Proof!

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

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

 

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?

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

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?

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

pacific rim sweet riesling

2007
sweet riesling
columbia valley
pacific rim

unless you like sweet riesling...

i'm kind of at a loss as to what to say... so:

1. the "other" kevin at sendik's said this is his FAVORITE wine. again, not much weight should be given to the self-proclaimed beer drinker.

2. sweet riesling. not sure how i'm supposed to take it.

3. there is the see-thru bottle label effect (like on "agree" shampoo from the late '80s, early 90's.)

4. Their website is www.rieslingrules.com

$9.99
Franklin Sendik's

Note to self: Try the dry riesling, or try drinking the sweet riesling with food. oops. Thanks Ross

pascual toso cabernet sauvignon

Pascual Toso
2006
Cabernet Sauvignon
Maipu Vineyards
Mendoza
Argentina

It took me 3 tries to decide if I like this one, and the answer is definitely yes. But don't get me wrong ... it's not the wine's fault. It's mine.

I drank it out of a roadie cup the first time in a church playground on a friday night in slinger wi (see picture - the roadie cup says "shelly" - my new best friend in wi). The second time I drank it while I was working, and forgot to think about if I like it or not (simply amazing that I focus on the work, and not the wine... ). The 3rd time, last night, I finished it up (over 3 nights). And, yes, it's definitely worth it.

Cost Plus / World Market (I know, do I shop anywhere else?)
$12.99

root: 1 sauvignon blanc

Root: 1 Sauvignon Blanc
Casablanca Valley, Chile 2007

Me. Not a white wine person. Not versed in Sauvignon Blanc.
But this my friend is a perfect companion to my cooking "alone time" ...

lot 79 is better (cameron hughes)

Cameron Hughes, Lot 79 2005 Merlot
Napa Valley

So the value proposition is this: There is an over supply each year of what CH calls "super premium" wine and "value" wine (over and under $14/bottle). You can read all the reasons why on chwine.com.

Honestly it all seems a bit like a bored MBA put this together - isn't wine making supposed to be an art? It just seems a little too much like a business-school case answer to the "wine glut" problem.

Anyway, so what they do is take the oversupply and keep the integrity of each lot by keeping it as is - not blending it to make it better as other winemakers do with this over supply. (Um, the whole fun of it, but whatever...)

IN ANY CASE,

Supposedly you're getting a super premium wine at a good value.

I had a different lot a few months ago (which I didn't like at ALL - can't remember which one), but lot 79 was definitely good. Lot 54 is from St. Emilion, so I'd definitely like to give that one a shot and see if I buy this whole concept.

The devil, I tell you! ROOT: 1 Cabernet Sauvignon

It truly is the devil I tell you! I absolutely can't open the bottle without finishing it.

"A rich red wine with black currant, mocha and cherry flavors"

At least tonight I'm doing something productive while drinking my two glasses of ROOT:1, but last time I downed a whole bottle watching So You Think You Can Dance Chelsea & Matt's lyrical hip hop routine over and over on YouTube.

EMBARRASSING.

But that's how good it is. OH, and by the way, that was a Saturday night.

Needless to say Brady didn't really think that was too cool. And this is why it is the devil wine.

I seriously get scared pulling the cork that I might just drink the whole thing - I wonder, will I have the willpower to stop at 1/2 a bottle? THE DEVIL in a BOTTLE!

But I love it.

ROOT: 1 Cabernet Sauvignon

Colchagua Valley, Chile 2006

Made from original European rootstocks that typically do not survive - according to the bottle, Chile is super-special because the grapes grow unaffected by wine-grape disease (phylloxera).

Cost Plus / World Market on sale for $9.99

(but usually not much more than that - an AMAZING value, I promise).

And a beautiful bottle to boot.

Bourassa 2005 Zinfandel Napa Valley

So about 1 1/2 hours ago, I was agonizing over if I should open a bottle of Bourassa we picked up on our Napa trip, or go for the cheap-o, pee-on-the-floor Borsao (which, by the way still has my mind spinning about the secret to making dirt cheap not-so-bad wine)...

AND also beating myself up, wondering why didn't I go to Cost Plus / World Market and pick up some wine before 9pm?

It's Friday night people, and this is the highlight of our night. Which wine we should drink when we struggle for a solid 2 hrs. putting our kids down and trying to do some work well into the night.

So clearly we went with the Bourassa.

And all I can think right now is WHY in the heck would I ever not drink the best bottle in the house? SERIOUSLY - this wine is so good. Totally different than my normal style - I'd say it's pretty California, but in a good way.

PLUS, as I'll get to some day, the people at Bourassa are awesome.

http://www.bourassavineyards.com/

We had the Zinfandel - $28/bottle. So totally awesome.

2005 Zinfandel Napa Valley

BTW, this is 1 of the 3 winery clubs we joined on our trip to Napa...

[This image is obviously from the Bourassa website, I will get my own as soon as I'm sober enough to operate my camera. JK.]

Voga Italia - a no-go, but seriously check out their website

I would say this is the best of the whites from the trip to Sendik's when[the other] Kevin picked out wines for me... but still it tastes a little too dry or something. I kept tasting something that Brady would probably say "bites his tongue". But he usually says that with reds. The whole thing is a bit confusing.

Voga Italia
with its "I'm trying too hard bottle concept" AND their "trying too hard website"... see below
Pinot Grigio delle Venezie

P.S. I have nothing against Venice.

OMG! Visit their website. I'm dying. Especially about the girl at the end of the flash sequence that is sporting a dress that only Amy would wear to a barbeque. No offense Amy. Well, a little:), but I love you!

www.vogaitalia.com
$10.99 at Sendik's

Borsao - On Sale at Cost Plus (where Elle peed on the floor)

Just saw it this week on sale for $5.99 - seriously - at Cost Plus / World Market.

OH yeah, and Elle peed on the floor at the checkout. My bad, totally. See, she has this thing where she goes to the bathroom just to get a treat. So I end up running around through retail stores, leaving all my belongings behind, for her to squeeze out a little pee to get some m&m's.

Since she had already found the gummy worms (which I had opened in the store to let her eat while I shopped for wine - which just KILLS Brady - I can't open food in stores before I've purchased it when he's around... but anyway) ... and I told her she couldn't have anymore (I know! I'm so mean!), I figured her saying she needed to go to the bathroom was her ploy to get more worms out of me.

FYI: It wasn't. She actually had to go pee. My bad.

Anyway, another lesson in parenting.

OH, and the Borsao was really on sale for $5.99.

Los Vascos - RESERVE a bottle for me... with a little cheese.

Yeah, that was supposed to be "cheesy".

But really, a GOOD wine. Those Vascos brothers sure do know how to make a kick butt Colchagua Valley 14% bottle of good stuff.

I can not remember exactly what I liked about it, but I do remember being surprised. I'll find the receipt soon and post the price. And where I got it. I guess it would help if I actually had gathered this info prior to sitting down to write my wine blog. Ha. I work for no one! Whooo hoo! At least on this blog.

According to the back label, Los Vascos is one of Chile's oldest wine estates, and was taken over by Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) in the 80s. It is technically in the Caneten (with a tilde over the N) valley of the Colchagua province.

The rest of the label talks about how this wine is for "connaisseurs" ... really? I'll forgive them because I'm sure it's reasonably priced (I'll check) and it tastes good.

Note: $14.99 at Cost Plus / World Market.

Ring Bolt - I keep forgetting.

This label is so awesome I keep forgetting I don't really dig the wine. But I keep buying it thinking, I must like it...

Ring Bolt
2005
Cabernet Sauvignon
Margaret River
Australia

Cost Plus / World Market $11.99

Paso Creek Paso Robles- should be good but...

not my bag, baby (wink).

How many times can I get away with that "review"?

I am getting sort of disheartened... If a wine is from Paso Robles, I just assume I'll love it. But, maybe it's the double whammy. "Paso" in the name and being from "Paso Robles" should have made me think twice... trying too hard?

Kind of cute from the front label... but is this really a tagline that should sell me? Especially when I really think about it...

"Bold character derived from stubborn patience."

It's almost like they didn't want to make the wine.

Kind of cheesy from the back label: "... This richly flavored Cabernet Sauvignon is best paired with big food and spirited conversation."

I wonder how much "stubborn patience" it took for them to come up with that.

OK now I'm being mean. For no reason. It's really not that bad. It's just:

not my bag, baby (wink)

Paso Creek

Cabernet Sauvignon

Paso Robles (but vinted and bottled in Sonoma)

2005

$17.99 from Sendik's in Franklin. On shopping trip with the "other" Kevin.

Macon La Roche Vineuse Chardonnay - Pour Le Kir Parfait

Always the quest to find good Creme de Cassis, and ANY Blanc Aligote from Bourgogne in order to make a Kir.

While I have yet to find either in the U.S., I was able to make a decent Kir with the Macon La Roche Vineuse Chardonnay. I think with a better Creme de Cassis I will have nailed the art of making a Kir in Milwaukee.

The vineyard has limestone-rich soils... So I am interested to try this without the cassis mixed in next time.

Vin de Bourgogne 2005

Alain Normand

Vina Robles RED to the power of 4?

I screwed off the cap (yep, it's a screw top, my fave for convenience sake) and took one sip, and put the cap back on. I took it back to Sendik's because I thought there must be something wrong with the bottle because it was THAT bad. I guess sending a bottle back at the grocery store is not as acceptable as at a restaurant. Not that I really do that either, but good to know. In any case, they did let me switch it for another one. It was much better the 2nd time around, however, still not my thing.

From the same maker as the Rose I previously "reviewed" [in quotes], Vina Robles Rose, that I wasn't able to really judge because I am just not a white/pink wine person. I feel like I can't really "review" [in quotes, again] this one either because it's made for someone whose pallette is wildly different than mine.

Someone taste it and tell me what they think. I swear it's not bad, it's just:

'not my bag, baby (wink)'

Thanks Amy for helping me out with how to properly say that.

Anyway:

Vina Robles RED 4 2006
Huerhuero Paso Robles
Petite Syrah 53%
Syrah 38%
Tannat 7%
Touriga 2%
Vina Robles, San Miguel

The Stump Jump - Cool name, cool grapes.

The Stump Jump: Cool name, cool grapes (including one of my faves, Mourvedre), cool label... can't go wrong bringing this one to a party. A boldly cool choice especially since it tastes great.

$10.99 at Cost Plus / World Market. One of the 2 wines I tend to stock up on (the other being Pillar Box Red).

d'Arenberg
The Stump Jump
2006
McLaren Vale
Grenache 46%
Shiraz 34%
Mourvedre 20%

Do you think they played the rounding game in allocating these percents? Just wondering.

From the back label:

"Land for many of the region's old vineyards was originally cleared using the 'Stump Jump' plough, a South Australian invention which enabled the ploughshare to jump over the gnarly roots of 'mallee' Eucalyptus trees, saving valuable time and resources."

Another note: The Osborn family has been making wine since 1927 at d'Arenberg, their winery in the McLaren Vale.