Our new toys.

Bubbles got a new toy and so did I. Orcella, Orsus, Montsant, Spain, 2001 for $11.99 at Colorado Wine Company in Eagle Rock. I can't believe the price!

The wine is, appropriately, a little animally, like wet dog, but in that good Old World way. Give your pooch a bath and let her roll all over your micro-suede sofa or pop open a bottle of Orcella and you'll get the full smelly experience.

BUT REALLY, it's got great sweet strawberry fruit and moderate acidity, not too jarring and very light tannins. Mostly it's cheap, and that's just the kind of wine I like to drink when Bubbles and I are going to bed early and can only have one measly pathetic glass.

Pig out on pigato.

Another recommendation by cheese genius, Sebastian Robin Craig at The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills. Durin, Pigato (the grape), Riviera Ligure di Ponente (the region), 2006, $20.00. Sebastian warned me that this one would take a bit to time open up, and he was right.

I decanted this wine and put it in the fridge for 2 hours. It really did open up nicely. The acid, though still tame, revealed itself, but mostly there was just lots of that classic juicy pear quality that I find in so many Italian white wines. Drink up!

A refresher at Froma.

I did another tasting at Froma on Melrose today - if you haven't been there - you must go! I took a recommendation from one of the tasting participants, Bob. What Bob says about the 2006 Valle Isarco, Suditrol-Eisacktaler, Alto-Adige, Italy, 2006, Pinot Grigio, $18.99:

"Very crisp, clean, citrusy and smooth. It waves at you from the back of your tongue."

I think that means its finish is persistent - anything that waves at me from the back of my tongue is a welcome addition to my repertoire. You can get a cold bottle and drink it with a fabulous sandwich right there in the store. Ask for Francine, the owner, she will hook you up!

Just like Havana.

My tip for the day: When your only choice for wine is Rosemont Shiraz or Chilean Cabernet, order a cocktail.

Last night our realtor, Claudia, took us out to listen to Cuban Music. She's from Guatemala and wanted to give us an authentic Latin experience. We went to La Floridita, on the SW corner of Vine and Fountain. It's in a strip mall, and it's great!

We had a fairly respectable dinner for a salsa club. I had beans, rice, plantains and some unidentifiable egg thing. Anyway, when we arrived Claudia said, "You pick the wine". Now, I hate to be a snot, but the list was bad, and it's not their fault really, it's just that they are known for their Mojitos - grandpas secret recipe - not for wine. Now I'm not bashing Rosemont or Chilean Cabernet (well, actually, I would never drink either of those wines) for any other reason than if I can get it for $6.99 at Trader Joe's why would I buy it for $9 a glass La Floridita. The mojitas really put peter in the mood to dance. And in the three years I've known him he's NEVER danced! So ladies, drag your guys there and guilt them into the most embarrassing three minutes of their life. There's more to life than wine - there's dancing.

Not to be Nosey, but...

I heard this on NPR this week and I get it. Aromas are important. About 90% of what you taste is actually what you are smelling. So I'm on the bandwagon. How much do think this honker is worth? I actually want to ensure my whole body. Just in case.

My comment here is yeah, well, what if a secretary loses her left pinky and can't type anymore or what if I get carpal tunnel AGAIN from opening up too many bottles and can't b a sommelier anymore? The world is a dangerous place ANYTHING could happen at ANY time. What makes this guy different from anyone else?

The cheapie comes home to mama.

I wrote about the more expensive of these wines a couple weeks ago. And now, the cheapie! At $18.99 Dm. du Colombier, Crozes-Hermitage, 2005 is so good I'm serving it at my wedding. And that's all I'm going to say, because gosh darn it, that should enough. This photo on the other hand makes me dizzy because it's backwards.

Patriotism lives.

I missed my post yesterday due to Easter Sunday... so today I have 2! We bottled Hocus Pocus Pinot Noir on Friday and last night wanted to try it out against another Willamette Valley, Oregon, Pinot Noir. This one is called Cristom, 2005 vintage. It's interesting because 1) we bought it in half bottle (for $18.99 at the Wine House) 2) it's domestic and we rarely drink domestic (it's on the list of New Year's Resolutions) 3) it's sooo different from Hocus Pocus Pinot, which is very light and "primary".

This wine is a little oaky, lots of sweet vanilla and stewed cherry fruit. Nothing green about it. So many Oregon Pinots can taste a little too cool climate vegetal to me. The alcohol is a little hot, but not so much so that it totally threw me off. Perfect for the new episode of Rock of Love 2.


PLUS, my very good friend, Cara Bertone, says it's perfect with Easter chocolate. We tasted it last night and then had the last drops at lunch today.