<---Don't forget to check out the other BLOGS over there!

<---Don't forget to check out the other BLOGS over there!

yes

look to the LEFT. :)

Le Caveau - Featured Wines - 01/21/12

Le Caveau - Featured Wines - 01/21/12
Dan Crawford was pouring for us today.
Le Caveau was not having an official tasting this week, but we were there to discuss the upcoming wine club meeting for TWITs and Dan graciously let us taste some of their featured wines for the month.
I was particularly tickled to see "EWC=b2" (well it was B squared, but I couldn't find a way to do that in this blog). Read below to figure out why.
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Eugene Wine Cellars (EWC)
Bruce & Brad Biehl (brothers or b2) were introduced to the wine industry in the late 1970s after working in agriculture during their youth. Bruce leased his first vineyard in 1978 and began developing independent vineyards in Williamette Valley, while earning his degree from Oregon State University in Agriculture Resource and Economics.
Since Graduating school, Bruce has developed over 140 vineyard operations in 13 counties within Oregon through his additional company A.R.E.A. Inc.
Meanwhile, Brad Biehl graduated from UC Davis with a Viticulture and Oenology degree, then moved to Provence in Southern France to co-manage Chateau Revelette. Brad returned to Oregon in 1990 to work with Bruce developing vineyard sites. In 1991 Brad was recruited by Ed King to build one of Oregon's premiere wineries, King Estate.
In 2000 Bruce opened the doors of Eugene Wine Cellars. Bruce continues his management of independent vineyards, while providing custom wine development services, private label wines, and bulk wine products.
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1) 2008 Eugene Wine Cellars 100% Pinot Gris - $14.99
A blend of Dion, Wotruba, and Cook vineyard, in the Northern Williamette Valley. This wine was fermented in separate small lots at cool temperatures of around 50 degrees to preserve fruity aromas and characters. The fermentations were stopped at approximately .9 residual sugar for an element of sweet and fruity flavors. Then Lees stirring for 4 months to improve mouth feel and texture. Finally the lots were blended and made bottle ready.
Aromas of apple, earth, and spice. Crisp yet good viscosity and mouth feel with nice fruity character through the front, middle, and finish.
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2) 2009 Eugene Wine Cellars 100% Pinot Noir - $18.99
"A blend of four vineyards: Fox Arbor in the Southern Williamette outside Eugene 10% added nice color and complexity and great aromas, Dion is the backbone of our blend, 70%, just south of Hillsboro, nice fruit flavors with good structure all through the mouth and nice raspberry and earthy aromas. Wotruba Vineyard in McMinnville, 10% of this blend, adds nice delicate fruity flavors and complexity. Pendarvise Vineyards located in Boring, Oregon [seriously that's the name of the city], in the Northern Williamette makes up the remaning 10% of our blend. It is with this fruit that we get our color and tannin structure. Together these vineyards have produced what we think is a very balanced and drinkable wine with good complexity."

Total Wine - Get Outside Your Comfort Zone - Wine Tasting 01/21/12

Total Wine - Get Outside Your Comfort Zone - Wine Tasting 01/21/12
The lovely Leslie McCain was pouring today for us.
Total Wine has several free tastings, and if you buy one of the featured wines, you can get 10% off of your bottle.
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Tasting Notes:
1) 2010 Phebus Torrontes - $9.99
White Wine, 100% Torrontes
Salta, Argentina - From Argentina's northern region of Salta comes this crisp and refreshing, oak-free wine made from 100% Torrontes. A nose of fresh cut lemons with a hint of lime is followed by layers of citrus on the dry and refreshing palate. Pair with seafood and spicy dishes.
Crisp, Lemon, Citrus, Light-bodied.

2) 2010 Sobon Estate Viognier - $14.99
White Wine - Viognier
Amador, CA - this wine has a very alluring aroma, reminiscent of fresh Sierra meadow flowers, with a hint of peach and honeysuckle. The flavors are rich and spicy, full-bodied and richly textured with a lingering finish. Match with seafood or chicken. Organically farmed.
Elegant, Peach, Floral, Full-bodied

3) 2010 Dom Rabiotte Aix Provence Rose - $11.99
Aix-en-Provence, Rhone Valley, France - Fresh and Fruity, with a zesty acidity that tingles the palate, this refreshing rose marries notes of strawberry and mineral. It will pair beautifully with appetizers and fresh seafood dishes.
Crisp, Berry, Mineral, Medium-bodied.

4) 2008 Quinta De Ventozelo QV Tinto - $9.99
Douro, Portugal - This wine leads with schist [minerals] and ends with the same black schist intensity. In between there's a cool arc of blueberry flavor, dark and smooth, the fruit-skin tannin lasting along with the earthiness. Enjoyable now with a steak.
Fresh, Raspberry, Vanilla, Medium-Bodied.

5) 2010 Ankena Carmenere Single Vineyard - $12.99
Red wine - 100% Carmenere
Rapel Valley, Chile - bursting with ripe blackberry and spice aromas this varietal has become the flagship wine for Chile. Black fruit flavors are nuanced with notes of Cedar on the smooth, velvety finish. 100% Carmenere, sourced from a high altitude single vineyard.
Elegant, Blackberry, Spice, Medium-bodied.

well whattya know?

There's a Twitter for "winetwits" in New York City.
http://twitter.com/#!/winetwits
Wine Twits serves up insider info, deals and special offers on wine & more! New York · http://winetwits.com
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Interesting, first I've heard of them, but cool name!

STOP SOPA!!!

What are SOPA & PIPA and why does this affect the TWITs?
Simple explanation here: http://vimeo.com/m/31100268

Jan 18th was a historic, unprecendented display of protest which turned the tide in less than 24 hours. Many large websites (such as Wikipedia, Reddit, The Oatmeal, and others (including all of my personal websites) went dark in protest of SOPA/PIPA.

Jan 20th, PIPA was postponed indefinitely - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46072630/ns/technology_and_science-security/

The irony of this is that the lawmakers who authored the bill - were BREAKING their own LAW!
http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/11747/sopa-author-lamar-smith-rtx-breaks-copyright-law-on-his-own-website

AND they were PAID in advance to vote for the bill!
http://www.politicolnews.com/congressmen-who-received-money-for-sopa-vote/#ixzz1k5iXp8En

However, the danger is far from over, as Lamar Smith has authored another bill, this time hiding it under the name “Protecting Children From Internet Pornographers Act of 2011.”
Read and learn:
http://www.slashgear.com/sopa-sponsor-has-another-internet-bill-that-records-you-247-20210264/

Stay vigilant! Protest the idiocracy!
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UNBELIEVABLE!
Sign Petition to investigate MPAA bribery after Chris Dodd publicly admited bribing politicians for SOPA:
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/%21/petition/investigate-chris-dodd-and-mpaa-bribery-after-he-publicly-admited-bribing-politicans-pass/DffX0YQv

Tempranillo - January 17th, 2012 - Ms. Ardela

Tempranillo - January 17th, 2012 - Ms. Ardela

Wikipedia: Tempranillo (red wine varietal) The Tempranillo grape is the dominant grape varietal in Spain's Rioja wines. It produces a medium to full-bodied red wine with lower acidity and full fruit flavor characteristics. These wines are grown primarily in the Rioja and Ribera del Duero regions of Spain. The earliest existence of the grape in La Rioja dates to 873.

Classification of Rioja wines: Rioja (youngest), Crianza (aged at least 2 years and at least 1 in oak), Rioja Reserva (aged at least 3 years and at least 1 in oak), and Rioja Gran Reserva (aged at least 2 yrs in oak and 3 yrs in the bottle).

Pairings: tapas, pork, grilled or roasted entrees, Middle Eastern Cuisine, Spanish Food (obviously), blue cheese, aged cheddar, goat cheese, manchego, olives, hamburger, roast lamb, grilled meats

Tasting Notes:
Welcome Wine: 2000 Anciano Gran Reserva Tempranillo - $7.99 at CostCo
100% Tempranillo

1) 2004 Coto De Imaz Rioja - $21.99 @ Le Caveau
13.5% alcohol
100% Tempranillo
Color: ruby, translucent, light long legs,
Nose: small whiff of alcohol, sweet cherry, herbal, "peppery goodness"
Palate: light, tart, pepper, tobacco
Other Comments: Our guest visiting from Austria really liked this one. One of Abbie's Faves

2) 2009 Toro - $8.99 @ Total Wine
14.5% alcohol
100% Tempranillo
Color: garnet, heavier, long grippy legs
Nose: darker, faint pepper, jammier/New World (Leslie's comment)
Palate: dark chocolate, cacao, slight pepper, dark cherry & plum beneath the surface, blackberry, plum/spice,
Other Comments: would be good with meat and sausages

3) 2006 Spanish Vines Crianza - $15.99 @ Total Wine
14% alcohol
100% Tempranillo
Color: garnet, gorgeous, lingering legs
Nose: dark maple syrup, nose like port, tobacco
Palate: hibiscus, honeysuckle, vanilla, sweet floral with slightly bitter end on the tongue
Other Comments: n/a

4) 2008 Artero Crianza - $10.99 @ Total Wine
14% alcohol
50% Merlot, 50% Tempranillo
Color: darker, lingering legs,
Nose: aroma of earthiness, mushroom, dark berry
Palate: tastes of leather, has pucker in the mouth, but also a pucker at the end in the throat, similar to sweet tart candies, raspberry, some pepper
Other Comments: Label says compote, roasted coffee, balsalmic, "I could get a sweet tart necklace outta this" - Deb, Ardela's fave!

5) 2004 De Restia Crianza - Ribera Del Duero - $17.99 @ Minks
100% Tempranillo
Color: garnet, long legs, darker color, lovely legs
Nose: Almost too much alcohol smell, very "in-your-face", bold, takes the breath away, liquor smell not rubbing alcohol, wonderful like raw cinnamon,
Palate: dark chocolate dipped strawberries, some floral/petal at the end, disappointing mouth-feel, maybe needs more air?
Other Comments: "Spoiled-little-bratty-pouty-red" - Deb, "We need a TWIT-er Twitter" - Deb, "day-old-penny-loafers" - Susan

6) 2006 Beronia Reserva - $24.99 @ (liquor store across the way on Windy Ridge Pkwy)
14% alcohol
100% Tempranillo
Color: dark garnet
Nose: earthy, oaky, vanilla, new leather furniture, cigar box
Palate: lingering milky chocolate mouth-feel, smoky, slight pepper, hickory, barbeque
Other Comments: "would be a good "food wine", good with meat, "watery-kool-aid but in a good way", Wolfgang's Fave!

7) 2008 St. Amant California - $19.99 @ Total Wine
15.5% alcohol
100% Tempranillo
Color: light garnet
Nose: delicious, pepper nose,
Palate: smooth, dry, oaky, goodness, raspberry, compote
Other Comments: "Old World Nose and New World Taste" - Leslie, "Gives me the chills", sits on your tongue, punch in the back of the throat like whisky/bourbon gooey cluster, Deb's Fave, Nickey's Fave!

8) 2009 Creta Roble Ribera Del Duero - $19.99 @ Total Wine
14.5% alcohol
100% Tempranillo
Color: dark ruby, like it has an oily film on top?
Nose: perfumey nose, strong, BAM, savory, strawberry jam, dark overpowering nose
Palate: young, no complexity in the mouth, cigar-ish, some tobacco, dry-tart finish, flat finish.
Other Comments: Not impressed. doesn't speak to me.

9) Greener Vines La Mancha Vinidela Tierra de Castille - $9.99 @ Sam's Club
13% alcohol
80% Tempranillo, 20% Grenacha
Color: cloudy, dark garnet
Nose: floral nose, some pepper,
Palate: bit of citrus, blood orange or grapefruit, some mint, bubblegum, butter, meaty, tart finish, front-palate-oriented
Other comments: Winemaker: Lorenza Delgado, "more herbal orange, not tasty orange"

10) 2008 Riveray - $12.00 @ Vinings Bottle Shop
13% alcohol
100% Tempranillo
Color: more brownish in color, brick red
Nose: nutty aroma, coconut/walnut, less alcoholic smell
Palate: cherry, plum, dark fruit
Other Comments: One of Abbie's Faves, Love it!

Le Caveau - First Tasting of 2012 - 1/14/2012

Le Caveau - First Tasting of 2012 - 1/14/2012
Tasting notes compiled by Dan Crawford of Le Caveau

"1) 2009 Au Bon Climat Chardonnay Santa Barbara County - $24.99
100 % Chardonnay
This Chardonnay is all about citrus, stone fruit, smooth and integrated flavors, creamy and tense, with apricot, apple, and lemon nuances. Barrel fermented and aged in French oak. 65% Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay and 35% Rancho Vinedo Vineyard.

Jim Clendenden’s goal is to establish guidelines and practices that will sustain the American wine growing culture. More specifically, he produces wines with a lower alcohol content and higher acidic quality that expresses the nuances of terroir, which is in contrast to the mass produced, point seekers that litter the Cali landscape.

2) 2009 Friedrich Becker Estate Pinot Noir Pfalz - $22.99
100% Pinot Noir
This Estate Pinot Noir is a lovely, clear, bright garnet color with a fantastic aroma of spicy strawberry, black plums, dried tobacco and a bit of chalkiness (a direct result of Pfalz’s limestone soil – perfect for Pinot Noir). On the palate those spicy strawberries are just as brilliant, as is the peppery dustiness that I love so much in a well-made Pinot Noir, and the spiciness lingers for what seems like forever on the tongue.

Hailing from the Pfalz region on the French-German border, Friedrich Becker is widely considered to be one of the great Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir) producers in Germany. Indeed, Friedrich Becker’s single vineyard bottling from its Kammerberg vineyard is thought by some to be one of the best expressions of Pinot Noir in all the world (hence the $100+ price tag). Luckily for us, however, the winery saves plenty of their Kammerberg grapes to include in their much more reasonably priced Estate bottling.

3) 2009 Domaine de Fontenille Côtes du Luberon - $13.99
50% Grenache 50% Syrah
This blend displays a complex array of aromas and flavors, ranging from black cherry to black olive and from clove to licorice. It’s richly structured, yet juicy, with a velvety feel. Drink now-2018

The Leveque brothers, Jean and Pierre, make the most Chateauneuf-like wine of the Luberon. Pierre did his apprenticeship with Paul Avril at Clos du Pape, which might explain in part why Robert Parker described the ’92 Fontenille as "resembles Beaucastel". Another reason could be the cepages (varietals) - nearly 50% each Grenache and Syrah, for the cuvee we have selected. Yet another reason might be the extremely low yields - at the levels of appellation Chateauneuf. Lastly, of course, our selection was bottled unfiltered. The result, a fabulous wine...like Chateauneuf for much less money, but also a wine with its own unique character.

4) 2009 Cuvée de Peña VDP des Pyrénées-Orientales - $14.99
40%Grenache, 40% Syrah, 20% Carignan
90 Points: "The as usual Carignan-based red 2009 Cuvee de Peña is simply the finest of its illustrious bargain-priced breed that I have tasted, which also makes it a mind-boggling value! Clean and polished, concentrated but unexaggerated, this delivers sweet fruit with soil and soul. Ripe cherry, black raspberry, and purple plum are shadowed by their distilled counterparts in a high-toned nose and practically gush on the palate. Pungent, resinous herbs, smoky black tea, toasted pecan, brown spices, and crushed stone all serve for aromatic and gustatory interest, leading to a brightly juicy yet deeply rich finish." - David Schildknecht - The Wine Advocate

The heart and soul of Peña is winemaker Joseph "Tony" Gonzalez, who has 20+ years’ experience at Peña, a brilliant flair for winemaking, and an instinctive and profound knowledge of the vineyards and terroir. He has been offered more money by private producers, but loves his job working with the growers and crafting the wines of Peña.

5) 2010 Tablas Creek Vineyard 'Patelin de Tablas' Paso Robles - $19.99
39% Syrah 36% Grenache 22% Mouvedre 3% Counoise
This offering displays ripe blackberries, dark strawberries, subtle black licorice and minerality on the nose. Dusty tannins linger on the palate with a juicy acidity that balances this wine. The wine incorporates fruit from seven top vineyards in Paso Robles, each vineyard selected for its quality. Like many red wines from the Rhône Valley, it is based on the dark fruit, mineral and spice of Syrah, with the brightness and fresh acidity of Grenache, the structure and meatiness of Mourvèdre and a small addition of Counoise for complexity.

Tablas Creek Vineyard is the result of a decades-long friendship between the Perrin family of Château de Beaucastel and Robert Haas, longtime importer and founder of Vineyard Brands. The families created a partnership in 1985 and in 1989 purchased a 120-acre property in the hilly Las Tablas district of west Paso Robles for its similarities to Châteauneuf du Pape: limestone soils, a favorable climate, and rugged terrain. "