In this episode, Jeff breaks open a sample from Stickybeak…
Wine Tasted:
Stickybeak 2011 Toscana
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Jeff
Don’t forget to enter the Stay Rad Free Wine Giveaway for a chance to get $50 in free wine.
What’s your favorite Super Tuscan? Leave a comment and let us know.
In this episode, Jeff talks about this bottle of Vermentino, along with whatever else is on his mind…
Wine Tasted:
Poggio al Tesoro 2011 Solosole Vermentino
After the Facts:
1. This wine sample was provided by Teuwen Communications.
2. Check out Jeff’s new wine video series, Digging Deep, on UndergroundCellar.com.
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Jeff
Jeff is looking to answer your wine-related questions on his new video series, Digging Deep. Leave your questions below, and you may just get yourself a shout out.
It’s summertime in California!
With all the delicious, seasonal foods available this time of year, Kara and I have made a habit of hitting up the farmers market as much as possible. Recently, I’ve been really happy with the quality of tomatoes that we’ve been picking up.
Check out what Kara put together for us last night…
Heirloom Tomato Salad with Basil and Balsamic Drizzle
To go along with it, I made a far less impressive sandwich…
Mozzarella and Tomato Panini on Whole Wheat
For such a simple, rustic, and inexpensive summertime meal, I had to pour the perfect wine to go with it…
Tedeschi 2011 Lucchine Valpolicella Classico
I have been a fan of the wines of Valpolicella for a couple of years now (thanks in large part to Jonny Brandy for telling me to check this region out a while back). While this area is probably more well-known for its higher-end Amarones and Ripassos, the entry-level Valpolicellas offer a great quality of wine for the price. I picked up the 2011 Tedeschi at Vintage Wine Merchants in San Jose for only fourteen bucks!
Color: Dark ruby-red.
Nose: While the nose was quite tight when I originally opened the bottle, there were some pretty, woodsy and dark berry notes with subtle hints of bright cranberry.
Taste: This wine is straight earthy! Tons of soil, forest floor, and crimini mushroom flavors took center stage. There were nice notes of cranberry fruit on the mid-palate, which gave way to a long, lemony, acidic finish. As the wine opened up over time, some serious, dark, dried fruits began to take over.
Score: While the wine was a good representation of Valpolicella, it came off as a bit too thin on the mid-palate. This is a solid 88-pointer that is worth checking out.
Food Pairing: The tomato salad was very fresh and vibrant. When paired with the wine, I noted a nice expression of cranberry and black pepper flavors. The buttery and starchy bread from the panini did a good job of highlighting the earthy flavors from the wine.
Do yourself a favor…
Pair yourself a wine with a tomato dish.
You know it’s gotta work…
Tomatoes and wine both come from vines.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
What’s your favorite fresh tomato-based dish? What wine would you pair with it? Leave a comment, and let us know.
In this episode, Jeff pops open another Locations wine with his frozen pizza…
Wine Tasted:
Locations F-1 French Red Wine
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Jeff
Have you tried any of the Locations wines? Which ones? What’s your favorite? Are you following JeffIsRad on Instagram yet? Leave a comment, and let us know what you think.
In this episode, Jeff tries a side project from a cult winemaker…
Wine Tasted:
Locations I-1 Italian Red Wine
After the Fact:
Check out Jeff Eckles’ review of this wine on TheLonelyVine.com.
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Jeff
Have you had any of the Locations wines? How was your experience? Leave a comment, and let us know.
In this episode, Jeff tries a popular wine from Trader Joe’s…
Wine Tasted:
Tribunal 2011 North Coast Red Wine
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Jeff
Have you ever had this wine? How was it? Leave a comment, and let us know.
At this point, we know each other pretty well, right?
So…
What would you say if I told you that I just tasted one of my favorite wines of the year (so far)… and it was only SEVEN DOLLARS?!?!?!?!
First, let me show you what I made for dinner…
Rosemary Chicken, Mushroom & Bell Pepper Skewers, and Grilled Cabbage Slaw
Now…
After Kara and I picked up most of our ingredients from our local farm stand, we swung by Trader Joe’s to get some organic, free-range chicken breasts. While browsing the wine aisle to find the perfect pairing, I came across this bad boy…
Pontificis 2011 Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre
Now…
You know that I am a big fan of Rhone-style wines.
You also know that I’ve been loving the value and quality of wines coming from the Languedoc-Roussillon in Southern France.
So…
When I see a seven dollar Languedoc composed of the popular GSM Rhone blend of Grenache (50%), Syrah (30%), and Mourvedre (20%), you know I’m going to be all over it.
But…
Does it deliver?
Hells to the yeahs, it does!
Note: I opened, and poured, this wine a good 45 minutes before tasting it.
Color: A dense, and inky, deep ruby red.
Nose: Beautiful notes of dusty chocolate with fresh strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry fruits.
Taste: Though young, this wine has a medium body of very soft, and approachable tannins. The front palate starts off strong with dense and brambly fruits of blackberry and dark cherry, which transition nicely to a mid-palate of cranberries and orange zest. On the finish, these fruits begin to raisinate, and show off a wonderfully long, acidic finish.
Score: Wow! This wine is a strong 91+… And I almost feel bad scoring it that low. My only reservation is that this wine appears to lack the ageability of a truly fine wine… But… C’mon guys… This wine is what it is. This is a fantastic wine that is ready to be consumed right, the F, now… And the great part is that you can find this at your local Trader Joe’s… Right. The F. Now. Of course, if you shop at my local TJ’s, you’re gonna have some trouble finding it. I’m buying them all up. Right. The. F. Now.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
What’s the best seven dollar wine you’ve ever had? Leave a comment, and let us know.
In this episode, Jeff and Dave TheVegetarian taste a few wines before dinner…
Wine Tasted:
XYZin 2011 Old Vine Zinfandel
Big Basin Vineyards 2009 Coastview Vineyard Pinot Noir
Food Tasted:
Homemade Bread with a Trio of Compound Butter
Linguine of Asparagus and Garlic
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Jeff
What’s your favorite 15 dollar Zin? What’s your favorite wine region for Pinot Noir? Leave a comment, and let us know.
As part of the Wines of Alsace Twitter Taste and Chat, Jeff tries four different Alsatian Rieslings in this episode. Let’s see why #AlsaceRocks…
Wines Tasted:
Rad Wines of Alsace
Trimbach 2010 Riesling
Domaine Ostertag 2011 Vignoble d’E Riesling
Meyer-Fonné 2011 Riesling Reserve
Weinbach 2011 Cuvée Théo Riesling
Oh man!
See Jeff’s first tasting of Trimbach Riesling here.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
Don’t forget to join the Wines of Alsace Twitter Taste and Chat between 4 and 5pm Pacific, 6/27/13. Use the hashtag #AlsaceRocks, and throw a Q in front of your questions, to find out all you want to know about these dry Rieslings from France.
Just in time for Father’s Day, Jeff sits down with his dad to taste a little Natural Wine from Italy…
Wine Tasted:
Cascina degli Ulivi 2011 Semplicemente Vino Rosso
Check out the bottle cap action on this wine!
After the Facts:
1. I forgot to give a score on camera, but this wine is legit. 91 points!
2. This wine was purchased for review at Craft Wine and Beer in Reno, Nevada.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
Do you want to hear Marcello play the clarinet? If so, what do you want to hear him play? Leave a comment, and let us know.
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