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| Saturday, December 22 |
| WINE FORUM...POST A MESSAGE...START A CHAT...LEAVE A RECOMMENDATION...LET'S TALK WINE...THE EVERYDAY WINE SNOB |
What is everyone drinking over the holidays? What is that special wine you are going to pull out? Anything fantastic at a value price?
Post and see what everyone else is talking about!
Happy Holidays,
The Everyday Wine Snob |
posted by VINORATER (aka VR) @ 11:20 AM   |
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| Friday, December 22 |
| Hawk Crest 2003 Merlot Paso Robles |
Grocery store, about $10
fruity, plum, wildberries, smooth, and clean, super soft tannins
from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars...less expensive line |
| posted by VINORATER (aka VR) @ 11:36 AM |
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| NAPA Valley Vineyards Reserve Merlot Napa Valley 2002 |
| I can't claim to have discovered this one myself, but I'm soooo glad a friend turned me on to this bottle. A merlot as merlot should be...soft, balanced tannins, fruity but without puckering. This certainly has the taste of something twice its price. Terrific value. |
| posted by VINORATER (aka VR) @ 11:31 AM |
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| Martin Weyrich Etrusco Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2001 |
Great bargain on this very big Cab. It does lack a solid finish however, which probably puts it in the bargain category. However, for the price, the fruity kick that comes with the first sip is really fantastic, almost like that of a good Petite Syrah...earthy, peppery, delicious!
Pair with a grilled filet mignon.
Around $6.
Available at Trader Joes.
Day 2 Rating: B (best to drink this one up quickly)
VR |
| posted by VINORATER (aka VR) @ 11:26 AM |
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| Thursday, June 1 |
| Montevina Sierra Foothills Amador County Barbera, 2002 |
Verrrrry looong finish with hints of fig, after a big biting tannic start. Interesting....the bottle says its "like an old cowboy they know...a bit leathery on the outside, but once you get to know him he's open, honest, and completely down to earth. " Quite an apt description, and one that truely captures this interesting bottle.
Voted San Francisco Chronicle Top Bargain Wines of 2005. "The Italian varietal Barbera is perhaps the most underappreciated grape in the United States. It's widely grown but often ends up anonymously providing backbone for jug wines. When bottled on its own, it can be an outstanding dinner-table wine that combines two likable characteristics not found together often enough: a big body and palate-cleansing, food-friendly acidity.
Pair with Cheeseburger, or Tomato-based Italian dish
About $7
Day 2 Rating: A- (opens nicely...)
www.montevina.com
VR |
| posted by VINORATER (aka VR) @ 7:51 PM |
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| Wednesday, May 17 |
| Elena 2004 Russian River Syrah |
Simple, full taste, great price, rewarding bottle.
Russian River Valley, granted official appellation standing in 1983, is now one of the most recognized AVA names in America. The appellation is internationally renowned for challenging varieties like Pinot Noir, which excels in this cool-climate, yielding highly expressive wines.
Pair with a sausage tortellini with cream sauce...
Around $8
Day 2 Rating: A-
VR
wine food and drink value wine everyday wine wine snob wine news |
| posted by VINORATER (aka VR) @ 12:33 PM |
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| Thursday, April 27 |
| Jekel Vineyards 2001 Monterey Syrah |
This dry Monterey Syrah had nice deep flavors, a good tannin bite, and a a long finish. It really captures well the best of the Syrah grape - intensely fruity, big and bold, but without being overly ripe (or raisin-like) as is sometimes the case. And it's priced quite well...a real bargain.
A bit about the Monterey region (courtesy of http://www.appilationamerica.com): This massive AVA on the eastern side of Monterey County encompasses the entire Salinas Valley, as well as part of Carmel Valley. The Salinas Valley, affectionately known as ‘America’s salad bowl’, is one of the country’s most important agricultural assets, and hosts the majority of Monterey County’s large viticultural businesses. The valley is a funnel, with its mouth opening onto Monterey Bay. Here, fog rolls in between the Santa Lucia and Gabilan mountain ranges. The fog cools the valley early in the morning, while at midday a cool blast of wind sweeps through. Daytime temperatures rarely exceed 75 F., except for the southernmost reaches and in specific microclimates tucked into hillsides. With scant annual rainfall and predominately sandy soils, the valley would be arid if not for the irrigation from the Salinas River. One of the world’s longest growing seasons gives the Monterey AVA characterful wines with balanced acidity.
http://www.jekel.com/
Enjoy with a Spicy Chicken Taco Salad
Around $8 (price varies widely though, up to $14)
Ratings: mostly mid 80s
Day 2 Rating: B+
VR
wine food and drink value wine everyday wine wine snob wine news |
| posted by VINORATER (aka VR) @ 7:10 PM |
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| Friday, April 14 |
| Ironstone Vineyard, 2003 California Cabernet Sauvignon |
The 2003 Ironstone Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon was produced from fruit grown in the family vineyards located in Murphys and Lodi, California. The wine is young and needs some time to aerate upon opening...give it at least 30 minutes and you will be rewarded. It's also one reason why it gets and A for Day 2 - it really benefits from time. While not a very showy wine, its a SUPER value wine, delivering a strong fruit base with some tannic bite.
http://www.ironstonevineyards.com
Around $7
Serve at home with hard cheeses, grilled beef, rich food.
Ratings: few are far between, but mid 80s generally.
Day 2 Rating: A
VR
wine food and drink value wine everyday wine wine snob wine news |
| posted by VINORATER (aka VR) @ 11:50 AM |
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| Friday, March 31 |
| The Stump Jump |
d'Arenberg "The Stump Jump", 2004 Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvedre, South Austrialia
The bottle's spicy attitude matches the wine's spicy, grenache-driven southern Rhône style. Nice peppery flavor from the Grenache make this medium-bodied wine very drinkable and very delicious. Pairs with a wide range from grilled steak to olive oil and pasta. Oh, and the name: proudly named after an important South Australian invention - the stump jump plough. Many of McLaren Vale’s old vineyards were originally cleared using this invention. The plough saved many a vineyard owners' back and patience as the plough ‘jumped’ over the most stubborn roots, saving valuable time and resources.
Around $9-10.
Ratings: High 80s
Day 2 Rating: B+
http://www.darenberg.com.au/default2.php
VR
wine food and drink value wine everyday wine wine snob wine news |
| posted by VINORATER (aka VR) @ 10:22 AM |
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| Tuesday, March 14 |
| 2003 Casa Barranca Arts & Crafts Syrah/Grenache Blend |
Robert Parker gave this organic a 93, and I couldn't agree more!
Deeply-colored, velvety-smooth blend of Syrah and Grenache made at their beautiful craftsman-style winery in Ojai California. Nice light peppery bite makes it truely interesting.
Gift it, take it to a party, share it with friends, or sip with family (great taste, cool winery, fantastic name/label) - this one stands up.
Is it because it's organic?...is it because there are no added sulfites?...whatever the reason it is special! Yum...
Warning, only 200 cases were made, so while I got lucky and had no trouble finding it, it may not be available outside of southern california...
http://www.organic-wine.com/
Pair with tangy ribs...
Around $12
Ratings: very high, some 90s...
Day 2 Rating: A
Vino Rater
wine food and drink value wine everyday wine wine snob wine news |
| posted by VINORATER (aka VR) @ 6:57 PM |
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| Sunday, February 19 |
| Leonard Kreusch Rheinhessen Spatlese 2003 |
Time for dessert!
The term Spatlese literally means, later harvest. The grapes were late-picked after reaching the prescribed level of ripeness. The wines are fuller-bodied and more concentrated than Kabinett wines and have a residual sugar level of 54 grams per liter. The Rheinhessen Spatlese offers a rich floral bouquet and good concentration. Hints of minerals intermingle with ftesh pear and cantaloupe flavors creating a deliciously versatile wine. It can be served as an aperitif or with a host of dishes, including barbeque chicken, broiled trout, or Szechuan Shrimp.
http://www.leonardkreuschwines.com/
Oh yeah, and a VERY cool blue bottle! Serve it VERY cold.
Around $9. Delicious!
VinoRater
wine food and drink value wine everyday wine wine snob wine news |
| posted by VINORATER (aka VR) @ 5:06 PM |
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| WINE VIDEO |
Push Play To See "No Wine Before Its Time" or Click Here For Other Wine Video |
October 5th, 2006 Weekly Wine News Selections
How To Order Wine For A Business Dinner - Forbes.com: "The rules for handling wine at an important business dinner are pretty much commonsense and not very different from the rules for any kind of successful entertaining--be prepared, plan ahead and use the resources at your disposal"
A Vintner's Joy : "Harvest is a busy, crucial time as owners --and customers-- gather the crop "
CRITICS' PICKS: The Wine Country HARVEST BOON: "Grape expectations Now is the richest time to see -- and smell -- Wine Country in Napa and Sonoma. Harvest has begun. "
Web wine: A bountiful harvest for online shoppers: "Lately, thanks in part to a Supreme Court ruling, state law changes and Americans' growing comfort with the Web, the online wine business has been undergoing a sea change: There's a surge in the number and quality of sites devoted to educating consumers, highlighting unusual regions and, mostly, selling a lot of wine.
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The Pour: Decanting Robert Parker: "Thirty years of influence haven't curbed his thirst for wine, or a fight."
Study shows red wine cuts Alzheimer's risk : "Researchers have uncovered yet another reason to toast red wine: A glass a day could keep Alzheimer's disease at bay."
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| ABOUT ME |
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Name: VINORATER (aka VR)
Home: California, United States
About Me: WHY THIS BLOG?
Truth is, it's getting harder to find good wine at an everyday price (around $12 and under). So I've trolled respectable sources far and wide (Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Food & Wine, Robert Parker, Stephen Tanzer, New York Times, and other strong reviewers) for the "best of the best-priced", and tried every wine personally before recommending it. I also only include wines that are fairly easy to find. Plus, I've added useful info on wine pairings, wine terms, and wine news and other interesting wine info.
Let's share, and please pass on any recommendations, thoughts and critics...
Cheers!
VinoRater
See my complete profile
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