Trader Joe’s Wine Haul – Parts 2 & 3

04 May 2013 1 Comment

by Red Wine Diva in Red Wine Diva Media Samples, Rioja, Rose', Trader Joe's Tags: , , , ,

Part 2

How do you remember a great wine that you have purchased so that you can go and buy it again?  I know there are apps for that, but I have never used any of them.  Years ago I tried keeping up with it on a spreadsheet.  As you can imagine, this had its limitations.   It worked really great when I remembered to go to the computer and put the info into it; however, I never had it with me when I was out shopping for wine.  As hard as it has always been for me to remember the wines I love, I have never had a problem remembering the ones I don’t.

I typically don’t write negative reviews.  If I don’t care for a wine (whatever the reason) I simply don’t write about it.  But today, I am breaking my own rule as I have already stated that I will review each of the wines from my “Wine Haul” at Trader Joe’s.  I am sure you noticed that I have combined two reviews in one blog post.  That’s unfortunate from my perspective.  I would much rather have two separate posts about great wines.

The first of these two wines was Chariot Gypsy Red, a Trader Joe’s exclusive.  It was only $4.99 a bottle.  This wine was very nondescript – nothing on the nose and even less on the palate.  I guess you get what you pay for.  The Gypsy Red wasn’t awful, just not memorable (in my case maybe too memorable).  I didn’t even take notes on it for this post.  From the research I did on this wine, it does appear that the quality may have diminished over the years due in part to the blend having changed significantly.  We drank the whole bottle so it wasn’t too bad, just not something I would buy again.  But for $4.99, you be the judge.  Would love to hear your thoughts here.

chariot

Part 3

Marques de Caceres 2011 Dry Rose’ from Rioja – is definitely the better of the two wines.  Typically a Rose’ is made from a specific red grape, but this is a blend of “the finest grape varieties from the best Rioja vineyards.”  (Maybe I should have actually red the back of the label before I bought it!)  Actually, it is a decent wine, well balanced and not too tannic but a little too light on the palate.  It is very drinkable but just not my favorite.  But here again, for only $7.99, it might be a good wine to have on hand for the sweltering summer days that are looming in our very near future.  This wine actually drank better the second day showing a touch of strawberry on the palate with a slight lingering finish.

Marques

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Wine for Breakfast

21 Apr 2013 5 Comments

by Red Wine Diva in #wbc12, Hudson Valley, Rose' Tags: , , ,

This wine was a media sample from Happy Bitch.

We’ve all heard the expression, “It’s five o’clock somewhere,” meaning it is appropriate to drink any time of day.  Well what about breakfast?  Sure an occasional Mimosa, but wine???  (Although I do have to admit that at one of the Wine Blogger’s Conferences we did pair wine with brunch – a Cab Sauv goes surprisingly well with country ham and biscuit.)

In the South one of our favorite things to do is have breakfast for dinner.  Now this creates an opportunity for some interesting pairings!

breakfast

I don’t always plan ahead for dinner so when I get home from work, we don’t have anything thawed to start cooking and sure don’t have the time to thaw something.  So a few nights ago when I got home hubby was trying to decide what to cook.  I suggested biscuits and gravy – apparently this clicked with him as he went to work immediately.  We cooked bacon and eggs as well.  While all this was going on, I had a bottle of Happy Bitch chilling.

This past summer I the pleasure of meeting Debbie Gioquindo (aka – Hudson Valley Wine Goddess) at the Wine Blogger’s Conference in Portland, Oregon.  Debbie is one of the owners of Happy Bitch Wines.  Being the thoughtful person that she is, Debbie brought an extra bottle with her to the conference that I got to bring home.

Happy Bitch is a Rosé blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with a hint of effervescence.  It is slightly sweet with hints of melon, strawberry and rhubarb.  It is fun to drink and very refreshing, similar to an Italian Frizzante Rosé, with a bit less effervescence than champagne.  A perfect wine to carry on a picnic or any gathering as you won’t need a corkscrew.  This bottle is topped off with an old-fashioned crown cap.  Any beer opener will do.

It was actually a great compliment to “breakfast.”

Varietal:  Rosé (blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir)          Alcohol:  12%          Price: $13.99

To read more about this wonderful rosé:

Vino Las Vegas:  The Finger Lakes Can’t Help But Be Happy with Happy Bitch Rose Wine

C J Cocktails:  Happy Bitch Wines Toast Fun Females

Is it a Clairet or a Rose’?

26 Mar 2013 Leave a Comment

by Red Wine Diva in Bordeaux, Claret, Rose' Tags: , , , ,

This wine was a media sample from Balzac Communications.

When this shipment of Bordeaux came in, I saw this little “Clairet” in the box but didn’t really think too much about what the label actually said.  It looked like a Rosé so that is what I thought it was.  As I put it in the wine fridge, I remember thinking that I was surprised to get a Rosé from Bordeaux.  But then last night when I pulled it out to open, I realized it was actually a Clairet – a pale red bordeaux called Clairet (with a taste profile very similar to my favorite Rosés).  I was confused and a little research was definitely called for.

So here is what I have found:  Today Claret is actually a nickname or a generic name for Bordeaux wines, but centuries ago it meant clear, pale or light-colored wine, hence my mistake on judging this wine by its color instead of its lineage.  (Centuries ago, the term Claret was also used to refer to a heated wine poured over a bag of spices – today’s version would be a mulled wine.)

Clairet has been described as ‘A Rosé with a Pedigree’ and ‘A Rosé on Steroids‘.

2013-03-25 20.12.39

This beautiful pale red Chateau De Fontenille is a Bordeaux Clairet.  Planet Bordeaux states that it is “Critically acclaimed and highly sought after.” I completely agree!  I for one, will definitely be combing the shelves for this one so that I can once again experience this tart strawberry taste with soft tannins and a soft finish!  (I wonder if I can get it through a distributor for the new wine bar???  Things that make you go, “hmmmmmmm!”)

Varietal: 100% Cabernet Franc          Alcohol:  12.5%

Chillin’ on a Sunday Night

17 Feb 2013 Leave a Comment

by Latitude Wine Bar in American Dream, Red Wine Diva Media Samples, Rose', Wine Chateau Tags: , , ,

Champagne for your next celebration.

What a weekend!  I left work on Thursday (I only work 4 days a week at my “real” job) and headed to Bluffton, South Carolina.  That’s where my daughter and her family live.  A long five hours later I arrived – exhausted.  We chatted for a bit but I was just too tired to stay up, besides, I had a busy day lined up for Friday.

I am sure most of you know that I am opening a wine bar.  We made the decision a few weeks ago to locate the wine bar in Bluffton.  We want to be close to my daughter and the grandkids so what better way to do this than to have the wine bar close to them.  Move to Bluffton, live close enough to watch the grandkids grow up and still pursue my passion for wine.  This is my version of the American Dream.  You can read here about the spaces I looked at Friday and the decisions I am trying to make.

So I spent a couple of hours looking at spaces Friday, taking tons of pictures along the way and then sharing them with my daughter when I got back to the house.  I have been torn about which space to choose – they all have such great possibilities.  Then on Saturday, I spent a few hours creating a Kickstarter account to try to raise funds for the actual bar build-out.  The project hasn’t gone live so I don’t have a link to give you (yet!).  Sunday I made a few more changes to the Kickstarter project and then drove another five hours back home.

Time to relax and chill!

Jean-Luc Rose

So what wine should I try tonight.  Hmmmm – I think a Rosé might hit the spot and I just happen to have a bottle of Jean-Luc Colombo “Cape Bleue” Rosé, a true French Rosé from the Blue Cape above Marseille.  The hilly vineyards of the Blue Cape have light, stony limestone soils and benefit from a warm Mediterranean climate.  Jean-Luc Colombo is credited as being the “winemaking wizard of the Rhone.”

This wine was such a delicate, pale pink that I wondered if it would have the flavor of the rosés I have come to love over the last couple of years.  I had no reason to be concerned.  On the first sip, the flavors came bursting through.  I picked up hints of citrus on the nose and tart cherry on the back of the palate; a crisp wine with a nice, clean finish.  Excellent choice to unwind and get ready for the upcoming work week – including all the work to finalize plans to lease the space we have chosen for the wine bar…..  ;-)

Varietal:  67% Syrah, 33% Mourvedre          Alcohol:  12%          Price:  $11.99

This wine was a media sample from Palm Bay International

Discovery 2012, A Good Year for Sipping Wine

05 Jan 2013 2 Comments

by Latitude Wine Bar in Cabernet Franc, California Wine, Chardonnay, NC Wine, Red Wine Diva, Rose', Spain, Tempranillo, Uncategorized, Wine Chateau Tags: , , , , , ,

Tis the season for fine wine at WineChateau.com.

 

I know I am a little late in getting this post out, but I took a couple of weeks off for the holidays. We have kids scattered from North Carolina to Georgia to South Carolina and decided to visit all then left out of Charleston December 30 to celebrate New Year’s Eve on a cruise ship – more about that in an upcoming post. But for now, I want to recap a few wine discoveries I had in 2012. It was a good year for sipping wine!

Chardonnay has long been a favorite of most wine drinkers and possibly a typical house wine for a lot of you.  For me, I was well into this “wine lifestyle” before I became a fan.  But today I truly enjoy a chilled white wine – it has to be on the cool side for me to drink it, a little cooler than even the recommended temperature but not so cold that you lose the flavors and aromas.  With that said, my new favorite Chardonnay discovery this year is Morning Fog from Wente Vineyards.  A crisp chardonnay with just a hint of cinnamon, Morning Fog has become one of my house wines.  I keep it on hand mostly for myself but love sharing it with friends.  If you haven’t tried this wine, I highly recommend it!

Moving through my 2012 lineup of favorites, I have to recommend “Rosé of Cabernet Franc” from Raylen Vineyards located in Mocksville, North Carolina.  Raylen Vineyards is part of the Yadkin Valley AVA, the largest AVA in North Carolina with more than 30 wineries, each serving up their own unique spin on your favorite wines.  I know some people refer to ice wines as “romantic” wines, but I think that is what Rosé is, a wine that can be enjoyed by everyone for every occasion.  It adds a touch of romance to life and we all need (and deserve) a touch of romance.  A lot of people think that Rosé is going to have a flavor profile similar to a white zinfandel, but that is not the case.  Today’s Rosé is dry but soft and full of flavor.  This particular Rosé has a tart strawberry and citrus finish that lingers slightly on the palate.  It is an excellent wine to drink by itself but also pairs well with spicy foods and chicken or turkey.  I recommend buying it by the case and even then, it won’t last long.

Last, but not least, on my list of new discoveries is Castillo Catadau Gran Reserva 2005 Tempranillo from Naked Wines (another new discovery/favorite).  Tempranillo was new to me.  I had received this wine in a shipment from Naked Wines and had saved it for Tempranillo Day – a day dedicated to the wine where wine enthusiasts all over the world are encouraged to drink Tempranillo and post your thoughts and comments through your preferred means of social media.  I was completely blown away by this wine!  It is mellow and smooth with hints of both caramel and vanilla.  You will notice that it is a 2005 which means that it was aged in the barrel for a good long while before it was released so there is no need for you to age it at home – just pop the cork and enjoy!  You can read reviews and comments about the Tempranillo on Naked Wines website.  It gets rave reviews and you won’t be disappointed.  Again, I recommend ordering it by the case.

And if you are not familiar with Naked Wines, check them out.  Become an “Angel,” find your new favorite wine and help support the winemaker’s in living the dream of making great wine.  Naked Wines has a bargain price on all their wines, but the Angel price is a real bargain.  So my final recommendation for the New Year, is Naked Wines.

Each of these wines is very affordable making them perfect for your house wine and for your everyday wine but they are also elegant enough to be the wine you share with friends and serve at special occasions.

I predict that 2013 is going to be another Great year for sipping wine so explore something new and enjoy!

All About Greek Wine – GAI’A

21 Jul 2012 Leave a Comment

by Red Wine Diva in Greek Wine, Rose' Tags: , , , ,

This was a media sample from New Wines of Greece

Nostalgia -  [no-stal-juh] noun: a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one’s life, to one’s home or homeland, or to one’s family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time.

I’ve been trying to come up with the right way to describe the taste of this Rosé, but I just couldn’t put my finger on what it brought to mind until I was at a fund-raiser last night.  When it was time for dessert, we had two choices banana pudding or strawberry cobbler.  Immediately nostalgic thoughts of my Grandmother making homemade cobbler in her quaint little kitchen came to mind.  I loved her cobblers – strawberry, blackberry and peach – so naturally I chose the cobbler.  The first bite brought back the flavors of this 14-18h Rosé in full force.  That’s what the wine reminded me of, Grandma’s cobbler.  With a hint of tart strawberries, this wine has a crisp finish, not too long on the finish and very refreshing.

Varietal: Rosé, GAI’A Wines of Koutsi, Nemea       Alcohol: 13.1%       Price: $15

I know Rosé wines have been around forever, but I just developed an affinity for them last summer.  There is nothing better than a good dry Rosé well chilled to take the edge off a hot, humid, summer day.  When the wines of Greece arrived at my office, I was thrilled to see a Rosé included in the samples.  As I knew I was traveling out of town the next day, the evening of the webinar, I chose to only open three of the six wines and save the other three for tasting and reviewing at a later date.  I am really glad this is one I held back.

There is a revolution in the Greek Wine Industry and their wines are garnering attention all over the world.  Bloggers and columnists alike are writing about the breath-taking scenery of Greece as well as these wonderful wines.  We can’t all travel to Greece to taste wine, but you can go to your local wine store and check out what is on the shelf.  The price is reasonable and the quality is top-notch.

(Special note: I apologize for the picture.  I recently upgraded to a new cell phone and they were not able to transfer my pictures from the old phone. :-( so all I was able to get was a picture of the label off the info sheet that came with the shipment.)

Stepping Into the Past to Sip Some Great Wine

28 Jan 2012 2 Comments

by Red Wine Diva in Biltmore Estate, NC Events, NC Wine, Rose' Tags: ,

A couple of weeks before Christmas, we had the pleasure of visiting Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC.  I seem to have developed an affinity for historical land marks recently and since I had never been to Biltmore, I was thrilled for the opportunity to tour the mansion and try the wines.  The mansion is absolutely breathtaking (inside and out).    Biltmore is the most visited winery in the United States with more than a million visitors each year.  I truly believe that most of them were there the day we visited.  I was told by the Communications Director, Kathleen Mosher, that we would need to make reservations because Biltmore is so crowded during the Holiday season.  By crowded, I thought she meant there would be 200-300 people there.  My mistake!  There was more like 2,000 – 3,000.  The place was packed, even for a mansion.  It was so crowded that it was difficult to take notes as we walked through so I am going to let my pictures give you an inside glimpse of what Biltmore Estate has to offer.  When it warms up, I will go back and take my time strolling through so that I can actually take it all in  (and of course, I am sure I will need a resupply of Biltmore Wine).

I suggest that if you visit Biltmore, you rent a set of headphones so that you get the full background of each room on your self-guided tour.  You wouldn’t want to miss the intricate details of how and why various design features were chosen and which ones were out of necessity instead of design. 

George Vanderbilt had Biltmore built and officially opened the home to friends and family Christmas Eve, 1895 but construction continued for years.  Even though we perceive sustainability as a new concept, Biltmore was built with sustainability in mind and the family has always worked toward the Estate being fully self-sufficient.  “Biltmore is still family-owned, and we are passionate about our mission of preservation through self-sufficiency—a philosophy embraced before the first stone was ever put in place.”  (Bill Cecil, Great Grandson of George Vanderbilt and President of The Biltmore Company).

 

Pipe organs were very typical in homes of the affluent in the late 1800′s and early 1900′s.

Rich leather was used to cover the walls in this dining room.

Banquet hall used for entertaining and holiday gatherings.  This room was used at  Christmas when the Vanderbilt family would invite all their employees to celebrate with them.  Each employee received a gift (as did their children) for the holidays.

If you look closely at the three-bay fireplace, you will notice the hand-carved stone mantle piece.  This was quite the undertaking, not just the craftsmanship that was involved, but mounting something of this magnitude on the wall.

This was the Vanderbilt’s library – packed with literary works from all over the world; but even more impressive is the detail of the hand-carved wood railings, the sculpture over the fireplace and the mural on the ceiling.  George Vanderbilt, being influenced by his Mother’s cultural interests, learned to love books and art at an early age.

Trellised Breezeway for relaxing and sipping great Biltmore Estate Wines.

Wines we will be tasting for future posts: Biltmore Estate Reserve Chardonnay, Biltmore Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, Biltmore Century Red.  (Already tasted: Biltmore Century Rose’).

NC Holiday Wine Project – #8

08 Dec 2011 4 Comments

by Red Wine Diva in Drink Local, NC Wine, Rose' Tags: , ,

This wine was a media sample provided by Biltmore Estate & Winery

Here’s to the corkscrew – a useful key to unlock the storehouse of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the gate of pleasant folly.

W.E.P. French  (From the wine list of Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, LA courtesy of John McDonald, Dallas, TX)

The holidays are all about a “treasury of laughter”, fellowship and folly and what better way to share these than with friends and a favorite wine.  And what better wine to share (or pair) than a dry rose’.

This gorgeous pale (but still deep) red wine is the perfect wine for the holidays.   We are all concerned about our wines overpowering our holiday turkey.  This Biltmore Estate Century Rose’ is rich and full of flavor but still light enough to let the turkey take center stage.  Other pairing suggestions would be using the left overs to make turkey pot pie, pizza and Ginger Sugar Cookies.  This wine is so versatile!  At first I couldn’t figure out why I was so infatuated with this wine, then I realized it was the blackberry flavors and aromas that had taken me by surprise.  One would typically expect strawberry, but this was such a pleasant burst of flavor.  My only regret is that the bottle now lays empty and I have not seen this in local stores!

Varietal:  Blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Cabernet Sauvignon

Alcohol:  12.5%

Price:  $14.99

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