What To Drink on Valentine's Day? Kamen 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon.

I discovered the Kamen tasting room during our last trip to Sonoma in November.  Tucked into a small space inside the Square, it has a sparsely contemporary but comfortable feel.  The first thing we noticed was the artwork on the walls, custom made prints with large words.  Kind of strange phrases, actually. Our hostess explained that the owner, Robert Kamen, is a screenwriter with credits such as the Karate Kid trilogy, Taken and the Transporter television series.  Ahhhhh, interesting. 

We shared a tasting at the marble counter as our hostess guided us through the wines.  She set us up with imported bottled water, almonds and crackers.  We went for the Signature Flight, starting with a Sauvignon Blanc.  I'm actually not such a fan of white wine but this was nice and light.  Next, we tasted the Syrah.  I'm a big fan of Syrah and I found this one delicious.  We moved on to the Writer's Block, a full bodied blend of Syrah, Cabernet and Petit Syrah.  This one was my husband's favorite.

Finally she poured the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon.  I loved this one.  Very rich, smooth and complex.  It was dense and dark and definitely my pick.  We then got a bonus pour of the 2009 Cab.  They only had a few bottles of this one left and it was easy to see why.  I enjoyed it even more than the 2010.

We decided not to purchase any of the Kamen to take home.  The Writer's Block was the least expensive red at $58 a bottle but the Cabernet was $80 for the 2010 and the 2009 was higher, so we regrettably passed. 

Fast Forward to Valentine's Day.  I did a search for any Kamen wine locally and was thrilled to find a bottle of 2008 (!) at Total Wine for $83.00.  I figured that if we stayed in for dinner and enjoyed the wine at home it was definitely worth the splurge.  I was even able to use a Bevmo coupon for $10.00 off to soften the blow a little.

Was it worth it?  Totally.  It was as perfect a glass of wine as I've had in a while.  At least since November.

Bottom Line:  Splurge and Drink it Down!

St. Supery Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

My husband and I have many wonderful friends, some of whom were kind enough to bring gifts to a party we had a few months ago in October.  This particular friend shares our taste in big red wines so I was thrilled to receive a bottle of 2010 St. Supery Cabernet Sauvignon. 
It' s a fairly popular Cab that can be found at most grocers and markets and even occasionally at Costco.  The 2007 vintage was listed on Wine Enthusiast's list of Best 30 Napa Cabs Under $30 in 2012.
I had never tried St. Supery before as the $35.00 price made me shy away in favor of bottles I knew I was sure to enjoy.  I was definitely intrigued.  Advertised as Big and Bold with a rich purple hue and flavors of blueberry, cassis, vanillin and toast, it is aged in French Oak. 
Bold indeed, this Cab is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, 2% Merlot,  Big?  Check.  The alcohol content is 14.4%.

I placed it in my wine refrigerator, patiently waiting for an occasion to try it.  I was tempted to pick up a bottle for just $21.99 at Costco but without having sampled it, wasn't sure.  I nearly put a 2009 vintage in my cart at Fry's, the only one left on the shelf behind a row of 2010 bottles, but moved on as it was priced at $35.99(!).  I'm a sucker for 2009 reds out of Napa and Sonoma, but I held firm. 

Fast forward to February 2014.  We were in the mood for something fairly decent and a little decadent for a Wednesday.  Normally we would go for an Abstract or even a Prisoner (2010, 2009 being loooong gone), but I pulled out the St. Supery Cab.

The first thing I noticed was the gorgeous deep berry color.  I used my Vinturi to open it up a little, then swirled the wine in the glass.  It has some legs, leaving an opaque film on the sides.  Plenty of oak on the nose, tobacco and vanilla-yum!  The first sip was very smooth with loads of spice and tannins.  The next few sips were really nice but I wanted to see what it was like after I let it decant for about a half an hour. 
Wow!  If it was good at 7:30, it was GREAT after 8:00.  I definitely recommend letting this wine decant for 30-60 minutes to get the best flavor.  Complex and structured, it is an impressive Cab.  Definitely a good buy at the Costco price of $21.99 or at the 30% off all bottles at Safeway (with an extra 10% if you buy 6).  Worth $36?  Well, maybe for the 2009 :).

Bottom Line:

Gladly Drink it Down!

Cameron Hughes at Costco

I was recently introduced to Cameron Hughes wine and have been, for the most part, very impressed.  What makes Cameron Hughes wine different is that it is not a winery, per se.  From the label:
"Cameron Hughes is an international negociant, sourcing and producing small lots of high quality wine from the world's best regions.  Cameron offers a diverse range of wines uniquely represented by the Lot number on the label."

With that in mind, I have tried a few different Lots and man, are they good.  I found Lot 331, a 2009  Red Wine North Coast Meritage at Costco for $10.99.  The label mentions delicate florals and dark fruit flavors but once you let it open up, it has a zesty finish.  I thought it was just slightly on the dry side with well-balanced tannins.

With the holidays approaching, I noticed on a return trip to Costco, a few more CH choices and the prices are great.  Production on the Lots are limited and once they sell out, they are gone since the winemaker is not attempting to produce the same wines from year to year.  This wine is definitely a must try.

Bottom Line:  Drink it down.





 

 

For more information on Cameron Hughes wine or a larger selection including their "Lot Release" mailing list, visit:

WWW.CHWINE.COM

Drink it Down or Pour it Down?

First, let me apologize for not posting another wine review sooner.  It's been a long, busy Summer with lots of good (and some not so good) vino.   I decided to give my reviews a definitive yay or nay at the end since it rarely goes any other way; would I drink it down (yum!) or pour it down (the sink)?

I was excited to try Diversion wine http://www.diversionwine.com/our_wines.html.  This red blend from Washington sate is called majestic red.  Normally, I am a big fan of both Washington state wines and red blends so I figured this would be right up my alley.  

Diversion is a blend of 50% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Syrah and additional Earthy and Aromatic Columbia Valley Reds. It promised award -winning, easy drinking yet complex flavor with a "long, elegant finish". 

I was underwhelmed.  I found it thin, lacking in complexity and spice, and not nearly as smooth as advertised.  We aerated it, let it breathe and even made another attempt a second night.  Still disappointing.  Especially for the price point of $15.00 MSRP.  I believe I found it on sale for around $12.00 at Cost Plus, but can spend $10 for a much better bottle at the same store.

Final word:  Pour it Down.

Special Occasion Wine

This is the time of year when I need a few great Special Occasion wines.  May seems to be a very celebratory month with Mother's Day and my wedding anniversary, plus birthdays, graduations and a long Memorial Day weekend to relax. 

 For me, a special occasion wine is something that is more unique than my weekly glass or two, better than a weekend splurge and (for my comfort level and budget) ranges between $20 and $40. My usual go-to wine for a special occasion usually comes from Orin Swift Cellars.  Based in Rutherford, CA, they are famous for big reds like The Prisoner, Papillon, Saldo, Abstract and Mercury Head. 

I was introduced to The Prisoner a few years ago at a friend's wine party.  It is a red blend of mostly Zinfandel (51%), Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Syrah and a splash of Charbono and Grenache.  This bad boy has 15.2% alcohol by volume so it was a good thing it was my second glass of the evening because I'm not sure I could have started off with this right out of the gate.  It was incredibly smooth, zesty and had loads of flavor.  I couldn't wait to try other wines from Orin Swift.

Next, I purchased Saldo, a Zinfandel (BevMo!, $28).  At 15.9% alcohol, this one is not for the faint of heart!  It was deep red, with lots of texture and heavy spice.  I prefer my wine a little more balanced than this but it was still enjoyable.

We were vacationing in Hawaii last July and were thrilled to find Orin Swift's 2010 Abstract red blend at Whole Foods there for only $30!  The regular retail is $29 so the fact that they didn't mark it way up was great.  The wine is a gorgeous blend of Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino Grenache, Petite Sirah, and Syrah. Very easy to drink with a great mix of fruit, mocha and a slight toast to it.

 

 

We grabbed the Abstract and dessert and asked the hotel for a corkscrew and the largest red wine glasses they could find.  That bottle made the trip! 

 

 

We just celebrated our anniversary this last weekend and, of course, went straight for the Prisoner ($38).

As usual, it did not disappoint but was even better the second night after letting it breathe for about a half hour.  Later that evening, my husband surprised me with a bottle of  2009 Papillon, a primarily Cabernet Sauvignon red blend that I have been DYING to try but, at $55 a bottle, had not yet taken the plunge.  This baby went straight into the wine refrigerator for my next special occasion.
Hmmmm.  Does Sunday count?  Salute!

I

 

 

 

 



Let's Talk Wine

There are a few things that make my life wonderful.  My amazing husband of 16 years, our two fantastic and very busy boys, our two sweet and energetic dogs and my wine.  My love for wine has been years in the making, a long courtship of sorts that has had trials and errors, hits and misses, ebbs and, pardon the pun, flows. 
It's interesting to talk to people about wine.  We all have different tastes and appreciate different characteristics.  When we find something  we like, it becomes a favorite fixture in our house.  On the other hand, if we don't like a bottle, it might be considered a waste or mistake, never to be seen again. 
I have been fortunate to find a few precious gems that have me hooked, and willing (and eager) to find another equally as appealing to add to the collection.  The journey to finding a great wine is part mystery, part education, a little luck and sort of like Christmas morning  opening the beautifully wrapped gift under the tree.  Is it the toy you begged for months ago (Orin Swift's The Prisoner), or socks (Flip Flop)?  Maybe you received a gift that although not expensive, was perfect (14 Hands Merlot circa 2009) or maybe something that was a little more than they wanted to spend but well worth it (Educated Guess Cabernet).
I'm a Red Girl.  I like 'em bold and peppery with an oaky tone and a nice, long finish.  Price is secondary.  I'm always looking to get the most bang for my buck and stock up on anything I would pay twice as much as what I actually paid.
I recently discovered wine from Maggio Family Vineyards out of Lodi, CA.  I purchased the 2009 Merlot and 2008 Zinfandel at Cost Plus World Market while looking for a full bodied red with plenty of kick for around $10. 
The Merlot was smooth and oaky with some dark fruit.  A pleasant surprise at $9.99.  A few days later, we tried the Zinfandel ($8.99).  The first few sips had a spicy, peppery taste with elements of licorice and earth.  It settled down some by the end of the first glass but the real surprise came when we finished the bottle on day 2.  It was delicious!  We quickly went back to buy more only to find they were short on the Merlot and limited on the Zinfadel.  After liking the Maggio wines I tried so much, I picked up the 2009 Petit Syrah ($9.99) as well.

This was our first foray into the Petit Syrah varietal.  This type of wine is regularly blended with practically everything I enjoy but I had yet to try a bottle of Petit Syrah. It did not disappoint!   It was complex with sweet black fruit but spicy with some nice oak to it.  I sought out the remaining 2009 locally which has since been replaced with the current 2011 vintage.  That one, among a few other bottles will be next.
Until then, Salute!