Vacation Wines

So what do you drink when you take a cruise in the Caribbean?  Well, first order of business, a pina colada by the pool works really nice! :)  But since this is a wine blog, I should tell you about some of the wines I had on the cruise.  We ordered a 7 bottle package of their higher quality recommended wines, and found a few decent ones that we recognized that are worth mentioning... of course we paid higher than retail prices, but what can you do?

Silverado Sauvignon Blanc, Napa - $20 
This wine has great citrus and acid components, but I don't think it is the best wine for my bucks, especially at the on board price, however it was one of the better choices they had.  Your wine experience is all relative to your overall experience, and although this is not my favorite wine, it was great while we were drinking it!   It was a great aperitif and went well with a crab cake appetizer.


Spellbound Cabernet Sauvignon, CA - $17
You should be able to find this great cabernet for less than this price, and I think it's worth every cent.  It was a very elegant, lighter style cabernet sauvignon.  Very easy drinking over the 2 nights we had it, and went very well with filet mignon and NY Strip Steak.  Unfortunately they ran out of it the night we ordered it for the second time, so we had to settle for something else.  This was the best wine in our selection.

So now that I am back from vacation, I decided to take this wine thing a little more seriously.  I will be taking WSET classes and obtaining my Advanced Certificate over the next few months, so I will have many exciting wines to share with you, regardless of price... but don't worry, I am still in search of the Best Wines For My Bucks, and will continue to find them for you! Cheers and Buon Bere!

Italian Wines, Round 2

It is always a pleasant surprise when I take that ride up to Blairstown to visit my friend Tony!  I was only going for a short visit, to help him with some audio/visual equipment, but of course he felt the need to make my visit worthwhile by opening a few great Italian Reds!

The two we tried this week were the Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre - 2006, and Allegrini La Grola - 2006.



Both wines were excellent.  This vintage far surpasses the 2005 right out of the bottle, and I believe given a few years, these wines will truly blossom fabulously!  The La Grola was much more ready to drink, with no bite, very smooth, elegant and fruit forward style.  Both were excellent compliments to the lasagna we ate as a little snack... but even when the food was gone, I couldn't put my glass down!  The Palazzo seemed much better balanced than the previous vintage and the label even looked a bit more elegant... Keep up the good work Ms. Allegriini!

Italian Supervino, Introducing Mr. Brunello Di Montalcino!

How I love Brunello Di Montacino!  Is it because you can't find a good bottle of this excellent style for under $30?  No, but unfortunately true.  Is it because I come from Italian roots, and there are a few drops of Brunello in my blood? Possibly.  Or could it be that Brunello is to Italy what a fine Bordeaux is to France? Hmmm, I think so.  I couldn't believe how well they went with a steak dinner we usually pair with Brunello's French counterpart.

As we started the tasting we had the new crisp 2008 Ferrari Carrano Fume Blanc.  Always a crowd pleaser.  Very tasty with a nice balance of acidity and fruit, slightly more acidic though.

 Then we had the 2005 Allegrini, Palazzo Della Torre, as our opening red.  It was a very nice start, great to drink with any hearty italian meal.

Then we tried the 2003 Camigliano Brunello Di Montalcino.  Still so young, I felt wrong drinking it, but thank goodness the tasting lasted 4 hours, so we got to try it and really experience this excellent Brunello open up with outstanding characteristics.

I had a similar but much more enjoyable experience with our next, the 2003 Argiano Brunello Di Montalcino.  Right out of the bottle, I could tell this was a winner, and boy, a few hours in, this baby showed so much body and character, it was the reason the tasting lasted so long!  For the extra few bucks I personally would take this Brunello to dinner on any and all special occasions (if I was a one wine guy, which I'm not, so that statement was pretty bogus, huh?)... well then, if you like Brunello, you will love this one, that's all I can say.

                                                            

Giving Thanks To Pinot Noir

Mirrasou Pinot Noir 2008   $13

Velvety smooth, very well balanced, and quite elegant, this California Pinot Noir gives any inexpensive French Burgundy a run for it's money.  I was so impressed with this wine, that I am seriously considering buying a few cases.  It was great to drink right out of the bottle, and was a perfect complement to our Thanksgiving meal.  Highly Recommended.

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Patch Block Pinot Noir  $10

Spicy, acidic and medium bodied.  This wine was ok.  Not near as good as the Mirrasou for $3 more, but what do you expect to get for a $10 pinot noir from French producer George Debouf?

ATTENTION WINE LOVERS>>>>

All new additions to the blog...

I was enjoying a very nice meeting with a very close friend of mine when we discovered some outstanding wines, all under $13!!!

Here are the descriptions... make sure to check these out, they are absolutely BEST WINES FOR YOUR BUCKS!!!


MONTE ANTICO TOSCANA 2006 $13.

from Italy

Very Interesting. That is the best way to describe this fantastic italian red!  Holiday spices, hints of nutmeg on the aroma and first taste. This is an easy drinking light blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon that will go perfect with linguini and clam sauce, pasta, or chicken or veal parmesan. I tried to compare it to one of my favorite blends, Falesco Vitiano, but it truly is no comparison... it is a one of a kind must try!

Imported by Empson (USA) Inc. Alexandra, VA

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CHATEAU SEGONDIGNAC MEDOC 2005 $11

from France

Wow. Bordeaux without a Bite, under $11. Don't wait, try this one for sure!  If you know anything about bordeaux, then you'll know I surely can't compare it to Reserve De La Comtesse... but I tried. And the Reserve is better, but for 4 times the price, it should be. This bordeaux has all the qualities of a fine French wine at a great price. It is well balanced, with low tanins, so drink up!

Imported by Monsieur Touton, NY

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CHATEAU LAFFAYETTE RENEAU CABERNET FRANC $ ??

from New York

Here's a wine that I had the fortune of trying because I was visiting the Whiteface Lodge in upstate NY, and they offered it as a welcome to the parents of my soon to be wife. Since they aren't drinkers, I had the pleasure of trying it myself...
It has upfront fruit, cherries and berries, and a silky, peppery finish, and after hours of being opened, it is still drinking beautifully. Unsure of the price, I cannot recommend this as a weekly value wine pick, however, it is a nice wine from the area, and I would like to share it, since it was a special part of my life.   In comparison, I highly recommend the Bordeaux above... I'm sure it is way more bang for the buck!

Bottled by Chateau Laffayette Reneau, Hector,NY

A Few New Winners...

SAWTOOTH ESTATE WINERY RIESLING 2008 $11.

from Idaho, USA

This delicious Riesling has aromas of peach and apricot.
On the palate it is crisp and lively with just a touch of
sweetness. It's a well balanced, refreshing white wine
that can be served as an aperitif or with chicken, turkey
or pork. It's also a great choice for any spicy Asian
cuisine.

Bottled by Sawtooth Winery, Nampa, Idaho

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CAPESTRANO MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO 2007 $10

from Italy

Here is a mouthful of rich, juicy red fruit from the ancient grape of
the Abruzzi region, Montepulciano. It is full bodied yet has very
soft tannins so it can be enjoyed on its own or with pizza, pasta
dishes or red meats. An incredible bargain!!!

Imported by Vias Imports Ltd, New York, NY

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CICCHITTI RED BLEND 2007 $15

from Argentina

This beautifully structured red wine is made from 60% Malbec,
30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. It reminds me of a
fine Bordeaux, complex, yet refined and elegant. Although big
and full bodied, it is in complete harmony with all that is going
on and just a pleasure to drink. Enjoy it with red meats, game
and full flavored cheeses.

Imported by F. Navarro Selections, New York, NY

Some Nice Wines For The Fall!

CARPINETO DOGAJOLO WHITE 2008 $14

from Italy

This refreshing and well structured white wine from
Tuscany is made from a blend of Chardonnay, Grechetto
and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. For all of you who would
like a change from the everyday Pinot Grigio, this will
surely please your taste buds. It's pleasantly fruity with
a fragrant aroma, good body and a very nice balance of
acidity, making it crisp and clean. Enjoy it with seafood,
or your favorite white meats.

Imported by Opici Import Company, Glen Rock, NJ
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LAN CRIANZA 2005 $12

from Spain

Lan is a wonderful full bodied wine from the well known Rioja
region of Spain. Made entirely from Tempranillo grapes, it
has aromas of dark red fruits and a very silky feel on the
palate. It is incredibly smooth with low tannins. This is a
an ideal red to serve with pork or duck.

Imported by Monsieur Touton Wines, New York, NY

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ACACIA RED BLEND 2007 $15

from California

Here is a nice surprise from a winery that specializes in Chardonnay
and PInot Noir. The Red Blend 2007 is Syrah based, however the
rest of the blend is a mystery. What is not a mystery is how well
this red drinks right now. It shows nice fruit right up front and is
perfect right out of the bottle, no need to decant it ahead of time for
full enjoyment. You will find nice flavors of plum, raspberry, blackberry
and notes of vanilla. A great value from a first class winery!!
Enjoy with red meats, ribs and game.

Bottled by Acacia Vineyards, Sonoma, CA