Cesari Amarone

2005
Della Valpolicella
Classico
Veneto, Italy


The week of Thanksgiving was a totally fab wine week. My brother purchased this Amarone in honor of my birthday, along with a bottle of 2003 Pio Cesare Barolo. Here is a terrific case of higher price not being indicative of a great wine. We all agreed the Della Valpolicella was superior to the Barolo. It was $36. The Barolo was $67.

The Amarone was really smooth, with a long finish, herbs and black fruit, and a bit of minerality. A most excellent Italian wine (and now my favorite Italian wine thus far). This wine was delicious on its own, and with my prosciutto and fontina cheese pinwheels.

I highly recommend the Amarone if you are looking for a pricier wine that is worth every penny (sorry for the photo blur factor to the right but I wanted to show the label for anyone interested in purchasing).









The Barolo was good, just not in the same league as the Amarone in spite of its heftier price. It was more dry with less finish time, and less flavor variation.


After dinner at our mother's we came back to my house, opened a bottle of The Chocolate Block, lit a warm fire, and kicked back and watched Bottle Shock (LOVED this movie based on the rise of California wine in the 1970's).





I have to throw in to this blog tonight how incredibly awesome it was to be back in the company of my high school Soul Sister, JAM, and her wonderful, fun sisters with their priceless sense of humor. I haven't laughed so much in quite awhile. You ladies are so much fun to be with. Thank you for always making me feel like part of the family. I've missed you!! Tonight I am happy.


I feel stressed out,
I wanna let it go.
Lets go way out, spaced out
and lose all control.

Fill up my cup,
Mazel Tov!

Black Eyed Peas (This little ditty causes me to spaz out whenever it comes on - I just gotsta MOVE.)

8.75 out of 19
$36 / 750 ml. bottle

Kistler Cuvee Natalie

2007 Pinot Noir
Silver Belt Vineyard
Bottle No. 05109 (12,456 bottles produced)
California

The Dead Arm Shiraz, The Holy Trinity and Kistler's Cuvee Natalie. Those, so far, are my top three wines of my life. :)

I had a wonderful winetasting week last week and have listed my Thanksgiving week wines on the left of this blog which I will be reviewing. However, following the fantastic wines from last week, I opened this. Cuvee Natalie easily moved to the top of the posting list.

Let me tell you, it is recommended to let this age for the next 10 years, and I can't imagine how incredibly awesome it might evolve to as it was beyond pretty darn good right now. The scent is black fruit with warm, slightly sweet baking spice mixed with herbs. The flavor is right on with the scent and is LONG and heated and really SMOOTH with a subtle minerality (it's a bit like ME actually - hah!). A most excellent wine.

This wine was a gift from my Uncle Bob and it was indeed a gift. We loved it SO much that we have savored it. I shared some with my mother when she dropped by last night. I gave her half a glass which she downed in no time, commenting on how delicious it was with each sip. After she finished, she reached over and popped the cork again and said she wanted "just a little bit more". Yes! It is that good. You don't want to take it or leave it. You just want to take it. Yet, you also want to leave it . . . for later. Because you just don't want it to be gone.

Robert Parker gave this a 94-96 rating.


I want a perfect body
I want a perfect soul
I want you to notice when I'm not around

~RADIOHEAD~


9.5 out of 10
14.1% alc. by vol.
:0 $120 - $159/750 ml. bottle :0 (clears throat, not quite budget material)
www.kistlervineyards.com (You can buy it direct from the vineyard for *only* $90)

Stag's Leap ARTEMIS

2006
Cabernet Sauvignon
NAPA

Oh. That's so more like it. I am content. The Bro and I went wine shopping tonight - he did the purchasing and we brought home some good stuff. The Artemis gave off a braised meat-herb sent and tasted like black berry fruit with rosemary mixed in. I loved it. The Bro (I have to find a new handle for him - not only does he hate it, but I do too) wasn't sure at first and thought there wasn't much of a finish. I experienced a subtle, slow to arrive finish that was just fine. The Guy liked the tannins he experienced right off. Once we introduced aged Old Quebec cheddar cheese and La Panzanella Croccantini peppercorm crackers to the wine, we were all pretty happy. Something about the peppercorns brought the wine to a new level. Highly recommend.

This wine on-line is regularly $55, on sale for $47. The Bro and I found it locally at a regular price of $48, on sale for $37. The taste and sale price are well matched. I highly recommend this wine if you can get it for the lower price. I think $55 would be paying too much. $48 would be pushing it.


May no man's touch ever tame you.
May no man's reigns ever chain you,
And may no man's weight
ever lay freight your soul...

And as for the clouds
Just let them roll . . .

Roll away

RAY LaMONTAGNE


8.25 out of 10
$37 / 750 ml. bottle (on Sale)
13.8% alc. by vol.

Morgon Beaujolais

2007
France
Georges Duboeuf (Blah!)

I apologize to any Georges Duboeuf fans out there. But, had I really looked at the label, I wouldn't have purchased it. I have never had a Georges Duboeuf wine I've liked. Once again, the French wines just don't have enough substance to keep me interested. This was weak, watery, uninteresting.That said, I am sure there is a "right" pairing out there somwhere for this Beaujolais, just not my dinner tonight.

I told the guy at the counter I was making grilled crab cakes and tuna. I was looking (as I always am damn it!) for an Albarino (come rescue me SPAIN!!!!!!). THIS was what was recommended. I decided against it, walked around some more. Didn't see ANYTHING interesting and went back to this. I didn't even study the label. I completely trusted the young, eager fellow behind the counter (he looked more like a Budweiser connosieur to me).

I didn't think the Beaujolais would be a good accompaniment to the crab cakes, but I thought there was a chance it would work with the tuna. But the tuna was nice and meaty like a steak would be and I prefer a full-bodied wine with a hearty piece of meat or fish, not something light.
Luckily, I had a Kendall Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay, 2008 on hand. The KJ was excellent with the crab cakes, as I expected. It tasted good with the tuna too, at least much better than the Morgon. But it was still no Albarino. :(

I am putting all my trust and hopes into next week. The Bro and Uncle Bob will hopefully save me. It is Thanksgiving, my favorite time of year and I am just in a complete funk. I am sadly thinking I need to find a non-budget wine to be happy. I know, intellectually, that I don't have to spend a lot to be pleased. But I also know I don't have a lot of time to shop around for a great bargain. I need a pleasant change.

Ironically, as I have not been partaking in any wine, the Morgon actually gave me a slight "buzz" after one half tumbler. Oh!!! I bought The Guy a couple of Reidel Merlot tumblers. I have always loved them. I bought some for The Bro for Christmas a couple of years ago and always wanted some myself. They are just awesome. I love wine glasses and their wonderful stems. But there is also something very beautiful about a well made tumbler too. :)


I toss and turn like the sea
If I drown tonight bring me back to life
Breathe your breath in me

Shinedown





6 out of 10
13% alc. by vol.
$15 / 750 ML bottle

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

2006
La Valentina
Italy

**See update below for additional food pairing**

I was at a restaurant the other night and I had a glass of a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, but not La Valentina. I never did get any further info on it. But it was excellent alone, with calamari and with pizza Caprese. I went to my local wine store this weekend actually looking for a pinot noir to accompany some organic chicken soup I was making a big pot of. I had to walk past the Italian section on my way over to pinot noir. As I walked past I remembered the wine I had and decided to look at the labels, thinking it would be cool if they had a bottle, highly doubting that they would. In fact, they did, only it was the La Valentina versus the other that I can't recall. So I bought it anyway because the other was so good.

This was good. The other was better, but I would buy this one again. I feel like the other was more full. This was more medium bodied, but it was smooth, with black cherry and herb flavors. I made a hearty lean turkey and black bean stew this evening and I added this to it and also had a glass with my meal. They were very good together.

I have found another Italian red that I like very much.

**UPDATE: The Montepulciano was excellent with leftover organic chicken soup.

I go about my business, I'm doing fine
Besides what would I say if I had you on the line
Same old story, not much to say
Hearts are broken, everyday.

Jewel



8.0 out of 10
13.5% alc. by vol.
$14 / 750 ml. bottle

Phantom

2006
Bogle Vineyards
California

A blend of Petite Sirah, Old Vine Zin & Old Vine Mourvedre - I just LOVE saying that word!!! MOURVEDRE (more-vay-drrruh)

Well, the night started off well enough. Halloween. My most not favorite night of the year. I was looking forward to it ending and pouring myself a glass of phantom (something I was hoping to make a Halloween tradition actually).

Each of my children desired to be at someone else's house and I was taxi driver. I eventually got into it though and even dressed up for my little one. We matched. And we stayed together. The first song that came on the radio as I started driving was my old favorite, Donovan's Season of the Witch. And I thought: this is going to be a great night.

I was ending the evening at a party where my oldest daughter was and couldn't wait to get there. However, I was tired and it was pouring and I was the only one dressed up and I was given a glass of Little Penguin Merlot upon my arrival there. Hah! I deserved that. I wrote not that long ago about it being a decent wine for the price. It was the last thing I wanted. I'd brought a Cab with me and didn't know how to tactfully request that it be opened instead! I caught up with some old friends that were unexpectedly there and had a few laughs and then headed home minus my daughter who randomly wanted to go to her friend's house for the night with another friend. I drove home in the pouring rain after getting pelted by acorns and felt the beginning of a bad headache. Damn that Little Penguin! I got home and went to bed, without any desire to visit with the phantom. So much for my "new" tradition.

Finally, the next day, after taking the dog for a workout and raking leaves for a couple of hours, I opened the phantom and watched the sun go down across the field. The scent of the wine had that wonderful "stone" characteristic to it - I've likened it previously to the scent of rocks baking in the sun. And a strong scent of cherry was mixed in.

Initial taste was rather chalky but it opened up to a black pepper creosote followed by a smooth rather quick finish. I liked it, it was better after sitting open for a bit, but I was disappointed as the 2004 was rather awesome two years ago. In case you don't know, Bogle releases the phantom each year around August's end and then it's done until the following year. It always comes out in time for fall, and Halloween appropriately. I totally missed last year's 2005 production and decided to make a point going forward of getting it for Halloween evening. The 2004 had an awesome smoke flavor to it. There was only a hint of that this time around. Still a good wine - it might be better in a few months time. I will now look forward to next year.

Carving the pumpkins.

Preparing the seeds for roasting.

Me and my sunshine.

Oh when I look over my shoulder
What do you think I see?
Some other cat looking over
His shoulder at me
And he's strange, sure he's strange
You've got to pick up every stitch
You've got to pick up every stitch, yeah
Beatniks are out to make it rich
Oh no, must be the season of the witch
Must be the season of the witch, yeah
Must be the season of the witch.

Donovan, Season of the Witch

8.0 out of 10
14.5% alc. by vol.
$19 / 750 ml. bottle

Opolo Merlot Reserve

2006
Paso Robles, CA

The scent of this reminded me very much of Tawny Port meets Kalamata Olive. The taste was like a Robitussin cherry mushroom with a bit of earth mixed in. I do not wish to insinuate that this wine tasted like cough medicine with my reference to Robitussin. As a child, I very much enjoyed the taste of Robitussin and therefore, the slight reminder this wine brought forth was a characteristic I liked.

The finish was dry yet had a smooth, lingering, warm, slight spice flavor. This was very good. It was a nice and welcome change from the usual.

Oh Lover, hold on
'till I come back again
For these arms are growin' tired,
And my tales are wearing thin

If you're patient I will surprise,
When you wake up i'll have come

All the anger will settle down
And we'll go do all the things we should have done

Rachael Yamagata / Duet (with Ray LaMontagne)

8.5 out of 10
Approx. $24 / 750 ml. bottle? (can't buy easily)
14.8% alc. by vol.

St. Francis Chardonnay

2007
Sonoma County
California

I was very happy with this choice to accompany (and use in) an angel hair pasta dish I made last night. I am constantly in search of minerality in my wines. It is one of my absolute favorite characteristics that, when it's there, usually promises me a highly enjoyable glass. This wine did not let me down. A magnificent yellow diamond sparkle in hue, this emitted an awesome fresh flower/strawberry essence when I held it in my mouth. Upon swallowing, it was slightly bitter which worried me in the first millisecond. Then as it went down, a burst of mineral heaven sprang forth and I smiled a très heureux smile and relaxed for awhile.


I seem to be on an emotional roller coaster lately. It's my grandmother's birthday today. She's 92 and alone at her nursing home. I am going to go see her tomorrow. But it's days like this that I long for more time. I wonder if the nurses wished her a happy birthday this morning and if she wondered if she would get any visitors today. She was such a big part of my life and I feel terrible that I haven't been there often enough due to too many other obligations and an hour's drive. She means so much to me and I know we have limited time left. We are very similar as she raised 3 children and made family the most important part of her life. She knew what was most important was raising her children in a loving and safe home. She taught me that other things could wait until their due time, but children are here but for a short while. Yet a part of her always felt like she was inferior and longed to be more . . . shiny. I too struggle along that line, knowing what's right, but sometimes wishing for just a bit more, wondering if this is where I am supposed to be. Nothing a little dark chocolate can't snap me out of. I am baking Devil's Food cupcakes right now to bring to her and hope that our visit will stay in her mind awhile. (Hah!!! I was just listening to Chris Martin of Coldplay after a live version of "In My Place" and, after thanking fans for sticking with them through thick and thin, he said - no joke - "Eat More Chocolate" YES!!!!!)

I go from thinking of my life growing up and visiting with my grandparents in their sunny, happy home which always smelled of some delicious meal cooking, to seeing my grandmother now in the end stages of life, to watching my own children grow up before my eyes and wondering exactly where I myself am headed.

I listened to my oldest daughter sing behind closed doors and cried. Her voice is awesome. She was trying out for Glee Club and was a nervous wreck. She's never sung before and was going to be judged on stage in front of others. She refused to practice in front of me. She toyed with singing one of her favorite harder edged rock songs, but decided on one of my favorites, a more recent pop song: Anna Nalick's 2 AM. I came up the stairs and heard her practicing. I stood outside in the hall and was overcome with listening to my first child singing like a young woman. And doing something I was always too shy to pursue. I just stood there and quietly sobbed!! It was an awesome feeling though. I was, once again, in awe of her.

I am really missing my children being little and am yearning for a little one SO badly. I wish I was in a better position to adopt. I am often overcome with the feeling lately, especially as my own grow older. There are SO many children out there in need of a good home, it slays me. I truly believe that children are divinely bestowed upon us and entrusted to our care. The every day headlines bring word of one atrocity being committed against a child after another. It is beyond heartbreaking.

My youngest has a cheery, sunny room and an extra bed. And my children all tell me that they always feel like there's someone missing at the dinner table. Of course, we have 6 chairs and there are only 5 of us, so I am sure that plays a part. But sometimes I am flooded with the same sensation and feel the only way I can "fix" it is to bring some less fortunate child into my home. I believe that whatever was meant to be, will be. And I trust that if it was meant to be, I will some day be in a position to give another child a chance at a better, more love- filled life. And, maybe by then, I'll be exactly where I was always meant to be.



I have an eclectic repertoire of music always churning in my head, on a daily basis. I've come to rely on the dimension music adds to my life, almost as much as that of wine. And I enjoy the two together. My favorites run the gamut of Radiohead to Sam Cooke. Today, it's Sam Cooke who's in my head:

There been times when I thought I couldn't last for long
but now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
but I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

~Sam Cooke~

8.25 out of 10
$12 / 750 ml. bottle

ZIN91

2006

Old Vine Zinfandel

California

This was just OK. Had a bit of a bitter taste that I couldn't get past. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't great. Mostly plum and slight cherry flavors with a bit of black pepper mixed in.

I'm stepping back in time tonight to remember my good old best friend John B. from college. A boy I was very fond of, but just not fond enough to make it work. (Harry was right in When Harry Met Sally - sometimes guys and girls just can't be friends without it having to go somewhere else, which then either ruins the friendship, or maybe, just maybe was the right thing after all.) Anyway, he was my best bud for awhile there (we're talking a couple of years), until we made out on my birthday and I felt like I was kissing my brother and pushed him away and he left all mad and pretty much didn't want to ever talk to me again. :(

A favorite song of his was running through my mind tonight and made me think of him:

Might as well go for a soda, nobody hurts and nobody cries
Might as well go for a soda, nobody drowns and nobody dies. . .
It's better than slander

The Kim Mitchell Band

$15 / 750 ml. bottle
7.5 out of 10
14% alc. by vol.

Chateau Leoville Poyferré

1996
French Red
Apellation Saint Julien


LOVED this wine - NOT budget material. I looked it up and found case pricing to be (on average) $1,600.


We went to my cousin's pre-wedding party this weekend and had a really nice time at a beautiful home filled with nice, good people, delicious food, and . . . my uncle and his wine.

We had an intriguing 1999 German white (Alsace Pinot Blanc Vielles Vignes Zind-Humbrecht), the Poyferré, and champagne. The Pinot Blanc was delicious with Mozarella, tomato and olive appetizers and prosciutto wrapped melon, and, I'm told, is perfectly matched with bacon wrapped scallops. The Poyferré I loved on its own. It was fine with my meal (salmon) and The Guy's beef filet.



My dear Uncle means the world to me. He and my aunt are kind, gracious, intelligent, giving people and fabulous parents to their two great, now-adult kids. I don't believe they have any idea how much they are an inspiration to me and how much I admire them as parents. But, together, they have become an important part of my life.

(Once I downloaded this photo I so thought was going to be great, I realized it was, sadly, blurry - especially the hand holding the wine. Then I thought about it and laughed because I realized no wine shall stay still in my uncle's hands.)


This wine was very good. I would have enjoyed having much more than I allowed myself to. Deep in color, it's flavor was heady earthiness with wood, a hint of tobacco and a velvet finish.



It even tasted good with the cupcakes from Two Little Red Hens.


So how do I do normal?
A smile I fake
the permanent wave of
cue-cards and fix-it kits
Can't you tell?
I'm not myself

I'm a slow motion accident
Lost in coffee rings and fingerprints
I don't wanna feel anything but I do

Frou Frou ("Hear Me Out")

8.50 out of 10
About $133 / 750 ml. bottle

Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir

Vintner's Reserve
California
2006

Will drink again for sure.

I am not a big pinot noir fan except for but a few I've had in the past with the right food. The Kendall-Jackson had more body than most and had me swooning when I least expected it. It packed a black cherry punch with ever so slight vanilla notes that I enjoyed. It took on a more brazen pepper flavor when introduced to our dinner: mushroom crostini. I recommend this pairing for anyone looking for a light supper and an enjoyable wine experience.

The following recipe I got from my desk calendar at work, which is of course wine-related, written by Karen McNeil (author of the Wine Bible). Karen recommends a pinot noir accompaniment to the dish.


Mushroom Crostini Recipe:

-4 c coarsely chopped mixed-variety mushrooms (chantrelles, porcini, shitake & oyster are the recommended mixture - I used baby portabella, shitake & oyster)
-2 sprigs of fresh thyme (this I have plenty of in my little kitchen garden and was so happy to make use of in such a delicious way)
-4 T Olive Oil
- 1/2 t ++ Salt
-(1) baguette, thinly sliced on an angle
-Freshly grated Parmesan Cheese

Cook the mushrooms in covered skillet over med-low heat with thyme, 1/2 t salt, and olive oil until the mushrooms give up their liquid and then reabsorb it. Uncover the skillet, increase heat to med-high, and saute the mushrooms until lightly browned. Season with more salt to taste and set aside.

Drizzle the baguette slices with olive oil and toss. Then place in a single layer on a baking sheet at the oven's lowest setting until they're crisp.

Top the crostini with the mushroom mixture, sprinkle with Parmesan on top, and place under the broiler briefly to just brown the cheese gently. Serve immediately with a glass of pinot noir. (I recommend the Kendall-Jackson.)





"And it's not California here"
Hem
Not California


8.0 out of 10
13.5% alc. by vol.
$17 / 750 ml. bottle

Mirassou Riesling

Monterey County
California
2006

Floral and citrus notes, pleasing finish. Really good buy for the cost.

This was very good with chicken, wheat crackers and cheddar cheese, and, especially, a dish I can't remember and I'm disappointed in myself for taking so long to post that I forgot what it was good with! But, I believe it was a creamy poultry dish.

Update: I remembered what dish it was that accompanied the Mirassou so well - It was zucchini fritters.











8.0 out of 10
$9/750 ml. bottle
12.5% alc. by vol.

"Oh, kiss me
Flick your cigarette, then kiss me"

No You Girls
Franz Ferdinand
(This song is just awesome. I like to turn it up loud.)