Top Chef, Shmop Chef

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

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

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...

a wine review. But first...

I love Riesling, and this is why...

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

... this season on PBS.

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

Champagne Showdown!

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.