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!
“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.
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.
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!
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!❣️
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!🥰
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.
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%.
•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
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!🍷🧡
Since we’re all staying home right now, Valentine’sDay 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!♥️
Well look who’s ready for a Halloween at home! 🎃🧛🏻♀️🍷
With tricks and treats around the corner, this year, you want to stay extra safe. So wash your hands often, wear your mask, and don’t go near the woodshed that belongs to the creepy guy who lives at the end of the dark road… Like downing one too many tequila shots, nothing good can come of it.
My Halloween this year consists of maybe making a candy chute for trick or treaters, and being distanced from friends and neighbors. But that’s ok. It’s where we’re all at right now. And wine pairs well with pretty much everything this year has thrown at us.
So… without further delay…my All Hallows wine picks for this unprecedented year.🙃🍷
Click below to see the video👇 and then read the roundup beneath!
A very bright blend of 40% Merlot, 10% Malbec, 30% Cab Sauv and 20% Petit Verdot. Tasting of cranberry, raspberry, and shining cherry, it was very bouncy in my skull goblet. Aged 10 months in French and American Oak casks, there’s some good body yet it still retains it’s lip-smacking vibe. That is, if you have lips, some zombies, sadly, don’t.
It pairs well with dark meat turkey, which has a fattier component (this helps cut into the bright acidity of the wine), roasted pork, creamy cheeses, and in particular bleu cheese.
It’s a pretty good wine for $14.99, and it has a cool “Living Label” app you can download to watch the dead ‘rise’ on your bottle! Spooky fun!🧟♂️
If you want a luscious, juicy red you can sink your teeth into, this is a great one. Unleash the cork and you’ll find dark, rich notes of jammy blackberry, mocha, vanilla, and whispers of spice. This is from Lodi, which is known for its spooktacular Zins.
It pairs well with deviled eggs, sinful short ribs, and cheeses with deeper flavors like smoked gouda, and sharp cheddars.
You don’t need to bargain with the devil for this Zin, it’s a steal at $9.99. Give it a little time in a decanter to really open up the vault of flavors. A treat indeed.
Whatever you find yourself enjoying this Halloween, please stay safe and don’t be afraid! It’s always darkest just before the dawn.💋
Don’t know about you, but I’ve been in my pajamas for about a month. Ok, I’ve changed them from time to time but, yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve worn anything without an elastic waist band. And honestly with all the comfort food, Netflix bingeing, and wine ‘researching’, I’m not sure I can go back. Pajamas it is!
My interest in Malbec has been a long time thing. So I wanted to see how they stack up. Originating in Cahors, France, Malbec’s reputation has been sealed in Argentina. Bright, beautiful, rich essences of black cherry, blackberry, spice, vanilla, plum, and black currant are expressed beautifully in Malbec from Mendoza but what happens when the new kid on the block shows up? That new kid being California. New is a relative term; Argentina Malbec was planted during the 1800’s. In California, Malbec was only considered a stand alone varietal since 1993. Before this time, it was lumped in with ‘other dark reds’. The majority of Malbec is cultivated in California, and primarily to produce Meritage, yet only 0.5% red grape plantings are Malbec, compared to Cabernet Sauv and Zinfandel. Main growing regions for Malbec in California include Napa, Alexander Valley, and Paso Robles; known for deep, well-drained layers of gravel, sand and silt. Gravity works to pull water away from the vines, forcing vines to go after it. This in turn places stress on the vines, resulting in smaller berries with more intense flavor. Climate is similar to a dry Mediterranean, with sunny, warm, dry days cool evenings. This encourages the grapes to ripen at a slow and even pace. This grape is vulnerable, though, succumbing to many vine ailments such as downy mildew and frost so the higher the planting on the hill, the better. My search for Malbec from Argentina was easy. My hunt for California Malbec not so much. But I managed to find one on one of my few excursions out. And having just watched the movie ‘Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome’ thought I’d put it to the test.
Two go in…one gets… drunk Andean Moon v Mendoza Vineyards. C’mon now, that’s hardly fair, a $5.99 wine from Trader Joe’s up against a grand region in Argentina? I dunno… some reviews I’ve read have hailed this wine as a good contender. So let’s put it to the test! I pulled HubbyDoug and our girl, Andrea, 22, into the challenge. I tried to make it as blind a tasting as I could but had to ‘recuse’ myself because I did kinda sorta know which bottle was which (I’ve been bingeing ‘Billions’ so the word recuse seemed appropriate). In the next room I poured out a bit of each wine into each tasting glass, then brought them back in to the waiting judges. I did this because the bottles had enough difference as to give away their identity, even covered in a burlap bag.
What did the see..swirl…sniff…and sip reveal? Wine A ~ a clear yet deep dark color, thin legs, a smooth caramel, cranberry, blackberry, dark cherry vibe with a pleasant, velvet mouthfeel ~ much like a Pinot Noir. Wine B ~ a clear, brighter ruby color in the glass, also thin legs, with a smoked cherry essence; sweetbitter flavors of earthy, raspberry and licorice, making it seem more complex yet some bitter remained on the palate in the finish. The winner, with a combined score of 7/10 was….. Wine A: Andean Moon! Yes, the little wine for $5.99 held its own! It’s kind of like what we’re doing by sheltering in place, social distancing, and staying as positive as we can; we’re holding our own. I hope that you’re all doing ok, and staying safe and well! And if a little wine tasting can help see us through until we can all be together again, that’s a little win for us. Thank you for doing your part to flatten the curve. I want to send my gratitude to all our front line heroes: nurses, doctors, EMT, first responders, delivery drivers, grocery store employees, all of you are keeping the world going. Glasses are raised for you ~ you are the best!💕 Cheers!🍷
On the hunt for Valentine’s wines, I naturally look for fun label art. It’s something I’ve grown accustomed to over the past few years. Each season, I’d find a few to choose from that were on display, (and sometimes on special) to celebrate the lovey holiday. This year seemed a bit, well … skimpy on the label art front.
So I had to really search for wines that caught my eye, and would be a good choice in the glass. I found…two.
And with that, I did a little tasting with HubbyDoug to find our best match. Kind of like ‘The Dating Game’ but with wine. Getting out our Wine Aroma | Flavor Wheel, we were going to attempt educated assessments in our sampling (as opposed to just saying, “Yep, that’s good!”). We’ll see who gets a yes, a no, or a maybe.
Check out the fun slow jam video below for some more info about these wines! 👇🍷
Prophecy 2015 Red Blend ~ I loved the beautifully romantic label but damned if I can tell you what’s in it. Any research led me nowhere about the specific varietals in the bottle. I can tell you that it is a conscious coupling of grapes from both Washington State and California, which is a good start.
Spinning the flavor wheel, here’s what we found:
•Color: Deep Purple
•Nose: vanilla caramel vibe
•Flavors: dark chocolate cherry w/ a pleasant whisper of smoky tobacco on the finish.
•Mouthfeel: Creamy smooth,
•Price point $10.99- $14.99. We found this was a little drier than the Intrinsic. But that was ok. And with gorgeous label art from Victo Ngai, it’s a… yes!
Intrinsic 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon ~ 96% Cab Sauv and 4% Cab Franc. Produced in Columbia Valley, WA, this wine is fermented for a limited time in concrete tanks, which give a mineral character to the wine, then transferred to barrel where it’s aged 12 months. When Dougie found out it was a Cab, he gave the eye roll (he likes Cab only slightly better than Merlot). But here’s what we discovered:
• Color: Bright Ruby
• Aroma: Pepper, Stewed Plum
• Flavors: Black Currant Jam, hints of Leather w/ a pleasant sweetbitter finish
• Mouthfeel: Velvety, Silky
• Price point: $22.99
The big feature for us was that it seemed like a Cab with Pinot envy; lighter with delicate flavors – not so ‘in-your-face’ as some Cabs have a tendency to be. So that was a nice surprise for our Pinot fan. We have another… yes!
For Valentine’s fun here are two wines that are as nice on the inside as they are on the outside. And, really, isn’t that what we want from a Valentine’s date? ❤️
Hey party people! It’s that special time of year when a chill’s in the air, frost is afoot, and it’s not just the pumpkin that’s getting lit! 🎃
Each year, I look for two things from my All Hallows vintages: Label art and/ or contents. While the label art is the first thing to catch my eye, what’s inside the bottle actually matters; you don’t want to be sipping swill at your gathering. Breathe easy, there’s no danger with these three wines.
**Click the video below to find out more about these great wines! 👇🧟♀️** yes, there is a video there!
My top picks for the season – no particular order:
Prayers of Sinners – A spooky little blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Merlot, this moody offering from Washington State boasts flavors of violet, cocoa, and dark fruit such as blackberry. It pairs well with braised beef, hellfire roasted peppers, and devilish molten chocolate cake. At a price point of around $10.99, this wine will steal your soul. It was sumptuous in my glass.
7 Moons Dark Side Red Blend – A haunting seven layer blend of Syrah, Merlot, Petit Syrah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Grenache, it screams of robust flavor and texture. Swirling aromas of rich chocolate cherry, blackberry, and vanilla dance with the cherry Coke, creamy milk chocolate flavors on the tongue. It plays well with barbecue chicken, caprese salad and many Asian foods. Be not afraid, the price point is $19.99. The only trick to get this treat is to open the bottle.
Sin Zin – This wicked wine is straight up, 100% Zinfandel from Alexander Valley Vineyards in Sonoma. Known for their other worldly Zins, this wine is aged in the cask for fourteen months in American Oak which gives aromas of spice and earthy notes and conjures flavors of black cherry, plum, black pepper and chocolate. It pairs well with spicy braised beef, lamb or venison, tomatoes, eggplant, mushrooms and olives. The price point of $17.99 – $19.99 makes it a potion to die for.
Wherever you plan to haunt this year, make sure to sink your teeth into a great wine or two.
It’s been quite a while since I’ve been able to enjoy a Malbec Monday with you! Life can move pretty fast and before you know it, it’s been months since you’ve gotten together.
To get back in the swing, I chose a random pick; I hadn’t done any research before going to the wine store. What intrigued me abut this wine was the blend: 60% Malbec, 40% Bonarda.
Bonarda ~ Until recently, this was one of the most widely planted grapes in Argentina; Malbec has now eclipsed Bonarda. A high yield grape, Bonarda is usually cultivated on flatter, warmer regions, and is usually picked at the end of harvest to ensure that it fully ripens. Mainly used to produce large quantity, easy drinking table wines, Bonarda is light bodied, lo tannin, fruity wine. and perfect to blend with Malbec to give a little more depth of flavor. Bonarda, on its own, is ready to drink early on. It’s also a versatile little chameleon; it can easily be made into white wine, sparkling, rose, or traditional red.
Flavor profile: Ranges from, plum, cherry jammy to fig, raisin ~ higher altitude plantings yield herbal and rose flavors. Oak aging brings out chocolate and delicate leather aromas.
Plays well with:chicken, beef, cedar plank salmon steaks, and anything sweet and sour.
Malbec ~ We’ve gone over this before but it never hurts to have a review. Cooler condition Malbec grapes are more hardy, with dense skins and produce lusty wines that have higher acidity and tannins. These wines can be cellared for a while as compared to their lower- altitude relatives who have thinner skins, lighter bodied, and are best consumed young. Many are aged on concrete and then oak to intensify flavors.
Flavor profile: Cherry, plum, raspberry and currant. Generous oak gives a vanilla, smoke and slightly spicy vibe.
Plays well with:dark meat poultry, roast pork, lean cuts of meat (sirloin, filet), buffalo burgers.
This Tikal Patriota did not disappoint. It had flavors of bright cherry, creamy vanilla and a hint of spice. Beautiful rich scents of currant and smoke on the nose, with medium to high acidity.
So cheers to being Patriota-ic on this Malbec Monday! And enjoy thoroughly!
Next post: My spooky annual Halloween wine round up. Stay tuned!
), Christmas, and Valentine’s Day.
The Wine Student 