Category Archives: Reds

Turkey Time Wine! 🍷🦃

Now I know you’re not going to have just a turkey on your table. But I wanted to keep it simple and spotlight the star of the show (though maybe it’s a featured player, as we all know the real star is you).✨

According to Food and Wine magazine, turkey’s rich flavor profile; light and dark meat, and its juicy texture matches well with a wide variety of wines and traditional side dishes.

Keep in mind that what’s good for the turkey is probably going to be good for the side dishes.

•Dry Riesling– OK… wait a minute, this isn’t the sugar bomb you think it is. Many have the view that riesling always equals cloyingly sweet. But this dry offering is the riesling you never knew you wanted. High acidity and plentiful minerality make this a most agreeable turkey companion.

•Chardonnay – Sometimes chosen because of its name recognition, Chardonnay can be a wonderful pairing with turkey. Crisp acidity, and fuller-bodied vibe make it a pleasure to sip. Old World offerings, particularly from France, are more citrus-forward with a stalwart mineral heart. New World Chards from the US, Australia and South America have a juicier, stone fruit vibe.
Hint: Add a little to the turkey as you baste.

•Gamay – The Beaujolais grape, but skip past the Nouveau and head straight for a more mature offering to enjoy. Pleasant high acid, lo tannin, and a satisfying grippy mouthfeel make this wine one of the best pairings with turkey.

•Pinot Noir – A classic, Pinot Noir’s playful flavors of cherry make this a great pairing for both turkey and your favorite sides. Pinots from France have a grounded, earthy, mushroom-y, tart cherry gravitas where New World Pinots brings forth a brighter complex cherry vibe. 🍒

•Viognier – An excellent, but not as well known match, Viognier’s whispers of honey and rich ripe stone fruit essences are wonderful with the tender turkey. Look for amazing offerings from Northern Rhone, South Africa and Australia.

•Zinfandel – Jammy, juicy and fruit forward, this wine is a boss pairing with both light and dark turkey meat, and many traditional Tgiving sides.
A big hit on turkey day, you might want to splurge and buy a couple of bottles. 😉

•Champagne – Bubbles and high acidity make this wine a merry treat to cut through the richness of the turkey and all side dishes.
And it makes your holiday table scape even more festive and fun! 🥂

When all is said and done, these are simply suggestions to dial back some of the guesswork when picking your wine. In the end, it’s really about sharing time with family and friends. And whatever wine(s) you choose to adorn your Thanksgiving table this year, I hope you have happy and healthy holiday!🧡

Cheers!🍷🦃

©️ Copyright. The Wine Student. 2023

Hallowine Roundup ‘23!🎃🍷🩸

It’s a crisp October night. Candles lit, you nestle in with a great horror novel. The moon is full, suddenly there’s the sound of leaves rustling outside. You shake off the sensation of the hairs standing up on the back of your neck. It’s just
silly jitters.
And then you hear the scratching at the window…

One of my favorite Halloween novels is Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot. I also loved the classic 1979 film version to get my creep on and send shivers down my spine. The freaky glowing eyes, the glimpse of fangs in the moonlight, the creepy little kids wanting to come in and play, the slow creak of the rocking chair in the empty room upstairs. And that house.

Lore tells you never to invite a vampire inside your home. But these two are ok. Let them in.

Check out the video below for more spooky fun!👇

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19 Crimes ~ Dracula🩸

With the cool glow-in-the-dark label, this red blend is something to sink your fangs into.
It’s a deep red velvet color as you pour it in the glass.

On the nose:
• black cherry
• spice

Flavor profile:
• bursts of dark cherry
• plum
• whisper of vanilla

Pairs well with:
• Roasted lamb or pork
• Hearty aged cheeses

$15.99

I paired mine with smoked gouda and prosciutto on pumpernickel toast points. Yum!

Not only does the label glow in the dark, it has a cool AR interactive feature that adds to the fun. Simply scan and enjoy. Check it out below!

2022 Steven Graf Bloody🩸

Organically grown in France’s Loire Valley, this Bloody wine is made from hand-harvested Grolleau grapes. Picking by hand is what can account for a higher price point. This is labour intensive work. Similar to Pinot Noir, this grape variety is thin-skinned, has fewer tannins, and is very susceptible to damage and disease. Extra care must be taken. Whole cluster fermentation is also used to impart more of a fruit forward quality and give a bright acidity on the palate.

The color is a bright, vibrant red as it pours. It seems to levitate just like Danny Glick floating to your window.

On the nose:
• blackberry
• cherry

Flavor profile:
• sour cherry ( a little like a Jolly Rancher)
• herbaceous
• earthy vibe

Pairs well with:
• Red peppers staked with goat cheese
• Grilled seasoned chicken
• Mild creamy cheeses
• Patè

$30.00

With the bright acidity of the wine, I paired with a hot creamy Gruyere cheese dip. So good!

Both wines are great choices to compliment lighter bites, and they’re lots of fun to dress up your Halloween table.👻🎃

It’s wise to be careful this time of year. But with these two wines, you’ll be sure to let the right one in.🧛🏻‍♂️

Cheers!🍷🩸

Copyright. The Wine Student. 2023

Easy Breezy Picnic Picks!🏖️

I love Rosé. I love it in summer. I love it in my picnic basket. But I was looking for a change. I wanted a couple of wines that were light and refreshing but not my usual go to. I circled back to a couple of wines that I’ve not had in a while: Pinot Gris and Beaujolais.

As for my picnic treats, I strayed from the usual fare of potato or macaroni salad, instead pivoting to a crunchy Asian Ramen Salad with fresh peaches, Grilled Cauliflower salad w/ Feta, and Dill Deviled Eggs. Yum!

For the wine I chose a 2022 J Vineyards Pinot Gris and a 2021 Chateau de Jarnioux Beaujolais.

Check out the video below for more!👇

Made from Gamay grapes, this is no Beaujolais Nouveau, which is consumed right after harvest, and of which I’m not generally a fan. It’s way way too young. This wine was light-bodied, fruity and earthily floral. Paired with the Asian ramen salad, it brought out more of the fruit and had a lovely finish that lingered. Often, I find Beaujolais a little too fleeting but this pairing was both lively and light, highlighting the ripe peach flavors in the salad.

I paired the Pinot Gris with both the dill deviled eggs and the grilled cauliflower. While starting out with subtle flavors of white peach, cantaloupe and lemon zest, I liked the brightness and acidity that picked up nuances in the Dijon mustard and seasoning, while cutting a nice little swath through the creamy richness of the dill/egg mixture. With the cauliflower, its subtle vibe melded well with the creamy feta and brought out the heat of the red pepper, especially on the finish. It was like little fireworks on the tongue, an unexpected but nice surprise. It was a totally different wine with this pairing.✨

And I guess that goes to show you; first impressions are not always what they seem. Sometimes circling back can help you discover what you may have missed the first time around.

I think that’s one of the many things I love about wine – the flavors and characteristics they possess on their own, and how that can completely change when paired with food. Textures, protein, fruit, vegetal vibes can bring out so much more depth on both sides of the equation. Food + wine = awesome!

Whatever you choose to pair with your holidays, may they be safe and happy.🏖️🎢🎡

Cheers!🍷

©️Copyright. The Wine Student. 2023

My Wild Irish Wine 🍷🍀🧝🏻‍♀️

With the luck o’ the Irish at yer back, may you find health, happiness and a pot of gold. Okay, that’s not really a blessing but a mashup of a few.

St. Patrick’s Day is a sure sign that spring is on its way. And spring is often viewed as a season of magic and alchemy. Wine is also a blend of magic and alchemy. Especially Irish wine.

Growing conditions in the Emerald Isle can pose many challenges to winemaking. And that’s where the magic comes in.

I first wrote about my quest for the 2015 Lusca Cab/Merlot in 2018 so this is a bit of a fun throwback.

Established in 2002 by fruit alchemist David LLewellyn, Lusca cultivates several varieties of grapes including Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, Dunkelfelder and Rondo – a grape that can heartily withstand Ireland’s damp, misty weather.

Click the video to learn more about Irish wine and how its made!👇🍀

A few years ago I was determined to find my little pot of gold, and I did. To read more about my search click here. Since then this lucky bottle has remained, relatively undisturbed, in my little cellar wine fridge. I hope it’s been enough to ensure its good condition. All told, it has aged about 9 years. I had many thoughts before opening: has it already peaked? Is it a delightful vinegar? But maybe luck would be on my side.

There was only one way to find out…

Time to release the wine!

To be safe, I decanted for about 2 hours. I wanted to let it open up as fully as possible to make a fair assessment. So how was it?

It didn’t turn to vinegar! I wasn’t as concerned about the wine as my storage. I don’t have a fancy wine cellar, and occasionally had to move the bottle around. I had been worried that after all this time, maybe some oxygen had gotten inside. But I was so happy that all seemed to be well. Magic!

It was a lighter bodied Cab/Merlot. I enjoyed delicate notes of blackberry, dried herbs, and a pleasant, earthy cedar undercurrent. I found myself swirling my glass often to coax out every essence. It had a clear, deep ruby color giving way to a slight brownish rim variation (the outer edge of the wine). This suggests aging of the wine. I didn’t notice any nutty or toffee flavors that indicate an oxidized wine.

As I tasted, I noticed the sun was shining – here in the Cleve we catch it while we can- so I bundled up, sipped my glass outside.

To find out more or to order a bottle visit: The Celtic Whiskey Shop & Wines on the Green. They are super friendly and helpful.

I send you all the blessings to have a safe, fun and magical St. Patrick’s Day! ✨

Sláinte!🍷🍀

Better Than Chocolate: 2023 Valentine Wine Picks!💝

Eduardo Galeano once wrote, “We are all mortal until the first kiss and the second glass of wine.”

It’s true – that first kiss can make us feel like we’ve had that second glass of wine; dizzy, fizzy, and warm all over. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some chocolate but it doesn’t usually make me feel like that. And chocolate doesn’t always fit in my wine glass.🍫

This year, I wanted to explore a couple of intriguing alternatives to the chocolate covered heart.

Check out the video below for more info about these wines!👇

Apothic Rosé-

The label says that it’s the “rosé with a dark secret”. I would like to know what that secret is. Though maybe that’s what the second glass is for.

From E&J Gallo, and cultivated in Central Valley, California, this wine is a beautiful, deep rose-gold color. The classic color of many rosés is a light-medium salmon pink. This is a Grenache, Temperanillo, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese & Carignane blend that created a rich color in the glass. It had a subtle cherry vibe on the nose, and flavors of lush strawberry, ripe raspberry, and a sensual whisper of dark chocolate on the finish. Interlaced all together, it tasted like… more!

Also cool: the label art of swirling roses was designed by tattoo artist Sasha Masiuk.

💰Price point: $11.99

Longevity 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon

From the growing region of Livermore Valley, California, Longevity is one of the largest Black-owned wineries in the United States.

Deep, ruby red in color, this Cab was immediately drinkable. I tasted without decanting, and it was flavorful right out of the bottle. Often, a little merlot is blended with cabs to soften the harsh tannins. This was a cab with no harsh edges. Softer tannins made for a smooth and satiny experience, like slipping on a lux pair of silk pajamas. Classic flavors of red plum, black cherry, blackberry swirled together, with a little black licorice lingering on the finish. Together it created a deep, well-structured profile.

Their description of the wine was ‘muscular’, which is very true of most cabs. But no heavy lifting was required to enjoy this wine. This was full-bodied but not overpowering; so nice to slowly sip and savor.

The twist-off cork is genius! Like its sister the screw cap, it made opening the wine a breeze, especially if you’ve forgotten your wine key (corkscrew). It made storing even easier. No leaks!

The label is what first attracted me; a beautiful heart. Take a closer look and you’ll see the intertwining of grapes, hearts and vines. The heart was designed by Longevity’s owner, and winemaker Philip Long’s late wife-and business partner, Debra, who saw the design as an expression of their both their love of wine, and each other.

💰Price Point: $15.99

So whether you’re enjoying à deux or just celebrating you, surrender this Valentine’s to a little decadence. It’s better than chocolate!♥️🍫

Cheers!🍷💋

©️Copyright. The Wine Student. 2023

Wine Wednesday: Unshackled!

The weather had been so grey and damp lately, I’m feeling it in my bones. Because the chill is going so deep, I wanted to find a wine that could warm me to my toes.

The 2021 Unshackled Cabernet Sauvignon was a luscious choice. With its deep pomegranate color, dark chocolate essence on the nose, and creamy mouthfeel, this wine helped me to break free from the cold. At least for a little while.

Soft tannins joined with flavors of black currant and blueberry, much like a dark fruit compote. Warming hints of clove lead my palate to a cozy, buttery smooth finish. Toasty!

Price point: $26

Happy wine Wednesday!☺️

Cheers!🍷

©️Copyright. The Wine Student, 2022.

TWS 2022 Hallowine Roundup!

“I don’t mind being locked in here, but at least leave me a corkscrew.”

– Natalie MacLean

In her book, Red, White and Drunk All Over, Canadian wine writer Natalie MacLean was referencing Edgar Allan Poe’s short story, The Cask of Amontillado. Essentially, it’s about a guy who gets fed up with a rival always insulting him so he creates a ruse to trap him, literally, in a catacombs cellar in search of a good glass of wine. I can see why the rival might fall for it. But this is a cautionary tale: never go on a drunken hunt for wine, especially if it leads you to a dank, musty, skull-filled cellar, lest you be shackled and bricked into a room. You’ll need more than a corkscrew, my friend.

And so, with the midnight hour close at hand, join me, as we descend into… the catacombs.

I know I left a great vintage down there, somewhere.

Check out the video for some Halloween fun!👇👻

💀2020 Pessimist by Daou Red Blend –

Judging by most of Poe’s writings, he seemed to be an eternal pessimist so this is choice is apropos.

A haunting blend of 62% Petit Sirah, 18% Zinfandel, 17% Syrah and 3% Lagrien.

🍇Tasting notes – Hints of black cherry on the nose, deep blood red in color, it tasted of ripe, smoldering fruit compote – rich blueberry, dark raspberry and blackberry. Whispers of spice lingered like an apparition, then evaporated on the finish. When paired with a creamy Brie, the fruity, jammy vibe was coaxed out. With cheddar, the jammyness gave way to a more subdued vibe. It had a rich mouthfeel with substantial legs. 15.2% alc.

$30.00💰💰

Rattling the bones here’s:

💀2020 Chronic Cellars Purple Paradise Red Blend –

Simple, tasty and bewitching, and, though similar, this blend turns the tables on the Pessimist with 70% Zinfandel, 16% Petit Sirah, 10% Syrah and 4% Grenache.

🍇Tasting Notes: Rich, creamy flavors of mocha chocolate, stewed blueberry and raspberry, with hushed whispers of leather, and smoked dark cocoa on the nose. Paired with a simple dish of pasta, olive oil, fresh parmesan and basil, the flavors settled in to a more savory, less fruit forward vibe. The color was deep purple burgundy, and mouthfeel wasn’t quite as full as the Pessimist – it had skeleton legs on the glass. 14.8% alc

$16.99💰

It’s interesting that these two wines, both Paso Robles, both similar in character and flavors, can have subtle, tasty differences.

Both wines had such beautiful, deep purply-red color that I know my teeth are purple.

So…

What is the difference between Petit Sirah and Syrah? According to Wine Spectator’s Dr. Vinny, Petit Sirah and Syrah (Shiraz) are two different types of grapes. Petit grapes are smaller in size than Syrah, and have a more dense skin-to-pulp ratio. This makes their color dark like ink, rich in flavor, and more tannic than Syrah. Small is mighty.

In this haunting season, please tread carefully. Beware the late night drunken scavenger hunt for the elusive vintage. And if anyone mentions a cask of Amontillado, run!

Have fun, be safe!🍷🎃

Happy Halloween!💀

©️Copyright. 2022 The Wine Student.

Valentine’s Wines for 2022!❤️‍🔥

With this February being what it is, we probably want to be cozying up under a soft, warm blanket, with a fire or candle glowing and enjoying a glass or two of something nice.

The pickings this year were a little slim in terms of wines marketed specifically to Valentine’s Day. This could be due to the current and pervasive supply chain issues. Whatever the reason, I managed to find a couple that looked fun and holiday ready.

Check out the video I made for a little more info on these fun wines!❣️

Quinta De La Rosa 2017 douRosa Red Blend –

Made in the Douro region of Portugal, this is a luscious red blend from Portugal comprised of 35% Touriga Nacional, 35% Touriga Franca, and 30% Tinta Roriz grapes. Hand-picked and quietly left to mature for two years in stainless steel tanks, it is deep in color with an intense dark berry, blueberry vibe with both leathery and hint ‘o’ mint qualities. Younger wines have more of a violet vibe on the nose and they tend to have a dry and grippy mouthfeel due to bolder tannins.

The Douro region has a drier climate, with very warm summers. Because of an unusually dry, warm summer in 2017, harvest was a little early; mid – August, when the fruit was at its peak.

Tasting Notes:

• Deep ruby color – rich and clear – so beautiful in the glass

• Hints of violet (a soft, powdery raspberry vibe on the top) and caramel on the nose

• Dark, rich raspberry and blackberry w/a lush mouthfeel

• Medium tannin and mid-hi alcohol

• Paired beautifully with vegetarian pizza and fresh ripe blackberries

• Decant for at least an hour to open flavors

$19.99

Santero Villa Jolanda I Love You Extra Dry Spumante – This is one of the cutest damn bottles I’ve seen so far. Santero comes up with seasonal cool graphics; Halloween (which always sells out so I can never get my hands on one :/ ), Christmas, and Valentine’s Day.

That’s part of the reason to check it out, and as an affordable sparkler, this is a fun offering. Especially if you’ve spent some of your cash on flowers, chocolate, and dinner, it adds up. Your sparkling wine should never leave you with a negative balance. Some might disagree on that statement. And while it is true, the sky can be the limit on what you can pay for a beautiful sparkling wine, feel free to adjust your Valentine’s budget accordingly.

Tasting Notes:

• Light yellow straw color – lots of pretty bubbles

• Nice acidity, not too sweet

• Flavors of honeydew melon, pear, cream

• Lighter body, refreshing mouthfeel,

• No decanting needed (don’t want to lose those bubbles)

• Serve ice cold

• Pairs: Anything

• $15.99

I hope you all have a happy and safe Valentine’s Day!💝

Please enjoy responsibly, and if you can’t be the with wine you love, love the wine you’re with!🥰

Cheers!🍷🥂

©️Copyright, The Wine Student, 2022

What We Drink in the Shadows – 3 Wines to Sink Your Teeth Into for Halloween

Daylight is beginning an early decline, the shadows getting longer. A chilling breeze causes the leaves outside to rustle, and your candle to flicker and then blow out. You hear a scratching at the window…

Don’t be frightened…it’s just me with my annual Halloween wine round up! 🎃🍷

If you know your vampire lore, you have to invite me in.🧛🏻‍♀️

But first, click the video below for more fun!👇

This year, we’ll become familiar with three. And since I never play favorites, here they are in no particular order:

🎃Banshee – 2018 Pinot Noir – Sonoma County With a cooler than usual start to their growing season, and moderate temperatures throughout the summer, the fruit yielded an offering with intense flavors and optimal acidity. This wine was then left to its slumber for 9 months in new French oak casks.

Shhhh…. don’t wake the master!

•Flavor profile: sweet | tart mix of bright cherry, raspberry, tea and vanilla.

•Aromas: pomegranate, tart cherry, earthy pine.

•Pairs well with: turkey sausages, wild mushroom risotto, grilled lobster, grilled asparagus.

•Price Point: $19.99

🎃Sixth Sense – 2018 Syrah – Lodi, CA

Awaken your senses with this lush warm – climate Syrah. From Michael David Winery (they make a wonderful Petit Petit), this is darker than Cabernet Sauv with lots of antioxidants and lends well to aging (the wine, not you). It will come out of the botttle with a big, bold bite at the start that gently settles into a gentle warming spice on the finish.

So how can you tell if your wine is a warm climate or cool climate offering? Let your sixth sense guide you (or just check the alcohol level on the label). Warmer regions have alcohol levels of more than 14%+, cooler regions less than 14%. This wine checks in at 15%.

• Flavor Profile: rich raspberry, plum, coffee bean, tobacco, black olive.

•Aromas: blackberry, boysenberry, fig, dark chocolate & allspice.

•Pairs well with: grilled or roasted lighter meats – especially pork spare ribs, tender chicken thighs, anything with a little fattiness to rip into the high tannins; fragrant, softer cheeses with lavender, fennel or thyme.

•Price Point: $15.99

👻Halloween fun trick: say, “Sixth Sense Syrah” 5x, as fast as you can after drinking a full glass. And please video it and upload to the comments if you dare! Lol

🎃Carnivor – 2019 Zinfandel – Lodi, CA

Sink your teeth into this cozy throuple of Zinfandel | Cab Sauv | Merlot, aged in American and French oak. It summons the dark arts of flavor. Lodi’s climate is more like the Mediterranean; warm days and cool nights to grow intense, ripe grapes with wonderful structure and style. Flavors meld together to hit you like a stake through the heart.

•Flavor profile: blackberry, dark cherry, mocha, toasted oak, whisper of smooth caramel.

•Aromas: spice and pepper with a little bite of jammy berry.

•Pairs well with: Any good cut of red meat, BBQ beef kabobs, beef tenderloin; cheeses such as aged Gruyere, Havarti, Parmesan and Gorgonzola.

It says right on the label that meat was made for this wine so choose anything juicy and red from the meat counter and feel free to char broil. The smokier the better as it will pair beautifully with the robust spiciness of this wine.

•Price Point: $11.99

So now you have a few treats to get you going this Halloween season. Whether you’re doing a little socializing or staying in your catacombs with a good scary movie, cheers!🍷🧡

Stay well, stay safe and Happy Halloween!🎃

©️Copyright TheWineStudent, 2021

Wines for Valentines: Sweet Dreams are Made of These

Who am I to disagree?

Since we’re all staying home right now, Valentine’s Day is going to be, well, a lot quieter. It can still be a sweet day, and I’m all for opening a little bottle to enjoy. And who better to share it with than you? From a distance.

Each Valentine’s I look for bottles that have some fun label art for the holiday. The art can be sweet or sassy, with word ‘love’ or maybe some hearts. This year, most wine companies are keeping things very simple – which makes sense right now. I did manage to discover two that were close to the theme and moderately priced: Love Noir and Red Head Red Blend.

Check out the video below!

Love Noir Pinot Noir 2018– Jammy, with flavors of cherry, and a whisper of espresso, this Pinot has some velvety texture to it. Still a relatively young Pinot, it’s lighter in both color, body and mouthfeel. Aging in American Oak, gives it just a hint of vanilla. And less time in a newer barrel gives it a less smokey or oak-y vibe. Because it’s younger, decanting is important here to bring out all the flavors. Pinots by nature are delicate wines, so you don’t want to cellar them too long.

Recommended pairing: roast pork, chicken artichoke flatbread. I’d throw chocolate anything in the mix for dessert.💋

Price point: $15.99

***

Red Head Red Blend – From L’uva Bella Winery in Lowellville, Ohio, this wine has flavors of bright cherry, blackberry, with a little tang of blueberry. This wine is a ruby color with good legs (meaning viscosity). First sip is a combo of sweet | tart which then settles into a spicy kiss on the finish. This combination makes it an interesting wine especially for those new to drinking red wine.

Again, decanting is important as this wine takes a little while for the flavors to unfold.

Pair it up with some assorted cheeses including spiced havarti and dark chocolate (with some spice) to bring out the heat.🔥

The $11.99 price point definitely makes it a great starter wine.

And I think they’ve changed their branding on this a little. It still has the cool art but it’s now just called ‘Red’.

Keeping things quiet is a good plan for Valentine’s Day this year. Open a bottle, gather your snacks and watch your favorite rom-com. And if you can’t be with all the ones you love, make sure to love the wine you’re with!♥️

Cheers!🍷💝💋

©️copyright 2021 TheWineStudent