Category Archives: Wines I Like

Hot Fun in the Summertime

  Summer has finally (really this time) arrived in the Cleve! Being in a mood to celebrate a few continuous days of sun, my friend Shelly, HubbyDoug and I went to Tastings on the Terrace at the Cleveland Museum of Art. As luck would have it, the featured wines were West Coast Pinots (score for Dougie).

Even in the face melting heat ~ we felt a little like the guy who looks at the sacred chest at the end of ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’, we knew we were there for a good time.  The evening’s flights featured Meiomi, Bridlewood, and Willamette Valley. 

Starting with the lightest:

  • Meiomi: blackberry, cherry vibe that was light tannin and mild. A nice sipping wine for a patio.
  • Bridlewood: smoky and toasty and less fruit forward at the start. More of smooth fruit essence came alive when paired with the cheese samples. We noticed more tannin than the Meiomi.
  • Willamette Valley: beautiful, bold plum vibe that, while having more body than the rest, was the most complex and felt more like a Cab (which Shelly liked best) without the added heat that a Cab can sometimes bring.

Last night’s event ran from 5-8pm and continues again next Friday with summer cocktails.

As hot as it was last night, I never like to complain too much about the heat. Because like a wonderful wine sample, it doesn’t always last as long as you think it should.

Cheers!

©TheWineStudent, 2015

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White Wine Wednesday ~ In the Nuda

For this white wine Wednesday, I chose a ’13 Luna Nuda Pinot Grigio. It’s a crisp and bright little Italian chiller that blends a mineral undertone with citrus, and a touch of floral on the palate.

Tonight, I’m pairing it with grilled shrimp, lemongrass and ginger-garlic risotto. My thinking is that the acidity of the Pinot will nicely balance the creamy richness of the risotto.

I’m looking forward to spending an evening in the Nuda.  Who knows where it might lead?

Cheers!

©TheWineStudent, 2015

Mother’s Day Mimosa Madness (Redux)!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Now that you’ve finished the past 365 days making sure your family have everything they need, it’s time to take a few moments and celebrate…you! And in my book, there’s no better way then to pop the cork of something bubbly and fresh. This year, I wanted to make my brunch-y cocktail with something a little different. Behold ~ the Strawberry Rhubarb Mimosa! 

What intrigued me about this year’s model was the little bit of ginger that’s simmered in the mix. It gives the sweetness of the strawberry and rhubarb a nice piquant undertone that smolders a little before the bubbles of the Prosecco take over.

Strawberry Rhubarb Mimosa

  • 1/3 c sugar
  • 1/3c water
  • 1/2 c diced rhubarb
  • 1/2c diced strawberries
  • 2 tsp finely chopped ginger
  • 1 tsp fresh lime juice
  • Chilled Prosecco
  • Strawberries (garnish)

Combine sugar, water, rhubarb, strawberries and ginger in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer 10-15 minutes until it’s reduced down. It should be viscous but not thick like jelly (if it’s too thick, add a bit of hot water). Remove from heat and cool. Transfer mixture to a blender or food processor and add lime juice. Puree until smooth. Strain to remove any seeds.          Recipe via nutritioulicious.com.

Before serving, rinse and chill champagne flutes in the freezer to frost. Pour one tablespoon of the mixture in glass, top with Prosecco, garnish with your strawberry.

So now, Moms, sit down. Relax and savor slowly. And for the next two minutes, you are the Queen of everything.

Cheers!

©TheWineStudent, 2015

Birthdays, Blessings and a Glass of Biltmore

Lately, I’ve been writing about white wines on Wednesday but I wanted to push it back for a very special occasion. It’s my girl’s birthday. What makes it doubly special is that her day is also my late father’s birthday. I still celebrate with a toast to him. My sister used to make the joke that while she and our other siblings got him traditional birthday gifts, I gave him a grandchild. On that one particular April 16th, I got marks for creativity, and timing (I wasn’t expecting her debut until the 18th). And her birth had no other inducement than a warm bath and watching the movie Jerry Maguire. I wonder how many other births have been brought on by hearing Tom Cruise yell, “show me the money!”?

To toast the occasion, I wanted to find something that would pair a simple but spicy dish. Riesling came to mind. Instead of finding the traditional Alsace version, I wanted to find an offering that was closer to home. The 2013 Biltmore Riesling fit the bill. Cultivated on the Biltmore Estate in Asheville North Carolina, the combination of mineral rich, yet tough soil and cooler climates create the perfect environment for producing some fine, complex Riesling.

Qualities of Riesling ~

  • thrives in cool climates and poor soil ~ cooler climates increase its acidity which gives it the bright complex quality.
  • aromatic and floral. stone fruit vibe : apple, apricot, peach, pear. clean in taste, clear in the glass, complex aromas in more mature vintages including a gasoline (yes).
  • the compact bunches on the vine make it prone to noble rot (botrytis cinerea) which is actually a good thing.

Noble Rot serves two distinct purposes to wine:

  • It intensifies a wine’s sweetness while adding intensity and complexity. It does this by causing grapes to dehydrate while at the same time keeping sugar levels constant. Grapes affected by Noble Rot are more syrupy, sweeter and some may have a higher alcohol content.
  • It adds flavor ~ noble rot grapes have have higher levels of phenylacetaldehyde, an aromatic compound that can be described like honey, rose, or beeswax.

If you can say ‘phenylacetaldehyde’ quickly three times, you get to take a sip!

On the scale of dry to sweet, this Riesling tended to be more on the sweet-ish but with a distinctive spice finish. It was full-bodied with a honey-like, viscous mouthfeel. Subtle floral notes of stone fruit (apricot) were prominent on the nose. Paired with grilled chicken tacos, it brought out a nice spiced pear vibe that was most satisfying.

One of the things about enjoying a glass of wine is that it allows you the chance to sit back and reflect on times shared with those you love. It helps to slow the world down to savor the moment because, as I’ve found over the past few years, those moments can be fleeting. It’s hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that my daughter is growing up so quickly; and that my dad has been gone for almost five years. And while I miss him every day, I feel very blessed that he and his granddaughter will always share this day. There’s a beautiful continuity in that, and it fuels the belief that some blessings were meant to be.

Cheers!

©TheWineStudent. 2015

Of ‘Cards’ and Men

“Power is the old stone building that stands for centuries.” – Frank Underwood –House of Cards

House of Cards Season 3 has been streaming all over the world today, and like a good kid who is waiting to open gifts on Christmas morning, I am being patient. And waiting… to bingewatch. To pass the time creatively,  I thought about what type of red wine might personify the two main characters, Francis and Claire Underwood.

Zinfandel (Frank Underwood) ~ Despite having some deep, dark secrets, this American beauty has a deceptively light-bodied feel. It also sounds like ‘sin’ so there’s that. Famous for its intense fruit flavors like deep raspberry, rich mocha and spicy strawberry, Zin is typically higher in alcohol than most light-bodied reds. Which is a good thing when you’re dealing with drama of Shakespearean proportions.  You just know that choosing this red, you’ll be getting into the kind of trouble that reaches the highest levels. I wonder how it pairs with ribs?

Lambrusco (Claire) ~ On the surface this is a cool, lightly effervescent wine. Yet the more you get to know it, the more the delicate texture and flinty flavors of strawberry and blueberry begin to give way to just a hint of underlying bitterness. Which is a delicious and dangerous combination. Sometimes it’s good to enjoy the bitter and the sweet.

If you’re like me, you’ll be parked on a couch, bearing witness to an epic tale of deception, woe and political machinations. Make sure you pair it with the appropriate beverage. And watch your back!

Cheers!

Cover image via Netflix, and my laptop

©TheWineStudent, 2015

White Wine Wednesday: Chablis!

When I used to think of Chablis, I always had the vision of it being like Chardonnay’s little sister; always just too young to sit at the grown-ups’ table. And when I shopped for a white wine, I’d pretty much bypass it for some other (any other) alternative.  That was very short-sighted.

Produced in the Northern district of Burgundy, Chablis is comprised of Chardonnay. Cool regional climate produces a, dry,  higher acid, less fruity wine than its big sister. Chablis is generally less oakey, due to less time maturing in the barrel.

Chablis has three quality levels:

  • Petit Chablis ~ Produced on the outskirts of Chablis, varies in quality, is matured in stainless steel tanks and should be enjoyed young. It is the least expensive Chablis. Pair with cheese, cooked shrimp.
  • Chablis Premier Cru ~ Cultivated on the best site vineyards, Premier Cru comprises 1/4 of the total Chablis production. Pairing suggestion: unbaked: grilled or poached fish with buttery | creamy sauces. Naked: buttery seafood, crab, roast chicken. The acidity of the wine will help cut into the butter.
  • Chablis Grand Cru ~ Grown on west-facing hill directly above the village of Chablis, which allow maximum heat accumulation to grow and ripen the grapes. Both Premier Cru and Grand Cru Chablis spend some time maturing in oak barrels, but less time, generally, than traditional Chardonnay. Premier and Grand Cru chablis can be safely cellared for 10 years or longer. Pairing suggestion: roast veal, steamed or grilled lobster, heavy rind cheeses.

The flavors tend to be reminiscent of wet stones, stone fruit with a bit of citrus. It is pale yellow (almost green) in color, with earthy, savory rather than sweet aromas. Since the flavors are more subtle, it’s really important to serve it lightly chilled: 10-13C (50-55F).

So go ahead, invite the little one to dine with the grown-ups. You’ll find it to be a subtle and very interesting dinner companion.

Cheers!

©TheWineStudent, 2015

White Wine Wednesday ~ Torrontès

When I was buying white wine for a recent dinner party, I was looking for something with a bit of weight but different than Chardonnay.

Light and crisp with touches of peach and citrus, Torrontès is similar to Voignier in its structure (nice body but delicate ceatures), aromas and acidity. It is a uniquely Argentine white variety. Vineyards in the Cafayate Valley are situated in their own microclimate; approximately 9,800 feet above sea level, with scarce rainfall, creating the perfect environment for light, well bodied wine. Tasting notes suggest enjoying it young ( this was a ’13). And it is well paired with smoked meats, medium-strong cheeses, sea delicacies and Thai food. I paired it with soy- marinaded chicken stir fry with red and green sweet peppers. The soy brought out more of the spice on the finish that was refreshing and enjoyable.

Even though it’s bone chilling here in the Cleve, I wanted to break away from my omni- present reds. I love them but this lightish white was right. For tonight.

Cheers!

©The Wine Student, 2015

Happy Hallowine!

It’s two days to ghoul and if you haven’t found something for your goblet, I have some suggestions for you. And you don’t have to go into the dark recesses of the catacombs to find them. Most were at World Market at spooktacular price points.

Remember a while back I wrote that when I make a bad pun, you can take a sip? Start now before they get really horrific.

Am I bewitched by a label? I confess, I am a big sucker for fun label art. HubbyDoug just looks at me, rolls his eyes and spins his head around a few times. Good thing he hasn’t started speaking in tongues; I might have to consult an exorcist.

I stayed with the blood reds this year, in keeping with the season. Here is my bare bones list, in no particular order:

  • Rest In Peace ~ 2011 California Red Wine Blend ~ I quite liked the fruit forward, raspberry jammy vibe. It settled into pleasant earthier tastes of tobacco, leather(face) and the tiniest whisper of chocolate on the finish. A nice sipping wine to keep the vampires from your door.
  • Monster Mash ~ 2012 Lodi Red Blend ~ A melding of Lodi Zinfandel and Petit Sirah. It surprisingly had a nose as thin as Slenderman. But no matter; it had a nice tobacco ` cherry vibe with high alcohol and oak flavors. If you have a taste for a somewhat grounded, yet bright red go for this mash. It’s a graveyard smash.
  • Trick ~ 2013 California Red Table Wine ~ The lightest in color, this Trick was a little more of a tart-y treat (kind of like most women’s Halloween costumes). It tasted of unripened strawberry and cherry, and reminded me a little of War Heads sour candy with its pucker-y, ‘get you in the sides of the mouth’ effect. Nice if you like a little zing in your wine.
  • Phantom ~ 2011 California Red ~ Bogle Vineyards ~ This phantom was no misty apparition, from the moment I opened the bottle I detected a spirited nose of rich, raspberry jam. It had the deepest blood red color of the four and tasted of blackberry with a little smoke. The flavours were subtle and lurking at first, then I slowly became aware of them. But I wasn’t afraid. This was a friendly ghost.

On All Hallow’s, the devil is in the details. And I hope these few suggestions help get you started to find the most fun for your celebrations. Scaring up some poison for fright night should be like child’s play. But stay away from the two buck Chuck(y).

I hope you all have a safe and happy Halloween!

Boo!

©TheWineStudent, 2014

Ahhh!

HubbyDoug and I are on our annual retreat to Hocking Hills, OH. The spectacular colors and slight chill in the air make me very grateful we packed three bottles of wine to enjoy over the next three days. A bottle a day keeps the doctor away? I believe this is true.
We started our weekend with an ’11 Foppiano Vineyards Lot 96 Petit Sirah.
Next on our menu: the ’03 Gundlach Bundschu Temperanillo and the ’12 G|B Pinot. HubbyDoug loves this winery!

Being here let’s us recharge, relax and enjoy both nature ~ and how lucky we are to live so close to such a beautiful place.
I hope you all are able to find a place as lovely. And I hope you bring a stellar bottle (or two) to enjoy with it.

Cheers!

©TheWineStudent, 2014

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