Friday, April 28, 2006

...here they are, les Dauphins!

 This picture is not taken on a bottle but a box: a 3 liters box of Cotes du Rhone! This is 4 bottles and for the price is an interresting way to have always a wine for everyday without surprise. It can be kept in the box after opening much longer than in a bottle though... 

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Bandol

Overpriced in the US but definitely one of the best Rose available: light, fruity and so easy to drink! This was half bottle offered by guest at a dinner so I have no idea where to find it.   

Papes and Dauphins

  

Espana

Like many Spanish wine not very delicate but strong and good for the table with red meats and cheeses   

Espana again!

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Sunday, April 16, 2006

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Argentina

Back under the $10 bar with this Dom Miguel Gascon, Malbec 2004 from Argentina, available at $8.99 at Trader Joe's. It's a nice wine at this price if you like dark reds not really lights. I'm a little surprised that Argentina cannot deliver on US market good wines at a better price. I got a $25 bottle from there few months ago; the wine was delicious and my curiosity satisfied but the price is not competitive at all since you can get many excellent wines from France (for example ;-) in this range.

Monday, April 03, 2006

Mure Gewurzt

  This 2002 Gewurztramminer Tradition from Mure is really a delight. It seems like Mure is providing many different kind of Alsace wines from various vineyards, years as well as Late Harvest ones. The Wine House in SF is offering some discount on these Alsace wine in April so it may be time to look closer to these whites. All of them are over $10 and the one I have tested is around $15 but wonderful. It's so easy to drink by itself or with Indian food. I usually stay away from "sweet" wines especially Gewurztramminer after an old bad experience with it that I have to share: I was 22 visiting a friend in Paris and ended up in a very nice and fancy brasserie Bofinger. We ordered a huge platter of seashell and decided on an Alsace wine to go with it...unfortunately at this time no one was able to make a difference between a Riesling, a Sylvaner or a Gewurzt and of course we went for the last one... which you probably know is not appropriate for seafood as it is very fruity. Well it was a good experience after all as we learn better from our own experience right!

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Bare...ly drinkable!

  At $3.99 at Trader Joe's, I was not expecting a great wine but to drink in a kir I was not thinking that the quality would matter much...well it does matter! On the bottle a label mentioning "Special Oyster": drinking this wine with oysters would be the right thing to do to ruin your pleasure! What do they put in this bottle?! The flavor doesn't come from grappe obviously. The $1.99 Sauvignon Blanc is not worse and can make you save a lot...or drink double for the same price ;-) but I would not advice to drink either one myself!

Mont-Perat 2003

  This Bordeaux is very good. A great pleasure with red meats and cheeses. Above $10 at the Wine House.

de l'As!

  Delas, a guaranty for a correct wine from Cotes du Rhone area. Also a guaranty for excellent food if you have a chance to eat in one of G. Delas' restaurants in France.