Wine & Dine

I love you Meletti Amaro!

2012-01-26T23:15:00.000-08:00

This is The Shit (excuse my inappropriateness). I tried this last week when our awesome rep, Kevin came by. I wasn't expecting to like it tremendously, since I've had, and own, a bottle of Fernet Branca, which is also an Amaro, and sets the benchmark for all other Amaros (in my humble opinion, anyway).

How to describe the nose??? Well, ridiculous. As you inhale this, you smell some sarsaparilla, anise, saffron, cardamom, date, orange peel, and some eucalyptus. The little hairs at the back of your nostrils feel the heat as you inhale. I could spend all day just nosing this stuff. It is absolutely dazzling.

Drinking it... you essentially can taste the same elements as the aromas, which makes this such an awesome drink. There is the bitterness to it as well, from beginning to end; though not as pronounced as Fernet. Think of this as Fernet's good-looking, younger, sandy-haired brother. There is a bit of sweetness to the Meletti, too, on the nose and by taste. It is not an overpowering sweetness, it's just off over in a corner, waving and saying, "Hi!."

Amaro's purpose is to act as an apertif, aiding digestion. Whatever. It's freaking delicious.

We just got this today. I've been thinking of this ever since I tried it, and came in on my day off (I live a half-hour away) to buy a bottle.

Less than $20.

Dazzling.

Classic Tiki Music

2012-01-02T20:20:00.000-08:00

This beautiful Tiki music is called "Quiet Village," originally done by Les Baxter in 1951. So enchanting!

Martin Denny does an excellent job of this too. I'm pretty sure this was the background music for Pee-Wee's Playhouse.

Speaking of "Quiet Village" - that sums up January for us. The Christmas and New Year's rush has passed, and now we have time to clean up the cobwebs underneath the stacks and stacks of wine, with the job of inventory ahead, followed by replenishing with new wines. Oh those '09 Bordeauxs are on their way! Get ready!

Hope you had a great holiday season filled with friends, family and the lion's share of food and libations. Wishing you good times ahead in 2012!

Cheers,

Champagne: Why this is the BEST gift for your wine-guzzling friend

2011-12-20T23:18:00.000-08:00

What to get your wine lover/wine snob/wino friend for Christmas?
I HEARTILY recommend Champagne. WHY, you ask? I'll tell you why:

Just about every wine-drinker (especially in California) who starts out buying and collecting wine, starts off with Napa Cabernet, or Bordeaux. We cut our teeth on it. Then, our palate changes, and we try different wines, different regions. We start discovering Barolo, Riesling, Riojas, and eventually our palate will evolve, so we start drinking new and different wines. (Meanwhile, our cabs, Bordeaux sit in a pile somewhere). Though some people will stay with Cab/Bordeaux and that is fine. But many wine drinkers branch out. Think of wine as food. Would you like hamburger for every meal?

And then there is Champagne.

So very different from any other wine. Uplifting, exuberant, minerally, graceful and makes you want to swoon. It's difficult not to love it. It possesses an inherent, special quality. As wine snobs will attest, a party with Champagne is always a great time. The only problem with Champagne, is... there never seems to be enough. I may have pricey bottles of Cab or Bordeaux in my cellar, but what is really precious to me are the bottles with the bubbles.

The writer Dorothy Parker said it best:
"Three be the things I shall never attain: Envy, content, and sufficient Champagne."

You said it, girlfriend!!

Cheers.

A Year in Retrospective - Best wines of 2011 - Trumpets, please!

2011-12-14T22:01:00.001-08:00

This isn't Wine Spectator's Top 100 or whatever, it's MINE. Which matters the most... to me, that is. :)

Someone asked the question: What are your Top Wines of the Year? Here are my answers:

What was your favorite wine of the Year?

2010 Schloss Lieser Niederberg Helden Spatlese - by the time I got to try this, it was already sold out from the distributor so I ran to one of our competitors and bought a case

What was your favorite red wine of the Year?

2002 Clos Roche Blanche - Gamay
Stunning, haunting, beautiful fruit and nuanced... it was all that, and under $30.

What was your favorite white wine of the Year?

Equipo Navazos La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada #10
Sea-salty minerally goodness. Just supremely good!

What was your favorite effervescent wine of the Year?

Pierre Peters NV Brut Cuvee de Reserve Grand Cru. Also, a good friend brought a 1988 Billecart-Salmon Blancs de Blancs to a party which was outstanding. Also the 1996 Dom Perignon Oenotheque was very good.
(Pictured: Pierre Peters Champagne being chilled. Just kill me now)

(Dom Perignon Oenotheque 1996, rarely seen in the states. Beautiful wine!)

What was your biggest new producer discovery of the year?

Patrick Piuze!

Chablis winemaker, Patrick Piuze. Yes, he's adorable, but he makes great wine! Start buying his wines now, before they get too expensive in the future!

What was your favorite tasting of the year?

Tie: The Rudi Wiest German trade tasting, and the Terry Theise Champagne tasting.
Pictured: Rudi Wiest - One of the coolest people in the wine biz.

What was region did you start getting into this year that was new for you?

Sicily/Mt. Etna - These are wines made at high altitudes in volcanic soil. Wines with breathtaking minerality and graceful fruit. Look out for the Occhipinti Frappato, and other Mt. Etna wines such as Tenuta Terre Nere.

What wine disappointed you this year?

I had the Pierre Peters 02 Chetillons recently and I usually love that wine, but was disappointed. Maybe it's going through a dumb phase, or I am!

What was your favorite QPR this year?

2010 Ameztoi Getariako Txakolina ($17) and killer.

Those are my picks. What are yours???

Bringing out the Big Guns

2011-08-22T02:03:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, you gotta go balls out!

Such was the case when our friend, Phil came back from Iraq, after flying Blackhawk helicopters after one of his several tours of duty for the Army. Phil is a supremely awesome guy... so a bunch of us winos got together (some coming from Seattle, Texas and NYC... gotta love that) to celebrate Phil's safe return.

Everyone brought some very special bottles to give a proper hero's welcome. Along with some Flannery steaks and spot prawns we drank:

1988 Billecart-Salmon Blanc de Blanc - my first aged Champagne, and such an excellent year for Champagne. Astounding... amazing, mind-blowing wine.

1996 Dom Perignon Oenotheque - used to be, that we couldn't even get Oenotheque in the States. That has changed, though. Beautiful wine. Rounded fruit, fresh, citrusy. Delicious.

2002 Serveaux Fils Champagne Brut

Jadot Richebourg - They only make ONE BARREL of this a year. A lovely, graceful expression of Pinot Noir. Was lucky to drink it.

1995 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau - The nose on this... Man! Now this is barnyard! Dark red fruits, earth and more barnyard and herbal notes. Very good.

2001 Chateau Pavie - Everything a winemaker could do to manipulate this wine, they did. Ugh! Tasted like an over-extracted/overdone California or Aussie cab. Nothing elegant about it. Severely disappointing, bordering on undrinkable.

Chave Hermitage - Beautiful red fruits, gorgeous as always.

Lignier Clos du Roche

This list will be continued... the blogger needs to get some sleep!

Cheers!

Rosé 2010

2011-07-06T20:32:00.000-07:00

HOWDY!!! It's been a while.

Well, up until last year, I used to say Domaine Tempier Rosé was the best of Rosés. I had the chance of tasting the 2010 Tempier... very good! Very nectarine-y... and I looove nectarine. But it wasn't the slamming good cantaloupey goodness of the 09. What's with that?!!

Having tasted more Rosés than I can count... this year, my favorite seems to be the 2010 Clos Marie Pic St. Loup... from the friggin' Languedoc! The Fontana of France. I had to keep my wine snobbery in check, especially since this Languedoc wine beat out a Bandol Rosé... and cost twice as less. Amazing wine this is, limpid, refreshing, lots of cantaloupe and delicate all-round. Amazing. $17, and I got it at The Wine Country. I'm going back tomorrow to pick up as much as I can.

Second fave was the Commanderie Peyrassol. From Provence. Yaaaayyyy! Delicate, light, melon fruits running around. All too delightful. $21.

Third this year (in my books, anyway) was Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé. Still beautiful, awesome. With a delicate freshness, and spurts of nectarine. Very good stuff. The price tag might push off a few: $32. For the hardcore Rosé lover.

TIED for 3rd place is: the Ameztoi Rubentis Txakolina (all of these are 2010, by the way). There's a bit of Cherry Jolly Rancher in this one (but dry), and a bit spritzy (it's supposed to be that way). Ever so refreshing. I love this wine and am intending on buying a case. $17. If you want to impress a wine geek, bring this wine.

OK, so I had 3 ties for Third place, the last (but not least) is the Schloss Schonborn "Pink" Rosé, made of Pinot Noir. Think of watermelon juice, but dry. So very good. $16. I've already bought a few of these.

Ahhh! Good summer sipping. Cheers!!

Crank Dat! Doughboy

2011-05-09T00:20:00.000-07:00

Top Chef Korean Challenge! Go Korea!

2011-04-11T08:17:00.000-07:00

A great time had by all for the Top Chef Korean Challenge, held in gorgeous San Diego.

Some highlights right now... more pictures and words coming soon!

--

An Eastern Winter

2011-02-03T00:53:00.000-08:00

Last week was very eventful for my friend Chef Anahita Naderi, as she put out an exquisite meal for those of us lucky to be at her Pop-Up Restaurant, which she aptly named, "Hidden Dinner".

Chef Anahita and her assistants had to improvise and turn a break room into a professional kitchen to create this delicious and visually appealing meal. My table mates were Aimee and Scott, a lovely couple whom I sat with for this special dinner. We were allowed to bring our own wine or beer, so I brought the Claude Carre et Fils Champagne... Light yellow with persistent bubbles, a nose of marzipan and dough, and taste of lemon curd, ginger, very crisp and citrusy.

The evening started with farfar, a dish I was not familiar with, but easily came to love. Crunchy, with pink, green and yellow rice bent into whimsical shapes. It was served with honey and Pop Rocks Candy. There was a "Snap, Krackle, Pop!" with the emphasis on Pop! Pop Rocks and Champagne? Who knew that could be so good! The course was also served with a Spiced Chai Tea shooter... warm and soothing.

The next course was a crispy potato latke, smoked salmon, chilled Creme Fraiche served with a dab of caviar on the top. The crunch, soft latke meshed with the salmon and savory Creme Fraiche. The caviar gave it an extra "Pop" at the end. Wonderful.

Why, HELLO Darling!

From there, we had a waffle with date spread, and on it sat a lovely Tamarind Shrimp... served with a side sip of Coconut Curry Soup. This all interwove.. the brine from the shrimp, the sweetness of the date, the comforting waffle and the savory curry soup.

Next...

Cold Beef Noodle Salad. I think this dish was overlooked by many because it was served in such a simple manner. But it was incredibly delicious and I could have just had that all night. Simply presented... yes, but with great flavor and texture.

The entree:

Seared Duck Breast with Pomegranate Walnut Emulsion, and (get this!) Savory Saffron Krispies. OMG... the Saffron Rice Krispies were heavenly. Again, more of the "Pop" in your mouth sensation, but the flavor of the saffron was very refined. So very good. To put such a sophisticated flavor profile on Rice Krispies was profound and totally unexpected.

Just when you thought it couldn't get better...

Almond Cake with Marscapone, and Beet Ice Cream. WHAT?? Beet Ice Cream? Amazing.

The almond cake was like eating marzipan straight from the tube, and with a flaky crust. Anahita got the recipe for the Beet Ice Cream from Thomas Keller of The French Laundry. Instant love.

And to think I have absolutely hated beets for most of my life (until this year). But never would guess Beet Ice Cream to be the end of this meal.

A great dinner made by a good friend, and made other friends on the way. So good!

Terry Theise! Go!! Go check him out!!

2011-01-06T22:47:00.001-08:00

http://www.wineberserkers.com/viewforum.php?f=23

Legendary importer, hero to the modern wine world, and bon vivant Terry Theise is a guest for a couple more days on WineBerserkers. This is the man who helped forge the grower Champagne movement, and responsible for bringing some great wines to the US. He's on the board and answering any questions from anyone. Intellectual questions, silly questions. All of them. A lot to learn from him, and he is so gracious. Most excellent!

NYC!!!!

2010-11-03T11:47:00.000-07:00

Going to NYC next week. So excited!!

Things to do include: hanging out with my wine nut friends from WineBerserkers.

See my friend, Melissa

Going to Ess-A-Bagel for my everything bagel with butter. I will attempt to go here every single day i'm in The City.

Hit Lotus of Siam

Get a Pastrami at Katz's

Hopefully make it to WHISKEYFEST! on the 9th in NYC.

Tons of stuff to see and do there. As always, there's not enough time.

EXCITED!!!!

Junior Johnson - Moonshine Runner

2010-09-28T00:37:00.000-07:00

Junior Johnson will be visiting Hi-Time on Monday, October 4th. I have a newly found admiration for him based on the following vids. Total rebel!

and more...

Ok. Now wine. It is hot. I mean, freaking HOT!!! But a perfect time to uncork a lovely Chablis. Had the 2007 Louis Michel & Fils Montee de Tonnerre Chablis yesterday. Clear, light yellow in the glass. Taste: Ground-up sea shells. That's the best way for me to describe it. Clean, minerally, a racy streak of acidity. A beautiful wine. 100% Chardonnay.

Also had the pleasure of trying: 2007 Robert Chevillion Nuits St. George. Still just a baby. Clear, dark ruby in the glass. Iron? Raspberries, violets, with some earthiness to it. Good acidity. Absolutely lovely and would like to see how this wine tastes, over the years.

Tomorrow, I am visiting my friend Roberto who works at a shop in Santa Monica called Wine Expo. Followed by a bartenders competition and a rum meeting in LA, if I last that long.

Cheers! Make granita, and keep cool kiddos!

Amarula and Party Animals

2010-09-24T02:13:00.000-07:00

Been there, done that.

Yes, this is the same Amarula creme liqueur that you see in liquor stores. I hear it's tasty.

09's are in!

2010-09-20T00:16:00.001-07:00

Forget Bordeaux (BORRRRING!)... Cru Beaujolais and Riesling are having their own stellar vintage... and what's more, they're affordable. The 2009's are trickling in, and they are delicious. Do yourself a favor and try one.

2009, Joseph Drouhin, Beaujolais - Morgon.
Clear, dark ruby color, a bit of white pepper, and aroma of blackberries. Good acidity!! Nice! One of the better Cru Beaujolais I've had this year, and this is probably my 4th. The berries and pepper carries on through the palate. Evaporating finish, but very drinkable, and enjoyable.

Bye, Bitch!

2010-09-06T03:56:00.001-07:00

Rather than playing Taps, I'll just say, "Aloha!" to the Aussie grenache with the clever and cute label.
It was a good run. I'm sure we'll see your return one of these days. You fueled many a Bachelorette party, and for that we salute you.

R.I.P.

Dancing Merengue Dog & 2003 Bressan Verduzzo Friulano

2010-09-03T23:47:00.000-07:00

Watch the whole thing, it's pretty awesome.

2003 Bressan Verduzzo Friulano

Also awesome. This post is really to tell you about a wine of Bressan Mastri Vinai. But how could I not pass on the Dancing Merengue Dog? Such a cute video, it's a shame not to share.

Am enjoying and reflecting over the 2003 Bressan Verduzzo. Color: clear, yellow gold. Getting a waxiness on the nose, also a faint touch of kerosene, and sea shells.
Finally pinned down that this wine smells of... Marcona Almonds. Also the taste reminds me of Marcona Almonds... with some slight lemon, a hint of stone fruit, sea salt and nettle. Good acid. A highly aromatic and complex wine.

The Madness and Brilliance of Grant Achatz

2010-09-02T17:27:00.000-07:00

Chef Grant Achatz is known for his highly-acclaimed restaurant, Alinea in Chicago. In Fall 2010, he will be opening his bar, Aviary (well, except it isn't a bar, nor a lounge, and has no bartenders). The chefs in the kitchen will be making the drinks. Holy Hell!

Needless to say after watching this, I cannot wait to visit. I'm awed by the painstaking, meticulous work he and his staff do with cocktails, and this doesn't even cover his food. His other restaurant, "Next" will open at the same time.

Amazing the thought that went into this:

Acid is your friend.

2010-09-02T00:18:00.000-07:00

2007 Benito Santos Albariño Viñedo de Xoan, Rias Biaxas (Ree-yas Bye-Shas), Spain - from José Pastor Selections

Had this with calamari and cod from the local fish market.

Jose Pastor is the importer of this wine, who you'll hopefully hear more about in the future. This is a "Natural Wine", meaning (here's the Cliff's Notes version) this is a wine produced with minimal intervention in all aspects of wine-making, from using indigenous yeasts, and also using several organic methodologies from farming to production.

The term "natural wine" is currently a hot topic with wine geeks because the official definition is still being discussed and yet to be agreed upon. I think the goal of natural wine, is to use natural farming and wine-making practices that produce wines reflecting the soil and the weather where the grapes were grown. There are different philosophies and not everyone agrees at which point a winemaker intervenes, and to what degree. Hence, the controversy.
Anyhow, back to the wine...

Light-golden color with the faintest bit of spritz. Smelling a sea salt briny goodness, and lemon. Good acid! If you are new to wine: Don't be afraid of acid! It makes having food and wine together a joy, gives a 'zip' (for lack of better words) to the wine that you'll appreciate and love, and acid plays a big role in allowing a wine to age.

If I had to describe this wine in one word: Exhilarating. Going back to ask, "What was that?" I detect lemon, sea water, peach pit, and on the finish: more lemon with a kind of cheddar (?huh?). Re-tasted on the 3rd day and still drinking well. Love this. An extremely interesting wine which I don't think I'll tire from, and I can't wait to try this again.

My Summer Ro(sé)mance

2010-06-16T14:10:00.000-07:00

2009 Château de Peyrassol Côtes de Provence Rosé

Summer brings in long days, warm nights, and lovely rosé wines. This one is at the head of the list, a beautiful Provencal rosé made of Grenache, Cinsault & Syrah.

Color: Clear, pale salmon.
Nose: Cranberry, carnations, honeydew. A friend described it as: Sea breeze and fresh tangerine. I agree!
Palate: Razor-sharp crispness, dry, red berry, white pepper. Great minerality. Perfect, harmonious balance, and keeps drinking as fresh from the first sip as to the last. Planning on keeping this (along with Pierre Boniface Apremont, which I will cover next time) as my house wine during the summer.

Cheers,

Summer is Gone, but...

2009-10-20T22:56:00.000-07:00

..Domaine Tempier Rosé still remains.

2008 Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé

Many people scoff at Rosés because they are thinking of White Zinfandel. Two different styles of wine entirely. Domaine Tempier is a world class wine which happens to be a Rosé.

Light Salmon-colored, Light-to-Medium bodied, but delicate. Honeydew on the nose,then ripe Canteloupe. Dry. You also get a whiff of chilled carnations and roses. Perfumey. No heat. Sleek and silky. A wee-bit buttery with a lingering finish. I have had Francophiles disway me from buying this wine in the past, strictly because of its price ("Don't spend that much on a Rosé!."), but now after having it, I understand.

Napa... this week! ...with Updates on the Big Bad List of wines.

2009-08-11T08:45:00.000-07:00

The Flannery Steak... Behold!

Am so happy to be going back to Napa. I want to move there, seriously!

A swarm of my wine-geek buddies (50 people?) from WineBerserkers.com will be infesting Napa at the end of this week. I will be on the road Thursday through Sunday (driving up "The 5" oh dear, but it's a quick route).

On tap will be: Barbecues (Flannery Steaks with none other than Bryan Flannery in attendance) with gout-inducing mass amounts of meat and wine, of course. Winetastings, and wine dinners. Will see a lot of people I've never met before, and also some familiar faces. Totally hyped!

More later. Ciao!

UPDATE

Here are the wines present on Saturday for Berserkerfest... we all did our best to try and get to as many of them as humanly possible. The Flannery beef was outrageously good.

Sparkling
N.V. Jacquesson & Fils Champagne Cuvée No. 731 (France, Champagne)
N.V. Vilmart Champagne Grand Cellier (France, Champagne)
1999 Mumm Napa DVX Santana (USA, California, Napa Valley)
1998 Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Blancs (USA, California)

Whites
2006 Sea Smoke Chardonnay Gratis (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills) - Magnum
2003 Clos Pepe Estate Chardonnay (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills)
2008 Grey Stack Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Rosemary's Block (USA, California, North Coast, Bennett Valley)
2007 Josef Rosch Leiwener Klostergarten Riesling Kabinett (Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer)
2006 Remoissenet Père et Fils Meursault 1er Cru Les Genevrières (France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru)
2002 (Label gone!) Chablis 1er Cru Côte de Léchet (France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru)
2004 Mountford Chardonnay (New Zealand, South Island, Canterbury, Waipara)
2007 Olivier Savary Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume (France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru)
2006 Cameron Chardonnay Blanc Abbey Ridge (USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley)
2006 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Baudines (France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru)
2007 Corra Sauvignon Blanc (USA, California, Napa Valley)
2002 Tablas Creek Roussanne (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)
2007 François Chidaine Vouvray Le Bouchet (France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray)
2007 Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fumé Silex (France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Pouilly-Fumé)
2007 Araujo Estate Sauvignon Blanc Eisele Vineyard (USA, California, Napa Valley)
2006 L'Aventure Roussanne Estate (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)
2007 Melville Viognier Estate Verna's (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County)
2007 Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc (USA, California, Napa Valley)
2007 Lava Vine Vineyards Chardonnay (USA, California, Napa Valley)
2006 Robledo Family Winery Sauvignon Blanc The Seven Brothers (USA, California, North Coast, Lake County)
2008 Hartwell Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc (USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District)
2006 Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Vineyard (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast)

Rosés
2008 Dacalier Première Rosé (USA, California, North Coast, Lake County)
2007 Domaine du Gros' Noré Bandol Rosé (France, Provence, Bandol)

Reds
2004 Bodegas y Viñedos de Murcia Jumilla Pico Madama (Spain, Murcia, Jumilla)
2004 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Southing (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills) - Magnum
2002 Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir Hillblock Pommard (USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills)
2000 Château Pontet-Canet (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac)
2003 Carlisle Petite Sirah Dry Creek Valley (USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley)
2003 Carlisle Three Birds (USA, California, Sonoma County)
2005 Carlisle Syrah Pelkan Ranch (USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley)
2004 Saxum Broken Stones (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)
2004 Saxum James Berry Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)
1992 Dominus Estate Napanook Vineyard (USA, California, Napa Valley)
2007 Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium (USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville) - Magnum
1994 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection (USA, California, Napa Valley)
2003 Pax Cuvée Moriah (USA, California, Sonoma County)
1998 M. Chapoutier Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Terra d'Or (France, Provence, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence)
2006 Aubert Pinot Noir UV Vineyard (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast)
1965 Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley)
2005 Piña Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Buckeye Vineyard (USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain)
2005 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor (Private Reserve) (Chile, Central Valley, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto)
2005 Alapay Cellars Syrah Reserve Stolpman Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley)
2006 Justin Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)
2003 Robert Foley Claret (USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District) - Magnum
1997 Seavey Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley)
2003 E. Guigal Hermitage (France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage)
2003 Château Olivier (France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan)
1995 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
2004 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Valbuena (Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero)
2004 Bell Wine Cellars Merlot (USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville)
2004 Bravante Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain)
1995 Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (USA, California, Napa Valley)
1997 Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve (USA, California, Napa Valley)
2006 Two Hands Cabernet Sauvignon Charlie's Patch (USA, California, Napa Valley)
2006 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon GIII Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard (USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville)
2005 Neal Family Zinfandel (USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford)
2003 Andrew Rich Syrah Reserve (USA, Washington, Columbia Valley)
2005 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection (USA, California, Napa Valley)
2005 Match Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Butterdragon Hill (USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena)
1995 Château Troplong Mondot (France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru)
2000 Brown Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley, Chiles Valley)
2006 Belle Pente Pinot Noir Belle Pente Vineyard (USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton)
2006 Scherrer Winery Zinfandel Old and Mature Vines Alexander Valley (USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley)
2004 Petroni Sangiovese Poggio Alla Pietra (USA, California, Sonoma County)
1994 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena)
2002 Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville)
2001 Reverdito Michele Barolo Bricco Cogni (Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo)
2005 Bodegas y Viñedos Alión Ribera del Duero (Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero)
2001 Clark-Claudon Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown (USA, California, Napa Valley)
2005 Reynolds Family Winery Meritage Fourteen Vineyards (USA, California, Napa Valley)
2000 Rolex Cabernet Sauvignon
2005 Black Coyote Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley)
2000 Bodega Numanthia Termes Toro Numanthia (Spain, Castilla y León, Toro)
2001 Bodega Numanthia Termes Toro Numanthia (Spain, Castilla y León, Toro)
2004 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Lyndenhurst 'Young Vines' (USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena)
2005 Match Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Baconbrook (USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District) - Magnum
2007 Peachy Canyon Zinfandel The Vortex (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)
2007 Peachy Canyon Zinfandel Snow (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)
2007 Peachy Canyon Zinfandel Especial (USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles)
1999 Signorello Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Bottled (USA, California, Napa Valley) - Magnum
2006 Jessup Cellars Petite Sirah (USA, California, Central Valley, Yolo County)
2004 Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta (Chile, Central Valley, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley)
2005 Domaine Dujac Morey St. Denis (France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis)
2001 Nicolas Potel Chambertin-Clos de Bèze (France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru)
2004 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley)

All I can say is, WOW. Napa was great as always. Had some amazing food and ridiculous wines. My contributions were: the 2007 Didier Dagueneau "Silex" (which happened to be the WOTN), and also the 2001 Reverdito Bricco Cogni Barolo, the 005 Bodegas y Viñedos Alión Ribera del Duero, 2004 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Valbuena, 2004 Bravante Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, and I also brought "the Ringer": 1999 Mumm Napa DVX Santana. :)

Roy Piper was kind enough to show us around the vineyard where he makes wine, "Seven Stones" located in Meadowwood in St. Helena. Delicious cabs, gorgeous property. We enjoyed the wines near the pool. Then, we went to Randy Sloan's of Match Vineyards and had lunch at his property while tasting his Butterdragon cabs. A group of us also went to "Ghost Horse World" and spent time with none other than "The Todd"... Todd Anderson of Anderson's Conn Valley and his entourage. More on that on my next post.

Peace!

A hedonistic Birthday weekend

2009-07-30T04:20:00.001-07:00

Had an absolutely wonderful, elongated birthday weekend, which stretched from Thursday until Tuesday. Imagine that! Birthdays should be every month.

Highlights of the weekend were:

Making lunch at home for JP and "The Todd" from WineBerserkers.com and his lovely family.
Whale Watching off Dana Point
Sightseeing of The Mission at San Juan Capistrano
Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach
Entertaining my Mom, Brother and our family members visiting from Montreal

Libations for the marathon birthday weekend:

NV, Louis Roederer, Brut Premier
2000 Louis Roederer, Brut "Cristal"
2002 Louis Roederer, Blanc De Blancs
2005 Sea Smoke, "Southing"
2008 Chateau De Puligny-Montrachet, Bourgogne, Rose of Pinot Noir
10 different Champagnes from Ambonnay - Hi-Time Wine Cellars
2004 Ponsot Morey St. Denis - Monts Luisants
1970 Bodegas Marques De Murrieta, Castillo Ygay, Gran Reserva Especial
2002 Domaine De Baumard, Quarts de Chaume
1927 Solera - Alvear Pedro Ximenez
50 some odd rums - Hi-Time Wine Cellars (Rum Tasting, got through half of them)
2005 Les Pailleres - Gigondas
2005 Domaine Fontaine-Gagnard, Chassagne-Montrachet 1st Cru, "Les Caillerets"
NV, Schramsberg Brut Rose
Lapu Lapu (Royal Hawaiian)
2007 Pierre Boniface, "Apremont"

Restaurants:

Thursday, WaterMarc, Laguna Beach
Friday, Lunch at my place: Smoked salmon, Caprese salads (Thanks, JP for your endless supply of Caprese salads!), homemade chewy chocolate cookie ice cream sandwiches
Friday, Royal Hawaiian, Laguna Beach
Friday, 230 Forest, Laguna Beach
Saturday, Brunch at my place: Caprese salads, Serrano ham, baguette and cheeses
Saturday, Harbor House, Dana Point
Sunday, Hush Restaurant, Laguna Beach
Monday, A picnic lunch on the bluffs at Crystal Cove State Park
Monday, Splashes Restaurant at The Surf & Sand Hotel
Tuesday, GulfStream, Newport Beach

Of the wines, the real showstopper was the 1970 Bodegas Marques De Murrieta, Castillo Ygay, Gran Reserva Especial. It was a gorgeous wine with great texture, very present fruit still (no orangey edges in the glass), floral notes and a nonstop finish. Plus, it was the first wine I have had from my birth year. All the wines were wonderful, even the Apremont, which I bought for $12..just a lovely, refreshing summer wine.
The standout restaurants were: Hush, for their Veal Porterhouse and Truffled Mashed Potatoes. Heaven! Also, WaterMarc is a phenomenal find in Laguna and I can't wait to go there again. A remarkable weekend.

Vednesday is for Vagner

2009-07-22T23:23:00.001-07:00

And, of course Bugs...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D_Ka4Bfqhk

A night of Rhones at Grace

2009-06-11T22:37:00.000-07:00

Going with my wine group to a dinner at Grace Restaurant on Friday. Never been! It shall be fun! Everyone is bringing their own wines, and for the night we have chosen the theme of wines from the Rhone region (with exceptions for the bubbly and dessert). The kind people at Grace are planning a menu based on the wines we will be having.
Super Cool.

Here are the wines for tomorrow... (I'm bringing two of the whites).

White:
1998 Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vielles Vignes Blanc
2006 Chapoutier "Les Granits" St. Joseph Blanc
2006 Cuilleron "St.Pierre" St. Joseph Blanc

Reds:
1997 JL Chave Hermitage Rouge
2005 Paul Autard Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee La Cote Ronde
1999 Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge
1999 Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape "Prestige"
2005 Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape "Prestige"
2004 Domaine du Pegau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuveé Réservée

Dessert:
2000 Royal Tokaji Wine Company Tokaji Aszu 6 Puttonyos Betsek

Details to follow, and maybe pictures.

Grace Restaurant
7360 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA

India's Grill in Los Angeles

2009-06-04T22:52:00.000-07:00

On Friday, my wine friends headed off to India's Grill in LA. Since there is only a $6 corkage fee, we all brought different wines for everyone to share.

India's Grill
428 S San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048

The food is phenomenal and quite inexpensive! We brought in all of our wines and stems, and I don't think they even charged us for corkage. We had a bevy of different dishes, chicken curries, grilled okra (so delicious!), lentils, lamb, a couple of other chicken dishes, and the bread (naan) was great. Excellent service, too. I can't wait to come here again.

Here are some of the wines our group brought in for the evening, wines that would match with Indian food.

Occhipinti Il Frappato
2004 Saxum Syrah Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard
2008 Gutzler White Pressed Pinot Noir
1999 Abbazia di Novacella Praepositus Lagrein
2005 Pipestone Viognier
A white wine from Louisiana!
2008 Ameztoi Getariako Txakolina Rose Rubentis
2005 Van Volxem Scharzhofberger Riesling
1991 Stony Hill Gewurtz Traminer (sic)
Alfred Merkelbach/Geschwister Albertz Erben
2005 Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auselese, Mosel,
2006 Domaine Weinbach Cuvee Laurence Gewurtztraminer Vin d'Alsace
2006 Porter Creek Old Vine Carignane

All the wines were fantastic and wines I might not think to get for myself. My favorite wine was the 2006 Domaine Weinback Gerwurtzraminer from Alsace. Luscious, honeyed, and pleasing. There were a couple of other wines not mentioned. All in all it was a great outing.

Are some Red Wines better for you than others?

2009-05-21T00:31:00.000-07:00

There is a dizzying amount of articles touting the benefits of drinking red wine in moderation ...but are some red wines more beneficial for you than others? Is a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon better for your heart versus a Pinot Noir from Russian River? Is a Central Coast Syrah just what the doctor ordered for the old ticker?

Two articles discuss two lesser-known wines; one from the southwest portion of France (where they grow the grape, Tannat), and another wine from Sardinia, Italy (known for growing Cannonau, a.k.a.: Grenache). They also add that it is not Reservatrol that we should be concerned with, but instead, procyanidins.

Interesting. Keep in mind that the people they are studying are living in small provincial towns in Europe where they have different lifestyles and diets than in the U.S. The optimist in me wants to believe that drinking the right kind of wine would allow us to reap some great cardiac benefits. Below are the articles.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=forget-resveratrol-tannin

http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Features/0,1197,3564,00.html

Three Italian Beauties

2009-05-12T22:04:00.000-07:00

Disclosure: I am lucky enough to be representing these three wines. They are all made from the same grape, Nebbiolo, but crafted in entirely different ways. All are stunning in their own right.

Varaldo Langhe Nebbiolo 2006

Bright red fruit, sour cherry, good acid. Think of a bumblebee in your mouth (without the stinger). Delightful!

Varaldo Barbaresco "Sori Loreto" 2004

Same producer as the first wine, this is the "big brother" to the Langhe Nebbiolo. More depth, black cherry, wood presence and a lasting finish. Great acidity. This wine stood well for 3 days after opening. Again, this is stunning wine. If you are into Robert Parker, he scored it a 94.

Reverdito Barolo "Bricco Cogni" 2001

My favorite of the pack. A deep, rich wine with tons of earth. Close your eyes, and you are outside, in the dark, stepping on Fall leaves and smelling damp soil. I swear I could taste this wine for 20 minutes after. Gorgeous.

A musical moment

2009-04-29T03:55:00.000-07:00

Paul McCartney has perfect pitch.

Happy Hour Week in OC - April 12-18

2009-04-10T12:09:00.000-07:00

http://www.happyhourweek.com/

April 12th marks the beginning of the First Annual Orange County Happy Hour Week. During this week you will be able to visit some of your favorite restaurants for some fantastic happy hour specials. The best part about this is that most restaurants will be offering these fantastic happy hour special all day long for the entire week! No more rushing to try and get your order in before happy hour ends! Here are some of the participating restaurants and the menus that they are offering. More may be added soon.If the restaurant name is clickable, you can view their special happy hour menu.

***Many of the restaurants are offering their happy hour specials all day, some only have extended hours though. Please check the page for the restaurant you are going to before going down to the restaurant.***

118 Degrees - Costa Mesa
21 Oceanfront - Newport Beach
Ambrosia - Santa Ana
Avilas El Ranchito - Newport Beach
Bistro West - Tustin
Bluewater Grill - Tustin and Newport
Brix Wine Bar - Sunset Beach
Chaparosa Grill - Laguna Niguel/Tustin
Citrus Fresh Grill - Aliso Viejo
Commonwealth Lounge - Fullerton
Daily Grill - Irvine
French 75 - Newport Beach
HUSH - Laguna Beach
JT Schmid's Restaurant & Brewery - Anaheim/Tustin
Karl Strauss - Costa Mesa
Kimera - Irvine
K'ya Bistro - Laguna Beach
Leatherby's - Costa Mesa
Lucca - Irvine
Mozambique - Laguna Beach
O’Neill’s Bar and Grill - Mission Viejo
Orange County Mining Company - Orange
Pinot Provence - Costa Mesa
Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen - Anaheim
Royal Hawaiian - Laguna Beach
Ruth's Chris Steak House - Irvine
Sage - Newport Beach
Sage on the Coast - Newport Beach
Savannah at the Beach - Huntington Beach
Simply Fondue - San Juan Capistrano
Sorrento Grille - Laguna Beach
Stonehill Tavern - Dana Point
Summit House - Fullerton
Sundried Tomoto - San Clemente
Sundried Tomato - San Juan Capistrano
TAPS Fish House and Brewery - Brea
Terra Nova - Costa Mesa
The Clubhouse - Costa Mesa
The Loft Bistro at Montage - Laguna Beach
The Melting Pot - San Clemente/Irvine/Brea
The Ranch Sports Grill - Ladera Ranch
The Red Chair Lounge - Huntington Beach
The Rooftop Lounge - Laguna Beach
The Winery Restaurant and Wine Bar - Tustin
Tommy Bahama's Island Grille - Newport Beach
Zov's Bistro - Tustin
Zov's Neighborhood Cafe's - Irvine/Newport Beach

2009 Wine Blog Awards

2009-02-25T10:58:00.001-08:00

There are some really great wine bloggers out there, and you have a chance to vote for them now if you follow this link

http://www.fermentation.typepad.com/

Voting ends March 4, so sooner the better! Also, please check out their sites if you haven't already. They are pretty awesome. Alder Yarrow, who writes "Vinography.com" is a pretty cool guy, with a great palate and who does honest assessments of wines and the wine world. You should definitely check him out if you haven't already.

2009 Wine Blog Awards

Peace!
V

Bipolar ... bottled up.

2009-02-03T21:03:00.000-08:00

This is Urban Uco, a 50/50 blend of Tempranillo and Malbec, grown in Argentina.

You see the deep, mulberry color at first, but be patient. There is a finesse to the wine that catches you off-guard....that is the tempranillo taking over. Very rustic (leathery...baseball mit kind of leathery, but surrounded by dark berries). The lean, old world nature of the Tempranillo grape mixes with the Malbec (which is also an old world grape, but entirely different). The malbec fleshes out the tempranillo... makes it rounder and fruitier. Then it catches you off-guard again, as it packs a wollop. The bottle is stating 14.5%, but I am guessing more like 15% alcohol. But the wine is perfectly balanced. No heat, just intriguing flavor.

This is a wine presented by the Spanish importer, Jose Ordonez. He is known for choosing interesting wines at modest prices. This wine goes under $10 and is a good sipper.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T19:36:00.000-08:00

Hope your New Years was peaceful and lovely and spent with those you care for.

Yours truly celebrated the New Year by opening a bottle of the 1996 Henri Abelé Champagne - Brut - Reims, France ($55). Its makeup is: 47% Chardonnay; 34% Pinot Noir; and 19% Pinot Meunier.

This is a gorgeous, savory, rich-tasting wine. The color is a dark straw yellow, apricot on the nose, sporting an almond and croissant flavor. This Champagne is a bit acidic, so best to pair with food.

The semifreddo I made for dessert paired magically with the Champagne, cutting through the dessert's sweetness, but still showing its nutty character that matched the semifreddo. A semifreddo is an Italian term for a half-frozen dessert. In this case, the flavor was chocolate hazelnut.

Here is the recipe for the semifreddo. It is delicious and extremely easy to make.

Chocolate Semifreddo

2 1/4 cups chilled whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons of Frangelico (Hazelnut liqueur)
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
Toasted almonds
9 chocolate cups

Take a handful of almonds, chop into small pieces, and toast under a medium-low heat being careful not to burn. After the almonds have browned, immediately transfer to a glass or ceramic bowl and set aside. Combine whipping cream and vanilla in another large bowl. Sift powdered sugar and cocoa over. Using an electric mixer, beat at mid-high speed, add in vanilla and liqueur, continue to beat until soft peaks form. Spoon the mixture into chocolate cups, which can be purchased in a gourmet/specialty store. Freeze until cream is set, at least 1 hour. Top with toasted almonds.

-------

When you are buying a bottle of Champagne* or Sparkling Wine, you will notice different jargon on the label (for example, XD or Brut). This is important because it is in reference to the Champagne's degree of sweetness. Listed below are the different levels of sweetness, starting from bone dry like the Sahara Desert, to sugary sweet. The most common type of Champagne/Sparkling Wine is Brut, although throughout the 19th century Champagne was generally much sweeter than it is today.

Levels of Sweetness in Champagne/Sparkling Wine (starting from driest to sweetest)

Brut Natural or Brut Zéro (less than 3 grams of sugar per liter)
Extra Brut (less than 6 grams of sugar per liter)
Brut (less than 15 grams of sugar per liter)
Extra Sec or Extra Dry, XD (12 to 20 grams of sugar per liter)
Sec (17 to 35 grams of sugar per liter)
Demi-Sec (33 to 50 grams of sugar per liter)
Doux (more than 50 grams of sugar per liter)

* Champagne can only be called "Champagne" if it is made in the Champagne region of France, blah, blah, blah. Everything else is called "Sparkling Wine".

Jim, (our Champagne guy) in LA Times Magazine

2008-12-04T23:28:00.000-08:00

Hi-Time hit the trifecta (quadrafecta?), media-wise. This is our Champagne buyer, Jim. He knows more about Champagne than most people in Champagne.

Also this month, The Tom Leykis Show featured our Italian buyer John, and one of our Spirits guys Trayce, on his Sunday show called The Tasting Room. Here are links to the podcast:

Part I: http://www.hitimewine.net/mp3/tom_leykis.mp3

Part II: http://www.hitimewine.net/mp3/tom_leykis2.mp3

Interview: Todd, by Orange Coast Magazine

2008-12-04T23:13:00.000-08:00

Todd (our Winebar manager and Cheesemeister) was featured in December's issue of Orange Coast Magazine.
A great read.

By Anne Valdespino / Photography by Jason Wallis

If you shop at Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa you’ve probably seen him, and if you hang around the tasting room you know him personally. Todd Johnston, the guy with the Chinese tattoos, the motor mouth, and the rakish, hip-guy charm, stocks the cheese case and runs the tasting bar like a Vegas pit boss. The 34-year-old Newport Beach native—a self-described third-generation Hoag baby—attended culinary school at
Orange Coast College. His specialty is European wines; he loves Rhones and Champagnes. California cabernet bores him; he says he has never been to Napa.

Cork. Synth or real?
Synthetic. I’ve opened too many bottles of corked wine that I’ve saved for a long time and it really [ticks] me off.

Favorite bubbly at the moment?
José Dhondt Brut Rosé de Saignée Champagne ($56.98).

Favorite red?
Jaboulet ’98 La Chapelle Hermitage ($300). It’s the poster child for a better Rhone. Super dry, earthy. Bramble. Briar. Liquid beef jerky.

How many wines do you taste in a shift?
Between 10 and 30.

Worst wine you’ve ever tasted at work?
We have a list. And the bad ones are just as memorable as the great ones. It’s a Zen way of looking at it: “Oh my God that is so bad. It’s great!”

Favorite seduction wine?
Moscato d’Asti Nivole by Michele Chiarlo ($12). I’m a firm believer
that Moscato d’Asti is best served in a bellybutton.

Cork dork or wine geek?
Grape nut.

Worst tasting-room faux pas?
I had a patron spit into my glass. She said, “Oh my God. I’m so sorry,” grabbed it, and drank it. Her husband said, “We’re done. Let’s go, honey.”

Your taste in vino is pretty expensive. Any regrets about developing your palate?
There was a time when I drank Mouton-Cadet and thought, “This stuff’s great!”
I long for those days. I’m not gonna lie.

So, steer us to a great deal.
I drink tannat [a varietal] from Uruguay, Viñedo de los Vientos 2006.
It’s $16, I love it.

So, California cabernet bores you. Got anything against chardonnay?
I hate California chardonnay and I love blanc de blanc Champagne [made from the same varietal]. The Champagne guy here says it’s because blanc de blanc is the purest expression of the varietal, not mucked up with
oak and malolactic fermentation.

Is most chardonnay overstyled?
Kendall-Jackson came along in the ’80s and convinced housewives that’s what chardonnay should taste like. They wrecked it. They killed it.

Can you hit the spit bucket from three feet like they do in France?
I’m Scottish. We don’t believe in spitting. Call it the industrial liver.

Favorite wine-and-cheese pairing?
Morbier and Crozes Hermitage. It’s a serious cheese and a serious wine.

What should we drink with our turkey?
Chenin blanc, Vouvray, and Champagne.

Most underrated region?
Südtirol (Italian Alps).

Most overrated region?
Burgundy and the whole state of California. I’ll take Washington over California any day.

What does a dude need to know about wine to impress a woman?
Guys do that I-don’t-drink-white-wine thing. That’s ridiculous. It pays to have an open palate. It’s a lot more important to keep her happy than to spout off about your wine knowledge.

Does the ignorance of some customers amuse or annoy you?
I aim for mockery of the customer, but I don’t want them to feel bad. I strive for the insult that they don’t get until they’re driving home. “Wait! What?” Just kidding. I like my customers.

Do you have to be a super taster to do your job?
Not at all. It’s more about dealing with personalities. The cougars down at the end of the bar want something completely different than the serious wine tasters over here, or the novices in the corner; they’re my favorite. They’re so excited to learn about wine, they’ll try everything. •

Hi-Time Wine Cellars
250 Ogle St.
Costa Mesa
949-650-8463

Hi-Time in the LA Times

2008-11-24T00:02:00.000-08:00

This article ran in Friday's (11/21/08) edition of the LA Times and featured Hi-Time. It discusses how the economy has effected wine sales.

http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fi-wine22-2008nov22,0,5266992.story

Wine buyers are sobered by Wall Street meltdown

Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times

WILL HE BUY? Mark Callahan of Seal Beach studies the collection of California reds at Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa this week. The Wall Street meltdown has sent sales of high-end wine plummeting, merchants say.

High-end bottles languish on shelves as shoppers opt for cheaper vintages. 'The state of the economy' is nothing to celebrate, a retailer says.

By Jerry Hirsch
November 22, 2008

In most years, store manager Diana Hirst considers herself lucky if she can snag six bottles of $265 Araujo Napa Valley cult Cabernet Sauvignon to stock in her Costa Mesa wine shop.

This year she can get dozens -- a sign of how the Wall Street meltdown is rippling across the alluvial fields of Napa Valley to the chalky limestone vineyards of Champagne in France.

When picking wine for the holiday menu,...

Wine and Wineries

Sales of high-end wine are plummeting, wine merchants say, and once-rationed top California Cabernets are in ample supply. The coveted 2005 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild from Bordeaux is languishing on store shelves for $549. That's an astronomical price for less than a liter of fermented grape juice but only half of what it sold for just a few months ago.

And Champagne -- that universal symbol of largess? Sales have plunged because "the state of the economy" is nothing to celebrate, said Randy Kemner, owner of Wine Country in Signal Hill.

People are still drinking wine. They are just spending less.

"I still drink wine with my wife every night, but before I might have bought Santa Barbara County Pinot Noirs for $20 to $30; now I am paying $9.99 for a Castle Rock Pinot from Mendocino County," said Pablo Urquiza, a freelance television producer who lives in Marina del Rey.

He's not alone.

Sales of wine for $9 or less make up the fastest-growing segment of the wine market and sales above that price are starting to trend down, said Jon Fredrikson, a Woodside, Calif., industry analyst.

Consumers are trading down to wine they consider "values," Fredrikson said.

Kemner of Wine Country is trying to get ahead of that trend. Last month he went on a supermarket shopping spree, buying about 50 bottles of mass-market "corporate wines of the type we usually don't sell."

The wine merchant and his staff tasted the wines and selected two dozen to offer in the store as "recession busters" starting from $5.99 for a FishEye Merlot to $14.99 for a La Crema Chardonnay. Armed with his sales receipts, Kemner demanded a price break from his distributors so that he could match supermarket prices and still make a profit.

Kemner hopes the less expensive selection will take off as the holidays approach. Sales at Wine Country were off 28% in October compared with a year ago. November sales are running 16% below last year's figures, even after factoring in a bump-up around the presidential election earlier this month.

"We are working leaner and we are still profitable but we understand that we have to dig around for wines that overachieve," Kemner said.

Hirst also is pushing bargain wines at her Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa. She's looking for lower-priced wines from Spain, Argentina and Chile to fight off the slump in costlier selections.

"Every time the stock market takes a dive we see a few slow days," Hirst said.

Champagne and signature California reds such as the 2005 vintages of Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Joseph Phelps Bordeaux-style blend are particularly slow even though they are well-regarded wines, she said.

Hi-Time Wine has cut its inventory by about 10%, "and we have not hired for the holidays; we are all just going to work more hours," Hirst said.

Wine retailers aren't the only ones feeling the pain: Consumers are dining out less, slashing wine sales by as much as 15% in restaurants, Fredrikson said. All of this translates to lower sales for California's wineries, which sell wine with a retail value of $19 billion annually. Americans drink $30 billion worth of wine each year.

"Our sales are down about 10%, and I am surprised they are only down by that amount," said Ron Melville, owner of Melville Vineyards and Winery in the Santa Rita Hills in Santa Barbara County.

At Charles Krug, visitors to Napa Valley's oldest winery are spending less, said Peter Mondavi Jr., whose family owns the business. Tasting room sales have held up compared with last year only because the winery has undergone a major renovation and more people are visiting, he said.

As retailers and dining establishments cut back, many small wineries -- which don't produce enough to have a large presence in grocery or other chain stores -- are seeing their inventories bloat. Distributors and wholesalers are cutting orders because they don't want to purchase wine that could take months to sell.

"This creates a real question with tight credit now about whether some of these wineries will have the credit lines available to wait this out," Fredrikson said.

And there are more ominous signs for smaller wineries that sell directly to consumers. Oenophile Urquiza cut back on his membership in wine clubs -- where customers sign up for discounted shipments of wine -- to just one from three.

Still, if you have the cash, the slump has created a unique opportunity to invest in First Growth Bordeaux and Burgundy Grand Cru vintages -- among the elite of the wine world -- said Steve Wallace, owner of Wally's Wine & Spirits in Westwood.

While the price of that '05 Mouton-Rothschild has fallen by half this year, the 2007 vintage sells for less, $383. Both vintages are highly rated by Bordeaux wine guru Robert Parker.

"These prices are from back in the 1980s," Wallace said. "I never thought I would see that."

Hirsch is a Times staff writer.

jerry.hirsch@latimes.com

It's Jancis!

2008-11-05T20:40:00.000-08:00

Jancis Robinson, wine critic legend... who has written about 20 books on wine including The Oxford Companion to Wine (the be-all/end-all of wine books) has a weekly column in the Financial Times.

http://www.ft.com/arts/columnists/robinson

Most awesome.

Some crafty recycling

2008-10-06T01:29:00.000-07:00

This answers the question, "What am I going to do with all these used corks?"

http://lovemyearth.blogspot.com/2007/05/crazy-for-corks.html

Winemaker great - Didier Dagueneau dies.

2008-09-22T20:03:00.000-07:00

Very sad news. French winemaker Didier Dagueneau died in a plane crash a few days ago. If you've never heard of him, he made amazing Sauvignon Blanc. He was notorious for being outspoken, somewhat of a hermit, and kept a scraggly beard & untamed hair. But his wines sang and made you glad to be alive.

Here is his more on him from the New York Times...

D. Dagueneau, Winemaker, Dies at 52

By: Eric Asimov

Published: September 18, 2008

Didier Dagueneau, an iconoclastic Loire Valley winemaker whose Pouilly-Fumés displayed a purity and subtlety far beyond most other sauvignon blanc wines, died Wednesday in a plane crash.

He died when the ultralight plane he was piloting crashed after takeoff in the Dordogne region of France, his New York importer, Joe Dressner, said.

Mr. Dagueneau was 52 and lived in St.-Andelain, a village in the Pouilly-Fumé region on the eastern end of the Loire Valley.

Working with sauvignon blanc, a grape that made crowd-pleasing, thirst-quenching Pouilly-Fumés and Sancerres but was rarely taken seriously, Mr. Dagueneau sought to show its potential for greatness.

“He influenced the entire region,” said Jacqueline Friedrich, a wine writer who is working on a revision of her 1996 book, “A Wine and Food Guide to the Loire.” “I’ve been tasting a lot of Sancerres, and I’m absolutely amazed by the evolution and how much better they’ve become. That was absolutely his doing.”

With meticulous, almost radical attention to detail in his vineyards, and with relentless experimentation and perfectionism in his cellar, Mr. Dagueneau produced wines that, on first taste, were a revelation.

His Pouilly-Fumés have an unexpected clarity to them. The flavors are intense but nuanced. In the mouth, they are wines of great texture and presence, but not weighty at all.

If his wines made an indelible impression, his personality doubled it. With his long, shaggy hair, his heavy beard and his outspoken manner, Mr. Dagueneau could be an intimidating presence. He cultivated a rebellious image, and at one time he rechristened the street outside his winery Rue Che Guevara.

He was a provocateur in winemaking, too, charging prices well beyond the standard of the region. On national television he compared the drastically low yields in his own vineyards with the high yields of his neighbors, and he did not hesitate to criticize their wines.

“He was wildly disliked in the area, yet people had a great deal of respect and admiration for him, too,” Mr. Dressner said. “The wines were so apart from what was produced in the area that people couldn’t deny the quality of the wine.”

Didier Dagueneau was born in St.-Andelain in 1956. His family was in the grape and wine business — his uncle and cousins continue to produce Pouilly-Fumé at Serge Dagueneau & Filles — but as a teenager Didier had a falling-out with his father and struck out on his own.

At first he raced motorcycles, but after a string of crashes he returned to St.-Andelain and the wine business, said Michael Sullivan of Beaune Imports, Mr. Dagueneau’s West Coast importer. He did not lose the taste for daredevil activities: he was a committed dogsled racer and later took up flying.

Mr. Dagueneau is survived by two children from a marriage that ended in divorce, Charlotte and Benjamin, who in recent years had worked closely with him; his partner, Suzanne Cremer; and their two children, Aaron and Léon.

When he went into business in the early 1980s, he had no holdings, but he was able to get enough grapes together by renting vineyards. Even as a young man he was ambitious, competitive and perfectionistic.

“He wanted to be the absolute best in the region,” Mr. Sullivan said. “He realized pretty quickly that mediocre was the norm.”

The 1980s was an era of steel tanks, high yields and chemical farming, but Mr. Dagueneau wanted to make wine as his great-grandmother had done. His vineyards were organic, and as soon as he could afford to do so, he acquired barrels to age his wines. He was eventually able to buy almost 30 acres in Pouilly-Fumé, along with a tiny plot in Les Monts Damnés, one of the finest Sancerre vineyards. Just a few years ago he bought land and began to make wine in Jurançon, in southwest France.

While his criticism of high yields might have angered mainstream winemakers, he also alienated younger winemakers in France’s natural wine movement by rejecting their imperatives to use only ambient yeasts in fermentation and to avoid using sulfur dioxide as a preservative.

Mr. Dagueneau did not smash all idols. He greatly admired Edmund Vatan, a legendary Sancerre producer, and Henri Jayer, the great vigneron of Burgundy. “He thought of Vatan as his godfather, and he worshiped Jayer,” Mr. Sullivan said. “They were extremely close, like father and son.”

Mr. Dagueneau was eventually able to build his own winery, a scrupulously clean structure that has been likened by visitors to a cathedral. As Ms. Friedrich told it in her book, he conceded that the expense was “disproportionate.”

“I didn’t want to wait and do it bit by bit,” he told Ms. Friedrich. “You’ve got to move quickly. Life is short.”

Bottle Shock, The Movie

2008-09-21T22:26:00.000-07:00

Just saw Bottle Shock, a delightful movie, which is about the 1976 Paris Wine Tasting of American versus French wines with the spotlight on Chateau Montelena's 1973 Chardonnay from California. Alan Rickman and Dennis Farina are both great in the movie, and it also features beautiful scenery around Napa Valley. The movie centers around relationships of the Barretts (owners of Montelena), but here are all the other wines that participated in the 1976 tasting (courtesy of wineintro.com).

1976 Paris Wine Tasting - California Trumps France

The 1976 Paris Wine Tasting was organized by French wine tasters, and was meant to capitalize on the US bicentennial publicity. The tasting was done blind, and organizers expected the French wines to win handily. Here are the results.

Chardonnays

From the US:
1973 Chateau Montelena - 1st (winemaker: Mike Grgich)
1974 Chalone Vineyard - 3rd
1973 Spring Mountain Vineyard - 4th
1972 Freemark Abbey - 6th
1972 Veedercrest - 9th (no longer in operation)
1973 David Bruce Winery - 10th

From France:
1973 Meursault-Charmes - 2nd
1973 Beaune Clos des Mouches - 5th
1973 Ramonet-Prudhon Batard-Montrachet - 7th
1972 Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet - 8th

Cabernet Sauvignon

The Cabs were tasted second, and judges were explicitly trying to choose French wines at this point

From the US:
1973 Stag's Leap - 1st
1971 Ridge Montebello Vineyard - 5th
1971 Mayacamas - 7th
1972 Clos Du Val - 8th
1970 Heitz Cellars 'Martha's Vineyard' - 9th
1967 Freemark Abbey - 10th

From France:
1970 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild - 2nd
1970 Chateau Haut-Brion - 3rd
1970 Chateau Montrose - 4th
1971 Château Leoville-Las-Cases - 6th

Here are the judges and scores from the Chardonnay tasting (courtesy of Ch. Montelena)...

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Vintage	Wine	Place	Total Points	No. of first place votes
1973	Chateau Montelena	1st	132	6
1973	Meursault-Charmes (Roulot)	2nd	126.5	0
1974	Chalone Vineyards	3rd	121	3
1973	Spring Mountain	4th	104	0
1973	Beaune-Clos des Mouches (Drouhin)	5th	101	0
1972	Freemark Abbey	6th	100	0
1973	Bâtard-Montrachet (Ramonet-Prudhon)	7th	94	0
1972	Puligny-Montrachet ler cru “Les Pucelles” (Dom. Leflaive)	8th	89	0
1972	Veedercrest	9th	88	0
1973	David Bruce	10th	42	0

THE TASTING PANEL
These were the tasters and their scores* for Chateau Montelena

Place	Points	Taster
1st	18.5	Mr. Claude Dubois–Millot – Directeur Commercial “Le Nouveau Guide”
1st	18	Mr. Aubert de Villaine – Co-Gérant, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
1st	17	Mr. Raymond Oliver – “Le Grand Véfour”
1st	17	Mr. Jean-Claude Vrinat – “Taillevent”
1st	16.5	Mr. Christian Vanneque – Chef Sommelier, “La Tour d’Argent”
1st	16.5	Mrs. Odette Kahn – Directrice, Revue du Vin de France
2nd	14	Mr. Pierre Tari – Château Giscours, Secrétaire Général, Syndicat des Grands Crus Classés
4th	10	Mr. Pierre Brejoux – Inspecteur Général, Institut National des Appellations d’Origine
7th	3	Mr. Michel Dovaz – Institut Oenologique de France

*Scoring was based on 20 point maximum

Igneous

2008-08-17T19:19:00.000-07:00

Huckfeldt Ranch, Napa

Don Huckfeldt (left) at his ranch with Sommelier Neil Dundee.

2005 Grand-Puy Ducasse

2008-07-27T22:08:00.000-07:00

Had this wine about a decade too early, but still it was very pleasurable and a delight! This is the 2005 Chateau Grand-Puy Ducasse from the Paulliac appellation in Bordeaux. It's a fifth growth. I thought it was awesome. Elegant, with cranberry and cherry notes. It was tight, but really nice.

RECIPE: 9-minute Steak

2008-07-14T22:55:00.000-07:00

I have made this several times, and it has always turned out awesome. To make this, you will need: a thick steak, salt, pepper, (and other seasoning if preferred), oil, butter, a stove, and a cast iron skillet.

Buy a 1 to 1&1/4 inch Rib Eye or NY Steak (marblely). Make sure the steak gets to room temperature before cooking.

Dry rub the steak. Pepper, salt, Lawrys or any dry steak rub

Heat the oven to 400 degrees.

Heat a cast iron skillet on stove, add a little canola oil to skillet (just cover the bottom) – make sure it is hot.

Drop a pad of butter in then drop the steak on top of it.

Sear 90 seconds, flip it for another 90 seconds then put the whole skillet in the oven for 9 minutes.

Remove from oven for rare to medium rare. 10 minutes for a less rare and so on…

Goes well with Cabernet (in this case, the Grove Street Meritage). Nice for the price ($10).

Domaine Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose 2007 and the 2007 Domaine Bastide Blanche Bandol Blanc

2008-07-08T23:30:00.000-07:00

I was excited to try this Bandol Rose from Domaine Bastide Blanche since it was my first time trying a wine from the Bandol appellation in Provence. The rose was made of 31% Mouvedre, 25% Grenache and 41% Cinsault. The nose was floral, and the wine itself had a hint of melon, but it was VERY delicate to the taste. Maybe too delicate for me. I enjoy things that are a bit more... obvious.

Just by chance, a few days later I had the luck to also taste the 2007 Domaine Bastide Blanche Bandol Blanc. A white wine made of Clairette, Bourboulenc and Ugni Blanc. I was surprised with the beautiful flavors of this wine, and its crispness. It was also very delicate but with a laser like clarity on the tounge. Very nice.

Summer Rose

2008-06-28T11:39:00.000-07:00

The Chateau de Manissy 2007 Rose from the southern Rhone appellation of Tavel is great for summer sipping.

Grape varieties : Grenache 60% - Clairette 30%, Syrah 10%.
Average age of the vine 60 years.

It smells like liquefied cotton candy, but is dry, and tastes like strawberries and blackberries. Nice to have chilled on a warm day. Goes well with burgers.

muy bueno!

Top Chef, Shmop Chef

2008-05-22T21:25:00.001-07:00

I'm just not getting into Top Chef this season. The contestants are very bratty and it's hard to feel for them. arrrgh! The first season rocked.

Tonight's wine was TRIO, made by Concha y Toro from Chile. Deep, rich and full of berries. Was very indulgent and fun. This was a gift from my boss who visited Chile .. nice gesture! Concha y Toro is a large producer in Chile, but they do a quality job.

A Dunn Vertical; 1997-2004

2008-04-20T21:15:00.000-07:00

Was fortunate enough to try a vertical of the Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon... some most-delicious wines from Napa Valley. Randy Dunn is the winemaker. I tried the Napa and Howell Mountain cabs from 1997 to 2004. All of them super-delicious, with special cheers to the Howell Mountain 2002... simply outstanding.

Yummyness in a glass

2008-04-02T22:06:00.000-07:00

This, is a Valpolicella Classico Superiore (made of the grapes Corvina Veronese, Rondinella, and Molinara) from Italy (near the upper part of the boot). Campagnola 2002 Catarina Zardini. Its a very agreeable red, NOT overbearing on the fruit, but not leathery either. The wine has a lot of finesse, and goes well with dinner or drinks fine on its own. If you drink it the next day... it's even better, like drinking an expensive Amarone. The price for this is $9 ($8.98 to be exact), which is an outstanding value. I am planning on buying as much of this as I can.

Coming soon...

2008-02-27T03:21:00.000-08:00

a wine review. But first...

I love Riesling, and this is why...

2008-02-08T20:55:00.000-08:00

Max Richter 2005 Wehlener Sonnenuhr

A wonderfully delightful Kabinett from the Mosel. It smells like rubber and pineapple. When you taste it, you get lychee fruit. A gorgeous wine. 8.5% alcohol. I paired it with spicy Chinese food. Excellent.

The Complete Jane Austen

2008-01-27T23:01:00.000-08:00

... this season on PBS.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/?campaign=pbshomefeatures_1_masterpiecetheatrebrthecompletejaneausten_2008-01-27

Champagne Showdown!

2008-01-04T21:45:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to try the following wines in a tasting. Here is a list of what was poured at Hi-Time, along with my sparing notes.

Taitinger, "Comtes de Champagne" 1998 ($129) - Lovely!!!

Dom Ruinart Brut, 1996 ($150) - Watery, light

Veuve Clicquot, "La Grand Dame" 1998 ($119) - Nice upfront fruit, some bitterness on the back end.

Philipponnat "Clos des Goisses" Brut 1999 ($149) - Pretty! Lemony.

Salon "Mesnil" Brut 1996 ($239) - Pretty, different, some minerality, complex.

Pol Roger "Winston Churchill" Brut 1996 ($189) - Pretty, Elegant, Fruity, Beautiful.

Cristal Brut 2000 ($219) - Very nice! Viscious.

Vilmart "Coeur de Cuvee" Brut 1999 ($94) AWESOME!!!!!!! Fresh, fruity, some sandalwood in there somehow.

Ployez-Jacquemart "L.d'Harbonville" Brut 1996 ($125) - Alright. Citrusy.

Krug Brut 1995 ($219) - Incredible.

Alain Robert "Blanc de Blancs" Brut 1990 ($139) - Yeasty.

And the winner is...
Vilmart "Coeur de Cuvee" Brut 1999, with Krug coming in at a close second. The REAL winner was me getting the chance to try all of those wines! Lovely, lovely.

Bad Bad Boys...

2007-12-28T23:51:00.000-08:00

ever had that song you couldn't get out of your head?

This is mine...

Van Halen

2007-12-24T14:18:00.000-08:00

They rocked the Anaheim Pond on Tuesday, December 18th. It was incredible. I screamed the whole time through.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-24T14:09:00.000-08:00

My Christmas present to myself... to be opened at a later date.

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!!! Peace and love to you all. :)

Pepper bomb (ugh!)

2007-11-25T20:04:00.000-08:00

Casa Silva 2005 Carmenere from the Colchagua Valley.
I bought this from one of our competitors for $12 since we were out of Carmenere at our store (and I like Carmenere). We recently began to carry this (same price), so I thought I would give it a try.

On the nose... Black pepper and green bell peppers. If you haven't tried it before... Carmenere tastes similar to Cabernet Sauvignon (except not as tannic) and Merlot. Carmenere was one of the six grapes used in making Bordeaux by the French until the 1860s when phylloxera became rampant and affected the Carmenere vines quite badly. After that, Carmenere was cast out of France (many thought it to be extinct) and was exiled to Chile (where it was thought to be Merlot for over a century, until 1994 when DNA evidence proved otherwise). But just like Donna Summer sang, "I Will Survive!"... the grape is back and better than ever.

When it's done right...it's great.. you get focused cherry flavor, some smoke, and tons of mocha. When Carmenere is picked too early, you get the vegetal aspects... such as bell pepper. I tasted tons of black pepper, too, which just overwhelmed all the other fruit. Sad.

Oh well!

To make up for it, I tasted the 2005 Hiedler Gruner Veltliner "Thal" a lovely aromatic white from Austria with great body resembling gewurztraminer and riesling. Pineapple and peaches on the nose. Good stuff! :)

Best Pizza Wine, Ever.

2007-11-06T20:17:00.000-08:00

Tried the Finca Villacreces 2003, Ribera del Duero, Spain (Tempranillo blend: 86% Tempranillo, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Merlot. ) 14% alcohol... paired with... Pizza Hut pizza... (yeah, I know), but it was Thin Crust, and the toppings were: Pepperoni, Mushroom, and Jalapeno.

Could the Villacreces stand up to it?... Hell yeah!

Blueberries on the nose...

In fact, it was like little men with leather gloves were stuffing blueberries up my nose. LOTS and lots of blueberries. $29.99 was the damage. Small price to pay.

BEST PIZZA WINE, EVER!!!!!!! Hands down.... Is all I can say.

Powerful, yet SMOOTH.

Mouthfeel: This dark-purple concoction was all about the berry, and enchanting my mouth. It is delicious. What a discovery!
I love this wine, and plan on getting more of it.

Pedigree: Finca Villacreces is on great real estate. Right next door to Vega Sicilia. Not too shabby. If you are into Parker, the 2004 Villacreces got a 95. The year 2003 was not rated, but I think it's the bomb.

Food art

2007-10-30T21:47:00.000-07:00

Really wonderful stuff (click the picture to see more pictures).

http://legnangel.livejournal.com/564026.html

Napa? Sonoma?

2007-10-22T20:51:00.000-07:00

Who would win in a fight? Napa or Sonoma? (Wellll... Napa would probably win... IMHO), but Sonoma would put up a good fight. Point is, it's really not necessary to choose one over the other. Napa/Sonoma are both gorgeous places, full of great people who love to make great wine and we are the lucky beneficiaries of their labors.
Here are pics with blogger compadres Neil and Scott during my last trip to Napoma/Sonapa.

Coming soon... Napa!!

2007-10-08T00:09:00.000-07:00

This is an ancient intro to Falcon Crest (a spin-off of Dynasty). The home they used in the footage is actually Spring Mountain Vineyard in St. Helena (Napa Valley). When I first visited Napa as an adult (just a little over a year ago), I thought of that music.

Below is even more footage of Sping Mountain Vineyard, courtesy of Conan O'Brien. I will be visiting Napa and Sonoma again in a few days. Looking forward to it!!!

Trade Tasting 10/1/07

2007-10-02T00:59:00.000-07:00

What better way to start the month than with a trade tasting! Here's how today went... I was at my 401k job, and it was about 1:00pm when the lights went out, all across the building. We were in the dark for a couple of hours, and watched as SDG&E tried to fix the line... apparently they would have to shut down Pacific Coast Highway for them to fix it. So, I left work by 3:30pm today. Nice! It just so happened that the staff at HiTime was invited to a trade tasting hosted by Southern Wine & Spirits, American Wine Distributors and Pacific Wines, held at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine. Great timing! If it hadn't been for the power outage, I would not have had the time to go at all. The event started at 4pm and I was there by 4:30. As I entered the ballroom, I tried to supress my smile, because I was grinning from ear to ear.... a kid in a candy store. Im limiting my notes here since I'm tired and it's almost 1am! :)
I was spitting (most of the time). Here's what I tried ...

2006 Pierre Boniface Apremont (wonderful, light fruit. a beautiful wine!)
Champagne Jean Laurent Blanc de Noirs NV
Chandon Chardonnay Sparkling NV
Chandon Pinot Noir Sparkling NV
Moet & Chandon White Star NV
Veuve Clicquot Rose NV
Chandon Etoile Brut
Moet & Chandon Imperial Nectar NV (wonderful!)
2004 Cheval Des Andes (incredible, a big new world Bordeaux blend)
2004 Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta (swallowed that one)
*Gosset Brut Excellence NV (swallowed) (one of my favorites)
1998 Gosset Celebris
1999 Gosset Grande Millesime
Gosset Grande Reserve Brut NV
Gosset Grande Rose NV
Yellowtail Sparkling NV (Chuck from Bevmo, (one of our competitor stores) urged me to taste this, which only goes to show that friends don't let friends drink Yellowtail)
Freixenet Carta Nevada Brut NV
Segura Viudas Heredad Brut Reserva NV
2006 Vionta Albarino (first time trying Albarino... Great!)
2005 Bigi Orvieto
2005 Bigi Est! Est! Est! (never had Est! Est! Est! before, so I thought I'd give it a try... tasted like Windex)
2005 Simonnet Febvre Chablis
De Venoge Cordon Bleu NV
2006 Canaletto Pinot Grigio (light and fruity)
2003 Canaletto Montepulciano
2005 Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico
2004 Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico Riserva (silky and smooth)
*2001 Villa Cafaggio San Martino (favorite!)
2003 Villalta Amarone
2006 Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc
2006 Emmolo Syrah Rose
2005 Torres Sangre de Toro (tried this out of curiousity)
2005 Paraiso Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands
2005 Paraiso Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands (awesome! I sell this at our store all the time and it remains wonderful and a great value)
2005 Paraiso Pinot Noir West Terrace
2005 Paraiso Riesling Santa Lucia Highlands
2003 Paraiso Syrah Santa Lucia Highlands
2003 Pine Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District
2004 Pine Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
2004 Sebastiani Secolo
2004 Sebastiani Cherryblock Cabernet Sauvignon
2004 Whitehall Lane Napa Merlot
2004 Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon (glass closure!)
2004 Whitehall Lane Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (glass closure)
2006 B.R. Cohn Chardonnay Carneros
2004 B.R. Cohn Merlot Sonoma Valley
2004 B.R. Cohn Estate Olive Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Valley (YUM!)
2005 B.R. Cohn Silver Label Cabernet Sauvignon
2004 Charles Krug Cabernet Sauvignon Napa
2004 Trimbach Pinot Blanc
2004 Trimbach Riesling
2004 Trimbach Gewurztraminer (LOVED IT)
2005 A by Acacia Chardonnay
2005 A by Acacia Pinot Noir
2005 A by Acacia Carneros Pinot Noir
2006 Jurtschitsch Gruve
2006 Jurtschitsch Gruner Veltliner Steinhaus
2006 Jurtschitsch Gruner Veltliner Dechant
2006 Jurtschitsch Riesling ZOB Urgestein
2006 Jurtschitsch Gruner Veltliner Scentk (ALL of the Jurtschitsch wines were wonderful)
2004 Nittnaus Gruner Veltliner Premium Eiswein
2005 Martin & Weyrich Moscato Allegro (delightful!)

There were still plenty that I didn't hit. Not bad for a Monday and definitely a good start to the month.

Van Halen update

2007-09-24T12:24:00.000-07:00

Just got tickets this morning for Van Halen (with David Lee Roth) for Dec. 18th in Anaheim. Floor seats. Yesssss! They sold out here within minutes, but I think they added new shows. Looking forward to it!! No new songs, they'll just be playing their classics. Eddie Van Halen's son Wolfgang, will be playing in Michael Anthony's place. The first clip below is from their latest performance to kick-off their 2007 tour; and an early demo of what would become "Beautiful Girls."

Culinary Institute of America, Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant, (St. Helena, CA)

2007-09-22T21:06:00.000-07:00

The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone ....It looks kind of dark and foreboding, but is really incredible inside!

I had the chance to visit here a few weeks ago during a trip to Napa. Located right next door to Beringer in St. Helena, the building houses the restaurant and the Culinary Instutue, where Brother Timothy (of Christian Brothers) made brandy and wine for many years.

Outside eating area.

Watching the Chefs work their magic.

Let's get to the food!
For starters, my friend Jeff and I had "Today's Temptations" (an amuse bouche).

Amuse Bouche: (pictured from top) A pepper sauteed with tomato salsa (surprisingly, the pepper was not hot at all). Next (where the fork is) a Spring roll, and on the left is salmon mousse with capers and crème fraîche on crostini.

Olives & Olive Oil on the table. Nice touch.

For my entree, I ordered the Spring Chicken with this Fresh tomato-part-salad-with-stuffing creation... Hard to explain and I should have taken pictures! Arrrgh. Wine: Groth Sauvignon Blanc.
The few pics I did take were of the amuse bouche and the French Onion soup, which the lady sitting next to me was having.. and, according to her, was absolutely wonderful.. it looked incredible with a big pile of Gruyere chese baked on top.

Thanks nice lady, for letting me take pictures of your soup!

The restaurant offers seating at the bar near the Chef's station (these are seasoned Chefs, not students). There is also more traditional restaurant seating, and also outdoor seating... which looked quite lovely. The waiter who took care of us was very attentive, and the food was excellent and fresh (the Spring Chicken was incredibly flavorful, I asked if they brined the chicken, but they said no). The price was very reasonable for Napa standards. I didn't have enough time to tour the entire facility... apparently during the day, they have cooking demonstrations. But I did check out their Kitchen store/Bookstore which had all the latest and greatest. I'm looking forward to visiting and eating there again.

Below is their website link. Nice wine list!
http://www.ciachef.edu/restaurants/wsgr

Tokaji Aszu Essencia, Monimpex, 1976 (more than 6 puttonyos)

2007-09-16T21:44:00.000-07:00

Amazing.

This bottle of Tokaji Aszu Essencia, Monimpex, 1976, was given to our class in Napa, from Bob Trinchero's cellar. Thanks Bob!

The sweet, dark-honey-colored wine Tokaji is opulent, decadent and sexy. It has been known for bottles of Tokaji to last for over 200 years. Russian tsars used to drink this since the 16th century. Tokaj became the first European region to have its vineyards classified. Louis the 14th of France declared Tokaji "the wine of Kings and the King of wines" and it became the favorite drink of Peter the Great, Voltaire, Goethe, and Schubert. In the 18th century, Catherine the Great stationed soldiers in Tokaj to protect her vineyards.

A steep decline in quality production of Tokaji took place after World Wars I & II. But in 1989, wine writer Hugh Johnson revitalized the Tokaji industry by becoming part owner of the Royal Tokaji Wine Company (which included investors like Vega Sicilia). Truly, a fascinating history of a wine we rarely hear of!

I love this wine and all forms of this wine.

Appearance: Golden amber (with a bit of sediment).

Taste: Think of apricots bursting in the sky like fireworks and drizzling down on you like honey. It smelled that way, too (apricots, marmalade & honey).

Tokaji (pronounced, "Toe-KI" rhymes with pie), is made in the Tokajhegyalja ("Tokaji hills") region of northeastern Hungary. The wine is grown from the grapes, Furmint, Harslevelu, and Muscat Blanc. The harvest happens very late with "noble rot" setting in, and picking goes well into November.

Tokjai is usually measured in degrees of sweetness, that being, 3, 4, 5, and 6 puttonyos. 3 puttonyos equals 60 g/l of residual sugar, and it increases by 30 g, up to 6 puttonyos, which equals 150 g/l of residual sugar. What we (our wine class at the Society of Wine Educators) were drinking, was Tokaji Aszu Essencia contained 180 g/l of residual sugar. There also exists, "Tokaji Essencia" which is made of the free run juice of the dry, shriveled grapes. This is even more rare and can contain 450 g/l to 800 g/l of residual sugar.

I was going to take a picture of all of us having the Tokaji, but I felt like a big nerd doing so. But since we were all nerds, I should have gone ahead. Instead, I waited until the end of class and took a picture of the almost empty bottle. This was probably the only chance that I will ever get to try a wine like this. It was remarkable and beautiful.

References: 1). Jancis Robinson, "Oxford Companion To Wine";
2). "Tokaj - The Wine of Freedom", Laszló Alkonyi

* * *

When I usually have Tokaji at home for dessert (I can afford to buy the 4 puttonyos, which is about $26), I make an apricot compote and serve it with pound cake (which I buy from Trader Joe's.. it's very good for store-bought). Here is the recipe for the compote:

Apricot compote. For just over 1 1/2 cups of sauce:

1 cup dried apricots

1/2 cup brown sugar

4 tablespoons Dark rum (or brandy).

2 cups boiling water.

Preheat the oven to 350.

Rinse the apricots and put them in an oven proof dish that has a cover.

Stir in the brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of the rum (or brandy),

Pour the boiling water over them and put the covered casserole in the oven. Allow to bake for approx. 30 minutes.

When the apricots a soft, remove from the oven and strain off and save the juice.

Puree the apricots in a processor with the reserved water until you have the right liquidity, you may not use all the juice. Add the remaining liquor and stir.

The puree can be served either hot warm or cold.

Slice the pound cake into slices an inch thick. Serve warm compote on top. Pair this with the Tokaji and experience bliss.

"Take Your Wine to Work" Day

2007-09-15T22:02:00.000-07:00

Last week, I took a few wines to my M-F job at the 401k advisors company. My workmates were very excited to be trying wines and our CEO wanted us to start at 12pm (we waited til 5, though).

Here are the wines we tried, and in the order that we tasted them:

1). 2005, Panilonco, Reserve Carmenere, Colchagua Valley, Chile - I was curious when I saw this at Trader Joes, so I picked up a bottle since I like Carmenere. This wine was a bit disappointingbut for $3, you really can't complain... the wine was off-dry (almost sweet).

2). 2005, Concha y Toro - Casillero del Diablo, Carmenere, Chile- Another Carmenere. This however was very satisfying.. good body and very cabernet-like, with lots of plums and blackberries. For $6, this would make a good every-day kind of wine. My workmates enjoyed this as well.

3). 2004, Chateau Chasse-Spleen, Moulis en Medoc, Bordeaux, France - A left-banker from the Medoc.. this Cabernet based blend had a light body, with cigarbox on the nose, and red berries and spice on tasting. This was the 2nd least favorite of the wines according to my workmates, but it was my #1 favorite. Price: $30.

4). (NOT PICTURED)2005, Montes, "Alpha", Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile - Color: Dark. Aromas: Mushroom, licorice and some green pepper. Medium bodied, and well-balanced. Taste: Spicy, some wood, and black berries. Nice finish. Everyone across the board liked this wine. $16.

5). (NOT PICTURED) NV, Grove Street, Meritage, Napa Valley, California - Tastes like a wine you would pay $30 for. Appearance: Dark, opaque plum. Taste: Tart cherry and some oak. There was a little heat, but also a long finish. All in all, very tasty and would make a good everday wine. My peeps were fans of this as well, which is why someone took this bottle home with them.. they took the Montes, too. Price: $10.

6). 2005, Kirkland, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, California. - From Costco! I was shopping around there one day and my curiousity got the best of me. Had to try this. Lots of black fruit, cherry and spice with good acidity, this was an enjoyable wine. A little alcoholic, but overall, enjoyable. Unattractive label. My female workmates said they would buy this wine, but use a decanter when they served it. $18

7). 2004, Penfolds, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bin 407, South Australia - This dark, medium-to-full-bodied wine was ripe with red berries, cedar and eucalyptus. This was a favorite of my male workmates. $24.

8). 2004, Torbreck, Woodcutter's Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia - A bit fat, this plummy wine had loads of cherries, more plums and blackberries. Definitely lacking in structure. I was expecting a bit more, but, oh well. $18.

Study break!

2007-09-04T23:07:00.000-07:00

Fake beer for kids? Yep! That's right.

There's also fake wine, champagne and cocktails for kids.
http://www.sangaria.co.jp/cm_info/pop/movie_shampon2.html

To read more,
click here

Time Waits for No One

2007-09-03T09:31:00.000-07:00

Heard this song by The Rolling Stones the other day in the store, and it just stuck in my head... at least it's a great song. Found it on Youtube used in this clip of a walking tour of Westwood that is actually quite lovely.

Big Pimpin'

2007-09-02T21:31:00.000-07:00

Had this at the store today... 1999 Chateau La Mondotte. A right-banker from the St. Emilion region of Bordeaux. Beautiful, opulent dark fruit, like blackberries lightly sauteed in butter, with a side of toast, please. Finish: long, like a slow day at work. 80% Merlot and 20% Cab Franc. A long time ago, when I first started drinking wine, it was Blackstone Merlot. This is way better by a thousand times. Is it worth $350 a bottle? It's beyond my price point...but it is phenomenal.

This is only a test

2007-08-27T22:34:00.000-07:00

I will be taking a wine certification test in Napa next month... a test which I will fail at miserably.. (so much for positive thinking.. I'll get my name right, so there's one thing). Have not studied at all for this. Tonight, I pulled out this map and... looks kind of nightmarish. Isn't Tuscany supposed to be beautiful? Looks more like a Petri dish. Oh my.

Christopher Walken cooks

2007-08-25T18:23:00.000-07:00

I was hoping Christopher Walken would be weirder in real life. Baked chicken with salt and pepper... thanks for the secret recipe. Those pears do look good though.

No tasting today... but bought the following for a rainy day: Arrocal 2004 Ribera Del Duero - Tempranillo(Spain), Kenneth Volk 06 Malvasia (California), Castello Romitorio 05 Morellino Di Scansano (Italy).. a Tuscan blend of Sangiovese, Syrah and Petit Verdot. Our Italian buyer gave it a good write-up and it was only $17. I actually bought it because I liked the label...

Happy Friday yall!

2007-08-24T19:01:00.000-07:00

No wine today (still with good memories of Sonoma & Family Winemakers in SF.. which was phenomenal). I came into it, telling myself I would spit.. but everything was so good, how could I? My favorites from Family Winemakers were:
Hollywood & Vine(Cabernet Sauvignon),
Bravante(Howell Mt. Cabs and Merlot- I'm a little biased there),
Spence (Howell Mt. Cab), and
Anglim (Viognier and Pinot Noir).

Saw this and had to share...an old school clip with some awesome dancing (those kids rocked) and sights from years ago when New York was beautiful and dirty.

I tried doing one of those moves the guys did on the floor after watching this:
and I soon realized that I could easily dislocate my shoulder blades or back.
But I can moonwalk (kind of).

Keefer Madness

2007-08-18T22:03:00.000-07:00

Sonoma. I forget where, exactly.

Walking tour of Keefer Ranch, vineyard where Kosta Browne is grown.

Did a tour of Keefer Ranch today. Siduri, Loring,Flowers, Freeman, Talley among others, all source fruit from this parcel of land. We were started off with the Pommard Pinot noir used by Kosta Browne... Breakfast of champions. We then tried several other pinots from them and all were exquisite in their own rite. Our tour today also included: Bella, Hartford, Ferrari-Carano, Rochioli, Pappapietro-Perry and Belvedere. Had my fair share of wine today, but am trying to save myself for Family Winemakers tomorrow.

Michael Browne (center w. glasses) pouring his wines for the group.

Chad walking up to Arrowood where we tried some great cabs!

Thanks, Chad on catching that error (had called Michael Browne Michael Kosta)..oops! Too much wine that day! :)

Wooing wine - 2003 Volker Eisele Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

2007-08-15T22:16:00.000-07:00

A good friend once told me, "The purpose of wine is to woo." I think this wine is woo-worthy.

Volker Eisele has been growing grapes in the Chiles Valley appellation of Napa since the 70's and making wine since the 90's. The Volker Eisele Cab is made of: 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc & 8% Merlot. Color: dark ruby-purple. Body weight: medium. Aged almost 2 years in French barrels, you can subtly taste the oak. This is not a big, overpowering Napa cab which a lot of producers are doing right now. This is old school... an elegant bordeaux-styled wine with nice black fruit to it. It's sexy and lithe. It integrated well with my meal (spaghetti bolognese). This would be a lovely wine you could pop open to accompany a meal you were making for your honey. Wooing wine. That's the ticket. $35.

Endnote: According to our Napa buyer, there is no connection between the Volker Eisele cab and Araujo Estate Eisele Vineyard cab.

*tasted 2 weeks ago.

Too many wines, not enough time

2007-08-14T22:07:00.000-07:00

Am on a 2-week rest from "imbibing"... but promise I'll be back with avengeance this weekend during the Sonoma trip and at Family Winemakers in San Fran.

My wine fridge is almost at full capacity (75), so that means either:
A) a party soon
or,
B). Stop buying wine and live off what I have for the next few years.

The answer is obviously A.

Yesss!

2007-08-12T00:04:00.000-07:00

The best news this week was that David Lee Roth is coming back to Van Halen.

For Your Viewing Pleasure

2007-08-07T19:50:00.000-07:00

Yet another break from wine reviews...

This is, James Brown's Celebrity Hot Tub Party, with Eddie Murphy from SNL circa the 80's.

Family Winemakers - Coming! Aug 19th

2007-08-05T23:25:00.000-07:00

If you happen to be in the SF area, do try to make it to Family Winemakers, being held at Fort Mason, in San Francisco, Sunday, 12-4pm on August 19th. It's an awesome event. Around 300 wineries will be pouring, and they're all pretty great. Tickets are $45 (in advance) and $55 at the door.

I will be a relief pourer for friends at Bravante Vineyards. So if you happen to be in the "B" area, come by to say Hey.
That's me last year, helping Duane pour his D-Cubed Zinfandel. I was pretty lit.

After looking through the list of participating wineries, I drew up my list in alpha order of wineries I want to try (some I've had before, but most will be for the first time). I plan to hit the P's, V's M's, & S's first. It's lengthy but I plan to be spitting (sometimes). I'm excited!!

Here's my hitlist:

Ancien
Andrew Geoffrey
Anglim
Bink Wines
Chameleon
Charles Creek
Cima Collina
Core
D-Cubed
Diamond Terrace
El Molino
Fantesca
Hollywood & Vine
Krupp Brothers
Mantra
Meyer Family
Modus Operandi
Navarro
Orin Swift
Paloma
Parallel
Pisoni Vineyards
Reverie on Diamond Mountain
Saddleback Cellars
Saracina
Siduri
Spelletitch Cellars
Turley
V. Sattui
Viader
Vineyard 7&8
ZD

http://www.familywinemakers.org

Paul Hobbs at Family Winemakers

Barb and Jim Richards of Paloma Merlot

Maureen and Hal Taylor of Diamond Terrace (Winemaker: Joe Briggs (of August Briggs)

Ken Bernards of Ancien

Boy Shakira Update. 8/01/07

2007-08-01T19:33:00.000-07:00

I love Boy Shakira.

This is Boy Shakira's last performance on America's Got Talent, as Boy Britney.
Unfortunately, Boy Shakira's run on America's Got Talent came to a halt this Tuesday. There were 5 acts out of 10 that could advance, and instead of Boy Shakira, a wannabe revival of the Osmonds (the Duttons!! a large, musically-challenged family) took its place....I think the Duttons just had all their family members call in to vote.

Boy Shakira will stay in my heart. I hope one day he meets the real Shakira, and that they shake their midsections until the breakadawn.

Enter the Dragon

2007-07-29T21:25:00.000-07:00

Am tasting the 2006 Domaine du Dragon rose from Provence (need to let it Breathe). Paired with a grilled chicken sandwich. This is the second time I've tasted this wine. The first was May of this year in Oakland at a French wine trade tasting during a rose seminar where we tasted about 12 different roses. I was impressed by it then and still am. The wine is barely pink. More peachy-pink. Taste: Think SPRITE, without the lemon and without the bubbles, and without the sugar, but all that would remain, and let little berries tiptoe in at the end.
Tink!
Tink!
Tink go the berries.
It's bright, refreshing. The wine is made of Cinsault, Syrah, Grenache and Mouvedre, but Cinsault plays the starring role. Typically a blending grape, Cinsault has its time to shine.
Catch it for $12.

Intermission

2007-07-29T19:37:00.001-07:00

We now take this brief pause in wine reviews to introduce Boy Shakira.

sneezy

2007-07-16T22:16:00.000-07:00

Have been sick recently. Tom, our Italian/imports guy, pointed to the wine bar and told me to drink-up. According to Tom there's Vitamin C in wine.

I did not go through the Argentine line-up of wines, but I did taste (and spat) one wine... the Cade 2006 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, which (from what I could tell) was pretty. Long finish. The peeps from Plumpjack make this... $26. Will have to try that again when I am well. So far, my favorite Sauvignon Blanc is the 2005 Saracina from Mendocino, $19.

Flaccid

2007-07-09T22:52:00.001-07:00

Sometimes when you buy wine at Costco you get a diamond in the rough. Other times, after careful examination, you discover that dark little nugget is, in fact, a turd.

Enter: Cameron Hughes Lot 35, 2005 Cabernet from Yountville.
This was not actually a "bad" wine, but it was totally forgettable. The hype behind this wine, was that it's a wine in the $10 range that's supposed to taste like a $30 wine. Two-Buck Chuck tastes better. If this wine were a man, he'd be seeing the doctor for Viagra/Cialis/Levitra.. maybe taking all 3 at once.

For $12, you too can be left totally unsatisfied.

07-07-07

2007-07-07T19:23:00.000-07:00

Looked down at my wine receipt and saw this. Shoulda went to Vegas today.

HOT Pastrami Love

2007-07-05T13:49:00.000-07:00

This was a weird pairing for sure. Popped open the Lucien Albrecht Cremant D'Alsace Brut Rose (Pink champagne, except you cannot call it "Champagne" unless it comes from the Champagne region in France, plus a bunch of other rules. The French like rules). This one is from Alsace, which is southeast of Champagne.

Cremant d' Alsace is lesser-known, so (compared to Champagne) you can get it for a great price. This, I bought for $14. Loved the color... the pinkiest pink you ever did see. 100% Pinot Noir. Taste: like eating fresh cranberries. Very pretty. I paired this with a pastrami sandwich (and fries) from Mr. Pete in San Clemente. I called my friend Chad (http://winefoodla.blogspot.com) for a wine recommendation for Pastrami... he suggested Pinot Noir, or a grenache, or cotes du rhone or chianti... All, excellent suggestions... but it was hot and I felt like something chilled, so I brought on the bubbly. "Interesting" combination ... The saltiness from the pastrami seemed to overpower the rose.

But the wine still rocked.

Whenever I see/eat/hear of Pastrami, I always think of that Seinfeld episode. Here's a snippet.

2005 Domaine Nicolas Rossignol - Bourgogne rouge

2007-06-24T19:20:00.001-07:00

I first tried the 2005 Domaine Rossignol burgundy (pinot noir) at a tasting at work last week, where we tried Sea Smoke, Kosta Browne, Paul Hobbs, Williams & Selyem and some other high-end ($$$ and hard-to-find) heavy hitters in California Pinot. The 2005 Domaine Rossignol pinot was sitting at the end of the counter. Our French buyer no doubt included this to the lineup to add in his two-cents worth about that particular tasting. Even though I had just tasted all these superstar Pinot Noirs (which were all great), I was equally impressed with this French wine.

For being a French burgundy, the Rossignol was very fruit-forward. It also had great balance (alcohol 13%) and mouthfeel, with ripe black fruit on the palate... boysenberries, plums and black cherry. The 2005 Bourgogne Rouge is an elegant, young wine. I thought it was $40 pinot after tasting, and when I found out it's price ($17) I snapped up a bottle.

Had the burgundy with a French brie called Chaource (named from the village where it is made). Chaource is a RUNNY, SALTY Brie cheese made of cow's milk. You just cut out the top of the circular rind and proceed to eat. I used unsalted crackers for dipping (water crackers). Great stuff.

Conan does Napa

2007-06-23T19:17:00.000-07:00

Conan O'Brien goes to Spring Mountain Vineyard.

Tempra-Pinot!

2007-05-14T19:48:00.000-07:00

When I tasted the Conde De Valdemar, 2001 Reserva Rioja from Spain... I thought I was drinking Pinot Noir. It's spicy and smoky, it's leathery, it's a little dusty, (and after it opens up, some sour cherry) with light-to-medium mouthfeel. The wine is smooth and pretty but can pack a punch coming in at 13.5% alcohol, which is fairly substantial for a European wine.

This wine is made of the Tempranillo grape (85%), and 15% Mazuelo (a.k.a: Carignan). The Spaniards named the grape Tempranillo (i.e., "temprano" meaning "early") because the Tempranillo grapes used to ripen several weeks before the other varietals.

This wine sells for approx. $16, and to me seems well worth it. I've had pinot noir that cost twice as much but gave me half the experience. If you like hearty pinots and you like to explore, this is a good route for you.

Blackylocks and the three Champagnes

2007-05-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time,

there was a little girl named Blackylocks.

On a warm day, she took the top down of her car and went for a drive to the city. Pretty soon, she came upon a liquor store. "Oh my!" she said with glee, "Wine, Beer & Spirits. My favorite!"

No one was there, but the store was open. She walked right in.

On the shelves were three bottles of Champagne. This made Blackylocks very happy because she LOVED Champagne (she even loved cavas, proseccos and sparkling wines). But she was especially giddy today to see French bubbly.

The first Champagne had a vibrant green label with gold markings. The second bottle had a fancy shape to it, and the third bottle looked quite plain.

Blackylocks had tasted none of these Champagnes before, but she knew she was quite thirsty. She tasted the Champagne from the green bottle.

"This Philipponnat NonVintage Brut Reserve Royal is nice and citrusy, but kind of tastes like most of the other champagnes I’ve had... except this is a little smoother... but I don’t know if its worth $32!" she exclaimed.

She then tasted the second Champagne in the fancy-shaped bottle.

"This Vilmart et Cie, Grand Cellier Brut (Non Vintage) for $50 is smooth, delicate, has some chalky notes, a little vanilla, and is very beautiful.

"Vilmart et Cie is YUMMY!" she said.

Then Blackylocks tasted the Champagne from the plain-looking bottle.

"Ahhh, this Henri Giraud Francois Hemart , Ay Grand Cru (NV Brut, 12% alcohol) is JUST RIGHT!," she said, and happily drank it all up.

Glug!

Blackylocks loved the yeasty, chalky characteristics of the Henri Giraud Francois Hemart and adored its minerality. It reminded Blackylocks of a French baguette. Composed of 70% pinot noir and 30% chardonnay. Approximately 435 cases made.

"This is my favorite Champagne, indeed!" Blackylocks said as she rubbed her tummy. "Better than Cristal or Krug. A great Champagne for $50. The stuff fairy tales are made of."

After she drank the Champagne, Blackylocks felt a little dizzy so she thought she would sit down and get her bearings. She sat for a moment, then stood up, left her money at the counter and went home.

Even though she had a slight headache, Blackylocks lived happily ever after.

The End.

Chateau Pontet-Canet 2004

2007-04-28T23:24:00.000-07:00

Now and then it's good to venture from your comfort zone. Tonight I did that when I tried the Chateau Pontet-Canet 2004... it's a Bordeaux from the Pauillac region in France. I received this opened bottle from one of our buyers. It was a nice, lovely wine. Very delicate with some cherry notes. Silky. Kind of hollow on the mid-palate, but all in all, a lovely wine. I am used to BIG, California, punch-you-in-the-face cabs... this was a nice deparature. ($65).

Capri-Sun for adults

2007-04-23T23:20:00.000-07:00

This is the 2003 "Bandit" Cabernet Sauvignon from California made by Three Thieves. Yes, it is wine. This 250 mL little guy could easily fit inside my jacket pocket, or four of these little guys could fit in the bottom of my purse... like they did last Saturday when I went to the Angels game.

It looks like a juice box, and by golly, it tastes like a juice box (very fruity, but not sweet. 13% alcohol). I would have enjoyed this wine more if it had come with a sippy straw. I also wish it had been chilled a bit. It was an enjoyable drink and reminded me of Smucker's Goober Grape jelly-- the kind that came mixed in the jar with peanut butter. In other words, this is a fruity, fun wine. My friends at the Angels game tried it, and it got their nod of approval.

What I really liked about Bandit is its portablity. You can easily slip this into your purse or jacket and take this into the movies.. or just about anywhere. This wine would be PERFECT for taking to a play... when you don't want to spend the entire Intermission waiting in line at the concession stand.

The wine comes from Three Thieves winery which is better known for their "jug" wines. Winemakers Joel Gott, Charles Bieler, and Roger Scommegna also make, "The Show" cabernet.. a great value cab.

The Bandit comes in a "tetra pak", a kind of paper-like material that keeps the wine fresh. The artwork on the box is quite entertaining, with quips like, " The sooner you get over the package, the better it will be for all of us."...... and, "Wine Snob Tested. Mother Earth Approved"... and my favorite, "A box in the hand is worth two in the bush."

$8 for four 250mL packs (equalling 4 glasses). This is not an extreme value, but man, you can take this wine anywhere.

But bring your own sippy straw.

The Poor Man's Silver Oak

2007-04-19T22:07:00.000-07:00

Tried the Mantra 75/25 Cabernet Sauvignon at Tannins (wine bar/restaurant in San Juan Capistrano). I have tried it several times before and still think of it as the poor mans' Silver Oak (Alexander Valley). Luscious, sexy fruit, a supple wine with nice body and with enough character to keep you thinking. The fruit comes 75% from Alexander Valley (for the sexiness) and 25% from Dry Creek Valley to give it some complexity. Lots of black fruit (blackberries and such). A very pretty wine. Don't go into it, expecting a carbon copy of Silver Oak, it is not quite as syrupy, but then again you are paying $22 instead of $70.

Hidden gem: Arrocal

2007-04-15T19:49:00.000-07:00

Tasted ARROCAL (2005), from the Ribera Del Duero region in Spain. 100% Tempranillo. 14% alcohol. (Paired with: a calzone from Casanova's in Dana Point. The calzone was full of red peppers, Italian sausage, artichokes and tomato... great bread as well... oh man). Now, back to the wine....

On the nose, it was very earthy with some red fruit. On the palate, more red fruit, old BASEBALL MITT (in a good way), and still earthy. Very high on the mid-palate and a long finish. Loved the finish. Could still taste the wine for a minute after sipping.

This wine was like kissing your Sweetheart on the couch. Kissing that you wanted to last forever.

($12).

SAXUM. (oh Yeah!)

2007-04-04T20:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, my shipment of Saxum came in. Sooo happy! I was on their waiting list for about ... hmmm..... 8 months? Not to mention, I had to wait almost a year before they had room to put me on their mailing list. Now fast-forward to almost 2 years. Finally, I got my chance to buy this wine a few months ago, and yesterday the shipment arrived at work. I totally forgot about the shipment until it arrived. The box was big and extra heavy. Due to the packing, I had no idea of how many were in there. Turns out, when I finally took it home, there there were 9 bottles YESSSSSSSSSSSS! I received 3 bottles of the 2004 Bone Rock - James Berry Vineyard, and 6 bottles of the 2005 Broken Stones. Both are GSMs (grenache, syrah and mouvedre). Its known as a "cult wine" because its low production, and since the juice is seriously BADASS! Served it at a party 2 weeks ago and everyone loved it. The wine sells for @ 40 directly from the winery and $90 and higher in the stores. Typically when you have wine shipped to you, you need to lay the bottles down for a few weeks before you can open it, so for the time being, they are resting in my cellar. I havent tried these wines yet. Hopefully I can wait it out. ;)

2003 Bodegas Castano "Solanera"

2007-03-13T19:16:00.000-07:00

This kicky little wine sells for $10. It benefits from some time to breathe (4-5 hours). In it, I found lots of spice and smoke. It's more plush than a shag carpet, and more interesting than your high school English teacher (the one you had a crush on). This wine is made of 75% Monastrell (or Mourvedre... whichever term you prefer), and the rest a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache. If it didn't come from Spain, and instead was labeled a Chateauneuf du Pape (which it could be mistaken for), it would easily go for $30. This is exactly the type of wine you buy a bottle of, and then go back to the store and pick up a case. Excellent value.

The Frizz. Domaine Ste. Michelle "Frizzante"

2007-03-11T18:43:00.000-07:00

Had the $7 Domaine St. Michelle Frizzante in Tiffany champagne flutes (they were a gift). Expensive glasses always make wine taste better. The "Frizz" was a light, fruity sparkler with a touch of grapefruit on the backend. Nice for the price.

Chicken McNuggets and .......?

2007-03-03T19:03:00.000-08:00

Dinner tonight consisted of: Chicken McNuggets (and fries of course) . Which wine would go well with this? Hmmmmm.

Well, my dipping sauce was honey...... So I chose the 2005 Miner Viognier. Bought it at the winery almost a year ago when I was in Napa. Cost: $20 at the winery but you can get it for $17 at HiTime Wine Cellars. It was dry, full-bodied, with honeysuckle on the back-end and quite lovely.

Paired well with McNuggets.

Nautilus 2006 Sauvignon Blanc

2007-02-19T20:56:00.000-08:00

2006 Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc, from Marlborough New Zealand ($13). Not going to blather on, but it's a lovely wine! Light, crisp, a tiny bit acidic. I had it with a thai chicken curry and the spiciness DID overpower the wine a bit. Wish I had drank a riesling with my meal instead, but it was still a very enjoyable pairing. I used argon gas to save the wine for today... tried some and it tasted remarkably figgy and a little nutty. A nice improvement. Tonight I had the SB with roasted herb chicken which was very tasty indeed!

The Show

2007-02-10T21:29:00.000-08:00

This is "The Show" (2005). A mostly-cabernet blend by Joel Gott (winemaker/guy who owns Taylor's Refresher, in Napa).... and also fellow winemakers Charles Bieler and Roger Scommenga... They have been doing the Three Thieves wine, (an unexpectedly good jug wine), and also "Bandit" wine sold in a CapriSun-type box (and it is not plonk). This is their newest venture. It is 80% cabernet sauvignon mainly from Monterey, then Paso and Napa; the rest of it is made of merlot, cab franc, petit verdot and petite syrah. The alcohol level says it's 13.9. Price: $12. I like it. Good bang for your buck. Once it had a chance to open, you got mocha on the nose, and blueberries on the back end. Not bad!... Quite yummy in fact. I had this with BBQ. It stood up against the ribs and savory-sweetness of the bbq sauce, but could not hold up against the heat of the spicy sausage. All in all, this is a great everyday wine that could be matched with burgers/pizza/bbq, lamb/steak, or can stand alone by itself.

Other info: Joel Gott is a fan of the posters by the Hatch company (an old printing place in Nashville that still does posters for rodeos & country singers). The bottles feature three different colorful old time labels. Pictured are two of them.

Priorat... fancy name, sexy taste

2007-02-07T21:19:00.000-08:00

Tonight I tried "Les Terrasses" 2004 Priorat by Alvaro Palacios ($32). 30% Garnacha, 60% Cariñena, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a beautiful, sexy wine. Fruity, but with structure and silky. Almost TOO silky, but that's a good thing. Alvaro was once a winemaker for Petrus (not too shabby). Miles would have loved this.

Dr. Vino's wine blog:

2006-07-10T21:11:00.000-07:00

This is a web link for Dr. Vino.... a very wine savvy guy.
http://drvino.blogspot.com/

Down!

2006-06-26T14:31:00.000-07:00

Am down 11 pounds. Yay! :)