Wine o' the week

From the website...
Casillero del Diablo offers wine lovers the very special opportunity to participate in the propagation of a century old legend known throughout the world. In the 19th century, the founder of Concha y Toro, Don Melchor, discovered that his vineyard workers were sampling his greatest wines. To discourage this action, Don Melchor spread the rumor that his deepest, darkest cellar was the Casillero del Diablo (Cellar of the Devil), so that no one would dare go in there. It worked, and a legend was born. Today, this mysterious and legendary cellar continues to hold the finest, estate grown wines of Casillero del Diablo.

We've tried two of them, and this is the one we like best (they're both cheap- around $10!)

CARMÉNÈRE

	Region:	Rapel Valley, Chile
	Grape Varieties:	85% Carménère, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Syrah
	Production Technique:	The grapes are hand and mechanically harvested. 70% of the wine is aged in American oak for 8 months, 30% is aged in stainless steel for 8 months.
	Description:	Color: Dark and deep crimson red. Bouquet: Luscious fruit flavors: Dark plums and chocolate with hints of coffee and toasty American oak. Taste: Notes of dark plums and spice, generously framed by toasty American oak with a soft and well structured mouthfilling texture. Alcohol Content: 14.0% Total Acidity: 4.82g/l
Dark red crimson color. Notes of plums, black fruit, chocolate and spice on the nose. It is a well-balanced, round wine with firm tannins. Casillero del Diablo Carménère is excellent with fresh light dishes based in meats, vegetables and fresh herbs. Also a good accompaniment to ripe cheeses such as Gouda, Gruyere or a dry goat cheese.

Mmm, Gouda- my tummy just growled. Gimme Gouda.

Wine makes a comeback!

Wine o' the week has taken a backseat in the past few months due to all that dang studying I've been doing. FORTUNATELY, wine has not taken a backseat in my life. ;) SouthBeach has "forced" (oh, I'm kickin' and screamin') me to get back into it. So here we go again! I've got quite an arsenal... This week's wine- Root: 1 Cabernet Sauvignon (a berfday gift from my sister)!

*85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah (California's way of saying "shiraz")
*Rich in color with dark cherry, black currant, and chocolate notes
*Pair it with cheese, pasta with red sauce, steak, ribs, and that leftover V-day chocolate that you have.
*Very reasonably priced and very very tasty- I think I like almost all of them that have "chocolate notes"... Makes the color really dark and the flavor fantastic! Enjoy!
*PS, they also have a Sauvignon Blanc, which I will be looking for very soon. ;)

What happened to the wine o' the week??

It's been far too long since I've departed some wine-y wisdom, so here we go... Apparently school has distracted me from my duties. My bad. This one is a Kimmy P. suggestion that is fantastic for the remaining hot days we have in September. Silver Birch Sauvignon Blanc-- very refreshing. Very grapfruity but not sweet. Here is some info from a website review:

About Sauvignon Blanc:

"Every winegrowing region in New Zealand produces Sauvignon Blanc, yet the best examples come from Marlborough, on the northern tip of the South Island. Warm, dry days, very cool nights and long days of sunlight during the growing season ripen Sauvignon Blanc just enough to develop its mostly green-fruit flavors, yet retain the wine's signature firm acidity."

About Silver Birch:

"This wine is distinctive for its aromas of talc, jasmine and musk, and the palate of juicy ruby grapefruit, kiwi and passion fruit. It's brightly acidic, with a stony, lemony finish."

Mmmmm!

Wine o' the week

From the website:
Mo Zin, Sonoma County 2003
72% Zinfandel, 23% Mourvèdre, 5% Petite Sirah 1,050 cases produced. Mourvèdre, a blending grape used in French Rhone wines, provides a marvelous raspberry and leather aroma that works nicely with the blackberry flavors of our Dry Creek Zinfandel. Petite Sirah adds a touch of peppery spice. Made to enjoy now, this will also improve and gain complexity in the bottle for 3 to 5 years after the vintage date. This matches well with everything from grilled ahi tuna to Italian red sauce dishes to lamb and red meats.

When you’re out of Zin you need Mo Zin!

750 ml $20.00

Mmmmmm.... you know how I love 'dem mixes! And what a FABULOUS name for a wine... ;) Melissa gave me a bottle of this for working on something for her firm for her, and we had tried one a while ago. It's fantastic. And named so well! Support the Spanns out in Sonoma County, they seem like good folks. I think all Spanns are.

Wine o' the week

This week's wine is the 2005 Twisted Zin (California Old Vine Zinfandel). Here's what it says on the website:
"Have you ever had a blackberry jam spread on sourdough toast, topped with nutmeg and chocolate-covered cherries with a ripe plum chaser? Experience it with our Twisted Zin!
Perfectly matched with grilled meats, spicy ribs, and hearty pasta dishes."
Melissa... this one's for you- it's spicy and smooth. Sarah would probably NOT enjoy it. ;) It's around $13 for a magnum, not a bad deal. They also make a Merlot (Twisted Lot), Pinot Grigio (Twisted PiG), and Chardonnay (Twisted Chard).
The website also has some tongue twisters (get it? twisted?- har har) for funsies. Try this one.
"A twister of twists once twisted a twist;
A twist that he twisted was a three-twisted twist;
If in twisting a twist one twist should untwist,
the untwisted twist would untwist the twist."

Now go have a good weekend.

Wine o' the week- a two parter!

A few months ago, Jeremy and I went to one of Bruce Cochran's wine classes (he's the local wine expert around these parts- he offers classes. Visit the website here and try one out!). We went to Satellite Cafe and did his cheap wines class, and this one was one of my favorites that he recommended. This week's wine is Chateau St. Sulpice's Bordeaux. I couldn't find a picture of the label, so you'll just have to do with the description. It has "layers of aromas - green peppers, raw oak, orange peel and leather. The greenness would go away if you waited long enough. In the mouth, it was very dry with berry fruit as opposed to cherry. It had a long finish." It retails around $10.99- go see JR and pick it up and Colonial!
Second, I am recommending a wine chiller for your home like the one pictured above. Melissa bought us one for Christmas from Sharper Image, and we've really enjoyed it. It will keep your bottles at an even temperature, and it's great for these summer months!
Today is Wednesday wine day at Colonial and Sullivant's and Cork and Bottle. Go try something and tell me about it.

Wine o' the week- not so much a suggestion as a bit of hmmmmm....

I saw this on Good Morning America today....
Charles Shaw wine has been picked as the #1 Chardonnay in California, becoming a gold medal winner. The kicker is... it retails at a whopping $1.99. It's otherwise known as "Two Buck Chuck," and it beat out Chardonnays that cost over $100 a bottle. Another bit of interesting info... the silver medal went to a $17 bottle of wine. Just goes to show you, the price tag isn't everything when it comes to picking a tasty wine.
Unfortunately, we can't get ol' Chuck here. They only sell it at Trader Joe's grocery stores. But you can check out the Wiki here.
Now it's your turn. What's your favorite cheapo wine? ;)

Wine o' the week- a recipe

I took a couple weeks off from my wine o' the week, but here's something a little different for ya! This drink is deeeeeeeelish in the summer (or anytime, really). Try it soon.

Classic Spanish Sangria

1 lemon
1 lime
1 orange
1 1/2 cups rum
1 (750 mL) bottle dry red wine
1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup white sugar

Chill the fruit, rum, wine, and orange juice. Slice the lemon, lime, and orange into thin rounds and place in a large pitcher. Pour in the rum and sugar. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
When ready to serve, crush the fruit lightly with a wooden spoon and stir in the wine and orange juice. Adjust the sweetness to taste (or the liquor level!).

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Very refreshing. Outside- very hot. Punch, good.

Wine o' the week

This week's wine is brought to you by a recommendation from Kristen and JR. from many months ago... Jeremy and I finally picked up a bottle of Bohemian Highway recently. We tried the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon. A little research revealed that this wine is actually put out there by Food Lion, the grocery store (an interesting little fact). If I'm not mistaken, I think it only comes in magnums, but don't be fooled by the seemingly low-brow-ness of it. The color is deep, deep purple, and the smell is FANTASTIC (really stick your nose down in there each time you take a sip... mmmmmmmmmm). The back of the label says it has layers of black cherry, chocolate, and plum. Any wine that has chocolate-y taste is a-ok with me! It costs around $14.99. Seriously tasty- very surprising. Thanks for the suggestion, guys!
Anyone else have something I should try....?

On a side note, we have less that 2 weeks to go on our Grenache-Mourvedre that's a-brewing downstairs, and we are also (simultaneously) making what has been dubbed (probably appropriately) crunk punch. Details to come on that one when it makes its debut. Ohhhh, it's going to be a good summer! :)

Wine o' the week- it's sparkly!

This week's wine is Gloria Ferrer's Blanc de Blanc. The website says it costs $25, but it's $20 at Colonial, and on sale this week for $15. An awesome deal....
It's a sparkling wine, which I didn't really care for all that much till we visited the vineyard (seen here in the pics), and this one is delish. Read the tasting notes- LOTS of flavors going on there! It's on sale now, so go pick one up and save it for a special day.

From the website....

Made from 100% Chardonnay, this medium bodied sparkling wine comes alive with crisp flavors of green apple, citrus, and Asian pear. Notes of toast and vanilla result in a clean finish on this exceptional sparkler.

The bouquet of the 2003 Blanc de Blancs is reminiscent of ripe pineapple and toasted biscuit, underscored by a distinctive citrus blossom note. Juicy pear, white chocolate and lemon zest flavors fill the palate, which expand through the wine’s vivacious stream of bubbles and firm structure.

Food Affinities
This Blanc de Blancs is delicious with seafood such as calamari, oysters on the half shell, cracked crab or roasted mussels and with Pan Pacific cuisine such as Thai satay or fresh Vietnamese spring rolls.

Wine o' the week

This week's wine is Proyecto 4, a tasty combination of 4 different varietals. It costs around $9.99, and it's one first wines we found when we started trying new types (not just cabernet and shiraz, I mean). Notice, it includes Mourvèdre and Grenache- YUM. I highly recommend.

From the website... "Bodegas Concavins epitomizes this push to modernity with its Proyecto 4, a sumptuous blend of 4 harmonious grape varietals from 4 of Spain's premier Mediterranean wine regions, all aged for 4 months in new French and American oak."
Tasting Notes
"Very deep purple-red color. On the nose, it is fruity and spicy, with a hint of vanilla coming from the oak aging. It is round, supple, and fruit-driven in the mouth, with a long and elegant finish."
The Four Varietals
Cabernet Sauvignon 48%
Tempranillo 32%
Monastrell (Mourvèdre) 13%
Garnacha (Grenache) 7%

Wine o' the week

I have to admit, I'm a little nervous about putting this one on here because I loved it SO much. We tried it a long time ago (probably in the fall), and we both thought it was one of the best bottles of wine we had ever had. The flavors were intense and complex, and we savored every bit of it. The next day, we went out and bought another bottle, and we've been hoarding it ever since. PLUS, the one we found is a 2001 (right, Jeremy?) instead of a 2003. Even better. So I hope it lives up to my memory and my high, high expectations. It's VERY tasty. Retails around $25.

From the website...
2003 ALEXANDER VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Wine Description: Complex flavors of ripe blackberry, cocoa, cassis and anise integrate with elegant aromas of vanilla, cinnamon and spice. The integrated tannins balanced with a lingering but supple finish.
Winemaker Notes: The growing season of 2003 was marked by even temperature patterns topped off with a picture perfect fall. Four premium North Coast appellations were targeted as the source for this wine's grapes.
Those grapes were crushed and fermented warm, pumping juice from the tank bottom over the cap of floating grape skins on a regular basis, to amplify extraction and flavor. The wine was pressed off the skins at dryness and allowed to settle in stainless steel. The resulting 'clear' wine was then racked to 60 gallon French and American oak barrels to finish malolactic fermentation and then barrel aged a total of 28 months.
Food Recommendations: This Alexander Valley Cabernet's full-bodied flavor pairs superbly with all grilled meats and roasts.

Wine o' the week

According to the website...

Grape varieties: Tempranillo and cabernet sauvignon

Color: deep red with violet-cherry tint

Bouquet: deep and elegant aromas, intensely fruity with hints of ripe raspberry complemented with a fine note of oak

Palate: well-balanced and structured, showing plenty of fruit and spice. Complex and elegant with a long finish.

That's a lot of fancy talk for something that's got a good fruity (NOT sweet) flava with a real kick (the spice). All that for around $8. Don't forget that there isn't only merlot and cabernet when you're looking for a red wine. Experiment with other (sometimes better!) varietals, like this tempranillo (this other wine o' the week is a good one too). Be adventurous! And, hey- it's cheap, so why not? :)

Wine o' the week

This week's wine is my sister's signature Voga Italia's Pinot Grigio. It has a "full & rich taste with ripe apple & pear aromas and delicious, juicy flavors." Very good for these warm, sunny days that are coming up! Plus, the bottle looks way cool. It has a screw-top cap, & Melissa's step-kiddies say it looks like shampoo or perfume. Luckily doesn't taste like it.
Visit Voga's website here. The fun thing about Voga is it comes in two varieties: red or white. This is the white. The red's called Quattro (it's also pretty tasty, although I like this one more). Costs around $10.
If you have a wine you love that you want me to sample (that's the best part!) and share on here, let me know!

Wine o' the week (in a box???)

Yes, I know. Wine people are not supposed to enjoy wine in a box. You're supposed to be snobbier than that! However, sometimes it is quite delicious. This week's wine is Hardy's shiraz in a box. It's the purple one up at the top. Visit Hardy's website here.

According to this, here are 5 reasons to buy wine in a box:

1. You get more bang for your buck. Premium wines come in 3-liter boxes (the equivalent of about four bottles) and sell anywhere from $15 to $25 a pop. Do the math — you’re getting a good deal on a good wine.
2. There’s no pressure to polish it off in one night. Unlike a bottle, which goes bad within a day or two of uncorking, boxed wine lasts about four to six weeks.
3. You can drink it now. Forget about the whole let-it-age thing — boxed wines are meant to be drunk within a year of being made.
4. It’s transportable. Because it won’t shatter, boxed wine is perfect for picnics, the beach, and tailgates. Take the oxygen-tight bag out of the box and bring it backcountry camping.
5. You have a reason to use that carafe. A pretty decanter filled with red wine looks so good on your table.

Many more premium wine brands are starting to put their wines in a box occasionally. It's not just Franzia anymore (eeew.). PS, Chandle and I totally had a box of wine in the fridge at Mansard Apartments, for when we got home from those "long, hard" college days that were so stressful... HA!
Hardy's costs around $20, and you get four 750ml bottles of wine. That's a good deal. Don't be afraid!

Wine o' the week

This week's wine is Viansa's 2004 Athena. Here's the description: crafted with 100% Dolcetto grapes, a varietal native to northern Italy, our "Athena" Dolcetto is a fruity delight and a friendly spring and summer wine with notes of raspberry, strawberry and sweet cherry. This wine has an inviting high fruity-ness and low tannin, with a soft and supple mouth-feel, making it ideal for early consumption. This is a remarkably food friendly wine as well as a good "bridge wine" for those just learning to appreciate red wines or even of white wine aficionados. We recommend chilling "Athena" slightly before serving for added enjoyment. "Athena" is an apt symbol for Viansa and this Viansa wine. She is the Goddess of many of our virtues. Our ancestral mythology honors her as the symbol of wisdom and victory for her efforts toward making the world a better place. Many people associate red wines with aggressive characteristics, but this fruity and deceptively friendly wine is, like her, not to be judged by its exterior.
It costs about $20, and it is quite tasty- not at all heavy. Good for this time of year!

Visit the website here.

Wine o' the week

Since I won't be here (you can't see me, but I'm holding my hands up and saying, "SPRING BREAK '07!! WHOOOOO!"), I will post the wine o' the week today. My selection is Campo Viejo's Tempranillo Reserva. Here's what it's like:

Aroma:Fragrant nose in which fruit and also floral aromas dominate, over a background of toasted wood and aromas of vanilla, coconut and spices.
Palate:Smooth and balanced palate. Its lovely, persistent finish is an invitation to continue enjoying it. Food Pairing:It goes well with a wide range of pairings: charcuterie, rice dishes, vegetables, mushrooms, white meat and roasted or grilled red meat.

Read more about Tempranillo in this article. It's really quite good. This one retails around $10. Mmmm.

What do you guys want to see more of in the wine o' the week.... more whites? More expensive wines? Let me know and I'll do my best!

The real wine o' the week

This week's wine is Don Raphael Reserva's sauvignon blanc (I haven't done any whites yet!). This one is from the Aconcagua Valley in Chile, made by Conde de Valazquez. Chilean wines are becoming more and more popular, and I've like almost every one that I've tried.
This sauvignon blanc has notes of "fresh lime and floral aromas." It’s from the foothills on the Chilean side of Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere. It’s the only Chilean region north of Santiago, cooled by the mountain’s glacial breezes at night, warmed by the nearby Atacama dessert during the day. That makes the grapes very fragrant. Also it’s very lightly oaked (Source). Visit the website here.
Pinot grigio used to be my favorite white, but I really like sauv blanc more now. It's not at all sweet, but that lime flava is great. Very good for warmer days! The best part about this one is that it's under $10 (somewhere around $8, actually)! Good choice when you want something different that is cheap.
Have a great weekend, all. Do something Irish.

Wine o' the..... several months to come

This past weekend we bottled our brand spankin' new cabernet sauvignon that my parents gave us for Christmas! It is from Winexpert's Selection Series, which is better quality than the ones we had previously bought. It is a "noble California red grape. Rich in tannis, it produces a deep, full-bodied wine with intense aroma and flavour. A robust wine, perfect with red meat or wild game." It's VERY oak-y (yummy). Thanks to my parents for this awesome gift!
If you're interested in brewing your own wine and are in the LR area, go to Fermentables in North Little Rock. They're really helpful there and will point you in the right direction of what you're looking for. They also sell beer and cheese-making kits. Mmmmm mmmmm!
Of course, while we were at Fermentables, we couldn't help ourselves from buying a NEW one to brew, so we picked out an Australian Grenache/Mourvedre (Gren-ash Moo-vedd):
"Overland Corner, on Australia’s Murray River, is made up of long open plains and sloping hillsides. With beautiful vineyards and ultra-high quality grapes, it’s hard to believe the vineyard development has come about only since 1960. A classic blend from France, Grenache produces ripe purple fruit with dense, lush aromas of black cherry, jam, pepper and liquorice. Mourvèdre, deep blue and thick-skinned, has high sugar, acidity, colour and tannin, and dense structure, working especially well with Grenache’s lush fruit, for a blend of length, power, and fruitiness and above all, balanced intensity of flavour. With strong flavours and aromas of black fruit and bold tannins, this wine will develop impressive finesse and complexity after a year in bottle, improving for three to five more, and will pair wonderfully with ribs, filet mignon, and lamb chops. Sweetness Code: 0."

It should be ready in a couple months....!

Wine o' the week

This week's wine selection is Cline's 2004 Cool Climate Syrah (see the website here). It has a "deep color, rich blueberry and black pepper characters combined with a cedary-smooth finish and bright acidity. It pairs well with seafood pasta dishes."
It has a pretty spicy taste (the pepper), but the aftertaste is really cooling. It has a fantastic flavor. It retails around $16.
Reminiscing.... here's a pic of us at the Cline Winery. That's not the wine o'the week we're drinking in the photo, but it's the right location!