2006 Andezon Côtes du Rhône

I am noticing that I am drinking a lot of Southern Rhône wines.

This became apparent today at the local Fred Meyer when I was choosing a bottle for tonight. All I was looking at were Rhône or Rhône Style wines. No Alsatian whites, no Aussie Shiraz, no Argentinian Malbecs. Just Rhône. I am boring myself, can't even imagine what you people are thinking.

Rhône wines are like comfort food for me. Rhônes are my Shepherd's Pie, my meatloaf, my fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy. It's winter. It's dark. It's rainy. I am away from my family. Rhône's somehow, in a small way, make me feel just a bit better. I do drink other wines. I do drink white wines even. Just not now, not tonight. Tonight I need the warm, spicy comfort of the Southern Rhône. Tonight? Andezon, purchased at the newly remodled Hawthorne Fred Meyer in Portland Oregon, $11.99

I'll start with the nose, like always. Very earthy. Kind of like potting soil. Lavender. I like. The wine is very concentrated, very structured, very...wait. What is that? This, sour tasting funk? You know how you meet someone and the first date goes oh so well and you're excited and giddy and thinking "you know, I think this is it"! Then you meet for the second, and you start seeing, well, little things. Like, he talks really loud or he's mean to the server and you realize that what you thought was great and wonderful is really just...average? It has a good reputation. "Oh this is fabulous" the wine steward said. Parker gave it 90 points (though he and I don't agree on too much) It's like that. I wanted to like it, I really needed to like it. But, I just. Didn't. I am regretting passing up the Malbec that was wooing me from the corner. Maybe a bit more time? Decanting perhaps? Maybe just two star crossed lovers who just couldn't make it work this time around.

Rhône and I are on a break.

Post Script.

After I publish a blog I usually google the wine I just reviewed to compare the opinion of others to see if I am 'up in the night' (like my sister says) about a wine, or if the opinions are similar. Apparently compared to other reviews I am waaaay out in left field. Nothing but raves. I did notice that in other reviews this wine was paired with (usually) heavy fare. "Shepherd's Pie" seems to be a favorite. To clarify I did not pair this with anything tonight, except the newsletter I've been working on for Syncline. It did make me smile when I read a review on Wine Advovate likening Rhône wines to comfort food.

In Fine Rouge

In Fine Rouge was my other selection from Wilderness Wines the other day, and for $9.99 am seriously impressed with this find. This delicious wine is 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah, aged 8 months in concrete tanks from The Côtes du Ventoux AOC in the Southern Rhone. Oh Bonjour!

This is the kind of wine this blog was created for. Small family owned and operated, biodynamic and substainable farming practices, small production handcrafted wine. This is value wine nirvana.

It has a wonderfully expressive nose, bright berries and violet. Seriously, I just had my nose in my glass for about three minutes. Smooth cherry and raspberry flavors with a little licorice spice on the finish. Paired with burgers and fries. My ex-husband's tasting notes? "Wow, really good."

Where to buy

2005 Villalta Ripasso Valpolicella

I wanted to do something nice for my ex-husband. I know that probably sounds odd, but I am staying with him for ten days while I am in Maine so I thought cooking a nice Italian dinner paired with a nice Italian wine would be, er, nice.

After purchasing all the necessary ingredients at the local IGA, I stopped into Wilderness Wines for a bottle or two. While browsing the Italian section (all 7 bottles) I decided on the 2005 Villalta Ripasso Valpolicella. I am a big fan of Valpolicella wines and for $9.99 why not? Except that I wasn't wearing my glasses, and once I pulled my debit card out I discovered $9.99 was actually $19.99. Er. Well. I'm too shy to put anything back so I sucked it up.

This is a blend of Corvina Veronese, Rondinella, and Molinara, and being a Ripasso the wine is passed over semi-dried grapes used to make Amarone, inducing a secondary fermentation (see Bob, I know what I am talking about, ok?). It is rich with tobacco and meat, silky tannins and a long finish. For $9.99 I would say Bellissimo! Or is it Bellissima? For $19.99 I'd still say Bellissimo! But with ten fewer dollars in my wallet. My ex-husbands review? "This is good".

Tomorrow night, it's back to France! Stay tuned my fellow winos.

Rangeley Maine

I am on vacation in Northern Maine. I know, it's January. Who in their right mind goes to Maine in January. Me. Long story.

Wine options are limited up here, but if you find yourself in Rangeley Maine, January or anytime of the year, check out Wilderness Wines. They don't have a website I can direct you to, but they do have an insanely eclectic selection of unheard of and hopefully interesting wines out here in the middle of nowhere. Very fun stuff.

I just got paid so I'll pick up an obscure bottle to try tonight, I'll let you know how it goes. In the mean time I am sipping a Domaine Saint Michelle Brut to celebrate the swearing in of our new President. I needed bubbly and had my choice of this, a Korbel Extra Dry, and a NV Veuve Cliquot that I could purchase for $62.00. Seeing as this is the same bottle that has been sitting at the Rangeley IGA for the past three years in an overheated corner, I went with Ste. Michelle. No review, it's just serving it's purpose.

Obamanos!

Big Nose Red

One of the perks of working in the wine industry is...wine. Shady Grove Winery is about to release it's 2007 Cuvée Gratziella, a blend of Tempranillo and Juan Garcia. Factoid for you, this is the first Juan Garcia grown in the state of Washington. I was able to get a preview the other day, and am blown away by this wine. I'll keep you updated on when it's released and where it will be available. In the mean time, try Shady Grove's Big Nose Red-if you can find it. A full bodied blend of three different Spanish variatels. At $14.00 it's a fun, big, raspberry cola, dark fruit, currant, heypeoplejustdroppedbyunexpectedlylet'sbreakthisopen table wine, and with my industry discount I can drink it everyday. Nah nah.

PS- Thanks to my five readers for your encouragement and feedback, it means a lot.

Bourbon

This is a wine blog.

I've been on a bit of a bourbon kick lately. I blame the snow. Starting tomorrow I'll lay off the bourbon and be right back on wine.

Thank you for your patience.