What's a WineWonk?

Wine Blogs by Wonk

Footer

Recent Blogs

Footer

Wine Articles by Blog

Footer
Write about Wine. Read about Life. WineWonks, the Wine Blog Community.

Cuvée Corner Wine Blog    Friends

Oregon Uncorked: Ken Wright 2008 Savoya Pinot Noir

Date: Thu, Jan 3, 2013 Wine Tasting

“I like stepping into the future, therefore, I look for doorknobs.”~ Unknown

As many of you know I spent four fantastic days last December exploring Oregon Wine Country. Most of those travels took me really no further than an hour to hour an half depending on traffic away from downtown Portland. It would seem that our trip occurred during the very last of the fall weather, as it began to snow at Youngberg Hill the very next day after we left.

While many folks will normally associate Oregon with ‘rain’ and boy did we see plenty of it while we were there; but in reality it only qualified as drizzle for most part. Oregon is about far more than rainy damp weather, there's a whole other-side just waiting to be explored. But it did seem like we brought some of that cold wet-weather back with us [Mrs. Cuvee and I] to San Diego, needed yes, but unexpected none-the-less. In fact the rainy wet-stuff here just cleared away, leaving us with crisp, clear blue-skies [I know you’re jealous].

Second if you ask most vino-sapiens what Oregon is well known for, they would most ultimately say Pinot Noir. What you may not know is that Oregon also has a vast, growing foodie-culture, there’s a food revolution sprouting up everywhere, collectively putting them on the gastronomical globe. A fact to which I could easily attest to, coming home a few pounds heavier, than when I left.

If bourbon or beer is your thing, you’re in luck because there are numerous distilleries and breweries [really too many to count] located in the environs of downtown Portland, situated just minutes away from their well organized airport.

But for the vino-sapiens in the audience, Oregon is known for its rich wine-making tradition. But what many folks may not realize is that no-one really started making wine until the 19th century, when cherries, apples and pears were the mainstay. Then keeping with Oregon’s pioneering spirit in the early 20th century, the modern wine-making industry we know today, sprang to life around the grape we all know and love, Pinot Noir.

One of the places I didn’t get to visit the last time I was in Oregon; is Ken Wright Cellars in downtown Carlton. Their tasting room is located in an old train-depot; the winery itself is located about a block away. Mr. Wright previously only offered visits by appointment only and purchasing of his wine was done through a futures program.

And now if you’d like to purchase any of his current release outside of the 2010 KWC PN Willamette Valley, it will have to be done by the six-pack. And no it can’t be a mixed half-case either; you’ll need to show some commitment to your favorite wine in the tasting or go home empty handed. Now you can find single bottles of Ken Wright Cellars PN in a few retail stores, but you may not find the one you recently sampled.You can also easily find his wines online at the Oregon Wine Merchants, where they can be purchased in singles, mix and match, coupled with a reasonable shipping charge.

But unfortunately you can’t taste them first; you’ll just have to take your chances. I tasted through four of his Pinot’s and ended up favoring the 2008 Savoya Yamhill-Carlton AVA, which is now sold out. I alsotasted the 2008 Carter, Canary Hill and the 2009 Guadalupe, which were good, but not $60 a bottlegood in my estimation. Be sure to sample their relatively new Tyrus Evan label [seen above], there's a 2007 Ciel Du Cheval Claret [$35], not to be missed.

The 08 Savoya offered up power, grace and elegance. A substantial wine, red cherry and baking spice dominate, while dried herbs and forest floor flavors play in the background. Fine grained tannins are well integrated and wrap this wine up in a pretty bow, suitable for gift giving or for spoiling yourself. This wine sold for $65 in the tasting room and new vintages can be found online for $48. I scored the wine I ended up taking home, 93 points, it’s pretty amazing juice really. Until next time folks, continue to sip long and prosper cheers!

Read Full Wine Blog Post

Wine Critic or Wine Writer?

Date: Wed, Jan 2, 2013 Wine Tasting


"The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance...it is the illusion of knowledge" ~Stephen Hawkins

Well, well welcome to the brave new world of 2013, I hope everyone had a brilliant holiday season and are now ready to face the New Year. With all the new hopes, dreams and aspirations, whatever they may be and where ever they may take you, I wish you all a prosperous New Year.

Opening my twitter account today; really for first time since the beginning of the New Year, I came upon a conversation via #sommchat [which you should read]with the well-known NYT Wine Critic Eric Asimov. I missed the opportunity to interact in the conversation, but was still able to take a look at how it unfolded.

Here's one of the more interesting exchanges I saw today, Megmaker asked via Twitter, "Do you prefer to be called a "wine writer" or a "wine critic and why? Mr. Asimov's reply, "Honestly don't care. Way too much energy spent on that question. Critic has specific NYT meaning, so am proud of title"

Wine Critic or Wine Writer hmm, it’s a good question, but to be honest not one I think about too often. I just don't take myself all too serious and neither should you. I write from my heart, I use my instincts and couple those insights with my experience, to give what I think are solid, fact based recommendations. The only real caveat hereis; you need to have a similar palate to my own. I tend to follow reviewers advicewho I've tasted with before, compared notes and found we tend to like similar styles of wine. That said, if you read this blog, you would do well to do the same.

There was another comment in that same thread which stated [not sure who it was attributable to] "Writer" connotes a more open mind and palate, which I believe is essential to conveying passion". A statement to which finds me nodding in complete agreement. Take a look at my new logo for example, the one on my twitter profile [and biz-cards], you'll see it says 'wine-writer'. After all I do write and it's about wine, what else should the title be? I think it is sufficient, after all this is just a hobby.

But in reading this blog, you will come to one immediate conclusion; I'm NOT a classically trained writer by any stretch of the imagination. So for the purist out there, this blog is NOT for you. But if you want the scoop, on what I think are some the best wines available today, please stay tuned, you'll be glad you did. Has my blog become more readable than it was it 2008, well I'll let my stats do the talking for me, you can find them just to theright and below ifyou're truly interested.
Here was another question ask by Megmaker, "Please say more about your view of wine tasting notes, and how best to achieve "context-sensitive" wine writing" and Eric Asimov's answer, "Hard to account for context in notes. I think general stylistic characteristics are better than overly precise".

Again, here I find myself in agreement with Mr. Asimov's point regarding wine writing in general. I think some folks try way too hard to impress others with their wine-knowledge [aka, geekiness] and end up coming off as the garden variety snob. Honestly folks, who even thinks of things like "context-sensitive" wine writing? I had to chuckle a bit to myself seeing that and winced a bit reading it, breathing an "oh-brother" out loud.

C'mon folks let us all just get over ourselves, write about what you are passionate about [whether it's wine or Frisbees] and keep writing to improve howyou communicate about that passion. And like Mr.Asimov tweeted today; "Write, write, write! If you want to be a writer, that's what you must do, regardless of pay". And to that I say a hearty amen brother! I know my writing in November and December has been far less productive than normal, but look for it to return in the coming months.

For me personally, I'm more of a spectator. I seldom get my hands dirty [little grape picking], on my journey of wine discovery, oh perhaps the splash back from the spit bucket and the occasional sporting of the glaring purple grin now and then. But there's no actual sweat on my brow, as I bang on the keyboard. So whether you think me a wine writer, critic or just the garden variety run of the mill opinionated vino-sapien, my only goal is the help you drink better and for a whole lot less when possible.

With that said, there are going to be some changes this year regarding my wine-blog. Number one, I will no longer accept samples for review; I'm done with that scene [If a wine was submitted for review last year, there's still a review pending]. Number two, I will no longer accept advertising of any kind, I'm done with that scene as well. And number three, look to see some [not saying how many] tweet-up events that will not be sponsored by anyone, but perhaps hosted by a San Diego group who will remain nameless for the moment.

My blog will be one of the very few which will be completely 'independent' and that my fellow vino-sapiens is really something to think about, as we move forward. So until next time remember life is too short to drink bad wine and too short to drink wines with no real sense of place. Just say to no to "Cheap, Homogenized, Lifeless Commodities" found on the bottom shelvesof places like your local wally-world. Instead say yes, to exploring and keeping an open-mind, open heart and above all an open-palate, there's a world of wine waiting for you to explore, so get busy and as alwaysrememberto slurp long and prosper cheers!

Read Full Wine Blog Post

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Date: Mon, Dec 24, 2012 Wine Tasting


“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead to where there is no path and leave a trail” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Read Full Wine Blog Post

The Most Wine-derful Time of the Year!

Date: Thu, Dec 20, 2012 Wine Tasting

Jazz is like wine. When it is new, it is only for the experts, but when it gets older, everybody wants it. -Steve Lacy

*The info-graphic above is provided courtesy of Beringer Vineyards

Read Full Wine Blog Post

Burgundy Uncorked: Joseph Drouhin 2009 Morey-Saint-Denis

Date: Wed, Dec 19, 2012 Wine Tasting

"Imperfection is beauty. Madness is genius and it is better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring." - Marilyn Monroe

Good morning everyone, I trust most of you're readyfor the up and coming holiday known to manyas Christmas; I wanted to take this opportunity to wish each of you and yours, avery Merriest of Christmas and a prosperous New Year ahead.

Funny I went all the way to Oregon to discover this little gem from Burgundy, but as I've come to find out, there are many wonderful things to be found in unexpected places.

If you're thinking about putting a toe in pool of Burgundian wines, may I suggest this bottle [pictured above] would be agood place to start. The price of admission is $40 to $50 depending on where you shop, but well worth it. I scored the wine 90 points and highly recommend you giving it a swirl.

At Joseph Drouhin you will find unique balance, one where tradition and modern techniques blend together and comes together to create wines which truly characterizesmodern winemaking.Whether it's theirvineyard management via their on site nursery, the100% hand harvesting, open fermenters, and the judicious use of 100% French Oak, one thing you easily take away from their wines is that sense of place, something so often missing in domestically produced juice.

For those of you looking to get your hands on wineswhich are Organically Certified, you'll be happy to know that starting with the 2009 vintage and moving forwardhas recentlybeen awarded "organic certification" [an expensive and laborious process]for all grapes grown within its vineyards.

As it would happen, the wine is this review spot-light is a 2009 and a fantastic representation of interestly different style of quality in regards to Pinot Noir than you may be use to, but stick with me and you will see this wine makes a great starting point for dipping your toe in the proverbial Burgundian pool [well at least I think so].

There's nothing fancy here, justhonest-to-goodness Pinot Pleasure. Is this wine going to set your hair on fire? Uh, most likely not, but what it will do is allure you with its suave sophistication and beckon you to more fully explore this region [if you have not done so already]. The perfect wine to open and enjoy with your holiday feast; whether it be duck or even a Christmas Goose [oh-my], this wine is a foodies friend.

By the way; this just may be a bit of bragging on their part, but does appear to be quite accurate, that the village of Morey is located between Gevrey-Chambertin and Chambolle-Musigny. Here comes the bragging part, "there are five Grand Crus and twelve Premier Crus in this relatively small appellation".

I'd recommend a bit of decanting before diving-in, but what you'll find on the nose is dried-cherries, raspberriesand sweet-leather. The palate shows great structure and weight, but like many of the 2009's it is very approachable, with easilyplucked low-hanging fruit, balance nicely with rich earth. The finish is long, lasting. This wine is in my estimation the"complete-package" onethat will have you wanting more, so be smart order more than just one. Until next time folks remember to sip long and prosper, cheers!

Read Full Wine Blog Post

Wine of the Week: 2010 Tikal Patriota

Date: Tue, Dec 18, 2012 Wine Tasting

“Never use jargon words like reconceptualize, demassification, attitudinally, judgmentally. They’re hallmarks of a pretentious ass.” – David Ogilvy
That's good advice and part of the reason why you'll never see me using words like that to describe the great wines I find, wines that give the consumer [vino-sapiens like me]a real bang for the buck like the one above.
Now about this fantastic wine from Mendoza, a wine which I really enjoyed so much more than the 2009 vintage. But that said, this 2010 which you will find in good abundance [but dilly-dally]at places like Costco here in San Diego, selling for just under $17 is a terrific value. I scored this wine 90 points, this is that Tuesday wine you've been looking for, so get after it.
It's a delightful blend of Malbec and and 40% Bonarda. Right now you may be thinking uh, what the bleep is Bonarda, one thing for sure it's not a grape found in the common every day vernacular of the garden-variety vino-sapien. It's an Italian grape, that found a home in Argentina. If you like to read more about it, just click here.
This wine has a lot to offer, but is best uncorked the day before and left in the pantry overnight with the cork out [trust-me]. You find that this wine has some chalk [picture a couple old-school erasers being beaten together], it has some pretty hardy tannins and it does an earthy and black licoricething, while at the same time slapping you along side the head with crates of ripe blueberry and blackberry pie character, full bodied and a lively finish.

So you want to do some pairing huh, okay I can make a recommendation in that department as well. You could go for things like barbecue ribs, elk-burger and fries or if you've come home late from work like I did the other day, still toting half a sandwich you didn't finish at lunch, then folks youare in luck, because that [turkey/bacon half sandwich] pairing rocked [full disclosure the sandwich picturedabove is just a prop].I also grabbed some of my famous left over chili, just enough for a small bowl and healthy handful of salt and pepper chips. So as you can see from this description, this wine is an easy wine pairing champ, the sky is the limit nearly. Until next folks remember to sip long and prosper cheers!

Read Full Wine Blog Post

Travel Tuesday: Youngberg Hill, Oregon

Date: Mon, Dec 17, 2012 Wine Tasting

We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal and then leap in the dark to our success. - Henry David Thoreau
Wayne and Nicolette took a leap of faithwhen they purchasedYoungberg Hill in 2003, overhauling the entire estate including vineyard management, winemaking, tasting room, and hospitality area.What they havediscovered iswonderful success with theirfantastic Wine Country Inn [Bed and Breakfast] and goregous wedding venue which is attached to areal working winery,which isproducing some mighty fine Pinot Noir, just a short drive outside of the town of McMinnville in Oregon.

As many of you know I spent the better part of a long weekend visiting with the great folks at Youngberg Hill and other wonderful producers who call the Oregon Wine Country home. Mrs. Cuvee and I were guests of Youngberg Hill and stayed in one the Inn's fantastic eight rooms. The views from the 2nd floor roomsare quite stunning [see picture below]. Each morning you awake with nearly a full panoramic view of the vineyards, the road leading up to the house and on a clear day you see for miles and miles. Be sure to say hi to their very friendly [out-door] cat Truffle.

In tasting a good many of their Pinot Noir offerings, I encountered two very different styles, from two very distinctive terroirs. This comes from an estate vineyard, farmed organically [Salmon Safe Certified] and biodynamically, and legally in conversion tobiodynamic certification. On the wines hailing from the Natasha’s Block which consists of 6.6 estate acres with a southeast facing; I found the nose brimming with notes of rich earth, oak, cut-black tea and not fully ripe cherry. Finely integrated acidity makes way for tastes of dark cherry and plums, which are easily enveloped in oak and savory herbs, pushing fruit to the background. The earthy tannins are followed by a smooth, yet relaxing finish.
Regarding the wines form their Jordan block, it’s a completely different experience. I would dare to say that if you have a California Pinot Noir palate, one which tends to favor wines with a broader, more approachable mouth-feel, than the Jordan Block wines are for you. The Jordan Block sits on 4 fog-kissed estate acres facing South East at a steeper slope than the Natasha and is described as a more Burgundian in style.
Frankly, I was all about the Jordan block, when I first sampled the 2008 Jordan, which sells for $40, my first thoughts was, alright here we go, this is what I’m talking about. Then the next wine really got my attention, it was the 2008 Jordan Block Barrel Select, which oddly is not on their website, but it sells for $65.I scored this wine 93 points.

And let there be no doubt, this wine is worth every penny, you could cellar for many years, but why would you when it’s drinking ever so nicely right now. I scored two of these wines for myself to take home. For those who are curious about the clones here you go; 60% Pommard and 40% Wadenswil on American Root Stock.
The 2008 Barrel Select has the rich and charming fruit and a plethora of bright cherry and cranberry [not tart] concentration; it was truly what I was expecting from this site, but not from this vintage. You’ll find more red fruited character over the darker fruits; the wine has a succulent texture and lovely finish. Honestly what's not to like?

After purchasing the wine the morning before my departure, from the assistant wine-maker [Jess] and chef, he remarked about my apparent love of oak. Ha, I guess that fits, I love the judicious use of oak; and firmly believe the abuse of oak by some, should not lead to an automatic knee-jerk reaction of extremely limited oak interaction or even toast levels. Honestly folks, deep down we all know it's about balance, too much of anything, tends not to be a good thing; whether it's in the the vineyard or the crush-pad, balance is everything.

About my experiences at the Inn, wow is the operative word. This fantastic place is quiet and cozy, perfect for those seeking to get away from it all. Once you arrive, you may find yourselfgreeted my mouth-watering glasses of Pinot Noir, you arrive to a comfy, well appointed room, with no TV. The shower warms up real fast, the Wi-Fi works amazingly well and you just 15 minutes from McMinnville, which has many tasty spots to eat. Whether you want a pub-like experience [McMenamins]or you want to dial it up a notch or two [Thistle] there’s something for everyone.

When it comes time for breakfast [9:00am], it’s just the right amount to get your day started and their custom roast coffee will you happily and fully caffeinated. The Inn you will find in located right in the thick of it all, makes a great jumping off point or as I like to call it base of operations for scouring the country-side for Pinot Noir to take back home.

By the way; if you end up like I did [and it’s not hard to do] with two full cases of wine, you can either have them shipped home $45 for basic ground or if you play it smart and chose to fly Southwest, where you can check those cases for little extra out of pocket. I purchased two case boxes in town [$24], but in truth they only hold nine bottles. If you want it to fit 12, it has to be the standard Bordeaux bottle to fit correctly and you will not find any Pinot Noir in that style of bottle.

If you’d like to stay with them, the off-season is a great time to do so, in fact it's snowing there at the moment.In the off-season the winemakers have much more time to speak with you, as well as the tasting room staff, as there are few other folks up during the very rainy time of year. Okay folks, I know it has been quite a while since my last post, but I hope you enjoyed today’s article and will give the wines from Youngberg Hill a swirl for yourself, until next time sip long and prosper cheers!

Read Full Wine Blog Post

Napa Valley Uncorked: 2008 Franciscan Magnificat Meritage

Date: Wed, Dec 5, 2012 Wine Tasting


All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on! ~ Henry Ellis

This the first review written entirely via my iPhone, using the Blogger app I just down-loaded. So we shall see how it goes. In the spotlight for my wine of interest this time is the Franciscan 2008 Magnificat.

This wine was a sample sent for the review process. It has a SRP of $50, itsells at most places for just under $30, but the rumor of this wine selling under $20 is misleading at best. I scored this wine 90 points and can recommend it to you highly. Suave and sophisticated are the keywords here.

A Bordeaux [aka Meritage] style blend consisting of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and finally a few drops of Petit Verdot and Malbec. A wine aged for 20 months in 2nd use French oak barrels. This wine has boatloads of finesse and flavor, a hour in the decanter is recommended for maximum enjoyment.

The nose is crazy inviting, it just lures you in like a big-mouth bass on a spinner. Notes of dried herbs, vanilla, ripe plum and licorice are just a preview of the coming attractions. On the palate this wine is not shy about toasted oak and espresso but there is plenty of vibrant acidity to keep it all on balance. Sweet plum and fig join the chorus, with a few wise cracks from other dark fruits. The tannins are well integrated and nearly seamless and the finish while a bit dry sails on and on.

This wine is drinking very nicely now and will continue to do so over the next few years. I found it to bea very polished wine, with layers to it, only to be uncovered by decanting. Until next time folks remember sip long and prosper cheers!

Read Full Wine Blog Post

Wine of the Week: 2008 Trione Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

Date: Wed, Dec 5, 2012 Wine Tasting

Life is too short not to make the best and the most of everything that comes your way everyday. -Sasha Azevedo

Life is also too short too drink bad wine, a point to which even the garden-variety vino-sapien would agree with. It's on this point, one of the reasons why I implore everyone I know and every reader who stops by this blog to catch up with the wines that make their way to my glass; to please stop going to the same well over and over [explore] and just say 'no' to mass produced chemistry set wines, commonly known as plonk.

Now that I've got my opening rant out of the way, it's time to put a wine in the spotlight that is a fantastic value, pound for pound, this Pinot Noir from the RRV is one I'm highly recommending that you run out grab a few. This was not a sample but a wine I procured recently from my local neighborhood Costco for just under $14. If you'd like you can read more of the details about this tasty example of what the RRV can offer in Pinot here.

It will need to be decanted, [one hour] it's a bit shy and reticent about showing its ample goods, but once it's has time to relax and get to know you, then look out. Folks, this wine is just sitting in these stores, barely moving, but in my opinion it's quite a bargain for the thirsty vino-sapien. So please put down that bottle ofLa CremaPN [$19]this time and step up to a real-wine which really says, "you cantaste where I am from" besides if you do you'll save a few bucks to boot.

Peeking back at the few notesI scribbled out afterpopping the cork just a few nights ago, I found the texture and mouth-feel of this wine quite impressive. It was rich and velvety and infused with typical Pinot Noir fruit flavors coming through each and every long slurp, but restrained finish told me this is no cocktail wine.

Once you pop the cork, nice bright clear crimson-red core; a fragrant bouquet slaps your nose with gently spicy berries and wet earth, these aromas easily make their way over to your palate. I scored this wine88 solidpoints, it pairs ever so nicely with manypoultry dishes, the sky is the limit. A wonderful Tuesday-night wine, you won't mind popping the cork and enjoying all evening. It will contiune to evolve and come alive, so until next time folks remember to sip long and prosper cheers!

Read Full Wine Blog Post

Cork-screws, Wine Bottle Openers and Foil Cutters oh-my!

Date: Sun, Dec 2, 2012 Wine Tasting

"The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity." - Walt Whitman

Uh-huh right, so now you've done it, you've becomea wine swirling, sniffing and slurping vino-sapien and you probably didn't even see it coming.I know for most folks who arenew to wine,youmay be surprised to find that you'll actually need some tools to get into those bottles. And because of their relative size and the time of the year, these items make a great stocking stuffer.

If you've only been a beer drinker in the past, gone are days of the simple key-chain adornment aka the bottle opener to get into your new favorite adult-beverage.Even most of your favorite top shelf spirits merely require a firm grip and a snap of the wrist to gain access, not so with wine.

Now you're faced withthereal dilemma of howto get that damn cork out of the bottle, without looking like the newbie.I mean after allyou'd just like toenjoy great bottle of wine, that may have spent some considerable time picking out, so now what do you do? Read on dear vino-sapien, read-on. BecauseI've put together an easy list of must-have items for wanna-be wino, that will have youpopping corkslike a sommelier on speed.

To get into your favorite bottle of wine you're going to need some not so serious hard-ware.Ofcourse you could just live on screw-cap closures and boxed-wines to get by.But let's be honest,if you really want to get serious about wine, then you'll have to invest in the right tools of the trade.

They don't have to be expensive,you could spend near a kings-ransom to acquire some of the basic tools. you'll see floating around the Internet on places like Amazon, Beverage Factoryand Wine-Enthusiast websites. But don't sweat it, with today's review on openers, I will try to shed some light onthe basic tools that will get the job done right, with little fuss or muss and of course at prices that fall into what I call the reasonable-range.

1. The Heavy Wing Cork-Screw: This one is perhaps my very favorite, as I've had the same one for years. These cork-screws are heavy-duty lean mean bottle opening machines. All you have to do is place it on top of the bottle, give the head a few twists, the arms come up, you push down and the bottle is open. You can even use top of it for opening that occasional bottle of beer, chilling in the fridge. This one is my personal favorite; it's nearly fool-proof.

Also great for busting through wine-bottles covered in waxy plastic-like substance instead of the traditional foil capsule. Those bottles do have a certain curb-appeal to them from a marketing stand-point, but in reality are just a pain.

Another wonderful feature is that it allows you bust right through the foil, if you don't want to use or don't have a foil-cutter. They do have one draw-back though, if the cork you're trying to extract happens to crack and break-off, you will be in a world of hurt [unless you have the next piece of equipment, the waiters-friend].

This is the one I use most often Farberware Bar And Wine Series Winged Corkscrewand it sells for $12, you can pay more, but won't get more. A word of caution though stay away from the plastic ones and keep your thumbs well away from the area where it sits on the bottle-top.

2. The Waiters-Friend: This is perhaps one the very best pieces of equipment you will find on the wine market today, it's so small and compact and some have a built-in expandable foil-cutter. Making it very easy to carry one with you at all times, something you will see on a regular basis if you dine-out enough. Or maybe you were given one by your favorite winery as a gift.

Like I mentioned above, these cork-screws are perfect for getting that broken cork out of the bottle, it works every-time I use it. The prices on these can range anywhere fromridiculous [$200] to reasonable [$8].Oh-boy doI have plenty of these hanging around the house myself, but my favorite one is called the"Boomerang"[$18] and has a unique feature that many others don't have which is the expandable four wheel "foilkut" which easily removes the top of capsule exposing the cork and removes the possibility of cutting your finger on the knife-like foil cutters onsimilar cork screws.

3. Foil Cutters: Okay these are pretty useless unless you happen to be one of those cork-dorks like me, who likes to keep the top of capsule like they are small pieces of art. I mean honestly I have foil cutter myself but if you have either of the corks screws I mentioned above you won't need this piece of equipment. Now if you happen to buy one of the"rabbit" lever style openers, then you'll will still needa good foil cutter.

Becausethe one that comes with the rabbit opener "sucks" at cutting foils. So if you really want one, that works great, I would recommend the one that I have which is called the "Screwpull"and sells for $10. It makes short simple work of any and all foils no matter how big a mouth that bottle-top may have and leaves the capsule top in pristine collector condition.

4. Lever-Style: Ah yes the lever style wine-opener, this one has become a huge favorite for many of the wine-swirling and slurping masses, which of course comein types of shapes, sizes, colorsand prices. I do of course own two of themmyselfand for awhile used it all the time, but after a while the worm or the auger as they are called became dull, making it difficult to pierce the cork all the way.

It's a great idea and works much better than the other two I mentioned above, however its weak-link is the the worm itself, is so thin and not very sharpit needs to be replacedtoo often. Making its negatives out-weigh the positives. They can be purchased in a variety of price ranges, from $23 to more than $123, folks if you really want one the find something in the middle range, as they are all about the same.

5. Cordless Wine-Opener: Last but not least, is the newest [relatively speaking] wiz-bang tool on the market today, the electric, cordless cork-remover . I know many folks enjoy these immensely and have great success with them. But I'm not one of those folks; I don't have one and frankly don't see the need to add it to my wine tool chest, it just seems superfluous. I've used them before and seen other folks using them, they're pretty easy and not something I'd recommend.

The price ranges on these can be a reasonable $32 or a silly $140, depending upon how important you may want to look while removing a cork, but on the reasonable side of the equation for $19 you can get one that works like a champ . This product is especially recommended for anyone that may lacks hand or wrist strength or folks suffering from PTSD [not to make light of this real illness] in regards to accidents with other cork-screws mentioned above.


Possible Draw-Backs: Honestly folks, I'm not sure how often you have to replace the worm or how long the rechargeable battery will last. But those are both considerations for not getting this product in my opinion, unless hand strength is an issue for you.

Those top two cork-screws are my everyday favorites both are relatively inexpensive. Yet both are dependable, versatile and ever so easy to use, that even a cave-man like me can to do it. So like the commercial from the now defunct Mervyns, where folks had their faces pressed against the glass, chanting open, open, open you too can get those wine bottles opened with the greatest of ease. So until next time folks remember, sip long and prosper cheers!

Read Full Wine Blog Post

Pinot Report: 2007 Sanctuary Pinot Noir

Date: Thu, Nov 8, 2012 Wine Tasting

“For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it. For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it. For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it.” ~Ivan Panin

Pinot Noir is known to many, as a grape of great depth and balance. For many producers especially in the new world, it’s known as the heart-break grape. In Burgundy its ancestral home, it has the well renowned [and may I say well-deserved] reputation for producing some of the very best wines in world and has been doing so for longer than any of us have been alive. For me, these wines do have great beauty, they speak truth in every sip, slurp and even the eventual gulp and with each bottle I confirm my love for this grape.

Just before harvest, weighing heavy upon the vine, you’ll find clusters of Pinot Noir grapes, blue to violet and still some sporting indigo colors and for me that builds the anticipation of the good things to come down the road.

Furthering that excitement, seeing Bien Nacido Vineyards on the label nine times out of ten, I’m getting the style of Pinot, which I know will make me and Mrs. Cuvee very happy, which is the reason why I purchased this wine, without a moment’s hesitation. I’ve never purchased a bottle of wine from this producer before, but knowing this vineyards reputation, I was confident that I was coming home with a winner.

Many vino-sapiens know this grape has a reputation for breaking hearts and not just those producers, but also for the consumer who hopes they can beat the odds and save a few coins by purchasing Pinot Noir’s under the sacred $10 threshold, only to find out later the good ones under that price point are the extreme exception and nowhere near the rule.

Now to that point the wine in today’s spotlight set me back $24, not a king’s ransom by any stretch. But I know for many this price point not going to be a Tuesday evening wine. I get that, but that said this wine would normally sell for upwards of $40 to grab it from their tasting room or website. In a restaurant forget about a wine like this, will sell for upwards of $70 or more. So getting a wine of this caliber for the price point I did, to me be is quite the bargain, one you should consider grabbing, if you have the opportunity. It’s well worth the price of admission, a wine I scored 91 points, a bit less generous than my pals over at WE who have ad-space to sell.

Wondering about how it taste? Right after popping the cork, whoa an explosion of aromas pops me in the nose; juicy, young cherry-pie-like fruit its main motif. After I get this wine in the glass wow a deep cranberry colored red core. Once in the glass finely tuned smoky red and dark berries give my nose another slap.

After I go in for the first slurp, a bit sappy and gently sweet, offering broad raspberry and cherry-pie crust flavors, notes of smoked meat, wet earth play quietly in the background, with just the right pop of acidity to carry the abundant low hanging fruit.

You will find this supple; a nicely knit-together pinot sporting supple well integrated tannin, which finishes with good clarity and lift on the back-end. It would make an excellent wine for the upcoming holiday activities, including Thanksgiving, as it has many generous properties which lend its self to easy pairing options. Over the next few days, I will be reviewing 3 more outstanding Pinot Noir’s I’ve recently sampled, so stay tuned. Until next folks sip long and prosper cheers!

Read Full Wine Blog Post

Chile Uncorked: 2010 Emilana Novas Gran Reserva Pinot Noir

Date: Fri, Nov 2, 2012 Wine Tasting

"Compromises are for relationships, not wine." --- Sir Robert Scott Caywood

Well here we are, it's almost time for the weekend, it's now just hours away. You can feel it, see it and sense the fact that the boss-man has lost control and the possibilities are endless for what you will do this weekend. If you're lucky enough [from a weather related point-of-view] to live here in So-Cal then you know this weekend is going to be superb [epic] for whatever out-door activity you decide to embark upon.

With that in mind the chances are very good, that if you're reading these words that you'll be slurping down some juice this weekend, some looking for the serious and some just looking for the fairly quaffable wine of the moment. But whatever it's you are looking for in the wine world, I hope you enjoy it fully, but please don't do the same old song and dance, explore something new and just say'NO' tomass produced juice.

The 2010 Emilana Novas Pinot Noir is another wine [sample]I encountered during the Wines of Chile Blogger tasting, which did not come dressed to impress initially. I confess I chilled it a bit as requested, unsealed the screw cap and poured a 3 ounce pour about an hour before the 'live' tasting commenced. I'm not sure if this wine just didn't travel well or what the problem with it was, but it did NOT show well that evening, although several other bloggers were going gah-gah over it. It was dirty, murky and had some funky stewedaromas, which did not blow off that evening and madeits dirty-shoed way to the wines overall flavor profile.

Now that said, I didn't pour the wine down the drain; instead I re-capped it and tucked it back into my cellar for a few days. Having just made an amazing whole roasted barbeque chicken [great pairing partner] and then seeing the poor little bottle of Emilana looking back at me, I decided to give this wine another go. I mean why not, it's already open, what the heck and I believe in second chances.

So again I poured another 3 ounce pour in the glass you see in the picture above and wow, bang-bang this wine came out of its corner like Rocky against Apollo Creed. I was hit with boat-loads of baking spices, cranberry, ripe strawberry, rich wet-earth, wrapped around polished well integrated tannins, making forsome niceQPR on a Pinot Noir with a SRP of $19.

But the fact that this wine took three days to get its act together, boy that is really disappointing. Honestly folks, this wine did NOT show well that evening and I'm not exaggerating one bit, even Mrs. Cuvee gave it a thumbs-down and she is no where near as snobby-grader as I can be at times. Perhaps, I didn't have the best bottle, perhaps I'm the only one whose wine was sick with bottle shock or is there another explanation, I confess to not knowing the answer.

Even though this wine did make a remarkable turn-around, I still can't give it a good recommendation, my score on this wine is 84 points; there is far easier game to hunt than this elusive Pinot Noir, which may ultimately disappoint the thirsty vino-sapien. The reviews of the wines I liked from this tasting are coming up next, so please stay tuned and remember folks until next time sip long and prosper cheers!


Read Full Wine Blog Post

Chile Uncorked: 2011 San Pedro 1865 Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

Date: Thu, Nov 1, 2012 Wine Tasting


Good afternoon everyone, welcome to November. Can you believe there’s less than sixty days until the end of the year and just six more days until the election? I'm sure like you, that you're looking forward to it being over.

Now I've read and also heard it said; "the best way to be noticed and collect Internet hits is to express outrage. The outrage business, it must be said, is a growth business, thriving in the age of new media."

While there may be a place for “outrage” in some areas of the blogosphere [mainly political blogs and other websites] and on other social media platforms, namely Facebook and Twitter. As for me, I like this blog to stay focused on things that matter; like exploring new wine regions, uncorking countless bottles of wine and boldly seeking out new wines that have a soul. But as many of you have discovered that sometimes on the road to discovery you may run into a few bumps in the road.

Having said that, let me throw another quote at you, something to ponder and think about in the context of today's review. "Flattery, by contrast, gets us all nowhere; it’s meaningless for the flattered, and demeans the flatterers. If you have a mind, you should speak it." - Andrew Jefford

So speaking my mind is something I plan to do today, regarding the sample I received for the Chilean Wine Blogger 'live' tasting from Chile. When I encounter new wines where I simply don't get the style, I typically don't go too far out of my way to throw it under-the-bus just for the sake of "outrage". Something which some of my fellow bloggers may think I'm doing here today, regarding the San Pedro 1865 Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc. But even the folks over here tasting these wines with me, including Mrs. Cuvee without any coaching from me, agreed this wine was just a bit over-the-top.

Most folks know, I'm kind of a fussy-pants when it comes to this varietal, simply said for the most part I really don't like it. Please don't tell anyone, but I like to keep a bottle inexpensive SB around just to rinse out my stems and or my decanter before pouring in another wine. It really is a great for grabbing any remnant lint from the freshly cleaned glass. What I especially don't like is some producer’s tendency to elevate this varietals aggressive-side and this often happens with New World producers.

Now you may like the style I'm about to describe, but I promise I won't think any less of you, but I just may snicker a bit. That said, what I mean my aggressive is that this style is "all-up-in-your-business" from the moment you pop the cork, to the first sniff, slurp and the eventual spew. There is just no delicate way to put it, in my book the 1865 SB is everything that is wrong with new world Sauvignon Blanc.

This wine [under screwcap] gave me a sock-in-the-jaw, ouch! Ugh, I was begging for mercy in just minutes after being hit by a broadside of pungent grassy aromas and picked-to-early aromas like an upper-cut from a south-paw. Whoa, green bell-pepper, grape-fruit, intense vegetal flavors, boat loads of acid and a intense, yet odd can-of-asparagus thing going on from start to finish. I even tried this wine with a couple different food pairings, but it was just too over-whelming.

It's not that the wine was not made incorrectly or that it had any detectable flaws. This wine sell for a SRP of $19, I scored it 84 points, not a recommended wine in my book. Until next time folks remember to sip long and prosper cheers!

Read Full Wine Blog Post

Barbera Uncorked: 2003 Barbera D'Alba Bric Loira

Date: Tue, Oct 30, 2012 Wine Tasting


I'm interested in something which is built up from within, rather than just extracted from without. - Ansel Adams

Some of you may have guessed from my tweets [if you follow me there] that I have a new place to hang my hat occasionally for work. That place is Bird Rock Fine Wine in La Jolla; a hearty stones throw the sun, surf and sand. It was there just yesterday, I had an opportunity to meet the winemaker and his wifefrom Cascina Chicco, his name Enrico Faccenda.

Their winery in northern Italy, Cascina Chicco, is located on a idyllic hillside in Piedmont, where you will find that they are one of the top producers in the region. It's described as a true "family-run" operation, with many different family members pitching-in to help.

While he didn't speak much English, what spoke to me most was the passion in his wine-making, evident and eloquent in every sip, slurp and even the eventual big gulp. Of course, I'm just kidding of course as I was spitting that afternoon, but you get the idea [too bad big-gulps in this setting are not optional].

I had the opportunity to taste through a nice swath of his portfolio and I have to say that overall I was very impressed with the wines being poured yesterday. Even the unusual late harvest wine, [called Arcass] whichI sampled yesterday, produced from the Arneis grape [had me thinking of orange/apricot marmalade] was fantastically engaging wine,sporting obviousviscosity, length of flavors, with a nice pop of acid to carry the abundant dried-fruit. If you'd like to read more about this wine and take an indepth look at this style of dessert wine, here's a link to read more.

In Piedmont region, many vino-sapiens are quite aware that while Barbera may play second fiddle to Nebbiolo, which is the grape behind Barbaresco and Barolo. But that doesn’t meanlocals and even the garden varitety cork-dorks in the know, haven’t embraced it as a red-wine they can drink all-year-round with all sorts of food.

Nebbiolo and Barbera are grapes where you'll find higher acidity and often sport a definite note of bing-cherry. But they part ways whenit comes timeto get some grape-skin in the game. You'll find many [not all] Nebbiolo based wines can have anintense tannin structure, but little color, from its skins.While on the other hand, Barbera can be a deep, dark ruby color,withmedium to lowtannins.

Because Barbera is inherently low in tannins, the use of barriques has beenintroduced toimpart some much-needed wood tannin into the wine. It’s a fairly new approach [in the context of Italian wine-making history] to enhance this wine’s structure, complexity andalso a way to softenor take the burr off the saddle of Barbera’s tart acidity. So of course the operative phrase, when it comes to producing outstanding Barbera is the "judicious use of oak" simply stated too much oak, is nothing but a joke.

While it is generally agreed that the bestproducing area for Barbera wines is that of Asti region, the wine in today's review spotlight comes from the D'Alba region where you'll find many tasty Barolo and Barbaresco wines. But believe this wine is no slouch, when it comes to flavor, length and complexity.

The best vintages [2003 was definitely one of them] with age, tend to sport a garnet core, but this winewasstill leaning toward the ruby side of the equation.The nose right away gave away the plot-line to the upcoming show; velvety, harmonious quality of considerable elegance in the dark-fruit to earth ratio.

Soon as I got this wine from the glass into my mouth, boom, what hit my palate was a very pleasant, easy to drink wine, which oozed elegance and power. A wine I foundharmonious and tasty at the same time. The finish sails on and on, while it shouts-out, I'm achef’s dream, because it displays such exceptional versatility, when it comes to food pairing. It’s a wine that would make a nice addition to any restaurants wine-list. I scored this wine 92 points; it sells for about $35 most places, well worth the price of admission, Barbera at its best! Until next time folks sip long and prosper cheers!

Read Full Wine Blog Post


Friends of Winewonks

Wine Spectator Online

#1 Online Wine Store

Manage Your Cellar

PokerStars Bonus Code

PokerStars Marketing Code

Check out some More Wonks Blog Communities!

Whether you like Baseball Blogs, Basketball Blogs, Beer Blogs, Car Blogs, Football Blogs, Poker Blogs, Wine Blogs....there is a Wonks Community you will enjoy!

WineWonks.com is owned and operated by Dimat Enterprises.


More about Dimat
"Dimat" is a major Poker Book publisher, with a popular Poker Forum, which originated from the book Internet Texas Holdem, by Matthew Hilger. Internet Poker Rankings tracks the top online poker players. Poker Bonos Gratis was designed to bring Free Poker Gifts to the Spanish Speaking Market.