Category: Booze

Wine reviews, pairings, events, and getaways


Aug
2016

2015 Barrymore Pinot Grigio – by Carmel Road

categories: Booze, Wine

I bought this wine on a whim. I was at the store perusing the wine aisles (that’s usually where you’ll find me in the supermarket) and I saw the label “Barrymore.” Ironically, I had just heard from my coworker that same week that Drew had her own wine label. Curious? Yes I was. Curious enough to buy a bottle, in fact.

Now for those who’ve read my previous posts, I did, in fact, also purchase her Pinot Noir. However, although I tasted Pinot Noir first, the Pinot Grigio was actually my first purchase. But I kept it in my cellar. Why? Well, my reasons are two-fold. 1) Pinot Grigios can be disappointing: I’ve had those that are so fruit-forward (borderline sweet) that I question whether or not it’s actually a Riesling or Gewurztraminer (won’t name names here). Then I’ve had those that have had so little flavor that I feel like I may as well be drinking water and save myself the alcohol points for something with some umph (again no names). 2) Because I had occasion to enjoy Drew’s Pinot first I actually had some high expectations for this wine so I wanted to make sure I was in the mood for a PG and had the perfect food pairing.

Well that time did come, and here are the results…

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Aug
2016

2014 Edna Valley Vineyard Central Coast Pinot Noir

categories: Booze, Wine

As promised in my Edna Valley Vineyard Pinot Grigio post, here’s yet another cellar staple from my personal stash: Edna Valley Vineyard Central Coast Pinot Noir. It’s like this: you don’t want to have to think about whether a wine will taste “good,” whether it’ll go with a meal you’ll actually eat, or whether you’ll have leftover wine to worry about. This is that wine that you don’t have to worry about — I guarantee you’ll like it, you’ll drink it, and you won’t have any leftovers…

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Aug
2016

2012 Kenwood Jack London Vineyard Zinfandel

categories: Booze, Wine

I judged a book by its cover. I mean…wine by its label. I couldn’t resist that bad-ass wolf staring at me from the center shelf in the wine aisle. Beyond that, it’s named after “The Wolf” himself, Jack London — and I definitely can’t resist a literary nod. So I bought the 2012 Kenwood Jack London Vineyard Zinfandel expecting nothing more than big bold flavors — I got a little more than I bargained for with this one.

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Aug
2016

2015 Edna Valley Vineyard Pinot Grigio

categories: Booze, Wine

It’s simply summer time and I need to constantly re-stock my white wine cellar and, as much as I like to experiment, I like to keep my cellar filled with solid staples. You’ve heard me talk about Chateau Ste Michelle and Wente as excellent producers of regularly available wines — some of which exceed grocery-store expectations. Well, here’s another name for you: Edna Valley Vineyard. It’s another label I see and just assume it’ll be good — even if it’s a varietal I traditionally shy away from. Long story short, I have yet to be disappointed, and the 2015 Edna Valley Vineyard Pinot Grigio is no exception.

Pinot Grigios can be hard — either cloyingly sweet or so lacking in flavor you may as well just drink water. The 2015 Edna Valley Vineyard Pinot Grigio meets that happy medium by providing a refreshing burst of fruit flavor…and a little something extra…

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Aug
2016

2012 J. Lohr 2012 South Ridge Estates Paso Robles Syrah

categories: Booze, Wine

I was at the Paso Robles seminar and grande tasting event in Oakland awhile back and stopped by the J.Lohr tasting table. I can’t help it. I know they’re a big name brand, but they feel simultaneously local. Maybe its because their Bay Area tasting room is literally around the corner from my house. Maybe it’s because I see them at every Wine Walk up and down the Penninsula. Or maybe it’s because every time I stop by their tasting room, tasting table, etc, I’m greeted with a warm, friendly face willing to talk to me at length about any and all of their wines — from Safeway finds to “members only” selections.

So I’m at this Paso Robles event, and I’m talking to Mark Hess, a J. Lohr Regional Manager, and we’re going through the tasting flight when we get to the Syrah. Now this is one that is available to the public, but for some reason it’s hard for me to find — not always available at Safeway, I sometimes have to go to a local market, Zonattos, just to find this Syrah-treat. Mark and I are sipping, and talking, and my mind always goes to “what food would go with this.” And as we discuss this topic, I get hungry. So, the following weekend, I buy this wine and whip up, what I think, is the perfect food pairing.

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