Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Wines to Wed With

So the Winesister is gettin' hitched. HOO-RAY. We are all happy in the Winefamily and extended Winefamily because the soon-to-be WineBrother-in-Law is a good guy and one who enjoys the occasional cocktail now and then. As for me, I'm just happy to get out the city for a long weekend and celebrate with friends, family, food, and of course, wine.

So it came as no surprise that I received a phone call from the Winepops last night which went something like this:

WinePops (WP): "Son. It's your father. I need your help."

WineDaddy (WD): "What up dawg?"

WP: "I need the WineDaddy's help picking out wines for the WineDaughter's wedding"

WD: "That's a big favor yo but don't sweat it...I got your back."

WP: "Cool my main man. I'll hit you back. Peaceout"

WD: "Word"

(alright, maybe that was a bit paraphrased but the bottom line is that he needed my help). So of course, I spent the better part of last night, this morning on the treadmill (got keep the heart healthy you know?), and then lunch in front of the work computer thinking of the ultimate Wedding Wine List.

Without further ado, I present to you the first ever Official Winedaddy Approved List of Wedding Wines. (keep in mind this is for a mass audience and a specific price point so don't get all worked up if some heavy hitters aren't on this list. Also keep in mind that some of these you may have seen if you've been with me since the genesis of the Winedaddy...also keep in mind that parenthesis are great because you can have a really long run on sentence but it's ok because it's in a parenthesis.)

Here's the original text. Feel free to copy and paste and pass it off to friends and family like you wrote it. I won't tell.

Reds

J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet (Paso Robles) (approx $17): Really fantastic Cabernet that's always a crowd pleaser. Not too overpowering but not to wimpy. Big fan. Big fan.

Esser Cellars Merlot: 2005 (approx $10): I was turned onto their wines by a great article a few months back that gave the best wines under $10. I was very skeptical at first but we drank it with some friends are also wine snobs and everyone really enjoyed it. It's a nice companion to the J. Lohr but is great for people who no zero about wines.

Masi Campofiorin Rosso del Veronese IGT (approx $13): I'm a huge Italian wine snob so I had to pick at least one vino for this list. This is a Valpolicella from the northern Italian region known as the Veneto. Masi is one of the oldest producers of this type of wine and they consistent ally kick ass with this wine. It's on the sweeter, thicker end of things but everyone who I've ever poured it for loves it. I wrote a review of it back on the old blog.

Alternate Reds

Ravenswood Vintners Blend
: (approx $9.99): Perennially voted one of the best wines under $10 and wildly available just about anywhere. It's a Zinfandel blend from one of the best producers of Zinfandel in America. (sidebar: Zinfandel is one of the few grapes in the world that is purely an American grape which is kind of cool in a patriotic sort of way). It pairs with just about every grilled meat and fish you can throw on a barbecue. It's just not that inspired of a choice which is why it's an alternate. Another review of mine can be found here.



HRM Rex Goliath 47 Pound Rooster Pinot Noir: (around $10). It's a mouthful to pronounce but a decent Pinot Noir given the fact that it's $10 (most good American Pinots start around $25). This was one of the Food and Wine 10 Best under $10 and I really enjoyed it.


Bodegas Borsao Tres Picos Garancha: ($14). This is an excellent Granache from Spain that is really wonderful with just about any food and is pretty easy to find. It was voted by Robert Parker one of the best value wines out there. Here's his review:

"This remarkably hedonistic wine has been a perennial best buy in the pages of this journal. The 2005 Tres Picos Granacha is purple-colored with a cherry-scented nose that roars from the glass. It is intensely fruity, with terrific depth and concentration, oodles of sweet fruit, and terrific length. This wine, which can be likened to cherry pie in a glass, is an awesome value. Drink it over the next 1-2 years."


Mollydooker "The Boxer" Shiraz (approx $20). If there are "Wine Rock Stars," the people who make this wine are like royalty. They make one of the most hyped wines I've ever had (and own 6 bottles of) but it costs $75 a bottle and is impossible to find. This is from the same general area but much cheaper and more accessible. It's an incredibly fruit-forward Australian Shiraz that is really just amazing (and the WineBrother-in-Law will love their label designs…check 'em out: http://www.buymollydooker.com/MollydookerBoxer.aspx


Whites

Botromagno Gravina 2005 (approx $10). Another 10 Best Under $10 and is one of the Winedaddy House favorite Whites. It's a really light, crisp wine from Puglia in Italy (the heel) and is very similar to a Sauvignon Blanc. It should sell for twice as much but is a great value.


D'Arnberg 2005 Olive Grove Chardonnay (McLaren Vale Australia): (approx $16) These guys make some of the highest rated Aussie wines out there. I hate Chardonnay but I love this wine as it's just really smooth and delicious. It's perennially voted one of the top whites from Australia.

Bethel Heights Oregon Pinot Gris 2006 ($14): By far my favorite white wine from the U.S. IT's a really light but floral white wine that goes with almost anything. I can't recommend this wine enough. (if you can't find this, Ponzi makes one that's just as good from the same region).



Alternate Whites

Baron Lafite Rothschild Los Vascos Chardonnay (Colchuga Valley Chile) ($11) From the famed Rothschild family of France comes this excellent value Chardonnay from their only vineyard outside of France. Chilean Wines are up there as some of the world's best these days. This is widely available and really tasty.

Amisfield Pinot Gris (New Zealand): ($25). By far the best white I've had in years. Seriously. This is an incredible wine but probably too high of a price point to buy in bulk.


Chehalem (any of their white wines): This is one of the vineyards we visited in Oregon when we were out there and an Winepops fav. Probably tough to get lots of their wines and not cheap but just thought I'd throw it out there.
There you have it. It's not scientific. It's not comprehensive. It's just a simple union of Reds and Whites that ends up in harmonious bliss. Think of it as my metaphor for a happy life.

Friday, June 8, 2007

Back in 5 Minutes

Alright, maybe it's been a while since my last post. Sorry. I have a family. And a day job. But the good news is that I've been drinking lots of tasty wines over the last month and have been taking copious notes.

So sit tight Winesters, I'll be back in the proverbial "5 minutes" and when I do return to unlock the store, you all get free admission. Promise.

Would the Winedaddy lie to you?