Poser? No, Pousseur.

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Sonadora

*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from the winery.

Theoretically it is spring here in the DC area. Given today’s weather with a high of 61 and cold rain, I remain unconvinced. However, I am taking the opportunity to work my way through some of the red wines still lurking in the basement. Tonight I chose the 2010 Bonny Doon Le Pousseur Syrah which has a screw cap closure, clocks in at 12.8% alcohol by volume, and the current 2012 vintage retails for $26. I can’t find the photo I took of this wine.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) Pass the lamb please.

2.) We had this with sausages, which also worked, but I really wanted some grilled lamb.

3.) Lots of complexity in the wine at this price point.

4.) The wine had an incredibly long and lingering finish.

 

On the nose I got plums, pencil lead, spice, and meat. In the mouth I found cocoa, plum, berries, blue fruit, spice and a finish full of lingering dusty cocoa covered blueberries. I kept imagining myself sipping this on an early September night around a campfire.

 

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New Grape New Grape New Grape

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Sonadora

*Disclaimer: I received this wine as  a sample for a live tasting.

I’m working on my 2nd set of 100 grapes, still. The second 100 is taking much longer than the first 100. After 4 years I think I’m approximately 40 grapes into the second hundred. To be honest, I haven’t made a huge push to find new grapes during that time. This bottle came to me, so that always makes things easier. The wine is the Côté Mas St. Hilaire Blanquette de Limoux Méthode Ancestrale NV, which retails for around $14, has a traditional closure, clocks in at 7.5% alcohol by volume, and is made of 100% Mauzac grapes.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) The nose on this wine did not match up with what I tasted on the palate. Sort of like when you pick a chocolate out of the box thinking it’s caramel and it turns out to be marzipan.

2.) I think maybe the wine needed some food. Particularly something spicy.

3.) My thought on Mauzac is that it is a very unique grape and the resultant wine is quite surprisingly sweet.

4.) While it’s not something I’d like to drink on the regular, I’m glad I got to try the Mauzac grape.

 

The wine had very persistent bubbles in the glass and seemed to foam more than other sparkling wines. On the nose I found waxy bitters, candied lemon, and bread. In the mouth I got overripe apple, spice, and spiced pear. My other note says “holy sweet.”

 

 

Filed under: France, Sparkling wine, Wine | Comments Off on New Grape New Grape New Grape

Getting My Bubbly On

Posted on May 2, 2014 by Sonadora

*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample.

I decided a few weeks ago that it is spring. Regardless of the fact that it snowed in DC in April. It’s spring. I have switched to flip flops and I am stubbornly wearing dresses and short sleeves even though the high was 55 earlier this week. With spring, my mind turns toward bubbles on an mostly daily basis. Sparkling wine and spring make me happy. Tonight we tried the Asolo Prosecco Superiore Millesimato Venegazzù Montelvini.  The wine has a traditional closure, clocks in at 12% alcohol by volume, and retails for about $15.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) This is an extra dry Prosecco, which means it does have some residual sugar. I’m not usually the biggest fan of extra dry sparkling, but it almost didn’t register to me that this wasn’t a brut sparkling until I read the tech sheet.

2.) I chilled this down and drank it as an apertif on the porch. Because I’m classy that way.

3.) Prosecco is one of my favorite non-budget busting sparklers.

4.) I’ve never seen wine in this bottle shape before. I asked the PR guy for the brand and he said it’s called an “Astro” and is designed to fit better in an ice bucket with its squatter shape and short neck.

On the nose I got lemon, orange citrus, wax, spice, and apple. In the mouth I found green apple, citrus, melon, and spice. Overall I thought the wine was well done and I was surprised by the acidity given that it is described as extra dry.

 

 

Filed under: Italy, Prosecco, Sparkling wine, Wine | Comments Off on Getting My Bubbly On