In this episode, Jeff and Kara try a Pinot Noir from parts unknown…
Wine Tasted:
Dutcher Crossing 2008 Maboroshi Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
Stay Rad,
Jeff
Posts Tagged ‘Jeff’
Stay Rad Wine Blog TV Episode 24: Why did the Dutcher cross the road?
February 21, 2012Stay Rad Wine Blog TV Episode 23: Bubbles by Request
February 19, 2012In this episode, Jeff reviews some bubbles in honor of JDR. Enjoy…
Wine Tasted in this Episode:
Trader Joe’s Reserve NV North Coast Brut
Stay Rad,
Jeff
What #Day is it this time?
February 18, 2012Seriously…
What #Day is it?
You follow enough wine folks on Twitter, and you’ll find yourself asking that exact question.
In the last year, I’ve found out about the following days through social media:
#CabernetDay
#ChardonnayDay
#AustralianWineDay
#PortDay
#NewZealandWineDay
And when there’s no particular wine to celebrate, there’s #WineWednesday (or #WW if you’re hip).
Bloggers (including yours truly) are quick to jump on these days, because it’s an easy source for ideas.
Wine drinkers (including yours truly) are quick to jump on these days, because it’s always nice to have an excuse to drink.
But now…
Now, it’s getting ridiculous.
Yesterday was #CaCabDay.
Today is #NationalDrinkWineDay.
It’s enough to drive this blogger mad.
But…
It still gave me an idea…
Yesterday, I had a wine flight at Bubble’s featuring (mostly) California Cabernet Sauvignons.
By posting it today, I’ve got all my bases covered.
Here’s the rundown…
The Cabbies at Bubbles
Miguel Torres Las Mulas Cabernet Sauvignon:
Okay… So this is not a California Cabernet. Las Mulas is an organic winery in Chile. The vintage was not listed on the menu, but I’m guessing this is a 2009.
Color: Look… Bubbles keeps the lights down low. So I can’t give you an accurate description of the color. I will say, however, that this was the lightest of the three wines.
Nose: Big and bright, ripe plums. Strawberries. Lavender. Pretty.
Taste: This is a lighter styled Cabernet. In some ways, this could be considered the antithesis of a California Cab. This wine is driven by its acidity. Lots of tart raspberry and cranberry fruit, with a touch of plum and bike tire. Nice.
Score: The Anti-Cab gets an 87.
Educated Guess 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon:
On the menu, this wine was listed as “Roots Run Deep”. In fact, that is the name of the winery where this Napa Cab is produced. The only wine that they make is under the Educated Guess label. I’m making an educated guess of my own in calling this a 2009, since that is their most recent vintage.
Color: Darker than the Las Mulas.
Nose: Blackberry and bacon. Yup. This is a smokey nose, and that is definitely bacon. Yum.
Taste: This wine is jammy (in a good way). Concentrated blackberries and cranberries give way to plum on the mid-palate. The tannins are powdery and mouth-filling. There is a lingering grapefruit acidity on this wine.
Score: What a treat this is. Give it an 89+
Martin Ranch 2007 (I think) JD Hurley Cabernet Sauvignon:
Tucked away through miles and miles of redwoods on the western outskirts of Gilroy, is one of my favorite Santa Clara Valley / Santa Cruz Mountains wineries… Martin Ranch. I’ve known of them for a while, but it was not until last year’s Santa Clara Valley Passport Weekend when I finally got a chance to visit the ranch. The JD Hurley is their entry-level wine.
Color: Same as the Educated Guess.
Nose: Plum and red currant.
Taste: Tart red currant and cranberries give way to red plum fruit. Good acidity, and powdery tannins.
Score: A good way to end the night. 89
You know…
The more I think about these different days, the more I continue to wonder…
Who comes up with these wine holidays?
I guess the simple answer is that WE do.
All of us.
We spread the word.
We participate.
We reflect.
We write about it.
So that gives me an idea…
Let’s create our own #WineDay!
Here are some days I’ve been thinking about:
#ScrewTopWineDay – Tweet about your favorite screw top wine.
#RadWineDay – Pull out the Raddest wine in your collection. That one that you’ve been saving for a special occasion… And open that sucker. Drink it, foo.
#LocalWineDay – Do a google search of local wineries. Whichever one is the closest to your house is the winery that you must purchase a bottle from.
What do you think?
Leave a comment below with your favorite #WineDay idea.
We’ll pick one, and go for it.
What do you say?
Stay Rad,
Jeff
Stay Rad Wine Blog TV Episode 22: We Be Jammy
February 16, 2012In this episode, Jeff uses two novelty wines and a jar of almond butter to explain what a “Jammy” wine is. The good and the bad of it…
Wines Tasted in this Episode:
Baker’s Dozen “Jammy” NV Pinot Noir
Baker’s Dozen “Jammy” NV Cabernet Sauvignon
After the Facts:
1. Baker’s Dozen also makes a “Juicy” Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio.
2. They are probably just as bad as the “Jammy” series (Okay… Not a fact, but I dare you to prove me wrong).
Stay Rad,
Jeff
“Now THAT’S Italian!”
February 12, 2012This past Saturday, Kara and I hit up Cin-Cin Wine Bar in Los Gatos with our friends Dave and Kara Thevegetarian for another one of their HUGE tasting events.
The theme?
Italian Wine…
Hecka Italian
Dave’s dad always says, “Italians invented wine!”
I’m pretty sure that’s not true, but one could make the argument that they did a good job perfecting it.
Let’s take a look…
First... Table 4
La Colombera Bricco Bartolomeo 2010 ($20): This white wine was all about the citrus fruit. Tons of lemon and orange with a good hit of minerality. 86+
Poderi Foglia Conca Bianco 2010 ($21): Another white wine. Totally different profile. White peach. Soil. Lime. 86+
Cantine Del Indie Vino Rosso di Popolo 2010 ($18): The nose on this wine is a trip. It smells like candy corn. Straight up. Candy. Corn. I asked Kara, Dave, and Kara if they were getting that aroma too. They were all, “No.” But, on the real… That’s what it smells like. Not very Italian. On the palate, this red was light in body. It brought some good, spicy tires and red licorice. 88
Podri Foglia Conca Rosso 2009 ($24): This red wine has a wicked butter cream nose. It totally caught me off guard, but it was kinda nice. Loaded with condensed red fruit and spicy tires. 88+
Not a bad start…
Second... Table 1
Vietti Nebbiolo Perbacco 2008 ($27): On the nose, the Vietti brought this great tomato soup aroma. After I mentioned that to Dave, he got mad at me. He is the only Italian guy I know who hates tomatoes. I, on the other hand, LOVE tomato soup. On the palate, this wine brought a balanced attack of chocolate, tomato leaf, spice, and chalk. This is a dope wine. 90+
Piancornello Poggio dei Lecci Sant’ Antimo 2010 ($24): This wine is primarily Sangiovese. Cocoa and pepper pop on this nose. Bell pepper and raspberry on the palate. 89
Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco di Grasparossa di Castelvetro, Amable, NV ($12): Here’s the thing about Lambrusco. It’s basically Manischewitz with bubbles. It’s fun. You’ve got the nose-tickling frizzante action. You’ve got concord grape juice with a hint of blackberries. It’s just fun. 85
On to the next table…
The Next Table... Table 3
Nino Franco Rustica Prosecco di Valdobiaddene, NV ($15): From bubbles to bubbles… This Prosecco brought a great, crisp, palate-cleansing acidity of lemons and minerality. Simple and fresh. 86+
Bertani Velante Pinot Grigio, Veneto, 2009 ($10): With a nice nose of fresh bread, this Pinot Grigio brings clean flavors of lemon and stone. 85+
Hofstatter Meczan Pinot Nero, Alto Adige 2009 ($21): This Italian Pinot Noir tastes like it sounds. Leather. Cherry. Acid. Spice. Earthy nose. Good stuff. 88+
Trerose Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2007 ($20): A really nice Earthy nose with loads of cherry. On the palate, this Vino Nobile brought it with big, bright cherry, soil, and spice components. I looked over at Dave, and he was all, “Now THAT’S Italian!” I could not agree more. 90
Le Ragose Ripasso Valpolicella 2007 ($29): Ripasso is kind of a fun wine. It’s a Valpolicella that has been run across some Amarone. The nose was a cross between raisins (from the Amarone) and band aids (from the drug store). On the palate, this Ripasso brought some concentrated bright cherries and notes of soil. Good stuff. 90
On to the last table…
Last... Table 2
Contadi Castaldi Franciacorta Brut NV ($29): Yeasty lemon peel on the nose. Crisp acidity and minerality on the palate with hints of brioche. 87
Decugnano Dei Barbi Orvieto Classico il Bianco ($25): Look… When you taste this many wines in one sitting, some become instantly forgettable. My note book says, “Floral nose. Creamy –> Lemon Acidity”. I did not write a score. Take this however you would like.
Renzo Masi Rufina Chianti Riserva 2008 ($15): This Chianti was easily the best deal of the tasting. Mushroom. Cherries. Fennel. 90+ points. Keep an eye out for this one.
San Fabiano Calcinaia Cerviolo Rosso 2007 ($39): This Super Tuscan is made of Sangiovese and Merlot. The nose is loaded full of big cherry fruit and tires. On the palate, it is a chalky, Earthy beast with red fruit goodness. Fantastic! 91
Azelia Margheria Barolo 2006 ($83): On the nose, this Barolo brings soil, raspberries, and cherries. On the palate, this wine is all about subtlety and nuance. Spice. Tomato skin. cherry. Bell pepper. The wine of the day. 91+
As we were bouncing around to the different tables, we discovered a few dessert wines that we wanted to save for last. Here they are…
Mionetto il Moscato NV ($12): It’s a fun melon. That’s it. 86
Badia a Coltibuono, Vin Santo, 2005 ($38): This Vin Santo reminds me a lot of that Yalumba sticky I had a while back. Nutty toffee and coffee on the nose. Sweet espresso on the palate. This is the goopy stuff that drives me wild when it comes to dessert wines. Love it. 90+
All in all, this was a fun event.
Maybe Italians did invent wine…
Stay Rad,
Jeff
Stay Rad Wine Blog TV Episode 19: When the Luck Runs Out
February 10, 2012In this episode, Jeff tries another clearance wine. Let’s see if he gets lucky…
Wine Tasted in this Episode:
After the Fact 1: The current vintage of Lucky Star is 2010.
After the Fact 2: The wine is 94% Pinot Noir and 6% Syrah.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
Stay Rad Wine Blog TV Episode 18: Give Me a Home Where the Goats do Roam
February 8, 2012In this episode, Jeff tries a clearance wine that has probably been sitting in a warehouse for the last 4 years. Probably. Let’s see how it works out…
Wine Reviewed in this Episode:
Wine and Food… Dude!
February 6, 2012I’ve been on a good run in picking wines over the last week or so…
Admittedly, I’ve been picking up a lot of wine that’s already been reviewed by other folks over that time period.
Take this one, por ejemplo…
Castello di Volpaia 2008 Chianti Classico
Kara and I were browsing the aisles of BevMo, when I came across the Castello di Volpaia 2008 Chianti Classico. In reading the notes that were posted, this Chianti had a flavor profile that I was looking for.
Plus… It always helps when you find out that Robert Parker Jr.’s Wine Advocate scored this one a 90.
And I ain’t gonna lie…
The label just looks legit.
Really…
This is a beautiful looking bottle of wine.
Look…
See? Classy, right?
But…
On the real…
Chianti Classico was never meant to stand alone…
That's better...
I had these buns left over from barbecuing the weekend before last, so I decided to use ’em up. The weather was still good this past Saturday, so I preheated the grill to “Sear your face off!” and got to prepping…
But first…
The wine!
The Castello di Volpaia is 90% Sangiovese. From what I’ve read, the other 10% is Merlot and Syrah (but I could be wrong).
Color: This bad boy is a deep, dark, burgundy.
Nose: Definitely Earthy. Soil and mushrooms dominate the nose. The primary aromas are backed up by bright, red cherries.
Taste: Big cherries and raspberries up front. This wine has some Earthy round tannins. What really does it for me is the long, lingering finish of cranberries that gives way to a mouth-watering acidity. To say this is a food wine is a little bit of an understatement. This Chianti Classico DEMANDS food.
Score: This wine is just sick! At 16 bucks, it is guaranteed to punch you in the mouth with awesome. 90+
Back to the food…
Cheddar Turkey Burger with Horseradish Aioli and Herb Roasted Potatoes
Okay…
To say this wine demands food is a bit of an understatement, as well…
This wine deserves company…
Kara, it's time for dinner.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
Stay Rad Wine Blog TV Episode 17: Super Wine Throwdown I
February 5, 2012In this episode, Jeff celebrates his 100th post on Stay Rad with his ol’ buddy Dave Thevegetarian. Watch as these two friends battle for wine supremacy in the Super Wine Throwdown I…
Wines featured in this episode:
Argiano Non Confunditur 2009 Toscana Rosso
Joel Gott Wines 2009 California Zinfandel
To see the scores, check out the Rad Wine Reviews page here.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
Back in the Day… But First… Friday!
February 3, 2012One of the perks of membership at Ridge Vineyards is getting to experience their First Friday series at the Monte Bello tasting room.
First Friday is a neat members-only tasting event with a new theme every month.
For February, they went “Old School”.
Check out the menu…
Going "Old School"!
For starters, there was a three vintage vertical from the Old School block of the Geyserville Estate… a block that traditionally brings some hella ripe Zinfandel to the table.
First on the list was the 2003 Independence School (Soon to be renamed “Old School”)…
Goin' back to the Old School!
The ’03 brought some extremely concentrated red fruit on the palate. Extremely concentrated. Like… Extremely concentrated.
Moving into the 2006 Old School, that concentrated red fruit was still present… but not nearly as overpowering.
The 2009 Old School… Now that was my jam. This Zinfandel blend still brought the concentration of the prior vintages, but was rounded out with these really nice, powdery… dare I say… CHALKY tannins. You know I love chalk. Love it!
In general, I really liked this Old School vertical. It gives a good idea of how the ’09 would evolve over the next couple of years. For my money (at $30 a bottle), I would have no qualms popping and pouring this one.
Now, on to the some fun stuff…
Barrel Samples!
Ridge 2010 Geyserville Barrel Sample!
You know that Geyserville is one of the iconic single vineyard wines from Ridge. It’s a fantastic, Zinfandel based field blend that “brings it” year in and year out. 2010 is no exception. Red fruit. Acid. Spice. Minerality. This wine has it all… All!
As great as the Geyserville was, there was one wine I had at First Friday that I just cannot get out of my head…
Ridge 2010 East Bench Zinfandel Barrel Sample!
Here’s the thing about the 2010 East Bench…
This is a powerful wine.
Powerful!
One sniff of this Zin, and I was 18 again.
Let me explain…
The Summer after I graduated from San Lorenzo Valley High School, I worked at a juice bar in downtown Santa Cruz. The juice bar was called Juice World. The year was 1997.
You won’t find any Juice Worlds today. They went out of business in 2000. They just couldn’t compete with the juice juggernaut that is known as Jamba. To this day, I am convinced that JW was the best juice bar on the planet. We made some bomb smoothies!
Working there, I was given my first real opportunity to experiment with flavors. As part of our pay, we got one free smoothie for each shift we worked. Each day, I would play around with different combinations of juices, sherbets, and fruits to see which combinations would work the best.
My favorite smoothie was a blend of strawberries, cranberries, raspberry and orange sherbet, and peach juice. I called it the Orange Screech.
In retrospect, drinking 32 ounces of sugar every day isn’t the best thing for your body… But I did load up my smoothies with tons of supplements (like protein powder, bee pollen, and vitamin C)…
Chalky…
Chalky…
Chalky Supplements.
I probably haven’t had an Orange Screech since 1999, and yet… as I took my first whiff of the 2010 East Bench Zinfandel, that’s exactly what is smelled like.
Strawberries.
Cranberries.
Raspberry and Orange sherbet.
Peach Juice.
Chalky Supplements.
The Orange Screech!
I’ve got to be honest with y’all…
I don’t even remember what the East Bench tasted like.
But the way it smelled…
I’ll never forget it.
I want some more!
F-ing Devine!
I wanted to hang out in the barn at Ridge and smell that wine for another hour, but sometimes you just gotta move on…
Night Falls Over the Ridge
That…
And I was hella hungry.
On the way home, we stopped by Toto Trattoria for beer…
Acme IPA
And pizza…
Pineapple and Prociutto Pizza
What a great Friday.
I still can’t get the smell of that East Bench out of my mind.
It makes me wonder…
When is the last time you’ve had a wine take you “back in the day”?
Stay Rad,
Jeff
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