Final Award of the Night…Best Label

Nothing gets the ladies’ attention like a big….font. Yes this label for Rex Goliath Cali. Merlot has a bold and imaginitive font that wraps proudly around a great big rooster. Really, how can you see this bottle and not want to try it. It is both playful and distinguished. The addition of “FREE RANGE?” at the top of the label I find pretty humorous in a dry, British way; the addition of “HRM” for his royal majesty is also cause for a royal chuckle and also adds that little bit of distinction.

Whether you find the label funny or not, I suggest picking this wine up because it is relatively cheap–I think it ran us about $7 here in TX–and I think it is a good example that US merlots can be good.

Well, that’s it for tonight folks. Those are your big winners! Feel free to let us know if you think the judges made the right choices or if there are better contenders out there. Til then America, goodnight and God bless.

UPDATE

We tried this wine again the other night and I’m not so sure my first opinion was correct on this one.  I still think the label is great, but after a second taste, I have to say I found the wine a bit bitter and only had about half a glass before I was over it.  I’m not sure what the difference was this time around.  The last time we tried it, we had already tried another wine and maybe my senses were a little dulled, or possibly the transition between the wines caused me to think it was better than it is.  For $7.00, it’s still not bad, but I’m afraid I have to amend my favorable review and say that this wine is just OK , and it’s probably not the best example of a great American merlot.

Best Name for a Wine

The award for Best Name for a Wine is Menage a Trois. This is a wine I had never tried before, but the name drew me in and I had to try it. I was not disappointed and I don’t think you will be either. A blend of zin, merlot and cab, this wine has an amazing flavor that is richly simple. When we finished the bottle I felt as though…well, as though I wish I had bought two!

I also have to give an honorable mention to Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin. A good wine with a great name. We drank this one pretty late so I don’t recall all of it’s good points, but I know I liked it, and, until we have another chance to give it a more in-depth review, just take my word for it…it’s good.

First Award of the Night…Best Rediscovered Wine

I feel like giving out awards; so the next few posts will be awards for wines I have tried within the last week and which are outstanding in their respective category.

First off, we have the Smoking Loon Pinot Noir, which I give the award for Best Rediscovered Wine. I had this for the first time over a year ago when my good friend Karl brought it to a wine party either I or one of our friends was hosting. It’s a great whenever-kind-of wine that I should buy more often because it tastes great and is right in that nice $10-or-so price range!

The Old Reliables

My wife just brought home a bottle of Yellowtail Chardonnay and it reminded me that although we’ve been venturing out and trying lots of new wines lately it’s good to know which ones you can always find, and you know you will enjoy them…even if they’re not mind blowing.

What’s your good old reliable?

Side note: I find that the Australian imports found in your local grocery store or liquor store are usually pretty good for the money, especially their shiraz and the shiraz/cab, shiraz/merlot mixes. I have been informed that a while ago Australia flooded the US market with pretty decent wine to create a following. I was told by a friend of my mother’s (who lives down under), however, that what we’re drinking here is the lower end wines that their wineries are putting out. As to whether or not this is the case, I’m not sure because I haven’t done too much research on the matter, but for now, I’ll take her word for it.

No F***in’ Merlot: Is American Merlot Getting a Bad Rap?

I recently went to a website called No Merlot that basically purports the idea that, “American Merlot costing $12 and under is generally bland and flabby, lacking any varietal character or structure. Merlots seem to lack passion – they seem as if they’re made to be as inoffensive as possible. The wine has become a commodity that is trucked in by the tanker and bottled with a label prominently featuring an animal of some sort.”

I have definitely had some bad, cheap merlots, and I agree that they lacked character. The really bad ones even tend to give me heartburn and seem better suited for cooking rather than drinking. On the other hand, is an entire type of wine getting a bad rap because of a few bad wines?

An New York Times article posted on Avenue Vine states this is the case. In the article, writer Eris Asimov makes the case that over generalizing when it comes to the quality of merlots is harmful to many reputable American vineyards that invest time and resources into crafting really good merlots. I really like the comparison he makes to romance novels regarding this matter:

Saying all merlot is bad is like saying all romance novels are bad.
It overlooks the fact that books like, say, “Anna Karenina” are romances.
Some of the greatest wines in the world are merlots, but because
they have names like Château Pétrus and are from Bordeaux, where region is
emphasized over grape, they are thought of as Pomerols rather than merlots.

Personally, I like merlots and find them to be a good fall back wine that I know most friends and guests will enjoy at a party. I definitely stay away from the real cheapies (those $6-8 bottles are generally not too good), but think that there are plenty of decent American merlots for $12-15.

I think another thing that speaks volumes is in fact the volume of merlot grapes being grown. Asimov brings it up in his article. 75% of all wine produced in the US is merlot. So, someone must like it and be drinking it.

Let’s hear what everyone else thinks, and, if you have a suggestion for a merlot that might be the redeemer of it’s variety, please let us know!

Is Beer Better With Cheese Than Wine?

In an old article my sister dug up (thanks Gail) and sent to me, Janet Fletcher proposes the idea that beer goes better with cheese than wine:
Thursday, February 17, 2005 (SF Chronicle)

BEER & CHEESE/Forget wine and cheese parties — the true soul mate for fromage isn’t made from grape juice.

Janet Fletcher, Chronicle Staff Writer

The crowds munching nachos at America’s ballparks all summer don’t need
convincing that beer and cheese go together. It’s the die-hard wine
enthusiasts, myself included, who resist the notion that beer may in
fact be cheese’s better match.

As a longtime cheese aficionado, The Chronicle’s weekly cheese
columnist and a nightly wine drinker, I’ve reluctantly concluded that many
cheeses give wine, especially dry wine, a rough time.

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT: The SF Chronicle
I am no beer hater; in fact I love beer, but except for the occasional beer and pretzel combo at a good brew pub or draught house, I never really thought of having beer and cheese. Although I know beer can pair well with many sophisticated meals, I still fall back on the classic attitude that wine goes with cheese and beer is better suited for BBQ and traditional snacks.
Because of this article, I am going to start exploring some different beer and cheese pairings.

At this time, however, I am sticking with the opinion that wines pair better with cheeses than do beers. Anyone agree or have a different opinion? If so, let us know and if you have a favorite pairing either with wine or beer let us know so we can give it a try and see what we think.

Just to be the devils advocate, I am going to say that one really great pairing is a sharp white cheddar and a Yuengling lager. Another good pairing with Yuengling is a thick slice of Lebanon bologna and a thick slice of horseradish cheddar! For those who aren’t from the Northeastern US, Yuengling is America’s oldest brewery and makes a pretty darn decent lager. You could try these pairings with your own favorite lager, but stay away from the macro brews. Find a good micro brewed lager as the flavor tends to be richer.

Looking forward to your pairing ideas!

Jason

10 Best Places to Drink Your Wine

So, I’m wondering where the best places to drink wine are?

Living in San Antonio, but not being a native San Antonian, I’m not sure I know all the best places to get or enjoy a glass of wine, but I am making it my mission to find out. I’d like to get a good list of the Top 10 Places in Your Town to drink wine so if you have a list of your favorite spots, please let us know. I’m going to submit an initial list here and will update as I discover more good spots.  This list is not in the order of best to worst, just the order of what popped into my head first.

1. My grandparents’ porch watching the sun set over the Guadalupe River valley
2. The river deck at the Gristmill Restaurant (in Gruene, TX)
3. Winestyles (check out their wine discovery nights every Tuesday $5 for public, $ .99 for members)
4. Paesano’s (any one is good, but the 1604 location is my personal fav!)
5. Guadalupe River State Park camping by the river (if you haven’t noticed I really like drinking wine by rivers)
6. Scenic Loop Cafe (a decent list of wines, but the outside patio atmosphere is what makes it a really fun place to relax, listen to live music and enjoy your wine)
7. The Vineyards at Garden Ridge
8. Brackenridge Park
9. Copa Wine Bar
10. Zinc Champagne and Wine Bar

What are your best spots?  Post them here!  Even if you don’t have a whole list, I’d be interested in finding out where the hot spots are around the world!

Reserva Nieto (Chardonnay) by Nieto Senetiner: Mendoza, Argentina 2005

Grade: A-

I just read an article online that said you shouldn’t drink American Chardonnays because they were overproduced and lacked flavor.  Well this one is from Argentina and it does not.

I definitely pick up on the vanilla flavor mentioned on the label and although it is nice I think it slightly overpowers the fruit flavors, which seem to take a bit of a back seat to the vanilla and buttery taste it has going on. This is not meant to be a huge criticism because I think the flavor is great and I do pick up on some apple flavor coming through. I guess I just prefer Chardonnays a little fruitier than this one.

All in all, I think this is a really good chardonnay and recommend trying it if you come across it.

UMA by Telteca Winery: Mendoza, Argentina 2006

GRADE: B

UMA is a Torrontes, which is a distinctively Argentinian wine. The wine is made from the torrontes grape, a medium sized white grape that is usually a golden color and, from what I have read, is grown exclusively in Argentina.

The label says that UMA is, “Crisp and pleasant wine. Fruity aromas such as grapefruit with delicate floral notes. Good balance between fruit and acidity.”

I agree that it is crisp and pleasant and it has just a bit of a bite, which I like. I think that the bite comes from the citrus flavor mentioned on the label. The flavor starts off simple and mellow; yet, I find that it becomes more complex as it rolls over the back of your tongue and this is when you really get that citrus taste and the nice little bite that accompanies it.

As far as the aroma, I find it to be very delicate aroma and it is hard for me personally to pick up on the fruitiness, whcih seems to come through more in the flavor.

Although I enjoy this wine, I don’t think I would drink it alone (I do crazy things when I’m alone). What I mean is that I think it would be much more enjoyable if accompanied by something that draws out it fruity flavor such as a crisp garden salad, fruit salad or a chicken salad made with grapes and nuts. I think it would also pair nicely with a white fish, especially if cooked in a citrus marinade or glaze.

One last note is that it would make an excellent picnic wine because, served chilled, it would make an excellent addition to a warm spring day and a great reprieve from a hot summers day. I also see it pairing very well with typical picnic foods like sandwiches, fruits, nuts, or anything else you care to stick in your basket.

Welcome to WineSwisher

Hello and welcome to WineSwisher. My goal here is simply to share thoughts about different wines I have tried and to learn what other people are drinking and enjoying. I, however, do not want this page to be strictly limited to wine reviews so I will be including some recipes I enjoy (either because they are good when cooked with wine or consumed with a certain wine), interesting facts I find on wine or wine making, recommendations about books on wine or good articles I’ve found, and anything else under the sun I think might be fun, helpful or interesting!

I would like to encourage all wine drinkers and wine lovers to share their thoughts and feelings about wine or wine-related topics here so that we can all share in the joy of enjoying a truly great glass of wine.

Bottoms up!

-Jason