Recent Good Wines

So I've been slacking in my blogging responsibilities.  But this week, Louise and I had three wines worth talking about. 

Earlier in the week, after returning from a camping trip, Louise fried up some beautiful Dover Sole (for sentimental reasons, my very favorite fish....that's another story).  I paired a Raats Family 2008 Original Chenin Blanc from South Africa.  It was crisp and tasted of pears and green apples.  A very light, refreshing wine to pair with a light-flavored fish like Sole, and reasonably priced (~$15)

Then, on Tuesday, it was our Anniversary (#8).  To celebrate, and to help us keep up with our diets, Louise cooked a "light" version of Linguini Carbonara.  I wasn't sure what to pair with this, but ended up going with a sparkling wine from the Vouvray region of France.  When I first started drinking wine in Graduate School, I somehow happened upon Vouvray's wines (made predominantly from Chenin Blanc) and enjoyed them - always a little bit different.  Then I heard of sparkling Vouvray's and just had to try one!  I had one by Champalou several years ago that was enjoyable.  This time I pulled out a 2002 Domaine Huet Brut Vouvray Petillant.  It was a golden color with relatively few bubbles, and offered richer and darker flavors than its non-sparkling cousin.  It went perfectly with the Carbonara.  For another review of this wine, see McDuff's Food and Wine Trail. 

Finally, last night Louise roasted a turkey breast and served it with Mashed Potatoes and Spinach Pie.  Traditionally, many people would stick with white wine to pair with Turkey, but I've always preferred a light red wine.  So, Beaujolais came to mind (which many people do serve with Turkey at Thanksgiving).  I chose a Georges Duboeuf 2007 Cru du Beaujolais Morgon.  Louise and I both agreed that it was WONDERFUL.  Bright fruit flavors (especially cherries) dominated, but some mild pepper and spice flavors came through on the finish.  At about $12 a bottle, a great value.

Recent Acquisitions

I live in the far north of New York.  We have a good wine store here (T&R Wines and Liquors) but I still like to stock up when I am down in "Civilization."  This week I was in New Jersey.  So I stopped at Gary's Wine & Marketplace on Rte. 23.  I was looking to diversify my collection a little, and possibly pick up a couple of the 1001 wines.  On both counts, I succeeded. 

First, I picked up a half bottle of Chateau La Tour Blanche 2005, a Sauternes.  I'm looking forward to trying this sweet wine, as I've never before had a Sauternes.  I'll have to find the right occassion!

Second, I picked up a bottle of Domaine Huet Sparkling wine from the Vouvray region (2002 Huet Vouvray Petillant Brut).  I enjoy sparkling wine, and have had at least one other sparkling Vouvray.  So, to see a (much) older vintage (1959) of this in the 1001 wines piqued my interest. 

I also picked up some old favorites to round out my collection:  Fairview's Goats do Roam, some value french rhone wines from Perrin et Fils, some New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc from Staete Landt, some South African whites from Mulderbosch, and a bottle each of Las Rocas Grenache and Churchills 2002 LBV Port. 

Finally, on our way back up to Potsdam, we stopped at Saratoga Wine Exchange in Saratoga Springs, NY (a beautiful little town, by the way).  Over a late Christmas smorgasbord at my in-laws, I tried a Fetish Wines, The Watcher, 2006.  I REALLY enjoyed it.  It had a hint of sweetness, but it wasn't at all syrupy.  It was deep and dark, and just absolutely delicious.  So, in Saratoga, I picked up 2 bottles of that, plus another bottle by Fetish Wines - Playmates, which is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Mataro.  I just found out that Mataro is another name for Mourvedre, which is commonly blended in rhone wines (primarily Syrah) which I love.  I've had another GSM (Grenache Syrah Mourvedre) by Kaesler Wines, and loved it, so this one should be really fun. 

Looking through the book

I've spent the last few evenings looking through "the book." So far (I've gone through the sparkling wines and most of the whites), I've had three of the wines.

The first is the Pommery Cuvee Louise, 1990. This was a gift from my wife's godparents for our wedding. Unfortunately, I can't remember when we drank it, but I know it was spectacular.

The second is 2001 J.J. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatese. This we drank with my parents shortly after we moved into our current house. I also remember when/where I bought it. Shortly after the 2001s were released, I was looking through Wine Spectator at the "reviews" of the Rieslings. I grabbed the list and went over the my local wine store (at the time, the Village Corner). There I found this and several other 2001s. Anyway, this wine is the best wine I have ever tasted (perhaps that will change as I continue). Unbelievable depth and variety of flavors.

Finally, I have had the 2004 Feudi di San Gregorio Fiano di Avellino. This wine was not quite as special as the others, but certainly a great buy at a reasonable price, and with unique flavors.  At the time I was trying a lot of the wines by Feudi di San Gregorio, and I can say that I liked them all.  I'm looking to get a hold of a more recent vintage of this wine, however, so I can give you a better description!