Posts Tagged ‘We Like Drinking Podcast’

Oregon… But Not Forgotten 

February 12, 2017

Wow!

Really?!?!?!

July 16th!

That’s the last time I posted on this blog.

That’s almost seven months!

Geez!!!!!

You should know that I’ve been drinking good wine and eating great food the whole time… But, sometimes, life gets in the way (I’ve got all these kids, now!).

Now…

Even though I don’t post here as often as I used to, Stay Rad Wine Blog will be here forever.

If that’s not enough Jeff for you (I mean… Who doesn’t need more Jeff in their life?), you can always join me on the We Like Drinking Podcast (available here, or download on iTunes) every Friday.

Check out the wine I was drinking on our latest episode…

Troon Vineyard 2013 Black Label M*T Reserve

The Troon Vineyard 2013 Black Label M*T Reserve was sent to me as a sample for review a few months back.  It’s a wonderfully odd field blend of 57.67% Malbec and 44.33% Tannat.  It’s a big, dark, and juicy wine from Southern Oregon that would give many a Napa Cab a run for their money.

It also goes great with Taquitos!

A few days later, I jumped into another Oregon wine while I was making dinner…

A Blooming Hill Vineyard 2014 “Trouble” Pinot Noir

The 2014 Pinot Noir from A Blooming Hill Vineyard was another sample sent for review.  The husband and wife team of Holly and Jim Witte named their two Pinot Noir blocks after their dogs (Gemini and Trouble).  This “Trouble” has a super fun nose of mushrooms, tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries, and wet rocks.  The palate is surprisingly sharp and fresh on the first approach.  Loads of tart cranberries, red currant, and (would you believe it?) lime zest.  If the high acid up front scares you, don’t trip… It becomes much more approachable with time in the glass.

Food helps too…

Sicilian Cauliflower Pizza

That Pinot Noir is a great pizza wine.  The combination was a beautifully juicy and round meal… Perfect for a Friday night at home with the one you love.

Stay Rad,

Jeff

Be sure to listen to Jeff each and every week on the We Like Drinking Podcast (available now on iTunes).

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Posted in Food and Wine, We Like Drinking Podcast, Wine | 2 Comments »

What to think about A Proper Pink

February 28, 2016

In the latest episode of the We Like Drinking Podcast (available on iTunes), you may have heard me raving about all these samples of rosé that were sent to me from Bonny Doon Vineyard. These wines are definitely rave-worthy.

So…

As promised, here’s a full review of the wine I tasted on episode #59 of the We Like Drinking Podcast.

Wine Tasted:

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Bonny Doon Vineyard 2015 A Proper Pink

This sample, provided by the winery, is part of Bonny Doon Vineyard’s “A Proper Wine” label. Composed of 69% Tannat and 31% Cabernet Franc this dry, pink wine is $16.

Color: Light cranberry. I know that Bonny Doon Vineyard likes to “play around” with “alternative packaging”. I wonder if they have ever considered juice boxes…

Nose: A lively, citrus-driven aroma. This nose has great notes of orange zest and grapefruits with a hint of river rocks.

Palate: Contrary to what many folks may expect from a pink wine, this effort has a rich mouthfeel. While there is a strong foundation of acidity here, which carries fruits of cherry and orange pith to a medium plus finish, the relatively heavy weight to this wine may leave some to ponder, “What the heck is a proper pink supposed to taste like?”

Score: What is certain is that at $16 a bottle, the thought-provoking nature of this wine is well worth the price of admission. This is the perfect bottle for an unseasonably warm winter’s day. 88 points.

Stay Rad,

Jeff

Be sure to listen to Jeff every week on the We Like Drinking Podcast (available on iTunes), and leave a comment below about your favorite pink wine.

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Posted in We Like Drinking Podcast, Wine | 3 Comments »

Wine Folly and Explosions on the We Like Drinking Podcast

September 3, 2015

Well…

That was a treat.

On Wednesday night, we recorded an extra special episode of the We Like Drinking Podcast featuring the one and only Madeline Puckette of WineFolly.com…

Here’s a picture that Madeline posted on Instagram, showing off the Albarino she was drinking on the show.

The show, which was broadcast live on YouTube (to view the video click here then here… or just watch the embedded videos bellow), was a friggin’ one hour forty minute blast… in spite of the mid-show computer explosion.

There was plenty of talk about the new Wine Folly book, the Reno wine bar scene, smoke taint, carbon dating, and the vine cutting attached to the wine I was drinking…

 

Cantina Zaccagnini 2012 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo… with twig.

You’ve gotta give this episode a listen.  Here’s the link.

Stay Rad,

Jeff

PS – Oh yeah, here are the videos of the broadcast…

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Good Eats, Podcasts, and Cornerstone Cellars

August 9, 2015

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.

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Bedrocking the Podcast and Tacos

March 13, 2015

Every week, when Jim, John, Jeff (the other Jeff), and I sit down to record the We Like Drinking Podcast, we each bring a different beer or wine to taste during the show.

Typically, I grab some random wine from my cabinet, or pick up a beer from the store on my way home…

I rarely put much thought into what I’m gonna be tasting.

This week was different…

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Bedrock Wine Co. 2011 Griffin’s Lair Vineyard Syrah

This week, we had our first guest on the podcast… The incomparable Martin “One Take” Redmond of Enofylz Wine Blog.

Not only is he one of the best wine bloggers in the game today, but he is also one of the nicest guys in the world of wine.  A few years back, when I mentioned to him that I had an interest in Bedrock Wine Co., Martin helped me get my hands on this bottle of their 2011 Griffin’s Lair Vineyard Syrah (a mailing list only wine).

So…

When Martin agreed to be our first guest on the podcast, I found it only fitting to open this bottle.

Griffin’s Lair Vineyard is in the Petaluma Wind Gap, a cool-climate region of Sonoma County.  This Syrah is co-fermented with 11% Viognier, which gives this spicy and lush wine an awesome, floral nose.

Those who have been listening to the podcast should also be jazzed to know that Bedrock Wine Co. does not put capsules on their wine bottles.

Also, this wine goes great with tacos!

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

So…

Don’t be a knucklehead.

Be sure to click this link to listen to this week’s episode of the We Like Drinking Podcast (or search us up on iTunes) with our special guest, Martin Redmond, to hear more about this wine, and everything else fit to talk about in the world of wine.

Stay Rad,

Jeff

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