On sale... for a reason

I picked up this Cab Sauv on sale at Richie's Liquor store (amazing selection & pricing!) and I quickly figured out why they were trying to push this wine out the door. I have seen 337 on a few different wine lists, so thought it would be a safe purchase, but maybe these restaurants are getting a great price too...

I found it humorous to read the wines web page and see what they say about their "gem". The use words like "exudes seductive aromas", and "velvety, luscious finish." I beg to differ. I found this wine to be very reminiscent of  Lodi (where it's from): hot, lifeless and forgettable.

The nose is hot and hollow with a whisper of spice. The flavor is earthy but not very deep. I really want there to be something there, but there's not. I feel like I found some dried up, dusty grapes on the ground and ate them. The finish is short and I was kind of happy about that. This wine doesn't really carry a flavor I want lingering around in my mouth. I guess I got another 3/4 bottle of wine to put in my spaghetti sauce.

On to another...

High note from Santa Barbara

So this is a delightful chardonnay I picked off our wine list at work, The Fish House and am pleasantly surprised. This gem is from Santa Barbara, which has a great climate for producing smooth, balanced chardonnays.

The nose is bright, but mostly of toasted oak. On first sip, I get passion fruit and tropical fruit flavors. As the sip continues, it finishes with a wonderful toasted almond note. The finish is nice and draws you in to have another.

Sanford chardonnay is a great option for the price and would be a great addition to any dinner. I drank it with some leftover grilled chicken and it was great and I think it would also pair well with blackened shrimp, grilled veggies, and even dessert.

This chardonnay was a special treat and wouldn't hesitate to order it.

Venturing into new territory...

So it is in my humble opinion that Sutter Home Winery in Napa, California tainted the world of pink wines for everyone. That being said, I am no expert on Rose wines but I did feel an urge to familiarize myself with them. This "urge" was fueled partially by curiosity and partially by the comeback of roses' on wine lists and in wine publications. 

In an effort to get a more rounded perspective I tried two different roses; one more traditional and the other a little alternative. I would also like to recommend not serving roses straight from the refrigerator, they will be too cold. I found the wine a bit more interesting as it warmed up slightly. I would suggest serving it around 58-62 degrees or so.

I started with Calcu Rose from Spain. The color was a light, but bright pink. The nose was faint, but there was a hint of grapefruit. The flavor was also of grapefruit and not much else, but I did enjoy the citrus notes. There was a slight sweetness to the wine, but all in all, I found the wine to be pretty flat. I guess I can kind of see where this would fit in with the wine world. It would be nice as a lunch wine, going well with lighter fare or at brunch if your not a fan of champagne. It's also mellow enough for people who are just beginning their wine journey and want to look beyond pinot grigio.

My second attempt was with the more classical Adelsheim Rose, out of Newberg, Oregon. The color on this one was a deeper pink and had more alcohol scent on the nose. Unfortunately, the flavor on this was really hollow. There was a slight floralness to it, roses perhaps and a very slight strawberry sweetness, but not overly so. But then again, I could just be imagining these things just because I am drinking a pink wine. Again, pairing for this rose would be something on the lighter side, perhaps a strawberry salad with grilled salmon or maybe a caprese sandwich.

In summary, roses are better than a white zinfandel, but barely. From my limited tasting experience, I found them to be extremely lacking and hollow in flavor. I don't really see them fitting into my wine world, unless I was to receive it as a gift (that is NOT a request).

          

**Calcu was purchased at Aragon Wine shop on 9th Ave and the Adelsheim can be found all over.