Apr
24
2009
My Favorite wine guy is back. He sent me a great write up on a wonderful Merlot that I wanted to share with you all. I hope you enjoy!~~~~
I’m not the biggest fan of Merlot, and no, it has nothing to do with the movie “Sideways”. I simply don’t find it to be as interesting or consistent as most of my favorite wines. There are, however, always exceptions and sometimes you just crave Merlot. What better way to fill that craving than with a bottle of Pride Mountain Merlot and what better thing to pair with a big strapping Merlot than a Porterhouse steak? I don’t think there exists a better example of perfection in simplicity.
Pride Merlot comes from mountain top vineyards that span the Napa / Sonoma border and is made from high altitude fruit, fruit which has to work hard to ripen and results in more depth and acidity in the grapes. From esteemed wine maker Bob Foley, Pride wines are well respected for their ability to retain balance in the face of extreme richness and intensity . They are not cheap but sometimes you do get what you pay for and this bottle was worth every penny.
Pride Mountain Vineyards, Merlot 2005
My notes:
A luminescent, black cherry color. Rich aromas rise from the glass, first of plum, licorice and vanilla but then an underlying hint of forest floor which adds an inviting complexity to the bouquet. A rich, brooding and palate coating wine that tastes of raisins and black currant jam with a seductive cinnamon, chocolate finish that goes on and on. Chewy yet easy drinking and surprisingly refreshing. This is not a wine for the timid, this is decadence in a bottle.
~Eric
2 comments | tags: merlot, pride merlot, red wine, Wine, wine pairing | posted in Food, Wine
Mar
24
2009
For anyone who likes wine I have a treat today. An old friend of mine who is a chef in NYC and a wine connoisseur has volunteered to guest blog today. He has written a great post exploring the complexities of a mid range Chianti. After reading it if you don’t want a glass your a nun!
So without further ado…
A Beautiful Chianti in an Ocean of Mediocrity
One of the first Italian wines that most Americans reach for is Chianti. However, choosing from this category can be tricky as many estates depend solely on the brand name, Chianti, to sell the product instead of what they put in the bottle. This leaves a minefield of choices for the average consumer in search of an easy drinking Italian red. But fear not, because among those hundreds of bottles of cheap swill, there are a number of gems to be found.
Tonight I write about and drink, Querciabella, a company that continues to strive for excellence in both traditional Italian wine from Tuscany as well as a number of new world styled wines. This is a Chianti from the classico zone (classico meaning the zone in which Chianti was originally created and cultivated) as well as from a producer that prides themselves in that all of their vineyards are now fully organic. Put this together with the 2006 vintage, that was exceptional in Tuscany, and you have a beautiful entry-level bottle that blows away the competition.
Querciabella
Chianti Classico 2006
My Notes
A dark ruby red color. Initially the nose is like a basket of berries in a florist shop but with a little time raspberry fruit comes to the top with hints of fall leaves. Blackberry fruit and orange rind on the initial sip with an earthy, cherry finish and fresh acidity that glides across your palette and leaves you wanting more. This is the epitome of Italian food wine, adding wonderful earth and mushroom notes to a plate of pasta with red sauce, and is balanced enough to reward mid-term cellaring.
Add to all of that the $25 price tag, wide distribution and you have a quality-price-ratio that can’t be beat. Give it a try and if you agree, grab a case and watch this beauty evolve over the years to come.
~Eric G.
1 comment | tags: chianti, querciabella, red wine, Wine | posted in Random, Wine
