by katrin on March 12, 2012
The Charles & Charles Red is another offering from Charles Smith and Charles Bieler of Washington State. Both Glenn and I enjoyed their rosé last summer – fantastic price for the perfect summer staple. Their red wine, however, did not wow me. My initial thought was that this blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Syrah had more style than substance. While this is a rather light-weight blend of two varietals that are more often than not heavy hitters, I appreciated the restraint as I dipped into my second glass (what can I say it started to grow on me!) and didn’t feel weighed down by big tannins and high alcohol.
The Charles & Charles is deep garnet and purple in the glass. The nose is a bit green with notes of branch and leaf, light blueberry, some cassis, chocolate, and hints of perfume. The vegetal characteristics and blueberry carried into the palate. Light body that is slightly watery, medium minus acidity, low tannins. Short finish. An ok, easy-going wine that would be good for a crowd.
At The Meat House in Coolidge Corner for $11.99.
by katrin on January 10, 2012
Las Loicas, or "the finches", Cabernet Sauvignon
I am not a big fan of rustic wines that conjure images of horses, hay, and barnyards, and I have wondered if perhaps I lack the patience or the palate for such wines. Upon opening, Las Loicas Cabernet Sauvignon reminded me of being down on the farm. Not all that long ago many Argentine wines smelled and tasted like this. However, in the past 7 to 10 years, Argentine wines transformed from rustic to refined and it has been a while since I have had a wine like this. Nevertheless, I didn’t like it and thus reinserted the cork and set it aside.
The next day I gave it a second chance, and overnight – not unlike the entire Argentine wine industry – it had evolved and improved. The nose had red currant, cherry, mushroom, hints of meat, and pepper. On the palate, cassis and ripe black fruit were rounded out by a little vinyl and cocoa. The oak was subtle, allowing the fruit to shine. Acidity, tannins, and alcohol were very well-balanced and gave the wine a pleasant structure and complexity. A nice, long finish. And certainly a positive point: it’s made from 100% organic grapes.
At Whole Foods in Dedham, Mass. for $15.99.
by Eleni-Glenn-Katrin on December 27, 2011
With Christmas and Hanukkah finally behind us, it will soon be time to mark the end of 2011. To usher in the New Year, here are some of our suggestions for bubbles and brews of all forms.
Katrin – What to serve can sometimes depend on how many are going to be enjoying what you are pouring. For two, nothing can beat an outstanding Champagne. My choice is Camille Saves ‘Carte Blanche’. I first had this at the Federal Wine & Spirits annual Champagne tasting a couple of years ago, and it remains a favorite. For twenty (or more), a sparkling wine is festive and affordable. After enjoying the 90+ Cellars Lot 50 Prosecco, I just had to try the 90+ Cellars Lot 49 Prosecco Rosé. This is a fun wine with aromas of fresh black cherry and strawberry. And at only $11.99, you can serve it up to a crowd.
Eleni – I find New Year’s (small gatherings) to be a great Open That Bottle Night. This year, I plan to open my 2008 Amancaya, made by one of my favorite Argentine collaborations: Caro (Barons De Rothschild – Lafite) and Nicolas Catena. A 50/50 blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine will make an excellent toast to the new year and to a year of drinking more outstanding wines.
Glenn -
As I’ve often remarked, a sparkler sets the tone for the evening. For NYE 2012, my first choice is the German Gilabert Rosat Brut Nature Cava. Typically, I find cavas boring – but not this one. Imported by José Pastor Selections which specializes in artisanal, traditionally made Spanish wines, this is a blend of the somewhat obscure Spanish varietal Trepat and the more commonplace Garnacha. The color is a beautiful shade of raspberry and the wine smells like a bowl of ripe red berries. The fruit carries over onto the palate and lingers through the finish. Wonderfully frothy - and since the wine is given no dosage (Brut Nature) – completely dry. Beautiful in the glass and pleasing on the palate, this cava could also be an excellent base for cocktails. And after the glut of holiday spending, the very reasonable price is an added enticement. $13.99 - at Whole Foods 340 River St. Camb. MA
My next suggestion is to get cozy with The Mad Elf. This outstanding brew from Troeg is quite festive. The photo doesn’t truly convey the ale’s beautiful ruby hue. Brewed with sweet and sour cherries, honey and chocolate malt, the aroma is sweet, fruity, malty. Rich and smooth – with an IBU of 15 - and with moderate carbonation, this ale is meant to be sipped. My feeling is that it would also pair nicely with chocolate desserts. However, be prudent with The Mad Elf – the ABV is 11%! One wants to be awake at midnight. Unlike the cava, the Mad Elf is somewhat pricey – but worth it for celebrating the arrival of the allegedly catasclysmic 2012. $16.99 – at Kappy’s Wellington Circle Medford MA
No matter how you choose to celebrate, we wish you a Happy New Year and a wine-filled 2012!
-Eleni, Glenn, Katrin, Rodney
by katrin on September 1, 2011
Happy Cabernet Day!
The 2007 Finca Decero Cabernet Sauvignon is still dark ruby at its core, but starting to develop brick hues. Black cherry jam, kirsch, and black currant are followed by violet and tobacco leaf aromas. The palate features fig and dark chocolate and has a smoky finish. While the wine has a strong tannic backbone and moderate acidity, this vintage should be enjoyed now since the fruit is starting to fade. An interesting, complex wine and just another fine example of a very good Argentine Cabernet Sauvignon at a very good price.
$19.99
by katrin on June 16, 2011
Argentina produces some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon on the market today. That may be too much of a sweeping generalization, so I will qualify it a bit by saying relative to Cabs coming from other New World producers, such as California, Chile, and Australia. I think this is particularly true in the $18-30 price range (and up, of course!). While a fuller discussion will certainly be a topic for the Beyond Malbec series in the near future, the inaugural Wine of the Week is the Viña Cobos Felino. Viña Cobos is the Argentine label of California winemaker Paul Hobbs. It has a great black currant center on the nose and on the palate. The nose also has floral notes and spice, while the palate has Australian black licorice and coffee bean, with some rather unexpected green notes (unexpected since I associate unripe or green characteristics with Chilean Cabernet). Medium acidity and fine, long-lasting tannins, with some bitterness in the finish.
Available at WineNation for about $22.
by katrin on February 16, 2011
Along with fellow Master of Wine Bill Nesto, Sandy Block developed the curriculum for the wine studies program at Boston University’s Elizabeth Bishop Wine Resource Center. Though we saw him in the classroom less over time, there was a clear sense that he had left an indelible mark in shaping the program. It was a pleasure to see him in the classroom again on February 9 in front an enthusiastic sold-out crowd, eager to hear about his experiences in Argentina and his thoughts on where the country’s wine industry is heading.
Sandy picked an outstanding selection of Argentine wines, and there is not a single wine here that I did not enjoy. Alright, you may have already determined my bias, but I think that everyone at the tasting would agree that each wine could be called very good or better. I also really appreciated the fact that only two out of the 14 that we tasted were Malbec. The wines at this tasting demonstrate the continuing potential for Argentina to produce great, world-class quality wines. I am convinced that this is the direction in which the wine industry will continue to move in the coming years and am looking forward to enjoying more wines like these. [click to continue…]
by katrin on September 2, 2010
Cabernet Day could not have come at a better time. After tasting many Rieslings in the past week on a quest for the perfect, crowd-pleasing, moderately-priced wine, I was more than ready for some red wine!
I first encountered Bodega Ruca Malen in 2005 on a trip to Mendoza with fellow blogger Eleni. At the time, Ruca Malen was producing about 20,000 cases a year, all for export, but was having trouble breaking into the US market. We were both impressed with the wines, the commitment to quality, and the beauty of the setting and the winery itself. Set a bit further out from Mendoza’s more established wineries, Ruca Malen has a stunning, unobstructed view to the Andes Mountains from its doorstep. Like many great wineries, Ruca Malen has a great story. It was co-founded by Jean Pierre Thibaud, the former Chairman of Bodegas Chandon Argentina, and Jacques Louis de Montalembert. According to the story, he had long wanted to make truly Argentine wines, but the executives in France wanted to continue the course. After ten years as Chairman, he left and established Ruca Malen in 1999. The name of the winery and the individual wines are a story onto themselves and tie back to the Mapuche Indians and their legend of Aconcagua.
A couple of years after Eleni and I visited Mendoza, I had the good fortune of meeting Antoine Thibaud, Jean Pierre’s son, at a wine tasting in New York. I couldn’t help but express my enthusiasm. I told him how much I liked the story of the winery. “Oh, you like the legend?,” he asked. No, I replied, I like the fact that his father had left a major international company to make wine that expressed a uniquely Argentine character and that he was doing it well. The New York tasting served to confirm the impression with which I left Mendoza: that this is an exciting winery that will continue to make great wines.
Enough of my rambling story; on to the wine! [click to continue…]
