Going Up River

For the first time in months I actually had a Wednesday night off. I decided to maximize this opportunity and milk it for all it was worth. That meant a night at the Up River Cafe for half-off wine night. Amanda and Kevin joined myself and Katie as we wined and dined on the finest Westerly has to offer.

While we awaited Katie's arrival, a bottle of white was to be ordered. Instead of trying something new Amanda and I settled on a wine we both had before and both loved, the 2006 Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc from Stellenbosch in South Africa. This is truly a tremendous wine. It's just sweet enoguh to be flavorful, without going over the top towards sweet Riesling territory. The citrus notes really round it into form. We then decided to order appetizers while waiting for Katie. I stuck with my usual, the Asian Fried Calamari. Calamari and Banana Peppers with those styrofoam like rice noodles covered in a sweet Thai chili sauce with a wasabi dressing on the side. Can you say b-rilliant? Amanda had the special, which was special indeed. Oxtail with goat cheese gnocci. It was done in some type of sauce that was too delicious to care what was in it. Kevin however, may have found the real winner just because it was so simple it was good. He had the French Fries. What's the catch you ask? They were fried in duck fat. Downright amazing!

We set aside some of the fries and oxtail, as well as glass of Mulderbosch for Katie as we waited for her (noticing a theme here) and began browsing the reds. While the Sequoia Grove Cab always sucks me in, I stayed diligent and looked away from the Cabs. Amanda narrowed it down to two Syrahs and we decided upon the 2005 Qupe "Bien Nacido Vineyard" Syrah from Santa Maria Valley in California. It was a rich, smooth wine, with berry aromas and cocoa on the palate. Think chocolate covered fruit and you're on the right track. Eventually Katie I arrived and we ordered entrees. Kevin and I had the Up River Burger, a delicious burger topped with Taleggio cheese, Pancetta, and Roasted Mushroom Chutney. Amanda had the regular burger with swiss, and Katie dove into the Tapenade-Marinated Loin of Lamb. Almost forgot, I started with the soup, butternut squash with bacon and shallots folded in. All the food was fantastic and filling, as it always is there.

It was wonderful time full of food, fun, laughter, and dance biscuits. Hopefully I'll be able to get another Wednesday night off in January to do it again. Till next time..." We're teachers on a sabbatical and have won the lottery."--???

Lost in a Sea of Work

At last I have found time to breath. For those of you not in the know, I have started a second job, which in reality is a third job. I've been working at Tastings-A Wine Experience in Mystic. This new wine bar and tapas style restaurant has been fantastic to me and a terrific place to work. So if you and your friends are looking for something different you'll have to swing on down and check it out.

As for wine, perhaps the hottest new grape is Carménére. This wine from Chile is pretty unique in its characterisitics and probably most closely resembles a Malbec. I think it has a body somewhat bigger than Pinot Noir but lighter than a Merlot. The flavor profile ranges from cherries to chocolate and leather. But what makes this grape so fantastic is it's story. Every good wine needs a story behind it. I learned that reading A Very Good Year by Mike Weiss, a detailed look at the whole process behind Ferrari-Carano's Fume Blanc. Carménére was originally a Bordeaux grape in the Medoc. It was used in blending, much like Petite Verdot and Malbec. Some cuttings were taken and sent across the ocean to South America where they grew quite well. Of course, even the most astute vineyard workers had a hard time telling it apart from the Merlot. Then France was hit by the Phylloxera epidemic in 1867 that virtually destroyed the all grape vines in France. The French winemakers were reluctant to start growing Carménére again because it was pain to grow and it was hard to find after the epidemic. The Chileans continued to grow the grape and harvest it with the Merlot, mostly unknowingly. It wasn't until 1994 that a French professor of Oenology was able to recognize that this was in fact not Merlot, and in 1998 Chile's Department of Agriculture offically recognized the grape.

Today, we are getting Carménére harvested from the Colchagua Valley that are simply fantastic. They hold up well with heavy food but are also approachable enough to be drank on their own. And if you can't find any at your local wine shop, head over to tastings and I'll be happy to pour you a taste of our two Carménére's. Till next time..."There are dinner jackets and dinner jackets; this is the latter."--???

On the Rebound

Most people, in any situation, realize that a let down should be followed by an experience that you know will be a sure thing. For example, you try a new recipe for dinner and it turns out horrifically horrible. The next night you'll return to one of your old standbys, a sure fire tasty treat. Wine is no different of course. So last night I needed to erase the Cask 23 from my mind. That meant pulling out some wines that I knew would not be another let down.

After my first attempt at Striped Bass, which came out quite well, we decided to open up some wine from the cellar. Instead of gambling a wine thats been resting for three or four years, I pulled out a more recent addition, the 2003 Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. I discussed my visit to Alpha Omega way back when, and had three bottle of their wine shipped back home in November. I pulled out the '03 Cab seeing as the other wines were both '04s. Thankfully, there was no let down this time. The Alpha Omega Cab, I believe I paid $50-$60 for it, out performed the Cask 23 by leaps and bounds. We risked drinking it without food, but taking that chance paid off. It's a light Cab, with a velvety smoothness that simply caresses your mouth. AO describes their '04 Cab as "power with a feminine touch." The '03 may be lacking in the power department, but not in flavor and finesse. I'm looking forward to having the '04 as well as their proprietary blend in the future. If you see any Alpha Omega, snatch it up, you won't be disappointed.

Next up was the 2005 Cristom Pinot Noir Sommers Reserve from Willamette Valley. My love for Oregon Pinot is only surpassed by my love for my wife. This bottle was picked up over at Thames River a month or so ago. As soon as this wine wafted past my nose, I was in for it. Such a shining example of Oregon's finest grape. The aroma of fruit and earth blending together is breath taking. The winemaker narrows it down to black cherries, currants, orange zest, leather, and vanilla. Either way its intoxicating. The palate is balanced and lush, with more red fruit flavors than the nose. The finish was slight and soothing, like the smell of the inside of an oak barrel. We didn't make it to Cristom on our last trip to Oregon, but we definitely will next time we go.

In the end, it was a pleasant recovery from the near traumatizing Cask 23 incident. Till next time..."How could I forget about you? You're the only person I know."--???

Let Down

When tasting wine, you're bound to have some severe let downs. You build yourself help for what should be a terrific experience, only to have the wine, the winery, the restaurant, or even your friends let you down. Last Monday at Thames River joins my ranks of big let downs.

I met up with a bunch of friends to taste the $180 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cask 23 Cabernet from 2000. By all means it should've been wonderful. Granted 2000 was not a killer year for Napa Cabs, it's still SLWC, and it's still the famed Cask 23. Amy and I arrived first and grabbed our sampling because they would only be dishing out one bottle, and we didn't want to be left high and dry if our friends arrived too late. We stood their sniffing our glasses in great anticipation. The nose was fabulous! Everything you could ever ask for in a powerhouse Cab. Cedar and Currant and Blackberries. Just glorious scents. Once Amanda and Kevin arrived and secured their glasses, we tasted. Blah! Just so flat and lifeless. No sense of structure or flavor. It was like being at the fair when you were six and having the bully pop your balloon. It tried to redeem itself with a relentless finish that wouldn't go away. It was that flavor of a winery's barrel room just seeping into your mouth. But the complete absences of a palate made this wine a dud in our books. Maybe I'd pay $30 for it on clearance, but surely not $180.

Another recent let down was my 2002 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou that I lugged out to Martha's Vineyard. I was hoping this $80 investment would've aged into a First-Growth imitation. Instead, I was left with another $20-$30 tasting bottle that left me drinking it straight from the decanter till I felt I had my money's worth (see Facebook for photos). So, fill me in, what's been one of your memorable wine related let downs?

Till next time..."Broadway! I haven't been so happy since we crushed Poland!"--???

Riding the Pine

It's a Friday night and I am not out wine tasting in New London with the Trifecta. What is wrong with me? Well, perhaps the fact that I just sneezed four times in a row so hard that I may have cracked a rib or two might explain why I am sitting on the proverbial bench tonight. But alas, a cozy couch and reruns of Top Gear are more than enough to keep me entertained tonight. Granted, I would prefer to be out tasting with the ladies.

This past week, while vacationing on the Vineyard (God I sound snooty when I say it that way) we performed one of the easiest and most enjoyable wine experiments out there. Comparing oaked and unoaked Chardonnays. Laura and Doug where kind enough to bring out two Chards from my favorite Long Island winery, Channing Daughters. We compared the 2007 Scuttlehole Chardonnay against the 2006 L'Enfant Sauvage Chardonnay.

The Scuttlehole is fermented in stainless steel with no malolactic fermentation. The result is a crisp, acidic wine with similar mouth feel to a Sauvignon Blanc, but with exploding flavors of green apple. In my mind this was the clear winner. Now why would I say that before I even told you about the other wine? Because much like my good friend from Sideways, Miles, I don't like the way wineries manipulate Chardonnay. If you remember from the king of all wine movies, Jack questions Miles' feelings toward Chardonnay, and Miles deftly explains that he loves all varitals in their true form.

The L'Enfant Savage, or wild child, is aged in new French and Slovenian Oak for 13 months. Doug also informed me that it also goes through a full malolactic fermentation. One sip and you'll know. It's a mouthful of butterscotch and vanilla. It's a tremendous wine with exciting flavors and an almost syrupy texture, but just not my style of Chard.

So if you get a chance, find a fully oaked and malolactic fermented Chardonnay and pair it up with a "naked" or unoaked Chard. Katie and I would recommend the Four Vines Naked Chardonnay. Then put the two side by side and enjoy. Wiith only half a box of tissues left I bid you adieu, and till next time..."Why's he calling me meat? I'm the one driving a Porsche. "--???

Back in the Saddle

Last night I went out wine tasting with Katie, Amy, and Amanda. Amazingly, there was little giggling. Not enough wine I guess. We met up at Thames River Wine & Spirits for their weekly pouring. With my allergies held slightly in check, I was able to actually smell and taste what turned out to be some good and some blah wine.

First up was a 2006 Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc by Fournier. Coming in at $11, it is a flat out steal. It's hard enough to find Loire Sauv Blanc around here, let alone at $11! A nice light wine, the nose wasn't overly impressive. And the first sip was a blast of lemon. But once everything settled down, it morphed into a beautiful little number. Nice crisp flavor and a tasty mineral finish.

Second was a Rose (there's supposed to be an accented e there, but I can't make it work today). Many Americans still believe that Rose is White Zinfandel. So you get quite a few jackasses who think they know something about wine, avoiding any and all Roses because "they're not real good wine." Well here's a tip, a well made, properly dry, European styled Rose is the perfect porch wine. They are nothing like the Sutter Home or Beringer White Zins, White Cabs, White Merlots, or whatever else they're making white these days. Rarely sweet, thanks to a low residual sugar, the best combine the light body of a white wine, with splashes of fruit like a red. But don't be mistaken, Rose is rarely made by mixing a white and red wine. Instead, red grapes are crushed but only allowed to sit on the skins for a few days. Then the skins are removed for the rest of fermentation. This creates a range of colors from light hues to deep vivid pinks. Last night's Rose was fabulous. Domaine Houchart Cotes de Provence Rose from 2007 retails for $11 and is worth every damn penny. This wine is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Cabernet, and Mourvedre. Essentially a Rhone blend with some Cab tossed in. The nose was very light with a int of red berries, I thought strawberries but can't be sure. The palate was delicous, light, and fruity. And most importantly dry. California wineries are getting into the dry Rose craze too. If you taste out Wwest, many wineries will have a Rose for sale only at the winery. When Mike and I tasted in Sonoma and Napa, we tasted numerous Roses, and the hands down winner was Rosenblum. Plus, the day we were there they dropped the price from $10 to $5, then we got Mike's industry discount. I think I paid $3.75 for it, and it was probably the best Rose I've had. So next time you feel adventurous try a nice European style Rose, and when all your wannabe wine loving friends start bashing you, shove it in there face by lecturing them on real Rose.

The third and fourth wines really aren't worth going into detail. One, Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet/Shiraz/Merlot from 2004 was, well it was, well, boring. It had a decent Cabernet nose with some cedar, then the palate was fine, some dark fruit but nothing blockbuster. But then the son of a bitch just vanished. Absolutely zero finish. I'm not sure Detectives Stabler and Benson could find it. The last wine was an Italian Red Table Wine, made of mostly Sangiovese. From the Montevertine estate, this wine was not a winner. I didn't like the smell or the taste. I've had much better Chinati's for far less than this one's $46 price tag.

Well, I also snagged a bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir, but that's another story for another day. Till next time..."The question is, and this is the only question, who thinks that they can do what you do better than you?"--???

Sports and Wine Clash Again

Once again we find the sports world turning to wine! While the most prevalent pairing in the American summer is baseball and beer, we once again find the folks at Charity Wines mixing America's pastime with fermented grapes. Last year we saw Manny Ramirez, Curt Schilling, and Tim Wakefield work with the Longball Cellars label to produce some charity wines. This year we have none other than Big Papi himself David Ortiz, the captain Jason Varitek, and my boy Kevin Youkilis lending their names to three wines.

Thankfully, my local wine shop procured a large quantity of all three, so I walked out with two Vintage Papi, two SauvignYoouuk Blanc, and one bottle of Captain's Cabernet. Since it was Katie's first night back from her business trip, I cracked open a bottle of the Big Papi. Called a California Blend, I can't seem to pin down an exact varietal composition. It was extremely soft and satin like, so my guess is heavy on the Merlot, a good dose of Cabernet, and some Cabernet Franc. Smooth with nice blackberry flavors and an easily enjoyable palate. I was hoping for a heavier style wine from the Dominican slugger, but was pleased nonetheless.

As with last year's offerings, the net proceeds go to the charity designated by the player. Beneficiaries this year are the David Ortiz Children's Fund, Kevin Youkilis Hits for Kids, and Pitching in for Kids. Last years was extremely successful and this year looks to raise even more for those in need. Of course the Yankees, Mets, Braves, and Reds have similar offerings this year. I am sure they are all going to worthy causes, but we focus on the Sox in these parts. I'll be sure to check in again with reviews of the other wines as they are opened. We'll keep the movie quote trivia going (no cheating Mom!) Have fun with this one! Till next time..."Remember kid, there are heroes and there are legends. Heroes get remembered, but legends never die."--???

Two for One Special

Here's two quick nuggets from recent adventures in wine:

First off a long awaited review of Dev's on Bank in New London. Dev's focus is a Tapas menu similar to that of Barcelona in New Haven. So be prepared for small portions, but small prices as well. The food though, was simply delicious. I started with some Wasabi Encrusted Scallops. The scallops themselves were cooked to perfection, sumptuous and juicy. My only beef was that the breading wasn't strong enough for my taste. I don't want just a hint of wasabi, I want to feel that its there on my taste buds. Next was a plate of Crab Cakes. Here's a hint, if you like crab cakes, order them here. There meaty and flavorful, just what you want in crab cakes. Third was Salmon Bites with an Asian Dressing. Once again, the salmon cooked just right, but the sauce a bit weak for me. And I know part of it is just my taste, but a little extra cook would make the dish an A+. Finally, I wrapped things up with a small plate of Mongolian Pork Barbecue Ribs. Now when I say small plate, I really mean a healthy portion. These ribs are covered in a smoky Hoison sauce that is just phenomenal, a true East meets West dish that was so rich and flovrful, I couldn't have eaten an entrees worth if I tried. The tapas portion is just right, and ohhh sooo gooood. So check out Dev's on Bank in New London, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

The other bit was the return of our friend Amanda from South Africa. And of course, she was so kind to have a bunch of friends over to sample some of the wine she brought back. Before I type anymore, I'd like to thank Amy over at "A Wiseman Once Said" for doing all the leg work with the winery names and info. Please check out her review as I add in my two cents here.

First, the 2006 Zevenwacht Chenin Blanc from Stellenbosch. Amy hit the nauil on the head, crisp and delicious with some pineapple tossed in. Chenin Blanc is one of my favorite white varitals. The problem is where to find good bottles in America. The Loire Valley in France turns out some gems, but good luck finding them. Chenin Blanc produces a similar flavor profile to Sauvignon Blanc and when done right can be just as wonderful of a summer wine.

Next was Zevenwacht's 2004 Syrah. To me it was powerhouse Syrah. Lots of smoke and spice. It actually felt more like a Zinfandel to me than Syrah. I really enjoyed it, but it would definitely be out of some people's realm of enjoyment. A lot of people balk at the idea smoked meat aromas in their wine. But as I mentioned after the visit to Channing Daughters, it can be a terrific aroma if the flavor backs it up. Pair this wine with a good pot roast and you'll be amazed at the pairing.

Finally was Clos Malverne's 2005 Auret Cab/Pinotage blend. I loved this wine. Nice and dry with that Cab profile and strong berry flavors. Pinotage is a hybrid of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut (or Hermitage in South Africa). I think it would be a shame to mix Cab and Pinot Noir, but this blend of Pinotage and Cab works wonderfully (similar to the Cab/Syrah blend in Swanson's Alexis). You end up with the dark color and dry tannins of a Cabernet, but also get the warm red berry flavors of the Pinotage. This had to be the winner of the night in my book.

Well, the last movie quote trivia didn't go so hot. Either people don't read my blog (most likely) or the quote was too hard (possibly). So we'll try again. Remember, correctly answering the quote's movie and character will net you a taste of something special from our cellar! And no cheating! Till next time..."What's the matter, Danny? Never taken a shortcut before?"--???

Birthday Wishes

So on Friday we had a few people over to celebrate my wife's birthday. If I said how old she was she'd probably freak on me. She's 26 by the way. Come on, it's not like she ever reads my blog. So as she marches on towards 30, she wished for me to open a bottle of wine she picked out a few years ago.

While at Thames River Wine and Spirits a few years back we saw two bottles of Two Hands Shiraz. They were the 2004 Bella's Garden Barossa Valley and the 2004 Lily's Garden McClaren Vale. At the time I had heard rumblings about these fantastic wines, but had yet to see any reviews, so I was of no assistance in helping Katie choose which one she'd like. For some reason or another she settled on Lily's Garden. Of course the following month Wine Spectator gave an outstanding review to Bella's Garden and proclaimed it one of the top Australian shiraz'. But we love our Lily just fine. So Friday I opened it up for her as the night was waning down and passed Katie a glass, as well as sharing it with a few other people who would appreciate it.

The wine would have surely tasted terrific young, but now with four years on it , it had developed an interesting character. At first, the nose was an overpowering fruitiness. I'm talking red fruit like raspberries, not the dark stuff like currant or blackberry. And initially it was powerful on the tongue with the same fruit qualities, but as the wine breathed and rounded into form, it became dry and bitter. And as myself and Chad discussed this, I decided it wasn't a negative bitterness, but rather an enjoyable quality. To me the finish of this Shiraz was quite like a Cabernet. The bitterness reminded me slightly of pine needles.

This was our first serious attempt at aging a shiraz instead of drinking it right after purchase. I think it was successful, but it might have been interesting to open it up the year before and see if it would've been even a better balance of fruit with the age. I guess some things we'll just never know. We'll be back later this week with an overdue review of Dev's on Bank. We're also adding a new feature this week, I'll talk on a random movie quote from one my faves. You tell me the movie and the speaker and I'll make sure you get a chance at tasting something special from our cellar in the not so distant future. So, till next time..." Turbulence. Solar radiation heats the Earth's crust, warm air rises, cold air descends - turbulence. I, I don't like that."--???

"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."

South Fork Surprises

Word of advice, when visiting Long Island from the main land (i.e. Connecticut), try to make the trip for the weekend. We did a day trip, and I was spent! But, it was well worth it as Katie, Lori, Laura, Doug, and I all had an excellent time hitting three wineries on Saturday.

First up was Channing Daughters. The most interesting thing about this winery, and the other two for that fact, was that I went in with zero expectations. I had never tasted or have any strong knowledge of any of the stops. What I really enjoyed about Channing Daughters tasting room was the California feel of it. It reminded me of all the delicious times I've had in Napa, Sonoma, and also Oregon for that matter. The service was superb (Thanks Debbie!) and all our questions were answered throuoghly. The wine itself was surprisingly very good. To my palate, the wines came across as more European in taste then California. The whites reminded me of France, and the Reds of Italy. First we tasted three of their whites, the 2006 Scuttlehole Chardonnay, the 2006 Sauvignon, and the 2006 Vino Blanco. The Vino Blanco really stood above the others. This blend of Tocai Friulano (mostly grown in the Friulia region of Italy), Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Chardonnay was dry with a nice body and would be excellent food wine with seafood. Then we tried three reds, the 2006 Rosato Cabernet, the 2006 Rosso Fresco, and the 2006 Mudd (God I love that name for a wine!). My personal favorite was the Rosso Fresco. This blend of Merlot, Blaufrankisch (you geussed it, German!), Cab Sauv, and Dornfelder (another German grape) was loaded with spice, and I loved the aromas of smoked meat I was pulling out of it. Then we were fortunate enough to taste the Clones Chardonnay. This baby is a winner! It's a blend of their ten different Chardonnay clones. Quite simply, the closest thing to Burgundy I have tasted from America. Of course I brought a bottle home. Channing Daughters will definitely get a repeat visit from me in the springtime so I can taste some newer wines, especially since their production is so limited. Keep up the good work Channing Daughters!

Next was Duck Walk. While my compatriots enjoyed a lot of their wines (we tasted 15 of them) I was not impressed. The majority of them were too sweet for me or just lacking that dry style I like. Their Sauvignon Blanc was the only wine that really struck me as good. The others were all blah to me. Of course that is my palate and not yours. My other beef was the service. It was like feeding from a trough. Everyone lines up along the bar and they literally walk down the line pouring tastes of the same wine. If you arrive at the wrong time you start out with reds then go to desserts and finish with whites. There is no personal attention at all. That really bugged me. But, they definitely had a large range of wines for those looking to taste a large number of different wines.

Finally was Wolffer Estate Vineyards. This place narrowly surpassed Channing Daughters as my favorite of the day. We did have to wait quite a few minutes to sit and taste due a large crowd of NYC bimbos in front of us. They looked utterly foolish smoking their cigarettes and "tasting." Katie and I split their portfolio tasting to get a sip of everything top to bottom. Basically they make three levels of Chardonnay and three levels of Merlot, as well as a Cab Franc and a Late Harvest Chardonnay. Their entry levels, called La Ferme Martin, were good. The Chardonnay seemed a little weak in body to me, and the Merlot could be suitable as a table wine. Next is their Reserves. The Chardonnay was quite good, something I'd be willing to serve to any wine loving guest, and the Merlot could hold its own against mid-level producers from California. It was the Estate Selections that really surprised me. Both the Chard and Merlot were delicious. I would have loved to pair their Merlot with a nice piece of lamb, oh would it be perfect! And the Chardonnay was destined to go with scallops. It was the Cab Franc though, that really blew me away. It was the quality of wine IO would expect from California not New York. It was big and lush with some Cab Sauv and Merlot tossed in. It had a divine velvety finish that lasted and lasted. I plan to open our bottle with some nice steaks, once I figure out how to grill steak. I have to say, sitting outside and tasting at a table was a nice experience. And they have everyone taste that way, unlike Napa where you usually only sit down at private or VIP tastings.

In the end it was Wolffer and Channing Daughters that really sold me on New York wines. I'll have to head back soon to check out the North Fork, and of course stop by the South Fork again. Thanks again to Debbie at Channing Daughters and I hope you enjoy that New Hampshire foliage! Till next time..."I cook with wine; sometimes I even add it to the food."--W.C. Fields

Long Island Bound

Tomorrow Katie and I will be venturing off to Long Island with some friends to enjoy a few wineries. While the North Fork is packed with wineries pumping out the juice, we'll be heading to the South Fork, where the numbers are fewer, but I have heard good things about the quality. Look for a post on our tastes and travels on Sunday or Monday!

Boxed Wine Rollercoaster

The up and down journey of boxed Chardonnay continues. Just when I thought things were heading up, up and away, they plummeted down into darkness. Third on the docket of Chard's was the 2006 Banrock Station South Eastern Australia Chardonnay. This wine was in a higher price class ($23.99) and had many positive reviews on Al Gore's Internet (what? You mean he didn't invent it?). What a let down. It was overly herbaceous with flavors of rotten apples and plastic. I am not fictionalizing this at all. Absolutely horrible. I feel like I just wasted 63 words of good writing, and that includes the Al Gore quip. Don't buy it.

The final Chard for this round of testing was the 2005 Black Box Napa Valley. This wine came in with high expectations. Why? An even higher price ($24.99) and even more optimistic online reviews. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner! The Black Box is perfect in its role! At about 6 bucks and change a bottle, it is an extremely good value. The nose is simple and inviting fruit, but the palate, oh is it tasty. Loads of apple and a creaminess that I couldn't pin, but their website accurately describes as "toffee yeast." I would not be embarrassed to serve this wine to friends and family. After those long days at work, or just on a crisp fall autumn afternoon, this wine will do you right!

Look for a series on red wines in boxes sometime in the near future, as well as some notes on local dining. Till next time..."Wine gives great pleasure, and every pleasure is of itself a good."--Samuel Johnson

Box or Bottle?

Could that be the next big question after paper or plastic? Is box wine really the future? First, why did I venture over to that wall of boxed wine in the first place. As our budget seems to tighten more and more, I figured the value of boxed wine would be appealing. I also wanted a wine that could be opened and still be drinkable for more than a few days after opening. The box met both these criteria. Now understand, I am not talking Franzia boxed wine here, i am strictly evaluating newer, higher quality wines in boxes. Even the most expensive box wines retail at about $25 for 3 Liters, or four bottles. That works out to $6.25 a bottle or a buck and change per glass. Second, that air sealed bags with taps are terrific for keeping a wine fresh for longer periods of time. First I am looking into Chardonnays.

Leading off was the Washington Hills 2004 Washington State Chardonnay. I fell for one of the old tricks and bought it because of the point of sale tag declaring its good score from a wine publication. Retail was about $16. Disappointing would be the best way to describe this wine. The first taste of it almost had me dumping the whole 3 liters and calling it quits on the box experiment. It was overly fruity, not crisp enough, and way too sweet. Yuck! But I stayed strong and soldiered on. The next day I resorted to an old trick I picked up in salvaging bad white wines. Chill it, and kill it. Four ice cubes later, the Washington Hills, was crisper, less fruity, and a quick way to get tipsy. The rest of the box was drinkable with plenty of ice. My recommendation: don't buy it.

Second up was Hardy's 2006 Chardonnay from South Eastern Australia. A $17 retail worked out to similar prices as the Washington Hills, $4.25 a bottle, less than 75 cents a glass. The taste much better. No need for ice here either. Pale straw in color, with aromas of green apple, honey, and some alcohol. The palate was fresh with a a honey cream flavor, more green apple, and some butterscotch on the finish. This wine was a big improvement over the previous box, and assured that this trial would continue. My recommendation: give it a shot at your next get together or to keep in your fridge for the conclusion of those tough days at work.

Next post should roll in by the end of this week with two more Chardonnays that are being examined as we speak, I mean type. Till next time..."Read my Patriots blog at www.theday.com!"

Napa Redux

So on Tuesday of my trip, Mike and I once again found ourselves in Napa Valley. We began with a tour and tasting at Pine Ridge. Here on the East Coast I usually find their Chenin Blanc/Viognier blend or their Rutherford Cabernet. So tasting their entire line of Cabs and whites was a real pleasure. I actually bought a bottle of the Stag's Leap Cab, because while I used to think Rutherford Cabs were my favorites, the Stag's Leap ones really seem to be growing on me. Plus, I knew Katie would love it! Here's some free advice, when you vacation alone, always come back with good stuff for your wife! The tour of Pine Ridge's wine making operation and caves was outstanding and our host did an excellent job. We then shot across the Yountville Crossroad back to Highway 29. Here we stopped by Prager Winery and Port Works. Prager is unique in that they primarily focus on making Port, a fortified style of wine. This fortification with Brandy, results in a higher alcohol content and richer flavor. Try it once with a chocolate dessert and you'll be thanking me for the rest of your life. John Prager poured us all of their current releases and we were overwhelmed. Besides a bottle of 1977 Fonseca Port from Portugual, I have never tasted anything so outstanding. Many wineries churn out a port, but few specialize in it and create such spectacular results as Prager. We then headed north and stopped at Freemark Abbey. I'll make this one quick, we tasted a tone of wines (maybe 15?) and none really stood out. They were all good but at the same time, boring. Quick enough for ya? We were then off to what I was feeling would be the highlight of the trip, Schramsberg. In Calistoga, Jack and Jamie Davies have been producing sparkling wine (not champagne) from the former winery of one Jacob Schram (no not Ben Stiller's character in Keeping the Faith) since 1967. They are so unique in that most other sparkling wine producers in the valley are simply franchises of famous Champagne houses of France. And when I first tried a bottle of Schramsberg last year, I knew they were doing something special. Sparkling wines have always had a niche market due to weddings, anniversaries and various other celebrations. But good sparkling wine will be a special moment in and of itself. Schramsberg does that for me. Every time I taste their wines it feels special. The tour, led by a teacher (my kind of guy, works at a winery on weekends and summers, then teaches), was outstanding. We toured their extensive network of caves and riddling racks (where they still hand riddle all the bottles) and then finished with a tasting deep below the ground in an empty cavern. All their sparkling wines have something special and exciting about them, but I couldn't leave without a bottle of their two finest offerings, the J. Schram and the Reserve. Two decadent wines that will make two special days that much more memorable. As we drove down towards Calistoga I realized two things: 1. I was borderline drunk (bubbly does that to me) and B. I could feel a sinus headache creeping in. Needless to say by the time we reached Rombauer Vineyards I wasn't much in the mood to taste. But I soldiered on, and realized they made some outstanding Chardonnay. If you spot a bottle pick it up and give it a go. After that we did manage to find one more winery open, a small place called Milat. Here they make limited quantities of Cab, Merlot, Zin, Chard, Chenin Blanc, and a red table wine. All the wines were very good and affordable for the most part. Unfortunatley I had hit my quota of bottles to take home and was sticking to it. But it was also interesting to learn that Milat sells quite a few of their grapes to Silver Oak, who I mentioned in the last post tied in with Twomey. That tells you something about the quality of Milat's grapes!

Well, that wraps up the wine tasting from my California trip. Next on the agenda is a series on boxed wines and where they fit in our lives! Till next time...

Nicholas Angel: "Mr. Porter, what's your wine selection?"
Roy Porter: "Oh, we've got red... and, er... white?"
Nicholas Angel: "I'll have a pint of lager, please."

Sonoma and Napa, back to back

Once again my sincerest apologies to my few readers. I am late witha post again, big shocker. So we left off at Gary Farrell. After descending their insanely steep driveway, we shot back up Westside Road towards Healdsberg. We were hoping to stop by at Twomey. Twomey is run by the wonderful folks over in Napa at Silver Oak Cellars. At their Sonoma winery, they make a Napa Valley Merlot, a Russian River Pinot Noir, and a Napa valley Sauvignon Blanc. Of course we pull in and they are closed. Damn! So if you ever spot a bottle of Twomey at a local wine shop, please drop me a line so I can check it out! So we ventured backwards down Westside again to Arista. Mike had heard rumblings about their wines, and they were open till six, so we stopped by. The people at Arista, the friendliest, the wines, good but not earth shattering. I enjoyed their Pinots and they made an excellent Gewurztraminer, but nothing that wowed me. We ambled back into Healdsburg around five-ish and were thankful to find La Crema still pouring. Their wines were exactly as I remembered them from a wine dinner at Nicola's. The Sonoma appellation wines were blah, the Russian River ones were excellent! They are a true example of how sometimes a broader appellation, with more volume of production creates a so-so wine, while smaller volume, more specific region, and more careful winemaking, create a better wine. Of course those better wines also usually cost quite a bit more. We departed La Crema and returned to Rosenblum for some dessert wines, while my palate was just about shot, I did manage to enjoy their Syrah Port, and procured a bottle of Rose, a bottle of Maggie's Reserve Zinfandel, and the Port.

The next day we once again rose early to trek North from San Rafeal. This time we set our sights on Napa. And instead of the dull drive up through the southern mouth of the valley, Mike decided to take us (Christie included) over the Mayacamas Mountains from Sonoma. What a breathtaking, and sometimes stomach churning ride up and down those winding roads! We stopped first at a new winery called Alpha Omega. The tasting room was still under construction, but what great wines. Their winemaker comes from newton, one of my favorites, and their consultant is Michel Rolland, the world's foremost consultant and wine guru. Their Sauvignon Blanc was hands down my favorite of the trip, and their reds! Wow! I bought a bottle of the '03 and '04 Cabernets, as well as the '04 Proprietary Blend (Think Bordeaux style blend). I'll discuss shipping these wines home in a later post. After this unexpectedly good start we went North on Highway 29 to Corison Winery. Mike had sworn that they made the best Napa Cab he had ever had, after tasting I just might have to agree. I am hoping that their 2004 Kronos Vineyard that I picked up, will eveolve into what glimpses it gave me. A fantastic wine with supple tannins and delicious dark fruit flavors, it could rank up there as one of the best I've ever had if it matures just right. Cross your fingers! Next i had Mike stop at Beaulieau so we could taste the Clone 4 that they were pouring. It was $15 a glass, and the only tasting I paid for all week. The three of us shared it and were very pleased. The juice from the '97 Clone 4 we tasted makes up almost 60% of our 1997 Georges De Latour Private Reserve. So in essence it was a sneak peak at how our '97 was drinking. And I am thinking of opening soon! Maybe for the hard core wino's at the next wine tasting (October 26th!). We manged to wait almost an hour for two sandwiches at Oakville Grocery before ending up at Seqouia Grove. While their tasting room was being remodeled, we sipped under a tent surrounded by lush Sequoias. The wines, as from most reliable wineries, didn't dissapoint. The real treat was when the Assistant Winemaker Molly, an acquaintance of Mike, took us out back to taste the 2006 Cabernet from the tanks. Truly a treat, tasting these young Cabs in an overwhelming experience in flavor but enjoyable noe the less. People at Sequoia feel this might be the best they have ever made! Aftyer Sequoia Grove we had an appointment for a tour and tasting at Cakebread. I'll sum it up quickly, decent tour, strong portfolio of wines, but no real blockbusters. I did buy a bottle of the Rubyiat. This is a fascinating blend of Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Syrah. What a fun and different wine! A stop at St. Supery showed how delicious their wines always are, followed by a tasting at Honig. Honig makes one of my favorite Napa Valley Sauvignon Blancs, but we were able to taste their entire portfolio, and I was extremely happy afterwards, and it wasn't just the buzz. They make two additional Sauv Blancs I had never had, that made the Napa one look like child's play. The reds, phenomenal! I was thrilled to taste their Cabs and was just floored by their Stagecoach Vineyard Cab, if I didn't buy a bottle I knew I'd regret it forever. Not to mention the free postcards they gave me are a riot!

I know that was a long winded post, but hopefully informative. I'll have one more on our second day in Napa, and a wrap up of the whole trip. That should be followed by a new series of posts on, get this, wine in box! That's right, Jack ol' boy, the wine snob, is sipping Chardonnay from a box right now! I'll fill you in soon. Till next time..."Mark your calendars, clear the night, October 26th, Wine from A to Zin: Episode 3"

Sorry I'm late with Sonoma

I know, I know, I am a horrible person. I promised to write this post a week ago. I said stayed tuned for tomorrow's post on Sonoma. I apologize a thousand times to you. But until you become a teacher, you'll never understand just how busy the first week of school is. So on to Sonoma. Mike and I jaunted up there after a quick run to Starbucks. The first stop, downtown Healdsburg. Awesome little town, cute town square, beautifully renovated buildings, and like five or six tasting rooms within walking distance of downtown parking. Disadvantage, tasting rooms just aren't as cool, or for some reason as much fun, as being at the winery or vineyard. We ambled around the town center till Rosenblum was the first to open at 10:00.

Many of you may recognize the Rosenblum name. They have been making killer single vineyard Zins for years now. But you also might have tasted their non-vintage Vinter's Cuvee at my first A to Zin wine night. We ran the gamit of their wines before 10:45 and were simply amazed. Not only did they fail to produce a single "blah" wine, they had an awesome Rose for 6 bucks, and a Merlot I fell in love with! We decided to return at the end of the day to try their dessert and sweet wines.

Next we hustled up Dry creek Valley for an appointment at Ferrari-Carano. Stopping here is worth it for the gardens and architecture alone. The Caranos built a gorgeous Italian villa smack dab in the middle of Northern California, and pulled it off b-e-a-utifully. And while I knew most of the Carano story from the book, A Very Good Year, the tour was still informative and enjoyable. Their best wines, hands down, were their Italian varitals. Their Siena, a Super Tuscan style blend, was fabulous, and I brought home a bottle of their Sangiovese that knocked my socks off.

After our 2.5 hour stay at the Ferrai-Carano Palace, we hit a few quick spots in Dry Creek Valley. First off was Ridge's new tasting room in Lytton Springs. Their other location is in Santa Cruz, so I was excited about the proximity of this new watering hole. Unfortunately, I was somewhat disappointed. Ridge has a similar portfolio to Rosenblum, mostly Zin, but they also do some Cab and Petitie Syrah (which Rosenblum does phenomenally as well). Ridge's flavors just didn't jump out like Rosenblum's did. Next was Seghesio (pronounced sa-gay-c-o). Wow! Fabulous wines all around! Big shocker, they made great Zins from Sonoma area grapes. I also bought a bottle of their Omaggio. This is once again, a Super Tuscan type blend that was easily one of my favorite wines of the entire trip. It just had that special something that makes a wine dance on my tongue.

After these two, we headed south into the Russian River Valley, an area that is famous for Pinot Noir as opposed to Zinfandel. First up Rochioli. This winery is the New England Patriots of wineries, their waiting list for wine is at least seven years long and growing. The majority of their wines are small production and are only offered to the mailing list. If you decline to purchase wine for two years once on the list, you are scratched out and rights move on to the top of the waiting list. I signed up hoping that in seven years or so, I might actually have the money to buy more of their wine. I did come home with a bottle of their base offering Pinot, even though I was tempted by their outstanding Sauvignon Blanc. Farther down the road is Gary Farrell. Farrell is another legend in the Pinot world, much like Rochioli. However, I was nervous driving up their winding driveway because some advice. Someone had mentioned that since Farrell sold out the wines had been in decline. After tasting, Mike and I whole-heartedly disagreed. Their portfolio was perhaps the best of the trip. Everything we tasted we considered outstanding or good value. Their low end wines (still $30 or more a bottle) were excellent values in that price range. Their Pinots superb, their chardonnay, easily the best I have ever had. It is definitely worth a stop if you're in the area.

I think I'll break here and fill in the rest of the Sonoma details after a long weekend on Martha's Vineyard. Till next time..."Look I'll do it to myself. Nothin'!"--Malcolm (another inside joke for Mike) Keep laughin' buddy.