Helfrich - Vin D'Alsace

On Thanksgiving Day I took the advice of some of some more experienced wine bloggers and tried a bit of Gerwurztaminer. My first taste impression was that I would be dumping this down the drain. But I had time on my hands. The family was relaxing while the Pats beat up on those poor Lions and I decided to keep trying. This wine had the bitter/sweet smell and taste of flowers. (I see others referencing rose pedals and I suppose that makes sense.) My brother sampled a bit of it and suggested that he would drink this as a dessert wine. Hmmm. So, I drank a bit more, corked it and threw it in the fridge while I slipped over to safer bet for the big meal - a New Zealand Pinot Noir. An hour or so after the stuffing - that is the stuffing of the people who ate too much, we returned to the table for some pie and I uncorked the Gerwurztaminer. My mother-in-law had made the best apple pie I've ever had in my life. Normally I wouldn't trust my memory, but this pie was off the charts and I wasn't the only one to comment. Even more interesting the Gerwurztaminer fit it like a glove. The food wine pairing was perfect and with each taste of pie I wanted some wine and vice-versa. So not only was it the best apple pie I ever had, but it also was close to the best food/wine pairing I had ever had. Alway listen to your big brother!

Thanksgiving Wine

There is no reason to stress about the Thanksgiving wine selection! There are some pretty simple guidelines to follow and you don't need to spend lots of money to make a good selection. In fact, it is probably better that you don't go with a big, expensive wine. Traditional Thanksgiving food is a diverse mix of flavors and textures. From turkey and gravy, to cranberries, to creamed onions, to sweet potatoes, any complex wine is likely to clash with at least one of these flavors. Have at least one white and one red on hand - and keep them light. For the white, a Riesling will have a bit more texture and sweetness to match some of the food. Many folks simply don't care for "sweet wine" and they should seek out an unoaked Chardonnay (See a specific review and strong recommendation in my previous post). On the red side go with a Pinot Noir or a Beaujolais - either a traditional Beaujolais from one of the 10 Grand Cru areas or a 2010 Nouveau Beaujolais - just released. (On Friday I wrote-up the 2010 edition - two blogs down.) I've reviewed many $15 - $20 Rieslings and Pinot Noirs which are linked under those titles to the left. If you're seeking out less pricey Pinot Noir, Mrs. Vino suggests that her "book" (wine) club likes the BV Coastal Pinot for under $10. I've also had luck with the Beringer Pinot - which is also in the $10 range. You should be able to find at least one of these. I know of a couple of folks who are having Turkucken this year. I would consider going a bit bolder and seek out a Granache which has a bit more spice. Mrs. Vino and I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Check back on Thanksgiving Day, I plan to review a "Gewurztraminer" with Mrs. Vino's mom. Gewurztraminer is a varietal that is similar to Riesling and I'm curious to give it a whirl because I've seen other folks recommend it as another Turkey Day option.

Four Vines Naked Chardonnay

I'm experimenting with some Turkey Day wine possibilities. Tonight we're sampling an unoaked chardonnay. The stainless steel aging lets the fruit stand on its own and keeps the wine lighter than most chardonnays. I find a light floral aroma, with good acid, balanced by some sweetness on the end. The wine complements our dinner: grilled cod, fried snow peas and butternut squash with a bit of maple syrup. In a weird sort of way we've managed to parallel the wide range of flavors and textures on a Thanksgiving table. I seek out some tasting notes from Mrs Vino. "Pear - red pear", she says. "Just a bit sweet for me, but I like it." I can't imagine anyone saying they dislike this sub $12 wine and if you forced me to pick just one wine to satisfy the palates of all your friends and family on the Holiday it would be this one. I see this wine everywhere, so look for it! Even Robert Parker Junior, who secretly wanted to be a math teacher, would give this a 90+ score on Thanksgiving.

Bequjolais Noveau 2010

November is underestimated. Sure the days are short, the leaves are off the trees and cold weather is moving in, but there are positives. No bugs, the best holiday of the year, you can crank up the fireplace and kick-back with meaningful football games. And then there is the traditional release of the first wine of the year - Beaujolais Nouveau. In a pinch, this wine is not a bad choice to go with The Bird on the Holiday. Part of the fun is you don't know what you'll get. Last season's was simply not drinkable. Always start the season by purchasing ONE bottle. My first sniff of this edition is concerning. A bit gluey. Happily I don't taste it and even bettter the wine continued to smooth out as I ate my Friday night Pizza. Impresive tannins. At $10 this is worth a flyer - if nothing else for the sake of the season. If you can find one made by someone other than Georges Duboeuf I would go with that, even at a $2 premium. Consider it for A Thanksgiving wine, but not THE Thanksgiving wine. Have a back-up or two ready. I plan another Thansgiving wine write-up for tomorrow - so check back readers!

Priorat 2008

After trying a Priorat Rose this summer, I decided to go for this Spanish red. I realize this label looks exactly like the rose I had back in July. At thattime I wrote, "This DOC region in Spain is known for their bold wines where the vine roots thrive in slate and quartz soil." I immediately notice the spice which is awesome. This granache fits that bold image and could stand up to any food. We match it up with some sheppards pie and it works. Mrs. Vino finds it a bit bitter but agrees it is OK.

Lucashof 2007

That's it - I'm sold on Riesling. I neglected to write up a Ste Michelle Eroica that I picked up as part of my deep dive on Riesling - but I loved it. This Lucashof is equally as good - with many recognizable flavors - most prominently lemon and peach, which I know are at different ends of the spectrem but I get them. I'm finding the texture of Riesling is consistently interesting. Riesling is closer apple cider while a Savignon Blanc would be more like your Motts apple juice. Chardonnay may be something in between. Watch out! Don't go talking about that analogy with your wine snob friends because I came up with that one on my own ! Anyway, it is time to shed whatever internal biases you may carry against Riesling as being some sweet wine that those Germans make. I'll keep trying Rieslings and wouldn't hesitate to pick up a Lucoshoff again. This was marked down from $12 to $8 - so now you know why I grabbed it. Mrs. Vino still can't be sold, but I'll keep trying.

Marcell Hugg

Two of my favorite wine evaluators/bloggers both suggest that Riesling is one of their favorite grape varietals. While I've definitely encountered some interesting Rieslings, I haven't picked up many because I'm concerned I'll end up with a bunch of sweet wines that Mrs. Vino will refuse and I'll be stuck with. Enter my favorite wine merchant from Holliston, whose name is Rochelle - yes I introduced myself. I explained that I wanted some "less fruit forward" Rieslings. Code word for, I really am leery of sweet wines! She tells me that German Rieslings are all over the place but Rieslings from Alsace are always dryer! Bingo - that I can remember! I love how the texture of this white contrasts with other whites. There is a peachy feel that really sets it apart. The flavor is pleasant with a light mineral aftertaste. Very crisp really! I will look for more Rieslings from Alsace. Mrs. Vino was unwilling to give it a go. She'll come around!

Planeta

Mrs. Vino gave me a wine calendar last December and I'm picking up all sorts of great tips from it. A few weeks back I read about "Planeta", a Sicilian wine blend that makes a great summer sipper - especially when chilled. I'm always challenged to recall the daily advice I see in the calendar, but on this day I thought, Sicily is like a planet, spinning around in the Mediterranean - so "Planeta" fits for me. After a hot Friday before Labor day hike with my father, we swing by the Good Life Market near Gray Maine and I eye a Planeta in the bargain rack. (Hey - who hasn't looked at the bargain rack in the last few years!) Fortunately, there is still just enough summer air on Saturday night in early September and I pop the chilled gem for my Dad and Mrs. Vino. I understand Planeta primarily uses Nero d'avola, the most important grape variety from Sicily. The wine calendar also referenced Frappato, but this Planeta skipped that varietal. We all appreciate the refreshing red with distinctive cherry flavors. Look for any Planeta the next time you're shopping wine and serve it chilled on a hot summer night.

Porta Reserva Cab Sauvignon

Chile strikes again! Picked up this Cab for $10 and it is a nice big hairy red that I'll pull out for my next steak dinner. The Japanese gave this wine a gold medal in one of their challenge - with good reason. Mrs. Vino says it is too heavy for a summer night and while I agree, I think she'll feel differently in October when the temp hits the low 40's and we set our first fire of the season in the fireplace. Look for this one! BTW - allow me to explain my limited write-ups lately. I've been knee deep in the college search process for my son and it is all consuming. I have however found that shopping colleges is just like shopping for wine. Most importantly, you need to select a wine (college) to go with your meal (student). The match is critical! Like wine colleges and universities come in all sorts of flavors and many are expensive! Some may be worth it, others I'm not so sure. Then there are some cheap schools - relatively speaking -that appear to offer quite a bit. Just like wine, this is where I'm focused.

Isabel Mondavi

Do you like cran-raspberry juice drink with a little alcohol zip? If yes, then you'll love this Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Rose from Isabel Mondavi. For me, it tastes like a wine that doesn't know whether it wants to be a red or a rose. Perhaps this is why I don't see many Cab Sav Roses. Like all roses it is drinkable for me - but really not good - so I won't look for it. Dedicated readers know what Mrs. Vino thought of this Rose!

Arete Selections

We're visiting colleges with our son in Virgnia and Mom and Dad need some inexpensive wine with dinner. The flights, hotel and car rental are already setting us back! In downtown Harrisonburg Virginia - home of James Madison University - we find Dave's Downtown Taverna and they have a $15 Cab Sav from a Virginia winery. WOW - think about the last time you got a restaurant bottle for $15. Unfortunately the wine is served a bit too warm, which is all too common for red wines in restaurants. (Whites are usually too cold) The wine recovers nicely and shows nice fruit, good spice from 24 months on oak, good backbone/tannis and cherry. I never got a comment from Mrs. Vino but she must have enjoyed it because she put it back with no problem. $15 in a restaurant for good bottle - now I'm back on track!! BTW - The atmosphere was great with many JMU students and great cheap eats.

Loose Goose - San Antonio - 2008

Aug 4 is Mrs. Vino's B-day and my brother and his wife invite us over for a barbeque. He had an informative loose-leaf binder of all the wines he had received from the WSJ wine club. (Here's my first digression - Q - How stupid is it that wine can be received via the mail in Mass - but only if it is sent from within Mass? A. Very stupid!) The binder contained a great write-up of each wine from the WSJ club and my brother gave me the option - is it my birthday? - to pick a wine to go with our grilled surf (tuna) and turf (filet) dinner. Cool! I thought a Pinot would do the best job riding the wave between these foods. The award winning vintner employs a gaggle of geese to keep pests off his precious grapes in the San Antonio valley of Chile - and thus the wine is organic. Very nice spice - likely from a bit of oak aging - and this gives the wine some heft and a bit of a silky texture to go with the outstanding grilled food. You'll find this wine being sold through many of the various wine clubs that are popping up. I hope you live in state that has reasonable shipping laws so that you might be able to order it.

Sakonnet Vidal Blanc

My first write-up of a Rhode Island wine – and while no ones wine merchant is likely to carry this wine – I thought I might use it to encourage you (and me) to seek out wineries close to home and give them a chance. (Every state in the NATION has a winery! Bill O'Reilly and Steven Colbert would be proud) This is the first time I’ve tasted a wine and connected to multiple distinct fruit flavors on both the front and back ends of each taste. Mrs. Vino tasted before me and said, “grapefruit”. I tasted and got apple juice, but as I continued to taste the acid kicked in and there was the grapefruit. This was a really interesting and unique wine and I’m glad I selected it amongst the many wines I tasted at this winery last month. Perfect for a summer night - or day for that matter. The November 2003 Food and Wine magazine said the wine has "an impressive amount of flavor and intensity." Indeed!

Ginerosat - Priorat 2007

Dedicated readers of this space know that I'm crazy for Roses on a hot summer night - while Mrs. Vino is more selective - leaning towards the bolder (and redder) of the Roses - if that makes any sense. Wine is meant to be shared so I inquire about some bolder Roses at my favorite wine store in Holliston. The proprietor suggests this Grenache and Merlot blend from the Priorat region in Catalan Spain. This DOC region in Spain is known for their bold wines where the vine roots thrive in slate and quartz soil. This Rose may be the boldest I've ever enjoyed - so good suggestion! Now that I've probably purchased 5+ cases of wine from the propietor do you suppose I should get to know her name? What a reserved Yankee I really am. Next time. Anyway, the wine screams cherry at me - but I also keep finding other strong flavors: citrus/acid and perhaps the power of suggestion has taken hold - but it has a slatey flavor. I'll certainly save some for Mrs Vino for tomorrow night. Tonight she's cooing over Bon Jovi with her Book (drinking) Club buddies. What an interesting wine! I hope you can find it. I paid $15 - prior to my 20% case (plus:) discount!

Line 39 Cab - Lake County 2007

On a recent weekend, Mrs. Vino and I stole away for a visit to some Massachusetts wineries. (Our dedication knows no bounds!) That evening we weren't interested in lots of wine, so we ordered glasses and Mrs. Vino chose the parellell 39 Cabernet. She liked it immediately and tonight we tried our own bottle at home. Apparently some of the best wines in the world come from wineries along the 39th parallel. This wine comes from Lake County which is just north of Napa. Lots of flavor and very fruit forward. Mrs. Vino dug deep and noted that it was like a fig newton - which was accurate both in flavor and texture. I see other web wine reviewers saying it is a summer sipper - so maybe we've picked the right summer night to open this one - because it is 85 degrees - and we've got it chilled a bit! Look for it before the summer ends! I think you'll find it and be pleased with the wine - and it's value, of course!

Domaine du Chateau d' Eau - Moillard

Comfortable in my masculinity, I'm never afraid to go pink - at least in the summer. This 2008 somehow survived last summer in my basement and I couldn't motivate to pull it out over the winter. So while I'm a little late in getting to this one, I threw it in for the 4th of July weekend (2010) in Maine and very glad I did. The color of this rose stands out as my whole family notices its' deeper rustier colors. I find it has just a bit more weight than most roses and that finding is confirmed when Mrs. Vino tries - and likes this wine. She's typically not a rose fan. As the wine is 70% syrah, I wonder if the boldness of that varietal is giving it more oomph. This wine would go with almost any foods - but we actually enjoyed it with lobster by the lake - on a warm summer night! Happy Birthday USA! (70% Syrah and 30% Cinsault)

Cioncia

"Cioncia" is a word of Latin origin and means "Wine Stork". You see Normie, wine storks live in the same region of Portugal where they grow wine. One last Cliffie tidbit for you - they procreate with the same parter their entire life. Mrs. Vino would approve I"m sure. But of course you knew all that! This checks in as the perfect, inexpensive, casual, Tuesday night or Sat night barbeque wine. Portuguesse wines are known for their value. No surprise given the status of this countries economy. This is one of those wines that you see stacked high at the end of a row of wines in your local store - with a bright colorful sign and a cheap pricetag - under $10. Don't hesitate to pick up this one. I would also add that I'm learning that blends from Spain and Portugal almost never fail as cheap, casual sippers that are always pleasant. This one is a syrah and aragones blend. OK - so who out there has heard of the aragones grape variety. I don't even think Cliffie could pretend he knows that grape variety.

Chateau du Basty 2006

I was thinking that wine is like politics. On the right we have the bigger bolder Shiraz and Cabs representing Reagan and Bush, while on the left we would have Pinot Noir and Gamay for Kennedy and Obama (who has turned sharply left after getting the job) I digress! While Mrs. Vino isn't afraid to vote left, but she's not a big gamay fan, so I dig out a little Nancy Pelosi gamay while she helps decorate the High School for prom night. I pop this one from Regnie which is one of the 10 cru regions of Beaujolais. This has been in the basement for a a couple years. Immediately I smell that this wine is fuller and I taste a deeper jammy raspberry flavor. Mrs. Vino would like this one. Closer to a Pinot than a typical gamay. I do not know what I paid and can't see a price on the web, but I certainly will look for this one again. Ooohhh, Mrs. Vino just got home and yes - she likes it - just like Mikey in the old Life Cereal commercials.

Brophy Clark

Happy Mother's Day! I needed to remind my kids that it isn't "Wife's Day" it is "Mother's Day", so Dad shouldn't be doing EVERYTHING! Anyway, after I made a fruit salad and omelet for B-fast, I roasted/grilled a beer can chicken for dinner. I had to have a Pinot and grabbed this one which I picked up at the Wine House in Holliston for $18. Very tight at first - but with a little time the wine opened up nicely with great cherry flavors. I linked up the web site which gives a very thorough and interesting description of the vineyard, wine making and tasting notes. They say pomegranate and raspberry - which I get. 14.5% alcohol - but it isn't too hot for my tastes and I tend to like the sub 14% wines. All-in-all a nice wine that I would go for again, but I might be more tempted by "La Crema" which is just a bit more money. Holy shit - I almost forgot Mrs. Vino on Mother's day. What do you say, Mrs Vino, "eeheyyah - tastes more like a cab than a vino. Not as light as a Pinot. But it was good with the chicken." (nice recovery) But hey - she's got a point. I'm guessing she is picking up on the oak and alcohol, which weren't over done but impact the flavor.

Sean Minor 2007 Pinot Noir - Carneros

I expressed my lukewarm reaction to a couple recent Pinot Noirs purchases and the Wine House proprietor said that she generally doesn't like the Oregon Pinots and suggested I try Sean Minor 4B. Carneros is a region that is known for great Pinot Noirs. Great suggestion! For me the wine smells and tastes of fresh strawberries. Mrs. Vino also gives it an A. There is more spice than I generally associate with Pinots - probably from the oak aging. At $17, this checks in at one of the better valued Pinot's we've tried and we'll look for it again! The vintner provides a detailed description of his wine making efforts on the web site, which I've linked. I found the effort involved impressive. Clearly this isn't some juice purchased on the open market!

Jigsaw - Oregon 2007 Pinot

I'm really starting to believe that price counts when it comes to Pinot Noir. A few nights ago we tried a $10 Pinot that was so marginal that I couldn't write about it. I decided to step it up with this one at $14, but I was still bored. I love the name. Every time I read it that old Stones tune starts going though my head -"I'm just trying to do this Jigsaw puzzle, before it rains any more....." We have this with some fried tilapia and a Spanish rice/bean/tomato dish I experimented with. We like the food, but just found the wine a bit boring and for a Saturday night it went down pretty slowly. This reminds me, next time I'm looking for a Pinto I'll go for the Chalone Vineyards. Don't look for the Jigsaw Puzzle. And if I will channel John McCain for a moment, and say, "my friend(s)" that is 6 wine reviews in 9 days! Not bad. I vowed to do 10 in 10 days - I'm not sure I can do 4 tomorrow - especially since it is Monday:)

Shannon Ridge 2007 Cab

Cut to the chase. I WILL be looking for this $11 cab again! This went perfectly with burgers on the grill and some Mrs. Vino homemade fries. We also mixed in a little fried plantain just to keep things interesting. Mrs. Vino and I both felt the wine needed a bit of air time to open up and were tempted to decant, but decided to just wait. Another indication that we like this one is that the bottle is GONE! The winemaker has a cool web site that I linked up. Lake County looks like a great wine country destination. Holy smokes - the suggested retail on this is $19! I'll be rushing back to my new favorite wine store to pick up more of this bad boy before the end of the week! I'll say it again - look for this one!

Tempra Tantrum - 2

Time to throw another Tempra Tantrum, only this time we're digging into the Tempranillo (60%) and Granache (40%) blend. I immediately like this one better than the Shiraz blend - and I liked the Shiraz. But the Granache creates a softer and smoother wine that goes down easily. This Tempra Tantrum series has got me thinking about the beauty of the Tempranillo grape. The most memorable wine I ever had was a Rioja at Morton's Steak House in the late 80's. Isn't it cool that you remember a great wine from 20+ years ago. That wine was pure velvet and while I've heard many describe a velvety texture in wine, that was the only time I've ever really found it. Whether it is a Rioja (oaked a minimum of 18 months) or just another wine made from Temranillo I've always found them pleasant - and other than the Riojas - very reasonably priced. I digress. Mrs. Vino also likes this wine but says it doesn't have a ton of flavor. She hesitates, but says she really tastes beets. We both agree that we haven't heard anyone describe their wine as tasting like beets, but fresh beets can be pretty sweet and if she tastes it then that's one of the cool personal experiences that wine brings.. I'm thinking of getting a bunch of this one for my Dad who also loves Tempranillo and is especially fond of $8 wine in his retirement:)

Tempra Tantrum 2008

My new favorite wine store - the Wine House in Holliston MA - had an interesting arrangement of three value Spanish wines - all called Tempra Tantrum. Each wine is predominately tempranillo and tonight I'm trying the shiraz (40%) blend. The nose is pleasant and surprisingly floral for most of the reds I drink. The taste is equally pleasant with denser blackberry flavors - which actually matches the vinters description on the back label. Apparently I'm also supposed to be getting hints of chocolate, cherry and spice - well 1 out of 4 ain't bad. Good tannins give the wine reasonable structure. I'm matching this up with some leftover pasta, not quite the paella the vinter suggests, but still pretty good. It is Tuesday, so I'm happy to have only paid $8 - after my 20% case discount. (most wine stores give just 15%) Mrs. Vino is taking the night off from wine tonight. VERY unsual! I will look for this wine again for any night of the week. Three reviews in five days. Not bad.

Borgo - Delle Venezie

I dragged Mrs. Vino to a wine shop I wanted to check out. The Wine House is a free standing house in downtown Holliston MA where the first floor can't be more than 500 cozy square feet. The wines were well organized along one wall and the propietor provided a handwritten description for each wine. Her descriptions were so thorough that I didn't need to ask many questions - but after selecting many bottles, I asked for help finding a drier Pinot Grigio. She said, "Well, many wine producers are actually dropping their prices lately and this Borgo is now $11 when it used to be $14. I really like this one and it is less fruit forward." Considering no ones salary is going up lately this seems appropriate, but I'm also thinking, "Is there a neon flashing sign on my forehead that says, 'I'm cheap and looking for value.'? (This is not the first time I've thought this after asking someone for wine advice.) One day later the green label seemed particularly appropriate on the day they award the Green Jacket in golf. The warmish spring night is also cooperating and I barbeque chicken to pair with it. Very floral scent. The first taste is a bit bland and lacks the acidity I was hoping for. Apple juice. Apple juice. Apple juice. And who doesn't like apple juice - with some pear flavoring as well. Mrs. Vino tastes grapefruit - and on a re-taste I see her point - so there must be some acid - just not quite what I wanted. I would not hesitate to look for this easy drinking wine again - especially on a hot summer day, but if I have a choice between this and the Jermann - the Jermann would get my vote. Just a bit more interesting. Two wines in three days - I'm already behind on 10 blogs in 10 days - but I went to a wine tasting where there were too many wines to even think about writing up! I'll have to catch up - but at least I'm dedicated to my wine!

Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella 2007

A local Italian restaurant had this wine as a special on their wine list and I know this is a style of wine I like, and a vinter I've never tried - so why not. At $37 I swallowed hard but it wasn't much more than the other wines they listed - and he gave it a nice write-up and recommendation. I immediately notice a deep, dark color which in this case matches the wine. Mrs. Vino immediately says she likes it saying it is very smooth. This wine could stand up to any steak but goes fine with my grilled Halibut. Dark fruit flavors and appropriately oaked, I will certainly look for this wine again. Looks to retail for around $12. Not bad considering this is the best Valpolicella I've ever had. (80% Corvina, 10% Sangiovese and 10% Rondinella) Lastly, I gave up wine blogging for skiing and lent, but I'm going to make up for it with 10 wine reviews in 10 days. PROMISE!

Vino Piola Rosso

Lots of skiing, too many taxes, and frankly no exciting wines over the last month. But I'm breaking my writing slump on this Tuesday night with this Italian wine with a funky label. This wine is slightly oaked and not unpleasant, but it is a bit boring as the flavor drains away very quickly. Looks like this wine prices in the $10 range. "Looks like" because I don't know where I got this one. I might have bought it or it could have been an X-mas gift. Either way, I won't look for it. (Not that I think I'll ever see it again, because I can't find it after numerous net searches. I can't figure out the grape varietal.

Sexto

Sexto means "sixth" in Spanish - and the sixth grape variety in this wine is "Llendoner Pelut Noir". This varietal might help me reach the varietal century club. (see link.) We're liking the change of pace this 6 varietal wine brings on Super Bowl Sun Night. (Thank you NFL for the late start - Not!) The wine works well with our roaring fire (see photo) and leftover shrimp orzo in a tomatoe sauce. Some oak - tons of flavor - Mrs. Vino tastes cherry. Good for her! I might just look for this fun one again - especially the next time we've got pizza.

Chalone Vineyards Monterey County 2006

I had read that the Chalone Vineyard had the best Chardonnay bargain out there. Why not try the Pinot Noir? I smell smoke and tobacco. The wine has raspberry flavors, is slightly oaked and has a soft texture - almost velvety. Of the 4 Pinot's I'm currently sampling, I may like this one the best. Stay tuned on that. Mrs. Vino says, "very smooth, I like it." We pair it up with a Shrimp, Orzo and feta cheese recipe that Mrs. Vino has stewing in her new convection oven. A more robust Italian wine would have been a better choice. The sommelier will try to remember. Perhaps Mrs. Vino should start a cooking blog. She knows more about cookin' than I know about wine! Anyway, this is still one wine I'll look for and a good Pinot Noir at $15 would always represent a solid value.

Jam Jar

Over the holidays - between our party and hosting relatives - we somehow ended up with this "Jam Jar" in our quiver of wine bottles. It is Tuesday night. I'm playing late night tennis and sticking with water. Mrs. Vino asks that I open a bottle. I scan the bottles and think, "Why not?" The label clearly says, "Sweet Shiraz". I'm thinking, "Well all wine has some sweetness." Mrs. Vino can't get past the smell. I taste. Cough syrup. I can't get the taste out of my mouth, which I suppose means it has length - but not good length. I consider brushing my teeth. I pour the liquid from this wine bottle down the drain and it is now been safely stored for proper aging in my $20k leaching field in front of my house - where only the grubs can drink it. If this last sentence puts a bad taste in your mouth, well then you know what this wine tasted like.

Santi Solane Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso

Long name. I need to break it down. Valpolicella is region of Italy that is just behind chianti in production. Valpolicella Ripasso is aged at least 12 months on wood with an alcohol content in excess of 12% made with partially dried grape skins. The name "valpolicella" dates to at least the 12th century and likely comes from the ancient Greeks and may mean "valley of the cellars". Enough Wiki-pedia! "Wood" must mean "oak" because I smell it. I find this $15 bottle dry yet light - and it pairs well with a chicken pasta dish with a cream sauce. This region is known for producing good value wine. Sounds familiar. I always look for any label from this region. Mrs. Vino is too focused on the NFC Championship game to comment.

La Crema 2007 Monterey

In scanning my reviews by variety I note few Pinot Noirs tastings. There are four $20 La Crema's in the cellar and they've been there for some months. I'm always hesitant to crack the $20 bottles, but have been on a roll with them lately, so why not. When I've waited to open a wine and know it is pricier (by my cheapo standards) I try not to let the anticipation and price cloud my judgement. The first sniff and taste are not overwhelming - and I can tell that Mrs. Vino feels the same way. The vintner's notes suggest I should be tasting pomegranate. Yes, I get that intense fruit flavor. All the on-line reviews reference minerality. This might be why Mrs. Vino identifies a bitter aftertaste. One dominant thought is on my mind as we empty the bottle and sip the last glass. "I'm loving every last sip." Maybe that is my lesson for this review. My last tastes might say more about a wine than my first ones. I'll look for this wine again, but always be sure it is part of a case discount! (one final note - La Crema's come from everywhere at many price points - Sonoma, Monterey, Los Caneros etc.)

Huntington Zinfandel 2006

Memo to self - which I realize goes without saying on all my wine reviews on this web site. Do not purchase any more wines from Huntington. I've now had the Petite Syrah and the Zinfandel and both have been a bit off. Mrs. Vino couldn't drink either. I'm too cheap to do that. This one actually had some of the nice spice I expect from Zinfandels. I've heard others refer to wines as "sloppy" and that might be a word I would use here. The flavors just don't blend together - with the sweetness almost tasting like injected sugar. Needless to say, I won't look for this one.

Hess Allomi Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Last fall, when attending a distributor function at Julio's I sampled a California Cab. I confessed to the Hess representative that I generally drink Cabs from Chile. (Not that I'm opposed to other Cabs, it's just that the Chilean wines are much less expensive, generally reliable and I like them!) "Too earthy," he says to me. "Don't get me wrong," he says, "I went through a phase where I drank a lot of them, but I now prefer the California Cabs." I liked the sample and picked up a bottle - in the $18 range - although that was a special that night as it is generally around $22. I match in up with some mid-January charcoal grilled steaks. This is a "big hairy" red - and I'm beginning to see the distributors point. I love it and would recommend it to any of you big hairy cigar smokers out there. Mrs. Vino isn't a big fan - finding it just doesn't have any sweetness. I'll look for it! Shhh - Don't tell her. She'll learn to like this one. (Hey - ck out Brett "it is all about me" Fav-raa playing for the Vikings in the playoff game in the background. )

Cotes du Rhone - E Guigal 2005

Every time I read about Cotes du Rhone wines, the writer mentions E Guigal as a very reliable distributor. I match this $14 wine with Friday night pizza but I wouldn't hesitate to pair this with steak or lamb. My novice opinion says that blends - when done well - tend to be smoother than wines made from one variety. This one is 50% Granache and 50% Syrah, which are the traditional varietals of this region. I really didn't get any one berry or fruit flavor, although this one leans more towards berry flavors. I see this shipper and wine everywhere and plan to continue to pick it up.

Tuffeaux Bourgueil 2006

New rule. When your team is eliminated for the year - open a nice bottle of wine! (My football team - the Pats went down today - hard!) Back to the wine. On the nose I get smoke - unusual. Not a fruity wine - but that doesn't mean it doesn't have good flavor. Great tannins and length - I'm still tasting the wine minutes later. Pair this with almost anything. In fact, this would be a bottle I would drink on its own - without food. Mrs Vino would have it with an uber dark chocolate. She does say the wine is a bit bitter. I get that. I generally see Cab Franc as a blend - but if you want to try this varietal on its own - which actually grows well in New England (oohhh the NE Pats went down hard:() - I would look for this one - even though it is close to $20. (Hey - like the crackling fire in the photo background?)

Andeluna - Malbec - Mendoza Argentina

Tonight we're having ham. As we're driving home from errands, I say, "hmmm what wine goes with ham? Hey, we've got a bunch of Malbecs in the basement. (I must have meant cellar:) That would be good." Mrs. Vino is skeptical, but the first recommendation I see after Googling wines with ham suggests a Malbec from Argentina! Bingo!! Maybe I am learning something. My impression is that Malbecs consistently have great balance and structure and this wine fits that impression. I get a bit of blackberry with good acid. The back label references ten different flavors - including blackberry. Ten! Ridiculous. Maybe Miles from Sideways helped them out. Look for this one. It has been a while since I had the Norton Malbec, but I'm thinking the Andeluna is better at a very similar $10 price point. (Don't forget "7" the Malbec blend which is awesome.)

Ecco Domani

Mrs. Vino is making shrimp risoto and suggests a Pinot Grigio. Ooohhh - she's getting agressive. I like it. We had a leftover PG from our X-mas party and I had not taken the opportunity to sample it. I was expecially anxious to try this one after my recent positive experience with the Jermann PG. Unfortunately, the Ecco Domani was much blander and less flavorful . While there were no strong negatives and the wine paired well with the risoto, I would definitely seek out the Jermann PG next time - even at a 100% premium. (Jermann was $20 while the Ecco was $10.) In this instance, price matters.