It seems without Torrontés there’s something missing…

I actually wrote this blog a couple of weeks ago, prior to the election (which will become obvious in about three sentences), but have been super busy and was not able to post it until just now. However, the results of the election might be a boon to the blog as I see myself turning more and more to wine to numb the pain. Anyway, without further ado, here is the post:

With the elections just weeks away and with political ads pouring out of our mailbox and tying up all the ad space on TV, we figured it was probably time to pull out our sample ballots and take a good look at the issues. So two Friday nights back, we decided to get political. Because four opinions are always better than two, we asked our friends Brian and Courtney if they wanted to join us for some dinner, some wine and some fiery political debate. They were only too happy to oblige.

I was excited for the company because I have essentially been in social exile for the past several weeks due in part to my desire to slow my life down and also due to an incomplete thesis hanging over my head. I was also looking forward to the mini-dinner party because I love love LOVE Fall and there is nothing I like better than having some friends over for a hearty Fall meal and a good bottle of wine. (Un)Fortunately, this particular Friday fell right in the midst of that super intense Indian Summer heat wave we had a couple of weeks ago and it didn’t really feel like Fall at all. Even so, I was determined, so I went ahead with my plans to make butternut squash risotto and roasted brussel sprouts. While the meal was a bit on the heavy side, it was still warm outside, which made choosing a wine somewhat tricky. In the end, my thirst (and my slight preference for whites) won out and I decided to grab one of the wines Tim and I tasted while we were in Argentina – a 2008 Mil Vientos Torrontés from San Juan.

I opened the wine just as we were starting dinner, giving it time to breath a bit. Like a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, the color was almost white with only hints of golden hues and it had a light quality about it as it swirled in the glass. My initial impression was fairly neutral – it wasn’t creamy or thick and there didn’t seem to be anything particularly unique about this wine…until I stuck my nose in the glass.

The Torrontés varietal is known for producing aromatic wines and this wine was no exception. The nose was distinct and powerful, but not in a bad way. It was sweet and enticing and gave off a scent that I knew I had smelled before, but I just couldn’t put my finger on it. I smelled honey and melon and notes of white flowers. Even with all these aromas wafting toward me, I was still missing the essential piece of this bouquet. The rest of the gang smelled it too, agreeing with me that it was giving off a very distinctive scent that was hard to discern. After a few minutes of deliberation, Courtney identified it – lychee. Above all the other scents coming out of the glass, lychee was by far the strongest and it was luring me in like a Siren.

The first sip only proved the deceptive nature of the wine. I was expecting something more along the lines of a Muscat given the sweet aromatics of the wine, so I was surprised to find a sharp, crisp, dryness on the tip of my tongue. Accompanying that crispness was very tart Gravenstein apple on the front palate combined with heavy acidity on the mid and back palate. On the whole, I can usually hang with overly acidic wines, but this was a bit too much. I could literally feel the burning on my tongue and in the back of my mouth. I won’t say it was a total deal-breaker, but I would have much preferred something with a bit more balance. The finish, however, was quite nice. It boasted a long pear finish with hints of lemon that were reminiscent of a good hard cider. I was happy with the finish as I felt the flavors and complexity return to the wine and in a way that complemented both the meal and the flavors that are so indicative of the season. The wine ultimately paired fairly well with the food, providing a light contrast to the heaviness of the risotto and squash.

We finished dinner and adjourned to the couch to crack open our ballots. I filled everyone’s glasses one last time to see if the wine would pair as nicely with the politics and it did with the food. I am happy to report that it did. Over the next hour or so, we poured over the issues, discussing each in detail and sipping as we went. The conversation was deep, at times heated and controversial, and then comforting – just like the wine. The complexity, the structure and the robustness of the wine made it the ideal accompaniment to our debate. It was the perfect political wine – sweet yet sour, deceptively sharp, the ability to show well on its own, but with the capacity and desire to work well with others.

Amy Award: 3 stars (out of 5)
Spendy Scale: $16
Best bet: With grilled chicken or shrimp on a spring day or with a heavy meal, and even heavier conversation

They call me Monte Bello...

Well, admittedly I didn’t jump right back on the wine train as I had claimed I would. Ahh…life –always getting in the way. In all actuality, our lives didn’t start to slow down until a couple of weeks ago and truth be told, after a summer of boozing, I needed a little break from the sauce. But that break is over; so here I am.

I hadn’t planned to review another Ridge wine – or at least not for some time – but it just sort of happened. And really, who am I to pass up the opportunity to review the wine that put Ridge on the map – the Monte Bello. I received the bottle as a parting gift when I stopped working in the tasting room at the Healdsburg location several years ago. It was definitely the most expensive bottle I had owned up to that point (and still), both because of its high quality and thus, price; and because it was such a nice wine, I convinced myself that I needed to buy a wine cellar/refrigerator just to store it. So, what could have been a free bottle of a wine retailing anywhere between $90 and $140 turned into a few hundred dollars worth of a wine storage (and the hand truck to move it). But it was worth it! My mom and I lugged that behemoth wine fridge back to my tiny one-bedroom apartment and managed to squeeze it into the closet. And there it stayed, keeping my Monte Bello, and all its other Ridge siblings plus a few stepchildren, at just the right temperature until I was ready to drink it.

That was in 2004. I held onto that bottle, waiting for the perfect special occasion to open it. Interestingly enough, in the next six years I would find myself moving in with my boyfriend, finishing grad school, getting my first “real” job – you know, the one that changes your whole career trajectory, getting engaged, getting married, celebrating our one year anniversary and then turning 30. By any estimation, all of these occasions could have (and probably should have) prompted me to open the Monte Bello. But for one reason or the other, I just didn’t. And then, a few weeks ago, Tim and I found ourselves at home for the first time in several months. We figured that fact alone, along with a freshly-cleaned house, was cause enough to celebrate. So we opened the Monte Bello.

We had also been thinking for quite some time about recreating our best meal in Buenos Aires – lomo a a la pimienta, or beef tenderloin with peppercorn sauce. Of course we knew we would never get steaks as tender and pure as the ones we enjoyed in Argentina, but we were determined to try. We took a little jaunt to our neighborhood butcher, told him of our plan and he set us up with some good-looking, albeit pricey, steaks for our recreation. With some good team work in the kitchen and the help of our good old pal, the internet, we cooked up a fabulous feast that paired exceedingly well with our delicious wine.

Speaking of the wine… let’s get to this. The 1999 Ridge Monte Bello is essentially a Cabernet Sauvignon, although it is blended with Merlot, and the slightest bits of Cab Franc and Petite Verdot. This beautiful Bourdeaux blend was as dark as the night’s sky in the glass. It was deep maroon – even brown at times. Its legs were long and milky, coating the glass with its creamy texture. It looked amazing and I was eager to take it all in.

The nose was light – not overpowering or strong. In fact, I think I detected the slightest hint of sweetness, perhaps berries? But even with the berry undertones, distinct smells of smoke, oak, eucalyptus and chocolate came through. On the whole, I’d say the nose matched the appearance of the wine – dark and dusty. We decanted the wine and let it breathe a fair amount before pouring it into the glass. This was a good move as the first sip was delectable. The mouthfeel was soft and creamy and smooth with only slight tannins and grittiness on the finish, which actually made me think I should have cellared it for another couple of years (and a handful of potential milestones). Even so, it was delicious and the perfect accompaniment to our steaks.

The wine showed a mix of sweet and tart on the front palate – a taste I likened to rhubarb. But its complexity came through on the mid to back palate, with equal parts smoke, oak and leather. This wine was so interesting and layered, yet balanced and unpretentious. It didn’t overwhelm the palate, nor did it fall flat. It maintained an intricate mélange of flavors, but still managed to retain its simplicity.

All in all, this wine was a real winner. It is a wine that is meant to be savored and lingered over – it’s comfortable, like hanging out with your best friend or partner. And like any best friend or partner, it has its faults; but you still relish in its familiarity and effortlessness. Tim called it amazing. I called it the perfect wine to share with my husband while attempting to recreate our honeymoon.

Amy Award: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
Spendy Scale: $90 - $140
Best bet: A special occasion meal with the finest steaks you can find or celebrating a quiet evening in a clean house

Que Syrah, Syrah – Whatever will be, will be

Okay, so that title was too easy. I know. But I needed a softball for my first blog after being on summer social engagement hiatus. Since my last post (which was eons ago, I am aware), Tim and I witnessed five couples comprised of close friends and family get married, celebrated several bachelor/bachelorette and birthday parties, went camping for a week, hosted a few different houseguests, and celebrated our first anniversary as a married couple. Though we are not in the clear yet – between the two of us, we still have a 30th birthday/engagement party, Tim’s mom’s 60th birthday party, a Lady Gaga concert, a trip to San Diego, an epic backpacking trip through the Eastern Sierras, my 30th birthday and a trip to Ashland – things are starting to wind down, which means Amy’s Wine House is back. I apologize for my sudden and unexplained disappearance. But what would this blog be without a little drama and suspense?

Oh yeah, that’s right. It would be my feeble attempt to review wines. That being said, let’s get to it.

So round about mid-June, one of my good friends, Jessica, moved back to San Francisco after attending grad school and working for a few years in Washington D.C. Excited to see her back on the West Coast and in need of an excuse to clean our apartment, Tim and I put her up at our place for a week while she was looking for a place to share with her “then-boyfriend” (I mentioned we have an engagement party to attend!). A fellow wino, Jessica was only too happy to help me sample some Syrah for my next post. I don’t think either of knew at the time that it would take me two months to actually write and upload the thing. BUT…I am glad I waited. Now, in honor of Jess and her recent engagement to her fiancé Josh, I’m going to review that bottle of Syrah we shared so long ago. Like the wine we tasted, we were so young back then.

In an attempt to branch out and also as a response to some of my followers who have asked me to review a more affordable wine, I picked up a 2007 Rootstock North Coast Syrah from Ukiah, CA. Choosing the wine was a very deliberate and scientific process – I liked the label and the bottle cost $6.99. After a nice, hearty meal of Zachary’s pizza, we headed home to pop open this Rootstock Rhone.

I will say, the wine was beautiful in the glass – it had a dark plum color and slight legs that seemed to foreshadow deep, rich qualities. I swirled and sniffed to find a nose showing strong dark berries, cloves and hints of leather. At times, we even got whiffs of cherry chapstick (huh?). However, with 14.6% alcohol, this little libation was rocking a pretty big alcohol smell. Needless to say, the nose was a mixed bag. The berries and cloves were enticing; the strong alcohol smell was not. But we pressed on.

This Syrah showed an immediate smoothness and drinkability on the front palate, yet became more peppery has it moved through the mid-palate and beyond. A testament to its staying power, the wine boasted a lingering savory, earthy finish with hints of game, dark cherries and slight tannins. The mouthfeel was gritty; and we agreed that it was a heavier Syrah than most, but felt as though it had enough structure to last over time.

As it was, it was drinkable – especially if you wanted a wine you could drink on its own. But this wine was young, and tight, and definitely could have benefitted from some time to mellow out. It wasn’t particularly well-balanced or complex, but I wasn’t completely bored either, I guess. All in all, this Syrah works if you are looking for a cheap earthy wine that will stand on its own, or if you need something to pair with your pizza, spicy sausage or BBQ’d red meats. In the end, Jess and I finished the bottle, but I think next time we’d “root” for a different “stock.”

Amy Award: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
Spendy Scale: $7
Best bet: A cheap wine to pair with your pizza or a late-night bottle with an old friend

Cracklin’ Rosé, get on board

Since summer seems to finally be upon us (fingers crossed), I thought I would review a wine that reminded me of long days, hot weather and sitting out on the patio on a warm evening. I immediately thought of something cold – I mean who wants to drink a room temperature beverage when it’s 80+ degrees outside? Not me, certainly. After a conversation with my BFF, Kat, about Viognier, I thought I might hunt a good one down and give it a go. But I went to three stores and nothing jumped out at me, so I decided to hold off. And when Tim and I were invited to a BBQ at Brian and Hillary’s house in the burbs, I peeked into our wine cellar and was drawn to the 2008 Boeger Vin Rosé I picked up nearly a year ago. It seemed the perfect fit for an evening hanging out with friends in the backyard. I grabbed the bottle and we were on our way.

By the time we made it to Orinda, the weather had cooled off a bit. And I mean, let’s get real, this is the Bay Area, it never really gets HOT. Even so, it was warm enough to still feel refreshed by the rosé. I popped it opened and immediately began enjoying it with some cheese and cherries Hillary set out as an appetizer.

The Boeger rosé comes from El Dorado County, a rapidly-growing wine growing region in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. This particular rosé was a blend of Barbera – an Italian varietal known for its intense fruit and tannins – and Mourvedre – a strong, dark red wine that is typical of rosés.

The wine looked beautiful in the glass, with a darker pinkish-salmon color that resembled fresh watermelon. Its healthy legs coated the glass nicely, giving it a somewhat creamy texture. Anticipating the chilly crispness of the wine, I stuck in my nose and breathed deeply. With very strong apricot notes, citrus undertones and just a slight hint of cinnamon, this rosé was looking promising. I had a few more nibbles from the cheese plate and went in for the taste.

Even with a slightly creamy mouth feel, the wine was incredibly dry and crisp. It was fruity, but not overly sweet and in fact, the tart apricot and stone fruit flavors showed mostly on the front palate, while the back palate had a somewhat bitter taste – kind of like cough syrup. Interestingly enough, that wasn’t a bad thing. It actually added to the complexity of the wine, giving it a lingering finish and a robustness that pleased me. Overall, it was strong, but not too strong. Some might say toned and defined, but not bulky. Just the way I like it.

Proving its versatility, this rosé continued to pair nicely with the cheese and fruit, but also worked just as well with the delicious tri-tip and Israeli couscous salad Hillary and Brian prepared. I even continued drinking it well into the dessert course – an amazing strawberry shortcake.

This was definitely a wine I would drink again. I guess that’s obvious since this was my second time drinking it. But its strong, robust qualities, which give it the ability to stand on its own, in addition to its versatility and easy accompaniment with food, definitely make it one of my go-to wines for the summer. It is best served chilled (perfect for hot days and warm nights) and its crisp, dry nature makes it a good friend to light and heavy fare alike. And with a little bit of sunshine, this rosé comes up roses.

Amy Award: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
Spendy Scale: $15
Best bet: A backyard BBQ or a summer afternoon with friends

Pinot-thing compares to you

I have to apologize to my faithful followers (ha!) – I have been a bit MIA lately. We have been out of town the last two weekends, which means we’ve been busy, busy, busy. We spent Memorial Day weekend at Lake Berryessa celebrating the 30th birthday of our friend Jocelyn. Obviously a slave to a theme like me, Jocelyn figured a weekend at the lake demanded the appropriate type of booze – PBR and two-buck Chuck. That’s right, over the course of two days, we knocked back our fair share of Charles Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon. And if y’all are lucky, I may blog about Charles Shaw Cab and its amazing ability to pair so nicely with homemade chocolate cake in a later post. Stay tuned for that…

Last weekend, we kicked off wedding season with back-to-back weddings in Sonoma County. On Friday, we celebrated the nuptials of my step-sister Brianna and her husband Brandon at the lovely Estate Restaurant in Sonoma. I started with bubbles since I love the festive and fun nature of champagne, especially at weddings. Plus, the champagne went so well with the oysters they were serving. I decided to stick with the bubbles (and lots of them) for the remainder of the evening – a decision that has made it impossible to review what I was drinking. I think you know what I mean. For what it’s worth, I do remember it was delicious.

On Saturday, we attended the wedding of our good friends Robert and Emily with a beautiful ceremony at Griffith Woods along the Russian River and an equally stunning reception at the Rancho Wikiup in Santa Rosa. Again, I started with sparkling wine because, again, we were having oysters. And again, it was a wedding and well, I just can’t help myself. But the couple had picked out a couple of wines that reflected both their tastes and the places they have lived (or want to live) over the years. One of those wines was a 2007 Octavia Pinot Noir from the Central Coast – a nod to San Luis Obispo, where the two met. Not knowing much about Pinots, and not yet having reviewed a Pinot Noir on the blog, I thought I would give it a taste and review, so Robert and Emily kindly let me take a bottle home after the wedding.

Pinot Noir is best suited to cooler, foggy appellations because the grapes bud and ripen early, and the longer the berries can stay on the vine before becoming too ripe, the more complex the resulting wine will be. So the Central Coast is a great place to grow this varietal because of its temperate climate and coastal influence. I tasted a few Pinots while living in San Luis Obispo, but I have to say, my knowledge of Central Coast wines in general is a little slim, so I was looking forward to getting a taste of one of the varietals that has made the region so famous.

I opened the Octavia last night and let it breath for quite a while before tasting. I immediately noticed its color – a deep, dark scarlet red, almost garnet. It was slightly translucent, which made me think that it would not be as heavy a wine as some. Without a trained palate for Pinots, I didn’t know what to expect in tasting the wine. Although I have to say I was a bit surprised when I stuck my nose in the glass. Right away I smelled a faint hint of jamminess, but soon that was overpowered by strong notes of bacon and mustiness. The more I swirled and sniffed, the more I got cured meats, like salami, bologna and even hot dogs(!) on the nose. Honestly, the more it opened up, the more it smelled like Oscar Mayer. Interestingly enough, however, that didn’t turn me off. One of my guilty pleasures is hot dogs, so admittedly, I got a little excited. And if a wine could smell so much like a Ball Park Frank, what would it taste like? I was about to find out.

The wine itself was definitely savory and carried through it the theme of cured meats, although not as strongly as on the nose. Not a very tannic wine, this Pinot was light and smooth, with a soft finish. The front palate showed more hints of fruit – I would say rhubarb – while the middle and back palate had a bit of earthiness to it. It wasn’t particularly complex or structured, but it wasn’t boring either. It was a very approachable, drinkable wine that would be easy to pair with food. In fact, we enjoyed it with turkey burgers and it complemented the meal just fine. Overall, I liked this wine. I would describe it as nice, light, easy, and simple – a nice introduction to Central Coast Pinot Noir, and a pleasant way to both remember our life in SLO and to celebrate Robert and Emily’s amazing wedding.

Amy Award: 3 stars (out of 5)
Spendy Scale: $18
Best Bet: A light summer meal or a beautiful Rancho-style wedding

Chard luck woman

First things first: you may have noticed I’ve got a whole new look going on here. You also may have noticed that it is awesome. I wish I could take credit for it, but I can’t. Here is the story. Basically since I started this blog several weeks ago, I’ve been wanting to spruce it up a bit. I mean, let’s not kid ourselves, the basic Blogger template was not exactly on the cutting edge of design. So I enlisted the help of my friend Brian (previously mentioned in this post) since he’s done a fair amount of graphic design work in his day, including creating the logo for his own foodie venture, the Indilicious cart in San Francisco.

And he did an amazing job! He came up with the concept, color scheme, and layout; and it looks great. I definitely owe him dinner and a bottle of something special.

Okay, now that I’ve addressed my blog’s new outfit, I can get to my post.

With over half of May in the books, it is official: we have entered wedding season. We’ve got our first weddings of the year coming up the first weekend of June with several to follow. To celebrate my friend Emily’s upcoming nuptials, we decided on a girls’ trip up to the Napa Valley to do a bit of tasting. Because we went to a few different wineries, I’m going to veer from my usual style and review several wines since we tasted so many on Saturday.

Our first stop was at Nicholson Ranch along the Hwy 12/121 corridor in Sonoma where they poured us a custom flight of three chardonnays, a rosé, a pinot and a syrah. With my notebook and pen in hand, I started in. Our first pour was a 2005 Estate Reserve Chardonnay Cuveé Natalie, which had an interesting mix of stinky, aged cheese and fresh bell peppers on the nose. I was intrigued. The wine itself was nice. I’m not really a fan of chards, but if I were, I imagined that I would have liked this wine. It was creamy and oaky, like any good chard should be, but it had nice acidity and soft buttery undertones. On the whole it was good; solid. Next up was the 2006 Estate Chardonnay. Like the ’05, it had some cheese on the nose, but I detected slight fruit as well. I was encouraged. It was a much lighter wine than the first one with more acid and more tannins. And while the front palate showed acidity and crispness, the mid and back palates showed both butter and oak. Again, it was good. We rounded out the chards with the 2007 Estate. The smell of sweet pineapple immediately wafted out of the glass. I was excited. Much sweeter than the first two, this chard demonstrated tropical fruit and strong acidity throughout. While the wine coated the glass nicely, it was not too heavy, but rather light, airy and almost weightless. Because this wine was not overly oaky or buttery, I enjoyed it much more than the previous two. And as a younger wine, this chard had a freshness that I found satisfying. The ’07 was definitely my favorite of the lineup. We finished up with the rosé, pinot and syrah and went on our way.

The next stop was Grgich Hills, an organic and biodynamic winery on the heavily populated Hwy 29 in Napa. I had high hopes for this winery as it had come highly recommended by some friends at work. I’ll save you the suspense – I was sorely disappointed. We started our flight with a 2007 Napa Valley Chardonnay. It was light in color – much lighter than the chards at Nicholson Ranch – but if ever a chard tasted like buttered popcorn, it was this one. Wow! I felt like I was at the movie theater. I should have known, the nose definitely smelled of butter, with only slight hints of cheese. That being said, I did taste tart fruit on the front palate and the finish was slightly acidic. Nevertheless, this chard was your typical butter bomb and for me, that wasn’t a good thing. They set us up with a 2008 Fumé Blanc next. With tropical fruit and crisp bell pepper on the nose, I was looking forward to a wine that might be more my speed. It was definitely sharp and crisp, but didn’t retain the fruit from the nose. Instead, it was savory up front with a dry, mineral, earthy finish. It felt a little overly structured, rather than having a natural complexity. I liked it better than the chard, but I still wasn’t swooning. We finished up with a zin, a merlot and a cab which garnered an “eh,” “no,” and “not smooth” respectively in my notes.

After lunch, we headed to Frog’s Leap on the Silverado Trail. What a sigh of relief. We were able to escape the craziness of the crowds and enjoy some nice wines and small bites on the porch of this gorgeous winery. They started us with a 2009 Sauvignon Blanc from Rutherford, which was definitely a highlight of the trip. It had nice legs, a tropical fruit nose with hints of grass. The mouth-feel was light and somewhat creamy, but still nice and dry. Tart fruit and a touch of minerality combined with slight acidity to make for an easy-drinking, refreshing wine that would be easy to pair with food. In fact, it went quite nicely with the aged, smoked gouda they offered us as a snack. I could have ended there, but instead we powered through a zin, merlot and cab before moving on.

We rounded out our tour with a stop at Clos du Val and Cline Cellars before heading back to the city, but I’ll share my notes from those wineries another time. All in all, I enjoyed spending time with the girls and learning more about Napa wines. Unfortunately for a gal who favors zins, dry whites and Rhone-style wines, Napa’s cabs, merlots and chardonnays didn’t exactly suit my fancy. That’s not to say I’ll never go back to Napa – with any luck, I may grow to love chard.

Amy’s Award: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
Spendy scale: $50 - $150+ (transportation, tastings and lunch)
Best bet: A Bourdeaux/Burgundy fact-finding mission or a leisurely trip with friends

Baby Got Mal-bec

Tonight I thought I’d bring it back to where it all re-began. I mentioned that my real, honest passion for wine was sparked at Ridge Vineyards – well that passion that once lay dormant was rekindled in the vineyards of Mendoza, Argentina. Although I had continued to enjoy wine, tasting and buying occasionally to keep our cellar stocked, I hadn’t committed myself to digging deeper, learning more, and broadening my wine horizons until we arrived in Mendoza. Ahhh… Mendoza. Let me paint the picture for you.

Tim and I enjoyed a month-long honeymoon in Argentina earlier this year. After trekking through Patagonia for two weeks, braving the elements – and I’m talking about the most extreme wind and rain you’ve ever seen – rolling into Mendoza was not unlike entering paradise. Situated at the foot of the Andes Mountains, Mendoza benefits from an ancient aqueduct system that captures the snowmelt runoff to irrigate its arid dessert valley. So while it was hot and dry – literally in the 90s to 100s some days – every street had its own irrigation channels lining each side; and with sycamores edging each irrigation ditch, walking down the street was akin to taking a nice leisurely stroll by a creek. The sound of rushing water combined with the shade of the trees soothed us, despite the fact that we were tired, sweaty and carrying around a month’s worth of luggage on our backs. And as two weary travelers from Northern California, we welcomed this hot weather that reminded us of home.

Even more than the weather, however, we were drawn to Mendoza because of its impressive culinary creations and of course, its wine. During our stay there, we managed to tour the wineries of the Maipu Valley on what barely passed for bicycles, sample local delicacies (read: the most delicious grass-fed beef you’ve ever tasted) at Azafrán, and delight in the region’s finest wines at the hip and swanky Vines of Mendoza . You can check out photos of our adventures below.

But in Mendoza I was also reminded of what I loved about wine in the first place – the exquisiteness and complexity of a good wine, the fervor and zeal with which passionate wine-makers approach their task, the ability of an interesting bottle to unite friends and strangers alike, the challenge of sharpening one’s palate, and the seemingly limitless opportunity to learn more about this refined libation. One week in Mendoza and it was on. I vowed to get back into it.

So here I am on a rainy Monday night in May attempting to recreate some of the food and wine we sampled while we were there. To do that, we opened up a 2006 Santos Beck Malbec to pair with our chile-rubbed grilled steak with cilantro pesto, roasted bell peppers and green salad. Malbec, which is known for its dark color and strong tannins, originated in France but has flourished in Argentina and has really become the flagship wine of its renowned wine-growing region Mendoza.

True to form, this Santos Beck Malbec was a beautiful dark scarlet red color and looked fabulous in the glass. The nose was okay, although I had a bit of trouble picking up on its nuances. At times I got chocolate, at other times I got dark berries and plums. And I swear I even got traces of eucalyptus and well, alcohol, for lack of a better descriptor.

To say this wine had robust tannins would also be true, although they came off more as spice and pepper and lingered long into the finish. I found the wine to be somewhat acidic and strong with a powerful punch that permeated the entire mouth. The mouth-feel was airy and light, yet the wine was structured as if it was meant to be laid down for a few more years at least. Don’t get me wrong, it was approachable enough right now – smooth and fruit forward on the front of the palate, yet full of brawn on the back palate – but I’m certain it would have benefitted from a bit more rest.

This wine was decanted and as it continued to breath, it definitely softened up. After some time I was able to taste its fruit much more clearly while still experiencing the strong tannic finish; and I liked that. I definitely liked the wine, but I didn’t love it. I think, more than anything, I liked reliving Mendoza again and recalling the viticultural spirit that made the place so enchanting. So I’m going to bed happy. Ahhh…nothing like a Malbec to bring to you back.

Amy Award: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
Spendy scale: $18
Best bet: Alongside a good steak or as an afternoon glass with some stinky cheese

Shorty got Merlot, low, low, low

As ridiculous as it sounds, I was actually stressing this week about choosing a wine to review. With limitless options, I was finding it difficult to narrow it down to one. What’s more, with several social commitments – craft night with Emily and Courtney, drinks with Meredith and Kat’s 30^th birthday dinner – I wasn’t sure when I was going to have time to enjoy even just one glass, you know, for the sake of the blog (wink).

So you can imagine how giddy I was when Emily showed up to craft night with seven cases of wine and champagne. Now even though the wine was purchased for her upcoming wedding, she had one rogue bottle of red to spare – so we went for it. I couldn’t believe my luck, I mean crafting and wine? A fan of efficiency, I was stoked about the opportunity to “feed two birds with one hand” as my co-workers at Save The Bay would say. And it gets better, Brian (Courtney’s hubbie/good friend of mine) was there with his fancy new camera, so he took some nice photos of the wine and our meal.

We opened up a 2004 Mosaic Merlot from Graton, CA – yet another completely new wine to me. I normally wouldn’t go for a Merlot; and no, it’s not because Paul Giamatti dissed it in Sideways. I basically just stopped drinking Merlot in college, when I figured out that I liked wines with a bit more fruit. It’s just not my favorite. But who am I to turn down free wine, especially when in the company of friends?

Based on looks alone, my expectations of the wine were good. With dark color and nice legs, it looked appealing in the glass. The nose was savory and earthy, almost salty – like black olives. I did get a hint of spice and maybe even a whiff or two of berries, but mostly I got bacon. And since I like bacon, I was intrigued.

My first sip was tart and tannic. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t spectacular. It didn’t knock my socks off. As I continued to sip, I tasted pepper and cured meats and earthiness. The mouth-feel was light, which I appreciated – I normally don’t like heavy wines, especially when I’m eating a light meal. But with each sip, I just kept getting “sour.” It had a lingering tannic finish, but it wasn’t particularly complex.

My overall impression of the wine was just eh. It was okay – not terrible, but not terrific. It definitely didn’t hold a candle to the delicious spinach quiche and salad lovingly prepared by Brian and Courtney, and it wasn’t really a wine I would drink alone. I asked the others what they thought of it and the opinions were pretty similar. Brian and Courtney thought it was good, but they didn’t rave about it. Emily said it was okay, but not as good as a different Merlot she had recently and loved. She "wouldn't buy it again."

In short, no one was jumping over the moon for the wine. It was fine as an accompaniment to dinner and DIY interchangeable cake platter making, but this was one mosaic where the pieces just didn’t seem to fit.

Amy Award: 1.5 stars (out of 5)
Spendy scale: $18ish
Best bet: With a greasy pizza or a craft night with friends

It’s a Mud House – lettin’ it all hang out

Last Friday Tim and I decided to play hooky and head down to Monterey to visit the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. As a faithful Facebook fan and Twitter follower of the Aquarium, I have been jonesing to visit for quite some time now. I mean, a person can only take so many photos of those cute little otters before they just gotta see them in the flesh. Plus I think it had been ten years since I had been to the Aquarium, so I figured it was time. After some yoga, frittata, Cole Coffee and a quick trip to H&M, we were on our way.

When some of my foodie friends caught wind that we would be in the Monterey area, they recommended we go to Passionfish – a restaurant known for its marriage of fresh, local, sustainable seafood with a superb wine list. I decided dinner at this renowned green restaurant would be a fitting way to cap our visit to the Aquarium.

I was expecting my butternut squash soup with green onion cream and applewood smoked bacon to be delicious – and it was. I was expecting my sea scallops with tomato-truffle butter, risotto custard and minted celery to be amazing – and they were. But knowing relatively little about wines from New Zealand, I didn’t quite know what to expect from my 2009 Mud House Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough.

I was blown away.

Now for as much as I love zinfandel, I might love Sauvignon Blanc more. I just love its dry crispness and the tart, tropical fruit flavors that come with it. I tend to favor Sauv Blancs with more tart fruit – citrus, pear, apple – but I’m warming up to the grassier ones as well. Even so, when our server told me that Mud House was fairly grassy, with hints of fruit, I wasn’t sure I’d like it. But I went for it anyway. And I’m so glad I did.

It was a remarkable wine – enticing nose, strong tropical fruit and hints of grassy earthiness. It was delicious on its own and it paired nicely with the scallops. It was very crisp and dry, tart and refreshing. It was the kind of wine that you would drink on your front porch or back patio on a hot summer day – and it would go down so smooth. Sigh…

I managed to stretch my glass throughout the meal and wanted to order another glass (or bottle) to continue to enjoy for the rest of the evening, but alas it was not meant to be. With a quick check of his NBA playoff iPhone app, Tim determined that we could make the second half of the LA Lakers – Oklahoma City Thunder game if we got on the road straight away. So we were off.

We did manage to see the second half, which made Tim happy. But three days later, I still regret not getting that second glass. I plan to get a bottle to make up for it. And with summer on the way, I should have no problem finding a warm evening to enjoy this refreshing treat.

Amy Award: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
Spendy scale: $10-15
Best bet: A cool, fresh meal or a hot summer night

All in all, it's just another Rock in the Wall

I hadn’t originally meant to review two zinfandels in a row, but hey, when someone hands me a free bottle of wine, I don’t say no. Here is the story: last week Tim attended a fancy reception for an East Bay green business group he is a part of and brought home a bottle of 2008 Rock Wall Sonoma County Zinfandel as a party favor. Being a fan of anything local – did I mention Rock Wall makes and bottles all their wine in Alameda, CA? – I said yes please. I was only too happy to indulge in this freebie.

We didn’t open it until a few days later and for one reason or another, I wasn’t expecting much. I won’t say that I had low expectations, but rather I just didn’t have any expectations at all. I was pleasantly surprised. I should have known, I mean it had all the right ingredients – it was a zin (my favorite) from Sonoma County (my childhood home and zin capital of California) and the label billed the wine as “fruit forward” (the kind of zin I love most). After doing some sleuthing, I realized that wine-making vet Kent Rosenblum is a consulting wine-maker for Rock Wall Wine Co., and it all started making sense.

Having learned my lesson from last time, I made sure to decant the wine. My mistake this time, however, was pairing it with some spicy turkey tacos. It’s not that the wine didn’t stand up to the spiciness of the meal, but I just felt like the food was overpowering the wine and not allowing me to really taste it properly. After a palate cleanser and a small wait, I was able to taste the wine by itself and I liked that better.

Upon first sniff, I got a very powerful nose with a strong blackberry/boysenberry jamminess. I also detected some hints of sweet spice – cinnamon perhaps? – and some savory notes that reminded me of Manzanita. Staying true to the nose, the first sip was indeed very fruity, although not the fruit bomb I was expecting. It wasn’t overly sweet or jammy, but rather rich in fruit with light spice on the finish. The mouth-feel was also light with virtually no tannins. With every sip I just kept thinking: this is a nice, approachable wine that probably doesn’t need to be cellared for too terribly long before drinking. I think I mentioned that this was a 2008, so this particular bottle didn’t really get any rest at all.

Overall I’d say it was a good, solid, everyday, drinkable wine. It was well-balanced and tasty, and interesting but not pretentious. This is the kind of wine you bring to a party and everyone loves it. Especially if that party is in the East Bay.

Amy Award: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
Spendy scale: $25
Best bet: A weekday dinner or as a light afternoon glass

Livin' on the "Ridge" -- Sizing up the ’06 Lytton Springs

So I’m just a girl who likes wine. I don’t claim to know much about it, but I like it. Okay, so maybe I know a little bit – if nothing else, I can talk the talk…sort of. You see, I once spent a summer working at a winery and there began both my wine education and appreciation. I learned the buzz words like gamey, jammy, full-bodied, and approachable. I also learned about the growing, harvesting, and barreling processes of making wine. But mostly I just learned to like it. Since then I’ve mostly been an aficionado and not really a connoisseur, but at the very least I like to fake like I have a discerning palate. More than anything, I just love to open up a bottle with some good friends and enjoy.

I also like to write. Again, I’m not a “writer” per se, but rather just a gal who likes to put words down on paper. So in an attempt to marry two of my passions, I decided to blog about wine. Think about it as your lay-woman’s guide to wine. I’m not a professional, but I plan to cover it all. I’m happy to take a chance on a cheap bottle (and I’m even happier if it’s delicious!), but I’m also willing to shell out some cash if it means I’m going to be drinking something amazing. I like red; I like white; I like bubbles. I like California wines, Argentine wines, French, Spanish and Italian wines. And I’m excited to learn more about wines from all over the globe.

I decided that the first wine I would review would be from the winery that originally sparked my interest in wine – Ridge Vineyards. I mentioned that I worked at a winery for a summer; well Ridge Vineyards was that winery. I was lucky to have started there, as I was able to sip quality wine all day long. I sharpened my palate; and for a few months at least, I pretended I was a snob.


Tonight my husband, Tim, and I opened up a bottle of 2006 Ridge Lytton Springs – a fitting tribute to the winery (and location) that started it all. The Lytton Springs is a classic zinfandel and essentially the flagship wine of the winery's Dry Creek Valley location. I paired the wine with my version of “healthy pizza” – a whole wheat pita brushed with olive oil and topped with sautéed fennel and onions, spinach, garlic and some yummy goat feta I picked up at the farmer’s market yesterday. I also whipped up a fresh spring greens salad to get my roughage.

I was a little lazy tonight and I didn’t decant the wine; but it could have used it. I tried to let the first glass breath, but it was still a bit tight at first taste. It was a nice, dark burgundy color and I detected some hints of berry jam on the nose, so I was looking forward to my first sip. I won’t say that I was disappointed, but rather surprised. I was expecting something slightly more fruity, but what I tasted was tannic and earthy. The flavor was more savory than sweet, almost tart at times, with hints of black olives. The mouth-feel was light, but the flavor packed a much larger punch.

A little surprised by the heaviness of the wine, I checked the label to see what the winemaker had to say. He described the wine as “approachable now,” but with the structure to be “cellared and enjoyed over the next ten years.” He wrote that in 2008, which leads me to believe that I probably should have waited a couple more years before opening this particular bottle to let it mellow out. Don’t get me wrong, it was definitely a good wine – nice complexity and good spice – but I think it could have been better. I definitely learned my lesson – I’ll be sure to decant next time.

Proof that this wine goes with anything, tonight we enjoyed this wine with a little Jazz. I'm talking about the Utah Jazz. We sipped this zesty zin while watching the Jazz-Nuggets series of the NBA playoffs. Not exactly the barrel room, but it works for us.

Overall, this wine was solid. Earthy, spicy, savory and complex. Light body, but heavy flavor. Easy to pair with food (and basketball).

Amy Award: 3.75 stars (out of 5)
Spendy scale: $35ish
Best bet: A good meal with friends or a sophisticated party