Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Whites for Everyday!
Like so many other faithful red wine lovers, I sometimes neglect the whites. There are many occasions where whites are absolutely necessary however, and that is especially true of this time of year when there are countless holiday parties and family gatherings. It's a good idea to stock up on some of your favorites to have on hand any at given time. Today I will share with you a great white for all occasions and you may find yourself choosing the white over the red.
2007--Road 22 Chardonnay is sure to please your guests and also importantly, yourself. Lush ripe peaches play nicely with generous notes of honeysuckle and floral vanilla bean. The palate is full of crisp pear notes alongside bright lemon and balanced with great mouthfeel and good acidity. When you reach the finish, more of those peach notes from the nose pair beautifully with sweet honey and citrus. I have not found additional information on this wine, but I would guess there is little to no oak used in this wine which makes it perfect for those who dislike oak in their whites.
This Chardonnay is a fruit driven wine so it will be great on its' own and also quite perfect with food. Crostini, assorted aged cheeses and cured meats would be great appetizers to pair with this wine as well as some of my favorite seafood including, crab cakes, grilled salmon and mussels. For a quick tip I learned in Napa, make sure to pull this wine out of your ice bucket or fridge ten to fifteen minutes before you want to serve it as more of those notes will open up the warmer it gets--enjoy! This wine is not yet available to purchase, but if you want to come taste it, please feel free to come visit myself and the rest of our lovely staff here at Greenlake Wines!
Ciao!
Erin
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Tips for Holiday Wine Shopping
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and then it's Christmas! I know many of you, like myself are searching for special wines for the holidays. Unfortunately, this can be a difficult task for even the most wine savvy person--with a few helpful tips you can easily find what you're looking for and impress all your friends and family with crowd pleasing wines.
Finding great whites can be the most difficult task in my opinion. There aren't as many choices now that summer has passed and finding ones that appeal to everyone is even harder. Try to avoid Sauvignon Blanc as a single varietal as it can be too acidic and tart for some and also try to avoid Chardonnay as a single varietal as it can have too much oak influence for some. Blends of both varietals as well as Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne are great for parties, because they are more floral and have aspects of both bright acidity and subtle oak that tend to please everyone.
Reds on the other hand can be challenging as well, but try to get a variety of choices and you will always have something for everyone. Pinot Noirs are great, because both white and red wine drinkers alike will find joy in them--try to find ones that have soft tannins and aren't too acidic. Syrahs tend to be great for parties, especially ones that are more jammy than earthy. No party however, is complete without a great Cab--find ones that are full bodied with good structure and a long finish and you will truly be the host with the most!
Lastly, Sparkling wines are a must for any holiday party. I love crisp and bright Champagne, but you can also find Prosecco and Cava that are also great on their own and delicious with a splash of your favorite nectar. On the sweeter side, Brachetto, Moscato D'Asti and Port are great with many desserts and lovely on their own. With all these great varietals, don't be surpised if you find your guests quite smitten with you before the evening is over!
For any other ideas on wines for the holidays, please feel free to visit me at Robert Ramsay Cellars, Seattle Wine Outlet or Greenlake Wines--Happy Holidays!
Ciao!
Erin
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Fall for Late Harvest Wines
Have you ever had a Late Harvest dessert wine? They are wines made from grapes that are left on the vine long enough to raisin. When they are pulled and put into fermentation, the yeast eats only so much sugar and then when put into barrel the alcohol kills the rest of the yeast, leaving the sugar levels somewhere between 8-12% residual sugar (what sugar is left after fermentation) and alcohol can range from 7-14%. In my opinion, they can either be ultimate fails or true wins and I am always on a mission to find the latter. Today I am trying a Late Harvest Pinot Gris.
2008--Parejas Cellars Late Harvest Pinot Gris is a true win! The residual sugar is 10.8% and the alcohol is 11.5%. Notes of toffee, floral vanilla and bright orange zest fill the nose and continue to open up with time. Creamy caramel notes pair nicely with more of that orange zest and vanilla bean and are balanced by both bright and crisp acidity and great mouthfeel. The finish is creamy and long with more buttery toffee and velvety caramel notes that linger on and on. Delicioso!
This dessert wine would pair perfectly with salted caramels, classic vanilla bread pudding or vanilla and raspberry loaf cake. If this wine or any others that I blog about inspires you, please feel free to stop in Seattle Wine Outlet (Sodo) and Greenlake Wines and visit myself and the rest of our lovely staff!
Ciao!
Erin
(I try to list all the images I use and if possible, the photographers who take these lovely photos. If I have a photo of yours, please let me know and I will be happy to remove it from the blog. Thank you).
Earthy, Gamey and Floral Reds
Image is courtesy of www.vineyard2door.com
I love wines that are gamey. It's a play of the senses when the nose, palate and finish are all quite different and you're not sure what to expect. I am trying some really unique blends and rare varietals today and observing how different they can be from varying regions and producers.
2007--Foundry Vineyards Fire Red is nothing short of boring. The blend is made up of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Cab Franc and while that sounds quite common, this wine is quite the contrary. Red peppers, gamey cheeses and truffles dominate the nose and are balanced by more subtle notes of baking spices including cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Creamy and floral truffles mix well with smokey hickory notes on the palate and continue to open and change with time. There are intense tobacco and leather notes on the finish that linger on the palate for much time and may entice you to begin the nose, palate and finish steps all over!
This wine should definitely be tried on its' own to observe all its' characteristics, but then you should move onto olives, caviar and lamb for dinner. If you feel inspired to try this wine or any others that I have blogged about, please feel free to stop by Seattle Wine Outlet (Sodo) and visit myself and the rest of our lovely staff!
Ciao!
Erin
(I try to list all the images I source and if possible, the photographers who take these lovely photos. If I have a photo of yours, please let me know and I will be happy to remove it from the blog. Thank you).
Cuvee Please!
In my line of work, I try so many wines all the time. It's easy to get picky and with good reason--there are so many mediocre wines that sometimes I am baffled when I find one that knocks my socks off. Today is that day. I have had the privilege of trying some beautiful wines from both California and Washington. The other day I blogged about a single varietal Petite Sirah and how delicious it is on its' own--today I will blog about a Petite Sirah blend and just how extraordinary that can be.
Introducing 2009--1448 Jeff Runquist Wines (Red Table Wine). I should mention that this wine is a blend of primarily Petite Sirah along with Barbera, Petit Verdot, Zinfandel, Carignane, Cab Franc, Touriga and Souzao (the last two varietals are Portugese). On the nose, loads of sweet figs, rich raspberry jam and caramel make for an exciting experience for the senses. Intense milk chocolate, vanilla and butterscotch play nicely on the palate and you may quickly decide you don't want to share! The creamy and floral flavors are balanced well by a solid tannin structure and great mouthfeel--yum! Once you reach the finish, there are more of those rich chocolate notes alongside more subtle pepper and figs. Now, this is a wine that should definitely be decanted or put through an aerator since it's so young and the tannin structure is so big and remember that the longer you let it sit, the more pronounced the flavors will be.
Too often, I have a hard time thinking about food when a wine is this delicious on its' own, but if you must, 1448 would pair perfectly with hard cheeses, crostini, salumi and filet mignon. If you feel inspired by this wine, please feel free to stop by Greenlake Wines or Seattle Wine Outlet (Sodo) and visit myself and the rest of our lovely staff!
Ciao!
Erin
(I try to list all the images I source and if possible, the photographers who take these lovely photos. If I have a photo of yours, please let me know and I will be happy to remove it from the blog. Thank you).
Monday, November 7, 2011
Petite Sirah as a Single Varietal
Another wine has caught my attention today and is known as Petite Sirah or inter-changeably Durif. It is like Petit Verdot in that it is used primarily as a blending grape to add tannin stucture, color and balance. Most often, it produces notes and flavors of blueberries, pepper and chocolate notes--yum! Like Syrah, Petite Sirah has a deep purple color and is quite jammy, but has brighter acidity.
2009-- 4 Vines Petite Sirah may surely knock the socks off any wine connoisseur. Notes of creamy butterscotch, black currants and dark chocolate are present on the nose and will continue to be more pronounced the longer it sits. On the palate, more of those black currants, dark chocolate and butterscotch co-mingle well among more subtle notes of dark cherries and vanilla. Velvety dark chocolate is the main show on the finish alongside notes of earthy pepper and leather. With as much complexity as this wine has to offer, it is perfect for a night alone or for any special occasion with friends and family.
This is another wine that is so perfect on its' own I hesitate to even list food ideas, but alas, olives, salumi and veal would be my top picks for wine and food pairings. This wine is not yet here at Greenlake Wines to purchase, but you are welcome to come taste this wine before it's gone! For any other ideas on great wines please stop by Greenlake Wines and Seattle Wine Outlet and visit myself and the rest of our lovely staff!
Ciao!
Erin
(I try to list all the images I source and if possible, the photographers who take these lovely photos. If I have a photo of yours, please let me know and I will be happy to remove it from the blog. Thank you).
Petit Verdot as a Single Varietal
Even before I knew much about wine, I knew that if a red blend had Petit Verdot in it, I loved it. Petit Verdot originates from France and is most commonly used in Bordeaux blends to add structure, color and balance. Its' berries are black in color and it is a thick-skinned grape with solid tannins. In my experience, having Petit Verdot in blends adds depth, complexity and leather notes which are common as the varietal ages. Having it on its' own--that is an entirely different and lovely experience!
So here it is, 2009--For A Song Petit Verdot, (the 2009 Petit Verdot isn't on the wineries website yet, but look out for a label of a neat drum set and you will know that is the wine you want). ' For a Song' is a winery located in Prosser, Wa one of our distibutors, Vinum Importing and Distributing bottles their wine. This wine isn't in Greenlake Wines or Seattle Wine Outlet yet, but I am confident that we will try to get our hands on some of their unique wines. I should also mention that writing about this wine has been quite difficult as I have been completely enticed by the nose. The color is also so dark, I am certain my teeth look closer to black than purple! Blackberries, leather, nutmeg and toasted oak are prevalent on the nose and continue to open up the longer you let it breathe. More of those dark and dense blackberries play nicely with soft leather and tobacco notes amidst a solid tannin structure. Leather seems to be a theme through out this wine and it gets more pronounced on the finish alongside vanilla and cracked peppercorns--a true gem.
'For a Song' would pair perfectly with semi-hard cheeses, olives and filet mignon, but do yourself a favor and try it on its' own first, because you may just want to savor it without food. If you get a chance, feel free to stop by and visit myself at Greenlake Wines and try this and many other delicious wines today!
Ciao!
Erin
(I try to list all the images I source and if possible, the photographers who take these lovely photos. If I have a photo of yours, please let me know and I will be happy to remove it from the blog. Thank you).
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Bordeaux for All!
On many occasions, when selling wine, people will often tell me they dislike French wines. Now there are numerous reasons why people shy away from trying French wines, but mostly, I believe the labels are hard to read and people usually don't understand what they are looking for. A few pointers--French wines are separated by region so if you know what grapes grow in which region, it will make your life much more simple. For starters, if it's a Burgandy, it's either a Pinot Noir or a Chardonnay, if it's a Bordeaux, it's a blend of five grapes including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec and if it's from the Southern Rhone region it can be a wide variety of grapes including Mouvedre, Grenache, Syrah and many more. Today I am trying a Bordeaux and true to it's blend, it is a lovely wine.
2006--Chateau Tour D'Auron Bordeaux is a simple, yet true gem. Loads of ripe cranberries, toasted oak and vanilla make it worth your while to continue smelling. Herbaceous and earthy notes pair nicely with dense cherries and dark chocolate nibs. The mouthfeel is creamy with super soft tannins and balanced oak. When you reach the finish, there is subtle pepper and notes that are reminiscent of a well ages cigar. This wine is great now, but decant and enjoy for several days as it continues to open up with time.
This wine would pair nicely with anything from a croque monsieur to your favorite duck confit dish. Please feel free to stop by Greenlake Wines and try this Bordeaux on the glass pour menu and visit myself and the rest of our lovely staff!
Ciao!
Erin
(I try to list all the images I source and if possible, the photographers who take these lovely photos. If I have a photo of yours, please let me know and I will be happy to remove it from the blog. Thank you).
Heavenly Wine from Horse Heaven Hills
Image is courtesy of Zefina and is a past vintage photo.
It's not often that I get to try a 2004 vintage on a glass pour menu--it's not that there aren't plenty of past vintages lying around, but it's just uncommon to see one on a menu. Today is my lucky day. I am about to try what is known to most as a Grenache/Syrah/Mouvedre blend, but what makes this one special are the not so recognizable Cinsault and Conoise grapes which are also Rhone varietals familiar to France.
Introducing, 2004--Zefina Serience Red Wine. For the details--42% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 11% Mouvedre, 7% Cinsault and 5% Counoise. As you know, all of these grapes are Rhone varietals and so peppery, jammy and earthy notes are common in each grape in its' own unique way. The nose is full of sweet figs, ripe currants and floral vanilla which co-mingle nicely and may entice you to continue smelling for much time before moving on to the palate. When you do decide to move on to the palate, there are loads of fresh black raspberries, toasted oak in this balanced, yet robust blend. The tannins are soft and the mouthfeel is velvety--you will want to savor this wine and enjoy each nuance and flavor as you drink. On the finish, there are more of those black raspberries, rich tobacco and toasted peppercorns that remain on the palate for quite some time. Remember that this gem is a 2004 vintage so be sure to decant and do not aerate this wine as it will open up much better with just time.
In my mind, this wine is perfect on its' own, but if you had to pair food with it, crostini with figs and prosciutto, caprese salad and filet mignon would work beautifully. This wine just got put on our glass pour menu here at Greenlake Wines and I truly hope it stays for awhile. If this wine or any others that I blog about sounds exciting to you, please feel free to stop by Greenlake Wines and Seattle Wine Outlet to visit myself and the rest of our lovely staff.
Ciao!
Erin
(I try to list all the images I source and if possible, the photographers who take these lovely photos. If I have a photo of yours, please let me know and I will be happy to remove it from the blog. Thank you).
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