Pinot Grigio - June 30th, 2010 - Ms. Marilyn

Pinot Grigio - June 30th, 2010 - Ms. Marilyn (and Buddy)

Wikipedia: Pinot Grigio is a white wine varietal (also called Pinot Gris).
Pairings: Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio pairs well with light crisp foods - examples, shrimp scampi, oysters or bacon wrapped scallops. Also Creamy Sauces, Turkey, Shrimp, Veal. Avoid tomato or spicy foods.
Notes: The grape grows best in cool climates, and matures relatively early with high sugar levels. This can lead to either a sweeter wine, or, if fermented to dryness, a wine high in alcohol. Clusters of Pinot gris may have a variety of colors in the vine. These clusters can range from bluish grey to light pinkish brown. The grapes grow in small clusters (hence the pinecone shape), and upon ripening, often display a pinkish-gray hue, although the colors can vary from blue-gray to pinkish-brown. Grown in France, Northern Italy, Australia, and on the West coast - US.

Marilyn was a lovely hostess providing us with a veritable feast of pairings including: a shell-shaped mold of crab dip (complete with cream cheese and cocktail sauce), artichoke/parm/Rotelle dip, pesto/cream cheese/sundried tomato dip, baked brie with almonds and honey, chicken/pesto/polenta lasagna (invidual portions) garnished with pinon, olive platter, fresh veggie platter, fresh fruit platter, homemade whipped cream, several cracker/pita chip options for dipping, and I'm sure I probably forgot something on this list, but anyway it was all DELICIOUS!

Tasting Notes:
1) 2009 Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio - $17.99 at Total Wine
(depending where you buy this one, it may run you upwards of $30/bottle or as low as $13.99 at Costco)
Light and refreshing taste, pale straw color, crisp but not too tart, dry finish, no scent or nose that we muster, as it warmed the flavor mellowed, also tastes of green pear and banana

2) 2009 Conte Fini Valdadige Pinot Grigio - $11.99 or $12.99 at Total Wine
light and tangy, not as dry, little to no scent, faint scent of apple perhaps? Lingers longer at the back of the mouth, green apple, fresh green grape taste, goes down too easy. very drinkable.

3) 2007 Francis Ford Coppola Bianco Pinot Grigio - $7.35 Kroger closeout
straw yellow color, golden peach flavor with sharp tang at the end.
others said light gentle flavor, does not linger, but is buttery on the frontal tongue, goes VERY well with the Cocktail sauce, memorable! balanced flavor.

4) 2009 Conte Priola Pinot Grigio - $6.99 Total Wine
dryer, mellow flavor, green apple, tart, herbacious, tastes slightly of lemon, reminds me of Sauvignon Blanc, aroma is also lemon, apple, tangerine perhaps, crisp, long refreshing finish.

Pinot Noir - May 26th, 2010 - Ms. Deborah

Pinot Noir - May 26th, 2010 - Ms. Deborah

Wikipedia: Pinot Noir is a red wine varietal.
Pairings: Although Pinot Noir harmonizes well with a wide variety of foods, the best matches are grilled salmon, plain roast beef, any dish featuring mushrooms as the main flavor, braised lamb, pheasant, duck, grilled meaty fish. Classic French cooking has creations based on Pinot Noir such as Coq au Vin, Boeuf Bourginon, and Cassoulet. See more here.
About: Pinot Noir is also featured in the movie Sideways. In this interesting review the characters Miles and Maya have a conversation about why they like wines. Miles says he likes pinot because "it's a hard grape to grow - thin skinned, it ripens early, it's not a survivor. It needs constant care and attention, and can only really grow in these specific tucked away corners of the world." In the end he's talking about himself, really. Maya on the other hand, talks about how a wine is actually alive, constantly growing and evolving, even in the bottle.
Pinot Noir is often found in Burgundy region, Russian River Valley, Oregon, etc. Its thin skins attribute to low tannins, yet the cool region gives it a lively acidity.

Tasting Notes:
1) 2008 Vin Dillon Pinot Noir, Williamette Valley Oregon, $17.99 at Total Wine
12.6% Alcohol
Nose is smokhy, light leather, jasmine
Color is ruby/red, hazy but still see-through.
Palate berry, cranberry, lite granny smith apple flavor, clean short finish.

2) 2006 Mission Point Pinot Noir $8.99 Trader Joes (Produced in Eugene Oregon, Santa Barbara, CA)
13.6% Alcohol
Darker color, almost garnet.
Nose is perfumey, play-dough/must scent, gardenias, rubbing alchohol, vanilla
smooth, fuller, lingering finish, pomegranate/cranberry onthe palate

3) 2007 Kupelweiser Alto Adige Pino Nero $11.99 Total Wine
Italian - 13% Alcohol
Sweet/smoky smell, nose is earthy, darker color - garnet, tastes of candide flowers, musty,
full body, lingering finish also.

4) 2008 De Loach Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $17.99 at Costco
Burgundy techniques used, Produced in Santa Rosa, CA 14.5% alcohol
Darkest color,
nose has dark cherry, pungent must
cola, spice, bing cherry (specifically the Washington State Dark Cherry), jammy
smooth, full bodied,
would be great with lamb or other gamey meat

5) 2009 Pinot Evil Pinot Noir - $4.99 Total Wine
French import, 12.5% alcohol
Dark but hazy, not opaque, nose of chocolate, garden/herb spearmint - palate is tart, very dry, cotton ball finish
almost a salty fruit flavor, like grapefruit, smooth, velvety finish.

Wine 2.0

Found this little tidbit on my Linked In updates this morning.
I thought it was very apt for our generation of Winos.
Check it out here:

Wine 2.0