Pizza Wine

 It has been a while since I posted a wine, and one of the main reasons for that is that we have been drinking them and throwing away the bottles before I manage to take a picture! Today, I was determined to make sure that didn't happen. So, I took the picture before we ordered the pizzas tonight.

The one on the left is Tim's favorite, the one on the right is mine. We have bought at least 3 bottles of each in the last month. They are both great for pizza, picnics, and other summer whatnot. And both can be purchased for between 10-12 dollars.

Las Rocas Garnacha (2008)- Medium bodied, lots of fruit, with a peppery bite and just a hint of smoke. Very drinkable and yet a little surprising each time you put your nose in the glass.

Gabbiano Chianti Classico (2007)- Medium bodied, with oak on the nose and the palate. Full of fruit, excellent with pizza, but even this vegetarian thinks this wine screams for Bolognese or a big thick steak on the grill. 

I Seem to be on an Italian Wine Kick

Which is not my fault this time.  Do you remember that Chateauneuf du Pape I found at Trader Joe's for $9.99?  And it was delicious?  Well, last week I came around the corner at Trader Joe's, and on that same end cap... was this!

Ruffino Il Ducale
Toscana
80% Sangiovese, with a littler Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
$9.99 at Trader Joe's

This is another score in the under $10 ballpark.  It is luscious.  Lots of fruit up front, but it has depth too.  I looked it up online and I swear that it is because of the oak aging.  There is a complexity of flavors that you don't usually get at this price point.

The wines on that end cap don't last long though, so if you are interested... GET ON IT!

I'm Making You an Offer You Can't Refuse

My husband is a Godfather fan.  This summer he corrupted both of my  older daughters. 

So obviously when I am walking through the grocery store and I see several Coppola wines on sale, I think, "Leave the gun.  Take the cannolis." 

No really.  This is actually why I bought them.

Coppola Ivory Label Cabernet Sauvignon and
Coppola Claret a blend of Cabernet, Merlot, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec

I decided it would be fun to try them both, and then declare a winner.  My initial instinct was that I would like the Claret best.  I love a Cab blend, and I loved the sleek black label with the gold netting.  I know, you don't buy a wine for a label, but this one just spoke to me.  It was the little black dress of the wine world.  The Ivory I picked up because we were having steak that weekend and I knew I would have the perfect opportunity to enjoy a Cabernet.

What I didn't expect, was that I would like the Ivory better.  In fact, I have bought it two additional times.  It is a great, big wine.  Even bigger if you open it about 20 minutes before drinking.  I loved it.

I liked the Claret as well, but definitely not as much.  Maybe it is because I had the Ivory first.  Although I did have them several days apart.  Regardless, the Claret just couldn't stand up to it. 

I was very, very surprised with the outcome.

I did learn two things during the course of the taste off.

1.  Coppola makes outstanding wines.  I will more than happily try others under their label... including the Claret again.  I still think I may have missed something with that wine.  Which means it definitely deserves a second chance.  I picked up a bottle of the Alicante Bouschet (Magenta Label) the other day.

2.  Always shop around for wine.  I have seen the Coppola Diamond Collection (Ivory Label, Magenta Label, and Claret) priced at $17.99 many, many places.  However, each and every time I have picked up the Ivory it has been for $12.99.  I can think of a lot of other things to spend $5 on, like a wedge of brie from Trader Joe's ... or a Cinnamon Dolce Latte from Starbucks.

mmmmmmm.  

Looks like I just planned my Friday evening, and my Saturday morning.

Bubbles Make Everything Better

I want to write a post about Prosecco.  Why I love it.  Why I prefer it to Champagne and Sparkling Wine for holiday parties.  I want to tell you how I love that it is fruity and dry and has a full mouth feel with just the right amount of bubbles.

But I'm stuck.  Someone threw up a big old road block in my brain.  I blame this wretched head cold.

So I will leave you with these two tips.

1.  Buy the Riondo Prosecco.  Gamble on it.  It is worth it.  Most times I can pick up a bottle for around $13.  You can do better than that if you live near a World Market.  They are offering a 1.5 of the Riondo Prosecco for $19.  This is an especially good deal if you are having a party.

2.  Put a pretty little dish of pomegranate seeds next to your champagne glasses.  A teaspoon of pomegranate seeds will make your presentation festive and interesting.  The seeds will rise and fall in the glass with the bubbles. 

I am sure that you appreciate that I take most of my pictures on the bathroom floor.
That room has the best lighting... and a pretty floor!

Oh and tip #3.  (I know that I said two tips, but I just thought of this.)  Why not pick up sparkling cider for your younger guests?  It is cute and fun, and will make them feel included in your party!  Actually, sparkling cider is in the picture above.  I wasn't going to waste a bottle of Prosecco when I have this head cold!

Salute!

The Best Under 10 I have found in a long, long time!

My mom was not much of a drinker.  She never had alcohol in the house unless my grandfather was coming to town, and then there was usually a bottle of wine, chablis to be exact.  Now Ray enjoyed a good bottle of wine, I believe there was a bottle of Opus One on his 70th birthday, but he was also unafraid to say he liked something if it was cheap.  Maybe I get my love of good cheap wine from him.  But this post is about my mom.  Or maybe it is really about both of them, and me.

Every year Ray would fly out to see us on December 26th.  The anticipation for his arrival, put Christmas to shame.  Mom's Daddy was the light of her life, and of ours.  He always brought mom a box of Godiva Chocolates (the big one), we always went by the water (the beach), and sometimes we would stop at the liquor store and he would buy Mom a bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape.  Ray said it was her favorite.

I never had the opportunity to share a glass of wine with my mom.  She was taken far to young by a beast called Melanoma.  But when I completed my college degree I found myself working in a field that required knowledge of wine.  That knowledge led to a life long love affair, and funny enough my favorite is Chateauneuf du Pape.

Most Chateauneuf du Papes average well above my $15 everyday wine cap ($30+).  They are collectors.  Savey-Saveys as we call them in our house.  Usually, Santa is generous and I find one in my stocking.  It is placed with it's brothers to sleep and wait until such time as we have gathered a group of good, wine loving friends, and it is ready.

So imagine my surprise a couple of weeks ago, as I was doing my Thanksgiving shopping at Trader Joe's and I came around a corner to see, "Chateauneuf du Pape, The wine of Thanksgiving, $9.99" 

$9.99?!  Are you kidding?  Shocked as I was, $9.99 was worth the gamble.  We opened it a few days after Thanksgiving, and to my surprise it is quite good.  Don't get me wrong, it will not be resting with it's brothers, waiting for just the right time to be opened. 

No.

So far I have enjoyed it while cooking dinner and wrapping presents.  I have given it as a hostess gift and a Christmas gift. 

It is light, yet still has that bigness I expect when I drink Chateauneuf du Pape, and I swear there is a slight pepper on the finish, but that just might be me.

Regardless, I highly recommend it.  It is hands down, the best under $10 I have found in a very, very long time!


I swear these aren't all for me!

Val de la Pierre
Chateneuf du Pape
2009
Found at Trader Joe's
$9.99

Maybe tonight I will raise a glass to Mom and Ray. 

Maybe I better go buy another bottle first!

I don't think I've met a Barolo, I didn't like.

We had it last night with Eggplant Bolognese.

Tonight, with Polenta cakes smothered in spinach, mushrooms, and heirloom tomatoes.

In both cases, it held it's own.

Barolo
La Loggia
2005
$14.99
(and worth it)
Trader Joe's

This was delicious.  My immediate reaction was to buy 2 more, so I did.  One to drink, and one to put down. 

Then I read the back.  Boy I wish I did that first, "Note for wine collectors:  This wine will improve with long aging." 

I am going back to Trader Joe's tomorrow.

Also, "Suitable with game, roast beef, pasta with TRUFFLES AND RICH CHEESE."  No, they didn't actually write that part in bold.  That was an error on  their part, as it is THE ONLY PART THAT MATTERS!

Guess what you're making this weekend, honey!

I LOVE THIS WINE!

And I don't say that very often.

Especially about a wine this cheap.

I swear to you, I love it.

And it is even better after it has been open awhile.

You should buy it... tomorrow.

Blackstone
Sonoma Reserve
Rubric
2007
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Malbec (14%),
Cabernet Franc (8%), Petit Verdot (8%), Tannat (7%),
 Merlot (5%), Petite Sirah (3%)

$13.99 at Trader Joe's and worth every freakin' penny.
Big, Full-bodied, Delicious.
Buy it!  Drink it!  Tell me you love me!

(oh, and I wish there was a picture... but my camera is a piece of crap.  Santa please take note.)