a Princess of Value- Rayun Sauvignon Blanc, 2011 Chile

Summer. Crack. Juice.

Yes, I said it!  It’s Memorial Day weekend, which means summer is pretty much here. Actually it was here in April for a minute, but I’m pretty sure it’s here for good now.  Which means- yes, we need to find some Crack Juice. Crack Juice is a technical term used to describe a wine that is equal parts addictive and thirst-quenching.  I feel like I’m repeating myself here, as I’m pretty big on thirst-quenching wine.  But get used to it, for the summer is long, hot and oppressive, and I’ve only just begun to brush the surface of all the wines that are refreshing and thirst-quenching.  And in this one’s case- inexpensive!  therefore she has been deemed a Princess of Value!!

meet your new summer date.

When I tell you she costs a mere $9, I know it will get your attention.  $9 is a perfect amount of money to spend on a bottle of Crack Juice.  Why?  That’s sort of a no-brainer, but Crack Juice, as it’s name implies, is addictive.  Therefore, it’s extremely convenient when you find one that’s inexpensive.  $20 a bottle Crack Juice wouldn’t be fun for terribly long.  Although I suppose that would be the true definition of crack.  But let’s be serious- we’re really talking about wine.  So $9 is good.

Here’s another reason why it’s awesome that it costs $9- not to sound like a hater, but for my money, this wine kicks the ever-loving-doo-doo out of it’s New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc competitors.  If this wine were from New Zealand, it would easily cost at least $12, but based on my observation, NZ Sauv Blancs are averaging between $14 and $18 nowadays.  I don’t see the point in paying that.  Not that they’re not good.  But at the end of the day, I’d rather have two bottles of this than one bottle of ANY given NZ Sauv Blanc.  I don’t think I’m remiss in thinking that the average person would agree.  If you’re like me, you think about almost every dollar you spend pretty carefully, and this is the kind of wine that really drives home the value pretty swiftly.

Ohh, would you look at that.  My glass seems to be empty now that we’ve gotten to the taste and smell portion of the day.  We can’t have that.  I’ll have to get some more!

this is what it looks like, all frosty in it’s glass.

So. This wine is super vibrant, fresh and tart.  High acidity make it sharp and racy.  Gooseberry makes you pucker just a bit, but also offering that much needed refreshment.  Lean notes of green apple, honeydew, and a tiny bit of fresh-cut grass and straw make for an interesting and fun palate.  While not the most complex wine I’ve ever had- for it’s price, the one note it does hit is right on time.  That’s all I really ask for in an inexpensive wine- just do the thing you set out to do, and do it well.  Tart, fresh, and fun.  That’s all I need for $9.  And that’s all you should need, too.  There’s always going to be a place for a wine like this on your shelf or in your fridge, that’s fo’ sho’.

And guess what?  this wine is available as part of our $90 Mystery Case this week!  Check out other available selections and ordering instructions here.  A case of wine for under $100?  That’s a bit fat DUH.  Plus, they can usually be ready fairly quickly, which means you can be jetting off to the lake with a case of wine in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.  How d’ya like them apples?  YOU LOVE THEM.  Have a great holiday!

Some New Whites!

Hey there, white wine.  Have I told you lately that I love you?  I do.  I do, I do, I do.  A whole lot.  Especially these two!  They are both unique and interesting blends that excel in versatility and have the added bonus of being extremely delicious!  Well, the delicious part should go without saying, because, really, when was the last time I suggested a wine to you that wasn’t delicious?  Never.

It looks to be another gorgeous Spring day here in SC, the sun’s out and there’s a lovely breeze.  This kind of day was meant for sipping a white wine late in the afternoon!  Especially on a Friday.  Beautiful Fridays have a special vibe to them; where you can feel that people have that itch to go out.  Or maybe an itch to stay in; either scenario calls for wine.  So let’s move on to these two new vinos- Sokol Blosser “Evolution” White blend from Oregon, and Elios Moschofilero/Chardonnay blend from GREECE!

Sokol Blosser Winery is pretty baller.  They occupy some of the most prime real estate in Oregon’s Dundee Hills, and they’ve been there since 1971.  They practice Organic farming and sustainable business practices.  Their philosophy is one of the more “whole-istic” that I’ve come across- meaning that they put a ton of effort into the whole picture; from preventing soil erosion to using natural pest-control.  Right down to the micro-detail.  I met a representative from the winery last week and was particularly struck by how down-to-earth and genuine she, and the winey, came across.  So this is a really feel good wine, not to be cheesy.  And it’s also freaking tasty!

So the fun facts about the Evolution white; it is a blend of up to nine grapes, but you don’t get to know the percentages of each.  I find that exciting.  There will not be a quiz later, but here are the varietals; Pinot Gris, Gewurz, Muscat, Riesling, Muller-Thurgau, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon and Sylvaner.  Phew!  Try listing that on a wine list.  You can’t!  That’s what makes it fun.  It’s an extremely aromatic wine, with a nose of tropical fruits, white flowers, golden apples, honey and bright tangerine/citrus.  Nice soft viscosity and a beautiful quenchy-acidic finish.  You could literally pair this wine with just about anything.  A salad with a tangy vinaigrette.  Spicy Thai.  Slightly sweet BBQ.  Fish.  Really anything.  It sips perfectly on it’s own, too.  This is also a Non-Vintage wine, and NO that doesn’t mean they throw last years leftovers into a bottle.  There’s a lot of intention here, as it states on the bottle.  And a little luck, it seems.  Try this wine!!  Don’t delay.  (Retail $15).

Next up is a fun and interesting wine called Elios that hails from the Mediterranean!  It also wins the hard-to-pronounce and I’ll-never-remember-the-names-of-these-grapes awards of the week.  Greek grapes have some of the strangest names.  This is a blend of Moschofilero, Chardonnay, Roditis and Savatiano.  Mos-coh-FEE-ler-oh is how you say the first one.  It’s one of the major white grapes in Greece, so it’s worth remembering.  Roditis, to me, sounds like an illness or a skin condition.  But who cares?  the wine is delish!

Incredibly fresh, clean and zesty, this is a perfect wine for a Sauvignon Blanc-lover or maybe an Albarino fan who wishes to branch out and try something new.  I doubt you will be disappointed!  A crisp palate of green apples, peaches, lemon and lime, followed by pretty floral hints and a touch of melon.  A very lively and balanced finish that makes it sublime for hot weather.  The best part?  It retails for $12!  A steal of an everyday wine.

Both of these babies are currently by-the-glass at Cellar, so they’re open for your tasting pleasure at all times.  Also, you could come to the Wine Sale tomorrow (5/12) and try them from 12-2, along with tons of other delicious juice!  Oh, and remember Mom?  She likes wine.  And if you’ve saved your Mother’s Day shopping til last minute, you can snag a quick bottle on Saturday and she’ll be none the wiser.  In fact, she might be quite thrilled!  Happy weekend and happy drinking!

Villa Wolf Rose of Pinot Noir, 2011

First of all, a sincere apology.  I’ve been a very bad blogger of late.  I can’t believe it’s been since March 12th since I’ve written anything.  You may remember I went to Vegas a few days after I wrote that post, and life has been moving at warp speed since then.  First of all, we had a few weeks of summer.  Where did that come from??  Can’t say I was a fan.  And it really threw me off; my Rose obsession kicked in way too early, but I didn’t want to jump the gun and give in to the obsession full-force.  So I felt I was in a holding pattern of sorts.  There have been a ton of wines that I’ve been *this* close to sitting down and writing about, but somehow it just never happened.  Se la vie.

But here I sit, on my freshly cleaned patio on a gorgeous April day with the doors and windows open, after an extremely productive day off and a feeling of immense satisfaction.  My hands and feet are dirty from planting herbs and a few succulents, I have dinner made and in the fridge and laundry in the dryer.  And this is when it really hits me; ROSE.  RoseRoseRose.  Need it.  Have to have it.  I am owed this pleasure.

Also, I am listening to Kesha on Pandora.  I’d love to lie and say I’m listening to something cool and amazing like Esperanza Spalding (which I did listen to the other day), but my Kesha Pandora station has been fine-tuned after many trips to the gym, and it just makes me happy.  So judge all you want, Judgey Wudgies.  I’m loving it.  I love that she is unapologetic in her trashiness, and that she literally goes out in public looking a hot mess and, by all appearances, high as a kite.  Honey Badger don’t care.  And neither do I.

So there ya go- a picture of an average Monday evening at my casa.  And this has all been my way of introducing you to this wine.  Oh, this gorgeous wine.  It was built for RIGHT. NOW.  Villa Wolf Rose of Pinot Noir, 2011 vintage hails from the Pfalz region of Germany, a warm, sunny and serendipitous little place where Riesling and various other grapes like to grow.  I believe Pinot Noir to be one of the only reds that does fairly well here, but I may be remiss in making that statement.  In any case, this wine is made from Pinot and it’s stunning.  I absolutely love a very dry Rose, but this one, while not sweet, is not supremely dry.  It’s more flirty, soft, and round.  But with gorgeous acidic balance, and a touch of fizz on first sip.  What I look for in any Rose is quench.  I want it to quench my thirst.  Because Rose is really what I drink when I want to be refreshed and relaxed and rejuvenated.  Which is…. kind of all the time.  So, I suppose we have just narrowed down why I like Rose so much.  Refresh and relax.  Who doesn’t like these things?  And who doesn’t want to do that right NOW, at 6pm on a Monday?  Why delay gratification?

Back to the wine.  Soft, round, flirty- we got that far.  Aromatics are owned by the berries- strawberry, raspberry, and bright cherry.  A juicy yet crisp palate with hints of apple and red plum.  It’s fruit, fruit, fruit and finishes with zing.  That is the most succinct description I can come up with.  Speaking of fruit, look what popped up on my strawberry plant recently?!

I know, a strawberry!  Shocking, right?!  Well, the shocking thing is that this plant seems to have thrived on neglect.  I haven’t watered it or done anything to it since last summer.  But it has returned.  So I replanted him today and vowed to care more for my plants this summer.  For an awfully responsible person, sometimes I shun plants after my excitement for them has worn off.  Not my best personality characteristic.  Maybe that’s why I’m single.  Huh.  Interesting.  Fascinating, the things that occur to me after a bit of wine and some rambling.

Some quick stats before I big you adieu; Villa Wolf is currently by the glass at Cellar, so you’re cordially invited to swing in and taste it at your convenience.  You can also take a bottle home for $13.  How ’bout dem apples??  Now that’s a Monday wine.  Or you could stop in and see myself and the Cellar girls this Saturday (4/21) at the Wine Sale from 12-2, and have some then!  Oh and PS: LAS LILAS ROSE IS BACK TOO!  Oh, happy day.

Also, be sure to check out Villa Wolf’s parent company, Dr. Loosen Wines- they have an active twitter feed worth a follow, too- @drloosenwines.  They’ve tweeted me a few times and I feel special.

Have a great week, thanks for reading, and I am strengthening my resolve to be a good (ok, better) blogger!

Goin’ back to Cali, to Cali…

First of all, a big THANKS to Seth Long of Seler d’or Wine Consulting/Blog-writin’ for including me as a guest blogger in his “29 Days of Chardonnay” collaborative effort!  There were some truly inspired posts about the wondrous little grape known as Chardonnay, and I’m glad to have been a part.  For anyone that didn’t read my post, check it out!  I was a little intimidated by all the mad knowledge being dropped by some serious heavy-hitters in the Wine World, so I went with a pretty jovial and interactive post, and I was pretty happy with how it came out.  So by all means, read it!

In honor of the 29 Days of Chardonnay, I wanted to share an awesome Chard we poured recently, and still have in stock.  We also got in a brand new Petite Sirah that I just HAVE to share.  So this has turned into a post about California.  Good old Cali!

funny name, good wine.

So let us begin with the Stuhlmuller Vineyards Chardonnay, 2009 Alexander Valley.  This is by far one of my favorite California Chards I’ve had in a loooog while.  A beautiful bright lemony color, it literally be glimmerin’ and shinin’ in the glass.  Incredibly clear and clean, just looking at it pretty much makes you want to drink it.  Pretty, warm aromas of meyer lemon and other fun fruits like figs, pineapple, kiwi and minerally hints are just gorgeous.  Flavors of green apple, citrus and lemon blossom are beautifully and expressively layered.  Are you an “oakaphobe?”  Try this!!  It’s made with just French oak, only 8% of which was new (the newer the oak, the more of its oakiness it imparts).  Normal retail on this guy is $22.  But if you’re reading this, and you come pick up a bottle (or two or four… til’ they’re gone) at Cellar THIS WEEK ONLY- you can have it for $19.  You just have to tell us you read this!  Wine Enthusiast gave it 91 points and Robert Parker gave it 89!  I actually didn’t know that until I sat down to write this.  Props!

Next up is the Ballentine “Fig Tree Vineyard” Petite Sirah, 2008 St. Helena.  A bit of background on how I came about this wine; from time to time, I have to suffer through different wine companies Portfolio Shows.  I believe I’ve mentioned these before.  So basically there’s a big room, or several rooms, full of open bottles of wine in allllll price ranges, and I have to go through and taste them.  It’s really the absolute worst part of my job.  I mean, open wine and a room full of wine people?  Terrible.  So I came upon this wine at the very end of a long afternoon of wine tasting, and was completely struck by how good it was AND how reasonable it was in price.  This after tasting some serious heavy-hitters.  Also, a ton of our regulars adore Petite Sirah- so I was stoked to find a new one to share.  True to form, this wine was a favorite at it’s first wine sale appearance two weeks ago, and its currently a by-the-glass pour as well!  So you can come taste it any old time you want.  But beware- it’s only 1050 cases produced, so that means it very well could go bye-bye at some point, if we keep selling it at this rate!

Speaking of 1050 cases produced, that is another crucial point- a small-production California wine for this price is pretty unheard of (we’re selling it retail for $20!).  Now lets move on to how it tastes!  A whopper of a palate- big notes of boysenberries, blackberry liqueur, blueberries, a tight core of spice and purple-teeth-inducing density.  It’ll be worth having purple teeth to drink this guy up.  Meaty and manly, yet with soft edges, remarkable smoothness, and no flabbiness.  Nice hints of black pepper, sage, vanilla and caramel.  A truly delicious bottle of wine.  A dream come true for your next rainy day beef stew, roasted lamb or big ‘ol steak.  Enjoy this now while we still have these chilly nights!

Hope you enjoyed this Cali post, I’m gonna wrap it up for today.  I’m jetting off to Vegas on Thursday, so if you follow me on twitter, be prepared to hear about all the ridiculous wine I’ll be drinkin’!

Dear Yelp: you are the worst. Here’s why.

Alright, I know.  This is a wine blog.  You subscribe to this to read about wine.  So, apologies in advance for using this slightly inappropriately.  But that’s the beauty of free speech!  Obviously wine is one of my primary loves in life.  But I don’t have a one-track mind.  Occasionally I get worked up about something random and I feel I need to get the issue off my chest in writing, like the casting out of a demon.  And I just can’t let this one go.

Feel free to stop reading, but I DO encourage you to read this if you’re someone who has posted any number of reviews on Yelp, innocently thinking that your opinion was ever going to be heard.  It won’t be.  

Background: this all started right before the Holidays.  A regular customer of ours at Cellar wrote a nice 5-star review of us, and chose to “share this review” via email, so we received a notification that he had done so.  I read it, and it was so very thoughtful, detailed, and well-written that I sent him a personal email thanking him for his business, etc.  His 5-star rating bumped our overall Yelp rating to 4 stars.  We received a packet in the mail from Yelp, with a lovely sticker to put in our door that proclaimed “People Love us on Yelp!”  We were just elated.  How wonderful.  The packet included some information about advertising.

Soon, we began to receive phone calls soliciting us to advertise with Yelp.  We politely declined, as we choose to focus the majority of our advertising efforts locally.  Shortly thereafter, sequentially, the following happened: I noticed that the user review that I had previously read and thanked said user for no longer appeared on our Yelp profile.  And our overall star rating was degraded to 3.5 stars.  I made a mental note that it seemed strange, but allowed several months to pass without investigating.

I sent an email to Yelp (which is a chore in and of itself- they don’t make it easy to locate a feedback email address or phone number), after reading the terms and conditions.  This particular review violated none of them, I stated, and I was just wondering where it went.  Several delayed responses later, I am informed that perhaps the review was filtered, and I should go view the informative video explaining the filter system.  So I did.

I can tell you, with certainty, that this guise they call a filter system is nothing but a cover up for what they are actually doing, which is “filtering” reviews from businesses that choose not advertise with them.  Here’s the deal, from where I sit: a total of 26 reviews were written about Cellar on Greene in the past three years.  15 of them- ALL five stars- are filtered out, banished to a separate page that you need eyeglasses and a captcha to view, and do not go towards the overall star rating.  They state that their filter software is designed to catch reviews that are both overly positive AND overly negative, on the premise that it’s all too easy for a restaurant to offer free goods in exchange for good reviews, and/or too easy for someone to fly into a rant that is undeserved.  That’s what they SAY.  They SAY that this software detects users that either haven’t posted more than one or two reviews, have no profile picture, or in their world, are not proper Yelpers.

So this is why you should be pissed, average person that just wants to share a few of your experiences with others, and thinks that’s what you’re doing when you use Yelp: YOUR opinion is being censored if the business in question does not choose to spend $300 a month to advertise with Yelp.  You can love a restaurant to pieces and want the world to know, and no one ever will.  This is pure, simple deception!  I’ve personally written three or four reviews, and it never occurred to me that my experience would just not be published.  This is what they’re counting on- they’re counting on YOU not ever thinking about this.  They continue to be perceived as a forum where you can find user feedback, perhaps on a place you’re thinking of visiting.  But when you view a business’s page, this is NOT what you are getting.  You’re seeing advertising dollars at work, or non-existant.

True, most people know not to trust every single thing they read on the internet, not just Yelp.  The internet is a far too simple place for jerks to rant about dumb things.  So, if you DO take Yelp or any other review site with a grain of salt, you’re doing the right thing.  But let’s think about this; no one chooses to put their business on Yelp, it just shows up- and as of today, I’m not entirely sure you have the power to remove your business if you choose NOT to be a part of it at all.  For a new business, a few damaging customer reviews COMBINED with the censoring of any GOOD ones can really do some damage.  And WHY?  Your business should be made to suffer if you don’t CHOOSE to advertise?  And it is truly the initial lie that makes the angriest- that the users DON’T KNOW.  Which is why Yelp still has all the power, and they can continue to ignore businesses that write to them in protest.  They just don’t respond.  Lawsuits against them have been dismissed.  You can’t prove that they’re doing what they’re doing.  They are Goliath, and we are David.  It is a complete and total RACKET.  Want to share your opinion?  Choose a different site!  Or don’t post reviews!  Just go somewhere and see what happens!  Have a disappointing experience?  Have a chat with the manager before you leave.  Don’t leave mad.  If it happens again?  Just don’t go there again.  The restaurant Gods will sort it out.  Truly, they will.

So I’m closing my personal Yelp profile today.  They say they want to know why, and I will tell them.  If enough people did this, would it stop?  I doubt it.  They’ve proven that they are an advertising company, not a user-based forum to review accurate information.   So that’s what it will go on being.  But hopefully you’ll remember that the next time you visit a businesses Yelp page.

Suck it, Yelp.

Shit Wine Nerds Say… and a wine I like a lot. Like, a LOT.

If you’re not drinking Loire Valley sparkling wine, you really should start.  I mean, I’m  not saying you’re WRONG, but merely suggesting that you’d be a lot more RIGHT if you were drinking Loire Valley sparkling wine.  In particular, THIS ONE.

I kid, I kid.  I just watched the “Shit Wine Drinkers Say” spin-off of “Shit Girls Say”- where he jests about the Wine Drinker preoccupation with telling people WHAT is GOOD.  There is now precisely one “Shit Whoever Says” You Tube video per every single group of people imaginable.  I admit to watching some of them, many of which are funny.  But the first two Shit Girls Say are still the funniest.  So, the person who did the Wine Drinkers one covered a lot of bases, but I started a list a week or two ago of “Shit Wine Nerds Say”, never intending to videotape it, just write it up in a post and hope to make a few of you chuckle.  I wanted to concentrate on things that Wine Nerds say that sound strange to non-Wine Nerds, and I think I have succeeded admirably.   But first lets talk about this Louis de Grenelle Platine Brut, NV Loire Valley that has captivated my heart over the last week.  It’s. Freaking. Good.

heaven.

So, to start off- in order to qualify as a Wine Nerd, you MUST love Sparkling wine.  You MUST seek out a sparkling wine made out of every grape imaginable, particularly red grapes.  Remember when I was obsessing over finding a sparkling Gamay?  well, I did find one, but it was sold out and I’ll be forced to wait until early Spring to quell my desire.  Before that, remember whenI found that sparkling Malbec and flipped-the-f-out?  Yes, I did.  That was some killer juice, too… but I’m getting distracted.

If we may, lets go back to WHY you should be drinking sparkling wine from the Loire Valley.  For those that don’t know, this is where the Loire Valley be:

oui, we are en Fran-say.

So the Louis de Grenelle Platine Brut is from the Loire Valley, and it is called a Cremant de Loire.  What does this mean?  Well, there is a very long-winded version of this answer, but we’ll try to stick to a short n’ sweet one for today.  There are a couple of different ways to make a still wine into a sparkling wine, but the most traditional (many would say “best”.. some would say “only”) way is called Methode de Champenoise.  This is basically the old school Champagne way of doing it, where the bubbles are allowed to form in each bottle.  The Charmat method, in contrast, is when the juice is fermented and bubblified in one big tank, and then bottled.  Sooo, getting back to the point, Louis here is a Cremant de Loire, which means it is made in the Champenoise method, but it’s not from the Champagne region, hence the -de Loire portion of its name.

Phew.  Hope I didn’t lose you there, let us now focus on how this wine TASTES!!  Ohh, friends.  It tastes like a glimpse of heaven.  I kid you not.  It is made out of mostly Chenin Blanc (a killer grape as a still wine, too), with a little Chardonnay and a little Cabernet Franc (a red grape).  Its bubble content is freaking perfect- the kind that truly “lift” in your mouth (that’s what she said- oh, did I just say that?!), and float along your palate with perfect grace and elegance.  Okay, back to the taste.  I’m easily distracted and a little verbose today, it seems.  So, the Chenin Blanc offers a crisp, fresh palate of pears, apricots and green apples, plus a few flirty, girly notes of white flowers and dried ginger.  The addition of Chardonnay adds a nice sharp zing, and finally the Cab Franc just fills its body out slightly, and brings in a hint of spice and walnuts.  mmmmm!!!  Thirst-quenching as all get-out, people.  It has a most excellent price point- $21, which is not exactly your everyday-bubbly/mimosa-maker price range, but a MOST excellent price range for when you want something exceptional to spoil yourself with, and still won’t break the bank.  Which brings me back to my original point, which is WHY you should be drinking Loire sparkling wine.  If this wine were simply made a few miles east in Champagne, it would probably set you back about $40.  But since its not made in Champagne, you get to pay  lot less!  And secretly (shhhh!!), I love sparkling Chenin Blanc a wee bit more than a traditional Champagne grape.  So let this be a lesson.  Don’t let anyone tell you that the only good sparkling wines are Champagnes.  Doggone it, thats just wrong.

And in closing, here is a fun list of Shit Wine Nerds Say.  Special thanks to Danielle, James, Jeremy and Josh who helped me out with a few zingers via my Facebook fan page.  Please note this list focuses on silly things that Wine Nerds say to each other that make perfect sense to US, but might sound strange to other.

Apt Descriptive Words That Sound a Little Strange and You Probably Won’t Read in Spectator.

Slutty.  Busty.  Grapey.  Backwards.  Hot.  Tight.  Flabby.  Malnourished.  Feet-y.  Stinky.  Pencil-y.  Cat Pee-y.  Tar-y.  Asphalty.  Grapey (yes, really).  Girly.  Flirty.  Sexy.  Dominatrix.

Other Phrases I’ve Heard Uttered:

“I feel like I’m committing infanticide on this 08 Barolo!”

“This is like sucking wine out of a 2 x 4!”

“This is a wine only a termite could love.”

“This is like licking the inside of a tin can.”

“It’s in an awkward teenage phase.”

“It’s over the hill.”

“It’s a baby!”

“Too much malo.”

“It’s got some bottle stink… maybe it’ll blow off.”

(upon tasting a new red varietal) “Do they make a dry Rose out of this!?”

Okay that’s all I got for today.  Hope you enjoyed.  I know I’m missing some, feel free to comment with additions!  And come pick up some Grenelle at Cellar!  Seacrest out.

 

My Favorite Wines of 2011!

A Top Ten List, if you will.  Been perseverating on this post for some time now.  Suffice to say, the last several weeks have been moving at warp speed.  It’s been full-on survival mode, pretty much since Thanksgiving.  Now that the end is nearing, I’m sitting down, focusing, and trying to bust this list out before the day gets away from me with menu changes and wine to be put away and people calling wanting reservations for New Years Eve.  Le sigh.

Upon reflection, I believe this list to be representative of me in general- heavy on the Rose and whites, no monstrosities of overly oaked Reds- as opposed to what our best-sellers were.  Although there are several overlaps.  And pretty much all the wines on the list did indeed sell beautifully, even if they weren’t the best.  I tried to pick wines that I really impressed me for the price point, as it would be pretty mean to make a list of things I loved that I got to try for free (that’s a separate list!).  “This wine’s amazing, now go buy yourself a bottle!  It’s only $250!  Thanks, stupid!”  I also picked wines that sold well despite their “odd factor,”  (A Gamay?  selling well in Columbia, South Carolina?), which makes me swell with pride at the slowly evolving tastes of our regulars.  It’s truly awesome.  So thanks to you, dear person, who ventured out and tried a Gamay, a Muller-Thurgau, even a Rose, when you thought you hated Pink wine.  You’re the reason I like my career.  Really.  So let’s go!  On with the fun.

These are in no particular order… I’ll just start with the sparklers, and move through to pinks, whites and then reds.  Sound good?  okay.

1.)  So, of course I have to start off with a tie for favorite Pink Bubbly.  I live to defy convention.  Charmeroy Brut Rose, NV France ($11) and Nicholas Feuillatte Brut Rose, NV Champagne ($39).  Charmeroy is my reining queen of the pink, inexpensive deliciousness.  At $11 I seriously think this one is destined for greatness.  It’s so fresh and perfectly fruity and it goes down soooo easily.  I think this is would be my Desert Island on a Budget wine.  (Full Charmeroy post here).  Nicholas Feuillatte Brut Rose, at $39, is… I’m just going to go ahead and say it… a panty-dropper.  It’s so light and ethereal… fleetingly beautiful in it’s fruit and hints of yeast and crisp finish.  Ahhhhh.  Divinity.

..... pink.

2.)  Las Lilas Vinho Verde Rose, 10 Portugal ($10).  Ohhh, yes.  You remember this one.  It literally flew out of here all summer long.  And you DO remember how LONG the summer is in Columbia, don’t you?  This wine is a savior.  Sent directly from Heaven to rescue us from our sweltering inferno of misery that we live in from June to September.  There is nothing as delicious as this wine when it’s hot out.  Juicy and light, with a fruity palate of watermelon and strawberries, and FIZZ!  ohh, fizz.  I love you.  This wine single-handedly turned many-a-Pink-wine-hater into a Pink-wine-lover.  Women flocked to it like moths to a flame.  It went to the pool, the beach, the porch, the lake… it was the epitome of a best friend, in wine form.  When it started to get colder, and my taste for Pink began to wane- I started to look forward to early Summer of 2012 when I could truly appreciate this wine once again. (Full Las Lilas post here).

crack.

3.)  Albaliza Rose, 10 Spain ($9).  This sturdy lil’ guy was my other go-to pink.  Yes, there’s room in my life for more than one Pink, folks.  Remember how I said Summer is long?  Is is.  I say sturdy because it it a beautiful darker shade of pink, and is a fairly medium-bodied Rose.  We had this on our by-the-glass list for months, and it was one of those wines that I’d forget about for a few weeks, and then I’d re-taste it and think “DAMN!  this is delicious!”  And really, $9?  Insane.  Honorable Mention: Charles & Charles Rose of Syrah, 10 Washington.  This, at $14, was my other other go-to Rose.  Unfortunately it’s sold out ’til next vintage.   (Big fat Rose post here).

4.)  Anne Amie Muller-Thurgau, 10 Oregon ($16).  THIS wine actually made me fear for my own sanity a bit.  I tweeted about my love for it so many times, that I began to think that the folks at Anne Amie might think me a tad looney.  Then in September, I saw Boyd from Anne Amie at a portfolio show and, under the influence of many, many tastes of many, many wines, I once again confessed my undying love for the wine.  And further went on to admit that I feared they might think I’m nuts.  I believe Boyd handled me in my flustered state with nothing but grace… but that, too, is a little hazy.  Anyone who has attended this particular portfolio show will certainly understand my situation.  And to those that haven’t… imagine for a moment being in a gigantic room with hundreds of open bottles of some of the most exquisite wines available to us.  Then stay there for four hours.  I know, I know.  It’s like porn for wine-nerds.  But it’s real.  Like the Velveteen Rabbit.  Anyway back to the wine.    A beautiful pale color, its notes of yellow apples, spring white flowers, citrus, melon, and pears are truly gorgeous.  (Slightly longer past post here).

I'm not crazy... it's just that good.

5.)  Lioco Pinot Blanc, 10 California, Chalone ($19).  Yet another white wine that practically brought tears to my eyes.  We had a small amount of this wine in the early Fall, and it sold so quickly that I never got a chance to write about it in detail.  But thanks to a fortuitous turn of events, we’ve managed to scavenge up some more, and it’s currently being hoarded in the wine room at Cellar, only to be sold to those I deem worthy (okay, not really…).  This wine is freaking amazing.  I’d never met a Pinot Blanc from California before, and I doubt that there’s another one out there that could follow this one.  It breaks all the molds.  It’s the texture that truly gets me- silky and elegant, with enough roundness to fill it out nicely.  I can’t do much better than the notes on the bottle that read “Aroma: hazelnut, lemon pith, crushed gravel.  Flavor: green apple, bosc pear, pie crust.”  All I can say is that the pie crust hints are real. freaking. pretty.  It even smells a touch like fresh pie dough, too.  The finish is unnaturally long and delicate.  The precision with which it is made is almost deafening.  Really, if there’s one wine I suggest you come in today and buy, it’s this one.  We were one of the few accounts that got any, practically outside of California itself.  The Slanted Door in San Fran pours this by-the-glass.  Need I say more??

getyousome.

6.)  On to the reds!  Verdier & Logel Gamay, 09 France, Cotes du Forez ($13).  This wine was my sneaky little Fall favorite.  And made me the most proud when it sold well.  Because who would’ve thought that a Gamay by-the-glass in Columbia would’ve garnered any affection at all?  Well, this one hit the right note, because once people tried it, they loved it.  And it was a runaway hit!  I think the timing was just right.  The stars aligned, and it just worked.  It made me happy and also made me feel smart- because I sensed that the time was right, and that I could get people to love this wine.  I’m revisiting this as I write, and gosh-darn if it still isn’t damn good!  Light, jubilant, a little spicy, tart, high in acid and totally thirst-quenching.  Gorg.  Really.  Freaking KILLER.  Am I making myself clear?  DID I STUTTER?   We’ve moved on to the 2010 vintage as of right now.  (Past post here).

7.) Evesham Wood Pinot Noir, 2010 Willamette Valley ($22, while it lasted).  Unfortunately this one has gone bye-bye til next year, but it was great while it lasted.  The real reason it was so amazing is because of its PRICE for QUALITY!  $22 for about 1000 case-produced Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is practically unheard of.  Now, I will readily admit that the reason I might have liked this one so much is because when I drank it I was on a mini-vacation in Edisto, with 75-degree sunny skies, a new book, a back porch, and not a care in the world.  I might have liked Apothic Red on that particular day (ha!  who am I kidding!  never.).  But this was the first 2010 Willamette I tried, and it struck me as being lean-yet-sexy, nicely peppery, with a perfect amount of musky-mushroomy earthiness.  Pretty darn delicious.  (past post here).

this wine brought to you by perfect weather in edisto

8.)  Mas del Perie “Les Escures” Malbec, 2009 France, Cahors ($16).  Another top “freakout” moment of 2011.  The first time I tried this wine, it was the 2008 vintage, and I literally almost fell out of my chair it was so good.  Unfortunately, a restaurant in Greenville bought it all before we had a chance to buy it.  So I waited.  The 2009 is jut as good, and we scored a decent amount.  I love French Malbec, and this one is such a good value, it’s almost silly.  So flooded is the market right now with $12-14 Argentine Malbecs, that this one really is really in a class of its own.  A God among insects, if you will.  Deep and dark, with hefty fruit, yet a pleasant balance of acid that keep it from being weighed down or flabby.  A nose of blackberry liqueur and something vaguely metallic, plus a distinctly French amount of terroir make this one a winner.  I forced this on almost everyone that walked in the door.  It’s been a staff favorite for some time, too.  Come give ‘er a whirl.

getyousome, again.

9.) Badenhorst “Secateurs” Shiraz blend, 10 South Africa ($15).  Yet another one of my sixth sense sort of moments.  I had a feeling that if we found just the right South African Red, it would be our best-selling Fall Red.  Well, I was sort of right anyway.  Because once it landed, it started flying.  Even if it wasn’t the “best” Fall Red, it was right up there in the top five.  Or maybe it was just that my obsession was so intense, that it wore off on people.  I might never know, nor do I really care.  This wine rocks.  It’s pure South Africa at its best.  Smoky, spicy, with hints of tar (sounds gross, but its not) black cherries, raspberries, and a nice touch of citrus peel that really brightens it up.  It even got 90 Points from Robert Parker (ahem, AFTER I decided I loved it).  I still love it.  And its still by-the-glass, so come see for yourself!  (Past post here).

obsession in a bottle

10).  Aaand, my top Higher-End Pick of the year- Orin Swift “D66″ Grenache/Syrah/Carignan, 09 France ($42).  This one wins the “top-searched” award of 2011, as it got more hits from Google search than any other wine I wrote about this year.  Not surprising, when you consider that Orin Swift Wines are highly coveted in the wine-world, and usually limited allocation.  Which needless to say, adds to their appeal.  This wine, to me, was a study in unique.  Orin Swift is usually the King of lush, Cali fruit-bombs (albeit, good ones-) and then they go and make THIS!  A wine from FRANCE!  Whaaa?  But pull it off, they did.  I originally posted that this reminds me more of a Spanish wine, and it definitely does.  Sort of like a second-cousin-once-removed to the amazing Clio.  Which reminds me… I haven’t seen or heard much about Clio this year…. hmmmm.  An Honorable Mention to the Orin Swift “Machete” Petite Sirah blend, which was pretty darn fantastic, but the D66 just had me, hook, line and sinker.  (Check out full post here).

thanks, Orin!

So, as the last day of the year begins, I hope this list brought back some fond memories of wines past!  It was a good wine year.  Now let’s drink some more in 2012!  Thanks for reading, Happy New Year!

Kermit Lynch Vaucluse Rouge, 2010 Vin de Pays

Freakout. of. the. week.  !!!

I’m actually still freaking out, and I first tasted this wine on Wednesday.  It’s a freakout that can only be caused when a wine is extremely delicious AND extremely affordable.  And it couldn’t be better timed- we tend to overspend during the Holiday season, and this wine will firmly re-plant you back to reality, where we live within our means, and- SHOCKER!  our means CAN be amazingly delicious!  It’s like finding out your life really isn’t so bad.  Why desire a life where you can spend $50 on a bottle of wine and drink it on a Wednesday while you watch Modern Family?  Who has that life?  No one.  Well, a few people do.  Are they happier than you?  No.  We all live delightfully average lives, full of mundane activities.  But then this wine comes along and at $12 a bottle, is completely un-average and un-mundane!  So read on!

For anyone who doesn’t know, Kermit Lynch is sort of a boss.  He first opened a retail wine shop in California in 1972, right on the cusp of  the California wine explosion.  I don’t have a exact timetable, but he soon began importing and distributing wine, and developed an excellent reputation especially with French wines.  If I had to surmise, he might have been one of the first Americans to make French wine accessible and not scary.  Which is pretty cool.  Here’s the link to his website if you want to check out more about him.

 

 

 

Here’s the image that is found on all his wines, which became (and still is) an easy, identifiable way for wine shoppers to be sure they’re getting a high quality wine, even if they hadn’t tried it before.  Moving on to the fun part!  This Vaucluse Rouge is a blend of 55% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Merlot and 10% Marselan (remember that one?  a funny grape I wrote about earlier this year?  or maybe it was last year…).  Vaucluse, to the best of my google-ing ability, is a little south of Rhone and a little north of Provence.  Which accounts for it’s interesting and fun grape makeup.  It’s a lush a velvety little wine with a firm palate of blackberries and black cherries.  A hint of violets, cedar, and anise are found on the nose, but it’s the finish that really gets me- a perfect amount of salinity/limestoney-minerality/acidity make this a true lip-smacker.  Smooth, classy, and can’t be beat price.  The bottle even looks sophisticated!  You could definitely fool someone into thinking you paid at least $20 for this wine, if you really wanted to.  But I would only reserve that kind of thinking for someone you didn’t really like.  Because your true friends will appreciate that you only paid $12.  And if they don’t- well, get some new friends.  Not to be harsh.

this was supposed to show you what a pretty color this wine is, but really doesn't do it justice.

You can find this wine open at tomorrow’s Giant Wine Sale from 12-2!  Yes, there’s one again this weekend- since the last Saturday in December is Christmas Eve, we decided just to throw down and have a sale every other Saturday in December.  We have about a case and a half to sell, and I anticipate it will go rather quickly.  Other yummy choices tomorrow include the St. Francis Red (now they call it the “Splash”, which I think is silly), always a decent house red for $9, the Ostatu Crianza- another fave of mine, lots n’ lots of Charmeroy Brut Rose (you know you need some), and several other newbies that I will leave to the element of surprise.

If I can keep my act together next week, I’ll be posting a “Favorite Wines of 2011″ entry, which I know you’re all just dying to hear about.  But it’ll be fun, at least.  And keep an eye out in The Shop Tart next week, as she filmed a Shop Tart Tuesday segment about the perfect Holiday Case of Wine here at Cellar this morning.  Should be a good one!  Happy drinking!

Let’s hear it for South Africa!

Okay, let’s cut to the chase: I love South African wine.  Now.  I didn’t always.  I got burned once or twice on some less-than-stellar South African wines, and they left a bad taste in my mouth (get it?!).  But as Fall approached, I felt a burning desire to find the perfect South African red to share with our dear Cellar clientele.  I knew that if I found the perfect one, you would all embrace it.  Alright- maybe that’s overstating the case just a tad, but I really was on a quest of sorts to find a great by-the-glass red from South Africa.

And then- lightening struck!  I found not one, but two perfect little South African reds in the span of two weeks.  And they both arrived this past Wednesday.  Let’s start with this one: Tormentoso Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009 Paarl…

This is a surprisingly smooth and easy to drink little Cab!  Warm and friendly notes of blackberry, cassis, red plums, and herbaciousness (is that a word?  it is now) are up-front and honest.  The palate is focused and tangy, with a hint of sour cherries mixed in with an abundant amount of figgyness and toasty vanilla.  A familiar palate and flavor profile, delivered with an unmistakably South African charm.  There’s a light hint of smoke that reminds you of just that.  Now lets get a closer look at that cute little fishy on the bottle.  At least I think that’s what he is:

what exactly ARE you, little guy?

“Tormentoso” means “Cape of Storms”, which is what Portugese explorers first called to-be-named-later Cape of Good Hope.  So it appears this aquatic vertebrate with teeth is most likely braving the rough seas that surround the Cape of Good Hope.  He looks ready to bust some shots at people who should cross his path.  Perhaps that is indicative of the sturdy and reliable nature of this wine?  Or maybe he’s just fun to look at.  Either way, I’m fine with it.  I like him.  I’d be really interested to try the Tormentoso Mourvedre, as well- check out their website here, for a look at how beautiful the wine country is and what else they offer.

Next is a really wild and crazy little red blend from Badenhorst called “Secateurs”, 2010 vintage from Swartland, slightly north of Cape Town.

This might be one of the better wines I’ve tasted in a while.  Perhaps my fanaticism just stems from the fact that as soon as I tasted it, I knew my prayers had been answered and I’d found my perfect South African red by-the-glass pour.  The Secateurs is a blend of 74% Shiraz, 10% Cinsault plus various amounts of Grenache, Carignan and Mourvedre.  It is a focused and detailed wine, opening with a bouquet of ripe raspberry, red licorice and blackberry liqueur.  A peppery and spirited palate with a touch of cedar and graphite.  Finally, it finishes with fantastic grip, nice acidity and a dry sort of finesse and vibrancy.  It’s a lip-smacker.  The sort of wine that upon completion of a sip, you have no choice but to smack your lips and say “day-um!”  Or maybe that’s just me.  The 2010 vintage just got 90 points from Robert Parker, and the 2009 was given 89 points by Wine Spectator!  It appears I’m not alone in my love of this wine.

The thing I really appreciate about South African wine in general is that it just offers something a little different than the norm.  At least from my perspective, it can be monotonous to taste, see, and hear about the same California (just as an example) wines over and over.  One of the more fun aspects of my job is finding something that will just nudge people’s tastes in a slightly different direction.  Its wines like these that can really broaden your tastebuds, and open your eyes to just how many different tastes there are out there.  It’s somewhat mind-boggling, really.  But that’s in essence what I really love about wine.  Even if you’re a master sommelier, there’s still something new to learn about and be tasted.

In summation, you can find the Tormentoso Cab in this week’s Mystery Case selections, the Secateurs as a by-the-glass pour, and BOTH are likely to make an appearance at this Saturday’s WINE SALE from 12-2!  Tormentoso retails for $14 (probably a slight drop for the sale) and Secateurs for $16 (ditto).  Also keep an eye in your inbox this afternoon, as our annual Thanksgiving Wine Packs are coming out!  We’re all about options here.  Cheers!

So many Pinots, so little time!

With Fall in full swing, I’ve come to accept that my fanaticism with Pinot Noir is also in full swing.  It was a struggle to narrow down todays post to just four wines, in the spirit of full disclosure.  It seemed like every day that a new Pinot arrived at our door at Cellar on Greene, and every single one I opened, I fell madly in love with.  All price ranges, all kinds of deliciousness, all adding fuel to the fire of my obsession.

pinot deliciousness

I think the weather is partially to blame- it is, of course, PERFECT.  And these warm days and cool nights are sublime for a wine like Pinot Noir that takes kindly to a slight chill.  When it’s 4:00 and still a balmy 75 degrees, a lightly chilled red will make your heart sing.  But when it cools down slightly, it’s still a red wine that you’re drinking.  And if you’re like me, and you spend the months of June through most of October drinking white wine because of the suffocating heat, the first red of the Fall is a true celebration!  I don’t think you’ll ever meet a more elated group of people than Columbians in the Fall.  The excitement is truly tangible.  So long are we oppressed by the heat, that at the first sign that we can exit the house without sweating, we literally break out into song.

So let’s start with this one!  The Contempo Pinot Noir from California wins the Pleasantly Surprised award from me.  With it’s retail cost being a mere $12, I expected it to be exceedingly average.  Many of the Cali Pinots that I taste at that price range are just that.  Often overly fruity, sweet, and manipulated.  This one is a people-pleaser, with an extremely friendly personality- lively notes of strawberries, cherry cola, raspberries, and a little hint of fennel, all balanced out by a decent amount of acidity.  This makes a very nice late afternoon sipper, house wine, party wine, pretty much any day to day activity that is made better by the addition of a glass of wine.

Next up is this sleek and sexy bottle of Simple Life Pinot Noir, 09 California.  Just $13, it also fits the bill for an everyday Pinot.  This is an extremely new wine to South Carolina.  I’m a fan of the packaging and I think it will have mass appeal.  Plus it’s one of my favorite wines; a wine that actually lives up to it’s cool packaging!  I was pretty stunned by how good this was for the money the first time I tried it.  Light and ruby-colored, with a little more tartness than the Contempo, it’s a classic Pinot Profile of strawberries, cherries, and rhubarb, with a nice finish of cranberries and cloves.  Ummmm… cranberries and cloves??  That makes me thing of Thanksgiving!!  Which is rapidly approaching, by the way.  So, have I just picked out your Thanksgiving Pinot for you?  I think I did.  Well, there’s room for more than one at your table, I’m assuming, but this is one you can serve everyone, even your aunt and uncle who think Carlo Rossi is the only wine that exists.   You’ll show them.  You’ll make them like it if it kills you.

This is one bottle you’d probably want to save for yourself.  The Evesham Wood Pinot Noir, 2010 Willamette is a true gem.  It’s special for a couple reasons, but the number ONE reason (is actually threefold) 1.) it’s from Willamette Valley 2.) it’s very small production, at only 1650 cases made and 3.) it’s $22!!  If you add those three things together, it’s almost like a perfect storm of awesome.  It’s also practically unheard of.  1650 case Willamette Valley Pinot for $22??  That’s almost like a cruel joke to play on someone.  Except it’s true!  I’ve heard from other winemakers in the area that they actually question the people at Evesham Wood’s sanity (in a good way) for selling their wine at such a reasonable price.  I think it pays off in the long run to keep a consistent price, because that sort of consistency builds customer loyalty and appreciation by a landslide.  No one likes to have your favorite wine go up in cost every year.  I consumed a bottle of this… okay, I shared a little… about three weeks ago in Edisto, and I think it was what started my obsession with Pinot.  It’s light and beautiful, birthed from a long, cool growing season.  Graceful and yet rustic, it offers nice fruit (blackberry, black cherry) and exciting earthy notes of bay leaf, wild thyme, and a light floral finish.  Lean and sexy, and light alcohol at 13%.  Now here’s the kicker; we have about a case left, and that is all we’ll be getting.  It sells out in two shakes of a lambs tail.  It’s currently by the glass at Cellar, so pop in a try some.  If you like it, take one home on the spot because it will likely be gone soon.

I heart you, wee owl.

And last, I’m throwing this one in the post because I’m slightly. in. love. with. the. label.  How did I not realize my love of owls until I saw this bottle?  This wine arrived last week, and was stashed in our wine room.  I peeked at it and noted how cute the owl was.  Then throughout the days that followed I found myself thinking of the owl a lot.  I sneaked a few more peeks.  Whenever I saw him, I smiled.  He makes me happy.  He’s so playful and adorable, yet somehow ponderous and soulful.  I suspect that if I met a real Saw-Whet Owl (which come to find out, is what sort of owl he is), he might claw my eyes out.  But I can still love the pic.  So this is the Haden Fig Pinot Noir, 2009 Willamette.  Turns out this is a bottle made by two people who have worked at Evesham Wood (remember that one, from a few short seconds ago?) for the past three crush seasons.  They must get along quite well, because they let these two make and bottle the Haden Fig at the winery.  It is organically, biodynamically and sustainably produced.  I have yet to crack this bottle, and at $28, I might have to do something really nice for Ricky before he’ll let me open it on a whim, but lots of great winery notes can be found on their website, here’s a quote: “Our 2009 Willamette Valley Pinot noir reflects the warm vintage making it very forward and enjoyable now while maintaining it’s structured acidity. This year’s blend has a larger percentage of Cancilla Vineyard fruit in it (a major component of the 2008 Reserve). Cancilla Vineyard lies in the northern part of the Coast Range and this site offers dark berry fruit flavors, while holding onto the acidity. An inviting bright nose of cherry and strawberry leads you to a supple mid-palate of berries and dried herbs, with nice length on the finish.”  We have a decent amount of this wine in stock, and it will be going out as a wine club offering this afternoon.  Click here to subscribe to our wine club emails!   Also likely to be found at our wine sale this Saturday, November 12th from 12-2!!  

This was sort of a long post, so hopefully you made it through, had a laugh or two, and are inspired to pick up a new bottle of Pinot (or two!) sometime soon!  Happy Drinkin’!