6 March 2019 2013 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay

2013 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay

March 6, 2019 By

I was at a beach side resort looking through the casual restaurant’s wine list and saw this wine that I hadn’t had in a while so decided to order it, although I’m not typically a Chardonnay fan…unless it’s old and French! It was just lovely on a warm night and not a buttery/oaky bomb, which is always appreciated. Best part – it’s $12 retail back in the USA!

Penfolds is one of the most well-known wine producers in Australian and helped set the landscape of fine Australian wine. It makes wines of all price points, both red and white.

Looks: Straw yellow in the glass

Smell: Pineapple and citrus

Taste: Ripe apple, peach, pear, pineapple and a little lime on the finish

Texture and Finish: Medium-bodied, creamy texture, nice level of acidity

Pairings: Seafood, fish, roast chicken, light creamy pasta

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): 100% Chardonnay

Region: South Australia

Price: $12

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Australia, Chardonnay, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
30 January 2019 2017 Gulp Hablo Garnacha

2017 Gulp Hablo Garnacha

January 30, 2019 By

I’m a fan of visiting boutique wine shops where professional advice leads to finding bottles that are gems. This is the case when I visit Amanti Vino in Morristown or Montclair, NJ (https://www.amantivino.com). Proprietor Sharon Sevrens has made recommendations over the years on bottles I wouldn’t have otherwise tried, always with great results. This time, she pointed me in the direction of this value-priced Grenache from Castilla La Mancha, Spain that was fantastic!   

This is a fun, bright, mouth-watering, juicy Grenache from Spain that’s perfect for Tuesday pizza night or outdoor BBQs. Won’t break the bank at around $12 but it drinks much better than bottles in that price range I’ve had of late. This wine is made by natural-wine star winemaker Juan-Antonio Ponce and is certified biodynamic.

Comes in a one liter bottle.

Looks: bright red in the glass

Smell: Bright red berries with notes of violets

Taste: Tart red berries/fruit with a bit of earthiness

Texture and Finish: Light-bodied, great acidity

Pairings: Beef/lamb tacos, pizza, antipasto, charcuterie plate

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 100% Grenache

Region: Castilla La Mancha, Spain

Price: $12

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Grenache, Red Wine, Spain, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

2013 Alba Vineyard Cabernet Franc Heritage

January 23, 2019 By

About Alba Vineyard

Alba Vineyard (www.albavineyard.com) is a 93-acre estate nestled in the rolling hills of Warren County, on the north side of the Musconetcong river valley, a tributary of the Delaware River. Alba is a part of the Warren Hills AVA and is situated in the central New Jersey town of Milford.

I’ve written about Alba Vineyard and its beautiful winery and tasting room in prior articles. The place is magical and I highly-recommend a visit, in the summer for the gorgeous courtyard where one can enjoy a bottle while listening to music and munching on food prepared by local restaurants, or in the colder months for a sampling of the wines in the warm and cozy tasting room.

Looks: Inky purple-red in the glass

Smell: Dark fruit with some smoky notes

Taste: Rich flavors of dark raspberries with some vanilla and mocha notes

Texture and Finish: Full-bodied, silky mouth-feel, medium finish

Pairings: Beef, lamb, venison, rich tomato sauce-based dishes

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 100% Cabernet Franc

Region: Warren County, NJ, USA

Price: $40

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Cabernet Franc, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

2014 Dirty & Rowdy Shake Ridge Ranch Mourvedre

January 16, 2019 By

About Dirty & Rowdy

The Dirty (Hardy and Kate Wallace) and Rowdy (Matt and Amy Richardson) families came together for a simple purpose – make wines that they actually want to drink. In 2010, they did just that when they formed a small family partnership based in Sonoma, Dirty & Rowdy Family Winery (www.dirtyandrowdy.com), that sources fruit from the highest quality northern California sites.

2014 Dirty & Rowdy Shake Ridge Ranch Mourvèdre

We had the pleasure of meeting Hardy Wallace at a tasting in NYC a few years back, and after hearing the winery’s story and tasting the amazing wines, we became wine club members and have been taking advantage of our yearly allocation ever since.

Amadour County is situated southeast of Sacramento in the Sierra Foothills. This is where the highly acclaimed Shake Ridge Ranch Vineyard is located, around 2,000 feet above sea level. Planted in 2003 with additional vines added in 2009, Shake Ridge Ranch has been organic since 2013.

Looks: Bright purple-red in the glass

Smell: Dark fruit with some spiced notes

Taste: Rich flavors of raspberries/cherries with some licorice and leather notes

Texture and Finish: Medium-bodied, lighter mouth-feel than I expected, silky tannins, good minerality on the finish

Pairings: Beef, lamb, venison

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 100% Mourvèdre

Region: Amador County, CA, USA

Price: $45

I won’t promise that finding the 2014 Dirty & Rowdy Shake Ridge Ranch Mourvèdre will be an easy feat, this has been in my cellar since I bought it as part of my allocation and less than 300 cases were produced, BUT, it’s a beauty if you can locate a few bottles.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Mourvedre, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: ,
9 January 2019 2015 Cristom Mt. Jefferson Cuvée Pinot Noir

2015 Cristom Mt. Jefferson Cuvée Pinot Noir

January 9, 2019 By

I know this 2015 Cristom Mt. Jefferson Cuvée Pinot Noir was a baby, but I still opted to uncork it on New Year’s Eve to pair with some of the meats served at my fondue party. While it could have used some additional time in the bottle, the wine was lovely, much like the 2014 vintage was.

Cristom Vineyards (www.cristomvineyards.com) began 25 years ago as a collaboration between an engineer and a biochemist who each had a deep-rooted respect for the land, the natural winemaking process, and Pinot Noir.

Today, second-generation winegrower and owner Tom Gerrie leads winemaker Steve Doerner and the tenured viticulture team in tending the Estate vineyards, and producing elegant, dynamic wines, recognizable by Cristom’s hallmark style of whole-cluster fermentation by native yeasts.

The Mt. Jefferson Cuvée is Cristom’s flagship Pinot Noir, a blend of the Cristom estate Pinot Noir along with exceptional fruit sourced from neighboring vineyards in the Willamette Valley.

The 2015 vintage is similar to the 2014 vintage and will be remembered as a warm year that produced extremely high-quality fruit of great intensity.2015 will likely be considered among the better vintages in Willamette Valley winegrowing history.

Looks: Bright red in the glass

Smell: Big, ripe raspberry aromas with chocolate notes

Taste: Rich flavors of raspberries/cherries with some licorice notes

Texture and Finish: Rich silky texture. Medium-bodied, some tannins on the finish with great acidity

Pairings: Poultry, salmon, mushroom-based dishes

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 100% Pinot Noir

Region: Willamette Valley, OR, USA

Price: $29.99

Filed Under: Pinot Noir, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
7 November 2018 Thanksgiving Wines for Every Budget and Palate

Thanksgiving Wines for Every Budget and Palate

November 7, 2018 By

In America, more wine is purchased for Thanksgiving dinner than for any other holiday. Since there are so many conflicting flavors served at the Thanksgiving table, the challenge lies in selecting wines that pair well with the food.

To please diners with various tastes, it’s wise to have a selection of both red and white bottles on the table, with corresponding glassware. Your guests can then decide what works for them and allows them the opportunity to switch back and forth between wines and food.

Pouring American wines always seems like the right thing to do for this all-American holiday and here are some widely-available Thanksgiving wines at various price points.

 

Image result for thanksgiving wine

Sparkling Wines for Thanksgiving

Having some sparkling wine on hand for Thanksgiving is smart as it’s an ideal aperitif to set the tone for a festive atmosphere as guests arrive but it’s also very food-friendly and enjoyable throughout dinner.

Gruet Winery – Gruet Blanc de Noirs NV – $12.99

2014 Taittinger Domaine Carneros Brut – $24.99

2015 Schramsberg Blanc De Blanc – $27.99

Roederer Estate Brut NV – $20.99

Best Thanksgiving Whites

Riesling

Riesling is always a top pick for Turkey Day with its apple and honey flavors and great acidity – perfect for white and dark meat and for the bold flavors of candied sweet potatoes and spiced stuffing.

2017 Willamette Valley Vineyards Riesling – $12.99

2016 Ravines Riesling Dry – $13.99

2015 Forlorn Hope White “Queen Of the Sierra” Estate – $19.99

Gewürztraminer

Another clear favorite for Thanksgiving is Gewürztraminer with its ultra-aromatic nose and spicy palate. Great for turkey, gravy, rich casseroles!

2016 Fetzer Vineyards Gewurztraminer – $8.99

2014 Red Newt Cellars Gewurztraminer – $12.99

2015 Hogue Cellars Gewurztraminer – $9.99

Best Thanksgiving Reds

Image result for thanksgiving wine

Zinfandel

We love these wines with dark turkey meat and meat-based stuffing. Zins will enhance the big spiced flavors of Thanksgiving dinner, especially allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg. These wines will also add a touch of smokiness to the foods they’re paired with.

2015 Bogle Vineyards Bogle Essential – $8.99

2015 Foxglove – Zinfandel – $12.99

2016 Ridge Vineyards Three Valleys Red Sonoma County – $24.99

2016 Hartford Family Winery Old Vine Zinfandel Russian River – $34.99

2015 Limerick Lane Russian River Zinfandel – $39.99

Pinot Noir

This is likely the wine best-suited for Thanksgiving as it pairs well with most foods. The fruitiness of the wine is a nice match for sides and cranberry sauce, mushroom dishes and goes well with both white and dark meat.

2016 Owen Roe – Pinot Noir Sharecropper’s – $19.99

2014 Robert Sinskey Vineyards – Robert Sinskey Pinot Noir – $23.99

2014 Carpe Diem Pinot Noir Anderson Valley – $24.99     

2015 Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir Willamette Valley – $34.99

2015 Bergstrom Wines Pinot Noir Cumberland Reserve – $36.99

2015 En Route – Pinot Noir Les Pommiers – $49.99

Do you have some favorites for Thanksgiving? Whatever you pour, I hope you have a great holiday!

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
31 October 2018 Farmhouse Wines by Cline Family Cellars

Farmhouse Wines by Cline Family Cellars

October 31, 2018 By

About Cline Family Cellars

Cline Family Cellars is a family-owned and operated winery in Sonoma, California grounded in sustainability and passion for winemaking. One of the winery’s labels is Farmhouse, which I’ve tasted and thoroughly enjoyed.

Fred Cline founded Cline Family Cellars in Oakley, California in 1982, initially making wine from Mourvedre, Zinfandel and Carignane vines, some dating back to the 1880s.

In 1989, Cline acquired a 350-acre horse farm in Carneros and moved the winery operations to Sonoma County. Known as one of the original Rhone Rangers, Fred Cline planted Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne. Cline now also cultivates Pinot Noir, Merlot and Chardonnay in Sonoma County.

Grounded in Sustainability

Cline Family Cellars uses natural and sustainable Green String farming methods and its aim is to nurture the land and creating wines that reflect the region’s ecosystems. Developed by Fred Cline and soil manager, Bobby Cannard, the Green String farming method is a system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. These methods minimize pollution from the air, soil, and water, and optimize the health and productivity of soil, plants, animals and people.

The Farmhouse names comes from the school house situated at Green String Farm in Petaluma, California. The school house houses the library and study room for students who come from around the world to learn Green String’s method of sustainable farming.

2017 Farmhouse White ($15)

I paired this lovely light-to-medium bodied wine with spicy Thai food and it was a great match with just a tad of sweetness on the finish. The wine is bright and crisp with nice ripe citrus aromas and flavors. Farmhouse White is a blend of 45% Viognier, 40% Palomino, 11% Muscat Canelli and 6% Sauvignon Blanc.

When selecting grapes for this wine, we were particularly conscious of the intensity of the fruit, the acid balance, and the characteristics each varietal offered to the blend as a whole. The final wine delivers bright, crisp flavors of tropical fruit and lime with a fresh, clean finish.

Color: Straw yellow

Aromas: Tropical fruit, sweet lemons/limes and honey

Body: Light to medium

Flavors: Meyer lemon, Asian apple, tropical fruit

Finish: Bright acidity, clean/crisp

2017 Farmhouse Red ($15)

I paired this rich medium-to-full bodied wine with my very beefy Texas chili and it held up nicely to the spice. While it’s very food-friendly, I had a glass before dinner and it was enjoyable on its own with smooth tannins and great fruit.

This easy drinking red blend, 48% Zinfandel, 39% Merlot, 5% Mourvédre, 4% Syrah, 3% Grenache and 2% Petite Sirah, is medium-bodied with boysenberry, tobacco and black-pepper flavors.

The wine has smooth tannins and luscious fruit.

Color: Dark purple-red

Aromas: Dark juicy berries, chocolate-covered cherry

Body: Medium to full

Flavors: Raspberry/blackberry, ripe cherry, black pepper, black licorice

Finish: Rich and flavorful with nice acidity

These affordable well-made wines are readily-available, so add a few bottles to your cellar for drinking anytime.

These wines were provided to me for sampling and I am adding them to my repertoire as they’re truly enjoyable.

Filed Under: Grenache, Merlot, Mourvedre, Red Wine, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah / Shiraz, United States, Viognier, White Wine, Wine Reviews, Zinfandel Tagged With: , , , ,
18 July 2018 French Roots, American Dream – Gruet Winery

French Roots, American Dream – Gruet Winery

July 18, 2018 By

I’m a big fan of Gruet wines and find it fascinating that an acclaimed French Champagne maker would travel to the USA in the 1980s, specifically New Mexico, to start a sparkling wine business. What foresight and drive!

About Gruet Winery

Gilbert Gruet and his wife Danielle, dreaming of producing fine Champagnes, founded Gruet et Fils in Bethon, France and has been making Champagne since 1952.

The family traveled through the southwestern USA in 1983 and while in New Mexico met a group of European winemakers who had had success planting vineyards about 150 miles south of Albuquerque. In 1984, Gilbert decided to plant Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes in an experimental vineyard in Engle, NM. Two of his four children, Laurent and Nathalie, relocated to New Mexico to begin the family’s American winemaking business.

Laurent is the Head Winemaker at Gruet Winery. Like his father before him, Laurent’s top priority as a winemaking is quality. Wine Spectator named his Gruet NV Blanc de Noirs a Top 100 wine of the world in 2011, an unusual accolade for a sparkling wine under $20.

Nathalie is Gruet Winery’s President. Nathalie moved to the USA only knowing a few English words and has helped propel Gruet into its current position as one of the top-rated American sparkling wines in its price category.

Gruet Brut Rosé NV

Gruet Brut RoseI enjoyed this wine recently at a tapas restaurant where it paired beautifully with so many dishes and flavors – very food friendly.

Looks: Medium salmon-colored in the glass

Smell: Big, ripe strawberry aromas with bright floral notes

Taste: Rich flavors of raspberries/strawberries/ with some juicy cherry notes

Texture and Finish: Fresh with small bubbles. Medium-bodied, dry on the finish with great acidity

Pairings: Grilled fish or seafood

Style: Rosé Wine

Grape Type(s): 100% Pinot Noir

Region: New Mexico, USA

Price: $17

Filed Under: Pinot Noir, Rose, Blush Wine, Sparkling Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,
27 June 2018 Limerick Lane Cellars Tasting Room Visit

Limerick Lane Cellars Tasting Room Visit

June 27, 2018 By

About Limerick Lane Cellars

Limerick Lane Cellars is a 30-acre estate located in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley, just south of Healdsburg. While the area is renowned for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Limerick Lane grows and produces world class Zinfandel and Rhone-blends.

Limerick Lane was originally planted in 1910 by the Del Fava family, immigrants from Italy. It’s now thought to be one of the top areas for Zinfandel in Sonoma County. Limerick Lane is now owned and run by brothers Jake and Scot Bilbro, the sons of Chris Bilbro who owns the acclaimed Marietta Cellars. Scot is the primary winemaker and Jake is charged with sales of the wines.

The Limerick Lane vineyards are rocky and well-drained and rocky – ideal for growing Zinfandel, Syrah and Grenache, the core wines at the winery. 

About the Tasting Room

View from Tasting Room

We made the lovely drive to the Limerick Lane tasting room located amid the vineyards right in the heart of the Russian River Valley, only three miles from downtown Healdsburg. The staff was beyond friendly and shared a wealth of knowledge with us that included a walk through the vineyard, directly outside the tasting room building. Tasting notes about the wines we sampled is below.

The tasting room is open daily from 10am – 5pm and absolutely worth a visit when in Sonoma, this was one of our best tastings in Sonoma. 

About the Wines

2017 Limerick Lane Rosé ($28)

We loved this rosé and picked up a case for summer parties. It’s not a saignée of Pinot Noir or Zinfandel – the grapes are grown and picked specifically for this wine. It’s 62% Syrah and 38% Grenache. The nose on this lovely salmon-colored wine is citrusy. On the palate, it tastes of sweet strawberries and juicy sweet lemons. There’s great, food-friendly acidity on the finish.

2015 Limerick Lane Russian River Zinfandel ($42)

This estate Zinfandel is Limerick Lane’s flagship wine. It’s inky in the glass with big dark berry aromas with mocha notes. Flavors are of juicy red berries with peppery/chocolate notes. It’s big and rich in the best possible way with a long, tannic finish.

Limerick Lane Rosé

Limerick Lane Rosé

2015 Limerick Lane Rocky Knoll Zinfandel ($60)

This Zinfandel is blended with small amounts of Petite Sirah, Mourvedre, Carignan and Syrah. 12 barrels produced. Big aromas and flavors of dark berries on this rich, opulent wine. Great acidity on the long finish.

2015 Limerick Lane Headpruned Block Syrah ($50)

100% Syrah. Limerick Lane claims this is quite possibly the one and only acre of headpruned Syrah in all of California. Only 8 barrels of this amazing wine are produced, so sipping it outside the tasting room is pretty unlikely, unless on the allocation list. Floral aromas with peppery notes. Juicy dark raspberry on the palate on this well-made, rich wine.

Limerick Lane Cellars – 1023 Limerick Lane, Healdsburg, CA 95448.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Grenache, Mourvedre, Petite Syrah, Rose, Blush Wine, Syrah / Shiraz, United States, Wine Reviews, Zinfandel Tagged With: , , , , , ,
13 June 2018 Sokol Blosser Farm and Forage Experience

Sokol Blosser Farm and Forage Experience

June 13, 2018 By

On a recent trip to the Willamette Valley, I had the pleasure of visiting Sokol Blosser, one of Oregon’s oldest and largest wineries. To add to my first time visit, I reserved the Farm and Forage wine-paired luncheon and highly recommend the experience.

About Sokol Blosser

Founded in 1971 by Bill and Susan Sokol Blosser, the popular winery saw its first vines planted in the Dundee Hills when there was literally no established Oregon wine industry.

The Sokol Blosser family set out to grow and produce the finest Pinot Noir and soon became pioneers in modern-day Oregon wine country. Now, the second generation of Sokol Blosser, Winemaker Alex Sokol Blosser and sister Alison Sokol Blosser, CEO, is at the helm keeping the ‘good to the earth’ mantra of the winery which practices certified-organic farming on 86 planted acres. The family’s commitment towards sustainability, biodiversity and sustainable business practices are felt throughout the winery, including its LEED-certified underground barrel cellar.

The winery’s 128 acres provide fruit to produce 80,000 cases of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Riesling under the Sokol Blosser brand name. White blend, red blend, Pinot Noir and sparkling wine are crafted under the brand name Evolution (see https://evolutionwine.com for complete details).

About the Farm & Forage Lunch

​

My Seat at Kitchen Table

With his Farm & Forage culinary experience, Sokol Blosser Executive Chef, Henry Kibit, creates six bites to be paired with six wines. This is a great way to fully appreciate the wines whose flavors are heightened with food. The fun part, our group of five diners/wine tasters sat at a counter in the kitchen to watch the magic happen. The experience is available for up to eight guests.

The kitchen staff follows the winery mantra, “good to the earth” and sources ingredients for the various winery menus from local purveyors and also forages on the property for mushrooms, nettles, salad greens and much more.  

Farm & Forage is currently offered every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 1:00pm. During the busy summer months, July through October, Sokol Blosser offers a second time slot on Saturdays, so the experience is available at 11am and 2pm.

The cost of the lunch including wine is $75 per person or $60 or 1,800 points for Cellar Club members. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Sokol Blosser. 

These are the lovely wines we tasted along with the food we enjoyed. Note that the menu changes based on the products available to Chef Kibit.

Evolution Brut Sparkling ($20)

Creamy texture, juicy green/Fiji apple flavors with a bit of lemon on the crisp finish. Just a perfect summer sparkler and I couldn’t keep from ordering a case for patio parties.

This was the welcome wine when I arrived for the lunch.

2017 Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir

100% Pinot Noir, 100% from estate-grown, organic grapes. Wild strawberry on the nose. Strawberry continues on the palate with pink grapefruit on the finish. Vibrant acidity that’s screaming for food.

Paired with: Purple sprouting broccoli, oil cured olive, roe, Belper Knolle.

2016 Dundee Hills Pinot Blanc ($22)

On the palate are green apple and peach flavors with a bit of Meyer lemon on the finish. Great minerality – nice pairing with the halibut.

Paired with: Halibut, ramp, nettle, chervil.

2014 Thistle Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir ($38)

Good transition wine between white and bolder reds. Medium red with pale pink on the edge of the wine glass rim. Bright cherry on the nose with earthy, chocolate notes. Red fruit/berry flavors with earthy notes and firm tannins on the finish.

Paired with: Raab, turnip, egg.

2014 Big Tree Block Pinot Noir ($70)

100% Pinot Noir, 100% from estate-grown, organic grapes. Bright acidity on this wine – cherry on the nose and palate with citrusy finish.

Paired with: Lamb, Za’atar, spinach, cattail.

2015 Twelve Row Block Estate Pinot Noir ($60)

This is much bigger Pinot Noir than I’m accustomed to and really enjoyed it. It’s bold with chocolate-coated ripe cherry flavors and tobacco notes.

Paired with: NY Strip, yellowfoot, hazelnut, brown butter.

2014 Sparkling Rosé of Pinot Noir ($50)

100% pinot noir. What a treat this pale pink rosé bubbly was with our dessert. Fine mousse-like bubbles, light strawberry flavors and a crisp, dry finish. A nicely-made, method Champenoise sparkling wine.

Paired with: Chocolate (dark/milk), flowers.

If you’ve not been to Oregon wine country, Sokol Blosser is a must-visit and the Farm & Forage experience is not to pass up.

About the Location and Tasting Room Hours

Tasting Room hours: Daily from 10am-4pm.

5000 Sokol Blosser Lane, Dayton, Oregon. www.sokolblosser.com

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Food & Wine Events, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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