Author: Stephanie

Hi All! I hope you’ve had an excellent week. My friend, Bob, wanted an opinion on wine in cans. Well I’ve conducted research on one sample. I purchased the 2015 Underwood Pinot Noir a few weeks ago, but hadn’t yet tried it. I know the year because it’s stamped on the bottom of the can. I can appreciate that, but was really hoping to see the “Born On” date. I popped the top and tried to drink it from the can. It wasn’t long before I poured it into a glass. I might have grown up in Lubbock, Texas and, allegedly, tried beer from a beer bong, but I just can’t drink wine from a can. It is a light Pinot Noir with a slight sulfur taste, but with a hint of fruit and chocolate. Believe it or not, that combination, and its subtlety, worked pretty well. It wasn’t a heavy Pinot and was a pretty good wine to drink by itself. I don’t always drink wine but, when I do, I’m going to drink it from a can. You can get this can of wine at Total Wines for close to $5 per can. Enjoy your weekend!

Hi All – I hope you have had a great week. Oak barrels are expensive and, oftentimes, are sold used from vineyards to distilleries. However, there has been a trend in the last couple of years to ferment wine in whiskey or bourbon barrels. This may not be for the full fermentation period, but at least part of it. In the spirit of spirits, I decided to give one of these wines a try. I purchased a 2014 Cooper & Thief Cellarmasters Red Wine Blend. This is combination of Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and other red blends. I detected maple syrup, vanilla and a slight hint of anise on the nose. Hey I get “on the nose” sounds bourgeoisie but it is what it is. I also tasted the vanilla and yes there is an ending of bourbon that lingers slightly. Cooper & Thief says this is a jammy wine and I did get an initial impression of jam. With maple syrup, vanilla and jam, it’s like I had breakfast out of a bottle. I tried it with a sharp cheese and it complimented it fairly well. I would not drink it by itself as it really needs a strong pairing. The alcohol content on this particular wine is 17% – which I didn’t know when I had the second glass in the name of science. I might recommend this wine if you’re eating a sharp pairing with it. I am not sure I’d recommend it for the $25.49 it cost unless you pair it with the right foods and at least two glasses of water. I like wine for sipping’s sake, but not getting hammered’s sake. Have a great Memorial Day weekend and take some time to spend it with family and friends. As importantly, remember those who lost their lives to protect us all.

Hi All! I hope you’re having a great week. It’s been a bit of a long week for me (thank you to the ridiculous hackers who create Ransomware – you suck), but it always ends on a high note when I can wind down toward the weekend with a good Chardonnay. I tried the 2014 Simi Chardonnay – Sonoma County. Simi says that this wine has notes of pineapple, peach, pear and green apple. I did taste the slight hint of green apple, vanilla and peach and did also note the light butter and a hint of oak. Simi also says that they incorporate hazelnut, nutmeg, and smoky bacon characteristics. I did not taste bacon at all which is too bad – bacon and Chardonnay is a party. I did enjoy this wine and would recommend it. It is great for drinking with fish or chicken or on its own while sitting on the patio enjoying the wind, hail, lightening, or whatever weather pattern comes your way. You can find it at most grocery stores for around $17-$18 per bottle. Oh and RIP Chris Cornell – great musician. Enjoy your weekend and be safe from all weather or hacker-related issues!!

Hi All. I hope you have had an excellent week. I am going to provide a review of the 2014 Matua Sauvignon Blanc. Matua produced New Zealand’s first Sauvignon Blanc in 1974. Marlborough is a region in New Zealand known for its Sauvignon Blanc. Matua sources all of its Sauvignon Blanc grapes from Marlborough. They state this varietal tastes of sage, citrus and mint. I did taste slight mint, but I really tasted more celery than citrus. I actually counted it as a serving of vegetables. ?. Like most Sauvignon Blancs, this is a light and dry wine. It could stand up to a salad, a lighter seafood dish or just on its own.  This was a good recommendation from one of my Facebook group followers for around $11.00 per bottle. Have a great week and weekend!

Hi All. I hope you have had a great weekend and survived whatever weather you encountered. I think this particular wine is fitting given it is made up of four different grapes. This represents the four different weather patterns you might see in a given day in Texas. The 2013 Ferrari-Carano Siena Sonoma County Red Wine was a suggestion from my friend, Stayce.  It is a blend of Sangiovese, Malbec, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. The label states you will encounter hints of cherry and cola. I did taste the cherry and, yes, a slight hint of cola. I even caught an essence of spice – maybe cinnamon or nutmeg. I liked this wine because the cherry wasn’t too fruitful. I know I might have thrown you off with the cola reference, but it is very faint and blends nicely. Think Slurpee, only better and with antioxidants. I don’t know that it would stand up very well to steak or a heartier meal, but is just a good red drinking wine. You can find it at most grocery stores for around $19 to $20 per bottle. Enjoy your week!

Hi All! I hope you have had an excellent week and weekend. I’m going to step out from blogging about drinking wine. I’m going to blog about growing the grapes that make the wine. My friends, Danna and John, started a vineyard in Anna, Texas. John and Danna have taken courses and done a lot of study on growing grapes. They also had their soil tested to ensure it could grow grapes. They planted 408 Syrah grapevines and I had the opportunity to help plant over Easter weekend. We planted each grapevine into 18 inch pre-dug holes and then slowly pulled them to the surface so the roots could then point downward. It was a time-consuming effort for sure and one that takes a lot of patience. I barely have enough patience to let a wine decant, so this was a struggle. However, I had a good time planting with some very good people. I even encountered a small tarantula and only uttered a mild expletive or two as I used my NFL draft-worthy quickness to jump out of the way. My speed and agility are only at that level in the midst of a large arachnid presence or in the midst of pouring a great wine. I can’t wait for when those grapevines produce their first harvest. I’ll keep you all posted on the progress. I look forward to it and wish the best of luck to Danna and John of Sister Grove Winery!

Hi All! One more day until the weekend and a great couple of days of sunshine here in D/FW. I was trolling the wine aisle at Kroger (don’t judge) and came upon the  2015 Thor’s Well Devil’s Churn Pinot Noir from Oregon. The winery was named after Thor’s Well, which is a part of Cape Perpetua, a headland that extends out into the Pacific Ocean. It is located off of Oregon’s coast. Jets of water are forced into the air from the power of the ocean tide and waves at Thor’s Well. That was enough back story for me to buy this wine. Thor’s Well is one of God’s natural gifts and is really exciting to see (at least on video). Thor’s Well, the Pinot Noir, is not so exciting to taste. You smell notes of a berry jam, but that doesn’t really depict the taste. There was a slight sulfur and mineral taste to this wine and then…not a lot after that. I tried it with salty, rich, sweet and even mild foods, but nothing really worked. I was somewhat disappointed by this wine after having witnessed a video of its namesake. Perhaps the name should be Thor’s Shallow Ditch because it didn’t have a lot of depth. I would recommend going to see Thor’s Well, but not sure I’d recommend drinking Thor’s Well wine. If you are interested, you can find it for approximately $17 per bottle. Have a great rest of the week and weekend!

http://www.amazingplacesonearth.com/thors-well-usa/

Hi All! I hope you have had a great week. This week has included both raging storms and beautiful weather. I’m a native Texan, so I just expect the unexpected for Spring in Texas. I try to take the guesswork out of wine, so that’s my contribution to even out the roller coaster of life. I am going to review a wine not as easily found as some of the other wines I’ve presented. This is the 2011 iL Roverone Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico. This Amarone is a blend of three grapes from Italy’s northeast region, also known as the Veneto region. Valpolicella is an area within the Veneto region. The blend consists, primarily, of the Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes. These grapes are partially dried which is part of the method for making an Amarone. My friend, Tammy, received this bottle as a gift and wanted to share it and review it. I suggested we consume it on her birthday. Yes..this is the gift she received that we would consume on her birthday. Hey, I don’t claim to be a great friend, but a friend with whom you can drink wine. We tasted the dark cherry that they described in the label, but she and I noted hints of smoke and tobacco and then a relatively bold finish. It didn’t linger too long though. Five of us ladies enjoyed the bottle with a good Italian meal and that kind of great company always leads to a good review. I would recommend this wine, but note that it isn’t found in most grocery stores within the US. You can find it by going to wine-searcher.com where it will show places you can purchase it. The average price is just over $60 per bottle. Enjoy the rest of your week!

Hi All! I hope you have had a few great weeks. It’s been a while, but I’m glad I’m back. It is starting to get warmer here in D/FW, so we need to talk about cooler wines. I had a Sauvignon Blanc which is not a staple for me. This is a lighter white wine and is typically less sweet than a Pinot Grigio. Sauvignon Blanc is made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape originating from the Bordeaux region of France. They do also grow these grapes in the United States, New Zealand or Australia. I kept close to my U.S. homeland, so chose the 2014 Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley. Napa Valley is my true motherland. The Emmolo had a light start, but did have a longer finish than I would imagine and was tart toward the end. It had hints of grass, melon and peach even as a drier wine. The Emmolo marketers say it “calls to mind a first summer rain..”..uh…sure. Nonetheless, I did enjoy this wine for a Sauvignon Blanc. You can find it at most grocery stores for around $19 – $20 per bottle. I hope you have a great rest of the week and can “call to mind your first summer rain”..whatever that means.

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!