Red Bicyclette French Rose

This is why you read a wine blog written by an accountant. A $7 bottle of wine that is perfect for the summer BBQ. Light, dry and refreshing. Chill it, drink it and be sure lots of friends and family are around to have some fun with!

Connecticut wine trail

Me and Mrs. Vino hit 3 Connecticut wineries over the weekend. Stop 1 was the Heritage where we did the sampling for 2. Cost was $25 which included 5 wine tastings and lots of cheezes. All of the wines were fragrant and interesting. Mrs. Vino even detected a "hair permanent" odor that you smell at the hair dresser - and as soon as she said it I got it too. Fortunately the wine didn't taste like that. We then went to Jonathan Edwards winery, which was a large operations. They mix their CT grapes with their CA grapes to make some great wines. Beautiful sunny deck, great rural CT setting and lots of young people (like us - ahem.). Lastly we visited Stonington which also was a beautiful setting and good wines at more affordable prices than the prior wineries. I recommend a visit to any of these vineyards to ALL my readers. Don't forget a GPS, because it isn't easy finding these wineries!

Truro Vineyards of Cape Cod - Triumph Meridtage Blend

Bordeaux style - 60% Cab Sav, 30% Merlot & 5% Cab Franc. What a pleasant surprise. I'm always leery of the wines I buy at wineries because I get so wrapped up in the winery itself. This Truro Mass winery is a beautiful property and a fun take on a vacation afternoon. The wine sat in my basement for a couple of years, but why not open it on a Monday when the cellar is becoming bare? Darker fruit flavors on the nose. Very smooth and dry. Now that I've tried it I wouldn't hesitate to open it even on a Saturday with some steaks. No comment from Mrs Vino who is out tonight

Pascual Toso Reserve Malbec 2007

I've only been drinking wines for a few years. I've started to recognize oak aging and generally I haven't liked it as it seems to drown out the fruit. This wine's label boasts of oak aging and I agree - great spice and like many Malbecs it has a real backbone. Me and Mrs. Vino both loved it from the get go. I didn't pull out any specifc flavors, but who cares. Still smooth as can be. think I paid about $15. I've liked other wines from my Argintinian buddy Pascual, so look for him.

Sat Night BBQ Party with neighbors

here's a photo for my friend Sandi who wanted a better photo. When you only have 1 or 2 readers they carry lots of clout. wish I could figure out how to get red of that dark photo below.

Drank all of these at a Sat night BBQ with the neighbors. Beautiful June evening and I overdid it. OOOPS They all tasted great! Francis Ford Merlot, Stephen Vincent Pinot and a french Rose. I can say no more.

Cossintino Nero D'Avola Sicilia

Take it from the wino accountant - look to the lesser known varietals for value. Nero D'Avola always reminds me of a cabernet. This one is very dry with earthy aromas. That means it smells a bit like manure - but trust me it works. I think this one was under $9 for the bottle. Mrs. Vino will be walking thru the door after 4 days in DC with the 8th grade class. I'll just hook her up intervenously to the bottle and send her to bed.

35 South Cabernet Sav - 2006

Had to try another Cab from Chile. Or NOT. Nothing special here - even at $10. Drinkable and fine for a Tuesday night, but my advice is just keep going if you walk past this one in the wine store aisle. Although if you're in the South America aisle, pick up a Montes or a Saint Ema! I score 35 South at 79. Mrs. Vino is traveling. I know you miss her:)

Chateau de La Chaize - Brouilly 2006

I believe this translates as the town of the lounge chair. I really have to visit this town. 100% Beaujolais. A favorite that I pulled out for my birthday. Me and Mrs. Vino both definitely tasted cranberry - so a little darker than the '04 vintage which had a distinctive/lighter rasberry flavor. Beaujolais is generally great value and I think I paid $16 at Julios in Westboro MA

Rose - Domaine Massamier La Mignardie

A sideways photo to reveal an empty bottle of rose - NOT an incompetent PC photo teckie! :) It also is a tribute to the movie! A nice summer sipper that even Mrs. Vino liked. She's not always a rose fan. Dry with strawberry flavors. 80%Cinsault, 10% Syrah, 10% Grenache. I score it a 88. Not bad for an $11 French wine I just bought on a whim.

Edna Valley 2007 Sauvignon Blanc

$11 wine recommended by the folks at Julios in Westboro. I tasted some pineapple juice flavor that my mom also tasted once I suggested. (My Mommy is in town and likes whites.) Lacked a bit of the acid and tartness that I generally like in SB's. Still a nice wine scored at 87 by SB. (Photo from cell phone! Seems better than the webcam photo)

Penfolds Rawson's Retreat - Shiraz Cab

I got nothin' special on the nose or taste. Hey - I'm honest. Mrs. Vino says it doesn't have a lot of flavor, but it is good/smooth. The bottle says it is well rounded and I agree. I score it an 85. There will be more exciting posts to come - promise!

- ohh look in the background. The Sox were the 2007 WS champs. Who knew?