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?