Cynthia talks wines!
I have been having a lot of fun tasting wines for you to enjoy. My focus for this holiday season was something that would lift you into a sense of celebration, but that could remain affordable, so you won’t head into 2012 with a sense of dread. So, even though these wines are a little fancier than my everyday quaffs, I’ve stayed true to my commitment to freeze my profit margin between $15 and $25 per bottle.
You can catch a quick run-down of some of my favorite Fancy Wines as well as some other great everyday drinking red and white wines here on the site.
I’m going to rattle off some notes on each of them to help you make your decision when you join us. (Please excuse me for failing to include vintages and other details for some!)
Happy quaffing!
Cynthia
P.S. Don’t force yourself to down the last glass or two of wine—take it home with you! I’ve learned that some of my customers had no idea that bagging an open bottle of wine is totally okay. In fact, we would prefer that you enjoy the wine at your pace.
Some Newbies
(Photos coming soon!)
2006 Bodega Riglos, Gran Corte – Argentina (Malbec/Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc blend) – The first thing you’ll notice about this wine is the sheer heft of the bottle. Next, each bottle comes wrapped in its own sheet of tissue paper. The winemakers in Tupungato, Mendoza, want you to know that this wine is right up there with the most delicate and valuable article you have in your possession. You can’t miss the beauty of its black liquid in the pour; and if you do, you’ll taste it. The blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes has been combined to their ultimate velvety potential. More importantly, you will taste that these grapes are blended based on the vicissitudes of the year, the harvest, the grape, the weather. No two years will taste alike. Only 10,000 bottles of this wine were produced, so enjoy it.
2010 Santa Julia Organica – Argentina (Cabernet Sauvignon) – An all-organic wine, also from Mendoza, Argentina, this wine presents a dark ruby, almost garnet, pour. Definitely has the black cherry and plum flavors expected in a Cab, but it also has some unexpected floral qualities to it. I enjoy this wine because it brings a little something more for Cab lovers. Could it be a hint of chocolate? This is a balanced wine. I shared some with friends while eating pasta. I’ll definitely be coming back to this one!
L’Arco Valpolicella Classico Superiore – Veneto, Italy (Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara and Croatina) – The brown label is every unassuming, but don’t let that fool you. Made from traditional Valpolicella grapes, it’s aged in Slovenian oak for about two years. Here’s the trick with this wine—open it for a couple hours before you start to eat. I love wines like this, you just need to prepare for it, take a sip and see how it opens up. Maybe it’s the season, but I also seem to be digging wines that have elements of tobacco and dried flowers. That air of cinnamon might have you thinking there’s sweetness to this wine – but it’s a little trompe gueule, it’s a beautiful balanced dry wine. It may have you dreaming of Venice (and maybe Tuscany too) in autumn.
In Fine, Rose – Cotes du Ventoux, France (Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault) – Rose can be a tough sell. I’ve never been a fan of the color pink, in general, and I think this has a little something to do with why I’m not drawn to roses when I select a wine to drink. However, when I surrender to the possibilities, I’m often pleasantly surprised. In Fine from Cotes du Ventoux was no exception. What body! I immediately turned the bottle around in my hand, it looks like it should taste like strawberries—and it does—but there’s something more. More… wine like. Well, I’m noticing something about my wine tendencies: I like Grenache grapes. This wine’s got it. Yum!
Zestos, Blanco – Madrid, Spain (Malvar) – One-hundred percent Malvar, this is an easy-to-drink white wine. It tastes a little like a cross between Sauvignon Blanc and an unoaked Chardonnay. Not only does this taste good, but you can also rest assured that it feels good to drink because it’s organically grown.
