Tipsy

A Wine Geek's Dream...Chateauneuf du Pape

by Bridget

When I am lucky enough to get a bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape, it's like a national holiday in my geeky universe. It is an experience I truly live for. This week, I was given a bottle of 2007 Telegramme Chateauneuf du Pape, and you couldn't sandblast the smile off of my face for the rest of the day. But then, an age old dilemma popped into my head; lay it down, or drink it now.

  I always like to tell people, "I'm going to lay this bottle down for a few years, it's waaaay too young to drink now." I think saying things like this makes me sound fancy and super intelligent. But then there is the real me. The greedy, curious, self-indulgent me.

What really happened is this: I ran home, giddy as a schoolgirl, and selected the proper Riedel glass. I then proceeded to stare at the bottle, thinking for one last time that I really should just put it in the basement. Then I cracked that baby open like a savage proclaiming, "I could be DEAD tomorrow! Drink it NOW!" I did have the decency to let it breathe for a while.

  The nose was a beautiful perfume of cherries and cinnamon. On the palate, there was nutmeg, allspice, a touch of fruit, and a bit of soft earthiness. The spice definitely lingered, and the tannins did soften up a bit after a while. Ripe and delicious, it was a hot one at 14.5%!

  It's the rich spiciness and earth that I love about a Chateauneuf du Pape. but there is also the romance and tradition attached to the name. I look at pictures of the southern Rhone and Provence and say, "One day." The beautiful architecture, the fields of lavender...le sigh...

  What happened tonight is what usually happens when I get a bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape. What can I say? I'm American, after all: instant gratification and overwhelming curiosity always win. Yes, it was very young and a bit tannic. Was it beautiful and did it make me happy? YES! After all, I could be dead tomorrow, so drink up!

A Little Taste of Spain.

by Bridget

To me, some of the most interesting, complex, and delicious wines come from Spain. I recently had a tasting of Spanish wines, and I figured I would be a very selfish person if I didn't share what I learned from my "research" with all of you kids.

Rioja produces some very elegant wines. The winemaking history of this region is deeply intertwined with Bordeaux. In the 1850's and 60's, Bordeaux was struck by disease, and wine merchants travelled to Rioja to buy wine. Some French stayed and bought "Bodegas", producing wines that tasted as close as possible the Bordelaise style. Traditionally, like Bordeaux, Rioja wines have been a blend; mostly tempranillo, garnacha, and mazuelo. Marques de Caceres 2005 Rioja is a great way to start exploring this region. The 2005 vintage is drinking lovely, with a rich, gorgeous, velvety mouthfeel that goes on for days. The kicker is that you can find it for under $15. Lamb is the traditional meat served with Rioja, but also goes perfect with a juicy steak hot off the grill.

My second favorite region of Spain is Ribera Del Duero. This part of the country's temperatures go from scorchingly hot in the afternoon to very cold in the evening. As a result of such varying weather, the vines are very, very, angry. The grape of this region, tinto fino (a genetic variation of tempranillo) thrives on this stress. Wines from Ribera Del Duero are like Rioja's trouble making, belligerent little brother out on parole. Finca Resalso 2007 is an excellent example of what comes out of this region. This cheeky little bastard is bold, lush and ripe as hell. Great texture, juicy and an alcohol content of 14.5%, proceed with caution.

Bubbly, I love it. I espeacially love drinking it for no particular reason whatsoever. It feels so decadent. But, who has the money for Perrier Jouet or Veuve Clicquot all the time? What is a girl to do? Enter Cava! Cava is made the same way as traditional Champagne, but using grapes indiginous to the Penedes region since 1872. Segura Viudas is one of the oldest houses to be producing Cava, and it is still delicious. I have been drinking this sparkler for years. Tasty notes of lemon zest and great acidity make this a perfect pairing with roasted chicken, salmon, or just cocktails. It is usually priced for under $10, so you can get quality and not hand over a king's ransom. try the rose as well, it's beautiful!

I hope you all go out and sample some of these little gems from Spain. Not only are they producing quality wines, you don't have to go completely broke to have a great bottle of wine. Enjoy!

These are a few of my favorite things...

by Bridget

I have something I need to talk about. I have this little hobby... no, more like compulsion. I really, really, enjoy pairing wine with junk food. It just makes me so damn happy! I'm not talking half-assed thrown together pairings, I mean really analyzing flavor profiles of potato chips and candy and finding the absolutely perfect wine to go along with it. Throw in a horror or sci-fi flick, and dammit, that is a moment of Zen in my world! What can I say? I am a woman of simple needs. Let me elaborate, and maybe you kids can try this at home.

I luuuuurv Cotes du Rhone like it's going out of style. I've had lovely wine from this region with coq au vin, boeuf bourguignon, and many other lovely and complex culinary delights. But, lemme tell you, get some jumbo chicken wings from Mike's subs in Kenmore, a bottle of Perrin and Fils Cotes du Rhone, throw the first "Alien" film (director's cut) in the DVD player, and, in most cases, this can beat a fancy night out. The fruit of the Syrah, Granache, Cinsault, etc. blend pairs perfectly with the spice of the wings.

Spain makes some of the best and most reasonably priced wines on the market. One of my biggest guilty pleasures is a little number called Don Ramone. Don and I are great friends because he's a versatile fella. He's a saucy blend of Grenache and Tempranillo. My favorite pairing after a tough day is Butter Lovers Popcorn and my beat up copy of "Army of Darkness" (starring the dashing Bruce Campbell!). Hail to the king, baby.

Rosemount Shiraz and Tyson's "Fun Shapes" chicken nuggets: Ok, even I really can't explain this particular bizzare pairing. Maybe it was the joy of coming home to good friends, the comfort of a squishy chair and some yummy wine and junk food. It just worked. I think the fact that it was "fun shapes" had something to do with it. They were dinosaurs! Who doesn't love dinosaurs?

And finally, one of my most favorite happy accidents involves bubbly and sweets. I had a bottle of Lucien Albrect Brut Rose. I am a big fan of Alsatian wine, and throw in the fact that it is a sparkling rose? I am sold. This cheeky little guy went awesome with Turkish Delight! No, really - it was like a crazy carnival of flavor, but in a good way, not the wierd way. The bubbles and subtle fruit of the wine just mingled with the rose and almond powdered sugary goodness of the Turkish Delight. I was so high on sugar that night that I went out dancing at Marcella's for the first time. It was one of the best nights ever.

Last, but not least, my absolute favorite junk food and wine pairing. Brooklyn pizza and Bordeaux. One of those little inexpensive '05 bottles is soooooooo amazing with New york style pizza, extra cheese and pepperoni. In order to really enjoy this one, I really need to be back in Brooklyn, though. And if "Dawn of the Dead" is on, even better (the original, not that craptastic remake). Pure bliss.

So, there you go, there is my dirty little secret. If you try some of these pairings, I won't judge you. Want to know my ongoing project? Trying to find the perfect wine to drink with a bag of Dorito's. The search continues...

The Chicken Wine: A Love Story

by Bridget

Once upon a time, there was a girl who loved French wine with all of her heart. But, alas, this poor maiden had limited funds. What is a lass to do? One day, whilst browsing the French section of a humble wine merchant, she came across an enchanted little bottle from the Southern Rhone. The label had two chickens on it and contained the magical words, "La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Ventoux". At that very moment, a love affair was born.  

If there is one thing in this world that warms the cockles of my cold little heart (besides Kung Fu films) it's inexpensive and delicious French wine. Specifically, wines from the Southern Rhone. Affectionately referred to as the "chicken wine" by it's devotees, La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Ventoux is a cheeky little blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault. It has great soft fruit and spice with a touch of earth on the back palette. It isn't overly complex, but it is just damn tasty. It's one of my favorite "junk food" wines. Pairs excellent with chicken wings, barbecue ribs, burgers and/or Dorito's. And they make a white as well! La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Luberon is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Ugni Blanc and Roussanne. Aromatic, round, a little silky with soft peach notes. One night, my friends and I decided to have breakfast for dinner and I served the chicken white. It went awesome with scrambled eggs and chedder cheese, turkey sausage,and home fries. But wait, there's more! There is even a rose! A blend of Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah, I warn you, it goes down very easy. I just had it the other night with salmon cakes, and, alas, a romance was rekindled.

I'm sorry, but I just can't help myself. I have told every living being about the magic that is the chicken wine.I even joined the La Vieille Ferme Fan page on Facebook. It's my go-to wine when all else has failed me, my old reliable, my old flame.

If loving the Chicken Wine is wrong, well, then I don't want to be right.

  

Retail Rant...rage and wine.

By Bridget

This is my first "blog", so please be gentle. I am a manager of a liquor store here in Buffalo, I am blessed with working nights and weekends. I wear a silly polo shirt and go home covered in filth and God knows what else after 8 hours of dealing with "the great unwashed". My job has a lot of stupid and ridiculous moments that make me feel like shanking a bitch, but then I remember why I do it: I really, really, love wine. And I get dental. 

After suffering the usual indignities that go along with any retail job, I get a big, fat perk: I get to taste and learn about some amazing and beautiful wines. And then somehow, it is all okay. Wines from obscure regions in particular tickle my fancy. I am a big fan of the underdog, the unloved wine with an inch of dust on it, just begging for a chance to be paired with a lovely meal. For example: HUNGARY!

No one in Buffalo is asking for Hungarian wines, so I try to sell the crap out of them, because they rock. Monarchia Cellars Olivier is elegant, with floral notes and a bit of spice, reminiscent of Vouvray or Gewurz. The grape varietal is indiginous to Hungary, trust me, it's yummy. There is also Nyakas Pinos Gris. I call this the Poor Man's Alsacian. It has all the elegance and acidity, but won't clean you out financially. A great crisp finish, this wine would be perfect with seafood or grilled chicken. I have been meaning to try it with sushi. Finally, there is Takler Regnum. This one takes the cake. It's like a Bordeaux style blend with a gnarley attitude. Merlot, Cabernet, Cabernet Franc and Kekfrankos (indiginous varietal) make up this cheeky blend. This wine is full and lush, with loads of deep fruit. If you kids find these wines, please snatch them up, you won't regret it.

Give Hungary some love, y'all.