I Smell A Rat

If you have seen this summer’s animated hit movie, “Ratatouille”, then you may have noticed the characters in the movie do not have cartoonish taste when it comes to wine. A ‘61 Latour and a ‘47 Cheval Blanc are among the Bordeaux wines that make an appearance in the children’s / foodie film. It is somewhat ironic, then, that Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney are releasing Ratatouille Chardonnay, a mere $13 wine available at Costco stores. At least the wine will be 'authentically' made in Burgundy, France.

If you haven't seen the movie, do. Vino Girl was never a fan of cartoons and, well, I'm still not a fan of rats, but this is a a fun flick if you like food and wine and especially if you have ever worked in a restaurant. The scenes of Paris are amazingly real and the details are well thought out, right down to the nicks and burns on the chef's hands. The food critic's name is Anton Ego - ouch, brilliant! At the end of the day, it's just an entertaining summer picture but last time I checked there was not a lot of stellar stuff showing on the big screen. Fair warning: you will crave wine & cheese upon exiting the theatre.

Beer & Wine – Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?

Have you ever noticed that it is very difficult to get good wine and good beer all under the same roof? It seems that all good wine bars discriminate against what they probably consider the reprehensible beer drinker and beer bars victimize the allegedly high and mighty wine drinker. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Most wine bars have a few beer selections for those patrons that do not wish to partake in the grape. The problem is that they are most often uninspiring offerings such as Stella Artois, Amstel Light and, at Italian wine bars, good old Peroni. Wine drinkers quite possibly have it worse. Go to a good beer bar that offers extensive beers on tap and a massive bottle selection and what do you find for the discriminating wine drinker? Glass of red, glass of white, take your pick. These generic “red” and white” choices are mostly horrible, barely drinkable stuff that has been sitting — open — behind the bar degenerating for days. Count me out!

This whole issue has come up before and I must say that if Winemonkey and I had the gumption to open a watering hole in NYC — living the topsy turvy life of bar owners — then we would most definitely get it right. It’s not a difficult concept: interesting wines, interesting beers, all in one place and plenty of options. However, since this is not currently our inclination, I invite (no, beg) someone to “steal” the concept and give us somewhere to hang out with all of our wine loving and beer loving friends!

Then everyone could be happy. Cheers.

2005 Les Jamelles Chardonnay

Yet another value find from the Vins de Pays d'Oc wine tasting on June 13th in NYC, this one a 100% Chardonnay.

The 2005 Les Jamelles Chardonnay hails from different growing areas at various altitudes throughout the Languedoc. It has a nice weight to it with good acid and ripe fruit to balance out the nuttiness. It is a refreshing Chardonnay — not heavy — and would pair nicely with summer fish dishes, particularly scallops.

The wine is made by two winemakers, Catherine and Laurent Delauney, from Burgundy. They both spent time making wine in Burgundy and California before settling in the Languedoc area.

Intensity: B
Complexity: B
Balance & Structure: B+
Current Grade: B+
Peak Grade: B+

You can find the wine for between $8 and $10 at places like Pops Wine & Spirits and Premier Cru Wine Merchants.

A votre sante!

High Culture for Grape Vines

Could the so-called Mozart Effect work for wine grapes too? Italian scientists are researching the influence of classical music on the speed and vigor of growing grape vines. Although there are previous studies that suggest sound does have a positive effect on plant growth, this marks the first occasion where music has been played outdoors through giant speakers directly to Sangiovese vines. Of course there is a silent control group with sound barriers on the property to make the experiment complete. Stay tuned…

Broadbentism: 1995 Leoville Las Cases

"Fragrant but swingeingly tannic at the MW tasting (November 1999). The value of a seated tasting proving itself on the next two occasions, though there is only space here for a fraction of my notes. In essence: a strikingly impressive appearance; sweet rich nose, full of fruit. (In March 2000 I see my wife added - for she takes notes when I am lecturing - 'mumble mumble'. Someone once said that listening to me was a 'triumph of mind over mutter')...Last tasted March 2001 *(****) 2008 - 2020." - MB

Cheers, Salute, Prost, Sante, Kampai!

World wine consumption is on the rise according to the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV). Countries that have not traditionally been wine drinking countries, more specifically countries outside of Europe, continue to drive the upward trend. Top three honors go to New Zealand, whose love of the juice is up 6.5%, followed by the U.S. at 3.1% and South Africa at 1.7%.

Low Prices Please the Masses

Two Buck Chuck is celebrating its fifth anniversary and there are no signs that the dirt cheap Charles Shaw label is going away. Rebel winemaker Fred Franzia has produced over 300 million bottles of cut-rate Chardonnay and Cabernet over the last 5 years, shaking up the wine business in the process. The economical juice can only be purchased at Trader Joe’s and — beware — it can cost you over three bucks in some states.

Now that's good stuff: Kosta Browne

This past May, Winemonkey and I were lucky enough to receive an allocation from Kosta Browne Winery after doing our time on the mailing list. Although we have yet to sample any of the single vineyard wines from Kosta Browne, we did score some 2005 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir (they produce two appellation wines -- Russian River and Sonoma Coast) and boy is it damn good.

The winery is a venture between Dan Kosta and Michael Brown -- thus the name -- and they specialize in producing high end Pinot Noir along with a little Syrah for good measure. The 2005 Russian River Valley Pinot is a blend of five vineyards and production is small, if not paltry, at 1,800 cases.

Although I was tempted to hold on to the bottles and give them some time in the old Eurocave, Vino Girl had some friends over for dinner and the kind that fully appreciate good wine. The website recommends drinking the wine "between 2008 and 2013" which gave me pause but then I decided to go for it.

The wine is "delish!" as my sister-in-law would say, as well as rich and intense with ripe red fruit and great acidity. You won't get the earthiness you experience in good Red Burgundy but, hey, this is not Red Burgundy this is California Pinot at its best. Vino Girl is not a fan of the "candied cherry" Pinots put out by some California producers but this is far from it -- lots of flavor, good depth and silky texture complete the package.

If you have some of this stuff (it looks like you can find some online for $75 - $100) and you want to wait a few years to drink it, by all means, but it’s drinking really well right now and I am not sure what age will really add to the experience.

Allocations for the 2005 Single Vineyard wines are due out in August and I am crossing my fingers. I am now officially out of my stash – damn epicurean friends! ;) Maybe Winemonkey will share??

Vins de Pays d'Oc: 2005 Domaine Miquel Viognier

Another value find from the Vins de Pays d'Oc wine tasting on June 13th in NYC, this one a Viognier from St. Chinian in the Languedoc-Roussillon.

The 2005 Domaine Miquel Viognier has all the classic characteristics of the grape including a pretty, flowery fragrance and tropical fruit flavors with a touch of peach and honey on the palate. The wine is not at all sweet and is even more refreshing than some Viogniers which can be notably low in acidity. I could not help but notice that this was a big hit with everyone at the event and most tasters spent an inordinate amount of time tasting and retasting this elegant and cheerful white.

Domaine Miquel as been in the Miquel family since 1790 (talk about tradition!) and grapes were grown on the site since Roman times. Drink in the history for only $16 a bottle.

Intensity: B+
Complexity: B+
Balance & Structure: B+
Current Grade: B+
Peak Grade: B+

You can find the wine at Smith and Vine online, or in Brooklyn, NY.

Oink! if you like Syrah: 2003 Wild Pig

Vino Girl attended a tasting of Vins de Pays d'Oc wines on June 13th in NYC. Pays d'Oc wines are all made along the Mediterranean in the South of France, more specifically in the Languedoc Roussillon. Their origins are four districts within the Languedoc including Pyrenees Oreintales, Aude, Herault and Gard. They are not wines to be taken too seriously but can afford you a satisfying wine drinking experience at a very reasonable expense -- we're talking $8 - $15 bucks here!

One of the wines that stood out for me at the tasting was the 2003 Wild Pig Syrah, a 100% Syrah with the unfortunate tag line, "take a wine on the wild side". It comes to mind today as Vino Girl ponders the July 4th holiday ahead and the BBQ'd food that comes with it -- food that will easily be tamed by and harmonize with the Wild Pig. The wine is not some overblown Syrah but has a liberal dose of red berry fruit, nice spice, impressive balance and good acidity. For $8.99 all this should make you happier than a pig in, well, you know!

Intensity: B+
Complexity: B
Balance & Structure: B+
Current Grade: B+
Peak Grade: B+

Where can you find a Wild Pig in these parts? Try Wine Legacy in in Plainview, NY.

2006 L'estandon Cotes de Provence Rose

It's that time of year again - sunshine, beach blankets, barbecues, rolling blackouts (oh, stop!) and ... rose. We'll be tasting a series of rose wines at Drink The Good Stuff over the summer months and we pledge to report back to you with the delicious, the dreadful and everything in between.

Our first in the series, the 2006 L'estandon Cotes de Provence Rose falls securely in the "in between" category. We found it very rustic but with some nice body for a rose. The fruit was a bit candied, with some overt sweetness that might appeal to certain poolside imbibers. The final note was tart with citrus flavors and a lingering acidity. Overall, this is a passable rose but one we would not seek out again.

Intensity: B
Complexity: B
Balance & Structure: B+
Current Grade: B
Peak Grade: B

Taste for yourself -- $9.99 at Beacon Wine & Spirits!