IL POGGIONE 04 – Brunello di Montalcino

The Holiday Party Season is upon us and we all know how important and dodgy these situations can get.  Yes, of course we  want to appear confident and uber cool, even when our nerves are rattling and our legs  shaking. Still we hope for some of the more coveted invites,  at least I do, because I still  love to show off and I’m even more  nervous this year, as I am freshly arrived to the west coast from New York City.   Nerves or no nerves I absolutely love to dress up and be seen, so I decided to jump right in, and make my first stop Giuseppe Franco’s Christmas Party in Beverly Hills.  These Holiday Parties are more than mere social occasions; they are also places where business opportunities for the New Year can be found.  I believe in giving gifts above and beyond my price range, and schmoozing whoever needs to be schmoozed, hey whatever it takes to impress the boss or a new client.

I decided to give the gift of wine, it’s the obvious choice, being that I’m a Sommelier.   I picked out IL Poggione Brunello di Montalcino 2004, besides it being one of my favorite wines, it is also one I have no problem pronouncing.  I’m still a baby in the wine business and am unafraid to admit I can’t pronounce all the wines I love.  Once upon a time I use to think sipping White Zinfandel was the epitome of trendy, but now I work as the Sommelier at Amazing Grapes Wine Store, and have wised up.  I hope you will think of me as a mentor who won’t look down her nose as I guide you thru the exciting wines of the world.  Hey back in the day I also use to be a big fan of Boones Farm, we all have to start somewhere.

The IL Poggione Brunello di Montalcino I handed off to Giuseppe Franco   Sunday night is one with major pedigree.  A dark ruby-red, with layers of fine black fruit, spices, dried roses, and tobacco was framed by smooth elegant tannins.  I tasted a mouthful of delicious dark plum and juicy raspberry at first, but when I came back to it I discovered new layers and levels of complexity with a bright finish that went on and on.  Robert Parker gave this wine 95 points and it is also a dark beauty you can cellar for the next 10 years and still find exciting.

I gave this wine an 11 -  Check out V’s Rating System

TASTE – 4  Amazing

PRICE – 4 Screaming Deal $39.99 Amazing Grapes Wine Store

COOL FACTOR – 3 Gotta Have It

CYCLE BUFF BEAUTY 09  Shiraz Malbec

I work at Amazing Grapes Wine Store and often debate wine labels with Jeffrey. He loves the sexy labels which Australia seems to excel at and I think they are kind of cheesy. Shopping by the label is nothing new, but I’ve been paying more attention to who buys what as it relates to age and marketing. I’ve noticed that most of our younger clientele, people between the ages of 21-25, are steering clear of the wine and are pulled towards our killer selections of beer. My only conclusion for this is price but also very hip labeling on the beers.

It got me thinking, maybe these wine labels Jeffrey likes so much aren’t that cheesy after all – maybe they’re smart! Perhaps pictures of Chateaus on bottles and prices out of range are responsible for the younger set staying away. Wineries are alienating a large group of potential customers by not promoting to them in a way that they find appealing. Marketing 101 folks!

In my humble opinion, the demographics of people ages 21-25 think of wine as being for people their parents age. Misfits Wine Co. get’s it by putting cool comic strip style sexy women on their bottles of wine. What’s wrong with a little pandering to promote wine as being sexy and fun instead of serious and stuffy. People in that demographic may be easily lured by the promise of sex, but they do have other thoughts in their head. I think whatever it takes to get their attention is fine. Once you have it, I believe they will be captivated by the wine industry and become interested in learning more. Bottom line here, wineries should take a lesson from the hot craft beer business.

There are plenty of great wines out there that are in young peoples price range. I decided to do a write up on Misfits Wine Co, Cycle Buff Beauty. The label is smoking hot. The wine is an Australian blend of 60% Malbec and 40% Shiraz with the flavor of dark cherry and exotic kitchen spices, sweet black berries with more spice in the mouth, and it’s all held together by fine grained tannins. This wine was given an 87 by International Wine Cellar.

I gave this wine a 9 – check out V’s Rating System

TASTE  3 – Very Good

PRICE  4 – Screaming Deal $15.98 AMAZING GRAPES

COOL FACTOR  2 – Hot

TRINITAS 09′ CHARDONNAY

I’ve been sticking to my promise of drinking Chardonnay – today is my third installment in my quest to try all the top brands.  I have to say I’ve become a fan.  Don’t expect me to stick to white tonight!  I plan on painting the town RED!  Today tho I tried the Trinitas 09′ this gorgeous wine was like dessert.  I got top-notch pure fruit of peach, pear and citrus, on the nose, with smokey baking spiced toast.  The delicious aromas from the bouquet are confirmed in a rich mouthful of butterscotch toasty oak.

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

TASTE  4 – Amazing

PRICE  4 – Screaming Deal $21.98 AMAZING GRAPES

COOL FACTOR  1 – Been Done

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