Fourth of July

Posted on July 5, 2012 by thewineraconteur

This is a holiday that makes me reminiscent of my youth and old neighborhood in Detroit.  In Southwest Detroit we had the only parade on the Fourth of July in the city.  Then we would go to the park where the parade terminated have a picnic, play ball and then wait for fireworks that ended an idyllic day.

For this day, I thought I would discuss the various carriers that I have accumulated for carrying wine to parties and picnics.  Since we are going to one of our relative’s house today to enjoy their pool and have a barbeque.

The first carrier that we purchased is a red travel bag that will hold one bottle of wine and carries a waiter’s cork screw, ornamental bottle stopper and two plastic wine goblets and clothe napkins.  The carrier is even insulated which is ideal for the days when we transport white wines.  It also has the option of removing the two goblets and then a second bottle of wine can be carried.  Since the time we purchased this carrier we have received a second one in black as a gift from a friend.

We then received a very nice wicker carrier that holds two bottles of wine and has a large compartment on the other side of the handle for carrying dishes, munchies or anything else.  I actually use this carrier quite a bit, when I am carrying bottles of wine from the cellar to the dining room for parties.

The next carrier we acquired during one of our trips to Carmel-by-the-Sea in California, which is a great area for wine tasting, shopping and dining.  We were in one of the adjoining cities of Monterey, which also has its own wine designation.  We went into the “Taste of Monterey” shop, did a wonderful tasting from the wines in the designation of Monterey, Carmel Valley and some of the Central Coast areas as well.  We enjoyed this shop so well that we joined one of the wine clubs that they offered and have enjoyed the packages that we receive four times a year. This carrier that we got is a canvas eco-friendly tote that holds six bottles of wine for some serious good times.

Finally on another trip to Carmel-by-the-Sea we found in a very eclectic shop, this leather wine carrier that holds two bottles of wine, plus the plastic wine goblets, ornamental bottle stopper, waiter’s cork screw, clothe napkins as well as a wooden cheese board and cheese knife.  I have also used cold packs next to white wines when necessary and it has worked very well.  This carrier by far has become my favorite, as it not only is the most inclusive but it is very classy in its appearance.

So I do hope everyone in the United States of America enjoys this great holiday of Independence Day and celebrates wisely and safely.

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Niagara-on-the-Lake

Posted on July 4, 2012 by thewineraconteur

While were up in Niagara-on-the-Lakes for our “destination wedding, we decided to go try a couple of the local wines.  I have to preface this with the fact, that I had family in this area for years, but the whole landscape had changed since my last trip.  Where there had been cherry and peach orchards was now populated with vineyards.  It has become a Canadian version of Napa Valley or Sonoma Valley.  Driving along the QEW (Queen Elizabeth Way) you pass all of these signs proclaiming all of the individual wineries along the way.  It is very impressive and makes one want to stop by.

In fact there are so many wineries in this area, that it would be impossible to do them all even on an extended weekend.  Maybe a concentrated week of tasting, it could be done. Some of the wineries also have restaurants on the grounds, which make it even more enjoyable.  I looked at the menu of one restaurant, while we were at the winery and it was very enticing, but we already had a prior commitment.

 

We first went to Hillebrand Winery and tried three wines out of nine that they were offering.  We tried their “Artist Series Limited Edition” Chardonnay and a Sauvignon Blanc.  I really enjoyed the Sauvignon Blanc; it had all the qualities that I want from it.  We also tried a “Trius Red” which they said was one of their signature wines, and it was very pleasant, a more casual wine for more casual dinners.  After the tasting and the ensuing purchase, we were given a complimentary tasting card for another winery Peller Estates (owned by the same corporation).  So off we went, who can refuse a free tasting (I guess I have no shame).

 

At Peller Estates, we tried their Rose made from Pinot Noir, a Gewurztraminer, a Sauvignon Blanc, a Merlot, a Cabernet Franc and a Late Harvest Vidal (a dessert wine).  I felt that the Gewurztraminer lacked the spice that I associate with it (though it did have pepper), and the Merlot was soft (where I wanted fullness).  The Rose was great for the season and my Bride went crazy for the Cabernet Franc (which is her norm) so we ended up with a mixed case, very heavy on the Franc.

 

We then went to Inniskillin, which is one of the region’s famed winery, known for their Ice Wines.  In fact they almost have an Ice Wine every vintage, because the area is very suitable for this form of wine.  Iniskillin is so known for their procedure, that many of the other wineries now produce an Ice Wine as well.  From my conversation with one of their hosts (who it turns out was from the Detroit area), the process is a different version of what occurs in Germany, and that is why they have so many vintage years.  We tried some of their non-dessert wines.  A Pinot Grigio and another white wine called P3 (a blend of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir) which was very appealing.  There was another white wine called Tenacity (a blend of Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, Riesling and Moscato) which was a little sweet for me.  They had a very good Meritage (which surprised me, as I thought this was a name only used in California for Bordeaux blends) and a Montague Pinot Noir which had a very strong cherry aftertaste.

 

When we got back to the resort to have dinner after all of these tasting, there was a complimentary tasting in the lobby of the resort offering two wines from Jackson-Triggs.  I forgot to make notes on these wines, because the couple right behind us trying the wines was a couple that I knew from the Detroit area celebrating their 29’Th anniversary.  Getting up to date with them was more important at the moment, then making notes on the wine.  They had a dinner reservation at one of the winery restaurants, and we had ours at the resort.  All in all, it was a good day.

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A Destination Wedding

Posted on July 3, 2012 by thewineraconteur

“Niagara Falls, slowly I turn, step by step, inch by inch.”  Suffice it to say “the best laid plans of mice and men…” had it nailed.  We were invited to a destination wedding.  I guess I lived a sheltered life, but this was the first one I had been invited to.   The invitation came in an airline ticket sleeve with each page of the “travel plans” itemized per page.   This was a cousin of mine who is now living out west and his beloved and her family was from the west coast and they had never been to Niagara Falls.   Now my family was from that area of Canada, the falls were old hat, but it would still be a great location for a wedding.

The wedding and reception were going to be at a resort in Niagara-on-the-Lake.  More fun, since that is a great wine area for Ontario.  So plans were made and everything was in order.   We figured that it would be a four to five hour drive, we would check in to the resort, then do some wine tasting and then have dinner with family and new friends.

“Niagara Falls, slowly I turn, step by step, inch by inch.”  Three days before the wedding there was a snafu with customs and the Canadian Government.  The entire wedding would have to be redone on the fly, and I must say the intended couple did a wonderful job.  Since so many people were flying in to Buffalo for the wedding, they found a new hotel, and reserved a section of a New York Park, part of the Grand Island group for an outdoor weeding on the waterfront.  They found a fine restaurant that had a private room upstairs for the reception so everything was falling into place.  One problem that we encountered as well as some other folks, the new hotel would not reserve the same amount of rooms for a rate as the resort, and by the time we discovered the change, we could not get a room at the new hotel, so we stayed at the resort near all the wineries.

The morning of the wedding, we decided to leave the resort at ten in the morning and meet everyone at the hotel and maybe have a group breakfast, since the wedding was slated for two in the afternoon.  We ended up in the worst traffic jam in my life, a trip that should have taken maybe a half hour to an hour depending on customs tied up the road for four and half miles.  It took us four and half hours to get across the border and then we still had to get to the wedding.  How sad that I was going to miss my cousin’s wedding.  My Bride and I kept changing who was driving (parking?) on this journey.  While we were on the bridge (finally) waiting to get through customs, we had rolled the windows down and enjoying the breeze and the view of the falls.  I heard someone yell “How much for the cufflinks?” and I turned to look at a car in the next lane and it was a good friend of mine and his brother (from the Detroit area) on their way to a family reunion.  We were laughing, until we lost sight of each other due to the vagaries of the traffic.

We finally arrived at the site of the wedding, and it had been delayed because of other circumstances, so we were not late.   The wedding was beautiful, the weather was agreeable until after the ceremony ended and then the wind picked up intensity, which made picture taking a little bit more of a challenge.

We arrived at the reception, a very nice restaurant called the Thirtyone Club in Buffalo.  They had a private room and the food was excellent.  There was also enough of dance floor to enable us to have a “traditional” Armenian dance, where our family would dance the new family in, to show our acceptance and happiness to our newest member.

 

After the grueling time at the bridge, I went up to the bar and inquired what types of wine they were pouring.  There was a most refreshing Hay Maker Sauvignon Blanc 2010 from Marlborough, New Zealand.  It was so crisp with an aftertaste of grapefruit that just hit the spot after a very hot day.  I will for sure pick up some of this wine for the rest of the summer season, as I was very impressed with it.  Later on, I switched over to a Justin Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Paso Robles in California which paired very well with the steak I had for dinner, and my Bride tasted my glass and ordered some for herself to go with her grilled salmon dinner.  The restaurant had chosen eight different wines from their cellar to pour for the reception and they were all good choices, and not just wines that would produce the best revenue.  I was very happy, and I told the happy couple that they could overcome any adversity after the week that they had just endured, and I shall drink again to their good health and happiness.

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Bull’s Blood

Posted on July 2, 2012 by thewineraconteur

Bull’s Blood is not an inviting name for a wine, but then I also think that Blood Soup does not sound enticing either.  This is a famous wine from Hungary from the vineyards that surround the town or village of Eger, hence Egri Bikaver.  Most wines from Hungary would list the town first and then the grape varietal next.  Bikaver translates to Bull’s Blood and that is how the wine is known, not only in Buda and Pest but the rest of the world as well.

 

 

It is a full bodied robust red wine with a deep color that is made from the Kadarka grape.  It pairs wonderfully with all the rich offerings of Hungarian foods and their great sauces.  I have enjoyed it with beef, veal, chicken and duck dishes that have been prepared with an Austro-Hungarian style or with a Romany style of cuisine.

 

 

As a blended wine from the assorted vineyards around Eger, and it is not necessary to remember  vintages.  All of the Egri Bikaver wines are offered through the government monopoly of Monimpex (at least during the Soviet years).  I should look at and try a bottle of it since the change in governments to see if there is any difference that I can discern.  The next time I get a strong yearning for Hungarian food.

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A Party of Quaffers

Posted on July 1, 2012 by thewineraconteur

Years ago, when I was first teaching myself about wines, I developed a reputation of being a “wino.”  I was having a party where there was going to be about twenty people.  It was a very casual affair with casual food, but everybody hinted that they wanted to taste wine and most claimed that they would bring their own choice of beer to the party.

Beer drinkers are quaffers, as I refer to them, especially back in the seventies.  Beer was guzzled then, today there are beer aficionados.

 

 

I was in a quandary; my cellar could be depleted by friends who like alcohol and the euphoria that can be achieved from it.   I had already started a collection of perhaps five dozen assorted bottles of wine that were aging.   What should I serve?   I went to one of the local wine merchants that I had started a relationship with.  I explained the situation and he smiled and brought me a case of Coteaux du Languedoc.  It was a red table wine with the V.D.Q.S. designation.  This appellation is for districts that have had a proven record of making wines of distinction from lesser areas.  This wine was from the south of France; just north of Spain in an area know as Midi.

 

 

While it was not a wine that I would want to serve with a great meal, it worked very well with the crowd, and it got me rave reviews.   At the end of the evening I discovered that I had acquired a large holding of assorted beers as the wine was a hit.  Through the years I have read more positive articles about the Languedoc and the Midi, so I am sure that I will repay the area with a visit.

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A Junior High School Reunion and a Chardonnay

Posted on June 30, 2012 by thewineraconteur

I grew up in Southwest Detroit and I attended a Junior High School that was fed by four elementary schools.  From the Junior High the students because of geographic boundaries and potential school achievements went on to five or six different high schools.  Most students from the first grade in other school systems end up finishing high school together.  This quirk in the Detroit school system created a center of relationships for a large group of students.  I just attended the second annual non-class year Junior High School reunion, and it was a pleasure.  There were alumni from the 1960’s to the 1980’s, and we numbered around 200 with a couple of teachers in attendance as well. The first was held in a large bar/tavern and this time it was held in a hall with a BYOB request.

 

 

I naturally decided to bring a bottle of wine to go with the furnished dinner, the camaraderie, conversations and a background furnished by a disc-jockey.  One fellow graduate brought two distinct craft beers that he made for the occasion.  As I walked around I saw an assortment of wines like Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay.  I did see a Mountain Valley Merlot on one table, this I know for a fact, because of the quirk of the BYOB, there was no bar service furnished.  There was no ice, soft drinks and the worse situation – no cork screw.

 

 

I laughed then, and I laugh now, because I became a rather popular fellow.  I had the only cork screw in the establishment.  Actually it was a waiter’s style cork screw which proved very fortuitous as there was not a bottle opener available either.  Being a former Scout I was prepared, as my wine carrier has the potential for two bottles of wine, a cheese knife and cutting board, an extra wine bottle stopper, two wine glasses and the waiter’s cork screw.

 

I had brought a 2010 Pelerin Chardonnay from the Sierra Mar Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands just south of Carmel and Monterrey.  It had enough personality and true Chardonnay qualities to satisfy me on that warm spring evening.  It was crispy with a touch of tartness, as opposed to a buttery “Oak” finish.  The perfect wine I felt for the occasion, not thin and not heavy.

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The Wineries of Harbor Springs and a Side Trip to Petoskey

Posted on June 28, 2012 by thewineraconteur

While we are up at Boyne Highlands, we had a free afternoon to ourselves.  Some went on a pontoon boat; some enjoyed the amenities of the resort.  I went searching for wines.  Are you not surprised?

The first winery we visited was Pleasantview Winery in Harbor Springs.  They also had a Bed and Breakfast on the grounds.  I must have been told a dozen times that they only did American Cold Hardy Grape Varietals.  I guess it must not have registered with me after the second time.  They also informed me that they begun the paper work to get the area a wine designation, hence all of their wines had product names instead of the grape that produced it.  Some of the names were Moonstruck, Persilka, Ethereal, Honeywood etc.   The tasting was done in the same room where the wine was produced.  Hence there were several large plastic vats of wine sharing the space with us.

We then went to Harbor Springs Vineyards and Winery at Pond Hill Farm.  This was a very eclectic and fun location.   There were animals roaming around for children to see and pet, a full working farm and winery.  They had a country store that sold the food that they harvested and above the country store was four hours of serving restaurant that featured food from the farm and behind that was a lovely tasting room.   I was informed that the building that we were in was built from the trees removed to create the farm and winery.  I also met a young intern in the tasting room from Louisville, Kentucky who was going to a culinary program in Cincinnati, Ohio.  They were doing a tasting of Pinot Gris, two different vintages of a Chardonnay, a Riesling, a Cherry wine and two different hard ciders.   I really enjoyed the Chardonnay which was very crisp and carried some back with us.

We then drove to Petoskey, which was only about nine miles away and went to a tasting salon of Mackinaw Trail Winery.  The winery is in Petoskey and they had two other tasting salons; one in Manistique and the other in Mackinaw City.  Here we sampled their Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, a Dry Riesling, a Cabernet Franc, a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Cabernet-Merlot, a Merlot a Pinot Noir and their Razzbery wine (which exploded with the taste of raspberry, they suggested pouring it over homemade vanilla ice cream).  I looked at my notes from here and two notes really caught my attention.  The Pinot Noir which their write up claimed “mingles blackberry and cranberry with hints of tea and spice,” while all I could taste was tea.  The other item that I found curious was that neither of us enjoyed the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc or the Merlot; we really enjoyed the Cabernet-Merlot and we took some home with us.

Wherever I go, I look for wineries, and I am especially grateful when I leave with a purchase or two.  This is even more fun, when an area is not touted for wines.

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Ziplines and Wines

Posted on June 27, 2012 by thewineraconteur

 

 

We just returned from Boyne Highlands in Harbor Springs, Michigan.  My wife was up for a business meeting and I got to tag along.  I was very impressed with the quality of food and service, this year round resort offered.  Breakfast every morning was a buffet with an omelet bar, fruit service and all of the other items that make a great breakfast.  Lunches were private affairs of custom sandwiches and salads.  The dinners were excellent.  They offered chicken in boursin sauce, salmon, steaks, ribs and all sorts of comfort food.  Two nights were out on the patio and one night was a cocktail reception.  After the reception some of us drove over to Charlevoix to have dinner at Terry’s Place where I enjoyed a dinner of veal and morels.

 

 

The wines that were poured for us at Boyne Highland were an eclectic mix and all enjoyable.  Through the course of the meetings and dinners I made it a point to sample what our host was offering.   There was a 2010 Red Rock Reserve Merlot from Sonoma, a 2008 McWilliams Shiraz, Harwood Estate, South East Australia, a 2008 Starmont Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, a () Louis M. Martini Pinot Noir from Napa, a () Don Migule Gascon Malbec from Mendoza, a 2010 Frei Brothers Chardonnay and a 2010 Ecco Domani  Pinot Grigio from Venezie.  Nothing stellar, but all sound picks for the type of wine poured.  These are the times when I can try a couple of different wines at the same time and pair them with foods.

 

I must admit that the wine sampling that I did, fortified my spirits and I tried their Zipline through the trees.  This is something they offer when there is no snow on the ground, because this resort is known for their skiing as well.  A fine time was enjoyed by all.

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Cote Rotie

Posted on June 26, 2012 by thewineraconteur

This is a wine from the Rhone Valley.  Cote du Rhone wines are always a dependable go to wine.  I learned this very early in my wine tasting days.  Cote Rotie is such a full big body wine that it can easily overpower a lot of dishes.  The Rhone Valley is a very hot climate area that produces high alcoholic wines.   Cote Rotie is not only big, but it ages very well and it has more terroir in the mouth, than most other wines that you will find.  The terroir is so evident; I am inclined to say dirt, but what a glass of dirt.

 

 

The first bottle that I ever had was a 1971 and it bowled me over with its boldness.  This may have been the first or second bottle that I had ever encountered such evidence of the terroir.  I forget the restaurant that I found this bottle at, but I remember that the entrée was never even a contender when it went up against this champ.

 

 

It is not a wine that one sees very often either in a restaurant or even in a wine shop.   The next time I encountered it was at a dinner club that specialized in aged grilled steaks with grilled vegetables that evening.  This was a much better pairing for this wine, which was a 1967 vintage, it was more mature than the first bottle that I had, but it still had that distinctive mouth and feistiness.

 

 

Last month I had my third bottle, and it was a 2001 vintage.  This had the most maturity in age of any bottle that I have had.  I looked forward to seeing if it would be mellower.   I did warn my Bride to expect a strong taste of terroir, which she has encountered more than a few times.   I was surprised at how robust and firm this wine was, with no sign of mellowing.  It was still full bodied, in your face and still brought such a case of déjà vu to my taste buds after almost a thirty year hiatus.

 

If you can find this wine in a store, by all means try one, but make sure that you pair it with a big dinner.  This wine demands an equal, not a light weight dish.  Go for the gusto.

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Saumur de Champigny

Posted on June 26, 2012 by thewineraconteur

I remember having dinner at the Viscount Hotel in Windsor when I was in high school on a date.   They had a very formal old school restaurant that was very elegant.  That is how I remember it as a young man.  I thought it was classy and had a style that I had not encountered before.  Not only was I impressed, but so was my date.  Not only was I at a classy restaurant for the evening, I was also in another country.  How suave was that.

 

 

We both had dinners featuring pork as I recall.  So I was going to be “Joe Cool” and order something different.  Since we were in Canada, the restaurant had a large grouping of French wines, and then Canadian and the rest of the world followed.  I remember that there was a large selection of Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superior wines.  I knew I didn’t want anything that heavy to go with pork.  Already I was becoming an “authority.”

 

 

As I was looking for alternatives to a Bordeaux wine, they had a couple of offerings from the Loire Valley.  From my readings at the time, I knew that these would be a softer red wine and not sweet like a Beaujolais type of wine.  There were a couple “generic” wines from the Loire Valley and a Saumur de Champigny.  I did not know this wine, but I figured that it was from a more delineated area, so I would get a better idea of what to expect from the wines.   Turns out it was a wonderful wine made from Cabernet Franc grapes.

 

A couple days later, after I had soaked the label off of the bottle, I did some further research in my reference book by Alexis Bespaloff.  Here is what he had to say; “The village of Saumur produces white wines from the Chenin Blanc and roses and red from the Cabernet Franc.  The reds are attractive, especially those from the village of Champigny.  If you come across a bottle of Saumur de Champigny, it’s worth trying.”

 

So I guess I made a wise decision.

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