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•  May 7th, 2011
• From 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
• Cost: $42.22, after tax

Wineries to Visit:

• Calais Winery - 3000 Commerce Street Dallas 75226  (214) 453-2548
• FUQUA Winery – 3737 Atwell Street #203 Dallas 75209  (214) 769-1147
• Inwood Estates – 1350 Manufacturing St. #209 Dallas 75207  (214) 902-9452
• Times Ten Cellars – 6324 Prospect Avenue, Dallas 75214  (214) 824-9463‎

 Ticket price includes:

• A 19 oz tasting glass
• A bottle of wine from one of the 4 wineries
• 3 wines to taste at each of the wineries
• Light food pairings
• Map of the Dallas Wine Trail

Dallas Wine Trail Map

• Blend – Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Syrah, and mixed red varietals
• Santa Rosa, California
• No Vintage
• 12.5%
• Tom Thumb/Safeway
• $10.99 w/ Store Card
• Corks: 4

PromisQous is a very fruity none oaked wine with aromas of plum, strawberry, and mocha.  To the palette get tastes of mocha, dark berries, kind of like dipped dark chocolate strawberries. It has a good medium/light body, smooth finish.

• Asti Spumante
• Italy
• NV
• 7.5%
• 9.50
• Walmart
• 4 corks

For the price and quality you cant beat this bottle of Asti Spumante sparkling wine.  Check out this site to learn more about Asti wines.  You get aromas of apple, pear, and honey.  Tastes of sweet nectar or honey suckle.  This wine is very smooth and refreshingly light, pretty sweet tho with a great finish.

• Syrah
• 2008
• Central Coast, California
• Tom Thumb/Safeway
• $5.50
• Corks: 1

Well I have to say that this wine is so bad it was probably made in the slammer.  To the nose you get unripe red fruit…you can tell this wine is going to be sweet…and for a syrah its slightlyodd, not a very good start.  The taste is light bodied, tart, and slightly dry.  Its pretty bad, but if you needed to pair I would try the basics…pizza, burgers, BBQ and anything else really spicey.

• Chardonnay
• 2007
• California, Sonoma Valley
• 13.8%
• $6.99
• Goody Goody
• Corks: 3

This 2007 Chardonnay wasn’t bad.  I have to admit that I am a bigger fan of naked (or un-oaked) Chardonnays.  The barrel aging seems to leave a more tart/dry finish.  At first sip you get aromas of tropical fruits pineapple, green apple paired up with tastes of grapefruit, peaches accompanied by a slightly tart finish with a hint of coconut.  This wine would pair well with shell fish or chicken dish with a cream sauce.

The Black Door is celebrating spring with their favorite beverage…WINE!  Put on your flip flops, sun dresses, and tiki shirts Saturday March 26th and head over to your local MAX’s Wine Dive or The Tasting Room and enjoy gourmet houre d’vours and live music while you sample through 25 of MAX’s and TTR’s favorite wines.  With your ticket you will also recieve Riedel Stemware and a $10 gift card toward same day purchases.  All you need is $25 dollars and a ready pallet. 

If your feeling frisky, treat yourself to an extra 10 wines for tasting, upgraded Riedel Stemware, and a $50 gift card toward same day purchase for only $50.  Get your tickets right away here.

When: Saturday March 26th

• MAX’s Wine Dive Houston: 2-5 PM
• All other Locations*: 12-4 PM

*The Tasting Room-Uptown, River Oaks, CityCentre & MAX’s Wine Dive-Austin, San Antonio

General Admission tickets for members are $25:

• Access to taste 25 wines
• $10 certificate** good toward select same-day purchases
• Complimentary Riedel Stemware
• Gourmet Food Selections from our Culinary Staff
• Live Music

VIP Admissions for members are $50:

• Access to taste 35 wines
• Upgraded Riedel Stemware
• $50 certificate** good toward select same-day purchases
• Gourmet Food Selections from our Culinary Staff
• Live Music

• Merlot
• Central Valley, Chile
• 2008
• 13.5%
• Goody Goody
• Corks: 4

Yet another value wine that dosent dissapoint form Concho y Torro.  This Merlot defies the typical merlot with a little more body and spice.  From the nose yopu get  aromas of dark cherry and a kiss of smoke.  Acoomapnied by tastes of plum, fig, slight peppry/spice and a  dry bright finish.

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2009
• 12.5%
• California
• $2.79
• Trader Joes
• Corks: 4

This varietal of Charles Shaw or also known as “Two buck Chuck” was pretty darn good for the price.  My Mom actually brought this wine down from Washington State since we dont have Trader Joes here in Texas.  You get aromas of plum, dark berries, mocha,and a little bit of oak.  Flavors of berries, a little lemon.  With a light slightly tart finsh.  Light to medium bodied.  Great paired with thai food, chocolate, and of course alone.

Image via Wikipedia

We recently received an email from a reader asking about where to find DeVallois Peche Prestige and I am sad to report that I could only find it being sold by Goody Goody in the Dallas TX area.  Unfortunately, this can being a common problem with many specialty imported wines.  There are several sites on the web where you can order wines and have them shipped to your home, however this isn’t one of them.  Since there are so many laws on who can ship alcohol and to where, its basically impossible to personally send wine without having to lie about the package contents (which we do not recommend).  In the next week, we will be posting some sites that will do instant searches on where specific wines can be purchased and for how much.  The best advice I can give on obtaining wines not located in your area or on licensed shipping sites is to wait until you or a friend in the area. 

*To the sender of the email:  I tried to respond personally to your email but my response bounced back.

Thank you to all our readers and if you ever have any imput or questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Image via Wikipedia

Celebrate Valentines Day this year with that special someone or your alter ego with not one but three bottles of wine from around the world.  Right now The Black Door is offering the following three bottles of wine for only $54 with is almost half the original cost. 

• Tortoise Creek ‘Les Oliviers’ Pinot Noir (2009) from France
• Codorniu Cava Original (NV) from Spain
• Montes Alpha Syrah (2007) from Chile

Each order includes a $25 gift card to any MAX’s Wine Dive or The Tasting Room!  This offer is only good until the 14th so order today here.  Don’t forget to sign up for a free membership if you haven’t already.

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2009
• California
• 13.5%
• Wal Mart
• $6.99
• Corks: 4

This cabernet sauvignon from Tin Roof Cellars was pretty good for the price.  The wine has nice aromas of bright red cherry, blackberry currant, and plum, accompanied by tastes of plum and lots of dark berries.  The finish is slightly dry and tart.  In my opinion this wine is easy to enjoy alone or with food.  Some of our pairing suggestions would be grilled beef, lamb, or perhaps Italian cuisine like a pasta dish with a red sauce.  As a side note the past vintages of this wine varietal from Tin Roof Cellars has scored very well with many reviewers  such as The Wine Enthusiast and Daily Wine to name a few.  So in conclusion I would definitely give this one a try.

• Pinot Grigio
• Italy
• 2009
• 12%
• $7.49
• Wal Mart
• Corks: 5

Wow! This was a great Pinot Grigio for the price.  The bottle reminds me of upscale drinking water you buy at the store but on the other hand it is pretty trendy and new age.  Before we go into the tasting notes I would like to note that in my opinion I enjoyed this wine the most when I poured my first glass, at around 50 degrees, the warmer it gets the more tart and harsh the taste and finish.  You definitely get a lot of fruit in the aromas of the wine, lots of pear, Green apples, orange or pineapple, lemon and a little olive.  To complement the great aroma you can sense tastes of green apple, citrus and lemon.  If I were to pair this wine I would go with shellfish, sushi, or maybe even Thai cuisine.  All in all a great wine for the price try it out and let us know what you think.

• Pinot Noir – Blend – 86% Pinot Noir, 7% Syrah, 7% Merlot
• Languedoc-Roussillon, France
• 2009
• 13.5%
• Wal Mart
• $6.99
• Corks: 2

Not very impressed and very disappointed.  For the price and the fact it wasn’t rancid I gave this pinot noir 2 corks.  You don’t really get much as far as aroma is concerned, maybe a little red cherry and apple (odd for a pinot), a light to medium bodied taste of plums and black cherries.  This wine was a little too light and lacked aroma and more medium body of a good pinot, or at least hopefully its pinot (see below).

Caveat Emptor: Watch out for previous vintages of this label.  Due to high demand in the region a fraudulent supplier bamboozled E.&. J. Gallo (the importer).  In the end they wound up with something other than Pinot Noir in the bottle.

The Black Door is hosting their first wine tasting event of the year in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.  For two days, you can get your tickets at a discounted rate of only $60 for 2 (for Black Door members only).  Relax and enjoy tasting 30 different wines while snacking on delicious hor d’vours and take home your very own Riedel glass.  If you still aren’t satisfied, toss in an extra $20 per person and upgrade to a private tasting of 10 VIP wines, a $10 gift certificate for MAX’s or TTR, and a Premium Riedel glass.

Recession Wines will be visiting the tasting in Austin, let us know if you’ll be there.

The Winter Wonderland Wine Tasting:

When: January 29th, 2011 1-4 p.m.

Where: The Tasting Room at Uptown Park, MAX’s Wine Dive Austin, MAX’s Wine Dive San Antonio

Cost: $60 for 2 tickets until January 19th@ 9am (for members only).  $40 per ticket for members after the 19th, and $50 for non-members.

What: 30 different wines, appetizers, and a free Riedel glass.  Upgrade for 10 VIP wines, $10 gift card for MAX’s or TTR’s, and a premium Riedel glass.

Purchase your tickets here.

If you aren’t a Black Door Wine member, click here to see how to join for free!

• Red Wine – Mainly Zinfandel Blend
• 2008
• California
• 13.5%
• Wal Mart
• $6.99
• Corks: 4

Wow, this was a great Red wine blend from Snap Dragon.  You get aromas of mocha, dark berries, and a little smoke.  This is accompanied by flavors of plum, ripe berries, dark cherries, and a little oak.  The finish is smooth with a lingering aftertaste of berries.  This wine is a great bottle for the price and would pair well with a wide range of dishes from pizza to a nice peppery steak.  I’ve heard Snap Dragons’ other varietals besides this red wine blend are just as exceptional.  Hopefully we will get a chance to taste them soon.

• Chenin Blanc
• Lubbock, Texas
• 9%
• Goody Goody
• $5.51
• Corks: 3

You get an red apple, sweet, creamy taste with tropical fruit aromas.  The finish is smooth yet short.  Not my favorite due to the fact that I don’t like overly sweet wines.  But if you are a fan then this wine label has a great selection of sweet wines, sometimes too sweet.  This wine would be a good trade off for a zinfandel fan.  If you were to pair this wine you could go for cheese, crustaceans (like crab or scallops) and definitly dessert.

• Moscato – Spumante Sparkling Wine
• Italy
• 6.5%
• Goody Goody
• $7.99
• Corks: 2

I’m not a huge fan of really sweet wines so You could probably give it another cork on the scale if you are a lover.  This sparkling wine has aromas of citrus fruit…kinda like sprite followed by a smooth taste of peaches or really bubbly fruit punch, very very sweet and refreshing.  The finish is pretty smooth with a slight tart bite. This wine would best be paired with fruit or light cheeses.

Ring and Rock in the New Year with friends and family at Vino100.  WINE up your new year at intimate Vino100 in uptown in stead of someones couch or waiting in line at an over crowded bar.  Savor delicious treats from Jimmy’s while you sip on a variety of vino and bubbly.  Dance the night away with live entertainment from Terry Hankins and Justin Cash.  Reservations are required so book soon.  See details below.

When: Friday, December 31st 2010 at 8:30 p.m. till Close.

Where: Vino100
2909 McKinney Ave.
Dallas, TX 75204
214-969-9463

Entertainment: Live Music with Terry Hankins and Justin Cash.  7 choices of wine and champagne throughout the night.  “All You Can Eat” Lasagna, Sausage and more from Jimmys.  Midnight Champagne toast.

Cost: $85 per person, reservations are required!

Lucas and Lewellan Winery

• 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Barbera
• Buellton, California
• 14.5%
• Woot! Wine
• 6 bottle deal – $60
• Corks: 5

I have to say that I haven’t been disappointed yet by any of the wines that Woot! has had to offer.  And this red wine blend is no exception.  Produced and bottled by Lucas and Lewellan winery, Woot! wine has definitely teamed up to make an excellent red wine blend.  You can sense plum, mocha, and dark berry aromas accompanied by a dark berry/cherry, peppery and slight oaky taste.  This medium to full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon and Barbera blend leaves a smooth yet full and rich finish on the palate.  At the end of this bottle I kept saying to myself “I wish I would’ve bought another six bottles”…  This wine would be paired well with a nice peppery steak, but it definitely drinks well by itself.

• 40% Syrah, 20% Zinfandel, and 40% Merlot
• 2008
• California
• 13.1%
• Goody Goody
• $9.79
• Corks: 5

This tastefully ornate label was inspired by the “Apotheca,” a mysterious place where wine was blended and stored in 13th century Europe.  And with the great label comes a great wine.  This wine is very smooth and slightly sweet this wine is a gem for the price. You get aromas of red cherry, plum, and a little pomegranate, accompanied by flavors of dark berries and light mocha.  It is light to medium bodied, sweet and absolutely delicious bottle of wine. The finish is slightly dry and smooth. This red blend would be very versatile when it comes to pairing you could pair it up to some Mexican food or perhaps steak and potatoes.  In addition, Seafood and salad would pair well; just make sure what ever dish you decide on its not too heavy.

• 87% Pinotage ,13% Shiraz
• 2009
• Coastal South Africa
• 14%
• Goody Goody
• $6.99
• Corks:2

This South African Pinotage, named after the vintners wives MAN (Marie, Anette, and Nicky), has a very bright berry flavor (red cherries) with a kick of oaky tart sweetness in the finish.  It’s slightly acidic to the nose but you can sense aromas of plum and blackberries.  It’s not a very impressive wine at first sip but as the wine warms closer to room temp it starts to smooth out and the oak and sweetness starts to balance out the wine. To pair this wine I would go with a nice red steak or perhaps a chicken or turkey dish would do well with this bottle.  Overall I think this vintage isn’t one of their best and I am thinking that I will try the Cabernet and Chardonnay since both of the varietals seem to be the best rated from this label.  MAN Vintners has received many awards from all over the world and for the price you can’t help yourself but to at least try a couple of the varietals they have to offer. Hopefully Ill post the others soon.

• Chardonnay
• South Africa
• 2009
• 13%
• Goody Goody
• $7.59
• Corks: 4

This wine was recommended to me through a wine forum under the topic for suggestions on good cheap Chardonnays.  Indaba Chardonnay did not disappoint and if you can find this wine locally I really suggest you give it try.

“Indaba is the traditional Zulu forum for sharing ideas, in this spirit we collaborate to produce great wines.” – Straight from the bottle

You can sense aromas of pear, red apple, lemon, saffron accompanied by tastes of plum, apricot, citrus, with a little oak.  This Chardonnay would be best paired with seafood, pastas, chicken and dishes with light cream based sauces.

World wide sales of Indaba wines help fund the Indaba Scholarship, established to open the wine industry doors to a new generation of South Africans.

• Chardonnay
• 2007
• California
• 13.5%
• Wal Mart
• $7.99
• Corks:4

Not only did I use this wine to make a lemon dill sauce for salmon, but my husband and I both enjoyed it with and after the meal.  This wine has a feel-good relaxed kind of taste.  The crisp yet buttery flavors dance on your tongue.  The aromas of lemon and berry can bring out a delicious grilled or poached salmon.  For a chardonnay, this wine also has a fruitful after taste that lingers in a flavorful way.  This wine deserves props for taste, aroma, and a great cooking tool.  It’s not expensive and can compliment almost any seafood dish, plus the bottle is elegantly labeled to make a great gift to boot.

• Sparkling Wine Gran Spumante, Muscat
• NV
• 8%
• California
• Wal Mart
• $6.99
• Corks: 4

Wal Mart brings us another awesome sweet and cheap sparkling wine. Ballatore Spumante holds over 250 awards and has consistently been awarded top honors in some of the nation’s most prestigious competitions. This sparkling is made from Muscat grapes grown around Asti, a town in Italy.  This wine doesn’t have much of an aroma but you can sense a little bit of honey dew melon and strawberry.  As far as the taste the aromas compliment the palette, very fruitful light and airy with a lingering smooth finish.  It would be great paired with a light dessert and of course any celebratory event.  I would have to say that this champagne would rival both Frexienet and Barefoot Bubbly for price and quality.  All the mentioned sparkling wines would be an excellent choice when trying to find a cheap champagne for a wedding.