Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Rayun Chardonnay 2008
I went to one of my favorite restaurants last night before the Opera - Province. One of the things I love about this place is that they have "house wine", taking a much needed cue from Europe. The white is delicious and you can't beat it for $6 a glass! It's light with a straw, mineral-like flavor, not at all like any Chardonnay I usually drink. The reason? It's from Chile! Also, since the restaurant charges so little, it must fall into the "it's a recession, so I don't buy wine more than $10 a bottle" category. I hope my local wine store has it!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Macon-Ige Chardonnay 2007
It's pretty rare to find a French Chardonnay for under $10, and when I drank this $9.99 bottle, I knew why. I didn't DISLIKE this wine, it just didn't have the flavor of a great chardonnay. Actually, it didn't have much a flavor of anything at all. Maybe it was the spicy soup that I was eating while I drank it, though... I may buy this again, but try to not eat anything when drinking it and just enjoy it!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Top 10 Under $10
10. Pomelo Savignon Blanc: classic grapefruity Sav Blanc. Definitely not as good as some other New Zealand ones, but it's the only one under $10!
9. Cristallino Cava: great sparking wine whether you're making mimosas or celebrating, this is a great bet.
8. Menage a Trois Red: fun name, great red wine. Blends are usually a good bet for drinking on the cheap and this one is a yummy, drinkable wine!
7. Bogle Savignon Blanc: smoother than New Zealand Sav Blancs - great, refreshing summer wine.
6. Apaltagua Carmenere: delicious South American red - smooth and slightly spicy.
5. 2 Brothers Big Tattoo Red: another great blend with a cool name. Every sip will make you happy.
4. Cycles Gladiator Cabernet Savignon: easier to drink than most Cabs, but still has all the flavor.
3. Shoofly Buzz Cut White: I usually stay away from Aussie whites, but this blend is great - it's got the best elements of every great white!
2. Bogle Chardonnay (honorable mention: J. Lohr Chardonnay): classic buttery chardonnays, not too oak-y.
1. Trapiche Malbec (honorable mentions: Terrazas, Altos Las Hormigas, Maipe, Alamos): I've never had a Malbec I didn't like and I've never met anyone who didn't like Malbec, so of course this is number one on my list!
9. Cristallino Cava: great sparking wine whether you're making mimosas or celebrating, this is a great bet.
8. Menage a Trois Red: fun name, great red wine. Blends are usually a good bet for drinking on the cheap and this one is a yummy, drinkable wine!
7. Bogle Savignon Blanc: smoother than New Zealand Sav Blancs - great, refreshing summer wine.
6. Apaltagua Carmenere: delicious South American red - smooth and slightly spicy.
5. 2 Brothers Big Tattoo Red: another great blend with a cool name. Every sip will make you happy.
4. Cycles Gladiator Cabernet Savignon: easier to drink than most Cabs, but still has all the flavor.
3. Shoofly Buzz Cut White: I usually stay away from Aussie whites, but this blend is great - it's got the best elements of every great white!
2. Bogle Chardonnay (honorable mention: J. Lohr Chardonnay): classic buttery chardonnays, not too oak-y.
1. Trapiche Malbec (honorable mentions: Terrazas, Altos Las Hormigas, Maipe, Alamos): I've never had a Malbec I didn't like and I've never met anyone who didn't like Malbec, so of course this is number one on my list!
Cycles Gladiator Cabernet Savignon 2006
This is one of my favorite wines of all time. Not knowing this fact, a friend brought it over for dinner last night.
I first had it at a wine tasting at a popular wine-focused restaurant here in Chicago (Bin 36), and was stunned by its deliciousness and affordability. I actually used this wine for a "cheap v. expensive" wine tasting (v. a Frog's Leap cab), and most people liked it more! This wine was also served at my wedding.
So... why do I like it? I find cabs usually to be too tannic for me, or as I like to say "I can taste my hangover". But, they go well with most food, being a good balance between a super flavorful shiraz and a smooth pinot noir. And, it's a good wine to curl up with on a cold winter night. Gladiator's cab: it's just got a soft red fruit flavor without being extremely juicy and is very easy to drink. The label is pretty cool, too - it got some press about being risque! (It's a drawing of a semi-nude woman, but tasteful like Renaissance Italian art).
I've also tasted all of the other Gladiator wines (shiraz, pinot noir, chardonnay) and love them all!
I first had it at a wine tasting at a popular wine-focused restaurant here in Chicago (Bin 36), and was stunned by its deliciousness and affordability. I actually used this wine for a "cheap v. expensive" wine tasting (v. a Frog's Leap cab), and most people liked it more! This wine was also served at my wedding.
So... why do I like it? I find cabs usually to be too tannic for me, or as I like to say "I can taste my hangover". But, they go well with most food, being a good balance between a super flavorful shiraz and a smooth pinot noir. And, it's a good wine to curl up with on a cold winter night. Gladiator's cab: it's just got a soft red fruit flavor without being extremely juicy and is very easy to drink. The label is pretty cool, too - it got some press about being risque! (It's a drawing of a semi-nude woman, but tasteful like Renaissance Italian art).
I've also tasted all of the other Gladiator wines (shiraz, pinot noir, chardonnay) and love them all!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Muller-Catoir Riesling 2003
Finally, the dessert wine of the three wines my friends brought...
This is a German Reisling, but too sweet for anything other than dessert. It was the perfect after dinner drink and went well with my banana nutella wontons! If you don't like anything sweet, though, this probably isn't your drink. But, that means more for me!
This is a German Reisling, but too sweet for anything other than dessert. It was the perfect after dinner drink and went well with my banana nutella wontons! If you don't like anything sweet, though, this probably isn't your drink. But, that means more for me!
Mark West Pinot Noir 2007
This is the second of three wines my friends brought over for a dinner party. Interestingly enough, another friend had given my husband the same bottle for his birthday!
This is a light red wine with a ton of juicy, red fruit flavor. This is a versatile wine that I'd like to drink on the porch on a warm summer evening or in front of the fire when the snow is coming down outside!
This is a light red wine with a ton of juicy, red fruit flavor. This is a versatile wine that I'd like to drink on the porch on a warm summer evening or in front of the fire when the snow is coming down outside!
Gallo Family Vineyards Sonoma Reserve Chardonnay 2005
This is the first of 3 wines my friends brought over for a dinner party. We opened all three, of course! They have great taste in wine and always think outside the box. I'm always introduced to new wines thanks to them!
We started with the white... This is a great, classic chardonnay for people who don't think they like chardonnay and those who love it alike. It's not too buttery, nor is it oak-y.
We started with the white... This is a great, classic chardonnay for people who don't think they like chardonnay and those who love it alike. It's not too buttery, nor is it oak-y.
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