napa, oh, napa

So, coming in to this experience I’ve had immense anxiety. First of all… am I supposed to feel comfortable here? What if everyone sucks? All I have heard is amazing reviews of this 5-city+ area (Napa, Sonoma, Yountville, St. Helena, Calistoga)… but what if these reviews are all about the need to “say” that Napa is all that, and it really isnt’?

In fact, these feelings have existed even before embarking on my Napa excursion – I actively avoid this region while wine shopping. Why? Because of the same rationale – Napa wines can’t really be ALL THAT just because they are from Napa. BTW, this feeling does not generally apply to the surrounding areas – even if it should. I almost couldn’t enjoy myself the first night here because of these anxieties.

I’d probably not suggest flying into San Francisco International airport to drive in to Napa – kind of takes away from the whole experience of coming to wine country. There is a Napa regional airport – I’d suggest this entry point even though I haven’t been there. We flew in on a Saturday – so it wasn’t that bad. BUT, I bet it would suck big time if it was even remotely close to rush hour.

I had a rough time getting out the door to get to our first reservations at Celadon in Napa. I felt like I had no idea where we were – and my nails weren’t painted. Not only were they not painted, they were living through a month-old chipped-up state of disrepair. As Brady tried to get reception on our GPS, I madly tried to paint my nails in our suite – feeling the whole time that I am going to be late and miss our reservation. Not that I would normally be worried about these sort of things – we all know I am notoriously late everywhere. I just kept thinking I’d be stuck dining at the McDonald’s playland if I missed these reservations… and I can barely handle that in Greendale.

Luckily we arrived uncommonly early. UNCOMMONLY early.

Still feeling wildly unsettled and nervous – not wanting to act like someone who I am not, but feeling this nagging feeling to fit in, I anxiously awaited for our server. Even when she arrived to take our drink order – I did not feel settled. When asking her what she suggested, I didn’t get the to-the-point recommendation I was hoping for, expecting. She sort of hesitated, and in retrospect, I appreciate this. She wasn’t posturing, or pretending to be that “Napa” person I so pre-emptively detest.

I had read a blog about wine lists in Napa before arriving here, and it mentioned to not steer away from the entry-priced wines, just because of their price points. So, I decided to take this advice… especially feeling like I needed to stick my ground in not being that “Napa type” and that we had a big vacation ahead of us full of expenses. We ordered the Pope Vineyards Sangiovese – they remarked they had only recently brought it into the restaurant. Both our server and the owner (who poured the wine for us) remarked they were pleasantly surprised. It was very nice, unassuming and a lovely way to start our Napa trip.

We had an amazing meal – the calamari which is what Celadon is famous for (highly addictive), the goat cheese with crostini (yum, yum), soft shelled-crab salad (nothing spectacular), and the fettucini with pork pasta special (“it was good,” Brady says). But the service was awesome and down to earth.

The night ended up just right – and we took some pictures of swans.

LO TENGO- or, NO TENGO y no tienes if you're smart.

You might not be able to tell from this photo... but here are a couple things to point out:

1. This is a lenticular label.
2. The lenticular label is of two people dancing the tango. Probably in Argentina.

So, I've been totally avoiding this wine at Cost Plus / World Market simply because of the price point ($9.99). That in of itself wouldn't drive me off... although it usually makes me think twice. However, this wine traveled from Argentina - so it should command a higher price, right? Then, lenticular printing is relatively expensive. I felt like I'd be paying for the fuel to ship these bottles with expensive lenticular labels from Argentina, and not for the prize inside.

But, I thought I'd buy within a "theme" on my last shopping trip to World Market. So the "theme" was "Malbec"... but maybe I should keep Amy's advice in mind. I can imagine her saying that the "theme" of my trip was buying wine, and not necessarily having to buy all Malbec wines (always stick to the primary theme, she says), especially when all common sense says the wine shouldn't be any good.

In case you missed it, Lo Tengo, means something like "I have it" ... which is pretty cute. Then it is also a play on the "Tango" dance, clearly since there are two people dancing on a cobbled street on the label. OH, but you probably wouldn't miss it, because they wouldn't let you. The caption of the photo is, "El Tango". Damn I hate it when companies don't give their customers the benefit of the doubt!

A little cheesy from the back label:

"Its smooth, elegant structure makes it the perfect partner to dance the night away."

Lo Tengo
Malbec
2007
Argentina

P.S. I'm not big on Malbec ... so don't hate me for not liking it. And you may ask, "why did I make Malbec my theme on my last shopping trip?" ... the answer would be, "there aren't many French wines in Wisconsin."

Can I get a "WOOP WOOP" - yeah, it's that bad.

I should have known better, than to fall ... for the recommendations of the "other" Kevin at Sendik's.

So, there are now TWO Kevin's at Sendik's in Franklin. One gives GREAT recommendations, and the other, not so much. I'm dreading trying the rest of the case I bought when I shopped with him. And now I'm feeling doubly bad because he told the cash register lady I was his "new" favorite customer.

I should have known better because he prefaced helping me pick out some new wines with, "I'm a white wine drinker". Hmmm. Then, his big selling point was that if he was recommending a red, it means it must be really good, because he's a "white wine" drinker. Yeah, I don't think it works that way. You have to be a red wine drinker in order to recommend good reds. Someone who only likes white wine (I'm convinced) is not equipped to recommend red wines.

So, there. WOOP WOOP. Don't buy it. It's so boring. And I kept drinking it anyway. It could be something I like - because I like understated wines. But this had NO statement. Bor--ring.

WOOP WOOP
2006
Shiraz
Wine of Australia
South Eastern Australia

From the back of the label: "G'day. [omg, did they really write that?] In Australia Woop Woop means not nearby, remote even. In sourcing the fruit for this well-balanced South Australian Shiraz we went outside our normal territory to blend the best regional attributes [... blah, blah]."

Also from the back of the label... in fact, if this was the only commentary on the back, it might redeem itself:

"We went to Woop Woop to bring Woop Woop to you." Now that's funny.

$10.99 at Sendik's in Franklin

Holy Cow Chardonnay - I got a soft spot, dang it!

"Holy Cow, is this bad. But a good back up for fondue-making if you would rather spend $12 to boil your wine and put cheese in it."

That was going to be my first review... until I decided to check out their website: www.charlessmithwines.com, and develop a conscious. Dang it! Remind me not to do that. They are from Walla Walla Washington, and have really cute pictures and pretty convincing commentary about their wines.

Furthermore, I'm not a white drinker. So, who am I to judge. After checking out their other wines, I got excited to try some of their reds - notably the syrah. However, all I have here left to taste from them is Kung Fu Girl, which is a Riesling. Why I bought it is another story, for another post.

Holy Cow Chardonnay 2006 (I would bash it, but I'm not going to)
Charles Smith Wines
Mattawa
Washington

P.S. I think it's funny how they felt the need to say "Washington State" ... I really never heard anyone say that until I went to the east coast, when there was a need to differentiate it from Washington, as in D.C. This is probably because the Charles Smith is from Scandinavia, and not from the west coast, where we assume Washington is a "state".

$10.99 (on sale for $8.99) at Sendik's in Franklin

Adriano, Douro Valley. I call it the "Ramos Pinto".

So I bought this because of the Adriano Ramos Pinto art on the label (anyone remember our poster up in the kitchen... still up... in this kitchen).

Anyway - it's good. I'm a little biased, as I can be with labels I like, but I'm going to stick to my story that this is a pretty good one.

How often do I find GOOD wines from Portugal? I mean, excluding all those port wines.

Lastly, I like any wine that says it is best consumed with pizza.

From the back label:

"Its name is a tribute to Adriano Ramos Pinto, a fervent art collector and the founder of the House Ramos Pinto in Vila Nova de Gaia."

Adriano
Joao Nicolau de Almeida, winemaker
Vinho Do Douro
Douro Valley, Portugal

Available at Cost Plus / World Market ... maybe $10.99 or $11.99. Actually, it's $12.99 ... just checked the receipt. Hmmmmm.

borsao - an UPDATE - pretty deceptive

I'm not really sure if I've encountered this before... A wine that TASTES good but leaves you with the quick drunkeness of a cheap wine. For me, I am always able to drink quite a bit of a good wine in one sitting, but a cheap one always beats me. Beats me in terms of the fact I can't polish off a bottle with no hangover, and will feel pretty much immediately drunk.

By the way, I served it to my mom 2 nights in a row, and she INDEPENDENTLY brought up the fact that the wine was making her a bit more loopy than normal.

So, I'm not really quite backing this one as an everyday wine. HOWEVER, I am definitely backing this one as a party wine. What a steal! $6.99 a bottle at Cost Plus / World Market - it tastes goods and is guaranteed to make your party rock.

ha ha.

dogajolo- wouldn't kick out of bed, but pretty forgettable

Dogajolo
Dry Red Table Wine of Tuscany
2006
Carpineto
Product of Italy

80% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon

Eat with pizza. Perfect with Pizza. Eat with pizza. Not sure what else to say, because I don't really remember it. BUT just know, I always remember a bad wine, and a remarkable wine.

$10.99 at Sendik's.

PS The label includes pronunciation, but it's still a little lost on me: (dogayalo) ... is that doe - gah - yah- low? Someone help! That doesn't sound Italian to me. Although, I don't speak Italian, so what do I know?

BEX riesling - for bex

Oh, Bex. Did you know there is a wine called "Bex"?

And yes, I bought it for the next time you visit Milwaukee, but had to drink it ahead of time. But, now I see it available in more locations, and in Chicago. So you've probably had your share. I will of course welcome a bottle with you and Barker when you're in town next.

Disclaimer: I'm not really a white wine drinker - but I thought it was good. I'd drink it again.

$9.99 at Sendik's. Again, probably less elsewhere.

BEX Riesling 2006
Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
Qualitatswein
Product of Germany (as all good Rieslings are)

altos las hormigas MALBEC - pretty darn good, esp. for the price point

I thought this one was pretty good - especially for $9.99 at Sendiks (which means it's probably less elsewhere).

From the Altos Las Hormigas website:

"Un trabajo de hormigas" es la frase argentina que expresa un trabajo con humildad, paciencia, extendido. Por lo tanto, la hormiga es nuestro símbolo y nuestro amuleto de buena suerte. Trabajamos con gran orgullo, pero somos conscientes en mantener una mentalidad abierta, lo suficiente para ser humildes, siempre dispuestos a aprender nuevas lecciones. Es el secreto para crecer como personas y como winemakers.

That's deep.

I like them. Those ants sure do know how to make a good Malbec.

altos las hormigas
malbec
2007
mendoza argentina

all good love affairs must come to an end

Bodegas Juan Gil
Jumilla
100% monastrell
product of spain

Maybe it was the long out-of-stock situation at Cost Plus. Maybe it was the chance discovery of a couple bottles at the Milwaukee Public Market. Maybe it was over-buying it when it came back in stock.

But, now that it is readily available, and pretty much a star in every magazine (well, just Food and Wine, but you know what I mean), I'm over it.

The more I drank it the more I just didn't think it was all that. But, maybe I just got a bad batch.

Maybe I'll fall in love again with this one. Just not now. I just can't stop thinking about Layer Cake... my new obsession... my new love affair.

Adieu, mon amour, adieu.

Big House White - cooking wine

Big House White Wine 2006 (again, probably any vintage would do)

OK, I totally don't get at all what they are talking about on the back of the label.

I THINK it could be made from a blend of Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, some other grape, Orange Muscat, Muscat Canelli and something else.

It doesn't really really matter since I just use it to cook. And drink while I cook. At $8.99 a bottle, it makes it a perfect choice, and convenient with the screw-top lid.

Trader Joe's French Market Chardonnay - go FONDUE!

Trader Joe's French Market Chardonnay 2006 (but really ANY vintage will do).

This is my go-to wine for making traditional swiss fondue.

• 2 cups Trader Joe's French Market Chardonnay
• 1 pound Swiss Emmanthaler Cheese, shredded. But I try to get as much as I can, 1.1 pounds is better than 1. (It goes to "eleven".)
• some Trader Joe's crushed garlic
• some flour

1. Smear bottom of pot with the crushed garlic - just a light layer.
2. Heat the wine (Tailinh, the fatal flaw I never could figure out was that the fondue all goes to crap if the wine is too hot - like if it is sort of boiling - so just heat HOT, but don't boil)
3. Mix shredded cheese with flour - just a few pinches of flour to lightly coat the shredded cheese - but not a full coverage - be somewhat lazy about it. Just don't over do it. I'm not sure what would happen, but that's my advice.
4. Slowly add cheese to wine, stirring in a figure-8 with a wooden spoon.
5. Once all melted, pour into fondue pot and eat... with a Trader Joe's or La Brea Bakery or Panera Baguette. Or any baguette for that matter.

I'm not really claiming this is an authentic recipe, but seriously, it is just a pot of cheese.

It's maybe $4.99/bottle. Drink the leftovers when you're making dinner the next night.