Kistler Durell Vineyard Chardonnay

2006
Sonoma Coast
No. 09774

So - I'm at it again. It is not another "budget" wine being reviewed here. It is another pick from my late Uncle's cellar. This one I brought home for my dear friend & walking partner ("M") who is a Chardonnay Freak like me. :)

Kistler is never a disappointment, but what is so interesting about this particular bottle (& indeed it is a particular bottle, as it is numbered) is that it's drinkability supposedly expired in 2013. I am very happy to report that it's flavor continues to be absolutely full-bodied-delicious with butter & toast nuances mingled with lemon & beautiful minerality - my favorite attribute.

M always puts out an AMAZING spread in seconds flat & this night was no exception. My personal opinion is that she should be a chef instead of a Real Estate mogul. LOL. She presents delicious & colorful presentations - very creative & tasty. She was concerned about what we should have to accompany our Kistler, & yet, as I told her, Kistler just IS. It is amazing on its own & can be even more enjoyable with food. And it was. Especially with the thyme chevre she served. It alone was the perfect accompaniment.

Spent the day today with one of my two art student college children. One of her charcoal portraits was chosen to hang in the campus Art Gallery. She happened to mention it to me only in passing as we returned from getting some groceries. She is so silly. She just doesn't understand how very proud I am of her & how I love to see her work, though I do tell her often. I try to tell all three of my children how much their hard work & determination mean to me. We do seem to get a lot of flack about our older two children being in Art schools & it really gets very tiring. I want them to choose paths that give them joy & allow them to express themselves creatively. I think that being able to express one's creativity is the ultimate  key to open doors, even if the majority of the world doesn't agree. I know only too well how the rest of one's abilities suffer, falter & can ultimately extinguish altogether if the creative fire within is not allowed to flourish.

The stones from my enemies
These wounds will mend
But I cannot survive
The roses from my friends

When the last word has been spoken
And we've bared witness to the final setting sun
All that shall remain is a token
Of what we've said and done

Roses from My Friend
--Ben Harper
(Just an aside, I am in love with Ben Harper)

BTW - If you're looking for one heck of a Book Ride, read Paul Hawkins "The Girl on the Train". I took it out of the library Friday night after work & I finished it in 24 hours. COULD NOT put it down!

$80 - $107/750 ml. bottle with $92 being the average current going rate if you can find it
9.5 out of 10
14.1% alc. by vol.

Markham Merlot

2006
NAPA Valley (St. Helena, CA)




Epiphany: I thoroughly enjoy talking about wine with others.

Well - here I am on a Wednesday, drinking a not-so-everyday wine (for us anyway), eating a not-so-everyday meal. That is what life is like when you have THREE daughters (two who are in high school). You realize you need your weekend "vacation" to come mid-week sometimes.

This is a 2006. The last Markham was 2007. Believe it or not, the 2007 is more expensive and is given a higher rating than the 2006. When I consult my Kevin Zraly Windows on the World book I see that he has an asterisk by the 2007 which denotes it is an especially good year for California Merlot. I think of my brother with happiness as I slurp the wine into my mouth, forming a whistle with my lips, aerating it, and then close my mouth and breathe out through my nose, allowing the flavor and scent to consume my olfactory lobes. My poor brother endured much laughter by the Guy and I for his very serious wine tasting slurp in the past. Now I find it most useful. Screw how silly I may look and sound! My personal reflections are that this wine is JUST AS GOOD as the 2007. Big cherry flavor, heat, slight vanilla, spicy pepper, some herbal notes and a really nice warm finish.

I owe tonight's meal and wine enjoyment to three key people: first, my friend John B. who provided the wine (and his very generous wife who shared yet another bottle from her favorite vineyard because, though she likes it a lot, she and John really prefer beer - lucky me), and second, my Brazilian friend and co-worker RS who tells me every bad day I have to pick my chin up and go home and create a tasty meal and enjoy a glass of good wine and "forget about what's troubling you", and last but not least, my dear brother.

My buttons are constantly being pushed, and the waters always tested by my eldest lately (whom I LOVE with all my heart and soul BTW!!!!) and today was no exception. I ran into my dear Brazilian friend in the hall at work who struck up our normal type conversation and reminder after seeing I was troubled. He, like me, has surrounded his work area with pictures of food and wine - his, very Mediterranean (he has one dreamy pic in particular that I like to visit of an elongated table loaded with fresh seafood and wine, situated outside on a rocky ledge overlooking the Mediterranean), and mine with my own pics from my dining room (ah - no comparison there!). I asked him what his favorite meal was and what his favorite wine was. He told me he just loves a great big steak with shrimp or fish on the side and a nice Pinot Noir. I was surprised that Pinot Noir was his preference. He said that he used to prefer Cabernet Sauvignon but doesn't like the higher sugar content? I haven't looked into that. However, Pinot is his preference. He put the "steak" in my head.

As I drove home I thought about dinner, and how I had nothing great to serve. I started thinking about my earlier conversation and decided on steak, which we rarely have. That made me think about my other Markham Merlot at home from my friend John, but I put it out of my head because I decided I was formulating a "weekend" meal, not a busy, weeknight dish. Regardless, I needed to stop at the market to get whatever I was making. As I sat in the parking lot trying to figure out what I was going to do for sure, my dear brother sent me a text thanking me for his Christmas gift. I had given him a bottle of Kistler Pinot Noir that our FANTASTIC uncle had bestowed upon me. He decided to open it tonight with an aged cheddar he had. He wrote that he was thoroughly happy and that the wine was awesome, and that he was cooking a special, rocking chicken dish while eating the cheese and drinking the wine. THEN he decided he would like to try the wine with chocolate. But the only chocolate he had was dark m & m's he'd received for Christmas, and he added a "LOL" as he knew he was drinking a special wine and considering what m & m's might add or delete from it! I thought at that moment how much I enjoy hearing about others' wine experiences. :) It makes me happy. I also thought: Well, dammit! I am buying a grass-fed piece of juicy beef and some Shitakes and opening John B.'s Merlot!!!!!!! Yay! I decided. Life is good. I know and I am grateful for this day and what I have that makes it even better.

Here is a very sad reality. Check out the picture below. Do you see how much (or how LITTLE) wine is in the glass? THAT is all a woman is allowed to have per day without risking her health!!!!! Men, on the other hand, can enjoy two full glasses of wine. Women are allowed one 4 ounce glass of wine per evening for heart health, more than that is detrimental to the breasts and blood pressure. Well, I have risked my health this evening. My blood pressure must be way up and God only knows what's happening to my breasts. The Markham was worth it.


Once in a while we might pass on the street
We nod and we smile and we shuffle our feet
Making small talk standing face to face
Hands in our pockets 'cause we feel so out of place

Our paths may cross again in some crowded bar
We feel a little lost 'cause we've drifted away so far
Hoping to find the right words to say
We joke a little and then go on our way

We are so out of touch, yeah
We are so out of touch, yeah

--Lucinda Williams, Out of Touch--

8.25 out of 10
13.8% Alc. by Vol.
$15 - $20 / 750 ml. bottle

Bear Boat Pinot Noir

2006
Russian River Valley
Arroyo Grande, CA

First, before I post, I just have to say how sad I am at the shootings in Tucson, Arizona. As the mother of a 9-year old girl, I am especially devastated at the death of 9-year old Christina Taylor Green. Christina was involved in her school's student council and was at the grocery store to meet Representative Gabby Gifford because she was interested in learning more about politics. Christina was born on 9-11-01 and was considered to be a "child of hope". I sit here and ponder deeply at the irony.

Christmas Day dinner was accompanied by Bear Boat. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Another Pinot Noir breakthrough. It was red and black berries meet herbs and a bit of spicy black pepper on the finish. Very good.

I sit immersed in Mel Torme singing "The Christmas Song" on my Pandora with my cranberry votives glowing and feeling melancholy for my favorite time of year which comes only once a year and fills me with joy and anticipation and then leaves me lonely and sad and nostalgic EVERY time. So I continue the carols, and let the Christmas decorations linger and continue baking and reflecting. My children and husband don't mind and reinforce my behavior because when I suggest taking the tree down I am met with fierce objection. I smile to myself and feel I am keeping a wonderful secret as all my neighbors, and even my retro town's Main Street, remove all traces of December 25th.

A few days ago I drove home from work the long way. I went through a quaint little town that gets a bad rap (unfairly) for being filled with inbred dingbats. Their town green was illuminated with at least (20) gorgeous evergreens lining both streets, each filled with the old-fashioned large colored bulbs. All streets were lined with old fashioned lanterns, each adorned with simple but elegant wreaths hanging under look-alike gas lit lamps. Tears came to my eyes and I felt like I was in a Norman Rockwell setting. It was awesome. That same night (mind you this is way past Christmas now) my friend gave me a boxwood wreath she'd made because she knew I admired hers.

And so the Christmas spirit and feeling lingers on in my life and I am thankful for it, even if it is a bit melancholy.



I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said:
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"

--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow--











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

Clos Du Bois Merlot

2006
North Coast
California

It's been awhile. This wasn't my first choice for a review following such a long absence. However, it is what it is. For the price, I expected more. It's a good wine, just didn't knock my socks off. Not a lot of big flavor. Smooth with some subtle berry and oak, but not enough wham to catch my attention. About the same with food. However, I didn't have it with red meat as suggested. I had it with grilled chicken. The Guy really liked it. A lot more than I did.

I am forever looking for a repeat of the year 1993 and it just never happens. Interestingly metaphoric.


Oh the rain is falling (blow blow down)
And the wild wind roars (blow blow down)
It'll shake your windows (blow blow down)
And rattle your doors (blow blow down)
Ah blow down this house of cards
Blow down this house of cards

(Written by Richard Thompson, sung by Robert Plant and Patty Griffin)


7.5 out of 10
$18 / 750 ml. bottle
13.5% alc. by vol

Cakebread Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

2006
Dancing Bear Ranch
Howell Mountain
NAPA Valley, CA

79% Cabernet Sauvignon
4% Cabernet Franc
17% Merlot

The first 3 words to come to mind upon first sip: "Oh My God". The next 3 words that followed: "Yes! Yes! Yes!" This wine blew the sandals right off my feet and into LI Sound. I have not had a wine that tasted SO good in SO long. The flavor was AMAZING. The finish was SILKY. The scent prior to tasting was buttery lobster. I don't like lobster. But I used to. The scent of of this wine was how lobster tasted to me at the height of my actually really liking lobster. The flavor was super dark fruit with herbs and oak and a bit of wonderful minerality. The flavor just lasted and lasted. It has a fairly high alcohol content - but I never even knew it - it was so incredibly smooth.

What was amazing to me was it tasted just as phenomenal with food as it was on its own. And we had food that was more conducive to white wine. I actually was drinking a Pinot Grigio prior to this wine being introduced. I made chicken sauteed in olive oil, garlic and basil. I made a brown rice dish with spices. We had regular summer salad with cukes and tomatoes. ANY of which I was sure would ruin the flavor of the wine for me. NONE of it did. This wine just stood right up and dominated!! It MADE me come home tonight and finally post something again. I am its slave.


9.5 out of 10
14.8% alc. by vol.
$100 / 750 ml. bottle

ETIM Seleccion

2006
Spain

I really enjoyed this wine. Tremendously. Our friends gave it to us to try. They thoroughly enjoyed their first experience with this wine, but not their next one. They thought their first experience involved food and their second one didn't. But they really couldn't recall. And they weren't sure if they had two different vintages - what a difference a year can make :)

They found the wine "dry". And I agree. It is dry. But there was a LOT of wonderful flavor there. And a lingering finish that I just loved. Dark berry, slight smoke, slight earth, and mushrooms. It especially tasted well with our meal. I tried to make a "Spanish" oriented meal and made spinach with roasted pignolia nuts, Spanish olive oil, and garlic. I marinated shrimp in olive oil and garlic and grilled it. And we had the wine with it. It was all very good and I was happy.


"Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more."
- Proverbs 31:6-7:

For those of you who prefer a rating from a higher authority: Robert Parker gave this wine 91 pts.

8.25 out of 10
$14/750 ml. bottle
14% alc. by vol.
www.etim.es

Columbia Cabernet Sauvignon

2006
Columbia Valley
Washington State

This vintage actually got some good reviews. For me, it was OK. A little "grape-y" at first taste. The scent was of dark berries and green olives. It was recommended to serve with red meat, especially steak. I don't do that. I actually had it with rice pasta, white beans, roasted asparagus and roasted sweet onion, mixed with olive oil and balsamic and it tasted better than on its own. This is one of those freaky things where it did seem to improve with being exposed to air for an hour. And it seemed to be a good match with the balsamic. The taste was very Spanish olive like. It tasted quite better on its own the next night - smokey. Tonight. I am tempted to change my rating below, but I won't.

Which brings me to a discussion I previously had recently with a friend with regard to decanting. He believes, and was told, that decanting a young wine is necessary. I was always under the impression that you did not need to decant young wines. But older wines, especially ports, should be decanted to separate out the sediment mostly. The idea of airing a young wine didn't seem necessary. But I have to say I've recently found a few younger wines seemed to taste better upon opening up for a bit. I loved the fact that some of their scents filled the room and made my mouth water.

I consulted my Kevin Zraly book to find that he feels there is NO difference whether a young wine is decanted or not. Old wines should only be decanted to separate sediment. However, if you've got a pricey old wine, DO NOT decant for any more than 15 minutes as you may actually miss the best moments of tasting for that particular wine. The longer it sits, the more its taste evaporates. He does state that he's had a few students swear to him that they notice a younger wine tasting better upon decanting for an hour. So, his suggestion is to decant for an hour if you wish, though he doesn't feel it's necessary. At best, it will fill the room with the wine's aroma for the arrival of any guests for the evening. If you have an old wine, with possible sediment, let it sit for 10 minutes, light a candle, and hold the bottle and decanter up to the candle and pour slowly, watching for any sediment arriving at the bottle neck. Then put it down again and let rest for 5 more minutes to let remaining sediment settle again, and do again.

--Men are like wine, some turn to vinegar - the best improve with age.--
Pope John XXIII (was this Pope fond of wine, or fond of men???????? Regardless, I find this statement to be fantastically true)

7.75 out of 10
$12 / 750 ml. bottle
13.5% acl. by vol.

The Reunion

2006
Mourvedre, Shiraz & Grenache Blend
Rutherglen, Victoria
Australia





Hints of cherry, herb, and vanilla encompass this Australian blend. Although good on its own, it moves up a few notches when paired with aged Gouda. It especially tasted fantastic with gemelli pasta, vegetable tapenade, and shredded Gouda.




Twisted words
Falsified assumptions
A master retreat

Silence
Mind games
A cracked heart

A friendship severed and bleeding out

8.0 out of 10 (8.5 out of 10 with the Oakvale Aged Gouda cheese pairing)
14.5% alc. by vol.
$20 / 750 ml. bottle

Tobin James Syrah

2006
Blue Moon Reserve
Paso Robles, CA




I'm sorry for apologizing yet again for another non-budget wine. I LOVED this wine. But I don't think I would pay the $150 price tag for it on my own. It was oh so fantastically SMOKEY. NICE distinctive flavor and finish. Great with dark chocolate.

I am on an elimination diet and have done well until tonight. My doc told me I could afford one or two nights during my (30) days to go slightly astray. Tonight was the night. But I've had too much. This has been a totally tough week for me. I immersed myself in old movies and LOVED "Night and Day" (the Cole Porter story) with Cary Grant. It helps (sometimes) to go back to a simpler time of romance and life.

Anyway, we had some good wine and food pairings tonight with some friends. And, when I shouldn't have had anymore, the Tobin James Blue Moon Reserve was opened up and I enjoyed it immensely. I would have enojoyed more but my little one (who was at a sleepover) got homesick and needed to be picked up.

This is a distinctive, delicious wine if you've got $ to blow. Mussels are the recommended accompaniment for this wine. I've got a great Gourmet magazine recipe that includes garlic, organic chicken broth, white wine and chicken flavored stuffing mix and fresh parsley that might be awesome with this wine (maybe just replace the recipe's white wine with the red).

Defense is paper thin
Just one touch and I'll be in
Too deep now to ever swim against the current

So let me slip away, so let me slip away
So let me slip away, let me slip against the current
so let me slip away, so let me slip away
so let me slip away, so let me slip away

Vindicated, I am selfish, I am wrong, I am right
I swear I'm right, swearI knew it all along
And I am flawed, but I am cleaning up so well

--Dashboard Confessionals--

$150 / 750 ml. bottle
8.75 out of 10
15.8% alc. by vol.

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.

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.

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.

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.)

Smoking Loon Chardonnay

2006
California


This is not a great wine. However, it's enjoyable and rather versatile and . . . cheap. Obviously, if you have guests you are trying to impress that also happen to be connosieurs, it won't be the night's best pick. But, if you're hanging with your best buds, laughing and relaxing and eating non-pretentious, good old soul food, "Smoking Loon" will advance the night just fine.

I have reviewed "Smoking Loon" Cab I believe in the past (or perhaps it was the Merlot). Anyway, whether the red or the white, this is a good basic wine for a casual gathering.

If you make my little pasta salad above (your favorite pasta type, fresh basil to taste, roasted pignolia nuts, grape tomatoes, black olives, cubed fresh mozzarella and drizzled olive oil and fresh lemon to taste with crushed black and red pepper) and partake in this Charonnay well-chilled, you will not be disappointed. The flavors marry each other in your mouth and the honeymoon
goes off without a hitch.

Reviewed accompanying my pasta salad:

8.0 out of 10
13.5% alc. by vol.
$9.99 / 750 ml. bottle
www.smokingloon.com


NOTE TO the Guy: My Cuervo Gold strawberry margheritas are not fruit smoothies. It is unwise to come in from a hot muggy day, grasp the brilliantly presented margherita and drink it down in 3 chugs (tops) as if it was a gallon of iced tea and then go to the computer and type your reports. It is to be sipped and savored over a course of at least twenty minutes.

Foxen Cuvee

2006
Cuvee Jeanne Marie
Williamson-Dore Vineyard
Santa Ynez Valley, CA

I SO LOVED THIS WINE!!!!!!!! An awesome blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 15% Mourvedre, this was, by far, my favorite wine of many this Easter. As a matter of fact, so far, in 2009, this IS my favorite wine of the year. It will definitely be on my 2009 top list at the end of the year. This was so good I had to skip all the other wines I've tried this last week and just get this posted.

Foxen tasted fantastic on its own, and with our Easter meal. My brother and I were uncertain as to what wine we should have with our mom's herb-roasted pork roast. We had a French syrah, an Italian red and this Cuvee left to bring. We brought the Cuvee and had the French with appetizers (which BTW was good - later review).

Upon first mouth full, I exclaimed that it was surprisingly "sweet". After a few minutes I was able to isolate that sweetness as more of a spicy CLOVE. Awesome. It was slightly smokey, baking spice sweet, and very smooth. I so want a case!! But this was my brother's budget, not mine! It's not cheap. I definitely hope to buy some before the end of this year. HIGHLY recommend it!! It was full-bodied and I think would accompany red meats or "out-of-the-ordinary" meats well. Probably would be awesome with grilled red meat.

You will notice below the higher than usual alcohol content - I would have never known it. My brother and I were amazed that we weren't snockered. It was oh so smooth and tasty.

9.0 out of 10
$37 / 750 ml bottle
15.7% alc. by vol.

La Massa Toscana

2006
Red Tuscan
Italy

Full-bodied, dry, with dark cherry, oak and herb flavors and a nice finish.

My brother is home - YAY! Life is good. He brought (8) wonderful reds to try: (4) Italian, (2) French, (2) Californian. We tried (1) bottle of the La Massa Toscana last night, but we didn't have it with the right meal (we had a honey baked ham and sweet potatoes - a bottle of Mom's Red Diamond Cab however, accompanied the ham surprisingly well). I am holding off on giving the Toscana a proper review until this evening. It's home-made pizza night and I've got some wonderful crushed tomatoes and freeze-dried oregano that I'm going to "sauce up". I've got the first batch of dough in process. We're going to make FOUR apizzas and taste test the Toscana again, plus we are decanting a Monsanto Chianti Classico.

Right now we are off for a STEEP hike in the rain - got to work up our appetites - for food, wine and a warm fire! :)

Update:
The Toscana was good, but not a great accompaniment to plain cheese pizza. It went much better with our "adult" pizza of fresh mozzarella, sauteed mushrooms and red pepper, and grilled Italian red and green pepper chicken sausage. It was also good all on its own.

I actually enjoyed the Montsano Chianti Classico ( separate review) much more with the pizza, and also with aged Quebec cheddar and Kashi whole grain crackers.

Wine Spectator rating of 93

8.0 out of 10
$24 / 750 ml. bottle
14% alc. by vol.

Newman's Own Cabernet Sauvignon

2006
NAPA, CA

Might drink again, but would probably not seek it out.

My boss gave me a bottle of this to try. Although I've been curious to try it for awhile, I wasn't in a big hurry. But it was handed to me so I figured I'd give it a shot.

I have loved Paul Newman from the day I watched him in "Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid". I was pretty young then, but he had an effect on me. I have enjoyed many of his products and am in awe of the money his line has earned for charity over the years. I cried the day he died because he was just one of the few actors who managed to stay classy (and still very sexy) and devoted to his wife and family. He never gave in to the "Hollywood" way of life. He stayed true to himself, and kept his privacy. So, I hate to say anything even slightly negative about his label.

However, the wine was OK. A bit on the "grapey" side, it had an ever so slight hint of woodsey vanilla (something I usually do like), but just not enough to carry it. It completely disappeared into what I thought to be a weak, watery "finish". But, I must say, I did like it better the next day - it took on a licorice and Kalamata Olive taste, and seemed to have a bit of that flavor lingering for a brief finish.

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