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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
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 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  This week is busy with wine events and I hope to have a few interesting posts for you to read in the next week or so. In the meantime, I just want to give a quick thumbs up to the 2014 Groth Sauvignon Blanc from Napa that I had the other evening. This is a beautiful blend of 91% Sauvignon Blanc and 9% Semillon. 80% of the fruit is fermented in oak barrels and 20% in stainless steel. Pale yellow in color, this wine has wonderful aromas of citrus, melon and pear. The palate does not disappoint and offers a lively array of peach, pear, citrus and light minerals. It is crisp with a velvety mouth-feel and a nice finish. Lovely balance between tart and sweet. Alcohol: 14% Price range is $17 to $21. http://www.grothwines.com  It’s a beautiful day and perfect for an early evening swim and cocktails!
Happy Wednesday! Cheers! Penina  I’ve been waiting for a “cool” evening to open Soulmates Wines 2008 Zinfandel from California. The weather of late has had me reaching for wine from the refrigerator. However, last night with the temps hovering in the 60’s, I finally popped the cork! This boutique blend culls grapes from Sonoma, Napa and Lodi. The color was deep garnet with succulent blackberry aromas trailed by herbs and earth. Flavors of blackberry jam, dark cherry, fennel and spice danced around the palate giving a soft and silky mouth-feel. The finish was long with hints of pepper and chocolate covered cherries. http://soulmateswines.com  The inspiration behind this wine touched my soul deeply. It is a story of motivation, courage and perseverance. Having lost a young family member recently to brain cancer, I know what true courage and determination is. Aggie Bonpua is the founder and CEO of Soulmates Wines. This is the story of Aggie and her brother Louie, who is the inspiration behind the wine. I have copied the story from their website for you to read. “A soulmate has often been defined as the twin soul - the other half of one’s soul. This is a story about a brother and sister with an unbreakable bond. An older brother of six years, born August 30, 1964, and a younger sister born August 28, 1970; nevertheless the six years in age did little to separate their unified vision and fervor for life; indeed, their relationship was, rather, one of twins joined in spirit and in heart. The unyielding will to assure his sister reaches the countless dreams she shared in her youth…the passion he felt, knowing she had a gift that could change the world, leaving a historical mark for generations to share – little did he know what a profound impact such qualities would have upon his sister as he entered into an unforgiving battle of life and death. Diagnosed with Leukemia with no correction after treatment, and having only the inevitable fate before him, Louie Bonpua kept a personal goal to train and perform in the Ironman Triathlon. He went on to compete and finish more than 15 triathlons, to include one Ironman triathlon throughout Northern California, with the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society Team in Training. He inspired those diagnosed with Leukemia, motivated competitors within the triathlon arena, rejuvenated his sister’s dreams, and invigorated all who encountered his presence. He realized the words “perseverance” and “endurance” beyond polite sickbed conversation, proving them as the keys to unlocking the mysteries of life’s impossibilities. He carried the torch for 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics Games – a symbol of his enduring light to a world that often takes for granted its full-functioning capacities. In memory of his strength, his inspiration, and his love, we invite you to share a glass of Soulmates Wines as you partake in this wonderful gift of life. Cheers!” http://soulmateswines.com/the-louie-project/ A portion of every bottle sold goes to the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society.
Have a peaceful 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  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  With the wide swing in temperatures from one day to the next, it has made my choice in wine and food quite mercurial as well. Saturday brought blue skies and warm temps making it conducive for a long power walk and sunset drinks on the deck. I opened a bottle of 2014 Napa Valley Mockingbird Hill Chardonnay that was perfect for the occasion. This is a very noteworthy wine with lots of depth and character. The color was pale straw with lovely aromas of citrus, pear and vanilla. The palate revealed lush layers of honeysuckle, pineapple, and honey crisp apples with hints of oak and vanilla. The finish was long with a touch of creamsicle lingering. Nice acidity and very clean. Aged in 25% new French oak, this chardonnay is a winner!   It’s a rainy Sunday and quite chilly. I’m thinking Cabernet and soup tonight! Have a peaceful Sunday.
Cheers! Penina  Monday was a beautiful day filled with lots of sunshine. It actually felt like the middle of summer but without the benefit of a pool to dive into. However, in just a few more weeks, I’ll be swimming again!  The mild temperatures continued throughout the evening, which made it ideal for sitting outside and watching the sunset with a few friends. My host provided an array of cocktails that included wine, Tequila Sunrise and my recipe from last summer, Tequila Sunset. I opted for the Ram’s Gate 2012 Chardonnay Carneros Sonoma, CA  The Chardonnay had a soft yellow color with rich aromas of oak, hazelnut and tropical fruit. Citrus, pear, mango and honeysuckle entertained the palate. The wine was crisp and lush with a hint of spice on the finish. It was a definite thumb’s up! http://www.ramsgatewinery.com  If you’re a New Yorker, please get out there and vote today! Have a great Tuesday!
Cheers! Penina  After a busy, but fun filled weekend, it was nice to put on the brakes Monday evening. We opened some wine, made popcorn and watched a movie. You might be wondering what wine to pair with popcorn. Well, that all depends on how you “dress” the popcorn. I prepare my popcorn in a Whirly Pop Popcorn Popper and then season the popcorn with salt and pepper, very simple. However, there is an endless list of creative ways to flavor popcorn, such as butter, cheese, truffle oil, herbs, melted chocolate or caramel. If the popcorn is sweet, a dry brut style champagne or dry rosé would pair well. Chardonnay and Malbec pair nicely with buttered popcorn. If you love cheese on your popcorn, Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are a great match. And, if you like munching on plain popcorn, then any wine will work! As I always say, “whatever floats your palate”. There is no right or wrong when choosing wine as long as the flavors of food and wine aren’t at war in your mouth!   We ended up opening a 2011 Crooked Path Cellars Zinfandel from Paso Robles region of CA. It was smooth with a hint of spice and dark berries. Full-bodied with medium tannins gave way to a long finish. I love the label! Have a great Tuesday!
Cheers! Penina |
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