a solar power system which supplies 100% of the electrical needs of the vineyard and its operation. Since its installation, their carbon footprint has reduced to the point to where they are more than carbon neutral which means they are eliminating more carbon dioxide from the environment than they use. They even sell carbon credits to other industries. This vineyard seems to be the definition of “green!”<br />
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And their wines are wonderful. The first one I tried was the 2008 Sangiovese which I bought for $9.99. Technically, it’s a blend of 91% Sangiovese, 7% Zinfandel and 2% Petite Syrah. The wine had the aroma of fresh berries which carried over to the taste. I also detected a hint of eucalyptus and spice. It’s a medium bodied wine that Sobon recommended pairing with Italian dishes, antipasto and pizza. My husband and I drank it alone but we plan on buying it again to try with some of the suggested pairings.<br />
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The second Sobon wine I tried was the 2008 Sauvignon Blanc which also retailed for $9.99. Now, Sauvignon Blanc is my favorite variety so I was VERY excited to try an organic one that was such a reasonable price. And I wasn’t disappointed. The aromas of crisp citrus were very inviting. I tasted hints of citrus as well, specifically grapefruit with maybe a hint of melon. It was bright and crisp and would probably go wonderfully with seafood. This will probably become my “go to” Sauvignon Blanc.<br />
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The last Sobon wine I tried came from their Vicious line which Sobon calls their “recession fighters” although I bought the 2008 Vicious Red for the same price I bought their other wines…$9.99. This red was a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Zinfandel, 19% Petite Syrah and 5% Malbec. The wine starts out fruity and has a spicy finish. Sobon suggests enjoying it with chicken, beef or pork. Hubby and I enjoyed a glass with grilled NY strip steak, a wonderful pairing. <br />
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And with that, I end my venture into organic wines but I have to say, with so many of them out there, they will likely pop up in future articles. The idea of being able to drink wine from vineyards that are determined to reduce their environmental impact is very appealing to me and I am delighted I can do it within my budget!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-90550537643070391022010-10-27T16:24:00.000-04:002010-10-27T16:24:34.905-04:00Zolo, Coppola and Rioja...Oh My!Man, I am really having trouble thinking up catchy titles these days. Oh well, I tried.<br />
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As many of you know, I have a new blogging gig on Zane Lamprey's Drinking Made Easy <a href="http://www.drinkingmadeeasy.com/">site</a>. Some of my posts here will correspond with my posts there. But I'll still be doing standalone posts here since I try to keep a theme on his site but here, not so much. And today is no exception. I have 3 wines to tell you about that, well, have nothing in common, really. So, here goes.<br />
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The first wine I'd like to tell you about was actually chosen by my dear husband, Brian. We picked up up at ABC Wine Country for a wonderful $9.99. It was a 2009 Malbec by Zolo in Mendoza, Argentina. The bottle said, "Our Malbec grapes are selected from our estate vineyards located in the best wine-growing regions of Mendoza. Located at various altitudes, each of these terroirs (OK, I had to look this up...it means that the land from which the grapes are grown imparts a unique quality that is specific to that region.) provides a wonderful expression of fruit and varietal concentration." Umm, OK so the grapes come from several different places with each place being at a different altitude with grapes from each part lending a different quality to the wine. At least, that's what I THINK that means. Anyway, the wine is aged in oak for 6 months and that comes through a bit in the taste. I also detected hints of dark berries and plum. I detected an almost flowery hint in the aroma. It was an okay wine that seems to taste better after it had been open a bit so it probably just needs to breathe. Brian seemed to like it so it's likely one we will get again. <br />
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The second wine is from the vineyard of famed movie director, Francis Ford Coppola. Specifically, this was a 2008 Sauvignon Blanc from his Diamond Collection. We picked this one up at ABC as well and it was $10.99. Now, I think I've said this before but Sauvignon Blanc is my favorite white wine by FAR. So, I love trying new ones. This grapes for this wine, like the one above, come from several sources. This wine is fermented in stainless steel to help retain the crisp acidity. And crisp and acidic it was, but not overwhelmingly so. It was also very bright and tasted of tropical fruits such as pineapple, as well as citrus fruits such as lemon and grapefruit. It had a definite tropical fruit scent. Recommended pairings were goat cheese and field greens, roast chicken and grilled fish. I paired it with Spaghetti With Peas And Pancetta by Tyler Florence, which has goat cheese in it. The pairing was WONDERFUL. In fact, I just posted that recipe on my recipe blog today if you want to check it out. I will definitely be buying this wine again.<br />
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The last wine I want to tell you about is a 2005 Rioja by Bodegas Arviza Crianza from Fuenmayor, Spain. Wow, that's a mouthful! This also came from ABC and retailed for $10.99. This Rioja is blend of Temparnillo, Graciano and Garnacha. The bottle boasts that the wine is "aged in oak barrels for 12 months in one of Rioja's oldest Bodegas, within ancient tunnels of the 16th century, built by hand with Roman flagstones." Cool, a history lesson too! I detected plum and cherry in the aroma with a bit of vanilla in the background. It tasted of berries with a bit of spice and an almost smokiness with a bit of oakiness. It was very different but in a good way. The bottle recommended serving it at cellar temperature and serve with cheeses, pasta and all meat dishes. We paired our with grilled flank steak and it went very well together. Brian and I both likes it so this will also go on the keeper list!<br />
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Well, that's all I have for now. My next post on DME should be up by this time next week and I'll post it here as well. Happy drinking!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-18211229022277337532010-10-19T19:49:00.002-04:002010-10-19T19:49:54.001-04:00Drinking Green Without Spending A Lot Of Green – Part One“Going Green” is a rapidly growing trend. It seems everyone is getting into buying organic, hormone free, wild caught and sustainable foods. The list goes on and on. But the downside is that going green tends to cost more green. I shop on a budget so I have my list of which fruits and veggies really should be bought organic and I try to plan meals so I can get the most bang for my buck. I had never really thought about drinking organic wine. I mean, I knew they were out there but I just figured they cost too much. But on a recent trip to my local Total Wine, I realized I was wrong. They had a HUGE display of organic wines from all over the world as well as many different varietals. Many of them were quite reasonable. So I loaded up on some research and got started.<br />
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The first two wines I tried were from Verdant Circle in California. I tried to do some research but I couldn’t find out much about them. They did have a Facebook page so I joined that and I was able to get a little more information to use when I sampled the wines.<br />
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The first Verdant Circle wine I tried was their Chardonnay. The bottle cost $9.99. The bottle indicated the grapes came from a vineyard in Mendocino County. According to their Facebook page, “Verdant Circle Chardonnay was fermented in stainless steel and barrel aged for four months to emphasize the fresh fruit flavors of the varietal. The finished wine has a steely, mineral structure with a backdrop of tropical fruit, citrus and peach flavors. Extremely versatile, our Chardonnay pairs well with wild hook and line caught salmon and other high omega-3 fish oil seafood.” I didn’t pair it with anything because I wanted to get the full experience of the wine mainly because I’m not a huge fan of Chardonnay. I did detect passion fruit and pineapple in the aroma. The taste was very pleasant. I detected hints of orange and peach with a touch of passion fruit. Overall, I enjoyed it very much and it made me rethink my stand on Chardonnay. It was definitely something I would purchase again.<br />
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The second one I tried was their Pinot Noir. Now I will be honest, the price was a BIT more than my usual limit. It cost $14.99. The Verdant Circle Facebook page said, “Verdant Circle Pinot Noir was grown, produced and bottled from our Windmill Ranch in the Arroyo Seco appellation. Made from three different grape clones and aged in French oak for six months, the finished wine has black cherry and plum fruit with a spicy nutmeg and cinnamon backnote. Soft and rich with a light tannin overlay, this Pinot has a nice lingering finish.” The Arroyo Seco appellation is located in Monterey County. Again, I drank the wine alone to get the full experience. I definitely detected plum fruit in the aroma as well as cherry and blackberry. These carried through to the taste and I also detected what tasted to me like pumpkin pie spice. I am fairly new to pinot noir so I am still feeling my way around that variety but the spice taste was a bit much for me. I may try it again paired with red meat, perhaps, to see if I feel any different. But given the price, I am in no rush to try it again.<br />
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The next two wines I tried were by Releaf Wines, located on the West Cape of South Africa. Releaf’s bottle stated that their “growers use sustainable agriculture to produce hand harvested, organically grown grapes.” It also stated they use partially recycled glass for their bottles and labels that contain sustainable ink and recycled paper. After doing some research, I found the web site for Organic Wine Trading Company which is Releaf’s importing partner. The site said that Releaf was started in 2001 on an old, neglected grain farm. The property had been uncultivated for 17 years and was used only for grazing cattle. No chemicals, pesticides or herbicides had been used on the land for 24 years making it an ideal spot to start growing organic grapes. Sounds like it would be perfect for hard core organic lovers and according to the site, it is also vegan although I’m not sure how a wine wouldn’t be vegan. But, what do I know?<br />
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The chenin blanc was the first wine I tried. It retailed for $7.99. I drank it alone at first but then I paired it with grilled chicken and risotto. I thought it went quite well together. It had a delightful aroma of melon, kiwi and tropical fruit, mainly pineapple…at least to my nose. Both of these carried through to the flavor that had the perfect amount of acidity. I also detected a hint of grapefruit. To me it seemed like a very good summer wine that I will likely buy again.<br />
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I then tried their Cabernet blend which retailed for $8.99. It was a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 20% Shiraz. It smelled of cherries and blackberries and tasted of the same with a hint of plum and maybe a tad of vanilla. It was light and very smooth. The bottle indicated would pair well with red meat or vegetarian dishes. I drank the first glass alone but paired the second glass with bacon wrapped filet. It went perfectly together. My husband liked it as well so it went on the keeper list.<br />
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So, as you can see, you can drink green while spending only a little green. And this is only the beginning. I have several more wines I still need to try so stay tuned for part two!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-44232598651184742442010-08-10T15:25:00.002-04:002010-08-10T16:01:02.078-04:00Catching Up Part IISee, I told you I would be doing this more regularly. I do it for myself as much as anyone else so I can use it as a reference because God knows with Mommy brain, I can't remember anything.<br /><br />My first wine today is another Chardonnay. Like I said, I am giving them another try after not really being much of a fan. This one is a 2008 By Star Tree. It's from the North Cape of South Africa and my trusty Total Wine had it for around $8. This particular Chardonnay is unwooded. It was a lovely cleat slightly deeper yellow. The aroma was that of tropical fruit and the taste was light and crisp with hints of pineapple and citrus. It had a long, smooth finish. I drank it alone but I think it would be perfect with chicken or shrimp.<br /><br />My next wine is a Pinot Grigio which is another wine I kind of got away from for a bit. It wasn't because I didn't like it I just didn't think to buy it. This one was a 2009 by Kiwi Cuvee and came from Germany although it seems their different varieties come from different countries (although none from New Zealand despite the name). The color was a medium straw yellow and it had bright aromas of apple and pear. It was slightly sweet at first and them became slightly acidic which balanced out the fruit flavors. I drank it alone but I think it would go well with spicy or Asian food.<br /><br />A few weeks later, we also tried Kiwi Cuvee's 2008 Pinot Noir which was from the Loire Valley of France. It was deep garnet in color with aromas of berries and a hint of cherry. It was well balanced with a hint of sweetness with light tannins in the finish. We drank it with flank steak and it was lovely pairing.<br /><br />My last wine for today is also a red. It's a 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon by Brisandes which is located in the Colchaqua Valley in Chile. It cost just around $10. It was a deep burgundy with a lovely aroma of dark berries and currants. It was fruity and well balanced with flavors of cherry and a soft tannin finish. I drank it alone but pairing recommendations included barbecue and red meats.<br /><br />OK, enough for today. My kids are making me buts and I think it's about time to pour a glass of wine!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-28038265954216312172010-08-09T12:22:00.003-04:002010-08-09T13:00:03.550-04:00I Have Some Catching Up To DoYes, I'm back. I apologize for the extended absence but life gets crazy at times. I have tried MANY new wines since I last posted. I have tried to journal as many as I could so I could blog about them and I have quite a list so I guess I better get to it!<br /><br />The first one is a white from Argentina. Maipe winery is in Salta, Argentina which is in the Lerma Valley in the foothills of the Andes. The winery is named for the Lord of the Winds in ancient Andean Indian Culture and the bottle label reflected this. The variety I tried was their 2009 Torrontes (I blogged about another Torrontes below) and it was about $10. It was a pale yellow with wonderful floral aromas. It made me think of summer. I also detected hints of citrus, mainly lemon and orange as well as hints of peach. It was refreshing with a bright acidity, and plenty of body. It was pleasantly fresh with fruit and citrus notes. I drank it alone but it would be wonderful with seafood such as shrimp or scallops. It would be lovely with spicy food as well.<br /><br />The second one is a red by Anakena in the Aconcaqua Valley in Central Chile. I often drink the Sauvignon Blanc (which I blogged about below) so I thought I would give their 2008<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><strong style="font-weight: normal;">Carmenère a try. It was VERY reasonable at around $9. The color was a beautiful deep read...almost a dark cherry color with aromas of dark berries and chocolate. It had a fruity palate with a nice, spicy finish. I drank it with steak but other recommendations were game, pasta and cheese. It went very well with the steak.<br /><br />The last one for today is a Chardonnay. Now, I was never a real fan of Chardonnay but I decided to give it another try. I picked up 2008 Muirwood Chardonnay from Monterey County at Total Wine for around $10. It had aromas of citrus and was bright and acidic with tropical fruit flavors and hints of butter. It had a nice smooth finish. I drank it alone but it would be wonderful with grilled chicken. It renewed my faith in Chardonnays so I will definitely be trying more.<br /><br />I have tons of other wines to catch up on so there will be more very soon!<br /></strong>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2930751355594754050.post-59108118356728345722010-03-02T09:56:00.002-05:002010-03-02T10:05:49.786-05:00Everything but the...Kitchen Sink. Kitchen Sink is the name of 2 wines I tried last week. Total Wine had them on display for a couple weeks so I finally picked up one of each...a white and a red. They were just under $9. They are American wines, from Santa Rosa, CA.<br /><br />I'll talk about the red first. They call it a red table wine and it's a blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Cabernet</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sauvignon</span> and Petite <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sirah</span>. I was a rich red color and had the hint of blackberries. IT had a smooth, slightly sweet finish. I drank it with flank steak but it seemed a little too sweet to be a good pairing. I will definitely buy it again.<br /><br />The white was equally as good. Like the red, it's called a table wine and this one is a blend of Chardonnay, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Chenin</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Blanc</span>, and Gewurztraminer. I thought it would also have a slightly sweet finish like the red, given the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Gewurztraminer</span>, but I was wrong. It was light and fruity with hints of melon and an almost floral scent. It had a nice finish. I drank it alone but I think it would go well with shrimp or other light seafood dishes. I would also buy this again.<br /><br />I'm sorry my posting has been spotty. I do have 2 more wines to blog about, hopefully later this week. I am going to try to be more <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">regular</span> with my posting. Happy drinking!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626309696556116508noreply@blogger.com0