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Treana, not just another pretty face!

Date: Sat, Aug 16, 2008 Wine Tasting

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I really love this wine from the Central Coast, (read that Paso Robles) every time I have this wine and it does not matter what year it is, this wine rolls over my palate like a steam shovel of fermented fig, honey and nutty goodness. If you have not had the pleasure of "her" company, seek her out and try it today. I say her, simply because Treana sounds like a girls name, I know this sound chauvinistic, but I don't care!

This wine is widely distributed, but I pick it up @ the Costco here in San Diego for about $15.00. You really can't go wrong! It is great to drink by it self or paired with food. I paired this wine with some BBQ'd pork chops, scalloped potato's, and a yummie spinach salad.. Not sure if you can read the label all too well but this wine is Viognier 66% and Marsanne 34%. These two blended varietals are match made in heaven. I would definitely score this wine at least 93 Pt's and I've snatched off the label and thrown it into my wine journal!

(Yes I am that kind of cork dork, I keep a wine journal with the labels of wine I like, what I paired it with, how much I paid, where I purchased it from and of course my how my palate scored a particular wine. )

Another good reason to drink Red Wine!

Date: Sat, Aug 16, 2008 Wine Tasting

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Have you every experienced food poisoning? Well I have on more than one occasion, you feel like you wanna die. But science has come to our rescue once more with some more good news about red wine. We all know about the cardiovascular benefits of drinking red wine, but now there is another good reason to drink red wine, especially Cabernet. Like I needed another reason to drink wine, hell my nick name is already purpleteeth, geez whats next purple liver?? But I digress here is the good news and I will just put the quote from the researcher here.

"Researchers Azlin Mustapha, associate professor of food science, and Atreyee Das, a doctoral student in the food science program, have found that red wine appears to act as a natural anti-microbial in our intestinal tract while leaving untouched the helpful probiotic bacteria needed for digestion. The wines that exhibit those properties most strongly: Cabernet, Zinfandel and Merlot. (Some of my favorite varietals)

Red grape juice (yeah but I like mine fermented) produced similar results, the researchers found. On the other hand, no white wines seemed to show the same anti-microbial action." Thanks Azlin! I feel better already! But all you Chardonnay folks need to more careful! See this is another reason why my (wine fridge) cellar is 85% red and only 15% white. Ha!! Cheers!

Silly rabbit, wine tasting is for adults!

Date: Sat, Aug 16, 2008 Wine Tasting

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I know this one is going to be a "burr" under someones saddle, but it needs to be said. Wine tasting is for adults! If you are planning a day of wine tasting, please do yourself and everyone else a favor, please don't bring anyone under the age of 21!

Why you may ask??

Well I will tell ya, wine tasting rooms are a place to taste wines and get educated about wine and hopefully purchase some wine as well. If you wouldn't think twice about bringing your kids to a bar, a wine tasting room is very similar. Wine tasting rooms are not set up to accommodate children and kids are just plain bored out of their minds in these kind of environments. We all know every under the age of 21 is not suppose to partake of adult beverages. See were not in France and giving your kids a sip of your wine is not cool and will make the tasting room staff hate you. If you really must bring your children, maybe try your tasting in shifts or if you have a "dutiful" designated driver then maybe they could mind the children while you enjoy your tasting. Many wineries will have a picnic area where the kids can run around.
This may sound like I am being harsh and insensitive, but it basically boils down to consideration of others. None of us live on a "U" planet, so when planning your next tasting room trip just keep consideration for other tasters, tasting room staff and above all your kids in mind. Cheers! Questions or comments are valued and appreciated. Thanks!

The Oakville AVA

Date: Mon, Aug 4, 2008 Wine Tasting

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Remember, the review I did on Franciscan 2005 Cabernet?

Well some or a majority of the grapes which went into this wine were from the Oakville AVA, the same "terroir"as the Mondavi 2005 Cabernet. The fact that these grapes come from this AVA should be clue to anyone considering their next Cabernet purchase........
Many of the Cabernet's from this AVA are just amazing on very consistent basis. There are many wineries which source their grapes from this AVA, but if you can pick up a bottle of Mondavi or Franciscan with the majority or some of the grapes sourced from the Oakville AVA for under $20.00, (this wine sells for $28.00 in the tasting room) um run don't walk and pick yourself up one of the best value Cabernet's from Napa. These are just two representations of the 2005 vintage I've tasted, which in my estimation is showing great promise.

"A wine which has a specific AVA on the label must contain a minimum of 85% grapes grown within the legal boundaries of the AVA."

In keeping with the promise not to be snobby or pretentious, I believe I need to define what AVA means. So I grabbed this from Wikopedia, an American Viticultural Area is a designated wine grape-growing region in the United States distinguishable by geographic features, with defined boundaries ... This also is somewhat related to the topic of Terrior, which I am sure you may have heard tossed around a time or two, I will save that discussion for another time. The point I am trying to make is that wines (talking Cabernet here) with grapes sourced from the Oakville, AVA have a depth and panache. They are consistently good year to year and if you can buy it for under $20.00 a bottle you are getting great value! Cheers!!

Looking for a good bargain???

Date: Mon, Aug 4, 2008 Wine Tasting

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Looking for a Bargain??
Looking for a great price in Cabernet? Which is also high caliber wine? I seen it offered online for $23.99 each, but I picked up this same bottle @ Costco here for $18.99 and no shipping . This represents a great price and a great value! If I were you I'd hurry on down and pick yourself up a case. This is a everyday drinking wine which won't break the bank! Look no further!!
Wine Enthusiast Review Robert Mondavi Napa Cabernet 2005
Rated 91A lovely young Cab, rich and balanced, with the elegance you expect from this producer. Made from all 5 Bordeaux varieties, with a drop of Syrah, the wine is potent in red and black currant, blackberry and new oak flavors, with sweetly ripe tannins. Delicious now, it should develop through 2015. Personally for me, there is no way this wine will even last two weeks before I uncork my first one. I like to drink my wine young!

Wine Tasting Notes:
Our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon unfolds in velvety layers of blackberry, cassis, mineral, violet and licorice character. These rich, expressive flavors come from the diverse soils and climates of vineyards located primarily in Oakville (if you are not familiar with the Oakville AVA, read this as damn fine Cabernets)and Stags Leap District American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) of Napa Valley. The vintage gave the wine solid tannins that support the dense, dark fruit character and provide excellent length on the palate. We aged the wine in French oak chateau barrels for over a year to enhance the smooth texture and add spicy oak accents.
Currently listening : Foghat By Foghat Release date: 1990-10-25

2005 Epicuro Aglianico Beneventano

Date: Sat, Jul 26, 2008 Wine Tasting

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I picked up this wine @ TJ's and was scratching my head again. What the heck is this varietal? But hey for $4.99 each, I decided to give it a whirl. Wines produced from Aglianico tend to be full bodied, firm tannins and high acidity Which could mean this wine has aging potential. In my opinion this wines rich flavors means it will be a nice accompaniment to many Italian food dishes without over powering.

On first blush I thought it was a Grenache, but upon searching the website, http://www.dqquino.com/ I found out it is actually made from Aglianico, a rarely grown varietal which originated in Greece. It had all the classic aromas of bright cherries and smoke, framed by subtle spice box similar to a Grenache. The mouth feel of this wine is pleasantly fruity and light. Just a hint of oak. For the price you just can't beat it as an everyday wine. I gave this wine 84 Pt's. Cheers~Enjoy!

"Clos Pegase" 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon

Date: Sat, Jul 26, 2008 Wine Tasting

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This wine I drank just last night comes from the Cabernet Sauvignon Class 2004 Napa, many of the 04's are very good. I've tasted many 04 Cab's from Napa and my conclusion is, this was a very "good year" in Napa for Cab...


That said, last night I tasted for the first time a wine a friend @MS recommended. She was high on the PN, but in seeing the Cab @ Costco @ 30% off the single bottle price through the winery I purchased one. Personally I like to let the bottle relax in my cellar (a big wine fridge) before I drink it, to minimize what I call "bottle shock". I typically tend to drink wine with dinner, and so I decided to pair this Bordeaux styled wine with a fat Porter House, which had been marinating all day, damn fine!
Now about this wine, which on the initial taste offers fruitiness (very subtle) and accessibility at an early age. Because they use the old technique of extended maceration, which creates softer tannins. Indeed this wine was as smooth as a baby's bottom and while being elegant and refined. The after dinner quaffs were much better though and yes I finished the bottle. Not hard to do with a wine this good. Reportedly their Cabernets sit in natural caves for two years which must add to the caliber this wine shows in the glass.
On the nose, pure cassis, blackberry fruit tones combine with coffee and cedar. The palate is big, with a subdued luscious; full bodied yet vibrant,with a toasty oak integration, which combined naturally with the tannins for long persistent finish. This wine really opened up very nicely toward the end of the evening, which suggested to me a decanting prior to dinner would have enhanced my experience greatly! Be that as it may, I can highly recommend this wine to you and with this kind of dedication, their other varietals must be of similar caliber. I scored this wine 91 Pt's. Enjoy!