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 Memorial Day weekend is here and friends have headed to the beach or hightailed it up to their country cabins and lakes. For those of us that have chosen to stay home, we’ve been swimming, grilling and hanging out! While grilling Vidalia onions and mushrooms last evening, I took stock of my herb and vegetable garden. I was very pleased to see that my strawberry plant is producing such large fruit. And, the strawberries are very sweet! I’m thinking that strawberries pureed with vodka and crushed ice would make a fun summer drink!   I’ve been looking forward to opening Soulmates Wines 2008 Zinfandel and I was hoping to try it last night. But with temperatures hovering close to 90 degrees, we needed to drink something a touch lighter and a bit cooler! However, it will be the first red wine that I open when the temperatures drop a bit. We ended up opening a 2015 Jean-Picard Sancerre Le Chemin de Marloup Sauvignon Blanc that was chilled to perfection. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc was pale lemon with soft aromas of citrus, peach, strawberry, floral notes and a hint of vanilla. On the palate this full-bodied wine was understated and refreshing. The texture was creamy with mingled flavors of pear, nectarine, & a hint of herbs. The Picard family has been producing wine in Sancerre since 1750. The vineyard is located next to the Loire on the Bue’ slopes which are reputed to be one of the finest for quality. I look forward to trying their Sancerre Rose’ and Sancerre Red soon. http://www.sancerre-picard.com/en/  Happy Sunday…and enjoy the rest of the holiday weekend!
Cheers! Penina
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 Wednesday was a beautiful day and perfect for picking lilacs. Gus was certainly a happy camper! And I was in lilac heaven!  As the day drew to a close, I was ready to grill some veggies and shrimp, while enjoying the sunset and a glass of wine. Like clockwork, the phone rang with an invite to watch the Stanley Cup playoffs with a pre game drink and food. So, off I went!  With vodka in hand and a fun group of friends, we watched the game, ate and laughed. What more could you ask for? The Sharks won and are headed to their first Stanley Cup Final. And, there is another exciting game tonight between the Lightning vs. Penguins. I’ll have the wine and shrimp tonight…not a bad deal!
Happy Thursday! Cheers! Penina Barefoot Wines, based in Modesta, CA, recently sent me a sampling of four wines from their very extensive collection.   Barefoot cork Intrigued by their whimsical name and label, I learned that California winemaker Davis Bynum created Barefoot Bynum Burgundy in his garage in the year 1965. Bynum used the old fashioned way of crushing grapes…barefoot. By 1986 Bonnie Harvey and Michael Houlihan took over and so began Barefoot Cellars and the footprint label. In 1995, with only four wines being produced, winemaker Jen Wall joined the team helping to expand the wine collection to what it is today, over 30 wines. Let me begin my take on the following wines with a quote from Barefoot Wines. “Our wines are non-vintage because age is just a number! We believe in providing the same great, consistent taste year after year!” So, with that in mind… The Barefoot Riesling is blended with Gewürztraminer & Malvasia Bianca. The color was pale straw. Citrus, pineapple, grapefruit and a hint of herbs greeted the nose. As the bottle states, it is sweet. The palate offered pear, peach, honey, vanilla and grapefruit. The flavors were nicely balanced with a surprisingly long finish. If you enjoy sweet wine, this is a good choice and it would do well as an aperitif or dessert wine. Alcohol: 8.0 % http://www.barefootwine.com/our-wine/white-wine/riesling  The Barefoot White Zinfandel from Lodi is blended with Symphony. It is a medium sweet wine with a pretty pink salmon color. It had aromas of citrus, strawberry and nectarine. The palate offered fresh and juicy fruit with pineapple and melon on the finish. It was refreshing even though it was a bit sweet. Alcohol: 9.0% http://www.barefootwine.com/our-wine/pink-wine/white-zinfandel  The Barefoot Red Zinfandel, also from Lodi, is blended with Petit Sirah, Malbec and Petit Verdot. The deep ruby color gave way to an aroma of spices that leapt out of the glass along with red fruits. The flavors did not live up to what the nose offered, but there was a sufficient amount of red fruit, plum and a hint of spice on the palate. It was light to medium-bodied and very soft. Alcohol: 13.5% http://www.barefootwine.com/our-wine/red-wine/zinfandel  The Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon is from Argentina and is 100% Cabernet. The color was dark ruby bordering on purple with blackberry jam and dark berries on the nose. The palate offered dark berries, pepper and a touch of earth. Light tannins and a soft mouth-feel make this an easy wine to pair with a variety of foods. Alcohol: 13.5% http://www.barefootwine.com/our-wine/red-wine/cabernet-sauvignon  The average bottle of Barefoot wine costs about $6 to $11. Barefoot has a large distribution in the U.S. and their wines can be found in most wine stores. You can’t go wrong with these wines and especially at this price. It’s worth picking up a few bottles from their collection and seeing what speaks to you! http://www.barefootwine.com
Cheers! Penina  Another week has flown by and we are fast approaching the lazy days of summer. The peeper frogs and crickets serenade me at night and a chorus of birds has replaced my alarm clock in the morning. It was a warm and beautiful day on Friday that segued into a lovely evening. After a long day of work, it was nice to sit and enjoy a glass of wine and watch the sunset with a few friends.  We opened a 2014 Simi Chardonnay from Sonoma County. The color was golden with wonderful aromas of lemon zest, pear, peach and oak. It was crisp and fresh with juicy notes of pear, apple and honeydew. The texture was creamy with oak and toasted nuts on the finish. It was well balanced and surprisingly expressive for a wine in the $10 to $14 range. It’s worth picking up a few bottles to keep on hand for those summer sunsets! http://www.simiwinery.com  Have joyous Saturday!
Cheers! Penina  On Monday I went to the Vias Imports Grand Portfolio Tasting held at the IAC building in NYC. It was a beautiful venue to hold a wine tasting. Vias Imports has one of the most comprehensive portfolios of Italian wine in the US. In addition to Italy, their portfolio includes wines from Argentina, Austria, France, Lebanon, Spain, and the United States. With over 200 indigenous varietals that express Italy’s unique and diverse regions, there were many wines to taste, including several other countries. It was an afternoon of learning a little history and tasting a few varietals for the first time. One of the varietals that were new for me was the Barbarossa grape. I learned that some of the oldest Barbarossa vines in Italy are located in the Emilia-Romagna region. Fattoria Paradiso owns a hundred-year-old vineyard and produces this grape. I tasted the 2010 Il Dosso Barbarossa Forli, IGT made with 100% Barbarossa. It was fresh with cherry and hints of mint and chocolate. Another grape that was new to me was Dolcetto, found in the Piedmont region of Northwest Italy. I tasted a 2014 Vilot Dolcetto D’Alba from Ca Viola Vineyards. Made with 100% Dolcetto, it had lots of blackberry, licorice and a hint of almonds on the finish.  Matteo Menicacci I met with Matteo Menicacci, winemaker and producer at Castello Di Meleto in Tuscany. He encouraged me to try the 2014 Vigna Casi Chianti Classico Riserva, DOCG. Made with 100% Sangiovese grape, it was smooth and elegant with floral and berries dancing on the palate. The vineyard is rich in history and it is worth visiting their website. http://www.castellomeleto.it I will revisit and share some of the many varietals that I tasted in future posts. But before I sign off, I must tell you about a heavenly wine from Le Salette, located in the Classica Valpolicella region. The 2012 La Marega Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico DOCG was exquisite. This Valpolicella blend was packed with spices, strawberry, herbs, chocolate and plum with a velvety finish. I would drink this for dessert!
Have a great Wednesday! Cheers! Penina  Mercury is in retrograde until the end of May. Even if you don’t believe in astrology, (which I tend not to) it seems that everyone is on edge. And if that isn’t enough, it was also Friday the 13th yesterday. Oh my!  So, by cocktail time I was ready for a martini or glass of wine. Since I was expecting company I was more inclined to open wine. However, plans changed when we all decided to meet at a friend’s home for a “Stanley Cup” playoff party. It was Game One between Lightning vs. Penguins and everyone wanted to watch.  Because of a little bout with sniffles, I opted for something light. So my host opened a Dutcher Crossing 2011 Sauvignon Blanc from Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma. Citrus, melon and pineapple on the nose segued into zesty and fresh acidity with citrus and peaches on the palate. Unfortunately, my congestion overtook my taste buds, but I felt this vintage was winding down. http://www.dutchercrossingwinery.com Despite an injury or two, Lightning won the first game.  I’m taking advantage of the beautiful weather and heading out for a power walk and then doing some serious strawberry and tomato planting!
Happy Saturday! Cheers! Penina So, before I “leave” the continent of Australia, I want to share some thoughts on their red wines. As mentioned in a previous post, Australia’s major red wine production is Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Grenache and Merlot. Below are a few examples of what I tasted.  Shiraz was one of the original varieties brought to Australia. It is grown in just about every region. With varying climates, the styles vary as well. The cooler climates generally tend to produce medium-bodied wines that are spicy, while warmer climates produce more full-bodied, richer Shiraz. Each region brings it’s own unique style to the wine. The Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard Brooks Road Shiraz 2013, from McClaren Vale, SA is 100% Shiraz. Deep purple in color, it was rich with dark berry flavors and spice. Firm tannins and a peppery finish made this medium-bodied Shiraz a standout. Heading north, I tasted Tyrell’s Wine Vat 9 Shiraz 2013, Hunter Valley, NSW. This Shiraz was very dark red with more herb and floral on the nose. Lots of berries with fennel, floral and a little earth mixed in. Gentle tannins added to a lengthy finish.  Charlie Seppelt Since Cabernet Sauvignon does not grow well with heat stress and drought, Coonawarra and Margaret River have developed the best reputation for growing Cabernet Sauvignon in Australia. However, there are other regions such as Langhorne Creek, McLaren Vale and Barossa in South Australia that also produce noteworthy Cabernet. At the tasting last week, I found most of the Cabernets to be “chewy” but very drinkable. Yalumba The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 from Coonawarra was deep garnet with berry, plum and herbs on the nose. The palate was alive with fruit, oak and savory herbs. Tannins were high with more fruit on the finish. Pinot Noir grows best in Australian regions with cooling influences of the ocean or altitude. The state of Victoria produces a wide range of styles as does Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Macedon Ranges. Tasmania is surrounded by the cooling effect of the Southern Ocean and does well with this particular variety of grape. One of the Pinot’s I tasted was Giant Steps Yarra Valley, 2015 from Victoria. Floral and cherry were on the nose. Silky red fruits, spice and pepper greeted the palate with medium tannins and a hint of herbs on the finish. I have touched on just a few of the varieties of wine that Australia has to offer, so I suggest that the next time you’re in a wine store or out to dinner, try a bottle of Australian wine. You won’t be disappointed! Have a great Wednesday!
Cheers, Penina The weekend flew by with fun dinners, watching a little hockey, basketball and some much needed down time. I also enjoyed a beautiful Mother’s Day filled with sweet acknowledgements of a job well done! And now it’s Monday. Time to fire up the computer and get to work.  The other evening while at a dinner party I tasted a lovely 2009 Château Durfort-Vivens Margaux, Bordeaux, France. This red blend is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc and is a second growth Deuxième Cru of the 1855 Classification. This medium-full bodied wine was ruby red with succulent aromas of berries, spices, tobacco and cocoa. The palate was layered with cherry, purple plum, blackberry and spice. Hints of cocoa were present on a long and silky finish. It was a treat to drink it! The wine was aged in 40% new French oak barrels for an average of 18 months. http://www.durfort-vivens.fr The week is jam packed with lots to do, but I plan to take advantage of the warm weather and blue skies to get in as much power walking as possible.
Happy Monday! Cheers! Penina My doorbell was busy yesterday with FedEx and UPS delivering wines for me to taste and review. I’m going to enjoy opening these wines over the next few weeks!  I still have Australian “reds” to talk about, but it will have to wait until next week. I’m going to turn off my computer for a few days and relish in some down time.  Wishing everyone a very Happy Mother’s Day!
Have a great Saturday! Cheers! Penina  All my “wine” friends are talking about Australian wines. The Australians recently came to town and wowed us. After spending the beginning of the week at a seminar and tasting these magical wines, I’m ready to dive in and start sharing some of my thoughts. I was very impressed with the Chardonnays. I had the opportunity to taste these lovely wines from different parts of Australia. They all had a unique style and range of flavors. Hunter Valley, one of Australia’s best-known wine regions is located north of Sidney in the New South Wales region. It is home to some of the oldest vineyards in the world and was spared from the phylloxera epidemic that wiped out vineyards of Europe in the 19th Century. It is in this “sacred site” that some of Tyrrell Wines premium vineyards are located. The vines (Chardonnay, Semillion and Shiraz) are over 100 years old and still produce and grow on their own roots. I tasted Tyrrell’s Vot 47 Chardonnay 2010 that came from Hunter Valley, NSW. The wine was creamy with soft citrus, peach, hints of vanilla and oak with nice acidity, length and balance. I had the pleasure of meeting with Bruce Tyrrell, 4th generation and managing director. He chose some outstanding Shiraz for me to taste (which I will reflect on in another post.)  Chester Osborn of d'Arenberg  Another impressive Chardonnay came from Eden Road Wines located in Tumbarumba, NSW. Eden Road is a boutique wine company and fairly young but is producing award-winning wines. I was bowled over by their 2013 Chardonnay. Aged in 15% new oak, the aromas were heady with citrus and fruit. The palate offered creamy peach, nectarine and a hint of hazelnut. Nicely layered and a stunning finish.  The Leeuwin Estate is located in Margaret River, WA. The Winery is one of five founding wineries in the Margaret River district in Western Australia. It is family owned and they have given themselves quite a name for combining fine wine, food, art and music. Now that’s what I like, all my favorites under one roof. They have an award winning restaurant, art gallery and concert arena. Their Art Series Chardonnay 2012 was extremely good. The “Art Series” represents Leeuwin’s most opulent and age worthy wines. The aromas were heady with floral, caramel and oak. Aged in 100% new oak, this wine was unbelievably rich in texture, with fruit, citrus and hints of oak and nuts on the palate. The finish was seductively long. It was a “wow”! All the whites that I tasted at this event were focused and consistent with ripe fruit. Australian Chardonnays have certainly broadened my palate! More to come…
Happy Wednesday! Cheers! Penina |
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