Blending the ‘Annes

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Sonadora

*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from the PR folks for the winery.
Marsanne and Rousanne that is. This wine is an equal blend of the 2 grapes. It hails from the team at Hope Family Wines out of Paso Robles.  We pulled this from the cellar to drink with roast chicken the other night. I’m not making a turkey before Thanksgiving and I wanted to give it a run with poultry to assess it as a potential Turkey Day wine.  The 2010 Treana White retails for $23, has a real cork closure, and clocks in at 14.5% alcohol by volume.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) Gobble gobble gobble.

2.) Being serious, the flavors and structure of this wine, combined with the “oily” nature of the grapes would make it a great contender to stand up to the array of foods served at your Thanksgiving celebration.

3.) I was really surprised by the depth of flavors in this wine.

4.) I’ve been enjoying all the wines coming from Hope Family Wines I’ve had lately.
On the nose I got pear, cream, orange, honeysuckle, and stone fruit. I found that I could smell the oily nature of the grapes on the nose, along with the round fruit flavors to come. In the mouth I found pear, peach, stone fruit, tropical notes, honey, flowers, and melon. The wine had a lot of weight on the palate, along with the oily quality I noted earlier and the round fruit flavors.

 

 

 

Filed under: California, Marsanne, Roussanne, White, Wine | 1 Comment »

Bring on the Riesling

Posted on October 10, 2012 by Sonadora

*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from the PR folks for Wines of Germany.

The weather has turned in my neck of the woods.  Today felt as if we’d jumped to early winter and completely skipped fall.  When the weather cools down and I want white wine, I tend to pull wines with a bit more body and complexity off the shelves versus the summer fare of Sauvignon Blancs.  Tonight I chose the 2009 Knebel Von Den Terrassen Riesling to fit the bill. The wine has a screw cap closure, clocks in at 12.5% alcohol by volume, and retails for around $23.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) A beautiful riesling that had a lot going on for the price point.

2.) I’m thinking ahead to turkey, this would be a definite good choice for the white wine drinkers in T-day crowd.

3.) The 2009 rieslings have overall been lovely in my experience.

4.) I was surprised by how delicate and racy I found this riesling to be.

On the nose I found honey, lemon, pear, white flowers, peach, honeysuckle, and wet stones. In the mouth I got lime, pear, white peach, and a mineral streak.  The wine had excellent acidity with fresh tart, clean fruit flavors. The mineral streak/wet stone added nice complexity to the wine.

 

 

 

Filed under: German, Riesling, White, Wine | 5 Comments »

Ooo La La!

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Sonadora

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

What do you get when you combine 55% Roussanne and 45% Grenache Blanc? The current 2010 vintage of Bonny Doon’s Le Cigare Blanc. Did you think I was going to tell a joke? I don’t joke about wine. Well, that’s not true at all, but there’s no just kidding font that shows through the computer screen. Though I could really use one, along with a sarcasm font. Anywho. The 2010 Bonny Doon Le Cigare Blanc has a screw cap closure, clocks in at 12.7% alcohol by volume, and I think it retails for around $24.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) The Roussanne is very evident in the oily, big mouthfeel of this wine.

2.) I’ve had Roussanne. I’ve had Grenache Blanc. I don’t think I’ve ever had the 2 blended together before. It works.

3.) Bonny Doon always has some really interesting wines going on.

4.) The Le Cigare Blanc is perfect for the transitional spring weather we are having in DC with our cooler, windy evenings.

On the nose I found tropical fruits, apples, wax, honey, and flowers. In the mouth I got apple, tropical notes, guava, honey, and flowers. The Roussanne very much dominated the blend for me and lent a heavier, oily, waxy quality to the wine. Pair with roast chicken.

 

Filed under: California, Roussanne, White, Wine | Comments Off on Ooo La La!

Under My Thumb

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Sonadora

I have a problem. I’d call it an addiction actually. I joined another wine club while in CA. In my defense, we had just broken up with 3 others, so it felt like it was time to mix things up a bit. I first ran into Thumbprint Cellars perhaps 3 years ago when they sent me a bottle of wine. I really liked it, so on our last trip out to CA we swung by their tasting room in downtown Healdsburg. The rest of their line up was just as impressive, so we signed up for their wine club and took home a few bottles, including this 2010 Thumbprint Cellars Gewurztraminer bottled under screw cap and clocking in at 14.2% alcohol by volume. It retails for $24, though I paid a bit less than that with the club discount, and the grapes hail from Sara Lee’s Vineyard (where I’ve actually visited and had lunch courtesy of the Wine Blogger Conference in 2008!).

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) Check out Thumbprint Cellars. They have some great things going on, including this Gewurz.

2.) I’ve really been digging Gewurz from CA lately. This, Cartograph Cellars, and Toulouse are some excellent examples.

3.) The nose on the Thumbprint was classic Gewurz. All lychee, honeysuckle, spice, and pepper.

4.) Picture a swampy, hot, humid day and you on a porch relaxing with a refreshing glass of white wine. Make it a glass of thei Thumbprint Gewurztraminer.

On the nose I got lychee, honeysuckle, honey, flowers, pineapple, spice, and white pepper. A delicious nose. In the mouth I got lemon, other citrus, spice, white pepper, tropical notes, white peach, and pineapple. This was a true dry Gewurz with tons of acidity to spare.

 

 

 

Filed under: California, Gewurztraminer, White, Wine | 1 Comment »

2009 Jordan Chardonnay

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Sonadora

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

As a prelude to our recent CA trip, I pulled this bottle of 2009 Jordan Chardonnay from the basement, since we had plans to visit Jordan while in the area.  The wine has a real cork closure, clocks in at 13.5% alcohol by volume, and retails for around $25. I have lots to tell you about our visit to Jordan, but that is (mostly) for another post!

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) Jordan does two things: Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. They do them well.

2.) This wine was like an excellent apple pie in a glass.

3.) I don’t think I have ever seen as many stainless steel tanks in one room before, prior to visiting Jordan.

4.) With well-integrated oak lending body and structure to the wine, I think this would appeal to a wide spectrum of Chardonnay drinkers.

On the nose I got pineapple, spice, apple, fresh pear, baked apple pie, baking spice, and lemon curd. In the mouth I found apple, pear, spice, yellow apple, and slight cream on the finish.  The wine had great structure and body, with a long, smooth finish.

Filed under: California, Chardonnay, White, Wine | 2 Comments »

Oh yummy!

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Sonadora

*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample.

I originally tasted this wine for a Taste Live event late last year, but the kind folks at Benziger sent 2 bottles in case something was off with one. So I stuck the 2nd bottle into the pile ‘o wine (aka my basement) and figured I’d get to enjoy it at a future date. And enjoy it we did.  I’ve actually had the Benziger Sauvignon Blanc many times in the past as it’s one of my “go to” wines at restaurants.  Tonight we guzzled the 2010 Benziger Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma County. It clocks in at 13.5% alcohol by volume, has a real cork closure, and retails for $25.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) Pair it with a creamy dish.

2.) Or an afternoon spent rocking on your porch.

3.) Lots of acidity and clean crisp fruits make this ideal for the 80 degree day we are experiencing today.

4.) This wine disappeared really quickly at my house. I don’t think I got my fair share!

On the nose I got grass, lemongrass, lemon, melon, and slight green pepper. In the mouth I found white peach, melon, lemon, grass, and herbs.  The wine had a great grassy note on the nose and mouth and fantastic acidity.

 

 

Filed under: California, White, Wine | Comments Off on Oh yummy!

Grapes Galore!

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Sonadora

*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from the PR folks for Wines of Austria.

I’ve been adding grapes to my Double Century Club application recently.  This was a totally new grape for us. While I’m quite familiar with and very much enjoy Gruner Veltliner, I’d not previously gotten around to trying Roter Veltliner. I think this makes grape number 139 for us. It’s getting harder and harder to come across new grapes without individually hunting them down from internet sources!  The wine for the night was the 2009 Leth Roter Veltliner. It has a screw cap, clocks in at 12.5% alcohol by volume, and retails for $17ish.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.)  I was surprised at how close, but different this grape was from Gruner Veltliner.

2.) To me the Roter Veltliner actually had a little more going on than regular Gruner, and I dug that.

3.) From a quick search of the internet, I only see a couple different producers for this grape that are imported to the US.

4.) This is definitely worth a try, and would be a crisp, clean wine to enjoy on a warm day.

On the nose I found white pepper, lemon, apple, dried herbs, honey, and exotic fruit. In the mouth I got stones, lemon, pear, apple, quince, and a lick of orange citrus on the finish. Overall I found that it had very crisp, clean fruit flavors and a nice tartness. I definitely enjoyed adding this to my list of grapes I’ve tried and would be excited to try it again.

 

 

 

Filed under: Austria, White, Wine | 2 Comments »

Riesling from Napa

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Sonadora

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

I know what you are thinking. Napa? Riesling? Really? Yes really, and it’s good.  I can’t say that I’ve had a lot of Riesling from Napa.  In fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever previously had any.  The 2010 Cornerstone Stepping Stone Riesling registers at 13.5% alcohol by volume content, has a real cork closure, and retails for $18.  I seem to have misplaced my photos for this bottle.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) A warmer climate riesling, the tropical fruits stood out for me in this offering.

2.) Don’t serve this wine too cold, it will mute the flavors.

3.) I’m universally impressed with the new line of offerings from Cornerstone Cellars.

4.) I would recommend this wine as a great value from Napa.

On the nose I found lemon, stone, honeysuckle, star fruit, and floral notes.  In the mouth I got lemon rind, pineapple, spice, honeysuckle, white flowers, perfume, and wet stone. Overall I found the wine to be tropical without being sweet.

 

 

 

Filed under: California, Cornerstone Cellars, Riesling, White, Wine | Comments Off on Riesling from Napa

Sparkle Some More

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Sonadora

*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from Natural Wine Merchants.

I have been all about the bubbles in the last couple of weeks. It must be the holidays. Picture me singing, totally off-key because I’m pretty tone deaf: “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…. .” Yes indeed, I have the holidays and sparklers on my mind. Tonight we tried the Pizzolata Fields Prosecco, which has a kind of cork that was part way in the neck of the bottle and part out…in any case, it took me forever and a day to open the bottle, it clocked in at 11% alcohol by volume, and retails for around $11.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) Damn that cork was IMPOSSIBLE to get out. Removing it involved me whining and almost ready to slam the top of the bottle against some bricks.

2.) Other than the cork, this was an excellent Prosecco.

3.) $11. Need I say more?

4.) Bready with notes of candle wax and green apples, combined with fine bubbles, which rocks my world.

On the nose of the wine I got lemon, green apple, candle wax, and bread.  In the mouth I found notes of honey, lemon, and pear.  Overall I found the wine to be quite dry with tiny bubbles, though I would honestly describe it as more prickly than bubbly. At the price point, serve it at your next party or with dinner on Tuesday.

 

Filed under: Italy, Prosecco, Sparkling wine, White, Wine | 1 Comment »

Cluck Cluck Cluck

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Sonadora

Fall is here! I think I was just clamoring for summer a few days ago, or so it seems, but the crisp weather and leaves turning color have made me dive head first into the lovely fall season. And with fall comes big spicy reds and heavier whites. Like this 20 Rueben’s Blend from Twisted Oak Winery.  This bottle arrived in a club shipment, cost me $19.20, has a real cork closure, and the bottle got recycled before I could record the alcohol content.

Four takeaways from this wine:

1.) I love Rueben’s Blend in place of a Chardonnay.

2.) Keeping with my recent theme, I’m giving the Rueben’s Blend a nod for inclusion in your Thanksgiving wine list.

3.) I really wanted to drink this curled up in front of a fire place after a day of skiing.

4.) Twisted Oak makes some of my favorite domestic wines. If you aren’t familiar with them, check them out.

On the nose I got creamsicle, pineapple, honey, lemon sugar, spice, and candied pineapple. Mmmm, candied pineapple. In the mouth I found more pineapple, apple, tart apple, lemon curd, and cream.  Good acidity complements the rounder fruits in this wine and makes it a great choice for your Thanksgiving dinner.

Filed under: California, Twisted Oak, White, Wine | 1 Comment »

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