Barbera disguised as Syrah.

Bruno Rocca, Barbera d'Asti, 2006. 

Big surprise, I blind tasted this for Crozes-Hermitage. Why does everything taste 

Then when Peter said, NO, You're wrong and said tell me the characteristics of this wine and I said, High acid, low tannin, bright fruit with some rusticity - the light went off in my head and I said, Yes, ok - it's BARBERA. HELLO!!

That's why structure in tasting matters - it actually works!

Anyhoo... who cares about that. What I found to be interesting was that it was very smoky and spicy and when we went back and tasted it again Peter agreed that it did indeed taste Syrah-esque. Also there was some new oak on this - or seemed to be. 

It was actually an outstanding wine for the money. $25.99 at the Wine House. I know I've been writing about the wine house a lot lately. Peter went on a shopping spree there for blind tasting wines, but let me know if you know where else this wine can be found, especially in smaller retailers and restos. 

Cider, Sidre.

This isn't really wine in that it's made from apples, not grapes. 

Eric Bordelet, Sidre Doux, NV.

Only 4% alcohol it's delicious and earthy and cidery - it says Doux - but wasn't perfect for drinking while decorating the tree.

We actually had the Poire sparkling - from 100 year old pear trees - for our Christmas festivities. 

You can get both of thee at El Vino is Venice.

The Sidre is $13.50

The Poire is $23.99

 

My taste buds differ.

Today is my 200th post! Yahoo!!

I celebrate with 2006 Grilli di Testamatta. Sangiovese 80%, Canaiolo 10%, 10% Colorino.  

92 points Wine Spectator: "There's beautiful fruit in this wine, with berry, chocolate, and Indian spices. Full bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, flavorful finish and although it has loads of fruit, it is refined and balanced." 

As for me, our friend Giacomo makes this wine and so I'm biased no matter what Wine Spectator says. I totally agree with the Indian Spices thing - that makes this wine really exotic, but I found it to be much lighter in body that WS. I mean, it's Sangiovese, not Cabernet. The tannins were soft and the fruit was pretty bright, not deep. I didn't find any chocolate either... oh well, what do I know?? 

Available at K&L for $32.99

A new blog!

My friend Kirk started his own LA wine blog and I'm psyched to have a partner out there!! He works the camera in casting offices around town and I dig him because he's like a real dude. I don't say that about most people I meet in my "other" life. Stop reading my blog, because its boring, and check out his blog!

http://squishedandfermented.blogspot.com/

I  LOVE the title Squished and Fermented because I hate the word CRUSH. People always want to come to the winery for "crush" and that word has started to appear very amateur to me. Yes, I'm being honest about vernacular because it's my blog and I'm allowed.  I'm going to the winery to SQUISH now. I've definitely gotten squishy over the last 3 months, while Julian at the Cheese Store of Silverlake is getting less squishy thanks to Dr. Dick. (If you want to know details call the store on Thursdays between 12 and 4 - let's just say the 2 most important organs are fully functional. LADIES?!??!)

 

Tamales and Rioja.

Allende, Rioja, 2004. 

We drank this with the Turkey on T-Day and it was pretty good for $21.99 (Wine House) Despite the picture - it was COLD in Palm Springs and the dog escaped twice, which was really annoying! 

The wine was stewy and dark, almost like 2003, and paired well with cranberries and Durkee Green Bean Casserole, made from Campbell''s Cream of Mushroom in a can. How's that for a recommendation? How's that for American????!!

In other news, I'm really bored with blogging about what I'm drinking. I mean, does anyone really care? Why blog? I love reading blogs because they provide me with news and view points on current events. 

What's the purpose of this blog? I show you the bottles that I consume as I stumble my way through life. How depressing. Thanks for joining me though. Misery loves company. 

Also, as an aside, for those of you who go to the Hollywood Farmer's Market, you must try Vera's Tamales - its on the street closest to Selma. I bought 6 of them frozen - queso and jalapeno - ($13) and have eaten one a day, every day this week. You just steam for 25 minutes and eat. (Peter was gone, so cut me some slack.)

Do you know where I can get it?

Isole Olena, Chardonnay, Toscana, 2006 actually really good Italian Chard! This is the guy who makes Cepparello.

Peter had this wine in Colorado and said it was juicy, not too oaky and really balanced with acidity, apple fruit flavors and moderate alcohol. You can get it at... I don't know!!! I will find out though...

A good one for Christmas or just for today.

I've written about Lopez de Heredia, Rioja before but I didn't write about the 1981 that my friend ws nice enough to share with me at Palate. 

We drank this next to a 2003 Barolo and I much preferred this wine. It was so elegant and refined. Like silk pajamas, I wanted to curl up in it. The fruit was faded, but the wine was not oxidized. It had some dried fruit and nuts, but I found it to be alluring and not off putting. 

Some people love really old wine that tastes like dried out poo poo (1981 Sebastiani anyone?). I don't happen to be one of those people. But old wine that's well made and properly stored is a real treat. And this little bottle is just that!

You can get this at Wine House, Wine Exchange, Wally's and K&L. all priced between $79.99 to $99.99. Make it a special Christmas treat!