2011 Herdade do Esporão Monte Velho White

January 2, 2014 By

2011 Herdade do Esporao Monte Velho WhitePortuguese winery Herdade do Esporão is likely the best-known in the Alentejo wine region. Its white wines are affordable, available and delicious.

The 2011 Herdade do Esporão Monte Velho White is medium straw color in the glass and offers fruity, juicy citrus aromas and ripe apricot and Meyer lemon flavors. Zippy acidity and minerality.

Pairings: Seafood, fish and served as an aperitif.

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): 35% Antao Vaz, 35% Roupeiro and 30% Perrum

Region: Alentejo, Portugal

Price: $10

This wine was provided to me for sampling and I am adding it to my repertoire as it’s truly enjoyable.

Filed Under: Antao Vaz, Perrum, Portugal, Roupeiro, White Wine Tagged With: , , ,
27 December 2013 10 New Year’s Eve Sparkling Wines Under $50

10 New Year’s Eve Sparkling Wines Under $50

December 27, 2013 By

ChampagneThe USA, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries produce tasty sparkling wines that differ widely in term of style, price and production method. Here are ten solid options that are easily accessible for your New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Sparkling Wines under $50

  1. La Marca Di Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco (Trevisio, Italy) – light, crisp and offers a pleasant dry finish that’s citrusy and fresh ($12).
  2. 2012 Heart and Hands Wine Company Brut Rosé (Finger Lakes, NY) – this dry sparkling Pinot Noir offers wild strawberry and citrusy notes with creamy bubbles ($27).
  3. Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut (Anderson Valley, CA) – flavors of ripe pear with nutty notes ($22).
  4. Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut Rosé (Napa Valley, CA) – nice yeasty aromas and juicy fruit flavors ($25).
  5. Nicolas Feuillatte Brut NV (Reims, France) – very clean, light-to-medium style ($25).
  6. Pierre Sparr Crémant D’Alsace Brut Rosé (Alsace, France) – features rich strawberries-and-cream with a hint of citrus flavors ($15).
  7. Heidsieck & Co Monopole Blue Top Champagne Brut (Epernay, France) – creamy, mousse-like with tiny bubbles that coat the mouth and provide a dry, long finish ($40).
  8. Bollinger Special Cuvée (Champagne, France) – creamy, rich, well-balanced, with citrus, toasted almonds and rich pear flavors ($40).
  9. Domaine Carneros Cuvée de la Pompadour NV (Napa Valley, CA) – wine by French Champagne house Taittinger, this rosé offers ripe strawberry flavor with a nice level of acidity ($42).
  10. Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut (Epernay, France) – understated elegance and subtle flavors ($45).

Happy New Year!

Veronique

Filed Under: Other Neat Things, Sparkling Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
13 December 2013 2010 Bruno Colin Premier Cru Chassagne Montrachet La Boudriotte

2010 Bruno Colin Premier Cru Chassagne Montrachet La Boudriotte

December 13, 2013 By

2010 Bruno ColinThis medium-bodied Cote de Beaune Chardonnay offers a very pretty floral nose with Asian pear notes. In the glass, the 2010 Bruno Colin Premier Cru Chassagne Montrachet La Boudriotte shows big fruit with nutty, lightly oaky undertones and a nice level of acidity on the finish. Just a lovely white Burgundy.

Pairings: Roast chicken, seafood, white fish

Style: White wine

Grape Type(s): Chardonnay

Region: Burgundy, France

Around $65

Filed Under: Chardonnay, France, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
23 November 2013 8 Days of Hanukkah Kosher Wines

8 Days of Hanukkah Kosher Wines

November 23, 2013 By

HannuckaThis year, a very unusual thing is happening, Thanksgiving is also the first day of Hanukkah – Thanksgivukkah as it’s now being called. The Jewish Festival of Lights calls for Kosher wine for many families and while there are fine examples available on the U.S. market, many are simply not. Here are 8 Kosher wines to uncork on the 8 days of Hanukkah.

2011 Tierra Salvaje Pinot Noir Reserve ($11 – Chile) – Bright fruit flavors with hints of chocolate and mocha and a super level of acidity.

Gilgal Brut ($15 – Israel) – A medium-bodied dry sparkling wine perfect to kick start any special get-together.

2012 Segal’s Fusion Dry Red Wine ($16 – Israel) – Blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon that is round and fruity with a bit of spiciness.

2010 Yarden Odem Chardonnay ($17 – Israel) – Pleasant floral, fruity flavors with just a hint of oak.

2011 Galil Mountain Pinot Noir ($18 – Israel) – A delicious and versatile Pinot Noir with typical flavors of cherry and ripe berries with a silky texture.

2010 Tabor Adama Cabernet Sauvignon ($19 – Israel) – Dark ruby in the glass, this big on black fruit and mocha wine is rich and round and perfect with beef.

2012 Herzog Late Harvest Riesling ($20 – California) – A rich but also refreshing  sweet wine with big peach and apricot flavors and hints of the honey flavors that have yet to fully develop.

2010 Binyamina Reserve Shiraz ($21 – Israel) – Big wine with blackberry and cherry flavors with notes of chocolate and smokiness.

Happy holidays,

Veronique

Filed Under: Other Neat Things, Wine Reviews Tagged With:

10 Wines under $25 for Thanksgiving

November 22, 2013 By

Thanksgiving TableThe big, bold flavors of Thanksgiving make it complicated to determine what wines to pair for the holiday. There are no simple answers when it comes to what wine to select as a flavorful white’s great for sides and white turkey meat and a fruity red is great for dark turkey meat and meat or mushroom stuffing.

Following are some affordable wine recommendations that can pair with just about any foods on your Turkey Day table.

Whites

  • 2012 Castello di Amorosa Pinot Bianco ($24) – A crisp dry white wine, light in color, with aromas of tropical fruit, citrus and almonds.
  • 2011 Heritance Sauvignon Blanc ($24) – This Sauvignon Blanc and Roussanne blend offers bright citrus aromas with peach and tropical fruit flavors.
  • 2010 Albert Mann Cremant D’Alsace ($20) – This Alsatian wine offers bright aromas of juicy pear and lemon zest and crisp apple flavors. Simply a super bubbly with tons of creamy, moussy bubbles great for any occasion.
  • 2011 Ravines Dry Riesling ($17) – On the nose, there are lovely aromas of Asian pear and Meyer lemon. In the mouth, the lemon turns to lime and the pear to crisp apple flavors. The finish offers the perfect level of acidity and crispness.
  • 2012 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Barossa Dry Riesling ($12) – Citrusy aromas with fresh, green apple flavors. Lovely crisp, wet stone finish. Perfect to cut through the richness of my mac and cheese and stood up to its spicy Panko topping.

Reds

  • 2010 Campo Viejo Reserva Rioja ($15) – Great balance between cherries, stone fruit and blackberries and clove, pepper and a little vanilla. Smooth and balanced on the palate with a long, lingering finish.
  • 2009 Albert Bichot Pinot Noir Vielles Vignes ($15) – Ripe cherry nose, nice level of acidity and cherries mix with strawberries on this light-medium Pinot Noir.
  • 2011 Los Vascos Grand Reserve ($15) – This Chilean wine is bright with cherries and stone fruit. It’s intense, has a nice level of acidity and a fruity finish with black licorice notes.
  • 2010 Alba Vineyards Old Mill Red ($12) – This medium-bodied New Jersey wine packed with cherry and dried fruit that finishes soft and velvety.
  • 2010 Graffigna Centenario Malbec Reserve ($11) – Medium to full-bodied wine with flavors of ripe raspberries, dates and notes of pumpkin pie spices.

Whatever you opt to pour for Thanksgiving, I hope  you enjoy it with family and friends.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Other Neat Things, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
23 October 2013 Famiglia Pasqua Wine Tasting

Famiglia Pasqua Wine Tasting

October 23, 2013 By

WinesI recently attended a wine pairing dinner at Millie’s Old World Meatballs & Pizza and had an opportunity to sample Famiglia Pasqua wines provided by recently opened Cambridge Wines of Morristown.

Here are my tasting notes:

  • Famiglia Pasqua Prosecco DOC ($10) – extra dry sparkler with lively fruity flavors.
  • 2012 Famiglia Pasqua Pinot Grigio ($10) – light, dry white with hints of floral and citrus notes.
  • 2012 Famiglia Pasqua Sangiovese ($8) – full-bodied with bright fruit from its young age.
  • 2010 Famiglia Pasqua Passimento ($13) – baby Amarone with fruit-forward, spiced nose and round, silky texture from 40% Merlot.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: By Country, Italy, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Sparkling Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
21 October 2013 Chilean Red Wine Blends – Virtual Tasting

Chilean Red Wine Blends – Virtual Tasting

October 21, 2013 By

Wines of Chile hosted a #WineChat event on Twitter on Wednesday, October 16. Sort of like a new world wines meets new technology.

I’ve explained the idea of virtual wine tastings in previous posts but for those of you who are new to virtual wine tastings, this is what the story is:

  • Get a bottle of the wine varietal or brand being featured.
  • Invite friends to share the wine and experience with you (or snuggle in your pajamas in front of the computer if you prefer).
  • Sip and share your thoughts about the wine(s) with other tasters around the world using the designated hashtag on Twitter and/or Facebook!

Here are my tasting notes from the three featured wines – 2011 Montes Twins Malbec / Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007 Santa Rita Triple C Red Blend and 2011 Los Vascos Grand Reserve:

2011 Montes Twins Malbec / Cabernet Sauvignon

2011 Montes TwinsGreat dark fruit, richness and structure from the Cab and silky roundness from the Malbec. Little vanilla on the finish from the oak. Nice Colchagua Valley wine for the price.

Pairings: Roast chicken, mushroom pizza, burger

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 50% Malbec, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon

Price: $18

2011 Los Vascos Grand Reserve

2011 Los Vascos Grand ReserveThis Chilean wine is bright with cherries and stone fruit. It’s intense, has a nice level of acidity and a fruity finish with black licorice notes.

Pairings: Duck, seared salmon, pork

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Carménère, 10% Syrah, 5% Malbec

Price: $15

2007 Santa Rita Triple C Red Blend

2007 Santa Rita Triple C This Maipo Valley, Bordeaux-style blend has a lot going on for it. The 2007 Santa Rita Triple C combines the elegance of the old world grapes with new world winemaking techniques.Definitely not the typical Chilean red wine. Tons of earthy, smoky, leathery aromas with less blackberry than ripe currant that I’d expected. Deep, complex, interesting. Decant!

Pairings: Grilled meat, mushroom dishes

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 55% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Carménère

Price: $34

I’ve been a fan of Chilean wines and these three bottles that were sent to me as samples are being added to my repertoire.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: By Country, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Chile, Malbec, Red Wine, Syrah / Shiraz, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
20 October 2013 Holiday Gift That Keeps On Giving – 90+ Cellars Wine Club

Holiday Gift That Keeps On Giving – 90+ Cellars Wine Club

October 20, 2013 By

90+ CellarsThis holiday season, give the gift that will ring cheer well after the ornaments are put away, with a membership to the 90+ Cellars Wine Club. The team at 90+ Cellars curates a box of six or 12 different bottles for delivery four times a year, reflecting the best available wines to offer in each shipment. With the option of choosing just white wines, reds, or a mix of both, Wine Club allows the receiver to try new bottles every quarter, including exclusive releases from 90+ Cellars. Orders are placed online and range in price from $90 for a six-bottle delivery to $170 for a 12-bottle delivery, every four months.

90+ Cellars’ Wine Club Membership Benefits Include:

  • Quarterly shipment of six or 12 bottles of 90+ Cellars Red, White or Mixed Wines
  • Tasting notes and additional information with each shipment to learn more about the wines
  • An additional 15% off all orders from the 90+ Cellars Online Store (outside of Wine Club shipments)

90+ Cellars is a limited collection of wine with a pedigree of awards from some of the world’s most respected wineries that you can buy for less. Each year the 90+ Cellars team tastes hundreds of wines from all over the world, selects the best for the 90+ Cellars label, and offers them at up to 50% less than the original label’s price. Savvy wine consumers can now enjoy great wine, anytime.

For more information, please visit http://www.ninetypluscellars.com.

Filed Under: Other Neat Things, Wine Reviews Tagged With: ,
30 September 2013 2005 Podere Rocche dei Manzoni Barolo Vigna d’la Roul

2005 Podere Rocche dei Manzoni Barolo Vigna d’la Roul

September 30, 2013 By

2005 Podere Rocche dei Manzoni Barolo Vigna d’la RoulThis wine was aerated then decanted for an hour prior to tasting. In the glass, it’s deep garnet. Bouquet wasn’t as prominent as I’d expected. Light aromas of cherry cordial with earthy notes. In the mouth, it offers great fruit flavors with black licorice, leather and blackberry notes. Smokey finish with the tannins one would expect from such a young wine.

I’d like to try this wine with another 5 years of aging. 94 points Robert Parker.

Pairings: Game, beef, duck, pasta with mushroom or red sauce, cheese course

Style: Red wine

Grape Type(s): Nebbiolo

Region: Piedmont, Italy

Around $100

Filed Under: Italy, Nebbiolo, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
20 September 2013 2003 Rudd Oakville Estate

2003 Rudd Oakville Estate

September 20, 2013 By

2003 Rudd EstateTasted this wine after it’d been decanted for a couple hours – wow. In the glass, it’s deep garnet and one sniff had me hooked. Aromas of mocha, tobacco, dark fruit and stone fruit. In the mouth it’s lush and round and offers great fruit flavors with caramel, leather and blackberry notes. Finish lasts forever.

Simply an elegant, well-structured wine. I feel fortunate this wine was shared with me.

Pairings: Beef, duck, cheese course

Style: Red wine

Grape Type(s): 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot and 3% Malbec

Region: Napa Valley, CA, USA

Around $90

Filed Under: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Red Wine, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
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