Author: deshaw87

Husband, Father, Golf hacker. I Love to talk about our travels, the food, wine, family and things that interest me.

Every time I think I have hit it big, I find a new favorite. Call me fickle.  Four years or so ago, I could not stand Pinot, the reason of course, was that I had not had a good one. Now I know that Pinot can be lush, fruity and fuller bodied. Tonight I have had the pleasure of Maysara Jamsheed.

When I twisted the cap off, yes a cap, get over yourself… I was immediately hit with the aromas of plum, coffee, violets and a little hint of tobacco.

Feeling anxious, I wanted to believe that the flavor would be as good as the aroma was leading me to believe.  That first little droplet hit my tongue… WOW, I couldn’t resist taking a full gulp. Swishing it around my mouth so that every sensor could get a hit. Disappointing. NEVER. Oh the tongue was tingling and the cheeks were watering. I was in my pleasure place.  Chocolate, coffee, tobacco, fruit, cinnamon and spice at the end.  And the end never really came…the lingering flavor still bouncing around. Rich, full, luscious… DEVINE.

Enjoy.

Gorgeous, luscious.
Gorgeous, luscious.

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What I am drinking tonight.  Clown Shoes, Blaecorn Unidragon.  a Russian Imperial Stout.  Can you say black, this is the darkest beer I think I have ever had.

11.5 abv

Malty and hoppy.  Thick, rich and very enjoyable.  Not one to drink every night but for that change for something new this is def one to go with.

The man of LaMancha, Don Quixote tilting at windmills.  Why is it that as I get older I find fewer people, even my own age who do not understand the reference?

I have a LOVE of Spanish wines.  The past decade has seen the quality of these wines take ginormous leaps forward.

This great little Tempranillo is spectacular.  Tempranillo is the most widely used grape in this region, and then more so over in Portugal.

The nose on this is just wonderful.  Fruit aromas and floral notes abound.  The ruby red color glows like a gem in a crown.

Pouring the wine into my mouth I am automatically hit with the richness that goes with that crown.  Currant, blackberry, spices that linger for an eternity.  The quivering in my tastebuds excites me, my mouth is begging for more.  The taste explosions remind me of the popper candies from when I was a kid.  Oh the joyride.  The sweet succulent tannins that come at the end are a result of 14 months in French oak.

This Don Quixote needs no Sancho to back it, go after all the windmills you want this one wins.

Enjoy

Smooth, rich, elegant.and a pretty bottle too
Smooth, rich, elegant.and a pretty bottle too

What a wonderful surprise.  This little bottle packs a wallup.  This is what happens when an Italian family migrates to Argentina and starts producing wine.  You get the best of old and new. A single vineyard located in Cruz de Piedra Mendoza, that shines.  The winemaker is Rod “Opi” Sadler, a legend in Argentina and the wotld.  Here he has used the best grapes to produce this extraordinary wine. 
Once you open the bottle oh the aromas penetrate the room.  Floral bouquets, ripe cherries and plum are offered up. 
The beautiful color in the glass invites you to partake of its bounties.  Almost hesitant, I do not want to upend this experience, I lift the glass to my mouth and begin to slowly pour the contents.  Oh , oh ,oh.  My palate is dancing with excitement.   The many flavors burst in my mouth.  The wine is aged 12 months in American and French oak.  This adds another beautiful flavor to this complex wine.  First you are hit with flavors of raspberry jam, dark cherry follows along with hints of plum behind it.  Cinnamon and spice linger on the tongue, soft elegant tannins follow, your body is begging for more.  You literally have drunk the bottle before realizing (at least I did ).  I look  forward  to trying more of the wines from Mascota vineyards.

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Oh what a beautiful night

Enjoy

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On our monthly night out in the city we chose La Viola Ovest.  Highly recommended by several friends and very much worth it.  On this night we met a couple of friends for dinner too.  The quaint restaurant sits across the street from its sister La Viola.  The night was great, EXCELLENT food, great wine, and conversation with good friends.  We started talking and enjoying ourselves I forgot to get pictures of the food and wine.  We ordered appetizers for the table and then we each had our own entrees.  Calamari, antipasto and mozzerella with roasted peppers I paired them with a wonderful white from Langhe .DELICIOUS.  The entrees were all shared, various forms of pasta, shrimp, ham and spinach, but the winner that night was by far the pork chop.  Grilled to perfection, seasoned mouthwatering goodness.  Oh my lovely.

I brought two reds to go with the entrees.  The Villa Lanata Langhe Baccanera and the Accordini Valpolicella Ripasso.  Both excellent wines and both went down very well.  The Baccanera, full bodied fruit forward and bold.  A blend of cabernet and barbera.  Dark fruit, plum, ripe dark cherry, Solid tannins that paired with the meats made the wine luscious.  Just luscious.

The second was Accordini Valpolicella Ripasso.  As soon as the bottle was opened everyone around the table let out a  perfect oohh.  The aromas of the fruit balanced with the floral fragrance was so inviting.  The taste hit my buds and almost brought tears to my eyes.  Cherry, pepper, and a chocolate note bounced around my mouth delighting me.  The wine was almost dense in texture, full, rich, fruity perfection.

Enjoy

The Baccanera, horrid picture but excellent wine.
The Baccanera, horrid picture but excellent wine.
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cute and quaint, excellent food

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Accordini Valpolicella, the winner of the night

my pictures are horrid tonight, but granted it was a very good night.

Rocca Felice Barbera d’Alba Superior, sounds like a great Italian action movie doesn’t it.  I am on an Italian wine kick.  Remembrances of my visit last year.  Italian wines are the up and coming thing.  You like Bordeaux, you like California cabs, how about Pinot Noir.  Italy has it all and more.  You must try some of Italy’s best.

Back to the wine of the night.  This Barberad’Alba has a rich ruby color.  Not a dark ruby like in a gold setting, but the ruby color you get when you hold a raw stone to the light. ( yes I worked with gems  in a previous career).

Felice Rocca Barbera d'Alba
Felice Rocca Barbera d’Alba

The fruit hits your tongue and instantly your mouth begins to shudder.  The rich barbera grape attacks your sensitivity and you are in a place of bliss.  So much red fruit flavors, cherry, raspberry.  Hints of plum, vanilla and cinnamon follow right along behind.  A medium finish that lingers around long enough to give you desire for more.

Enjoy

Friday night is pizza night, add a Barbera and make it great.
Friday night is pizza night, add a Barbera and make it great.

Oh thee of the terraced vineyards.  Sitting on the side of spring mountain, Barnett vineyards is one of the most beautiful sites in Napa.  The vineyards are terraced along the hillside with little “rest” areas through out.  Beware of rattlesnake vineyard, it is named that for a reason.  I fully enjoyed my visit there and the tasting. Make sure you visit the cellars carved into the hillside. The owners of the vineyard, Hal and Fiona Barnett founded the estate in 1983.  Today, David Tate is the winemaker and oh is he producing some high quality wines.
This is one of the fantastic wines coming from this small producer.  A tremendous cab.  The rich dark color, intrigues and invites.  Aromas of currants, dark cherry, violets and a hint of plum.  Once the juice hits your mouth this symphony  starts playing.  All of the above flavors, intense, full and rich.  Long long long finish with firm tannins, already your mouth is begging for more.  So complex, so structured, but very approachable.   Already one of my new favorites. 
Praises to Barnett, setting the bar for premium wines.
Enjoy

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You must make this one of your special occasion wines.

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The Del Bondio-Poncia family has been growing grapes in Napa for over 100 years.  Their vineyards in Oakville and Rutherford, now farmed by brothers Rich Poncia and Jim Del Bondio, have been producing high quality juice for  fellow wineries for as long. Now producing wine for themselves in a certified organic environment the whole family plays a role in the success of these beautiful rich wines.

Tonight I am tasting the A Meta, a blend of 50% cabernet and 50% syrah.  The wine is the color of garnet. Aromas of ripe black cherry, you know that aroma you get when you first open a jar of cherry jam.  An almost sweet smell , a floral and fruit bouquet.

As I pour the liquid into my mouth my taste buds erupt.  Oh WOW there is so much happening. First the fruit hits you square.  That unbelievable flavor, a rich cherry, plum mix that coats and soothes.  Next you notice the soft notes of coffee and chocolate, oh yes you do, followed with a very slight hint of tobacco.  Pepper and spice linger well after you have swallowed.  Firm tannins finish off.  Unbelievable.  An amazing complex wine.

Enjoy

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As you see I paired this with a piece of chocolate cake,  I wish you could taste this now, my mouth is watering

So before I talk about the #ceja wines let me tell you a little bit about their history.  A family of immigrants (yes I am going there Trump), who through hard work, perseverance and the desire to live the American dream have succeeded in building one of the most respected and hi end wineries in Napa.  Working in various jobs in Napa the family literally learned the business from the ground up.  A true American success story..Amelia Ceja was named woman of the year in 2005, she and her daughter, Dalia, have graced the cover of many magazines and continue to build the brand in powerhouse fashion.  From the beginning with the first 15 acres purchased by Amelia and her husband Pedro and family members Pablo, Armando and Juanita.  Armando is now the winemaker at Ceja (and doing a magnificent job).  OK enough gushing about the family and their success.  (Just for the record.. I visited the vineyards a couple of years ago and was treated to a winetasting and food prepared by the matriarch  yummmmm.

Now to three of their wines.

Ceja Chardonnay Carneros;

First that beautiful color, golden straw, sunset, you take your pick.  Aromas that revel with citrus and green apple.  The mouth is coated in refreshing light crisp citrus notes, followed by notes of tree fruits, pear and apple.  Very well balanced.  A perfect summer refreshing white.

Ceja Pinot Noir Carneros

A light ruby color.  The nose is very floral, with hints of ripe red fruits.  The wine coats your mouth with so many flavors wow the depth of complexity is amazing.  Ripe red fruit flavors, plum and cherry followed by a spicy finish.  Beautiifully balanced with elegant soft tannins.

Ceja Vino de Casa Red Napa

Everyone loves a great red blend, a common table wine.  But this is anything other than a common wine.  Dark red, not quite garnet.  The bouquet erupts with aromas of violets and cherry.  Very fruity on the palate.  Rich red fruit, a long finish

Fruit and spice and everything nice.

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Look at these gems….Enjoy

Portugal is probably best known for port or madeira.  But it also produces some fine red blends and vinho verde.  Tonight I bring you one of the finest.  Casaleiro Reserva from the Tejo region, formally known as Ribatejo.  The region is best known for its whites, but the reds are proving to be award winners.  This wine is a blend of Touriga-Nacional, Castelao  and Trincadeira.

A 90 point Wine Enthusiast rated and top 100 best buy.

Deep dark garnet color.  An aroma of ripe dark red fruits.  A soothing taste offering depth and appeal to just about every wine lover.  Delicious ripe fruit coats every inch of your mouth.  A long luxurious finish filled with rich fruit flavors and soft elegant tannins.

I pulled this wine off the shelf not ever having it before.  I can say that I was extremely pleased.  Definitely will have again.

Enjoy
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Oh and it went very well with my Italian hoagie.