Post your tasting notesI recently tried a bottle of Francis Coppola 2006 Rosso Shiraz. ok, bottle for the price (under $12. ripe with fruit flavors & moderate tannins.
From time to time I revisit a wine which has brought joy to my taste buds in the past. In the case of L’Ardi Dolcetto d’Acqui, not only does the wine taste better than the flavors captured to memory, but this time around the wine is $1 less than before!! In the northwest corner of Italy is the amazing wine growing region of Piedmont. And it is here that Vigne Regali produce their Dolcetto grape in the Acqui zone. This is an early ripening, low acid red grape variety, ripening up to a month before any other grapes, and it does well throughout the region. It’s a wine to be enjoyed when young by anyone with a light and breezy view of life. It is a stunner when chilled, even if that’s going to get me in trouble with the wine police and wine snobs. Dolcetto translates to “little sweet one” yet this red grape produces dry, fruity nectar. The term “ L’Ardì” in Piedmontese means “bright and brave”, referring specifically to a fun and adventurous young man. And this wine indeed reflects a youthful, adventurous character, to whichever gender is drinking it. Fresh and fruity, Dolcetto d’Acqui is easy to drink and is often called Italy’s Beaujolais. Made from 100% Dolcetto grapes, L’Ardì has an intense ruby red color and tastes of berries and cherries and all the pleasant summer fruits which come to mind. Since the wine has fermented in stainless steel tanks, the fruit is very fresh and forward. It is indeed – as I said in my last review - an ‘anytime” drink to savor while you’re enjoying life, regardless of your age or your adventurous spirit. Cheers!
PLCB CODE: 23208 • $9.99
The word "cognac" may conjure up images of stuffy old men, most probably English, sitting in oak-paneled libraries and puffing on huge cigars while swirling the brandy in fat, expensive snifter glasses.
Among cognac producers, family-owned Cognac Frapin is a rarity. Frapin’s massive 741-acre domain, including 500 acres of prime Grande Champagne vineyard, on an inner semi-circle of slopes, is the largest, by far, in this top-rated appellation, where average holdings seldom exceed 80 acres. Of the more widely distributed producers, Frapin is unique because it does not depend on outside growers for grapes. Every Cognac Frapin release is estate-bottled. The Frapin family’s ties to the Cognac area of the Charentes region spans more than 40 generations, extending back to 1270. Today the firm is still family-owned. In 1992 the Frapin family added to their luxury portfolio, with the purchase of the historic Champagne House of Gosset.
Within the Frapin vineyards sits the elegant, turreted Chateau Fontpinot, the original Frapin family seat. Now used for entertaining and hospitality, Fontpinot gives its name to the region’s only Grande Champagne chateau-bottled cognac, Chateau de Fontpinot XO Grande Champagne ($89.99 PLCB Code: 6822).) The harvest takes place during the first few weeks in October, when acidity levels -very important to cognac - are high. Pressing at Frapin takes place within two hours of harvest. A double distillation, in late November-early December, takes place in small 25-hectoliter copper alambic stills (ancient word for pot still). A single distillation takes about 8-10 hours and depending on the alcoholic strength of the wine being used, 8-10 liters of wine produces one liter of cognac.
Today, a perfect wine for the Holidays. In 1982 Fred Cline founded Cline Cellars in Oakley, California. He prescribes to what the French call “Terroir”, the fusion of climate, of soil and of the personality of the region. In 1991 Fred relocated to the Carneros region of Sonoma County. He became a “Rhone Ranger”, one of a small band of winemakers pioneering the planting of varietals which thrive in France's Rhone Valley. Take, for example, the Viognier which originates from the Condrieu and Chateau-Grillet appellations of the northern Rhone. Currently there are approximately 2,000 acres of this varietal planted in California. Viognier grapes are late ripening and have to be picked at just the right moment allowing fruitier, more concentrated flavors. The majority of the grapes for this wine come from Carneros. The vineyards are located in the southern end of Sonoma and cooled by coastal breezes throughout the growing season. Cline Cellars Viognier (PLCB CODE: 17822 $11.99) offers rich and distinctive aromas of peaches, apricots, orange blossoms and honeysuckle. Its flavor and full-body mouth-feel make it an ideal match for spicy dishes, turkey, ham or just plain slurping. Cheers!
Estancia Merlot 2005 - curently in the PA LCB stores. Check out at www.VinoVic.com under 'Vic's Pick's'. Cheers.
I always slip into the Holiday season with a glass of fizz and a delicately cut tray of smoked salmon sandwiches on slim slices of white bread spread with a layer of Danish "Lurpak" or “Plugra” brand unsalted butter. The wife, our 20 year old daughter (after I beg her to spend part of the evening with us) and I sip Taittinger Champagne and Salmon sandwiches while watching Mr Clark and Mr Seacrest on the telly at the stroke of midnight on December 31st. The older I get the better Scottish smoked salmon and fizz taste together. Of course bubbly simply doesn’t work with the mediocre smoked fish known as Nova or the inedible Lox which somehow still appears on store shelves. The Scots, as far as I can see, have three things to boast of (which is still three more than the Belgians): Single malt whisky (no “e’ between the “k” and the “y’); Sean Connery...oops, forgot ..Sir Sean Connery...and Scottish smoked salmon - and watch out for Scottish “style” smoked salmon..you really don’t want to waste your time with pretenders to the throne. As for fizz, well, you know me, I’m Mr. frugal slurper. There are plenty of bubblies under $20 from Spain (Codorniu, Freixenet etc) which enjoy matrimonial bliss with the smoked salmon sandwich, and the combination is a supreme triumph. By the way, while on my salmon soapbox, let me remind you that cream cheese, tomatoes and onions should never, ever be included in the smoked salmon sandwich. By all means fill the lox sandwich with them, as they will kill it’s disgusting flavor.
I cannot believe that Marnie Old does these shameless infomercials for the state stores
Cool site vino Vic...you sound like an eclectic group...FYI check out my guest appearance on John DeBella's show on December 17th:www.wmgk.com. Cheers!
Falanghina Feudi di San Gregorio, Campania 2005. Couldn't stop drinking it, intense flowery bouquet. Do not overchill !
Until a couple of years ago, I shied away from wine with bubbles. I loathed sparkling wines, especially the French versions. But I’ve become curious to explore the fizzy nectar on our wine shop shelves and without any encouragement from my conscious self, I’ve managed to lasso the errant bubbly varmint and bring it into my drinking territory, where I’ve embraced it and now welcome it, as the long lost relative to my wine collection. And how appropriate that I’m sharing this nugget of information with you within days of the end of year celebrations. It’s only fitting to wrap up this seasonal burst of favorite libations with some sparkling Auld Lang Syne thoughts. I’m not quite up to my hero Winston Churchill’s astonishing bubbly quaffing accomplishments, but I have done him proud by sampling a healthy number of bottles so I can present you with my list of stunning New Year’s Eve poppers. Wine is subjective, so my opinion is not sacrosanct, but it’s jolly well close! These are all available in your local wine stores and splendid examples of the finest end of year quaffs, relatively modest sums of money can procure:
Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvee (Sonoma) $29.99
Domaine Carneros by Taittinger (Napa) $19.99
Nicolas Feuillatte Blanc de Blancs (Champagne) $39.99
Cascinetta Moscato d’Asti (Piedmont, Italy) $11.99
(Prices are approx)
Any of these will end the year in excellent taste. Cheers!
Check out this great wine blog: http://winingaboutthegoodlife.blogspot.com/
Hello there - amazing Shiraz from the Barossa Valley recently tasted. John Duval Entity - 2006. It's in the PA stores for about $35. Up there with the 'Garden Series' from Two Hands. Read more at www.VinoVic.com under Vic's Picks.
Cline Cellars Viognier (PLCB CODE:17822 $11.99)
In 1982 Fred Cline founded Cline Cellars in Oakley, California. He prescribes to what the French call “Terroir”, the fusion of climate, of soil and of the personality of the region. In 1991 Fred relocated to the Carneros region of Sonoma County. He became a “Rhone Ranger”, one of a small band of winemakers pioneering the planting of varietals which thrive in France's Rhone Valley. Take, for example, the Viognier which originates from the Condrieu and Chateau-Grillet appellations of the northern Rhone. Currently there are approximately 2,000 acres of this varietal planted in California. Viognier grapes are late ripening and have to be picked at just the right moment allowing fruitier, more concentrated flavors. The majority of the grapes for this wine come from Carneros. The vineyards are located in the southern end of Sonoma and cooled by coastal breezes throughout the growing season. Cline's winemaking notes sum up this stellar wine succinctly, and, of course (since they made it) accurately: “Cline's Viognier offers rich and distinctive aromas of peaches, apricots, orange blossoms and honeysuckle. Its blockbuster flavor and full-body mouth-feel make it an ideal match for spicy stir-fries, curried Thai dishes and grilled fish topped with fruit salsa”. Cheers!
www.thesilverstonecollection.com
jean-luc colombo, syrah - french wine under $10.00 very good.
Boones Farm apple wine is a terrific deal
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