Monday, September 28, 2009

The 4 S's of Wine Tasting: Part I: See


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For tasting purposes, it is ideal to use a clear-colored wine glass with a wide bowl and narrow mouth. (Look for future blogs on the “anatomy of a wine glass”.) Be sure to clean all traces of dirt or detergent before beginning. (yuck!) When looking at wine it is best to use natural light if possible. You can even use a white sheet of paper behind your glass for more accuracy. So, let’s have a look at what you can determine by holding a glass of wine.

The viscosity of a wine, also known as “legs” or “tears”, can be determined by looking at the tipping the wine glass to the side and watching how the wine slides down the side. A prominent teardrop is indicative of a high sugar or alcohol content (or both).

The clarity of a wine is important. If a wine appears cloudy, it may be because it is unfiltered or perhaps it is just some disturbed sediment. However, it often can signify a fault in the wine and it may taste a little off. If a wine is “corked”, meaning it is tainted, it will often appear cloudy and may have aromas of moldy newspaper, wet dog, damp cloth, or damp basement. (blah!) Don’t bother even tasting a wine that appears to be “corked”.

Things to look for in a quality wine
- Defined edge, which doesn’t fade at the rim
- Clear and bright
- Abundant bubbles (for sparkling)

Now, let’s talk about color…

Looking at White Wines
White wines may range from nearly colorless to deep gold. Most are a light straw yellow, darkening with age. Generally, pale wines are from cooler climates and darker wines are from warmer climates. An exception to this rule may be dessert wines that have “noble rot” (a good thing!), and oak-aged whites.
Water white- often Sauvignon Blanc or Reisling
Lemon yellow- often Chardonnay (or sparkling if there are bubbles)
Yellow gold- often oak-aged Chardonnay or Gewurtztraminer
Old gold- often a late harvest dessert wine (Semillon, Chardonnay, Muscat, Reisling)

Looking at Red Wines
The color of red wine can range from pink to almost black. The difference in color is largely due to the grape variety, but can also factor in region or age. In contrast to whites, reds lighten with age: the browner and paler the rim, the more mature the wine.
Light orange/red- often Pinot Noir or Grenache
Garnet- often Gamay Beaujolais
Purple- often Zinfandel (Primitivo), Tempranillo, or blended red
Almost black- often Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

*Adapted from "101 Essential Wine Tips" by Tom Stevenson

Tuesday, September 22, 2009


First we learned about Chardonnay, the most common white wine varietal that consumers get to know. Sauvignon Blanc is a great second wine to experiment with, although the flavors are distinctly different. Sauvignon Blanc is a pale, crisp, often dry, light, acidic and refreshing wine most often made without the oak aging that is characteristic of many Chardonnay wines.

Depending on the climate, the flavor can range from aggressively grassy to sweetly tropical. You may find the whole gamut of fruit flavors and aromas including gooseberry, Granny Smith (green, tart) apples, pear, melon, black currants, passion fruit, and mango. Occasionally you will experience vegetable flavors and aromas such as green peas, asparagus, and bell pepper, particularly in those from New Zealand.

Other wines that use Sauvignon Blanc grapes are Fume Blanc (California) and Melange Blanc (Bordeaux-style blend). Fume Blancs made outside of France tend to rely on some oak fermentation to create a smoky flavor. Melange Blanc is typically blended with a sweeter grape, such as Muscat or Semillon.

Sauvignon Blanc, when slightly chilled, pairs well with fish or cheese, particularly Chèvre (goat cheese). It is also known as one of the few wines that can pair well with sushi… yum! The wine is usually consumed within 1-2 years of release, as it does not particularly benefit from aging. Below are two Sauvignon Blanc wines with distinctively different tastes. These two wines will be featured in October’s Wine Club meeting in Newnan. Go to www.BrightEyesWine.com for contact information and be sure to sign up for the newsletter while you’re there!

Lumiere de Vie 2008 Sauvignon Blanc
This 2008 Lumiére de Vie North Coast Sauvignon Blanc is overflowing with brilliant fruit aromas. The bright grapefruit, green apple, orange and tropical aromas are balanced with a gentle grassiness common to Sauvignon Blanc. The flavor is silky smooth and a wonderful complement to the aroma. Enjoy this wine with vegetable soup or grilled fish. (for more info try this link https://extranet.securefreedom.com/Wineshop/Cart/ShoppingCart_Detail.asp?PriceID=70943&Cat=White%20Wines|All&Qty=1 or go to www.BrightEyesWine.com to “Shop for Wines)

Lumiere De Vie 2008 Melange Blanc
This 2008 Lumiére de Vie Mélange Blanc has aromas of ripe apple and pear with hints of flowers and fresh mint. The flavors are only lightly sweet with a balanced crisp finish. The mouth-feel is medium to heavy for a white wine but the flavors are balanced. Enjoy this wine with a fruit appetizer, seafood salads or havarti cheese.
(for more info try this link https://extranet.securefreedom.com/Wineshop/Cart/ShoppingCart_Detail.asp?PriceID=70871&Cat=White%20Wines|All&Qty=1 or go to www.BrightEyesWine.com to “Shop for Wines)

Monday, September 14, 2009

Wine review: Dessert Wine (Coquelicot vs. WineShop)

I don't believe in giving my personal rating because I may have completely different tastes than you, my readers. (and I may be a little biased) But I will give you "real" descriptions of each wine in hopes that you can make an educated decision about your next bottle of Late Harvest Dessert Wine. First, here's the wine-snob version:


WineShop At Home is a unique winery whose specialty is in-home wine tastings (currently available in 29 states). They produce a wide variety of hand-crafted, artisan wines. "Ceres" is the name of their Late Harvest Dessert Wine. This blended late harvest dessert wine has about one-third each of Muscat, Semillon and Chardonnay. It has aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, pralines and caramelized pears. The flavors of this wine are a perfect mirror of the aromas, with mouth-filling sweetness and layers of complexity. The finish is long and sweet with hints of fruit, finishing with a light nuttiness. Enjoy this wine with pecan pie, Roquefort cheese and walnuts or bananas foster. (16.5% alcohol) $25 SRP www.BrightEyesWine.com


Coquelicot (say ko-klee-ko) is a new winery in Los Olivos, California that is producing a variety of wines. "Slow Hand" is the name of their Late Harvest Dessert Wine. This wine is very floral and not too sweet. This is a unique wine in the dessert category. A 50/50 blend of Riesling and Chardonnay, the nose hits the mark of both varietals, showing stonefruit, orange, apple, petrol and floral notes. It has a great acidity keeping the wine bright and not cloying. A great accompaniment to fresh fruit or creme brulee. (12.5% alcohol) $23 SRP http://www.rvtwine.com/

Now for the down and dirty... Both wines are exceptionally delicious and reasonably priced, but do have distinct differences.
For starters, note the alcohol content (12.5% Coquelicot, 16.5% WineShop). That 4% difference really affects the individual flavors and the level of inebriation. The "Slow Hand" is lighter, which is why the winemaker suggests lighter dessert fare to accompany it. The "Ceres" is thicker and heavier (much like an ice wine), which makes it perfect for richer desserts, or no dessert at all!
The "Ceres" was oak-aged for 5 years, which gives it a nutty, buttery flavor, much like a butterscotch liqueur. The "Slow Hand" is much fruitier with a slight honey aroma and flavor.

Now you know of two WONDERFUL late harvest dessert wines to go out and try! Both are very limited production, so get 'em while they're hot! Try them for yourself and give your own review below!

Wine Country Recipes



Specially created for pairing with the Lumiére de Vie 2008 Sauvignon Blanc from WineShop At Home (www.BrightEyesWine.com). This 2008 Lumiére de Vie North Coast Sauvignon Blanc is overflowing with brilliant fruit aromas. The bright grapefruit, green apple, orange and tropical aromas are balanced with a gentle grassiness common to Sauvignon Blanc. The flavor is silky smooth and a wonderful complement to the aroma. Enjoy this wine with vegetable soup, grilled fish or mascarpone cheese. Look for more info about the varietal Sauvignon Blanc in a few days on the blog!

Citrus Herb Marinated Halibut
Ingredients:

1 package McCormick® Grill
Mates® Garlic Herb & Wine
Marinade
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 pounds halibut fillets



Directions:

Mix Marinade Mix, orange juice, oil
and lemon juice in small bowl.
Place halibut in large resealable
plastic bag or glass dish. Add marinade; turn to coat well.

Refrigerate 15 minutes or longer for extra flavor. Remove halibut from
marinade. Discard any remaining marinade.

Grill over medium-high heat 4 to 6 minutes per side or until fish flakes
easily with a fork.

Makes 8 servings.
*Recipe and Photo Courtesy of McCormick & Company, Inc

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Pairing Cheese with your Wines


Love wine with cheese?? Here's a simple guide for how to match up your favorite cheese to a great wine.

Cabernet Sauvignon - Blue Cheese... The stinkier, the better!

Chardonnay - Brie or Camembert... Try cutting off the top of the rind and put in the oven at 400 degrees until creamy. It's great with apple slices too.

Merlot - Aged Gouda or Cheddar... You may like a smoked cheese with an oaky Merlot.

Muscat/Reisling - Pepper Jack

Rosato - Creamy Goat Cheese... You can make a crostini by adding goat cheese to a cracker or toasted slice of french bread and top with a tomato and basil!

Sauvignon Blanc - Creamy Goat Cheese (see above)

Tempranillo - Manchego... This cheese is best served at room temperature.

Zinfandel - Havarti or mild cheeses

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

How to Choose a Better Bottle of Wine


The store can be so intimidating! Huge walls of wine, ratings, prices… How do you decide which bottle to choose? The one with the cute label is, unfortunately, not always a good choice. This article is meant to help you create a plan for selecting the perfect bottle of wine… every time!

Did you know that wine is the most variable food item in the world? For beginners, I suggest starting a notebook (or blog!) about your experiments so that you can get a good feel for all of the complexities of wine. Stay updated with this blog for specific tutorials on particular wine varietals.

Step One: the Occasion
When deciding on a wine, you have to consider the occasion. Are you looking for an easily drinkable party wine or are you trying to impress someone? Knowing whether it is a casual or more formal occasion can help you determine what price range to start looking in. Generally speaking, a wine with superior characteristics will often cost a little more, although there are exceptions.
It may sound strange, but you should consider the weather… You wouldn’t wear a wool sweater in the middle of July. A hot summer day may call for a light, white wine like a Reisling, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat, or Prosecco (sparkling). Where as a chilly winter day by the fire may call for a deeper heavier red wine like a Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah (Shiraz).
Also, if you are pairing wine with food for this occasion, you’ll also want to match your wine choice to your food choices. A good rule of thumb is to pair light wines with lighter fare (like chicken, fish, or light sauces) and hearty wines with heartier fare (steak and heavy red or brown sauces).

Step Two: the Flavor
Choosing a good bottle of wine may mean something completely different to me than it does to you. This is why it is so important to know what YOU like. But don’t get stuck in a rut of picking the same wine every time… this article is meant to empower you and help you be more adventurous!
My best suggestion for those of you who are brand new to wine is to go to a winery, restaurant, or in-home wine tasting in your area. (www.BrightEyesWine.com for in-home wine tastings). For a minimal cost, you will be able to taste several different wines to get a feel for what you like about the different types.
Take notes!!! Talk to the wine expert about the flavors and body of the wines and write down what you like or dislike about each one. Here is a small sample of some words to listen for:

descriptions: sweet, crisp, tart, oaked, acidic, round, body, fruity, earthy, dry, smooth, tannic
flavors: apple, pear, peach, tropical fruit, grass. buttery, vanilla, berry (all sorts), fig, cassis, chocolate, minerality, tobacco

Ask questions!!! A good wine guide should be able to give you descriptive words and specific flavors and aromas that can be found in the wines you’re tasting. For local tastings and wine-related events in the Atlanta area, consider joining www.meetup.com/AtlantaWine. Or you can search meetup.com in your local area for “wine”.

Step Three: the Label

If you find something you like at a tasting, by all means get it! I always suggest to my clients to purchase at least 3 bottles of a favorite wine… one to drink, one to share with a friend, and one to hoard! That last bottle is always so precious! Keep in mind that many hand-crafted or artisan wines are made with small lots of exceptional grapes and will often sell out. Never underestimate supply vs. demand when it comes to pricing. When you find premium wines for under $20, get them while you can!!

If you want to continue to experiment with store-bought wines you must decipher the label! This is perhaps the most important step, especially for a novice, as reading a wine label carefully will often help you know the type, variety, flavor, region and vintage of the wine. Look for those key descriptions and flavors that you know you enjoy in other wines. Generally, wine ratings are helpful, but you cannot always trust that the individual rating the wines has a similar palate to yours. Your best bet is to read the wine’s description and don’t be afraid to try something new. Keep notes on all of the wines you try so that choosing a great bottle will become easier.

A great way to continue to experiment with new wines is to find a Wine Club to join. Of course, I prefer the club with WineShop in Napa Valley, CA (www.BrightEyesWine.com). Some clubs will let you choose white or red wines for your shipment. Find one that will allow you to do both white and red to extend your range! It is important to look for a Wine Club that has flexibility and will allow you to change your preferences or opt out at any time.