A Glass After Work

Sparkles & the State of the Union

$11-$20, 3 Corks, Prices, Ratings 1 Response »

Jan 252012

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

Last night was President Obama’s State of the Union (SOTU) address. Regardless of who the President is, people all over America watch the SOTU. However, in DC, it isn’t just a speech…it’s an “event.” Capitol Hill staffers leave work between 5 and 6 (which is early) because of Secret Service security sweeps and road closures around the Capitol. Many Washingtonians gather with friends at local bars to watch the speech in the same way that many Americans gather on Sundays to watch football. Or, often, people will attend a friend’s viewing party where SOTU drinking games are played.

In January 2000, six months after I moved to the DC area and long before I started working on federal policy issues, I experienced my first Washington SOTU address. Of course, it was at one of the drinking game parties. As hard as it is for me to believe, this year was my 12th SOTU, and while it couldn’t quite compare to the excitement of that first one, there is always an energy and magnetism around the event that I enjoy. I didn’t attend a party or head to a bar, but I did decide to drink something nice while I watched at home. So, I opened a bottle of bubbly!

Lucien Albrecht Blanc de Blancs

The Lucien Albrecht Brut Blanc de Blancs (winery, snooth) was 100% Pinot Blanc and had a medium straw color. On the nose, there were hints of buttered biscuits and lemons. In the mouth, there were limes, lemon custard, and a toasty, yeastiness. The wine had more fizz than sparkle in the mouth, along with a bright acidity and a light-to-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 a SRP $17, this was a very fresh, enjoyable, and affordable bottle of sparkles. I ended up having several glasses; the first was with the lobster tails and fresh green beans that Hubby made for dinner. The delicate flavors mixed with the fattiness from the lobster’s butter were the perfect combination with the acidity and delicate flavors of the bubbly. Afterwards, the wine went well with the pre-SOTU commentary, as well as with the speech itself.

While I enjoyed the Blanc de Blancs, if I were choosing between the it and the Lucien Albrecht Brut Rosé, I would spend a few dollars more and grab a bottle of the pink bubbly. Maybe it was the dinner combination or maybe it was the fact that I was pseudo-working when I opened this bottle, but the Rosé just had a little extra something that I preferred.

Question of the Day: Did you watch the State of the Union address last night? If so, did you enjoy an adult beverage while watching?

Suggested Retail Price: $17
Received as a sample.
Overall: 3 Corks

Mailbag Monday: A ’90 Bordeaux & A ’96 Burgundy?

General Wine No Responses »

Jan 242012

Hello Alleigh:

I have a bottle of Chateau Greysac Medoc cru Bourgeois 1990(Bordeaux) and a bottle of Pinot Noir Jadot Bourgogne 1996(Burgundy). They have been kept horizontally in a completely dark temperature controlled area. Are they way past their prime? Are they even drinkable? I did see the exact vintage of Pinot for sale in Europe still.

Any opinion will be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

While I’ve never been fortunate enough to taste a1990 Bordeaux, I’ve read it was an incredible year for the region, arguably the best of the decade. And, from some of the reviews I found, it looks like you found a true diamond in your bottle of Chateau Greysac! Unfortunately, there’s no way to tell if a wine has peaked until you open it, but I think that as long as it was stored properly, your bottle should still be quite enjoyable. I don’t think you need to be in a rush to open the bottle. It’s probably a wine you want to consider opening within the next few years, but definitely not something you need to open within the next couple of months. When you do open this bottle, make sure that you decant it and consider pairing it with something like a roasted lamb or a nice steak. It will be the type of wine that is perfect for food.

As for the Burgundy, 1996 is supposed to be a great vintage, as well. In my own experiences, Pinot Noir doesn’t stand up to the same lengthy cellaring as the more full-bodied grapes from the Bordeaux region. That’s not to say that a good Burgundy, like the one you have, can’t age for a long time. However, I would suspect that, if it hasn’t already, your wine is about ready to peak, so I would definitely open this bottle before opening the Bordeaux. And, while I don’t think it’s something you need to open tomorrow, the Burgundy is probably a wine you should think about opening sometime within the next year.

I do want to throw out the caveat that these are just my opinions. Part of the fun (and the risk) of cellaring wine is trying to figure out when the wine is going to taste the best, but it really is all a guessing game that requires a lot of patience. As someone who has very little patience, I’m just giving you my best guess.

I hope you’ll check back in when you decide to open your wines, as I’d love to live vicariously through your tasting experience. And most importantly, enjoy them!

Cheers!
-Alleigh

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Send me an email, leave your question as a blog comment, or ask me on Twitter!

A Disappointing Red

$11-$20, 1.5 Corks, Prices, Ratings 2 Responses »

Jan 182012

A couple of days ago, I wrote about the wonderfully relaxing evening I had while reading my book and drinking a 2008 Treana Red. What I didn’t mention in that review was that the Treana was actually my second bottle of the night. The first bottle I opened was actually a Chilean wine that I tried really hard to enjoy, but just couldn’t make happen.

2010 Kiyapura Cabernet Sauvignon-Carmenere

The 2010 Kiyapura was a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère, which had a brilliant deep ruby color with flecks of purple. On the nose, there were juicy blackberries, cinnamon, and a touch of something vegetal. In the mouth, there were under-ripe blackberries and stems. The wine had a medium body, medium tannins, and high acidity.

Is this worth a glass after work? No…it’s not worth dirtying a perfectly clean wine glass. At $13, this wine was just isn’t worth it. I tried drinking it alone, but it was too green and too acidic. I tried pairing it with Hubby’s delicious lamb tacos, but it was just not working with the food either. I tried aerator the wine with an aerator, as well as letting it decant for a little, but in the end, there was nothing I could do to make this wine more enjoyable. Unfortunately, I ended up opening a different bottle because life is just too short to drink bad wine.

Question of the Day: Do you every dump out a bottle of wine or do you feel the need to drink it unless the wine is actually flawed?

Price: $13
Purchased at Barclay’s Wine
Overall: 1.5 Corks

Mailbag Monday: Your Camera?

General Wine 2 Responses »

Jan 162012

Dear Alleigh:
I know this isn’t wine related, but I love your pictures and was wondering what type of camera you use. Thanks.

While your question isn’t wine related, it’s definitely related to my blog. The pictures are an important part of what I do here on A Glass After Work.

I shoot with a Canon Rebel XT, which I’ve had now for several years. I mainly use two lenses, an 18-55mm lens and an 70-300mm lens. For editing, I use Adobe Lightroom, although teaching myself how to use that has been a much longer process than learning how to use the camera. I also frequent a number of photography blogs and regularly look at photography magazines to try and understand more about how professional photographers compose and shoot.

All in all, I see the blog as a great opportunity to not only learn more about wine, but also learn more about manual photography and the editing processes.

Cheers!
-Alleigh

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Send me an email, leave your question as a blog comment, or ask me on Twitter!

Troublemaker at the Holidays

$11-$20, Prices No Responses »

Jan 132012

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

I’ve mentioned before that I have two groups of girlfriends that I met online while Hubby and I were planning our wedding. It’s hard enough to believe that he and I are a week away from celebrating out 5-year wedding anniversary. But, as if that doesn’t make me lucky enough, these women, who started as my “internet friends,” are now among my closest confidents. Unfortunately, though, we live all over North America, so while we try to get together in person at least once a year, the addition of babies, the changing of jobs, and just the everyday demands of life make that very difficult. However, right before the New Year, one of these small groups got together online using Google+ hangout. We spent a little more than an hour enjoying each other’s company in real time. And, of course, what would a gathering of girlfriends be without wine? I’d just received a bottle of Troublemaker to review, and there wasn’t a better group of troublemakers for me to drink this wine with!

Troublemaker by Austin Hope

The Troublemaker (winery) was a blend of 55% Syrah, 20% Mouvedre, 20% Grenache, and 5% Petit Sirah grapes, and 40% of the grapes were from 2009 while 60% of the grapes were from 2010. The wine was a deep inky purple. On the nose, there were blackberries, strawberries, cedar, black pepper, and hints of pomegranate. In the mouth, there were blackberries, black cherries, strawberries, cedar, and hints of pepper and pomegranates. The wine had medium tannins and was medium-to-full bodied.

Admittedly, I’m not sure why I didn’t connect the dots and realize that Hope Family Wines also made the Treana, which I opened two nights earlier and loved, but it wasn’t until after I went through my first round of tasting notes that it hit me. In a small way, I was slightly disappointed because I thought I’d struck gold by finding two fabulous wineries in a row, when really I struck gold by discovering that not only does Hope Family Wines do a wonderful job with the Treana, but also with the Troublemaker.

Is this worth a glass after work? It’s worth more than one! What are you waiting for? At a SRP of $20, this is a wine that is full of personality, but still goes down very easily. It’s food-friendly, but stands beautifully on it’s own, although it’s definitely a wine to relax with rather than guzzle. For me, it was perfect sipping while spending time chatting with my girlfriends. All in all, Hope Family Wines definitely has a new fan in me. The Treana and the Troublemaker couldn’t have been more different, which shows that they offer a nice variety, but I fell in love with both—the Treana for it’s brooding intensity and the Troublemaker for it’s luscious smoothness.

Suggested Retail Price: $20
Received as a sample.
Overall: 4.5 Corks

A Big, Brooding Treana

$31-$40, 4.5 Corks, Prices, Ratings No Responses »

Jan 112012

On the Thursday before Christmas, my boss unexpectedly announced that our office would be closed for the entire week between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day, and as I had taken Friday, December 23rd off, I had 10 uninterrupted days off of work. Quickly, I formed ambitious plans for that week, most of which weren’t completed. By halfway through the week, I pretty much gave up, and decided to relax and just enjoy the time. That Wednesday, after a hard day of shopping for a dress for New Year’s Eve, I opened a bottle of red wine and sat down for a relaxing evening of reading A Storm of Swords, the third book the A Song of Ice and Fire series (Book 1 is Game of Thrones, for those of you who watch the HBO series or have read the books).

2008 Treana

The 2008 Treana (winery) was a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah grapes and had a dark ruby color. On the nose, there were blackberries, plums, and pine needles mixed with a smoked beefiness and cedar. In the mouth, there were blackberries, dark plums, cedar, and smoke. The wine was full bodied with medium-to-high tannins and medium acidity.

Is this worth a glass after work? It’s worth more than one! What are you waiting for? At $35, this wine is a little on the high end for an everyday glass of wine, but it is worth every penny. It’s a wine that would be great with food, although I enjoyed it alone. It has great balance and a lingering , smooth finish. It’s a big, brooding wine that was perfect for the big, brooding book I was reading.

The first time I had a Treana, it was actually the white blend and I tasted it at Willow Restaurant’s Rhone Ranger event. I loved the wine, so when I saw that a pair of the Treana Red and Treana White were being sold on Lot 18, I took the risk of not being familiar with the red and jumped at the chance to buy them…and I’m so glad I did. As much as I enjoyed the Treana White (which I will review in the near future), the Treana Red is out of this world. If you see a bottle, run, don’t walk to the checkout with it in your hand!

Price: $35
Purchased at Lot18
Overall: 4.5 Corks

Mailbag Monday: Wine Plans for 2012?

General Wine 2 Responses »

Jan 092012

Work has been fairly quiet since returning from the holidays, which means my coworkers and I have had a nice chance to catch up. One of them asked me this question, and I thought it would be fun to share with you:

Do you have any big wine plans for 2012?

While I don’t tend be the type of person that sets New Year’s Resolutions, I do like the idea of planning out the year a little. The first couple of months will be difficult to plan too much wine related because of traveling, training for my second half marathon in March, and still being unsure about whether or not I will have a job at the end of the month.

All that said, I would actually like to set a few wine goals. I’d like to:

Go to 2012 Wine Bloggers’ Conference in Portland, Oregon because it is going to be an awesome conference in a wine region that I’ve never visited.
Drink and review at least two bottles of sparkling wine a month because bubbly is fun and brings such happiness into life.
Drink and review at least one kosher wine a month because there are some great ones out there, but I will never find them if I only focus on kosher wines twice a year (during Passover and the High Holy Days).
Add a little more beer to the blog because even though this is primarily a wine blog and I mostly drink wine, I do love a good beer; so, why not share the good beer that I find?
Take at least one wine class because I feel like my wine education has become a little stagnant, and taking a class where I learn new things and taste great wines sounds just like what is needed to shake things up a little.

These goals seem doable and fun, hopefully for both you and for me. And, if you think I’m veering off track, have suggestions for ways to meet these goals, or want to join me in any of all of them, just let me know!

Question of the day: Do you have any wine related resolutions for 2012?

Cheers and Happy New Year—
Alleigh

Do you have a question? Don’t be shy!
Send me an email, leave your question as a blog comment, or ask me on Twitter!

Weekday Bubbles

$11-$20, 3.5 Corks, Prices, Ratings No Responses »

Dec 292011

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

For some reason, it always seems that Hubby and I go through job instability at the same time. Instability comes with the territory of my job, so it’s something we accept and prepare for, and we learned back in September that I might lose my job after the New Year. Hubby’s career is generally a more stable one, though…or at least it should be.

As long time readers know, the last company Hubby was with sold, and he ended up unemployed for several months in 2010 before being offered his current position. Well, right after Thanksgiving and only two months after Hubby’s 1-year anniversary with the new company, it also went through a sale. While it’s wonderful that he is a good luck charm for the investors he works for, the sale was a bit of a surprise and more than half of his company was laid off immediately. That obviously put us both on edge. As the day unfolded, Hubby kept me up-to-date with emails and texts, and by the end of the day, Hubby had been asked to stay and the dust started to settle. Truthfully, he probably needed a glass after work more than I did, although he didn’t actually have one. Knowing that he wasn’t going to be laid off while we are waiting to hear what my job future is definitely called for a bit sparkling wine, though!

The Valdo Prosecco (website) had a pale lemon yellow color with a lot of small bubbles that created a thin, festive rim of foam on the top. On the nose, there were lemons, grapefruits and a hint of apples , pears, and yeast. In the mouth, there was lemon custard, grapefruit, and pear mixed with a subtle yeastiness. This bubbly had a surprising heft, with a light-to-medium body and medium 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 a SRP of $12, this sparkling wine had a nice quality-price ratio. It was a solidly delicious bubbly that I enjoyed on its own, although I think it would also make nice mimosas or Bellinis. In this case, though, the sparkler was a good way to sigh in relief that Hubby survived his company’s layoffs.

Suggested Retail Price: $12
Received as a sample.
Overall: 3.5 Corks

Beaujolais Day…A Month Late

$10 and lower, 2.5 Corks, Prices, Ratings No Responses »

Dec 142011

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

The third Thursday of November is one of those days that wine lovers either embrace or they mock. It is a day that shows the true power of marketing, something even those who are giddy with the excitement at its arrival will acknowledge. It’s Beaujolais Day!

For those who are unfamiliar with Beaujolais Day, it’s the day when the current vintage of Beaujolais Nouveau is released. Beaujolais Nouveau is a French wine made from Gamay grapes in the Beaujolais region. The wine is shipped and ready to drink 6-8 weeks after harvest, so its a wine that hasn’t had any time to mature and should be purchased and consumed quickly. The Beaujolais Nouveau release is supposed to give an indication for how the Beaujolais vintages from that year will fair.

I’m an unabashed Beaujolais Nouveau lover…or at least I love the concept of Beaujolais Day, even if I don’t always love the wines. I’ve reviewed past vintages and openly acknowledge I’m a victim of fabulous marketing. And, I don’t care. For me, Beaujolais Day, not Thanksgiving, is the true start for the holiday season. I mean, what better way to ring in the holiday season with the year’s first wine!

This year, I missed Beaujolais Day itself because I had dinner plans with a very good friend. Plus, my bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau didn’t arrive on time. By Friday, though, my bottle of Georges DuBoeuf was waiting for me and I had a whole evening to enjoy it.

2011 Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau

The 2011 Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau (winery) was a deep, bright purple with hints of ruby. On the nose, there were candied strawberries and sour cherries. In the mouth there were sour cherries, Strawberry Bubble Yum, and a touch of something minty. The wine had low tannins, a light body, and a surprising touch of acidity.

Is this worth a glass after work? Eh…if you have a bottle on hand, drink it, but I wouldn’t go searching it out either. At a suggested retail price of $10, this wine was just not cutting it for me this year. I enjoyed the anticipation of its release, the festive feeling it inspired, but didn’t really enjoy the wine itself. The minty finish was just too much for me. That said, not loving this year’s vintage won’t stop me from being excited about Beaujolais Day 2012. Plus, I’m still hopeful about what the 2011 Beaujolais will taste like, since I think the juice showed a lot of potential.

Question of the Day: Are you a Beaujolais Day lover or hater?

Suggested Retail Price: $10
Received as a sample.
Overall: 2.5 Corks

Mailbag Monday: Christmas Presents for Wine Lovers?

General Wine 2 Responses »

Dec 122011

Dear Alleigh:
A couple of weeks ago you shared ideas for wine gifts under $25. Can you share Christmas gift ideas for a wine lover that might be a little more expensive?

Absolutely…basically, this is my wine wishlist, so for anyone looking to buy me a present, look no further! Seriously, I’m not sure what your price range is, so I kept the ideas under $500. I included a range, though, so hopefully this list will help spark some ideas.

Magazine or Website Subscription ($25-$50)
While there’s no question that drinking wine is the ultimate way to enjoy it, there is also a lot to be said for reading about wine. Not that all wine choices should be guided by magazine or website recommendations, but they shouldn’t be ignored either. So, a subscription to Food & Wine, Wine Spectator, or Purple Pages might be a fun way for your wine loving gift recipient to learn a more about new wines.

A Wine Club Membership (usually starting at $50)
If you know what winery the person likes, buying them a wine club membership could be a wonderful present. Wineries will often send exclusive wines to their members, so this could be a chance for your gift recipient to not only get a regular supply of a favorite wine, but also taste some wines that s/he wouldn’t taste otherwise. I’ve been eyeing the two-bottle one from Michel-Schlumberger, but almost every winery has one. You could also do a state-focused club like the California Wine Club or the Virginia Wine of the Month Club.

A Chateau Laguiole Corkscrew ($160)
There are corkscrews and then there are corkscrews, and this my friends, is a corkscrew. Each one is custom-made, and many consider the Chateau Laguiole Corkscrew to be the finest out there. I’m a fan of the red stamina wood handle, but they come with a variety of difference handles.

A Riedel Amadeo Decanter ($340)
The decanter is actually named in Mozart’s honor, and just like the maestro’s works, this handmade, mouth-blown leaded crystal decanter is a true piece of art. While it’s fine to use an aerator for the everyday glass after work, the Amadeo Decanter is elegant and would be perfect to use during a dinner party, for a special occasion, or when your gift recipient wants to open that bottle of wine s/he has been saving.

EuroCave SoWine Home Wine Bar ($400)
The wonderful thing about this system is that it preserves and chills two bottles of wine. Admittedly, I have tried the unit, so I don’t know if their claims that the wine is good for 10 days is true, but even if it keeps the wine at a good temperature and drinkable for more than 5 days, it will be doing better than most.

And readers, if you have any suggestions for “big” presents, please share. I’m sure that all of us who left our holiday shopping to the last minute will appreciate it! Good luck shopping!

Cheers!
-Alleigh

Do you have a question? Don’t be shy!
Send me an email, leave your question as a blog comment, or ask me on Twitter!

Older Entries

Sparkles & the State of the Union

Read more about wines from France:

Mailbag Monday: A ’90 Bordeaux & A ’96 Burgundy?

A Disappointing Red

Read more about red wines:

Mailbag Monday: Your Camera?

Troublemaker at the Holidays

Read more about wines from California:

A Big, Brooding Treana

Read more about wines from California:

Mailbag Monday: Wine Plans for 2012?

Weekday Bubbles

Read more about sparkling wines:

Beaujolais Day…A Month Late

Read more about wines from France:

Mailbag Monday: Christmas Presents for Wine Lovers?

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