Gougenheim Cabernet

Hello Wine Lovers!

Argentina Cabernet is arguably the best value for Cabernet in the world! There, I said it. I'm quite sure many of the wine world folks would say that is not true, but don't believe them! Stick with me and you will discover some unbelievable values from this wonderful place in South America called Argentina. Some would say to be careful with this grape as Malbec is the "premier" grape grown in Argentina, but the high altitude, lush soils and sunny days have been very agreeable with Cabernet!

Patricio Gougenheim was born of French parents and grew up around wine at the dinner table. He was give small amounts of wine with dinner at the young age of 7 and this is probably what led him to the wine industry later in life. He bought a winery in 2002, just as everyone else was bailing and started his journey. Since the beginning he has been one of the top rated and top quality wineries in Argentina.

You will find this wine to be a deep ruby color with aromas of black fruits, spices and a hint of vanilla oak with chocolate and spices and a nice long finish. This wine is much more complex and rich than the price tag of $8.99 at Wine Discount Center. Trust me when I say this, buy this wine for the holiday weekend and have it with grilled meats and enjoy!

Cheers!

J

Chateau Fonchereau Bordeaux

Hello Wine Lovers!

Another Bordeaux entry this week! You're asking how the heck am I finding Bordeaux wines under $10? Well, me too! I usually skip the Bordeaux aisle when looking to find a wine to write about since my entries must be $10 or less. But lately the Bordeaux aisle has been calling me. I took the challenge and I am pleasantly surprised with the level of quality and depth of the wines from this beautiful region at this price point!

Chateau Fonchereau Bordeaux Superieur, with your Binny's card (which I find much more important that a Jewel card) $9.99! You will find this wine to be deep purple in color with lovely notes of tobacco and dark plum and blackberry fruit with a touch of earthy undertones and nice, silky finish. You will be quite impressed with this wine the more you drink it. it will not let you down! Now a little about this great wine growing region. I promise to keep it relatively short...

Bordeaux Superieur is an appellation which covers the whole of the Bordeaux region, from Verdon-sur-Mer at the north-western tip of the Medoc to Sainte-Foy, 80 miles to the east. Bordeaux Superieur is a title in its own right, specifically covering both red and white wines. The reds have a slightly higher alcoholic content than standard Bordeaux, are aged for longer in oak barrels, a minimum of 12 months, and are produced from older vines. Bordeaux Superieur wines are produced from the classic grape varieties for this Region. The reds are made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Carmenere, Merlot and Malbec. The Bordeaux viticultural region stretches for 80 miles inland from the Atlantic coast. It is home to more than 10,000 producers, who turn out a vast quantity of wine in every vintage. These range from simple table wines to some of the world’s most expensive and prestigious labels. The majority of the vineyards are planted with red wine grapes, although some white varieties are used in the production of dry white and sparkling wines. The remainder go into the region's highly regarded sweet wines. There, I told you i could do it. Trust me when I say, "Go fill up your car with this wine".

Cheers!

J

Chateau Mylord Bordeaux

Hello Wine Lovers!

Today's entry is a French Bordeaux from the Chateau of Mylord. You may ask yourself,"What kind of Bordeaux is going to cost me less than $10 and is worth drinking?" Well my friends, it's this one! Binny's has it for $7.99 a bottle and for that cost you will be pleasantly surprised how nice it is. It is a blend of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. You will find this wine to be fruity, uncomplicated, straight forward with loads of strawberry, black cherry and wild raspberry fruit intermixed with slight soil notes, and virtually no oak. Supple and round with a nice finish. Since this wine is made up of primarily Merlot, let me tell you a little about this grape.

Along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot, Merlot is one of the primary grapes in Bordeaux wine where it is the most widely planted grape. Merlot is also one of the most popular red wine varietals in many markets. Merlot is one of the world's most planted grape varieties. As of 2004, Merlot was estimated to be the third most grown variety at 640,000 acres globally. This puts Merlot just behind Cabernet Sauvignon's 650,000 acres globally. Merlot is a popular grape for blending with the sterner, later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon which tends to be higher in tannin than Merlot, and Merlot softens those tannins. According to Wikipedia, researchers at University of California, Davis believe that Merlot is an offspring of Cabernet Franc and is a sibling of Carménère and Cabernet Sauvignon. The earliest recorded mention of Merlot was in the notes of a local Bordeaux official who in 1784 labeled wine made from the grape in the Libournais region as one of the area's best. By the 19th century it was being regularly planted in the Médoc on the "Left Bank" of the Gironde. The popularity of Merlot stemmed in part from the relative ease in pronouncing the name of the wine as well as its softer, fruity profile that made it more approachable to "new" wine drinkers. Whether you like Merlot as a varietal, or you like it in a blend, I don't think you will be disappointed in this wine!

Cheers!

J

Summer Whites

Hello Wine Lovers!

So sorry for the lack of entries lately! You would think I was busy or something. Maybe it's just the lazy, hazy days of summer. Summer always wrestles up memories of vine ripe tomatoes from the garden, long hot afternoons, clear night skies, cooking on the patio... and of course crisp white wines to drink while you take in the smells and sounds of summer! That being said, I am writing about three nice, easy drinking, light and value driven wines.

First on the list, Aveleda Vinho Verde, from Portugal. This little number is packed with melon and lime flavors with just a touch of spritz and is so refreshing you will not want to stop! This sassy bottle will set you back $6.99 at Wine Discount Center.

Second, Dry Creek "Clarksburg" Dry Chenin Blanc, California. This wine is probably the best Chenin Blanc I have tasted this year! It is very juicy in the mouth with a long dry finish and in the middle you will find loads of floral aromas and peach and melon flavors. Another perfect wine for the patio! This looker will set you back $8.99 a date.

Last but certainly not least, Kendall-Jackson "Avant" Chardonnay. I know, I know... you're thinking Kendall Jackson Chardonnay, I am so tired of the wine! Well my friends, key word being "Avant". This wine from the producer of that over oaked, rich, creamy, sweet wine that single handily launched the wine revolution in America, is not like it's older sister. This Chardonnay only saw a little oak, 54% fermented in stainless steel and 46% fermented in neutral oak. The grapes are sourced from Santa Barbara, Mendocino and Sonoma Counties which give the wine complexity and a depth of flavors. You will find pear, green apple and lemon in the mouth and just enough acidity to please. "Avant" is from the French meaning "before" and their idea behind this is before oak has it's way with the wine it allows the true flavors of the grapes to shine through. Open up your wallets to the tune of $10.99 a bottle!

Cheers!

J

Biurko Gorri Arbanta Rioja

Hello Wine Lovers!

Well, we did it! Our little girls is married and (as I write this) celebrating her marriage in Positano Italy!(I posted a picture of the village for you to see) It Sucks to be her! The wedding was absolutely perfect. It was flawless, of course I had my issues... crying when I first saw her in her dress, during the speech, and of course during the actual ceremony, but overall, I would have to say I held it together! Don't ask my daughter... she may have an entirely different spin on things.

Now the wine, another great value from Spain, Arbanta Rioja. About $9 at Wine Discount Center. This wine is 100% Tempranillo, from vines of 15 to 20 years old, fermented in stainless steel, no oak, with natural yeasts. Arbanta does not age in barrels like most red wine from Rioja, which is why it is so pure and the fruit shines through! Red fruit and spice with a touch of smoke in the nose, plum and bittersweet cherry with enough acidity to make your mouth drool.
Delicious and unmasked by oak! You will be blown away by this wine for the money!
The Tempranillo vineyard for Arbanta is located in the small town of Bargota in the foothills of the Sierra Cantabria Mountains. The farming method is organic, another nice selling point, with use of plant and animal-based fertilizers to keep the soil healthy. My suggestion is to go to the store and buy this before it is all gone!

I have included a few pics from the wedding

Wine Trivia

Hello Wine Lovers!

This month has been very busy for me! My Daughter is getting married next Saturday so you can just imagine my life right about now... lots and lots to do! I am so looking forward to next Saturday! It will be an absolute blast!

I thought I would have a little fun with today's entry and share a bunch of wine info / trivia I have compiled over the years. Some of it you may find interesting, and some you may find useless, but after you read this blog... at the very least you will have some trivia you can pass on. Here goes...

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

800 gallons of wine is produced from 1 acre of vines

There are over 10,000 varieties of grapes in the world today...

Over 17 million gallons of wine is produced in California per year

Approximately 400 grape vines make up an acre

Wine was first made by the Mesopotamians around 6000 B.C.

20 million acres of grapes are planted worldwide

It takes 4-5 years to harvest a grape crop from newly planted vines

It takes .90 cents per bottle to age wine in a barrel

An empty wine barrel weighs around 120 pounds

A bottle of opened wine will last 6 times longer than an opened bottle at room temp

CA, NY and then FL are the top three states of wine consumption in US

5% of adult Americans consume wine on a regular basis

The average cost of grapes to produce a $20 bottle of wine is $2.64

Wine has more organic chemical compounds than blood serum

The average age of a French oak tree to make wine barrels is 170 years

A bottle of Chateau-Lafite Rothschild costs about $13 to make and sells for $500

Corks close 69% of wine bottles, plastic corks 20% and 11% are screw caps

Cork is made from a bark of a tree

(go to You Tube and search for 100% cork campaign, First date)

The cork industry spends 22 million dollars on ad campaigns per year

A rough idea for grape costs is $3500 per ton

A cork oak must be at least 25 years old to strip away the bark to make cork...

It can then be stripped away every 8 to 14 years

Cork has been used as bottle stoppers for over 400 years

A wine barrel holds 59 gallons of wine

The cost of an oak barrel is over $600

Whew! And I still have more... a later date!

Hope you had fun!

Cheers!

J

Storyteller Chenin Blanc

Hello Wine Lovers!

Today's entry is a wine from South Africa, Storyteller Chenin Blanc. Available at Binny's for $6.99 (are you kidding me?) It still surprises the heck out of me how you get a bottle of wine to market for this kind of money! An aromatic nose of melon, lemon and pear are followed by a slight honey and pear on the palate. Very approachable with a lot of complexity for a wine at this price point! Pair with poultry dishes and seafood with cream bases.

Let's discover Chenin Blanc. Known also as Pineau de la Loire, is a white wine grape variety from the Loire valley of France. Its high acidity means it can be used to make everything from sparkling wines to well-balanced dessert wines. Outside the Loire it is found in most of the New World wine regions; it is the most widely planted variety in South Africa, where it is also known as Steen. The grape may have been one of the first to be grown in South Africa. The Chenin Blanc grapevine buds early in the growing season and ripens late—traits that would make the vine more ideal in warmer climates rather than the cool Loire Valley. However, in warm years, the balance between the Loire's marginal climate and the warmth needed to attain full ripeness has the potential of producing wines with some depth of complexity and finesse.It provides a fairly neutral palate for the expression of terroir, vintage variation and the winemaker's treatment. I think you will find what they did to this grape in the Western Cape is quite enjoyable and a very nice wine to sip on the patio in the summer!

Cheers!

J

Pennywise Chardonnay

Hello Wine Lovers!

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there! To all you do, let's tip a glass of Champagne to them! When you think about motherhood is there anything on this great big beautiful earth that is more important? I can't think of anything! Everyday should be Mother's Day! Call your Mother!

Today's entry, Pennywise Chardonnay is available for, steady... $7.99 a bottle at Wind Discount Center! Not too long ago I reviewed their Pinot Noir which was also very good. This wine you will find aromas of honeysuckle, fresh orchard peaches and jasmine. It has a complex finish for a wine of this price point with a touch of French oak.It is a blend of Chardonnay, Viognier and Chennin Blanc. Pair this wine with grilled salmon over mango salsa, jasmine rice and bok choy. It would also go nicely with a cold shrimp salad with tropical fruits. A nice wine for all the Mother's!

Cheers!

J

Hello Wine Lovers! After writing my last entry about wine fraud and such it got me to think about wine tasting in general. I asked myself if a wine's cost and status help determine what it tastes like? But before I get into all that (you know how sometimes I can get wordy) today's wine pick is a easy to find Chardonnay from Sonoma County, Chateau St Jean. Available at Binny's for $9.99 and worth every penny! You will find this wine to be a classic Sonoma County Chardonnay, meaning it displays bright aromas of lemon and notes of toasted hazelnut. This wine has a subtle elegance with a nice, soft, lingering finish. With warm weather just around the corner, this is a perfect patio wine! Now this is where I get wordy... does a $90 bottle of wine taste better than a $10 bottle of wine? One would think the answer would be a big fat YES! In many cases, I believe it is the expectation, and not the wine itself. In other words, the marketing for a particular wine, or it's reputation, force you to think it tastes better! I have hosted many a dinner party where I served the wine in brown bags and was quite (or should I say pleasantly) surprised with the outcome. Let's talk about a Champagne that I am sure you are all familiar with, Dom Perignon. It sells for, let's say $150 in round numbers. Another I'm quite sure you are also familiar with is Domaine Ste Michelle, a Sparkling wine from Washington State that sells for around $12. Now, this is where it gets interesting. According to the book The Wine Trials, 41 out 62 tasters, in a blind tasting, preferred the Ste Michelle! Does this mean you are wasting your $138 on the Dom? When you think about it in these terms, yes! Marketing has become what the old winemaker used to be. The winemaker would make his/her wines to express what the vineyard had given them, tell you straight up, price it fairly, and sell it to the public. Now, in my opinion, the new "winemaker" is the marketing department. Make the wine any old way and we will sell the public on a "lifestyle" add a sexy woman to the ad, show celebrities drinking the wine, and charge higher prices so the public will think they must have it! When a wine company spends more on marketing than making the wine, in the long run, the consumer will lose! The moral of the story, drink what you like, buy what you can afford, but be true to your taste, not your ego! Cheers! J

Wine Fraud

Hello Wine Lovers!
A dear friend called me this week and after taking care of business he stated he heard on the radio an article relating to wine fraud in restaurants. He suggested I write my weekly blog about this growing phenomenon and after a little thought... here it is!Wikipedia defines wine fraud as a form of fraud in which wines are sold to a customer illicitly, usually having the customer spend more money than the product is worth, or causing sickness due to harmful chemicals being mixed into the wine. As wine is technically defined as the product of fermented grape juice, the term "wine fraud" can be used to describe the adulteration of wine by substances that are not related to grapes. This can refer to the use of coloring agents such as elderberry juice, or flavorings such as cinnamon and ginger. While some varieties of wine can naturally have deep, dark color and flavor notes of spices due to the presence of various phenolic compounds found in the skin of the grapes, the use of additives in order to artificially create these characteristics is generally frowned upon in the wine world. In recent years, much attention has been focused on the label fraud, where counterfeit labels from cult wines and other rare and expensive wines are affixed to bottles of less expensive wine and then resold. Wine fraud can involve less expensive wines if they are sold in large volumes. Wine Spectator noted that some experts suspect that as much as 5% of the wine sold in secondary markets could be counterfeit. There has been a good number of books written on wine fraud and my favorite is Billionaire's Vinegar about the Thomas Jefferson bottles. But most of the so called :wine fraud" is centered around collector wines and not everyday wines you purchase at the store or your local watering hole or restaurant. There has been some talk of certain restaurateurs putting inexpensive wines in more expensive bottles and re-corking them... or adding wine to a 1/2 full bottle. When served a wine, or you open one at home, look at the cork. More and more producers are using corks with labels because it is harder to "fake" a cork. The bottom line is this, as with everything, there seems to always be someone that has to come along and start a revolution of theft and fraud and the wine industry is no exception. I'm quite sure this will grow in the US to more and more everyday wines! Purchase from a reputable shop and buy from the same shop as much as possible so you build a relationship with them. If you do feel you have purchased a fraudulent wine and you have a good relationship with the shop, I'm quite sure they will stand up and do the right thing.
Books on fraud:“The Winemasters” by Nicholas Faith (1978), a terrific history of a Bordeaux wine trade. That was followed by “Wine Scandal” by Fritz Hallgarten (1986), “Wine Snobbery,” by Andrew Barr (1988), and “Is This the Wine You Ordered, Sir?” by Christopher Fielden (1989). Each book refers to various scandals in all areas of the wine trade.
Cheers!
J

Lagar de Robla Premium 2008

Hello Wine Lovers!
Let's talk Spain! There are more and more great value wines coming out of Spain than you can shake a stick at! These wines are food friendly, complex, fun, well made, easy to find and easy on the pocket book! Spain has over 2.9 million acres planted—making it the most widely planted wine producing nation, but it is the third largest producer of wine in the world, the largest being France followed by Italy. This is due, in part, to the very low yields and wide spacing of the old vines planted on the dry, infertile soil found in many Spanish wine regions. The country is ninth in worldwide consumptions with Spaniards drinking, on average, 10.06 gallons (38 liters) a year. The country has an abundance of native grape varieties, with over 400 varieties planted throughout Spain though 80 percent of the country's wine production is from only 20 grapes—including Tempranillo, Albariño, Garnacha, Palomino, Airen, Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel·lo, Cariñena and Monastrell. In Spain, winemakers often use the Spanish word elaborar (to elaborate) rather than fabricar (to produce/make) when describing the Spanish winemaking philosophy. This relates to the view that the winemaker acts as more of a nurturer of the grapes and wine rather than as a producer.
Now that's out of the way... the wine for today is Lagar de Robla Premium 2008. The first thing you will notice when you pour this into your glass is the beautiful, dark color, almost black. This is a relatively unknown, Mencia is the grape, and it is thought to be a relative of Cabernet Franc. It shows red berry fruits, pepper notes, medium soft tannins and a nice smooth finish. Really a great wine for the $9.99 you will shell out for this beauty at the Wine Discount Center. Buy this and impress your friends!
Cheers!
J

Segura Viudas Cava

Hello Wine Lovers!

It is a Sunday, and to me that is always a day to have at least one glass of sparkling wine! A day of rest and relaxation, to reflect, to enjoy, to stop and smell the roses! Why champagne you ask? Pour a glass of sparkling wine into a flute and watch the bubbles rise to the top... and if that alone doesn't tell you, then call me crazy. Champagne tickles your tongue and your taste buds. It makes you feel happy just looking at it. Think how many times you lift a glass of champagne to toast or celebrate something special. Birthday, wedding (I have one coming up, my daughter is getting married soon), anniversary, new job, new baby, the list goes on and on! Which brings me back to Sunday, a celebration of the week at end!

Today's choice is a Cava from Spain, Segura Viudas Brut. A classic wine with notes of apple and citrus with a mouthful of complexity for a wine at this price point. It was rated 19 out of 100 "Best Buys". "Segura Viudas’ entry level Cava, the Non-Vintage Brut Reserva offers up a pleasant perfume of yeast notes, biscuit, and green apple. It is a straightforward, lively, slightly off-dry bubbly that is a good value for drinking over the next 12–18 months."- The Wine Advocate Magazine, May 2011. Words of Robert Parker, and he is a tough critic.

Get in your car, head to Binny's pick up a few bottles of this little number, head back home, ice it down... and take it easy! Enjoy life! This will only set you back, are you ready for this, $6.99 a bottle!

Cheers!

J

Illinois Winery?

Hello Wine Lovers!

I know the title of today's entry is more than likely making you think twice... an Illinois Winery that is worthy of a blog entry you ask? Not that there are not Illinois wineries that make decent wine, Lyndfred is one and you can't leave Galena Cellars off the list. But this particular winery makes you feel just like you are in Napa Valley California! It is called Aquaviva Winery located in Maple Park Illinois. A winemaker once asked me how to make a million dollars in the wine business? I said I did not necessarily know the answer. He went on to say "Start with 7 million" We both had a good laugh but in the end, it really is not too terribly far off! This place is one of those places! Go to http://www.aquavivawinery.com/ and you will immediately know what I am talking about! It is absolutely beautiful! It is located off Rt 38 in Maple Park which is just this side of De Kalb. Well worth the drive.
Acquaviva’s 40-acre vineyard estate produces many grape varietals all suited to sustain and thrive through the turbulent Midwest seasons. These grapes include Prairie Star, Brianna, Chardonel, Marechal Fosh, and Frontenac, among other Illinois favorites. The winery is state of the art as well as the attached restaurant. As I stated earlier in this entry, you think you are in Napa. The wines are somewhat typical for Illinois wines, and what I mean by that is they are on the sweet side and lack complexity, typical of the varieties that grow here in Illinois. There are a couple of red wines that are notable, well made but lack the depth of wines from other regions.

The restaurant has a wonderful outdoor patio that overlooks some of the property. Off in the distance is railroad tracks and the occasional freight train that rumbles by adds to the charm and reminds you are in the Midwest. The food is well made and the chef uses a lot of local fresh ingredients to tantalize your taste buds.

The wines are well made, the food is good and the experience is wonderful. I recommend you make this a little day trip with your honey, have lunch, taste a little wine and take in what Illinois has to offer!

Cheers!

J

Cuvee de Pena

Hello Wine Lovers!
I know you are going to find this very hard to believe... but I just finished a 30 day sabbatical with no alcohol! You're asking yourself, why would anyone want to do that? Good point! But the point was simply to make sure I could, to reassure myself that I was the one in control. At the end of it all, I discovered I was the one in control, but I also discovered how much I miss a glass of wine with food. I ate the same things, cooked some wonderful meals, shared exquisite meals with my lovely Bride,food just didn't taste the same to me without wine... period! Which leads me to another issue, the hangover. In all my years of partaking in the grape, I have rarely been hungover. I am about to share my secret...H20. A simple, yet very important, key to not feeling like crap in the morning. I don't know bout you but for me, I don't have the time to feel like crap anytime, let alone in the morning!
I had a "light bulb" moment in Italy a good number of years ago. I am in Florence having dinner with friends that lived there and I could not help but notice how much wine they consumed. I consumed approximately the same amount but could barely function the next day when the Italians got up early and went to work as if nothing crossed their lips! So, the next evening, we are out to dinner again, (I was recovered by dinner time) and I asked my friends what their secret was. Their answer was as basic as it could be... drink the same amount of water as you do wine and you will be fine. Of course I'm thinking they're crazy and they just don't want to share their little secret, but I figured what did I have to lose. That particular evening I drank a glass of water between every glass of wine I consumed. And guess what? I awoke pain free! I am here to tell you, I have not been "bit by the dog" since that fateful night! Just for the fun of it I googled "hangover" and next is what I found:•The ethanol contained in alcoholic beverages has a dehydrating effect which causes headaches, dry mouth and tiredness. This effect can be lessened by drinking plenty of water before and throughout your night of drinking. I rest my case.
Now on to the wine. Cuvee de Pena, 2009 Vin de Pays, from the small village Cases de Pena in the Roussillon region in Southern France. This wine is made up if 40% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 20% Carignan and sells for $8.99 at the Wine Discount Center. It is imported by Hand Selections whom have a great reputation for importing great value wines from France for under $10. This one is no exception! You will find this wine to be medium-bodied with black cherries, spice and a slightly smoky note on the finish. It has enough tannins to say it is serious and yet has a nice smooth silky finish. I believe you will find this wine to be a remarkable value.

Cheers!
J

Domaine de Fenouillet Vin de Pays de Vaucluse 2009

Hello Wine Lovers!
It's here, the largest spectacle in the world... The Super Bowl! So get in the kitchen and make yourself really good food, get your favorite beverage chilled, get ready, and go watch it! Make it an event! And why not! Too many of us don't take the time to really enjoy life, take the time to smell things, touch things, enjoy what this great big beautiful world has to offer, and most of all, take the time to really taste things. Food and wine most notably!
I went to dinner last night with my lovely Bride, and as I put the first bite of a lamb croquette in my mouth, it hit me... most people don't really TASTE. The first bite made my knees weak, I mean this little morsel that the Chef and his crew made was amazing! I like to eat food that excites me, makes me yearn for more, makes me damn glad I am alive! As the dinner progressed, I became more and more enthralled by the whole experience, I mean this was really good food prepared with really fresh ingredients and the most important ingredient... love! The Chef and his crew love what they do! So, that leads me to my entry today. Let's cover the win first,Domaine de Fenouillet Vin de Pays de Vaucluse 2009. Imported by Neal Rosenthal, Domaine de
Fenouillet is an astounding producer. This wine is their entry level Vin de Pays.
It's a blend of Grenache and Syrah with a touch of Mourvedre. Well balanced with a rich texture and a modest 13% alcohol. The flavors are classic southern Rhone;
smoky with dried herbs, bright fresh red fruit, hints of pepper and a nice finish. Much more character than you'll normally find for a $10 wine! This wine is available at the Wine Discount Center and I would hurry up and get it before it sells out!
Now let's talk about taste, more particularly, how we taste. The tongue is covered with small bumps, or "taste buds", that are grouped together in areas with different functions. These taste buds react to simple tastes and pass messages on to the brain.
Taste buds on the tip of the tongue detect sweet tastes, and those at the back of the tongue detect bitter tastes, the side of the tongue measure sour and salty tastes. The tastes of any food or wine is a combination of these four basic tastes.
It is the brain which processes the information and tells us what is actually in our mouths. We each have approximately 10,000 taste buds on our tongues. Hot foods tend to taste better because the heat causes more of the pleasant smells to rise into the nose, as the aroma of a glass of wine. These abundant smells contribute to the total taste of what is in your mouth. Now, just as important to taste as the taste buds, is your ability to slow down and move the food/wine/whatever, around your mouth. Close your eyes and REALLY taste. Start with your eyes, look at the colors, the shapes, the size, then smell, take a bite or drink, move it around your mouth, chew slowly, and swallow slowly. Allow your senses to pay attention to texture and flavors, relax and savour the moment. Don't eat / drink out of necessity, eat / drink for the experience!

Cheers!
J

Hyatt Vineyards Cabernet

Hello Wine Lovers!
Now that Chicago received it's "first significant snowfall" of the year (not sure why the press makes such a big deal out of snow in Chicago, after all, we are in the snow belt)and you have completed your clean up, sit back and open up a bottle of this Cabernet and enjoy! Hyatt Vineyards "Rattlesnake Hills" 2009 Cabernet from Washington State. According to the Hyatt website Rattlesnake Hills "In Spring of 200 the very select micro-climate of the Northern part of the Yakima Valley became its own American Viticultural Appellation. Hyatt and Roza Ridge are in the center of this small and very appropriate new Appellation, Rattlesnake Hills, which enjoys better heat-units than the rest of the Valley – ensuring ripening – with elevations ranging from 700 – 1200 feet above sea level. This more precisely-defined Viticultural area contains 20 wineries and shows enormous promise of balanced and excellent fruit for us to transform into wonderful wines, in the tradition of premier quality Hyatt Vineyard wines." Cabernet continues to flourish here in the US and this is another example of a high quality Cab that you won't have to take out a second mortgage to afford. This little gem will set you back $10 at the Wine Discount Centers. You will find this wine to be medium-bodied and it's offering of ripe, sweet fruits and a concentration of flavor that goes far beyond its price point. This might become your favorite everyday Cabernet! I'll be the first to tell you that most Cabernet of any character these days costs a heck of a lot more than this one! Go buy this by the case!

Cheers!
J

Honoro Vera Garnacha

Hello Wine Lovers!
I've got to vent a little and I am going to use you as my sounding board... sorry. It is starting to drive me crazy that restaurants think they can pour you a "taste" of wine and charge you out the (insert word here that rhymes with glass) for it! There, I said it! Now let's cover a few details on what I mean by all this. I get the whole idea of pouring your wine in a small glass container and then serving you the glass empty and allowing you to pour as much or as little as you want in your very nice stemware. (I have yet to see this practice without nice glasses used) In the little glass container should be a 5 to 6oz pour, as should be any pour of wine whether it be served in a glass or in a small glass container for you to pour your own. Let me repeat myself... 5 to 6 oz! To my dismay this holiday season I continue to run across "nice" restaurants pouring you 4oz and STILL charging you as if they poured you the 6oz! I could understand if the prices were lowered, but they are not! It is insulting to my intelligence, and everyone else as far as that goes, that people in charge would make these decisions on a glass of wine! And then they wonder my more and more people choose to drink at home!
OK... I feel better! Now the wine. 2010 Honoro Vera Garnacha. At less than $8 this will floor you! You will find this wine to be complex with finesse and a mouthful of plum and cherry flavors with spice and tobacco on the finish. For the money, this would be one of my picks to stock up on! It is from the Calatayud Region near Barcelona. The soil is full of gravel and is not the best place to grow grapes, but the old vines used to produce this wine really did their job! It has a funky label that will spark dinner conversation. Spain is the third largest wine producing nation in the world, occupying the majority of the Iberian Peninsula with vast diversity in climate, culture, and of course, wine. From big, bold reds of the Priorat to dry, white Finos from Andalusia, Spanish wines are a great value. There are currently over 62 designated wine regions in Spain but only a few generate any recognition outside of Spain. Spain can also lay claim to having the most land under vine in the world, growing up to, by some accounts, 600 indigenous varietals of grapes. Tempranillo is their most well known and along with Garnacha are probably two grapes you have heard of. If you get the chance, don't pass on a trip to this wonderful country! You will find the people,food,and of course the wine, to your liking!

Cheers!
J

Pennywise Pinot Noir

Hello Wine Lovers!
Happy New Year! I can't believe it has come and gone already. By now I am quite sure you have had your fill of fun, food, parties and of course wine. It's time to back off a bit, drop a few pounds, eat healthy and once again resume some sort of normal sleep schedule. It happens every year, the holidays show up and you become this crazy person! Working long hours, going to parties, drinking and eating more, sleeping less. Even though every year you say "I need to be careful this holiday season", "I can't afford to pack on the pounds" etc etc. You know the routine! Well here we all are again... so get your fanny moving, slow down on the calorie intake and step up your exercise program because one thing is for sure. You can't stop drinking wine!
Which brings me to today's wine, Pennywise Pinot Noir 2009
, from California. #18 on the Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Best Buys of 2011 and 90 points! You will find this wine surprisingly sophisticated for a Pinot Noir at this price. It’s dry, light in the mouth and elegantly structured, with a nice touch of acids and tannins with flavors of sour cherries, sweet strawberries and a touch of spice and smoke. This wine will really surprise you at $8.99 a bottle at Wine Discount Center! This may become my new "house" wine!

Cheers!
J