A Nice One From the Land Down Under

Hey Fellow Winos!

I opened up a bottle of Shiraz last night and to my excitement... it was a tasty little number. Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz 2005. This wine has ripe plum flavors with spice and balanced by tannins that make it a nice accompaniment with food. At $9.99 buy as much as you can carry!

The one thing that it prompted me to think about is the different terminology that is used for the same grapes, depending on where they are grown.

Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape, just different terms for them. In a nut shell it goes like this. Syrah is the old-world name, and it's used when referring to wines from France's Rhone Valley. Any winemaker/winery that makes wine in that manner from California will also call it Syrah. Shiraz is the "new-world" name, and it's used by winemakers/wineries making wine in the modern style, like Australia.

Another example that comes to mind is Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris. Same grape different names depending on whom is producing it and where. Pinot Grigio from Italy and California... Pinot Gris from France and Oregon. (Of course other countries and producers use both terms but these are the primary examples)

Pinot Noir and Pinotage. Although these are not the same grapes exactly, both wines are very close! Pinot Noirfrom France, California and Oregon while Pinotage from South Africa. Pinotage is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault. Pinotage is a grape variety that was created in South Africa in 1925 at Stellenbosch University.

Zinfandel and Primitivo. Zinfandel from California and Primitivo from Italy. (Roots of this grape take us all the way back to Croatia)

I thought this would clear up some of the confusion you my encounter on your wine travels and conversations.

Cheers!

J

Two Worthy of Drinking

Hello Fellow Winos!

What does wine mean to you? I was thinking about this the other day and thought it worthy of a paragraph or two, certainly with the holidays just around the corner! (They will be here before we know it)

Wine is part of the universal language, the language of sharing, drop all the crap and share with someone, leave the baggage at the door, chill out, however you want to say it! I have been at many a table where I did not understand the language that was spoken but everyone at the table understood the sharing of a bottle of wine!

Think about all the times you have shared a glass of wine (or bottle) with your friends and family! What is more important than family? I can't think of anything... can you? You sometimes share wine to celebrate, sometimes to commiserate, sometimes in sorrow, but the point is you sit and tip a glass with someone you care about!

Laughing is good for the soul, in any language, laughing is universal. The next time you open up that bottle to share with a loved one... just relax and laugh with each other!

Now down to the nuts & bolts! Two worth drinking!

Castle Rock Pinot Noir, Mendocino County 2007. This will not be the best Pinot Noir you have ever drunk but for the money ($9.99 at Wine Discount Center) I don't think you will find a better one! Since the movie Sideways hit the big screen you can't touch Pinot Noir juice for less than $20! You will find aromas of violets and rose petals with strawberry and raspberry nuances through the finish.

Milton Park Shiraz 2006, South Australia. (In some cases you will find the 2007 vintage) At $7.99 jump on this like a jack rabbit! Dark plum fruit with tannins on the finish that will keep you honest! This is not as powerful as many Shiraz's from Australia but is certainly worth a case or two!

Cheers!

J

Boxed Wine

Hello Winos!

Before I even get started here today, allow me to apologize! I am about to write about boxed wine and I know what you are thinking... I am apologizing for whats in the box. But I am not, I am apologizing for the fact that boxed wine takes all the romance out of presenting, opening, serving and pouring the wine!

But in today's economy everyone is looking for a bargain, value and spending less without giving up quality, so there goes the romance! (make the romance with your baby) There are a few good options in this category that will surprise and delight you!

I think the best red is Black Box Cabernet Paso Robles 2006, about $20 for a 3 liter cube. (4 750 bottles) Do the math... $5 a bottle!

Another quality red is Bota Box Cabernet California 2007, about $19 for a 3 liter cube. (we apparently don't call them a box anymore... it is a cube!)

My favorite white was a Wine Cube Chardonnay California 2007, $17 for a 3 liter cube. This is a wine made from Trinchero Estates (great reputation winery from Napa) in collaboration with Target stores and only available at their stores. They also make a Wine Cube Cabernet-Shiraz California 2007 but I didn't think it was as good as their white or as good as the other reds I spoke of in this article.

Another white I recommend is the Blackbox Chardonnay Monterey County 2008, $25 for 3 liters. A nice rounded wine with plenty of acidity to stand up to food.

Wine Cube Sauvignon Blanc California 2007, $17 for the 3 liter cube is a nice alternative to Chardonnay and I think better with food.

You will find these wines at most any wine store (with the exception of Wine Cube which is only available at Target) Jewel Food Stores, Dominick's Food Stores and many neighborhood liquor stores.

I would keep the red in the refrigerator as well as the white wines to keep them as fresh as possible. When you want a glass of red, pour it and let it sit a bit to warm up. These wine cubes will keep your wine drinkable for 3-4 weeks after opening. (the label says it will keep for 6 weeks but I found that the wine lost its luster after 3-4 weeks)

So... your next party, the next time you feel like a little wine (which in my case is pretty much 24/7) open up your refrigerator and squeeze the little toggle and pour yourself and your cutie a little glass of value!

Cheers!

J

Another Argentina Beauty

Hey Winos!

First of all I need to correct an error in yesterday's post. The average cost of an acre in Napa is $190k, not $1900! Sorry about that!

Another little gem from Argentina, this time Astica (which means flower) Malbec. This wine is deep violet in color with slightly sweet fruit up front. (when you first put in your mouth) At $6.99 a bottle at Binny's or Wine Discount Center, you should get all over this!

Malbec is the flagship red varietal from Argentina. Italy has the sangiovese grape, Argentina has this one. For many years a good many of the producers were sending their wine to the US with Merlot on the label. They thought they were growing Merlot! Then the French showed up to buy some land (Rothschlid) and the proud grape grower showed him a vineyard planted with what he thought was Merlot... and Rothschild stated to him that it was in fact Malbec! Funny thing happened after that... their sales went in the toilet! The Americans did not know what a Malbec was so they didn't buy it!

Of course many years later and we Americans know what Malbec is... a great wine for a great price!

Cheers!

J

Fun Wine Facts

Hey Out There!

I thought it might be fun to write about some fun trivia and facts about the nectar of the Gods, or more commonly known as wine.

A. The Mesopotamins reportedly made wine 6000B.C. (that is crazy)

B. It takes approximately 2 1/2 pounds of grapes to make a bottle of wine.

C. There are about 85 calories in a glass of red wine. (that is why I work out so hard)

D. California produces over 17 million gallons of wine a year. (how much do you drink of this mass amount?)

E. 1 acre produces around 800 gallons of wine.

F. There are 60 gallons of wine in a barrel.

G. A French oak barrel costs upwards of $1000 each. (American oak costs close to $700)

H. There are approximately 400 grapevines to an acre.

I. The average cost of an acre of land in Napa California is $1900! (how the hell do they get it to market for $10?)

J. Dom Perignon costs around 23 euros to make and retails for 139 euros! (viva la France)

Argentina Standout

Hey Winos!

Get in our car, truck, suv, motorcycle, whatever the heck you are using for transportation and get to your local wine shop for this little beauty! Trapiche Cabernet 08 from Mendoza Argentina. Bright red in color with black fruit and spices, soft in the middle and just enough tannins to say I am from Argentina! At $6.99 are you kidding me?

Don't cry for me Argentina...

Cheers!

J

Wine Stuff

Hey Fellow Wine Drinkers!

Wanted tom let you know of a couple of things coming up in the wine world.

This weekend in Naperville is the Naperville Wine Festival which showcases over 250 wines! It is Friday from 4-10PM and Saturday 2-9PM.

Learn about new and exciting varieties from the experts in a relaxed festival setting.Wine seminars and cooking demonstrations are conducted by event sponsors, exhibiting wineries, area chefs and restaurateurs. There is food available and live music/entertainment both days.

Tickets are $25 and may be purchased by going to the web at http://www.napervillewinefestival.com/

Next Wednesday night at the Wind Discount Center in Barrington at 311 East Main Street is their Cabernet tasting. 730-900PM. Some of the best cab producers from California will be in the glass, from Silver Oak to Orin Swift! Ruth's Chris Steak House will be serving samples of their succulent steaks and other treats. Tickets are $40 and may be purchased by calling Mike or Jim at 847-277-0033.

For my money... I would attend the Wednesday tasting. There promises to be some cult classics to taste that you may not have an opportunity to taste otherwise.

Cheers!

J

Spanish Star

Altos De La Hoya from the Jumilla Region in Spain. This little number will surprise and delight! Not only will it stand up to food pairings but it is not too shabby on its own. Squid-ink purple color, dark berries, lavender, with a touch of minerals. The focused finish features pure berries. Here's another crazy reason to buy this wine..." Sustainable Farming"! At around $7 for this little gem I would suggest you buy all you can carry in that car you drive!

What is sustainable farming you ask? Read on and I will put it in its simplest term. Sustainable agriculture integrates three main goals--environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity. People in many different capacities, from farmers to consumers, have shared this vision and contributed to it. In a nut shell... what you do to the land you are growing on you give back. Save it for future generations, treat it with respect and dignity. As a wise man once said, "Give and you shall receive".

Cheers!

J

Two More Worth Drinking

Hello Fellow Wine Lovers!

The holiday weekend just ended and I thought of the wine I drank over the last couple of days and two stood out as fantastic values. (I'm surprised I could remember as much as I consumed, enough to wipe out a small village) Anyway...

I usually don't drink chardonnay (unless of course it is from France) because I don't like how the American wine makers address this particular grape. My lovely wife brought home this little gem and it wasn't half bad! Concannon Central Coast Chardonnay. It has a medium body with tropical fruits on the palate with just a touch of oak at the end. $6.99! (Even if you don't like this thing, pour it in your windshield washer tank at this price)

Italian wines always remind me of where they come from... Italy duh! What I mean by this statement is that you can always tell an Italian wine by the nose... it smells like you are in Italy! Sun, food, pasta, pizza, art, love... you get the idea!

Salice Salentino Riserva 2004 is an example of what I am referring to. Open this up and let it breath for a bit before you try it. It is tighter than your Uncle at Christmas time! Once it opens up i is full of Italy in a glass. Dark fruits, figs, with a touch of spice and a long elegant finish with enough tannins to stand up to what is on your plate. At $9.99 a bottle you cannot go wrong with this little beauty!

Both are available at Wine Discount Center.

Cheers!

J

Buy It!

Hello Wine Lovers!

I opened up a wine the other night without a whole lot of expectations, just looking for something to have with dinner, nothing special. Well it turns out I was pleasantly surprised with this little gem, Guenoc Victorian Claret.

A blend of cabernet, merlot, petit verdot and petite sirah. This North Coast California wine is a perfect match to that big juicy steak you've been dying to throw on the grill. It has dark plums and blackberry with tannins that will stand up to most anything. At $8.99... are you kidding me? Buy this by the truck load!

Cheers!

J

A Couple Worth Drinking

Hello Winos Out There!

I had the pleasure to drink a couple of real bargains the other day and wanted to share them with you so you could run out and buy them!

Sincerely Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa and Protos Ribera Duero from Spain.

Neil Ellis Wines produces this wine and named it Sincerely as a tribute to Sancerre, a region in France known for world class Sauvignon Blanc. A large number of these wines on your favorite wine shop's shelves are from New Zealand, certainly more than South Africa. South African Sauvignon Blanc lands somewhere in between the big, in your face, grassy style of New Zealand and the refined, subtle, sophisticated style of Sancerre. This wine is well worth the $8.99 price tag at your local Wine Discount Center.

Prontos Ribera Duero is a wine named after that famous region in Spain and produced from 100% Tinta del pais grapes. It has been aged 6 months in American oak barrels and another 6 months in the bottle before releasing. This wine shows berry fruit on the front end with a touch of vanilla on the finish with soft tannins. Available at your local Binny's Beverage Depot for $7.99!

Cheers!

J

Why You Buy Certain Wines

My son, whom is 23 years young, came home the other day with two bottles of wine to give me for my birthday. (Was that thoughtful or what?) I opened the bag to find a Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir and a Rodney Strong Merlot.

After thanking him I asked what made him choose these particular wines. He stated he remembers hearing me talk of Robert Mondavi starting the whole “wine experience” in Napa Valley and my thoughts on his wines and his vision. On one of our many trips to the valley I made a sudden turn into the driveway of the Mondavi Winery, drove to the fountain in front of the main building, jumped out of the car and proceeded to genuflect, got back in the car and drove off. I told him and his sister I was simply showing respect for an icon.

The second choice he made was also from his memory bank when his cousin and he visited that particular winery. He enjoyed how we were treated and how the people working the tasting room made him feel.

That brings me to the point of this entry to my blog. Why do all of us make particular choices when purchasing wine? In his case he chose wines from visits to wine country in California. In some cases from a recommendation from this blog (hopefully) or from a friend(s). In some cases it may be something we read about the wine. It could be a print ad we came across while waiting in the dentist’s office. We could have been served the wine at a dinner party. We could get a recommendation from the wine shop. We could see a billboard.

My point is that there are countless reasons why we make choices to purchase a particular wine over another. (I once was told by someone that she made choices based on how pretty the label was) Make your choice, open it up, share it and make a mental note whether you want to buy it again!

Wine is like woman… I like them all, some more than others!

Cheers!
J
I recommend Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet. For about $11 this will get you in the cab boat! (Maybe not a front seat… but on the boat)