I get asked a lot about wine and its serving temperature. The rule of thumb used to be “room temperature: approx. 65 degrees.”. But room temp ain’t what it used to be aka: too darn warm. So here is a fab wine chart to go by thanks to the good peeps over at Snooth.
USE AND ENJOY!
Sep.29,2009
476 First St.
Solvang, CA 93463
805.693.4331
Lover of animals, breeders of good taste, decidedly awesome furniture.
Caritas: charity (syn. philanthropy), an affection for giving to humanity [Latin]
Vin: wine [French]
Caritas + Vin: blending wine with philanthropy— Carivintâs
Cool, huh?
Carivintas is a winery with a great new tasting room in Solvang, CA. They are known for their philanthropic mindset and donate some of their profits to non-profit organizations involved in the arts, sciences, and humanities. Don’t forget the doggies. Love the doggies.
Bless you guys for having rocking hours. They are open until 9pm. Anyone who has been to the area knows there is almost squat to do after 7. But this isn’t just a place to go due to squattage or abundance thereof. Paul Ramos and Fleet Hamilton will take care of you as well as they take care of their wines. Fleet is their wine alchemist and knows his stuff. And Paul never seems to stop propelling Carivintas along. They did a great job on their new tasting room. Go.
Their wines:
2007 Otis & Myka Semillon (14.2%): A rare grape to find in California mostly alone. Refreshing and chilled. Would rule with soft cheese. Definite pear and green fruit notes. Nice.
2008 Chenin Blanc (13.5%): Brought this home with me. Crisp and very aromatic. Floral notes along with more exotic fruit. Rich and light. Is that possible? Yeah.
2007 Sadie & Shadow Chardonnay (14.6%): my kind of Chardonnay. Rich, lush, vanilla, round yet crisp edges. Yes, a hint of butter along with its lively fruit. Just calm down. I won’t tell anyone you liked a nice buttery Chardonnay.
2008 Rosé of Tempranillo (13%): Light rose. Classic. The slightly lower alcohol is appreciated.
2005 Brooklyn & Georgia Pinot Noir (14.1%): Definite spice, roses, cherry and maybe a vanilla splash. Nice fruit.
2006 Olive Mataro Mourvedre (14.6%): Probably my fave. Richness of cinnamon and game, black fruit and oak. Yumtasm. Aerate this and see what happens.
2006 Windmill Cabernet Sauvignon (14.2%): Solid tannins, plenty of dark fruit and pepper spice. Nice concentration. Decant and have fun.
The SB County Visa weekend is coming around again in October. If you are going, even if they are not on the Visa this year, stop on by. If nothing else, but to try a few and hang out on the decidedly awesome furniture.
Aug.5,2009
The fine people at Concha Y Toro Xplorador were kind enough to send some samples of the Xplorador line of wines and was glad to get it! I am a large and in charge fan of Concha in general and didn’t know about this line. The prices are beyond incredible and was hoping to find a gem in there somewhere. Luckily I did.
2008 Concha Y Toro Xplorador Sauvignon Blanc: $5.99-$7.99
Pale, straw yellow with mineral notes and hint of wet stone. Definitely not a green Sauvignon Blanc. Lots of grapefruit, yellow citrus, under ripe pineapple. Crisp, light refreshing, slightly mouth watering. A summer wine all the way. 13.5% alcohol.
Rating: d6
2008 Concha Y Toro Xplorador Malbec: $5.99-$7.99
A deep, dark, dry full bodied wine with aromas of fruity plum, figs, hay, cherries and red peppers. Filled with lively sharp fruit. But it’s still a very tight wine. I would be curious if it would blossom if put down for a year. For the price, probably be worth a test. 13.5% alcohol.
Rating: d4
2008 Concha Y Toro Xplorador Carmenere: $5.99-$7.99
The Carmenere grape is a great alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and emits the qualities of both types of wine. Carmenere was originally a French grape but disease almost wiped it out in the 1800’s. It was brought to Chile in the 1850’s and has been there ever since.
This 13.5% medium full bodied Carmenere is a dark, purple-ruby powerhouse. Aromatic with notes of sweet spices, creamy wood, staining black fruit, espresso powder, aromatic herbs, and maybe the slightest, far reaching hint of fresh pink rose petals. Flavors of smooth fruit, round tannins and a hint of dry black figs and mocha. Aerating only enhances. An easy drinking wine without heaviness but still has substantial body. Serve just below room temperature.
Rating: d8
I have to say out of the three, this is the standout and super excellent buy for the price. If you blind tasted this, I’d be very shocked if you guessed how much it actually cost.
There is always smart labeling on Concha Y Toro wines in general. Simple notes, well designed, clear percentages if a blend. Speaking of percentages, at 13.5%, their wines are always reasonable for food.
Bottom line: if you see the Xplorador Carmenere, don’t grab a bottle. Grab a case.
Okay, Dumb name, good idea.
So, the Independence Day All-American Wine Tasting Jubilee went well. Twelve friends, twelve wines. There were some clear favorites and a few clunkers no matter how much decanting went on. But the five spice baby back ribs, Italian chicken pepper sausage, burgers, cheese and salumi platter as well as rosemary olive oil bread and roasted garlic baguettes helped.
The winner of the night? The 2006 Cambria Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir. Decanted 30 minutes.
THE LINEUP and PICKS:
2007 Zolo Torrontes: Asti-like in is sweetness. Delicate aroma and tropical. Still had a fresh edge. Juicy medium finish. Satisfying/bordering on too sweet for me. Can find under $10.
2008 Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes South America: All floral and apricots. Crisp but slight hint of sweetness. Can find under $10.
2008 Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc: Tons and tons of chive and lemon, crisp and fresh. Born for fish. Interesting if not an acquired taste on this one. I personally like it. Can find under $10.
Rating: d10
.
.
.
.
.
2007 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay: Vanilla, oak butter, fruit. Classic in every way. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or bad thing here. Pretty decent. Pretty forgettable.
Melipal Malbec Rose 2008 Argentina: Very dark salmon. Acidic. Tannic. Tasted under-ripe. Tight aromas, thin consistency. A shame.
2007 Cameron Hughes LOT 110 Pinot Noir Los Carneros: Another winner after decanting. Pretty nice and of course, especially for the price. Strawberry, earth, and bright red fruits. Ample acidity with chocolate spice and a subtle tannin.
Rating: d8
.
2007 MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir Central Coast: Initially had an odd young sparkling element to it and dissipated after decanting. Cherry, blueberries barest hint of earth. Some allspice and touch of oak. I got this at a ridiculous deal of $9.99 so for the price, it was very decent.
Rating: d10
.
2006 Cambria Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley: A winner. But only after decanting. Complex with black cherries, raspberry, definite cinnamon allspice and vanilla oak. Hint of licorice and earthy finish. You have only one day, maybe two to enjoy.
Rating: d12
.
.
.
.
.
.
2007 Cameron Hughes LOT 103 Napa Valley Meritage: Dark purple tannic and over structured. Blackberry aroma,bell pepper. Decanting a must. Put it down, it would be better.
2006 Demetria Pantheon Blend Santa Ynez Valley: An odd one. Clearly a blend from the leftovers. Sharp tannins, bitter edge. White cherries, dried strawberries, menthol. I love Demetria, but I don’t know what happened here.
2005 Genesis Merlot: Nice. Rich, smooth, oak and vanilla, smoke and earth. Yum.
2005 Zaca Mesa Syrah Santa Ynez Valley: Showed its age in a good way. Blackberry, leather, cured meats, mocha and herbs. Solid tannins and smoky spice, oak and cedar. The people liked!
Rating: d8
.
.
.
.
.
.
Out of the reds, most seemed to love the 2006 Cambria Pinot Noir. Another fave was the Zaca Mesa Syrah, and a surprising find was the Cameron Hughes Lot 110 Pinot Noir. After decanting it really held up. It’s been hit and miss with CH, and this one is a hit. The stern Cameron Hughes Meritage needs more time. All I could do was decant, and it did help. But put it down a year and I bet it would be significatly superior. I think most agreed the 2006 Demetria Pantheon was their least favorite. I myself am a huge Demetria fan and was surprised how harsh this was. Decanting didn’t do much. Snuck a taste the next night and was a hint better.
Out of the whites, there were definite differences of opinion on that front. Some loved the 2007 Crios Torrontes, others thought it was weird. The Sauvignon Blanc fans liked the 2008 Montes, while others found it hard to drink with it’s extreme herbaceousness.
The 2008 Melipal Malbec Rose was the all around unfortunate loser. We ended up putting that one back in the fridge because it was pointless to drink with its sharp bitterness and unready state. I love a good Rose’ and had hopes. Oh well.
Thanks to everyone for coming, giving some great comments and indulging my nerdy wino needs!
![photo[2]](http://wineunfiltered.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/photo2.jpg "photo[2]")
Tags : blend, Cabernet Sauvignon, cambria, cameron hughes, Chardonnay, crios, demetria, demetria pantheon, genesis merlot, Independence Day, July 4th, macmurray ranch, melipal, Merlot, montes, Pinot Noir, Red Wine, rose', santa barbara, sauvignon blnac, Sea Smoke, syrah, tasting, torrontes, white wine, Wine, zaca mesa, zolo
What is Chablis?
For my versed readers, you can skip this, but for everyone else:
Six simple sentiments:
-CHABLIS: (pronounced Shah-blee)
-Chablis: a region in the north of Burgundy, France, not a grape variety.
-CHAblis = CHArdonnay. The Chablis region makes Chardonnay wine.
-For those who don’t like oak butter bombs, you’re in luck. Chablis makes UNOAKED Chardonnays. As a general rule.
-In like Fint: Chablis wines have a more flinty, steely quality.
-The best Chablis ages well (around 10 to 15 years) due to their maintained acidity.
Go forth and imbibe.
Tags : Burgundy, Chardonnay, family guy, France, grapes, steel, unoaked, white wine, Wine
photo by Jonathan_WI recently received a great question from one of my friends asking what kind of wines would be good for someone who isn’t a wine drinker and doesn’t like the bitter stuff? Now don’t get me wrong, I love sweet drinks. The problem is sweet drinks don’t like me. I can teeter on the side of a hand made mai tai, mojito, fresh lime margarita…but my body hates sugar. Stupid body.
I happen to like the dark things, thank goodness. The darker the chocolate, the darker the wine, the better I like it. But that’s not for everyone. If you like tart drinks, (tart as in pucker, not tart as in Paris Hilton) the segue to wine should be a little easier than someone who likes drinking the really sweet stuff. You at least will be used to acidity, and that will help eventually with transition over to the less sweet whites like Sauvigon Blanc. The reds are another story and I’ll tackle that in another post.
White wines can have aromas such as green apple, pineapple, orange blossoms, honey, and cashews. As a starter wine drinker who rather have sweet, start with some white grape varieties: Reisling, Viognier, Moscato di Asti, buttery Chardonnay, Sauternes, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Grigio. There are semi dry Rose’ that would definitely go down well.
If you are still hesitant to let go of the pucker apple martini, at least give white wine a try. You may happen to have been exposed to some lousy wines and think that’s the way it is. Not all wines are bitter, acidic, or a one way ticket to tannin town. To get more specific, I’ve listed some suggestions to wean off the green:
Depending on what kind of non-wine drinker you are:
level 1: Sex on the Beach and Pink Squirrels
Ken Forrester Petit Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch South Africa 2007 Just slightly too sweet for my taste, but good for you sweet lovers. Surprising hint of sparkly minerality and herbaceousness makes it different.
Viñedo De Los Vientos Estival 2007 Surprising Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer and Muscato Blanco blend. Golden with a floral nose and succulent agave nectar. Nice acidity, tart without pucker.
level 2: Green apple Martinis and Cosmopolitans
Firestone Santa Ynez Gewurztraminer 2006 Nice acidity with smoothness. Good balance of sweet and continued drinkablility.
Daniel Barraud Pouilly-Fuissé La Verchère 2006 Almost too smooth, but in this case, it will help a non-wino. Rich. Great aroma. Golden straw color. Balanced.
level 3: Salted Margaritas and Mint Juleps
Viandante del Cielo Chardonnay Skywalker Ranch 2004 Not a butter bomb even though the look says different. Pure golden with smooth oak and vanilla. Balanced. Drinkable.
Opine Cellars – Cotes du Coast – White 2007 Rhône varietals of Viognier, Rousanne and Marsanne of Central Coast, CA. Balanced. Beautiful. Deep gold, rich and dry with earthy leaves and fennel seed, honeydew melon.
NEXT TIME: THE REDS….
Tags : beginner, martinis, Red Wine, sweet, white wine
May.11,2009
5 bucks, 6 wines.
A Bevmo tasting should not be overlooked. The price is beyond reasonable and they won’t blink twice if you need to taste something again to make sure you know what you are going to buy. Stop by and say hello to Ed in the tasting center. He knows soil, location, and climate very well, he will give you a good lesson. He also is a great note taker, so he never seems to stop learning himself.
This week was a sampling of organic and sustainably produced whites and reds:
Beringer Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley— Quite good. I almost feel odd saying that about such a big corporate wine company but it is. Ripe with white grapefruit and bitter peel. Surprisingly still smooth.
Benziger Sauvignon Blanc— Certified Sustainable. Small family winery. Steely lemon. Bold acid. Drink cold.
Bonterra Chardonnay— Also nice. Bonterra Vineyards organically grown. Ripe with butter and oak. Pretty balanced.
Bonterra Merlot— Medium body red, pretty smooth, but overwhelming fruit.
Benziger Cabernet Sauvignon— Pleasing oak, hints of jam. Average drinking wine.
Parducci Sustainable Red— Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Sustainable Red. Light crisp tannins and solid fruit with hint of sharpness. But what was most interesting was how aeration changed this wine. We almost thought the wrong wine was poured the second time, but no, Ed got it right. The oak exploded and the wine grew immensely. It unfortunately very slowly died, but the glass was finished by that time, so it wasn’t quick enough to be disappointed.
Club Bevmo helps with the price: between 2-7 $ off. Worth it. Just be careful on 5 cent sales and make sure the mark up is not too much. Can be worth it sometimes, and other times infuriatingly not.
May.5,2009Yes, it May of 5 and that means it’s time for Sticky Sweet Green Salted Bowl Juice. Also known as a Margarita. Now, I actually love margaritas. But unless it’s made not from a mix, it can be pretty lousy. So, instead of the norm, try a wine to go with your Guacamole.
INGREDIENTS: (makes 2 cups)
2 Ripe avocados
Squeeze of lime
1 Tablespoon of the juice of a pico de gallo salsa
1/2 Teaspoon whole cumin seeds
Granulated garlic to taste (not garlic salt or powder)
Salt and pepper
A textured guac is sometimes much more interesting than a smooth one, so mash as such. Put it all together and…you know what to do. Enjoy with freshly fried crisp tortilla chips.
A wine with both richness and acidity would be ideal for the butteriness of beautiful avocados and the tang of lime. Dry, white, with a little freshness. I haven’t found an amazing Mexican wine as of yet, but in honor of our South American neighbors I have found a perfect wine for this dish from Argentina.
I tasted the 2007 Bodega Cicchitti Torrontés. Light golden with mineral on the nose. Definite hints of sweetness buried in limestone and floral honeysuckle. The mellow fades to tart, becomes refreshing without being too sweet. No acid overload. A difficult balance to find for a complex little fruit as the avocado.
Give it a good chill and hasta luego Frozen Strawberry Mango Pomegranate Banana Margarita.
Tags : Argentina, guacamole, mexican, recipe, restaurant, white wine, wine bottles
Tags : Red Wine, tv, white wine, wine bar
Filed Under : 