Surviving Mother Nature

 Well - quite a few things have happened since my last blog... the week of Jan. 25 we had the Great Snowstorm of 2014.  Thankfully I was able to work from home and did not get stuck on I-75 for 10 hours without food or a bathroom.  I did have to raid the cellar and drink some really awesome Pinot Noir just to survive... Then just two weeks later, its the Great Snowstorm of 2014, Part 2... the snow and ice are melting today but we may see more freezing weather.  We Southerners do not know how to handle cold weather!

In the middle of all that I celebrated a birthday. We went to a great restaurant - Seed, in Marietta, GA.  We know the head chef and owner, and knew the food would be outstanding.  They have a really nice wine selection, but we brought our own since it was a special occasion and I had my eye on a couple of wines in the cellar.  The cork fee is a small price to pay when you are opening expensive or non-distributed wines.  We opened a nice little Pinot Noir from Nicholson Ranch - it is one of my favorite mid-priced Pinot Noirs available only from the winery.  It has a lovely strawberry aroma with a good, full fruit and oaky-vanilla body. It complimented the calamari and white cheddar grits fritters we had as appetizers. The main attraction was a 2005 Philip Togni Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon; a big, bold cab that drank very well in 2014, and could withstand another 5-8 years more easily.  First sniff was almost musty, earthy, with a hint of dark fruit, but with some swirling we were able to pick up on the beautiful blackberry fruit that we often find in a "Mountain" fruit cab.  It was the perfect pairing for the filets the guys ordered.  I had ordered the slow-cooked short ribs with mashed potatoes, and a side of caramelized Brussels sprouts and cauliflower, which both the Pinot Noir and the Cabernet paired nicely.  The meal was absolutely fantastic and the service above expectation.  

That night was a wonderful bright spot for the week; news of another winter storm coming the following week put us in a bit of a panic.  But as I sit here, writing my blog, looking out at the soggy, melting ice and snow, I am smiling with the memory of the night and enjoying the warmth of my home.

Next Napa Trip: "King of the Mountain" tour

Our merry band of eight wine-seekers are on a quest to discover the true "King" of the Napa Valley mountains.  Of course, we know it will be a Cabernet Sauvignon, but there are many candidates from different mountains, vineyards, winemakers and blends.  But this group is not easily daunted - we plan to leave no grape leaf unturned.

The plan is to visit four high-elevation areas: Pritchard Hill, Howell Mountain, Diamond Mountain and Spring Mountain. We have started the list of wineries in these AVAs based on familiarity, recommendation and curiosity. We will also visit other wineries off the mountains - these are mostly our "favorites" along with a few we have always wanted to visit but just haven't yet.

First step: Secure accommodations in a convenient location. We usually stay in one of the chain hotels.  They are nice, but the experience isn't very unique.  This trip we wanted to find a house to rent - we thought it would save us money and provide us a place to hang out, enjoy the experience of being in wine country.  Ideally, we wanted a house with a view and vineyards nearby.  Thanks to VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) we found a great house on Howell Mountain, with a huge deck and... vineyards!! We are really looking forward to staying here!

We have been on many trips to Napa & Sonoma; planning the trip is half of the fun for me.  This blog will be a way for me to chronicle the stages of this trip.

Exploring wines of the world, Part 1

As a Certified Specialist of Wine, I have learned about every wine making region in the world and studied nearly every grape used to make wine.  With all of this knowledge, I still find myself reaching for the "comfort zone" of California Cabernet and Pinot Noirs. In the interest of expanding and refining my palate, I decided to try a couple of Italian wines in the cellar. 

I found two bottles Montipulciano d'Abruzzo - a red Italian wine made from the Montepulciano wine grape in the Abruzzo region of east-central Italy.

The first wine was a 2008 Catina Zaccagnini Montipulciano d'Abruzzo.  This wine is an aromatic, deep dark inky purple. Lovely blackberry fruit laced with cherry flavors.  It was very enjoyable; however, the longer I left it open, the less I liked it. 

The second wine, a 2009 La Fiera Montipulciano d'Abruzzo, deep purple in color, with a light spicy aroma. Cherry fruit and soft tannins dance on the palate. This one opened up very nicely and had a smooth finish.

Knowing what to expect when choosing a wine is just one part of the wine experience.  Sometimes you just have to take a chance, do a little stretching of your palate. Don't be afraid to try something new.  Do your research, read about different wine regions, different grapes and blends.  Be adventurous and enjoy the journey!

 

The (still) Noble Merlot

OK - I am finally starting a blog.  And of all things, my first topic is... that one-time darling of the United States,  the noble grape from Bordeaux - Merlot.  Yes, the "Pinot Girl" is going to write her first blog on MERLOT.  This wine, a main component of the French Bordeaux, and once the number one red wine of the US in the late 1980 to early 1990s, fell from grace to Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and the now infamous Pinot Noir.  So, why has America fallen out of love with this soft, velvety smooth wine?  Some lay the blame at the feet of a movie that had it out for the easy-to-drink, but quite often, ordinary wine.  But what really happened?

First, the palate of America is changing; yes, we still want a wine we can grab off the shelf and take home to drink with dinner, but we want that wine to have depth, to hold up to a juicy steak or a bold, spicy roast.  A flabby, soft, mediocre wine, like so many mid-priced California Merlots out there, just doesn't satisfy the elevated palate of the new wine drinkers. 
 
Second, maybe winemakers are questioning if it is worth the effort to create a magnificent wine only to have people say "I'm not drinking any F-ing Merlot!" to the laughter of their friends - I get it.  A lot of work goes into crafting a wine that excites people, but even more work is required to get people to TRY it, because it isn't the popular choice these days.  Might as well just use the juice to blend with your Cabernet or Syrah.

Then there is the price... it is difficult to find a decent California Merlot under $30.  We like a wine that is affordable as well as drinkable.  Sure, Cakebread Merlot is like a symphony of flavors on your tongue, but the $50+ pricetag is definitely a hit to the wallet many Americans are not willing to take.

 

I get excited when I come across a really good Merlot.  And I am overjoyed when I have a great Merlot.  Yes, there are some great Merlots out there.  On our recent trip to California we had several worth mentioning, all but one under $30.

 

St. Clement -  This was our first (and only) stop the afternoon as we arrived in Napa.  As club members, we were allowed to sit up on the top of the hill in the outdoor tasting area, with a picturesque view of the Napa Valley and the mountains to the East.  Their Napa Valley Merlot retails around $28 - A big, bold, beautiful dark crimson wine, with the smoothness of a vanilla cream soda, a kiss of chocolate and bursting with blueberries and ripe red berries.  We were all very impressed and savored every drop. 
 
Reynolds Family Winery - One of our favorite wineries to visit! Steve Reynolds gave us a personal tour of the barrel room and thieved several barrel samples for us.  In the tasting room, we enjoyed the Reserve Flight, which included their Stags Leap Merlot. Absolutely sublime, with beautiful chocolate and cherry aromas; medium bodied with a nice balance of fruit, tannins and a touch of spice. At $48, this Merlot represents the best of the varietal and all that is wonderful about Stags Leap district.
 
Charles Krug - Every trip we take to Napa includes a stop at Charles Krug.  The Peter Mondavi Family produces consistently excellent wines, and their 2010 Merlot, just under $25, is no exception. Notes of blueberries, blackberries and cherries are followed by the delicious flavors of cocoa and dark cherry.  A medium bodied Merlot-based Bordeaux blend that definitely excites the palate.

Michael Mondavi Family - The tasting room, located in a former farmhouse in the heart of Carneros, is my "Happy Place".  Sitting on the back porch, overlooking acres of vineyard as the wind dances through the vines, the rustling grape leaves become a calming wind chime. The Oberon Merlot complemented the mood, delivering a velvet smooth, blueberry-vanilla sensation.  Another amazing Merlot for under $30.  

I continue my search for hidden gems; always thankful for the winemakers in California who continue to make exceptional wines, and deciding to make Merlot one of those wines.  In upcoming blogs, I'll keep this train of thought and review some great Merlots under $30.  Of course, I must give time to other wines, as well as recall highlights of the wineries we visited recently, so come back in about a week.  Thanks for checking in!