New Pinotage

Posted on December 30, 2014 by melsmosaic

Pinotage is one of my favorite wines with that smokey nose and taste. Then, the subtle leather notes, as well. And, whenever I can find it in the States, it is always a bonus. Sometimes it can be hard to get, or you always find the same ones. So, when in CO the past week or so, I got totally different distributors than what I am used to in DC, MD and VA. I came across a Pinotage I had never seen before — Barista (2012) Pinotage. The name itself does it justice — Barista — coffee. It also has the traditional notes of Pinotage with the smoke, subtle leather and some fruit. It was in the mid-teens, price-wise. If you’re looking for a looking for a new wine and/or are a fan of this varietal, totally try it (assuming you can easily find it).

Woop Woop

Posted on December 24, 2014 by melsmosaic

Sounds like I’m cheering, right? Well, I guess I sort of am. Found a great new (to me) wine last night. Was having leftover ‘roo burgers so decided to pick up an Australian wine to pair with them (had beer the first time around). Wanted to get something I hadn’t tried before. Found the Woop Woop Shiraz at the store.

Totally not what I was expecting for a(n Australian) Shiraz. I would say its color was very dark for the varietal and it was also thick/syrupy (best description I can give). The first thing I got on the nose was pepper, then a light bit of fennel, finally various berries. Same with the taste. But, again, the pepper was the most prominent. What was very interesting is that the wine changed throughout the evening. Always had a bit of a different character. Definitely worth checking out, and well priced — low-mid teens. Also, quick note, it was a screw top, which is becoming much more common. I call the things easy access.

Anejo & Vino

Posted on October 26, 2014 by melsmosaic

The other night I went out to celebrate a friends 40th birthday at The Lounge at Bourbon Steak in Georgetown, in DC. Quite the place. I had never been there and it’s always nice to check out something new. And, it was amazingly nice for late October so we were able to sit outside, fully aware that they had those huge heaters for when it cooled down. The lounge had quite the menu and instead of going straight for wine, several cocktails caught my eye and I opted for the Morning Dew to begin. Not quite a margarita, but close. It was a perfect blend of anejo (tequila), fresh grapefuit, lemon and ginger on ice.

When that was done and more people arrived and wine was in full force, I went to California for some great vino. I found a Zin I’d never heard of, Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel. Fruity, leathery, very nice. Looking it up, it can range from $20-$25. I’m going to grab a couple bottles.

Wine Crack(ers)

Posted on September 28, 2014 by melsmosaic

You can drink wine alone — there is zero problem with that. You can find a wine that pairs perfectly with your meal. You can find a meal to pair very nicely with your wine. Or, you can find snacks to nibble on while sipping your wine. While at the wine store, namely Total Wine, working a wine tasting and they give you these little nibbles to include at your table. Innocent little off-white globes, about the size of a thumb nail. These are Wine CRACKers. OMG. So, so, so good. I don’t know what is in these things but they are addictive!!!

Per the website, they are “O.T.C. Original Wine crackers are delicate, dry, yet slightly sweet with a hint of lemon and a touch of vanilla. O.T.C. Wine Crackers cleanse the palate and enhance the subtle flavor of fine wines. But you don’t have to be a wine lover to enjoy OTC wine crackers. While many people first experience them with wine, most end up eating them as a delicious snack or treat.”

They are totally right — have them on hand — they are like candy, oh, I mean snacks. So good! I’ve seen them at Total Wine and Wegman’s. Googling them brings up many other options, as well.

Multiple Continents of Tastings

Posted on August 26, 2014 by melsmosaic

I figure since you can’t easily travel the world (time, money, etc), why not just grab a bottle of wine to check it out. So, the past few weeks I’ve explored most of the world. Between the Georgian wine I posted about recently (have some new bottles to be opened soon…) I have also checked out the following great vinos…

1) Chateau St. Jean, Pinot Noir, CA — (though this is Sonoma, think of Napa and support the locals by buying a bottle of Napa wine. They’ve had aftershocks after the big quake on Sunday.) Amazing, amazing CA Pinot — cherry and some leather. Was enjoyed with salmon.

2) Phebus, Malbec (Reserve), Mendoza, Argentina. Very nice. Berries, some chocolate. Can find it for about $10.

3) Klein Steenberg Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa. Light, pineapple, peach and grass notes. Great for enjoying on a sunny afternoon or with fish or salad. And, screwtop for easy access. About $12.

4) Pfeffingen Weilberg Riesling, Germany. (Note: that site doesn’t stay in English the whole time) Nice and dry! Some stone fruit, various other amazing mineral flavors. Paired it with a pea and garlic gazpacho with grilled chicken. Perfect! It’s been in my wine rack for awhile so not sure the cost, but online I’m finding about $30.

Man’s Best Friend

Posted on August 22, 2014 by melsmosaic

I get a call from a friend the other night telling me she has to put her 10-year old black lab down today. Slam! Not what I was expecting, or wanting, to hear. Needed to go over to see her, and him (the dog), man’s best friend, one last time. My friend picked up some wine to honor him — LAB. It’s a winery in Portugal and they have 2 blends, a red and a white, both screw tops. The red was fruity and had a bit of spice to it. The white was crisp and citrusy. And, both under $10. I would give you a link to the site but it’s under construction. We enjoyed this while playing with the black lab one more night. May man’s best friend rest in peace.

Wild Horses

Posted on August 17, 2014 by melsmosaic

Over the past several months I have started a part-time job as a wine taster/pourer. So, 1-2 times a week I get to go to a variety of locations and be that person who pours different wines for the customers to sample, while of course sampling them myself to be educated about them to properly inform the shoppers. It’s a win-win situation — learn more about the wine and talk to people about it! It occurred to me the other day — why don’t I write a blog about all my tastings? It has to start sometime, right?

Ok, so Friday night I was doing a tasting for Wild Horse Winery, which is located in the Central Coast of CA. Very nice, affordable wines. I had 3 varietals.

1) Wild Horse Chardonnay. Oaked, but not overkill on it. Very smooth, green apple, pear and vanilla notes. Perfect with fish. Price is around $15-$18.

2) Wild Horse Pinot Noir. Light Pinot, smooth, had both fruit and earth notes, with some mushroom in there. Pretty nice. Would pair well with salmon, grilled vegetables, chicken. Price is around $16-$20. (for some reason they don’t have this one on their site).

3) Wild Horse Chardonnay. Hello happiness, where have you been? The body, the flavor…cherry, berry, cocao. WOW! Wow. Go find one, buy it, open it, drink it. Would be great served with a pizza made on the grill or some steak.

If you go pick any of these up or have had them in the past, let me know what you think. Cheers!

Georgia on my Mind

Posted on August 14, 2014 by melsmosaic

When you read the title, is this the first thing that pops into your head?

Well, Ray Charles, while you’re thinking about a lady, I am exploring the world. Some people equate Georgia to peaches. Last night I equated it to grapes. And I’m talking about jumping across the Atlantic to a new country and trying some very unique new wine, not just simple fruit.

First, we likely know where the state of GA is but can we pinpoint the country? Crash course:

Until a few weeks ago I had never heard of Georgian wine. Apparently, Georgia is about the oldest wine region in the world. It’s where the world’s first grapevines were cultivated, oh, some 8,000 years ago. But who’s counting? They have about half a dozen key wine regions in the country.

Last night my first sampling form the country was Teliani Valley Saperavi. It was about $10 bottle from Total Wine in VA. The nose has leather and smoke. When drinking it, medium body, with some light fruit notes. Just very, very unique. For ten bucks, totally worth it. There were several others at the store, about $5 more, so will have to check them out.

If you’ve had Georgian wine(s), please share your thoughts! Would love to hear what you think about them.

What (wine) do you have on tap?

Posted on August 10, 2014 by melsmosaic

There is a great pizza place in DC that has expanded and now has several locations — Matchbox. I’ve been to the one in Merrifield/Mosaic District recently.

Before enjoying their delicious pizza, I had to try their wine on tap. It’s not available at a lot of restaurant so I couldn’t turn it down. I scanned the menu and it was a tough decision. Hot as heck outside, freezing cold AC inside.

I opted for the Gotham Project Zin. Nice nose all around. Fruity, very fun for a wine on tap.

My friend arrived later and we were ordering some nice pizza and we opted for a white to accompany a prosciutto and fig pizza. We opted for a white on tap. We went with the Tangent Sauvignon Blanc. Very fruity and fresh, perfect for the meal.