2010 Menage a Trois Red

As we enjoyed the final bits of the appetizers I had mentioned in the last post, it was time for another bottle of wine. So Auntie V suggested the next bottle. She had brought it with her as part of the multi-bottle tasting that we had during the course of the holiday weekend. We chatted about so many things. A couple of years before, Auntie V travelled with Big Daddy to Costa Rica, and there were plenty of stories from that trip! We also chatted about her upcoming retirement, which is well deserved. You see Auntie V is one of the hardest workers you'll ever meet. She works hard and plays hard.  Always fun to visit with Auntie V!

So we opened the wine and and I pour each of us a glass. The aroma is really nice. A sweet blend of raspberry, blackberry and plum. The taste is really smooth and enjoyable. A real jam taste that is very, very smooth and has a wonderful finish. My "wine buddy" and I agree that this is an excellent value and totally tasty vino.

Here is the info from the winery:

 Sure, we could have settled for your good old-fashioned double entendre. You know, a not-so-subtle quip accompanied by a sly wink of the eye and a secret titter. But why stop at double when there was a triple entendre just waiting to be had? Ménage à Trois examines what happens when you put three attractive, single, young grapes in one exquisite bottle.
 
Ménage à Trois red brings together three strange bedfellows:

 Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. To add complexity and retain character, each variety was fermented separately, then blended together prior to bottling. On top we’ve got Zinfandel, a saucy tease that brings blackberry and raspberry jam to the relationship. Merlot, with its generous mouth feel and red fruits, fits perfectly in the middle. The rich flavors and firm tannins of Cabernet Sauvignon make it the ideal candidate for the bottom layer of the trio.

Now as the conversation moved into the actual title of the wine, things really got interesting. You see as the name of the wine can inspire a story or two be told, if you happen to be with the right group of people and in the right frame of mind. I'm not going to go into great detail about it, but one of the persons that was out on the deck relaxing and enjoying the artichoke dip and chicken meatballs in Marinara sauce was taking everybody back to a "menage a trois" story from days gone by. I have to say that I haven't laughed so much! As the story went on, everybody there was doing the same! There was also the "do we really need to hear about that" statement made...all in fun. Family fun. Crazy fun. Making memories fun.

What a great time and what a great wine. the cost is about $8.00 and this vino really makes THE PIG JUMP OVER THE MOON!

Get out and pick up a few bottles. Just be warned, the label may bring out the stories about the past...and when they do, just listen! Thinking about it now as I write this makes me smile!

2008 Rosenblum Zinfandel Paso Robles

So it's the Friday after Thanksgiving. We've had a nice day. First by having a great breakfast with Big Daddy's mom then a quick drive over to Auntie B's and Uncle T's. Big Daddy, the ever gracious host, no matter at who's house he may be at, made some wonderful Bloody Mary's to get the day started. We all relaxed on the deck of the house enjoying the beautiful sunshine and of course, some more food! 

We ventured out and visited a wonderful nursery which is more like a park than a conventional nursery. Lot's of great treasures too. It's called High Hand and a great place to explore. Then once everyone was accounted for, which is no great feat, we  headed over to a local winery. We visited the Wise Villa Winery. The views from the tasting area were great! As you looked across the valley, the fall colors were like a patchwork quilt. So many great reds and ambers. The sun and it's warmth just spectacular to enjoy the various tastings that the winery had to offer. I purchased some of the various vintages that they had and will write about them in the future.

We then drove back to Aunt B's and Uncle T's to relax and get ready for yet another spectacular dinner. That;s right, because today, Big Daddy was in the kitchen! The menu he prepared included appetizers of artichoke dip, chicken meatballs in marinara sauce. Then for the dinner, marinated fillet Mignon, twice baked potatoes, a 24 hour salad and dinner rolls...just something light!

So before dinner and with the appetizers, we enjoyed a few bottles of wine. The first one we enjoyed was the 2008 Rosenblum Zinfindel from Paso Robles. The aroma is a wonderful cherry and rhubarb with a spicy pepper. When you taste it, the cherry and rhubarb are deep and flavorful, yet there is a slight dark plum flavor as well. The finish is nice, very, very favorable. Auntie V, who is from Sonoma, my official "wine drinking buddy" and I agreed that the taste and finish for this Zinfindel, was spot on! Truly an enjoyable wine that is well worth the money! 

Here is some information about the Rosenblum Zinfandel:

"Recognized for its Zinfandel, Paso Robles has an ideal set of climatic conditions to coax forward the varietal’s inherent fruitiness. Situated among the rolling hills and spanning valleys of the Central Coast, this large, diverse appellation has warm, arid days that are cooled by nearby Pacific breezes that sweep in at night. The dramatic shift in day-to-night temperatures allows the grapes to linger on the vine and develop rich, concentrated flavors. We sourced the fruit from several vineyards throughout the region, balancing the attributes of each for a complex, layered wine."

Auntie V and I concur, this vino definitely MADE THE PIG JUMP OVER THE MOON!  A great price too at about $16.00

2012 Thanksgiving in Lincoln California

When the alarm went off at 4:00am on Thanksgiving morning, I knew that time was of the essence. You see living in southern California, timing is so important when it comes to travel by car. Big Daddy and I are heading up to Lincoln, California. It's great little town just a bit north of Sacramento. As I wake and make my way to start the coffee, I notice the several bags on the dining room table. They contain the treasures that will be part of the holiday food fest which will leave everyone happy and eventually in a food coma.  For my part, I've selected 9 bottles of wine that we can enjoy for the two days we'll be visiting.

Once the coffee is brewed, I feed the cat, the dog, Miss Ruby who is taking the trip with us, and the chickens that think it would be crazy to leave their roost where they cozy up against the morning chill.   Once everyone is fed, I load the car with the booty of food and vino and we head on the freeway of love for the 7 hour journey.

We arrive at Big Daddy's mom's house a little worse for wear. We bring in the bags and Big Daddy's mom wants to know exactly how long we are staying...which is a totally acceptable question as the bags seem to be never ending. 

Skipping to the Thanksgiving meal, we have Big Daddy's mom, Auntie B, Auntie V, Uncle T, Miss Ruth, Big Daddy, myself and Miss Ruby.  We started with the various Pinot's I've brought, MooBuzz, Castle Rock, Leese-Fitch and Pennywise. WONDERFUL wines that were perfect with the traditional Thanksgiving meal we had.

What a great dinner! It was really wonderful. What is always amazing to me, is how the holidays really make everybody enjoy not just the food that everyone has worked so hard to put together, but the stories and remembrances that people have.  We had a great toast to Big Daddy's grandmother, who was the master maker of the "relish platter" as well as to Big Daddy's grandfather, who was a truly remarkable man that had some of the most fantastic stories having been a bus driver in the city of San Francisco for over 40 years.
So the banter at the table made everybody smile and feel good and give thanks for the great memories and family that had gotten together to celebrate the holiday.

I hope that you and and your family had a wonderful holiday and did whatever made you and your family happy. I think it's important to enjoy those moments as they go by so very quickly.

2009 Hill Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon

As we get closer to the Thanksgiving holiday you start to think about so many things don't you? I was thinking about our journey to northern California to visit family which will be a great time and then what happens after. Well at our house, it will be so many things! I've already been told that Sunday the 25th, probably would be a great time to get those outside lights up for Christmas!  And not to forget that the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade is on the 1st of December and...well you all get the picture.

Yesterday night though, it really brought the great things that do happen around the holidays, friends and family. My brother, sister in law and niece are visiting from Chicago and staying with my mom who lives about a mile from our house. Well Big Daddy put together quite the dinner! As always, there was food within an arms reach of wherever you sat. This is something instilled upon Big Daddy by the way that his grandmother and mother entertained. His grandmother used to say "just a little something to nibble on baby".

So prior to dinner, the bruchetta, stuffed mushrooms and "award winning snack mix" kept everyone engaged and catching up on a variety of subjects, FUN times! So when dinner was served, a rigatoni with vegetables and chicken meatballs in a wonderful marinara sauce, we decided to have the bottle of wine that my brother brought, a 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon by Hill Wine Company.

We opened it and poured it into the glasses. The first thing to remark about is the color. A really dark purple. A little sheen makes it appear almost a black purple in color. This Cabernet Sauvignon has the wonderful aromas of currant with some black fruits and notes of pepper and just a slight hint of clove. In your mouth it is silky and smooth! The finish is gentle and soft with more flavors of a dark plum and black cherry. WONDERFUL!

Here is some info about the winery:

"Hill Wine Company specializes in  organic farming. As the proprietor of Jeff Hill Vineyard Group, he owns and manages many high-end vineyards in Napa and Sonoma counties. Some of the top rated Robert Parker wines currently listed come from vineyards he supervises. Jeff and his wife Rebecca hold a strong belief in sustainability and organic agriculture. Seeing a lack of wineries in Napa providing consumers with a high quality green product at a great price, they took their love of fine wine and passion for sustainable agriculture and formed Hill Wine Company in 2008. Hill Wine Company only uses Napa Valley fruit that is grown sustainably or organically.    
We use recycled glass, paper labels, boxes, and corks from organically certified forests. All of Hill Wine Company's apparel uses organic cottons and bamboo. By doing this, we are not only providing our clients with the best wine and products, but also giving back to the environment and the community"

Like some other newer wineries, this one has had some great responses on Yelp! and other social media outlets. So give them a try. They have had several awards bestowed on them and I can certainly know why.

This vino definitely made the PIG JUMP OVER THE MOON! So try a few bottles for yourself. The holidays are here and having a few bottles from Hill Wine Company are sure to be a hit with your friends and family!

And should you ever meet my brother, be sure to ask him about the story about the corner store and the owner Maxine...it will have you howling with laughter! Thanks, Dan, so many memories of being kids make me smile!

2011 Moobuzz Pinot Noir Monterey

Thursday as I walked from the garage to into the house I smelled the most amazing aroma filling the air. As I approached the kitchen, lifted the lid of the slow cooker, there it was, Beef Bourguignon. One the best dishes for an evening dinner that was ever invented.  Now the wonderful dish contains a beef roast, red wine, carrots, onions, mushroom and potatoes that all cook slowly for hours resulting in one of the most delicious meals in the world. Served with a warm baguette straight out of the oven and a very healthy amount of butter and you have quite the dinner.  As you've read, Big Daddy knows his way around the kitchen and we always have plenty. So when I decided on a wine I wanted something that complimented the meal, and would not be too heavy. So I pulled out a bottle of Pinot, it had been sent to me by the great folks at TOG Wines. Moobuzz, a 2011 Pinot from Monterey. The bottle has this really wonderful closure, the "ZORK", a revolutionary new wine closure with the convenience of screw cap and the celebration of cork. ZORK is, easy to remove by hand, simple to reseal and is completely recyclable.

When I opened the bottle and poured it into the glass the aromas of wild cherry, caramel, and fresh strawberry jump from the glass. The color of the wine in the glass was amazing as well.  The deep garnet color was so jewel like.  Deep ruby and as it swirled against the side of the glass, it gently rolled back like a wave on the beach. My first sip was of some wonderful cherry,  dried cranberry, and strawberry as well as savory notes of berries and a slight hint of french oak.

Here are some notes from the winery:
"Our 2011 vintage Monterey Pinot Noir comes from a large vineyards in San Bernabe. The 2011 harvest was a long cool season. This allowed the Pinot Noir to stay on the vine longer than normal and allowed this cool climate varietal to ripen over a long time. The result is a balanced, bright cherry inflected fruit with nice acidity and round tannins. We blended in a touch of Sangiovese to add some fleshy fruit to this blend as well as a touch of Tempranillo and Syrah for color and depth. This blend has firm acidity and rich notes of French oak. Enjoy!"

This wine was so tasty, I can't wait to serve it at Thanksgiving!  This wine is a real winner. Not only affordable at $16.00,  an OUTSTANDING stand alone in the Pinot category. Great job TOG, keep up the great work! Pick up a few bottles today and celebrate the holiday...or just celebrate this fine Pinot with a wonderful dinner.

This wine definitely made THE PIG JUMP OVER THE MOON!

2009 MacMurray Ranch Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

So I write this the day after a spectacular dinner party at our home. Now that the holidays drawer closer, it's great to have a few friends by to relax and enjoy some great talk, great food and great wine!

Our dinner party was small just 6 of us, Big Daddy though cooked like 12 were coming! Everybody could not believe the starters that were produced before dinner! Too many to list, but after a bit of a rest, the main dish was brought out, one of my favorites, Chicken Picatta. It was served with a lovely green salad (Thank you Alsion & Mike)  some extra creamy whipped potatoes, asparagus, brussel spouts and crusty rustic bread. So great on chilly fall evening. The wine I chose was new to me. I had just seen a program on the Mac Murray Winery located in the Russian River valley. One of THE MOST BEAUTIFUL places in the world. Big Daddy and I have spent many a vacation in the area enjoying all it has to offer. We've visted several wineries, but not this one. It has an interesting background. Here is some of the info about the winery:

"At MacMurray Ranch, our wines reflect our passion for the special places that give us extraordinary grapes. Beginning with our home vineyard in the heart of the Russian River Valley, we select grapes from the premier vineyards of Sonoma County, the Central Coast and Willamette Valley to craft exquisite Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.

Our roots in the Russian River Valley run deep. In fact, our majestic ranch has been a homestead since the 1850s. Our modern history began when actor Fred MacMurray bought the ranch in 1941 and began raising cattle here. Today, Fred's daughter, Kate MacMurray, is intimately involved with MacMurray Ranch, helping us share the incredible story of our world-class wines."

When I opened the bottle the aroma just begged to be released! It has a really great vanilla aroma along with orange blossoms, spring flowers, honeysuckle and white peaches As I poured the wine into the glass and swirled it around, the beautiful light amber color really caught the light. As I tasted my first sip, you could taste the hints of vanilla right away. Then the sweet taste of caramel, and lemon cream. Great finish that really was so refreshing. Not abrupt, nice and smooth.

This is a great wine and it has a really great price too. Retails for about $20.00, however, in my research found it for about $14.00 at some stores. This is a great chardonnay that has rated up to 90 points in some circles.

So get a bottle or two and try it yourself. This vino definitely made THE PIG JUMP OVER THE MOON!

2011 Leese - Fitch Pinot Noir

Well it's been a while since I posted a review. Well things been a little bit on the crazy side. It's Sunday and dinner is being created in the kitchen as I write this. Big Daddy is making a nice "big and hearty" meal. which could mean that after eating and cleaning up the kitchen, sitting down on the couch in the den and relaxing to the point of "nodding off" or as my grandmother would "just resting my eyes, dear".

A few weeks ago the great people at The Other Guys Winery send me a few bottles to sample. This is one of them. The TOG brand as I 've told you in the past, is not only and excellent wine, it is an excellent value! The closure in lieu of the conventional cork top. Amazing engineering used so that if you should have any left over (never a problem here at home) the closure will work great!

The Pinot has a fantastic deep dark cranberry in color, it has a boasts aromas of wild strawberry,  plum, caramel, sage, and a hint of  Oak. Your first sip shows flavors of  tart red raspberry,  cranberry, cinnamon spice, and sweet earth and finish. 
 
Here are some notes from the winery: "This blend shows the cool climate of the 2011 vintage. The cool climate leads for a longer hang time on the vine and more expressive flavors. The acid is integrated for good structure and the wine is vibrant and palate cleansing. We captured this vibrancy in our Pinot Noir from appellations like Monterey, Clarksburg, Mendocino, Northern Interior Valley, and Santa Barbara. Some of our Pinot Noir came in very light in color and structure, so we realized that we needed to add some other varietals for a little more depth the overall blend. As we assemble this blend, we added Syrah, Grenache, and Barbera from Lodi and the Sierra Foothills to add complexity and balance to the blend. The sum of the parts is a delicious glass of Pinot Noir that can fit the mood of any occasion.

This crowd pleasing Pinot Noir blend would pair wonderfully with an assortment of hard cheeses and dried fruit, turkey burgers topped with Colby Jack cheese and a roasted red pepper aioli, or any kind of pasta with your favorite marinara sauce."

This wine is a great taste and the blending of the varietals is done masterfully. Once you have your first sip, you anticipate the next! The longer this vino swirls around in your glass,the more it opens and reveals the more intense flavors of the wild strawberry and plum. The sweet caramel too makes your mouth just feel happy!

Well, the TOG Winery has done it again and I am happy that they have. The wine retails for about $12.00 and I'm telling you, once you taste it, you'll discover that this Pinot has it all. Wonderful color, spectacular aroma and a taste that would rival a much more expensive bottle of wine.

The wine definitely MADE THE PIG JUMP OVER THE MOON!

Enjoy some and tell me what you think.