September 2011
42 posts
11 tags
2009 Elk Cove Estate Riesling
IN CASE YOU HAVEN’T HEARD:
RIESLING ISN’T LAME
IN FACT IT’S KIND OF
THAT’S RIGHT. RIESLING IS THE KEVIN BACON OF WINES.
NOT ONLY DOES IT GO GREAT WITH PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING, BUT IF SOMETHING SUCKS RIESLING WILL PROBABLY MAKE IT SUCK LESS.
JUST. LIKE. KEVIN. BACON.
DRINK:
WILLAMETTE VALLEY ESTATE RIESLING
SWEET BUT NOT CLOYING
GREAT ACIDITY
WATCH US PAIR IT...
9 tags
2009 Newsome Harlow El Portal Petite Sirah
CALAVERAS COUNTY TERROIR
EYE:
INDIA INK
NOSE:
BLACK PLUM
BLUEBERRY
LIPS:
THYME
NOT ABUSED OAK
ESPECIALLY GOOD: ON AN AUTUMN EVENING
PAIR:
BREAD. CAVE AGED GRUYERE.
THICK BEEF STEW. MORE BREAD. CRUSTY BREAD. BUTTER.
$22 BUCKS WILL WARM YOU UP
14 tags
2009 Michel Olivier Cremant de Limoux Brut
DON’T CALL IT CHAMPAGNE.
BECAUSE IT’S NOT FROM CHAMPAGNE.
IT’S SPARKLING WINE.
GOOD MOUSSE
NOT OVERLY EFFERVESCENT
BISCUITY AND DELICIOUS
AND ONLY $14 BUCKS (KILLER PARTY WINE)
PAIR WITH:
WHATEVER YOUR’E EATING FOR BREAKFAST
WHATEVER YOUR’E EATING FOR LUNCH
WHATEVER YOUR’E EATING FOR DINNER
OUR FAVORITE PAIRING?
HIGH QUALITY, WELL SALTED POTATO CHIPS
LIKE...
9 tags
2009 Tanner Doux Rose
READ OUR LIPS: ROSE. NOT ROSÉ
TANNER LIKES THIS WINE SO MUCH THEY NAMED IT AFTER THEIR GRANDMOTHER
GRAPES: SYRAH
CHILL: EVER SO SLIGHTLY
NOSE: SWEET
TASTE: APPLE
$18 BUCKS
DRINK IT WITH:
CAMEMBERT. TOASTED ALMONDS. HONEY.
ROASTED ASPARAGUS. PROSCUITTO. POACHED EGG.
ENJOY.
14 tags
2008 Elk Cove Pinot Noir
WILLAMETTE. VALLEY.
WILLAMETTE VALLEY IS TO PINOT NOIR
WHAT:
IS TO:
THEY: PUT EACH OTHER ON THE MAP
AND: THEY REALLY WORK WELL TOGETHER
2008 ELK COVE PINOT NOIR
AND NOW THE DREGS PROUDLY PRESENTS:
CUSTOM TASTING NOTES BY OUR BUDDY NATE UP IN PORTLAND WHO HAS BEEN COLLECTING ELK COVE WINES FOR OVER A DECADE!
(FOR ANY FUTURE NATE TASTING NOTES WE WILL AVOID SUCH GRANDIOSE INTRODUCTIONS AND...
10 tags
2008 Newsome Harlow Train Wreck
50/50 CAB/SYRAH BLEND
BIG. SWEEPING. STRONG.
BUT BALANCED AND QUIET
WE RATE THIS WINE
$22 COFFINS. REMEMBER TO AIM FOR THE HEART.
PAIR IT UP:
PICKLED DEVILED EGGS. PICKLED GREEN BEANS. PICKLED CAULIFLOWER. PICKLES.
6 HOUR PORK RIBS. BALSAMIC BBQ SAUCE.
PULLED PORK. SRIRACHA COLE SLAW. BUTTER GRILLED BRIOCHE.
GET. WRECKED.
13 tags
2008 Alta Mesa Tannat
TANNAT. EDUCATE YOURSELF.
WHAT’S THAT YOU SAY?
SOUTHWESTERN FRENCH GRAPES GROWING IN LODI?
NOT GONNA LIE, WE DON’T REALLY WANT TO SELL THIS TO YOU.
WE WANT TO GREEDILY HORDE THIS WINE IN A CORNER ALL BY OURSELVES.
BUT WE GOT TO FEED OUR FAMILIES.
SO WE ARE SHARING ONE OF CALIFORNIA’S ABSOLUTE BEST WINES WITH YOU.
FOR ONLY $20
AND WITH ONLY 125 CASES PRODUCED…..
I DARE...
9 tags
2008 Barco Negro Douro
DOURO. KNOW IT. LOVE IT.
YOUR’E GONNA HEAR A LOT MORE ABOUT IT
BECAUSE WE LOVE PORTUGUESE WINE
SO LET’S GET INTO IT
DARK BODY
DARK FRUIT
TOTALLY ABSENT OF OAK ABUSE
BEST PART? $14 SMACKEROOS
SO DRINK IT EVERY NIGHT AND SAVE YOUR CASH TO PARTY ON THE WEEKEND
DRINK IT WITH:
BBQ TRI TIP
GRILLED MERGUEZ LAMB SAUSAGE. FRITES.
BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS. GRILLED ONION. MELTED TOMATO.
9 tags
2009 Newsome Harlow Calaveras County Zin
WHO’S AFRAID OF THE BIG BAD ZIN?
NEWSOME HARLOW IS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE CALAVERAS COUNTY WINERIES
AND THIS BAD BOY CAN’T WAIT TO SINK HIS TEETH INTO YOU
LOOK: GARNET.
SMELL: EARTH. SPICE.
TOUCH: SILK.
TASTE: BERRY. WHITE PEPPER.
BALANCE: REMARKABLE.
ALL THIS FOR $21 BONES?
DON’T HUFF AND PUFF AND BLOW OUR DOORS DOWN ALL AT ONCE.
BUT GET ON IT
DEVOUR...
10 tags
2008 Chatom Vineyards Semillon
ARE YOU DOWN WITH SEMILLON?
FRENCH GRAPES IN CALIFORNIA. DONE RIGHT.
SMELL IT:
LEMON ZEST
DRINK IT:
PEAR
GREEN FIG
SWEET. BUT NOT CLOYING.
$17 BONES
PAIR IT:
HEIRLOOM TOMATO. GREEN FIGS. FATTY SALUMI. I’D STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS ONE.
10 tags
2007 Albeno Munari Merlot
WE ALREADY TOLD YOU ABOUT CALAVERAS COUNTY RIGHT?
MUNARI MAKES A KILLER MERLOT
MOCHA
BLACKBERRY
ANISE
PAIR:
SAINT ANDRE. CRUSTY BREAD.
LINGUINI. RED CLAMS SAUCE.
$22 BONES
EVER GET A CHANCE GO CHECK OUT THEIR BEAUTIFUL GROUNDS. HAVE A GLASS OF WINE BY THE CREEK.
12 tags
2008 Coquelicot Sixer
FROM THE THROBBING HEART OF LOS OLIVOS WINE COUNTRY
94% SYRAH. 6% VIOGNIER….TO TAKE THE EDGE OFF
THIS IS REALLY BIG AND RIPE, YET SOPHISTICATED
LIKE
MEETS
TALL. DARK. AND HANDSOME.
PAIR IT UP:
BAVETTE STEAK. SHALLOT BUTTER.
BEEF BOURGOGNE
GRILLED LAMB. RARE.
RUNS YOU: $36 BUCKS
I PROMISE: IT WILL LEAVE A MARK
10 tags
2007 Comelli Soffumbergo
ITALIAN RED BLEND
THIS BAD BOY IS PACKED WITH MERLOT, CAB, REFOSCO AND PIGNOLO
DRINK WITH YOUR EYES:
DEEP COLOR
SLIGHTLY INKY
SMELL IT:
CLOVES
DARK CHERRY
TOBACCO
DRINK IT:
DARK WET EARTH
KIND OF LIKE FINDING A PIRATE’S HIDDEN TREASURE
DRINK WITH:
ROASTED LAMB. RARE.
LAMB FAT ROASTED FINGERLING POTATOES.
BRAISED OXTAILS. TAGLIATELLE.
DARK CHOCOLATE. BERRIES.
$20
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR
AND...
10 tags
2009 Comelli Sauvignon Blanc
ITALIAN SAUVIGNON BLANC
UNLIKE ANY OTHER WE HAVE EVER HAD
NOSE IN:
FRESH OREGANO
AND SUBTLE SMOKE
TASTE:
GRASS
WORMWOOD
KINDA LIKE HANGING WITH THE GREEN FAIRY
BUT WITH A LOT LESS BOOZE IN IT SO IT WON’T RUIN YOUR LIFE
PAIR WITH:
GRILLED OCTOPUS. CHILI. LIME.
RAW OYSTERS. SHALLOT MIGNONETTE.
CRISPY SKINNED ROAST DUCK.
$20 BONES. JUMP IN.
9 tags
2010 Esterlina Rosé of Pinot Noir
ANDERSON VALLEY MAKES AMAZING PINOT NOIR
ESTERLINA MADE SOME OF THEIR KILLER PINOT INTO THIS REALLY INTERESTING ROSÉ
A SLIGHT BITTERNESS ON THE NOSE
IMMEDIATE MINERALITY
WALNUT SHELL
REALLY AWESOME ACIDITY AND HONEYSUCKLE ON THE FINISH
RED AND COMPLEX, FULL BODIED FOR A ROSÉ, KIND OF LIKE
$16 BUCKS?
PAIR IT UP:
MIXED GREENS. STRAWBERRIES. BALSAMIC.
FRENCH BREAD. GOAT CHEESE. HONEY. BAKED...
8 tags
2010 Dominio de Eguren Protocolo
EASY ON THE NOSE
EASY ON YOUR POCKET
50/50 MACABEO/AIREN
SPANISH UTILITY GRAPES
GREEN APPLE
KINDA STEMMY
A GREAT PARTY WHITE
ESPECIALLY FOR $8 BUCKS
IT’S SIMPLE
BUT NICE
KIND OF LIKE THIS GUY
PAIR?
MANCHEGO
BUTTER LETTUCE. WALNUT. GREEN APPLE.
CEVICHE.
12 tags
2008 Tanner Petit Verdot
MEET TANNER WINES
THEY ARE OUR FRIENDS FROM CALAVERAS COUNTY
THIS IS THEIR PETIT VERDOT
TYPICALLY USED IN BORDEAUX BLENDING, HERE THE GRAPE GETS TO STRETCH IT’S LEGS. LITERALLY.
NOW I COULD TELL YOU THIS WINE IS DARK AND BEAUTIFUL WITH KILLER BODY….
OR I COULD JUST TELL YOU THIS WINE IS
WHICH DO YOU PREFER?
SMELL: PLUM
TASTE: FRUIT AND LEATHER
PAIR:
RIBEYE. RARE.
MUSHROOMS....
12 tags
2007 Caparone Sangiovese
OK, SO THIS IS A FATHER-SON TEAM IN PASO ROBLES
THEY DO EVERYTHING THEMSELVES
AND WHEN I SAY EVERYTHING, I MEAN EVERYTHING
THIS IS THEIR SANGIOVESE
OLD SCHOOL AND UNBLENDED
SMELL IT:
FLOWERS
EARTH
TASTE IT:
LIGHT CHERRY. MORE EARTH.
FOR $15 BUCKS YOU CAN DRINK IT EVERY DAY
AND WITH LESS THAN 14% BOOZE YOU CAN DRINK IT ALL DAY LONG
PAIR IT: (AND NO WE AREN’T GONNA JUST SAY PASTA AND...
12 tags
2009 Alta Mesa Verdelho
SO WE ALREADY TOLD YOU ABOUT OUR BUDDY RON RIGHT?
THIS IS HIS VERDELHO (TOO LAZY TO CLICK? IT’S A PORTUGUESE WHITE)
CHECK OUT HOW MUCH RON LOVES HIS VERDELHO
PORTUGUESE GRAPES GROWN IN LODI!
NOSE:
VERY LIGHT PEACH
MOUTH:
ENOUGH ACID TO MAKE THESE CHARACTERS HAPPY
RUNS ABOUT $17 BONES
DRINK IT WITH:
GAZPACHO
GRILLED CALAMARI
FRIED OYSTERS, OR RAW OYSTERS
FRIED CATFISH FROM POPEYES
YEAH,...
11 tags
2008 Lautrec Pinot Noir
ANDERSON VALLEY PINOT NOIR
I WON’T LIE TO YOU
THESE GUYS KINDA TURNED US OFF OF PINOT FOR A WHILE
BUT LET’S BE HONEST, PINOT IS PRETTY RAD
AND THESE GUYS ARE DOING IT RIGHT
FRUIT
COLA
PICKLE……Y?
FUNK, LIKE
CRISPY SKIN PORK BELLY
BACON WRAPPED ASPARAGUS
ROCKET SALAD. GRILLED RED ONION. BACON FAT WALNUTS.
GHETTO APPLICATION: CHICHARRONES WITH TAPATIO.
ABOUT $28...