A friend of ours recently gifted us this bottle of Sanglier 2012 Right Tusque Merlot, and wanted to know what I thought about it.
Who am I to deny a request like that…
Wine tasted:
Sanglier 2012 Right Tusque Merlot
Stay Rad,
Jeff
Wine was provided as a gift for review by an old friend. Be sure to listen to Jeff each and every week on the We Like Drinking Podcast (available now on your favorite podcast app).
Let’s address the elephant in the room…
It’s been a solid year and a half since I’ve posted an episode of Stay Rad Wine Blog TV.
A Year And A Half!
That’s nuts to me.
Nuts!
When I first started this blog in 2011, I would get down on myself for going longer than two days without fresh content.
And now… it’s been a year and a friggin half.
Yikes!
I could spend hours giving you excuses as to why, and making apologies for the lack of posts, but that’s not what this blog is about…
Stay Rad has always been, and will continue to be, a blog about wine and all things awesome. Now, what’s more awesome than a world exclusive two-episode Stay Rad Wine Blog TV release?
That’s right…
Nothin’s better than that!
Enjoy!
Stay Rad Wine Blog TV Episode 178: How to Remove a Wax Seal from Your Wine
In the time since I last posted an episode, I’ve been anticipating sharing my thoughts on this sample I received from Castello di Amorosa…
Castello di Amorosa 2012 La Castellana Super Tuscan Blend
The Castello di Amorosa 2012 La Castellana is a Super Tuscan-style blend from the Napa Valley. It rolls in at a respectable $98, and is built to lay down for years in your cellar… which may lead some to believe that I was waiting for a special occasion to open this one up.
Truthfully, one of the reasons why I was hesitant to share this on the video blog was I was a bit intimidated by the wax seal covering the neck. If you look up how to open a bottle with a wax seal online, you’re gonna come across all sorts of wacky ideas as to how (anybody got a blowtorch?)…
“Excuse me, kind sir. Do you have a chainsaw I could borrow?”
Well…
Here’s what happened when I tried my hand at opening the bottle.
Success!
Now, onto the wine…
Stay Rad Wine Blog TV Episode 179: Why Did I Wait So Long?
Food Pairing:
Pan-Seared New York Strip Steak with Blue Cheese, Baked Potato, and Roasted Broccolini
Needless to say, I’m glad I finally broke open this wine.
Soooooooo Good!
Stay Rad,
Jeff
Wine was provided as a sample for review by the winery. Be sure to listen to Jeff each and every week on the We Like Drinking Podcast (available now on your favorite podcast app).
In this episode, Jeff dives into a sample of Napa Valley Sangiovese from Castello di Amorosa.
Wine Tasted:
Castello di Amorosa 2012 Sangiovese
Stay Rad,
Jeff
Jeff tasted this wine on the We Like Drinking Podcast. Be sure to subscribe on iTunes, to get We Like Drinking every Friday.
Hey Guys,
Just wanted to check in, and share a few samples from Cornerstone Cellars that I have been sippin’ on recently.
When we recorded last week’s episode of the We Like Drinking Podcast (available now on iTunes and your favorite podcatcher apps), I opened up this bad boy to pair with some Penne Pasta and Sausage…
Cornerstone Cellars 2012 Oakville Station Merlot
The Cornerstone Cellars 2012 Oakville Station Merlot is one of the first releases from Cornerstone’s new single vineyard series. The wine consists of 100% Merlot from the Oakville Station block of the world-famous To Kalon vineyard in California’s Napa Valley. This wine retails for $75.
Color: This Merlot has a deep ruby red color. It’s so deeply red, it’s almost purple.
Nose: Bright cranberry and earthy blackberry aromas.
Taste: This wine is so much more than the ripe dark fruit that is so present on the front of the palate. Just wait for it… There it is! There’s this awesome meaty quality, and a long, tangy and spicy finish.
Score: If you heard me taste this wine for the first time on the podcast, I let out a long, high-pitched, “Mmmmmmmm!!!!!” once the wine hit my lips… Here’s why…
I was really excited to learn that Cornerstone was going to start doing single vineyard wines. To me, there is no better way to truly understand the ever elusive terroir of a region. This Merlot does not disappoint. This wine is bangin’! 92 points.
On to the next wine!
Cornerstone Cellars 2012 Michael’s Cuvée
Along with starting their single vineyard series with the 2012 vintage, Cornerstone will now be producing a special blend of these vineyards. The Cornerstone Cellars 2012 Michael’s Cuvée is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Merlot. The fruit comes from Oakville Station (57%), Karios Vineyard in Oak Knoll (28%), and Ink Grade Vineyard on Howell Mountain (9%). The blend is named after Dr. Michael Dragutsky, who founded Cornerstone in 1991. This wine is also $75. I paired it with a Chicken Apple Sausage on a Whole Wheat Bun with Onions and Mushrooms.
Color: Another deep ruby red wine from Cornerstone’s 2012 vintage.
Nose: Fruits of plum, red currant, and blackberry. This wine is woodsy, both in terms of oak integration and the subtle forest floor aromas. Nice notes of menthol as well.
Taste: Ripe dark fruits up front transition to tangy red fruit flavors on the finish. There is a herbaceous backbone of mint, menthol, and tobacco leaf that is present throughout.
Score: This wine is bombastic, and yet subtle. It’s in your face, but in a really laid back kind of way. It’s Taylor Swift doing a set of Radiohead covers. 93+ points.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
Which of these wines from Cornerstone Cellars sounds the best to you? Leave a comment, and let us know.
In this episode, Jeff explores the effects of running on how we taste wine…
Wine Tasted:
Clos la Chance 2014 Reserve Chardonnay Pure
Clos la Chance 2014 Reserve Viognier
Clos la Chance 2012 Reserve Merlot
Clos la Chance 2011 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
And here are some pictures from the race…
Jeff and Kara Before
The View from the Starting Line
The Prize Table
Your 3rd and 1st Place Divisional Champs
Stay Rad,
Jeff
Alright athletes, tell us what your favorite wine and sports pairing is. Leave a comment, and let us know.
In this episode, Jeff tastes two Trader Joe’s 2012 Merlots from two different AVA’s in the Napa Valley…
Wine Tasted:
Trader Joe’s 2012 Oakville and Rutherford Grand Reserve Merlot
One Problem:
The natural cork in this wine was so dry that I could not pierce it with a cork screw. This is never a good sign. This would never happen with a screw top or synthetic cork.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
What’s your favorite Napa Valley Merlot? Why do you still think natural cork is better than synthetic closures? Leave a comment, and let us know.
In this episode, Jeff and Parker take a break from playtime to review this wine…
Wine Tasted:
Vitiano 2012 Red Wine
Stay Rad,
Jeff
What’s the best random find you’ve come across at a liquor store? Leave a comment, and let us know.
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
It’s #MerlotDay!
Kara and I just came back from Bubbles in Morgan Hill, where we had a couple of glasses of this bad boy…
Trentadue 2012 Merlot
And, of course, there was food to be had…
Hummus
Warm Brie Crostini
Pork Sliders
How could you go wrong?
Stay Rad,
Jeff
What did you have to celebrate #MerlotDay? Leave a comment, and let us know.
In this episode, Jeff tries a Zinfandel/Merlot blend made by his sister’s friend and her dad.
Spoiler Alert: It rules hard!
Wine Tasted:
Wolff & Father 2010 Loup de Rouge
After the Facts:
To learn more about Wolff & Father Wines and All Spice Restaurant, click here.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
What’s your favorite Zinfandel/Merlot blend? Leave a comment, and let us know.
In this episode, Jeff breaks open a sample from Stickybeak…
Wine Tasted:
Stickybeak 2011 Toscana
Stay Rad,
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.
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