Winery: Château Tour de Mirambeau
Wine: Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2005
Location: Bordeaux, France
Purchased: ETS Martin, Bordeaux
Price: $19.11
This was the first bottle of our French wine to pop open. We’ve been eagerly awaiting opening a bottle since they arrived. We decided to start with a white Bordeaux blend of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Hopefully, we can resist the temptation to open the bottles of red Bordeaux and allow them to age.
A friend of mine passed this website along. I haven’t purchased any wine, but it looks like an interesting concept. Here is the description from the webpage:
“Accidents happen. In fact, we count on it. Welcome to the world of The Accidental Wine Co. We find bottles of wine that have some special experience. A bottle breaks and stains others in the case. A winery overproduces or shuts its doors. A dirty, retired or discontinued label is not as in demand at your local wine merchant or favorite neighborhood bistro.”
Accidentalwine.com features wine from around the world and for a variety of prices. Their supply is constantly changing so shipments are always random combinations of bottles. However, they do guarantee current vintages and high quality. In order to purchase wine, select a price range or wine group, the quantity (3, 6 or 12 bottles) and color (red, white or mixed).
If anyone orders wine, let me know. I’d be interested to know what you got!
We spent Saturday afternoon enjoying one of our favorite pastimes – tasting wine. The Corkscrew provided a stellar lineup of wines presented by H2Vino from Chicago. This was one of my favorite tastings from the past year. Here were a few of my favorites:
Bellanotte Armonico (Italy)
Bellanotte Armonico is a 50-50 blend of Tocai and Malvasia grapes from the region of Friuli. It offers aromas of citrus fruits, apples, peaches and pineapples. On the palate the wine presents good acidity and displays many of the same flavors from the nose.
St. Gregory Pinot Noir (Mendocino County)
I’m hit and miss with Pinot Noir. This one was a huge hit! It displays dark purple colors with rich aromas of black cherries, cola and earth. It’s on the palate where this wine stands out above the rest. Flavors of cola and pepper give this wine a little punch, but ripe tannins and soft acidity add finesse to the Pinot Noir.
Chono (Chile)
I picked this wine up while Jonathan was out of town, and made a note we needed to purchase again. Surprise, surprise, it was part of the lineup at the Saturday tasting. This wine is a Carménère, a variety I’ve tasted more of recently. The nose showcases dusty, earthy smells, and the palate is treated to flavors of bell pepper and spice.
My wine book club started discussing Red, White and Drunk All Over today. Here are a few questions to get us started and my responses.
(Chap. 1)
How do you think France, in particular, will have to change its approach to marketing in order to compete more successfully with new wine regions?
I don’t think France ever anticipated having to change its marketing methods. They thought they their product was superior compared to the rest of the world, and the product would keep them heads and tails above the rest. However, it can be frustrating trying to sort out the various regions and sub-regions. I feel like I should take a wine guide with me to the store at times. I do have to say I like the tradition and history the method represents, but it can be confusing. I don’t think the French will change their marketing methods much. Many still believe their product is superior, and why fix what isn’t broke.
(Chap.3)
How well do you think bubbly marries with various dishes, such as oysters, sushi and sashimi, creamy cheeses, salads and vegetarian dishes, and even fried food and potato chips?
I’ll be the first to admit, when I don’t know what to pair with a food I head for a sparkling wine. Perfect example, Christmas dinner was celebrated with a Cava. Thai takeout….Cava. I think too often sparkling wine is regarded as a “special occasion wine.” Instead, pop open a bottle on a Wednesday night and enjoy with dinner.
(Chap. 4)
Does it make sense to score wine? Why or why not? Do you see scores as a useful tool when shopping for wine?
I lean both ways on this question. If I’m purchasing an expensive bottle, I’m going to do my homework. I want to make sure it’s worth the money so I’m going to read reviews and critiques to make sure it’s something I’m going to like. Otherwise, I try not to look at scores too often. I don’t want someone else telling me what to smell and taste. I want to enjoy these pleasures on my own.
Winery: Bodegas Finca Luzón
Wine: Altos de Luzón 2005
Location: Jumilla, Spain
Purchased: The Corkscrew
Price: $17.99
While Jonathan was out of town, I made a trip to the wine store. I’m proud to say I only purchased two bottles. Mainly because we didn’t have the room in our wine cooler! I selected two new bottles we hadn’t tried before, but if they lived up to their description, they would be fantastic. I walked away with a Carmenère and red blend from Spain. Last night, we sampled the Spanish red blend. It didn’t disappoint, but was a little closed and tight at first. After decanting for 45 minutes to an hour, the beauty of this wine was evident.
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