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Frank Sinatra Wine Launches

Filed under: Wine

Can the Sinatra name sell wine? The Sinatra Family Estates has announced its first wine offering, Come Fly With Me, a limited-production 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.The winery partnered with the Frank Sinatra Estate and his three children (Tina, Nancy and Frank Jr.) to produce the wine. The wine is being produced from a five-acre vineyard site in Napa Valley, and only 500 cases will be bottled and are selling at a steep price of $570 for six bottles. The website says the wine has notes of cherry with hints of leather and spice and says it has a 92 rating but no indication of where that rating came from. Each vintage will be named after a Sinatra classic and the wine label features a logo of a record.

[via Limewire]

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Tags: cabernet sauvignon, CabernetSauvignon, frank sinatra, FrankSinatra, red wine, RedWine, wine

Idaho Winery Offers Refills

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Green

Pend d'Oreille Winery in northern Idaho has come up with a unique way to go green, they are selling their Bistro Rouge wines in refillable 1.5L bottles. Local customers can bring their bottle back and receive reduce cost refills as often as they like. Winemaker Steve Meyer told Wines & Vines that the program, which started off with 300 bottles has sold 250 of them and many people have brought back their bottles multiple times. The 1.5 liter bottles contain at least 50 percent recycled glass and have a permanent silk-screened label that you can put your name on with a marker. The first bottle is $25 and is closed with a synthetic stopper from Supreme Corq and a tamper-proof seal. Subsequent refills are $16 and the owner gets a cork stopper for future refills. It's an intriguing concept although it loses its carbon-saving punch if you have to drive far to the winery but for locals it seems like a good idea.

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Tags: drink green, DrinkGreen, green, idaho, red wine, RedWine, refillable wine, RefillableWine, wine

M by Michael Mondavi Wine

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

After reading the ins and outs of the Mondavi clan in The House of Mondavi book, I'm even more intrigued to see what former Mondavi CEO and chairman Michael Mondavi has cooked up with his first wine. The 2005 M by Michael Mondavi is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from his Animo vineyard in Atlas Peak, Napa. The wine was aged for 22 months in French oak and bottle aged for a year.

You can pick up M by Michael Mondavi this fall for a steep $199. In a recent interview with Steve Heimoff, Mondavi explained how he reached this price. He explained that his team bought a bunch of top cult wines and did a blind tasting asking themselves how much they would pay for each wine. Because their wine came out strong they prices it below some of the super-pricey cult wines and above some of the ones it showed better than. Of course the costs of managing the 15-acre vineyard were also a factor.

Heimoff's interview also reveals that Mondavi has learned his lesson about rapid expansion. He says that at his Folio Wine import and production company they have just two rules, only work with those they respect and want to spend time with, and only sell wines they would like to serve to family and friends.

Tags: cabernet sauvignon, michael mondavi, napa valley, NapaValley, red wine, RedWine, wine

Pillar Rock Vineyard, 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

I recently had a chance to sample the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon from Pillar Rock Vineyard. Pillar Rock is a small (22 acres) estate in the heart of the Stags Leap District. The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 91.2% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8.8% Merlot. The wine is exactly what you expect when you think of a Stags Leap Cab, a dark and fleshy wine with that is a velvet hammer, rich and powerful but kissed with a gentle finish. It's not for those who like a big fruit-forward push; it's more subtle, spicy and dark. They producers say it can be aged for two decades and I suspect that it will be even more amazing after some cellar time. There has been some discussion online as to whether or not Pillar Rock is worthy of the rather steep price and it faced a little TCA controversy with the last vintage , but it seems to be right on track with this one. The vineyard sells cases of six bottles of the 2004 for $848 ($125 each) or a 1.5 liter magnum in a wooden box for $333.

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Tags: cabernet sauvignon, napa valley, NapaValley, pillar rock, PillarRock, red wine, RedWine, stag's leap, Stag'sLeap, wine

Natalie MacLean's Thanksgiving Wine Picks

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Wine goddess and author Natalie MacLean has made her picks for wines for this year's Thanksgiving feast. MacLean, the author of the book Red, White and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass also has some simple rules for Thanksgiving wine pairing:

Starting off with a Champagne, Prosecco or other sparkling wine sets a festive note and makes a great aperitif.

Red wine or white wine with the turkey? You can do either. A crisp white like a Riesling or Pinot Grigio works but a juicy red like a Zinfandel also works well (it sort of mimics the berry note of the cranberry sauce). You can also go for the practically fruit juice appeal of this year's Beaujolais Nouveau.

You can also match your wine to the sides, offering other wines such as a buttery Chardonnay to complement the stuffing and veggies or a Sauvignon Blanc to add a little pep to a palate numbed by too many cream sauces. .

She suggests a late harvest wine or ice wine to pair with dessert to add the perfect finishing touch. In my experience, I have found that a Port or a late harvest Zinfandel works well with pecan pie while a late harvest Chardonnay can work with pumpkin pie.

After the jump, her top picks for reds and whites for the table.

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Tags: expire-images:2008-11-18, red wine, RedWine, thanksgiving, white wine, WhiteWine, wine, wine pairings, zinfandel

Continue reading “Natalie MacLean's Thanksgiving Wine Picks”

Martha Stewart Enters the Wine Business

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Celebrity Shopping

Honestly I'm surprised it took her this long but Martha Stewart is finally getting into the wine business. Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. has announced a partnership with E.&J. Gallo Winery to create wines known as the "Martha Stewart Vintage." The first launch of 15,000 cases includes three wines: a 2006 Sonoma County Chardonnay, 2005 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvingon and 2006 Sonoma County Merlot. The wines will be available in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Denver, Phoenix and Portland starting in January and will sell for around $15.

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Tags: cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, gallo, martha stewart, MarthaStewart, merlot, red wine, RedWine, white wine, WhiteWine, wine

Blackstone Launches New Sonoma-Based Wines

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Like Kendall-Jackson, Blackstone winery is seeking to seek the next level of the wine market with a new line that appeal to a different price point than their main line which is generally under $10. The Blackstone Sonoma Reserve is produced at Blackstone's Kenwood Winery in the heart of Sonoma Valley and includes a Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Bordeaux-inspired red blend, Rubric. The wines use grapes sourced from premium vineyards found upon the hillsides, benchlands and coastline of Sonoma County and are made by winemaker Gary Sitton.

The 2005 Sonoma Reserve Chardonnay uses grapes from the cool climate areas of Russian River Valley and Carneros, with small percentages drawn from the Sonoma Coast and sells for $16.99. The 2005 Sonoma Reserve Merlot uses grapes from the Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Sonoma Valley and also sells for $16.99. The 2005 Sonoma Reserve Pinot Noir uses fruit from the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley region and is aged for 12 months in French oak. It sells for $18.99. The 2005 Sonoma Reserve "Rubric" is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Petite Sirah. It is matured in a combination of French and American oak barrels and sells for $18.99.

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Tags: blacstone wines, BlacstoneWines, chardonnay, grapes, merlot, pinot noir, PinotNoir, red wine, RedWine, sonoma, white wine, wine

Wine And Shoes To Save Elephants

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Charity

Another new entry into the rapidly growing wine-for-a-good-cause category is the Rescue Wine from Juslyn Vineyards in Napa. The owners of the winery Carolyn and Perry Butler were inspired when they visited the Four Seasons Tented Camp in Thailand, Seeing an elephant in Bangkok city traffic inspired the Butlers to create a special wine to benefit the Golden Triangle Elephant Foundation which rescues elephants abandoned in the cities and brings them back to a safe jungle environment. The Juslyn Winery's 2001 Rescue wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The wine is available as either a 1.5 liter for $225, three bottles of the 750 ml size for $250 or a three liter bottle for $495. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the wine will benefit GTAEF.

Carolyn Butler also persuaded Italian designer Cesare Casadei to create a peep-toe patent leather d'orsay pump with a black and white animal print comes with a 3.5 inch red heel. The shoes sell for $435 and there are just 60 being made.

[via Wine Spectator]

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Tags: cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, CabernetFranc, CabernetSauvignon, do no evil, DoNoEvil, juslyn, merlot, napa valley, red wine, RedWine, wine

Fat Bastard Maker Refines Their Palate

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

I'm no fan of the Fat Bastard wine but I am curious about Click Wine Group's higher-end line called the Global Wine Collection. The wines are aimed meant to appeal to the "Millennials," people 21 to 30 years old. The portfolio continues the group's tradition of innovative naming. The wines include Flying Fish (from the Pacific Northwest), 2up (from Australia) and Mad Dogs & Englishmen (from Spain). Their Clean Slate, a German Riesling from the Mosel-Saar- Ruwer district won a Double Gold medal at the 2006 San Francisco International Wine Competition. The Clean Slate sells for around $10.

[via The Daily Report]

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Tags: cabernet sauvignon, clean slate, click wine group, ClickWineGroup, red wine, RedWine, riesling, white wine, WhiteWine

Kono Baru Wine, Upside Down Is Right Side Up

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Don Sebastiani & Sons, the folks behind Used Automobile Parts wine are at it again. This time with wine with upside-down labels. Kono Barú. The upside-down labels represent the fact that the wines are sourced from vineyards in the Southern hemisphere. The initial launch is of six varietals from three countries. A Sauvignon Blanc, unwwoded Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile; a Riesling and a Shiraz from Australia; and a Malbec from Argentina. The Chilean and Australian wines are around $12 and the Malbec is around $16. The line is meant to represent a step up from the bargain-priced wines from Chile and Australia with something a little bit more upscale. The initial launch is around 100,000 cases.

[via Wine Business News]

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Tags: australian wine, AustralianWine, cabernet sauvignon, chilean wine, kono baru, KonoBaru, malbec, red wine, RedWine, riesling, sebastiani, shiraz, white wine, WhiteWine, wine

Global Warming And The Future of Wine

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

With yesterday being Earth Day, there has been much talk about the future of the environment. One thing I hadn't seen discussed until I read this Observer article is the effect of global warming on wine. A recent conference called 'Global Warming and Wine' looked at the issue in depth. Grape growing may, in the next 40 to 70 years, may no longer be possible in the Catalonian wine regions of Spain. The Bordeaux region could also be in peril. Water restrictions will also change the future of wine making. If you like wines that grow in warmer climates ( Petit Verdot, Grenache, Touriga, Zinfandel, Shiraz, Viognier and Muscat among others) then you are in luck. The article also points out that red wines may be able to be grown in areas that are traditionally too cold for red grapes.

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Tags: climate change, ClimateChange, ecology, global warming, red wine, RedWine, wine

Wine Storage Tips

by Gustad Mody (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Wine

LifeTips has a great section dedicated to the storage of wine. Pretty much every topic is touched upon from building your own wine rack to wine cellar cooling tips. Some quick and important storing tips to keep in mind: keep bottles on their sides, store where there is little temperature fluctuation, high humidity is important for long term storage, and pay attention to the age worthiness of your wine before they go past their prime. Keep in mind wine cellars are not just meant to only be pleasing to the eye, but they must be just as functional as they are attractive. The need for a vapor barrier is commonly ignored when your designer doesn’t have the necessary knowledge of wine.

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Tags: autralian wine, AutralianWine, corkscrews, custom, decanter, ice wine, IceWine, iron wine, IronWine, napa wine, NapaWine, red wine, RedWine, wine, wine accessories, wine advocate, wine cellar, wine cellars, wine chiller, wine decanter, wine enthusiast, wine gift baskets, wine glasses, wine library, wine list, wine racks, wine refriderators, wine refrigerators, wine storage, wine tasting, wine vintage, wine vintage chart, WineAccessories, WineAdvocate, WineCellar, WineCellars, WineChiller, WineDecanter, WineEnthusiast, WineGiftBaskets, WineGlasses, WineLibrary, WineList, WineRacks, WineRefrigerators, WineStorage, WineTasting, WineVintage, WineVintageChart

Pétrus at Sotheby's London Auction

by Gustad Mody (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Auctions

A recent Sotheby’s Fine & Rare Wines auction at New Bond Street, London ended yesterday. A particular sale that caught my eye was Lot 12, Chateau Petrus 1982. Hammer price was at about 23,036 US dollars. An ultimate collectors wine, Petrus comes from a small 28.4 acre vineyard named in honor of St. Peter. It is the only site where topsoil and subsoil are composed almost entirely of heavy clay rich in iron. Ironically clay is typically unsuitable for high-quality wines, as it tends to get water logged. Fermented in cement vats, the wine is aged in completely new oak barrels for 22 to 28 months, and right before bottling it is clarified with five fresh egg whites per barrel (they don’t filter). Sotheby’s notes of developed color with great character in the nose of prunes and spices. Licorice with sweet gummy definition and some sweet aniseed. Pruney finish with mocha as it lingers on the palate. At 10 bottles in the lot, average cost per bottle is $2,304.

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Tags: -Pierre Moueix, -pierreMoueix, CHATEAU PETRUS, ChateauPetrus, Christian Moueix, ChristianMoueix, Jean-Claude Berrouet, Jean-claudeBerrouet, La Fleur de Gay, Moueix, Pétrus, petrus, petrus wine, PetrusWine, Pomerol, red wine, RedWine, Saint-Émilion, vieyard, wine, wine tasting, WineTasting

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