The Simple Girl's Sommelier

Schramsberg Blanc De Blancs 2008, Northern Coast, CA

2015-01-30T16:56:00.001-06:00

I am going to (again) write about a topic near and dear to my heart - sparkling wine. Today's sparkler is brought to you as a toast to my last day at CapLinked, and as a send-off into the new wine world of Club W!

Of course, when I do a toast of this nature (extra important and special), I want to go with a winner. Times like these are not for guessing and checking. Farewell toasts deserve some fantastic fizz. Therefore, I turned to my longtime favorite, Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs. "Blanc de Blancs" refers to the types of grapes used in this particular bottle, which is 100% Chardonnay. The same winemaker also has a killer Blanc de Noirs, (white from black) made of 100% Pinot Noir grapes. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier are usually all combined to create traditional champagne, one white grape and two reds! Bet you didn't know that yet.

So, although I'm familiar, this fresh and fruity nose never ceases to delight. It's super vibrant and has pretty big bubbles, though they're soft and supple on the tongue. There is just such a lovely baked pear/apple quality to this guy, too. It's a little yeasty, super zesty. Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs is nice and vibrant with just the right amount of acidic structure. I'm a fan, what can I say?

Alcohol: 13%

Origin: North Coast, CA, USA
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay

Price: ~$30 at Total Wine, Pavilions, Vons, and other grocery stores

Rachels Grade: A- Every time I just want a phenomenal, semi-special-occasion bubbly, this is my go-to. I'v loved Schramsberg since I first tasted it sort of unceremoniously during a happy hour at R+D Kitchen in Dallas, TX. I've never been disappointed, and you won't be either! Bring this to your boo's house for your next date night dinner. If you were ever going to get to third base, this guy should seal the deal.

Excusez-Moi! Move aside, Champagne - 3 Sparklers to try.

2015-01-19T16:09:00.001-06:00

It is official. T-minus two weeks until Operation Become-A-Legit-Somm commences, as does my employment at Club W, and marks my true entrance into this real world of wine! Can't believe it? Neither can I. This calls for a little celebration, I say!

What better to celebrate with than something sparkly? Answer: nothing. That said, let's do a little something new. You have too many Veuve and Perrier bottles perched on your cabinets. Let me introduce you to three other bubbly beauties that you may just have to break out next time someone has a baby, gets married, graduates, etc. There is more that shimmers in this world than just champagne, I promise.

1) Prosecco

Most of you lovely individuals have already become acquainted with Prosecco at some time or another. She is super-trendy at this moment, another Italian wine on the rise to the super-stardom. Think: pear, peach, apricot - those beautiful, light fruits we like to make into cobblers. Nice and relatively inexpensive for casual, easy drinking and an unmatched base for mimosas, in my humble opinion.

2) Cava

Yes, yes, I know you've probably heard of Cava as well. We've just hop-skipped over to Spain and taken on her sparkler. You can get this guy in various shades, and I'm kind of a sucker for a blushing Cava myself. Again, we have a lower price point than you get from the French, though most Cava producers use the "méthode champenoise”. In Spain, this is a traditional after-dinner beverage, but I enjoy it at all times of day!

3) Brachetto

What is Italian, red, sparkles, and is not Lambrusco? Why Brachetto of course! While she's not the fizziest of the fizzy, a nice "frizzante" Brachetto will still satiate your need for sparkles. While less alcoholic than the bubblies above, Brachetto still packs a 7%-9% punch and comes silked in delicate sweetness. I've converted some of my less adventurous friends into wine-drinkers with Brachetto, the "girly drink" of wine.

In conclusion, the next time you go out for a celebratory bottle, I double-dare you to go off the French/American reservation and pop open a bottle of one of the above. Alright, let's just be real... I triple dog dare you. There we go. Stay 'tuned for more updates on the soon-to-be-real-life-Somm chronicles of Rachel!

Domaine St. Vincent, NV, New Mexico, USA

2015-01-14T01:06:00.000-06:00

So this is it. I'm putting fingers to keys again in search of the greatest, most cost-efficient wine that the world has ever known! Most unfortunately, that is not the wine I'm reviewing today. Not actually particularly close either. I had sort of hoped to come back on a big, glorious note... alas I ended up unceremoniously deciding to review a bottle of bubbly at a little soiree at my apartment this weekend. I will admit, we kind of cobbled together a cocktail menu that consisted of donated beer, wine, liquor, and assorted mixers from all kinds of different individuals. The result was quite splendid and pleasant.

This wine, however, wasn't quite in the same spirit! This Domaine St. Vincent sparkling wine turned out to be from none other than New Mexico, USA. Yes, New Mexico. While the Southwestern state boasts some phenomenal cuisine (and an incredible selection of peppers!), the wine often leaves something to be desired. This bubbly boo was no exception!

The nose was kind of bright, fizzy with some peach and rose notes... I could have been totally overanalyzing this guy though. Frankly, I'm not sure how much of a nose this thing can really have. The first taste revealed something interesting. This wine has one speed only! Not a super terrible one, I guess. It has nice bubbles, very fine and in adequate amounts, but there is just one plain taste going on. I sort of get a vanilla rose flavor, but there's a metallic backdrop to that flavor consisting of whatever steel drum this stuff was aged it. If it was aged at all.

For around $12, buy a Cava or a Prosecco. Really just buy one of those okay?

Alcohol: 12%

Origin: NM, USA

Price: ~$12 at Bristol Farms, Pavilions, Vons, and other grocery stores

Rachels Grade: B- There is no getting around it, there are many better sparkly guys for this price. I would take a Segura Viudas Brut over this thingum every time, and twice on Sundays (brunch, hello.). Overall, we could all do better. Go Italian or Spanish with your sparkling, and you'll beat this little janky American joint almost every time.

Well hello there... I'm back!

2015-01-08T15:22:00.000-06:00

I hope this post finds all of your doing well! It has been quite some time, hasn't it?

I just logged in to this blog for the first time in years. It's quite a blast from the recent past, I must say. One thing that did strike me, though, is that people are still reading. Still. This is four years later, and my posts are still some of the top references for certain wines I posted reviews on... to the tune of thousands and thousands of views. It seems people like wine more than ever before, and there are others out there on the hunt for the golden bargain bottle!

So, this is me (in my mid-twenties and actually fully, legally allowed to do this) answering the call to action. I am back again! It's going to be my aim and New Year's resolution to post at least 3 reviews per week. Look for a full review coming soon!

First thing is first though. Here is an update on my winescapades:

Favorite bargain bottle I've had in the last 4 years:
Charamba (Any vintage), Douro Valley, Portugal ~$7 at Spec's or Central Market

Newest obsession in wine:
Sparkling everything! Prosecco, Cava, Brachetto, Chenin Blanc.... it all sparkles for <$15.

Favorite varietal right now:
Monastrell/Mouvedre, always big and bold, and usually badass for <$15

Most inspiring wine pairing of the last 4 years:
Zinfandel and cheddar, I recommend Cabot Clothbound Cheddar. ~$8/lb at most speciality cheese shops.

Favorite wine trend:
Bargain wine makers with an eye for quality grapes! Check out 90+ and Wink. ~$12-20/bottle.

Alright, so that was a quick tease... but I do have a bottle of sparkling rose in the fridge that is just begging to be popped open this evening. Stay 'tuned!

Cheers,
Rachel

Apothic Red 2009, Modesto, CA

2011-09-07T22:53:00.000-05:00

And here we are- I'm trying my hand at live-blogging right now. Exciting. So, my guy and I are rounding out our hectic Wednesday with a bottle of Apothic Red. He swears by it, so we're about to see if I'm a convert.

I'm swirling it around in the glass to really bring out all of the aromas. (You also have to stick your nose reallllly far in the glass to get the full effect, try it sometime.) Mmm wow, it's got a pretty nose on it. Dark and sweet and jammy, just the way I like it. It's got a sexy vanilla spice to it too. One of the best noses of the year I dare say... strong words. Now let's put this guy to the real test.

And, he passes. This blend is really quite gorgeous for being the under $15 category. It's super ripe and fruity initially, with a lovely vanilla berry finish that lasts. Yum. Sorry guys, live-blogger time is over. I've got a glass of vino to enjoy!

Alcohol: 13.1%

Varietal: ?% Merlot, ?% Syrah, ?% Zinfandel

Origin: Modesto, CA
Price: ~$10 at most well-stocked grocery stores
Rachel's Grade: A- So worth it. It's a big, fruity, sweet, and sensuous blend. Those are never a bad thing, right? I don't give out my A's easy, so take my word for it. Apothic Red is sure to please right now, and probably even more so next year...

Hogue Merlot 2007, Columbia Valley, Washington

2011-08-16T16:14:00.000-05:00

So here I am, at long last. Hello readers! Sorry I left you guys high and dry for the summer- I know it's ideal vino-sipping time. (Although that's debatable in Dallas, TX... 105+ makes red practically a chore...) Anyhow, I've spent my days hanging out in Taos, NM. I'm slightly sad to report, the wine here is absolutely nothing to write home about! And you will never have the chance to drink it unless you make the long, dusty journey over here. So we'll skip that part.

On to what I came here to write about: Hogue Merlot.

I've had pretty good experiences with Hogue Wines thus far in my wine tasting tenure. So although, as you may have noticed by my lack of writing on it, I am not a big fan of Merlot, (outside a blend, of course) when my (new) guy and I popped in to Taos Inn for a glass, I saw the Hogue label and beckoned the bartender.

The stuff was a little on the warm side... (I'm telling you, New Mexicans don't really do vino. Or at least don't do it well) but I still got enough of a taste to give you a verdict here. The nose was unspectacular, not that I expected anything more. It was light, with red berries and a little floral thing going on. The sniff for me is foreplay. This was PG for sure. The following sip proved better than expected, with plenty of cherry and light, spicy vanilla cruising smoothly across the tongue. Pleasant, but short-lived finish. Not bad for the middle of the high desert...

Alcohol: 12.5%

Varietal: 99% Merlot, 1% Syrah

Origin: Columbia Valley, WA
Price: ~$10 at most well-stocked grocery stores
Rachel's Grade: B I'm just so impressed by foreign wines under $15 at this point... the Hogue just doesn't blow me away! Easy drinking, but nothing that you want to savor by itself. Pair it with some hearty pasta and it should do the trick. I would go check out Spanish Tempranillos first though, every time. But, the Hogue will satisfy most, and intoxicate all.

Yalumba Viognier 2009, South Australia

2011-07-02T18:35:00.000-05:00

So fast forward 20 hours from my post the other day, and I'm back at it again. Though my good friend and I have decided to buck the Friday night trend and just stay in, you can never just stay in without a good bottle for company. She is a white-wine-only kind of a girl, (a sad situation which I am attempting to rectify) so I brought over a big guy- this Yalumba Viognier. An alcoholic heavyweight, weighing in at 13.5%, this guy is not your mom's White Zinfandel. This is serious stuff. And my friend is a cheap drunk, so I figured it would kind of be a fun little experiment...

Annnnnyway, this wine is quite interesting on the nose. For a white, especially an Australian white, it's super low in fruitiness on the nose. I caught some pear and apricot maybe, but there was a buttery note I didn't expect from a Viognier that I really did like. There was also an interesting grassy sort of minerality, if that makes any semblance of sense. (If it doesn't, ignore that completely.) Though the nose was kind of mellow and cool, the mouthfeel was where this wine won me over. Very round and smooth in the mouth. Really trippy fullness for a white - trippy in the nicest way possible. There was a unique type of restraint in here too as far as fruit goes, a hint of butter in the middle, and a watery yet sexy finish.

Alcohol: 13.5%

Varietal: 100% Viognier

Origin: South Australia

Price: ~$10 at World Market, Central Market, and other well-stocked grocery stores

Rachel's Grade: B+ I am just on it guys. I haven't picked a loser in a while, and this guy is no exception. Super interesting, if not too complex. It will surprise and satisfy your guests. Especially those "I only drink red." types. This Viognier is big enough to hold down the fort... and I'm usually Aussie wines' biggest critic! Good value gives it the big B+.

Pine Ridge Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Napa Valley, CA

2011-07-01T03:46:00.004-05:00

So it's 3:30 am on a Thursday night (Friday morning might be more appropriate), and I'm sitting in my best friend's neighbor's apartment with a bottle of Pine Ridge Cab. Not a bad Thursday. After a long night of drinking, I'm going to drink even more. But drink better. That's what counts. A nice bottle of wine to round out a nice night. Badass. My friend's neighbor is assisting me on this review. He's actually a very good consultant. His wine fridge is a strong testament to that.

Up front, this guy is super jammy. Dark fruit abounds. Blackberries, Blueberries, and some gorgeous vanilla perfumed dark wood. Maybe even with a hint of cedar? The nose has a hint of spice on the back end, and I like it. On the tongue, the fruit takes a backseat. It's bold and silkily tannic up front. Some cherry and dark berry pop out at the very end and edge it into the jammy realm again. Let's go California Cabs! Pump me up.

Alcohol: 14.7%

Varietal: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec, 2% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot

Origin: Napa Valley, CA

Price: ~$30- $40 (I got it for free!)

Rachel's Grade: A- I would buy this guy, for sure. In a few years. When I've saved up more than the pocket change I currently have. Would I accept it again for free? Yes, yes, and yes. If you've got the money, I've got the wine. Try it out. Pine Ridge is a gem of a vineyard. Look for their reasonably priced Chenin Blanc - Viognier if the Cab is out of your price range.

Sebeka Shiraz-Pinotage 2007, Western Cape, South Africa

2011-06-06T15:16:00.000-05:00

Hello hello internet world. I apologize for my long and unnecessary absence. It's been kind of one of those things like, I looked around and realized I hadn't posted in a few weeks. Then it's almost embarrassing like, "Oh shit I've made everybody wait this long, I'm going to have to acknowledge it when I post again! And that's going to be embarrassing too!" Like when you wait too long writing thank-you cards. If that window has closed, like a month later, you're like "Eek! Can't write one now..."

Whatever. That's just an excuse. I'll get on with the post-age!

So, South African wines... not my usual thing. Not a huge fan of the philosophy "more is better," which is often the case with South Africa and Australia. Thought I would give it a try anyway. So, the nose wasn't offensive. It's peppery with juicy blackberries and vanilla. A bit strong, but pretty. In the mouth, the vanilla and oak defffinitely come out, I'd say even ahead of the powerful dark fruit. Like I suspected, lottttts of flavor. This guy has a nice tannic structure, but it's a little much on the back end. The finish isn't as good as the initial taste. Slightly unfortunate. I found this got better though as the wine had been left out longer. That dry bite went away.

Varietal: "Cape Blend" of Shiraz, Pinot Noir, and Cinsault
Alcohol: 13.8%
Origin: Western Cape, South Africa
Price: ~$10 at Sunflower Market and other grocery stores
Rachel's Grade: B I have my favorite wine locales- Spain, Portugal, France, California- but I do like to give other countries a try. South Africa is kind of hit or miss. Sort of reminds me of Australia in terms of the winemaking philosophies of the vintners over there. Anyway, this "Cape Blend" wine can stand up to some bold flavors, but unless you like that real intense, flavor-bursting wine, don't bother with this one. That said, it's not bad.

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc + Viognier 2009, Oakville, CA

2011-05-10T15:14:00.000-05:00

So I know I promised this review via my facebook at 8pm yesterday, but that obviously didn't occur... I got a bit tipsy on wine I was trying to review. And that was that. But I do have a treat for you today! This wine is a stunner.

So my lovely Grammy knows how much I love wine, and she likes to encourage cultured practices and interests, so she has encouraged me to delve into my interest. And by encourage, I mean she makes sure there is wine and wine baubles at her house every time I go over to visit. Much appreciated, Grammy :) The entire clan got together recently to celebrate (early) my birthday. There were jokes about getting a bottle of Cakebread Chardonnay instead of getting me a cake, and I did actually get a Cupcake wine. Haha guys.

But Grammy just made sure she had a few good bottles on hand, one for before dinner and one for during. This Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc + Viognier was the before dinner bottle. Let me tell you, Grammy makes some mean appetizer trays, but most of us didn't even bother eating any, this wine was that enchanting. The nose on it is otherworldly- it's a cool breath of flowers and fruit that just subtly enchants you. Gorgeous light peach and apple aromas sort of made me want to make this my new perfume, I'm not going to lie. The mouth is a little less juicy than I initially expected, but in the best way. It's a light bodied beauty with a well-balanced acidity that reminds me of a really mellowed out Sauvignon Blanc. Pine Ridge has struck this perfect, airy balance between fruit, sweetness, and crispness. I can't really think of enough good things to say about it. So I'll stop here.

Varietal: 80% Chenin Blanc, 20% Viognier
Alcohol: 11.8%
Origin: Oakville, CA
Price: ~$9 at Central Market and other speciality grocery stores
Rachel's Grade: A This could be the best value white I've ever come across. For under $10 THERE IS NO BETTER WHITE WINE. (All caps mean I'm being very serious) You can buy Yellowtail for this price at gas stations. This is like fifty zillion steps above Yellowtail. This is the kind of wine that you need to literally run and get right after you finish reading this review. Seriously, get up. What are you still doing here?

Foxmoor Vineyards Chardonnay Chardonnay NV, Livermore, CA

2011-05-02T19:49:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you're broke. (Unless you're a trust fund baby, and that doesn't apply to most of us.) When you're broke, you have to do without some things. One of those things is expensive wine. Notice I didn't say "good wine" right there. Only "expensive," which is much easier to deal with. Especially when you can nab three bottles under $10. Nice! (Almost as wonderful as the recent death of the world's foremost terrorist.)

So Sunflower Market is my usual go-to for 3/$10 bottles. They buy up old inventory and sell it at a very reasonable price. By reasonable I mean crazy cheap. And that is what this Chard is, crazy cheap. Forget two buck Chuck. Charles Shaw eat your heart out. I'd have this guy instead every day of the week, (and twice on Sundays.) This guy has a very light, pleasant nose. Not complex in the least, but not offensive at all- zesty and sweet. It goes down easy with a small, nice lingering note of cream. Again, not really memorable atttt all, but super satisfying as far as a wine-craving goes.

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Alcohol: 13%
Origin: Livermore, CA
Price: ~$3 at Sunflower Market and other grocery stores
Rachel's Grade: B Even though it's not the greatest, it's not bad! And it's $3. If you're looking for a wine for a party maybe, or for an easy table wine, I'd go for this. And it has a Fox on it, super cool. Forget buying lottery tickets- for a couple bucks,with this guy you always win.

Carmel Road Pinot Noir 2009, Monterey County, CA

2011-04-30T18:13:00.001-05:00

This New Years, my guy, I, and some friends did our festivities at Cru Wine Bar at the Shops at Legacy in Plano, TX. Great idea. We had a small competition, my guy and I. We would both order a wine for the table and see whose pick was the winner. (We're not competitive at all, I promise.) I should've gone for a Spanish red, but tipsy me decided that a Chianti would balance everyone's food the best. I thought I had it, no questions. My guy had a trick up his sleeve though- Carmel Road Pinot Noir. Guy: 1, Rachel: 0.

So last night we were taking a walk that brought us past Cru Wine Bar. You know where that went. Carmel Road Part II went just as well as the first time. The nose on this medium-bodied Pinot is really nice. It's got a warm spice backed by pretty floral and red fruit notes. It's much the same on the tongue. Very smooth too, verrry smooth. This guy is complex, though at the same time completely accessible, making it a real crowd pleaser.

Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol: 14%
Origin: Monterey County, CA
Price: ~$20 at Sigel's or Goody Goody, ~$50 at Cru Wine Bar
Rachel's Grade: A- If you ever find yourself in Sigel's looking for a $20ish dollar bottle to celebrate something (or just celebrate life), I'd suggest picking this Pinot up. If you're buying wine for somebody whose tastes you don't know, I'd suggest picking this Pinot up. If you're bored, I'd suggest picking this Pinot up. The point being you should just pick it up sometime. ;)

Veo Grande Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Colchagua Valley, Chile

2011-04-29T19:54:00.000-05:00

Surprise, surprise- Mom comes home from a Sam's Club run with a bargain bottle of Chilean Cab. She's learning quickly ;) So, naturally, she bought it, and I can drink it IF I blog about it. This is me doing just that. (Cheers!)

So I have high expectations of some varietals. Argentinean Malbecs, New Zealand Sauv Blancs, Oregon Pinot Noirs, all Spanish reds, and (yes) Chilean Cabs, to name a few. So let's give this guy a go and see how he handles. The Veo Grande is initially very sweet on the nose. It has a crazy fruity aroma going on, with lots of red berries and grapes. My first sip caught me off guard; it's definitely not got the sugar I smelled. Initially this guy is a bit bitter! And not in a bad way. So this thing has some tongue coating tannins that are pretty smooth, I must say. There's an herb in here I can't quite pin down... a little sweet mint maybe? It's pleasantly warming down the throat, with a sufficiently long finish. The finish does get a bit dull at the end, though. Overall not bad for the price of a matinee.

Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon (I think)
Alcohol: 13.5%
Origin: Colchagua Valley, Chile
Price: ~$7 at Sam's Club
Rachel's Grade: B Definitely couldn't go any lower here. It's a decent, albeit unexpected, Cab. It takes a second or two out of the bottle to really develop the flavors. I think it would be pretty awesome with some really sharp cheese. There is definitely a killer pairing to be had with this guy. Actually, next time I drink it, that's exactly what I'm going to do.

Durigutti Malbec 2008, Mendoza, Argentina

2011-04-22T18:03:00.008-05:00

So, on the same wine bar trip I mentioned in the previous post, I had more than one glass of wine. (I had more than two, but that's irrelevant, hah.) The second glass was this wonderful Argentinean Malbec, with a wonderfully silly-sounding name! The name may be silly, but the flavors are anything but.

After polishing off one heck of a glass of Tempranillo, I asked our waitress what her favorite wine on the menu was. "For the price?" she said. I responded with an, "Exactly. So what you do you think?" She said she had to go with the Malbec. So did I, in that case. The Durigutti came out kicking with a strong, juicy, almost floral smell. The dark fruit just perfumes out of the glass. In the mouth it was more mellow, but in a deep and pleasing way. It has a rich fullness to it that gives it the gravity of a Malbec at it's best. Two for two tonight! Now just to get the stuff straight with the guy.... (fast forward to now, and done!)

Varietal: 100% Malbec
Alcohol: 14%
Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Price: ~$13-14 at wine shops
Rachel's Grade: A-/B+ May just be my bias towards Spanish reds, but I think the Tempranillo just eeked out this guy in the taste test. Ahh, I probably should rate it more towards the A- end, but I'm just being picky. If you always give As nobody will believe you. Or maybe they'll just think you're always picking out awesome wine. I like to think the latter ;)

LAN Rioja Crianza 2006, Rioja, Spain

2011-04-22T17:28:00.001-05:00

So my guy and I took a break for a bit. (Don't fret, we are back on and strong!) But what do you really want to do when you're newly single and slightly sad? Go to a wine bar! Drown those sorrows and what-ifs in some awesome Spanish vino on half-price glass night. Seems perfectly logical to me. We do all know how I feel about Spanish wine though... and I was proven right yet again on this particular occasion!

So, after sitting sadly for a second, I received the glass I'd asked for- the best Spanish stuff they had around. The contents of the glass smelled divine. This Rioja has a peppery, silky, and most enticing aroma. Ahh. And of course, it only gets better when you put it in your mouth! This 2006 stunner was both velvety and spicy at the same time. It went down the throat beautifully and the finish.... didn't. Awesome. The super pleasant tannins on my tongue lasted an incredible amount of time. They filled my mouth. Yay! What better way to be depressed than with a stellar glass of wine? Misery loves company, especially when that company comes with a buzz.

Varietal: 100% Tempranillo
Alcohol: 13%
Origin: Rioja, Spain
Price: ~$10-12 at wine shops and some grocery stores
Rachel's Grade: A- Damn this dude is good. For $10, I won't pass it up wherever I can find it. Wine Spectator rated it one of the top 50 wines for 2010. So it's stock is on the rise- buy buy buy!

Paringa Chardonnay 2007, South Australia

2011-04-03T18:35:00.000-05:00

Whilst on the aforementioned wine run in my last post, (during which my mom and I picked up the killer Spanish red mentioned below) Mom got involved in a World Market wine tasting. Usually, they have some pretty good samples, but sometimes they're just.... trying to sell you some wine they don't think they can sell otherwise, to be perfectly frank. So I'm thinking the Paringa Chard falls into that latter category. Mom immediately liked it when she tasted it. I'd given her the flavor profile: "It's from Australia, Chardonnay in the South Australia region is usually big, bold, and sweet. Very heavy on the fruit and butter." The response of the snarky wine lady, "No, not at all. This wine has no taste of butter whatsoever." Me (in my head): "Whatever lady. When you have a wine blog read by thousands of people, let me know."

So, guess who was right? If your money was on me, you made a good bet. The nose on it was just like I thought it would be, big, bright, and fruity, almost to the point of smelling like a perfume. Slight overkill. The taste was a lot of the same. It was acidic and superfruity with a cloying buttery sweetness that stuck on your tongue in an almost metallic sort of way. Not really my style, but not awful. Does pack a tipsy punch though, so that's a plus ;)

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Alcohol: 14%
Origin: South Australia (sort of vague hmm?)
Price: ~$8 at World Market
Rachel's Grade: B/B- I think I'm biased here, because I'm not a huge fan of Austrlian Chards, but I'm trying to be fair. I think it's overdone, but for those ladies out there who like their wine as sweet as sweet can be, (and I know quite a few) pick up a bottle of this. The price is nice, but the wine isn't as much. Tradeoff. I personally would put that $8 towards a Spanish red, but you all know how I feel about Spanish reds... :)

Vinos Sin-Ley M5 Monastrell 2009, Yecla, Spain

2011-04-03T12:45:00.000-05:00

So Mom and I are going for a wine run at World Market, as we often do. We're trying to find our six picks, (because at World Market, six bottles = 10% off!) and I'm struggling. I like trying new vino as often as possible. One, to help write this thing, and two, because I just like adventure. Hah. I've gotten a Monastrell from World Market before. Jumila Monastrell, 2008. Super good stuff. But, of course, I can't ever find it again. So I spot this green bottle with "Monastrell" prominently featured on the front. Sweet. I've never met a Monastrell I didn't like.

This guy didn't disappoint me. The nose is assertive and slightly smoky with pretty black fruit. (Black fruit = think blueberries, blackberries... any dark-colored berry) On the tongue it is quite smooth and balanced with some super pleasant tannins. It's warming down the throat. Super interesting wine for the price point. I'm glad Mom and I bought two!

Technical Info:

Varietal: 100% Monastrell (a lovely, little-known Spanish red varietal)
Alcohol: 14%
Origin: Yecla, Spain
Price: ~$12 at World Market and other wine retailers
Rachel's Grade: A/A- Way to go winemakers. Very nice job on this one. It's almost as much wine as you're ever going to get for the price (outside of vineyard-hopping in rural Italy). Not sure if I'd call it a crowd pleaser, as it's a little too complex for new drinkers, but I'd definitely say it is a vino veteran hit. Pour it in a decanter at a dinner party and pretend you paid a lot more than you did. You can even throw out there that it's a Wine Advocate fave- 90+ points every vintage. But if anybody asks, you heard of it here ;)

Winking Owl Merlot 2010, Modesto, CA

2011-03-23T19:23:00.000-05:00

So the story behind this wine find is kind of interesting; to start, it was served to me by none other than an eighty year old Baptist preacher. Go figure. So this preacher, who goes by Papa, is one of the greatest most respected Baptist pastors in Texas history. Pretty neat. And he partakes of the bottle, even neater! So after an hour or so of talking deeply about God, Papa offered me a glass of his wife's favorite wine, Winking Owl Merlot. The couple was turned on to it by a liquor store attendant in their hometown of Little Tiny Town, TX. $3 a shot. They buy cases. Not bad. A little apprehensive. Don't want to just shoot down his favorite vino.

So I took a modest little sniff. Little sharp on the nose, though the wine was warmer than it should've been so that may have something to do with that. Very fruity. Very, very. Prunes maybe? The taste is surprisingly not that bad for $3. It has a soft berry/date/prune taste that is smooth and light, but with little complexity. Very easy drinking, but not all that interesting.

Technical Info:

Varietal: 100% Merlot (I thinnnnk. Can't find anything on the bottle)
Alcohol: 12%
Origin: Modesto, CA
Price: ~$3 at Aldi and other discount grocers
Rachel's Grade: B For $3, you could get a Bud Light at a local bar in Dallas. A bottle of Winking Owl blows that option out of the water, no question. I'm not going to be loading up my wine rack with it, but if I were doing a big party, it would be a great idea to grab some of this Merlot. I hear the Chardonnay isn't bad either, but I'm not running out to find it. For the vino fiend without the means though, I say go for it!

Héritage du Château Sauvignon Blanc, Touraine, Loire Valley, France

2011-03-14T20:02:00.000-05:00

If you don't read any more of my posts, read this one. No, seriously, read it. This Sauvignon Blanc is not messing around. It's serious. And it's really, really good. My mom decided to join a Wall Street Journal wine club, under the pretense that I sample each wine and write a review on it. Well, I've been less than perfect about that, but this Sauv was just begging me to write a review of it. Especially after the sub-par Chardonnay from last night.

So, I popped this guy out of the bottle and helllllllo. Beautiful aroma, coming right from the bottle. The nose is gorgeous. Fruity, floral, tangy- it dances on your nose. It almost smelled too good to taste. But, the taste did me one better. The wine was drier than I expected, but it is French so, shouldn't be a surprise. (If you're looking for a crazy fruity, juicy Sauvignon Blanc, try New Zealand.) The Loire Valley is known for the delicate body of its Sauvs, and this guy was no exception. It's zingy with a bright acidity that really pleases the palate. Top it off with a soft, smooth finish and you've got a great bottle.

Technical Info:

Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Alcohol: 12%
Origin: Touraine, Loire Valley, France
Price: ~$16 at wine shops, $8 with the WSJ club membership!
Rachel's Grade: A For under $10 I've NEVER had a better white. No joke, no exaggeration. Do it, buy it, I dare you. Whenever I see this bottle again, you better believe I'm buying at least 3. (And this is from the girl who likes her variety.) I don't even like Sauv Blanc that much, but this guy may just have made me a fan. $15 could buy you a movie ticket.... or a bottle of badass vino. Choice should be obvious.

Domaine Calvet Thunevin Cuvee Constance Vin de Pays Des Cotes Catalanes, 2005, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

2011-03-14T01:14:00.000-05:00

So let's talk about a wine I really like. Oh yeah, you know it's the Rhone Valley going on here. After the icky sticky Chardonnay I just posted about, I needed to up the ante. I first had this bottle a few weeks ago, when my mom first met "my guy." Yes, that just happened. I guess it's serious. Anyway, they met over a really delightful bottle of wine.

This guy has an interesting nose. It's all at once bitter and smooth. It's got that strong tobacco scent, though you can really sense its balance. When it goes down your throat, it's very warming and smooth. It's got soft tannins that really just suck you in. Yum. Yay Mom. Way to pick an inviting wine for the occasion.

Technical Info:

Varietal: 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Carignan (super French, no?)
Alcohol: 12%
Origin: Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Price: ~$15 at Whole Foods Market and other grocery stores.
Rachel's Grade: B+ Now this is a good wine, don't get me wrong. I should probably be more generous with this rating, but I really just can't take it up that notch. This guy got really great ratings from Robert Parker and the press when it came out, but I can't quite back them up. It's solidly good, but not good enough. I've had better $15 bottles, especially from Spain and Italy.

California Cellars Chardonnay, 2006, Isleton, CA

2011-03-14T01:03:00.000-05:00

So it's been a while, no? Yeah. My bad. Being a college student is rough sometimes. Especially this past month. No excuse, by anyway. I got a facebook message from a fan asking for some new posts today. How can you ignore that? Can't. So, today I resolved to really have some vino. And I have. My mom and I picked up some of this Chardonnay at Sunflower Market this week. Super cheap. We like that.

Supercheap can backfire though. Basically, the nose on this guy was full, sweet, and soft. I was suspicious of how utterly pleasant it was. $3.33 cent wine isn't supposed to be great. Anyway, the nose did mislead me a bit. This wine is slightly bitter when you open it up, but it does mellow out nicely. Though, the dense, alcoholic quality of it never goes away. This Chard is super one-note. It has a taste (not a terrible one) and that's about it. No finish to speak of. Nada.

Technical Info:

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Alcohol: 14.35%
Origin: Isleton, CA
Price: ~$3.33 at Sunflower Market.
Rachel's Grade: C Though this is a super great value wine, it's just not that awesome. If you're just looking to get a killer buzz, this is for you. But if you're looking for a flavor, go look somewhere else. I'm not a huge fan, though I am pretty nicely relaxed right now.... still, not worth it.

Cakebread Chardonnay 2009, Napa Valley, California

2011-02-08T14:05:00.000-06:00

My guy and I had just moved him into his new apartment and figured we'd better christen the new abode with (what else?) a bottle of vino. Being that it was super beautiful outside, we made the ten minute trek to a local Sigels and went browsing. Guy used to work at a casino, and so he's up to date on most of the super premium wine out there. Cakebread is his Chard of choice, and so that was what we got. Special occasions call for special bottles. Then back to the casa to crack it open. It was 5pm somewhere!

As my guy plunged right in to this beautiful Chardonnay, I took a few seconds to do my thing. The nose on this thing is an absolute stunner. It's sweet, smooth, clean, perfumed, and has this great golden pear and apple scent. The first taste was even better. The mouthfeel is big and expansive while at the same time smooth and round. There are notes of beautiful citrus and apple with a nice, grand finish that lasts for long enough to leave you smiling.

Technical Info:

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Alcohol: 14.1%
Origin: Napa Valley, CA
Price: ~$45 at Sigels Fine Wines & Liquor, other wine shops
Rachel's Grade: A This guy is a real beauty of a Chardonnay. This lovely wine is big and flavorful, while in the same breath being pitch-perfect and nuanced. The guys over at Cakebread must know what they're doing. And I hope they keep doing it for a very long time.

Pepperwood Grove Pinot Noir 2009, Valle Central, Chile

2011-01-21T14:24:00.000-06:00

I like the name of this Pinot. It's not often the name of a wine actually gives you some insight into what it tastes like, but this one is actually dead on. Pepper is the dominant taste here, but not in a bad way. So I've recently gotten home from the East coast- I had arrived to an empty apartment with one, lone bottle of wine on the rack. That's not how we do it here at the Asdourian/Fox residence. There are always bottles (the plural being essential). I hopped over to my neighborhood Sunflower Market (one of my faves for inexpensive but delicious bottles, formerly Newflower Market) to round up a few bottles, and snagged this Pepperwood Grove Pinot, because I'd heard some delicious things about the $8 bottle.

Delicious is definitely a word I would use here. The nose on it is super-indicative of the taste. It's peppery, but light and rife with red fruit at the same time. Nice opener. The taste is surprisingly smooth and light given the slightly smoky pepper that's very apparent in the wine. It's dry and yet fruity at the same time. Pretty unique quality. I gladly finished half the bottle before dinner last night.

Technical Info:

Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol: 13.5%
Origin: Valle Central, Chile (bottled in Napa Valley)
Price: ~$8 at Sunflower Market and other grocery stores
Rachel's Grade: A- I'm actually going to go ahead and go with the high mark here. Even though I'm not jumping out of my chair, a Pinot this good and inexpensive deserves some props. It's smoothness, roundness, and legitimately complex flavors warrant a higher price tag, no question. It's a go-to Pinot. Move over BV, Pepperwood is in the house!

10 Things You Didn't Know About Spanish Wine

2011-01-18T22:46:00.000-06:00

Wine labels from almost every wine region are slightly confusing, barring the US varietals. Spain has some of the most confounding names and labels for newcomers, in my opinion. And it's a minor tragedy, given that Spain has some of the tastiest and greatest value wines around right now! So I'm going to do a Top Ten list about what you don't know about Spanish wine.

Top Ten Things You Didn't Know About Spanish Wine

10) "Rioja" is a region in Spain, not a type of wine.
9) Most of said red wine in Rioja is made of the Tempranillo grape.
8) Tempranillo is a light-medium bodied red that is very drinkable young
7) In Rioja, "Crianza" wine is aged at least 2 yrs, "Reserva" wine, 3yrs, and "Gran Reserva", 5 yrs.
6) Of those years aged, for "Crianza" and "Reserva" 1yr must be in oak. Gran Reserva must be 2yrs in oak.
5) Ribera del Duero is an excellent region for red, and very different than Rioja.
4) A great, underrated white Spanish grape is the Albariño varietal.
3) Many of the best Spanish whites come from the Rias Baixas region.
2) Southern Spain makes great sherry.
1) Spain has the most acreage of any country in the world devoted to wine grape-growing.

Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages 2008, Burgundy, France

2011-01-18T22:29:00.000-06:00

Hello all! Going to be some furious posting tonight after a long (and needed) vacation. I came down with a nasty head cold that rendered rating wine next to impossible. If you can't smell and can't taste, what can you say? Not a whole lot. Anyway- so I'm feeling better and I'm shopping around with my guy trying to find a wine to pair with the cod we're sautéing and I come upon this nice flowery, white labeled Georges Duboeuf bottle. Hmm... Georges Duboeuf is a super reliable French importer, and the Beaujolais is Gamay... definitely wouldn't overwhelm the cod... let's get it!

Guy and I open it up at his apartment whilst cooking our fish, (cooking without wine is almost a travesty in my book) and we both take a whiff. He hates it. I love it. It's a super zippy, fruity, spring-y smelling bottle. Yum. It has that citrus-y, zesty smell that almost makes you think of a Sauv Blanc. Very cool. Next we tasted. Again my guy was unimpressed to the maximum. He just doesn't like "girlie" wine. He's into the Malbecs and Cabs... the big leagues if you will. Anyway, I found it to be quite agreeable. It was easy on the palate with virtually no tannins and a lot of fruity spring in its step. Oh well on his part, he has his Michelob, more Beaujolais for me!

Technical Info:

Varietal: 100% Gamay
Alcohol: 12.2%
Origin: Burgundy, France
Price: ~$10 at Sprouts, Sunflower Market, and other grocery stores and wine shops
Rachel's Grade: B+ Super affordable and flavorful, this Beaujolais is a great party/guest wine from the great old standby guy, Georges Duboeuf. I recommend most all of the wines he produces if you're into young, drinkable, fruity, light-medium bodied reds. Seriously, can't go wrong. Lots of fun for very little $$.