25 August 2013 Old York Cellars – Virtual Tasting

Old York Cellars – Virtual Tasting

August 25, 2013 By

Old York WinesOld York Cellars is one of New Jersey’s oldest vineyards and last week, old vines met new technology in a virtual wine tasting.

I’ve detailed the concept of virtual wine tasting in previous posts but for those of you who are new to virtual wine tastings, this is what the concept entails:

  • Buy a bottle of the wine varietal or brand being featured.
  • Invite friends to share the experience with you, or snuggle in your pajamas in front of the computer.
  • Sip and share your wine feedback with other tasters globally using the designated hashtag on Twitter and Facebook!

Old York Cellars’ vines have been active since 1978 and planted at what was Amwell Valley Vineyard at the time. The winery provided excellent chocolates for the tasting by Laurie’s Chocolates out of Bucks County, PA.

Here are my tasting notes from the featured wines:

2011 Old York Cellars Chardonnay

This Chardonnay is fermented in stainless steel then sees four months of medium oak. That process will please fan of unoaked Chardonnay as the oak is light but there’s a bit of butteryness that oaked Chardonnay fans will appreciate. This wine offers intense fruity flavors with a little vanilla and green apple on the finish. It has a nice level of acidity.

The Laurie’s Chocolates treat I liked best with this wine was the milk chocolate caramel.

Pairings: Roast chicken, salmon, pasta in light creamy sauce

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): Chardonnay

Price: $17

2011 Old York Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon sees 6 months of medium oak and is medium-bodied. Don’t expect a big, bold Napa Valley Cab here, this is lighter in flavor and texture with cherry flavors and a dry, soft finish. The Laurie’s Chocolates Cabernet Truffle couldn’t have been a better pairing.

Pairings: Grilled beef, tomato-based Italian dishes, mushroom dishes

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Cabernet Sauvignon

Price: $21

Old York Cellars has a summer music series and the events hosted at the property sound fun. I’m looking forward to making the trek down south for a tasting.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Culinary Travel Tales, Other Neat Things, United States Tagged With: , , ,
20 August 2013 2009 Chateau Perenne Bernard Magrez Cru Bourgeois

2009 Chateau Perenne Bernard Magrez Cru Bourgeois

August 20, 2013 By

2009 Chateau Perenne Bernard Magrez Cru BourgeoisBought this inexpensive Bordeaux in Quebec in anticipation of a couple dinner parties I was attending and thought it was a nice wine for the price point.

This inky-hued wine offers beautiful fruit and nutmeg undertones. Round from the Merlot with solid body and tannins from the Cabernet Sauvignon.

This is the same producer who makes Château Pape Clement Pessac Leognan Grand Cru priced at over $350.

Pairings: Poultry, pork chops, grilled beef.

Style: Red wine

Grape Type(s): 75% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Franc

Region: Bordeaux, France

Around $13

Filed Under: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Malbec, Merlot, Red Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,
23 July 2013 Sick of White Wine Yet?

Sick of White Wine Yet?

July 23, 2013 By

Wine SteakIt’s hot and muggy outside and for many, including me, the weather calls for light, refreshing white wines. While I’ve poured my share of Assyrtiko, Sauvignon Blanc and Albarino this summer, I’m now craving reds that pair well with burgers, ribs and steaks.

15 Red Wines to Uncork at Summer Barbecues:

Wines for Burgers:

  • 2007 Campo Viejo Reserva Rioja (Rioja, Spain) – $9.99
  • 2010 Alba Vineyards Old Mill Red (Musconetcong Valley, New Jersey, USA) – $11.99
  • 2011 Garnet Vineyards Pinot Noir (Monterey County, California, USA) – $14.99
  • 2009 Albert Bichot Pinot Noir Vielles Vignes (Burgundy, France) – $14.99
  • 2011 Hahn Pinot Noir (Monterey County, California, USA) – $15.99

Wines for Ribs:

  • 2010 Graffigna Centenario Malbec Reserve (San Juan, Argentina) – $10.99
  • 2009 Villa Puccini Toscana (Tuscany, Italy) – $10.99
  • 2010 Predator Old Vine Zinfandel (Central Valley, California, USA) – $11.99
  • 2010 Renwood Winery Premier Old Vine Zinfandel (Amador County, California, USA) – $19.99
  • 2011 Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel (Sonoma County, California, USA) – $23.99

Wines for Steaks:

  • 2008 Wyndham Estate BIN 555 Shiraz  (South Eastern, Australia) – $9.99
  • 2010 Montes Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenere (Colchagua Valley, Chile) – $10.99
  • 2010 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Barossa Shiraz (Barossa Valley, Australia) – $14.99
  • 2008 Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre (Valpolicella, Italy) – $16.99
  • 2009 Esporao Reserva Red (Alentejo, Portugal) – $18.99

What are some of your affordable reds?

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Argentina, Australia, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Italy, Malbec, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Portugal, Red Wine, Rioja, Spain, Syrah / Shiraz, Tempranillo, United States, Wine Reviews, Zinfandel Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
10 July 2013 Dinner with Jacob’s Creek…at My Home

Dinner with Jacob’s Creek…at My Home

July 10, 2013 By

Jacob's CreekThis year, 4th of July was celebrated with beef and beefy red wines at my home. My guy grilled a whole beef tenderloin and I baked my Cabot Creamery Seriously Sharp Cheddar Mac N Cheese.

Since I had a nice lineup of Jacob’s Creek’s current release, I decided to focus the party around their wines. Here’s what we tasted:

  • 2010 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Barossa Shiraz ($14) – This wine smells and tastes the way it looks: blackberry, chocolate/mocha with a little black pepper. It was perfect for the beef and the pepper sauce I served with it. I just enjoy that big mouthful of dark jammy berries.
  • 2011 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon ($10) – Purplish red in the glass, this Cabernet Sauvignon offers ripe blackberry and red current aromas with some astringent notes. Nicely balanced, fresh with vanilla notes. Can’t beat it for the price.
  • 2012 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir ($13) – Nice berry aromas with a bit of pumpkin pie spice. Bright cherry flavors with a little oak on the finish. Baby tannins stood up to roasted s’mores nicely.
  • 2012 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Barossa Dry Riesling ($12) – Citrusy aromas with fresh, green apple flavors. Lovely crisp, wet stone finish. Perfect to cut through the richness of my mac and cheese and stood up to its spicy Panko topping.
  • 2012 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Adelaide Hills Chardonnay ($15) – For fans of Chardonnay without a ton of oak and butteryness, this is a good option. It offers a floral, citrusy noseful and nectarine aromas with a great level of acidity. This was poured around the time we enjoyed my Red, White and Blue Cake.

I know I should have poured American wines of this very American holiday, but I enjoyed the lineup very much and look forward to pairing up those heavier reds with my grilled meats this summer.

Cheers,

Veronique

These wines were provided to me for sampling and I’m adding to my repertoire as they’re truly enjoyable.

Filed Under: Australia, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Syrah / Shiraz, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
22 June 2013 2009 Jean Edwards Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

2009 Jean Edwards Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

June 22, 2013 By

2009 Jean Edwards Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet SauvignonI had the California Cabernet Sauvignon at a recent wine pairing dinner and it was big and round and rich with stone fruit aromas and chocolate covered cherry flavors. It was paired with short ribs and côte de boeuf and it was simply decadent.

Pairings: Roasted or grilled meats, cheese course

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Napa Valley, CA, USA

Price: $65

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Wine, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
10 May 2013 2000 Seavey Vineyard Caravina Cabernet Sauvignon

2000 Seavey Vineyard Caravina Cabernet Sauvignon

May 10, 2013 By

2000 Caravina Napa ValleyI uncorked this wine that had been in my cellar the other and simply loved it. This Bordeaux-style wine offers earthy and stone-fruit aromas and a well-balanced, plummy-in-the-mouth Cabernet Sauvignon with all the finesse and elegance a California Cab should have.

Pairings: Grilled meats, pasta with Bolognese sauce, mild blue cheese

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Napa Valley, CA, USA

Price: $65

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Wine, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
8 May 2013 2008 Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin

2008 Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin

May 8, 2013 By

2008 Osoyoos Larose Le Grand VinMom brought this Canadian wine down with her when she came to visit. She served it with an Easter dinner of lamb and it was a nice pairing.

This Bordeaux-style blend is an intense, deep purple/red in the glass and offers aromas of ripe berries, mocha and chocolate. I expected big, bold flavors to come through based on the sheer color and aromas of this British Columbia wine but got a medium-bodied, roundish Merlot palate with a nice level of acidity and good fruit. Well-balanced with a pleasant, slightly spiced finish. One of the better Canadian reds I’ve had.

Pairings: Grilled meats, cheese course

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot

Region: Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

Price: $40

Filed Under: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Canada, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Red Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
8 April 2013 Getting to Know Smith Madrone Winery

Getting to Know Smith Madrone Winery

April 8, 2013 By

Smith Madrone ChardonnaySmith-Madrone Winery is located in Napa Valley in the Spring Mountain District. The 200-acre estate has vineyards that sit at elevations up to 2,000 feet. Some of the vines are planted on slopes as steep as over 30 degrees.

Two of the Smith-Madrone wines I recently had the opportunity to sample are the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2009 Chardonnay.

  • 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon ($45) – nearly black and opaque in the glass, this California Cabernet Sauvignon features incredible aromas of ripe cherries with chocolaty, earthy and oaky undertones. In the mouth, it’s a big and bold wine with dark berry and licorice flavors balanced by just the right level of tannins.
  • 2009 Chardonnay ($35) – medium straw color in the glass, the California Chardonnay offers bright aromas of Asian pear with oaky notes. On the palate, cantaloupe and ripe apple flavors dominate. Toasted bread finish.

As far as idyllic California Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon go, these are super examples.

These wines were provided to me for sampling and I am adding to my repertoire as they are truly enjoyable.

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Red Wine, United States, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
25 March 2013 2008 Franciscan Estate Magnificat Meritage

2008 Franciscan Estate Magnificat Meritage

March 25, 2013 By

2008 Franciscan Estate Magnificat MeritageI uncorked this Napa Valley Cabernet blend to pair with grilled steaks, garlic and Vermont cheddar mashed potatoes and peppercorn sauce and it was simply delicious.

I decanted half of the wine and actually enjoyed it both ways, although, predictably, it softened a bit after 30 minutes in the decanter.

In the glass, it’s inky red. I just knew I’d enjoy it by just looking at it in the glass and getting a sniff of the chocolaty, oaky, dark berry aromas. A good swirl showed legs wrapped around my glass. As far as taste goes, this California wine has delectable blackberry, stone fruit and mocha flavors. The finish is long and dry and I just loved it.

Aged in French oak barrel for over 20 months, this is a big, bold, almost jammy boy that’s right up my alley.

Pairings: Grilled beef, mac and cheese

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec

Region: Napa Valley, California, USA

Price: $50

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Red Wine, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , ,
4 March 2013 2009 Esporao Reserva Red

2009 Esporao Reserva Red

March 4, 2013 By

Esporao-Reserva-Red-2009Enjoyed this wine at the New York Wine Expo. Nose offers dark cherries, ripe berries and pumpkin pie spice. This easy-drinking wine has juicy berry and some stone fruit flavors and a rich, slightly tannic finish.

Pairings: Grilled meat, roasted mushrooms.

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Tempranillo, Tinto Fino, Tinta Roriz, Trincadeira, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alicante Bouschet

Region: Alentejo, Portugal

Price: $18

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, Portugal, Red Wine, Tempranillo, Tinto Fino, Wine Reviews Tagged With: ,
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