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!

Kris – Pinot Grigio – 2008 – Italy

Before we go any further, I must apologize for not posting this sooner - I have really good excuses moving, wedding planning, life in general,dog ate my homework!  We drank this wine a few weeks ago, and the memory of it's deliciousness has almost faded, must be time to buy another bottle!

Last night we had friends over for dinner. This was our first official “dinner party” in our new home. Mike and Shawnie joined us for cedar planked salmon, rice & vegetables, and thankfully, they drink wine. I say thankfully, as there seem to be fewer and fewer people of my generation who enjoy wine, and are willing to try something new in the wine genre!

I bought the Kris a few weeks ago, after it was recommended by some friends, and noticed it on several wine menus. It’s not overly expensive, $11.99, although you will find it marked up to $30 in some restaurants. I always recommend bringing your own wine to dinner, many restaurants allow it, and the corking fee is considerably cheaper than most of the over-priced wine on the menu.

The Kris label extols its contents as combining”modern technology and traditional winemaking artistry to handcraft an exquisite modern Italian expression of Pinot Grigio from the classic Delle Venezie region”. They are not far wrong, at least on the exquisite part, I know nothing about the region or the winemaking artistry! Shawnie exclaimed “Wow, this is the best white wine I have ever tried”, immediately after her first sip. The second and third sips just improved the fabulousness of this masterpiece white. Crisp, clean, with honey and lime, this was a delight to drink on what turned out to be a hot, sunny evening. The wine served as a perfect accompaniment to the smells of the salmon, grilling on the bbq with its mouthwatering marinade of soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger and garlic. You hungry yet?

In closing, this is another must try…Cheers!

Morgan Pinot Gris 2008

Let’s just start with the last line…buy it, try it, it’s delicious! That’s the simple part, describing this wine and where it came from (2008 Pinot Gris, Santa Lucia Highlands, R&D Franscioni Vineyards bottled by Morgan Winery), gets a little more complicated.

That’s not to say that the taste is overly complicated, or that this is overly difficult to drink. It is easy going, with a lot going on. Gooseberry hits hard, with the first sip. Many of you may not know what a gooseberry is, but take it from me, it’s there. This wine is definitely dry, with less of the crispness you find in a Pinot Grigio. The finish is softer, but still dry, with none of the hanging on you find in a Chardonnay. This can be drunk straight from the fridge, or even room temp, like I said, it is easy going.

I have heard many of my friends say they prefer reds, and I think I know why. The reds we drink are the Pinot’s, and Shiraz, or the blends. They are warm, full, comforting, with velvety finishes. And, that is great in the winter, when we need a little warming up from the inside.

In the summer, you need to get lighter, put away your warm sweater of a red wine, and get your summer wines out, that keep you fresh, cool and relaxed. I know, it’s tough, and that’s why I try not to put too much pressure on you, but eventually, you have to give it a try. Oh, and at $7.56 a bottle, this is a good way to get started.

Remember what I wrote at the beginning…Cheers!