Below are a few of the best wines that have been in my glass lately. Since I taste (drink!) many wines, I hope to make #WIYG? What’s in your glass? a regular feature of my blog.
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut (NV), Reims, France
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut (NV), Reims, France
I opened a half-bottle of this champagne for #ChampagneDay on October 26. I purchased it at Inari Wines for around $33. This tasting was special to me because it was the first bottle of Champagne I have ever opened myself. I was in a relationship for 15 years and my companion always opened the bubbles. I opened it exactly the way I was taught: I held it at an angle (away from my cat, ha ha!), kept the loose wire around the cork, enclosed both the wire and the cork with a towel, turned the bottle, and it opened just like it should. If you must know, it did startle me a bit. The wine was pale gold, with soft, frothy bubbles; a nose of citrus, honey, nuts, and yeast; and flavors of almond, apple, citrus, peach, spices, and toast.
2010 MTGA Merlot, Napa Valley
2010 MTGA Merlot, Napa Valley
This bottle was graciously sent to me as a sample by owner/vintner Mike Anderson and enjoyed on Election Day, November 6. It seemed appropriate to open an American-made wine made by an up-and-coming young American winemaker, living the American Dream. The wine is a beautiful inaugural effort and a fine example of the variety, with great color, soft tannins, lots of killer berry flavors, and just enough food-friendly acidity to pair perfectly with the mostly-meat pizza that accompanied it. The more I sipped, the better it became. As Mike told me, it’s a young wine with lots of time to evolve. I think I will taste a bottle I purchased ($42) next year and see how it has changed.
2010 Forth Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon “Histoire” Chapter 4, Alexander Valley
2010 Forth Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon “Histoire” Chapter 4, Alexander Valley
The story for November 19 is that this wine had me at loads of juicy cassis and cherry. What a great, flavorful, everyday wine for under $20. I purchased this gem at Club W for $19. It paired perfectly with my blue cheese sauce and steak penne dinner the night I opened it. For more information about Forth, please visit Jann Forth’s Facebook page. Tell her Traveling Wine Chick recommended her.
2006 Sheldrake Point Winery Semi-Dry Riesling, Finger Lakes
Sheldrake Point Winery: 2006 Semi-Dry Riesling, Finger Lakes
This was my Sunday (December 2) stunner. I purchased many wines on my recent trip to Finger Lakes Wine Country (stay tuned for future reviews!) and this was one of the first I’ve tried. I purchased this wine for $30, less industry discount, at the Seneca Lake tasting room. It had a beautiful golden, honey color, indicative of bottle aging. Although it had 1.8% residual sugar, it was balanced by nice acidity. It had aromas and flavors of baked apples, baking spices, and stone fruits like apricot and peach. The fatty, salty, spicy Italian sausage I broiled paired nicely with the Riesling’s aforementioned acidity and residual sugar.