Wine for Easter!

  Easter is in two weeks.  Have you thought about what wine you will serve?  Here are some of my favorites that will be perfect for Easter and make your holiday that much easier.  Make sure to have wines that will work for all your guests.  I suggest whites, reds, sparkling and perhaps rose too!

  To start things off,  Barbolini--Biorosso will get your party off to a bubbly start.  With loads of currants and cherries on the nose, you can't go wrong.  Currants dominate the palate in addition to dense blackberries and a great, balanced mouthfeel.  The finish is clean and simple with more of those earthy currants and warm spices.
 
  Next, Locati Cellars--2009 Pinot Grigio is sure to knock your socks off!  Light vanilla and toasted oak are prevalent on the nose.  Lemon and honeysuckle notes pair perfectly on the palate with bright acidity and great mouthfeel.  Once you reach the finish, more of that floral vanilla continues for some time.

  For the Rose lover, Easton House--2010 Rose is on the menu.  The Beatles famous song, "Strawberry Fields" comes to mind when smelling this one.  You may want to continue smelling as it will continue to open up the longer it sits.  On the palate, more of those ripe strawberries co-mingle nicely with peaches and lemon--yum!  There is just a touch of sweetness in this rose which balances the acidity well.  On the finish, lemon and strawberry stay for awhile and make themselves at home!

  Last but certainly not least, Eno--2006 Cabernet Sauvignon will make all red drinkers smile.  Tobacco and leather notes on the nose will entice you.  Loads of blackberries, tobacco and creamy oak marry well on the palate and continue to open up the longer you let it sit.  Subtle pepper notes and more tobacco stay on the finish and they continue to linger, enticing you put your glass up for more!

  If any of these wines appeal to you, please come visit us here at Greenlake Wines and take some home for your Easter feast!


Ciao!
Erin
 

Chateua Montelena Winery

  It's not often that I get to try wines that are 20 years old so--it's also not so often that I get to try wines from the famous winery, Chateau Montelena.  Today is my lucky day.  I am trying Chateau Montelena--1990 Cabernet Sauvignon.  For a brief history, Chateau Montelena put Napa wine on the map during the well known 1976 tasting in Paris.  Four White Burgundies were tasted against six various Napa Chardonnays.  To the French judges' surprise (who were certain one of their wines would win), Chateau Montelena--1973 Chardonnay scored above all the other wines. 

  As for this lovely Cabernet, dried figs, currants, vanilla and creamy oak are just some of the various notes I get on the nose.  They play nicely and continue to open up the longer the wine sits.  Because this wine has so many subtle notes and flavors it is absolutely crucial to decant this wine for several hours before indulging.  The palate is dreamy and structured with soft tannins and enough acidity to hold up to the richest of foods.  Dark and dense cherries, velvety butterscotch and more of that floral vanilla make for a wine you will want to savor forever!  The long finish is exceptional with its' elegant balance and lingering cherry notes alongside smokey tobacco.  By the time you pick up a glass of this wine, you may find yourself in love.

  Food is the last thought in my mind, however, if we must think about pairing this wine with food, I have a couple suggestions.  Filet mignon, veal and an assortment of cured meats come to mind as well as triple cream cheeses and green olives.  We just poured through our last glass of Chateau Montelena--1990 Cabernet Sauvignon, but I have a feeling that we will be getting more of this lovely wine here at Greenlake Wines!  If this wine or any others that I have blogged about interest you, please come visit myself and the rest of our lovely staff here at Greenlake Wines or Seattle Wine Outlet!



Ciao!
Erin

More Tempranillo Please!

  Monday--exhaustion from weekend adventures sinks in, you're unmotivated, yet the normal work week is just beginning.  Give yourself something to look forward to--give yourself wine!  There are plenty of fabulous wines here at Wine Outlet and Greenlake Wines for under fifteen dollars that may get you looking forward to Mondays!

   Today I am trying one of these great wines under fifteen dollars which happens to be a Rioja.  Rioja is a D.O.C made up of three regions out of Spain.  This specific wine is 2005--Lorinon Rioja which is made up of 85% Tempranillo, 5% Garnacha, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo.  It is aged for fourteen months in American Oak which is known for its' rich coconut notes so it's no surprise that the nose is full of more of those coconut notes along with chili peppers and tobacco--yum!  Dense blackberries, spicy chili peppers and smoky tobacco are prevalent on the palate and will continue to open up the longer it sits.  The tannin structure is strong enough to keep experienced wine drinkers interested, yet soft enough to capture the hearts of beginning wine drinkers.  The finish is long and velvety with lingering blackberries and chili peppers.

  As for food, this Rioja would pair nicely with a variety of foods including pulled pork tacos, grilled lamb and mole.  Come on by Wine Outlet and Greenlake Wines and pick up a bottle of this wine and remember to keep Mondays exciting by treating yourself!


  Ciao!
  Erin

Wine for You and Your Valentine!

Image is courtesy of www.boissetfamilyestates.com


  Valentines Day for some is quite controversial--many love it and many hate it.  I personally adore it and hope even the loneliest of hearts can find peace on this funny day.  For those of us in love, we spend weeks leading up to this event planning and scheming different ways to show the ones we love just how much we love them.  However, for those of us who are single or heart broken, this day is dreaded and we find many ways to forget all about it.  My plan is simple--treat the ones you love and if you're alone, treat yourself.  Either way, you will find pleasure indulging in the finer things in life whether it's with or without someone.

  Today I am trying Louis Bouillot--Cremant de Bourgogne, Brut Rose.  This wine is sure to please even the saddest soul with its' lovely pale salmon color alone.  It's made with 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Gamay grapes which add depth of flavor and great structure.  Ripe raspberries and honeysuckle pair nicely on the nose--take as much time as you like smelling this one as it goes quickly once you take a sip!  Bright lemon and floral vanilla notes present themselves on the forefront of the palate.  Layers of those dense raspberries come into play on the mid-palate which are balanced by great mouthfeel and acidity.  The finish is clean and simple with increasing lemon notes that continue their lengthy stay--enjoy!

  Traditionally, flowers and chocolate are in order.  Some of my favorite flowers include calla lilies, peonies and tulips--stay away from classic, but boring roses as they're truly overrated.  As for chocolate, Fran's Chocolates is the ultimate one stop shop.  If you can get your hands on the coconut gold bars (featured on Food Networks, 'Best Thing I Ever Ate' by Bobby Flay) you will be golden.  Also, you can never go wrong with their famous salted caramel bars--my ultimate weakness and if you're totally lost, the chocolate heart caramels will surely not disappoint.  Remember the most important part of Valentines Day--indulge yourself and have fun!


Happy Valentines Day!
Erin

(I try to list all the photos I use and if possible, the photographers who take these lovely photos.  If I have an image of yours, please let me know and I will be happy to remove it from the blog.  Thank you.)