winegal detroit

night out...

Recently I had the pleasure of taking Dave up on an offer to stop in to the "Rock" for a personalized beer tasting.  I met a few friends out that way, had an amazing dinner and then invited them along as well.  Tastings of any sort are sooo much better with friends.

 

We arrived fairly late in the evening and were able to score comfy seats at the bar. We ordered a few drinks and settled in.  I am simply amazed at times at how much is around that I am unaware of.  I have been to Big Rock on several occasions but was not cognizant of the fact that they were a brewery as well.  (I know, how awful of me, blame it on the wine)  However, I am glad to say that I now know more and am able to share.

Dan Rogers is the Brewmaster and has a long list of awards to attest to his mettle. They stock four signature beers and then a specialty and seasonal beers that change with great frequency.  The marketing is hip and the beer even better.  My tasting was great with everything ranging from deep floral notes to unctuous bourbon tinged stouts. Now I don't fancy myself a beer drinker but, when I do it normally involves the words stout, nut brown or porter.  While I found my tasting to be fun and informative it was at the last minute when I received a snifter full of dark brew that I fell head over heels.  

Flying Buffalo Imperial Stout was different.  Creamy and smooth it had a curious port like quality.  Smoky and roasted with dark fruits.  It is aged in bourbon barrels which imparts the most wonderful aftertaste of chocolate and bourbon making it absolutely appealing.  This is the tall dark and handsome that you should finish your night with. And if you were hoping to take it home; that option is available.  Bottles run $7.95 and you won't need many as it is around 12%.  

If you have never made it out this way, then you should.  The beers are great and they have the perfect late night snacks to accompany them.  Who wouldn't love truffled french fries and stout?

                                       

                                        My version of tall dark and handsome....

 

                                         

                                         and this would be Dave our host...

outcast...

                                                            

With a name like Outcast you have to know I was already on board.   Always a big fan of the quirky, the label piqued my attention.  A lone cowboy overlooking an expansive vista of modern design. Let's just say the juice certainly did not disappoint.  Not to mention the tag line on their website reads; "Dark and brooding, this wine is not for the faint of heart.  This release is a bold representation of what California Cabs are known for - Extravagance."

The nose will get you lost in a dizzying spell of sumptuous scents.  Deep blackberry and cocoa with a faint hint of cedar to round it out.  It is hot enough to make your eyes water at a whopping 14.91% and even if it weren't you might still shed a tear.  This chewy mouthful of Paso Robles fruit will make you say WOW!!! 

It delivers a dense powerhouse combination of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Syrah and 5% Mouvedre.  Blackberry, blueberry, cocoa and a generous pinch of spice.  With a healthy dose of acidity and an extremely long chocolate loaded finish; this one is sure to appease your fruit mongering senses.  

I decided to have it with gorgonzola smothered gnocchi and a mid-rare New York...  I can't say YUMMY enough.  Thank you Chef Steve!!! 

                 

 Contemplating an Outcast...

 

tilt-o-whirl...

 

                                                     
 

Sometimes life starts to spin so fast that you loose your breath, and everything is going so fast that it makes you nauseous.  It reminds me of the tilt-o-whirl.  Just when you think you can't take it any longer; you reach the top and for just one second you look out and everything is absolutely perfectly still.  You get a completely fresh perspective, catch your breath and then the swirling begins again. Sometimes a fresh perspective is all we need to reset our world.  

That being said, sometimes even our old favorites need a new perspective. The Arch Terrace 2006 Malbec by Terra Blanca is just that.  A Malbec grown in the Columbia Valley with all the spice of South America and yet the headsy lush fruit of Washington State...I am so in.

This amazing dark purple beauty opens with plum, blackberry, cherry and plenty of spice. Ultimately lush and super ripe on the palate it offers an abundance of juicy fruits and a long lingering peppery finish.  With a touch of ink this terroir driven Malbec is a nice departure from the usual suspects from this region.  With enough tannin and backbone to stand up to some seriously spicy dishes it also has enough fruit to drink all by its lonesome.

Like I have said in the past, Washington State is offering some absolute bargains and fresh perspectives... 

What on earth are you waiting for? 

                                                

 

 

rye...

                                                          


Rye whiskey... search on Spotify and countless songs pop up.  Take the time to listen and yes, most consist of a banjo and some serious twang.  It would seem that whiskey and music go way back.  So how is it that I found the time to know this?  You may wonder; even I wonder.  Being the winegal there is always room for a challenge. Recently that challenge was Bourbon and Whiskey.  This required extensive research on my part and research always requires music.  Music, whiskey and research? really? I LOVE my job.  

Now if you know me, you probably would say that you have seen me drinking just about anything other than whiskey.  Just never seemed my forte.  With a little age and some exposure I have learned that this only applies to cheap whiskey.  Now, I am still not much more than an occasional sipper, but have learned to enjoy it.  (And ohhh the joy of a True Irish Coffee with Michael Collins: the brown sugar, the hint of vanilla, the real whip cream...oh yes, I digress.)

I recently hosted a tasting which included 2 Bourbons, 2 Scotchs, an Irish Whiskey and a Rye Whiskey. The surprising treat was the Rye.  The Bulleit Rye Whiskey is made using 95% rye. The highest percentage of all the Rye Whiskeys and a great reason to select it.  It shows its personality from the get go.   It offers tobacco, spice and even a slight touch of honey. It is not as sweet as bourbon, but is spicy and sweet none the less.  On the palate it is smooth, rounded and has some zip.  It is hot in a way that I am not used to and I find it very pleasing. After a few sips I can even find a bit of cherry in there.  Perfectly lovely.  So if you are a fan of whiskies you should definitely get yourself a bottle of this rye and give it a go.  Want to be daring buy the Bulleit Bourbon and Rye for a side by side tasting.  No better way to learn the difference.  Just be sure to put your nose in the glass, close your eyes and take a long good whiff, it really is delightful.

                                     

something new...

                                                    

I drove along carefully, as big sloppy snow flakes plopped onto the windshield, making my way to work.   Examining the quiet and wonder that snowfall brings, I studied the city from a fresh perspective.  Everything becomes more engaging with a fresh look.  Cruising along I began to ponder my promise of new things for a new year.  Chances, opportunities and of course new wines... but not just new wines.  This year I have added whiskey, beer and assorted other concoctions.  The adventure of it all makes me giddy.  

When it comes to trying new things I generally lean toward the ones I can pronounce, however, sometimes it is the ones I can't that are the most exciting.  Pineau Des Charentes hits the mark on all counts; difficult to say, obscure, hard to categorize, French and deliscious.  

Chateau D'Orignac has been producing Cognac and Pineau des Charentes for centuries.  The Pineau des Charentes is made using 2/3rds Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot must and 1/3rd Cognac.  It is then aged for 5 years in French Oak.  The result is an absolutely delightful treat.

The first thing you will notice is the more substantial alcohol level of this wine, 18% to be exact.   Next you will notice a nutty and honeyed fragrance both delicate and complex.  On the palate you will discover apricots, golden raisins, peaches and a touch of almonds.  It finishes with an intense nuttiness that lingers on and on.  Sweet and complicated with a bit of heat, it is surely destined to be a new favorite.  

Serve it ice cold and add a blue cheese plate for a new twist on dessert.  Go ahead, be adventurous.  A bottle of Pineau can last for three weeks once opened, giving you ample opportunity to explore it.  

 

                                    

 

under the dreaming tree...

                        

As winter descends upon us, leaves and then returns again; we are left to deal with the ultimate seasonal disillusionment.  Christmas came and went without snow, heavy rains in January and of course the gray days that seem endless...

How does one cope?  Perhaps like me you begin to insert your own weather in these long days. You dream of snow covered streets, crisp morning air as you dash to your car or the sting of cold as it invades your senses.  Perhaps you go big and daydream about the summer sun and sand between your toes or just laying around on a lazy Sunday under a tree.

Well, if I am dreaming than it would most likely include a great bottle of wine and plenty of music.  I firmly believe that life should have it's own soundtrack.  

The Dreaming Tree 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is a dark and sultry North Coast treat.  It is a soulful collaboration between musician Dave Matthews and winemaker Steve Reeder.  The bouquet presents with juicy blackberry, herbs, tobacco and plenty of dusty terroir.  It is much softer on the palate with luscious dark berries, cherry and plenty of spicy notes.  It is slightly dry with a strong structure and lingering acidity.  The tannins dance softly on your palate while the long legs tango in your glass.  The bottle sports lovely artwork of a tree done in raised ink.  All in all a great drinking wine that will perhaps break you out of the winter doldrums and curb your longing for summer days in which you can linger under the dreaming trees.

 

                                

                                 

 

 

Check it out!

Thank you much for the mention.

eatitdetroit.com

a new year...

                                                                          

As the new year is upon us there is so much to consider... while people were busy making new years resolutions, I was as usual serving up wine recommendations.  It occurred to me that so many of us travel the safest path not only in life but in our every day choices. Well, as Nina Simone has so eloquently put it "it's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me!"

Many moons ago when I was much newer at my job, I had the opportunity to serve a Master Sommelier.  He reviewed the list and asked my opinion on a particular German Riesling.  I told him that it was a stellar selection but that I was not particularly fond of Rieslings.  He turned his head and very loudly declared me an "a**hole".  Now as you might imagine I was not only completely shocked but also incredibly put off.  I managed to survive the night with my pride in my pocket and continued to think about his comment.  

 I purchased said bottle of wine and took it home to figure out what could be so amazing about it.  Now it was sharp, crisp and so acidic that it made my face hurt.  I was at a total loss.  I pulled out some fruit, cheese and crackers.  It was here that the magic happened. The cheese cut the acidity, the fruit added a touch of softness and the Riesling simply became brilliant.  The light bulb had gone on and while Riesling still makes my face ache; I do enjoy it with a cheese course.

So while you may absolutely love Cabernet; perhaps stepping outside of your comfort zone will lead to a beautiful moment.   Try something new, something that might scare you. Live life a bit more adventurously.  Make room for something new this year and enjoy a new dawn, a new day and a great life.

Happy New Years!!!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8tuTSi6Sck

                          

a new blend...

Today, I was walking up Woodward in downtown Detroit... it truly struck me how much it has changed in the 30 plus years since I was a wide eyed child.  My Mother and I would take a yearly trip to Hudsons for the annual coat sale.  We would ride the Woodward bus and then go to the 5 & Dime across the street.  We would sit at the old soda fountain counter and get a snack.  Woodward has been revitalized and looks much more modern now.  Compuware now sits on the old Hudsons site, buildings are under renovation everywhere and someone has been very busy keeping all the empty windows decorated. Enormous Christmas trees line the strange parking structure that occupies the block before Compuware and it actually looks great.  The Christmas spirit is everywhere, strangely magical, similar to what I remember.

They say that progress is painful, but sometimes it is a complete wonder how quickly it can happen.  Buildings change before your very eyes, new signs touting shops and businesses, behind each one is someones dream in the making.  I have long held true to the notion that Detroit is full of the most amazing people trying so very hard to make their dreams a reality.  It is wonderful to see it coming to fruition.  It made me so happy as I walked back up Woodward in the cold morning air to see my city unfolding, alive with people and hope... the blending of my memories old and new alive in my imagination.

In honor of blending I want to introduce to you Peach Canons Cirque Du Vin.  An amazing kitchen sink blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Merlot, Petit Verdoh and Malbec.  The fruit is grown in Paso Robles giving it that super lush and very ripe profile. Each of the grape varietals is individually fermented and aged before blending, thus giving the wine maker absolute control over the finished product.  

Opening up with a huge nose of currants, blackberry, leather and spice; it is intriguing. On the palate it is a bit of an explosion offering all of the above and then some; cherries, herbs and some toasted oak making it even more complex.  It has some serious acidity and backbone with a touch more delicate tannins.  At 14.5% it is a warm flush of velvetty goodness.  This wine offers just about anything you might want in a wine and everything you would expect in a higher priced bottle.  Surprisingly it can be had at entry level.  

Do yourself a favor and give this lovely little blend a shot.  

 

                    

falls perfect pair...

Food and wine pairing is an art unto itself and when done properly can illicit the most ridiculous of reactions...  I recently had a spicy butternut squash soup with Robert Mondavi's 2010 Fume Blanc.  This pairing was nothing short of divine.  I could barely utter a sensible sound and even felt embarrassed by just how amazing these two were together.  

The soup was pure fall, a roasted butternut with cayenne pepper, the tiniest bit of cream and topped with a lovely sherry.  This in itself was sinful but with the crisp and acidic bite of the wine it was over the top.  The Fume Blanc by Robert Mondavi has some serious oak lending it a wonderful masculinity that complemented the sweet and softer side of the butternut squash. Served ice cold the Fume Blanc cut the heat from the cayenne and in all to short a time they both disappeared.  What a travesty...

The Fume Blanc by itself is a blend of crisp, acidic and shocking sauvignon blanc balanced by a strong and headsy oakiness.  For purists this may seem sacrilege but, I have to be honest, I found it delightful.  It was a bit easier to drink even without food because the racing acidity had mellowed and it carried itself a bit more complex than it's South American counterparts. Offering peach, nectarine and even some guava on the bouquet; it is whole cluster pressed and aged sur lie making for a lush and creamy mouthfeel that is just perfect. 

 Either way I think this pairing is simple enough to achieve and you too could be left speechless...

 

        

 Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate our anniversary the other night.  It was amazing as always to be surrounded by so many great people.  

Marilena and Alessandro I just have to say and additional Thank You!!!   Vosges is my all-time favorite...