Tasting Notes: Cortijo III Tinto Rioja 2008

As part of my current quest to find inexpensive but enjoyable wines I picked up a Spanish red from Cortijo III. I don’t have much experience with Spanish wines so that was another reason; I wanted to try something new. I was not disappointed.

This is a very enjoyable red wine from the Rioja region of Spain. The wine is a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha (or Grenache). It is a deep ruby red and very full bodied, but not necessarily heavy. My first sip made me think immediately of chocolate. Not sure if I was picking up a flavor profile or merely an association. But in any event I opened up a bar of dark chocolate (70% cacoa) to pair with it.

This wine has a delicate berry-scented nose with a jammy finish. You get a gentle tannic coat and you find yourself wanting to take another drink. This is very easy to drink.  In fact, I just looked at the back label and they describe it as a describe it as a “drinking” wine, as opposed to something you want to sip. I think this would perfectly complement pork dishes or even turkey.   I may have to grab another bottle or two for Thanksgiving. I can easily imagine a terrific combination of this wine with a zesty fresh cranberry sauce.

For a bottle of wine you might find for under $10 this can’t be beat and certainly compares with more expensive wines I’ve tasted. If you drink red wines and want something you can drink often with out breaking your budget, you must try this wine.

For Love of Chartreuse

Without a doubt my favorite drink is Chartreuse. For some it is an acquired taste. I loved it from the very first sip.

Chartreuse is an herbal based liqueur distilled from a 400 year old recipe by the Chartreuse monks in France. The original recipe, known only to 3 living monks at any one time, was originally referred to as the Elixer of Life. I have to say I always feel better after a few sips. The liqueur is distilled from 130 alpine herbs, who knew there were so many.

Chartreuse comes in several varieties. The traditional is referred to as Green Chartreuse. It has an anise-like nose to it.  It is slightly fruity and definitely herbaly, although you would be hard pressed to identify any specific herbs. Green Chartreuse  is 110 proof and is best served cold, even on the rocks. Although I prefer just a cold glass so the ice doesn’t dilute the spirit. This is the bottle you will most likely find in your neighborhood liquor store, although they probably won’t have more than a bottle or two on the shelf.

Yellow Chartreuse is a little sweeter and not as strong at about 80 proof. This is very hard to find in restaurants, so if they have it, I almost always get a glass. It also isn’t carried  typically in liquor stores so you may need a special order.

The last variety is Chartreuse V.E.P.(Vieillissement Exceptionnellement Prolongé). This is essentially the same Chartreuse except it has been aged. Quantities are limited and bottles numbered but this is exceptionally smooth and flavorful. They make Green and Yellow, VEP, although I’ve never had the latter.  The V.E.P. is also most likely served in finer French restaurants, at least that has been my experience.

I always try to introduce Chartreuse to dinner guests and can only hope that the next time you’re out and feeling adventurous that you’ll give it a try yourself.

Byward Market Ottawa

 I love farmer and open air markets.  There is a very nice one in the my area, but it never seems to compare to ones I  visit in other major cities. Take for example the famous Byward Market in Ottawa, Ontario. On a recent trip this summer for a youth hockey tournament, we were able to visit the market in full swing. The outstanding produce displays get me every time. I love the fact that these are real people pulling really foodstuffs from the earth.  Perhaps I romanticize it too much, but when you see produce like this,  the stuff you see in the  supermarket pales by comparison. The variety of colors and textures is amazing. I want to taste everything. I want to grab a shopping basket, load up with food and go find a place to cook. Nothing gets my cooking juices going like a farmers’ market.

Here are a few more  pictures to give you an idea of what I’m talking about.

I suppose what really strikes me about this market is how European it really is.  In addition to the farmer stands, there are number of specialty shops.  Want some fresh fish, pop in to the fish monger. As soon as you walked in it was like smelling the ocean; fresh, crisp and clean.

Want some cheese? Who wouldn’t love to browse through a cheese shop with a wide selection of fromage that would do some serious damage to my checkbook.

 

The last place that blew me away was the big bakery and cafe. I should have grabbed the actual name, but if you visit Byward Market, you won’t miss it.

The collection of breads,  pastries, sandwiches, tartes, pies and more was incredible.

The bottom line is that if there is a open air or farmers market in your area, I hope you’ll support it. And if you get a chance to visit Byward Market I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Tasting Notes: 2004 Peller Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

Whenever we come back from an overnight trip to Canada, we almost always stop at the duty free shop, primarily so I can pick up a few bottles of Canadian wine. Don’t laugh. I’ve written about wines from the Niagara-on-the-Lake region before and if you can find something to try, I strongly encourage you. One of the bottles I picked up was a 2oo4 Peller Estates Cabernet Sauvignon, released under their Private Reserve label. 

From the very first sip upon opening, to later in the evening there is a hint of oakiness. This is a light to medium-bodied cab. Definitely not “chewy”. However it is very smooth and balanced with a hints of dark berries and plum. The finish I would describe as a gentle smokiness with the slightest tannic touch. I served it with a pan seared T-bone steak and it held up nicely. Peller’s description mentions a slight peppery finish on their cabs, which I don’t fully pick up here. Although there is a touch of something that I would characterize as spice.

Peller is well known for their ice wines, which I enjoy and am sure to write about at some point. But their reds are quite wonderful as well and very reasonably prices, assuming you can track them down. Peller, like many Canadian wineries, can’t sell outside their province or Canada. So you’ll have to look for these wines in a duty free store or ask your favorite wine merchant to track a few bottles down for you.

Tasting Notes: Llama 2006 Malbec Old Vine

On a recent trip to a neighborhood wine shop, I decided to find some bottles under $20 and also from producers outside my comfort zone. I don't believe you have to spend $30, $50 or more for a decent bottle of wine. Drink what you like, and if it doesn't cost much, so much the better.

Tonight my wife opened up one of the bottles I brought home. A 2006 malbec from the Belasco De Baquedano Winery under their Llama label. This is an Argentinian winery with 100 year old vines. As soon as I took the first sip, I recognized the old vine richness immediately. The wine has an inviting deep purple that reminds me of a claret. The wine is aged for 6 months in new French oak and then another 6 months in the bottle and you can get a hint of oakiness in the finish. I find notes of berry and spice with lingering tannic finish. Actually the finish invokes an earthiness in my mind. Maybe that's the old vine talking.

The bottle I picked up was around $14, which isn't bad considering how far the wine had to travel to reach my neighborhood shop. Sipping it puts me in the mood to serve it with rack of lamb. This is a wine you could easily drink now and certainly for another few years. I may have to grab a few more bottles to cellar to see if I'm right.

I've not tasted a lot of malbecs so I don't have much to compare. This doesn't knock your socks off but it is has great flavor for the price point and definitely encourages me to sample more malbec.

I'd love to hear your malbec experiences and recommendations.

Tasting Notes: Jackson-Triggs 2005 Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon

When you see the phrase, “fine Canadian wine”, you probably see it as an oxymoron, like “military intelligence” or “jumbo shrimp”. However you would be sadly mistaken, for there are parts of Canada that produce some very fine wines indeed. One of my favorite regions is the Niagara-on-th-Lake area just north of Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Due to geologic happenstance, this region can produce some exquisite vintages.

Tonight I’m tasting a 2005 Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon blend by Jackson-Triggs under their Proprietor's Edition label. This is a Niagara Estates vintage.  At first I thought I should have waited another year before opening this bottle, but after an hour or so the wine really came into its own.

There are notes of of cherry and cassis with a gentle spiciness and a wafting of tobacco. The wine ends with long tannic finish. I served it with a marinated and grilled flank steak, if that is of any interest to you.

This is a solid wine, although it won’t knock anyone’s socks off. Still, if you can get your hands on some Jackson-Triggs I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. According to their web site, the 2007 vintage was released in August 2009.

It is very hard to fine Canadian wines like this, even in central NY. Whenever we go to Canada I make it a point to bring a few back since the winery can’t ship directly outside of Canada. You can look forward to other Canadian tastings.

2006 Miner Zinfandel

Miner Family Vineyards is one of my favorite Napa boutique   wineries. At least I consider them boutique because they are not high volume and I certainly can’t get their excellent vintages on the shelf in upstate NY.  However, they do ship to most parts of the country which means I get to enjoy fine wines like this 2006 Zinfandel.

I find myself becoming more interested in zinfandels and have found the quality of the grape and winemaker varies widely. I had an ‘05 Zin from a different winery last night that was nothing like the Miner Zin.

If you are fortunate enough to get your hands on a bottle and pour yourself a glass the first thing you’ll notice is a rich, garnet-colored promise of a well-crafted wine. I noted hints of plums, dark cherry and chocolate with a slight peppery finish. What I enjoy the most about this wine is the smoky, almost velvet like finish that wraps around your tongue.  It simply makes you want to close your eyes and sigh deeply, forgetting everything save this luscious fruit.

I have a number of other Miner vintages (among others) in my cellar and I’ll be sharing my tasting notes over the next several months.