Welcome 2010 - and all new wines!

Hope everyone has a fantastic New Year. Though we've focused mostly on Pinot Noir this week, but never fear - I've got a bottle of Banear Prosecco chilling in the fridge for midnight (or 9pm PST if you're on the East coast!).

Here's to drinking lots of great wines in the coming year.

Cheers!

Elk Creek Vineyards Offers Creepy Cuvées for Halloween

Ghostly White (2007)
Chardonnay
Bone Dry Red (2007)
Cabernet Sauvignon
Elk Creek Vineyards
Kentucky
*Wines received as samples

I recently received some wines from Elk Creek Vineyards in Kentucky. With the upcoming holiday these wines have been crafted to be welcome additions to a costume party. I'd like to share my notes on two of the wines released - a Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon.

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Holiday friendly tongue-twisters, cont.

Valdiguie Noveau (2008)
Charles Shaw
Valdiguié
Napa, California

If you don't have a Trader Joe's nearby, I apologize. It's not going to kill you to not have this wine, or any of the other Charles Shaw brand, but it certainly doesn't hurt when you are looking for something low-priced at decent quality. At $3.49 a bottle, some of their varietals aren't that bad.

I picked up a bottle of their "Nouveau" Valdigué (say: val-de-gay) which I've read is similar to Gamay from Burgundy. This seems to be a mis-understanding though, but even still the grape is mis-labeled "Napa Gamay."

Appearance: This wine is clear and intensely violet. It's youthfulness shows in the clarity and brightness of color though.

Nose: A clean nose, medium intensity, with youthful aromas of red raspberry and cherry first developing. Further down is more of a perfumed, violet and rose aroma, and a slight medicinal smokiness.

Palate: Dry with light to medium acidity - think rhubarb with a little sugar. Soft to medium in all other respects regarding the alcohol and body. Red raspberry is almost overwhelming, strawberry, red fruit, a little mint, like on a sorbet.

Extremely fruit-forward, I would pair this up with dark meat off your turkey (or mix and match with your tofurkey if you will!) but save the cranberry sauce. This wine is going to compliment anything that has a little zip or tanginess to it, and I think would be a great accompaniment, or in place of a more traditional Beaujolais Nouveau. Serve with the slightest chill for best presentation.

Cheers!

Wines we can't say, but that won't break your budget

Chatuea Ste. Michelle (2007)
Chateau Ste. Michelle
Gewürztraminer
Columbia Valley, Washington

So I've been away for a bit - a week out sick and then another week spent in San Francisco. Thusly I've not had time to update my blog. So to make up for my drought of writing I'm going to review three great wines that you can pick up for the holidays - especially Thanksgiving.

The first is one of my favorite whites - Cheateau Ste. Michelle's Gewürztraminer (say: guh-VURTS-trah-MEE-ner). This wine is amazing with Chinese, Thai, or Indian food. I also think it would make a killer addition to any meal that you expect to use either heat or spice in. It's medium to full bodied, so will really stand up to some great foods too.

Appearance: Clear, medium intensity, gold wine with slight pétillance.

Nose: Youthful, clean aromas. Medium intensity with high notes of yellow apple, stone fruit (peach and mango), and lychee nut. Floral, tropical (pineapple, lemon) and soft ginger and spice deeper in the glass.

Palate: Dry to off dry sweetness, medium plus, crisp acidity like from a fresh-picked apple. More pineapple and stone fruit, and citrus with a medium long finish. Medium alcohol and body.

Try this tongue-twisting German varietal with a nicely seasoned pork or turkey dish. Or better yet pair it up with some spiced pumpkin pie. Get a wickedly festive recipe using Satan's blood here from Heather's Heat & Flavor.

Fruit-driven and fresh, this should be an absolute must at under $10 a bottle. Just as versatile as Riesling and a wine that I'm sure many of your holiday guests will challenge one another to pronounce. And I can't think of anything better than trying to speak German after a few glasses of wine.

Cheers!