grape: Pinot Noir. Obviously, Pinot Noir is a red-skinned grape but with a Blanc de Noir (“white of black”) they don’t leave it on its red skins so the juice (and ensuing wine) is white. Cool, right? producer: Paul Anheuser country: Germany region: Nahe year: 2009 yum factors: I had this at a tasting – it was the first wine I … Continue reading
Today’s the day: IT’S OFFICIALLY SPRING!!! The weather is so warm and I had my first outside drinks last night. Grapefriend couldn’t be happier. Here are my favorite things about spring with wines to match. grass: grüner veltliner The aroma most commonly associated with Grüner Veltliner is white pepper, but for me it’s a great grassy … Continue reading
grape: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec, 1% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc producer: Cliff Lede (pronounced LAY-dee) country: USA region: Napa Valley, Stag’s Leap District year: 2009 price: $60 yum factors: Took a sip and immediately said, “This is why I love wine.” It just had so many layers playing around. Blackberry, chocolate, even some deep plum all intermixing with … Continue reading
Yes, March 1 is National Pig Day. You’ve got your pork, you’ve got your bacon, and then you’ve got more bacon! But what wine should should you pig out on? Pinot Noir is a perfect piggy pair. Here are a few killer ones I’ve had lately, with budgets based on how much of a pig … Continue reading
grape: Pinot Noir producer: Saintsbury, but be sure to get the Stanly Ranch one country: USA region: Carneros, an area that makes amazing Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays due to its cool climate year: 2007 price: $45 yum factors: Has a light cherry scent, some earthiness, a hint of milk chocolate and maybe some violets. But the taste is so yummy and juicy! … Continue reading
grape: Syrah producer: Domaine des Hauts Chassis country: France region: Crozes-Hermitage – it’s in the northern Rhône and where Syrah plays the starring red role year: 2009 (could use another year or two, but this is what they had on the list) price: $20 yum factors: I want to marry this wine. Sturdy and solid, … Continue reading
grape: Tempranillo producer: Bodegas Frontaura, Dominio de Valdecasa country: Spain region: Toro – a badass region where grapes get concentrated from the intense heat and Tempranillo’s called “Tinta de Toro” year: 2006 price: $22 yum factors: blackberry/raspberry along with some tobacco, leather and cocoa all mixing up into a rich, deep wine with good tannins … Continue reading
I really wasn’t going to do straight-up wine pairing suggestions for Thanksgiving. But I’ve been reading a lot of these other articles and there are some…”interesting” suggestions flying around, so I realized you may want a grapefriend in your time of need. Also, my mom sent me an email saying I should do it. So … Continue reading
grape: Pinot Noir producer: Cloudline country: USA region: Oregon, Willamette Valley year: 2008 price: $18 yum factors: Loooove Pinots from Willamette Valley. Ripe dark cherries, a little more weighty and complex than other US Pinots which can either be thin and boring or way too inelegant. I had this at a blind tasting and kept … Continue reading
It’s my favorite time of year: summer. That means a) I’m not freezing my ass off and b) I drink a lot more rosé. I’ll drink rosé sometimes during the rest of the year, but it never feels totally right. It’s weird, because I’ve even started drinking a lot more whites in the winter but for … Continue reading
