by Lorri | Jan 6, 2010 | UnCorked
The new year is a prime time for wine collectors to organize, plan, purge and simply freshen up the wine cellar. It is also the ideal time for taking stock of your collection. Here are a few cellar housekeeping tips.
Most wines should be consumed within one to two years. If you receive a bottle of wine as a gift, unless you know or were told it would age, open and enjoy it in the next six months. Don’t let a wine deteriorate in your collection because you assumed a fancy label or unfamiliar brand implied cellar storage.
Wine tags (paper labels that look similar to “do not disturb” hotel room door tags that slip over the neck of the bottle) are a convenient tool for organizing your cellar. For avid collectors these tags can be used to identify vintages and rare single bottles without movement in your cellar and for everyday cellar management the tags can be used as reminders of when to open, or even note if the bottle was a gift or purchased for a specific occasion.
Wine tags are also a great way to leave instructions for others who may be choosing wine from your collection with notes such as “Everyday Wine for Dinner,” “Ask Me First,” “Don’t Touch” or “Sacred.”
Whether you are a beginning collector or one who proudly boasts a cellar filled with treasures it is a good idea to keep an organized inventory. Remember, simplicity is key. A computer program is a good way to keep track of wines in your cellar, but you can do the same job with handwritten bottle tags or even the uncomplicated pad and pencil.
Cellaring is not only for long-term aging; consider adding everyday wines in your cellar space to retain their quality.
THE VALUES
- 2006 Stephen Vincent Crimson Red, California (about $16, retail)
- 2007 Hogue Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington (about $15 retail)
- 2008 Montinore Estate Pinot Gris, Oregon (about $17 retail)
- 2006 Murphy-Goode Liar’s Dice Zinfandel, California (about $17 retail)
- 2007 Cellar No. 8 Merlot, California (about $10 retail)
- 2007 Arido Malbec, Argentina (about $10 retail)
- 2007 Santi Pinot Grigio, Italy (about $16 retail)
Wines intended to age will change over time; some will mellow and others will evolve into perfection. The following are possible additions to your cellar created for aging.
THE SPLURGES
- 2006 Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile (about $110 retail)
- 2007 Honig Cabernet Sauvignon, California (about $54 retail)
- 2006 Kistler Vineyards Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay, California (about $99 retail)
- 2006 E. Guigal Chateauneuf du Pape, France (about $82 retail)
by Lorri | Dec 16, 2009 | UnCorked
This time of year most of my days are filled with the rush of decorating our home, shopping for gifts and party planning, not to mention the hectic daily schedule.
It can be a challenge not to let the hustle and bustle muddle what should be treasured memorable moments — time with family and friends.
Fortunately, a few years ago I realized one needn’t suffer the stress of planning an extensive menu and seating chart at the dining table to entertain family and friends.
I found our true intimacy and enjoyment of each other’s company around the living room coffee table with mismatched wine glasses and good conversation.
Planning for casual entertaining simply relies on time honored traditional food and wine pairings. These matchups leave you with only a quick trip to your wine shop and grocer and, most importantly, with no preparation other than removing the wrapper and finding a plate.
THE VALUES
Chevre Goat Cheese and Sauvignon Blanc
- 2008 Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand (about $13 retail)
Assorted Dark Chocolates and Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2007 Maddalena Cabernet Sauvignon, California (about $16 retail)
Assorted Milk Chocolates and Tawny Port
- Taylor Fladgate LBV (Late Bottled Vintage) Port, Portugal (about $27 retail)
THE SPLURGES
Stilton Cheese and Port
- NV Bell Wine Cellars Port, California (about $42 retail)
Caviar and Champagne
- NV Laurent Perrier Brut Champagne, France (about $74 retail)
Assorted White Chocolates and Ice Wine
- 2006 Leonard Kreusch Eiswein, Germany (about $40 retail, 375 ml)
Truffles and Sparkling Wine
- NV Sofia Blanc de Blanc Sparkling, California (about $35 retail)
by Lorri | Dec 9, 2009 | UnCorked
The official Christmas shopping rush has started — a dreaded experience for some, a joy for others. Knowing your recipient enjoys or appreciates wine makes your gift list effortless to complete.
Satisfying an oenophile isn’t limited to just bottles; there are books, stemware and accessories available.
Some values, some splurges, these are a few of my favorite things.
WINES
- 2008 Cline Cellars Zinfandel, California (about $10 retail)
- 2007 Honig Sauvignon Blanc, California (about $18 retail)
- 2007 Anne Amie “A” Pinot Noir, Oregon (about $30 retail)
- 2007 Liberty School Syrah, California (about $18 retail)
- 2007 Candor Zinfandel, California (about $26 retail)
- 2007 Bell Winery Big Guy Red, California (about $26 retail)
ACCESSORIES
BOOKS
- Wine Across America, A Photographic Road Trip by Charles O’Rear ($35, Wineviews Publishing)
- Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine by George M. Taber, ($26, Scribner)
- How to Taste: A Guide to Enjoying Wine by Jancis Robinson, ($26, Simon Schuster)
by Lorri | Dec 2, 2009 | UnCorked
As Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s Eve near, many people are clipping recipes, planning menus and, this year, possibly considering ways to save money. Whether you are planning a large cocktail party, an intimate gathering or your seasonal family dinners, consider these tips for effortless savings.
Explore the wine world. Many European regions offer tasty wine values but searching for a specific bottle can be exhausting with the myriad labels, producers and vintage variations. Consider emerging wine regions with little or no recognition. Chile and Argentina continue to offer remarkable value but also consider lesser known regions in California, or even lesser known wines from Missouri and New York.
Make friends with your wine shop staff. With any shopping relationship you should get to know your retailer. With simple conversations your retailer will begin to understand your likes and dislikes guiding you to the best wines available. And always remember, the best way to find great deals is to simply ask.
There is life outside of chardonnay. You can confidently find values beyond the most familiar; consider chenin blanc, pinot grigio, shiraz and malbec.
Remember the basics. Buy by the case, shop on the retailers wine day, constantly search for in-store specials and always shop around for the best savings.
Quality wines at value prices. There are a vast amount of quality wines being offered from regions around the world. For quick savings substitute vintage Champagne with blanc de blanc, cabernet sauvignon with malbec, pinot noir with merlot and vintage port with late-bottled vintage port.
Bigger sometimes really is better. For large parties, big containers such as 1.5 liter or box wines may be the better value. Many quality boxed wines contain the same amount as up to four standard bottles and are usually priced less than $20 a box.
THE VALUES
- 2007 La Playa Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile (about $12 retail)
- 2007 Ravenswood Vinters Blend Merlot, California (about $12 retail)
- 2008 Kendall-Jackson Estate Sauvignon Blanc, California (about $12 retail)
- 2007 Jacob’s Creek Shiraz, Australia (about $10 retail)
- 2007 St. James Winery Friendship School Red, Missouri (about $8 retail)
- 2007 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia (about $13 retail)
- 2007 Cellar No. 8 Zinfandel, California (about $12 retail)
THE SPLURGES
- 2005 Trimbach Pinot Blanc, Alsace, France (about $18 retail)
- NV Gruet Brut, New Mexico (about $19 retail)
- 2007 Talbott Kali Hart Pinot Noir, California (about $25 retail)
- 2006 Honig Cabernet Sauvignon, California (about $42 retail)
by Lorri | Nov 18, 2009 | UnCorked
Thanksgiving dinner is one of the more challenging meals for wine matching. With menus featuring roasted, smoked, deep-fried or even barbecued meats and side dishes like fruit salad, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and rich gravy all competing for grandeur, it’s asking a lot for a single wine to match perfectly with each dish.
The most important advice for Thanksgiving wine selections is versatility. Fortunately, there are many wines that fit easily into the clashing of food flavors, weights and textures.
Riesling, though often underrated by people who still perceive this wine as only sweet, is one option when it comes to versatility. Though there are many sweet versions available, the dry style pairs well with a wide variety of foods.
For red, consider pinot noir. Pinot noir’s subtle elegance complements many dishes without the overpowering fruit bomb that so many red wines exhibit. Other good Thanksgiving wine options include sauvignon blanc with its fresh, clean, zippy taste, Gewurztraminer’s rich body and zinfandel’s spicy, peppery flavor.
Riesling
THE VALUES
- 2007 Rudi Wiest Mosel River Riesling, Germany (about $13 retail)
- 2008 Clean Slate Riesling, Germany (about $13 retail)
THE SPLURGES
- 2008 Anne Amie Riesling, Oregon (about $19 retail)
- 2008 Pacific Rim Organic Riesling, California (about $19 retail)
Pinot Noir
THE VALUES
- 2007 Irony Pinot Noir, California (about $14 retail)
- 2008 Eola Hills Pinot Noir, Oregon (about $14 retail)
THE SPLURGES
- 2006 Stephen Vincent Pinot Noir, California (about $16 retail)
- 2006 Domaine Drouhin Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Oregon (about $34 retail)
Sauvignon Blanc
THE VALUES
- 2008 Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand (about $12 retail)
- 2008 Yali Sauvignon Blanc, Chile (about $10 retail)
THE SPLURGES
- 2008 Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, California (about $36 retail)
- 2008 Honig Sauvignon Blanc, California (about $22 retail)
Gewurztraminer
THE VALUES
- 2008 Alexander Valley Vineyards Gewurztraminer, California (about $9 retail)
- 2008 Twisted River Gewurztraminer, Germany (about $12 retail)
THE SPLURGES
- 2008 Trimbach Gewurztraminer, France (about $28 retail)
- 2007 Pierre Sparr Gewurztraminer, France (about $21 retail)
by Lorri | Nov 11, 2009 | UnCorked
From ravens and black swans to dancing bulls and leaping frogs, “critter labels” continue to catch the wine shopper’s eye. A critter label is any wine label that includes a depiction of an animal.
In 2001, Australia’s Yellow Tail brand blazed the way with not only value and low cost but also a label — featuring a wallaby — that wine consumers found attractive and straightforward, setting it apart from the thousands of confusing labels.
Using critter labels to market wine isn’t new to Americans. Since the early 1980s, Frog’s Leap and Duckhorn Wine Co. have been earning respect for exceptional premium wines. As new and younger wine drinkers entered the market, companies began offering easy to understand labels with eye-catching animal images. A 2006 ACNielson report said that of the “438 new table wine brands … introduced in the past three years 77 (18 percent) featured a ‘critter’ on the label. Combined with existing critter labels … these wines have reached more than $600 million” in sales.
Today, companies are using not just animals but whimsical, fun, fuzzy and even sexy labeling. Not a bad idea considering the sometimes overwhelming feeling that buying wine can entail. If you had wonderful French Bordeaux last week for dinner, the search for it again is more difficult when it is shelved with others that look relatively the same. So remembering a bright yellow flower, penguin or bull makes sense for many wine drinkers.
THE VALUES
- 2008 Dancing Bull Zinfandel, California (about $12 retail)
- 2008 Yellow Tail Pinot Grigio, Australia (about $10 retail)
- 2008 Toad Hollow Eye of the Toad Dry Pinot Noir Rose, California (about $12 retail)
- 2007 3 Blind Moose Pinot Grigio, California (about $11 retail)
- 2007 Rex Goliath Cabernet Sauvignon , California (about $9 retail)
- 2008 The Little Penguin Merlot, Australia (about $13 retail)
THE SPLURGES
- 2006 Frog’s Leap Merlot, California (about $52 retail)
- 2008 Ravenswood Napa Valley Zinfandel, California (about $22 retail)
- 2005 Bell Big Guy Red, California (about $30 retail)
- 2006 Duckhorn Paraduxx, California (about $59 retail)
- 2007 Wild Horse Chardonnay, California (about $25 retail)
The new year is a prime time for wine collectors to organize, plan, purge and simply freshen up the wine cellar. It is also the ideal time for taking stock of your collection. Here are a few cellar housekeeping tips.
