February 11, 2010 at 8:08 pm (Age, Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, California Taste Fine Wine, Cellaring, Collecting, Earthiness, Food, Fruit, Italy, Malbec, Merlot, Napa, Petit Sirah, Petit Verdot, Storage, Winemakers, wineries, Zinfandel)
Tags: Acid, Black Fruit, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cain 5, Cakebread, California Taste Fine Wine, Cherry, Clos du Val, Clos Pegase, Darioush, Dominus, Far Niente, Italy, Merlot, Nickel & Nickel, Opus One, Petit Sirah, Petit Verdot, Pine Ridge, Retail Wine Stores, Shafer, Zinfandel
The big day of romance is drawing near and I am told I need to deliver a big red on Sunday. I asked what that meant and that meant a juicy red with a fruit forward taste and a long finish. Well, that describes so many wines, it is insane. So my frantic search begins.
I am found of Italian wines, but I think we are talking here about a big California red. Recently, I posted about Patel Zinfandel, but I do not think that is it. I am guessing we are talking about Cabernet or a Cabernet blend. At California Taste Fine Wine, we just got a shipment of O’Brien Seduction, a Cabernet based blend out of Napa. This is a wine rich in cherry, blackberry and toasty oak. It has a splash of Cabernet Franc which adds acidity and gives the wine a longer finish. The name alone screams romance. And the packaging is nice too.
When it comes to Napa Cabernet, most are not 100% Cabernet. Often they blend in Petit Sirah for color and to give the wine a little depth. Same for Petit Verdot. Both of these have been used for many years to soften, color and round out many Napa Cabernets. Merlot plays a huge role in this, as it is the partner of Cabernet Sauvignon in Bordeaux, France. While at least on the left bank. The right bank is primarily Merlot blends with Cabernet Franc. Hello, Petrus!
But getting back to my dilemma. I think I need to start the festivities off with a Rose and maybe something sparkling. (See Valentines Wines, Part IV). I need to produce a bottle of Cain 5 Blend from Napa out of the cellar. When it comes to big Napa reds, there are a number of incredible wineries to choose from: Clos Pegase, Clos du Val, Darioush, Shafer, Pine Ridge, Opus One, Dominus and so many more. But the best advice is to ask a retailer what they recommend.
Finally, if you are going out to dinner, definitely bring a bottle with you. Two things will happen, you will save money by just paying the corkage fee and perhaps you will discover a new favorite that might just become a Valentines tradition. All of the wineries mentioned produce outstanding reds that will not break the bank.
I will go and dig out a bottle of Cain 5. Maybe a bottle of Cakebread, Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel too.
For those of you saving a bottle for that special some time, now is the time. Enjoy what you like and do not be afraid to open that special bottle. An occasion such as Valentines is why you bought it in the first place. Now that is what I call Uncorking Happiness.
Leave a Comment
January 7, 2010 at 4:17 pm (California Taste Fine Wine, Pinot Noir, Tasting, wine critics, wineries, Zinfandel)
Tags: California Taste Fine Wine, Opus One, Pinot Noir, Retail Wine Stores, Tasting, wine critics, Zinfandel
It is a cold, blustery night. What better time than to go to a local wine retailer for a sampling of wine. These types of events are the best way to hone your taste. I tell people everyday that the best way to learn about wine is to go as many wine tastings as possible. The best thing about going to a wine store wine tasting is that the store owner or wine buyer has had an opportunity to try hundreds of wines.
This means the store has brought in what they feel are the best wines for their customers based on taste, value and what the local market enjoys.I personally try hundreds of wines,some weeks the number gets to be a bit much, but I look for those very things. I think about a taste to value ratio. And when I plan a wine tasting in my store, I keep those things in mind.
A retail store can offer the both the experience ad new wine drinker opportunities to try things they might never get to do. Such as pairing Zinfandels from around the world or a survey of Pinot Noir. The goal is that these tastings are highlighting wines that are in the store and available for purchase. It is like buying a car. You are taking the wines for a test drive.
But more importantly, you are developing your own personal taste. You do not have to like every wine in the line-up, but here is the opportunity to find a wine or style that you do enjoy. That knowledge, gained over a number of tastings means that you will no longer bring home a bottle of wine that you deem to be marginal. The knowledge gained at tastings give you a baseline for wines and styles you like. This information can then be used by a smart and knowledgeable retailer to help guide you to a wine that will surprise and amaze you. And no, the more expensive the bottle does not necessarily indicate greater quality. I won’t name names, Opus One.
So go to your local retailer and try as much wine as possible. Do ask questions and help define your own personal taste. Retail wine stores want to help. And look for the small wine retailer. Large stores box stores tend to purchase from a corporate list. They miss those wines that say, only 50 cases were produced. And ask questions. There are no stupid questions.
In my store, California Taste Fine Wine, we offer at least two themed tastings a week. Fridays at 6pm and Saturdays at 4pm. It is fun to compare and contrast wines. There is always a surprise or two. The most shocking thing is that a wine that is grand on it’s own sometimes does not match well or taste as good when pitted against others in the same category. Once in a while it is placement in the line up.
The lineup is important as it is designed to have the wines that will put the “smack down” on you taste buds are usually at the end. A good in store tasting builds to a climax with the last two or three wines.
The other thing about retail store wine tastings is that the retailer will usually know all about the wine. So you can gain a a deeper understanding of the bottle as each bottle has it’s own story to tell. And if you like it and take it home to share with family and friends, you can tell the story as you Uncork Happiness.
Leave a Comment
