Who Cares....Anam Cara

Anam Cara Pinto Noir 2011. 
The color of rubies sparkling in the sun.
The nose of strawberry,  and cherry.  Light and crisp with a quick finish on the mouth. Elegant and easy. 
The Nicholas family brings Oregon Pino to play.  A refreshing  wine to enjoy with or without a meal.  Easy to sample during a mid afternoon break.
Enjoy

Happy Thanksgiving

Starting Thanksgiving right. Champagne Mailley Exception Blanche Grand Cru 2000.  Soft elegant and just spectacular.
Happy Thanksgiving
Enjoy

Everybody loves a grilled cheese and Malbec. Pigmentum Malbec, my working lunch.

Sometimes you just have to have a grilled cheese sandwich.  Pairing it with a great red wine just makes the experience that much more memorable.  The French do it right, something simple with lots of flavor.  Excellent.  Today I paired Pigmentum malbec with a grilled cheese made with muenster. Delicious lunch.
When you mention Malbec, most peoples thoughts automatically go to Argentina.  But, Cahors France has been doing Malbec for centuries and boy do they do it well. This particular wine is brought to us by the house of Georges Vigouroux.  Literally centuries and generations in the making.
The nose is abundant with fragrances of fresh flowers and ripe red fruits.  You get hints of spice and the continuing aromas of the fruit.  Calling you to fulfill your fantasy and indulge your senses.
The mouth is soft and elegant.  Coating your tongue and cheeks with flavors that exhilarate and stimulate your palate.  Rich, ripe and velvet, soft elegant tannins.  This wine is perfect for a light afternoon lunch, paired with cheese for appetizers, or for that big roast beef.  It can handle itself with just about anything.  (this has been one of my favorite wines for years).  and under 15 dollars such a deal too.
Enjoy.

Doesn't that make you hungry. 

a great working lunch today. 

Who is your Daddy Now Ruta 22 Malbec

Ruta 22 Malbec is another fantastic wine from the Lurton family.  Known mainly for beautiful French Boedeaux this is an example of their South American side.  Ruta 22 is the main highway running through Argentina. And, like most wines of Patagonia it is intense in color and flavor.  A dark ruby red . Ruta 22 has a nose that blows you away as soon as you pop the cork.  Ripe, elegant aromas of ripe red berries and wild flowers. A lovely  scent that beckons you to partake of its bounty.  This full bodied wine has such a mouth.  Wow that is all I can say.  Smoky, with cranberry and blackberry. Hints of a sweet vanilla, and licorice flavor.
I paired this wine with with roast pork, green beans and spiced butternut squash. The squash is seasoned with an Indian spice , garam masala.  The first time I worked with this spice , but I certainly will again.  Beautiful fragrance, but spicy. 
Enjoy.

Are you hungry now...

Lust and Satisfaction in the same bottle....Camraderie Grace 2009

This is one of those experiences that everyone should experience at least once in their life.
Camaraderie Grace 2009 is one of those experiences.  I am going to start by quoting from the bottle, it gives the definition and description that is unbelievable.
Grace (rhymes with gloss) is a French word meaning "thanks, blessing, elegance and charm".  I couldn't give a better description of the wine.  Everything is summed up in those words.   The Grace is a Bordeaux style blend that offers so much flavor and grace.
It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec.  Who would have thought?  But under the watchful eye of Don Corson, owner and wine maker this wine becomes one to keep in the cellar at all times.
The bouquet is soft, hints of cherry, violets and roses, rich ripe plum, begging you to further experience lust and satisfaction all in a bottle.
The mouth is just remarkable.  Concentrated, full bodied fruit intense wine.  Loads of cherry, raspberry, slight bits of chocolate adding to the intrigue.  Soft tannins, your mouth begs for more as it waters and sends messages to your brain that it has had stimulation that it cannot ignore.  Soft, silky tannins that make your mouth crave for more.
Enjoy

Bring all your friends to this party.

Oh Looky What I Found, Abbeyville Cabernet Reserve

So last night I just pulled a wine from my grab box and look what I found.  Abbeyville Cabernet reserve. What a treat and unexpected at that.  This is a fantastic find from Adler Fels winery, Harry Parducci being the winemaker.
The color is a deep garnet, almost black looking.  Rich and deep and velvety.
The bouquet fills the room and entices the nose.  Beautiful floral scents and dark ripe cherry, vanilla and a slight sweetness arises from the glass.   Highly aromatic  and just delightful.
The mouthfeel is luscious and full bodied. The wine coats your mouth with this thick rich wonderful flavor.  Dark ripe fruits,keep a napkin on hand because your mouth will be watering and you will be drooling as you think about having another taste.  The fruit gives way to slight hints of wood, and easy tannins.   The flavors are concentrated and give such a complexity to the wine.  
The finish is long, pepper and cinnamon finish off  as you reach for another glass.
Enjoy.

Wow what a treat.. 

Catching Fire... What a way to end the night..

Full Moon and all, this is the way to end the night.  Catch fire cinnamon whiskey.  Oh how smooth it is.  The perfect nightcap.  A new addition to my arsenal of favorites.  No burn, no harsh after thoughts you get from a lot of whiskey, and especially some of the cinnamon. This one is so smooth, like tasting cinnamon flavoring.  When I was a kid, a fad that was going on was flavored toothpicks.  Cinnamon flavored was the most popular, and this really brings back those memories,  I literally want to put a stick in my mouth right now.
You must try this.
Enjoy

just the perfect nightcap. 

Sexy Sextant Cabernet

The 2012 vintage was a good one for Napa.  More juice than most could handle.  Sextant prospered.
Sextant is the name of an instrument used to guide navigators and explorers.  Now, it lends its name to a fine wine.  As if the winemaker is asking you to come in and explore this wine.  Find your destination and enjoy.
Steve Martell is the winemaker and gives us this sexy  offering from Paso Robles. It  is a far better specimen than most Paso brands.  The nose offers degrees of oak, white pepper, bunches of flowers, dark dark cherry.  The succulent aroma inviting and enticing.  Begging you to further immerse yourself in the beauty that is before you.
The mouth hits you with full flavors. Fruit forward and lush.  So much fruit.  Rich ripe and effervescent. Lovely.  Short tannins that creep in after a long lingering finish.  Easy and ready to drink now.  I have practically enjoyed the bottle now.  What can I say.  A prime example of quality wine making.
Enjoy.

Wow look at that beauty.

I had to show off my dinner that I enjoyed. 

Pork chops and veggies. 

Wow they went together well. 

A Little Out of the Way...Uruguay...Pisano wine

I decided to try something different last night, and oh was it worth it.  A gem from Uruguay, yes Uruguay.  Not really known for wine, come to think of it I cannot think of anything coming from Uruguay.  This night I chose the Rio De Los Pajaros reserve blend.  It is a blend of Tannat,the grape of Uruguay, Syrah, and Viognier. The winery was started by Italian immigrants at the turn of the last century, and  gives homage to the Italian tradition. 
The color is deep and dark. That ravens wing kind of color.
The nose gives you proof of life.  Plum, dark cherry and oak, and rose fill my nose.  My daughter says she thought of pineapple.  I did not pick this up but it does show off the complexity.
The mouth is full.  The intense flavors send your brain into overdrive trying to collect all of them.  Extensive notes of cherry, plum, oak.  Rich deep  velvety texture that lingers long in your mouth.  Slight tannins that desire a piece of protein to go with it. 
What a beautiful piece of art.  Yes art because that is what some wines are and this one qualifies. 
Enjoy

Look at that color.  Enticing and well worth the effort.