Month: September 2016

Hi All. I hope everyone had a great weekend. I tried a 2014 Chloe Pinot Grigio last night. It had tastes of peach and melon. I enjoyed it as a lighter wine. It would be a great afternoon-on-the-patio wine with friends. You could pair it with a salad or lighter foods. You can find it at Kroger, Market Street or Total Wines for around $14 per bottle. Highs in the 80s this week, so grab a bottle and sit on the back porch and enjoy!!

Part II of 2014 Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay – I didn’t like it much better this evening after more chillin’..by it and me. It mellowed a little, but was still sharp on the tongue. I went to their website and found this description: “The 2014 Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay from Sonoma County has superior lots of wine from our vineyards in Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley and Carneros. This full-bodied yet refreshing Chardonnay boasts aromas of lemon, pear, green apple, orange blossom, lychee and peach perfectly balanced by flavors of Meyer lemon, vanilla and graham with a floral finish.” It’s a woman! It is trying to be and do too much. No wonder it’s sharp on the tongue. You can find it for $21.99 at Target, but let it get some rest first.

Hi All. I hope everyone had a great weekend…and Monday. I’m going to present a Chardonnay tonight as an alternative to the recent reds. I tried a 2014 Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay, Sonoma County. I have had that brand of Chardonnay in the past and enjoyed it, but I hadn’t tried this particular year. I hadn’t chilled it very much when I poured it. When I first tasted it, I got a strong taste of pepper of all things. I hadn’t ever had a Chardonnay with a peppery taste. I thought my palette was off, so had my mom try it as well without telling her my thoughts (I’m very scientific, but without a solid knowledge of anything really scientific). She stated that it had a peppery taste too. It had an essence of slight fruit, but that’s it. I didn’t taste a lot of oak even though it was fermented in oak barrels. I tried it with bread and it was still pretty sharp. I then had a piece of Swiss cheese and it mellowed it a bit. “Open the bottle with an open mind when it comes to all wine” as I say…just now when I said it. So, here’s the plan…. I am going to let it chill a bit more and then will present a Part Two posting to this tomorrow night. Stay tuned.

Happy Monday! Yesterday was a somber day, but I hope everyone had a great weekend with friends, family and football. Those times are what really count in this world. I’m going to review the 2012 Murphy-Goode Single Deck Cabernet Sauvignon, California. I had it at dinner Friday night and really enjoyed it. It isn’t a bold Cabernet (which I typically like a lot), but has a smooth oak essence. It is also not too fruity. I had it with salmon and thought it complimented it well. Yes, that’s right..I drank a red wine with fish..which is acceptable. It’s all about the pairing, not about the judgment and staring. I recommend it. It is conservatively priced between $11 to $15 and you can find it in Kroger or Tom Thumb. I’ll let you in on a little secret…I start with the lower-end price range on a restaurant wine menu and typically don’t have to work my way that far up to find a great wine. I’m wine-rich, yet cash poor. Have a great week!

 

Hello Everyone!  I joined some friends Friday night for pizza and wine. Always a good time. I tried a 2012 Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a medium-bodied wine with a combination of blackberry and maybe some cherry tones to it. It wasn’t a very high tannin Cabernet. Overall a good Cabernet if you like a slightly fruity undertone. You can find it at Total Wines for about $16 per bottle. Have a great week!