2011 Chariot Gypsy

A few days ago I received a text from our friend Lynn. She works at Trader Joe's and alerted me that the new shipment of Chariot Gypsy arrived! SO HAPPY! I asked her to pick up a few bottles because it is always a crowd pleaser.

We tried the new vintage last night with dinner. It's a California Red Wine that is vinted and bottled in Healdsburg, California. It is very limited, so don't dilly dally!

Big Daddy and I went to the Farmers Market in Belmont Shore yesterday and he loaded up on lots of great fresh vegetables! So dinner was a fresh barbecue chicken pizza. The Chariot was a perfect pairing too. The pizza has some fresh chicken that Big Daddy barbecue first, then place it on a great forccia bread that he made. The sauce has a nice smoky yet sweet flavor and the fresh smoked mozzarella, red onion and cilantro made this a very tasty meal indeed.  He also made roasted tomatoes, caramelized onions, fresh zucchini and fired up in a cast iron skillet baked in the oven and topped with homemade mozzarella.

So in opening the Chariot Gypsy the fragrance and aroma is a strawberry in cream with a slight hint of licorice. You can also smell a wee bit of spice as well.  The color is a shiny, clear, ruby red with a beautiful sheen against the glass. This is a soft, easy to drink, slightly sweet, (not sugar sweet though) with soft smooth tannins. It tastes of ripe, sweet blueberry and blackberry, a bit of raspberry and milk chocolate. The wine will also give you a great fresh cherry as well.  The finish is smooth and will leave your taste buds waiting for the next sip!

The 2011 Chariot Gypsy Red is a crowd pleaser wine. PERFECT for a summer backyard party or a casual get together. This wine is only about $5.00 a bottle, and perfect to have on hand

This vino definitely MADE THE PIG JUMP OVER THE MOON. Try some for yourself.

2010 Leese - Fitch Cabernet Sauvignon

On Friday after a long week, we have usually have one of two dinners, pizza, always a favorite or steak. Big Daddy has decided that we will have some steak. Not just any steak, he's been to Gelsons and brought home two beautiful T-bone steaks. Big Daddy has announced the menu so that I can choose a wine that will bring splendor to the meal. He will also "whip up" some sauteed  garlic spinach with Pecorino Romano cheese and lemon with baked potatoes with sour cream and chives from the garden.  The salad will be a some fresh tomatoes with red onions and bleu cheese dressing. I use the term "whip up" very tongue in cheek. You see when I am in the kitchen watching him put things together, he makes it look so simple. I'm not kidding. By far, he has a gift for cooking. So when I look for a wine, I want it compliment the meal.

I selected the 2010 Leese - Fitch Cabernet Sauvignon because they make great vino. You know I've been raving about TOG Wines and I'm telling you, they really know their wines. The price points are unbelievably spot on. I think that they have wonderful products and I believe that the wines they are producing are so great in comparison to so many other more expensive brands.

When I opened the bottle, which is done really easily because these guys make the top with  a "ZORK". Not sure what a "ZORK" is, well here is what TOG says: "ZORK is 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."

Back to opening the bottle and pouring the wine,  a really deep purple color, the color against the light is very,very jewel toned. The taste gives you some unbelievable taste of blackberries, ripe blueberries, dark chocolate, and a nutty taste as well. You can also taste currants, ripe blackberries, dark cherry, milk chocolate, espresso,  a slight hint of clove, and vanilla. The finish  lingers with those fruit notes and a satisfying structure that makes you want to taste it again and again! So tasty!

Here are some notes from the winery about how they sourced this vino; We added a good slug of Cabernet from the Northern Interior Valley (a hilly region of the Central Valley just east of Livermore), Lodi, Paso Robles and Clarksburg. These four growing districts gave us very ripe fruit at the end of the 2010 growing season. You can see the ripe blackberry notes from each district. Then you can also see the touches of terrior from each region as well. The Alicante Bouchet, Carignane, and Petite Sirah from Lodi adds a ton of color, old vine character, and texture. The Merlot and Syrah from Paso Robles add fruit and softness to round out the tannins. And finally the Cab Franc from Lake County adds some delicate loamy aromatics and depth in this blend. The sum of the parts is a wonderful glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. 

They also received a Gold Medal at the US National Wine Competition for this wine as well. Not too shabby, I would say.  Wine this good is hard to believe is only priced at about $12.00 per bottle. Yes, that is not an incorrect price I just wrote down.  So for some Cabernet's costing twice or three times the Leese - Fitch you can truly enjoy this one, heck, buy three or four!

Love this wine and will be making sure I have more on hand to have with some pasta in the future!  This one definitely MADE THE PIG JUMP OVER THE MOON!

Try it for yourself and tell me what you think. 

 

2010 Castle Rock Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon

The aroma of fresh pasta sauce is in the air at 336. Well, that and fresh garlic bread in the oven. Big Daddy has also added to his list of skills, cheese making. So with a large pot and separating the curds and whey, just like Little Miss Muffin, fresh mozzarella cheese will also be part of the meal. He made the sauce from scratch as well. Such an industrious and busy guy Big Daddy has been. He always is a great cook and friends are more than happy to come by and have a bite before going out or, especially for dinner. The house is always "the place" to have friends over to. And why not? Great cook, a nice garden to hang out in, most of all, great people to share time with. That's what really makes a home.

So to go with the meat sauce that we'll be having tonight, I choose a Cabernet Sauvignon. Thought it would be a great balance. Castle Rock has been around and this particular one has been awarded the bronze metal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. When I opened the bottle it has a nice aroma black cherry and spice for sure. Pouring it into the glass, it has an intense color, very, very dark violet color and glistens in the glass. Now the taste on your palate is lots of berry and spice, but a long earthy flavor as well. The finish lingers also. Like that spice and tobacco blend. Crisp too. Really a wonderful wine for a deep rich meat sauce. Here are some notes from Castle Rock Winery:

"Our Castle Rock Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from grapes grown in California’s Paso Robles growing region. Here, the Santa Lucia Mountain Range helps to create a climate which provides ideal growing conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, with hot summer days and cool nights. This is a classic, rich Cabernet Sauvignon with a dark purple color and expressive aromas of black cherry and spice. On the palate the wine is intense, luscious and full-bodied with a rich core of berry and earthy flavors, and there are hints of spice and vanilla in its long harmonious finish. It makes an excellent companion to beef, lamb, venison and most cheeses."

Looking forward to trying some of the other varieties they have as well. Seem to have quite a few that have placed in various competitions and extensive write ups in Wine Enthusiast regarding price and value.

This vino is tasty! It definitely MADE THE PIG JUMP OVER THE MOON!  Price wise, this baby is about $12.00!  Great vino for that price!  So give it a try and let me know what you think!

2008 Mohua Pinot Noir

Well, another day, another wine review. First, I have to tell you that I really had no intention of even having a wine last night with dinner. Then, I debated. You see, I am trying to hold myself to having cocktails, spirits or wine Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. Why you ask? Well it seems that after a certain age, and I certainly won't be going into all that, your metabolism slows down a bit more. The challenge and balancing act is, when you live with a cook, a really good cook, you eat! Yes, I know, what a concept, but "Big Daddy" likes to cook. SO there is tasting all the recipes, some made with special things like "Parma butter" or his latest creation, homemade mozzarella cheese! Yes that's right, homemade mozzarella cheese. Don't be too surprised if you read about our new addition of goats to make goat cheese. Never a dull moment. Hence, the reason for cutting back on the alcohol.

So last night "Big Daddy" served up a great meal. Cheeseburgers off the grill, purple cabbage coleslaw and some fresh tomatoes and pickles. So I decided that I would try the 2008 Mohua Pinot Noir that I had recently purchased. I can't really say that I had ever tasted a Pinot Noir from New Zealand, it was however, written about by a few publications and it rated fairly high especially for the price point.

I opened the bottle, which was easy since it has a screw top ( I really love these, say what you want, but SO EASY!) and poured the vino into the glass. The color is rusty, rose color, something different than I'd seen before. The nose full of refreshing fruit. A delicate cherry note, with plum and strawberry, Herbal note, a hint of cocoa and a spicy finish that is long lasting. Big Daddy was in praise of his wine also. I have to say that this was a great accompaniment to the meal we had. Robust and complimentary.

Now this wine has also placed at San Francisco International Wine Competition as well. The winery is part of the Vineyard Brand. Here are some notes from the winery:
"From Central Otago, we bring you the Mohua Pinot Noir, Mohua Pinot Gris and Mohua Riesling. At 45deg South, this is the southernmost grape growing region in the world. This region has rapidly become recognized as one of the world’s premier producers of these three varieties and for very good reasons."

Wine Review Online says: "Youthful so fresh but also not yet evolved, this is a delicious Pinot Noir, praiseworthy especially for its excellent balance and light, lithe character...Its flavors do seem a little simple at present, but I’d be willing to bet that the wine will become more complex and compelling with a year or two of bottle age. If true, it compelling with a year or two of bottle age. If true, it definitely will merit a 90+ score.”
So here's what I know, it was a great Pinot Noir and look forward to tasting some of the other releases they offer. So for about $18.00 this vino makes THE PIG JUMP OVER THE MOON!  Get a bottle or two yourself. You'll be happy you did!

2009 Miramonte Chardonnay

So almost two weeks ago, we celebrated Easter by visiting the local wineries in Temecula. The day started off a bit overcast with the possibility of some rain. We decided to go ahead and make the drive with a very hearty picnic and a positive attitude. 

A bit over an hour later, we arrived to a beautiful day with sun and puffy clouds. One of the standout wines that we tried was a great Chardonnay from Miramonte Winery. But before I get into the review of the wine, I need to to set up the day. We started out having our first tasting and even got my mom to have a taste of " Chocolate Wine". My mom does not drink. In fact, I can remember very,very few instances where she ever drank.  Two drinks I remember from my childhood that she did try, were a "Grasshopper" and a "Pink Lady".  I really can't recall where we were, if I would guess, it sounds like something my grandfather would have made for my mom and grandmother because he would do things like that. I remember they used to have mixes that all you needed to add was the alcohol. He probably bought them because of the name! In the short time I knew him, he gave all of his grand kids what I would call "latitude and indulgence". A great man, a truly hard worker that loved his family. I have so many great memories about him that it makes me smile thinking about them!

Now as we know Big Daddy loves to have a "spread" of food. Easter was no different. We had a great picnic! Fresh baked bread, some roast beef, turkey and ham from the deli. A cheese platter with crackers and an assortment of salads and Italian olives. Let's not forget about some wonderful desserts of mini cheescakes and chocolate mouse that would make your fillings sing!  Such a great meal we were able to enjoy in the heart of the Temecula Wine Country.

We did visit several wineries and one really stood out as far as flavor and price, Miramonte Winery. The Chardonnnay was really a winner here. The aroma is a really fresh, really clean one of pineapple, hint of lemon and fresh green apple. The taste, one word, unbelievable! What "Big Daddy" and I agreed was that while the flavor is very crisp, it has that gentle toasty oak that allows a nice finish.

Here are some notes from the winery: "It has been 60% barrel aged, 40% stainless aged. This wine is a new release. Expect it to further develop, integrate, and reveal its nuanced elegance -- especially in its zesty, lengthy finish. A delicious sipping wine, yet uber flexible and food friendly."

I agree, this vino is "uber flexible and food friendly'! Also, a fantastic buy at $19.95! Become a Wince Club member and the price goes down to $15.95!  WOW!  Now while the wine may only available through the winery itself, I would encourage you to pay them a visit. Once you taste this vino, you'll load up the car with it!  We did!  This vino definitely THE PIG JUMP OVER THE MOON! 

Check out the winery and their fabulous grounds. http://www.miramontewinery.com/winery/