Firestone Santa Ynez Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2010

I have been chatting idly with assorted people of late, well, naturally...if you know me, you know I can be a talker...it's a double edged flaw!  Mostly, when the subject of wine comes up, I become quite interested, I want to know what people are drinking, what interests them when they shop for wine, are they being adventurous, or staying with the same old, same old.  Add to this, that, while most winters I switch to reds, this winter, I have stuck mostly with whites...sauvignon blanc being the most common.  I do love the combination of crisp and fruit.  Not too sweet, not too dry...it's just what's needed.  I digress...

Recently, I was chatting with a co-worker, and she mentioned that she drinks mostly reislings.  While reislings are great for certain dishes, there is definitely a time to move on...and this post is for that co-worker!  You see, I want to share the adventure that is wine...with everyone.  And this is a wine to move onto, under $15, easy to drink, and it works well with cheese, fish, chicken or fruit. I prefer cheese.

Let me take a moment to tell you about the cheese...Heber Valley Artisan Cheese Snake Creek Sharp...er...CRAZY GOOD!  Just the right amount of dry, crumbly-ness with a slight fresh kick...how do they do that?

Back to the wine, the label reads "...passion fruit, lime zest, grapefruit and newly cut grass."  Aside from the the lime zest, I just don't get it.  On first whiff, I got a gentle smokiness, with definite oakiness, and the lime zest.  As it breathes in my glass (wine + oxygen = breathing) the wine has developed some grapefruit-ness.  I have no clue what passion fruit tastes like, so I can't tell you about that.

Bright, crisp, fresh = YES!  This wine is a standout in the crowd that is sauvignon blanc's.  I will buy more and probably look for other Firestone wines, as this one is a rather enjoyable.  I say "Buy some!", and...

Cheers!

Les Jamelles Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Les Jamelles Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

It’s been some time since we have discussed the French.  Pondering the wine shelves today I was drawn to something a little more traditional, a Cabernet Sauvignon.  As usual, I picked the wine according to price and presentation (label, bottle, etc).  This one has it in spades, beautifully classic presentation and, at around $8 a bottle, the price is perfect.

 

 

It’s not hard to drink either.  The wine has enough character and complexity to make it pleasing to drink alone, however, there is not so much to it that it fights the food you want to pair it with.  By this, I mean that you smell the blackcurrent, raspberry and a hint of cedar, but once you roll it around in your mouth, you find it’s easy going, rather like me!  It’s not heavy on the tannin, and just dry enough to pair nicely with red meat, and soft enough to pair with pork.

I prepared some filet mignon from Harmons, served with a red wine reduction, steamed asparagus and sour cream & cheddar mashed potatoes.  Tony was quite silent as he ate, and sipped his wine, interspersed with the occasional “hmm”, and “that’s what a steak is supposed to be”.  I’m hoping the wine will go nicely with the raspberry tart I bought for dessert…yum!

I recommend stocking up for the winter with this one.  It will keep nicely, and it will be fabulous to keep on hand for when you need a dependable red. 

Cheers!

The Hermit Crab

Great name, great wine!  This is a Viognier Marsanne blend from South Australia, 2009 vintage.  It really is quite amazing, and Wine Spectator gave it 90 points.  I knew nothing of that when I bought it, though, it was all about the name, how could I possibly resist?

My first bottle was enjoyed with my BFF, Nicole at The Oyster Bar (ww.gastronomyinc.com).  We had one of the specials, it was fish, and although I cannot remember what kind of fish, I do remember both of us marveling at the wine.  It was smooth, crisp without being too dry, and delivered exactly the right amount of fruit and honey in perfect combination.

That experience made me want more, so I bought two more bottles (under $15, of course!).  Tony and I shared a bottle on Saturday night with some macadamia crusted tilapia, potatoes au gratin and asparagus.  Yes, it was still amazing, although it seemed a little different from what I remembered.  Now, it came across with more citrus flavors, and the same crisp, refreshing finish. 

I won’t bore with you with too many details from the label (they discuss the vineyard more than the wine), but I will STRONGLY recommend that you run right out, NOW, and buy yourself a few bottles.  I think it’s worth at least $100 investment from your summer entertaining budget.  Your friends will thank you, however, you may want to fib & tell them it’s the last bottle, or you’ll never get rid of them!

Whether it’s a fun label, an interesting bottle or a weird name, your wine purchase is your decision...don’t take it too seriously, and enjoy the buying and drinking experience.

Cheers!

Malbec – Valle Perdido – 2007

Ah, Malbec, how I love thy smooth, full flavor, and thy long, velvety finish. Yes, this is how much I love Malbec, and you will too! And, there is no need to hesitate when buying a Malbec, as I have had very few bad ones, and this too is another great example.


From Patagonia, Argentina (who knew you could get more than sweaters from Patagonia???), this wine is very easy going, although I do recommend you let it breath for 15 to 20 minutes. What to serve? Any red meat dish¸or red sauce (lamb, beef, red clam sauce, etc). In fact, it would also be a great accompaniment to dark chocolate, or cheese (I am enjoying some Dubliner with it, as I write).

This Malbec tempts with a fruity bouquet, leads you to edge with blackberry and smoke, and climaxes with a soft velvety finish, leaving you wanting more, and more! I know, I just mentioned the “c” word, but it really is that good! For just $9.99, it’s worth picking up a few bottles, for occasions like tonight, cooking a last minute juicy steak on the grill (it’s finally warm enough to grill outside)¸ looking for the perfect bottle of wine, and this is it.

Cheers!

Reserve Perrin – Cotes Du Rhone – 2007

The label of this wine has a lot of information that is almost meaningless to me – appellation Cotes Du Rhone controlee, and lots more French, that all those French language classes in school did not prepare me for. Well, you know me, my main interest is what is inside the bottle, not the outside!

I bought this wine because I noticed I have been drinking wine mostly from Australia & South America, and I promised to be diverse in my posts. How did I ever forget France? Ok, so yeah, it may have something to do with the fact that they insist on writing in French on their label, it makes it hard to understand what I’m buying. Thankfully, I often buy wine cause I like the label, and the font on this label is pretty darn cool. I know, not really scientific, or even something a sommelier would do, but it works for me.

Oh, and does it work for me – the wine is really, really good. The label on the back of the bottle offers a little more guidance, that I can understand, mostly cause it’s written in English (thank God!). It explains that this is a blend (most French wines are, it’s the appellation thing from the front of the label) of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre & Cinsault grapes. The result is an incredibly easy to drink wine, with exactly the peppery aromas & black cherry flavors the label promises.

I do want to mention that I got a great wine book for my birthday last year, and I took a look for Cotes du Rhone. Chateau de Beaucastel (the producer of this wine) is included, and the book says great things about the wines. Interestingly, the book mentions a Cotes du Rhone bottled by this producer that I have not yet written about, Coudoulet de Beaucastel, a wine we have drunk more than once (it’s really great), and I have two bottles laid up to see what they will be like in a year or two. I haven’t included it due to the price, it’s over the $15 limit (unless you find it on sale!). But, guess what, I think the Cotes du Rhone I am drinking right now is, in fact, the more expensive Coudoulet de Beaucastel, under a different label. Yeah, $9.99 for a great bottle of wine.

And the food, what did I serve? Mustard rubbed roast beef, medium rare. It was a good match.

Cheers!

The Stump Jump – 2008 – d’Arenberg, South Australia

It was the name that made me stop to take a look at the label, and I was not surprised to find it originated in Southern Australia (just Australia, to be precise). Wines from Australia are amongst the most common in liquor stores today, second only to American wines. And, whilst the names can be a little unusual (Stump Jump?), the blending of different varietals may be more traditional that you might think. This particular wine is a blend of Grenache, Shiraz & Mourvedre.


Ok, back to the name, Stump Jump. The label explains that a Stump Jump is a plough of Australian invention, designed to “jump” over Eucalyptus stumps, providing a more efficient means for a ploughshare to get their work done.

Wine Spectator gave it 90 points, and declared it a “Best Value”…we shall see!

The first sip was a surprise – a somewhat spicy, almost snappy wine – not the fruitiness I was expecting from an Australian wine. Although there is a snap, it is not tart enough to leave that sharp, tannin edge in the mouth. As I sip my second glass, I can taste how the wine has developed into a softer, fuller finish that demands attention, or at least, another sip! Tony took a sip of my second glass, and described it has having mellowed out.

This is a wine that is definitely worth buying a case of (David B – go buy me a case, I will pick it up next time I am in Cali, I think I deserve it by now!), and it would be great to see how it develops over time. OK, so, maybe not a case, but at least three bottles, one to drink now, one in six months, and another in a year.

What did we serve with it? Mustard crusted roast beef, with mushroom gravy (older versions of Better Home & Garden Cookbook will have this recipe). Make sure to cook the beef only to rare, then wrap in tinfoil, it should never be done more than medium rare (you will ruin the beef and the wine!). Serve with roast potatoes, or boiled, buttered potatoes, mustard carrots and green beans.

At $9.99 a bottle, this wine is sure to please – Cheers!

Ruffino Chianti – 2008 – Italy

Since we have tasted so many wines from overseas, I decided it was time for an Italian red, and since I just sampled an Italian white (Kris), now seemed like a good time. Sunday night is “Sit Down Dinner” night at my house, and I always try to get a roast or something resembling a roast on the table. This week it was rib eye steaks from Costco (great deal, all meat should be purchased at Costco, if you have room to freeze, and a plan to cook it soon!)

The label does not have any recommendations as to what to serve with the wine, but I would recommend some kind of pasta dish, with a red sauce, something typically Italian. That said, it is a great accompaniment to the steak – especially if you like your steak rare to medium rare!

This wine is much lighter, both in color and texture, than some of the Pinot’s and Shiraz’ we have been drinking lately. And that just makes it easier to drink with a perfectly clean finish, a touch of tannin, and blackberries, just to keep things interesting. As Tony said, it is indeed a very drinkable wine.

Drink up, enjoy, and cut yourself another piece of steak! At a mere $8.99 a bottle (in Utah), the wine is cheaper than the Costco steaks, so you should probably buy at least two bottles, one for now, and one for six months from now.



Cheers!