Summer coldies, and sparklies

Lately rose champaign has really fit the bill.  Not a rose drinker in general, if at all, one has been incredibly satisfying but at around $15/btl I was interested in seeing if I could find a less expensive bottle that was satisfying.

First, the leader.  Gruet rose brut. Yes, from New Mexico. I would not have believed it but a friend of mine has a house there and on a visit tried a bottle on a patio while visiting Santa Fe during the Xmas Festival of Lights.  Perfect setting, and the bottle genuinely surprised me. True brut, not sweet, very pleasant mouth feel and wonderful taste.

And another more reasonable.  Good first taste but not as long lasting.

Good color, would be a good summer party wine at around $8. Very pleasant at about half the price.

To the contenders...a work in progress.

As many blogs no doubt suffer from, it's been ages ( almost literally) since updating.  Moving, life's events, house de- and re- construction, etc.

But here we go...good wine keeps coming.  New, or rather redone, house begs for partying and entertaining and a closet full to the brim of good and better wine.

So let's enjoy. While I plan for a Memorial Day party, with wine tasting of sorts to thin the closet a bit here are some really tasty items others might enjoy.

http://vinchicago.com/wines/Tintonegro-Uco-Valley-Malbec-2012-750-ML-detail

2012 Malbec tintonegro Uco valley

Yummy about sums it up. Perhaps more Shiraz like than what I would typically think of as Malbec but absolutely delicious right out of the screw top bottle.  Would be a terrific addition to a summertime outdoor concert, but equally delicious anytime.  This got a 91 from WS, and at $12.99 locally deserves every bit of that.  Drinkable for the next 3-5 years I went for 6 bottles.

A wonderful, immediately drinkable wine to enjoy with a grilled steak, or even a tasty pizza.

Potluck March 7th

Assorted cheeses
Fingerling potatoes with sour cream and caviar
Hudson Valley Foie Gras on toasted Challah, port wine syrup
Shrimp on Brown Rice pasta in garlic and dijon cream
Kale salad with vinaigrette and parmesan slices
Chicken a la Grecque
Ribeye au Poivre, Cognac cream with White Raisins
Lemon Souffle

Rhone Tasting for Dec 13th

A wonderful way to enter into the holiday season, tasting Rhone wines and being with friends.

The '85 Chateauneuf seemed a bit thin initially but once it was poured and had a chance to breathe really came alive. Interesting to taste the 2000 Chateauneuf alongside the much older Beaucastel - both were full of flavor though in totally different ways.  The 2000 had a very earthy quality to it and full of fruit.

Hadn't tasted the Blanc or Rose Parallel 45 before, but the Rose particularly was very good and I'm fairly picky when it comes to Rose's.

Menu 
Escargots Bourguignon
Polenta gratin  with Blue Cheese and Fresh Herb Sauce
Ted's Fig Tart on Puff Pastry
Butternut Squash Ravioli with dried cherries,sage and proscuitto
Pasta with Lamb Sausage and Portabello Mushrooms

Vegetable Tagine with Roasted Garlic-Almond Couscous
Chicken with Artichoke Hearts and Capers
Seared Onglet with Shallots and Balsamic Buerre Rouge
Pepin's Smashed Potatoes

Bittersweet Chocolate Truffles
Mary's Spiced Pumpkin Tarts
Choux with vanilla and chocolate pastry creams
Papillote of Pear with Creme Fraiche and Vanilla
Banana Brulee Spoons

Wines 
2008 La Vielle Ferme Cotes du Luberon
2006 Cotes du Rhone Blanc, E. Guigal
2007 Cotes du Rhone Blanc, E. Guigal
2008 Cotes du Rhone Parallel 45 - Blanc
2006 Cotes du Rhone Parallel 45 - Rose

2001 Cotes du Rhone Parallel 45 - Red

2006 Cotes du Rhone Parallel 45 - Red

2008 Cotes du Rhone Parallel 45 - Red

1985 Chateau de Beaucastel Pierre Perrin
2000 Chateauneuf de Pape Roger Sabon
1999 Crozes Hermitage Belle Pere et Fils
2007 la Grange Daniel Cairanne
2001 Domaine La Garrigue

Burgundy Tasting for 14 (October 2009)

The wines of Burgundy are so amazing they required some good food to complement what we'd be drinking. Came up with a fairly extensive menu, but one that could be prepared beforehand. Only thing I forgot to thoroughly prepare for was the number of dishes we went through during the evening!

Gougeres w/ Gruyere
Peppery Cheese Crackers
Escargots Burguignon baked in Puff Pastry
Spiced Nuts
Cheese Plate
Rillettes of Pork with Dijon

Duck en Croute
Chicken in Mustard Sauce

Raspberries filled with Chocolate Ganache
Crème Brulee
Asstd Cookies
Mousse au Chocolat

Wines:
Following are the wines consumed by 12 people over the course of the evening. We went through a surprising amount of white wine, but then it's appropriate considering white wine is 65% of Burgundy's production - something that really surprised me. Some truly great wines are produced in that region. I was fortunate to have some older wines in the basement (otherwise referred to as the 'cellar') - and while I was concerned how they had aged (entirely due to my nonchalant storage) they were an incredible opportunity to taste against the younger bottles.

Cost of the wines varied. Some of the whites we tasted were as inexpensive as $10-12, nothing was more expensive than $22. The range of prices does not include the cellared bottles, only one of which I could find a price for - the '96 Gevrey Chambertin could be found online for $180.

Blanc de Blancs Cremant de Bourgogne J P Berthenet

2007 Pouilly Fuisse Domaine Gilles Noblet
2007 Rully Vieilles Vignes Vincent Girardin
2006 Chardonnay Kimmeridgen Jean Marie Brocard
2006 St Veran Joseph Drouhin

2006 Brouilly Chateau de la Chaize
2006 Morgon Georges Descombes
2007 Fleurie Poncie Domaine du Vissoux
2006 Montagny 1erCru La Grande Roche Louis Latour

1996 Santenay Les Champs Claude Jean Pillot
1996 Gevrey Chambertin Les Combottes

2007 Pinot Noir Bourgogne Brocard