"I'm not dead yet!"

For those of you missing the title's reference to Monty Python, shame on you. For everyone else, I'm back. No lies, the CTwineguy needed some time to recharge his batteries and refocus his wine related life. For my very few, very loyal readers, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. For everyone else, the days of $100 Cabs and rare Oregon Pinot are on the shelf for awhile due to monetary reasons. Have no fear, the blog must go on, even on a budget.

We'll start the show off with some budget box buys. First up is Trove California Chardonnay. While my wife and I are still fanatic about Black Box's Napa and Monterey Chardonnays, we wanted to explore some more cost effective boxes. Trove's was a big flop. It was drinkable at around $15 but seemed too syrupy with some hints of vinegar. I wouldn't recommend it, unless your only intentions are a cheap buzz. And in that case just hit up the Boone's Farm

The next box was more successful. And it passed the first test when we bought a second box of it. Boxstar's 2007 South Eastern Australia Chardonnay is a hit at around $18. Similar in flavor to the Black Box, but less refined with more fruit. I still prefer Black Box but thoroughly enjoy Boxstar's price tag.

We'll be back real soon (I swear this time) because I actually have a restaurant review to do before I forget. Till next time..."On second thought, let's not go to Camelot. It is a silly place."--King Arthur

Holiday Highlights

Here's a quick rundown of some wines tasted over the recent holiday break here on the home front.

The biggie was the 1997 Beaulieau Vineyard George de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet. I highlighted this wine last February when we picked it up. In my eyes this wine didn't dissapoint. It was everything I love in a well aged Cab. It was loaded with chocolate tones and bits of cedar. It was smooth, elegant, and reminded me of a good Bordeaux. Drinking aged Cab was a new experience for my father, and at first seemed really disappointed with this offering. But by the time he finished his glass, it really grew on him, and just maybe he has a new found appreciation for aged wines.

On New Year's Eve we had my cousin and his wife over and tackled some new wines. First up was Yellowtail's Reserve Chardonnay. I'm not gonna bother finding the vintage because I really disliked this wine. the aroma was too sweet and the flavor was like straight butterscotch. It was just over powering and the alcohol flavors pushed me away as well. Give it a shot if you dare, but I would not recommend it.

We followed that up with Columbia Crest's similarly priced Chardonnay offering. This was much more to my liking. Lighter flavors but still tasty, and drier with nice hints of oak. For ten bucks I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Finally, we had Roederer Estate's NV Brut Rose at midnight. I have always been a huge fan of Roederer's Anderson Valley Brut and was thrilled to find this rose offering at a wine shop on Martha's Vineyard. It was a terrific sparkler for the New Year. Fun and fizzy with a good balance of acidity and fruit.

I'm sure there were a few other bottles sprinkled in somewhere, hopefully I'll hit those up in the coming week. Till next time..."Man who catch fly with chopstick accomplish anything.:--Mr. Miyagi

Tis the Season...

...for slacking off. I know, naughty Jack will only be getting coal this year because of his failure to update his wine blog. So here I am, almost two days before zero hour, trying to show Santa I should be on the nice list. Thankfully I have 11 days away from the little whipper-snappers to try and rededicate myself to this site.

Let's start with some recent tastes. Last night was the 2005 Sebastiani Sonoma County Chardonnay. Whenever I have some looking for a value wine, no matter the varietal, I always point them towards the good folks at Sebastiani. Quality wine at an affordable price. With that in mind, I am not in love with this Chard. It's got good body to it, but too much butterscotch aromas and flavors, as well as a touch too much oak. I liked it, just not ready to commit to it.

If you remember, I lauded Rochioli for their Sauvignon Blanc back in August. My only problem was that I didn't have room in my luggage for another bottle, so the Pinot came home and the Sauv Blanc would hacve to wait for another day. Amazingly that day came last week. I was wandering through Cask N' Keg in Mystic, when behold, a bottle of Rochioli Sauvignon Blanc was eyeballing from across the way. The memories came flooding back and I just had to buy the bottle. I honestly didn't look at the price till I got to the register out of fear my conscious would tell me to return it to the shelf. When we opened it the other night, it only confirmed what I already new, the 2006 Rochioli Russian River Sauvignon Blanc is the greatest Sauv Blanc I have ever had. Body like a Chard, and smooth flavors of grapefruit and lime.

We also recently had one of Katie's stalwarts, the 2005 Ravenswood California Vinters Blend Zinfandel. Ravenswood's wines have not seemed as good to me since we tasted there and I was let down by the horrible service. This wine is thier standard fare and meant to be an easy drinking everyday type of wine. That's exactly what it is. It seems flat for a Zin, lacking any real punch or zest. It came across as almost watered down and so blah. But my palate is mine, and Katie's is hers. If she likes it, then she can enjoy it as much as she likes!

I'll try and stay diligent with posting this week, seeing as I have zero obligations outside of the Patriots and family (not in that order of course). Till next time..."Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy."--Benjamin Franklin

The Slacker That I Am

I admit it. I deserve the ridicule, the guilt, and the shameless beatings. I have been a bad blogger. I can whole heartedly admit that my Patriots blog over at The Day (which if you haven't been reading, then shame on you as well) has taken up much of my writing times over the past few weeks. So it's about time the Wine side of my life gets some lovin'.

First off, big thanks to everyone who helped celebrate my 25th birthday at the Third Wine from A to Zin evening. We had an excellent time tasting some Santa Barbara wines as well as some samples from Australia and Long Island. Hopefully others also discovered that boxed wine isn't all that bad. I had a great time and really appreciate having so many people turn out to have such an enjoyable time. Look for another evening of wine (and wii) soon. Maybe we'll have just a Wii evening as well!

This past weekend we ventured off to Martha's Vineyard and just by luck got snagged in the tail end of a hurricane. It was quite exciting to have the Jeep slammed by a wave on our way to Vineyard Haven. Good times! Of course being on the Vineyard meant a trip to Our Market to pick up some delicious wine. If you ever find yourself on the Vineyard in need of wine, don't waste your time at either wine shop in Edgratown. Don't stop at the package store in downtown Oak Bluff's or even at Jim's. Head straight to Our Market in Oak Bluffs on the East Chop side of the harbor. Hands down, the best wine selection on the island. I walked out with two bottles from Oregon and two from California.

First we hit the Oregon wines. Leading off was A to Z Wineworks 2006 Oregon Pinot Gris. Light, crisp, clean, enjoyable. Highly recommended. Next was Erath's 2005 Oregon Pinot Noir. Not overly fruity but delectable, pairs well with lots of foods and is another easy drinker. Not to mention, both wines are screw tops!

Then we hit the Cali wines. For white, we stuck to an old favorite, Benziger's 2006 Carneros Chardonnay. Carneros is turning out stellar Pinot and Chard these days, and this is one of my easily available favorites (EAFs). Clearly aged in Oak, the flavors on this wine are profound and so good. Pear and apple is decisivly clean and fresh. Buy it, try it, you'll love it. For Red we hit Santa Barbara for Jed Steele 2005 Santa Barbara Pinot Noir. What I am starting to love about Santa Barbara Pinot is that it's a nice blend of what I love from Oregon and Sonoma. You get the strong fruit flavors of Sonoma and the earthiness of Oregon all in one. My good friend Mike turned me onto Steele a few years back and I am a big advocate. His wines are worth the price and make for a good foyer into the above $20 category for those looking to try higher price ranges.

That covers things for now. I'll try to be more diligent with posting. Be sure to jump over to The Day's website and check out my blog on the undefeated Patriots! Till next time..."There's a hurricane coming, four bottles might not be enough."

Double Fisted

Be sure to check out the New London Day's website, where I am now moonlighting as blogger on the Patriots. Hopefully doing both blogs, here and at The Day, will keep me more diligent at posting on this one. Look here tomorrow for Part 1 on boxed Chardonnay as I taste my third boxed wine tonight. Then look at The Day on Monday for a Post game recap and look to the week ahead. Till next time..."Chase your passion, not your pension."--Denis Waitley

For my page at theday.com click here.