Less is more.

Clos Rougeard, Saumur, Champigny, 2003. 

Even though I said no more Cabernet Franc, I figured I had to go out with a bang. 

Drink this. It's one of the best examples of top quality Loire Cabernet Franc ever. Enuf said!

We drank this wonderful bottle on our 1st year anniversary

Tadtastic voyage.

In the spirit of forgetting about Cabernet Franc, let's forget about wine altogether. Lately I've been into buying single bottles of large beer, like this one at 550ml, and splitting with my husband on nights where a full bottle of wine seems a little much (ala when I come home from work at aoc at 1030pm). Still, a girl needs a little sumthin sumthin to take the edge off a hard days work. 

I am not one of those chicks who likes light beer. I like me beer to taste like something and this Samuel Smith, Tadcaster, Taddy Porter (according to the label it's famous Taddy Porter) makes mama easy and loose and happy. Coffee, toffee and sweet licorice notes, this beer hit the spot last Monday and because I only drank 225ml I didn't have to get up and pee 3 times during the night (an occupational hazard). 

I got this at Whole Foods at 3rd and Fairfucks, I mean Fairfax, for $4.89 where they seem to have a large selection of single bottle beers, some well known, some less well known. The Wine House also carries a great deal of beers I've never heard of, but I plan to try each and everyone of them as soon as this exam is done next week. Can't believe that in 6 days I will sitting in that exam room tasting and writing my day away... for 4 long days.... How exciting and terrifying. Mostly terrifying... In the words of Karate Kid master Wax On. Wax Off. That's my approach. 

Anyhoo, Cheers to Taddy. 

The death of blogging about Cabernet Franc.

David Chaveau, Domaine de Beausejour, Chinon, 2006. 

Again with the Chinon! I am literally boring myself now and I'm actually off my Chinon kick for awhile I think. I'm burned baby.  I need diversity in my life, after all Carrie Bradshaw wears more than Manolos. There's Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin, Payless. All kinds of shoes. And likewise I need to be exploring the world of wine further this summer as I've become like an old woman who only wears tan Naturalizers. 

This wine: Plummy, high acid, good tannin structure, violets, the whole Cabernet Franc shebang. 

$14.99 at K&L Wines and Palate.

Pinot is from Earth and nothing is from Mars or Venus.

Rex Hill, Oregon, Pinot Noir, Reserve, 2005.

I can't remember why Peter and I bought this bottle, only because our retail expenditures lately have been under $25, it must have been a pre-unemployment purchase. 

We tasted this next to some Burgundy samples that I had out for the day and even though Oregon is often compared to Burgundy the styles of these 2 regions are very very different and I don't think it's totally apparent until you taste them side by side. Oregon just has more fruit- juicy cherry and a little candied fruit - far less earthy and savory characteristics compared to Burgundy. Both high acidity, both low to moderate tannins, depending on the winemaking, of course, but nevertheless, worlds apart... literally.... well not LITERALLY. They are countries apart I guess... worlds apart would be like Mars and Earth. As far as I know they don't grow grapes on Mars. Yet. 

Anyhow, treat yourself to some high end PN, I know that part of the business is struggling these days. You'd be doing your duty as a consumer. $35.99 at the Wine House. 

Green wine.

Bronco Adamado, Vinho Verde, 2008.

I stole this directly from the website Domaine 547, written by Simon Cocks of Larchmont Wine and Spirits. Of course, this was from the 2007 vintage, but its Vinho Verde - so who cares??

I LOVE THIS WINE - and there ain't many wines at $10 that I love. I just got a another few bottles for myself this week. So read on!

Is this the perfect summer wine? Is such a thing possible? We think this acutely refreshing and lively white from the northwest of Portugal comes awfully close…A blend of mostly Loureiro, with a little Trajadura and  Pederna, this Vinho Verde (“Green Wine”*) shows ample jasmine, ripe green melon, kiwi and green apple on the nose. It is light-bodied, nervy and fresh on the palate with plenty of citrus and tart apple flavors.

There is also a fun light effervescence which tickles the tongue nicely. A mere 10% alcohol by volume means quaffability one usually only dreams about. You could polish off a bottle with barely a backward glance…

Pair this with seafood, the finned and the shelled, especially ceviche, spicy Asian and Latin dishes, Indian food and a multitude of appetizers. It is a very adaptable food wine. $10.99 a bottle. –SC

* A clarification: the wine is NOT green, but “Verde” refers to its youthful freshness…so now you know.

Let's make a deal.

Domaine du Colombier, Cuvee Gaby, Crozes-Hermitage, 2004. 

I know that I've written on this before, but it was just as delicious this time around as last time. It just smells like syrah, tastes like syrah and feels like syrah. Black pepper, a little raspberry framboise note, some smoke and game, well integrated tannins, a fine drink my friends!

Hi Times in the OC for $22. Yowzers! Is that cheap! the 2005 is like $30. So order this while its still in stock. Peter says, "It's a good deal!"

Royal dirt.

Charles Joguet, Chinon, Les Varennes du Grand Clos, 2002.

From the king of Chinon. El Rey de Chinon. We got this for $21.99 at Wine Exchange, a real steal! I think they may have  a few bottles left and if so, call now and get the ones because it was an earthy delicious delight! A wee on the leathery and barnyard side, but you know, every now and then I like to get a little dirty. 

Good night.

Pian del Campo, Toscana, IGT, 2006. 

This wine is mostly Sangiovese with a little Canaiolo, and it's totally refreshing and totally delish. While it has loads of fresh cherries and a little dusty Italiano quality on the finish, there's also a depth to it and a darkness that makes it a little mysterious. Like the Dark Knight. The dark night. The noche oscuro. The noir nuit. Wow, this is getting a little redundant, huh? 

It was $19.99 at Woodland Hills Wine Company. A nice reasonable price in unreasonable times. 

Wow, that was deep. 

Anniversaries, exams and good drinking...

Pierre-Marie Chermette, Fleuris, Les Garants, 2007. 

Ok, next to Cabernet Franc I think my fav value wine is Cru Beaujolias, but my fav producer of high end Beaujolais has to be Chermette. I just love the elegance, the texture, the lack of bubblegum carbonic flavors, a real class and beauty to these wines. The truth is, I don;t know much about them, but I know I like them and will ahve to look up some info for the next post. Too tired right now. 

The good news is that the MW exam is a mere 3 weeks and 1 day away. I literally can't believe it. It has been 3 1/2 years of studies and mostly a really intense 9 months that has lead up to this and no matter what happens I vow to be excited that I at least made the effort, you know? 

Also, Peter and I celebrated our one year wedding anniversary yesterday and had a great time in SF after another MW mock exam. GREAT GREAT dinner, maybe the best dinner I've ever had in SF, at Terzo. YOU MUST GO! 

Anyway, this wine, $23.99 at the Wine House... but you can get at lots and lots of other retailers big and small....

Hot Chiles.

Rayun, Maipo Valley, Syrah, 2006.

I can't remember if I've ever blogged on a Chilean wine, my guess is that NO I have not. And really not for any other reason than we just haven't bought any. You know, we stick to the Frenchies and Italianos mainly, and that's just because I hate being disappointed and at this point in my life, I've been a drinkin' a lot and I know what mama wants. 

That said, it was fun to taste something other than Cabernt Franc for a change. And no this isn't from the Peter Weygandt book, so that's another change too. I really enjoyed this wine - very varietally correct, tasted like syrah, and Susan, from Venokado, nailed it. Of course she did because she's just that good. 

And get this... it's CHEAP... like really cheap... A very respectable wine for $10 at Silverlake Wine. 

Self promotion.

A new episode of DrinkThisTV up and running!

http://www.drinkthistv.com/

Bouchard, Beaune du Chateau, 1er Cru, 2005. 

Once again, I drank a wine too young! The fruit was so sweet, sweet bing cherry, moderate tannins and totally under developed, it needed like 2 more years in bottle because it was almost too much. Too virginal or something, I don't know, can something be too virginal?

At the risk of sounding like a d**che b*g (stars are because my mother may be reading this and I don't want her to know what a foul mouth I have), 2005s are just not ready and the 2006s are shut down too. What to do? What to drink??

$28.99 at Wine Exchange. 

The first rose of the summer.

Charles Smith, Volume II, Rose, Columbia Valley, Washington State, 2008.

I had this at a great event for an organization called Write Girl. peter and I poured at the VIP event after party and April from Silverlake Wine and Susan from Venkado poured at the opening event. It was soooo fun! Rice Balls from Dominick's and Rose from SLW. 

Actually, I'm not sure of the price, but I'm sure its totally reasonable - like under $15. It was totally dry, full of fresh strawberries, a totally easy drinking summer delight. 100% Syrah. And we love Syrah as much as Cabernet Franc!

Hooyah!

Don't hate me because I love Cabernet Franc.

J-N Millon, La Source du Ruault, Saumur Champigny, 2006. 

That's right folks, if you read this blog, the once a week that I've become accustomed to posting, then you better like Cabernet Franc. Because here we are again. Ok, let me say, this wine is as beautiful and delicate as the label. Truly it is. Flowers, little "V" birds and squiggly clouds, looks like something I drew in high school during a calculous exam while thinking about my prom date. 

Fresh, fresh, fresh, good acidity, more acid and earth than fruit, but very charming and easy drinking. I keep buying these wines because I love Burgundy, but can't afford to drink it unless its my samples. Anyhoo... terrific! Check it out at Palate for $17.99.