Ole Imports @Carnivale

The WCWG will be at Carnivale courtesy of Cream Wine Company for a tasting of Ole Imports Portfolio.  This is going to be a great opportunity to meet 15 winemakers from Spain and taste their wines.  I am looking forward to the experience and if you cannot be there, giving you this guy's rundown of the event!Results:

The best wine tasted was Bodegas Viña Magaña Merlot 2005.  Merlot is not normally made as a single varietal in Spain so this is very special.  The vines originate from Chateau Petrus cuttings so the grapes definitely have a pedigree.  There have only been three vintages created, only in special years.  This is a lush, floral, fruity, structured wine with some exotic spice.  It has aging potential or can be drunk now.  Excellent!

A very good upcoming area is Montsant- it surrounds Priorat and has a higher altitude.  Bodegas Falset Marca makes great old vine Garnacha and blends.  Their Etim L'Esparver is the premium with strength, fruit, and structure.

A great dessert wine smash hit is made by Bodegas Viños Piñol- 90% Garnacha Old Vine and 10% Syrah.  It has great raisin, dark cherry, and earthy truffle scents and flavors.  The silky syrupy texture rolls on your palate and will go great with chocolate or even a cigar.

(Image courtesy of Cream)

In Memory of Robert Mondavi

I wanted to take the time to write a post dedicated to a great man, Robert Gerald Mondavi.  He was not just a great Italian American wine icon, but he was a family man, philanthropist, and the greatest contributor to American wine advancement.  He lived a long storied life which lasted almost 95 years and ended this past May 16. 

Mondavi dedicated his life to wine, especially American.  From his early days with his brother Patrick and father Cesare at their Charles Krug Winery, he tried to evolve American wine techniques.  When he finally broke from the family and created his namesake winery, he was able to create high quality wines with knowledge gained from world leaders in France and Italy.  Through his connections he created the first Franco-American wine, Opus One, with Baron Philippe de Rothschild and eventually partnered with Frescobaldi in purchasing Ornellia in Tuscany.  This created foreign money, interest, and investment in American wine and the further globalization of the business was starting to be realized- with Robert Mondavi at the forefront.

Many reasons led to the Mondavi family selling off their public holdings in the company, but this did not stop Robert from being an ambassador for the winery and the industry.  His stance on good living with the combination of diet, wine, and culture held a standard for new generations to live by.  His efforts and money donated to create California wine and culinary institutions will always be beneficial and appreciated.

The family did manage to get back into the wine business.  Robert and son Tim along with other family members started the label Continuum, a Cabernet Sauvignon blend first bottled in 2005.  It received high scores (WA 95, WS 93) and is a small batch production- only 1300 cases made.

I highly suggest reading his biography, Harvests of Joy.  It is a joy to read about the life, troubles, and journeys of Mr. Mondavi.

Merlot Kicked "Sideways" by Pop Culture

Yet once again American Pop Culture has deemed a fictional movie as expert opinion- the French grape varietal Merlot continues to lose popularity due to it's villianous depiction in the 2004 hit movie "Sideways".  Not only have sales dropped, but every sommelier and waiter (waiterrant.com has a great blog about it) from San Fran to NYC has had to put up with questions and remarks from that same movie.  Now the WCWG has to step in and shed some light on this subject.

As far as the grape varietals lauded (Pinot Noir) and trashed (Merlot and Cabernet Franc) in the movie, all are capable of not just creating great wines and memories, but have strengths and weaknesses.  Learning more and trying them is the key to enjoyment.  I loved Paul Giamatti's portrayal of Miles as much as anyone, but it was still just fiction.  Miles refused to drink Merlot during a funny famous rant and labeled Cab Franc as "insipid" (this is seldom remembered because it wasn't in rant form), but what most do not know is his favorite wine, a bottle of 1961 Chateau Cheval Blanc, is made from both varietals.  Use your experts, not the movies. 

Another thing most do not realize about the movie is how the grapes themselves mirror the characters.  Pinot Noir is Miles.  Both are thin-skinned and if given proper care and nurturing can blossom into great products.  Merlot is Jack.  Both are silky and smooth but can be shallow and overmarketed.

The WCWG loves the movie.  The exploration of wine country, the male bonding, and all the laughs are well worth the purchase price.  Wine as a part of culture and beverage has been growing for years but movies such as this have only enhanced it.  Sideways made me want to run to the west coast and live among any of the wine country areas.  A Good Year and Under the Tuscan Sun made me want to fly to Europe and remain making wine and working the land.  Watching 007 James Bond in his tux and reciting his favorite champagne vintages makes any man want to be a spy.  Everyone is searching for the good life and wine can help bring some of it to you.

Another Find- @South Loop Wine Cellars

While running errands, the WCWG had time to stop at one of his favorite neighborhood establishments, the South Loop Wine Cellar at 1442 S. Michigan Ave.  I just bought two thick yellowfin tuna steaks I was meaning to blacken on our new Coleman grill, and needed a fuller red for the evening.  The owner of SLWC, Amy Garman, is always ready to help with her select ensemble of wines. 



I found a bottle of Seven Sinners Syrah 2004 (a label under Jim Regusci of California Cabernet fame) and wanted to know more about the taste profile and level of quality.  Amy told me it had good body and spice, plus it was a low case production, which instantly gives the feel of great quality.  I splurged a tiny bit and spent $22 for a wine I knew would become a part of a delicious dinner with my wife. 

I took the bottle home and checked it out online, as I do with all of my bottles, and found it to have 5% Petite Sirah as well which will give added depth and structure.  My wife and I grilled the blackened tuna and enjoyed what proved to be a memorable bottle of wine- thanks again Amy!

By the way- Amy holds wine tastings every Friday.  It attracts quite a crowd as you get to try at least five different wines for $5 (free for SLWC club members).  Check it out this week and you will get to try some of California's greats.  Sounds like to place to be in the south loop!

Killer Close Outs

I have many wines which I enjoy for under $20, even under $10, but I am a big fan of Binny's End of Bin deals.  These are wines they have held onto a bit too long, wines which aren't selling, or wines they need replaced for added shelf space.  Most are fantastic deals and others may be just worth the sale price.  Just remember to visit the stores often if you want to catch them because they disappear fast!  I bought eight really good plus quality wines for $115 with tax- less than $15 average price per.

L'Aventure Cote a Cote 2005- $29.99 my price/$81.65 online price.  A classic from Paso Robles, California, made from equal parts Grenache, Syrah, Mouvedre (all French Rhone Valley grapes) created by Stephan Asseo.  This wine will age well and exude smoke, dark fruits, and minerality.  Given a 91/100 by US lead wine critic Robert Parker (WCWG does not advocate using "expert" scores or descriptions strictly, but only as a minor reference point).  Any wine you can get for half or less than it's value is a great deal!

Cline Big Break Zinfandel 2005- $9.99/$30  Loads of strawberry, dark dusty berries, vanilla, mint, and spice pack flow out of the bottle.  This Zin is made for power.  I normally buy Cline Zins and bought two of these.

Batasiolo Barbaresco 2003- $16.99/$27.99  Good vintage and a steal for this quality NW Italian great.

Kunin Viognier 2005- $12.99/$27  Great body, exotic citrus, spice, and score (90) for this Rhone white.

Mueller Chardonnay 2005- $14.99/$29.99  Full body, toasy and buttery, butterscotch, and lotsa fruit.

Big Fire Pinot Gris 2006- $6.99/$14.99  I cannot wait to try this Oregon bargain.  Bought it after reading Brian's blog, Hustle's Wine on Trial.  Sounds irresistable. 

Mazzi Poiega Valpolicella Superiore 2000- $4.99/$16.99  Ripe black fruit and cherries, nuts, and old world flavors.  You can taste the dried fruit and long finish.

This goes to show the great tastes and bargains you can get with just a bit of timely searching and stocking.  So before you go reaching for that Two Buck Chuck, Yellow Tail, or box of wine try one of these or a similiar bargain- you will be rewarded and your wine collection will become instant money.

Cigars with Wine

Even with the no-smoking trend happening in the big city restaurants and bars, there are still those of us who like a good cigar every once in a while.  There are many reasons for having a cigar: enjoyment, celebration, taking time to relax, taste, etc.  Whatever your reason may be, there are a few things which go very well with cigars, and a majority of them have to do with grapes.  Most people like to have some brandy, Cognac (any VS Cognac will do), or Grand Marnier (an orange peel flavored liquer made from cognac).  These are made from grapes grown around Cognac, France, and they are great distilled beverages to have with cigars.

 

Wines are great with cigars also.  There are some tricks to know when dealing with a product as delicate as wine when it comes to such a strong pairing as a cigar. 

1. Red.  You have to stay red.  White wines will not do for this one.


2. Strength/harmony.  Pick varietals which are not only strong, but also may include some comparable flavor profiles.  Cabernet Sauvignon has tobacco and chocolate, Syrah has pepper and spice, Zinfandel is rich with cacao, and Nebbiolo has tar and truffle.  A few others will work as well like Grenache, Monastrell, Aglianico, and Tempranillo.


3. On the cheap!  Go inexpensive.  A higher quality, more expensive wine will be drowned out by the flavors of a cigar.  All that was to be experienced will be lost.  A decent red wine will lend basic flavor profiles needed to accompany the cigar and wet your whistle at the same time.


4. Port Wine.  There is no better wine to go with a cigar, period.  The tastes of dark ripe fruits and chocolate along with Tawny port's caramel, nuts, and exotic spices mirror most cigar flavors.  The sweet residual sugars and complexity cannot be overmatched totally by even the strongest stogies.  Just remember- even do this one On the cheap.  If you buy that Tawny, only use one aged no more than 10 years- all further aged ones will be lost on this experience.

Now remember these tips- a cigar can last from 30 minutes to an hour plus.  Pick a cigar and wine you will enjoy for the long haul.  Never hesitate to speak with the experts at your local cigar and wine shops.  They will be able to steer you toward quality product.  Also, to add more flavor to your experience, try lightly dabbing the mouth end of your cigar into whatever you have chosen for your bev- scotch, cognac, port, etc.-  the mingling of the tobacco with those added flavors will tingle your palate!

COMING SOON- cigar countries, sizes, and styles.  If you go outside the US, given the opportunity, try a Cuban.  They are very good but are only valued because they are the forbidden fruit.  Other countries such as Honduras and the D.R. make an equal product.

NHL Blackhawk Greats

While doing one of my weekly walkthroughs at Binny's South Loop I discovered the NHL Alumni Signature Wine Series on sale.  Two Chicago Blackhawk greats, Tony Esposito and Bobby Hull, are being featured on these charity label wines created by Ironstone Vineyards.  Ironstone is known for making decent well priced wines in the Sierra Foothills.  The NHL wines are normally going for about $15/bottle and Binny's has a price drop to $5.99/bottle!  These wines, the Esposito Cabernet and Hull Chardonnay, are great bottles for an everyday wine- any meal, simple sipping, or for company.  Stock up and enjoy!

(Images courtesy of Ironstone Vineyards)

Tasting notes for Tony Esposito Cab: This bright red is a bit lighter than most Cabs.  It has toasty aromas and the darker fruits and oak come through on the taste.  The tannins have a light grip and the finish is short, but it is a decent wine- especially for the price- WG 81.  Just had some with a pasta bake my wife made.  Yum.

Tasting notes for Bobby Hull Chard: A light golden hue along with oak and apple scents are appealing.  It is a bit creamy on the palate and gives tastes of pears, citrus, and mineral- WG 82.  The crisp acidity made this a great pairing with the avocado salad I made with lunch.

Feature on UrbanVivant.com

A friend of mine, Carolyn Tang, recently interviewed the WCWG for her site- UrbanVivant.com.  The article under Culinary Spotlight features yours truly in regard to wine interests, opinions, hot items, and some deals.  Check it out!

Wine on Vacation

My wife and I recently returned from a fabulous vacation in Cancun.  We stayed at Dreams All-Inclusive Resort & Spa which was a gorgeous place to relax and enjoy the sun, sea and local beverage specialties: cerveza, tequila, and margaritas (I may be the WindyCityWineGuy but don't forget I love the other bevs too!). 

There are alot of bars- beach, poolside, lounge, etc. but there will come the time to dine and you should do it right.  The wine inclusive to the resort was OK but only for chugging and not for taste and enjoyment.  When it came time to celebrate with friends, they decided to hand the wine list over to the WCWG.  Now it is time to get into how to select some quality wines while outside of your comfort zone- Home.  Let's remember this- the WCWG always likes to scour the list to find the wines which will not just save you from breaking the piggy, but which give the most bang for the buck.

1. Go Local!  Normally you can find great wines at a great price while traveling.  We were in Mexico and it is quite hard to find some local quality.  Most grapes are used to make brandy to go along with Coca-Cola.  When confronted with this problem think of neighboring countries/continents.


2. Be Global.  Your knowledge of what happens outside of your country can be key in many areas including selecting wine.  Since I know that the American dollar has sunk in value especially compared to a strong Euro, I realize that the European wines will be quite pricey.  And demand for champagne across the globe, especially from China and Russia, has driven the price out of control.  Also, California wine can be very pricey outside of the US- import prices and the quality level assumed.


3. Remember your "Go-To Wines".  I am sure that when you buy wine, you buy specific favorites.  Remember when you do this to scan the shelves around your favorites and recognize the surrounding bottles.  This can help you to find comparable taste profiles when your favorites are unavailable.  You can then compare/contrast.  You just may find something you like even more for +/-!

These simple rules led me to the South American wines.  This neighboring mainly Spanish speaking continent (#1) would surely render some good value since it also does in the US (#2).  I immediately recognized Casillero del Diablo made by Concha Y Toro in Chile (#3).  They produce good high production wines for under $10!  A red and white were asked for so this called for some Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon priced at $25 on the list.  Everyone enjoyed the wine with apps and dinner- mission accomplished.

Introducing: WindyCityWineGuy

Wine.  The fermented juice of grapes has been a great sensual pleasure for thousands of years.  The soldiers of ancient armies have drunk it in victory.  Royalty has fawned over and collected it.  Now it is easily available to all of us.  The WCWineGuy does admit: too many producers, varietals, styles, vintages, and viticultural areas have complicated it.  How is the normal Joe and Jane expected to keep up?  And with all of the competition and ease associated with other beverages, such as beer and liquor, why should we try?  Because not only is wine most apt at tantalizing but nothing enhances the taste of  food more.  It seems we only need someone to walk through the air of pomposity and reintroduce this tasty drink to us!

I know the wine critics come up with outrageous smells and tastes but let's face it: We are all different.  Genetically we are not the same.  We do not all like the same smells, tastes, sights, or other sensations.  Along with that, our sensors are going to pick up different responses and there are going to be others with more apt or trained senses.  Where does that leave those of us who find it difficult to pick up sensations?  Believe me, I am here to help you: If you have not given in to the pleasure of food and beverage it is never too late.  I want to give the know-how, the tools, and the information to see, smell, and taste.  We are about to delve into the fun side.

 But let's just remember this: it is all about trying different things, having fun, and finding what you like!  Stay tuned and keep up with the posts- I promise you'll like it!

(Image courtesy of Flickr)