Wine Review

WINE - Louis Jadot (Macon-Villages) - Chardonnay - 2012

CLEAN * BRIGHT * LIVELY

aromas of: apple, citrus, flowers

tastes of: green apple, melon, lemon

* unoaked, medium body, bright acidity!

price tag: $13

verdict: 3.5 / 5

I took a week off.

This is my reason (I blame her):

This little lady has taken every minute of my time this week. I did not realize how much work a puppy is. I feel like I have a child. I forgot that 5:00 in the morning existed. I never knew how much I appreciated silence. I never knew how much I appreciated WINE.
This was my first bottle of relaxation after my monster's homecoming. ONE WEEK LATER. She's the cutest thing in the world though! I love her just about as much as wine (I might love her more).
Soooo ... This bottle of wine was especially delicious. I have been learning a bit about Burgundy lately, so this 100% Chardonnay from Macon-Villages in Burgundy was very appropriate. I usually like my Chardonnay oaked, but this was unoaked and I thought it was fantastic. It was well balanced and very lively. I downed two glasses before our cook-out even began.

makes me think of: playtime

Vineyard Update

Look at those ugly, good-for-nothing creatures munching and mating all over our precious vines! 

Yes ... we have reached our first obstacle in grape growing. I give you ... The Japanese Beetle. These little guys are nasty. All they do is mate and feast on plants. Grape vines are one of their favorites. 

I hate them.

Here we have some major destruction ...

and an angry farmer ...

Good thing is the vines are not all destroyed!

We spent some time over the weekend picking the beetles from the vines. I did some research and found out this year is an unusually bad year for Japanese Beetles. I think we will be applying some Milky Spore this fall. It's a bacteria that controls Japanese Beetles over time. It sinks into the soil and kills the larvae there. Hopefully this works. I'm hoping I won't have to use chemicals unless absolutely necessary. 

We do have some pretty vines growing!

Wine Review

WINE - Simply Naked - Cabernet Sauvignon - 2011

LIGHT * JUICY * ELEGANT

aromas of: cherry, plum, spice

tastes of: black cherry, raspberry, plum, black pepper, cinnamon 

* medium body, bright acidity , short juicy finish

price tag: $8

verdict: 3.5 / 5

paired:

I was really impressed by this wine. I had a feeling it would be sour ... but it was very balanced (more so than some oaked Cabernet's I've had) 
Also, I was feeling very manly this evening. Actually ... I just wanted some red wine and a hearty dinner. I do think it's more fun to pretend I'm manly though (I'm nowhere close). My husband is manly ... and hard working ... so I also made this for him.

makes me think of: a royal celebration

North Market Ohio Wine Fest

Last weekend we had some Ohio Wine fun. 

North Market hosted their annual Ohio Wine Festival Downtown.

It was a glorious occasion. 

It was especially glorious to sample some of the varieties we are growing. ... or could grow. Red wines can be hit or miss, but Ohio does a FANTASTIC job with white wines. 

Some of our favorite tents (wineries) were:

SOINE VINEYARDS - Powell 

try: Traminette and Seyvel Blanc

go: http://www.soinevineyards.com/Home.html

FERRANTE VINEYARDS - Geneva 

try: Riesling and Pinot Grigio

go: http://www.ferrantewinery.com/

HENKE WINERY - Cincinnati 

try: Vidal Blanc and Seyvel Blanc

go: http://www.henkewine.com/

TROUTMAN VINEYARDS - Wooster 

try: Vidal Blanc and Seyvel Blanc

                         go: http://www.troutmanvineyards.com/

There were around 20 Ohio Wineries but those were our tops for the day.

It was $25 for a tasting glass, 10 tasting tickets (we blew through those) and a $5 voucher for food at the market. We sampled a bunch of wines, learned about how to cook lamb at a demonstration (things are way more fascinating when you are drinking), ate Greek food, and had a good time. 

THE ONLY NEGATIVE:
Around 4pm everyone in Columbus came stampeding into the festival and it was CROWDED. I was happy to see so many wine lovers ... but movement was limited. Next year we'll go early. 

conclusion: Overall, a great Ohio Wine experience. 

See you next year!

Orin Swift Wines

About a year ago I heard word of THE PRISONER.

A name so unforgettable ... I had to discover what it was all about.

I normally decide to run away from the things everyone in the world raves about. For example, I've never read 50 Shades and I don't play Candy Crush. Only this is wine ... so really, I don't have to 'follow' the crowd, but I have to know what the crowd is all about. I tried a bottle of The Prisoner with a delicious meal at The Rossi one night. 

Now I'm all about Orin Swift Wines.

I only knew of The Prisoner (which is a blend of mostly Zinfandel grapes) until a few days ago when I was happily introduced to FOUR more of his spectacular, terrific, sensational, and DELICIOUS other bottles.

I love the wine education at my place of work.

Here is what I tasted, and quite honestly what you MUST try for yourself.

WINE #1 - MANNEQUIN
grapes: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Muscat
ELEGANT * SMOOTH * RICH
aromas of: oak, pear, melon
tastes of: lemon, tropical fruit, butter, marshmallow
* perfectly balanced, moderate acidity, long creamy finish!
price tag: $30

WINE #2 - ABSTRACT
grapes: Grenache, Petite Sirah, Syrah
BIG * VOLUPTUOUS * VELVETY 
aromas of: dark fruit, herbs
tastes of: blackberry, plum, chocolate, tootsie roll
* good oak, balanced acid, soft tannin, long smooth finish!
price tag: $30

WINE #3 - PALERMO
grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc 
BRIGHT * BOLD * COMPLEX
aromas of: cherry, flowers, oak
tastes of: black cherry, blackberry, plum, mocha
* well balanced, big tannins, deliciously strong finish!
price tag: $40

WINE #4 - E-2
grapes: Grenache, Tempranillo, Monastrell, Carignan
EXOTIC * YOUNG * INTENSE
aromas of: dark berries, spice
tastes of: raspberry, cherry, plum, pepper, flowers
* bright acidity, low tannin, silky finish!
price tag: $15



conclusion: Cheers to these incredibly artistic blends! Check out your closest Andersons store to find these and others. Orin Swift wines are limited production ... eventually they will be harder to nab. Get them before the holidays! 

Wine Review

WINE - The Naked Grape - Pinot Grigio - N.V.

SIMPLE * CLEAN * REFRESHING

aromas of: apple, lime, mineral

tastes of: lemon, pear, apple, melon, mineral 

* light body, crisp acidity, slight effervescence!

price tag: $8

verdict: 3.5 / 5

paired:

My collection of Pinot Grigio is rather large. I forget that it can sometimes taste really good. When I think of Pinot Grigio I think SIMPLE WHITE WINE ... and I almost never feel like simple. I like wine that screams at me. I tasted this on a sunny day during lunchtime though, and it was perfect for that! So crisp and clean with a hint of sweetness and effervescence ... wonderful with my roasted veggies.

makes me think of: sparklers on a summer night