New Blog Address!

Hello Fellow Readers!

I have FINALLY merged my website and blog site together. You can now view my blog at http://www.acrushedgrape.com/blog/. PLEASE be on the look out for a new post soon using the new format.

Thank you everyone for reading my blog.

:)

A Wonderful Chilean Carmenere

Last night I hosted a wine party featuring wines from the Southern Hemisphere. The biggest hit was a Carmenere, so I thought I would share it with you. 


Santa Carolina, Reserva de Familia, Chile, Carmenere, 2009: $22.99 - Chilean wines are not only fabulous, but also inexpensive. This wine is 100% Carmenere! (http://www.carolinawinebrandsusa.com/sc-reserva_familia_carmenere.html).

This is a full bodied red wine with a blackberry, herb, and spicy bouquet. This wine is fruit forward with tastes of blackberry and blueberry. You will also get hints of vanilla, earth, and tobacco smoke on the finish.

This big wine needs bold flavors to pair with it. Foods with a cream base, and lamb dishes would pair very well with this wine.

Note: I had to special order this wine from the store. If you don't see it on the shelves, I highly recommend placing a special order for it.

A Solid Torrontes

During the Summertime I like to try all different types of white wines. This weekend I tried a really unique wine from the Mendoza region of Argentina.

Pannotia Vineyards, Argentina, Torrontes, 2006, $10: For only $10, this wine is a treat. It has a peach and pineapple bouquet, with tastes of mango, peach, and lemon. It is crisp and acidic, but finishes smooth. I found it to pair very well with soft cheeses, in particular blue cheese.

For those of you unfamiliar with a Torrontes, it's very similar to that of a California Viognier. This wine will drink okay on its own, but the flavors really stood out when I paired it with the cheeses.

Bonacquisti Winery

www.denverwine.net/about-us/our-wines/

Last weekend I did a Denver winery tour with some friends. One winery in particular stood out for its fun atmosphere and wonderful wine. Bonacquisti Winery, located Northwest of Downtown Denver, is owned and operated by Paul Bonacquisti. In addition, Paul is a fellow Executive Sommelier from the International Wine Guild. We met Paul and his wife during our tasting and they were both very welcoming and gracious.

My favorite white we tasted was the Bella Risa ($15). It is a Pinot Gris blend that was crisp, acidic, light, and fresh. It has tastes of melon, mango, and other tropical fruit flavors.

My favorite red was their dRed ($15). This wine is a blend of Sirah, Zinfandel, and Merlot; which happen to be three of my favorite types of grapes! It was fruit forward with a touch of spice and baked berry notes to it.

Both of these wines are ready to drink now!

If you live in the Denver area, I strongly encourage you to go visit this winery. If you don't live in the Denver area, then order a bottle online to try.

To learn more about the winery, visit their website: http://www.denverwine.net/contact-us/

Happy 4th!

Happy Independence Day Everyone! Today is the perfect day to take a moment and thank everyone who has served our country.

It's also the perfect day to open a bottle of your favorite American made wine. Personally, I will be drinking a steel barreled Chardonnay from a Colorado Winery on this hot day. It's not oaky, but rather crisp and acidic. It will go perfect with the outdoor bbq I'll be having with family this evening.

A Merlot That Was Worth the Wait!

Last night I had a wonderful Napa Valley Merlot. Actually, this was the second time I've tried it. The first time was over the holidays last year. Even though I had been told to "let this wine" sit for a little while, I just couldn't wait. After all, I had two bottles; so I didn't see the harm in opening one early. Well that was a mistake! At that time, the wine was still too young and the tannins attacked too quickly.

Well, last night was a completely different story! This wine is more than ready to drink!

Swanson Vineyards, Oakville, Merlot, 2007, $38: This Napa Valley Merlot was a treat, (http://www.swansonvineyards.com/default.aspx). You get dark cherry and vanilla aromas, with only a hint of alcohol on the bouquet. (I attribute the alcohol smell to something the winemaker did to the wine as part of the fermentation process). For a Merlot, it is full bodied with soft tannins. It is also very fruit forward, with tastes of dark cherry and blackberry.

Again, this wine is ready to drink! I recommend you try to get your hands on a 2007 vintage asap! Wine.com has the 2008 vintage. If you are going to get the later vintage, let it sit for at least 6 months before tasting. (http://www.wine.com/V6/Swanson-2007-Oakville-Merlot/wine/108476/detail.aspx).

Food pairing suggestion: Salmon with a dark berry reduction.

Goes to show you... good things are worth the wait!

A Fabulous Greek Wine

Greek wine is very hard to find in Denver. To find any good ones, your best bet is to go to an authentic Greek restaurant. This past weekend I went to Yanni's in South Denver. Yanni himself is a Sommelier, so I knew he was going to have great wines.

Gaia, Agiorgitiko, Red Wine, 2010 $20 (Retail): Fruit forward, medium bodied wine. Even though this wine is only a couple of years old, it was more than ready to drink! This wine went well with everyone's meal; (Lamb, Moussaka, etc).(http://www.gaia-wines.gr/en/products/agiorgitiko-gaia).

If you don't live in Denver, see if your local specialty wine shop has this wine. Or, go to your favorite Greek Restaurant and ask for it!