The wine week in review

Some people hate holiday shopping. I, for one, love it. It's not the shopping part per se I like so much. It is the coming up with creative ideas to touch the hearts of the people in your life that's fun. I like giving more than receiving (though that has some perks, too). For those on a lower budget or who prefer the nod of something clever to something pricey, think about this idea (care of the New York Times) for the wine lover in your life.

For those on a much higher budget or those who prefer to give to charity, there are always holiday wine auctions. You too could be the lucky owner of something like a Doris Duke collectable: 1921 Ch. d'Yquem! For spirits lovers, there always unique finds like the 1788 Tour D'Argent Cognac. (LOL)

Better yet, for those on planet earth who like to be 100% absolutely convinced they've found THE perfect wine gift (or bottle to celebrate the New Year), don't forget about Saturday's 2nd Annual "Boisterous About Bubbles" Sparkling Wine Tasting at Ball Square Fine Wines in Somerville. Rumor has it not one, not two, not three, BUT FOUR tables will be uncorking several bottles of bubbly to delight you. Truly. If you don't know what Growers Champagne is (and why it is SO darn delicious) or are a little fuzzy on the finer points of sparkling wines from around the world, you MUST attend this soiree. This is a 1-of-a-Kind opportunity I give to you, reader. Tasting is believing. Don't miss out!

In all seriousness, which wine gift ideas are you toying with this holiday season?

Holiday wines, part 1

Even though it’s in our job description, sometimes we writers do get tired of our own opinions. And it is always fun to “step outside the bottle”, as Theresa Paopao of Cambridge’s Oleana suggests. So, as you break out the mistletoe or start lighting the fire this holiday season, head over to Wicked Local today to get the what’s what on what to pour this holiday season – Paopao style! Which wines are ones you are likely to pick up for the Holiday season? For your own enjoyment - or as gifts?

Holiday wine tastings!

I've been working so diligently on a few holiday wine projects for you, I almost forgot it was Friday... and time to update you on a few of the various holiday wine TASTING events that have caught my eye this week. Be sure to tune in the next couple of weeks for insights on holiday/December wine ideas - and in the meantime, be sure to read on to discover where bells will be ringing and wine will be tasting! Sunday, December 6 @ Magnolia Wine Co. (2 - 5pm)

Taste dozens of wines, sample (my fav!) Iggy's breads and Fromaggio's cheeses. PLUS, enjoy a 20% discount if you purchase 12 or more bottles. Rumor has it the first 100 customers will get a complimentary wine tasting journal, too.

Thursday, December 10 by Boston Uncorked (7-9pm)

Don't miss Boston Uncorked's Holiday Wine Soiree at the College Club of Boston. Tix are $44... more info? Click HERE.

Saturday, December 12 @ Ball Square Fine Wines (3-5pm)

This is the 2nd Annual "Boisterous About Bubbles" Sparkling Wine Tasting soiree!  This is an OH-SO-RARE opportunity to taste - and learn about - some of the best, very special, Grower Champagnes available in the MA market. And, for those who like bubbly from around the globe, several staff favs will be on offer for your sampling pleasure, too. Special pricing on wines tasted during the event.

Which other holiday wine events are on tap for you in the next week or so?

Give thanks for this affordable Pinot!

How quickly Thanksgiving has crept up on us this year! It seems like we were just talking about how great Pinot Noir is in the fall, in addition to gracing your Thanksgiving table. And yet, the big day is nearly upon us! Not to worry. For a celebratory holiday where more than one bottle is certain to be opened (and Pinot Noir is the darling dinnertime grape), we have trekked to Italy to find a real steal... Head on over to Wicked Local today to get the skinny on this week's Pinot pick!

Are you familiar with Italian Pinot? Which one have you tried?

Wines for Thanksgiving!

With only one weekend before Thanksgiving remaining, no doubt wine lovers throughout the country will be out and about buying wines for the big event. Indeed, it's up there as far as important wine events go! For your drinking (and reading) pleasure, it seemed prudent to round up a few of my favorite picks for the e-roster. Wheeee!!

REDS

2007 Schloss Muhlenhof Dornfelder - This bad boy comes in a 1L size. I hosted a small affair last weekend and it could have easily been the only wine I poured (it was gone WAY too quickly!) - offering great, concentrated red berry fruit flavors (cherries, raspberries) in a smooth, sultry package. Generally speaking, this grape (Dornfelder, that is) is a German red wine phenomenon for those who like a lot of fruit, a bit of "lift" and a welcome bit of earthy, mineral-driven nuance to their wines. No lie, Scholss Muhlenhof's is THE BEST I've ever encountered (so great is my love I'm tempted to buy a full case of the stuff to have on hand "just in case..." this winter). The extra glass the 1L size offers will NOT be wasted.  Only $15!

2006 Bethel Heights Eola-Amity Cuvee Pinot Noir -  A careful blend of 6 different vineyard sites, the  is a tremendous, mouth-filling example of Oregon Pinot Noir. Think of this wine as a smooth, deeply earthy Belgian truffle, filled with cherry and raspberry fruits. Truly a well-integrated, delicious wine worth the gentle splurge. (A winner destined for my own table.) About $31.

2007 Clos la Coutale Cahors - With the (worthy) Malbec craze stemming from the success of this grape in Argentina, many consumers forget Malbec is actually a French varietal. Many more do not know that arguably the best, single bottling Malbecs in France come from the Cahors region – and are labeled simply as such. This wine is  remarkably succulent, juicy and approachable. Enjoy black raspberry and blackberry flavors complemented with fresh strawberries! A touch of earthy rusticity makes this Malbec uniquely French. This one is a "bigger" wine than "traditional" Thanskgiving recommendations and would be a particularly good match for rosemary/garlic encrusted roast hen, or the like. About $17.

WHITES

Schoenheitz NV Edelzwicker - Edelzwicker means "noble blend". Indeed this wine includes as many as seven different varieties from Auxerrois to Sylvaner. The result is suprisingly coherent and delightfully flavorful. Well balanced, dry Alsatian goodness, this is another wine that comes in the 1 litre size bottle. About $15.

2006 Clos de Rochers Pinot Gris - While Alsace, France has long been the place for rich, but dry Pinot Gris, this Luxembourg beauty beats them at their own game. Ripe pears and yellow flowers abound on the nose and coat the palette while brisk minerality keeps things dry and balanced. This wine is absolutely worth the splurge – and certainly a great conversation topic if the family gets a bit unruly. (This one will also be on my own table!)  About $22.

2007 Anne Amie Cuvee A Mueller Thurgau -Leave it to the folks at well-known Anne Amie Vineyards to deliver an exceptional, if not lesser known, wine. The Cuvee A Mueller Thurgau’s tropical and floral aromas could very easily be bottled on their own and used by aroma therapists to rejuvenate clients. Pineapple, melon and white peach flavors comingle with a perky taste of fresh lemon juice. About $15.

SPARKLING FUN

Villa di Corlo NV Grasparossa Lambrusco - Versatile, slightly sparkling, fresh, fruity goodness. Lambrusco is pink - and the best are oh-so-dry. This is a wine for guests who deserve and enjoy a break from the norm. This particular offering shows ripe raspberry fruit backed by a coy minerality. Perfect simply when you want to dazzle without effort. About $17.

Poema NV Brut Cava - Today, if you look for it, exceptional Cava is available at a fraction of the price of Champagne. Case in point: the Poema makes drinking bubbly every day (or in a large party format) oh-so-easy and affordable! This is a fun and versatile bubbly with subtle flavors of peach, pear and warm, toasted bread. A bit of orange rind on the finish adds additional intrigue and nuance. Enjoy this one before, during or after your meal. About $11.

Which one of these is likely to grace your table? Is there another you have in mind for the big day??

Another "under $20 Pinot" Uncorked!

We set the bar high for our Fall ‘09 Under $20 Pinot Noir Series a couple of weeks ago with an exploration of the wow-worthy 2007 Becker Pinot Noir, a German offering (and a lovely, rare treat). This week it seemed prudent to continue our search for solid, under $20 Pinot by continuing to look in places that seem to play hide and seek in the American market. Head on over to Wicked Local to head down er-yonder, to the Southern Hemisphere's Pinot capitol: New Zealand!

Have you noticed New Zealand Pinot is starting to take off, too? Do you have a favorite?

Wine news for all to contemplate

This week there's a little something for everyone  by way of wine news, regardless of your specific interest in the science behind wine. Some way, somehow, these headlines are sure to hit close to home. Let's jump right in! I'm a visual, tactile person so I usually embrace every opportunity to better engage my senses to remember something. In the wine world, that usually means taking my time to engage ALL of my senses as I evaluate a wine. But can aromas be visualized? Do we need them to be?  For better or worse, the folks at Aromicon are taking this idea for a test drive. Check out this article at Springwise to get the scoop!

I couldn't find my related post about pests in the vineyards (sometime last year, I believe), but there's a shocking bit of news coming out of UC Davis regarding work to mitigate - or eliminate - the nematode problem perplexing California vineyard managers and winemakers. Apparently the Dept. of Nematology at Davis is being shut down, despite the fact that the problem has yet to be resolved. Wines & Vines didn't report on the politics or economics or whathave you happening behind the scenes there. But here's an update on the situation plaguing Northern California in particular. If you know a bit more on this, please weigh in below!

In other news, somehow I missed last year that Boisset decided to ship Beaujolais Nouveau in plastic bottles - to reduce costs of shipping the historic, annual November wine. (I wonder why they chose plastic over bag-in-box...). And, it seems this year Japan is taking things one step further by selling the wine as such - without re-bottling it in glass first. Did you see or hear any further news on this plastic-ization of BN last year - or more recently?

November's Wicked Wines Uncorked!

Thanksgiving is a time to gather with friends and family and celebrate the little things in life. Some folks are inclined to do so by picking out one very special bottle of wine to share with friends; for others it is a time to uncork several celebratory bottles (and keeping the average price a bit lower doesn’t hurt). Pinot Noir and Gamay (Beaujolais Nuveau) are the darlings of Thanksgiving reds, offering a delicious pairing with turkey and cranberry sauce, brussel sprouts and other earthy, root vegetables. But with the Pour Favor mini-series on Pinot Noir about to hit full stride Monday's this month, it seems only fair to give a few whites (and one incredible rosé) a fair shot at gracing your dining room table! Head over to Wicked Local to find out where the fun begins this Thanksgiving!

Which one of these selections most catches your attention? Will it contribute to your festivities this Thanksgiving?

Rising Stars of Boston, lesser publicized wines, and the latest in "wine power"

Here, here! Cheers! Hip-hip-horray! Indeed, this week's line up of news is worth a little applause! Here's what's what: Several of my favorite folks in food, wine and spirits received the official StarChefs.com nod for the skill they employ at their craft. Click here to see the real 'who's who' in Boston - and then visit their respective establishments to taste for yourself!

Clearly I'm a fan of lesser known or boutique wines. All the better when they get the nod from big publications like Conde Naste's Portfolio, without need of ratings from the Parkers of the world. Here's their opinion on what's worth seeking out for yourself (and a big Pour Favor thumbs up on the Hedges shout out!).

And... it's time to make hay while the sun shines, or at least generate enough electricity from waste to fuel a winery's operation! Check out the very cool sustainability project  Napa Wine Company is in on here. This effort could revolutionize the way wineries (and other similar entities) power up!

What do you think of the Napa Wine Co. project?  What larger ramifications do you think are likely?

Pinot Noir that will WOW you

There’s no time like the fall to start your Pinot engines. And there’s no reason to wait for Thanksgiving to enjoy these wines for their food-friendly attributes and elegance. Today over at Wicked Local we're starting a new mini-series on great Pinot Noir for under $20; and we've started the fun with one of the finest examples  on the market today! Check out today's article to learn more about the wine that absolutely WOWed me - and which country produces this hidden gem....

Have you discovered a secret "trick" to finding delicious, recession-proof Pinot?