"What bubbly will you be drinking for the holidays?"
Once asked, the question could not go unanswered. "You tell me," I said.
The answer: Gosset Excellence Brut Champagne NV. Good answer!
The lovely bottle, with its old-school, elegant label, looks like it popped straight out of a black-and-white movie (think The Thin Man). The creamy yellow wine sparkles with plenty of fine, tiny bubbles. It's pleasantly dry, with an almost mineral taste.
"F-ing delicious," to quote my co-conspirator. "If you drank enough of this, you just might turn into Kate Spade."
What we loved about this wine was its distinct lack of sweetness. Unlike a lot of other bubblies that leave you feeling drunk and fat, this left me feeling vivacious, effervescent, and utterly fabulous.
Needless to say, I'll be stocking up for the holidays.
For the record, we were given a bottle to taste for this blog. We have not received any other compensation for this posting.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
Chardonnay
"There are two kinds of girls in this world: those who do, and those who don't." Drink chardonnay, that is. For every girl who wants ABC (anything but chardonnay), there's another who's rarely more than an arm's length from a bottle of Rombauer. But here's the thing: chardonnay is a versatile grape, and for those who think they don't like it, because they don't like the big, oaky, buttery, quintessential and sometimes overpowering chards that have become so popular in some circles, there are plenty of other options. Steer clear of the c-word, and you might be missing some really lovely wines. We recently sampled three surprising chardonnays -- all different, and a little something for everyone.
Viu Manent Valle de Colchagua (Chile) Chardonnay 2010: An initial clover aroma was followed by a distinctive honey taste. This wine had a smooth, creamy mouthfeel with a rich viscosity. Overall, it was a flowery, light, happy, easy-drinking, girly wine -- and felt more like a pinot blanc than a chardonnay.
Cameron Hughes Evergreen Series Los Carneros Chardonnay 2007: No shortage of oak here -- we found this wine actually woody. But the initial hit of oak was followed by a nice hint of butterscotch. Happily, we discovered that with flavorful cheeses, the wine became much more drinkable and appealing. (I blame the wine for causing me to demolish a wedge of Humboldt Fog and half a baguette -- and loving every minute of it.)
Noble Vines Single Vineyard 446 Monterey Chardonnay 2010: This is one of the newest offerings in The Willows Market's extensive inventory, and Nick sent me home with a bottle insisting that I try it -- who am I to argue with Nick? We found it immediately appealing, with bright, citrus-y notes and a hint of pineapple. The zingy fruits and silky-smooth mouthfeel were balanced with a slightly buttery, toasty finish. I'll be stocking up on this to keep in the fridge for a great everyday white.
Personally, I like the big, buttery, oaky California chardonnays -- and I like un-oaked chards, and a lot of styles in between. If you think you don't like chardonnay, don't be afraid to experiment, and you just might find something you like. And if you think it's Rombauer or bust -- well, in a future tasting, we'll find some alternatives with a similar style that won't break the bank.
For the record, The Willows Market supplied us with one free bottle of each of these wines. I have not received any other compensation for this posting. I have linked to other web sites for convenience; however, I take no responsibility for the content of any third-party web sites.
Viu Manent Valle de Colchagua (Chile) Chardonnay 2010: An initial clover aroma was followed by a distinctive honey taste. This wine had a smooth, creamy mouthfeel with a rich viscosity. Overall, it was a flowery, light, happy, easy-drinking, girly wine -- and felt more like a pinot blanc than a chardonnay.
Cameron Hughes Evergreen Series Los Carneros Chardonnay 2007: No shortage of oak here -- we found this wine actually woody. But the initial hit of oak was followed by a nice hint of butterscotch. Happily, we discovered that with flavorful cheeses, the wine became much more drinkable and appealing. (I blame the wine for causing me to demolish a wedge of Humboldt Fog and half a baguette -- and loving every minute of it.)
Noble Vines Single Vineyard 446 Monterey Chardonnay 2010: This is one of the newest offerings in The Willows Market's extensive inventory, and Nick sent me home with a bottle insisting that I try it -- who am I to argue with Nick? We found it immediately appealing, with bright, citrus-y notes and a hint of pineapple. The zingy fruits and silky-smooth mouthfeel were balanced with a slightly buttery, toasty finish. I'll be stocking up on this to keep in the fridge for a great everyday white.
Personally, I like the big, buttery, oaky California chardonnays -- and I like un-oaked chards, and a lot of styles in between. If you think you don't like chardonnay, don't be afraid to experiment, and you just might find something you like. And if you think it's Rombauer or bust -- well, in a future tasting, we'll find some alternatives with a similar style that won't break the bank.
For the record, The Willows Market supplied us with one free bottle of each of these wines. I have not received any other compensation for this posting. I have linked to other web sites for convenience; however, I take no responsibility for the content of any third-party web sites.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Well, that was unexpected.
When Nick, proprietor of my friendly neighborhood Willows Market, suggested that I try a new (to me anyway) sauvignon blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand, I was delighted -- and thought I knew what I was in for. I often reach for a Marlborough when I want a crisp, flavorful, easy-drinking white on its own in the afternoon. There are a number of labels that consistently deliver exactly what I expect -- Nobilo, Babich, Monkey Bay, the beloved King Shag (from Trader Joe's) -- and with one of my Willows girlfriends (you know who you are!), Kim Crawford has become almost a cliche for our afternoon get-togethers. But when I popped into the Market to pick up a couple of bottles to taste along with Nick's recommendation, the Kim Crawford was sold out, so I grabbed a couple of others, figuring they're all pretty much the same anyway. Boy, was I wrong!
When a girlfriend stopped by in the late afternoon for a quick beverage, we decided to open a bottle: Clifford Bay 2009 Awatere Valley - Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. The first sniff was as expected, with the zippy scent typical of these wines. But after a few sips, there was an awkward pause -- and then we both admitted we didn't love it. The typical tart taste gave way to a strongly bitter aftertaste -- like eating a grapefruit and then chewing on the peel. A few more sips, and another awkward pause . . . I should disclose that this particular friend and I have never had a problem finishing a bottle of wine, much less a glass -- but we gave up on this one. (Perhaps, we thought, it would be better with food -- so I put it away until dinner time.)
Take 2: Ponga 2010 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. This was a totally different wine. From the first whiff, it had a light, floral scent. We definitely tasted citrus, but more of a lemon drop than a grapefruit peel. It was so light, we thought it was less like a sauvignon blanc than a pinot gris or viognier. We were both relieved, I think, but not in love -- so it was time to move on.
The third time's the charm: Riverby Estate 2009 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc was the closest we came to what we expected from a sauvignon blanc, if not the quintessential Marlborough flavors. What we love about sauvignon blanc typically is that it is light, fresh, refreshing, and drinkable. As my mother-in-law would say, it's a wine that doesn't take over the conversation. Like a good party guest, it fits in, makes everyone comfortable, livens up the scene, but doesn't draw attention to itself. At this point, my husband came home and had the good luck to start with the Riverby before trying the Ponga and the Clifford Bay. We all agreed the Riverby was our favorite.
We typically enjoy Marlboroughs with Asian food, so for dinner I made minced chicken with chiles and basil in lettuce cups. As much as I like the Riverby, I didn't think it held up very well to the spicy, salty food -- so I decided to give the Clifford Bay a second chance. I'm so glad I did, because the wine was really rehabilitated the second time around. I won't say it was delicious, exactly -- but it stood up nicely to the food. The acidity in the wine was a nice counterbalance to the fish sauce in the chicken, and best of all, the strong flavors in the food seemed to counteract the bitter aftertaste we had experienced when we tried the wine on its own.
If I thought I knew what to expect from Marlborough sauvignon blanc, I was wrong -- and I clearly have a lot to learn. Yes, I'll keep reaching for my tried-and-true favorites, but I'm also happy to keep trying new bottles, and I'm always open to suggestions.
For the record, The Willows Market supplied us with a free bottle of the Clifford Bay 2009 Awatere Valley - Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. I bought the Ponga 2010 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and the Riverby Estate 2009 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at the Willows Market for about $10.99 and $16.99, respectively. I have not received any other compensation for this posting. I have linked to other websites for convenience; however, I take no responsibility for the content of any third-party websites.
When Nick, proprietor of my friendly neighborhood Willows Market, suggested that I try a new (to me anyway) sauvignon blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand, I was delighted -- and thought I knew what I was in for. I often reach for a Marlborough when I want a crisp, flavorful, easy-drinking white on its own in the afternoon. There are a number of labels that consistently deliver exactly what I expect -- Nobilo, Babich, Monkey Bay, the beloved King Shag (from Trader Joe's) -- and with one of my Willows girlfriends (you know who you are!), Kim Crawford has become almost a cliche for our afternoon get-togethers. But when I popped into the Market to pick up a couple of bottles to taste along with Nick's recommendation, the Kim Crawford was sold out, so I grabbed a couple of others, figuring they're all pretty much the same anyway. Boy, was I wrong!
When a girlfriend stopped by in the late afternoon for a quick beverage, we decided to open a bottle: Clifford Bay 2009 Awatere Valley - Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. The first sniff was as expected, with the zippy scent typical of these wines. But after a few sips, there was an awkward pause -- and then we both admitted we didn't love it. The typical tart taste gave way to a strongly bitter aftertaste -- like eating a grapefruit and then chewing on the peel. A few more sips, and another awkward pause . . . I should disclose that this particular friend and I have never had a problem finishing a bottle of wine, much less a glass -- but we gave up on this one. (Perhaps, we thought, it would be better with food -- so I put it away until dinner time.)
Take 2: Ponga 2010 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. This was a totally different wine. From the first whiff, it had a light, floral scent. We definitely tasted citrus, but more of a lemon drop than a grapefruit peel. It was so light, we thought it was less like a sauvignon blanc than a pinot gris or viognier. We were both relieved, I think, but not in love -- so it was time to move on.
The third time's the charm: Riverby Estate 2009 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc was the closest we came to what we expected from a sauvignon blanc, if not the quintessential Marlborough flavors. What we love about sauvignon blanc typically is that it is light, fresh, refreshing, and drinkable. As my mother-in-law would say, it's a wine that doesn't take over the conversation. Like a good party guest, it fits in, makes everyone comfortable, livens up the scene, but doesn't draw attention to itself. At this point, my husband came home and had the good luck to start with the Riverby before trying the Ponga and the Clifford Bay. We all agreed the Riverby was our favorite.
We typically enjoy Marlboroughs with Asian food, so for dinner I made minced chicken with chiles and basil in lettuce cups. As much as I like the Riverby, I didn't think it held up very well to the spicy, salty food -- so I decided to give the Clifford Bay a second chance. I'm so glad I did, because the wine was really rehabilitated the second time around. I won't say it was delicious, exactly -- but it stood up nicely to the food. The acidity in the wine was a nice counterbalance to the fish sauce in the chicken, and best of all, the strong flavors in the food seemed to counteract the bitter aftertaste we had experienced when we tried the wine on its own.
If I thought I knew what to expect from Marlborough sauvignon blanc, I was wrong -- and I clearly have a lot to learn. Yes, I'll keep reaching for my tried-and-true favorites, but I'm also happy to keep trying new bottles, and I'm always open to suggestions.
For the record, The Willows Market supplied us with a free bottle of the Clifford Bay 2009 Awatere Valley - Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. I bought the Ponga 2010 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and the Riverby Estate 2009 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at the Willows Market for about $10.99 and $16.99, respectively. I have not received any other compensation for this posting. I have linked to other websites for convenience; however, I take no responsibility for the content of any third-party websites.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Pinot Gris
I had this idea for a blog, about drinking wine. That's it -- that was the extent of my idea. Not much to work with. My husband, always looking for an angle, suggested that we drink a different bottle of wine every night for a year and blog about it. (His theory is that every blog needs an angle -- a la Julie and Julia.) Good enough, I thought, why not?
Cue Lifestyle Change. I happened to mention this to a girlfriend at a dinner party, and she was visibly shocked when I told her that we routinely drank a bottle of wine every night -- not for a blog, just because. The next thing I knew, I was undertaking a 6-week program to detox my liver (girlfriend is strangely persuasive -- I think she may have performed some kind of Jedi mind-trick). To be candid, my liver may or may not be detoxed, but at any rate the bottle-a-night program was effectively out the door.
Meanwhile, back in the Willows, we ran into Nick, the proprietor of our neighborhood Willows Market, at the Sunset festival, where he was having a glass of red and chatting up some California winemakers. We blabbed about "our blog" (still no more than a gleam in the eye), and he was fired up!
Nick knows I like pinot gris because a year or so ago, I mentioned that I had tasted the Elk Cove at a blind tasting and LOVED it. Eventually he started stocking it. How great is it to have a neighborhood market that listens and stocks your favorites? (Answer: really great.) So last weekend, he gave us a bottle of J Pinot Gris (among others -- stay tuned!) to try for the blog. Woohoo!
We decided to try the Elk Cove and the J side-by-side: Oregon and California (a real Pac 10 match-up!). I cheated and looked at the J website, which suggested the pinot gris would be good with Mexican food, among other things -- which was perfect, because I was craving fish tacos. So I was off to Sanchos while my husband put The Kid to bed, and then we got down to business.
We started with the J Vineyards 2009 California Pinot Gris, and I'm so glad we did. My first thought was honeysuckle (which is kind of dumb because of course I have never actually tasted honeysuckle!). My husband described it as "dry enough" but with a definite hint of sweet tropical fruit. (This is a good time to restate that we are by no means wine critics -- we just call 'em as we taste 'em.) Light, fruity, girly (sorry, Husband), and nice on a summer evening.
With our second tacos, we moved on to the Elk Cove 2009 Willamette Valley Pinot Gris. The difference was immediately apparent: we both thought it was more subtle and less sweet than the J. My husband suggested that "it would be easier to drink a whole bottle of Elk Cove by myself" (not that I would let him - I want some!) -- pretty high praise.
Both wines are lovely, pretty, and easy on the senses. To me, the J is a Laura Ashley dress -- pretty, but no backbone -- whereas the Elk Cove is a Liberty print, perhaps more tasteful and sophisticated. Just my opinion -- what do I know?
For the record, The Willows Market supplied us with the J Vineyards 2009 California Pinot Gris, which I believe retails for $13.99. I bought the Elk Cove 2009 Willamette Valley Pinot Gris at the Willows Market for about $16.99. I have not received any other compensation for this posting. I have linked to other websites for convenience; however, I take no responsibility for the content of any websites.
Cue Lifestyle Change. I happened to mention this to a girlfriend at a dinner party, and she was visibly shocked when I told her that we routinely drank a bottle of wine every night -- not for a blog, just because. The next thing I knew, I was undertaking a 6-week program to detox my liver (girlfriend is strangely persuasive -- I think she may have performed some kind of Jedi mind-trick). To be candid, my liver may or may not be detoxed, but at any rate the bottle-a-night program was effectively out the door.
Meanwhile, back in the Willows, we ran into Nick, the proprietor of our neighborhood Willows Market, at the Sunset festival, where he was having a glass of red and chatting up some California winemakers. We blabbed about "our blog" (still no more than a gleam in the eye), and he was fired up!
Nick knows I like pinot gris because a year or so ago, I mentioned that I had tasted the Elk Cove at a blind tasting and LOVED it. Eventually he started stocking it. How great is it to have a neighborhood market that listens and stocks your favorites? (Answer: really great.) So last weekend, he gave us a bottle of J Pinot Gris (among others -- stay tuned!) to try for the blog. Woohoo!
We decided to try the Elk Cove and the J side-by-side: Oregon and California (a real Pac 10 match-up!). I cheated and looked at the J website, which suggested the pinot gris would be good with Mexican food, among other things -- which was perfect, because I was craving fish tacos. So I was off to Sanchos while my husband put The Kid to bed, and then we got down to business.
We started with the J Vineyards 2009 California Pinot Gris, and I'm so glad we did. My first thought was honeysuckle (which is kind of dumb because of course I have never actually tasted honeysuckle!). My husband described it as "dry enough" but with a definite hint of sweet tropical fruit. (This is a good time to restate that we are by no means wine critics -- we just call 'em as we taste 'em.) Light, fruity, girly (sorry, Husband), and nice on a summer evening.
With our second tacos, we moved on to the Elk Cove 2009 Willamette Valley Pinot Gris. The difference was immediately apparent: we both thought it was more subtle and less sweet than the J. My husband suggested that "it would be easier to drink a whole bottle of Elk Cove by myself" (not that I would let him - I want some!) -- pretty high praise.
Both wines are lovely, pretty, and easy on the senses. To me, the J is a Laura Ashley dress -- pretty, but no backbone -- whereas the Elk Cove is a Liberty print, perhaps more tasteful and sophisticated. Just my opinion -- what do I know?
For the record, The Willows Market supplied us with the J Vineyards 2009 California Pinot Gris, which I believe retails for $13.99. I bought the Elk Cove 2009 Willamette Valley Pinot Gris at the Willows Market for about $16.99. I have not received any other compensation for this posting. I have linked to other websites for convenience; however, I take no responsibility for the content of any websites.