The color of golden straw. Aromas of green apple. Tart, elegant, fruity. Crisp and refreshing. An excellent white burgundy that is going well with my grilled chicken salad. Or just for drinking.
Enjoy
Classic Italian table. A nose of rich ripe fruit, plums, raspberries. Hints of odorous florals, rose and violets. Smooth and elegant soft subtle tannins. Very fruit forward, hints of pepper at the end. Can’t quite nail it, but herbs linger in the finish. A fantastic red table. Great with pizza, pasta or just drankin on the porch. Ya know what I mean.
Enjoy
Last Friday my wife and I set out to center city Philly to enjoy a recommended restaurant, a little byob named The Farm and The Fisherman. This very cozy restaurant is owned and operated by Josh and Colleen Lawler. This team strives to produce the freshest meals possible hence the name. All items are as local and fresh as can be.
Tonight I brought along 2 bottles, PH Morel Cotes du Rhone blanc, and Le Renard Givry pinot noir.
The first course; Bloody Beet Steak for my wife and Pozole Verde for me.
The beet steak was served warm with a creamy yogurt and the basalmic pan drippings. My wife loved it, a true test of its worth. The beet was thick and sweet, savory….very nice. I chose the pozole verde. This soup was extremely flavorful. A split pea color with large chunks of crab, and the freshest veggies. Tastes of cilantro, and citrus followed by the crunch of radish (sliced very thin) a wonderful delight to the taste buds.
Second course;
My wife had the lamb ribs. Most of the time lamb ribs are served rare or medium rare-these were served well done. At first sight not what you would think. But, Lord have mercy, the flavors bursting from these…so incredible. The crusty coating kept the meat juicy and tender. Her favorite part of the whole meal. I ordered the scallops. Perfectly seared with asparagus and mushroom. Is there anything better than veggies seared in the pan. Wonderful. And to top it off all of this was sitting on a bed of grits. Did I mention rich and creamy…buddah. Obviously my favorite.
Third course;
My wife ordered the brisket. Served with broccoli rabe, and new potatoes. Its own juice poured over with lots of garlic. The brisket had a great flavor, but was a little over done for our taste and a little dry.
I ordered the squab. I know, I know pigeon and all that. Get over it folks this was de-lish.. Perfectly cooked breast, juicy the skin golden and crisp. Ohhh how good was this. And to top it off served with cheese spaetzel, and mushroom puree. I am quivering just thinking about it.
Last but not least to finish the meal a cheese plate with cinnamon pecans.
Now lets talk abput the wines.
The white; PH Morel CDR blanc. Well balanced and lush.The nose gives off ideas of herb and spice. Hints of citrus with
backing of peach and melon coat the mouth. A long and fruity finish. A definite keeper.
The red;
Le Renard Givry Pinot Noir by Devallard.
Beautiful nose of ripe berries. An elegant gorgeous dark ruby color. Soft, elegant and fruity. Smooth silky tannins. A wine that coats your buds and offers that extra edge on a meal. My mouth is watering again.
THANK YOU NICOLE AND EMMA
Enjoy
Well slap me down and call me silly. Ginny Lambrix and Truett Hurst have done it again. What a beautiful rich wine. The nose exudes so many layers. Aromas of rich ripe dark fruits freely flow from the glass.
The dark juice smoothly caresses your mouth, flavors so complex and concentrated coat your tongue. Concentrated fruit, red berries, ripe and full, pepper and cinnamon linger in the back. Mouth watering and luxurious, long finish begging for more. Oh what I love about thee.
Truett Hurst is known for producing ripe full bodied wines. They practice bio dynamic farming and produce high quality wines. Dry Creek offers a spectacular view as well as perfect terrior. The winery sits right on the creek, if you have the chance to visit, plan a few hours to sip some wine and enjoy the surroundings.
Enjoy
Oh yea Baby
As I continue to state I am not a fan of those big oaky chards from California. Most of them are not balanced and have an overpowering sense of cardboard. That said I have to swallow my pride and admit ….I like this one.
This wine has it all. Balance, fruit, oak lots if depth and structure.
The nose emits aromas of green apple, fresh cut grass ( yes that’s what I said). The color of a golden sun on a summer day. All combines into the experience.
The wine hits your tongue and immediately you notice all of the fruit nuances. Apple, peach, buttery notes and that oak. But in this case it is not offputting, ( if that is a word). A nice finish, it does not linger, but is refreshing and satisfying.
Charlie Wagner is the winemaker, yes of that Wagner family. And he does great work here. I will follow with a review of his Santa Lucia Highlands in the coming weeks.
Enjoy
Look at that butter
A perfect dinner pairing
Light, elegant and soft. A few words used to describe this rose from Cotes de Provence.
Blended from Syrah, Cinsault, Grenache, Mouvedre, and Cabernet. This blend is becoming increasingly popular.
Light, fruity nose. Hints of strawberry and cherry in the mouth. A quick, crisp finish. A perfect wine for summer afternoons. Light meals or just a refreshing pick up.
Enjoy
Everyday I sample wines, yes everyday. Most of these wines I never mention. But, the ones I do I truly believe are worth the mention. Not all are highly rated or expensive. Most are just opposite, just good drinking wines I have enjoyed.
Which brings us to Ch Lanessan 2010. 2010 was an outstanding vintage for Bordeaux and this wine offers an example of the reason why. Lanessan reigns from the Haute Medoc a quality appelation if there ever was. My oh so quick trip through Bordeaux last year was not long enough to visit every winery, but I will “be back.”
The aroma rises when you open the bottle, lush notes of ripe fruit invade your senses and already your body is quivering in anticipation. Plum, violets, roses with just enough earth tone to round out.
The dark color of ravens wings, the beautiful color of midnight glows in the glass. An intriguing and mysterious quality that tantalizes or dares you to enter.
And then you let the liquid slowly fill your mouth. (Let it breath for @ 30 min or longer if you can). Oh wow, this folks is a major, major contender. How can I use words to explain this work of art. This gift. Intense,intense. So much depth, so much going on. The richness of the fruit, ripe plums. Mineralization that adds extra structure. Soft elegant tannins that linger beyond time. Juicy, juicy and mouthwatering. Full bodied, one (only one) of the best wines.
Enjoy
I still have an 09 to try !!!!!!
Everyday I sample wines, yes everyday. Most of these wines I never mention. But, the ones I do I truly believe are worth the mention. Not all are highly rated or expensive. Most are just opposite, just good drinking wines I have enjoyed.
Which brings us to Ch Lanessan 2010. 2010 was an outstanding vintage for Bordeaux and this wine offers an example of the reason why. Lanessan reigns from the Haute Medoc a quality appelation if there ever was. My oh so quick trip through Bordeaux last year was not long enough to visit every winery, but I will “be back.”
The aroma rises when you open the bottle, lush notes of ripe fruit invade your senses and already your body is quivering in anticipation. Plum, violets, roses with just enough earth tone to round out.
The dark color of ravens wings, the beautiful color of midnight glows in the glass. An intriguing and mysterious quality that tantalizes or dares you to enter.
And then you let the liquid slowly fill your mouth. (Let it breath for @ 30 min or longer if you can). Oh wow, this folks is a major, major contender. How can I use words to explain this work of art. This gift. Intense,intense. So much depth, so much going on. The richness of the fruit, ripe plums. Mineralization that adds extra structure. Soft elegant tannins that linger beyond time. Juicy, juicy and mouthwatering. Full bodied, one (only one) of the best wines.
Enjoy
I still have an 09 to try !!!!!!
My love of Pinot Noir has grown the last few years. Now that I know pinot is more than the watery light tasteless variety usually associated with pinot, thanks to great advertising the public believes these are what pinot should be. Tonight I give you, Maison L’Envoye.
Straight from the Willamette but tasting like the finest from Burgundy. Winemaker Max Marriott has crafted one of the finest pinot with grapes selected from the best vineyards.
The bouquet erupts from the bottle with strong notes of violets and roses followed with an earthy mineral and a smokiness. The color , a soft purple, that regal royal color. A beautiful elegance shimmering with glory. I raise the glass in splendid anticipation. My senses are on high alert. The first wave ignites my mouth. Rich tastes of blueberries first tingle my tastebuds. Then a lucious coating of velvet smoothes over my tongue. The flavors just keep coming. The rich berry turns into a full smoky note with hints of earth. Not at all a turnoff, instead it adds more depth and structure. Subtle notes of pepper and spice with just a hint of oak. A very long finish. Your mouth is already begging for more. Oh my my I can’t wait for another bottle.
Enjoy
Just look at that beauty.
These wines sat in my cellar for months. I saw them every week when I was planning and studying, but they sat there. I did not have any notion about the wine or any desire to pull it down and try it. I had two bottles a Merlot and a Cabernet. I had been asked to try them and give my opinion.
Well slap me down. What had I been thinking. These wines were gorgeous. A result of detailed wine making showing forth the passion apparent here.
Joseph Carr is the founder and vintner. Aaron Pott the winemaker. Carr has had a long history in various positions in the industry culminating in the Joseph Carr winery. Pott, a former winemaker of the year, puts all of his knowledge and experience into this venture.
The Napa Cabernet a 2011, not the most noted year, but in this case ooh la la. Taking out the cork was delightful. The bounty that plumed forward was extraordinary. Deep cherry, violet, rose. Wow.
My mouth was watering even before the dark rich liquid touched my tongue. Every centimeter of my mouth was quivering with delight as the flavors bombarded my senses. Again the rich ripe fruits, hints of spice, wood and smoke. Soft elegant tannins that tantalize and stroke the desire for more.
A few nights later I indulged myself with the Merlot. Needless to say I was not disappointed. Now I must also admit that I am a big merlot fan and this one made me want to grab some pom poms and do a cheer. A bouquet of complex aromas, berries and floral scents astound the nose. The velvet touch that coated my mouth was comforting, like sitting in the most comfortable chair and relaxing. A peace and calm overtook me and all I could think was how good and enjoyable this is. So much flavor, fruit forward and rich. Soft smooth and silky finish. Just a pleasure.
Both wines are complex and very well balanced that remind me of some of the best Bordeaux made. So
Cabernet and chocolate covered chips. Yummy
Enjoy
Over The Winebow 