2008 Eola Hills Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Cabernet Day everyone! I really wanted to find an Oregon cab sauv to drink this evening in honor of this great holiday that has been coined, Cabernet Day :) I headed to my local Safeway (which actually has a great selection of NW wines) to pick my evening treat.  Low and behold there was one,  count it, ONE Oregon cab sauv... 2008 Eola Hills Cabernet Sauvignon.  Well, I actually have never tried said wine, and I was very excited to do so.  I am a FAN of Eola Hills wine.  They have great pinots, and all very considerably priced.  Anywho, this cab sauv was delightfully tastey! Deep dark purple-ish red in color, this cab is delectably bold with hints of anise and black berry.  There is a hint of dryness mid pallet, but it finishes a tad buttery.  Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at the overall taste and would definitely pay $15 for another bottle.
Cheers & Happy CabDay everyone!!
xoxo,
kegw

Wine by Joe 2010 Pinot Noir

B and I love the Wine by Joe label.  Created by Joe Dobbes of Dobbes Family Estate in Dundee, OR (http://www.joedobbeswines.com/), this Pinot Noir is a superb example that inexpensive bottles of pinot can be just as complex and delicious as any $60-90 bottle.  The 2010 Pinot Noir can be purchased at grocery stores in Oregon for around $14 (online at wine.com - http://www.wine.com/V6/Wine-By-Joe-Pinot-Noir-2010/wine/116228/detail.aspx).  

The bottle is a twist off cap...I love those!  The color is on the darker side for a Willamette Valley pinot.  The legs are fast and thin and in the glass the wine smells like cherry, plum and hints of blackberry.  This pinot is a bit on the heavy side of 'medium bodied' but well rounded and tasty! Very fruit forward with a hint of spice mid palette.  The best part about the '10 Wine by Joe Pinot, is that it goes with any meal!  I had it this evening with chicken stir fry, but we've enjoyed it with anything from pizza to crab louis salads.  

Just do me a favor, go and try this pinot, and tell me what you think.  I guarantee you will enjoy it.

Until next time folks.  xoxo.
-kw

Trader Joe's Favorites

For those of you who don't know me personally, I LOVE wine.  I like to enjoy a glass after work and on the weekends.  Somehow, when ever we get together with friends I bring wine.  So I'm not only buying tastey bottles from vineyards, I'm buying bottles at grocery stores, and on a weekly basis.  Drinking wine can be expensive, but I'm all about the inexpensive jems.  I find most of said jems at Trader Joe's, and I would like to speak a bit on my four go-to's (all of which can be purchased at Trader Joe's).

LaGranja 2010 Tempranillo (AKA The Pig) is a steal of a find at $3.99 a bottle.  It has a twist top and should be aerated before consumption.  I usually just twist the top and let it sit for 5 minutes, then come back and run it through my Vinturi (if you don't have one of these and you like cheap wine, get one - http://www.vinturi.com/products/vinturi.html).  After that process its a completely different taste, smell, and experience.  It's a dark wine that tastes like raspberry, licorice and a hint of fig.  Its an easy wine, and at $3.99 a bottle, its worth trying for yourself.  It also keeps over a few days, gets better even, and is ideal for your after work glass of vino.

LaGranja 2010 Tempranillo/Garnache  (AKA The Zebra) is a dollar more expensive than The Pig at $4.99 a bottle.  Its worth your extra 'buck' as this one does not need to aerate as long and does well just poured into a glass.  It is dark in color and smells like raspberries, blackberries, and cocoa laced with coffee.  It tastes similar and has a soft tannin.  Amazing flavor for the price and a great go-to for entertaining or personal consumption.  

Albero 2009 Tempranillo Barrica is a great switch up from The Pig or The Zebra.  It's $6.99 a bottle and must be aerated.  On the nose its blackberry and spice.  Its dark in color and has fast running legs.  At first taste it's all spice, but unfolds into bold fruit flavors, and has a mellow finish.  I recommend letting this bad boy sit for at least an hour before serving. This is best used as the second bottle in an evening of entertaining.  

Caves des Papes 2010 Cotes du Rhone to me, is a go to.  I love this funky, squatty bottle AND the taste is great for every day consumption OR entertaining.  This Cotes du Rhone goes for $5.99 a bottle and does a great job of competing with more expensive bottles.  I aerate this bottle, but perhaps its just a habit with less expensive wine...as I'm not sure its necessary.  This wine is spicy and has a pleasantly dry finish. 

I usually get two to three of each of the aforementioned bottles in a mixed case along with other random bottles.  Its great on my wallet and we always have extra bottles in case we host an impromptu dinner party.

Hopefully I've inspired the budget watching folks to try something new!

xoxo,
KW

2009 Celeste Crianza Tempranillo

Just enjoying my late afternoon with a glass of this delish '09 tempranillo at Corkscrew wine bar in Sellwood.

Smells like rich tobacco, spice and blackberry.

Skinny long and fast legs.

Nice round bold flavors of tobacco and plum.  Dry finish right up B's alley, but I definitely appreciate the dryness as well.  It would go lovely with paella. Its $36 a bottle here, so I'd feel good about buying local if I do choose to purchase a bottle :)

More later. xoxo.

2008 Gundlach Bundschu Mountain Couvee

I recently found myself in Sonoma, CA for my best friend's bachelorette party.  I was more than stoked as my bf (AKA Winona) chose Sonoma.  Winona and I are true wine-o's at heart. We both prefer even mediocre wine to that of any alcoholic beverage.  Anyhow, we had to kill time before finally arriving to the house we would call home for the long weekend.   We were driving through the streets of downtown Sonoma, and my favorite Yelp! app was not cooperating.  I couldn't figure out which spot to stop, so just as we got out of the 'busy' downtown area we spotted Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar, and immediately pulled in.  This wine bar is on the grounds of the Renaissance Lodge at Sonoma (http://www.thelodgeatsonoma.com/Carneros-Bistro-WIne-Bar-31.html).  We didn't really know where we were going, but we wanted wine as soon as possible.  Carneros' wine list is long and amazing!  No one in our party had an issue deciding on a glass to try.  We each had two glasses of wine, and the girls let me try their wine as well...those wine notes to follow ;)

My favorite of the day was an 2008 Couvee by Gundlach Bundschu.  It was Heaven for my pallet, and at $24 a bottle, I think it would be worth it to buy a case.  It's an easy drinking wine for those who love bold flavors, and opens up very well in only a few minutes.  Gunldlach Bundschu produces a Mountain Couvee each year, and in the '08, they have 6 different varietals:  Malbec, Cabernet Sauvingnon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Petit Verdot.  The wine is one of the darkest wines I've seen to date.  After a good swirl in the glass, it produces fast running legs.  The couvee is spicy and tastes of pepper, plum and cocoa.  It's very full bodied with soft tannins, and finishes dry.  Overall, I am sad we didn't have time to go to GunBun and try more of their wine.  However, GunBun will be first on my list next time I am in Sonoma.

You can purchase GunBun's '08 Mountain Couvee online at MadWine.com - click here to check it out - http://goo.gl/qx0D9 I now just have to decide on whether to get a half case or full case :)

xoxo,
Korin

2009 TeSoAria Barbera

Okay, I love Barberas...

To me, they are bold and yummy and wonderful.  Usually I only drink them with an Italian dinner.  However, the 2010 TeSoAria Barbera can be enjoyed any time with any dish.  B and I enjoyed this barbera with BBQ chicken the other evening and it was wonderous :)      

On the nose it smells like blackberry and spices.  Color wise, its DEEP, dark reddish-purple... I mean you can't even see through the wine as its in the glass.  After swirling a glass, the legs run fast and skinny.  At the first sip, there is a rush of blackberry swiftly followed by a spicy, tobacco flavor.  It finishes with a delightful light and creamy tannin.  

This is a bold, well rounded wine and I wouldn't suggest trying it if you are just getting into tasting red wine.  However, if you are a red wine drinker, get after it...if you can find a bottle ;)

Here is the TeSoAria website:  http://tesoaria.com/index.html

I am not sure if the 2009 Barbera is even still available, but if you are ever in Roseburg, OR, stop by TeSoAria and see if they have any they'll let you taste.  B and I are lucky enough to still have a bottle in our cellar, and hopefully he'll let me drink it soon.  

xoxo, 
kw

Chateau Nonchalant

B and I like to head down to Roseburg, OR now and then and taste the Umpqua Valley wines. On one such trip, we were meandering through back roads from Garden Valley Road attempting to get back to Canyonville, OR because we were staying at the Seven Feathers Casino. B was driving as I was checking Yelp! to see if there were any opportunities to stop for one last tasting...I'm an opportunist :) Low and behold we stumbled across a five star rated vineyard by the name of Chateau Nonchalant around the town of Lookingglass, OR. Most of the reviews had the word 'quaint' in them and I made B stop (not that he minded one bit). We drove up a gravel road to a house with giant property and horses! At first it was confusing where we were to taste. It seemed as though we were to go in the front door, but then Vicky came out to meet us and show us into the tasting room. It was all dark wood accents and faux paint finishes. Turns out her brother hand made not only the room (which used to be a garage) but all of the amazing cabinetry and wine cellar! Let me tell you; he's talented. Vicky and her friends take turns manning the tasting room and it seems like they all have a lot of fun doing so. Made me want to become a friend of hers real quick like. She sells sundries that her family and friends produce and there's a real 'homey' feeling to the room. We bellied up to the bar and tasted everything she had open, along with some tastey home-made, stone ground mustard.  


We particularly enjoyed her 2007 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, and at $21 it was a steal of a deal...we bought two. As Vicky poured our glasses with the Estate Reserve you could smell the earthy aroma coming off of it, and I knew I was going to love it. This Pinot is light in color, and has long slow running legs! After a few swirls around my glass I could smell the earth as well as licorice and blackberry. Tasting the first sip was heaven in my mouth! It was strong tannins right up front, followed berry, then a smooth finish. It was so unlike any pinot I have had before (as are most in the Umpqua Valley) that I knew two bottles to go would be a great idea...too bad we already drank both of them.  I would suggest using a big ass glass for this wine as it opens up better with more air.


Oh, and on our way out, Vicky even gave us some of the delish mustard we liked so much FOR FREE :) If you are ever in Roseburg, OR tasting wine, definitely take the time to swing by Chateau Nonchalant. I know I can't wait to get back there.


- KW