Tasting Room

My poor neglected wine blog! I may not have posted here for more than five years, but rest assured this does not mean I have stopped drinking wine. Interestingly, my tastes have changed somewhat; whereas previously I was fairly critical of whites, I've come to enjoy them much more. For a while my favorite was Little Penguin Chardonnay . . . then it disappeared from the stores for a time . . . and when it came back it just wasn't the same. (Maybe they had a bad year and I should try it again?) Meanwhile my favorite white is the chardonnay from Bogle Vineyards. And our go-to red is the Marques de Riscal Rioja.

But that is not why I came here today. I'm here to tell you about Tasting Room. It's my birthday today (happy birthday to me!) and one gift my husband gave me was a Tasting Room subscription. It starts with a little book-sized box containing six tiny bottles of wine: two white, four red. They're meant to be compared in pairs. After tasting, we sign in to our account at tastingroom.com/rate and click our favorites, and future shipments (of full-sized bottles) are based on our preferences from this tasting kit. At least I think that's how it works. Right here at the beginning of the subscription it's possible I have a few details wrong.

We started with the whites at lunch today: Uenuku Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (New Zealand) and Morningside Chardonnay 2016 (Australia). Unfortunately for refinement of my future Tasting Room shipments, I liked them both. The sauvignon blanc was light, crisp, citrusy and a bit sweet--I tend to avoid sweet wines, but maybe I shouldn't, because I really liked this one. It reminded me of cheese boards on the piazza at 86 Cannon in Charleston. The chardonnay was perfectly nice, and more similar to what I would usually drink . . . although I must admit I added my old reliable Bogle to this tasting flight and preferred it.

We haven't dipped into the reds yet but plan to do so over a cheese board here at home this afternoon. I can't promise I'll ever get around to writing about those . . . we'll see.

Flat Creek Estate Muscato D'Arancia Orange Muscat 2010 Texas

Bottle 2 of 7 is on the table tonight.

Here's why I bought this one:

Slight residual sugars enhance the fruit flavors and balance the acidity in this food-friendly wine.  Aromas of orange blossom and magnolia match the soft texture.

OK, that, and the fact that I might have possibly been in a buying frenzy. Because that description, while nice (I especially like the bit about orange blossom and magnolia!), is not quite as enticing as it was in my memory. However, I loved that Purple Cow Muscat so much that it sure would be nice to find another one like it that might be easier to obtain.

So, the bottle (which, by the way, has another Carrollesque Drink Now label) is slightly smaller than most, at 500 mL as compared to 750 (sad face), but it was also cheaper than its larger brethren at Flat Creek (happy face). It has a pleasingly long and narrow shape. The wine is a pretty sunshiney golden color. And (while once again wondering just how suggestible I might be) I do catch a faint whiff of orange.

To taste, the wine is just a bit sweeter than I'd like. But for a Muscat, where some sweetness is expected, this is not a valid complaint. Without a side-by-side comparison it's hard to say for sure, but I have the feeling that the Purple Cow Muscat was more to my liking. But even if this one is not my favorite, it's still very enjoyable. I like the fruity flavor, and it's nice to have a white wine that I don't find bland or musty or one of those other negative descriptors I've used for whites in the past.

As for "orange blossom and magnolia" . . . I have discovered something interesting tonight. If I tell myself, "This tastes like orange!" and then take a sip, it tastes like orange. If I say, "This tastes like peach!" and take a sip, I taste peach. If I say, "This tastes like pear!" and sip . . . asparagus. (Just kidding. It's pear.) I'd like to believe this says more about the fruity flavor of this wine than it says about the inability of my palate to distinguish between flavors, but I must admit I'm not convinced of that fact.

Here's the official verdict. If you are looking for a sweet summery wine, I'll say this one gets two thumbs up. If putting "sweet" and "wine" together in the same sentence is not for you, move along.

Flat Creek Estate Rosé 2012 Texas

Just over two years ago I had a lovely and memorable visit to a winery near Austin, Texas, called Flat Creek Estate. I've been meaning to write about their wines ever since, but it just hasn't happened.

UNTIL NOW!! 

You'll have to continue waiting an undetermined length of time to hear about the wines I tried two years ago, but I currently have the exciting opportunity to try a few new Flat Creek bottles. I'm going to draw out the suspense and not list the other wines here yet, but I will tell you that this very evening I found seven (SEVEN!!) different Flat Creek bottles on my doorstep, nestled all safe and snug in a tidy shipping box. I was all but giddy as I liberated them from their packaging, trying to decide where to start and wondering how quickly I could get some chilled.

My first question was answered by THIS on the label of the Rosé:

I know what Alice would
have done . . . same thing
I did!

My second question was answered by a bit of googling (and the answer was 20 minutes in the freezer).

So. You know I go for reds. Why did I choose something pinkish? Here's what sold me:

Strawberry, raspberry, and watermelon explode out of the glass, then follow through on the palate with intensity. The lively acidity helps extend the finish and reveal just a hint of pepper, lasting just long enough for the next sip.

Sounds so summery! So fruity! And I can't resist any wine that claims a hint of pepper.

With my rosé wine that I have been commanded to Drink Now after a twenty minute stint in the freezer, it's time to put it to the test. Of course, fond memories of Flat Creek predispose me to a favorable opinion of this wine, but I'm not going to be swayed by sentiment.

Ready?

The real thing is a very beautiful pinkish color that glows in the light. And I do smell berries. And the taste? Ah, it's heaven! Light and fresh and crisp, a slight sweetness--not too much, no depressing flashbacks of wine coolers here--and a peppery tang. Not something I would reach for in the dead of winter, but a perfect wine for warmer weather.

Score! Kathy likes Flat Creek Estate Rosé 2012.

Crème de Lys Chardonnay 2010 California

The lady at Tom's Jug House (yes, Tom's is a new one for me!) made this wine sound SO GOOD. Of course, she mostly just read the yummy bits off the label aloud to me: "Rich and creamy . . . lush flavors of tropical fruit, baked apple and citrus . . . VANILLA AND CRÈME BRÛLÉE!" (I really think she actually shouted that last part.)

She sold me on it. Quickly. She had me at "You ought to try this one," in fact. But I forgot about the part where I don't really care much for white wine. (Have I mentioned that before?) And not only that, but when I tasted it I didn't get the richness, the creaminess, the fruits, the vanilla OR the crème brûlée (sad face). It tasted a bit bland (watery, even!) and it made my mouth long for a solid, spicy red. What I really need to do is recognize the fact that when I am craving crème brûlée, I shouldn't bother reaching for a wine that claims it tastes like that most delectable of desserts. That's like eating baked chips! Or listening to one of the more recent Journey albums! And if I'm looking for something "rich and creamy" this close to Christmas, I should really just go straight for the eggnog. (Yeah, and now my mouth is watering.)

But the experiment was not a total loss, because I was introduced to Tom's Jug House, and that is exciting for two reasons. First, because (though I suppose this could be attributed to the novelty of the place) they seemed to have a different--and wider--selection of wine than I've grown accustomed to. And second, because they have Wine Wednesdays! That sounds great. *I* should have Wine Wednesdays. (Who am I kidding? I have Wine Every Day days.) But at Tom's Jug House, Wine Wednesdays means 10% off all wine! Now, I was too delirious with joy during my visit to notice whether that's actually a good deal, or whether a wine sale just means TJH just brings their prices down to Party Factory levels. But I'll definitely be visiting Tom's again. On a Wednesday!

I probably won't listen to the recommendations for whites next time, though.

Battle of the Pinot Noirs

It's about time I posted on my wine blog again! I've had a trio of bottles waiting on me to do a tasting flight. It's been so long since I bought them that I somehow started thinking they were Rieslings, but NO--they're all Pinot noir! How could I have made them wait so long?

Of these three bottles, we're covering three different years and three different countries.

Just had to show you the cutesy
 little penguin footprints
imprinted on the foil

Up first is the 2010 Little Penguin from south eastern Australia. The label tells me to look for delicate flavors of cherry and strawberry with a hint of spice. It's the brightest, reddest one of the three, and OH, it smells so good! Maybe that's just because it's been too long since I've had a Pinot noir. But I do smell red berries. As for the taste: Wow, that's quite sweet for a Pinot noir. Not too sugary-sweet, though; just fruity-sweet. It takes a bit for the spiciness to come out, but after a moment it hits with a zing.

Next is the 2009 Red Bicyclette from Vin de Pays D'Oc, France. The label claims enticing aromas of fresh red fruits and a soft, smooth mouthfeel. It looks slightly orange-red in my glass (though I'm sure some of you would call it pink-red instead). Oddly enough, there's not much to the nose. Maybe it's not completely odorless, but it's close. And, well, there's not much to the taste, either.

Finally, it's the 2008 Cupcake Vineyards from the central coast of California. The label suggests the bright aroma of cherries with a touch of red currants and a hint of spices. It's "reminiscent of a cherry cupcake with currant coulis*" (whatever that is). I see there's a slight purplish tinge to the deep red color, and it's not quite as clear as the other two (or maybe it's just in a glass that's a tad more smudgy? I'll never tell). It has more of a sharp green odor than the other two, though that's not necessarily a bad thing. Something about it makes me want to break out the cheddar cheese. The taste, however, is not great. It's rather bland. But I'm sure the cheese will help, and if you'll give me a moment I'll let you know . . . YES, it's excellent with cheese. But only with the cheese.

I wonder if the poor Red Bicyclette would be helped by cheese?
Let's see . . . nope. For whatever reason, that one actually tastes worse with cheese.

My verdict: I like Australia's Little Penguin the best, although California's Cupcake with cheddar cheese is a close second. The French Pinot noir was my least favorite, although if France keeps all of her best wines to herself, that's not too surprising.

*I looked up coulis for you, and apparently it's like gravy made of fruit. I'm sure it tastes better than it sounds.

Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling 2009 Columbia Valley

I'm hoping to convince my book club girls that they really do like Real Wine (instead of that good-but-just-barely-wine Electra). My subtle method is to force them to try new wines at our meetings. The girls seem to favor sweeter wines, so this month I brought a Riesling. The label says it's in the middle of the road, right between medium dry and medium sweet.

What can I say about its appearance, other than that it is a nice clear pee yellow? (Red wine is just so much prettier.) This Riesling has a very pleasant and fresh taste, and I totally get the pear that the label mentions. The peach is much more subtle, although that's actually a good thing for me. I still harbor a massive taste aversion from the Unfortunate Peach Schnapps Incident of the late 80s.

So it appears that I've finally found another white that I like, to go with the lovely Purple Cow Muscat. I need to do a Riesling tasting flight to see if I prefer this one to any others. Unfortunately the Book Club Girls were not so appreciative. (That's not entirely disastrous . . . more for me!) I'll just have to keep working on them. Any recommendations for Gateway Wines?

OH noes

Now you know I'm high class

Ohmagoodness, I have used up my box of wine. I always keep a box of wine in the house only just so that I will never ever run out. It is time for a trip out of the dry county.

In the meantime, I have been intending to mention that the box of wine I have had, a burgundy (my first, I think . . . isn't it a shame that it wasn't in a bottle) had quite an interesting feature. If I drank it while eating popcorn, the combination tasted just like chocolate!

Are you taking notes on how to be a wino?

1. Drink wine from box
2. Drink wine with popcorn (or anything else you can imagine)
3. Cry when wine runs out and vow to ensure that it will never happen again