2004 » A Glass After Work

Falling For The Alluring Ondine

$21-$30, 4.5 Corks, Prices, Ratings 2 Responses »

Mar 162010

2004 Oriel Ondine Sauternes

Friday was a fairly quiet day at work. I had a few meetings, but, for the most part, I was able to spend the day reading emails, returning phone calls, and just generally catching up on the work that I put aside over the last two crazy weeks. For as unusually quiet as my workday was, my night at home was even quieter, as Hubby went on an overnight trip to Atlantic City with some of his guy friends. Therefore, on my way home, I stopped by Harris Teeter to grab dinner for myself and the local wine store to buy a bottle that I thought would be perfect for a quiet night with a good book and a girlie movie.

The 2004 Oriel Ondine Sauternes (company, snooth) was 90% Semillon and 10% Sauvignon Blanc grapes and had a beautiful, dark gold color. On the nose, there were lemon, smoke, caramel, and honey aromas, followed by a touch of pink grapefruit, apricots, and hand-wipes. In the mouth, there were canned mandarin oranges, apricots, lemons, and a touch of burnt caramel. The wine had a voluptuously full body with nice acidity to keep it tasting fresh.

Is this worth a glass after work? It’s worth more than one! What are you waiting for? At $30 for 375 ml, the Oriel Ondine was a luscious dessert wine that lives up to the stories of the mythological water nymph that it’s named after. While I drank most of the wine on its own, it paired nicely with the fried chicken breast I had for dinner, as the sweetness balanced out the grease and salt in the chicken. As someone who generally drinks regular wines instead of dessert wines, the Oriel Ondine was a nice break in routine and definitely a wine that I would buy again.

Overall: 4.5 Corks

Bodegas Dinastía Vivanco at The Wine Academy of Spain’s DC Class

$11-$20, $21-$30, 4 Corks, 4.5 Corks, Prices, Ratings 2 Responses »

Sep 222009

Our last tasting on the second day of The Wine Academy of Spain’s Spanish wine course was all beautiful wines from Bodegas Dinastía Vivanco. One of the employees of the winery was actually in the US looking for an American importer, so he joined us for 2 out of the 3 days. My understanding is that, unfortunately, as Dinastía Vivanco does not have an importer yet, the wines aren’t available for sale in the US, but they’re hoping to remedy this soon…and when they do, I encourage you to go buy a bottle. If you’re elsewhere in the world, go look for the wines now. The wines were wonderful both in taste and in price.

Obviously, there was some self-promotion happening and, as students, we were a captive audience, but what Dinastía Vivanco had to offer was worth hearing. Apparently, they’re not only a winery, but also a museum of wine culture and a foundation dedicated to the research and promotion of wine. The facilities include a tasting room, a restaurant, a conference center, and a wine shop. During the discussion of Dinastía Vivanco’s wines, we saw a video that had some interesting footage from inside the museum. Apparently, the museum, which covers both Rioja and general wine culture, has the largest exhibition of corkscrews in the world.

Tasting #8 on Day 2
Bodegas Dinastía Vivanco

4 Corks
2005 Dinastía Vivanco Crianza (winery, snooth)
$17 (suggested retail)
100% Tempranillo
Medium-to-deep ruby
Cherry, strawberry, smoke, cedar, and a little bit of meat on the nose
Cherry, strawberry, cedar, and a little bit of earth and dust in the mouth
Medium-to-high tannins and acidity
Medium body
Elegant

4.5 Corks
2008 Vivanco – White Rioja (winery, snooth)
$12 (suggested retail)
80% Viura, 20% Malvasia
Pale lemon
Apple, apricot, floral, and dried rose petals with a touch of mango on the nose
Granny smith apple, nectarine, and mango, with a touch of minerals in the mouth
Crisp acidity

2004 Dinastía Vivanco Reserva (winery, snooth)
$25 (suggested retail)
90% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano
Medium-to-deep ruby
Black pepper, blackberries, cedar, smoke, and tobacco on the nose
Nice fruit mixed with smokey, earthiness in the mouth
Medium tannins, acidity, and body

2005 Colección Vivanco (winery, snooth)
70% Tempranillo (from Rioja Alta), 15% Graciano (from Rioja Baja), 10% Garnacha, 5% Mazulo
Deep purple with a bluish rim
Strawberry, blackberry, licorice, coffee, leather, and smoke on the nose
Plums, berries, earth, and leather in the mouth
Medium-to-high tannins, high acidity, and medium body
Very complex, with a long finish
Beautiful
Described as a “Modern Rioja”

*This is the first vintage of this wine. Each variety is one of the 4 traditional grapes from Rioja. The harvest and fermentation of each is done separately, so the blending of the wine takes place immediately before bottling.

As you can tell from the empty wine bottles, the 30 of us taking the course had a great second day of wine tasting!

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!

Jumilla in the Afternoon

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Sep 142009

After studying Rías Baixas in the afternoon of the first day of The Wine Academy of Spain’s Spanish wine course, we covered the overarching area of Galicia, which Rías Baixas is part of, and The Basque Country. We didn’t taste any additional wines from this region and there weren’t any videos on the area, so we rushed through the slides on this unit fairly quickly.

After Galicia & the Basque Country, we learned about the mostly red wine region of Murcia. Jesus Bernard, our faculty member from The Wine Academy of Spain, explained that the most dominant red grape of the region is Monastrell (also known as Mourvèdre). However, 2 out of the 3 wines we tasted were actually blends with Monastrell. Overall, while the wines we tasted from this region were good, they tasted less distinctly “Spanish” and more “international.” The lack of Spanish character in the wines was surprising, as we spent a significant amount of time talking about them. That said, Robert Parker’s rating for the last wine in our tasting line-up—the 2006 El Nido—probably contributed to the length of the discussion.

Tasting #3
Murcia
(all were from Jumilla)

3 Corks

2006 El Nido (snooth)
$115
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Monastrell
Inky purple with a violet rim
Licorice, cocoa powder, coffee, blueberry, blackberry, and vanilla
Very “hot,” sharp acid, silky tannins
The nose didn’t match the taste, as it made me think there would be more…while the wine is about average, at over $100, for me, the quality doesn’t match the price point.

4 Corks

2005 Casa de la Ermita Crianza (winery, snooth)
$15
40% Monastrell, 25% Tempranillo, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Petit Verdot
Light-to-medium ruby with flecks of purple
Ripe strawberries, spices, and a touch of black fruit on the nose
Red and black fruits, with a dusty, earthy finish when the fruits fade; hint of vanilla
A little “warm” with lower acidity and soft tannins

4.5 Corks

2004 Casa de la Ermita Petit Verdot (winery, snooth)
$25
Medium-to-dark ruby
Dried rose petals, pencil shavings, cedar, game, and meat
Very high acidity, strong tannins
Very different, but really enjoyable.

Aragón & Navarra In the Morning

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Sep 112009

The first day of The Wine Academy of Spain’s course at Jaleo in the Crystal City started nice an early on Monday morning. Registration began at 8am, and by 9am, we were well on our way to learning about the Spanish Wine Market. We started with a 10-minute video that gave an overview of Spain before delving in the history of Spain and how it affected the development of the wine market. Whether it was during the time of the Romans (when wine thrived), the Barbarians (when winemaking came to a halt), the Visigoths (when winemaking made a comeback), the Muslims (when cultivation expanded, but winemaking itself slowed), or the Reconquest (when the religious community took over winemaking), each period of Spanish history noticeably impacted the winemaking culture of the country.

After covering the history, an in-depth look at the Spanish import/export market began. It should be no surprise that the amount of wine that is imported is fairly small. It also may be no surprise to some that Cava is the largest Spanish wine export, with Rioja and Sherry following close behind. But, did you know that the USA is the third largest importer of Spanish wines?

Once we finished looking at the Spanish wine market, we covered Aragón and Navarra…and then dove right into our first tasting.

Tasting #1

3 Corks

2004 Barón de Magaña (winery, snooth) from Navarra

$16

40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 40% Tempranillo

Deep ruby color

Red plums, black currant, violets, and smokiness

Strong tannins, medium-to-full body, medium-to-long finish

4 Corks

2006 Magna Calcheta (winery) from Navarra

Vibrant deep purple with a ruby rim

Lots of fruit—Cherry, blackberry, fennel, smoke, vanilla, and a touch of spiciness

Good tannins, medium acid

4.5 Corks

2003 Viñas del Vero Gran Vos Reserva (winery, snooth) from Somantano (in Aragón)

$20

Medium ruby with a garnet rim

Rose, black pepper, raspberry, strawberry, and perfume on the nose

Red Fruits, cedar, and spice in the mouth

Firm, but not aggressive tannins, nice complexity

2004 Secastilla Somantano (winery, snooth) from Somantano (in Aragón)

$30

100% Garnacha

Purple with ruby flecks

Strawberry, cherry, white pepper, and something floral on the nose

Very ripe red fruits and mineral finish in the mouth

Soft tannins, medium-to-high acidity, medium body

2006 Alto Moncayo Garnacha (snooth) from Campo de Borja (in Aragón)

$16

100% Garnacha

Very purple

Oak, chocolate, coffee, vanilla, white pepper, nutmeg, and cherries on the nose

Fruity up front and oaky on the back in the mouth…reminiscent of a Zinfandel

Good tannins, high acidity

And Now, a Break from the WBC09 Recap for a 2004 Hermitage

$51 and higher, 3.5 Corks, Prices, Ratings No Responses »

Aug 082009

Coming back to DC after the Wine Bloggers’ Conference meant a few things for me—over 1,000 emails in my work inbox, a two-week deadline for a major project, and a desire to drink anything but California wine. Honestly, during the first week back from CA, I didn’t drink much wine at all. By this past Monday, though, my work inbox was approaching a manageable size, my project was rapidly picking up momentum, and my French wines were calling my name. As I don’t hide my weakness for wines from the Rhône river valley, it’s no surprise that when I came home Monday night after a long, but very satisfying day at work, I grabbed an Hermitage before making Hubby and myself our first home-cooked dinner since returning from the west coast.

The 2005 Domaine du Colombier Hermitage (snooth) is 100% Syrah grapes. It had a deep ruby color, with a garnet rim and big legs. On the nose, I was hit with barnyard and Band-Aid aromas, which make me think the wine had a bit of a Brett problem. That said, those aromas weren’t so overpowering as to be unpleasant. Following those smells, there was a nice mix of raspberry, black cherry, blackberry, along with something herbaceous and a touch of lead pencil. In the mouth, the wine was much fruiter, with all black fruit flavors— blackberry, blackcurrant, and black cherry. Following the fruits were dusty, meaty flavors, with only a touch of the barnyard and herbaceousness that was on the nose.

Is this worth a glass after work? Definitely! If you see this wine in the store, grab it; you won’t be disappointed. At $55, this wine is on the high-side for an everyday glass of wine, but even with the hint of a brettanomyces problem, the wine is aging nicely and offers something a little different. I paired the Hermitage with a grilled chicken that was seasoned with fresh basil and garlic, and it was great pairing because the fresh basil actually brought out the pleasant meaty flavors of the wine. On my second night with this wine, I drank it with homemade Philly cheese steak sandwiches, and it was a perfect pairing. The wine was also enjoyable in its own.

Overall: 3.5 Corks

Sonoma Grand Tasting at WBC09

$11-$20, $21-$30, $31-$40, $51 and higher, 2.5 Corks, 3 Corks, 3.5 Corks, 4 Corks, 4.5 Corks, Prices, Ratings 2 Responses »

Aug 072009

I admit it, by the time the Sonoma Grand Tasting started, I was a bit overwhelmed. This was my first Wine Bloggers’ Conference, and up until this point, I’d never tasted more than 15-20 wines in one sitting. At the WBC, though, by 5pm there had already been wine tasting in the welcome room, wine tasting at lunch, and wine tasting at the speed tasting, so the Sonoma Grand Tasting was taking me further outside of my tasting comfort zone than I’d even been before. So, I was nervous, but I was also up for the challenge.

The Sonoma Grad Tasting was a roped-off patio area near the pool at the Flamingo Resort. As you can see from the pictures, there were a lot of bloggers in a very small space, but it served as a way for us to get to know each other very quickly. People were standing around talking, eating delicious cheese and spreads with crackers, and of course, tasting 2, 3, or 4 wines from every vineyard at the tasting.

The Grand Tasting was definitely a success for me. I tasted Murphy-Goode wines for the first time and was pleased with what I tasted, as I had never even heard of the winery before the contest for the Really Goode Job. I worked my way through some well-know, affordable everyday wines that I often look at in the wine store, but haven’t had a chance to purchase, as well as tasted some lesser-known, more-unusual wines that were pleasant surprises. While all of the wines were good, none of them knocked me off my feet. Admittedly, I was nervous that I was the only one who felt that way, but after talking with other bloggers throughout the weekend, it seemed that my opinion was shared by others.

My notes from this event aren’t very detailed, but here are some pictures and my overall ratings:

Murphy-Goode Winery (website)
2008 “The Fume” Sauvignon Blanc—$12.50 3 Corks
Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon—$20 3 Corks
2006 “Liar’s Dice” Zinfandel—$21 3.5 Corks

Chateau St. Jean (website)
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon—$30 3.5 Corks
2007 Chardonnay—$25 4 Corks

Souverain (website)
2007 Chardonnay—$13 3 Corks
2007 Merlot—$15 3 Corks

Frick Winery (website)
2006 Cinsault—$26 4.5 Corks
2007 Grenache Blanc—$27 4 Corks

Alexander Valley Vineyards (website)
2004 Syrah—$35 4.5 Corks
2007 Sin Zin—$17 3 Corks
2008 Dry Rose of Sangiovese—$12 3.5 Corks

Dutton Goldfield Vineyards (website)
2006 Sanchietti Vineyard Pinot Noir—$58 3 Corks
2006 Freestone Hill Vineyrd Pinot Noir—$58 3 Corks
2007 Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir—$38 3 Corks
2007 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay—$35 2.5 Corks

Spicing Up Life

$11-$20, 3 Corks, Prices, Ratings 2 Responses »

Jul 152009

Going into this week, I knew it was going to be a hectic one, particularly because I not only have several work projects simmering, but also am preparing to be out of the office at the end of next week for the 2009 Wine Bloggers Conference in California. Don’t get me wrong, putting in a little extra time now so that Hubby and I can head out to CA is definitely something I’m happy to do, but I just have to keep reminding myself of that fact when I come home exhausted at the end of the night. Because I knew it was going to be a week like this at work, combined with the fact that I also knew I would have a condo association board meeting, Hubby and I planned for a week of easy dinners. The problem is that sometimes wine and my normal “quick dinner” options don’t match up very well. Now, I love Indian food…I mean, I really love it. Hubby, on the other hand, is a slow convert, but he is starting to come around. So, back in June I convinced him to try the Kitchens of India chicken curry paste, and we both really enjoyed it, making it the newest addition to the “quick dinner” menu items (yes, it’s high in sodium, but, hey, it’s better than hot dogs with mac & cheese). The exciting thing about adding an Indian dish to the list is that it means even on crazy work nights there are some fun wine pairings that I can play with—like Gewürztraminer.

It’s hard to write about Gewürztraminer without mentioning that “gewürz” means “spicy,” a definition that coincidentally not only speaks to the spice flavors in the wine, but also to the types of food that pair well with it. As Gewürztraminer flourishes in Alsace and is the one of the most common Vin D’ Alsace, it seemed appropriate to pick one for make my first review of the grape.

The 2004 Jean Baptiste Adam Vin D’ Alsace Gewürztraminer (vineyard, snooth) was a medium lemon color with slow forming, but very big, drippy legs. The medium-to-pronounced aromas on the nose were very perfumey—blossoms and honeysuckle—and hinted of peaches. In the mouth, the floral flavors dominated, but were quickly followed by ginger, peach, and mango. The wine’s sweetness really emerges on the medium-length finish, along with a light mouth tingle and a slightly odd aftertaste. The body is light and the acid is low, both of which contribute to a very drinkable wine.

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 $15, this wine had everything I expect in a Gewürz—very aromatic, with floral and spicy characteristics that make for a wine that is enjoyable on its own, while the slight sweetness makes it a good accompaniment with a spicy dish.

Overall: 3 Corks

Nostalgia, Lady Marmalade, and Moulin Rouge

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

Jun 052009

In 2001, my group of girlfriends and I were in our 20s, single, and inseparable. We lived in a city and subscribed to the philosophy of working hard and playing hard. In retrospect, since we were all mindful of our careers in politics, background checks, and security clearances, our version of “playing hard” was probably pretty tame—working every day, happy hour almost every night, not leaving until last call, grabbing a few hours of sleep, and starting the cycle all

over again the next day. It was definitely a fun period in our lives. At the time, “our” song was “Lady Marmalade,” and the movie, Moulin Rouge, was always on when we were together. This group of girlfriends and I still keep in touch and we all still live in the DC area, but our 30s are definitely different from our 20s–still fun, but different. Now, instead of closing down the bars, we’ll literally grab a glass of wine or two, or maybe even meet for brunch. However, we still dance together to “our” song at weddings and when someone hears it on the radio, she sends an e-mail to the group saying thought of us.

Because of my nostalgia for “Lady Marmalade” and Moulin Rouge, it’s not surprising that when I saw the bottle of 2004 Chateau du Moulin Rouge (snooth), I had to buy it. Being from the Haut-Médoc, the wine is Merlot dominated, although it’s blended with Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. The Chateau du Moulin Rouge had a medium ruby color, but was starting to show its age with a garnet rim. On the nose, there was the smell of ripe, juicy strawberries and a hint of leather. In the mouth, there were tart redcurrants that didn’t match the juiciness on the nose, followed by strawberries. The finish was medium length, hinting at sour cherries and leather.

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 almost $20, this wine didn’t have a lot to offer. It had an ok flavor, a thin body, and was fairly acidic. Aging isn’t going to help, so if you have a bottle, I would drink it now. In terms of food, I paired the Chateau du Moulin Rouge with cheeseburgers and corn on the cob, which was a good pairing and was better than drinking the wine on its own. I probably had the wine built up in my head a little, since I was trying to take a walk down memory lane, but this wine just didn’t excite me in the way I had hoped.

Overall: 2 corks