2010 Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay

Recently I was sent two bottles of Chardonnay from Rodney Strong. Back on July 23rd I posted a review of the 2010 Rodney Strong Sonoma County Chardonnay.  I didn't like it. The great folks at Rodney Strong have asked that I taste again, and I will. I did taste the other bottle and they have a clear winner in this Chardonnay!

When you open the bottle, the scent is that of citus, apple and vanilla. There is a bit of spice in the smell as well, but it is very, very  nice. The spice scent combined with the a small bit of oak, has a charming appeal.  When you pour it into the glass and let it take on some air, you can see the magnificent amber colors. Just beautiful! When you taste it, the citrus taste, sweet vanilla and a hint of apple all blend for a superior taste. There is just a hint of oak, but mixed with the other flavors it really enhancing the taste.

Here are some notes from Rodney Strong regarding this chardonnay:

"Rodney Strong was the first to see the potential of the Chalk Hill growing area as an exceptional place for Chardonnay, and planted his first Chardonnay vines here back in 1965. The ocean fog and chalky-white volcanic soils combine to produce distinctive Chardonnays that offer crisp citrus and mineral tones supported by lush floral notes and a rich baked apple character. We have produced Chalk Hill labeled Chardonnay since 1977."

Excellent with a great meal that Big Daddy put together of his famous Grilled Halibut and Cilantro Cream Sauce! Check it out at http://bigdaddyscookingtonight.blogspot.com

GREAT JOB Rodney Strong, a WONDERFUL Chardonnay for about $20.00! This vino really MADE THE PIG JUMP OVER THE MOON!

2008 Las Rocas Garnacha Calatayud

Well it's Sunday, and dinner is happening soon. Big Daddy is in the kitchen doing a couple of dishes and by the smell that is waiving through the air I can tell it's Italian. A quick check while I write this confirms that Calzone and Baked Ziti are being created.  His recent trip to the local Italian market has yielded quite a bounty of wonderfulness!  I've decided that a great wine for tonight's dinner would be the 2008 Las Rocas Garnacha. This wine has robust flavors and for the price, is really UNBELIEVABLE!

The wine shows a deep ruby, almost purple color, with a spicy, rich cranberry bouquet. Its dark cherry flavors are highlighted by excellent structure and depth. Very  full in the mouth, with supple tannins and a fruit-filled finish. The way that it plays with the your taste buds is amazing! Black plum, followed by pepper, leather, spice and herbal berry scents and some perfect ripe berry flavors.  A little fiery but the real deal!  A vibrant black raspberry and spice box derived from a touch of oak. Exhibiting depth and succulent layers of flavor, the wine is round and full in the mouth. It is truly a wine that speaks for itself.

Here are some notes for the winey:

"By cold-soaking the grapes prior to fermentation, we extracted the full range of color and flavors for which Garnacha is widely renowned. We fermented the grapes for a little less than two weeks at temperatures below 83°F. Malolactic fermentation rounded out the palate to create a well-integrated wine. We exposed a portion of the finished wine to French and American oak for 10 months, using lightly toasted barrels to support the fruit flavors."          

The wine is an excellent value at about $14.00. Honestly, this is really a great wine and once you try it, you will just enjoy the taste and all of the layer of flavors with this great vino. The final decision was Calzone and this was the perfect choice with the marinara, cheese and crust. YUM!

This vino made THE PIG JUMP OVER THE MOON! Try it and let me know what you think.

2009 don Rodolfo Torrontes

The weather here in southern California has been hot and humid.  Afterwork and as part of re-entry into relaxation land I had this bottle of don Rodolfo Torrontes in the wine fridge so I decided to give it a try. Over the past the few months I've picked up various bottles of wine and really have forgotten what all was in there! I am so glad that I opened this one!  Let's start with the color, it is
a translucent pale golden hue in color.  When I removed the cork, the aroma will filled the air with delicate floral hints of lavender and gardenia  as well as just a hint of honeysuckle.

Once I had the first taste you can taste the wonderful hints of balance and lightness.A very light and fruity wine. My tongue enjoyed the taste of  peaches and hints of citrus that lightly lingers to tempt but another sip. The taste also is delights with some floral undertones. So really refreshing, so really satisfying. When I did some research online I was amazed to find out that the Wine Advocate gave it 90 points! Wine & Spirits listed it as as "Best Buy" as well!

The website says "The VINEYARDS: Soaring to 6,000 feet, Cafayate Valley is one of the world's highest altitude viticultural regions. It lies amid the snow-capped Andes of northwestern Argentina's Salta province, near the border of Bolivia and just below the Tropic of Capricorn." The particular vines are 52 years old!
The taste of this vino is perfect for summer, so be sure to get a bottle or two and enjoy it with a light and summer meal. Priced at about $11.00, it is a fantastic value!

This wine definitely made THE PIG JUMP OVER THE MOON!

2009 Radio Boca Tempranillo

Well it's the Labor Day Holiday!  Not a hugely busy day, but a nice day. Did some of the chores as they are in the garden. With our prior past weather being REALLY HOT, it made it pretty impossible to get out and do anything without gasping for air or sweating like Dick Fuld at a senate hearing! As I write though it is getting close to the time to enjoy the best dam burgers you'll ever have as Big Daddy is at the grill. Wanting a nice red wine to compliment that burger, corn on the cob and a fresh green salad, I've selected the 2009 Radio Boca Tempranillo.

This un-oaked, 100% Tempranillo wine is full of juicy, rich fruit and dark berries. Tannins are smooth and soft. It has a very earthy nose. The taste is fruity with a bit of cocoa. It has a nice smoky flavor as well. Not a spicy or syrupy feel either, just a nice taste in your mouth. Just the prefect blend for a casual barbecue, dare I say perfect, with your next burger.

So check it out. This vino is retailing for about $9.00 and is perfect to have with your friends at the next barbecue. At that price, bring a few bottles and everybody will enjoy it and thank you for bringing it! This vino definitely made THE PIG JUMP OVER THE MOON!

Check it out and let me know what you think. Ciao, don Antonio!
 

2009 Querceto Chianti Classico

So as we continued our delicious dinner at La Parolaccia, we ordered a really tasty Chianti, a the 2009 Querceto. Since I was having the Margherita Pizza, it was a truly perfect fit with the fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and basil all on a spectacular thin crust baked in their wood fired oven.

The wine had a spectacular fruity bouquet. The taste gave you  substantial taste of black cherry, and blackberry with a soft rich and juicy hint of raspberries. The finish was dry with very light tannins. It was a really good Chianti and perfect for the pizza dish I enjoyed!mIt really tasted better and better as the meal went on as well. A nice smooth vino here.

The wine retails for about $16.00 and is worth it!  Checking it out online I saw that several of ratings were 89, so a tasty vino for sure! 

This Chianti definitely MADE THE PIG JUMP OVER THE MOON!

 

Mionetto NV Prosecco

Yesterday after attending the Greek Fesival in Long Beach, California we decided to visit one of our favorite places for pizza, La Parolaccia. It's a great place with a fantastic menu. We love their pizza and that's just what we had. Now we also had some of the fresh baked focaccia as well as some light and delicious calamari. With that course we decided on the Mionetto NV Prosecco. Now I have to be really honest, I am not a champagne or prosecco drinker. Big Daddy and Miss Alison love their prosecco though. So I decided to taste it with our first course and you know what, this prosecco was perfect with them! If you want a nice sparkling and fresh taste, try this, you won't be disappointed at all!I like the face that you could enjoy the complimented tastes of the food with the prosecco.

The Mionetto NV Prosecco is "Refreshing"! Full of fresh, apple, apricot, and nectar flavors  fruity bouquet with a hint of golden apples. It is very dry, fresh, light in body and well-balanced. The prosecco with an immediate and fresh delivery of citrus, dried herbs and a subtle touch of white pepper. The aromas are what you should expect from an informal, easy-drinking sparkling wine and the bubbles are firm. YUM!

Now you can enjoy it when you visit La Parolaccia or buy it at a local retail store. This tasty prosecco retails for about $14.99. So try it the next time you order some appetizers or your first course. A great treat for sure, this MADE THE PIG JUMP OVER THE MOON!
      

    

2008 Coppola Alacante Bouschet

Well it is Saturday of the Labor Day weekend and we will be sitting down to dinner shortly. So I thought I would take some time before it and tell you all about a great wine, The Coppola Alacante Bouschet. Tonight's dinner will be a minestrone soup, meat ravioli with a homemade marinara sauce of our garden tomatoes. We'll have a micro-green salad with Italian dressing and garlic bread. You can check out Big Daddy's blog, http://bigdaddyscookingtonight.blogspot.com/ for the great recipes I just mentioned.

Now about the wine! The Coppola Winery has another hot wine on their hands with this vino, for sure.

One of the great things is the label, a HOT magenta color. The really great stuff though is inside. When you open the bottle and pour that dark, dark, cherry color into your glass you can smell the floral bouquet, it is a wonderful aroma. Then as you take the first sip, you can taste the jammy fruit and chocolate. On the palate the intense jammy fruit flavor carries over, as well as a little spice. This wine is medium-bodied and will pair well with various grilled meats as well as with a nice pasta.

Here is some additional information from the winery: "The Francis Coppola Diamond Collection 2008 Alicante Bouschet is made from 100% Alicante Bouschet grapes from Lodi, CA. The wine is aged for 11 months in 50% new American oak and 50% used French oak."

A great wine that will not disappoint. I found it a very enjoyable wine from beginning to end! So buy a couple bottles, I found it for just $9.99! This wine really made The Pig Jump Over the Moon!

Another winner by the Francis Ford Coppola Winery! Taste it and let me know what you think.