|
Join The WineKnitter in exploring the world of Wine, Spirits, Food, Travel and much more! |
 Just dropping in for a quick hello! I’ve been on the go the last few days and juggling a multitude of things. Heading to Manhattan tomorrow for a special wine luncheon which you’ll hear all about on Thursday.  Until then, stay cool!
Cheers! Penina
0 Comments
 It was a great weekend, even though it was incredibly hot outside. We cooled off in the nearest body of water as often as possible and stayed hydrated with water during the day. However, we treated ourselves to aperitifs and wine with dinner at night. By the way, the strawberry was scrumptiously infused with the Lillet and heavenly to eat! I reviewed this wine a few days ago. http://thewineknitter.com/1/post/2016/07/day-489.html  The other evening I opened a bottle of 2011 D'Isanto & D'Isanto I Balzini Black Label Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT. I have written about this wine on more than one occasion on my blog. My last review of it was this past November. “Made with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this bold wine was the color of deep purple. Aromas of dark berries, spice and cocoa were present. A quick sip and swirl upon opening, told me this was going to be a treat. The wine had a rich mouthfeel with concentrated berries, dark cherry, plum, licorice and dark chocolate on the palate. As the wine opened over the course of the evening the flavors became more intense. The tannins were soft and the finish was long with cherry and pepper lingering.” This vintage is very consistent, having had a few bottles of the 2011 over the course of 2 years. You can read more about their White and Red Label on previous posts: Day 347 9/22/15 and Day 230 3/19/15. http://www.ibalzini.it  It’s time to head outdoors and enjoy a swim!
Enjoy your Sunday! Cheers! Penina It was the perfect evening to sit out on the deck, watch the sunset, share stories and drink wine. There was a delightful breeze and NO humidity!  The empty bottles and the last few mouthfuls of some nice wine…  We started with Montes Spring Harvest 2016 Sauvignon Blanc from the cool coastal region of Leyda Valley, Chile. The grapes are handpicked one month early, making the wine available 2 months earlier than other wines of this variety. Aurelio Montes, the chief winemaker, says this wine is “ideal to celebrate the beginning of the spring season.” The color was light yellow with a green hue. Aromas of citrus, grapefruit, mango and a hint of herbs tickled the nose. The palate offered citrus, grapefruit, lemon zest and hints of pepper. A bitter edge followed at the finish, making this a most delightful experience. Full-bodied with racy acidity makes this wine a perfect accompaniment to most food. Alcohol: 12.5% Price range: $13 to $16 http://www.monteswines.com For our dinner, I made pan seared Halibut with charred corn, mint, scallions, cherry tomatoes and fresh lime juice. A side of pear, walnut and Gorgonzola stuffed ravioli drizzled with balsamic & fig dressing, and homemade country French bread completed the meal.   We chose a 2014 J. Lohr Riverstone Chardonnay from Arroyo Seco Monterey, Central Coast, CA to drink with our dinner. This is a “tried and true” chardonnay. I reviewed the 2014 vintage in November. The color was pale yellow with aromas of peach, strawberry, honeysuckle and nuts. The aromas carried over onto the palate with oak and a smooth buttery feel on the finish. Alcohol: 13.5% Price is approximately $14 It’s time for a swim.
Happy Thursday! Cheers! Penina In case you didn’t read my last post, it was about El Ron Prohibido Habanero rum from Mexico. In the post I explained the aging process using the traditional 12-year solera system. You might want to scroll down to the previous post and read about it prior to reading my tasting notes. We finally opened the bottle last night, which is reminiscent of a pirate’s jug of rum, except this bottle is all glass. The bottle has a very “old world” look to it that makes it very inviting. The best way to drink this rum is “straight”, otherwise the subtle flavors will be lost.  The color is dark amber with a sweet aroma that reminded me of sherry and port. Dry fruits, prunes and vanilla were present on the nose followed by hints of raisin. The palate offered honey, plum, oak and raisins. The rum had a bittersweet finish of vanilla and espresso beans that lingered on the palate. Overall, I found the process of making the rum and its packaging more intriguing than the rum itself. Alcohol: 40%  I have a busy week ahead, with my main goal of staying cool and hydrated!
Have a great Monday! Cheers! Penina  With the temps in the 90s this weekend, it has been less than conducive to imbibe anything but water to stay hydrated. Even the chilled Rosés, Chardonnays and Prosecco in my refrigerator are being ignored. My reviews will have to wait another day or so.  A friend, who recently visited Mexico, brought back a gift for me to try. It is a bottle of El Ron Prohibido Habanero, (the forbidden rum). It is a blend of aged rums using the traditional 12-year solera system. Fermentation takes place in used raisin wine barrels prior to the “mosto” being distilled in column stills. The solera system is an aging process using new batches of rum mixed with older ones in a tiered or pyramid structure. The bottom tier is the solera, the eldest rum, which doesn’t leave the system. The rows above are the younger rums (criadera). It is an interesting process in which about only half of the rum is taken out of the bottom row at the end of a cycle and then the next row up is transferred down to the solera, creating a blend of characteristics that rapidly transfer to the younger rum. This process continues all the way to the top of the pyramid, where new product is added.   I’m looking forward to tasting this rum very soon. And hopefully the next photo won’t be of an empty glass! Happy Saturday!
Cheers! Penina  Back in the day, I used to order Lillet when “barhopping” with friends. Having just turned twenty-one, I thought the drink sounded exotic. As my friends ordered classic drinks such as screwdrivers, rum & coke, or a glass of house wine, I would be perched on the bar stool feeling “oh so” sophisticated with my “French” aperitif. I first tasted Lillet Blanc at Yellow Fingers in NYC. The bartender, realizing that I had no idea what to order, took it upon himself to pour me a Lillet over ice. I’m not sure whether it was the wink he gave me combined with his good looks or the delicious taste of the Lillet, but it became my “go to” drink for a while. Lillet is considered an aromatized wine and is produced in Podensac, a small village south of Bordeaux. It is a blend of 85% Bordeaux region wines and 15% macerated citrus liqueurs. It is available in Rouge and Blanc. The company was founded in 1872 by brothers Paul and Raymond Lillet. In 1887, Kina Lillet was created, making it Bordeaux’s first and only aperitif. At the time, all other aperitifs were red. In 1962, Pierre Lillet, grandson of Raymond, created Lillet Rouge, primarily for the American market.  Lillet Blanc has been likened to vermouth, however Lillet has distinct flavors of citrus, honey and spice. The color is golden with aromas of orange blossom and honey with subtle hints of apricot and peach. These aromas segue onto the palate. A creamy mouth-feel gives way to a very crisp and clean finish. It should be served chilled or over ice, perhaps with an orange or lemon slice. As the label states, “it is best presented in a traditional Bordeaux wine glass, to enhance its subtle delicate bouquet”. There are many Lillet cocktails to be found on the Internet. I prefer mine over ice! Alcohol: 17% http://www.lillet.com As soon as I reacquaint myself with Lillet Rouge, I’ll share my thoughts with you.
Happy Tuesday! Cheers! Penina The past few days of humid and rainy weather has had me reaching for “cold” drinks with lots of ice. Although my freezer is stocked with vodka and the bottom shelf of the refrigerator is dedicated to wine, I’ve been guzzling non-alcoholic drinks. Oh my!  Iced tea and iced coffee can tend to get boring after a while, so I started searching for interesting recipes in addition to having a few of my own. Of course, one of the easiest beverages to prepare is infusing water with your favorite fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices. It’s refreshing, healthy and a great way to hydrate! Just combine the water with the ingredients that you like and let sit in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours. The longer it sits, the stronger the flavor! The best part is that you can keep adding water to the blend and it will continue to infuse! A favorite blend of mine is strawberry, lemon thyme and basil. The combinations are endless and a little creativity and imagination can go a long way.  Another easy preparation is to add pureed or chopped fruits and herbs to your favorite lemonade. You can give it an added dimension by adding a little seltzer. Pureed mangos and raspberries make a delicious thirst quencher, especially when served “slushy” style after cooling in the freezer. If you’re craving an exotic drink, but don’t want the alcohol, just add extra juice, club soda, ice cubes or whatever the recipe calls for sans the alcohol.  And lastly, making up fruit/herb ice cube trays, is a fun way to not only add flavor to your beverage, but it is a great conversation piece as well. Chop the fruit/herbs into small chunks and fill the ice cube trays. Make sure you add enough water to each cube to cover completely. Allow to freeze and enjoy! Stay cool and have a great Saturday!
Cheers! Penina  Today is World Chocolate Day. This is an observance that takes place globally every year on July 7th. Although I can’t confirm it, supposedly today marks 466 years since chocolate was first introduced to Europe. I certainly don’t need an excuse to indulge myself in chocolate. I am a confirmed chocoholic and proud of it!  If you’re thinking of sipping wine while nibbling on chocolate, you might want to consider what wine to open. Full-bodied wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel pair well with dark chocolate. Port, Rosé and Madeira complement creamier chocolate such as milk and white chocolates. Of course my all time favorite pairing is Teuscher’s champagne truffles and Cristal!  The other evening while at a friend’s home, I tasted 2010 Nadia Cabernet Sauvignon, Highlands Vineyard, Santa Barbara County produced by Laetitia Vineyard & Winery. This Cabernet would have paired well with a rich dark chocolate dessert. Made with 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc & 3% Merlot, it was a rich garnet color. The aromas were intoxicating and filled with berries, licorice, pepper and a touch of mocha. The palate offered lush berries, lots of pepper and spice. It was beautifully balanced, with silky tannins and a long finish. It’s too bad that I didn’t have any chocolate to go with it! Alcohol: 14.2% http://www.laetitiawine.com Happy Chocolate Day!
Cheers! Penina  It was a fun filled weekend celebrating the 4th of July with friends. There were sunset parties, swimming, fireworks, great food and of course, wine! I brought a bottle of Château Gassier Ormilles Côtes de Provence Rosé 2015 to start off the evening at one of the dinner parties this past weekend. I reviewed this rosé a few days ago. http://thewineknitter.com/1/post/2016/07/day-484.html As dinner drew near, my hostess opened a bottle of MOMO Pinot Noir 2011. Momo is a line of wines produced by Seresin Estate in Marlborough, New Zealand. Momo means “offspring” in Maori. This wine is a certified organic wine, made with sustainably grown grapes that are hand picked and hand sorted from Seresin’s three biodynamic vineyards. After natural fermentation, the wine is matured for ten months in French oak. The color was garnet with cherry, strawberry, earth and a touch of herbs on the nose. The wine was medium-bodied, offering dark fruit, oak, spice and a hint of herbs on the palate. It paired well with the grilled lamb chops, beans and squash. http://seresin.co.nz  It’s a short week and so much to do!
Have a great Tuesday! Cheers! Penina HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!  I’LL BE BACK TOMORROW TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS ON SOME INTERESTING WINES I TASTED OVER THE WEEKEND!
CHEERS! Penina |
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed