pelog

Leonhardt zin 2007

2012-01-19T18:38:00.000-08:00

Found at Trader's Joe for $12 something. Good enough, not too strong, easy to drink. It appears to be much more expensive at the winery! I will try it again for sure.

Good one to start 2012

2012-01-04T16:23:00.000-08:00

Wow this was a treat brought by a friend who joined us for the first dinner of 2012. It is a blend from the Wind Gar winery which I never heard about before but absolutely delicious! Likely better than any other wines I had in 2011. It's a bit expensive though but for a special event it is worth the price ($50). We drank it with a rabbit in mustard sauce. Pretty light compared to the Zins I have been drinking lately, but so rich, complex and pleasant in mouth. Excellent memory.

Leese-Fitch 2008 Zin

2011-10-12T16:55:00.000-07:00

Tried this one at a restaurant but it is available for less than $15 in stores. Very nice one for its price. Good description and online purchase available here.

Harding Zinfandel 2007

2011-10-11T15:01:00.001-07:00

Another good zin for the price, especially the 5c deal at BevMo.

Fritz Zinfandel 2007

2011-06-09T17:51:00.000-07:00

Good for the price, under $15 at Wine House (SF). Strong but easy to drink.

Wine Guerrilla, Zinfandel 2009

2011-06-06T15:10:00.001-07:00

Nice Zin from Sonoma for under $15 at the Wine House (SF). Unlike other zins, this one pairs very well with all kind of food and is pleasant by itself as well.

Other wines from the same winery (http://www.wineguerrilla.com/) probably worth it to try...and very interesting labels as well.

Renwood Fiddletown, Zinfandel 2006

2011-05-19T17:54:00.000-07:00

Renwood winery is offering a selection of Zins from low $10 to over $30. This one is under $20 and is very good. I recommend it.

Lazy Bones, 2009

2011-05-19T17:50:00.001-07:00

2009 Cabernet Franc from Paso Robles with an interesting label; the wine itself has nothing very exciting.

Moravian wine

2011-02-19T15:13:00.000-08:00

Rare Czech wine for us at the other end of the Zins.

No strong flavor, just a very easy wine to enjoy anytime and lightly chilled.

Axis 2007

2010-07-27T18:11:00.000-07:00

This 2007 Zinfandel from Lodi can be found at the Berkeley Bowl for $12 and is worth it. The almost 15 degres of alcohol are not really noticeable and the typical Zin flavor not overpowering...just as I like Zins!

Sledgehammer 2007

2010-06-22T17:33:00.001-07:00

Around $15 at the Monterey Market in Berkeley. Decent Zin for the price, usual zin flavors but very reasonable i.e. not too intense and even paired well with cheese.

Saldo 2008

2010-06-22T17:23:00.000-07:00

Minimal labeling but great zin inside; of course and again this is according to my taste i.e. this zinfandel, unlike others, was not tasting tar, gasoline, leather, pepper, skunk and other wonderful flavors usually associated with zins. Found at Whole Foods for over $25.

Edmeades 2007, Mendocino county zin

2010-06-02T18:20:00.000-07:00

Zins can be very different from each other; this one is part of the style I like: the "not too zinfandel" one! It is pairing with normal food which is a plus. Under $20 at Good Life grocery in Bernal Heights; a bit pricey but to my personal taste better than any from TJs selection.

Quivira Dry Creek Zinfandel 2007

2010-04-01T01:46:00.000-07:00

Strong fruity and flowery flavor, original but not my favorite style and not comparable to the Bucklin.

Bucklin Sonoma Zinfandel 2007

2010-04-01T01:39:00.000-07:00

Excellent wine.

Unti, Dry Creek Valley, Zinfandel 2006

2010-02-14T15:25:00.001-08:00

A good one from the coming Zins.
Not sure if I found it at Berkeley Bowl or Whole Foods Oakland but a little more expensive than usual.
Not an expert with these flavors, grappes so no measurable criteria ;-)

Dry Creek Zinfandel 2007

2009-11-19T16:12:00.000-08:00

Let talk about Zins since we are here in California. This one is not the best but is reasonable on the strong flavors (leather, tar, skunk, pepper) and alcohol i.e. I was able to finish a glass without spitting everything out! So it's drinkable but it's not the one you will abuse of...better options will follow.

Ponga 09

2009-10-19T17:35:00.000-07:00

Another Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand; around $10 at Berkeley Bowl. As I like them at a good price. Perfect with Oysters!

Girard Zin 06

2009-10-19T17:34:00.001-07:00

Made from old vine, this one is amazing for a zinfandel which I'm not a fervent supporter.

Mas des Tannes 07

2009-10-19T17:34:00.000-07:00

ANother good wine from the south for around $15 and from organic grapes.

Saint Martin de la Guarrigue, bronzinelle 06

2009-10-19T17:27:00.000-07:00

Around $15 found at Berkeley Bowl and Kermit Lynch. This wine is just "ok" drunk by itself but over cheese it is perfect.

Faugeres 06

2009-10-19T17:25:00.000-07:00

Here is a beautiful wine found at Kermit Lynch in Berkeley i.e. not cheap :-(

Chateau Thebot 2005

2008-11-13T13:35:00.001-08:00

Here is a very good Bordeaux for less than $15. I think this bottle was found at the main grocery store on Piedmont ave in Oakland. I had 2 bottles in the last week and both were good. It's a 2005, an excellent year for Bordeaux and I'm wondering if it could be the kind of bottle to keep 10 years in good conditions.

Chateau de Fontenelles 2005

2008-10-29T13:53:00.001-07:00

Back to the Languedoc with this red Corbieres 2005 found at Vino store on Piedmont av (Oakland) for $15. The 2006 is a few bucks cheaper. This was a real delight with a nice plate of cheeses, especially italian Taleggio and Gorgonzola. I bet the 2006 will be as good in a year or more if you have patience to keep it. I'm glad to notice that wine from Languedoc is more and more present on the shelves of California wine stores.

Lake Chalice 2006

2008-10-29T13:45:00.000-07:00

Before I forget here is another good Sauvignon Blanc from NZ found at Vino store on Piedmont for about $11. The typical citrus accent on SB from Marlborough is here very subtle to give the overall taste a very pleasant white for seafood. Wine prices have been going up and it is now a bargain to find a decent NZ Sauvignon Blanc at this price.

Cabardes - St Pierre de Trapel 2003

2008-09-10T17:41:00.001-07:00

Back to the wines tasted while in France and to continue with the Cabardes appellation here is one from a cousin who is investing a lot of money, expertise and passion to make beautiful wines. Unfortunately I didn't find the time to visit his winery and try other varietals from his production but I'm glad he gave me this one so I could compare with the other Cabardes I tried in Paris. This one a 2003 blend of Merlot and Syrah was not at the right temperature when I drank it but still was very pleasant and easy to drink. If you are visiting this wonderful region of France and its inevitable city of Carcassonne be sure to stop by his property, say 'hello' from me and have some samples from his wine list.

Moyau 2005

2008-09-10T17:26:00.000-07:00

Here is an excellent wine I just discovered not in France but at Berkeley Bowl 2 weeks ago. It is from the same area I was staying in vacation this summer, south west Mediterranean coast, and seems to be grown by German. More info on the winery web site . The one I tried is the La Clape 2005 for $15. Once again I think that Berkeley Bowl has a very good selection of wines or at least more at my taste than specialty wine shops from where I got suggestions for wines I didn't really appreciated. I got also a white Macon which I drank faster than I could take a pic of it which was delicious for about $12.

Cabardes - Chateau Salitis 2004

2008-08-14T19:20:00.000-07:00

This will start a suite of wines I drank during my 3 weeks trip in France this summer. This is probably the first one I had there in a nice restaurant in Paris called La Boulangerie. Cabardes is an appellation from Languedoc located next to Minervois. This one was delicious with our dinner and would pair well with red meats and cheeses. Not sure if this one or the following are exported in the US since it's a small production.

Forefathers 06

2008-07-15T09:42:00.000-07:00

Just tried this New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc available a TJ's for $9.99 and really enjoyed it. You can tell it's a Marlborough but the characteristics are delicate without strong citrus flavor. Very smooth and refreshing.

CMS 2006

2008-05-22T11:08:00.001-07:00

Well here at least I learnt something: CMS for Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah. This one was suggested by vendor at Blackwell wine store on Geary for a BBQ. This 2006 red from Washington state is definitely a strong and dense mix which combine well with traditional BBQ sauce. A little too heavy at my taste who prefers a light rose for this kind of event when it's warm but it wasn't on this day. I liked the little print in French on the label "Tradition de Famille" which tricked me as this wine has no equivalent in France! OK that's how I learn, by trying new stuff and I'll continue to take risks buying wines I have no idea if they fit my taste!

Saint-Chinian Chateau Bousquette 2003

2008-05-22T10:52:00.000-07:00

Where was I?! Not even out drinking wine but taking a break which I hope won't take away my taste for wine. So here is a red wine from south of France, Languedoc region, which was correct but not exceptional for a 2003. Made from organic grapes, it has a specific flavor which doesn't make it easy to match with all kind of food usually pairing well with red wine. May be I haven't eaten the appropriate meal with it so I cannot advice everyone to go for it but just to be careful. In fact I haven't tasted any wine recently good enough so I could encourage others to try :-( So I'll have to talk a little bit also of these wines I do not like.

Pascal's Shed 2002

2008-02-05T17:14:00.000-08:00

I couldn't resist to buy this red Corbieres Domaine de Lignieres 2002 " Le Cabanon de Pascal" (translated in subject) even if its price was a little higher than I use to spend for wine (around $20 at Blackwell on Geary, SF) but it's not every day that you can find a wine with your name in it; yes I'm Pascal and I'm glad that my name appears on a bottle with such good wine inside! Very sofisticated in mouth with berries aromas not very common in Languedoc wines this was a real pleasure to drink this wine and I'm won't miss an opportunity to open another bottle soon. Enjoy!

Avignon...esi

2008-01-19T01:21:00.000-08:00

Another interesting Sauvignon Blanc found for $13 at Andronicos. The name reminded me from Avignon of course, close to my home town. The wine was dry as I expected with fruity flavors at the same time. I had it with seafood and even if not as good as the NZ one it was definitely acceptable. For those appreciating dry white, this is a good one to try in this price range.

Good and Cheap Chilian

2008-01-19T01:11:00.000-08:00

Amazing value, especially the Sauvignon Blanc at $2.99 a bottle at Trader Joe's. They also have Chardonay and Merlot. I have tasted bad wine for more than this; these are correct for everyday.

Greenhough Sauvignon Blanc from NZ

2007-12-31T08:37:00.000-08:00

Many wines to talk about in this Holiday season but one really attracted my attention: the Greenhough Sauvignon Blanc 2005 from Nelson area in New Zealand. This wine was nicely recommanded by competent employee at Andronicos in SF for $12 something. This is not the place I'm spending a lot of time and money to buy wine because of their more than average price but I have to say that the selection is well done. Usually when someone offers you some help to find a wine in a store it is to sell you expensive ones or those they cannot sell, but I have to mention that this was not the case this time. I know pretty well and appreciate Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs but never tried or heard about those from Nelson area. Well this seams to be less known and this wine especially from a small winery but I really liked it; the citrus accent was not as obvious as in Marlborough whites but the balance, dryness and flavors made it perfect to accompagned oysters and fish dinner. Highly recommended.

Cheese lovers

2007-11-23T21:22:00.001-08:00

Last week-end I decided to make a little extra and get some "good" cheese in town- usually I make the trip to the Cheese Board in Berkeley when it's time for me to refill the cheese plate- so I went to this place on 24th Street where I used to go when I was living in the Noe Valley neighborhood 10 years ago. The place is called Cheese and Co. I guess they went under new management and this is NOT the place to go for cheese:
1- unqualified employees
2- not systematically offered to try
3- some cheeses are so old they should not be on the shelves
I got 3 varieties, none of which was acceptable for about $20 which I realized later the price was probably wrong but couldn't find the detailed bill in the bag... of course. They definitely lost a customer and I could prevent anyone else from going there it would only be justice. AVOID this place! I got there a bottle of wine a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru for a bit more than $20...well I should be skeptical about the deal: the wine started with a fine taste but the illusion disappeared as fast as it came; very short in mouth; probably to young. Trader Joe's have Bordeaux as good for half price.

Week old Beaujolais Nouveau 2007

2007-11-23T21:12:00.001-08:00

As much as I like this tradition, possibly because one of my daughter is born on a 3rd Thursday of November as well as Beaujolais nouveau every year, it is now a one day event and is barely of any interest to mention. This year I got 2 bottles of Louis Tete (pic) on Wednesday evening at $12 each; it was as good as I could expect. The next day I had 2 other kinds at a celebration at work one bottled by Kermit Lynch for $16, the other one at $15 a bottle: totally ridiculous! The trend seems to produce primeur wine closer to common Beaujolais than to banana juice but it is still far to justify such price. Anyway it's alreay a week old and before I forgot I wanted to post these comment in memory of the 2007 cru.

Moulin de Gassac 2006

2007-11-05T23:04:00.000-08:00

The Guilhem 2006 from famous Daumas Gassac is the table version of the winery. I found this one at Berkeley Bowl for $9.95 and they also have the white one. The Red is a mix of 5 different grape varieties, very fruity and easy to drink. Interesting to taste but at this price not really worth to stock up.

Plain Point

2007-10-17T17:09:00.001-07:00

This 2003 Grand Vin de Bordeaux available at Trader Joe's is little over $10 but worth the price. WineExpress.com gives a complete description and sells it for $17! Keeping it sounds like a good idea but if you cannot afford $50 a bottle wines you probably do not have a cave to safely keep and age wine so don't wait;-) Enjoy!

Davis Family Vineyard

2007-09-04T16:23:00.000-07:00

This is a 2003 Cabernet Sauvugnon from Napa Valley when Davis Family Vineyard winery seems to be located in the Russian River Valley. no big deal as long as this wine was good. Had it with cheese and it went well. Not a light red for sure with 14.1 degres of alcohol and strong body, small quantiies are sufficient to satisfy your palate.

1+1=3 Spanish maths

2007-08-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

No I was not in vacation but camera gave up after 4.5 years of service. I haven't got a new one yet but I went to this wine tasting last week at Blackwell's wines on Geary and found some interesting wines I want to share here. The theme of last Saturday wine tasting was "Tuesday night Dinner wines" which covered 10 wines under $15. I started with 2 Spanish NV sparkling wines and really appreciated the 1+1=3 Cava Brut for $13.50. Incredible fruity flavor, like crisp citrus and dry as expected. A nice alternative to Champagnes which would look tasteless after having a sip of this one!

Minervois

2007-07-07T08:56:00.000-07:00

No more Rose wine to review for now so let me present this French red wine from Minervois region. The wine itself is not exceptionnal for about $10 at Berkeley Bowl, light taste and young, may be a 13/20 but I can (once again) talk a little bit about its origins. Yes that's where I'm from, this South of France area on Meditreranean coast called Languedoc between Provence and Rousillon. The main two appelations are Corbieres and Minervois; both don't have the reputation of Bordeaux, Cotes du Rhone or Burgundy but can produce wines of great quality. They are not common in US so I always pick a bottle when I find one on the shelves. Corbieres has probably a stronger character and flavors.

Marques de Caceres Rose 2005

2007-06-19T13:27:00.000-07:00

This Spanish Rose should satisfy most of us with its dry fruity taste, level of alcohol and price ($5.99 at Trader Joes). Since I drink wines from this winery (Red, White or Rose) I never opened a bad bottle; thanks to their screw caps but also their ability to deliver constant quality over cases and years. Personaly this rose is a little too dense in color and fruit but until I find something better at this price I will keep some bottles in my fridge.

Lo Brujo Rosado

2007-05-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

From the same winery as the Red and White wines recently reviewed, from the same discount store on Clement and at the same amazing price of $1.99, here is the Spanish 2004 Rose' from Lo Brujo. Contrary to other members of his family, this wine was totally acceptable and fit well with grilled food. Fresh, fruity but not too much, dry enough but a little high in alcohol, I liked this one; and considering its price it's an excellent deal! Not my favorite yet but definitely better than the previous one; it would be a 13/20 note. More to come...

Monkey Bay Rose'

2007-05-23T15:07:00.000-07:00

As the BBQ season has officially started last Sunday, at least in my back yard, I decided to focus my wine tasting on Rose' wines. Once again my goal was not to elect the best Rose on the market (which I already have my idea on the topic and can suggest you, if money is not a constraint, to try any rose from Domaines Ott which are imported in US) but as usual to find the best pick under $10. The first one I tried this year is definitely not the winner: this Monkey Bay is a New Zealand Rose from 2005; it is fruity but not dry enough for me, a little too sweet to pair with a grilled meat. The bargain was found again on Clement & 7th Ave for $2.99. Overall I would give it a 11/20 note. Good enough not to be dumped in the sink but not appropriate for BBQ, probably more comfortable with desserts or as aperitif.

Lo Brujo Macabeo

2007-05-18T11:06:00.001-07:00

I got the white and the red version of this wine at the discount market (Clement and 7th ave) for $1.99 each. At this game I couldn't always win and always found the rare jewel at cheap price ;-) These 2 are really poor. I would say that the red can still be drunk, I'd give an average 10/20 but the white definitly goes under the acceptable level and I cannot suggest anyone to buy. Oh well the label was nice though ;-)

Australian Pinot Noir

2007-05-08T10:17:00.000-07:00

From the same discount store on Clement @ 7th Ave, I found this 2003 Pinot Noir from Oakridge in Yarra Valley, Australia for $2.99 and I have to say that I was totally satisfied with this wine. It is not comparable to a Burgundy Grand Cru but has all the pleasant qualities and flavors of a good Pinot Noir. Tasting notes on the winery website are correct and describe it well. You'll probably need to add a zero to the price I paid to get the same bottle from the winery! 14/20

Stormhoek in SF

2007-05-02T10:44:00.000-07:00

First I have to admit that I'm in saving mode right now and I'm exploring the wines under $5 at the limits between wine and chemical mix. The less the bottle cost the more chances you have to dump it in the sink but it remains a cheap risk and exciting hunt for the acceptable ones. In this quest, I discovered a discount store on Clement st @ 7th Ave (the Bargain Bank) with an interesting choice of wines from Australia, South Africa, California and Europe which I've never seen anywhere else. Most of them under $10 with discount on case price.
The first one I want to talk about is this Stormhoek Sauvignon Blanc 2005 for $3.99, as I just discovered the Pinot Grigio from the same winery recently. I think the cases ended up in this store because of a freshness label which seems wrong but the content is a delight. I bought several other bottles which I will present soon. 15/20

Gruner Velt

2007-04-21T00:50:00.000-07:00

Didn't brought this one back from Austria but got it at Trader Joe's. Bringing back bottles in a plane became pretty tricky now since you cannot keep it with you in the cabin (unless you buy it at the airport) and the allowed weight for your suitcases is less than before. I brought 3 bottles back from my last trip which made me so nervous but none broke. Anyway it looks like Austrian wine is getting more and more exported and popular around here. This one is cheap and crisp as I like them. Worth to try. 13/20

Stormhoek and freshness

2007-04-09T21:50:00.000-07:00

I had to go in Czech Republic to discover this winery, two of its wines and its very interesting concept of freshness. This was totally new for me and I encourage you to read their guide on Freshness if you are not yet familiar with it. Their unique freshness indicator on each of their bottles gives you the time range when the wine is expected to be at its best...and this range is a pretty short period of time: less than 2 years on the ones I tried. I tried the Pinot Grigio 2005 and a Rose 2004. Both were really good, fresh, fruity and dry at the same time but my favorite was the Rose. I have no idea if these wines are imported in the US but if you have a chance it is something you have to try! I need to thank here my friend Michal for offering me these 2 bottles and making me discovering this concept.

Budget Kir

2007-03-20T15:59:00.000-07:00

I have often suggested to save a white wine from the sink by mixing it with some blackcurrant liquor to make a Kir. Of course the quality of both liquids will impact the quality of the end product and you can even replace the white wine with sparkling wine or Champagne to create a Royal Kir. But I'm not here to debate about this fancy beverage but the simple, cheapest and delicious Kir available: I found this Argentinian Chardonnay La Boca 2006 at Trader Joe's for $2.99 the bottle which I mix with the Creme de Cassis from Burgundy part of France bought on Geary Bd at Blackwell's Wines for $16. A bottle of liquor is enough to prepare Kir with probably 10 bottles of white wine dpending how sweet to like the mix. So the result is a very affordable drink for aperitif and very pleasant to drink. In some regions red wine can be used to make Kir and it's called a Cardinal then. Enjoy!

Another Marlborough

2007-03-14T00:24:00.000-07:00

After such long break I need to start slow so I will log some pleasant wines I had during these few months. I begin with a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand; just another one, because I like them I have been rarely disapointed with them: Marlborough Sileni 2006 it is.

Sweet new year transition (part 2)

2007-01-25T23:35:00.000-08:00

For the main course of the New Year's eve dinner, we had this wonderful Rasteau 2001 du Chateau de la Gardine with Duck breasts with apples and honey. I knew the Chateauneuf-du-Pape from then same winery so I selected this one with confidence. For $18 at Blackwell's wines, it was a perfect match with the food and great pleasure for the palate. Not as popular as the Chateauneuf but from the same area, the Rasteau is an excellent Cote du Rhone for half the price. This appelation is known also for their fortified wines (Vin Doux Naturel).

Sweet new year transition (part 1)

2007-01-25T23:22:00.000-08:00

I like the end of the years: it's always the time when you have opportunities to drink good wine or at least better than the everyday wine drunk the rest of the year. Well the down side is that after the holidays we are broke and more likely to try wines around $5 than $10; but let's start the year 2007 with the 2 wines which helped me finish 2006 in joy.
The first one is this Sauternes Hauts Charmes 2003 which was of course selected to pair with a foie gras. For Christmas we had a Montbazillac which we usually find better than cheap Sauternes but this one was perfect for $20 at the new wine store I have started shopping at: Blackwells wines on Geary Bd. They also have half bottles for $11; excellent price for this quality.

South Africa Sauvignon Blanc

2006-12-19T18:29:00.000-08:00

"Fleur du Cap" a French name for a nice wine "inspired by Nature" as printed on the label. This wine has the right balance between fruit, alcohol and dryness; in other words it is really easy to drink and it pairs very well with everyhting from the sea.

Etrusco..also in California

2006-12-05T18:19:00.000-08:00

First it sounds strange that they couldn't find another name for a Californian wine but after visting the Martin Weyrich Wines web site I found out that this winery is specialized in Italian grape varieties and they are making Cal-Italina wines! Anyway this is a Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon found at Trader Joe's around $7 which is in fact pretty good. It is definitely this mix of Californian taste with Italian tradition which helped my pleasure. Good one to try. Watch the alcohol level though!

La Renjardiere - Cotes du Rhone

2006-11-29T11:10:00.000-08:00

I went to BevMo last Wednesday to buy a bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau but they were out! so since I was there I felt that I should try something different instead. I decide to get this Cotes du Rhone, Chateau La Renjardiere for $7.99, made by the Dupond Family who also bottles some Beaujolais also available from BevMo above $10. Anyway this was a good pick, very young, light, fresh and green this wine has the very typical taste of Cotes du Rhone reds. With pates and salami it pairs perfectly.

The Worse Red in 2006

2006-11-25T10:40:00.000-08:00

Before I get into the long list of sweet beverages I enjoyed the last few days, I would like to send a Red Flag Warning to all wine consumers shopping at Trader Joe's for cheap bottles: earlier I blogged the acceptable Zarafa Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa so I tried the Red labelled Pinotage 2005 from the same producer and it was a big mistake :-( This is the worse wine I've ever drunk! I cannot describe the chemical taste of it but I can say it was not a bad bottle but their whole production since I got exact same comment from a friend who like me dumped it in the sink. I don't like when I have to do this so I wanted to share this experience so you won't have to do the same. Usually when a wine is not so good I can either use it for cooking or make vinegar...but not this one, no way! Fortunately I have more positive comments coming...

Wildhurst Merlot 2002

2006-11-22T16:00:00.000-08:00

It was a long time since I had risked my health tasting a Californian red wine, barely recovering from bad experiences in this area ;-) Well there are some good points here to notice: first I still not fanatic a these wines described as "Black cherry flavors, the intriguing cedar and earthy notes, the touch of spice..." (where the black berry probably sun dried on a leather saddle), second I have to say that I can measure improvement in the last 10 years but still use of American Oak and excess of sun will be difficult to avoid. The price finally is correct at Trader Joe's and a little overpriced at the winery. I noticed that it is common on various wine blogs to recommend beverages for Thanksgiving; well myself I will be eating sandwiches in the wood looking for some mushrooms and I will probably take a bottle a Beaujolais Nouveau with me since I didn't taste it enough yet. Regarding this Merlot, it is definitely not for the turkey and the occasion unless to want to get drunk before the party starts. Anyway whatever you drink, don't forget to share so we can talk about it later. Have a good one!

Ruffino Chianti 2005

2006-11-20T11:21:00.000-08:00

Pretty good wine for its price ($5.99 at Trader Joe's) and from Ruffino Estates who produces delicous Reserva Ducale. I've seen this 2005 Chianti at Cala food for $10.99 whic reminds me how big margins some stores are taking on wines. As a humorist was saying:"As long as the re will be idiots to buy, it's not going to end!".

Beaujolais Primeur 2006

2006-11-17T02:44:00.000-08:00

This has been a big surprise and a big difference from previous years: this Beaujolais Nouveau 2006 is good! Not sure if this is only this producer, Domaine Ruet which I never had before, or the whole production but the bottle I drank was good as a "good wine" and not only a "good juice". Not this banana taste which usually characterize this wine but richer flavors balancing well with alcohol and nice red color (not much pink). I tasted it and bought the bottle at a wine bar/store in SF called Wine where I never been before but which seems to carry a good selection of wines. It was a little more expensive ($13) than usually what Beaujolais Nouveau cost (under $10) but it can be found a little bit cheaper at K&L wines.
Don't drink too much! it's really easy wine ;-)

Trevis 05 Sauvignon Blanc

2006-11-16T15:42:00.000-08:00

I continue with white Californian wines and this 2005 Sauvignon Blanc from Mendocino county made from organically grown grapes. Myself I prefer this one than the Bianco from Coppola and it definitely contributes to reconcile me with local wines. I like the region, the organic thing, the price (around $6 at Trader Joe's) and the taste of course, not oaky at all!
And don't forget today is the Beaujolais Nouveau 2006 release day! This is more of an opportunity to party than to enjoy exceptional wine but it's always fun to talk about this powerful laxative and hangover generator ;-)

Coppola Bianco

2006-11-14T10:10:00.000-08:00

First sorry about the blurry label: Pathetic :-( I really need to upgrade my camera. I found a nice one along with well done comment which I didn't want to steal but which I can definitely recommand from Wine Waves wine blog. I didn't noticed any of the flavors listed in this post and I start to think that Pinot Gris don't have much flavor to offer compared to other white varietals. Anyway it is not possible to say that this wine is bad or has anything wrong, especially for $7 at Trader Joe's, but it has nothing special which could make me say it is "good".

Cotes du Rhone: Les Moirets

2006-11-10T10:58:00.000-08:00

Here is another red wine well designed for everyday consumption at a reasonable price ($5 at Trader Joe's). It is made by Cave des Papes, probably one of the largest wine maker in the Cotes du Rhone who seems to have designed some of his wines for the US market. As I was looking for more information on this one, I found this site about Les Moirets which mentioned that the wine has been aged in French and American Oak! I don't see any other reason why a French winemaker would import American oak to age its wine but to send it back to the US market. Anyway it is definitely not "oaky" (it only spet 6 to 8 months in oak) and goes well will any appropriate food (meat, salad, cheese, not fish...). not exceptional but not bad neither; it's a 12/20

Sicilia Bianco

2006-11-07T07:56:00.000-08:00

After checking the winery Feudo Zirtari web site, I found out that this 2004 dry but fruity white wine from Sicilia was made with a blend of Grillo and Inzolia, local to Sicilia grape varieties (which I never heard before) and Chardonnay. For $4 at Trader Joe's it is definitely an interesting investment. I had the chance to taste many wines last week-end and probably won't have time to specificaly comment each of them. Just to mention the white ones here I had another italian one Grivo dry and easy to drink; also an excellent Sauvignon Blanc from California Frog Leap and finally a Gewurztraminer from Trader Joe's (the one around $8) which was not very sweet and acceptable for the price.

Smoking Loon: the couple

2006-11-07T07:55:00.000-08:00

This was an emmergency buy at the Cala Food down the street to offer some wine with the dinner to our guests. A white SB and a red Merlot for $7 each. While I don't have anything special to say about the Sauvignon Blanc, the red was very typical Californian tastes: leather, redwood, skunk, crude oil... I'm sure it would make the day for many people but I'm not fan of it. I think that with all the chemicals added they should be able to offer a pretty stable wine and you should never be surprised by its content. May be wine drinkers are not aware that besides the "Contains Sulfite" mandatory warning, there are 50 chemicals allowed by winemakers in the US which don't need to be mentioned on the bottle. hmmm

Red or White?

2006-11-03T13:47:00.000-08:00

Well there may be several ways to answer the question but why not make them fight to give an answer?! Not any fight, nothing bloody or painful, no just a Google Fight!
It's not scientific but I had to share this link here ;-)
Share your fights!

Pomerol idol

2006-11-03T10:11:00.000-08:00

OK today I'm making a step away from the main idea of this blog to comment only "cheap" wines but I have to share and log this memorable experience I had 2 days ago with this Pomerol Chateau Moulinet 2001. This bottle seems to cost around $25 in the US but provide a satisfaction woth the price. I don't have the pro words to describe such wine but I can say that this wine is made essentially from Merlot and if I use Google translation to convert the French characteristic of the Pomerol into English I get:"Rounds and flexible, at the same time as vigorous, they are equipped with a powerful and cordial bouquet" If it makes sense to you and want to learn more about Bordeaux wines here is an interesting and complete book available online: La planète-vin / Bordeaux and you can use of course Google translation to translate the whole site in English! Now I'm gonna feel bad about the next $5 wine ;-)

Burgundy 1er cru under $10!

2006-11-01T09:35:00.000-08:00

I had yesterday a rare sample on my table: a Burgundy Nuits St Georges 1er cru 1994 and besides the fact that 94 was not a good year it remains a good experience. I found the bottle, half bottle in fact, a while ago at the Grocery Outlet in Oakland for $6.99! It was not excellent but definitly better than everything else I have blogged here ;-) One of the big difference with regular cheap wines is the richness of the nectar which makes little amounts to satisfy your need. Usually a whole bottle of wine or so is needed for a dinner for 2; with this one we barely finish the half bottle (there was some solid at the bottom) so unless you're a pig you shouldn't need as much of a high quality (i.e. expensive) wine than you need of a cheap one. Not that I'm an alcoholic but I'm gonna stick to the cheap ones for now ;-)

Amaicha Torrontes

2006-10-30T13:01:00.000-08:00

After the very pleasant experience with the red one, I had to give a shot to the white variation of these $3.99 Argentinian wines from Trader Joe's. Well I have to say that it can compete against many Gewurztraminers in terms of flavor and quality, not to mention that a Gewurzt under $10 is a rare treat in California! Not appropriate for seafood but excellent in apertive or dessert; not really sweet but fruity, very easy to drink.

Burgundy for everyday

2006-10-27T23:36:00.000-07:00

Here is a Red Burgundy from Trader Joe's at $5.99 which allows you to have at your table a delicious Pinot Noir from great origins and affordable. On top of it, it doesn't have the berries taste too strong which makes some of its famous brothers so specific that you can only match them with appropriate food like venaison. No this one has the characteristic Pinot Noir flavor but can really match most of the food. Even young it is so easy to drink.

Austrian Red

2006-10-24T10:06:00.000-07:00

I had a chance to taste an Austrian red wine this week-end and I was nicely surprised by its interesting taste and quality. It's like they put some pepper into it but nothing wrong, just a very specific characteristic. This wine was fron Heinrich, Blaufrankish 2004 I think and it is around $16. I would never had tried this one myself. I knew about good white Austrian wines but didn't know about reds. I may look them in the future.
There was another one which I liked at this party: from McManis family, pretty sure it was a Syrah; probably something between $10 and $20 but really good and well...we can make an extra on the week-end.

Castineira que buena!

2006-10-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

An incredible good wine from Spain now at Trader Joes' for $7.99. From Albarino grappes (never heard of them before) it is dry, fruity with citrus accent but much more delicate than my favorites New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs. As TJs suggests it goes very well with seafood; I had it with cod yesterday and it was perfect. I can't wait to get home to have another glass after work!

Vina Alarba

2006-10-20T09:52:00.000-07:00

This Spanish wine is a good table wine; made from old Grenache vines it has a strong body, dark red color and fit perfectly with cheeses for example. I found it at Berkeley Bowl under $10 for sure.

San Tomaso

2006-10-17T17:48:00.000-07:00

I would not recommand this one to be drank by itself but again added to some Cassis liquor it is ok. Surprisingly at $3.99 from TJ this one was labeled DOC. I don't think this wine could find any match on the aroma wheel and this is not because I don't want to be nice with Italians ;-) I will continue to taste them and I'm sure I'm find a good one under $10. Can I also mention that I had today one the worse sandwich I ever had .. in Italian place (Gambino's by Embarcaderro). Avoid if you're in the area...Massimo is much better.

Not as bad as Materazzi

2006-10-13T23:35:00.000-07:00

Could be worse for an Italian wine at this price ($3.99?). I have no idea where this one come from and I don't have time to investigate but it is pretty strong and heavy with deep red color. The label announce some "intense blackberry and cherry notes with a light spicy background"...a little excessive but kind of right. It is suggested to drink with meat, ham and ripened cheeses which is realistic. Definitely better than the previous one (Chilian)

Argentina 1 - 0 Chile

2006-10-10T01:15:00.000-07:00

Santa Emma chilian 2 bucks chuck

2006-10-10T01:07:00.000-07:00

at the difference that you have to pay $2 extra for transportation :-( This winery has better wines but this one has a poor taste which reminds me of the $1.99 wine at TJs...well I could be wrong because I only taste this one once at work a few years ago and my memory is not so good. Anyway from South America the Argentin wine I will blog next is much better for the same price: $3.99

Born in Narbonne

2006-10-08T23:35:00.000-07:00

I share the roots with this one so we like each other. Simple, my definition of a table wine for everyday, it tastes wine, not skunk, leather nor gasoline! You see what I mean? why would you want something made of grappe to taste wet dog, garlic or soy sauce! Well I found this interesting link about this aroma wheel...you can visualize the found aromas for each grappe varietal: Aroma Wheel

du Peloux chez Pelous

2006-09-30T00:27:00.000-07:00

I took this one for fun because the winemaker name is so close to mine. It comes from TJs at something like $5.99. It is not exceptional but acceptable for table wine.

Chablis 2005

2006-09-30T00:23:00.000-07:00

Taste the difference! This one is very nice and for $8.99 at TJs. It is really easy to drink, well in the mouth, little wood with a nice balance between acidity and fruit.
No Kir with this one ;-)
I also did an interesting white wine testing last week-end in Santa Cruz and the winner was in fact a local Dry Riesling Bonny Doon at $8.99 at Cost Plus but which I think you may be able to find at TJs and other popular stores in the area. Very pleasant to drink by itself or with sea food. Next to other various whites under $10 this one was clearly above the others. A good one to consider.

South Africa SB (Part 2)

2006-09-19T01:59:00.000-07:00

For $3.99 at TJs this one is good...even without additives! I may revise my feeling for South African wine since I had a few bad experiences in the past.

South Africa SB (Part 1)

2006-09-18T07:53:00.000-07:00

First part of a South African Sauvignon Blancs review. This first one unfortunately is not exceptional as several others I have been testing before. It's a $4.99 buy from Grocery Outlet. As usual when the white wine is not friendly to the palate I mix it with Creme de Cassis or some Rose Syrop and the bottle is saved from the sewer.

Good Old Fart

2006-09-18T07:49:00.000-07:00

Can you believe they dare calling a French wine like this?! Well for $2.99, also at Grocery Outlet, I will not complain about the label when the content is correct.

Highfield NZ

2006-09-14T01:24:00.000-07:00

Wow! Another good deal! at $5.99 this Sauvignon blanc 2003 from New Zealand is even better than the precedent. The citrus is there, may be not as much as strong as usualy in Marlborough SB. I really like these wines, the taste has something artificial (how can a wine made 100% from grapes taste like this?!), difficult to describe but pleasant even addictive...well now that the price is not an obstacle I may drink NZ Sauvignon Blanc more often! Thanks to the Grocery Outlet!

Caveau des Disciples

2006-09-11T23:04:00.000-07:00

and because these deals won't last I will share this other one: this Cotes du Rhone, le Caveayu des Disciples 2004, for $4.99 is a great deal. Back in the range of price for my table wine, it's a little young but taste typical from this area and even reminds of his big brother, the Chateauneuf, where it has been bottled by the way. So far 3 wines, 3 deals...I can't wait to open the next one ;-) Again these wines come from the Grocery Oulet in Oakland.

Party!

2006-09-11T22:54:00.000-07:00

To continue with the good wine deals at the Grocery Outlet, here is an exceptional one: this Condrieu 2002 by Guigal at $16.99 is not only delicious but half the regular price. Seriously if I had some money to invest here I would buy cases of this one. I'm sure this will not last anyway since Condrieu is made in a very small area in France along the Rhone from Viognier grape. Today I open this bottle not very sure of what I would find inside and what kind of food would match with it but it ended up a huge success along with live oysters, smoked salmon (the best I ever had, just bought on the San Rafael farmer's market from local producer) and even the key lime cheese cake for dessert.

NewZealand affordable

2006-09-11T07:22:00.000-07:00

With this wine I start reporting about my findings at the Grocery Outlet in Oakland: there are some treasures there. They also have another shop in Berkeley with different selection. Selection in fact which is always changing depending on the new arrivals. I heard that some amateurs who are familiar with this place are buying a bottle, open it on the parking lot, taste it and go back in store to buy a case or the stock if good! It's my second stop there and I already regret not to live East Bay any more ..or taste the samples on site ;-) This 2002 Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough (NZ) is totally delicious at my taste and for $4.99!! I have many more to taste and probably to share here.

Sanchez family

2006-09-08T12:06:00.000-07:00

Very young (2005) Spanish wine, a mix of Tempranillo and Syrah, at a very good price a TJ ($4 or $5). First glass after opening the bottle I almost dump it in the sink as it felt little fuzzy! The next day it was in fact much pleasant and without being exceptional its price make it a potential guest for my table but it still not competes with the other Tempranillo Organically grown grappes from TJ listed earlier on this blog. (12/20)

Mas des Bressades vs Petit Bock

2006-09-08T11:55:00.000-07:00

Nice wine from Pays du Gard, a little pricey ($18 at the Wine House) for its category but a strong value. Its a 2004 and it definitely can be kept a more years. At the same price I had a Petit Bock 2003, a Saint Estephe Cru Bourgeois yesterday which also deserve some time to mature. I may get a bottle of each, store them 2 years and open them together then. I think it would be interesting to compare Bordeaux and Languedoc in the same price range to answer the question: does a "cheap" Bordeaux better than an "expensive" Languedoc? (both 14/20)

Oregon ABC

2006-08-30T21:29:00.000-07:00

After the Italian pleasure, a long flight to Oregon where this funny packaged wine went very well with a bowl of pasta in tomato sauce. Found at the Wine House and part of the Dirty Dozen, it proves me that not all are bad in his team. Well it may not be as good as the previous (from the dozen) was bad but it's announced for $15 individually which is way overpriced for the modest quality. For this price I expect a wine which I could keep a few year and which offers not common, fine and complex aromas. I'll take some time one day to list some of them in this category.

Toscana

2006-08-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

It looks like the quality of the wine on my table is as unpredictable as the weather. Even when I forecast a good nectar I end up disappointed but I don't expect a miracle I get satisfaction. This one from Toscana found at Trader Joe's doesn't very special but for $5 or $6 provided enough pleasure so I'll get some more bottles next time I will shop there.

Good Bordeaux; most of the time

2006-08-26T02:27:00.000-07:00

I realize that I never mentioned this Bordeaux yet. In fact I had several bottles of this Chateau Mayne Guyon, Premieres Cotes de Blayes 2003, in the last year and only had one "bad". well for $6 at Trader Joe's not a big drama and the last one I opened was better than 2 bottles of Costieres de Nimes bought $10 at the Wine House.

The winner in Rose this year

2006-08-21T23:05:00.000-07:00

I have a huge backlog in wines I tasted but haven't commented yet and after this trio of awful ones I would like to share this wonderful Rose ($9.99 or so at the Wine House) which is probably the best of all the Rose I've had this summer. The season is almost over (well it may be extended for the Indian Summer in the Bay ;-) so next time you have a BBQ on a sunny day open a bunch of these out of the fridge.

Jamais 2 sans 3!

2006-08-21T23:00:00.000-07:00

I will complete this suite of failures with this one which a guest brought home the other day. The big trick is the appellation 'Rose'. I've learnt my lesson 12 years ago when I discovered the White Zinfandel and since looked carefully to avoid the wine from this grappe. No warning on this one but instead of a refreshing wine I got a sweet beverage I couldn't even finish one glass. Be careful! or let me know what kind of food or mood match this one.

Not much better :-(

2006-08-21T22:53:00.000-07:00

This was not a pleasure but I could at least finish a glass of this one! 'Pinot Auxerois' as bad as the soccer team from the same area who lost 3-0 at home against Marseilles last week-end! This wine is bitter: how this is possible?! I cannot believe it is on purpose. Once again it was part of the dirty dozen from the Wine House... I guessI had enough now. I liked the concept to have opportunity to taste many different wines every month but more and more of the dozen are really dirty. Need a new source...any idea?

Wrong definition

2006-08-21T22:37:00.000-07:00

By testing all this wines I'm trying to find for each occasion and type of food an appropriate wine which I would classified into the "table wine" category because of their simplicity and price also. "Table wine" for me doesn't mean vinegar or 2 bucks chuck wines but the quality that I use to buy in containers for $1 or $2 a liter at the winery down the street when I used to live in the South of France. Well I realized this week-end that in Monterey (and the Wine House) their definition of a "table wine" is totally different: it seems to be a collection of grappe(?) juices from different areas mixed together with chemicals and sold big price with fashion label. Wrong, very wrong! I couldn't finish my glass! From the multiple identified aromes/flavors in wine this one was out of the spectrum. I couldn't classify this wine in any group. Bad bad taste: AVOID!!

Portuguese traditional

2006-08-18T23:37:00.000-07:00

Not familiar with Portuguse wine I have to mention this one which was a pleasant table wine for $9.99 at the Wine House. Not fancy or sofisticated but simply easy to drink. I have the image of wines from Portugal dark red, heavy, strong but this one has none of these caracteristics. Actually I finished the bottle with Indian spicy food and it was light enough to help with the fire of the chile!

Robert Hall from Paso Robles

2006-08-15T23:33:00.000-07:00

Another one from California, so good I didn't have a chance to taste it well enough...I guess I was not the only one to think like this! I will definitely look for wine from this winery in the future.

Bonterra from Mendocino

2006-08-15T23:30:00.000-07:00

Well I gave up long ago on California wines not because of their quality but because of the price of the quality. I haven't tasted an acceptable red one under $15. I had very good ones over $30 but my focus here is about the "cheap" ones I consume on my regular meals. I really appreciate though any opportunity to have a good California wine when it's offered to me ;-) And I'm always happy to discover delicious wines out of the Napa valley like this one from Mendocino county...and organic on top of it. Very pleasant one.