A Glass After Work

Friday Indulgence with Mumm Rosé

$21-$30, 4 Corks, Prices, Ratings No Responses »

May 032013

Last Friday finished off my first full week of work since my surgery. I was still on crutches full-time, and anyone who has been had to use crutches knows how exhausting they are. So, that combined with my hip still hurting and the general fatigue that everyone feels by the end of a work week made me relieved to walk in the door of the condo and know that Hubby and I had no plans for the weekend. Don’t get me wrong, it had been a week and I was happy to start getting back into the swing of things, but it also takes a lot of energy. In fact it wasn’t until Friday that my boss actually commented on how I was started to look like I was feeling better. I figured that, along with surviving my first week back, was something to celebrate. So, I grabbed a bottle of bubbly that I brought home with me from my February trip to Napa and settled into an evening of unwinding with Hubby.

Mumm Napa Brut Rosé

The Mumm Napa Brut Rosé (winery, amazon) was a pale-to-medium cotton candy pink with lots of small, persistent bubbles. The sparkler is made in Napa Valley, California and is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. On the nose, there were cherries, strawberries, and hints of whipped cream. In the mouth, there were cherries, strawberries, and plums mixed with the slightest hint of yeast and cream. The sparkler had a light body and 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 $24, this bubbly is perfect for a Friday night indulgence without being so much of a splurge that it hurts the wallet, and it was what I was looking for at the end of a long (although positive) week of work. I sipped on my first glass while I was on the couch. Hubby and I were catching up on our respective days as he pan-fried some tilapia and sautéed fresh spinach in garlic and olive oil for dinner. My second glass was with dinner, and the bubbly made a nice pairing because the acidity of the sparkler helped cut through the oil in the fish and the spinach. Afterwards, I poured myself another glass before stretching out on the bed to watch a movie and ice my hip. The bubbly was refreshing and enjoyable in its own right and carried me through a quiet and relaxing evening.

Question of the Day: Are you a sparkling wine fan? Do you have a favorite?

Price: $24
Purchased at Mumm Napa Winery
Overall: 4 Corks

Mailbag Monday: Transportation While Tasting in Napa?

General Wine 1 Response »

Apr 292013

Hi Alleigh—
I saw that you went to Napa a couple of months ago. How did you get around while you were there? Did you have a driver that you would recommend?

My friend and me on the back roads through the vineyards at the start of our bicycle wine tasting tour

Ah…Napa! One of my best friends and I met there in mid-February for a girl’s weekend. She was coming from British Columbia and I, obviously, headed west from Washington, D.C. Even though she lives in Canadian Wine Country, her husband is not a huge wine tour fan and Hubby, as you may know, doesn’t drink. So, what better place than Napa for two wine-loving females who haven’t seen each other in 3 years?

We did rent a car to get to and from San Francisco, but except for a short drive to the Napa Premium Outlets, we left the car parked at the hotel and either walked, biked, or had a driver for all of our tastings.

Me on a bike outside the entrance of Peju

Our first full day of wine tasting was done on bicycle. We rented hybrid bikes from Napa Valley Bike Tours for $39, and we both opted to pay and extra $5 for the gel seats. In retrospect, we probably should have also paid the extra $15 to return the bikes in the morning, this way we wouldn’t have had to rush out of Mumm to be back at the store by 5pm. In fact, had we done that we might have even been able to stop at one more winery on our way back to the hotel, but hindsight is always 20-20, and that was poor planning on our part. Also, by just paying for the rental, we didn’t have a follow-up van to pick-up any purchases. While that worked out well for us because my friend had a messenger bag and I had a backpack that allowed us both to carry some snacks, plastic wine glasses, and the several bottles we bought (admittedly, some of which we drank along the way), if you’re concerned about carrying the bottles with you on the bike, Napa Valley Bike Tours has several guided and self-guided tour packages that included a follow-up van.

My friend riding along the Silverado Trail leaving Mumm Napa. This was the only stretch that felt like “real highway.”

Overall, working with Napa Valley Bike Tour was very easy, and I highly recommend them if you have any interest in doing a bike wine tasting. I emailed with Tiffany several times before heading out to Napa to make sure that going on our own was the best option for us. Tiffany was incredibly helpful, listening to the wineries we were interesting in visiting and balancing that with our experience (or inexperience in my case) bike riding. Once we arrived at the shop, I mentioned to the guy who was there the conversations I had with Tiffany, and he agreed with our plan. He then fitted us with bikes and helmets before we headed off on the Rutherford loop, which was 16 miles of mostly flat riding with occasional rolling hills mixed in. Except for the first couple of miles through vineyards and back roads, and a couple of miles towards the end that were along the busy Silverado Trail, most of the ride was along fairly small roads that took us past dozens and dozens of vineyards. I was very nervous about doing a day of cycling and wine tasting, particularly as I don’t think I’ve ridden a bike in 5+ years, but between my normal running routine and adding 15 miles on the stationary bike at least twice a week for a month before we went, I was fine. All in all, it was a stunning ride and the absolutely perfect way to see that part of Napa.

Our second full day of tasting was in the Carneros area of Napa, and we hired a driver from Napa Valley Tours & Transportation for a flat rate of $55 an hour for 6 hours plus 20% gratuity for a total of $400 (or $200 per person). NVTT was great to work with, and while they were a little slow in getting the final paper work to me to sign, I have no hesitation in recommending them either. My only word of caution is not to make the mistake we made in going significantly over time, as the overtime charges are in 1/4-hour increments after the first 5 minutes. There is no question that it was our mistake, and a costly one at that, as the driver reminded us that there would be extra charges, but we were having such a good time that we weren’t really thinking about how much those charges would be. Lesson learned… stick to the negotiated time.

Me tasting the 2011 Estate Chardonnay at O’Brien Estate Winery in Napa

Overall, everything went smoothly. I worked with one of NVTT’s concierges to discuss the wineries we were interested in visiting and establish a final itinerary. One of the wineries I mentioned was closed on Sundays, so they offered an alternative suggestion and then made all of the reservations. We were picked up at our hotel in a Mercedes R350, which was nice and roomy. Our driver was talkative, friendly, and knowledgeable. This worked out particularly well for us when one of the wineries I picked turned into huge bust, and he suggested a smaller, family-owned winery (O’Brien Wine Estate) on the spot. He called them from the car and was able to get us a last minute, personalized tour with the owner/winemaker. It turned out to be one of my favorite wineries of the trip. I absolutely fell in love with the red wines.

So, the long and the short of it is that we had a wonderful experience with both of the companies we used. I definitely recommend both Napa Valley Bike Tours and Napa Valley Tours and Transportation.

My friend and me on a cycling break drinking Frog’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc outside Oakville Grocery on Yount Mill Road

Question of the Day: Have you done any wine touring in Napa, either by car or by bicycle? What company did you use and what did you think of the experience?

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!

An All-American Red Wine

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

Apr 262013

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

By Wednesday evening of last week, it felt like things had descended into pure craziness. I was still taking cabs to work because the combination of my hip pain and the crutches left me unmetro-worthy. The problem, though, is that increased security around DC because of the Boston Bombings meant a number of road closures and significantly increased traffic. The traffic was like rubbing salt my the wound, literally, as it was something I usually avoided by taking public transportation. My travel times just became so unpredictable that I felt like I spent the week running late to meetings.

Thankfully, I was still only working half a day last Wednesday. Th day was an intense one, as my organization was holding a Board meeting that required me to have a laser-like focus on work. It wasn’t until sometime after lunch, when I received a text message from Hubby saying, “You may not want to open any strange letters,” that I realized ricin-laced letters were sent to the President and to Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker. I vividly remember the anthrax-laced letters following on the heels of September 11, so this felt like déjà vu. On top of it, up until 6 months ago, I was a Senate employee, and while I didn’t work for Senator Wicker, the poisoned letters hit close to home. As you can imagine, I checked in with a number of Senate friends, whom were all fine, but the whole incident made me all the more thankful that I was working a shorter day.

After the Board meeting ended, I went home to elevate leg, put ice on my hip, and catch up on the latest news. By the time Hubby came home, I decided I couldn’t take it anymore, so I poured myself a glass of wine and decided to continue working my way through Season 4 of Mad Men in order to distract me from the horrors of the week.

The 2010 Silver Buckle Cellars Red Wine (winery) is a blend of 45% Syrah, 34% Merlot, and 21% Malbec grapes and it is made in the Central Coast of California. The wine had a deep ruby color. On the nose, there were ripe blueberries mixed with hints of dark chocolate shavings and nutmeg. In the mouth, there were juicy blueberries and dark chocolate mixed with cinnamon and nutmeg. The wine had medium tannins, medium acidity, and a medium-to-full 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 an SRP of $20, this wine is a very drinkable everyday wine. When I opened up the wine cabinet on that Wednesday night, I knew the minute I saw the bottle that it was the perfect wine for the evening. Nothing screams All-American strength like Silver Buckle’s cowboy-themed label, and that was exactly what I was looking for, I just was surprised to find it in my wine.

I actually ended up having a couple of glasses of the Silver Buckle Cellars Red that evening, both with dinner and afterwards. It paired well with the beef stir-fry and homemade Sriracha sauce that Hubby made for dinner, and it continued to be enjoyable on its own as I watched TV. Admittedly, I think the SRP might be a little high considering it’s a pretty straightforward, everyday red wine. However, sometimes those are the hardest times of wines to find, so you shouldn’t be too hesitant to grab a bottle even you normally keep your everyday wines below the $20 mark.

Question of the day: What is tends to be price limit for an everyday bottle wine?

Suggested Retail Price: $20
Received as a sample.
Overall: 3.5 Corks

Marathon Monday with a Michel-Schlumberger Wine

$11-$20, 4 Corks, Prices, Ratings No Responses »

Apr 242013

Let’s be honest…last week was a crazy week in the United States. Mid-way through the week, I sipped on some wine and tried writing a post about Marathon Monday’s bombing. I mean, I’m a runner who knows the ups and downs of training for a long race, although I will never been fast enough to run Boston. I know the joy of seeing the finish line in the distance, the relief of crossing it in one piece, and the ecstasy of the beer going down while I ice my legs and put on compression socks once it’s all over.

I’m also someone who has been a rabid spectator of friends who run marathons. So, I know the laughter and love that goes into putting together the signs that cheer on runners as they go by (as well as how much the runners actually enjoy those signs during the race). And, I know the excitement of watching “your runner” breakout into a huge smile when s/he sees you on the sidelines when only a moment ago they looked like they were ready to collapse in defeat.

And, I’m a New Yorker who was living in DC during 9/11, so I know firsthand how a perfect day can turn into a nightmare.

Maybe knowing all those things makes my heart break that much more for those people who were in Boston during the bombing…maybe not. But, my heart does break for them.

I wrestled whether I should even write a post about the Boston Bombing, since I wasn’t there to experience it and I hate the idea of the wine being associated with something so horrible. I’ll leave the description of what it was like to actually be only a block away from the race to fellow blogger Shelby from Eat, Drink, and Run, as I wasn’t there. However, not all wine is opened at the end of a good day, so I ultimately decided to blog about last week.

Selfishly, I was relieved that by Monday evening I had heard from everyone I knew running the race and living in Boston. They were all safe. Very rattled, some stranded in the city…but everyone was safe. When Hubby came home, I immediately gave him the list of who I heard from and then we just sat on the bed sharing the details we each knew. Afterwards, Hubby helped me open a bottle of wine and carry it to the couch, since that’s a precarious thing to do on crutches, and we settled in just in time for the President’s press conference. From that point on, I spent Monday night glued to the news with a glass of Michel-Schlumberger Pinot Blanc in my hand.

2011 Michel-Schlumberger La Bise Pinot Blanc

The 2011 Michel-Schlumberger La Bise Pinot Blanc (winery, amazon) is from the Dry Creek Valley area of California. The wine had a pale, lemon-yellow color. On the nose, there were apricots, pineapples, and grapefruits mixed with a hint of lemongrass. In the mouth, there were apricots, pineapples, and yellow grapefruits with hints of limes and white flowers. The wine had a light body and medium-to-high 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 $17, this wine is perfect for after work, particularly as the warmer weather starts rolling in. Admittedly, I’m sure it comes as no surprise to long-time readers that I loved this wine, as I’ve reviewed a number of Michel-Schlumberger wines and I always enjoy them, but their wines are reliably enjoyable. I’ve even reviewed past vintages of the Pinot Blanc–both 2008 and 2010. The exciting thing for me, though, is the wine has inched slightly down in price, so that it makes it more of an affordable daily wine.

As for last Monday night, this wine was exactly what I needed. It paired well with the dinner Hubby made—chicken sautéed in peanut oil and garlic with steamed fresh green beans—as both the dinner and the wine were fairly subtle. After dinner, went we went back to the news, it isn’t so complex that it distracted me from the serious events of the day. At the same time, though, it was reassuring, familiar, and delicious.

Question of the Day: Did you know anyone at the Boston Marathon last Monday? Is everyone you knew ok?

Price: $17
Purchased at Lot18
Overall: 4 Corks

Mailbag Monday: Storing Open Wine?

General Wine No Responses »

Apr 222013

Hi Alleigh,
Your discussion on corking a partial bottle of wine is interesting. You seem to only discuss inert systems. Have you tried the various vacuum systems? I would be interested in hearing if you have results or opinions about them.

I’ve tried a number of different systems from re-using the cork to a battery powered vacuum system. I don’t notice significant differences in them.

Recently I’ve started using a champagne bottle stopper for regular wine. These stoppers are plastic and can be washed and reused. The major feature is that they mechanically tighten on the mouth of the bottle and stop any bubbles from escaping. This is nice for regular wine also since I like to put them back into the wine fridge which means they will be on their side.

By the way, really glad to read that you like the new job. That is so important in an overall happy life.

Hi—And, thanks for the email. The preserving wine problem is one that I feel like I’m constantly struggling with. And, that has been particularly true since my surgery, as I’m opening a bottle for literally a single glass of wine because I really don’t want to mix alcohol and medication. After three days, though, I’m still not finished with the bottle…although the bottle is definitely finished with me.

I actually tried using a Wine Shield, which I received as a sample a while back. The Wine Shield is a flexible, plastic disc that looks almost like bubble wrap. It is placed inside the open bottle and floats on top of the wine, essentially creating a barrier between the wine and the air. Admittedly, I have mix feelings about the Wine Shield. The directions were complicated and getting the disc properly inside the bottle was a little precarious, but once the disc was in place, it did an ok job preserving the wine. Unfortunately, it only works once. So, if you don’t finish the bottle during the second go-around that means the first Wine Shield is bathing in your wine and a second needs to be put in the bottle to preserve the remaining wine. At the end of the day, it seemed more like it was more of a hassle than it was a help.

In terms of vacuum systems, I have a Vacu Vin. It’s one of the ones where you use a hand pump to suck the extra air out of the bottle in an attempt to make tight seal. However, like you, I don’t notice much difference between using the Vacu Vin and re-using the cork, so I usually don’t take the extra effort to use it.

I’ve looked into the Preservino, which is an argon gas preservation system. However, I don’t personally know anyone who has used one and all the reading research I’ve done hasn’t quite convinced me that it was worth making the financial investment.

Someone else recently mentioned the idea of using a Champagne stopper, and I think it’s a good suggestion. As embarrassing as this is to admit, though, I don’t actually have one. I’ve occasionally looked at them and thought I should buy one, but I’ve just never done it. Clearly, this is something I need to fix! I’d love to hear if you have one that you recommend.

I’m sorry that my response ended up being so long, but I feel like this is a big problem that wine drinkers struggle with, and I just don’t have a great answer or solution. And, thanks for the support about the new job. Like you said, if the “work” side of things is off-kilter, having a happy life just isn’t going to happen, and things were definitely not working out in the old job. Sometimes change is good!

Question of the Day: Have you used a Champagne stopper to help preserve your wine? What are you thoughts on how that worked? And, do you have a stopper you would recommend?

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!

Hanging Out With Happy Bitch

$11-$20, 4 Corks, Prices, Ratings 6 Responses »

Apr 172013

Over the years, I’ve mentioned the two groups of girlfriends that I met online while Hubby and I were planning our wedding. These women come from all over North America, we all come from different background, and we all have very different career and life goals. The frequency of our group emails ebbs and flows depending on how busy life gets and, with the arrival of babies, our yearly group get-togethers have morphed into seeing each other in smaller groups and more sporadically. However, I never stop being amazed that almost 7 years later, I count these women among some of my closest friends. One group even maintains a ritual of having an online holiday gift exchange.

The unopened Happy Bitch fortune

As I prepared to write this post about the group’s 2012 holiday gift exchange, which actually takes place in January after the holiday craziness has died down, I was struck by how technology has changed since we started this tradition. When we first started doing the live, online get-togethers for the holidays and baby showers, it was impossible to do a group video chat for free. So, we would find a time where all 8 of us could sign onto Google’s GChat. We would type out details on the presents as we opened them, and when our turn was over, we would take and attach a picture of ourselves with our loot and upload it to the group chat. It was clearly not an ideal way for us to spend time together, but it was the best we could do. Thinking about it now makes me laugh.

The Happy Bitch Fortune, which is a quote about happiness from Keryl Pesce’s book

Then Google+ came along, and with it the introduction of Google Hangout. Admittedly, I don’t use Google+ for much else besides Hangout, but it forever changed how I get-together with my girlfriends. This year, on January 9th, after a full day of jury duty, I signed online to see the 7 faces of my fabulous friends, hear them laugh, and watch them open up their holiday gifts. Those of us who weren’t pregnant indulged in an adult beverage to help keep things festive, and I couldn’t resist opening my last bottle of Happy Bitch Rosé.

The Happy Bitch Rosé (website, amazon) is made in the Hudson Valley of New York with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. On the nose, there were limes and very ripe strawberries with a hint raspberries and rhubarb. On the mouth, there were limes, candied strawberries, and raspberries mixed with a hint of orange blossom. The wine had a touch of sweetness, was lightly effervescent, and a bright acidity.

Happy Bitch Rosé

Is this worth a glass after work? Definitely! If you see this wine in the store, grab it; you won’t be disappointed. At $11, Happy Bitch Rosé has an amazing quality-price ratio. And, while this isn’t the first time that I’ve reviewed the Happy Bitch Rosé, I came away with the same impression as I did the last time I had it. The wine is not complex and it’s not unusual, but it is enjoyable and very drinkable. In fact, it is perfect for what it claims to be…a wine that “pairs will with girlfriends and great memories.” And, I enjoyed it while doing exactly that. Before I knew it, on that cold January evening, my girlfriends and I had spent a couple of hours talking and laughing online, oohing and ahhing over each other’s presents, and drinking and discussing our respective wines. The only thing that would have made me a “Happier Bitch” was if my girlfriends and I had been able to do this in person.

Question of the Day (ok, I have two today):
1) Do you have a particular drink that you enjoy during girl’s/guy’s night?
2) Do you have friends that you met online that have turned into “real life” friends? I’d love to hear your story!

Price: $11
Purchased at Arlington Wine and Liquor
Overall: 4 Corks

Mailbag Monday: White Wine in Small Bowl (Orujo)?

General Wine 2 Responses »

Apr 152013

Hello Alleigh—
In 2008 I was enjoying the end of my pilgrimage in Santiago de Compestella. My fellow pilgrims and I found ourselves in a local tavern that seemed to be filled with nothing but locals, all of which were enjoying a beverage in a small shallow white bowl. We ordered the same and were rewarded with a very tasty white wine that was a bit sharp and was somewhat cloudy.

Do you by any chance know what we were drinking?

Hi…and thanks for emailing!

Santiago de Compostela is close to the the Galacian coast wine region of Rías Baixas, where they make an amazing white wine—Albariño—that goes perfectly with the seafood dishes that are typically found in those tiny finishing villages along the Spanish coast. However, it doesn’t sound like the drink you were referring to was an Albariño. Therefore, you definitely are testing my wine and alcohol knowledge.

After some more research, I think you may have been drinking Orujo (also known as Orujo de Galicia and “aguardiente”). Orujo is actually a pomace brandy that is made from the grape skins, seeds, and stalks leftover after wine production. According to Wikipedia, the skins, seeds, and stalks are fermented in closed vats and then distilled during a six hour process using stills made from large copper kettles that are heated over an open fire. The resulting liquor is 100 proof and usually is colorless, although it can be aged for more than two years in oak barrels to produce “aged orujo,” which is an amber in color.

Once distilled, Orujo is usually poured into a large china or earthenware bowl for drinking, which is why I thought this may be what you and your companions were drinking. However, a number of the references I saw to Orujo also said that it was often mixed with other things—cherries, sweet sherry, lemon peels, sugar, etc.—and set on fire. I figure if your drink was flaming or noticeable mixed with something else, you probably would have mentioned it, so I’m honestly not sure if I have the wrong drink or if it was the right one, but that yours was without all of the extra flare.

I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a more definitely answer, but maybe one of my readers might have some additional thoughts.

Question of the Day: Have you ever had Orujo? I would love to hear your thoughts on it…and do you think this may be what my reader was drinking?

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!

Going with a Goldwater

$11-$20, 4 Corks, Prices, Ratings 2 Responses »

Apr 122013

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

This week was an interesting one for me, as I went back to work part-time…crutches and all. The Boss has been wonderful about the whole surgery situation. He’s more concerned about my healing properly than about my pushing too hard. This past Wednesday was a perfect example. I had planned to be in the office for half days all this week. However, after two days of being up and around, my leg was pretty swollen and my hip was begging for a day of lying on the bed with some extra rest and ice. Not to mention that I’ve also started going to physical therapy twice a week, and even though my sessions are scheduled for an hour, they usually take closer to an hour and a half. So, combine the increased daily activity with rehab exercises and a significant scaling back of the pain medication and I was feeling it. I emailed The Boss on Wednesday morning to ask if it was ok for me to work from home, as that is not something that is automatically allowed in my office. He responded with an “absolutely” almost immediately.

My at-home workday was full of reading for my current project, emails, and phone calls, which was just my speed. Admittedly, I did take a little time during lunch to walk around the block in our neighborhood, as the unseasonable 90-degree weather in April and all the cherry blossoms in bloom were too much to resist, but otherwise, I took it easy. By the time Hubby walked in the door, I was shutting down for the evening and ready for a cool, crisp summer white wine.

The 2011 Goldwater Sauvignon Blanc (winery, amazon) is made with 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes from Wairau Valley of Marlborough, New Zealand. The wine had a very pale golden-yellow color. On the nose, there were gooseberries and passion fruit, with hints of white pepper, green bell peppers, and honeydew melon. In the mouth, there were gooseberries and green bell peppers mixed with hints of passion fruit, white pepper, and ginger. The wine had a light body and crisp, 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 an SRP of $18, this NZ Sauvignon Blanc offers a little something different, while still holding true to the gorgeous freshness that so often is found in New Zealand versions. The complexity is perfect for lingering over a glass on a 90+ degree summer day. But, don’t let that stop you from pairing it with food. The wine is goes just as well with a lighter summer meal like the seared tuna steak salad Hubby made for dinner. So, all in all, this was a good white wine on a day where I needed to be off my feet and relax, particularly in the hot April weather.

Question of the Day: What was your weather like this past week? Did you go for a seasonal wine change?

Suggested Retail Price: $18
Received as a sample.
Overall: 4 Corks

A Good Gewürz

$21-$30, 4 Corks, Prices, Ratings 2 Responses »

Apr 102013

I’ve written before about how a former coworker of mine and I often tease each other about the other’s wine preferences. At one point, I had clearly been inundating him with so much Spanish wine that he actually purchased a bottle on his own, which is how I was introduced to Herencia Altés Garnatxa Negra. Part of why I tease him is because he’s a French vinophile, with a particular love for Alsatian wine. As such, he will occasionally turn me onto one of “his” wines. And, not only that, since he and his girlfriend have enough storage space to cellar wines, they buy them by the case and will sometimes give me the opportunity to buy a few bottles from that case at a significantly lower cost. On Sunday, January 6^th, as I awaited the U.S. premiere of Season 3 of Downtown Abbey and planned what I would bring with me for my first day of jury duty, I opened up one of these bottles—the 2011 Domaine Zind Humbrecht Gewürztraminer.

2011 Domaine Zind Humbrecht Gewürztraminer

The 2011 Domaine Zind Humbrecht Gewürztraminer (winery, amazon) is from Alsace, France and was a very pale lemon-yellow. On the nose, there were pineapples, nectarines, and lemons with a hint of roses, baked sugar, honey, and white pepper. In the mouth, there were pineapples, peaches, and lemons with hints of honey and white pepper. The wine had a touch of effervescence, a light-to-medium body, and 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 $25, this wine goes down easily…perhaps a little too easily. I paired it with broiled crab cakes and applesauce, which was a nice combination, and then continued to enjoy through the rest of the evening. Before I knew it, almost the entire bottle was gone! And trust me, that was not my intention on a Sunday night, although I definitely enjoyed the splurge.

While the wine did a nice job cutting through the olive oil on the broiled crab cakes, it would also have been a nice pairing with a mildly spicy Indian curry, some Thai basil chicken, or a Chinese lo-mein. It would also be the perfect addition to a spring picnic, so as the weather warms up and you’re wondering which bottle to stick in your the wine cooler, consider this Gewürz…you won’t be disappointed. It’s food-friendly, but also easily enjoyable on its own; however, I recommend sharing it with someone else or you may find that you unintentionally finished the whole bottle by yourself!

Question of the Day: Have you ever unintentionally finished a whole bottle of wine when you originally planned to only have a glass or two? Do you remember which wine it was?

Price: $25
Purchased at Schneider’s of Capitol Hill
Overall: 4 Corks

Mailbag Monday: Passover Wine Recs?

General Wine 2 Responses »

Apr 082013

Dear Alleigh:
Do you have a recommended Passover wine list for this year?

Thanks for emailing, and please accept my sincere apologies for not getting to your question before the holiday. I had every intention of not only putting together a Top 5 Wines for Passover list this year, but also to spend the holiday opening more recent vintages of wines I’ve reviewed in the past, while also exploring some new kosher wines. Unfortunately, as I mentioned last week, my schedule hasn’t quite gone as planned over the last month and the posts never materialized.

I’m back to blogging now, though, and I’m ready to pick-up where I left off…and in this case, that means 6 unopened kosher wines are calling my name. So, while I didn’t have a Passover list together for this year’s holiday, definitely check back for some new kosher wine reviews.

Question of the Day: In the meantime, I’d love to hear what you drank over Passover! Did you open a “must buy” find? Or, did you get one of those kosher wines that continue to give kosher wines a bad name?

Cheers…and a belated Chag Sameach!!
-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

Friday Indulgence with Mumm Rosé

Read more about wines from California:

Mailbag Monday: Transportation While Tasting in Napa?

An All-American Red Wine

Read more about wines from California:

Marathon Monday with a Michel-Schlumberger Wine

Read more about wines from California:

Mailbag Monday: Storing Open Wine?

Hanging Out With Happy Bitch

Read more about rose wines:

Mailbag Monday: White Wine in Small Bowl (Orujo)?

Going with a Goldwater

Read more about Sauvignon Blanc:

A Good Gewürz

Read more about wines from France:

Mailbag Monday: Passover Wine Recs?