Chapelle St Arnoux Cotes du Ventoux `09 ****

WARNING:  Vegetarians and PeTA Members stop reading now! (read here for a certified vegan review)

Whew, now that it is just us carnivores, let me tell you about one of the best meals I have ever had.  It was an annual Sportsmens Club Game Dinner. Just in case any pesky PeTA members are still reading this (hey, thanks for boosting my stats!) I am redacting all identifying information on the club from this blog post.  Suffice it to say that it was an all American experience (well, there was ONE French guy ooohhhlala to quote other women from our table) that could have been a Norman Rockwell tableau -  if Norman's relatives had hunted, killed, dressed, butchered then cooked that famous Thanksgiving turkey!

It was a Saturday night banquet with a cash bar.  Hiding behind a forest of supermarket brand Cabernet at the corner of the bar were some discrete green bottles.  I wasn't hoping for great wine at this dinner, and I briefly lamented not bringing a bottle of Tiburizi to go with the Bear, Moose, Elk and Venison that was being served, but when the bartender showed me the AOC Cotes du Ventoux label, well, I thought to myself, SCORE! 

The wine was a mellow, delicious Rhone blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Cinsault, it was a great table wine - perfect for the evening, and at 14% ETOH, it was a solid pairing for the game; a subtle red with a lovely hint of spice, and a full finish.  It was so easy to sip that I had polished my first glass off even before our table was called to the buffet for dinner.

This was a packed house of 250 Sportsmen and women who hunt for the sake of eating, and have a chef that transforms their game into haute cuisine to share with the community and raise money for local charities; it was the annual tasting of the year's bounty.  After some amazing appetizers of Mini Bear Wellingtons, smoked pheasant, Elk and Wild Turkey Pate, and a special shout out to the Rabbit and Squirrel Ragout, my first glass was gone, and I was heading back to the bar for my second.  All under the watchful gaze of a 11 point buck who more than likely could have been the sausage in that mini venison and elk sausage slider that I so eagerly savored.  I said "Thank you" to the deer, and chewed on.

Drinking this French Rhone at a game dinner in a Sportsmans lodge made me feel connected to the past.  And also connected to the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast.  I may have been caught singing "No one hunts like Gaston" after the tall, dark, handsome Frenchman left our table.


I sipped my wine and surveyed my tasting plate (and cup of delicious venison chili) I heard rumors of salad, but for me, the greens on my plate were Fiddleheads.  I love fiddlehead ferns, they grow on the banks of the stream back home in Maine, and every spring, I am reminded of just how wonderful they are.  It was an amazing night. I'll leave you with a slideshow:

Louis Jadot Pinot Noir `08 $17.99 **

I got home from work and found JPH prepping eggplant. It was going to be a comfort food night.  There was a chicken in the fridge that needed to be roasted, potatoes to be baked & mashed, parsley to be chopped and rosemary that needed to be harvested from the patio. (finally the plants are outside  - I am trying to convince S. to start a gardening blog, she has done amazing work with the garden).  As I was seasoning the chicken, JPH pointed out that a wine needed to be selected.  I hesitated on this French Pinot Noir simply because it is a $17.99 bottle of plonk - that is steep for a Wednesday night table wine, but hey, why not?  JPH also challenged me to a review and since I have been slipping in that department this year, I accepted.

This is a classic French Pinot Noir from the classic Bourgogne power house Maison Louis Jadot.  That being said, it is simple French table wine and we were opening it on the down side of it's peak.  It has some forward spice and a watery finish, which is not unattractive in a wine to have with a well seasoned dinner.  At 12.5% ETOH, JPH noted that you could just keep drinking and drinking this with a meal. We wondered just how many French restaurants have it as their house red. We're guessing a lot - Maison Jadot has a winery dedicated exclusively to the production of Bourgogne Pinot Noir. This is high quality, mass production wine and it is the backbone of Burgundy, good wine that you can drink that won't break the bank.

"Well Balanced" was the catch phrase for the evening.  It is an even drinking wine with no surprises.  Slight tannins made it a good astringent foil for the roasted chicken, and the earthiness made the truffles stand out more in the truffled mashed potatoes.  (seriously, between the wine and the potatoes, I wondered if I put any butter in at all)

This is a "safe" classic French wine.  You could bring it to your in-laws and be deemed cultured.  As for me, I am just thrilled that we hit the pairing out of the park.  Dinner was the highlight of my day. Chicken roasted with lemon and rosemary, sauteed eggplant in garlic scented olive oil with parsley and truffled mashed potato. It doesn't get much better on the comfort scale.

I'll leave you with my chicken as it just came out of the oven, and the eggplant waiting to be plated. It was a rainy Spring night, and comfort food hit the spot.

Louis Latour Chassagne-Montrachet `09 $36.99 ****

I was evil at dinner and called this "The Best Chardonnay Ever" then I started lecturing on French Wine labels (seriously lecturing). I'll admit it, I was obnoxious.  But you know what?  When you are serving the granddaddy of all Chardonnay made by the house of Latour, you can be a little obnoxious.  This is a special occasion wine. (Latour's Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru A.C. was my first "Grown-up" dinner party wine - I was 21 and very proud to be entertaining from soup to nuts)  I will always have a soft spot in my heart and palate for Montrachet. This Chassagne-Montrachet may not be grand cru, but it really is a great wine from an amazing, historic region in France. Beune, the capital of Burgundy. (Burgundy isn't just for red wine drinkers you know)

Granted, Monday night dinner isn't really a special occasion - I did make brook trout, roast new potatoes and green beans almondine, but the truth is, this was a bottle left over from Christmas Eve - JPH asked "How did we not get through two bottles of this on Christmas Eve? and then he answered himself "That's because you weren't here".  (True, I was in Connecticut) This wine was worth the wait.


Good wine is good wine, and this is good wine.  100% Chardonnay,  13.5%ETOH with a fresh hit of citrus (lime) on the first sip, then a mouthful of well balanced fruit and then a bright finish with a hint of slightly unripe apricot. This is a wine and a lesson in wine.  Delicious, satisfying and classic.  It should help me for my upcoming CSW exam. It is slightly oaked Chardonnay in the pure French style.

Château des Mille Anges Petit Santal Saint Germain De Graves`02 $9.99 ***

This wine gave me something to crow about.  First of all, it was deliciously juicy and fruity forward with a long saturated finish (stewed strawberries with background of dried cherry), very little tannin and for an `02, it was just juicy and beautiful.  As the intense finish disappeared, it had the hint of being a little long in the tooth, but all in all, if JPH goes back to Coves Discount and gets us six more bottles, I can guarantee that they will be finished by mid-January (and that's NOT a hint).

We played "Guess the Varietal".  I may have done a little Scooby Dance in my chair I was so happy that I was able to identify a couple of the varietals at least.  When I first looked up the blend, I got 3 of four.  I got Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc (I am still convinced that there is Petit Verdot in there) but all of my research says that it is predominantly Merlot.  The producer Château des Mille Anges's website says: Merlot 60%, Cabernet Sauvignon 20% and Cabernet Franc 20%. But it did not have specific tasting notes for the `02, so I am going to cling to my Petit Verdot theory (and my Scooby Dance).  The website doesn't have much more about the production of this wine.  I won't fault them for it.  It is a nice little gem that we enjoyed, and it didn't break the bank.  Win/Win in my book.

At 13% ETOH, it is robust, smooth and easy to drink.  It is great, and much smoother and more elegant than some other blends that we have had in this price range.  It is a typical French table wine, and well, also a great example of why French wine has the reputation that it has.  It was that good. 

The Château des Mille Anges Petit Santal Saint Germain De Graves (or as JPH called it the "thousand Angels Wine") paired really well with tonight's dinner:  Chicken and Parsley Pie from The National Trust Farmhouse Cookbook.  Good comfort food, using the blackbird pie funnel that I brought back from London.

Jacquesson Dizy Terres Rouges Extra Brut Millesime Rosé `04 $90.00 ****

I drink Champagne when I win,
to celebrate…
and I drink Champagne when I lose,
to console myself. 

Napoleon Bonaparte

I was in London.  Felix brought it home one night after work.  We chilled it, popped the cork and enjoyed.  It really is a celebration Champagne.  Since  I don't get to London very often anymore - we made it a weeknight celebration of my whirlwind 10 day trip (an early Christmas present from S. & JPH).

Jacquesson Dizy Terres Rouges Extra Brut Millesime Rosé is a remarkable deep rosé that on first sip is dry, (seriously extra brut) and then creamy with a taste of tart wild strawberries. Each glass became more magical. I think that we may have over chilled it at first.  As I sipped and ran around the house looking for spots to take a picture, we ran a serious risk of having no wine to photograph.  It is THAT good.

Historic, exclusive and delicious.  Did you know that the house of Jacquesson was founded in 1768?  Did you know that once upon a time, if you bought a brand new Aston Martin, it would be delivered with a case of Jacquesson in the boot?  Did you know that this is the richest, driest and most elegant Rosé Champagne that I have ever tasted? Oh, and Napoleon liked it too.  He bestowed his seal of approval on the house in 1810.


Jacquesson et fils produces Champagne Grand Cru in various forms.  Since 1798 they have given each blend an individual number, starting with No 1.  On their website, I can see #725.  They now call it the 700 series. Jacquesson produces an award winning Avize Grand Cru Recolte and some very exclusive Grand Vin Signature bottles.  All are priced accordingly as rare gems in the champagne world.  If you get a chance,  try a sip and see what Napoleon was going on about.

Let me rave about the label as well.  It is in English; beguilingly simple and straightforward.  Easy to read and tells me everything that I need to know as a consumer about the production.  It really is exclusive.  Only 4,520 bottles were produced that year. It is a blend of 71% Pinot Meunier, 29% Pinot Noir.  The wine sat on the lees for 5 years and then was disgorged in 2009.  Even at 12% ETOH, it has a miniscule 5g of sugar per liter.  The grapes were grown on the lower slopes of Dizy, a village in the Champagne region of France.  (there is even a lovely rose colored map of DIZY on the front label for the directionally challenged (like me))

Jacquesson Champagne quietly exists in a rarefied world.  Beyond artisanal, it is a classically produced Grand Cru that has withstood the test of time.  You won't see it advertised, you won't see it being swilled by a rock star or celebutant in People Magazine.  You'll see it on the best wine lists, in discrete multimillion dollar wine cellars, and maybe (if you are lucky) in a gift bag presented to you by a generous friend with great taste.

Heidsieck Heritage Brut Champagne NV £14.24/$21.93 ***

London. This wine made me re-think my star system. This has been my favorite champagne of the week so far and it has been the lowest priced.  (what does that say for my taste-buds?) It was poured for our "Thanksgiving in Knightsbridge" Dinner.

This Heritage Brut is a great example of an off-dry Champagne. It has a slight hint of sweetness. (just a bit of residual sugar).  I have an American palate, to quote Laura Williamson, MW from the seminar "Bubble Mania" at euphoria "We talk dry, but we drink sweet".  It is true.  I have a semi-sweet tooth and I have decided to embrace it. Now I have to go back and review a few of my champagne posts - there really were some very dry Champagnes that I like, but to be honest, I prefer a hint of sweetness.

Heidsieck markets this as their entry level into fine Champagne.  I don't really get designer labels (which is why most of my clothing comes from LL Bean).  But I do understand quality. This really is a good Champagne and for the money, it was a GREAT Champagne to serve as an apéritif at our Thanksgiving Dinner.  Even though it is impossible for me to navigate Piper- Heidsiek's website, I was able to get some winemakers notes:  Pinot Meunier / Pinot Noir / Chardonnay  12% ETOH

What is amazing is that VCE is able to buy great Champagne on offer (sale) from her computer on the kitchen table.  She can research and order on-line then have it delivered to the doorstep.  This bottle came from Waitrose's (a local Supermarket) Wines Direct.  Because of this service, we are tasting quite a few varied Champagnes this week, which is great for multi-tasking.  We're efficiently ordered from the computer on the kitchen table while catching up on the latest Downton Abbey and Desperate House Wives episodes on telly.

As for pairings, Champagne goes with almost anything.  In the case of this bottle, it was opened while I was cooking.  I had to pace myself, as we had already been into the Gin and Calvados.  As VCE handed me a glass, I was making stuffing.  Careful not to get over imbibe too early, I took a delicious sip, tossed the rest of the glass into the bowl with the stuffing, along with the balance of my Calvados Cocktail. I gave the stuffing a final stir and popped it into the oven for an hour.  Then I poured myself a second tall, cold  bubbly glass of the Heritage and moved on to making the candied yams. (The stuffing was the first empty serving dish at dinner!)

Taittinger Brut Reserve NV $40.51 ***

I am still in London and it's Champagne week for me.  This was the choice to drink for nights three and four.  It is dry and very sparkling.  As a stand alone sipping wine after a long day of shopping by 6PM this took the edge off.  It is festive in an adult sort of way.  I've converted the case price of 26 British pounds to the $$ price above.

12% ETOH with a blend of 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier. This is a refined,  elegant champagne. You really can't go wrong if you like a dry champagne.  It isn't cheap though.

Heidsieck & Co Monopole Blue Top NV $35.00 ***

I am in London.  Tonight, before we go to dinner, we've opened a bottle of this classic Heidsieck Monopole Blue. It is a crisp, bright, with a slight yeastiness (brioche) Champagne. Refreshing and easy to drink.

Legend has it that Monopole Blue was the official Champagne of the Titanic.  All I can say to that is serve it well chilled : ).

24% Chardonnay, 48%, Pinot Noir, and 28% Pinot Meunier; 12% ETOH .

It was great with Maria's Spanikopita.

This may be a week of champagne reviews.

Cave de Tain l'Hermitage Crozes-Hermitage Les Trois Lys `07 (not TJ's) Gift/$17.99 ***

Birthday Dinner in three bottles:  #2 Cave de Tain l'Hermitage Crozes-Hermitage Les Trois Lys `07

Dinner was about to be put on the table. JPH uncorked the second bottle, a gift from European cousins who enjoy a good table wine.  This was a special occasion and it paired well with the menu win/win.

Cave de Tain is a big producer of French table wine from the birthplace of Syrah, the northern Rhône. From AOC Crozes-Hermitage, this easy to drink, medium weight slightly peppery wine is versatile, either as a sipping wine or a dinner wine and at 13 - 13.5% ETOH made it easy for us to pace ourselves for the celebratory evening.  Popular in London as a table wine, it was listed in Enjoy wine without a hangover in the Sunday Times. (This was good, as we still had another bottle to go)

As we sat in the dining room, eating through the amazing fresh chanterelles, pheasant breast and spätzle, the wine went down smoothly.  Glasses were easily refilled, and the discussion ranged from raising chickens (one firm NO) to upcoming local fairs (Count me IN for the 10/02/11 Annual Sea-Cliff Mini-Mart).

The wine was smooth, dinner was filling and the company was entertaining. Soon enough it was time for dessert and bottle #3 Banfi Rosa Regale NV

Chateau La Touche Muscadet `09 $14.00 ***

A Birthday Dinner in three bottles.

Bottle # 1  Chateau La Touche Muscadet  `07 was opened as the family started to arrive and the fire pit was lit.  Made from Melon de Bourgogne grapes, this wine is light (12% ETOH), bright (hints of melon and a ghost of a taste of tart citrus - grapefruit) and refreshing; there is a crisp minerality that some say comes from proximity to the sea.  AOC Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine is where the Loire river meets the Maine and the Sevre rivers in western France.

The sur-lie fermentation process produces a rustic, flavorful wine with the harvest pressings spending their first winter fermenting with the skins and dried yeasts.  This adds a crispness and a real depth of flavor to the finished product. The wine was a perfect foil for the salty almonds, nuts and crackers that we nibbled on as the pheasant braised.  At 12% ETOH, it was a great was to ease ourselves into the next bottle.

photo by MEH

This was JPH's Birthday Dinner, all hands were on deck.  For the occasion, S. planned the menu, sourced the amazing ingredients from Marx Foods and brought out the good glassware; everything was perfectly in place as we sipped wine and watched the day turn to dusk. 


Our Menu:  Braised Pheasant, Spetzel and fresh Chanterelles sauteed in a butter cream sauce.  For dessert, I made Panna Cotta.

As the fire started outside, the fire was about to start inside:  JPH played with fire as I tried to snap a picture. On the right is what the stove looked like as he poured the flaming cognac onto the pheasant....


As we were about to plate, JPH opened Bottle # 2, our dinner wine: Cave de Tain l'Hermitage Crozes-Hermitage Les Trois Lys `07

Here is dinner just before it came off the stove:

Chateau Trinquevedel Rosé `08 AOP $16.99 ***

Conundrum: Hamburgers need a wine that stands up to their meatiness, but summertime needs a wine that is refreshing.

Solution: A dry yet fruity classic Rosé. Chateau Trinquevedel fit the bill for dinner. It was delicious. Chilled with the flavor of slightly tart strawberries, with the ghost like finish of a dry red wine.

This wine is a great reminder that Tavel AOC is the Cradle of French Rosé.

Made from Grenache, Cinsault, Clairette, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Bourboulenc grapes, this amalgam of varietals is a great blend.

Menu:
Grilled Burgers, Fresh Corn on the Cob, Potato Salad, Roasted Red Peppers.

Willm Reserve Riesling `07 $11.99 ***

I bought this as a safety wine. It was a safe bet! Good price, nice crisp apple taste, low ETOH (12%). It paired well with our dinner of Stella's Southern Bistro Signature Shrimp and Grits. After having them at Monticello in July at the Wine Bloggers' Conference, I have become obsessed with Shrimp and Grits. Since I am attending Greenville, South Carolina's euphoria from 9/22 - 25, it is all things Southern this summer. Well, except for this wine. This Riesling is from Northeastern France, Alsace AOC.

Bone dry with a hint of lime, this crisp, chilled white wine was an excellent foil for our Shrimp and Grits. I was given the recipe by one of euphoria's organizers, and the highlight of my day was making it. (of course, in true Yankee style, I cut the butter and cream in half) Even so, it was delicious, and I can't wait to go to Greenville and try the real thing. (lipitor in hand)

This Riesling was perfect with the buttery shrimp, the hint of Cajun spice in the ragout and the creaminess of the grits. It is safe, delicious and a excellent match for a rich seafood dish.

Originally, I had wanted to serve this dish with a Virginia Viognier, but I was stupid when I was visiting Breaux Vineyards last month, and didn't buy any.

Thank you Willm Reserve Riesling for saving the day.

And just so you can see the inspiration for my newly found shrimp and grits obsession, I give you Keswick Hall's Shrimp & Grits with Fresh Corn. I had it at Monticello with a Vidal Blanc, and I am dreaming of it still.

Kermit Lynch Guy Breton Morgon Vieilles Vignes `09 $35.99 ****

Photo styled and taken by MEH

It was one of those nights. JPH was head cook and sommelier for the evening. After an ill fated Italian wine misstep, he grabbed this bottle from the wine-rack and said, "Why not open a good bottle, I guess you girls deserve it." (we will never speak again of the first bottle that we opened tonight. One sip, and I was running for the vinegar barrel.) S. and I smiled when he brought out this bottle - S. was willing to suffer through the the ill fated Italian that was opened. I was not so tolerant. JPH put the subject to rest, "Enough of the $7.99 wine - tonight we have the good stuff."

This Beaujolais Cru is made from Gamay grapes, and it has aged just enough to have it be a smooth, deep(yet light) wine with dry fruit highlights (over ripe strawberries) and dark chocolate undertones. This wine and the skirt steak that we had tonight fell in love, and together they made me a very happy consumer. And at 13.5% ETOH, it was a gorgeous, light wine that won't give me a heavy head tomorrow morning. From the first sniff... mellow chocolate buried in fresh fruit, I was hooked. Gamay, when it is good makes an amazing Beaujolais, and this was it. I had to pace myself so that we had some wine left to have with supper.


Go for it, grab a well made Beaujolais Cru and have a perfect summer evening meal. From the first pour with it's bright raspberry color, to the flavorful finish with no tannins; it was worth the $35.99 splurge just to taste a wine that deserves every penny that was spent on it.

Our pre-dinner table conversation centered around "Who is this Kermit Lynch who quotes Jefferson "Good wine is a necessity of life for me" on his wine bottles?" - well, he is a California wine merchant and writer who has established some pretty amazing relationships with Vineyards/Winemakers over the years (wineshop established in 1972) - Guy Breton is one of those French Vineyards, that produced this lovely, light yet flavorful Beaujolais Cru. Well done Kermit, you do deserve your name on the label.

Here is my view from the dinner table tonight.
I love it when the stars align, and everything works.
Tonight we were blessed with good food, good wine, and amazing weather.

Louis Max Bourgogne Pinot Noir Beaucharme Pinot Noir `09 $12.99 (not TJ's) unrateable

I don't think that wine producer Louis Max would approve of what we drank (I may try a different bottle from a different supplier to test my theory and then re-review)  Somewhere along the line, this bottle of  French Pinot Noir met with a nefarious character. I will give the bottler the benefit of doubt for now.  At first sip, there was a subtle burst of flavor and the finish was... water.

My first reaction:  "JPH, taste this!" (he didn't really want to put down his beer - but he obliged and was equally surprised).  I poured S. a glass.  She pulled a perplexed face.  I said, "I know, doesn't this taste like gatoraide?" This wateriness and anemic finish did not stop us from finishing the bottle, but we could never call this a pinot noir.  I am curious as to how a wine that others review as "deep, berry flavored, needs to aerate..." can be the same wine that I tasted; it was so light at the finish that I laughed at the thought of aerating it.  It would simply disappear!

This was S's garden as we walked along the terrace
smelling the Day Lilies, Orange Tree and Gardenia in bloom.  

With a late afternoon view like this,
who really cares about watered down wine?

Château du Rouet "Cuvee Reservée" Côtes de Provence Rosé `10 $13.99 (not TJ's) ****

We've had this 2010 rose twice now, and I'm liking it more and more.  It is dry, light with a predominantly tart raspberry flavor that was perfect with both our fresh Striped Bass and Arroz Verde (left); and our dinner earlier this month of grilled Langoustines (right) with Mark Miller's Indian Market Cookbook's Roasted Corn and Mushroom Salsa, Black Bean Pancakes and Chipolte Crema (we are on a southwestern kick this summer).

How is it that a classic French Rosé can pair so perfectly with a southwestern menu?  I think that it is the dry fruitiness that cleans you taste-buds after bite of fiery chipotle.  I love that this is NOT sweet.  It is fresh, light and has some depth.  I like it for what it is not. It is not white, it is not red, but it has highlights of each in every sip.  The bottle is feminine, the color is a light salmon, and the scent is fruity, but there is a slight musk that belies how it was made. 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, this is our first 2010 vintage wine.  At 12.5% ETOH it added a slight kick, but all in all this is just a perfect, subtle Rosé at a great price point.

Domaine de Mourchon Côtes-du-Rhône Séguret Tradition `07 AOC (not TJ's) $15.99 ***

Smells nice, tastes velvety.  We've had this one before, and because we liked it, JPH ran out and bought more.  65 % Grenache, 25 % Syrah,
10% Carignan.  Hmmm Carignan, I have never heard of that grape before.  It seems to be one of those old varietals that is used in blending to get a specific taste and yield.  I really liked this wine the first time that we had it, and S & I enjoyed it so well tonight that I forgot to aerate it. Oops.

We had it with grilled burgers on fresh kaiser rolls, with warm potato salad and fresh tomato salad.  
This wine was a lush mid weight red with a bit of a velvety soft finish. It had a nice smell and was oh so easy to drink at 14% ETOH. What was really interesting was what I learned in the tasting notes:  This wine is aged in concrete vats.  I didn't taste an overt minerality, but now that I think of it, that could have added to the lush finish.

Domaine de Mourchon is an interesting producer, and I am looking forward to trying more wines from their small, but sleek diverse operation.  Wine, Olive Oil and Cosmetics.  Hmm, I sense a business plan in there somewhere.

Dinner was great, and after leisurely sitting at the table feeling the effect of the 14% ETOH, JPH pulled out the chilled Vin De Glaciere as digestif, and then, my night was over.

Last weekend, I celebrated my Birthday.  For the actual day, I visited a North Fork Long Island Vineyard (review & pics to follow).  What was most special though, was finding a roadside farm stand that had fresh Strawberries and Rhubarb.  Someone in this house has been craving Strawberry Rhubarb Pie since last spring.  I bought the fresh ingredients, and JPH & S made the pie.  Here it is, before (above) and after:

Yves Lambert Domaine de Saint-Just Samur Champigney `07 *** $22.99 (not TJ's)

This is a nice simple bottle of Cabernet Franc from the Loire producer Yves Lambert, who runs Domaine de Saint-Just with his son Arnold.  They make a good, easy drinking bottle of plonk for $22.99.

At first sniff of the plastic cork, I was a bit worried.  S. was more worried.  She likened the smell to musty, and maybe something a bit more nasty.  BUT.  The taste was good and spot on Cabernet Franc.  It was simple weak taste at first, with a dry big taste of dried blueberries at the finish.  It was very easy to drink and went well with our dinner of grilled Skirt Steak, pasta in a mushroom cream sauce and fresh fiddleheads from Marsh Stream in mid-coast Maine.

After aeration (Nuance):  Don't do it.  It made the wine weak and a bit sour.

Here is Marsh Stream, Monroe, Maine.
Home to the fiddle heads on the plate above
just 48 hours earlier.

Domaine Seguin-Manuel Savigny-lès-Beaune Vieilles Vignes `08 (not TJ's) $29.99****

Expensive for a week night, yet perfect for a great steak dinner on an amazing Spring day. This is a fantastic fruit forward Pinot Noir  from Savigny-lès-Beaune AOC in Burgundy.  Bright, light, with a mouthful of spicy fruit that just made my mouth water. It was a hit.

Made traditionally by award winning Thibault Marion at Domaine Seguin-Manuel, this wine is a great nod to his family heritage (Domain founded 1824).  The label is fancy French, kind of highbrow and intimidating, BUT the wine inside is fresh, bold and spicy. It is a light crimson color that smells of lush fruit. There is a full forward richness, and just a hint of mouthwatering acidity, and a long, flavorful finish that is spicy -  (subtle cloves).  It is 13% ETOH, and paired really well with our menu of: Grilled Steak, roasted red pepper, broccoli rabe with pancetta, garlic and olive oil in a balsamic reduction and just to put us over the top, baked potatoes with butter and truffled sea-salt.

After aeration with the nuance: Don't bother. Just pour and enjoy!  This bottle may have been a 2008 aged in french oak for 10 months, but to me it taste fresh and gorgeous with a slight hint of age just peeking through, adding deep flavor.

While JPH was roasting the red peppers on the grill, 

I poured myself a glass, 

as MEH had an impromptu photo shoot.  

She styled and took this picture.  

We are having a beautiful Spring!

Gerard Metz Gewurztraminer AOC `07 (Not TJ's)$22.00 ***

Wow, a big mouthful of fruit, with a dry, yet sweet aftertaste.  Crisp. A couple of weeks ago I popped in at Greenvale Grapes, announced what I was planning to cook for dinner and picked up this recommended bottle.  (Then I went to Leonetti's for pastry & bread)

It smells fruity, tastes fruity (crisp pear) and has a dry finish.  Perfect for a spicy food, but not cheap @ $22.00. You should buy this wine as a pairing for some exotic Thai take out that you are having to impress someone with.  This is classic AOC French  Gewurztraminer; if this wine were a person, it would be Elton John: White, rich, fruity, a bit on the heavy side with a little spice. 

Domaine Gerard Metz is almost artisanal: Hand picked grapes, made in a rich tradition, following all of the rules. A lot like listening to Benny and the Jets or Crocodile Rock from Elton John's Greatest Hits.  Songs I love because they don't surprise me, and on certain days, when the timing is right, I listen to them and it is just perfect. 

I had it with a fake Paella:  Sauteed Chorizo and rock shrimp with onion, garlic, spinach and rice.

On Friday morning, I was outside with the dog .  

The dew was on the flowers in S's garden 

and I was lucky that I had my camera handy in the kitchen.  

This is what a beautiful Spring morning looks like in my world:

Drinking Wine on Vacation Part II: Vino Volo Three courses/flights $69.00

I always add an hour or so to all of my afternoon/evening departing JFK flights. Not because I particularly like being overly early for flights or even hanging out in in American's Admirals Club, but because I like the wine bar Vino Volo. I discovered it a couple of years ago when I was flying to LA.  And now it is simply my "go to" airport restaurant.

I was en-route to London, my night flight had been canceled; there was a snowstorm raging outside and my fingers were crossed that I would be on the 6:45 pm flight.  I settled in for a 90 minute meal that included three flights of wine.

The menu is small and pairing specific. For my first course, I had the "Sparkling" flight and a small Brie & Prosciutto sandwich on cibatta with fig spread. With the wine comes a tasting sheet. The wines are available for purchase in the retail shop next door. (prices are Vino Volo Retail bottle/internet average)
 

"Celebration Sparklers" Flight $12.00

Juvé y Camps Reserva de la Familio Brut `05 (Not TJs) $25.99/$14.99 ***
Spanish Cava from Penedes:  Their tasting mat said white fruits and toasted bread.  hmm, I thought, fruity, dry and my notes said "tight".  It was very dry, and the finish was bright. It was my favorite of the three. (center in photo)

Loius Roederer Premire Brut NV  (Not TJ's) $53.00/$35.00**
Their tasting notes said Citrus and Ginger.  My thoughts: I liked the after burn of the ginger, the whole thought of a spicy champagne was new to me. It was the crispness that was good and I did taste a slight hint of butter in the finish.  But really, you are paying for the name Roederer, it is a designer old-school Champagne, and honestly, I just don't understand drinking these wines for anything other than the taste. (left in photo)

J Vineyards Cuvee 20 Brut NV (Not TJ's) $33.00/$29.99 *
Their tasting notes: Fiji Apple and Toast.  This was my least favorite.  It was very dry and slightly sour. There was a predominant taste of Fiji apple and grapefruit. But I got the toast note, and that was cool. his was also the richest tasting wine of the three.  I am thinking that it is the California Chardonnay that adds a butteriness, and the toast just is enhanced by the buttery note. It was the sour that put me off.  (right in photo)

Next, I had the "World Noirs" Flight, that I paired with half servings of Chickpea and Chorizo Chili and Pork Tacos.  I love their chickpea and chorizo chili; it is delicious. The Pork Tacos were moist and had a bit of spice  Both dishes were perfectly paired for these wines.  The menu may be small, but it works.

 "World of Noirs" Flight $16.00


Cristom Pinot Noir Mt. Jefferson Cuvee `08 (Not TJ's) $39.00/$30.00 ***
This was my favorite, because it was interesting.  The Vino Volo Mat says "Red Cherry and Tea".  Well, blow my socks off, it does have a subtle taste of tea.  And it smells of it too.  And it is a bright wine, almost effervescent. I am a total sucker for an interesting wine. (center in photo)

ZD Wines Cameros `07 (Not TJ's) $45.00/$33.00 ***
This is a beautiful, full smooth wine.  The tasting notes say "Raspberry and Cedar" and they are spot on. It really is gorgeous and priced as such.  This is a fantastic wine to bring as a hostess gift for a meal, or to pull out when you are cooking to impress.  It doesn't have the haughtiness of a Cabernet, but it does have a flavorful, fruity and juicy taste, with a nice grounding of cedar on the finish. I'm not giving it four stars, simply because I consider it a special purchase wine.  At that price point, there are a lot of gorgeous wines out there. (right in photo)

Gerhard Pittnauer Pinot Noir Fuchsenfeld `06 (Not TJ's) $33.00/ $29.00 ***
The Mat said "Cranberry & Earth" hmmm.  I got the cranberry notes.  Kind of tart.  Ok, really tart, and peppery.  I think that it was a disservice that I tried this wine with two that I loved.  I feel like the comparison was so diverse, that I simply had to sit back, enjoy the wine and just experience it.  Not judge it.  This wine makes me think about my whole ratings system even more.  I may just switch to "Loved it, Liked it, Hated it".  I liked this wine, it was ok.  I think that is is a wine to have with a meal, I wouldn't open a bottle to just sip. I am glad that I got to taste this Old World Pinot Noir.(left in photo)

Well, you would think that after all that wine and food, I would have had enough.  BUT, I was on vacation and I decided that I was going for the full tasting.  I ordered a flight of dessert wine and dessert.  Why not?  I was on my way to London, and it was going to be a 6 hour overnight flight to sober up on!  I would be guaranteed to sleep well.  Dessert was a portion of Cheesecake and a portion of flour-less chocolate cake.  Both were delicious, and the wines, well....  one wine blew my mind. (I'll leave that one for last)

"Just Dessert"  Flight

Casa de Santa Eufemia 10 year old Tawny Port NV (Not TJ's) $56.00/$37.00 ****
I love Tawny Port, and this one is a great one. (left in photo)  It has a distinct coffee undertone, and a date-like sweetness.  It boarders on cloying, but in moderation, this is a lovely end to a meal.  Made by Quinta de Santa Eufêmia this port is a rich, long finish library drink. I am always amazed that the same grape varietal made the Pinot Noir flight in my pairing above, also made this port.  I love versatility.

Viñedo de los Vientos Tannat Alcyone NV (Not TJ's) $39.00/$33.00 ****
This was the mind blowing, amazing experience that makes me love Vino Volo.  I tried my first wine from Uruguay.  I tried my first varietal Tannat and I had my first dessert wine that tasted like toasted marshmallows. I am a pyromaniac that will sit and burn marshmallows and eat them until I am in a diabetic coma. And since I am NOT a diabetic, just imagine me sitting with a stick, in front of a fire with glassy eyes and a perm-a-grin on my face.... To me, this wine was that campfire/marshmallow happiness in a glass (with notes of cherry and vanilla as well.). This wine was the most amazing of the meal, and I will be picking up a bottle to do a full review when I get back from London.

After my meal, I walked to my gate, boarded my plane an hour later than scheduled and then sat on the plane on the runway for three hours due to the snowstorm.  I slept on the plane and when I woke up, 

I was at Heathrow, then I took the train to Central London.  

Here it is, my beloved Paddington Station.