| [ | French | | |
Bordeaux,
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Languedoc
| ] |
| [ | Non-French | | |
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| ] |
| [ | Varietals | | |
Cabernet Sauvignon,
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| ] |
| [ | Other | | |
Educational,
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| Bottle Pic Roundup |
[Dec. 19th, 2009|08:54 pm] |
I got the Slipstream because I was in an expensive shop in Melbourne that specializes in smaller wineries, and I asked the staff to recommend something I could afford. It was really decent. The Columbia Crest (of Washington State) was Don's purchase after he tasted it at an event. It was great.
Don and I had these with my parents and spaghetti bolognese. They were quite nice.
Okay, now this wine is really special. It was left for us by the World's Best House Sitters (along with some Jelly Bellies and a pretty lamp and new linens. Really, you guys! We were happy to have you, without the gifts, even though we didn't get to see you!). I couldn't find the words at the time, and the wine is gone now, so here is some plagiarism from http://australianwinejournal.blogspot.com/2009/06/semillon-reviews.html:
PETER LEHMANN MARGARET SEMILLON 2003
Region: Barossa Valley, SA
Price: $28-$36
Previously labelled as Reserve Semillon, Peter Lehmann's Margaret astounded critics with its inaugural 2002 release. Placed atop James Halliday's semillon list (96pts) and named Jeremy Oliver's Best Dry Semillon (95pts), it's diverted the attention of some of Australia's keenest semillon drinkers away from the Hunter Valley.
A more than worthy follow up which was included in the Adelaide Review's Top 100 Wines of 2008, the 2003 Margaret is youthfully bright; pale-yellow in colour, revealing an impressively expressive, fresh nose of buttery nuts, quince and citrus over a clear influence of mineral. Its radiant palate is beautifully full and intense, brimming with exceptional depth and complex rubbery texture; it unloads layers of mineral accented lemon, melon and grape characters, which build with intensity and structure. Secondary nuances of beeswax and fresh garden herbs develop from its inner core, with a vibrant presence of chiseled acidity leaving the mouth with persistent flavour and a delightfully clean aftertaste devoid of excessive dryness.
As a big fan of Hunter semillon I've been completely blown away and surprised by this near perfect, hot year Barossa semillon. Wow, what a wine! Drink to 2023. 96 points. |
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| Wild Eye 2007 Meritage, Central Coast ~ San Juan Bautista, CA |
[Jul. 12th, 2009|10:07 pm] |
This was given to me by a friend, who assured me it was very nice. I had a hard time opening it - the cork shredded at the hands of the Houdini, and when I used a hand held wine opener, the lever cracked the glass. So first I had to check each pour for broken glass.
I drank it with Mark Fox and Don, who couldn't stop making snarky comments. They did admit to really enjoying it, ultimately, and rightly so. This bottle had been in said friend's van for a few weeks, surely not at the optimal temperature, but it was delicious.
Don said it was stabbing him in the neck; Mark Fox said it must be the broken glass. Mark Fox observed that there wasn't enough broken glass in his.
Don said it was "sharp." Mark Fox said, "That's the glass."
Mark Fox said, "I see fields, I see horses. Ritual suicide, seppuku." Don said it was "rich." I think he meant the wine, not Mark Fox's comments.
Don said, "It's good now - it's not stabbing me in the neck anymore. I think it needed to breathe more."
He was right about one thing. It's good. |
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| It's a Celebration! |
[Aug. 20th, 2008|09:21 pm] |
Don and I were saving this bottle of Hawaiian wine for our 3rd anniversary, which fell on July 27, 2008. But until tonight, August 20, it was never the right time; we were busy, etc. So we celebrated tonight!
Volcano Winery "Macadamia Nut Honey Wine" is actually mead. And it's lovely.
We decided to pair it with kimchee fried rice.
And cake! We love a bit of cake!
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| Cuvée Sélectionnée Ugni Blanc 2006 ~ Tunisia |
[Apr. 22nd, 2008|05:11 pm] |
This wine is too good for me. I'm not worthy. Somewhere, a fancy wine snob is drinking my grape juice and wondering what happened to his Ugni Blanc.
I admit I expected this wine to be crap. Not because it's Tunisian - just because I never heard of Tunisia having a reputation for wine, doesn't mean they can't produce something nice. But I grabbed the cheapest whatever in the airport to get rid of my coins, so I didn't expect much.
It's crisp, it's grassy, it's dry, and it's just lovely. It's everything it should be, and more. I feel lucky to be drinking it. |
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| "..that come all the way from China" |
[Mar. 22nd, 2008|04:58 am] |
Here are some surprisingly classy labels and corks, from some surprisingly decent Chinese reds!
They seem rather proud they made their wine clear.
All of these wines tasted pretty much the same, by the way. A bit harsh on the first taste, but all-in-all, not bad. |
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| Cloudberry Wine ~ Finland |
[Jan. 23rd, 2008|12:10 am] |
Peter the Swede, who gave us this wine, said cloudberries are "the gold of berries." The berries are exquisitely beautiful. And the name is certainly pretty.
I sniffed the glass deeply, and wondered what the wine smelled like.
"Apricots?"
"Cloudberries," said Don.
"Orange marmalade? Apricot jam?"
"Cloudberry jam," Don corrected me.
The taste is magnificent. Prettier than the name. I haven't figured out whether it's a wine, mead, or liqueur. It might be a "dessert wine," but we had it with dinner - chicken parmigiana with asparagus spears - and it was heavenly. The best thing I've tasted in a long time. Cue to me booking tickets to Scandanavia. Peter says June is good. |
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| Wiederkehr Niagara White ~ Arkansas |
[Dec. 26th, 2007|11:08 pm] |
I hadn't heard of the hundred-year-old Arkansas winery with the Swiss heritage. This white wine is made primarily from Niagara grapes, blended with other local varietals. I tried this wine with my family on Christmas. It's sweet and fruity and tastes so much like ordinary grape juice that we kept checking the label to make sure it was really wine. It's tasty, and perfect for a holiday! |
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| Chateau Indage White Zinfandel ~ India |
[Dec. 10th, 2007|10:07 pm] |
I was so excited to find a white zinfandel at MMI. They stock American white grenache, and various pink Australian and European wines which are usually made from shiraz. But zinfandel grapes are so tasty. And I didn't have an India tag on this journal. And the label, as you can see, was hilarious.
Too bad it tasted like sour dirt. We're still not even sure how this wine happened. Since when are zinfandel grapes cultivated in India? Since when does India export wine, anyway? I had a glass or so and could hardly stand to finish it ~ which is really too bad. |
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| For Historical Purposes |
[Sep. 18th, 2007|11:48 pm] |
This post is to remind me of a really nice evening I enjoyed sometime in July.
(And also to remind myself that the wine on the right was just about the nicest thing I've ever tasted! I think I said nutmeg and honey.) |
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| Inniskillin 2004 Reserve Chardonnay (Canada) |
[Jul. 1st, 2007|04:36 am] |
Whoa! A chardonnay that I like! We bought this because it was an expensive wine marked waaaay down in price at a "Monster Grape Sale" in May, but it's just gorgeous. It tastes a little like champagne, in fact. My taste buds don't tend to get along with white wines (sparkling aside) because they're either too watery or too cloying, but this one is fruity and just enough mature tasting. I smell grapes and apples, and taste apricots. And Dad, it isn't buttery!
There is an ice wine by Inniskillin locked in a glass case at our wine store. When I'm a rich girl, I am so trying it. |
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| Goats Do Roam 2005 (South Africa) |
[May. 28th, 2007|05:36 am] |
Goats Do Roam has a cute label and a clever (made up) history to go with it, but unfortunately, it isn't that good. It's green peppery. It could be worse (it could be more green peppery) but it could be a lot better. It tastes like the vintners did everything they could with overripe grapes. It's familiar... I feel like I've tasted it before. At least when you're drinking it, you know it's wine. It's not berries or plums or chocolate or something poetic like silk. Nope, just pure fermented grapes with their skins here.
I do recommend checking out their website, if you think you can handle the puns. Ounce for ounce, this wine packs a great deal of charm for the money. |
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| Cellier d'Or Rouge |
[May. 19th, 2007|06:47 pm] |
A contender for "Most Boring Wine Possibly Ever." When I opened it, I wasn't too impressed with the nose; rather, I couldn't detect an aroma at all, no matter how furiously I swirled. The taste has no complexity or character, and very little tannin or fruit. But it's very easy, with not even a hint of unpleasantness. So I think it would be appropriate to keep a case around to serve guests who've already drunk enough not to know the difference. It has a pretty label, and a synthetic cork that makes a dramatic pop! So I think I'm about to walk back to the wine store and buy as many bottles as I can carry. After all, it's going for $2.19 at the local Maritime & Mercantile International, Limited.
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| German Wine Labels |
[Apr. 1st, 2007|04:48 pm] |
A pilot named Don M. (from a couple of recent flights I did) gave me this information about buying German white wine. Since he was clearly knowledgeable on the subject, I took notes. These are the words he looks for when buying German wine for himself:
"Qualitizwein mit pradikat" is a high-quality, totally natural wine.
Ripeness of grapes ranges from kabinett (dry) to spatlese (medium dry) to auslese (sweetest).
"Trocken" designates a dry wine; "halbtrocken" a medium-dry wine.
He also added that he likes the wines from the Mosel/Saar/Ruwer river regions, which present a "slatey" flavor due to the soil.
(Don M., if you are reading this, let me know if I got any of this wrong!) |
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| Pepperjack Shiraz! |
[Dec. 12th, 2006|09:40 am] |
Pepperjack Shiraz! Pepperjack Shiraz! Pepperjack Shiraz!
PEPPERJACK SHIRAZ!
(The 2004 and 2005 both are fabulous; I think the 2005 might be slightly more so.)
PEPPPERRJAAAACK SHIRAAAAZZZ!!! |
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| Château Musar 1998 - Lebanon |
[Oct. 21st, 2006|07:35 am] |
This Château Musar is a white wine that tastes like a red. That's about the best thing I can say about it. It's really not very nice. Everybody who tasted it made a face. |
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| Cross Timbers Winery in Grapevine, Texas |
[Oct. 19th, 2006|04:56 pm] |
Yummy wines and good company... I definitely recommend a visit.
Peek into one of the tasting rooms.
Awards!
Flavors!
My folks and I try to come here whenever I'm in town. Wanna come with us next time? |
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| Rose de Ksara - Lebanon |
[Oct. 19th, 2006|10:03 am] |
The best non-American rose I've ever tried, Rose de Ksara is dry with hints of emmental and melon. |
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| Grapefest - Grapevine, TX |
[Sep. 7th, 2006|06:49 pm] |
On September 7, 2006, my parents and Don and I went to Grapevine's annual GrapeFest, in historic downtown Grapevine. This four-day event features loads of live music, a man catching grapes in his mouth (who holds a Guinness record for such), free hourly shuttles to eight local wineries, and the People's Choice Wine Tasting Classic.
Nostalgia train which goes all the way to the Ft. Worth Stockyards
Lots of wine-related (and unrelated) arts and crafts were displayed.
Entrance to the "Champagne Terrace."
Bubbly menu.
Wine tasting pavillion!
Tables decorated like bottle necks.
( See the same image in 1024x768 to read the labels )
D'Vine Wine Grande Rosso and Cross Timbers Texas Blush.
The GrapeStomp Challenge.
And since I know you must be wondering...
Cross Timbers Texas Blush is well-balanced and a little dry - and perfectly suited to a hot sunny day like this one. D'Vine Wine Grande Rosso smells strongly of chocolate, and after sipping, the flavor will change about 7 or 8 times on the palette. I'll need to try it again to document what these 8 flavors are, but one of them was definitely chocolate. |
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