Break out the Bubbles: NYE 2014

It's the final countdown for 2013! Whether you are ringing in the new year with friends and family at home or dressing up and dancing the night away, there is one thing you will definitely need - sparkling wine!

Photo Source

I will be giving some brief thoughts here, but for those looking for more details - the blog has covered sparkling wine in detail before here. 

My philosophy on sparkling wine is straight forward - find a fresh, fun bottle at an affordable price. Sometimes it's a bit challenging, bargain prices for sparkling wine made in the traditional champagne style rarely go below $12-16 (most likely because the secondary fermentation process). But my go to wine will always be Cava. Cava is sparkling wine made in Spain. Another great option is Prosecco, a sparkler from Italy. Both of these styles are light and affordable.

Champagne (sparkling wine made in Champagne, France), on the other hand is more complex and expensive. Given the region's northern location, the grapes are picked with higher acidity producing the distinct taste. Champagne is made from a blend of three grapes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The traditional production method, or méthode champenoise, is highly regulated. Basically, it allows only two pressings of the grapes, a primary fermentation, blending, a secondary fermentation and finalization. Most champagnes are fermented in steel tanks. It's common characteristics include flavors or apple, citrus, hazelnnuts, toast or bread dough.

Whichever option you choose, one thing I hope you take away is that sparkling wine can be used for more than special occasions. Its high acidity pairs well with food. Many wine professionals even argue that it is the best option to pair with you - but I will leave that decision up to you!

Happy New Year's Eve and Cheers!

French Wine 101

Dear Wine-Nerds & Friends! Get excited because two big things are happening in this post. First, I am happy to announce that the tradition of (co)hosting a holiday wine tasting party after Christmas lives on! So stand by for reviews of wine from that tasting. And second, we are finally providing an overview of the wines of France! (Please excuse my lack of proper punctuation on many of the French words, I was eager to get this post live!)

Photo Source

This year's holiday wine tasting is French themed, so I have provided a general (and I mean general) overview of French wine below:

History of Wine-Making in France.  I think it goes without saying that the French are passionate about wine. But, as with most things in Europe, grapes were mostly likely introduced to the French by the Romans. However, the vast expansion of wine across the country can be attributed to Christian monasteries because they made wine for the sacrament (and for profit). Vineyards were even donated by rich patrons "seeking divine favor." But those monks definitely contributed to the history of French wine-making. For example, many wine-making break-throughs can be traced back to monasteries, such as the second fermentation process required for sparkling wine...  created by monk Dom Perignon. Since then, French winemakers have continued to develop their technique and produced much of the world's best wines - despite wars, down economies and politics generally.

Popular French Varietals.  To understand French wine, it is important to under the players. (aka grape varietals). 

• The major white grapes include: Ugni Blanc (aka Trebbiano, and used primarily in brandy production), Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne (aka Muscadet), Semillon, Muscat and Chenin Blanc. 
• The major red grapes include: Merlot, Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Gamay, Pinot Noir, Cinsault, Pinot Meunier (frequently blended in Champagne) and Mourvedre.

Tips for Reading a French Wine Label.  France was the first country to devise a system for protecting the use of place names for wine regions and having a basic understanding of this system will definitely help you when facing the wall of wine in your local wine store. The system is administered by the INAO and mandates or prohibits certain wine-making procedures for any winery that plans to use the protected "appellation" or place name on it's label. There are four French wine appellations:

1. Vin de Table, the entry level appellation for general table wine. (Only about an 1/8 of French wine uses this designation).
2. Vin de Pays, typically reserved for wine with a geographical indication. (1/3 of French wine uses this designation).
3. VDQS or "delimited wine of superior quality," generally seen as temporary status for wines with potential to move up.
4. Appellation d'origine controlee (AOC) or "name of controlled origin," this appellation carries the high quality wines and most restrictive wine-making rules. 
   • Regional > District > Communal or Vineyard.

Photo Source

Take note that the established AOC regions (like Bordeaux or Burgundy) will have regional or even communal AOC regions within them. So when reading a French wine label you will frequently see two or even three terms that describe where the wine was made. Check out the graphic above.

French Wine Regions in Detail.  

(1) Bordeaux.  The classic red wine from Bordeaux is a blend of at least 2 grapes from the following list: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. The classic white is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. Go hear for expensive, yet quality wines. 

SUMMARY: Look here for high quality red blends, but expect to pay for it.

(2) Loire Valley.  There are four key regional AOCs located in the Loire Valley: (1) Pays Nantais, (2) Anjou, (3) Touraine, and (4) the Central Vineyards (Pouilly-sur-Loire and Sancerre).  If you like Sauvignon Blanc, look for wines from Sancerre or Pouilly-Fume. Generally, Touraine isn't known for high quality wines, with the exception of Vouvray - a region that features whites made with Chenin Blanc. If you are interested in trying wine made with Muscadet, look for something from Pays Nantais.

SUMMARY: Look here for fun whites, try anything with Pouilly-Fume, Sancerre or Vouvray on the label.

(3)  Champagne.  This region supplies 15% of the world's sparkling wine (or 25 million cases a year). Champagne is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes. Here are some fast facts about Champagne:

• Blanc de Blanc, means the wine was produced only from Chardonnay.
• Blanc de noirs, means the wine was produced only with red grapes, most likely Pinot Noir.
• You will only see a Vintage for spectacular harvests from a single year (non-vintage is more common).

SUMMARY: Look here for expensive yet quality sparkling wine. However, look for "Cremant" on the label of sparklers from any other French region, this means the wine was made in the same style as Champagne, but made in another region. (Think store brand knock-offs, same formula without the brand name).

(4) Alsace.  This is a French region with strong German roots, known for growing mostly Riesling, Gewurtztraminer, and Pinot Gris. The region has a bad reputation for making only sweet wines - but ask your local wine store rep to point you in the direction of dryer styles, because they do exist! Most wines from this region pair well with spicy food.

(5) Burgundy (in French "Bourgogne").  The secret to Burgundy is easy, red Burgundy is made from Pinot Noir and white Burgundy is made from Chardonnay. But in Burgundy, much like the Loire Valley, it is important to learn the popular regional AOCs. The two most famous are: (1) Cote de Nuits and (2) Cote de Beaune. However, Chardonnay produced in Chablis is known for exhibiting greater minerality than the rest of Burgundy. The wines of Maconnais are known for their lighter style (you may see some Gamay based wines here as well).

SUMMARY: Look here for Pinot Noir or Chardonnay with French style. Note that to get quality you will have to spend a bit more than usual, but there are great bottles out there!

(6) Beaujolais.  Frequently considered part of Burgundy, Beaujolais is quickly becoming a region of notable wines. Be sure to remember Beaujolais and Beaujolais-Nouveau are different, the latter is a quickly bottled style of the Gamay grape meant to be consumed young. 

SUMMARY: Look here for the best versions of the fruity Gamay grape.

(7) The Rhone Valley.  Generally, this region is known for its red wine. Yet, it is best to discuss the Rhone in two regions: (1) The Northern Rhone and (2) The Southern Rhone. In the Northern Rhone, red wines are primarily made from Syrah and white wines are primarily made from Viognier, Marsanne and Roussane. While, in the Southern Rhone, red blends are the most popular, featuring Grenache (a personal favorite), Syrah, Carignan, Mouvedre and Cinsault. 

SUMMARY: Look here for interesting red blends featuring Grenache. The best regions are Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas. (Pricey but totally worth it).

PHEW!  So, that brings us to the end of my overview of French wine. As you can see, I barely scratched the surface and this post is already double the length of most others. Feel free to post questions in the comments below and I will happily answer them! 

Happy Holidays and Cheers!

Savor the Last of Summer: Reds that can Take a Chill!

"But there ain't no cure for those summertime blues."

Photo Source: 

http://oddsandsends.blogspot.com/2010/04/vintage-summer-postcards.html

Labor Day has come and (oh too swiftly) gone. The evenings are getting cooler. The days are getting shorter. Its official - summer is coming to a close. For us wine enthusiasts, this means (generally!) the loss of fresh, chilled, ros

é and the return of red, red, red!

But, for those who are clinging to summer or living in a warmer climate - there are some 

reds that can take a chill (gasp!). I say again - some reds can take a chill and still be 

delicious! 

In fact, buzzfeed just posted a rather witty post listing a few reds that can be served cold

here

(worth a look for the Titanic stills alone):

1. Lambrusco from Italy.

  For goodness sake, give this wine a chance! Pretty much every time I mention Lambrusco, I hear "ehhhh..." Ignore this instinct! Lambrusco has brought red bubbles back!! (I know, I am a nerd!). 

Lambrusco is an Italian grape grown primarily in Emilia-Romagna. For almost 10 years, wine writers have been attempting to distinguish Lambrusco today from the fizzy sugar bomb of the 1970s. Lambrusco today can be dry, fresh with tangy fruit and subtle earth flavors. It's made to be consumed young and chilled.

2. Beaujolais from France.

  First, when it comes to Beaujolais you may ask - what is the difference between Beaujolais Nouveau, Beaujolais, and Beaujolais Villages? Here's the spark notes version: consider Beaujolais Noveau

separate

 from Beaujolais.

• Beaujolais has three different quality levels:
  • Beaujolais = basic and lowest price.
  • Beaujolais-Villages = wine from 35 specific villages that consistently produce better quality wine.
  • Cru = highest quality and price.
  • Beaujolais Nouveau: Considered a different style of wine, it's fruity, light and meant to be consumed earlier than typical Beaujolais.

3. Pinot Noir (likely old world).  

I have seen Pinot Noir on some lists of suggested reds that can be chilled - but personally, I am torn. (I see a tasting in my future on this one).

Photo Source: 

http://winemonger.com/catalog/

grapes_info.php?grape_name_id=172

4. Barbera d'Asti from Italy.  

Translation... wine made from the Barbera

(grape)

 in the hilly provence Asti

(place - Northwest Italy, Piedmont).

Barbera is juicy with light to medium body. Unlike the creamy, oaked reds Americans are used to, Barbera retains its acidity and may be dry from tannin.

5. Malbec from Argentina.  

Malbec typically has a spicy taste, which when chilled is thicker, rounder and more pronounced. And while the spice is thicker, the wine itself seems to have lighter body which is refreshing on warmer days.

Generally if you want to drink red cold, just remember...

go for something unoaked or lightly oaked; moderate alcohol; light to medium body; and low to medium tannin.

Cheers!

The Enthusiasts! NYC Wine Club: Pinot Grigio vs. Pinot Noir

Dear Readers! I know it has been a while, but the wine club is finally getting back together, and this month's topic is: a comparison of pinot noir and pinot grigio!

You may be thinking - the name of these two grapes are similar, are they related? Well, Pinot noir is a noble red grape and ancient variety whose origin, while somewhat unclear, can be traced to Burgundy, France. On the other hand, pinot grigio/gris is a white grape that emerged as a mutation of pinot noir. How these genetic mutations occur would take hours, days, weeks, years ... well a long time to research and explain (at least for our purposes). Yet, for our discussion it is beneficial to know that research suggests the mutation of two essential genes in a red grape parent (thousands of years ago) is responsible for the creation of the multiple white grape vines, including pinot grigio, in existence today. Pretty cool!

So what is the story on Pinot Noir?

Photo Source: www.kenbrownwines.com

Name Origin:

 Pinot noir is a red (that looks almost black) wine grape whose name is derived from the French words for "pine" and "black."

Famous Regions:

 Pinot noir grows best in Burgundy, Champagne, California, and Oregon.

Preferred Climate:

Pinot noir grows only in cool climates. Fog, cool ocean breezes and cool nights are beneficial for the cultivation of pinot noir grapes. 

Flavor:

 Grape flavors include; raspberries, red cherry, high-acidity. Winemaking flavors include; smoky and earthy.

Generally, pinot noir is one of five high-acid grapes. The other four include: riesling, chenin blanc, barbera and sangiovese. Acidity is a very important component of wine, especially when balanced with the fruit component. Overly acidic wine will likely taste tart or sour.

The most notable (and expensive) bottles of pinot noir are produced in Burgundy and Oregon. These wines can be somewhat pricey (say at least $30 for a quality bottle) because pinot noir is tempermental and difficult grape to grow. However, if you are looking for a cheap alternative that still maintains quality - you should check out New Zealand pinot noir. Now, you may find some negative press about New Zealand pinot noir. Back in 2011, the NYTimes

crew

reviewed 20 bottles of New Zealand pinot noir. They spent most of the article hating on their 2008 and 2009 selections of New Zealand pinot noir, concluding they were "friendly ... wines you would serve at a neighborhood block party ... and boring." Firstly, I see nothing wrong with an affordable quality wine that is served at a neighborhood party. And secondly, as with most bargain wines, you will have to do some experimenting to find a good bottle for you and New Zealand pinot noir is definitely worth experimenting.

And Pinot Grigio?

Photo Source 

beausbarrelroom.blogspot.com

Name Origin:

Pinot gris is a white grape variety whose name is derived from the French words for "pine" and "grey." Pinot grigio is a synonym used in Italy. Both names reference the color grey because of the grapes typical greyish-blue color.

Famous Regions:

  Pinot gris grows best in Alsace. 

Pinot grigio grows best in Italy, California, and Oregon.

Preferred Climate:

Cooler climate.

Flavor:

 Pear, apple, lemon and mineral. 

Pinot gris from Alsace is both rich, complex, and spicy.

 Pinot grigio from Italy lacks this spicy complexity and commonly has less flavor. 

Today, pinot grigio/gris is a widely cultivated and fast expanding mid-color grape. However, it's growth in popularity has yet to catch its growth in cultivation. Generally, it is beneficial to discuss pinot grigio and pinot gris separately, however, remember that these two wines are made from the

same grape.

 It is the climate, soil, and winegrowing area (aka terroir!!) that makes these two wines so different. Let's discuss pinot gris first. Pinot gris of Alsace (and also Oregon) are crisp, fuller bodied and more aromatic. Pinot gris also offers complex flavors of tree fruits and even almonds.

Alternatively, pinot grigio is the most popular white wine produced in Italy. Pinot grigio has a nice, crisp, and dry white wine with a neutral flavor. Generally, the more expensive the pinot grigio, the more likely the wine will have fuller body and flavor. The best pinot grigios have crisp acidity, citrus flavor and a hint of minerality.

Thus concludes my introduction of pinot noir and pinot grigio - stand by for the results from the group!

Cheers!

The Enthusiasts! NYC Wine Club: Introduction to Italy

Chi ha pane e vino, sta meglio del suo vicino*

Photo Source: http://www.kairos-holidays.com

/greek-god-of-wine.html

If you take away only one thing from this post, it should be this... 

Italy is complex.

Seriously. In Italy there are more than two thousand different wine labels, twenty wine producing regions and ninety six provinces. Even the wine classification system is so complicated that  some of the finest sommeliers may break a sweat.

So today, we are going to keep it simple with a little history and an overview of the wine regions, grapes and producers you are more likely to see outside of Italy.

The History of Wine in Italy

Oh those Romans...

 we cannot talk about wine in Italy without mentioning the Romans. After the Romans defeated  the Carthaginians around the second century B.C., they expanded wine on slave-run plantations. Eventually, so much wine was produced that laws were enacted requiring the destruction of vineyards  in order to free land for food production.

A turn towards Modernity...

Italy finally introduced DOC legislation in 1963. The DOC laws (which stands for

denominazione di origine controllata

) were modeled after the French laws to standardized quality. However, the original Italian attempt was flawed because it failed to establish a small number of easily identifiable regions with an identifiable style (like the French law). As a result, the Italian wine became increasingly dominated by mass production and most wineries became passionless factories.

Current Situation...

 However, in 1992 the Italian wine classification was overhauled to comply with EU law (aka Goria's law). This change incorporated a category of wine called IGT, which fell into the system below:

• DO - Denominazione di origine (vini da tavola or "table wine") 
• IGT - Indicazioni geografiche tipiche, established to form a buffer between the DOCs and table wine categories
• DOC - Denominazione di origine controllata (controlled designation of origin)
• DOCG - Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita (controlled designation of origin guaranteed) 

Frankly, this overhaul will not fully transform the Italian wine industry until, like France, the industry is organized into a few major regions with a recognizable style and reputation.

The Basics in Italian Wine

Photo Source: http://my.opera.com

Tuscany - The Home of Chianti

There are three levels of chianti: (1) chianti, (2) chianti classico, and (3) chianti classico riserva, which must be aged  a minimum 2 years and 3 months.

Grapes?

 Under the DOCG, chianti is required to be made at least 80% of sangiovese. 

Other Tuscan wines to watch for:

Other quality reds from Tuscany include: Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and Carmignano.

Piedmont - Big Reds

Piedmont is famous for producing fine red wine, specifically Barolo and Barbaresco.

Grapes?

 The major grapes in Piedmont are dolcetto, barbera and nebbiolo.

The Details on Barolo:

 Barolo is made with the nebbiolo grape, consists of at least 12.5% alcohol, contains a more complex flavor and body, and aged at least three years (one in wood). If the wine is a "riserva" it is aged for at least five years.

The Details on Barbaresco:

Barbaresco is also made with the nebbiolo grape, consists of at least 12.5%, contains a lighter body than barolo, and requires at least two years of aging (one in wood). 

If the wine is a "riserva" it is aged for at least four years.

Photo Source: http://www.smh.com.au

Veneto - The Home of Amarone

Veneto is known for producing wines like valpolicella, bardolino and soave.

What is Amarone?

 Amarone is a type of valpolicella wine made with only the ripest grapes (the grapes used include corvina, rondinella and molinara). Then after harvest, the grapes are left to "rasinate," which ferments the sugar and ultimately raises the alcohol content.

Final Notes:

• Italian Wine Labels: Italian wines are named in three different ways: (1) by grape variety, (2) by village or district, and/or (3) by proprietary.
• Other Wine Regions to Look for: Abruzzi, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Umbria, Compania, and Sicily.
• What about Italian Whites? Many wine educators do not address Italian white wine with the same depth as red wine because the majority of Italian white wines are simply less complex then the red wines (and most Italians will admit it). Leave a comment if you disagree! Some known Italian white wines to try include: pinot grigio, soave and gavi.

For more information on Italian wine, check out my ever-awesome sources: Kevin Zraly's Complete Wine Course 2012, The Sotherby's Wine Encyclopedia 5th Edition, and 

winefornomalpeople

.

For those of you looking for a translation of the quote at the beginning of the post, here it is: "

Who has bread and wine is better off than his neighbor." 

Cheers!

The Enthusiasts! NYC Wine Club: Wine and Chocolate

This month... a red hot exclusive for the Sweetest Month of the Year - Wine and Chocolate Pairings!

Some Initial Thoughts

Like cheese or any other food, you can never go seriously wrong with pairing wine with chocolate. If it tastes good to you, then its a perfect pairing!  However, some critics argue that one needs to be more careful when pairing wine with chocolate because the wrong pairing may yield a bitter result.  Some basic tips include: (1) 

Pair light chocolate with lighter wines, and (2) 

Pair darker chocolates with full-bodied wines

What You Have Been Waiting For... The History of Chocolate

The chocolate we know and love today has had a rich history, which dates back almost 2000 years. In fact, for most of it's existence chocolate was known as a beverage and not a candy bar. As an introduction, some of the most important chocolate terms include: (1) 

"Cacao" - refers to the plant or its beans before processing, and (2) 

"Chocolate" - refers to anything made from the beans, while "cocoa" refers to chocolate in powdered form.

Photo source:

www.xocolatamante.com.au

The word chocolate has been traced to several sources, including, the Aztec word "xocoatl" referring to a bitter chocolate drink, and the latin term for cacaco tree,

Theobroma cacao,

" meaning

food of the gods.  

In the early days, many cultures (shout out to the Mayans and Aztecs in particular!) considered chocolate valuable enough to use it as currency.  E

uropeans finally discovered the awesomeness of chocolate around the 17th century and hot chocolate quickly became a fashionable drink.  Chocolate remained popular throughout Europe for its nutritional, medicinal and even aphrodisiac properties.  Chocolate finally took bar form in 1847, when Joseph Fry (according to the Smithsonian) created the first chocolate bar.  A small British company called Cadbury (who is not so small anymore!) was credited with introducing boxed chocolates to the masses in 1868.  Nestle (another well-known name today) was credited for introducing milk chocolate just a few short years later.  Since then, chocolate has remained a staple part of the food industry: it was included in army rations during both world wars and has grown to include exotic truffles and intricate candy bars. 

Wine and Chocolate Pairings

Salted Caramels and Fortified Wine.

One recent article from the

New York Times

featured this pairing as a favorite if one wants to pair wine with chocolate. Salted caramels are growing in popularity and need no introduction. Fortified wine, however, may be a different story. Put most simply, fortified wine is with combined with another distilled beverage, usually brandy.

Icewine and Fruit Filled Truffles.

Icewine (in German - Eiswein) is a type of dessert wine made from grapes that were frozen while still on the vine. Here, the sugars and dissolved solids that add to the flavor of the wine do not freeze, but the water does, so the juice that results from these frozen grapes is sweet and highly concentrated. This sweet dessert wine will pairing nicely with any fruit based chocolate because the fruit enhances the honey flavors of the wine.

Reisling and White Chocolate.

For my choco-holics, you may already know that white chocolate is not chocolate at all. It is actually made of cocoa butter, sugar, milk solids and salt. As a result, the vanilla and honey flavors of white chocolate blend well with the tangerine notes found in most rieslings.

Bordeaux Blends and Intense Dark Chocolate.

Most bordeaux blends are full-bodied wines that contain dark fruit flavors. Chocolate with a high cacao content will stand up to the intensity of most bordeaux blends and bring out the berry flavors. 

Other interesting Pairings include:

(1) Rose Champagne and Truffles, the sharp tannin is balanced by the decadence of the truffles; (2) 

Pinot Noir and Medium Dark Chocolate; and (3) 

Chanti Classico and Vanilla Filled Truffles, Chianti has a dark and full-bodied flavor that balances nicely with the strong aroma and mild flavor of vanilla truffles.

General Suggested Pairings with Milk Chocolate.

If you like milk chocolate, try pairing it with the following wines: 

Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc (I'm thinking this may be weird - try it and let me know how it goes), 

Sparkling Wine/Champagne, and 

Dessert Wines. If you're thinking the term "dessert wine" seems like a general classification - you would be right! There is no simple definition for dessert wines. It simply encompasses any sweet wine that follows the meal and should be distinguished from

fortified wines

 that are commonly consumed before the meal. But, if you want to get technical, in the United States, a dessert wine is defined as any wine over 14% alcohol by volume and thus taxed at a higher rate.

General Suggested Pairings with Dark, Bittersweet or Semisweet Chocolate.

If you love dark chocolate, try pairing it with the following wines/beverages: Zinfandel, 

Pinot Noir, 

Cabernet Sauvignon, 

Merlot, Tawny 

Port, and Cognac. I know what you are thinking next ... what is

tawny port

. I'll admit I was interested in looking it up myself, but put most simply, it is wine, made from red grapes, aged in wood barrels, and gradually exposed to oxidation and evaporation. This exposure to oxidation creates a "nutty" flavor in the wine.

Pairings with White Chocolate.

For those of you who love white chocolate, try pairing it with: Chardonnary, 

Zinfandel, or 

Sherry.

For Those of You in the NYC Area, My Favorite Places to Buy Chocolate!

1. Vosges Haut-Chocolate. I love this place because they take pairing chocolate with interesting international flavors to a whole new level. My favorite is the dark chocolate truffle with coconut and sweet Indian curry. While these chocolates are available online, you should go to the store in Soho - there are tons of free samples!
2. Jacque Torres. The chocolates here are inventive and excellent. But if you had to come here for one thing, it would have to be the chocolate chip cookie. They are served to you after sitting on a griddle for several minutes, so not only is it warm, the chocolate chunks are also melting. Perfection!
3. Trader Joe's. I know I shout out TJ's all-the-time, but this really is a great store for those looking for a bargain. They offer a lot in terms of standards and I even see truffles from time to time.

Check out the following sources for additional detail:

Smithsonian

, on the history of chocolate; 

AllChocolate

, an online resource for all things chocolate; and

Oprah's website

on specific chocolate and wine pairings.  Stay tuned for the wine club results on what the group thought pair best!

Cheers!

Introduction to American Wine: The Results!

While this post is a bit dated, please enjoy!!

Image from goodfoodgoodfriends.com

This year my family started what I hope to be an annual Christmas tradition - a Wine Tasting and Holiday party held on December 26th.  In the end, it was a very successful event and the whole family is looking forward to next years! Below is the list of wines we tasted and some comments from the group:

(1) Rombauer Vineyards 2010 Chardonnay

Grapes:

 Chardonnay

Where its from:

California, Napa/Sonoma County, Carneros Appellation

Vintage:

2010

Alcohol:

14.4%

Comments: 

The label says...

Rich yellow color and becoming more golden with age. Inviting fruit aromas of honeydew, yellow peach and fig are supported by vanilla and caramel. Creamy vanilla integrates with honeysuckle, pineapple and apricot for a fabulous richness on the palate. A luscious mouthfeel leads to a generous and creamy finish.

The group said...

4 out of 5 rating, smooth, pronounced flavors with a buttery taste. For many it was their favorite wine of the evening.

Recommend to a Friend?

Definitely! The label did not lie - the wine was so smooth and had a balanced flavor.

(2) Aliceanna Riesling

Grapes:

 Riesling

Where its from:

Baltimore, Maryland

Vintage:

n/a

Alcohol:

n/a

Comments:

 This is a new winery located in a relatively undeveloped wine region. The riesling grape is known for its light and refreshing taste, fruitful and floral aromas and sometimes slightly sweet taste.

The group said...

all sorts of things! The average group rating was 3.5 out of 5. The comments ranged from overly fruity, weak and lacked character to lovely flavor with a sweet sparkling taste.

Recommend to a Friend?

Yes with Reservations. I would recommend this to a friend if you know that they enjoy reisling. (Really who doesn't?!) This was definitely a well done reisling, but may be too sweet for those who don't enjoy this style of wine.

(3) Napa Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Grapes:

 Sauvignon Blanc

Where its from: 

California, Napa Valley, including Rutherhford and St. Helena

Vintage:

2011

Alcohol:

14%

Comments:

The label says...

vibrant aromas of gooseberry, pineapple and fresh pink grapefruit. Flavors include pear, guava, passion fruit and citrus lime tones. The wine has a lush mouthfeel and  notes of sweet clover and melon, with balanced acidity.

The group said...

light and smooth. The average group rating was 3.5 out of 5. Many in the group would buy this wine again.

Recommend to a Friend?

Yes. Overall, this is a solid wine that would make a good addition to any table.

(4) Sterling Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Grapes:

 Sauvignon Blanc

Where its from:

California, Napa Valley

Vintage:

2011

Alcohol:

n/a

Comments:

The label says...

 Flavors of ripe melon, fig and citrus. Grapefruit flavors with a tart element. This wine pairs well with summer dishes, including grilled chicken and light pasta salad.

 The group said...

 light, fresh, very smooth, crisp and delicious. The average group rating was a solid 4 out of 5.

Recommend to a Friend?

 Definitely. This sauvignon blanc is well balanced and fresh. 

(5) Folie a Duex Pinot Noir 2011

Grapes:

 Pinot Noir grapes from 

Clarksburg, Central Coast and North Coast.

Where its from:

California, Napa Valley, St. Helena 

Vintage:

2011

Alcohol:

13.3%

Comments:

The label says...

vibrant cherry flavors, dusky violet notes and silken finish.

The group said...

 very oaky. The average group rating was 2 out of 5.

Recommend to a Friend?

  Yes with reservations. By no means is this wine undrinkable. For those who love a round, creamy or oaky finish - this wine will be great for you. However, for those of you who are turned off by an overly oaky wine, I would steer clear.

(6) Napa Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Grapes:

 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Where its from:

 Napa Valley

Vintage:

 2010

Alcohol:

 13.8%

Comments:

The label says...

the aroma primarily consists of plum and dark fruit. The taste includes black and red fruit flavor with a hint of cinnamon and tobacco. This wine aged for 17 months exclusively in French oak. 

The group said...

 they could not really taste the cinnamon, but definitely noticed a sense of burnt tobacco. The average group rating was 3 out of 5.

Recommend to a Friend?

Yes. 

(7) Napa Cellars Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Grapes:

 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Where its from:

 Napa Valley

Vintage:

2010

Alcohol:

 13.8%

Comments:

The label says...

this wine has cherry and plum aromas.  The taste includes black and red fruit flavor with a subtle hint of spice. This wine aged for 20 months in exclusively French Oak (92% of it new oak). 

The group said...

 nice, dry, spicy flavor that would be great with steak. Others said this wine was full bodied and lovely. The average group rating was 4 out of 5.

Recommend to a Friend?

 Yes. White wine drinkers may try to steer clear, but red wine drinkers will fine this wine both developed and complex. 

(8) Sterling Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Grapes:

 Cabernet Sauvignon

Where its from: 

Napa Valley

Vintage:

 2009

Alcohol:

 n/a

Comments:

The label says...

this wine has a deep purple color and an aroma filled with black fruits and oak. The taste includes dark fruits, dried cherries, dark cocoa and sweet hazelnut. 

The group said...

 subtle taste, sharp and short finish. The average group rating was 4 out of 5.

Recommend to a Friend?

 Yes.

(9)

Sterling Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Grapes:

 Cabernet Sauvignon

Where its from:

Napa Valley

Vintage:

 2007

Alcohol:

 14.8%

Comments:

The label says...

 this wine smells of dark fruit and fragrant spices. The taste includes layers of dark cheers, licorice, espresso and vanilla. 

The group said...

 amazing flavor with a smooth finish. Also, the wine had a nice bite at the end. The average group rating was a 5 out of 5.

Recommend to a Friend?

 Definitely! This wine is big, bold and complex. Definitely worth tasting.

(10) Folie a Duex Merlot 2010

Grapes:

 92% Merlot, 7% Syrah, and 1% Petite Sirah 

Where its from:

 Napa Valley

Vintage:

 2010

Alcohol:

14.2%

Comments:

The label says...

this merlot tastes of ripe, juicy black cherry flavors with notes of vanilla, tea and cocoa. 

The group said...

 very smooth and not much else. Do not get me wrong - this by no means an undrinkable wine. However, by this time in the tasting, the group was more interested in partying that taking intricate notes... a good night in my book!

Recommend to a Friend?

 Yes. Try it for yourself and leave a comment about the taste! I will update the blog with your comments!

With that, we have reached the end of our introductory tasting of American wines (aka California). Special thanks goes to my mom - Lori - to choosing this wonderful selection of wine from her collection and hosting the party at her place! Here's hoping next year is even better! (I'm hoping for from wine from south africa!)

Cheers!