As summer carries on – it seems like the perfect time to break out a rosé.  Hailing from California – via grapes grown in Oregon – this should be a fairly straight forward Pinot Noir based rosé.  Expect plenty of strawberry,  hints of floral, and touches of cherries and red fruit.  Coming in around $10 – it should be considered that this is Pinot Noir – and therefore notoriously difficult to grow and typically expensive.  So is Precarious Rosé worth the 10 spot?

Sight:  A pale pink, like snow white’s blush.

Smell:  Very light and easy aromas of strawberries and cherries.  There’s a hint melon or tea as well.

Sip:   The wine is light – medium bodied, and vibrant on the palate.  A  bitingness is present, and the strawberry mingles more toward the raspberry side of the spectrum.  A hint of pith and grapefruit run through with a slight astringency like an amaro.

Savor:  There’s a pick up of tannins at the end that mingle with an amaro-like bitterness.  Flavors of berries linger.

Precarious Rosé is pretty safe as rosé goes.  It’s crisp, refreshing, and if you’re casually sipping it, innocuous.  It would easily pair with food, and the slight tannin would help it with salmon or chicken.  It is not particularly interesting though, and anyone paying too much attention might find it slightly bitter.  On clearance, Precarious Rosé is perfectly priced at $10.

The post Precarious Rosé 2017 appeared first on FIrst Pour Wine.

A few months back, my girlfriend and I began First Pour Cocktails – a site to help us document our enthusiasm for cocktails and our journey to write a cocktail book. The journey started almost a year and half ago in our kitchen in the trendy Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland. Inspired by trips to great local cocktail bars like The Velvet Tango Room, Porco’s, and The Spotted Owl – we began to craft our own cocktails. These wouldn’t just be ordinary cocktails though, we wanted them to be inspired by and pay homage to pop culture characters that everyone could relate to. More so than that – we want them to be good. After all – anyone could put blue curacao in a screw driver and call it a Sonic Screwdriver (from Doctor Who) – but we wanted to be something more.

The results at first were decidedly mixed (as you might remember from some of the cocktails First Pour Wine put together). Some drinks we brought to testing were a smash-hits. A Count Olaf inspired Manhattan caused my father to buy multiple bottles of liquor he’d never considered just to make it. Other original creations were – well – drinks of a fashion, but not one you’d order out. Some were middling, and others were disastrous and down the sink they went. Overall though, we’ve gotten significantly better in the past year.

At First Pour Cocktails, we want to pass on some of that information to inspiring cocktail enthusiasts and those just starting down the path. To do so, we’ll be focusing on rating and reviewing spirits, posting original cocktails, highlighting great books and bars, and sharing some tips and tricks we’ve found to help make your best cocktails at home. We’re looking forward to seeing some of you there – but in the mean time – have a little preview with our improvement over The Porn Star Martini – the “Yeah Baby!” inspired by Austin Powers.

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I’ve been on the road for over a year.  There’s a lot of glamour that gets associated with the being a jet setter.  Visions of Up In The Air dance through people’s heads.

While I won’t share my number either, I will say I’ve flown more than enough to reach Executive Platinum with American (no luck on CK).  I get wonderful upgrades, and the lounge is really nice.  Despite all of this though, most road accommodations tend to leave a bit to be desired.  While it’s obvious that not every traveler will be staying in a Westin, traveling in Business class, or even to a nice town, it’s amazing the kind of trouble you’ll run into.

Ok, ok, it’s (usually) not that bad.   Most of the time it’s just a normal run of the mill things.   Hairs left in places you wish they weren’t, most laminate (Hilton) floors are covered in invisible things that definitely can be felt by your feet (and inspecting to see whatever they are might be worse…), and the occasional ants or palmetto bug.  After a year, I still have no idea what some of you do to the interiors of rental cars.  How do you even get handprints there?  You know.  The usual stuff.

Then there are the true challenges.  Like opening a bottle of wine.

While we’ve talked about this in the past, I want to reiterate that it really isn’t easy when you don’t have the right tools.  I tried all the usual methods. Shoe on the wall (Sorry neighbor).  Towel on the door (Is this wall even gonna stay up?).  Ultimately, I gave up and poked it in with a knife.

Sure you can just push in the cork, but if you’re SOL if you want to reseal it.  While there are plenty of canned wines and screw tops, sometimes the wine you want is sealed with cork.  Fortunately, I’ve found a great solution to that problem when you’re a frequent traveler.  The True Jetsetter – Double Hinged Corkscrew, a TSA compliant corkscrew with a built in foil cutter in place of blades.

Not only is this corkscrew TSA compliant (look ma, no blade!).  It also functions well, and all for under $10.  While you may have to take it out of your bag (even if you’re pre-check), the TSA usually just admires that it exists, and sends you on your way.  Usually, because boredom with it is the other result.  No matter their reaction, if you traveling with carry-ons and love wine, then this corkscrew is a must!

No matter how nifty the corkscrew,  it can’t save you picking the wrong wine.  So how is Firebrand Chardonnay?

Firebrand Chardonnay 2017

Sight:  A yellowish gold.

Smell:   Butter and cream float out, with a hint of lemon and tropical fruit.

Sip:  The body has a solid weight, and the acidity is middling without letting it reach into flabby territory.  There is a bit of bitterness that carries over and gives a bit of pithiness.  There’s some tropical fruit here, but butter and woodsiness lead the way.

Savor:  The ending is subdued, lemon-laced, and somewhat oaky.  The finish lingers a while.

Look, based on how Firebrand Pinot Noir went, this wasn’t likely to end particularly well. Firebrand Chardonnay is a cheaply sold wine, that is sturdy and drinkable, if not particularly interesting.  At $10, it’s really stretching how far you can stretch that level of value.  That said, there’s nothing particularly wrong with it, Firebrand Chardonnay is just ok.

The opener though – that’s fantastic.

Her Modern Kitchen offers an alternate take

Want to pick up a Jetsetter?  Head over to Amazon through the picture below [affliate link]:

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Greetings fellow wine lovers! It’s been a while since I’ve posted on First Pour Wine, and of all the highly inappropriate wines to bring this site back from the dead with, I happen to have picked The Walking Dead Sauvignon Blanc.

While the show may prominently feature red as a color (cause you know, shooting zombies is bloody business), The Walking Dead Wines has seen fit to have more than just red wine offerings (although they have those as well). This Sauvignon Blanc hails from Sonoma and is 100% Sauvignon Blanc. They claim in their marketing that it’s picked at the optimal time to enhance some of the tropical flavors. The wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks, so no oak here. It also features a living label, if you happen to be playing with your phone near the bottle.

So is The Walking Dead Sauvignon Blanc more than just a pretty label, or does it go down hill faster than the last few season’s IMBD ratings.

Sight:  A pale gold.

Smell: Pineapple and guava are fully present, along with a nice mix of starfruit and lime. Herbal notes and a hint of melon like sweetness play at the edges.

Sip: The brightness takes a while to fully engage, and it really struggles a bit to move past a bit of flabbiness. This gives it a slightly rounder mouthfeel than a lithe ballerina like acidity. The tropical fruit flavors are well represented with guava, passionfruit, and hits of starfruit and lime. A tough of green herbs joins in for the characteristic grassy note.

Savor: The ending is quite similar, leaning more toward guava and lime, with a hint of herbs. The finish carries quite nicely for a while.

Despite seeming slightly big boned, The Walking Dead Sauvignon Blanc is refreshing and delivers tropical fruits in a strong way. The price point (this was a gift) is slightly higher than I might have expected, but the quality is sound. Despite the label fun, it’s a solid Sauvignon Blanc, that folks who prefer bigger bodied whites would likely enjoy.

Verdict: Guava, Pineapple, Starfruit, Lime, Herbs
Rating: 86
Price: $12-18
Sonoma, California

The Walking Dead Wines – Sauvignon Blanc

The post The Walking Dead Sauvignon Blanc 2016 appeared first on FIrst Pour Wine.

As is customary this time of year, the first wine that lands is Beaujolais.  Made from the Gamay grape, it has a refreshing and aromatic style when well made. Flavors of violets, spices, and a barrage of red and black fruits, like cherries, raspberries, strawberries, and plums can all be exhibited from Gamay. Three classifications of Beaujolais exist going from basic to Villages to Grand Cru. In the truly budget style of First Pour Wine, George Deboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau is in the basic category, coming in just over $10

While Beaujolais has a number of nice characteristics and makes a great compliment to a picnic, I find it to mostly be a market stunt. The vast majority of the wine world loses their collective shit over it for the 3^rd week in November, and then you hear nothing about it for the next 364 days. If it’s your jam, that’s awesome, but for me, I find it somewhat boring compared to some of the larger reds on the market.

Enough about my feelings, let’s see how it tastes.

Sight:  A magenta set of edges with a black cherry center.

Smell:  Arrestingly acidic from the nose, with a strong hit of balsamic, black cherry, spice plums, and macerated strawberries.

Sip:  The flavor isn’t as bright as the nose implies but still has plenty of acidity. Flavor-wise it brings plenty of underripe black cherries, hints of balsamic, and a lot of unripe berries.

Savor:  There’s a subtle tannic nature to it, and it finishes with plum skins.

Overall, if anything, I think I like it even less than I have in years past. From a scoring standpoint, it comes in at 74, being mostly average, but losing points on value at almost $12 this year (compared with $8 in years past). Objectively speaking, it doesn’t clear my bar for good Beaujolais, which last year went to Terres Dorees at the same $11 price point and scored a 94.

So there you have it about George Debouef Beaujolais Nouveau for 2017.   I’ll talk about it again in approximately 11 months. While that’s a long way off, Christmas is only 14 days away. With that in mind, I’d like to call your attention to my favorite part of this year’s, and most year’s, George Deboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau, the label.

As you can see, two cute little shiny chickens are raising their glass in a toast. I’d like to raise a glass as well to toast our first sale of this holiday season! Many thanks and well wishes to you this holiday season down in Covington, KY!  Enjoy your wine charms!

If you’re still looking this holiday season, you still have a few days left to order a set of our handmade wine charms to help guests keep their hands off your glass; waterproof coasters made from beer, wine, and liquor labels so Santa doesn’t leave a water ring on your coffee table, or our room accenting canvas art to help bring in the new year. They make great gifts for beer or wine lovers, an affordable and unique item for a white elephant gift, or just for accenting your own home with a little something, something to impress your guests at your Christmas party.

If you want to learn more, head over to our Etsy at www.etsy.com/shop/firstpourwine or our sub-brand Toasts and Towers at www.toastsandtowers.com

Get a 10% discount on Etsy by clicking this link.  Order by Thursday to avoid the rush!

Verdict: Balsamic, Black Cherry, Spice, Plums
Rating: 74
Price: $12
Beaujolais, France

Available At:

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Love Noir asks a question; what is the dark side of Pinot Noir?  Typically a lighter red, Love Noir suggests a darker, more espresso and dark cherry laden experience.  So can this California Pinot Noir convert the Cabernet and Merlot lovers?

Sight:  Without a doubt, it appears darker than a traditional Pinot Noir,  leaning more into dark bing cherry color with a firm edge.

Smell:  Cherries mixed with dried cranberries, and pops of ripe red fruits and red vines come through.  Slight notes of vanilla hide in the background.

Sip:  The body is on the moderate to heavy side, with a lot of weight and a nice peaked acidity.   Plenty of cherry, cranberry, and red plum are all present.   A touch of oak lingers in the background adding a bit of espresso.

Savor:  The ending is surprisingly tannic for pinot noir, but not quite into merlot territory.  The red fruits keep lingering with just a touch of oak.

As someone that doesn’t count Pinot Noir among my favorites, Love Noir Pinot Noir is a nice deviation from the norm.  As Pinot Noir goes, Love Noir is a bit too heavy and lacks the nuance of the Pinot Noir of Willamette and Santa Barbara.    That said, it’s still a good wine, and fans of Merlot, Malbec, and Syrah should all give Love Noir Pinot Noir a try.

Verdict: Cherry, Cranberry, Oak, Red Fruit
Rating: 80
Price: $11
Livermore and Ripon, California

Available At:

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Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  I’d like to start out this post by saying THANK YOU to all of the readers of First Pour Wine.  I appreciate the time you’re spending to learn about wine and look around the site!

Over the years, I’ve had plenty to be thankful for with First Pour Wine.  Aside from being blessed by all of you coming by to visit the site, I’ve made some profoundly great friends and got to have some amazing experiences.  It seems like just yesterday that Greg was helping me hang (some admittedly) wrinkly sheets in my basement, and walking through the six noble grapes.  A whirlwind of knocked over ironing boards, dinners with master sommeliers and vintners later, and bottles of wine later, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Celebrating our friendship with Carrie and Chad,  I’ve decided to open this bottle of Clover Hill Concord.  Made from the Concord grape, and coming from Pennsylvania,  this wine is made from the same grapes that go into jelly.   This area is one of the biggest producers of both.  While the jelly is great, how is the wine?

Sight:  A bricky red with a hint of rust.  The edges are light.

Smell:  Well, concord grapes mostly.  It’s slightly foxy, has a bit of other fermented grape notes.  The nose has some brighter notes

Sip:  The foxy character continues in the background, but mostly, it’s alcoholic grape juice.   There’s a perky note to it, despite the sweetness that pervades.

Savor:  The ending is sweet but thankfully somewhat bright. The notes of the jelly side of the grape sandwich continue.

There’s no denying that Clover Hill Concord wine isn’t a typical European style wine, but that doesn’t mean it’s not fun.  As wines that taste like actual grapes go, this is a stand out example.  With the sweetness, it might actually be a great choice for a Thai peanut satay or Kung Pao chicken.  If you like grape jelly, go ahead and give Clover Hill Concord a try.

Verdict: Grapes, Grape Jelly, Foxy
Rating: Not Rated
Price: $7
Pennsylvania
Available In: Pennsylvania

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Welcome back!  I’ve been on hiatus as this year has been more than a little challenging.  Just like a cork without a cage though, there’s no holding me down!  So let’s kick it off with Kirkland Signature Malbec 2015!

Kirkland’s Signature wines have done well here on First Pour Wine, and are generally one of the more dependable buys on the market.  From their Kirkland Signature Chianti Classico to their Pinot Grigio, and several points in between, the wines are bold and flavorful.   The previous review of Kirkland Signature Malbec was back in 2013, but despite predating the rating system, it did well.  The packaging may have changed, but the price didn’t, so is it still worth it?

Sight:  A deeper purple with a magenta edge and hint of brick throughout.

Smell:  The oak here is well balanced with the fruit from the start.  Hints of vanilla give way to black plums and dried blueberries.  Hints of spice, smoke, and various jammy red fruit get into the mix.

Sip:  The black plums come through with a smokey vanilla note.  Tangles of red plum, herbs, and blackberries join in with a nice balanced acidity.   The body is robust and satisfying.

Savor: The ending is tannic, but beautifully passes along red plums, unripe blackberries, and hints of deep roasted coffee.  A hint of herbalness plays in the background.

Kirkland Signature Malbec is once again punching above its weight.  The balanced acidity and robust mouthfeel make it feel more premium than it’s $7 price point suggests.  The strong oak influence is courteous to the dark fruits and lets them pop.  While nothing is over the top premium, the total package works beautifully together.  If you like Malbec, then Kirkland Signature Malbec 2015 is more than worth a try.

Verdict: Blackberries, Black Plum, Smoke,  Vanilla
Rating: 88
Price: $7
Mendoza, Argentina

Want a second opinion?  Head over to Costco Wine Blog.

The post Kirkland Signature Malbec 2015 appeared first on FIrst Pour Wine.

Lodi is home to a significant number of wineries and would have produced the 6th most grapes in the world in 2015 if Lodi were to be its own country.  The region has a long and prominent agricultural history that spans beyond grapes for wine and tables.  Over the years the agriculture changed and as the clime grew drier, the area became a bombastic producer of larger reds and refined whites.  The growers embody a true can-do spirit and aren’t afraid to add a little edge or kitsch that sometimes is missing from their neighbors to the north.  Neighbors, who it might be noted, do sometimes include a fair amount of Lodi’s grapes in their wines (well under the required disclosure limits).

Coming from Lodi is Nanna’s Short Cake Zinfandel.  Vinted and Bottled by the BNA Group in Napa, California, Nanna’s Short Cake Zinfandel is a great example of some of the tangled networks that make wine.  The grapes came from Lodi, but the wine was produced in Napa.  The BNA Group?  Well if you’re from Tennessee and travel, you might notice that’s the code for Nashville’s airport.   Despite being headquartered in Nashville, they happen to have partnerships in Napa.  Wine is a complicated mistress, best simply enjoyed.

So how enjoyable is Nanna’s Short Cake Zinfandel?

Sight: A medium rose to pink shade with lighter edging.

Smell:  The nose has a solid set up of strawberries, both jam-like and fresh, mixed with a nice touch of rhubarb, spice, and vanilla.  There’s a subtle green undertone in the background, and a definite touch of heat from the alcohol.

Sip:  The body is somewhat on the watery side, but is bolstered by a  smack of weight from the alcohol.  At nigh 15%, there’s a strong backbone running throughout the sip.   Strawberry, more baked or preserved, mixes with a hint of coffee, tea, and oak.  The green note is present but subdued, and the tannins are aggressive before the finish.  The acidity is pitbull like.

Savor:  The ending pulls in the tannins in spades, with a hint of mint mixed into strawberry preserves.  The finish has a lot of carry, and begs for food.

Nanna’s Short Cake Zinfandel tastes like it’ll make short work of Nanna.  The alcohol and acidity here are a one-two punch that begs for food.  The overall strawberry flavor is solid, and the greener elements are subdued with hints of oak.  Value is a struggle with this one.  At MSRP of $15, this wine is outclassed.  Costco pricing put it closer to in play at $12.  Having purchased it for $7, I can say it’s easily worth a try but beware of going over $10 here.

Verdict: Strawberries, Hot, Green, Vanilla
Rating: 77
Price: $14
Lodi, California

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While all of the sessions I enjoyed at the Wine Bloggers Conference were interesting; the most interesting by far was from Passion to Pro.  The panelists discussed their careers in wine, and how they made the shift.  Moderated by the great Randy Caparoso (of Roy’s Fame), the panel includes Jameson Fink (Wine Enthusiast), Debra Meiburg MW (the first to receive the MW in Asia), and Deborah Parker Wong (a wine journalist who’s written for The Tasting Panel and SOMM Journal).  Having this much experience in the room is a boon for anyone.

So, if you’re dying to make the hop from blogger to pro, give them a listen!

The audio is taken from a distance, so please pardon the quality.

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