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 The week flew by very quickly. Because I spent so much time outdoors, I didn’t attend to everything that I should have. It will definitely impact the week coming up. In addition to work, I have wine events, a dinner party and best of all, a puppy to socialize from the Puppies Behind Bars organization. Prior to sunset last evening, my friend arrived for dinner. We decided to open a bottle of 2012 Chateau Mourgues Du Gres ‘Les Galets Rosés’ that I had chilling in the refrigerator. Made mostly with Syrah and a small amount of Grenache, this rosé was full-bodied, dry and fruity. The color was deep salmon with fragrant aromas of strawberry, peach and raspberry. Wonderfully layered flavors of strawberry, cherry, melon and vanilla gave way to a long finish of sweet apple lingering on the palate. Francois Collard, a former journalist, owns Chateau Mourgues Du Gres. It is in the appellation of Costieres de Nimes, located on the border of Languedoc and Provence. Check out the website for more information. http://www.mourguesdugres.com  The rosé paired well with the baked Dijon-crusted salmon, corn on the cob drizzled with truffle oil and roasted asparagus.   With just a little of the rosé left and no prepared dessert, I grabbed a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chunks for a little treat. The combination of the rosé and the chocolate in our mouths was quite amazing and very delicious. It was like eating strawberries dipped in chocolate. Yummy! I’m hoping to get in a power walk before the day ends.
Have a great Sunday! Cheers! Penina
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I have never actually set foot on Loire Valley’s terra firma, but on Tuesday I was transported there gratis of Loire Valley Wines “Spring to Loire 2016”. It was a day filled with seminars and walk around tastings. The event took place under a festive glassed in garden at The Park in NYC’s Chelsea district.  Twenty-seven importers showcased wines from the distinctive wine regions of Pays Nantais, Anjou, Saumur, Touraine and Centre-Loire. In addition, Christopher Bates, a Master Sommelier, gave three thirty-minute seminars on Touraine, Cabernet Franc and All styles Chenin.  Loire Valley spans 170 miles and is located in the middle stretch of the Loire River, (France’s longest river) in central France. Loire Valley is also called the “Garden of France” noted for its vineyards, floral gardens, castles and historic towns. The Loire Valley wine region is France’s third largest wine making region and ranks second in production of rosés. The vineyards, situated along the river, stretch from the Atlantic coast to north central France. The diversity in soil composition and climate along this stretch plays a key role in the production and characteristics of the wine.  Pays Nantais region is closest to the Atlantic Ocean and produces Muscadet, made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape. An interesting note, more Muscadet is produced than any other Loire wine. Muscadet tends to be light-bodied and dry. The high acidity and soft citrus notes make for easy food pairing. Anjou region is located in the western Loire Valley and is best known for its fruity rosés and red wines. Many of Loire Valley’s sweet wines are produced here. Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc are the most prominent grapes used. Saumur is considered a premiere sparkling wine region in France and is also noted for its red wines made with Cabernet Franc. The main variety of grape for white wines is Chenin Blanc. Due to the chalky soil, the sparkling wines tend to drink like champagne. The Reds lean towards fruity and light-bodied. Touraine has many famous appellations that include Vouvray, made from Chenin Blanc and Chinon and St. Nicolas de Bourgueil, both made from Cabernet Franc. The red wines from this region are made mostly from Cabernet Franc, Gamay and Malbec and tend to be rich in tannins. Most of the white wines are made with Sauvignon Blanc and tend to be dry and refreshing with an edge of fruit and tart. Centre-Loire region is at the center of France. “It is the original home of Sauvignon Blanc and of Sancerre, the world’s most prestigious Sauvignon Blanc wine that sets international standards for the grape”, as cited from Loire Valley Wines. The majority of the wines that come from the Loire Valley are pressed from a single varietal as opposed to most classic French wines that are blended. It is easier to discern the terroir of the single varietal grapes through aroma and taste. With over 4000 wineries in the Loire Valley, one could spend several months there exploring, enjoying and sipping. I was delighted to spend a few hours learning about the Loire Valley and tasting some very interesting wines! Hopefully, I will be able to move beyond NYC and experience this beautiful area of France first hand!  Happy Wednesday!
Cheers! Penina  In yesterday’s post I asked which wine you would have opened with the pasta and shrimp dinner. The Burgundy was favored by most of you. It was a tough decision, but I opened the Burgundy!  The 2014 Domaine Dutron Pere et Fils Saint- Véran is produced by the Dutron family who has owned the estate since 1835. “Pere et Fils” means “father & son” in English. Denis Dutron now continues the family tradition of making these delicious wines. Saint- Véran is located in the southernmost appellation of the Mâconnais region of Burgundy where wines are made exclusively from the Chardonnay grape. The Saint- Véran was pale gold with aromas of pear, honeysuckle, nuts and sweet spice. The palate offered lively fruits such as guava and pear, bursts of citrus and hints of hazelnut and floral. Full-bodied and fresh with a nice finale...it was an excellent choice! It’s a rainy day with snow expected this evening! Spring is taking a backseat this weekend.
Happy Saturday! Cheers! Penina  Okay…I’m ready for sunshine, warm waves, palm trees and an exotic tropical drink resting in my hand. Enough of these sub zero temperatures! Everyone is running off to go skiing for the long holiday weekend and I want to run in the opposite direction!  And, let’s not forget that part of Presidents Day weekend also includes Valentine’s Day this Sunday…a holiday that restaurants, florists and candy shops will make lots of money on. Whatever happened to the days when everything wasn’t so commercialized? I remember making my own valentines and writing beautiful poems that truly came from the heart. I say, “let’s get back to the basics”!  However, if offered, I certainly won’t pass up a glass of Cristal Champagne and Teuscher of Switzerland Champagne Truffles! They are the best truffles I have ever had. The Champagne Truffle is Teuscher’s signature truffle. It has a Dom Perignon champagne cream center, surrounded by dark chocolate ganache and is then covered with milk chocolate and dusted with confectioner’s sugar. Oh, my…I’m having a hot flash just thinking about it. Yummy! http://www.teuscher.com  Speaking of champagne, a friend and I had a pre-Valentine toast with a glass of Philipponnat Brut Royale Réserve. Situated in the heart of the Champagne wine-growing area, the Philiponnat family has been producing wine for almost 500 years. The nonvintage Champagne we tasted is mostly Pinot Noir blended with Chardonnay and a small amount of Pinot Meunier. Aromas of citrus, honey and pear led to light and crisp flavors of pear, apple, floral notes and a dash of nutmeg. A light citrus and chalky finish gave it an extra bounce! http://www.philipponnat.com  It’s time for me to bundle up and brave the 15-degree temps outside.
Have a warm and happy Friday! Cheers! Penina  The sun is shining and the temps will be warming up this week. Perhaps the warming trend is short lived, but I’ll take it!  Although it was quite cold last night, my friend decided to grill swordfish steaks and vegetables for his guests. As he stood outside with a down coat on, spatula in one hand and a martini in the other, I had to marvel at his enthusiasm. With the warmer weather approaching this week, I might just fire up my grill!  One of the guests brought a few bottles of 2012 Brouilly, Château des Tours from the cru village of Brouilly in Beaujolais. Château des Tours has been making wine from the same vineyards since 1153 AD. Made with 100% Gamay, the color of the wine was royal purple with a beautiful bouquet of red fruit and flowers. It was full-bodied, with soft tannins and a palate rich in dark cherry, strawberry and plum. There was a hint of spice lingering on the finish. Quite lovely! http://www.chateau-des-tours.com/en/ This is definitely going to be a “power walk” day. I’m gearing up for a “power” week!
Have a great Sunday! Cheers! Penina  On Saturday morning I woke up to snowflakes and cold temperatures. Did winter finally arrive? No, just a tease. It seems that we will be having mild “spring like” conditions for the next week or so. It is definitely not going to be a white Xmas around here.  I spent most of the weekend catching up with friends for brunch, lunch or dinner. At one of the dinners, I tasted a 2014 Chateau Saint-Maur L’Excellence Rosé Cotes de Provence. The blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvèdre and Rolle grapes made for a very expressive Rosé. Pale salmon in color, the fruity and floral aromas were enticing. The palate offered soft red berry fruit, peach and spice with a surprising bite of pepper and lemon zest on the finish. I would love to add this wine to my Rosé collection! An interesting note: Roger Zannier is also owner of Quinta do Pessegueiro in the Douro. Check out their website for some interesting info. http://www.chateausaintmaur.com  The Winter Solstice will occur on December 21st, marking the shortest day of the year. And I will be counting the days for when the sun begins setting after 8 pm instead of 4:30 pm!  I am heading out for a few days and won’t have my computer with me. However, I will be back by Christmas to check in and share some wine and food stories with you. Until then, eat, drink and be very merry!
Cheers! Penina  Aside from one soak drenched day this week, the weather has been beautiful. Holiday decorations are going up and some of the homes and properties I have seen are quite magical. I’m starting to think about holiday menus and pairings. The other evening I made a delicious meal of baked Halibut with lemon, olive oil, cherry tomatoes and capers. For the side dish, I sautéed together shallots, sweet potatoes, asparagus and mushrooms. It was a simple dinner, but my guest said it was “restaurant quality”, as he quickly gobbled it all down.  I paired a 2010 Château Lascombes Haut-Médoc de Lascombes to go with the dinner. It is the third label of a Margaux second growth. The wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. This Bordeaux blend was deep purple with lovely aromas of blackberry, plums and spices. I found this to be an “earthy” wine and full-bodied. The palate offered dark fruit, plum, spice and hints of oak that carried through to a nice finish. I have a few more bottles that will be opened over the next year or two! www.chateau-lascombes.com  The weekend is here and although I have work to attend to, there are a few holiday parties to drop in on! Have a great Friday!
Cheers! Penina  Well, it’s Friday the 13th! I’ve always considered the number “13” lucky, especially since my youngest son was born on that date! However, some people see it as a very unlucky day. There is actually a term for this phobia, known as “friggatriskaidekaphobia”. No joke! Frigga was the name of a Norse goddess, for whom Friday is named and triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number thirteen.  The origins of Friday the 13th are steeped in history and myths. Superstitions about the number 13 date back as far as 1700 BC. There are many stories surrounding Friday the 13th of which I won’t elaborate on here. I say, embrace the day and make something positive out of it!  And speaking of positive, I closed two significant deals yesterday and celebrated the beginning of the evening with a good friend, Veuve Clicquot and a special dinner. I love the sound of a champagne cork gently popping and the rush of bubbles tickling my mouth! Have a “Super” Friday!
Cheers! Penina  The clocks have been turned back and the sun will begin setting earlier. I’m already anticipating the winter solstice on Dec. 21st when the days start getting longer again! It was a fun weekend mixed with meeting friends for lunch & dinner, celebrating Halloween, working and of course, watching the World Series. I’m ready to put on the brakes for a few hours!  On one of my lunch dates this weekend we had Moët & Chandon "Impérial" Brut Champagne. It was chilled to perfection. The color was pale yellow with wonderful aromas of citrus, nuts and pears. The palate offered a salad of soft fruit with a hint of lemon. It was bright and crisp with a lovely finish. How nice to rediscover this elegant champagne! Varietal: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. http://us.moet.com To quote Moët & Chandon: “Moët Impérial is the House’s iconic champagne. Created in 1869, it embodies Moët & Chandon’s unique style, a style distinguished by its bright fruitiness, its seductive palate and its elegant maturity.” And I couldn't agree more!  Have a great Sunday…and don’t forget the World Series game 5 tonight!
Cheers! Penina  The World Series Game One went 14 innings last night with KC finally ending it with a win. In between sipping wine and watching the game, it turned into a very late night!  My post about Château Haut-Brion yesterday had quite a few people guessing as to which vintage was opened. Some of you thought both years were opened, while others seemed to lean towards the 61’. As you can see, the 1994 Château Haut-Brion was the chosen vintage. After decanting the wine, we took a quick taste before allowing it to open. The color was crimson with a powerful earthiness on the nose that gave way to subtler undertones of fruit and leather. It needed time to open up. After one hour, the bouquet was more floral, although a “musty” aroma and taste lingered. Dried herbs, spice and dark fruit began to emerge as the evening wore on. It didn’t have the depth of flavor that I hoped for, but it was smooth, subtle and enjoyable to the last drop! www.haut-brion.com It’s going to be a stormy day and a good time to attend to a few indoor projects.
Happy Wednesday! Cheers! Penina |
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