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.
Stay Rad,
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.
In this episode, Jeff searches for the truth in this Rioja…
Wine Tasted:
Viña Eguía 2007 Reserva Rioja
Stay Rad,
Jeff
What’s your favorite Rioja? Leave a comment, and let us know.
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 tries a gets a little creative with some food and a killer Syrah…
Wine Tasted:
Valley of the Moon 2009 Syrah
Food Pairing:
Lamb Curry and Hash Browns
After the Fact:
To learn more about Syrah, check out Cyrus Limon’s blog, Solo Syrah.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
What’s your favorite value Syrah? 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
Stay Rad,
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.
Hey, y’all!
I just wanted to check in with you, real quick, to show you the meal I made last night…
And since we all know that wine is my favorite food, we’ll start with that.
Check it out!
Trader Joe’s 2012 Grower’s Reserve Chardonnay
You know that I’m a fan of Trader Joe’s brand wines for their exceptional value.
You should also know that I’ve been in a white wine type of mood, lately.
So…
When I found this $6 Chardonnay made from organic grapes, I had to check it out.
Color: A deep, Golden Delicious apple flesh kind of yellow.
Nose: Green apple, peach skin, lemon, and lime fruits are accented by a subtle toasty note.
Taste: Fruits of apple and pear are wrapped up in a toasty pie crust, topped with a lemon squeeze.
Score: Not the most complex of wines, but it brings a refreshing flavor at a great price. 87 points.
Food Pairing:
Pan-Seared Tilapia Fish Tacos with Greek Yogurt, Vinegar Slaw, and Sriracha
The acid of the wine elevates the buttery fish to bring out this really fun toasty and nutty flavor.
This is a great pairing.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
What wine would you pair with this fish taco? Leave a comment, and tell us about it.
In this very special episode of Stay Rad Wine Blog TV, Jeff shares some of his favorite moments from his first 112 wine reviews…
If you like what you see, share it with a friend.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
What is your favorite moment from Stay Rad Wine Blog TV? What is your favorite quote from Jeff? Leave a comment, and let us know.
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.
Stay Rad,
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
Stay Rad,
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.
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