10 August 2012 2010 Garnet Carneros Pinot Noir

2010 Garnet Carneros Pinot Noir

August 10, 2012 By

This North Coast Pinot Noir is ruby in the glass with intense floral and strawberry aromas with earthy/mushroomy notes. Reminds me of grandma’s homemade wild strawberry jam on freshly toasted bread. On the palette, the 2010 Garnet Carneros Pinot Noir offers bright cherry flavors with slightly woodsy undertones. I love this wine’s silkiness, great balance and long flavorful finish.

Winemaker Alison Crowe does a super job with this wine, which is quite possibly the best Carneros Pinot Noir I have had in recent memory.

Pairings:  Grilled chicken or pork chops. I cannot think of many foods that would not be a good match to this wine.

Style: Red

Grape Type(s): Pinot Noir

Region: Carneros, California, USA

Price: $19.99

This wine was provided to me for sampling and I’m adding to my repertoire as it’s truly enjoyable.

Filed Under: Pinot Noir, Red Wine, United States Tagged With: , , , , , ,
17 July 2012 2005 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2005 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

July 17, 2012 By

I enjoy Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon and when I was invited to go camping (yes, in a luxury RV, but camping nonetheless) I opted to bring the 2005 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon to pair with the prime rib eye steaks I was contributing to the festivities.

In the glass, this Alexander Valley wine is deep crimson.  The nose is intensely of dark fruit, pumpkin pie spice, tobacco and black licorice.  In the mouth, it’s jammy, smooth and velvety with ripe berry, vanilla and toasted oak notes.  The finish is medium in length with some pleasing tannins.

A wine to treat yourself to when you buy the very best steaks for the grill.

Pairings:  Grilled prime beef.  Cheese course.

Style: Red

Grape Type(s): Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Alexander Valley, California, USA

Around $60

 

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Wine, United States Tagged With: , , , , , ,
30 June 2012 2009 Tamaya Reserva Carmenere

2009 Tamaya Reserva Carmenere

June 30, 2012 By

Had this Chilean wine at a wine dinner at Morris Tap & Grill and really enjoyed its boldness and food-friendliness.

On the nose, the 2009 Tamaya Reserva Carmenere offers potent aromas of ripe raspberries with spicy and coffee notes.  On the palate, it’s a huge mouthful of rich, concentrated dark berries with a long spicy/peppery finish.

Pairings:  Grilled beef or lamb.  Sharp cheese dishes.

Style: Red

Grape Type(s): Carmenere

Region: Limari Valley, Chile

Around $10

 

Filed Under: Carmenere, Chile, Red Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
27 June 2012 2002 Chateau Preuillac Cru Bourgeois Medoc

2002 Chateau Preuillac Cru Bourgeois Medoc

June 27, 2012 By

Paired this French Bordeaux with rare roasted duck and it was a nice pairing.  In the glass, it’s brick red in color.  The nose is an appealing blend of plum, coffee and leather.  In the mouth, the stone fruit comes through along with vanilla and mocha notes.  Medium finish with softened tannins.

Pairings:  Grilled or roasted beef or duck.  Cheesy dishes.

Style: Red

Grape Type(s): 50% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc

Region: Bordeaux / Medoc, France

Around $25

 

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Merlot, Red Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
26 June 2012 2007 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Fattoria Del Cerro

2007 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Fattoria Del Cerro

June 26, 2012 By

Bright purplish ruby in the glass, this affordable Italian wine has a ripe dark fruit nose laced with spiced notes.  In the mouth, it’s round with a nice balance of rich dark fruit and chocolate with good acidity.

Had this 2007 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Fattoria Del Cerro paired with rare duck and it was a nice pairing.

Pairings:  Grilled chicken or pork, cheese course, mushroom risotto.

Style: Red

Grape Type(s): 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo Nero

Region: Tuscany, Italy

Around $20

 

Filed Under: Italy, Red Wine, Sangiovese, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,
19 June 2012 2009 Castello Di Camigliano Rosso di Montalcino

2009 Castello Di Camigliano Rosso di Montalcino

June 19, 2012 By

Paired this Tuscan wine with my cheese course at a recent dinner party and it matched up well.  Lighter and fruitier than its counterpart, Brunello di Montalcino, this wine didn’t overwhelm the mild soft cheeses and stood up to the stinkier, riper ones.

In the glass, the 2009 Castello Di Camigliano Rosso di Montalcino is vibrant red and it offers bright fruit on the nose.  In the mouth, it’s well-balanced with a dark berry mixed with mushroomy/earthy flavors.  Meant to be drunk young, this affordable wine can be served on a Tuesday night with pizza or at a party with more complex dishes.

Pairings:  Grilled chicken or pork, cheese course, pasta with red sauce.

Style: Red

Grape Type(s): Sangiovese

Region: Tuscany, Italy

Around $22

 

Filed Under: Italy, Red Wine, Sangiovese, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
7 June 2012 2007 Vina Honda Monastrell Jumilla

2007 Vina Honda Monastrell Jumilla

June 7, 2012 By

I’d had this inexpensive Spanish wine in my cellar for a while and opted to uncork it to pair with grilled porterhouse steaks with peppercorn sauce.

In the glass, it shows a deep purple color not unlike the purple band on the bottle’s label.  On the nose, I smelled Herbes de Provence and hints of cracked peppercorn.  The palate of this Monastrell is a mouthful of dark berries with nice acidity and pine needle notes.  The finish is short, which is a bit of a disappointment.   Grilled pork chops would have been a better match than my steaks.  Nice wine for $10.

Pairings:  Grilled pork chops, goat cheese on toasted bread.

Style: Red

Grape Type(s): Monastrell (also known as Mourvedre)

Region: Murcia, Spain

Around $10

 

Filed Under: Red Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,
1 June 2012 2008 Wyndham Estate BIN 555 Shiraz

2008 Wyndham Estate BIN 555 Shiraz

June 1, 2012 By

I’d had this bottle for a while and when I planned a casual grilled steak dinner for Memorial Day weekend, I opted to open it for my guests.

In the glass, the wine is bright ruby with some violet hues. Very pretty.  On the nose, there are aromas of stone fruit with a little coffee and chocolate and some spiced notes.  On the palate, this rich Australian Shiraz is big with dark cherry flavor and plummy chewiness laced with clove and nutmeg.

Pairings:  Grilled steaks, meat lasagna.

Style: Red

Grape Type(s): Syrah

Region: South Eastern Australia

Around $10

 

Filed Under: Australia, Red Wine, Syrah / Shiraz, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,
3 May 2012 2005 Fattoria La Lecciaia Brunello Di Montalcino

2005 Fattoria La Lecciaia Brunello Di Montalcino

May 3, 2012 By

Bought a 2-pound porterhouse steak to share with my guy last week and wanted a special wine to pair with it.  The 2005 Fattoria La Lecciaia Brunello Di Montalcino fit the bill beautifully.

On the nose, this Italian wine is an explosion of ripe dark berries and Bing cherries with earthy notes.  On the palate, this full-bodied wine is big and beautiful.  Lots of ripe blackberry and stone fruit flavors laced with exotic spices, almost chewy in consistency with classic Brunello silkiness.  The finish is long with a little pepper to end a great sip.

Pairings:  Grilled red meat, slowly-simmered red sauce.

Style: Red

Grape Type(s): Sangiovese

Region: Tuscany, Italy

Around $30

 

Filed Under: Italy, Red Wine, Sangiovese, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
27 April 2012 Spruce – A Divine Food Experience in San Francisco

Spruce – A Divine Food Experience in San Francisco

April 27, 2012 By

Spruce, located in the posh Presidio Heights neighborhood, is an elegant yet comfortable restaurant where locals and food and wine enthusiasts meet to unwind and savor spot-on meals accompanied with interesting wines.

At Spruce, Chef Mark Sullivan features seasonal menus showcasing the freshest organic produce, naturally-raised meats and line-caught fish.  His fabulous food is paired with wines selected by Andrew Green to complete the outstanding gastronomic experience.

Some of the enticing starters at Spruce are the Heritage Pork Consommé ($14) – Swiss chard, Hamada cherries and smoked lardo, the White Bean Caramelle ($17) – haricot vert, speck with a mustard emulsion and the Hudson Valley Foie Gras ($23) – Vadouvan waffle, pear jelly and pistachio.

Making an entrée selection is beyond difficult considering the tempting options.  Slow Roasted Beef Short Rib ($31) – red wine farotto, erbette chard, young carrots and horseradish velouté, the Grilled Kona Kanpachi ($35) – preserved garden vegetables, clams, rice and Satsuma vinaigrette and the Charred Berkshire Pork Tenderloin ($30) – crispy pork belly with shelling beans.  Although of the highest quality, the Kanpachi was closer to an appetizer portion.  The Berkshire pork with its decadent pork belly counterpart and the short rib with the faro “risotto” were both stellar.

The wine list reads like a novel and features a good balance of affordable, interesting wines and classic cult favorites.  There are over 30 wines by the glass options and an extensive half bottle selection perfect for pairing with several courses.  Our party opted for the Gonet Medeville Brut Tradition NV, 2009 Fillaboa Granja Albarino Rias Baixas, the 2009 Coltibuono Chianti Classico and finally the 2005 Chateau La Tour Blanche Sauternes to end the meal.

Desserts like the warm apple pie with stout caramel ($10), the beignets with chocolate sauce and crème Anglaise and the Meyer lemon curd cake ($10) sound tantalizing, but with the exquisite dessert wine and port list, the artisanal cheese selection ($16) seems like an idyllic fit.

Spruce won’t disappoint food and wine enthusiasts with the highest of expectations.  I look forward to returning.

3640 Sacramento Street, San Francisco, CA 94118 (415-931-5100).

Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11:30AM – 2:30PM, 5PM – 10PM.  Friday: 11:30AM – 2:30PM, 5PM – 11PM. Saturday: 5PM – 11PM.  Sunday: 5PM – 10PM.

 

Filed Under: Red Wine, Restaurant Reviews, Sparkling Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
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