In this episode, Jeff gets into a sample of a different type of white wine from a different type of region in Southern Oregon.
Wine Tasted:
Troon Vineyard 2014 Vermentino / Sauvignon Blanc
Food Pairing:
Za’atar Chicken Burger and Oven Fries with Feta-Labneh Spread and Garlic Chips
Stay Rad,
Jeff
Be sure to listen to Jeff each and every week on the We Like Drinking Podcast (available now on iTunes).
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:
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.
In honor of #OTBN (Open That Bottle Night), Jeff dives into a “foxy” wine made by a place that raises horses. What could possibly go wrong?
Wine Tasted:
Belle Meade Plantation NV Red Muscadine from Nashville Tennessee
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 “foxy” wine.
A few weeks back, Kara was out of town for a get-together with some old friends. As much as I love spending time with with my wife, I don’t mind the occasional nights alone… It gives me a chance to get together with some old friends of my own…
“Hello, Cornerstone Cellars! Hello, New York Strip! It’s been a while!”
Cornerstone 2012 Black Label Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and a New York Strip
You know that I love me some Cornerstone Cellars. I’ve been sitting on this sample of their 2012 Black Label Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon for a while, and have been dying to taste it, but with Kara being pregnant, I have not had a chance to open as many bottles around her as I normally would (considering she doesn’t get to share it with me).
You should also know that I love me some beef. I’ve been dreaming of this juicy cut of grass-fed goodness a lot lately. My wife, however, has a “no mammals” policy when it comes to our meals. As a result, I don’t get a chance to indulge in as much red meat as I wish I could.
With Kara away, I had my chance to play…
Let’s get into this wine.
Cornerstone Cellars 2012 Black Label Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Sample provided by Winery):
Formerly known as the Stepping Stone series, these “second label” wines from Cornerstone bring some serious chops at a serious value.
Color: Inky deep purple.
Nose: Fruits of plum and blackberry up front, with secondary notes of leather, allspice, menthol, and pencil shavings. This is a nose a teacher can get behind (I’m talking about the pencils, not the Kool cigarettes, silly).
Palate: A nice, medium plus weight to this wine. Fruits of ripe plum, cassis, and high-toned red cherries on the front palate. There is solid structure here from the chalky fine tannins and long acidity. I love the transition of fruits to tobacco leaf and rich forest soil on the long, Earthy finish.
Score: This wine is friggin’ lovely! 93+ all the way. Kara should get out of town more often (Just kidding, girl. I love you).
Now…
While this wine would do perfectly fine as a stand-alone drink, the fine folks at Cornerstone believe strongly in treating wine as part of a meal. I could not agree more.
Here’s what I paired with it…
Pan-Seared New York Strip with Blue Cheese, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, and a Baked Potato
Jeff. Don’t. Play.
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 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and food pairing.
In this episode, Jeff tastes two Chardonnay samples from the same year, vineyard, and winery. The difference? One of them was aged in a concrete egg!
Wines Tasted:
Castello di Amorosa 2013 Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay and 2013 La Rocca Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay
Stay Rad,
Jeff
Note: Both these samples were provided for review by Castello di Amorosa.
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 honor of his first wine review for WeLikeDrinking.com, Jeff pairs this California Sparkling Wine with a Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado, and Tomato Sandwich.
Bon appetit!
Wine Tasted:
Mumm Napa NV Brut Rose and a BLAT
Be sure to check out my complete review of this wine on WeLikeDrinking.com, where I can also be heard as a panelist on the weekly We Like Drinking Podcast (available on iTunes too)!
Stay Rad,
Jeff
What’s your go-to sparkling wine and food pairing? Leave a comment and let us know what you think.
In this episode, Jeff tries a couple of Italian wine samples from an American director…
Wine Tasted:
Ziobaffa 2013 Pinot Grigio and 2012 Toscana
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Jeff
What’s your favorite 10 – 15 dollar Italian wine right now? 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 sits down with a brown bag of wine…
Brown Baggin’ It
After the Fact: My apologies for calling it “Cantena”. The name is “Catena”.
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Jeff
What color is #TheDress? Leave a comment, and let us know.
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