Coming Back!

Hello my fellow sippers!

I apologize for my absence but I have so many wines to share with you. I have been out of circulation due to some life events that were in the way but I am back. I am a bit renewed and refocused.

I would like to share this journey with you. My postings will begin next week but let me say this...I have been in California for 12 days and there are some wonderful wines I discovered. Talk to you soon.

Salut!

September Sip: Part 2

Hello again Sippers!

This week has been interesting and long. I have been working really hard with my wonderful staff, the 9/11 Pentagon dedciation happened this week, and I am glad that we have a weekend off! So...let's continue with some more sipping selections for you.

I am sharing with you a day early to let my brain rejuvenate tomorrow. It is dreary here in Washington, DC. It is a good evening for movie and some Thai. Here are some selections for that very thing. While Gewurztraminers and Rieslings are nice, they are not the only wines that pair well.

A wonderful little casual wine at home is what you need? Choose this.
Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel Vintners Cuvee XXII
The color is purple. The body is medium. The acidity is balanced. This drinkable red does not have a big zin but is highly extracted, mildly tannic with an overview of berries, minerals, and earth. Now the explosive fruit fills the mouth initially, yet remains soft textured and perfectly approachable. It does not have a long finish and is more like a Pinot Noir. This is perfect for the novice wine drinker and the casual meal.

The fruits are cherry, blueberries, and plum and a little spice. The tannins are mild and smooth. It is vivid, before and after airation. A screaming wine, though not the most elegant fruit, its a bottle for a fun time. This is a friendship-serious bottle with a HUGE bouqet, confusing at first but far more sensical after it breathes for a good 20 minutes. Accessible is the word for this little lovely.

Feeling sexy? This is the right one for you.
2003 Aramis Vineyards The Governor Shiraz McLaren Vale
A selection of the finest barrels, the Syrah The Governor reveals toasty new oak along with abundant blackberry, blueberry, and licorice notes, and hints of camphor and flowers. Full-bodied, dense, and rich. Dark fruit with some mocha and intense, balanced flavors. That is the formal description. Let me tell you what I really think!

Inky purple, sexy aromas of blackberry, boysenberry, violet and vanilla custard, complicated by spicy oak. There's big-time oak going on, but also plenty of ripe, luscious dark berry fruit that verges on liqueur-like. Fat, broad and sweet on the finish, the oak spice coming up strong. There's clearly great material and sex appeal here, and the oak is plenty suave, but I'd love to see it ratcheted down a notch. ($35 approx.)

Send me a note and let me know how your September Sips experience is going.

Salut!

September Sip: Part 1

Hello Sippers!

I want to focus on accessible wines this fall and winter. With the election and the worries of the world, you should still be able to have some normalcy in your life and your days should be easy. So I am going to share a few wines that anyone should be able to find for your salads and light fishes at various price points.

If you need to find an item, click on Vinquire on the right side of the page...scroll down...and sip away.

2006 Geyser Peak Winery Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County
Explosive aromas brimming with lemon, lime and citrus blossom mingle with gooseberry and passionfruit and a little spice to proudly proclaim this wine’s varietal. A generous, fruit-forward palate shows juicy citrus flavors of lime, grapefruit and tangerine, balanced by bright, crisp acidity. The pleasant finish persists on the palate with great length of flavor. This is an easy-sipping, eminently drinkable wine making for a lively, distinctive white that doesn’t sacrifice complexity or varietal character in its quest to be flat-out enjoyable. The perfect apéritif, this wine also makes an ideal partner to oysters and nearly any shellfish, as well as salads and light fish and chicken dishes. Chill and pour. ($10-14)

2007 Rodney Strong Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Charlotte's Home Vineyard Sonoma County
The 2007 vintage started off with a very dry spring, which tended to make for smaller clusters, smaller berries, and less canopy overall. The growing season was about as perfect as you would want, with warm afternoons and cool evenings, and a complete lack of hot or cold spells. With no weather problems at harvest time, few are surprised with the exceptional quality of this vintage, which will likely go down as one of the best in recent years. This pale straw, moderately light-bodied Sauvignon Blanc with mild acidity of medium fruit is mildly oaked with herbs, flowers, and vanilla. An easy sipper with distinctive, sweet floral character and excellent mouthfeel. Moderately long and well focused.

2006 Rochioli Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley
Taking it a little further. Light, crisp, and highly aromatic, the warmer climate Alexander Valley fruit gives the wine ripe pear and melon character, while the ocean cooled Russian River fruit offers citrus, mineral, and traditional herbaceous qualities. Together, the two valleys make a classic Sonoma County sauvignon blanc that is fresh, lively, and will drink beautifully over the next 1 to 2 years. ($10-14) 2006 Rochioli Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley Forty-eight percent is from our newest planting of a very special and rare clone, forty percent is from the original Sauvignon Blanc vineyard planted in 1959, and twelve percent is from our seventeen year old hillside vineyard. Twenty-five percent of this blend is barrel fermented, which gives this wine its complexity and round texture. The balance is tank fermented to preserve its intense varietal character and firm acidity. 2,950 cases were produced.

There is so much going on with this wine. So here are my short quips. Medium-light yellow color, very attractive, assertive, intense, herbal, fairly grassy, lemony, slightly tropical, distinct Sauvignon Blanc, aroma which developed with airing in the glass; medium-full body; fresh, clean, forward, rounded, herbal, grassy, lemony, intense flavors; well balanced; lingering aftertaste. ($33-36)

Send me a note and let me know how your September Sips experience is going.

Salut!

Recommended Maryland Wineries to Visit Fall 2008

For the summer there are some recommended wineries to visit.

Boordy Vineyards http://www.boordy.com/
Basignani Winery http://www.basignani.com/
Woodhall Wine Cellars woodhallwinecellars.com

Enjoy!

Virginia Wine Showcase Weekend

At the Virginia Wine Showcase last weekend, I only bought two wines. I am selective about the wines I buy from expos and fesitvals.

Petit Verdot
www.willowcroftwine.com
Personal Observation: This limited production red is wonderful with your red meats and weighty whites. This is an easy drinking wine. Wonderful flavors and a good sip for your cheeses and dried meats.

This classic Bordeaux varietal displays smooth berry flavors and a creamy finish with a wonderful dark grapey color. Great with all of your red meat dishes, hearty lasagna, and any full-bodied meal.

Kluge Estate Cru
www.klugeestateonline.com
Personal Observation: All I can say is, the journey this apertif traveled was quite an experience. The description below is exactly what you should expect, however, the palate was wooed by this sexy dessert wine. I would suggest serving very cold in the summer or with the Kluge Champagne or room temperature in the fall and definitely following the meal with dessert or in place of dessert. Absolutely dreamy!

This 100% Chardonnay, fortified apéritif is an original! Naturally sweet Chardonnay grapes are fortified with Virginia-distilled brandy, and then aged for six months in Jack Daniel’s® barrels to develop complex and unique spicy aromas that are truly all-American.

There are deep, fresh aromas and flavors of pear, white peach, and citrus, with notes of licorice, vanilla, and roasted almonds.

This refreshing and full-bodied apéritif is a wonderful match for rich appetizers such as foie gras, or paired with desserts such as chocolate fondue, ice cream, or sweet fruit pie. Best when served very cold or on the rocks.

Rosé for Labor Day...or the weekend after

I would suggest a Rosé, a fruity Viognier, or a nice Gewurztraminer. Rosés are very versatile wines. They can be heavy or light, dry or full of fruit and a little sweeter (which carries more alcohol). I would say a light, fruity choice would be the best as it can pair with various grilled food as well as salads today...yes and steak too!

A Viognier is normally not as heavy as Chardonnay and has the tropical fruit that you can enjoy. Great with chicken and moderate levels meals.
One of my favorite whites is Gewurztraminer. A little sweet, a little spice...nice! Spicy foods welcome it and it is also great with hotdogs!

Light and Sparkly for the Summer

The summertime is the best time for light and sparkly sips.

I would recommend a sparkling pink Prosecco, a fun and frothy Italian sparkling wine, as an ideal quaff to greet the season. This fun rose-colored sparkler makes an even better solution for those steamy evenings when you need a salad for dinner because even with air-conditioning, you really don't want to see a flame on top of the stove or fire up the grill.

Some that may work for you are:

Cantine Riondo "Pink" Prosecco Raboso
De Faveri Spumante Rosé Extra Dry
Anime Pink Prosecco
Bartolomeo Prosecco Marzemino Vino Spumante Rosato Extra Dry

The pink bubbly adds a little special feeling to a normal summer day and we still have a few more of them left. Pair with salads, cheeses, vegetarian dishes, meatless pastas, or simply sipping.

Recommended Virginia Wineries to Visit Summer/Fall 2008

For the summer into the fall there are some recommended wineries to visit.

Sugarleaf Vineyards www.sugarleafvineyards.com
James River Cellars www.jamesrivercellars.com
Chateau Morrisette www.thedogs.com

Enjoy!

Excellent Grilling Wine for Steak

Falesco 2005 Umbria "Vitiano" Cabernet-Merlot-Sangiovese ($14.99)
Very dark ruby with crimson glints against the light. Ripe black cherry aromas add a back note of warm brown spice. Full and fruit-forward, black fruit and food-friendly acidity come together in balance.

U.S. importer: Winebow Inc., NYC; Leonardo Locascio Selections. (July 9, 2008)
FOOD MATCH: Pan-seared medium-rare rib eye steaks make a classic red-wine match.
VALUE: Up from $10.99 for the 2003 last year, still a good buy for a solid Italian table red. If you like it enough to buy in quantity, though, shop around, as it's widely available in many markets for well under $10.
WHEN TO DRINK: Not really a cellar candidate, but there's be no harm in keeping it in a cellar or cool wine rack for a year or two.
WEB LINK:Here's the importer's Falesco information page, with links to this and other wines:

Screwing with the good stuff

As many will recall, less than a decade ago, the metal screwcap was so thoroughly identified with nasty, "rotgut" wines that the conventional wisdom held that wine "geeks" would never accept them for "serious" wines.
Then PlumpJack Winery, a pricey boutique operation in California's Napa Valley announced in June 2000 that it would equip some of its 1997 Reserve Cabernet with metal screw caps - and that the screw-capped bottles would go for $135, or $10 more than the same wine stoppered with a natural cork.
At that time, just eight years ago, the notion of putting an expensive, collectible wine under a screwcap - just like Wild Irish Rose! - was such an offbeat idea that Plumpjack grabbed headlines in the general media. As a tiny producer that would put metal caps on the produce of only about a dozen barrels that year, they would barely move the market. But they certainly brought attention to the issue.

To that point, only a relatively small number of wineries - most of them in Australia and New Zealand - had been experimenting with the metal cap, a sturdy, long-sleeved device that held wine securely, a far cry from the puny caps used on cheap wines and booze.

Sometime soon after 2000 more and more wines started showing up with the sturdy Stelvin screwcaps. (Others went with plastic-type synthetic "corks," a separate story for another day.) I rather doubt that Plumpjack did much to influence the shift, but certainly public attitudes about wine closures began to change as wine lovers tired of an unacceptably high failure rate of "cork taint" in natural cork.

New Zealand and Australia led the charge, particularly with white wines, which seemed to retain particular clarity and freshness under screw cap. Other white-wine producing regions - Germany, Austria and some U.S. producers - soon joined in. And eventually, red wines too, particularly those not destined for long-term storage, started showing up with metal caps.

Until now, though, there's seemingly been a price ceiling. Save for the Plumpjack exception, screwcaps and synthetics seemed to find their market niche mostly among "everyday" wines in the $7 to $15 or even $20 range.
But recently I'm starting to see another small but significant change. As evidence mounts that ageworthy wines may evolve very nicely indeed under a good screwcap (a debatable issue that had supported the last bastion for natural cork in fancy, cellarworthy wine), These closures are appearing on much more expensive wines in the $50-and-up range, wines as suited for cellaring as for early consumption.

It's slow coming - my friends at Brown-Forman tell me, for instance, that the excellent Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Chardonnay will show up in screwcap with this year's vintage ... but only as an experiment in Texas and Florida at this time. So progress comes slowly, very slowly.

Thus my surprise when I happily ripped open my recent monthly box of goodies from California Wine Club's high-end Connoisseurs' Series recently and found a trendy, $50-plus Oregon Pinot Noir sporting the familiar metal screwcap. I may have missed it, but at least in my observations at local retail, this is the most costly wine I've found under screwcap since the original Plumpjack experiment.
It's a splendid wine, too, particularly for those who prize their Pinot in the big, intense and blockbuster style. It's made by Pali Wine CDompany of California, whose wine maker is the respected Brian Loring, a man known for making Pinot with real muscles. This may seem an odd combination to bring to an Oregon Pinot, a niche more typically prized for a relatively Burgundian elegance. But this one works for me. It's intense, big and alcoholic and complex and balanced, almost like (if you can imagine such a thing) a Burgundy on steroids.

It retails for $55, although Connoisseurs' Series members may place "restock" orders for less, which, as I said, breaks the $50 barrier for screw capped wines. I don't think it will be the last to do so.

Celebrate with Independence Sommelier Sips Selected for You!

CASTLE ROCK CHARDONNAY 2006, CALIFORNIA
"This elegant Chardonnay offers a rich, ripe and fruity character with a delicious blending of vanilla, pear, citrus and melon flavors, subtle oak undertones and a long, balanced finish. In any season this Castle Rock Chardonnay will complement most cuisines and is an especially pleasing accompaniment to fish, poultry and lightly sauced entrees."-Winery notes $ 11.99

Truly a bang!
CANNONBALL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005, CALIFORNIA
This is one of the values of the year! 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah, this big, bold red wine explodes with black cherry and berry fruit, with a long, chocolate-y finish. Though it's full and rich, this Cab is well-balanced and easy to enjoy with or without food. This is a great wine for outdoor grillin' or for any party. As the winery says, "Share a splash with good friends!" $ 12.99

One of my ultimate favorites...
CASTLE ROCK PINOT NOIR WILLAMETTE 2007, OREGON
"This elegant medium-bodied wine offers aromas of cherry and spice. On the palate the wine gives flavors of berries, cinnamon, black cherry, sweet vanilla oak and floral notes, with a long, velvety finish. This versatile wine pairs well with lamb, chicken, veal, salmon and light pasta dishes."--Winery Notes $ 13.98

Great for those who aren't 100% Sauvignon Blanc lovers!
HONIG SAUVIGNON BLANC NAPA VALLEY 2007, CALIFORNIA
Complex scents of pear and apple cider. Juicy flavors of apple and white peach. Lingering peach impressions in the juicy close. $ 15.99

Sommelier Selected Summer Sips

Great for BBQ...
EDUCATED GUESS NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005, CALIFORNIA
Distinct ripeness may be the dominant theme here, but this fairly full and slightly viscous wine musters a modicum of ripe-cherry fruit as a counterpoint to its ongoing themes of chocolate and caramelly oak. It avoids the coarseness and heat that is almost a given in very ripe wines, and its richness makes it a good choice for pairing up with pot roasts and heartier stews. $ 19.99

A true favorite...
BOTTER PROSECCO SPAGO N/V, ITALY
This sparkling wine is crisp and offers a wonderful almond blossom undertone in the bouquet. This fruity but dry sparkling wine is great by itself or as a base for bellinis (a blend of Prosecco and either peach or apricot juice). $ 12.99

Versatility...
HAYMAN AND HILL INTERCHANGE 2006, CALIFORNIA
A blend of 47% Chardonnay, 34% Sauvignon Blanc, 7% Muscat, 5% Semillion and 3% Gewurtztraminer. Bright citrus and mineral acidity give the wine a fresh, clean backbone. Complemented by a rich and smooth palate to round out the tropical fruit characteristics. Food Suggestion: Calls for some robust fish such as poached Atlantic Salmon or more delicate meat dishes like grilled pork chops. A great wine to start any occasion in style. $ 12.98

Consistency...
HILLINGER PINOT GRIGIO 2007, AUSTRIA
This is one of the best Pinot Grigios outside of Italy. Dry, crisp and clean with plump orchard fruit flavors laced with almond and a bright fresh finish. Enjoy well chilled with scampi, grilled vegetables, sauteed chicken or pasta with white sauce. $ 10.98

Delicious Favorite Sommelier Summer Sips under $15

GLORIA FERRER SONOMA BRUT NV, CALIFORNIA

"A delicious mouthful of bubbly. Smooth, rich and creamy, with layers of black cherry, vanilla, ginger and a hint of lemon drop. Finishes with a long, refreshing aftertaste with mineral and fruit. Drink now." Wine Spectator 90 Pts

"Wonderful, delicious, elegant, smooth!" The Sipping Sommelier (Rated 10) $ 12.99

MILTON PARK SHIRAZ SOUTH EASTERN AUSTRALIA 2006, AUSTRALIA Ruby-red. Jammy blackberry and mulberry on the nose; reminds me of a zinfandel. Fresh, juicy dark berry flavors display a nice combination of poise and sweetness, with mocha and candied licorice notes adding complexity. Soft, silky and sweet on the concentrated, persistent finish. There are no apparent tannins to get in the way of the vibrant fruit. This is one serious bargain. -IWC 88 PtsThe 2006
Shiraz contains 6% Nebbiolo. Crimson-colored, it has an attractive nose of spice box, blueberry, and blackberry. Medium-bodied, it has more than ample ripe fruit, good depth, and solid length. It is a Best Buy in savory Shiraz. The Milton Park label is produced by Thorn-Clarke. The wines have been Best Buys year after year and the current releases continue the pattern. - Wine Advocate 89 Pts
"A good food or cheese and appetizer wine if you don't want to eat a full dinner this summer." The Sipping Sommelier (Rated 10) $ 9.98

YARRAMAN BARN BUSTER SEMILLON/VERDELHO 2005, AUSTRALIA Bright straw in colour with vibrant green hues, there is an abundance of aroma with distinct tropical notes of pineapple and banana from the Verdelho component. The palate has excellent fruit depth, mid-palate weight and mouth feel, with the fresh citrus acid of Semillon providing a zesty finish. IWC 87 Pts
"Great for seafoods and salads." The Sipping Sommelier (Rated 9) $ 10.99

7 Tips to Improve Your Mind and Body While Enjoying Wine...

Wine can enhance your quality of life if light or moderate sipping is experienced throughout your week or month. Here are a few things that will help your mind and body. Some items are simply nicer with wine.

1. Turn a few pages and read to shield your brain from decline. Add your favorite wine and slowly sip while you enjoy stimulating your mind and your palate.
2. Make a fruit salad of oranges, apples, grapes, and blueberries providing 5x the antioxidants matched with your favorite chilled Viognier or Sauvignon Blanc. It is a nice summer mid-day delight.
3. Begin dinner with a cup of soup and you might eat 20% less of your main couse. Stick with broth-based soups. If you are weak and are treating yourself to a cream-based delight, an equally creamy Chardonnay or smooth Pinot Noir is a perfect pair.
4. Eat smarter at parties that have a buffet and eat small amounts of different items. If you are pairing with wine, pick something universal and make sure your foods match as well. This will help with digestion.
5. Express your gratitude. People who write about the things they are thankful for are optimistic and more satisfied with their lives. When you sit down to write those thank you notes, a glass of a light sipper and a small plate of cheese and crackers is a nice touch.
6. Stretch those legs while sipping your favorite grape or blend. Sit in a chair and either pick up rolled up socks and make alternate piles or lift your legs, point your toes, hold for 5 counts and work up to 10, release your pointing, and lower legs. Do it 5 times notice your calves later.
7. Focus on the positive and spend time with friends, laugh when you have the opportunity, and cultivate your curiousity. Add a little vino and life is enhanced just a tad.

Sunday Sip, June 16, 2008 at the Manassas WIne and Jazz Festival

Hello Sippers! Happy Father's Day! Saturday I didn't sip but glad it was saved for today.

The weather was beautiful. Warm with a breeze and not too much traffic on the road leading towards an intimate festival with only 12 wineries. Since I have sipped some of the wineries in the past, my target was the new wineries, as well as those I hadn't tasted before, and see what they have to offer our palate.

So, First Colony, Pearmund, and newbies Delfosse, Stafford, and Vino Curioso were my sips of the day. I could have sipped more, but these were worth the time spent. The time was so well-spent, I bought two wines that caught my tongue and I couldn't leave them there.

• First Colony Winery, 1607 Red Dessert Wine 2005 Vintage...an aromatic and yummy nose with a warm on the palate. This dessert wine has complex flavors of brandied cherries and candied figs made in the traditional port style and finishes any evening with elegance and grace. $20
• Delfosse Rose Under the Tree...this Merlot and Cabernet Franc has a wonderful, heavy, smoky, earthy nose that is great with or without food and is great from simply sipping to entertaining and apertifs through a nice summer grilled meal to an evening sip. Chill the red and it will be perfect! $18

Other must-buys of the day were:

• First Colony, Meritage 2005...nice wine for September and October Fall grilling with its bright red fruit and plum flavors and a hint of mint on the finish. Elegant and rich. $18
• Delfosse Deer Rock Farm White 2006...this very nice multilayered, light crisp summer wine with sweet tropical aromas convey through the light floral notes and fresh fruit on the nose. The pear and pineapple that integrate nicely with the acidity. The finish is long and rich in an off-dry style. This Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc blend is great as a cold apertif or with lighter fare. $14
• Delfosse Deer Rock Farm Red 2006...now I normally don't like or try wines just called "Red" but this approachable, Tuesday, AP wine has very nice aromatics and is very conducive to the palate. Blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Touriga (a Portugal red grape), this soft Bordeaux style carries scents of orange peel and cherry. This rich concentrated red wine has soft tannins with a slight oak with a rich structure that is a versatile, food friendly wine that can be paired with light fare, cheeses, pasta, and light meats. $14

The Honorable Mentions include:

• Pearmund Viognier 2006...smooth, floral, and apricot are in this smooth balance.
• Pearmund Reserve Red...red and purple fruit nose and beefy, grapey taste.
• Stafford La Belle Vie White...totally, wonderful beach, deck, porch, picnic wine.

Yes, I tried others but I wrote about the best. Enjoy your next glass.

Salut!

Chilean Embassy Wine Tasting with Vina Ventisquero

Wine on a Wednesday at an Embassy? Delightful.

Happy that I attended and experienced this intimate tasting tonight where I learned so much about Chile and a little about Argentina and specifically Mendoza, along with meeting some pointedly imperative people made this structured day the best.

The winery, Vina Ventisquero, had all wonderful wines for us to sample along with some delightful figs and cheeses, with assorted bread and crackers.

The Sauvignon Blanc Reserve to begin the evening was a perfect starter. The perfect, well-balance sipper with the light fare could not have been better chosen for such a warm day. There was a Chardonnay but I did not taste it, however, I simply moved into the main tasting event.

Carmenere Queulat from Southern Chile with its dark cranberry color had a strong, earthy, barnyard nose with a lasting finish. The spice was on the nose and in the mouthfeel carrying the dark berries, tobacco, and velvety tannins. This full-bodied wine would go great with Chinese, Thai, and South American. The longer it opens up the more blueberries you will taste.

We moved onto Vertice is from the Colchagua Valley west of the Santiago can hold up to 10 years. The deep ruby color, deep and and bright berries on the berries, and the wonderful taste with a long finish served at 60-65 degrees. This Carmenere and Syrah blend is best with spicy foods. This wine can be held for 20 years.

This informative evening ended with Pangea was created from Syrah is also from the Calchagua Valley had a spicy, alcohol, graphite aroma but was an easy, balanced taste with lightly floral flavors. While it was lighter than others, the smoothness has a little spicy kick and was less filtered through production. Talk about better with time. Let this sit and blossom. You will be surprised. This wine can also be held for 20 years.

The hanging glacier in Chile was as intriguing as the wines the group tasted.

Enjoy your next glass.

Salut!

Saturday Sip - June 7, 2008

Well, I am getting back into my normal Saturday Sip routine and I started a little late but it was all well with me. We are going to travel from Italy to Spain to South Africa and returning to the familiar West coast of California and Washington State.

My normal first sipping stop, I went only to continue cultivating my taste buds back to normalcy and I tasted some delights for the summer. I began with a wonderfully light and affordable 2006 Italian summer white, Firriato Altavilla Della Corete Bianco at $14.98! It has a brilliant golden color to start with complex aromas of pear, lemon peel, wildflowers, and a slightly saline minerality. The bouquet experience I enjoyed the most was the tropical-like flowers. In the mouth the wine was wonderfully fresh and sunny with flavors of ground ginger and sage that I initially noted on the nose. This is not totally uncommon but it was an interesting treat. The body was solid and balanced, with a structure approaching that of a red wine. You definitely want to serve this nicely chilled. Rate: 9+ layered nose/9 taste/9 finish.

Food Wines:

2006 Adegas Gran Vinum Albarino Nessa, Spain - A definite beach wine, this leaves the mouth tingling with a stony, salty acidity. The texture is lovely with a contrasting white peach fruitiness and round flavors of lime. Pour it with a plate of mariscos and other summer shellfish. This Spanish Albarino had a strong pineapple nose and mouth-feel, which was a little pungent on its lasting finish. It was a little too much for me. This did not quite make my "buy" list but with the right foods and a citrus loving palate, this is a nice summer wine. My wine friend Lisa would love this! Rate: 8 nose/8+ palate/8 finish.

2006 Brochelle Zinfandel, Paso Robles, California - My favorite of all wines time and time again. The first thought of this favorite was the smoky nose and spicy taste that was not in past vintages. Though a true favorite for many a grilled meat and chicken, it is not for the meek. It is full and delicious in taste and color. Layers upon layers upon layers of elegantly perfumed and richly structured fruit that dances excitedly on the palate. An essence of warm, fresh baked gingerbread cookies can be found within. You will uncover notes of deep caramel, black currants and blackberry jam. There is a densely textured mouth-feel and grand finale comprising of a kiss of pumpkin pie spice. A treat for Shiraz lovers! Rate: 9+ color/9+nose/9 with food or cheese/8 without food or cheese/9 finish.

2007 Stafford Hill Cuvee Cameo, Willamette Valley - This wine will be great with a raw bar or shellfish, chicken with a spicy sauce, mixed greens with apples and a vinaigrette dressing and a main course of sausage soup or flavored seafood. This steel tank fermented white is okay and did not make my favorites list. Rate: 9 nose/8 palate/8 finish.

Not my favorites:
2007 Stafford Hill Oregon Riesling - Rate: 6

Welcome all Sippers!

Hello Sippers!

This is my first post and I am delighted to share with you my normal Saturday Sips, traveling sips, and wine experiences with new wine lovers. I have been doing this for several years now and I had a brief break as I battled some medical issues but I am back on the sipping trail!

I am also excited to share my adventures with you as well as keep you informed of events that I may attend, speak at, or just chill as I sip. Who knows? Maybe you can catch me one day and we can talk about wine.

Now, I am in the Washington Metro area but I do travel and in my travels I will share the wonderful (and not so wonderful wines) that I come across. Now, we know that what works for me may not work for you but I look out for those easy drinking wines and recognize those that need food, or simply cheese to be the best wines they can be in our mouths.

My taste buds. Well, I like light and heavy but normally your food and wine tastes are pretty comparable. We will get into this at a further date. I enjoy oak, smoky, deep, multilayered bouquets and tastes. I also delight in light, sweetly floral, well-balanced wines that can be just for sipping or with light fare. Heavier wines for gamey meats work well with me as well. I am a cognac drinker and an occasional cigar smoker...so a little weight does not scare me away. Either way, smooth, flavorful finishes work tickle my palate the best. The longer the better.

Consider me your personal wine consultant. Have a question about what wine to serve with a meal? Which wines should you keep around for entertaining or just for you to sip after work? Want to give a gift to someone and don't know what to chose? Send me your questions and I will answer you as quickly as I can.

So, by all means, keep this in mind and let's get sipping!

Salut!

The Sipping Sommelier.