Texas Kick Butt Cab

So here I am in Texas, with dear friends. We've decided to blog on a Texas wine. This particular one is a 2007 Cabernet from Texas Hill Country, and yes it's called Kick Butt Cab.

There is no back label, so we won't worry about it.

The wine is...lighter than what you would expect from a cab - it's fruity and rather tart. I bought it at a totally cool wine place called Spec's. Which actually appears to have more wine than Total Wine - and they have liquor and specialty foods as well.

The bottle cost $16.99. Would I buy it again?? Probably not.. I love the label though and might actually save it because I recently bought a candle holder that fits on the top of a wine bottle. I will use it for that.

Not sure what is happening for next week. My hubby and I just drove 2000 miles over the course of thte last 3 days, I can't think that far ahead.

Until then...Cheers

Did someone say Naked????

Sorry no pictures available for tonights selection.

It's called Simply Naked. It's a 2010 Caifornia "unoaked" Cabernet Sauvignon. What does that mean exactly? Well, it means the wine is not aged in oak. Actually, this wine is not aged at all except for the time it sits on a shelf. The winemaker chose to produce the wine this way with the theory that the wine would taste crisp and fruity. The back label boasts of an explosion of plum and black cherry. I checked out the website for more tasting notes and it also adds cinnamon spice with chewy tannins. I have to say chewy tannins is not something that sounds appealing.

The serving recommendations are the typical red meat, tomotoe pasta or hard cheese. I served it with a green chile beef burrito.

The wine is actually....ok. It's not that bad, it's not that good, but the price is very reasonable - my hubby bought it at Walmart for under $12.00. It does taste like a new wine, which makes sense since it's not aged. My hubby and daughter didn't care for it. They described it as rough. I didn't think it was too bad, a little tart for my taste, but maybe if I actually served it with the proper recommendation, it would improve. As I've blogged about before, some wines crave food, I think this one does.

I'm too tired to put much more thought into this one.

I'm still looking forward to a Spanish cava. One day....

Until then, Cheers!!

Radius......smoooooth

As usual, my well thought out plans didn't cooperative with my hectic life. Therefore, I still have not found a Spanish cava. But it's on my list to do before the end of the month.

But, I did go rumaging through my wine rack and found this very nice bottle of Radius. It"s a 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon from Walla Walla, Washington. This is still yet another Washington state wine that is quite nice. If your taste buds haven't ventured into Washington state, well it's time they take a trip. It's not Napa valley, but it comes close.

The back label boasts of currant, black cherry and red jam fruit. Serving recommendations are red meats, game, sharp cheese and dark chocolate. Well, I actually took note and served it with a beef roast, broccoli and a spring mix salad. It was very nice. Nice bouquet, definitely dark fruits, no pepper or spice - lots of flavor initially on the palate that smoothly and slowly finishes. As a matter of fact, as I type Im nibbling on dark chocolate and sipping the vino. My oh my, this is good.

My hubby bought this at Total Wine. He vaguely recalls that he spent $22 for this bottle. I don't really trust his memory with this type of stuff, but I'm at his mercy as I don't have the energy to research it tonight.

So, all that being said. If your looking for a nice bottle as a gift or something nice to take over to a friends for supper. This is a good one.

On that happy note. Stay tuned for some Arizona wines - I will be relocating to that beautiful state in the very near future and look forward to doing some tastings. Until then...Cheers!!

Check out the FLASQ....not

As usual life got in the way of my plans to get a Greek or Spanish sparkling wine or cava. I never made it to Total Wine to purchase anything.

So, after sushi night at our favorite sushi restaurant Otani (a tradition we have with several friends), I had to run to the drugstore to pick up my daughter's dog's phenobarbital prescription (he is epileptic) and I decided to grab a wine to blog on tonight.

This FLASQ looked really cool dressed in stainless steel - all modern and nuveau. Well, the taste is rather harsh. My daughter described it as a euro college wine. As if they tried to make the bottle look sleek and metallic, but instead they sacrificed the taste of the wine. She further described it as grainy and dehydrated.

It's very inky and deep colored. The back label describes ripe berries with a hint of spice. Well, there's a bit more than a hint, and even the bouquet has a metallic smell.

All in all a must have if your already drunk and want to drink more.

I love the look of it, but the taste of it doesn't appeal to me. I hate to say it because I think it's alcohol abuse, but I'm thinking I might pour it down the drain.

Boo hiss.

Yes!!

Yes it does!!! As a 47 year old women who has never been botoxed, I totally agree.
Not sure what will be the one for tomorrow night. But I am looking forward to it.
Until then...Cheers!

Grapeables

I was in Phoenix for a few days on business, or more accurately in Fountain Hills.

During lunch, I walked across the street from the hotel to have a sandwich at a plaza. As I meandered through the plaza I found wine bar called Grapeables.

It was closed at the time, but I noticed a write-up from the local Phoenix paper posted in the window proclaiming this place to be a hot spot. What the heck, I thought. Maybe later after work, I'll give it a try.

Thank Goodness I did. Not only is the owner Dave wonderful and friendly, the atmosphere is tasteful and cozy, but the wine......Ahhh…....the wine.

I think I had the best red wine in the history of the world. Dave recommended it when I advised I'm looking for a good red. It was an Elyse 2006 C'est Si Bon Nagglar Vineyard. It's a California winery that produces a beautiful Rhone style wine that will knock your socks off. Smooth, silky, earthy, and smoky with kisses to your tongue that linger.

I asked about buying it from Total Wine, which is not possible. So, I got the information from the back label. www.elysewinery.com. I will positively buy this wine.

Dave knows the winemaker and explained how a smaller winery can do things a larger one cannot. For example, the wine owner/maker hires the same crew to hand pick the grapes, only accepting those that are healthy and unblemished. Whereas a larger winery uses a piece of machinery that literally shakes the grapes off the vine and all the other tidbits that may fall along with it.

Does that actually make a difference? Well when you taste this nectar of the Gods the only is answer is absolutely yes, it makes a difference.

I've only been here less than 24 hours and I already found my favorite place.

To quote Arnold....."I'll be back".

Until then....Cheers!!