Wine Down Wednesday: Five Wise Meritage Blend

This wine is a blend of five of the noble red grapes and is a bold and complex wine.  It was unlike any wine I’ve had before, and it was lovely! All 5 grapes really bring something to the table in this wine.

I’ve mentioned before that World Market is one of my go-to places to buy wine, they always have great wines (with points and descriptions!) at reasonable prices.  It’s also in an order that easy to understand. Found this one in the “Bold and Complex” mini section – Love it!

Five Wise Meritage Blend – A Red Table Wine

Year: 2011
Grape Varietal: A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc
Region: Central Coast, CA
Tasting Notes: My first reaction was “holy crap, I’m drinking chocolate” and it was awesome.  Then the hints of tobacco and black fruit, such as plums and black cherries, hit me hard.  It’s a full bodied, rich wine, and has a seriously silky finish.  From the site: “You have the structure of the Cabernet, rounded out by the softness of the Merlot. Cab Franc adds complexity to the nose while the Malbec elevates the fruit and the Petit Verdot adds an inkiness to the color.”
What we might pair it with:  Beef, Lamb, Spicy food
Price: $8-$15 — World Market discount!
Comparable Wines:

• Panarroz Jumilla 2011 – $9.99
• The Dreaming Tree Crush 2011 – $14.99

Cheers!
Mads

 

Wine Down Wednesday: J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon

My sister introduced me to this wine before I learned to enjoy reds, and it’s quickly become a great go-to when I head to the store for a bottle to share with friends.  Cab Sauv is a pretty safe red when sharing with a crowd and you aren’t sure of what their tastes are.  The price ranges from $13-$20 depending on where you purchase and if you get a bottle discount for buying more than 6 or 12.  Not too bad for this great red!

J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon

Year: 2011
Grape Varietal: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 8% Petite Sirah, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Syrah
Region: Paso Robles, CA, USA
Tasting Notes: From J. Lohr “The Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon is red-purple in color with a bright hue at release. Ripe fruit aromas of black plum, blueberry and cherry mix with a bouquet of toasted pastry, anise, and vanilla from a year of barrel aging. Mature and round on the palate, the cool 2011 vintage has a high toned fruit signature and soft finish. –Steve Peck, Red Winemaker”
What we might pair it with:  Grilled beef served with grilled zucchini and squash, Spicy Italian sausage lasagna, dark chocolate
Comparable Wines: Paso Robles Cab Sauvs may not have the same complexity as the finest CA Cabs, but they are right up there with quality, structure, and richness.

• Eberle Cabernet Sauvignon – Paso Robles, CA (a bit pricey at $29)
• Grayson Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon – Paso Robles, CA ($8-$10)

Cheers!
Mads

Friday Faves: Memorial Day Weekend!

Memorial Day – The unofficial, official start of summer! A time to relax, reflect, and spend time with your friends and family!

Things on my list to do this weekend: Red, White, and Bubbles (all American of course!)

Red:

Slingshot Cabernet Sauvignon – $18-$23 – Napa Valley, CA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

White:

Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay – $50 (pricey, I know, but worth it!) – Napa Valley, CA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bubbles:

Ceja Vineyards Late Disgorged Sparkling Brut – $44 – Carneros (Napa), CA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers!

Mads

Wine Down Wednesday: Chateau Morrisette Hokie Bird Wine

Today’s Wine Down Wednesday is a tribute to a place that I hold near and dear to my heart.  On this 7th anniversary of a devastating event in Virginia Tech history, I am showcasing a wine that represents my alma mater.

As a Senior at the time, I truly believed my world was shattered and would never return to normal.  Eventually it did, but I will never forget that day, that week, and the friendships that grew stronger as a result of a traumatic event.  As many of my friends (Hokies and non-Hokies) can confirm for me, there are few things on this planet that mean more to me than Virginia Tech.

Chateau Morrisette, situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Southwest Virginia,  is a super popular winery for our Hokie Nation.  The winery is relatively close to school, and sells quite a few great quality Virginia wines.  Oh, and all of their branding is dog related, so of course I love it.  Their wine club is called The Kennel Club – I mean, come on! That’s adorable! They are holding a wine sale from April 18th-May 4th with up to 30% ALL wines! Get on that, ya’ll.

Chateau Morrisette Hokie Bird Red

Year: NV
Grape Varietal: A unique blend of Chambourcin, Cabernet, Merlot and Petit Verdot
Region:Virginia, USA
Tasting Notes: From the site: “Aroma: Fruity. Palate: Berries, subtle spices. Finish: Smooth. Off-dry, medium-bodied. ”
What we might pair it with: From the site: “Pair with roasted or grilled meats and light hors d’oeuvres.”
Price Point: $12.99
Comparable Wines: Try some other Chateau Morrisette Wines!

• Hokie Bird White – $12.99 – off-dry white wine
• Chateau Morrisette Vidal Blanc 2012 – $10.99 – dry white wine
• Chateau Morrisette Petit Verdot 2011 – $19.99 – dry red wine
• One of their most popular that is widely sold in VA – Chateau Morrisette Our Dog Blue – $10.99 – semi-sweet white wine

God Bless the Hokie Nation!  We did prevail.

Cheers,

Mads

 

 

April Celebrity Wine: Francis Ford Coppola

“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse”….this glass of Wine….thought Don Corleone, as he silently poured a glass of the Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection Claret…

The Godfather, The Outsiders, The Rainmaker…to name a few – Coppola is certainly best known for the many cult classics he’s directed. His talents in the vineyard (which started 35 years ago) are no less impressive than those on his film sets. Coppola has created an empire of varieties bottled in some of the coolest/cutest bottles we’ve seen. I want the bottles and I want his beret.

 

FC Reserve Collection:

Director’s Cut Collection:

 

 

Sofia Collection:

That’s a wrap!

Charlotte and Madeleine

Friday Faves: Recent Red Wines in My Life

For those who know me personally, you know that I mainline Sauvignon Blanc.  And for those that don’t, now you know.

Over the past few months, thanks to this wine blog, I have really expanded my palate and learned to love a good red.  I had all these opinions in my head about what I liked and what I didn’t….turns out I was very wrong.  I like the reds I didn’t think I liked, and for the reds that I thought I liked, it turns out they aren’t my favorites.  It’s amazing how much your opinion can change when you are well informed.  The more I know about the characteristics of varietals and regions, the more information I have to determine whether or not I’ll enjoy the wine.

Black Fruits, Red Fruits, Smoky, Baking Spice, Vanilla, Clove, and more– so many qualities of red wine that I never knew about.

Here are few reds that I’ve tried and loved over the past few months:

• 2011 Hey Mambo – A Sultry Red from The Other Guys

• 2011 Petite Petit – 85% Petite Sirah/15% Petite Verdot – Michael David Winery

• 2011 Raymond Merlot

• Los Dos Grenache Syrah

• Cabulous – Cab Sauv, Merlot, Cab Franc blend

• Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon

• Soul Sister Pinot Noir

A majority of these were purchased at World Market, or a local wine market.  I encourage you to go out, try a few and report back your thoughts!

Cheers!

Mads

Wine A-Z: D is for Decanting

Decanting is the term used to describe pouring wine into another clear, glass container. Oh, sure it looks fancy, but there are other (better & certainly more important) reasons why you should decant wine!

1. “Breathe my friend, breathe”

Red wine goes Benjamin Button on us, as helping it BREATHE often helps make it better when a wine is YOUNGER. Airing out a young, full-bodied red wine for an hour or so can help round out the flavor. Generally speaking, any red wine you get at a grocery store is going to be considered young. You definitely want to air out any wine that god-forbid has a screw top.

Older wines should only be decanted 30 minutes before drinking as too much oxygen can make it “fade”.

2. “Don’t want no junk”

Often for OLDER red wine, undesired sediments settle on the sides and at the bottom. To avoid this in your glass, leave the wine bottle upright overnight and pour the wine SLOWLY until you reach the point where you see the sediments at the neck of the bottle. It’s helpful to completely remove the foil wrapper to better see those nasties coming down. You can also use a light to help you see the sediment as it reaches the bottle neck.

 

Thanks WineFolly for all your wonderful graphics!

 

You need it.

 

Clearly sticking your hand in that decanter with a sponge and soap seems daunting. It is. Don’t do it. Your arm will surely get stuck. The soap residue won’t get fully rinsed out. Your wine is going to taste funky. The tragedy.

Clean your decanter with crushed ice, water, and salt. Apparently denture solution is good, but I just can’t bring myself to buying that just yet.

Cheers,

Charlotte

Wine Down Wednesday: Ca Montebello Sangue di Giuda

You know how I know I liked this bottle? I kept it after over a year…sitting there empty, as a reminder to always get it again. I haven’t gotten quite into the full swing of Spring, but it seems like this bottle might be a great way to kick start that soon.

Brought by one of my friends at a dinner party, this was the first Italian red semi-sparkling wines I’d tasted. This type of wine is literally named “Blood of Judas”; Icky name, delicious wine.

2011 Ca Montebello Sange di Giuda

• Year: 2011
• Grape Variety: Barbera & Bonarda/Croatina
• New World/Old World: Old
• Region: Lombardia, Italy (Northern region near Milan)
• Tasting Notes: Deep rose color. Light and slightly sweet with red fruit flavors. Just a tad fizziness, but don’t expect champagne bubbles. Bottom line, be careful, this could get dangerous on a warm weekend afternoon. Actually, I’m kidding, the alcohol content is quite low, so drink up (and remember to serve slightly chilled)!
• Pairing: Light dessert pastries or gelato, but if served with a light, mid-afternoon lunch, green salad with fruit and/or soft cheeses.
• Price Point: $14-$18
• Comparable Wines: Any other Sangue di Giuda!

Salute,

Charlotte

Wine Down Wednesday: The Crusher Grower’s Selection Petite Sirah

While I’m typically a white {wine} girl,  there are some days where I crave a deep red to spice up my night.  I was initially drawn to this Petite Sirah at World Market because of the name – how fun!  The price was also on point — this wine was $13.99 with my World Market Explorer account.  When wine shopping, I really like to find great, drinkable wines under $15. No use spending more if you can find something equally as tasty at a lower price point.  I must say, this randomly chosen Petite Sirah was absolutely delicious – and is one of my new favorites!

The Crusher Wines are from the Clarksburg, California appellation, making them a MUCH more affordable wine.  What people don’t realize is that Clarksburg is just 20 miles from Napa Valley, and has the same climate and terroir.  This up-and-coming wine region is certainly one to look out for!

The Crusher Grower’s Selection Petite Sirah

Year: 2011
Grape Varietal: 76% Petite Sirah, 13% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Tinto Cao, 2% Souza and 2% Touriga Nacional
New World/Old World: New
Region: Clarksburg, California, USA
Tasting Notes: Inky in color. Initial aromas of blackberries and violets.  Black fruit flavors- blackberry, plum, and black cherry – dominate the palate, while more subtle notes of vanilla and oak linger through the finish.  This is a silky smooth, yet complex wine that can be drank alone or paired with food.
What we might pair it with: Rack of Lamb, Mushroom Risotto, Olive Tapenade on a fresh baguette
Price Point: $13-$18
Comparable Wines:

• Bogle Vineyards Petite Sirah 2011 – $9
• Spellbound Winery Petite Sirah  2010 – $13-$15
• J. Lohr Petite Sirah 2008 – $20
• Stag’s Leap Petite Sirah 2011 – $45

Cheers!

Madeleine

Friday Faves: Temecula

This weekend, I’m heading down to San Diego to visit my old roommate who made a wise choice to move from the DC area to California!  Very much looking forward to spending the weekend in SoCal (is that what the cool people say? No? okay, cool).

On Saturday, we plan to spend the day in Temecula, Southern California’s wine country! Needless to say, I’m very excited! Here are some of the places that are on a good, ambiance-friendly/not too packed tasting room list – also taking suggestions from anyone that has been there!

• South Coast Winery
  • Architecture and interior – an inviting lodge style interior with a mission-inspired exterior.
  • Landscaping – flowering gardens, fountains, waterfall.
  • Dining – a full service restaurant. We suggest breakfast before heading to the tasting rooms.
• Tesoro Winery
  • Interior and ambiance – cozy and friendly tasting room in Temecula’s Old Town. Tuscan interior design.
    
• Mt. Palomar Winery
  • Architecture – Italian exterior and interior. Very well done.
  • Landscaping – outstanding with gardens, trees, waterfall, fountains, art, multiple and interesting picnic sites and outside tasting bar.
  • Deli – no food from off-site so buy your lunch here and enjoy the many different picnic sites on the property.
• Palumbo Family Winery
  • Interior ambiance – quaint family winery with an intimate tasting room.

These also look super cute!

• Briar Rose Winery
  

  Seriously with the cuteness?

• Villa de Calabro

Have a wonderful weekend! Cheers!