NAPA CELLARS ’10 Chardonnay

  I’ve made a promise that I intend to keep – for Cougars everywhere I said I would go thru all the top-selling Chardonnay at Amazing Grapes and give the flavor profile of each, and rate them according to V’s Rating System.  I know some like it buttery and oaky, some not too buttery, and some like it clean, no oak or butter.  Stay tuned…..

I tried the nicely priced Napa Cellars , which also produces the phenomenal Cakebread Chardonnay, it’s a very nice wine.  This beauty is lightly buttery with bright tropical fruit, it’s rich with hints of oak and vanilla that finishes with a zesty crisp acidity

.

I gave this wine an 8 - check out V’s Rating System

TASTE  3 – Very Good

PRICE  4 – Screaming Deal  $16.98 AMAZING GRAPES

COOL FACTOR  1 – Been Done

HUDSON VINEYARDS 09’ CARNEROS Chardonnay

I went bike riding on Sunday to celebrate being in California and to pretty much have my picture taken doing so and posting it all over Facebook to make my NYC friends jealous!  The above pic has nothing to do with wine.  The truth is I love red wine and almost never drink white wine, and that is just wrong!  I’ve been making declarations and writing lists of white wines I plan on drinking, but I’m the ultimate procrastinator.  My roommate in NYC is  in the wine biz too and she was always turning me on to great wines, both red and white.  I was spoiled rotten with Le Montrachet – at the time I had no clue how rare and expensive it was – I could kick  myself!  Oh well you live and learn.

I work at Amazing Grapes and we have a large clientele of Cougars, (sexy women over 40 who like to get their drink on)  and they lean towards white wine, especially Chardonnay,  referred to as Cougar Crack, by my Wine School instructor Peter Neptune.  Now that I know having white wine knowledge will affect me financially, I have a pressing reason to know each brand of Chardonnay inside and out.  The other day Dan, he needs no introduction, said try this, he put a glass of Hudson Vineyards Carneros Chardonay 09 in my hand and a believer was born.

People wonder why wines get points for color, the color of this wine alone should have it winning awards, beautiful 14k gold.  The aroma from the glass had my mouth-watering,  stone fruits of apricot and peach with zesty citrus and butter.  It was well-balanced, rich, full-bodied with fantastic acidity giving it backbone and a toasted spicy Wesh cake finish.  Just a little note, John Kongsgaard had a hand in producing this wine, he also  makes his own amazing Chardonnay.  I think starting out with this killer Chardonnay is again being spoiled, but I plan to make my way thru every brand of Chardonnay we carry.  Watch this blog for a new one every day!  Cougar Alert:)

I gave this wine an 8 - Check out V’s Rating System

TASTE  4 – Amazing

PRICE  3 – Deal  $59.98 Amazing Grapes

COOL FACTOR  1 – Been Done

CHATEAU GISCOURS 05′  Grand Cru Classe’ MARGAUX – BORDEAUX

Now that Thanksgiving is past, my mind is already thinking of the oncoming winter.  I’ve recently moved to California from New York City, and although it’s warm and sunny here, I can’t stop myself from dreaming of a white Christmas. This time of year brings out the romantic in me.  It is the season of beauty, snow, red wine, and the promise of love.  I allow myself to be sucked into every jewelry store commercial I see, and visualize myself making snow angels with my non-existant fiance.  Hey a girl can dream right?  I may not be getting an engagement ring this winter but I will be drinking lots of fantastic red wine, thanks to my awesome job at AMAZING GRAPES.  Listen ladies, if your man isn’t stepping up, or bending down,  ahh throw caution to the wind, come down to AMAZING GRAPES, grab a bottle of red and let your imagination runaway with you. We have some killer bottles of Chateau Giscours, Grand Cru Classe’ Margaux 2005  Bordeaux in the house and after a few glasses you will be in-love too.

The color is of a deep ruby engagement ring, with aromas of floral, french roast coffee, fig, cherry pie, and coco.  This delicious Bordeaux delivers on it’s promises, it’s a big balanced wine with chewy tannins.  It’s charms will continue to evolve for the next 10 years.

I gave it a 9 – Check out V’s Rating System.

TASTE  4  – Amazing

PRICE  2  – On the $$ 74.98 AMAZING GRAPES

COOL FACTOR  3  – Gotta Have It

SOHO WESTWOOD 2011 ROSE’    Rose’s, after years of being badmouthed and given the cold shoulder by wine snobs, they are now coming back into fashion. The timing couldn’t be better.  The Holidays have been thrust upon us, and with them, comes days and nights, full of entertaining.  This beautiful rose’ is made with Merlot and Malbec and will be fantastic with brunch,.   I like to switch things up now and again,  keep people guessing.  Yes I love my mimosa’s but I am a trend setter and therefore must lead the way.  This wine has a gorgeous bouquet of bright strawberries and floral notes, the attack is a mouthful of ripe berries, lush peach, apricot and the finish is crisp and dry.

I gave it a 7  – Check out V’s Rating System

TASTE  2 – Good

PRICE  2 – On the $$ 17.98 AMAZING GRAPES

COOL FACTOR  3 – Gotta Have It

Pierre Chainier Brut Seduction  

When is the best time to drink?  The question should be, when isn’t it a good time?  How about when you wake-up still drunk from the previous nights festivities.  That is always a favorite of mine.   I roll out of bed and onto my knees and promise God I will  never drink again, if he will only make the banging in my head go away.  I stumble around my apartment in a half drunken stupor waiting for lightning to strike, and when  God ignores me, I crack open a beer and look for my cell phone, because there is no way I’m suffering alone.  I call my crew and wake their drunk butts up – it’s time for food and more drinks.

By the time the disheveled have gathered I’m way ahead of them, I’ve opened a bottle of prosecco and started making mimosas.  Yes that first beer was better then coffee.  I’ve decided to skip the part where we’re all  standing around debating where to eat over the noise of our growling stomachs,  I have a standing reservation every Sunday at a cafe close to where I sleep.  They know my name, appreciate my loyalty, and haven’t hit their stride yet and don’t care that I haven’t actually made a reservation.  The best reason to go to this place is they have an unlimited drinks prixe fix, so I know the waiter is trying to avoid us, but I don’t let that deter me from flagging him down and ordering another round.  Hey I payed my $13.99 and want to be sure I get my money’s worth.

The shenanigans that ensues after the bill arrives isn’t lost on our waiter, but he smiles through it, knowing I’ll make sure he’s taken care of.  I always have spending money because I shop wisely.  Pierre Chainier Brut Seduction makes  fantastic mimosas.  It is balanced, firm and fresh with graceful bubble action.  At $8.98 you just can’t beat it!

I gave it an 8 - Check out V’s Rating System

TASTE – 3 Very Good

PRICE – 4 Screaming Deal $8.98 AMAZING GRAPES

COOL FACTOR – 1 Been Done

.

REGINATO 08′  Celestina Rose’ of Malbec

We are all gearing up for the Holidays, and stocking up on booze and wine to help  keep everyone in a festive mood.  The Champagne and Sparklers have started to arrive down at AMAZING GRAPES.   Since this gorgeous bottle arrived I was intrigued, a sparkling Malbec, plus, as I’ve already mentioned, I’m a Malbec Lover.  This wine also made “The O List” as ” A few things we think are great.”  and the cover of “The Oprah Magazine”.  Oprah has amazing taste, and again she hits the mark ,with this suggestion.

The wine is a rich cherry red, thanks to the Malbec and I got baked rhubarb pie and toasty-yeast on the nose.  You definitely taste the Malbec but this wine is somehow still light on its feet, crisp dry and very refreshing, with delicate tannins.  I think this sparkling beauty will go very well with Thanksgiving Dinner….

I gave it a 10 - Check Out V’s Rating System

TASTE   3 – Very Good

PRICE   4 – Screaming Deal  $13.98 AMAZING GRAPES WINE STORE

COOL FACTOR  3- Gotta Have It

ARGIANO 06′ Brunello di Montalcino

I have to start by letting you know I might be a tiny bit biased, as Brunello is my favorite wine.  I started my day tasting sparkling wines, then SOMEONE ordered pizza and we opened the ARGIANO Rosso.  I was ready to step it up when I was choosing who to go home with.  Hey, get your mind out of the gutter!  I’m talking about wine.  I had my heart set on this beautiful baby, and since there was 10%off Italian Wines I knew I was making the right choice.   I was thrilled by the seductive nose of red cherries, bright plum, tobacco, mocha and surprisingly southern BBQ.  It’s a full-bodied wine, rich in texture, with elegant but  structured tannins.  It glided down with a smooth, velvety finish of lively fruit and acidity.  Clearly “winning”.

I gave it an 9 -  Check out V’s Rating System

TASTE – 4  Amazing

PRICE – 3  Deal $52.98 AMAZING GRAPES WINE STORE

COOL FACTOR  2 – Hot

LUCA 08 Beso De Dante

I’m a Malbec lover and my roommie loves Cabernet, so we decided to compromise.  I have the opportunity to try all kinds of wines while I’m at work.  I work at Amazing Grapes Wine Store,  and earlier in the night  Zac opened a bottle of the Luca 08 Beso  De Dante and gave me a taste.  I am  not ashamed to admit I was drooling, it was mouth wateringly good.  Beso is a sultry blend of 55% Malbec and 45% Cabernet, with aromas of cedar, spice, black fruit, violets and an earthiness that flirts with you from the glass.  It keeps your palate captive with its’ full spectrum of flavors held together with firm tannins.  This bold wine has a long , luxuriously rich, smooth finish.  This gorgeous baby will continue to show complexity for another 2-3 years.  I grabbed a bottle for myself and we were both happy with my choice.

I gave it a 10 - Check out V’s Rating System

TASTE – 4 Amazing

PRICE – 3 Deal $29.98 AMAZING GRAPES WINE STORE

COOL FACTOR – 3 Gotta Have It

PODERI ELIA 08′ Barbera d’Asti

We’re studying Italy this week in Peter Neptunes Advanced WSET class, and I decided to go native.  I brought home a Barbera along with a pizza.  I was not disappointed.  The wine had a beautiful dark violet hue, the purity of the fruit really shone through with some coco and spice.  Deep dark cherries, zesty cranberry, and spice on the palate.   I also noticed an earthy complexity was there when I came back to it..  The finish was long and smooth on charms.  A perfect match for pizza:) 

I give it an 8 - Check out V’s Rating System

TASTE – 2 Good

PRICE – 3  Deal $14.98

COOL FACTOR – 3

  BIG VINE 07 Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine is an instant classic and blows away anything even twice its  price!  Black currant, coco, tobacco and dry rose petal on the nose and then your mouth is invaded by rich ripe dark fruits, and earthy dusty tannins keep it all together.  This is a gorgeous one!  I say drink now but has potential for aging! $14.98

I gave it a 9  - Check out V’s Rating System

TASTE 3 – Very Good

PRICE 4 – Screaming Deal – $14.98

COOL FACTOR – 2 – Hot