June 2010
4 posts
4 tags
The classiest 12 bucks you'll ever spend.
Michael is right- Spanish wines= value… more bang for your buck. One of my favorite go-to Spanish wines is the 2007 Juan Gil Monastrell from the Jumilla region of Spain. Monastrell is the Spanish version of Mourvedre, which is a principle blending grape in Rhone blends (and I LOOOOOOOVE me some Rhone blends.) Until trying this wine I had never had Mourvedre on its own, but I must say...
The Spain Attraction
I can sum up spanish wines in one word: value. By value I don’t mean cheap wine, I mean getting a lot for what you pay for. It’s like watching a film by Pedro Almodóvar and walking out feeling like you’ve seen three films for the price of one. Or eating one paper thin slice of Jamón Serrano and having the satisfaction of feasting on the whole pig.
Spain unlike any other...
3 tags
Saludas Vino de la Tierra de Castilla 2009
Occasionally a delightful sub-five dollar bottle of wine will hit my lips. I’m usually disappointed, but not surprised. But on the rare occasion I strike gold, I’m in love. And when the bottle costs two dollars?! So while you bums are traipsing through the Trader Joe’s wine aisle picking up cases of Charles Shaw at two bucks a pop, I’ll be lugging home cases of two dollar...
4 tags
Fig at Five- A $5 Happy Hour
Last week I stopped by Fig Restaurant at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica to check out their “FIG at Five” Happy Hour- (from 5pm to 6pm certain wines by the glass, cheeses & charcuterie, and snacks are all $5 each.)
Usually at your typical happy hour, the wine selection, well… sucks. But I’d had all but one of the wines on the “FIG at Five”...
May 2010
39 posts
4 tags
Atteca! Atteca!
While we haven’t hit the “dog days” of Summer, the grill is quickly becoming the workhorse for culinary activity. Red meat was in order last night, and I was looking for a wine with some heft.
As I wrote in an earlier entry, I am a big fan of the Los Rocas Garnacha. Great price, good fruit, and quite lively for a Grenache.
Grenache can be more misses than hits for me, much...
5 tags
Sippin' Asti, Slingin' FlapJacks
Most of my mornings are quick, filled with confusion, a bowl of cereal, and coffee stains. Once in awhile I crave serious breakfast food, and more than likely it will be cooked à la breakfast for dinner. This time was no different. I needed pancakes, and I was craving the buttermilk kind. The acid in buttermilk not only lends itself to additional flavor, but it also reacts with baking soda, which...
5 tags
2 Solid Spanish Reds Under $10
This story begins at Whole Foods Venice, where I ran into our very own Michael (who is the wine buyer at Whole Foods.) I’ve been recovering from a tonsillectomy and needed to ease myself back into wine, but since my palate has been off I needed to make sure in the event I couldn’t enjoy the wine I didn’t waste a whole lot of dough. Michael suggested I try the 2008 Borsao Red...
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Northwest Needs: Avalon Wine
Living on the other side now, I often find it difficult to source some of the wonderful wines I became fond of from both Oregon and Washington. I needed a way to find these wines without having to join every last winery mailing list.
Red Mountain, WA. August, 2008
Luckily, a crew like Avalon Wine exists where I can keep in contact with my tried and trusted,...
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Runnin' on Riesling: Out with Cabernet, In with...
Ever listen to others discuss certain wine regions as otherworldly? Or glance through photos of vineyards that seem surreal? Me too.
Before I landed in the Mosel last Fall for work, I had seen pictures, sampled the wines, and absorbed the stories from others who had previously visited. As I attempted to process all of this information, my thoughts settled on two themes; It was steep, and it was...
3 tags
A Tale of Two Piggies
It was the best of wines. It was the worst of wines. Or something like that. Some bottles of wine throw me off and I’m left wondering what just happened even after drinking every last drop. Such was the case with a bottle of 2008 La Granja Tempranillo. So what did I do? I went back to the store and bought another bottle. But let’s go back to the beginning.
A Thursday or three ago,...
10 tags
Seeing the the world through Rosé colored glasses
First of all, let me say that I drink pink wine. I am more than secure enough with my masculinity to drink rosés and hell, I’m even comfortable enough to blog about it. I know pink wine doesn’t have the best reputation in this country, thanks to the ocean of white zinfandel that has flooded the market. But as much as I’d like to curse white zin for staining (albeit a pale...
Mao Stained Tongue: A wine for the people
Oh Lord stuck in Lodi again, however this time it’s a blessing, not a curse. Lodi is home to Laurel Glen, a winery that makes good use of the always sunny Central Valley but is smartly located near a plentitude of rivers which draw grape cooling fogs into the vineyards. This fog is a breath of fresh air for the zinfandel that is planted there. Normally, zinfandel is treated like a pack...
6 tags
CHEAP BUBBLY!
Speaking of South Africa, I have another affordable gem to mention from the region. This is my favorite Brut Rose of the moment: The Graham Beck 2007 Brut Rose Méthode Cap Classique, which is a South African sparkling wine made from 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay grapes. It is a beautiful pink color with a wonderful taste- strawberries and a little earthy funk from the Pinot Noir and a little...
6 tags
The Wolftrap. Big wine, small price.
Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to introduce you to one of my go-to reds: The Wolftrap. Oh, it’s a big as it’s name suggests. I’ve long been a fan of Rhone-style blends from South Africa, but The Wolftrap is definitely one of my favorites. The 2008 vintage is a blend of 68% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre, and 2% Viognier. I served it a few weeks ago at a BBQ dinner party and it was...
6 tags
Crackin' a Crown-Corked Moscato
When I was first introduced to this ‘Innocent Bystander’ last summer I was dubious. One look at the bottle and I was sure I was revisiting the days when I would see various colored Alcopops at a party (none for me thanks).
My friends tried to convince me otherwise. After a quick taste, and a few face contortions on my part (I assumed the worse), it was down the hatch. I thought,...
6 tags
One clean, green, refreshin' Steen: Chenin and...
It’s that time of year again here in North Carolina, when local fish purveyors are hounded and stalked. Why? Soft shell crabs. Known as the ‘beautiful swimmer’, blue crabs shed (molt) their hardy outer shell in order to continue their growth. During this transition the crabs are whisked off to market. Since a new, sturdy shell will quickly develop, there is little more than a two...
4 tags
Traitor Joe's
I may be the Wine Buyer at Whole Foods, but I do find my way to Trader Joe’s occasionally. And on some of those occasions, I buy some wine. There, I said it, are you happy? One of the wines I happily stash in my basket when there is the Epicuro Nero D’Avola, which retails for…. wait for it…. $4.99. Yup, $4.99, and it’s good wine. It’s may not be the kind of...
6 tags
Day-Trip to Santa Barbara: Jaffurs Wine Cellars
Last weekend I made a visit to Jaffurs Wine Cellars, but not before grabbing a bite at the much-raved about taco stand “La Super Rica,” which was apparently Julia Child’s favorite. Hey, if it’s good enough for Julia, it’s good enough for me- and it WAS. I definitely recommend checking this place out and getting some super unhealthy, delish, and cheap food before you...
6 tags
Joseph Carr Cabernet Sauvignon
Wine really started to massage my palette just the right way while working in a beautifully refined restaurant in upstate New York called The Trillium, which for many years was considered arguably the finest dining room between New York City and Montreal. And as you might imagine, their wine list was ridiculous, garnering many awards from Wine Spectator and the like. I had to learn it, so I...
3 tags
Bottle after Bottle after Bottle of Beaujolais
I think Beaujolais is the cat’s pajamas. There, I said it. I can get down with a bottle of Beaujolais — in fact it’s so drinkable and affordable that I often find myself overindulging. Think of it as a pretty young thing you appreciate in your youth — not too mature or deep, but a whole lot of fun. When you’re a bit older you’ll appreciate that vintage Bordeaux...
10 tags
Day-Trip to Santa Barbara: Municipal Winemakers
I took yet another day trip to Santa Barbara this past weekend- and stumbled into the newbie member of the Urban Wine Trail, Municipal Winemakers, located directly behind Kunin Wines. Dave Potter, who is also a winemaker at Fess Parker, is the man behind this super-awesome-passion-project line of wines. First, let me talk about the space, which I was OBSESSED with. Exposed beams, vintage...
Purple Café: devine dining experience
The book says “the apple tempted eve, our book says, “it must have been the grape”; the first sentence from The Purple Café’s wine list. Here, the world of wine meets the abundant metropolitan cuisine of the Pacific Northwest.
The food, drink, and ambiance of Purple makes you feel warm and happy inside and then there’s the courteous prices that makes it...
2 tags
The Gypsy Flies from Coast to Coast
Loitering in the Santa Monica Trader Joes wine aisle (again), I noticed a couple shelves with a California Red, classily labeled, and entitled “Chariot Gypsy 2008” for $4.99. There was an extra little tag posted by the TJs wine expert saying this was a limited time selection offered at a specially negotiated price, and when it was gone, it was gone for good. I’m always a...
7 tags
Looking at the World through a Rosé filled Glass
After a long day in the vineyard in high temps and thick air, I headed for the fridge. Instinctively, I grabbed a beer, only to notice some 2009 Rosé from Spain I had stashed in the back. Tis the season. I slipped the beer back in the fridge, and grabbed a glass. No corkscrew required for this one. With a turn and a pour, I was quickly beatin’ the heat.
This 2009 Mas Donis Rosat (Catalan...
Return of the Prodigal Grape
Malbec left home a long time ago, at a time when it was less than appreciated. Plantings were being reduced in Bordeaux, as well as being ripped up to be replaced by stronger siblings with more character. So malbec headed south, far , far south to a land of dry heat, cattle, and the tango. South to a land where Spanish was the dominant tongue, and Italian immigrants shaped the cultural...
5 tags
Beauty Sans Beast: A Civilized New Zealand Sauvi'
Over the last 3 decades, New Zealand has established itself as the Sauvignon Blanc capitol of the world. The Loire, Bordeaux, California, Washington St., Chile, and South Africa all produce wonderful, unique examples of this varietal, though none produce the amount of quality, well-priced Sauvignon Blanc which New Zealand can offer.
Often noted for their ripe yet fresh, pungent qualities,...
4 tags
Canadian Wine Tasting for the WIN
A while back I went to the Canadian Wine Tasting at Whole Foods Venice and it did not disappoint. I hate to brag, but I think my Whole Foods is the coolest Whole Foods of all time- we have a wine tasting bar IN THE STORE. (It’s pretty sassy.)
I went with my dear friend and fellow wino Katie and she was kind enough to document the occasion:
(The only thing better than a wine tasting is a wine...
Esquin Wine Merchants is Mad
Go to the web site madwines.com and you will see the madness. Esquin Wine Merchants is located on 4th and Lander near Quest and Safeco Fields in Downtown Seattle, Washington. Although many of their wines are worthy, there are far too many wines to shake a stick at. Their size and ability to purchase massive volumes of a particular brand makes them the wine sales king in the Pacific...
3 tags
The new Keg-erator?
Wines on tap in restaurants and wine bars appear to be having their day in the sun. I thought it was a fantastic idea when I first read about it a couple years ago, and it has been de rigeur in small restaurants in Europe for decades, so it’s long overdue, especially in ecologically minded California. Here’s why it’s cool:
-Less Waste. If only one person orders a glass of...
6 tags
Ménage à Trois at TriBeCa
Two French birds and one American lad sitting at a French café in the West Village when the waiter arrives and said lad is street watching when all of the sudden,
“Ménage à Trois, s’il vous plaît,”
and as if an archer with eagle eyes had shot a perfect volley from afar my attention shatters in its place. My head swivels on its axis to attention, pupils dilated and instincts...
2 tags
Lambrusco and strawberries
Some wines are just not that highly regarded. And you know what? That’s okay. You can still enjoy them all you want. Or maybe I’m just saying that because I love white lambrusco so very much.
It’s a very summery wine. It’s not complicated, it’s sweet, it’s fizzy. Chop up some strawberries and throw them in - it’s even better. It’s dessert in a...
3 tags
In love with K&L Wine
A shout-out is in order for one of the bigger wine stores on the west coast, K&L Wine Merchants. As much as I love the smaller shops, hole in the wall places with a ton of personality, I head right to K&L when I’m looking for either something obscure, or a lot of something. Or a lot of something obscure.
Luckily enough, K&L was and still is a family-run company, so if you live...
4 tags
A Cheap Cotes-Du-Rhone (Yea-uh!)
Before I discuss this lovely value red wine, I should make a confession: this is one of those bottles I polished off on my own- whoops. It was one of those nights I found myself craving the spice and complexity of a Rhone blend, and the price was right for this badboy- $11.99. (totally reasonable for a pretty elegant and complex Cotes-du-Rhone.)
And here are some tasting notes for the lovely...
5 tags
Seeking Closure Part Two: Turn of the Screw
Screw caps do not mean “cheap wine inside”. Let me repeat that. A wine bottle that is sealed with a screwcap instead of a cork has nothing to do with the quality of wine in the bottle. In fact, I’ve had many a bottle of wine that was sealed with a cork that was cheap, and lousy. So why all the hubbub about screwcaps versus corks? One reason is simply pretense. Someone paying for an...
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A wine for chicken paprikash
It so happened that after my first experience with Hungarian wine last week, I went to a Hungarian dinner party. I was assigned to wine duty, and for this feast I had to do some research.
I ended up with another dry Tokaji, a pinot gris from Alsace, and for a red, a cabernet franc. The food: chicken paprikash (chicken with a sour cream and paprika sauce, and dumplings) with a cucumber salad,...
The Wine Outlet in Downtown Seattle
The Seattle Wine Outlet features good deals on high quality wines averaging in the $20 range, but there is access to higher and lower tiers throughout their stores. They have 3 locations in Seattle including Downtown, Elliott Ave, and Greenlake. I must say that, I will pay the price for a good grenache to drown my taste buds, but at the Wine Outlet I found this gem for $10.
This producer,...
4 tags
Natural Wine Week
Los Angeles is really driving booze trends right now, from retro cocktails to boutique beers. It’s beginning to extend to wine as well, and Los Angeles Natural Wine Week, May 10-16, is a part of that.
As with natural food, natural wine is becoming a more sought-after product all the time. And again just like natural food, there is much dissent as to what exactly defines it as such. There...
5 tags
Goodness, Greenness, Great Bottles of Wine!
Have you ever said “wow, this wine is under-ripe”, or heard “this wine tastes green”? Usually these statements are reserved for wines that don’t quite hit the mark, and are considered faulty because they are not completely ripe. Also, if you have ever said, “this wine is fizzy, and it’s not a sparkling wine, something is off”, you are not alone.
...
2 tags
Don't Label Me!
Have you ever wondered about the wine labels on the bottles of wine you drink? Ok, me neither, unless they’re particularly outrageous, clever, or unusual. Well, it turns out that labels on wine whose alcohol content exceeds 7% are regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Trade Tax Bureau, a part of the U.S. Dept of the Treasury. There is a whole list of information that must be included on...
4 tags
This Bud's for you - Bud Break 2010
* required background music - Carnival of the Animals - Aquarium
Bud Break (Fourth Leaf Unfolded)
I know we have all seen National Geographic videos of animals awakening after a winter’s hibernation. Polar bears digging out of their snow caves, prairie dogs emerging from their den, chipmunks rising from their holes.
Well imagine these scenarios, but...
6 tags
Drinking cheap with Perrier-Jouet
A Perrier-Jouet lunch is a beautiful thing. Especially when it’s a tasting lunch and you can try their five favorite bubblies on the house. Bottles of Perrier-Jouet champagne range from about $30 to $350, so it’s very much a special occasion drink. It’s generally a bad idea to assume that expensive wine = good wine, but this stuff honestly is very good. Especially the Blanc de...
3 tags
Syrah vs. Shiraz
Syrah versus shiraz. The main point is, they’re the same thing. It’s either good branding or bad marketing that so many people think they’re two entirely different wines. But it’s the same grape - the differences are in the details.
Syrah came first, in the sense that those vines have been in production in France for hundreds of years, well before they were planted in...
April 2010
38 posts
3 tags
The aptly named "Right Hand Man" Syrah
I was introduced to the 2006 Barrel 27 “Right Hand Man” Syrah by the trusty folks at K&L wines, where it sells for $14.99, which honestly is a steal because this wine drinks like a $25-and-up bottle of wine.
Before I get to the tasting notes I also need to mention something on a personal level to really bring home how delish this wine is… I am in love with a man who does...
5 tags
Drinking Hungarian and Uruguayan at Barbrix
Barbrix is a sexy place to be right now in Silver Lake, which means all the beautiful people are wearing flannel, and likely to be taking the food seriously. Though it is a wine bar, the extensive small plates are certainly not an afterthought. In fact, the big menu makes it even more fun to try unlikely pairings.
Since much is made of Barbrix’s choice of unlikely wines, I chose solely...
Resurrecting a historic landmark with wine
I don’t know what it is about red trucks and wine, but I stopped off at this old grocery store in Agnew, Washington on the Old Olympic Highway today to get a candy bar and was pleased to find a wine shop inside. I guess it was nostalgia getting to me because I haven’t stopped here since I was about 5 years old to get supplies (candy bars) before heading out fishing with my Dad. I...
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Dr. Loosen or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and...
What do you think of when you hear the word Riesling? Some people may conjure up an image of a wine bottle with a nun dressed in a blue habit. Or perhaps like me, you remember a tall bottle shaped and named after a stoic black tower that is collecting dust in your parents basement. Others may think of a wine that is overly sweet, ironically contrary to the reputation of the German people who...
4 tags
Wine with pizza: syrah or merlot?
Like (I think) everyone at Budget Bacchus, I’m not worried too, too much about properly pairing wine with food. It would make something that’s perfectly enjoyable a total chore, if every glass of wine had to be put on hold until a piece of ocean fish or a hunk of prime rib was procured. Having said that! It is fun to find a wine/food pairing that works unexpectedly well.
Two...
5 tags
Happy Hour at Saluté
Before heading off to 1/2 off wine night at James’ Beach once again (I’m a creature of habit, what can I say?) I thought I’d check out Saluté Wine Bar on Main Street in Santa Monica and see what their happy hour is all about. From 5:30-7:30 Monday through Thursdays, all glasses of wine are 50% off and all bruschettas are $5.
The space is striking- modern and industrial with...