Usual

• March 2010

  i have heard that many low to mid-ranged labels are able to get better quality ... as much as 50-75% off the usual cost. thus making better quaility wine than what we are used to from such labels.  has anyone else heard any of this?  if this is true some very reasonably... Read morei have heard that many low to mid-ranged labels are able to get better quality ... as much as 50-75% off the usual cost. thus making better quaility wine than what we are used to from such labels.  has anyone else heard any of this?  if this is true some very reasonably priced wines could now raise their quality to new highs for about the same price we are used to paying!!! all good for the consumers!!    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic California Vineyards Face... by hhotdog

  
  

• March 2010

  Good suggestions all, D. I will try my favorite wine merchant in Bellingham WA ... tasting with more than the usual enthusiasm. I'm pretty certain not to be disappointed. On another note, I may (fairly) soon make an arduous plane flight to what was once known as the ends of the... Read moreGood suggestions all, D. I will try my favorite wine merchant in Bellingham WA ... tasting with more than the usual enthusiasm. I'm pretty certain not to be disappointed. On another note, I may (fairly) soon make an arduous plane flight to what was once known as the ends of the earth ( c.f. the trilogy by the late British author William Golding) so it is good to know that snooth is truly a global network    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Shiraz by zufrieden

  
  
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  March 2010

  Cardwell Hill Pinot Noir Estate Bottled 2007

  Snoothrank: Starting at $24^.95

  A great pinot for the price - I found this gem at Costco for $16! - a wonderful ... kicks the arse out of the usual California efforts, and has me thinking of moving to Oregon with my surf board and catching another big one

  Wine review by jdziu

  
  

• March 2010

  Seriously get in the kitchen open some jars get your nose in and smell.... the ... the back of the bottle -it usually has some fruits or veg quoted on the back- grab the items that you are supposed to be able to smell cut them up and smell the wine then the products and see what you... Read moreSeriously get in the kitchen open some jars get your nose in and smell.... the ... the back of the bottle -it usually has some fruits or veg quoted on the back- grab the items that you are supposed to be able to smell cut them up and smell the wine then the products and see what you can find    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Dumb Wine Question... by fibo86

  
  

• March 2010

  Yes, California Syrah (usually so-called rather than Shiraz) does tend toward firmer, smoother, somewhat less alcoholic wine with slightly muted power - more like Cote-Rotie or Cornas than a Shiraz from Oz. At least, in my experience - though I have no tasting notes at hand to... Read moreYes, California Syrah (usually so-called rather than Shiraz) does tend toward firmer, smoother, somewhat less alcoholic wine with slightly muted power - more like Cote-Rotie or Cornas than a Shiraz from Oz. At least, in my experience - though I have no tasting notes at hand to refresh my memory. Some nice Syrah examples coming from the Sierras and Mendocino which I hope to see at the up-coming Vancouver International Wine Festival next month.      (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Shiraz by zufrieden

  
  

• March 2010

  Another offer I received in the email, this time for a Spanish syrah at $27 (usually nearly twice that), might be interesting to someone who likes Aussie shirazzes. Finca Sandoval, Manchuela (from Castilla), 2005 vintage. A link to some tasting notes to it is at bottom. More of an... Read moreAnother offer I received in the email, this time for a Spanish syrah at $27 (usually nearly twice that), might be interesting to someone who likes Aussie shirazzes. Finca Sandoval, Manchuela (from Castilla), 2005 vintage. A link to some tasting notes to it is at bottom. More of an 'international' fruit-bombish style than something from the Northern Rhone, but not as bad as plenty in Oz or Paso Robles. An interesting variation on the syrah blend theme, for sure. http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=358722    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Shiraz by dmcker

  
  

• March 2010

  Actually Hermanus, a coastal town, is near to where I am suggesting.... as usual, dmcker and I tend to be on the same page (if not the same score!)  smileeeeeeeeeee! Yes, WALKER BAY area (Hemel-en-Aarde Valley...means Heaven and Earth)  and specifically the boutique winery,... Read moreActually Hermanus, a coastal town, is near to where I am suggesting.... as usual, dmcker and I tend to be on the same page (if not the same score!)  smileeeeeeeeeee! Yes, WALKER BAY area (Hemel-en-Aarde Valley...means Heaven and Earth)  and specifically the boutique winery, BOUCHARD FINLAYSON,established in 1989, by Finlayson in conjunction with a Frenchman called Bouchard. Their flagship wine is GALPIN PEAK and they produce Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. Keep this location in mind and let us know if you did visit it, please. Bon Voyage! amour    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic traveling to South Africa in... by amour

  
  

• March 2010

  The Country Cooking of Ireland Great Recipes for St. Patrick's (but any ... Day. There are the usual green suggestions--Vinho Verde, Patricia Green Pinot Noir, Domaine Chandon’s green sparkling wine--but no real Irish wine. I could always turn to Whiskey, but in an... Read more The Country Cooking of Ireland Great Recipes for St. Patrick's (but any ... Day. There are the usual green suggestions--Vinho Verde, Patricia Green Pinot Noir, Domaine Chandon’s green sparkling wine--but no real Irish wine. I could always turn to Whiskey, but in an effort to keep peace in the world, particularly the small corner I inhabit, I’ll turner to saner endeavors. And so it was that I began leafing through Colman Andrews' The Country Cooking of Ireland. This is a lovely cookbook, full of enticing illustrations, and illustrative stories that shed light on the diverse culinary history that Ireland can lay claim to. Of course there is the obligatory chapter on potatoes, once a poor man’s food but today the star of so many dishes, as well as sections on oats, wild game, and the rich seafood that fills coastal Ireland’s larder. So I thought to myself, why not take a recipe or two and see what you can pair with it. I may need that Patricia Green Pinot after all! Meet Colman Andrews Colman Andrews was a co-founder of Saveur magazine and served as its second editor in chief. The recipient of six James Beard Foundation Awards, among other honors, he is the author of other culinary titles such as Catalan Cuisine, Everything on the Table, and Flavors of the Riviera, as well as co-author of three Saveur cookbooks. Buy The Country Cooking of Ireland While it may be easy to showcase some modern Irish fare, it would be far tougher to track down some Irish wine to pair with it. You would expect a fine beer to be accompany with a meal like this in Ireland, and it would work well, but this combination of flavors is ideally suited to several types of wines. The natural choice is the rest of the bottle used in the preparation of the lamb dish. While this is a recipe from Ireland, it has some obvious Italian influences, so why note look to Italy for a wine to use here. I would recommend a nice Sauvignon Blanc to stand up to the lamb, but even more so the herbs used in the accompanying mashed potatoes. I am partial to Branko's Sauvignon Blanc from the Collio region of Friuli, which is in a bit of a rich style, yet balanced and delicious. Probably too good to cook with too, so opt for something less expensive for the roasting pan! If your tastes run to red wines, maybe you can swap out the white wine in the recipe and look for a lighter red. Sticking in Italy for the moment I would suggest a lovely strawberry and herb scented Schiava as a fine match, though perhaps a bit too light for some palates. The Elda, from Mayr-Nusserhof is about as good as it gets. If Schiava is not going to work, a slightly funky Oregon Pinot Noir is really the ideal match. Whether you use red, or white wine in the recipe, a wine like the Winter's Hill Pinot Noir would be a really great pairing, playing off the gamy edge of the lamb and herbal notes of the mash. Ballyknocken Lamb Steaks Slow Cooked in White Wine Serves 8 Click here to download a printable PDF file of this recipe The Byrne Family has owned Ballyknocken Farm, in Ashford, County Wicklow, for three generations. Today, Catherine (Byrne) Fulvio runs the delightful Ballyknocken House (with five guest rooms) and Cookery School on the property, but it is still a working agricultural property. Wicklow lamb is famous all over Ireland, and Fulvio’s, raised on the farm, is particularly flavorful. She serves it to guests frequently, and this is one of her favorite recipes.   3 tbsp butter 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 2 whole heads garlic, unpeeled halved horizontally, plus 8 cloves unpeeled, sliced lengthwise 1 bunch rosemary Eight 6 to 8 oz lamb steaks Salt and pepper 2 ½ cups dry white wine 1 tbsp white flour Serve with Ballyknocken Green Mashed Potatoes   Preheat the oven to 325F Melt 2 tbsp of the butter with the oil in a large skillet over low heat. Add the sliced garlic cloves and rosemary and stir, crushing the garlic slightly into the butter and oil. Cook for about 5 minutes, then remove the garlic and the rosemary from the skillet with a slotted spoon and set aside. Season the lamb generously with salt and pepper. Increase the heat to medium high and fry the lamb steaks for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until well browned. Transfer the lamb to a baking dish large enough to hold them in a single layer with plenty of room at the sides. Put the garlic cloves and rosemary into the dish, then add the halved garlic heads, cut side up. Bring the wine almost to a boil in a small pan over high heat, then pour over the lamb. Cover the lamb lightly with foil and roast for about 45 minutes to an hour, or until the meat is very tender. Remove the lamb from the dish and set aside on a plate, covering it loosely with foil. Remove the halved garlic heads from the dish and cut each one in half again. Set aside. Strain the pan juices into a small bowl, pushing down the sliced garlic cloves and rosemary with the back of a wooden spoon. Melt the remaining 1 tbsp of butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, then sprinkle in the flour while whisking constantly and cooking for about 1 ½ minutes to make a roux. Stir in the pan juices. Adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve the lamb garnished with pieces of garlic head and serve with Ballyknocken Green Mashed Potatoes. [PAGEBREAK] Ballyknocken Green Mashed Potatoes  Serves 6 to 8 Click here to download a printable PDF file of this recipe At her Ballyknocken House in Ashford, County Wicklow, Catherine Fulvio serves this dish with various preparations of lamb raised on Ballyknocken Farm.   2 lbs russet, or other floury potatoes (4 or 5) peeled and quartered 6 sprigs of thyme, tied in a bundle 1 bunch of chives, snipped 1 cup loosely packed chopped, fresh parsley ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil ¾ tsp salt ½ cup milk ¼ cup heavy cream Pepper   Put the potatoes and thyme bundle into a large pot with cold salted water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes or until they are easily pierced with a fork. Meanwhile put the chives, parsley. Olive oil, and salt into a blender or the bowl of a food processor and process until a smooth paste is formed. When the potatoes are done, drain and set aside, discarding the thyme bundle. Pour the milk and cream into the same pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat; then press the potatoes through a ricer directly into the pot or mash them in a large bowl, then add them to the pot. Stir the riced potatoes into the milk mixture, then stir in the herb paste, mixing well until it is completely incorporated. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ballyknocken Lamb Steaks Slow Cooked in White Wine By: Colman Andrews Catherine (Byrne) Fulvio runs the delightful Ballyknocken House (with five guest rooms) and Cookery School on the premises, but it's still a working agricultural property. Wicklow lamb is famous all over Ireland, and Fulvio’s, raised on the farm, is particularly flavorful. Ballyknocken Green Mashed Potatoes By: Colman Andrews At her Ballyknocken House in Ashford, County Wicklow, Catherine Fulvio serves this dish with various preparations of lamb raised on Ballyknocken Farm.    (hide)

  From the article The Country Cooking of Ireland

  
  

• March 2010

  Just received an email offer for some more-than-decent syrah from closer to ... Syrah, at $19 a bottle. Usually $45. From Parker about their 2004: "From Napa, the 2004 Syrah Bald Mountain Ranch possesses classic blackberry and cassis characteristics interwoven with notions of... Read moreJust received an email offer for some more-than-decent syrah from closer to ... Syrah, at $19 a bottle. Usually $45. From Parker about their 2004: "From Napa, the 2004 Syrah Bald Mountain Ranch possesses classic blackberry and cassis characteristics interwoven with notions of camphor and graphite. Made in a polished, refined, sophisticated style with authoritative flavors as well as abundant finesse and elegance, it should drink well for a decade. Like all of these offerings, it seems to have one foot in the New World with their ripeness and flavor dimension, and one foot in Europe with their elegance and stylishness. 91 points." Looks like something worth hopping on, if you're in the market at that price point, and you'll likely find it a lot smoother than many versions of Australian shiraz. One good thing about the economy these days is the wine deals just keep on rollin'... http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001AYtQarwRIsBv0BrLkqGP9sy8-60JH9pI2lV_X-ra69ovu2D4RXAJ5mRa0dG4Gk50cHYVe2Uxgmg3yV4Fm6h5CNjA3dbT7AXoLCqTC8yPeaHV81ZjLySm9w%3D%3D    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Shiraz by dmcker

  
  

• March 2010

  Thanks chadrich.....looking forward to your words of wisdom, as usual !! Must tell you  that I really love PINOT NOIR   from..... FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA ! Try it as soon as you can , please !

  Forum post in the topic Pinot Noir Recommendations by amour

  
  

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