$41-$50 » A Glass After Work

Winers on the Roof

Sep 012010

Thursday was one of those days at work that I was thankful that I had a lot to do; otherwise, I would have spent the day thinking about my evening plans. My neighbor invited me to a wine happy hour, but this wasn’t just any happy hour. Not only had the group I was joining been together for a while, but also several of them are regular “A Glass After Work” readers. Meeting readers in person is always exciting, but it also can be a little nerve-wracking because there are expectations that are sometimes hard to live up to.

Clearly, I had nothing to be worried about. This group, which originally coalesced while putting together a back-to-school school supply donation program, is affectionately known as the Winers. They’ve been gathering on the rooftops of DC for wine happy hours for a while, but they welcome newbies (like myself) as if we’ve always been part of the group. As one of the original Winers described it, it’s an evening where a “group of strangers become friends with the magic of a glass (ok, two) of wine.” I definitely had more than two glasses, and there is no question that I also made some new friends.

I spent most of the evening talking with Doug, Jeff, and Judy—all three of whom are regular Winers—as well as with Susan and Richard, neither of whom are part the original group, but are fellow wine lovers. In fact, Richard does some work with Vienna Vintner when he’s not at his day job.

The evening started with a refreshing rosé, which was contributed by Jeff. I’m embarrassed to admit that I missed all of the details on this wine, but it was a good way to start the evening.

Our Virginia wines for the night

After that, there were a number of Virginia wines, which Doug kindly brought. Unfortunately, I only tasted the 2005 Chrysalis Rubiana (winery), and I was not a fan. I know they are a popular Virginia winery, but I am regularly underwhelmed by their wines.

I do want to try Rappahannock Winery’s Viognier and Meritage wines (winery). There was a bottle of each at the happy hour and a number of people mentioned enjoying them, so it’s clearly time for me to revisit Rappahannock. I’m sorry I missed the chance on Thursday.

2006 Château Croque-Michotte

Judy brought a bottle of the 2006 Château Croque-Michotte (winery) back from her recent visit to France. There is something particularly exciting about opening a bottle that was carried back from Europe, and I’m thrilled she wanted to share. Admittedly, the wine was a little light on the fruit and a bit high in acidity, but it would probably pair well with food. Several of us were thinking lamb.

2005 Les Crêtes Coteau La Tour

The winner of the night for me, though, was the 2005 Les Crêtes Coteau La Tour (winery), which Jeff brought. This wine was 100% Syrah grapes and was beautifully balanced. It had a nice mixture of ripe fruits, sweet spices, and a hint of smokiness. It may be difficult to find the wine and it looks like it costs around $40, but even at that price, if you see a bottle, it’s worth grabbing. The wine was delicious!

I definitely feel like I was invited to be one of the “cool kids,” and I hope I have a chance to drink with the Winers again. The view was magnificent, the wine was fantastic, and the company was outstanding. What more could a social, wine-lover want? Thanks for including me!

Our backdrop while drinking wine on the roof

A Storybook With Vampires

$41-$50, 4 Corks, Prices, Ratings 3 Responses »

Jul 222010

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

Books, Haikus, and Wine

$10 and lower, $11-$20, $21-$30, $41-$50, $51 and higher, 2 Corks, 3.5 Corks, 4.5 Corks, Prices, Ratings No Responses »

Mar 222010

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Anne mentioned that she had an extra ticket to Michael J. Gelb’s book launch, and she asked if I would like to attend with her. The event included a wine tasting, some food, and a copy of Gelb’s book. Combine all of that with Anne’s good company and there was no way I was going to miss the event. So, Monday night after work, I headed to Zola Wine & Kitchen, where the DC launch for Wine Drinking for Inspired Thinking: Uncork Your Creative Juices was held.

Overall, the event was fun and well attended. There were 5 wines to taste—2 French rosé sparkling wines, 2 Sicilian red wines, and 1 French dessert wine. There were also some delicious hors d’œuvres, which were made while we were watching, and wonderful cheeses and chocolates.

Gelb’s approach to tasting wine is differs from the traditional taste-and-take-notes approach in that it focuses on the idea of using wine as a muse. Therefore, after we all had a chance to get comfortable and taste a few sparkling wines, he read a little from his book and then asked all of us to write wine-inspired poetry instead of traditional tasting notes (I did a little of both). He then collected what everyone wrote and read several winners aloud. While mine wasn’t chosen as a winner, I think that was because there wasn’t enough grape juice flowing to get my creative juices going. That said, here is my Haiku:

Juiciness takes over,
Luscious and warm in my mouth.
Wine is perfection.

Michael Gelb reading from "Wine Drinking for Inspired Thinking: Uncork Your Creative Juices"

As for the wines themselves, the night started with bubbly—a Lucien Albrecht Cremant d’Alsace Brut Rosé and a François Billion Brut Rosé Champagne Spécial.

The Lucien Albrecht Cremant d’Alsace Brut Rosé (vineyard, snooth) was made with 100% Pinot Noir grapes. The sparkler was a light, salmon color with persistent bubbles. On the nose and the mouth, there were red fruits and flowers, with a hint of toastiness. The wine had nice acidity, was refreshing, and made for a pleasant start to the tasting. At $20, this is definitely a sparkling wine worth looking into.
Overall: 3.5 corks

The François Billion Brut Rosé Champagne Spécial (vineyard, snooth) was a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes. The wine was a medium pink, with a lot of small, persistent bubbles. The sparkler had a beautiful nose, full of toast and a hint of strawberries and cherries. In the mouth, there was toast, cream, cherries, and strawberries. The wine had a crisp acidity, which was very refreshing. At $55, this wine was by far the best of the night.
Overall: 4.5 corks

The two red wines were both made in Sicily from the Nero d’Avola grape—the Cossentino and the 2006 Feudo Maccari Saia.

The Cossentino Nero D’Avola (snooth) was a deep purple. On the nose, there were big fruits, lots of wood, and some herbaceousness. In the mouth, the wine had something “funky” mixed in with blackberries. It was very acidic, and even at $12, it’s not a wine I would recommend.
Overall: 2 corks

The 2006 Feudo Maccari Saia Nero d’Avola (vineyard, snooth) was also a deep purple. On the nose and in the mouth, there were blackberries, cooking spices, and lavender. The wine had a full, luscious body, with smooth, soft tannins. At $42, this wine offers something a little different from the better-known Italian wines. If you’re looking for a new grape, this Sicilian red is worth considering, even at the higher price-point.
Overall: 3.5 corks

The last wine of the night was an intense dessert wine that paired beautifully with Zola Wine & Kitchen’s handmade chocolates. My favorite was pairing the salted caramel squares with the 2007 Domaine du Mas Blanc Rimage Banyuls (vineyard, snooth). The Rimage was a dark, inky purple. On the nose and in the mouth, there were ripe dark cherries, raspberries, and cocoa dust. The fuller body mixed nicely with the creaminess of the caramel in the chocolate. At $30, this wine is a nice dessert wine that isn’t overly sweet.
Overall: 3.5 corks

I was surprised to be the only blogger at the event, but that worked out well, as it gave me a chance to talk with Gelb not only about his books, but also about wine blogging and twittering. I was also thankful that Anne was able to give me the ticket for $30 instead of the full-priced $60, as that was probably a little over priced for this event. That said, I had a good time tasting wine, listing to other attendees’ wine-inspired writing, and meeting Michael Gelb.

I look forward to sharing my thoughts on Wine Drinking for Inspired Thinking: Uncork Your Creative Juices, once I’ve had a chance to read it. In the meantime, Kudos to Heather Freeman PR, Hooks Books, and Zola Wine & Kitchen for putting together a good event and to Michael Gelb for publishing his latest book.

"Flesh and Fire" Paired With A Pinot

$41-$50, 4 Corks, Prices, Ratings 1 Response »

Mar 192010

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

Over the weekends, I tend to drink wine at restaurants more often than I drink wine in the condo. However, between the rainy weather and Hubby recovering from living the rockstar-lifestyle of happy hours that go late into the night and an overnight trip to Atlantic City, neither of us was interested in venturing too far on Sunday. Instead, it was the perfect opportunity for me to make progress on my latest book, Flesh and Fire: Book One of The Vineart War by Laura Anne Gilman—a fantasy novel about magic and wine—and enjoy my last bottle of Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir.

2006 Willamette Valley Vineyards Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir

The 2006 Willamette Valley Vineyards Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir (vineyard, snooth) was a light-to-medium ruby, but with a brightness to it that was stunning. On the nose, there were big, ripe berry flavors, although they were a surprising mix of red and black fruits—strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry—followed by a touch of vanilla, cloves, and moss. In the mouth, there were cherries, cocoa, earth, and a touch of black pepper and cinnamon. The wine had a bright acidity and medium tannins.

Is this worth a glass after work? Definitely! If you see this wine in the store, grab it; you won’t be disappointed. Of the several sample bottles of Pinot Noir that Willamette Valley Vineyards sent me, the 2006 Estate Vineyard was my favorite. Not that I wouldn’t drink the other Pinots, as I definitely would, but this wine maintained the classic, wonderful characteristics of a Pinot Noir, while also offering a touch of uniqueness that made it stand out among the rest. The wine was warm and ripe, without being overbearing or jammy. It was food friendly, although I preferred to drink it on its own while reading my book, this way I could really sink into the flavors of both.

Overall: 4 Corks

A Pinot Noir That Hits The Spot

$41-$50, 4 Corks, Prices, Ratings 3 Responses »

Mar 152010

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

For as wonderful of a day as last Tuesday was, last Wednesday was equally as difficult—not bad, just difficult. My latest major project was due Thursday, and everything that could possibly go wrong at the last minute did. Unfortunately, some of the things that went wrong were repeat problems from my previous project, but there was nothing I could have done to avoid them. The problems were piling up in such a way that one of my colleagues sent around an “Allison’s Law” email and #3 on the list was that something out of the ordinary would happen to complicate my projects. It would have been very funny if it hadn’t been about me. By the time I left the office late Wednesday night, I was frustrated and a little concerned about how the final product. Regardless, I was definitely ready for dinner and a nice glass of wine.

The 2007 Willamette Valley Vineyards Elton Vineyard Pinot Noir (vineyard, snooth) was a very clear, pale ruby with the slightest hint of garnet on the rim. On the nose, there were berries—cherry, raspberry, strawberry—cocoa dust, rose petals, thyme, and a touch of earth. In the mouth, there were red and black cherries, tea leaves, violets, and roses, along with a touch of smoke, ginger, and the red coating of a candy apple. The wine had nice 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 a little on the pricey side for opening after work, but I promise that it’s well worth it. Plus, the 2007 Pinot Noir has some nice aging potential, so if you prefer to cellar the wine for a couple of years, it should age nicely. I drank the Pinot Noir with pistachios, which was a beautiful combination, as well as with dinner—a chicken tortilla casserole from Cooking for Two: 2009,The Year’s Best Recipes Cut Down to Size. The pairing with the casserole was very nice. After dinner, I sank into a second glass of wine as I checked my work Blackberry and watched a little trashy tv before calling it a night. The 2007 Willamette Valley Vineyards Elton Vineyard Pinot Noir was exactly what I needed after a frustrating day at work.

Overall: 3.5 Corks

Popping the Cork on a Wednesday Night

$41-$50, 3 Corks, Prices, Ratings 4 Responses »

Dec 152009

For as smooth of a day as last Tuesday was, last Wednesday was exactly the opposite. Taking over a 271-page document that was originally drafted by someone else, but became my responsibility when I started my new job, was no small task. I not only was responsible for familiarizing myself with the original document and the background information that the document was based on, but also making changes to the draft document to improve it, as I thought necessary. Thankfully, one of my fabulous co-workers helped with the task, but at the end of the day, the project was all mine. So, after my co-worker and I finished discussing the last round of major changes and minor edits, I set about the task of actually documenting our conversation. At 9:00pm on Wednesday night, when I finally had a “final” document ready to go, I emailed it to the necessary higher-ups and headed home feeling exhausted, but satisfied with the work. When I walked in the door of my condo, I greeted Hubby and popped the cork on a bottle of Champagne that was a candidate for my condo association’s Bubbly & BBQ Bash. It seemed like tasting the Champagne would be a nice way to celebrate my sense of accomplishment.

The Taittinger Brut La Francaise (winery, snooth) is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay grapes with a medium-to-deep gold color and a lot of small, persistent bubbles. On the nose, there was an entire fruit bowl— green apples, pears, peach, and apricots, with a touch of toast. In the mouth, there were granny smith apples, pears, and peaches, with a touch of something yeasty. The sparkler had a nice acidity, although there was something funny that I couldn’t identify on the finish.

Is this worth a glass after work? Sure…you won’t be drinking anything out of the ordinary, but you’ll definitely have a decent, reliable glass of wine. At $40, this sparkling wine offers everything you expect from a traditional Champagne, but nothing more. It was enjoyable on its own and would probably pair well with Red, Hot, and Blue’s southern BBQ, but for my condo association’s holiday party, I’m looking for something that is less “average” and “knock-my-socks.” In this price range, there are other traditional Champagnes that I’m going to turn to, but if you end up with a bottle of the Taittinger Brut Champagne, you won’t be going wrong.

Overall: 3 Corks

My Petit Castel

$41-$50, 3 Corks, Prices, Ratings No Responses »

Sep 292009

The last week has been an all-around good one, and last Tuesday, in particular, was one of those days that reminded me why I love what I do for a living. It was busy, productive, and exciting. I didn’t even mind having to work late because everything was falling into place in exactly the way I wanted. On top of work going well, Tuesday was approaching the mid-way point of the Jewish Days of Awe (the ten days starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur), which is one of my favorite times of year because it’s a time for self-reflection and soul-searching, as well as a time for new beginnings. And if all of that wasn’t enough to make me happy, Fall was definitely in the air. So, as I said, Tuesday was good day!

Having a good day meant that by the time I got home, I was ready for a warm dinner and a delicious glass of wine. In the spirit of the High Holy Days, I purchased a kosher red wine—the 2006 Petit Castel (winery, snooth). The Petit Castel was blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot with a deep ruby color. On the nose, there were blackberries, cherries, and blackcurrant leaf aromas, with a hint of smoke, cedar, menthol, and nutmeg. In the mouth, there were a lot of berries, along with cedar, smoke, and nutmeg. The wine had 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 definitely have a decent, reliable glass of wine. At $40, this wine is a little pricey for not offering anything special. That said, as it can sometimes be hard to find a decent kosher wine, be assured that you definitely won’t be embarrassed by bringing the 2006 Petit Castel with you to Shabbat dinner. The wine was enjoyable on its own, as well as with the lasagna Hubby and I had for dinner.

Overall: 3 Corks

Sherry, Sherry Baby, Sherry

$41-$50, Prices No Responses »

Sep 242009

The second Sherry tasting on the final day of the The Wine Academy of Spain’s Spanish wine course was comprised of sweet, complex wines. Unlike the first tasting, where most of the Sherry were not my style, each Sherry in this tasting was more delicious than the next. In fact, the last one we tasted (the Nectar PX 7 Years Old) left me wondering what it would taste like poured over warm French toast.

Tasting #2 on Day 3

Apostoles Palo Cortado Muy Viejo (winery, snooth)
$45
VORS (at least 30 years of aging)
Palomino and Ximénez
Medium brown with an Amber rim
Flan, toasted caramel, vanilla bean, with a touch of raisins and prunes on the nose
Almonds, hazelnut, caramel, with a touch of raisins in the mouth
Elegant
Dry
Very complex

Matusalem Oloroso Dulce Muy Viejo (winery, snooth)
VORS (at least 30 years of aging)
Medium-to-dark brown with an amber rim
Pronounced aromas—almonds, raisins, and prunes
Almonds and raisins in the mouth
Dry
Sweet, with a slight bitterness on the long finish
Beautiful!

Nectar PX 7 Years Old
Deep Mahogany with amber rim
Pronounced aromas—strong raisin, fig, and prune with hints of caramel and brown sugar
Dried apricots, raisins, and prunes with a hint of caramel and brown sugar in the mouth
Like drinking liquid velvet
Very long finish
Gorgeous!

Powerful, Pretty Priorats

$21-$30, $31-$40, $41-$50, 4 Corks, 4.5 Corks, Prices, Ratings No Responses »

Sep 182009

The Priorats were the biggest surprise for me during The Wine Academy of Spain’s Spanish wine course, as I actually tended to prefer them to the Riojas. These wines were the last of the Catalonia wines we tasted, and there wasn’t a bad wine in the group. As I mentioned in my first post about this course, by tasting the wines from Priorat back to back, I was really able to understand as Jesus explained what characteristics were uniquely regional and what characteristics were more likely the result of the winemaker’s techniques. Priorats have nice fruity and flowery flavors, with a depth and intensity that is ideal for the red wine lover. The wines aren’t thick and jammy, but are still chock full of bold flavors, so if you love powerful reds, you should definitely look into these wines. They’ll offer you something that is a little different, while still giving hints of the comforts of the red wines that you enjoy.

Tasting #5 on Day 2
Priorat

4 Corks

2005 Cruor (snooth)
$50
Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot
Ruby with purple flecks
Strawberry, raspberry, violet, and white pepper
Medium-to-high acidity, medium tannins, and medium body
Long finish

4.5 Corks

2004 Prior Scala Dei (winery, snooth)
$24
50% Garnacha, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Syrah
Deep purple with ruby flecks
Red fruits, rosemary, thyme, with a touch of anise, menthol, dust, and earth
Intense tannins and medium acidity
Finish very different from attack

*Jesus said this is a very good example of a Priorat

2004 Cartoxia Scala Dei (winery,snooth)
$40
41% Garnacha 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Syrah
Medium-to-deep purple with a ruby rim
Black plum, black cherry, blackberry, red roses, violets, white pepper
Intense minerality on the finish
Strong tannins and good acidity
Very aggressive
Needs a couple years of aging

2003 Morlanda Criança (snooth)
$50
50% Garnacha, 50% Cariñena
Medium Ruby
Strawberry, red currant, mineral, cedar, leather, pen ink, white pepper
Medium acidity and tannins

Castilla y León and Ribera del Duero in the Evening

$10 and lower, $11-$20, $41-$50, $51 and higher, 2 Corks, 3 Corks, 3.5 Corks, 4.5 Corks, Prices, Ratings No Responses »

Sep 152009

The first day of The Wine Academy of Spain’s Spanish wine course ended with a comprehensive look at Castilla y León. For more than an hour, we watched videos, discussed the climate and soil types, learned about the white and red grape varieties, and talked about various food pairing options that match both the wine and the culture of the area.

There are 6 major regions of Castilla y León, all of which make wines that are worth a second look. Whether it’s the reds from Ribera del Duero, from Toro, from Bierzo, and from Arlanza; the rosé from Cigales, or the whites from Rueda, this region of Spain is one for the wine world to notice. Admittedly, wines from Rueda, which are made from the Verdejo grape, emerged as one of my new favorite types of wine, so expect to see more in the future. These wines were reminiscent of a Sauvignon Blanc, but with a little more body and very strong acidity.

Tasting #4 on Day 1

Castilla y León

The Whites

3.5 Corks

2008 Analiva Pagos del Rey (snooth) from Rueda
$9
Pale lemon gold
Pronounced grapefruit and lemon zest, plus grass, white pepper, and granny smith apples
Lime-like acid, very dry, medium body, long finish

4.5 Corks

2008 Shaya Old Vine Verdejo (snooth) from Rueda
$15
Very pale lemon
Fresh cut green grass, grapefruit—overall, very light on the nose
Bright lemon and grapefruit, green apple, wet stone, minerals—overall, very rich in the mouth

The Reds

3 Corks

2006 Segundo Motivo (winery) from Toro
100% Tempranillo
Deep ruby with big legs
Black plums, smoke, cedar, earth, dust—almost dried out
Medium tannins and acid

2007 El Arte de Vivir (winery, snooth) from Ribera del Duero
$15
100% Tempranillo
Deep ruby with flecks of purple
A little closed on the nose, so could have used decanting
Leather, raspberries, and violets on the nose
Sour cherries in the mouth
A little rough, not elegant, but enjoyable

3.5 Corks

2006 Tercer Motivo (winery) from Bierzo
100% Mencia
Very deep purple with big legs
Cherry, blackberry, mint, rosemary, and licorice
Fruity, but not complex
Medium tannins and acidity
A little different

2005 Condado de Oriza Crianza (snooth)
$11
Very purple
Strong red fruit aromas—strawberry and raspberry—with a touch of white pepper
Big strong tannins and high acidity
Would pair well with lamb chops

Tasting #5 on Day 1
Ribera del Duero

2 Corks

2003 Valdubón Crianza (winery, snooth)
$20
100% Tempranillo
Nice ruby color with garnet rim
Raspberries, strawberries, white pepper, and smoke
Medium tannins and acidity
Short finish—it just falls off a cliff

2003 Valdubón Reserva (winery, snooth)
$20
100% Tempranillo
Ruby with garnet rim
Paprika, spices, and strawberries
Medium tannins and acidity
Something funny on the finish
Missing personality

3.5 Corks

2004 Honoris de Valdubón (winery, snooth)
$50
100% Tempranillo
Deep purple with flecks of ruby
Vanilla and cherry
Strong tannins and high acidity
Long finish
Could definitely spend some time aging and will likely be beautiful in a few years
Pairing with heavily flavored meat might make it less aggressive

4.5 Corks

2005 Neo (winery)
$100
Deep purple
Smoke, cedar, blackcurrant, blackberries, and touch of leather
Flavors border on jammy
Medium tannins, high acidity, surprisingly light in body

…and that was the end of Day 1 of my Spanish wine course!

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