Mmmm, Mmmm, Good.
If you are the type of wine drinker that looks down upon the screw cap concept - think again.
From the first opening of this bottle, the aroma of grapefruit fills the air. This is a full bodied, sweet - not overly crisp - and almost perfumey wine. It's got one of the longest finishes I've ever tasted on a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. It envelopes your mouth....Definitely give this a try.
We're having this with crab stuffed haddock, potatoes au lait w/ mushrooms, and a garden salad.
Looking for food pairings?
Coming this week: What to drink with your holiday dinner!
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Saturday, November 12, 2005
2003 Sonoma Cutrer Russian River Ranch Chardonnay
The 2003 Sonoma Cutrer Russian River Ranches is a great wine to try if you like chardonnay, but don't want too much oak. It's soft with good weight - it's got a great finish with just a hint of oak, and a lingering citrus taste - I'd say lemony, but not overbearingly so. While this is traditionally good with dishes such as pasta, chicken and risotto - we think it held up quite nicely with the grilled steak we had this evening, sided with parmesean rice and garden salad.
Gene prefers Napa Chards; I prefer Sonoma - but we both enjoyed this wine this evening.
Gene prefers Napa Chards; I prefer Sonoma - but we both enjoyed this wine this evening.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
South African Sampler...
We hosted a South African themed wine party last night, and so I thought I'd share my own personal tasting notes on the wines we tasted out. Enjoy....
Graham Beck Railroad Red Reserve Shiraz 2003:
This Shiraz is not as big as most Shiraz' tend to be. It's rich in color, but falls short on the big round taste that it's Australian cousin has. This Shiraz leans more towards it's other cousin, Syrah - and this particular Shiraz actually pairs better with lambs, stews and game foods which is more typical of Syrah; whereas an Australian Shiraz pairs great with barbecue and hearty beef. If you like Syrah, this SA Shiraz is your choice.
Wildekrans Pinotage: Pinotage is the signature wine of South Africa. Either one likes Pinotage, or one doesn't - very few fall in the middle. This particular Pinotage is softer than most - it's been blended very well so that it suits American palates moreso than other Pinotages. This style of wine usually has a "twist" - it dances on your tongue (I love Pinotage). However, this particular Pinotage is something you would enjoy if you enjoy Merlot.
David Frost "Gene Sarazen" Cabernet Sauvignon 2000: This is a good tasting Cabernet, however, it is not a big one; so if you are a fan of traditional Cabernet, you may find this falls short. Pleasant tasting, great color - but just not big. It's sweet and jammy, and after being decanted - it opens up some; but truly should be held a little while longer to drink.
Ken Forrester Sauvignon Blanc: Not quite as crisp and acidic as a New Zealand SV, but quite nice. A good fruit flavor when served room temperature; chilled- it's a little thin. Pineapple and Melon on the finish. Decent enough, but if you're a classic NZ SV fan - this you will not love.
Graham Beck"Pinno" Unoaked Chardonnay: (I love unoaked Chard!) South Africa is catching on to the trend of steel casking their Chardonnay as Australia and NZ have done. This tastes more typical of a SV than a Chardonnay because it's so full, and has a nice acidity to it. Chardonnay is up and coming in the South Africa wine making circles - it's always been secondary to the Sauvignon Blanc. Unoaking it - will bring it forward in the drinking trends. Crisp, fruity and round. If you'd like to try a very interesting unoaked Chardonnay -not South African - try Kali Hart. Let me know what you think.
Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc: This style wine is one that is not being produced much by South African wine farms because it's quite difficult to produce one that is not too thin. This is a very full bodied Chenin Blanc - and for those who don't normally like white wine - this particular Chenin Blanc is a good one to try. It's tight and dry - but sweet.
Graham Beck Railroad Red Reserve Shiraz 2003:
This Shiraz is not as big as most Shiraz' tend to be. It's rich in color, but falls short on the big round taste that it's Australian cousin has. This Shiraz leans more towards it's other cousin, Syrah - and this particular Shiraz actually pairs better with lambs, stews and game foods which is more typical of Syrah; whereas an Australian Shiraz pairs great with barbecue and hearty beef. If you like Syrah, this SA Shiraz is your choice.
Wildekrans Pinotage: Pinotage is the signature wine of South Africa. Either one likes Pinotage, or one doesn't - very few fall in the middle. This particular Pinotage is softer than most - it's been blended very well so that it suits American palates moreso than other Pinotages. This style of wine usually has a "twist" - it dances on your tongue (I love Pinotage). However, this particular Pinotage is something you would enjoy if you enjoy Merlot.
David Frost "Gene Sarazen" Cabernet Sauvignon 2000: This is a good tasting Cabernet, however, it is not a big one; so if you are a fan of traditional Cabernet, you may find this falls short. Pleasant tasting, great color - but just not big. It's sweet and jammy, and after being decanted - it opens up some; but truly should be held a little while longer to drink.
Ken Forrester Sauvignon Blanc: Not quite as crisp and acidic as a New Zealand SV, but quite nice. A good fruit flavor when served room temperature; chilled- it's a little thin. Pineapple and Melon on the finish. Decent enough, but if you're a classic NZ SV fan - this you will not love.
Graham Beck"Pinno" Unoaked Chardonnay: (I love unoaked Chard!) South Africa is catching on to the trend of steel casking their Chardonnay as Australia and NZ have done. This tastes more typical of a SV than a Chardonnay because it's so full, and has a nice acidity to it. Chardonnay is up and coming in the South Africa wine making circles - it's always been secondary to the Sauvignon Blanc. Unoaking it - will bring it forward in the drinking trends. Crisp, fruity and round. If you'd like to try a very interesting unoaked Chardonnay -not South African - try Kali Hart. Let me know what you think.
Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc: This style wine is one that is not being produced much by South African wine farms because it's quite difficult to produce one that is not too thin. This is a very full bodied Chenin Blanc - and for those who don't normally like white wine - this particular Chenin Blanc is a good one to try. It's tight and dry - but sweet.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Stop in and see us sometime...
So, I'm a little dissapointed that this community tasting forum hasn't quite taken off as I'd hoped. Especially since blogging is such a "hot" thing at the moment. But I will keep on posting, and maybe - just maybe - some of you will participate!
If you are in the Boston area, please stop by. We've just recently refurbished our French, German, Australian reds, and white Burgundy sections to the point of them being referred to as "the best, eclectic selection in Boston" by some of our competitors - who were nice enough to identify themselves while they were "spying on the competition"! I'll withhold their names out of respect, as we do appreciate them sharing that tidbit of information with us.
Autumn is falling upon us in short order - time for me to start thinking about sampling bigger, heartier wines than I'd been drinking previously....Please, feel free to share your tasting notes or ask questions. We want this to be a forum for all.
Cheers!
If you are in the Boston area, please stop by. We've just recently refurbished our French, German, Australian reds, and white Burgundy sections to the point of them being referred to as "the best, eclectic selection in Boston" by some of our competitors - who were nice enough to identify themselves while they were "spying on the competition"! I'll withhold their names out of respect, as we do appreciate them sharing that tidbit of information with us.
Autumn is falling upon us in short order - time for me to start thinking about sampling bigger, heartier wines than I'd been drinking previously....Please, feel free to share your tasting notes or ask questions. We want this to be a forum for all.
Cheers!
Friday, August 26, 2005
Kientzler Pinot D' Alsace 2002
Again, I had Thai tonight. (I'm noticing a run on Thai food with us lately...). So, looking at our wine rack at home, we decided to chill some Pinot D'Alsace 2002. Quite a nice choice for Thai.
Gene had a very spicy Pad Thai, and I had Drunken Noodles w/ Shrimp. Pinot Blanc from Alsace can sometimes be good - but not "great". This is quite nice; a great compliment to the spicy food - it really brought the sweetness out of the wine. It's sweet without being too sweet; and it's got a great mineral taste to it. It's got a finish that lingers - and the fruitiness is just right. It's light, but so "there".
Definitely well worth trying. And as fall approaches, think about this: sauerkraut, roast pork, sausages, bacon and potatoes - with a nice glass of D'Alsace. I'm thinking that would be a great dish to try this with if you're not in the mood for Thai.
Cheers!
Gene had a very spicy Pad Thai, and I had Drunken Noodles w/ Shrimp. Pinot Blanc from Alsace can sometimes be good - but not "great". This is quite nice; a great compliment to the spicy food - it really brought the sweetness out of the wine. It's sweet without being too sweet; and it's got a great mineral taste to it. It's got a finish that lingers - and the fruitiness is just right. It's light, but so "there".
Definitely well worth trying. And as fall approaches, think about this: sauerkraut, roast pork, sausages, bacon and potatoes - with a nice glass of D'Alsace. I'm thinking that would be a great dish to try this with if you're not in the mood for Thai.
Cheers!
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Kim Crawford 2004 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Don't let the screw cap fool you...for those of you who don't know, Kim Crawford who is one of NZ's leading and award winning vineyards has been using screw caps for years. This is wine is one of my favorites....rated 91 points from Wine Spectator. It is refreshing, crisp with acidity,yet full. This is an amazingly "fresh" tasting wine, it wakes your palate with every sip. Drink now - good until 2009; This was #44 TOP 100 of 2004 from Wine Spectator Magazine.
I have two words for this wine "pha-nomenal". It's one of my all time favorites. I had it this evening with Pad Thai; would be excellent with seafood of any kind, or as a counterbalance to a spicy dish (as I mentioned, I had Thai). But I have to be honest, I love this wine so much, I'd drink it with anything.
I have two words for this wine "pha-nomenal". It's one of my all time favorites. I had it this evening with Pad Thai; would be excellent with seafood of any kind, or as a counterbalance to a spicy dish (as I mentioned, I had Thai). But I have to be honest, I love this wine so much, I'd drink it with anything.
Saturday, August 06, 2005
2001 Domaine des Causses Lirac: Surprisingly Soft
I'm not usually a fan of Syrah, I tend to favor Shiraz... however, the Lirac is a pleasure to drink! This is a French wine, from the Southern Rhone Valley - and is made of 100% Syrah grapes. This particular type of wine is usually made with a blend of grenache and syrah, so this is a particularly interesting wine. As a result this wine is very lavish, almost hedonistic. The flavors you will pick up on the strongest would be blackberry and black raspberry fruit flavors. This is a full bodied wine, and the interesting thing about this wine is that it’s got lots of great color -- without all the tannins -- so it’s softer than you would expect. This would be best with strong blue cheeses and / or Leg of Lamb.
Friday, July 29, 2005
Reynella Shiraz - Not your average Shiraz!
Let me warn you - this is not your average Shiraz, in quality - or price. This is an award winning, BIG shiraz. For those of you who don't know, Shiraz is the leading grape of Austrialia – and it is the same grape as the French Syrah. This is an Australian wine, rich in texture, with warm chocolate flavours and blackberry overtones. Shiraz is a very soft, jammy, wine with a wonderful aroma and is a wonderful wine to drink, especially for those who think they don’t like red wines. Its not nearly as dry as it’s French counterpart, Syrah. Shiraz is perfect with just about any kind of meat: beef, lamb, venison. And let me tell you - it was fantastic with the grilled steak I had for dinner tonight!
Shiraz is one of those great, grill friendly wines, and as I said - for those of you who don't think you like red wines, try a Shiraz. Reynella may be something you might want to work up to - or.... give it a shot! For experienced wine drinkers, this is a must.
For anyone who lives in the Boston area, we're having an instore tasting tomorrow at 2pm. For more information, check out our newsletter
Cheers!
Shiraz is one of those great, grill friendly wines, and as I said - for those of you who don't think you like red wines, try a Shiraz. Reynella may be something you might want to work up to - or.... give it a shot! For experienced wine drinkers, this is a must.
For anyone who lives in the Boston area, we're having an instore tasting tomorrow at 2pm. For more information, check out our newsletter
Cheers!
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Is that a Martini you're drinking - or are you just happy to see me?
Okay. So I'm going to go a little off topic of wine - and give a HUGE plug to a local restaurant that makes the absolutely BEST Martini's....ever. Even if you think you aren't a Martini fan, you will be after visiting this place (those of you local to MA).
It's called Venetian Moon, on Main Street in Reading Center. (Rte 28). If you do a search online for them, it appears there's no website, but CitySeach seems to have an outdated menu there - with NO Martini's listed. So you're going to have to trust me on this one.
The food is very good - eclectic Italian style dishes; good sized servings and one of the best Marsala's I've tasted. As simple as Marsala is - it's difficult to find a good one at a restaurant. Average entree is between $14 - $20.
BUT - the point of all of this is the Martini bar and selection. I didn't count so don't hold me to this number, but I believe they offer 50 different kinds. Our goal is to try each one of them, of course! Not only are they creative and fun -- they're all made really well. If you like Martinis, then you know how dissapointing it is to order one and have it be all wrong. I've had 6 different ones there, and yet to have one that wasn't made just right. Just a little FYI about me: I'm not really into "fou fou" sweet drinks (e.g. Green Apple, Watermelon, etc..) - I'm more of a "plain Jane" Vanilla Vodka kind of girl... ;)
On a wine note -- I drank a few average wines over the week, nothing worth noting really.
Cheers!
It's called Venetian Moon, on Main Street in Reading Center. (Rte 28). If you do a search online for them, it appears there's no website, but CitySeach seems to have an outdated menu there - with NO Martini's listed. So you're going to have to trust me on this one.
The food is very good - eclectic Italian style dishes; good sized servings and one of the best Marsala's I've tasted. As simple as Marsala is - it's difficult to find a good one at a restaurant. Average entree is between $14 - $20.
BUT - the point of all of this is the Martini bar and selection. I didn't count so don't hold me to this number, but I believe they offer 50 different kinds. Our goal is to try each one of them, of course! Not only are they creative and fun -- they're all made really well. If you like Martinis, then you know how dissapointing it is to order one and have it be all wrong. I've had 6 different ones there, and yet to have one that wasn't made just right. Just a little FYI about me: I'm not really into "fou fou" sweet drinks (e.g. Green Apple, Watermelon, etc..) - I'm more of a "plain Jane" Vanilla Vodka kind of girl... ;)
On a wine note -- I drank a few average wines over the week, nothing worth noting really.
Cheers!
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Cha..Cha...Cha...Cheap, Chilean Chardonnay
Okay. First off, let me preface this by saying that I am a big fan of NZ whites. I love steel casked wines.
Now that we've established that, let me introduce you to the wine I had tonight.
Los Vascos Chardonnay: Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) 2004
This is a really fruit forward, crisp Chardonnay from Chile, that at my first sip - I thought for sure it was a Sauvignon Blanc from NZ. It's got a great balance of acid and fruit. Its not as "big" of a Chardonnay as some that I've tasted (Kim Crawford, for example...) but at $9.99 - it's a great summer white. Check it out, see what you think.
Now that we've established that, let me introduce you to the wine I had tonight.
Los Vascos Chardonnay: Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) 2004
This is a really fruit forward, crisp Chardonnay from Chile, that at my first sip - I thought for sure it was a Sauvignon Blanc from NZ. It's got a great balance of acid and fruit. Its not as "big" of a Chardonnay as some that I've tasted (Kim Crawford, for example...) but at $9.99 - it's a great summer white. Check it out, see what you think.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Thanks for visiting us...
We're hoping to use this space as a way to share information about wines that we're drinking personally - as well as selling. Feel free to add your own tasting notes if you'd like!
For those of you who have found us via the Blog - visit our site: http://www.beaconhillwine.com
We specialize in eclectic, boutique type wines - but we also carry not so unusual wines as well.
Feel free to share your thoughts, comments, and suggestions.
If you have a wine inquiry, you can leave it here, but for an immediate response (since this might take some time to catch on...) you might want to email Rebecca@beaconhillwine.com, Gene@beaconhillwine.com, or call 617-742-8571.
We have an email newsletter as well - Feel free to sign up!
Cheers!
For those of you who have found us via the Blog - visit our site: http://www.beaconhillwine.com
We specialize in eclectic, boutique type wines - but we also carry not so unusual wines as well.
Feel free to share your thoughts, comments, and suggestions.
If you have a wine inquiry, you can leave it here, but for an immediate response (since this might take some time to catch on...) you might want to email Rebecca@beaconhillwine.com, Gene@beaconhillwine.com, or call 617-742-8571.
We have an email newsletter as well - Feel free to sign up!
Cheers!
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