Month: February 2017

Hi All! I hope you have had a fantastic week. I decided to break the rules and review a wine that is not as widely distributed in stores, but is a great Pinot Noir. My friends, Elizabeth and Bob, recommended the Left Coast Pinot Noir. I have enjoyed wine with these two folks a few times. Ok…a lot of times. They know what they’re talking about, but I’m not sure how well I listen. The wine I’m reviewing today is the 2014 Left Coast Cellars Cali’s Cuvee Pinot Noir, but might not be the exact Left Coast they suggested. (oops). What I heard mutated a bit from what they said. Odd choice of words, but I’m getting there. This wine is from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Oregon is known for their Pinot Noir and Willamette Valley is an area where some of the best Pinot Noir is made. This is a Cuvee, a blend, of Dijon, Pommard and Wädenswil which are Pinot Noir clones. Pinot Noir grapes are the oldest grape varieties and are, like other grapes, subject to mutation where a clone of the grape will then form. This Pinot has plum and cherry essence in the nose, but it mellows when you taste it. It isn’t too fruity at all, slightly bold at first taste, but still smooth enough for someone who doesn’t drink a lot of reds. There was a slight hint of molasses, but it really made the taste. This is a good wine to just drink on its own or with chicken or medium-flavored foods. I did enjoy this wine. Let’s face it, I enjoy most all wines. However, this is really a good drinking wine for folks looking for a medium and tasteful red. You can find it at Whole Foods for $24 per bottle. You can also find all natural foods, foods with no artificial color, flavor or preservatives. I just went in for the wine…and found a clone. Enjoy your weekend!

Hi All. I hope you’ve had a fantastic week and that your Valentines Day was spent with a person or people you love. Today is National Drink Wine Day! I thought that was every day that ended in “y”, but if we must drink it today then I will. I’m all about old and new traditions. The website is nationaldrinkwineday.org for reference. Let’s try a 2014 Chateau St. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon to celebrate. The nose was fruit forward so I was concerned it would taste too fruity. It really had a nice blend of currant and maybe plum against a slight cocoa taste. It was a medium Cab and lingered just a little on the tongue. I tried it with spaghetti and meatballs and it stood up pretty well. It wasn’t very oaky, so if you’re looking for a medium Cab then this would be a good choice. You can find it at most grocery stores for around $14.00 per bottle. Enjoy National Drink Wine Day…I will.

http://nationaldrinkwineday.org/

Hi All. I hope you’ve had a fantastic week. There is a saying that I appreciate and sometimes need to remind myself to live by. The saying is “Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”. You’re wondering if I’m about to get real here. I’m not. I’m bringing it all back to wine. I decided to step out of the norm and purchase a box wine. That’s right…I did not purchase wine in a glass bottle with a cork or even screw cap. I bought a carton of 2015 Black Box Chardonnay. Yes, it is very different to use the word “carton” when referring to the receptacle of my wine product. This particular Chardonnay had hints of melon and mango. It was a light to medium Chardonnay. Black Box’s description said that it had a long finish and had hints of oak. It didn’t have a long finish and just a very slight hint of oak, so I don’t really agree with their assessment there. I did try it with chicken, cheese and bread. It will need to be paired with milder items as it didn’t stand up well to a sharp or rich food. This is a pretty good Chardonnay if you’re just looking to drink a glass of it on its own or pair it with lighter foods. I compared it to a Kendall Jackson Chardonnay and, honestly, prefer the Kendall Jackson. However, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Court was in session and Judge Mental was presiding, but overall the defendant made a good case. You can find Black Box in most grocery stores. This was the 500ml box which is a three glass serving (or two-ish glasses if you’re me) and was $4.00. Have a great weekend!

Hello All – I hope everyone has had a great week. I’m reviewing the 2014 Terrazas Malbec. This is an Argentinian wine from the Las Compuertas and Paraje Altamira, Uco Valley in the Andes mountain range area. This has a very peppery start with a medium finish. This wine was fermented in oak barrels and you do taste a hint of that. The description says it is a velvety finish and I would agree. It goes well with sharp cheddar cheese, spicy foods and rich meats. Terrazas does not go well with Snickerdoodle cookies, but that was a wayward entry. My experiments are not always in a controlled setting. I enjoyed this wine and would recommend it. You can find in most grocery stores for around $20 per bottle. Enjoy the Super Bowl – or at least the food, commercials, and parties. Have a great weekend!