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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
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 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  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  On Monday I found myself seated in the banquet room of the popular Tribeca Grill in NYC. Owned by Robert Di Nero and Lou Diamond Phillips, among others, this trendy establishment opened its door in 1990 and is still going strong. However, I wasn’t there to dine. I came for the Savour Australian Roadshow, a highly anticipated event for media and trade that included a seminar and walk around wine tasting of Australian wine.  Australia, a single country continent, is the smallest of the seven continents but it is the sixth largest country by total area. Australia is also the flattest continent with a land mass almost equal to that of the United States and much larger than Europe. Australia is broken down into six states. Wine is produced in every state with more than 60 designated wine regions and over 2000 wineries. Temperatures and soil vary not only from region to region, but within the regions as well. The diverse climates and terrain in these unique wine regions are reflected in the wines. There are no grapes indigenous to Australia. The first vines arrived in 1788 and vineyards were established in 1805. James Busby, regarded as the “father” of the Australian wine industry, went to Europe in 1831 and collected 650 varieties of which 362 survived the journey. They were planted in the Botanical Gardens in Sydney and a duplicate collection was planted in Busby’s Hunter Valley property. Over time, cuttings made their way to other regions, establishing the “old vines” of which many can be traced to the original Busby collection. With over 130 grape varieties, the major wines that are produced in Australia are Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Grenache, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling, Semillon, Muscat and Sauvignon Blanc. Mark Davidson, Global Education Manager, moderated the seminar “Old Vines & Classic Wines of Australia” along with an impressive panel of winery principles, Charlie Seppelt, Chester Osborne, Bruce Tyrrell and Allister Ashmead. Fifteen glasses of wine were set before each of us to taste and compare. We tasted Marsanne, Chardonnay, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz ranging in style, vintage and region. As we sipped the wines, we were educated on the regions, terrain, various production techniques, some family history and a few humorous stories. I enjoyed listening to the panelists who were so dedicated and passionate about wine. In fact, every winemaker and owner that I met yesterday had a story to tell, whether it was about their family, the region, wine production or how they hand picked the grapes. The room was pulsating with enthusiasm! Many different winemakers and regions were represented at the walk around tasting, including Hickinbotham Wines, Tyrrell’s Wines, Brokenwood Wines, d’Arenberg, Elderton Wines, Leeuwin Estate and Kaesler Wines. Over the next few weeks I’ll review some of these extraordinary wines and share a little history about the vineyards they come from. I must confess that when I hear an Australian accent, especially when it’s emanating from a handsome Australian man, my heart tends to melt. However, it was the Australian wines that stole my heart yesterday!
Happy Tuesday! 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 It was a “feel good” day on Thursday. A portion of the day was spent with Otis, a service dog in training from Puppies Behind Bars. There is nothing like the unconditional love that these dogs give. I love volunteering and socializing these terrific pups!   Towards evening I met up with some friends for some fun banter and light fair. I tasted a 2014 Bodegas Muga Blanco from Rioja, Spain. The wine is a blend of 90% Viura and 10% Malvasia grapes. Gold in color with a green tinge to it, this was a light and crisp wine. The nose offered apple, honey and citrus that carried through to the palate. Pear and spice slid into a surprisingly long finish. Very nice! http://www.bodegasmuga.com It’s hard to believe that the weekend is already here. What will you be eating and drinking? Please share!
Happy Friday! Cheers! Penina |
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