Two more weeks.

Every once and a while, I don't get around to posting for about two weeks. I'm not sure why it's always that amount of time; it seems so arbitrary. Truth is, during those two weeks, I'm on a virtual wine-bender, and by the time I get home I can't find the computer, let alone type on it. So let's take a moment to fill you in on some recent samplings...


Porta Sole Pinot Grigio ($) from Italy may just be this season's under ten dollar hit. (The larger format bottle just breaks the ten dollar mark). The wine has a crisp, clean, light-yellow color -- typical of a pinot grigio, but not always one at this price point. It offers a nose of wildflowers and tropical fruits. The palate is fruity and medium bodied, with tastes of apricot and apple that linger at the back of the mouth before giving way to lemongrass and minerality on the finish. This is a good daily drinker.


Grayson Pinot Noir 2006 ($) retails at around $15. Normally, this would scare me away from a pinot noir. Good pinots are supposed to be in the thirty-and-over range, aren't they? This lively wine from the Central Coast of Napa, California is a rule breaker. Raspberry, strawberry, and cooking spices dominate this pinot with nice acidity and a mellow finish. At this price, you can't go wrong.

Montecillo Crianza 2001 ($) from Rioja is a standout from most other 2001 tempranillos. First off, it's cheap. Second, you don't have to go hunting for it, 'cause almost everybody's got it. It offers a complex nose of earth, ripe cherry, and vanilla and is followed by tastes of black cherry, cola, and cranberry before giving way to a smooth oaky finish. This wine was made for sitting on the porch with a loaf of Chabaso Roasted Garlic Ciabatta and talking to the squirrels (no, really, it's a great time). This is an obvious MUST BUY.

Luzon 2005 ($) from Jumilla is another stunner for less than a tenspot. Mouvedre and Syrah give this wine a deep purple color with an almost black center. Blackberry is the standout here, with cassis for good measure. This wine is ripe and rich from some of the highest altitude vineyards in the area. Another MUST BUY.

Just in case you thought there was some sort of ten dollar theme going on here, the Prevail Back Forty 2003 ($$$$) from Ferrari Carano's own mountain vineyards is a life changer. Deep, deep aromas of ripe berries, white chocolate, and earth are rounded out by a light smell of the Simon & Garfunkel spices (think about it). The wine is so full-bodied, it needs to shop at a special store. The fruit on the palate actually tastes like you just bit into a strawberry, then a red cherry, then a blueberry, then... well, you get the idea. The finish is so smooth it needs a Shaft-esque soundtrack.


Gordon ($) from Oskar Blues Brewing Co. might just be the hoppiest beer I've ever had in a can. The beer was a nice red, with an aroma of pine and cake (we'll call it, Christmasy). The flavor was of citrus and sweet malt, with a hint of the pine still there, which was neat because it made me feel like I was actually sitting at the Colorado brewery. The bitter finish was typical of the IPA style. I'd buy it again if I could find it. I found mine at Wine Thief.


Speaking of beer, the elmcitywino crew attended a 50 Beers From 50 States tasting at New England Brewing Company, which if you didn't know is in New Haven. If you didn't know that, then you probably didn't know they offer up three of the best canned beers I've ever had (Elm City Lager, Atlantic Amber, and Sea Hag IPA -- listed in my order of preference), not to mention some amazing age-worthy specialties from time to time.
Anywho, the tasting was a blast, but I misplaced my notes on everything I tried. I'll keep looking. I do remember, however, that you should avoid Alaskan beer at all costs, don't go near the Anheuser-Busch blueberry beer, and "Batch 1000" barleywine is a definite LAY DOWN beer. Keep checking their site, because eventually the event will have a write-up.


Also, find a bottle of Peter Lehmann Shiraz ($-$$). It will teach you everything you need to know about the Barossa Valley, for a bit less money than great Barossa Shiraz usually goes for.