2008 Edna Valley Vineyard Paragon Sauvignon Blanc

Last Monday was one of those days that reminded me of how different my job can be.  Looking at the Capitol building every day, sometimes I start to take for granted that I live in an amazing city that is full of intelligent and interesting people, and the thrill of being on the floor of the House of Representatives while Members of Congress debate the merits of various pieces of legislation was the perfect reminder of what makes DC such a special city and what makes my job very exciting.  By the time I arrived home on Monday night, I was ready to open a nice bottle of cool white wine to celebrate the perfect start to the final stretch of the latest busy season at work.

The 2008 Edna Valley Vineyard Paragon Sauvignon Blanc (winery, snooth) was a pale, lemon yellow.  On the nose, there were yellow grapefruits, mangos, pineapples, and a hint of limes and grass.  In the mouth, there were yellow grapefruits, limes, pineapples, and a hint of oranges, wet stone, and grass.  The wine had a light body with bright acidity.

Is this worth a glass after work? Definitely!  If you see this wine in the store, grab it; you won’t be disappointed. At $16, this wine was refreshing and food-friendly.  Hubby made seared scallops for dinner, which turned out to be a nice pairing, as the wine did not overpower the light flavor of the scallops.  After spending the day wearing a suit in the ridiculously hot weather that has been plaguing the DC area, this Sauvignon Blanc had the crispness I needed to cool off and relax throughout the evening.

Overall: 3.5 Corks

2007 Storybook Mountain Vineyards Eastern Exposure Zinfandel

Sunday was one of those unfortunate days where I spent much of my day off working.  I thought last week would be the end of my crazy work schedule, but Friday before I left work, an unexpected issue came up, and suddenly Sunday turned into almost a full 8-hour workday.  By the time the evening came around, I was exhausted and looking forward to an evening of cuddling on the couch with Hubby while watching the one TV show that we watch together, our embarrassing guilty pleasure—True Blood.

The 2007 Storybook Mountain Vineyards Eastern Exposure (winery, snooth) was a dark, vibrant purple.  On the nose, there was a spiced berry jam, reminiscent of Hostess fruit pie filling. In the mouth, there were blueberries, blackberries, cooking spices, and a hint of strawberries and flower petals.  The wine had high acidity, high alcohol, medium tannins, and a medium body.

Is this worth a glass after work? Definitely!  If you see this wine in the store, grab it; you won’t be disappointed. At $45, this wine is on the pricey end, but worth the cost.  It paired perfectly with Hubby’s steamed shrimp spiced with Old Bay seasoning, while also holding its own through a steamy night with Vampire Bill, Eric Northman, and Sookie Stackhouse.  The bad things on True Blood are right out of a novel, but only good things were coming from the bottle of Storybook.  And both were incredibly enjoyable and exactly what I need at the end of a long Sunday before the start of a busy week.

Overall: 4 Corks

Last week was a big week for me—full of late nights at the office, soup and heated leftovers for dinner, and alarm clocks that buzzed too early in the morning.  There was added stress to the week because the project I was working on was one of the biggest that my immediate supervisor will work on this year, and it was the first time that I was running a project like this one.  If things didn’t work properly, I would be responsible for making both my immediate supervisor and myself look bad.  So, I spent the last few weeks preparing, making sure that I worked out all of the nitty gritty details, could answer obscure questions about the project, and was prepared for the unexpected.  My coworkers assured me that the controlled chaos before a big project like this was normal, and they all were amazing in how they helped me when I needed it.  All in all, I think The Big Boss was happy with the results, and by Thursday night, the last day of this stage of the project, I was exhausted.  All I wanted to do was to come home, get in my day’s run, eat dinner, and relax with Hubby and a glass of wine that I was sure would hit the spot—a 2008 Paul D Grüner Veltliner.

2008 Paul D Grüner Veltliner

The 2008 Paul D Grüner Veltliner (winery, snooth) was 100% Grüner Veltliner.  The wine was a medium gold color with some visible bubbles.  On the nose, there were peaches, Lifesaver candies, limes, oranges, and a hint of pineapple.  In the mouth, there were limes, mandarin oranges (not the syrup, just the oranges), and Lifesaver candies.  The wine had a light body, bright acidity, and a touch of spritziness that adds to the freshness.

Is this worth a glass after work? It’s worth more than one!  What are you waiting for? At $10, this wine was a steal.  It not only was perfect to pair with a light meal, but also deliciously enjoyable on its own.  I first tasted this wine when preparing for the “World Tour of Wine” tasting I put together for work, and I fell in love with it immediately.  Since then, I brought it a party, where my friend and her husband couldn’t get enough of the wine, saying several times how easy it was to drink because it was fresh, fruity, and didn’t taste like drinking an alcoholic drink.  I have also opened a few bottles at home for my own enjoyment, and the bottle I opened on Thursday night was a nice compliment to the lemon pepper chicken with steamed carrots and green beans that Hubby made for dinner.  If you see this wine, you should definitely grab it.  You won’t be disappointed.

Overall: 4.5 Corks

The short week following July 4^th was very quiet for most of my colleagues, but, because the next big phase in my project is going public in mid-July, there was very little break for me.  That said, this will be the first time since I started my new job that I’m bringing a project into this next phase, and it has been an amazing experience.  Obviously, every project has its obstacles, but I’m learning a lot and excited to see how things will unfold throughout the rest of the month.  My project’s progress means that I’ve been working a lot, so I cherish my glass of wine when I finally walk in the door at the end of the day.

Combining my crazy work schedule with the scorching temperatures of last week, left Hubby and me eating lighter meals and opening up some cool, refreshing white wine.  On my first day back to work after the holiday, I came home to a chilled Riesling, which was a nice accompaniment to the seared scallops and steamed fresh green beans that Hubby made for dinner.

2008 Loosen Bros. Dr. L Riesling

The 2008 Loosen Bros. Dr. L Riesling (winery, snooth) was a very pale lemon color with a few bubbles.  On the nose, there was a lot of citrus—lime, lemon, and grapefruit—with a touch of honeydew and apple.  In the mouth, there were mandarin oranges, canned peaches, and honeydew, followed by limes and pink grapefruit.  There was a hint of sweetness behind the acidity, and the spritziness added freshness to the wine.

Is this worth a glass after work? It’s worth more than one!  What are you waiting for? At $13, this wine smells like a springtime morning and is refreshing in the heat of summer.  The wine was delicious on its own, but also paired well with the scallops.  It was particularly nice after dinner, as the sweetness kept dessert cravings at bay without being overbearing and syrupy.  All the way around, this was a great wine, particularly for the price.

Overall: 4.5 Corks

***I received this wine as a sample***

2008 Big House Red

Normally, I write posts about my workday and the wine I enjoy in the evening, but this July 4^th was a big wine holiday for me.  Hubby and I stayed in DC for the long weekend, and, in an effort to avoid the crowds that are drawn to DC for Independence Day, we tried not to stray too far from the condo.  Plus, this year, the high temperatures would have squelched any thoughts of heading to the National Mall for the Capitol 4^th Concert and fireworks.  Instead, the holiday weekend was the perfect opportunity for me to open the box of 2008 Big House Red I had on my counter, as I could easily grab a glass on my way to the pool or before heading up to our roof deck, where we can watch not only the fireworks display over the Washington Monument, but also the fireworks in Maryland, which are visible along the horizon.

The 2008 Big House Red 3-liter Octavin Home Wine Bar (winery, snooth) was made with 23% Syrah, 14% Petite Sirah, 9% Grenache, 9% Montepuliciano, 6% Mourvedre, 6% Sangiovese, 6% Algianico, 6% Tannat, 5% Nero d’Avola, 4% Sargentino, 3% Touriga, 3% Barbera, and 3% Petit Verdot grapes.  The wine was a medium-to-dark purple with flecks of ruby.  On the nose, there was a blend of red and black berries, mainly blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, and cranberries.  There was also black pepper and something oily.  In the mouth, there were tart blackberries and strawberries, cranberries, smoke, cedar, and a touch of vanilla, dark plums, pepper, and something metallic.  The wine had low-to-medium tannins, medium-to-high acidity, and a medium body.

Is this worth a glass after work? Sure…you won’t be drinking anything out of the ordinary, but you’ll have a decent, reliable glass of wine. At $20 for 3-liters, or the equivalent of $5 a bottle, this wine has the quality/price ratio working in its favor.  It isn’t a wine that stands out as something special, but it’s a surprisingly decent option.  Admittedly, the 3-liter container is probably more than you need for after work, and it’s not a wine I would open and drink over a couple of weeks, as after several days, the wine developed a strong metallic taste; however, if you’re having a BBQ and are looking for a cost effective way to provide your guests with a good red wine, the 2008 Big House Red 3-Liter Octavin Home Wine Bar is worth considering.

I paired the wine with Hubby’s homemade Philly cheese steaks, which he makes with provolone cheese, and the wine definitely held its own with the big flavors of the sandwich.  The key role for the wine, though, was played when I brought it with me to watch the fireworks, and there is no question that was a perfect pairing—beautiful fireworks, friends from our building, my Hubby, and a good California red.

Hope everyone had good Fourth!!

Overall: 3 Corks

***I received this wine as a sample***

2009 Montes Cherub Rosé of Syrah

The last four weeks at work comprised one of the busiest times I have had since I started working.  My days were full of internal discussions on how to move forward with one of my biggest projects this year, intense meetings with people from other offices who want to work on the project, internal and external phone calls with additional people who are interested in the project, and more emails than I know what to do with.  So, when my boss closed the office early on the Friday before July 4^th, I was ecstatic.  I wasn’t able to leave at noon when we officially closed, but I escaped a few hours early.   Since Hubby was going out with some friends, I made a few detours before coming home, where I ate some Thai takeout, opened a bottle of Rosé, and caught up on some trash tv.

The 2009 Montes Cherub Rosé of Syrah (winery, snooth) was made from 100% Syrah grapes and had a really dark pink color with hints of orange, particularly on the rim.  On the nose, there were bright red fruits with a hint of perfume.  In the mouth, there were strawberries, raspberries, violets, and something a little foresty on the finish.  The wine was very dry, with good acidity, and a light-to-medium body.

Is this worth a glass after work? Definitely!  If you see this wine in the store, grab it; you won’t be disappointed. At $17, this wine pushes the limit on what I’m likely to pay for a Rosé, as I am not generally a huge fan.  However, this wine surprised me.  It is slightly heavy for a Rosé, but that’s part of what I found intriguing about this bottle.  It had nice flavor and a touch of body, but was still refreshing, light, and flirty—what I expect from a good Rosé. Admittedly, my pairing with Thai was probably not the best choice, but the wine was quite enjoyable.

Overall: 3.5 Corks

**I would like to extend my sympathy to everyone at Viña Montes.
I’m sure that Mr. Douglas Murray will be missed by you all.***

***I received this wine as a sample***

My birthday was the Thursday before the Memorial Day holiday, which is the perfect time for a birthday, as everyone is in a festive mood and ready to celebrate with BBQs, drinks, and good times.  However, before the holiday weekend could begin, it was a crazy week at work, as many people were preparing to go away to kick off the start of summer in style.  Between having a busy few days and Hubby being unemployed, we decided to stay in to celebrate my turning another year older.  Hubby made chili-spiced cheeseburgers and a raspberry red velvet birthday cake, and I opened a bottle of Carménère that had my name written all over it.

2007 Montes Alpha Carménère

The 2007 Montes Alpha Carmenère (winery, snooth) was made with 90% Carmenère and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and had a deep ruby color with a garnet rim.  On the nose, there was smoke, tobacco, and a hint of berries, vanilla, and dark chocolate.  In the mouth, there were blackberries, dark plums, and a hint of tobacco, vanilla, nutmeg, and dark chocolate.  The wine had medium tannins and body with high acidity.

Is this worth a glass after work? Sure…you won’t be drinking anything out of the ordinary, but you’ll have a decent, reliable glass of wine. At a suggested retail price of $25, this wine was enjoyable, but didn’t have the extra something special I was looking for in a my birthday wine.  It was food friendly, but definitely was better on its own.  All in all, if you’re looking for a wine, there is no reason to shy away from this one; however, there are some less expensive options out there that are just as tasty and enjoyable.

Overall: 3 Corks

For those of you who are Facebook fans, you already know that, at the end of May, I was working on a wine tasting for work.  After having put together a Spanish wine tasting for coworkers during our April slow period, one of my colleagues talked to The Big Boss about my wine experience and about our staff bonding event.  He was thrilled, and, as a wine lover himself, thought it would be fun to have a wine tasting for the staff in both of his DC offices.  The tasting was held the Tuesday before Memorial Day.

Half of the people attending the wine tasting were at my Spanish wine event, so I decided that instead of doing a second Spanish-focused tasting, this one would be a “World Tour of Wine.”  As the fun part of a tasting is being able ­to try new wines and broaden wine horizons, I wanted to focus on wines that moved away from the typical Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlots, and Chardonnays by presenting varietals that are easy to find in wine stores, but that many inexperienced wine drinkers might shy away from buying.  Additionally, since I was expecting 30+ people at the event, I wanted to make sure that I covered a range of wine styles.

With all of that in mind, I decided to begin the tasting with a traditional French Champagne—Montaudon Extra-Dry (snooth).  The palate cleansing & revitalizing sparkler was followed by two white wines—a 2008 Paul D Grüner Veltliner (winery, snooth) from Austria and a 2009 Spy Valley (winery, snooth) from New Zealand.  Following the lighter white wines were a South African Pinotage—2008 Painted Wolf (winery, snooth)—and a California Zinfandel blend—2008 Orin Swift’s “The Prisoner” (winery, snooth).  The tasting finished with a Spanish Sherry—Nectar by González Byass (winery, snooth).

Everyone enjoyed the Champagne, which was no surprise to me or to them.  However, the other wine that received the most questions and the most refill requests was Orin Swift Cellers’ The Prisoner, followed closely by Paul D’s Grüner Veltliner.  The wine that received the most mixed reviews was González Byass’ Nectar, although everyone was happy to have tried it as almost everyone mentioned that it was not a wine they would have tasted on their own.

The Big Boss was very happy with event, particularly as he found a new wine that to enjoy.  My coworkers tasted some wines that they loved, as well as some wines that they didn’t like, but there was a lot of conversation about those wines, as the likes and dislikes varied greatly.  All in all, it seemed like everyone had a good time and that the tasting was a huge success.

***As a note, while the wines above are the ones I planned to offer and prepared tasting notes for, the wine store was actually sold out of the Spy Valley on the day of the tasting.  Therefore, I used a 2009 Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc (winery, snooth) as a fallback.  I will do a separate review for the Oyster Bay, but wanted to keep the Spy Valley as part of this tasting, as I thought it was a slightly better wine.

Three weeks ago was the due date of my second big work project that week, and while everything was successfully finished by 11am, there was a significant amount of blood (from numerous paper cuts) and sweat that went into the project.  Thankfully, there were no tears.  The completion of this project brought my most recent hectic work period to a close.  However, when I left work on Thursday, rather than the normal exhaustion that usually hit me after I finish a big project, I had a burst of energy, probably due to the fact that I was only working half a day on Friday and would be spending the weekend in rural Pennsylvania drinking wine, eating fabulous food, and talking late into the night with several of my girlfriends.  By the time I walked in the door of our condo on Thursday night, Hubby had finished making chicken stir fry, I was chatty, and there was just a general good feeling going into the evening, so I went straight for the California red that I recently purchased because of a review in Wine Spectator.

Orin Swift’s 2008 “The Prisoner”

Orin Swift’s 2008 “The Prisoner” (winery, snooth) was a blend of 46% Zinfandel, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, 10% Petite Syrah, 2% Charbono, and 1% Grenache grapes and was a deep purplish ruby color.  On the nose, there were blueberries, dark cherries, nutmeg, cinnamon, sage, cedar, forest, and peat.  In the mouth, there was a berry pie—blueberry, blackberry, and a hint of raspberry—combined with chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, fennel, and cedar.  The wine had a medium body, medium tannins, high alcohol, and high acidity.

Is this worth a glass after work? It’s worth more than one!  What are you waiting for? At $40, this wine is on the high end for an “everyday” wine, but it’s well worth the cost.  “The Prisoner” is complex and food-friendly, with a flavor combination that is unique and delicious.  Due to the high alcohol content, though, the wine can be a little hot and harsh when consumed straight out of the bottle, so I recommend putting the wine through an aerator or decanting it before you drink it.  Also, while it’s worth drinking more than one glass, once you’ve given the wine a chance to breathe, the 15.2% alcohol content can be lost in the luscious flavors, so don’t let the wine take you by surprise.

Overall: 4.5 Corks

Clearly, the last three weeks have been very busy ones, as I haven’t had a chance to write-up the wines I’ve been tasting.  The week of May 17th was a particularly busy one, as I had two major projects due (one on Tuesday and one on Thursday), although until the Tuesday afternoon deadline actually arrived, it was unclear as to whether or not Project #1 was going to be delayed.  As you can imagine, the situation required several days of lengthy meetings and numerous emails, all while creating an increased level of stress and tension.  Once the deadline arrived and the project was finished, though, everyone was happy with the results.  Ultimately, there is still work that needs to be done, but, by the time Tuesday night arrived, I was excited to have completed Phase 1 of what has turned into a larger project.  With several bottles of wine waiting in my wine rack to be tasted in preparation for a wine tasting, it was difficult to choose which to open in celebration.  Ultimately, a Grüner Veltliner and Welschriesling blend won.

2008 Carnuntina White

The 2008 Carnuntina White (winery) is made with 50% Grüner Veltliner and 50% Welschriesling grapes and had a very pale, greenish-yellow color.  On the nose, there were bright fruits—green apples, peaches, and apricots—followed by a hint of white flower blossoms, lemons, and lime.  In the mouth, there were green apples, peaches, lemons, limes, herb sprigs, and a touch of white pepper.  The wine had a lime-like acid, a light body, and a touch of oxidation bubbles.

Is this worth a glass after work? Definitely!  If you see this wine in the store, grab it; you won’t be disappointed. At $10, this wine doesn’t have a lot of complexity, but it’s refreshing and easy-to-drink.  Hubby made seared scallops and steamed green beans for dinner, which were the perfect accompaniment for this light, summery wine.  What is particularly nice about the Carnuntina White is that it offers something a little different than the traditional, light summer white wines without breaking the piggy bank.

Overall: 4 Corks