31 October 2011 2007 Cakebread Dancing Bear Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon

2007 Cakebread Dancing Bear Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon

October 31, 2011 By

I had the pleasure to sampling this wine at a recent tasting and much like the other Cabernet Sauvignon is Cakebread’s repertoire, I thought it was outstanding.

In the glass, this Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is dark and onctuous.  Just beautiful.  The nose on the 2007 Cakebread Dancing Bear Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon is intense with mashed ripe cherries and dark raspberries.  There are notes of pumpkin pie spices and mocha.  On the palate, it’s bold yet smooth.  There’s dark chocolate, pine needles, juicy stone fruits and loads of ripe fruit.  A complex, rich, opulent wine with rounded tannins that last through a long finish.

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc

Region: Napa Valley, California

Around $100

Filed Under: Red Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
29 October 2011 2008 Chateau Puligny Montrachet Monthelie Pinot Noir

2008 Chateau Puligny Montrachet Monthelie Pinot Noir

October 29, 2011 By

Vibrant purple in the glass (like it already).  There’s a little smoke on the intense ripe fruit nose (like it even more).  On the palate, it’s a mouthful of cherries with a medium body that offers a long sweet finish (love it).

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Pinot Noir

Region: Burgundy, France

Around $25

Filed Under: France, Pinot Noir, Red Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
19 October 2011 2007 Antinori Tignanello

2007 Antinori Tignanello

October 19, 2011 By

Sampled this beauty at a tasting last week where it was poured alongside other stars and it was super.  This wine is considered the original Super Tuscan and it remains a top Italian wine.

In the glass, it’s medium garnet.  On the nose, it’s dense, rich and oaky.  There are aromas of ripe fruit, grilled bread and mocha with hints of fir, cracked black pepper and leather.  On the palate, it’s chewy with ripe, lush berries, chocolate and stone fruits.  Slight tannins on a long, smooth finish.

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc

Region: Tuscany, Italy

Around $79

Filed Under: Red Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,
18 October 2011 2008 Joseph Phelps Insignia

2008 Joseph Phelps Insignia

October 18, 2011 By

Had the opportunity to taste this wine last week at a tasting and it was wonderful.  The 2008 Joseph Phelps Insignia is inky in the glass.  On the nose, this wine is exactly where I want California Cab to be: dark berries, mocha and chocolate.  In the mouth, it’s silky and smooth even this early in its life.  There are spicy notes, black licorice and lots of ripe fruit.  The finish is slightly tannic and medium in length.

Just a gorgeous wine that will be amazing with some cellaring.

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot and 4% Merlot

Region: Napa Valley, California

Around $159

Filed Under: Red Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
15 October 2011 2005 Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino

2005 Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino

October 15, 2011 By

I sampled this Tuscan wine at a recent tasting and it was one of my favorites, even against cult French and Californian wines.

On the nose, it has floral qualities and tons of raspberry aromas.  In the mouth, it’s lush, lightly jammy with ripe raspberries, offers spicy notes and is balanced and elegant.  This wine is more medium-bodied than full and it has a long, clean finish.  Really love it.

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type: Sangiovese

Region: Tuscany, Italy

Around $175

 

Filed Under: Red Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
13 October 2011 Putting the Super in Wine Library Super Tasting

Putting the Super in Wine Library Super Tasting

October 13, 2011 By

Monday evening, I took my dad and his spouse, Rolande, to the Wine Library Super Tasting being held at beautiful The Manor in West Orange, NJ.  The event coincided perfectly with my dad’s yearly pilgrimage to see me in New Jersey from Quebec, so I was excited to surprise them with tickets to the tasting.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit The Gateway Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund, which is geared toward students pursuing technical and career oriented education.

With over 700 wines being poured, it was imperative that I arrive at the event prepared.  To add to the excitement of attending the tasting, I created a database where names of the wines we wanted to taste along with their table numbers could be added.  From there, I had my dad and Rolande compile a list of wines they would like to sample and I built mine.  There was no overlap – they opted for strictly French and I diversified.  Once the list was compiled, I ranked the wines by table number and also by wine type and printed the grid that we each brought a copy with us.  Simple and efficient!

Here is our master list:

Super Tasting Wines – 101011

Being organized allowed us to taste all the wines we wanted to sample, it kept us focused and it avoided the familiar “where do you want to go next? I don’t know, where do you want to go next?” situation that arises from poor planning.

The 2011 Wine Library Super Tasting was a super event indeed and one I’ll be certain to attend in future years.  Thanks to the friendly staff of the Wine Library for being so helpful, as always and for making its patrons feel much pampered.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Dessert Wine, Other Neat Things, Red Wine, Sparkling Wine, White Wine Tagged With: , ,
10 October 2011 5 Italian Wines to Drink on Columbus Day

5 Italian Wines to Drink on Columbus Day

October 10, 2011 By

October 10 is Columbus Day, the celebration of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492.  In honor of the famed Italian-born explorer, colonizer, and navigator, I’m highlighting 5 neat and affordable Italian wines I’ve sampled in the last few months.

Happy Columbus Day!

Cheers,

Veronique

 

 

Filed Under: Other Neat Things, Wine Reviews Tagged With: ,
5 October 2011 Perrier-Jouët Bicentennial Experience

Perrier-Jouët Bicentennial Experience

October 5, 2011 By

2002 Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé

This week, I had the pleasure of participating in the celebration around the 200th anniversary of Champagne powerhouse, Perrier-Jouët, hosted at the beautiful Park Avenue Club in Florham Park, NJ.

The exclusive event featured Perrier-Jouët Chef de Cave, Hervé Deschamps, one of only seven Cellar Masters in the 200 year history of the famed Champagne house.  Mr. Deschamps thrilled the crowd with the sabering of a Champagne bottle.  Really neat.

The five wines that were served were fantastic.  I’m a huge fan of bubbly wines, so this event was such a special treat for me.  Here are the Champagnes we sampled:

  • Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut: Understated elegance and subtle flavors – $45.
  • Perrier-Jouët Blason Rosé: Palest pink, creamy and a bit smoky – $85.
  • 2004 Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Brut: Golden, yeasty, floral, crisp in the well-known flowered bottle – $150.
  • 2002 Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé: Ripe strawberry, rich texture, long finish – fabulous – $350.
  • 2000 Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs: 100% Chardonnay, moussy, fresh, crisp yet rich and honey-flavored. Just the ultimate Champagne – $400.

I enjoyed all the wines, but the 2002 Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé and the 2000 Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs were just very special.

Each wine was expertly paired with delicious small plates that enhanced the qualities of each of the Champagnes being poured.

I’ll be popping open Perrier-Jouët for several celebrations I have in October.  Don’t wait for the holidays to pop open this liquid gold – just do it for the special mood it’ll put you and your guests into.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Other Neat Things, Sparkling Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
28 September 2011 2005 Château Filhot Sauternes

2005 Château Filhot Sauternes

September 28, 2011 By

Tried the Sauternes on my brand new dessert wine glasses and what a nice treat.  The wine is straw-yellow in the glass and not as unctuous as I’m used to seeing in Sauternes.  On the nose, there’s candied fruit, the typical honey and some ripe tropical fruit.  In the mouth, the 2005 Chateau Filhot Sauternes is full-bodied with a deep sweetness and a very nice level of acidity.

90 points Wine Spectator.

Around $25 (375ml).

Filed Under: Dessert Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: ,
21 September 2011 2009 Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley

2009 Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley

September 21, 2011 By

Served this little gem as my second with some prime ribeyes this weekend and was pleased with the pairing.

In the glass, the 2009 Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley is deep garnet.  On the nose, it’s bright on the dark cherries with some stone fruit and pumpkin pie spice.  In the mouth, this project wine by Barons de Rothschild Lafite is peppy on the fruit and offers rounded tannins and a good level of acidity that makes it really enjoyable.

Super for a young Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon and at an incredible price point.

Around $10.

Filed Under: Red Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
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