2009 Drylands Sauvignon Blanc
I generally think of Sauvignon Blanc as a summer wine. Now that I've tried this wine, I'm seriously rethinking that notion. This wine has some serious floral notes going on, but it's got a strong caramel element that grounds it. We had it with mushroom chicken stroganoff and it was impeccable.
Seattle-ites: It's on sale right now at UVillage QFC for $7.99/bottle.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Not all Beaujolais are Nouveaux
2009 Paul Etienne Beaujolais-Villages
Beaujolais has a bad rap. We think of it only as the usually mediocre wines that we slug back at American Thanksgiving, ususally after we've drunk the good Pinot Noirs. This wine is a reminder that not all Beaujolais are created equal and we should be happy that's the case! Round, full, warm and delicious--that's what this wine is. At $10 a bottle, it's worth buying not just one but two cases.
Beaujolais has a bad rap. We think of it only as the usually mediocre wines that we slug back at American Thanksgiving, ususally after we've drunk the good Pinot Noirs. This wine is a reminder that not all Beaujolais are created equal and we should be happy that's the case! Round, full, warm and delicious--that's what this wine is. At $10 a bottle, it's worth buying not just one but two cases.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Definitely Domaine de Pajot
2009 Domaine de Pajot Les Quatre Cepages
It's taken almost 3 months to find a wine worthy of the Wonder Wine stamp o' approval and I'm happy to report that France has come through for us. Their futbol team might have been a disappointment (or embarassment, depending on your opinion) but this wine is fantastique. Crisp, bright and yet a little nutty. Goes well with just about any summer-esque fare. Best when served very cold.
It's taken almost 3 months to find a wine worthy of the Wonder Wine stamp o' approval and I'm happy to report that France has come through for us. Their futbol team might have been a disappointment (or embarassment, depending on your opinion) but this wine is fantastique. Crisp, bright and yet a little nutty. Goes well with just about any summer-esque fare. Best when served very cold.
Monday, May 10, 2010
A White Wine Fit for a Meadow
2008 Ross Andrew Meadow Oregon White Wine
For Mother's Day, we went wine tasting in Woodinville. We were on the prowl for the perfect white wine to go with the grilled prawn Caesar salad we planned to have for dinner. We found our winner at Ross Andrew's tasting room. At $16 a bottle, Meadow is more than most Wonder Wines. And worth every penny! A zippy blend of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Gewurztraminer, it's just about the most perfect sunny weather sipping wine you could hope to find. Since it's just the beginning of summer sipping here in the NW, you might as well just get a case. You won't be sorry.
Note: For those interested, other contenders for the "Mother's Day Perfect Pairing Prize" were Mark Ryan's Viognier (always delish and, as many of you know, the marketer in me loves this brand so much I blogged about it!), J Bookwalter's 2009 Couplet (they won big points for letting mums do their tasting for free on Sunday), and Novelty Hill/Januik's Rose.
For Mother's Day, we went wine tasting in Woodinville. We were on the prowl for the perfect white wine to go with the grilled prawn Caesar salad we planned to have for dinner. We found our winner at Ross Andrew's tasting room. At $16 a bottle, Meadow is more than most Wonder Wines. And worth every penny! A zippy blend of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Gewurztraminer, it's just about the most perfect sunny weather sipping wine you could hope to find. Since it's just the beginning of summer sipping here in the NW, you might as well just get a case. You won't be sorry.
Note: For those interested, other contenders for the "Mother's Day Perfect Pairing Prize" were Mark Ryan's Viognier (always delish and, as many of you know, the marketer in me loves this brand so much I blogged about it!), J Bookwalter's 2009 Couplet (they won big points for letting mums do their tasting for free on Sunday), and Novelty Hill/Januik's Rose.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Le Campuget est formidable!
2008 Le Campuget Syrah Viognier
Chateau de Campuget has been turning out price performers for the past decade. This one is no exception. It follows the current "red/white blend trend" and is stellar. Sometimes adding a white wine just makes for watery, ambivalent wine, but not so with this bottle. The Viognier softens the Syrah (which, let's be honest, can overwhelm a lot of lighter fare), yet adds complexity. It wouldn't be as good with salmon, but it'd otherwise be a great--and much lower cost--alternative to Pinot Noir.
Chateau de Campuget has been turning out price performers for the past decade. This one is no exception. It follows the current "red/white blend trend" and is stellar. Sometimes adding a white wine just makes for watery, ambivalent wine, but not so with this bottle. The Viognier softens the Syrah (which, let's be honest, can overwhelm a lot of lighter fare), yet adds complexity. It wouldn't be as good with salmon, but it'd otherwise be a great--and much lower cost--alternative to Pinot Noir.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Vortex of Yumminess
Townshend Vortex Red is a non-vintage (meaning grapes from a variety of years were used) Bordeaux blend (meaning it has Cabarnet Sauvignon, Merlot and the all-important Cabarnet Franc) swirled together until they collectively embody sipping goodness. This one comes from Washington's Columbia Valley where it can be hot but isn't quite as hot as, say, the Walla Walla area. This leads to grapes--and therefore wines--that are full, but wouldn't fall into most people's "great, big red" category. It'd do well with anything from grilled hamburgers and veggies to pasta salad.
Monday, April 19, 2010
King of a Sauvignon Blanc
2008 King Shag Sauvignon Blanc is the newest in my ever-growing list of recommendations that come from the soil of New Zealand's Marlborough region. This one is a little more grassy than some Sauvignon Blancs, but not annoyingly so. As the weather heats up and we dive into lighter fare such as fish and salads, this is definitely one to try. It's better than the Chalk Creek, almost as good as Monkey Bay or Oyster Bay. Do a taste test and see which one you like best! (You can get them all at Trader Joe's--how handy!)
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Riesling Rules!
2007 Pacific Rim Dry Riesling hails from Washington's Columbia Valley. They are self-proclaimed "Riesling zealots". It shows. Similar to Chateau St. Michelle's Dry Riesling, this one is dry and fruity, without being flowery. It's a super sipping wine (especially as it gets warmer) and is also a mighty fine match if you're grilling fish or having Asian.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
A Gem of a German Pinot Noir
2004 Anthony's Garage Winery Pinot Noir Trocken
Germany isn't really known for their Pinot Noir, but if this wine is an indication of what's possible, well, maybe they should be. For those of you who can read German--or anyone who likes to gaze at pictures of people looking to have a whole lot of fun plucking grapes from the vine and jauntily carrying them around in old-world back carriers--check out Anthony's blog...while sipping his lovely Pinot Noir, which, by the way, you can get at the Seattle Wine Outlet.
Germany isn't really known for their Pinot Noir, but if this wine is an indication of what's possible, well, maybe they should be. For those of you who can read German--or anyone who likes to gaze at pictures of people looking to have a whole lot of fun plucking grapes from the vine and jauntily carrying them around in old-world back carriers--check out Anthony's blog...while sipping his lovely Pinot Noir, which, by the way, you can get at the Seattle Wine Outlet.
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