Announcing Wine Blogging Wednesday #40-Que Sirah Sirah

Posted on November 20, 2007 by Sonadora

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, sends you off in search of what is arguably my favorite red wine varietal: Petite Sirah. So often confused with Syrah or Shiraz, it deserves it’s own time to shine, and this is it.

Petite Sirah is lesser known by the name Durif. I have noticed, and actually picked one up, Durifs coming out of Australia recently, so they are out there, it just takes some hunting. I haven’t found any from France yet, but maybe one of you will have better luck than me.

The assignment is simply that. Report back on any Petite Sirah that strikes your fancy.

Post your review on Wednesday, December 12 and send me an email at ctsonadora@gmail.com with a link to your review. If you don’t have a blog, please send me your tasting notes and I will be happy to publish them here and include you in the round up.

I am thrilled that my theme suggestion was taken by our fearless leaders over at Wine Blogging Wednesday and am incredibly happy to be hosting this month. Many thanks to the creator of WBW, Lenn of Lenndevours and to last month’s host, Brooklynguy for his excellent theme and write-up! Can’t wait to read about all the delicious Petite Sirah everyone discovers!

Filed under: Brooklynguy, Lenndevours, Petite Sirah, Red, WBW | 19 Comments »

Freshly Pressed: WBW #39 Round-Up

Posted on November 20, 2007 by Sonadora

Y’all should mosey on over to BrooklynGuy’s blog to read his excellent round-up of all the WBW #39-Silver Burgundy wines.

Despite crushing computer problems, he’s got his round-up posted and it looks like lots of excellent wines were again tasted for us to seek out on upcoming wine shop visits, not to mention for me to pick up another bottle (or 6) of the wine I tasted!

Happy reading to all and stop by here tomorrow morning for the WBW #40 announcement!

Filed under: Brooklynguy, WBW | Comments Off on Freshly Pressed: WBW #39 Round-Up

WBW #39 Silver Burgundy

Posted on November 14, 2007 by Sonadora

Neil of Brooklyn Guy’s Wine and Food Blog is our host for this monthly installment of Wine Blogging Wednesday, the brainchild of Lenn of Lenndevours. The theme Neil has set for us this month is Silver Burgundy, by which he was referring to wines from Cote Chalonnaise or the Maconnais. Other than Chablis or Beaujolais, we had free reign to choose a wine. Neil gave the slight suggestion that great wines could be found for between $12-$25, so off I went to The Winery in Old Town Alexandria (my new favorite wine shop!) in search of a fitting bottle.

I found a bottle of 2005 Jean Manciat Macon Charnay White Burgundy Wine. Otherwise, the bottle proclaims Appellation Macon Charnay Controlee Franclieu. I’m not very good at reading these bottles, I rely on Marcus for that! The wine clocked in at 13.5% alcohol by volume, had a real cork closure, and cost me $15.99 at The Winery. I understand from the owner of The Winery (excellent lady with great wine suggestions every time we visit) that the wine is made from Chardonnay grapes. Which, after a quick search, I find that Neil actually drank this wine in May!

On the nose of the wine I found lemon, lemon rind, spice, minerals, and a slight tropical aroma, The wine smells very crisp and acidic and I looked forward to tasting it. In the mouth the wine was dry, acidic, and tart. I found lemons, minerals, wet stone, and a little bit of pineapple. Overall I though the wine was really well done.

This is my kind of chardonnay, it definitely didn’t see any oak, so it fits back with WBW of past “Get Naked” theme from Lenn for WBW’s 3rd birthday. I would definitely buy this bottle again, an excellent value for the price and a style of wine that is right up my alley!

Thanks very much to Neil for hosting and once again sending me outside of my norm of wine drinking window and getting me to try something new. I look forward to reading the round-up and hope Neil doesn’t set the bar too high for when I host next month!

Filed under: Brooklynguy, Chardonnay, France, The Winery, WBW, White | 4 Comments »

WBW #39 Silver Burgundy

Posted on October 16, 2007 by Sonadora

Brooklynguy, aka Neil, is our host for this upcoming WBW! And, in keeping with his specialty, the theme is Silver Burgundy. By Silver Burgundy he is referring to the Côte Chalonnaise or the Mâconnais.

Neil has lots of information posted that will be extremely helpful as I search for a bottle as Burgundy is not a region I am at all familiar with. You can find all the details here. Send the link for your write-up to Neil by November 14 or your write-up if you don’t have a blog and would like to participate! I look forward to trying something new again this month!

Also, be sure to head on over to Catavino for the round-up of WBW #38 Portuguese Table Wines. Ryan and Gabriella made an excellent map depicting all the regions from which we drank wine this month!

Hope to see everyone over at Brooklynguy’s Wine and Food Blog next month!

Filed under: Brooklynguy, WBW | Comments Off on WBW #39 Silver Burgundy