define.fine.wine

people are always asking me... how to best keep an opened bottle of wine.

2009-10-01T08:50:00.000-07:00

"People" are "always" asking me (read: a few people have asked me a few times)... how to best keep an opened bottle of wine.

I have to laugh at that question, "every" time.

Drink it or toss it.

I mean, why keep an opened bottle of wine? I find it hard to fathom there might be an opened bottle of wine that you would want to "keep" past today anyway.

The great bottles go down too quickly - no chance for contemplating about how to "save" the leftover wine. [Side note: I really don't believe in any leftovers of any kind... to-go boxes, doggy bags, etc.]

And the crappy wine you didn't finish? You want to save it for tomorrow because you didn't like it today? That doesn't make any sense to me. Wine only gets better with age left unopened.

So, now that we've covered the "great" bottles of wine and the "crappy" bottles of wine... there might actually be a couple real dilemmas out there.

Hypothetical Dilemma #1: Really good bottle of wine was opened, but it is too much for one person to drink. What do I do?

Answer: Find a friend already. Go next door and offer a glass. Share the love. In fact, that "really good" bottle of wine will go to "great" after sharing it with someone.

Hypothetical Dilemma #2: Pretty good bottle of wine was opened, but instead of making a fool of myself and drinking the whole bottle, I would like to split my stupidity over 2 nights instead of 1.

Answer: It doesn't really matter how you keep it as long as you drink it TOMORROW. There is not really any good way to keep a bottle past 12-24 hours, although there are a few methods that will make it just fine the next day. Easiest is to put a cork in it and throw it in the refrigerator. Pull it out 20 min before dinner or 20 minutes before noon if you're "that" kind of drinker (read: April Rhodes alla Glee from last night's episode).

There are a few other clunky wine keepers that others swear by - but I mostly just feel silly using them. The classic is the wine pump that attempts to suck the air out of the bottle. In theory this is logical.

#1: Vacu Vin Wine Saver (avail at Cost Plus / World Market... THIS IS THEIR IMAGE):

This one is hands down the commoners solution to the opened wine problem. Everyone has one. As do I. If your dilemma is #2, and want something more elegant that jamming the cork back in the bottle, then go ahead and get this. $9.99 @ World Market.

#2: Metrokane Velvet Wine and Champagne Sealer (avail at Cost Plus / World Market... THIS IS THEIR IMAGE... (pictured on the right) ):

I recently got this one for dilemma #2. I just like the form factor - I'm not sure it does anything more than the cork could do. But it does make it look like I'm at least trying to preserve my wine without looking like a dork pumping air out of the bottle with a plastic wine pumper. Also @ World Market.

Note: I also see that Metrokane has a fancier wine pump - The V-Gauge Wine Preserver (pictured in the middle). This might be the best solution - pump air out, but it looks a little more fancy. I don't have one ... but by day's end I might.

But see this is where I get back to square one. Why again am I trying to save a bottle of wine?

My Life as a Marketing Major

2009-09-09T22:36:00.000-07:00

I have issues. Clearly; But I mean issues beyond not being able to turn a blind eye to products strategically placed at the checkout (e.g. $5 DVD's such as "Jersey Girl", SpongeBob "backpack buddies" whose sales support the local humane shelter, ...) to lure impulse shoppers such as myself.

So, I set out to treat this "Badia a Coltibuono" as a step-up option to the make-you-cry Coltibuono. This "Badia a Coltibuono" was $22.99 vs. the make-you-cry Coltibuono at $17.99. Question is... in paying $5 bucks more, do you get more?

OK. So now I'm totally seeing this is a fruitless experiment. In general, I'd say the answer is always yes as long as you don't fall for brand names (or try to do this in the grocery store - heaven forbid).

But, ignoring the grocery-store-wine-shopping issues, I think this is clear cut. Yes, you typically get more. Especially if you stay in the same family - in this case, I'm considering "coltibuono" all the same family of wine. I'll investigate at another time to figure out what it is. And probably regret the fact I'm too lazy/busy/ADD to check it out now.

In the step-up world, you need to make a blind decision. You need to decide, sight unseen (or taste untasted, I guess) if the extra $5 buckaroos is worth it. Will you care? Would you notice? So it was these thoughts in mind when I decided to try the "better" bottle first.

It's better. End of story.

Badia a Coltibuono
2006
Chianti Classico
90% Sangioveto, 10% Canaiolo
Estate grown, Estate bottled

Let's Play "2 Ups"

2009-08-27T20:31:00.001-07:00

Let's Play "2 Ups"

It's a game I learned in LA from a dear friend that shall go unnamed (upon editing this post).

Whenever a night of drunken debauchery leads to ill-favored gossip about some poor victim (obviously not present) we must give them "2 Up's". Meaning, since we just totally defaced them, we must now say 2 positive things about this person so as to make us feel good about ourselves, because heck: We really were saying nice things about them too.

So, here we go:

2 up
Shiraz
2007
South Australia

The official "Two-up" game is an Australian one, consisting of two pennies flying and a paddle (I'm not sure what happens to the paddle). Apparently everyone "goes wild" until the game ends. I can't explain how to play the Australian two-up game... the bottle doesn't really explain it other than "everyone goes wild until the pennies land". I just can't imagine how long the pennies can be flying?

I have a problem with wines that focus too much on the backstory. It's cute, it's endearing, but it's a little purple cowboy. I also have a problem with wines that note on the label how critics love the wine... it's sort of the hang-tag problem for me. I can't buy a wine with a hang-tag that notes the "wine spectator" rating. Or says it's a "best buy".

Sounds like I need another glass of wine to take the edge off? You're probably right.

OK. Here we go with "our LA" version of "2-Ups"...

1. I listened to my favorite album of all time - Texas, White on Blonde, while drinking this wine. I really love that album.

2. I got an aerator that I was able to try out on this wine. It's called "Vinturi" and it makes a cool bubbling noise as you pour your wine into your glass AND makes me pour more than I should drink because I get distracted with the cool noise. I love my Vinturi.

So ... understand the 2-ups game? It's devilishly fun.

"I like this one better"...

2009-08-08T22:28:00.000-07:00

"I like this one better"... so Andrew says. "But it might be a
temperature thing."

Ok.

Love a man who tells me what to do.

2009-08-08T22:08:00.000-07:00

Love a man who tells me what to do.

Specifically, I love a waiter who tells me what to order.

I continually insist on chatting with the waiter regarding what to
order... And tonight I found the master at Ado in Venice. Never have
I found such an opinionated waiter, never have I wanted to order
anything the waiter chose for me... In fact, never have I had the
owner shave truffles on my pasta. Paulo shaved truffles on Antonios
pasta. ha. ha ha.

And then wine. He decided if we should order glasses or a bottle
after our "corkage" bottle... And while the bottle that we brought was
way better than the bottle we bought, I'm in love (with the place...
Not the waiter for the record. Plus, it doesn't hurt when the owner
kisses us and asks how we are upon arrival. I eat that shit up...
such a sucker I am.)

Sent from my iPhone

Semi Success!

2009-07-28T08:02:00.000-07:00

Chateau Saint-Sulpice
Red Bourdeaux Wine
2006

Success: It was the only bottle of bourdeaux at Zinki's Grocery & Liquor & we-are-here-from-Russia-for-the-summer-on-a-government-
program Market.

Not-so-much: Not-so-good.

Success: I managed to get the cork out with the "hotel"'s cheap fork and knife (I'll show you sometime).

Not-so-much: I only got out half the cork with this new method. The other half had to be sacrificed and pushed in.

Gotta love the Wisconsin Dells, Water Park Capital of the USA.

Never... Never have I done this ...

2009-05-22T21:06:00.000-07:00

Ordered the same bottle two nights in a row... But it was so good last
night (XYZ @ The W hotel) that I had to get it tonight at First Crush
(which is just fine). But thank you Fred for first introducing me to
the world of Ridge... Are you still part of their wine club or are you
too cool now?

Ridge
Sonoma County
Three Valleys
2007

76% Zinfandel
8% petite syrah
7% syrah
6% grenache
3% carignane

And yes, I'm too drunk to see if that adds up to 100% ... but I'm so
OCD i'll be thinking about it all night. Crap.

What!!! On the menu at First Crush...

2009-05-22T20:58:00.001-07:00

Holy smokes... Not really sure what to think. Pacific Rim ... FKA
Bonny Doon... Need to look into this...

Wolfmother... I mean Wolftrap

2009-04-27T19:33:00.001-07:00

I like this wine about as much as I do the band, wolfmother...

Sorry Amy! I mean for not liking wolfmother... I'm sure you'd back me up on this wine. It actually makes it to the not drinkable list ... It's just so overdone.

I might stray away from my risky- "world market" buys for awhile... I.e. Sub-$10 buckaroos

One glass at a bad bar...

2009-03-26T21:53:00.001-07:00

My recommendation is one glass at a bad bar. Meaning, when you are in one of those situations where you are turning yourself into a savvy beer drinker because you're too embarrased of how you'd act if you found out which wines are sitting at the end of the bar.

Recommendation is, in this situation, if you are ever in it, and happen to see this one, it's TOTALLY fine for a glass or two.

In fact, you'll probably be pleasantly surprised and start recommending the wine to friends, or consider buying a case for everyday drinking at home. But don't fall victim! Don't do it!

I have to think this is what happened to the nice man at the new Sendiks on Drexel that recommended it. That, and, he really has a crush on Robert Parker. And good values. Or, as Robert says, "best value". I'm sorry, but I really can't get excited for a wine whose best quality is that it is a "best value". Tell me something... Does it freaking taste good?

I just don't get the whole value proposition. If a wine tastes good and you don't feel like you got ripped off, then you are lucky! Lucky, lucky! And happy!

I guess I just have this whole marketing question about the paper bottle neck tag that declares a wine fit for buying because it's won some award, or RP says it's a "best value". Seems silly to me. Seems so 80's.

In any case, I was beginning to think this Robert Parker guy might be on to something, but he's not. It's only a best value because it's not offensive.

Ok, truth? It's not bad, just boring. Plus, I don't think I can like anything that had a paper bottle neck tag.

Trapiche
Malbec
2006
Around $10 buckaroos

Sent from my iPhone

Steele Pinot Noir

2009-03-10T21:17:00.000-07:00

Some things are starting to make sense... And then again confusing me also.

Question: Do certain wines really make you more drunk than others? I mean, how is this possible if all have the same stated alcohol content?

Take this Steele for example, 13.5% alcohol content. Why the hell do I feel twice as drunk when drinking this one versus most others?

I could never understand why I always walked out of going to dinner at Vito's on Pico (or is it Ocean Park?) just feeling way more drunk than normal. But now I know why (we always ordered Steele) .. but then I don't know why!

In any case I always really enjoy Steele (all drunkness aside), and will typically order it if I find it on a menu.

Now I just know I need to be more careful!

Steele
2005
Santa Barbara County
Pinot Noir

www.steelewines.com

Alma Rosa: So excited ...

2009-02-25T22:04:00.001-08:00

So while I'd be even more excited to actually find the Pinot Noir at my sendiks... I'm super excited about this Pinot Gris.

Although I'm also super digging the cross-branding-gone-good Breyers /slash/ Mrs. Fields ice cream sandwiches... With this Pinot Gris while watching all the bachelor episodes in our TiVo. Talk
about productivity... Yeah!

I can't remember if I've talked about the Pinot Noir before, and too lazy to see if I have... So here we go (maybe again)... I love that wine! We had it at Coquette (the Sanford extension in downtown Milwaukee) ... And it's had such a lasting impression although I've yet to have it again. I saw it once... Where my hubcaps were stolen...Audrey, I still need to talk to your mom about that...

Point is that I am pretty much with the opinion that anything that Alma Rosa rocks!

On sale at Sendiks for maybe $14.99 or so!

Sent from my iPhone

Purple Cowboy... isn't half bad

2009-02-11T10:22:00.000-08:00

Purple Cowboy

In the "12 under $12" bins at Target... although I really don't think there were 12 different wines. Not half bad considering my last Target tasting. Even more surprising given the tagline, "The legend of the purple cowboy". I've never heard of him. Ha.

"The cowboy met the old man who brought him some cuttings in a damp burlap sack. The old man said plant these in the valley where the fog comes at dusk and the soil is stony and no good for anything else. And someday you'll have some fine dark wine. So dark it turns your teeth to purple. So the legend goes."

I especially like the part about the wine being so fine it'll turn your teeth purple. I love it when my teeth turn purple from all the wine I drank. Gives me purpose when brushing.

Purple Cowboy
2006
Paso Robles Red Wine
Tenancious Red

$11.99 at Target

c'est pas la mer a boire

2009-01-14T11:11:00.000-08:00

C'est pas la mer a boire
Domaine du Possible (cute, right?)

Literal translation: “it’s not the sea to be drunk"
Signification: Ce n'est pas difficile.

Origine

Née dans la seconde moitié du XVIIe siècle, cette expression a tout d'abord été utilisée sous la forme positive : "c'est la mer à boire", qui signifiait qu'une chose était compliquée et difficile. Aujourd'hui, elle ne s'utilise quasiment que sous la forme négative et signifie littéralement "ce n'est pas comme si tu devais boire toute l'eau de la mer". Autrement dit, "ce n'est pas impossible", "pas compliqué".

www.linternaute.com

I didn't at all understand the significance of the name of this wine while we drank it --- but I love it --- both the name and the wine.

The wine bar monsieur at Quedubon ("une maison sincere et serieuse") described the wine as very rich with lots of fruit --- he was dead on. It was absolutely lovely, and now our entire dinner party I'm sure will be on the quest to figure out how to get some here (or in Denmark). For some reason I have a feeling it is going to be extremely difficult, as I don't think it is exported. Although I will look into it. Definitely the best wine on the Paris trip, and best restaurant in my opinion... although Brady liked the place with the naked male oil paintings on the walls (Aux Trois Petite Couchons).

Bistro-Cave Quedubon
22 rue du plateau
19th arrondissement

Apparently the potatoes were to die for here ... I had the fish that was amazing. Really loved this little place - and the people were super sweet, generous and awesome. tel. 01.42.38.18.65. Metro: Buttes-Chaumont

PS I think you can get the wine in Canada... see chowhound note:

Domaine du Possible, “C’est pas la mer à boire” 2006, VDT Roussilon (C$30)
The wine’s name translates as “no big deal” (literally “it’s not the sea to be drunk”). 55% Grenache, 35% Carignan, 10% Syrah. Nose rich in fruit with gamy notes, leather and a bit of *merde*. Mouth-filling and densely fruity yet light on its feet. Supple tannins. Long savoury, spicy finish. Astoundingly pure. Just great.

Oh how I love shitty airplane wine...

2008-12-30T17:01:00.000-08:00

Oh how I love shitty airplane wine when it's served on Air France.
Somehow that makes it all okay--

deceptively appealing

2008-12-11T01:41:00.000-08:00

don't buy into it... the label could go either way --- really good or really bad. it's the latter. all of them. just my opinion ...

ooops ... medoc

2008-12-11T01:38:00.000-08:00

I totally accidently bought this bottle of wine.

I went back-and-forth, back-and-forth, trying to decide if I should try a bottle of red that was titled, simply, "st-emilion". I mean, I by default love St-Emilion. But with a different label. Entirely. I like the french-style label. In the French section. Not on the seasonal end-cap. Such turmoil I experienced. I picked it up, I put it down, I picked it up, I put it down. You think I'm kidding. I'm not.

I finally decided, what-the-hell, and I grabbed it and headed for the register.

Except I picked up the Medoc bottle that looked exactly like the St-Emilion bottle.

Crap.

Wasn't that good. And now I'm torn. Do I go and try the St. Emilion bottle, or just let it go, knowing that it probably sucks because the label doesn't look French?

Ugh.

What-to-do, What-to-do.

Medoc
Christian Moueix
2005
50% Cabernet, 30% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot

this susana has got it goin' on

2008-12-11T01:28:00.000-08:00

Seriously, this Susana Balbo has got it goin' on... Al Green style.

Just read the back of the bottle, and again, this is the "offspring" or "lesser" wine AKA "crios" - but it rocks. This one is pure Malbec. Again, the leftovers --- but unlike the whole Cameron Hughes MBA wines, she is in it because she loves wine, and loves what she does. Or at least this is what I fantasize about Susana... I wonder ... is she real? Or is this an even "SMARTER" MBA who has created this marketing ...

I need to try her "signature" wines. If she even exists.

Crios
Susana Balbo
2007
Malbec
Mendoza

$12.99 at K&L Wine Merchants, although I'm pretty sure I got it at a Sendik's locally.

'tis the wine of the season

2008-12-11T01:17:00.000-08:00

Almost made a mistake and posted this to the Detour blog... good thing I caught that. I guess that's an occupational hazard trying to blog at 3am when I can't sleep.

In any case, this is the WINE OF THE SEASON. Not sure why, other than it goes down smooth, it's on sale, and it represents redemption. From Holy Cow. And Kung Fu Girl.

OK. So awhile ago, quite awhile ago, I ripped on Charles Smith and his Holy Cow Chardonnay. If anyone is keeping up with my ramblings they'd know to ignore all comments about white wines. I just can't help myself from putting out my two cents sometimes...

And then my long-lost best friend Amy stuck up for Mr. Charles Smith - and I gave him a shot. I saw the "Chateau Smith" at Sendiks - bought a couple bottles and brought them to girls night at Shelby's big house. Or Chateau. I'm not sure.

The 2 bottles went lickity split (how do you spell that?...).

Everyone liked it... including NON-red wine drinkers. Which, usually by-the-way should scare you off. But oddly I think this one has wide appeal. It's a Cabernet but not too CA, and not too anything else. Not sure what it is ... but it's a bit addictive ...

Chateau Smith
Cabernet Sauvignon
Columbia Valley
2006
Washington State

I just had a thought... maybe Washington and/or Oregon wines might form a "new" classification ... new old world wine?

PS Not much information on the back label... other than I shouldn't drink the bottle then operate heavy machinery.

PPS Purchased on sale for $14.99 (regularly $19.99) at the new Sendiks on Layton in Greenfield.

Proof!

2008-11-29T19:56:00.001-08:00

This is proof that I should stop giving my oh-so professional opinion on whites... At least in theory, at least tonight.

See, I broke two of my own rules:

1. Do not buy wine from Target... At least until they get their act
together.

2. Do not buy multiple varieties of the same maker without having liked at least 1 of their wines... I totally did this with the Primaterra "brand" ... See another post (whenever I get to it).

So on my visit to Target when I filled my basket with diapers, two toddlers and all the Root:1 on clearance, I also bought the "middle sister" wines. It should have been a dead giveaway that these were going to taste like I got them at target.

However, I tried the "wicked white" first .... And liked it!! In fact, even as I write this I'm planning to get more for my alone time (I mean dinner preparation time).

Then I tried the "rebel red" last night. Blech! Didn't even finish a glass...

So, does this prove I don't know what I'm talking about with whites? If the rule goes that you like what you like, then what does this say?

I think I'm going to give the wicked white another chance and see if I'm really all that wacked out when it comes to whites.. And yes, I do know I'm wacked out in general so no need to remind me in the comments section;)

2006 chianti if-you-want-to-cry wine

2008-11-28T20:05:00.001-08:00

Seriously ... Not sure what my issue is ... But really, I can't help myself
(to order it... or to subsequently cry)...

Coltibuono
Roberto stucchi
Sangiovese

Not sure where it is widely available, I order it from the "Mia Famiglia" in Hales Corners/Greendale .... so yummy (everything), in fact it's my new favorite Milwaukee restaurant!! (note: 1 mother's day brunch + 2 dinners later... so it's not a random new fave restaurant!)

I truly think this is my favorite Chianti --- although I probably haven't given Chianti in general a real shot considering I usually only drank Chianti from the communal pitchers at C&O.

P.S. I saw the wine this afternoon at Sendik's for $17.99!

I'm Thankful for French Wine this Thanksgiving

2008-11-26T13:25:00.000-08:00

Thank God for French wine...

I've been in a state of blah. Every wine I had was just not noteworthy. I felt like maybe it was over for me.

Until I decided to shop for what I really like: French wine. Especially anything from St. Emilion, or anywhere near Bordeaux. The selection is so minimal in the midwest (or maybe just Milwaukee) so I started to venture out into the Argentinian, Australia, Chile, new world wines. I thought I liked them. And I might. But not as much as the terroir du Bordeaux.

The bottle that saved me from my unfulfilling last couple months of wine drinking:

Chateau Paradis Casseuil
Domaines Baron de Rothschild (Lafite)
2006
Bordeaux

$14.99 at Cost Plus / World Market - and worth every last Franc. Or Euro. Whatever their currency is.

Good or bad idea to buy wine at Target on clearance?

2008-11-18T13:39:00.000-08:00

I am going to have to go with "bad idea"... but not as bad of an idea as it might seem.

See, we got a new Target and it happens to have an alcohol aisle. At first glance it seems like there is no need to look for anything special. For now, it's the typical grocery-store wine-shopping experience that I avoid.

Until I saw the clearance baskets. The clearance baskets with the devil wine marked down 50% off. Root:1 Cabernet Sauvignon for only $7.98 (or some other WalMart-esque pricing scheme to make you feel like it's not really $8). So of course my diaper-shopping trip turned into clearing out the whole basket of Root:1 (See! I told you it really is the devil wine!). Then I reasoned that the other wines in the clearance baskets must also be good ... and added more wine to my jumbo Target cart with both toddler seats occupied.

After having drank it all (no comment) I think it was on sale because the wine wasn't taken care of very well while stored or in transit. It didn't taste as good - and yes, it could be the Juan Gil (AKA The "My Love Affair" wine) problem, but I don't think so. I think there might just be something to making sure that wine is cared for properly.

I think it's time to get Brady going on making my wine cellar... you know, for all my wine I don't buy from the Target clearance baskets.

just us mamas

2008-09-26T21:56:00.000-07:00

Hosted Just Us Mamas last week (i.e. girls night for the mamas of my 3-year-old daughter elle's friends)... and decided to play "can you find the devil wine?". so, sort of (or completely a last minute game) but I had fun.

I included the devil wine in the selections (Root 1: Cabernet Sauvignon) ... and assorted with The Stump Jump, Pillar Box Red, and Layer Cake (the Primitivo - not the Shiraz). I also added a new one: Dynamic? French, "organically" grown. I'll find the label and tell you more.

So the game was as follows: I poured each of the wines in succession, and asked my mamas to answer some questions (but really it could boil down to just a "match the wine to the bottle" game.

1. cork / screw cap
2. grape: 1) shiraz/cabernet/merlot, 2) grenache/shiraz/mourvedre, 3) cabernet/syrah/malbec, 4) cabernet sauvignon, 5) primitivo (zinfandel)
3. vintage year (this one was easy - they were all 2006 except for Pillar Box. I don't know the year on this one! just for the record, game was made up as my mamas were arriving)
4. old world / new world: australia, california, chile, italy
5. rating 1-10 (10=best)
6. match wine to "look" of label. since all the wines were sitting out for review, this sort of informed the answers to questions 1-4.
7. Is this the "devil wine"?

So, everyone called my bluff and knew that I would put Root 1: last... as the 'finale'. But the surprise of the game was 2 fold:

1. Denise scored 100% ... got them all right! Amazing considering my game was pointless.
2. The mamas favorite was Stump Jump. Truly one of my faves, but just assumed Root 1: would win. But I think everyone picked Stump Jump as their fave. FYI, it was served 2nd. Interesting, right?

old world wine?

2008-08-29T22:16:00.000-07:00

Hmmm... the first thing I thought was that this is NOT old world wine. but am I just mistaken? this tastes terribly (meaning VERY, not badly) like a classic California red. Rodney Strong-ish?

So what really defines an old world wine? I pretty much equate old world = french terrior... but am I wrong?

Sacred Stone
Masters Red Blend
Old World Style
Red Wine

www.sacredstonewinery.com

Cost Plus / World Market