We had a great time at the most recent Willows Market wine tasting. With Laura Donovan from The Estates Group as our guide, we were able to sample three selections that are all currently available at the market:
- JCB No. 21 Brut Cremant de Bourgogne
- Shell Creek 2007/2008 Petite Sirah
- Clos du Val 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
The Shell Creek Petite Sirah comes from just east of Paso Robles. It was so interesting to compare the '07 and the '08. The '08 had a much more fruit-forward punch, while the '07 was more subtle and refined.
The Clos du Val Cab is just a delicious classic, the perfect dinner party wine. It's rich and elegant and just cries out for a beautiful filet.
But for me, the highlight of the tasting was the sparkler (of course). Not a true champagne, the JCB No. 21 comes from the Cote d'Or, Burgundy's "gold coast." Pale gold in the glass, with lots of very fine bubbles, the flavor is soft and light, with a lovely, creamy finish. This would make a lovely choice for brunch (don't cover it up with OJ, just drink it!), or for sipping any afternoon. It's elegant and refined, but not too serious. The price is right -- it retails under $30 -- so this will become my go-to bubbly to keep on hand in the fridge.
Cheers!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Wine Tasting in the Willows, part I
Q: What's better than having a neighborhood market in my own back yard with a huge selection of wines and a friendly staff?
A: When the Willows Market hosts a wine tasting!
And so it was last Thursday, the inaugural tasting in what is planned to be a weekly series on Thursday evenings. Menlo Park wine guru Joe Merlino was on hand to pour 4 wines, and a nice cross-section of the community gathered around to taste, compare notes, and chat. And there I was, to sip and take notes, purely in the interest of this blog, of course. Here's a bit of what I overheard and noted:
1. Jean-Luc Colombo 2011 Cape Bleue Rose ($9.99)
"light and refreshing on a warm summer night"
"perfect for this weather"
"refreshing, crisp"
"tart, citrusy, almost a grapefruit flavor"
"very drinkable"
"nice tang"
I have to admit, I didn't love this wine the first time I tried it (earlier this summer), but it is growing on me. I definitely felt the tart, pink grapefruit tang up front. But on a really warm evening, it truly is refreshing, almost bracing.
2. Jean-Luc Colombo 2010 Les Abeilles de Colombo Cote du Rhone ($9.99)
"velvety"
"licorice, fennel, anise notes"
"chocolatey"
A neat bonus is that a portion of the producer's proceeds from this wine go to fund efforts to help research and restore honeybee colonies.
3. Bodega Salentein 2009 Killka Collection Malbec ($11.99)
"dark red and fruity"
"cinnamon spice"
"rich"
From Mendoza in Argentina -- on my bucket list!
4. Two Hands 2010 Sexy Beast Cabernet Sauvignon ($37.99)
"it's a sexy bomb"
"light on tannins"
"rich, fruity"
This wine is DELICIOUS! Never thought I'd describe a wine as sexy, but I would say this is perfect for a special date-night dinner at home. Yummy.
A: When the Willows Market hosts a wine tasting!
And so it was last Thursday, the inaugural tasting in what is planned to be a weekly series on Thursday evenings. Menlo Park wine guru Joe Merlino was on hand to pour 4 wines, and a nice cross-section of the community gathered around to taste, compare notes, and chat. And there I was, to sip and take notes, purely in the interest of this blog, of course. Here's a bit of what I overheard and noted:
1. Jean-Luc Colombo 2011 Cape Bleue Rose ($9.99)
"light and refreshing on a warm summer night"
"perfect for this weather"
"refreshing, crisp"
"tart, citrusy, almost a grapefruit flavor"
"very drinkable"
"nice tang"
I have to admit, I didn't love this wine the first time I tried it (earlier this summer), but it is growing on me. I definitely felt the tart, pink grapefruit tang up front. But on a really warm evening, it truly is refreshing, almost bracing.
2. Jean-Luc Colombo 2010 Les Abeilles de Colombo Cote du Rhone ($9.99)
"velvety"
"licorice, fennel, anise notes"
"chocolatey"
A neat bonus is that a portion of the producer's proceeds from this wine go to fund efforts to help research and restore honeybee colonies.
3. Bodega Salentein 2009 Killka Collection Malbec ($11.99)
"dark red and fruity"
"cinnamon spice"
"rich"
From Mendoza in Argentina -- on my bucket list!
4. Two Hands 2010 Sexy Beast Cabernet Sauvignon ($37.99)
"it's a sexy bomb"
"light on tannins"
"rich, fruity"
This wine is DELICIOUS! Never thought I'd describe a wine as sexy, but I would say this is perfect for a special date-night dinner at home. Yummy.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Wine Tasting at the Willows Market
The Willows Market is hosting a wine tasting event on Thursday, August 9 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. The event will be held in the Market's Belgian Beer cove, and only persons age 21 and older can enter the tasting area.
Joe Merlino will be pouring 4 wines:
Joe Merlino will be pouring 4 wines:
1. Jean Luc Colombo, Cotes Du Rhone 2010 (French)
2. Jean Luc Colombo, Rose 2011 (French)
3. Two Hands - Sexy Beast, Cabernet 2010 (Australia)
4. Killka, Malbec 2010 (Argentina)
We'll be there -- come on by and let us know what you think!
2. Jean Luc Colombo, Rose 2011 (French)
3. Two Hands - Sexy Beast, Cabernet 2010 (Australia)
4. Killka, Malbec 2010 (Argentina)
We'll be there -- come on by and let us know what you think!
Monday, April 9, 2012
Tablas Creek
What better way to wind down spring break than catching up with friends? And so it was that I found myself on Easter Sunday afternoon sharing a glass (ok, several glasses) of wine with Willows neighbors.
After finishing the last of an open bottle of J Pinot Gris (a favorite "house white" for its delightful drinkability and practical screw top), we moved on to something new: Tablas Creek 2009 Vermentino. We found this wine to be light and refreshing, with a hint of citrus -- perfect for an Easter Sunday afternoon.
Next, we moved on to another Tablas Creek bottle, the 2009 Bergeron. This wine was delicious, and totally different from the first, with hints of vanilla, caramel, and toasty oak. It smells and tastes a bit like burnt marshmallow -- in a good way. It was great with a slightly spicy appetizer.
Thanks to neighbors Laurie and Doug Bauer for introducing us to Tablas Creek. They are big fans of the Paso Robles winery, which grows traditional Rhone varietals. Laurie and Doug also make their own wines with friends under the Wren's Nest label. They were kind enough to share a bottle of Syrah with me last fall, which I loved.
After finishing the last of an open bottle of J Pinot Gris (a favorite "house white" for its delightful drinkability and practical screw top), we moved on to something new: Tablas Creek 2009 Vermentino. We found this wine to be light and refreshing, with a hint of citrus -- perfect for an Easter Sunday afternoon.
Next, we moved on to another Tablas Creek bottle, the 2009 Bergeron. This wine was delicious, and totally different from the first, with hints of vanilla, caramel, and toasty oak. It smells and tastes a bit like burnt marshmallow -- in a good way. It was great with a slightly spicy appetizer.
Thanks to neighbors Laurie and Doug Bauer for introducing us to Tablas Creek. They are big fans of the Paso Robles winery, which grows traditional Rhone varietals. Laurie and Doug also make their own wines with friends under the Wren's Nest label. They were kind enough to share a bottle of Syrah with me last fall, which I loved.
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