Surfrider Malibu Newton Canyon Red 2005
Posted on March 9, 2010 - Filed Under American Wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, California Wine, Full Bodied Wines, Meritage, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $30, blended red wine | 1 Comment
Varietal: Meritage (Merlot; Cabernet Sauvignon; Petit Verdot)
Region: California – USA
Cost: $22
Deeply colored and full bodied. Blackberry, cassis, and jammy red fruit flavors pair well with a variety of foods such as lamb chops, chicken marsala, Osso Bucco, steaks, pork, BBQ, or day old meat loaf.
Recommendations: First of all, I want to clear something up. It’s [...]
Trefethen Double T 2006
Posted on March 8, 2010 - Filed Under American Wine, Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, California Wine, Full Bodied Wines, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $30, blended red wine | 1 Comment
Varietal: Blended Red Wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec)
Region: Napa, California – USA
Cost: $25
Deep color on this “Bourdeaux Blend” with silky flavors of fruit. Excellent body that pairs well with most meats or with a group of friends.
Recommendations: Well, it’s official – the last bottle from my October trip to California is [...]
Marques de la Real Defensa Navarra 2006
Posted on March 3, 2010 - Filed Under Cabernet Sauvignon, Full Bodied Wines, Merlot, Red Wine, Spanish Wine, Tempranillo, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $20, blended red wine | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Navarra (50% Tempranillo; 25% Merlot; 25% Cabernet Sauvignon)
Region: Spain
Cost: $11
Robust color with floral and fruit aromas. Flavors of ripe fruit that pair well with meat, pasta, or cheese.
Recommendations: I’ve become a huge fan of Spanish wines over the last few years, and so I never pass up the opportunity to enjoy one. I let [...]
Virginia Wine Expo 2010 in Review
Posted on March 3, 2010 - Filed Under American Wine, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Dry Wines, Full Bodied Wines, Light Wines, Meritage, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinot Grigio, Red Wine, Riesling, Virginia Wine, Virginia Wine Expo, White Wine, Wine Reviews, white table wine | 1 Comment
Well, the 3rd Annual Virginia Wine Expo has come and gone. I found some new vineyards and visited some old favorites. Here’s the long and short of my experience.
Athena Vineyards (http://www.athenavineyards.com)
Athena Vineyards is worth going to just to check out their unique bottle designs. Owned by former nurses, Athena Vineyards offers a great deck wine [...]
Brazilio Red Wine 2006
Posted on February 25, 2010 - Filed Under Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, Full Bodied Wines, Red Wine, South American Wine, Syrah, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $10, Wine's Under $20, blended red wine | Leave a Comment
Varietal: 50% Syrah; 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Brazil
Cost: $10
Ruby red color with aromas of crushed fruit and smoke. Smoke flavors carries through to the palate with a subtle yet robust finish. Pairs well with meats, pastas, and roasted chicken.
Recommendations: I’d never had a wine from Brazil, so I was instantly interested in this wine when I [...]
Root:1 Carmenere 2007
Posted on February 16, 2010 - Filed Under Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Chilean Wine, Dry Wines, Full Bodied Wines, Red Wine, South American Wine, Syrah, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $20, blended red wine | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Carmenere (75% Carmenere; 15% Cabernet Sauvignon; 10% Syrah)
Region: Chile
Cost: $13
Deep red in color with gentle and silky tannins and rich flavors of ripe plum, blackberry, vanilla and spice. Pair with pasta, grilled meats, spicy entrees, eggplant, or bell peppers.
Recommendations: I’ve been a fan of Root:1 wines for a while, regularly keeping their Sauvignon Blanc [...]
Montes Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Posted on January 26, 2010 - Filed Under Cabernet Sauvignon, Chilean Wine, Dry Wines, Full Bodied Wines, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $10, Wine's Under $20 | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Chile
Cost: $10
Garnet color with flavors of cherry and bold tannins. Pair this wine with red meat or a boldly flavored meal.
Recommendations: For a dinner alone, I swung by my local Fresh Market (which if you have one you should visit often) and picked up a steak and this bottle of wine, partially for [...]
Middle Sister Rebel Red
Posted on January 4, 2010 - Filed Under American Wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, California Wine, Medium Bodied Wines, Merlot, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $10, blended red wine, red table wine, wine advice | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Blended Red Wine (Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon)
Region: California – USA
Cost: $8 – $10
Dark coloring with forward flavors of fruit and cherry with a smooth finish. Pairs well with chicken, pork, and sharp cheeses.
Recommendations: I picked up this wine with a pretty good idea of what to expect, and not necessarily in a negative way. [...]
Monte Antico Toscana
Posted on December 28, 2009 - Filed Under Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Wines, Italian Wine, Merlot, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $10, Wine's Under $20, blended red wine, red table wine, sangiovese | 2 Comments
Varietal: Blended Red Wine (85% Sangiovese; 10% Cabernet Sauvignon; 5% Merlot)
Region: Italy
Cost: $10
Dark garnet color with rich flavors of fruit balanced by robust tannins on the finish. Pair with red meats, pasta with red sauce, or sharp cheeses.
Recommendations: I’ve always been a sucker for Italian wine – Chianti will always hold a special place in [...]
The Foodie Guide to Pairing Wine and Cheese
Posted on November 18, 2009 - Filed Under Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Rioja, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, viognier | 4 Comments
By: Sara Kahn, Founder of The Cheese Ambassador.
Whether you are hosting a soiree or a casual get-together this holiday, your mission is to provide your guests with warm hospitality, lively conversation and a delectable spread of food and drink. Whether the menu is complicated or simple it better be delicious. Serving a sumptuous [...]
