The Show: Brought to you by the folks at three thieves, this wine sports a flashy label of an old western cowboy poster. The wine itself does not have anything unpleasent about it, yet it's label seems to be the best thing about this wine. While I have always been a fan of the three thieves boxed wines, it appears that the same care of quality didn't go into The Show. The wine is thin, light, and while it drinks fine, it's by no way a show stopper. (80)
Greetings and welcome to the East of Napa wine blog. This blog will include wine reviews and ratings based on a detailed 100-point scale for wines that you can easily find nationwide.
I have tasted 1000's of wine and love finding the hidden gems in a world with wine prices going through the roof. Looking at that bottle of Caymus, Silver Oak, or First-Growth Bordeaux and drooling? Well, I am here to tell you there are tons of wine just as good and in some cases better, that are a fraction of the price. In addition we'll be posting wine related articles and recipe pairings for wines.
Drink Up!
ONLINE WINE STOREThe Total Insider
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Friday, September 26, 2008
Review: Palazzo Red Blend
Palazzo Red Blend 2004 New world wine based on old world style. Very nice stuff. I do have to say that I think this wine is a bit over priced, that aside, it is very, very good. Made of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon this wine brings complexity and power, but also follows it with an elegance. This wine should be decanted, it needs to breathe and open prior to drinking. Palazzo is also a great choice for cellar aging if you want to put a nice bottle down for a few years. Ruby with wonderful nose, Palazzo brings light yet firm scents of spiced cherry and light cedar. Huge flavors and textures comes through with currants, blackberry, oak, smoke, vanilla, coffee, and tobacco. A nice bite of alcohol is followed by firm tannins. 92 - The Perfect Recipe for this Wine is: Pan Seared Ribe-eye Steak with Porcini and Rosemary
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Finger Lakes Wine Trail
Let's have a toast! The Cayuga Wine Trail in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York is celebrating 25 years this September.
The trail started in 1983 with five wineries. Today the trail consists of 16 family-owned wineries, and is part of Finger Lakes Wine Country, the largest producer of New York wines.
During the monthlong celebration, each of the 16 wineries will host an event to celebrate harvest season.
Events include a "Some Like it Hot" festival at the Hosmer Winery...
More...
Pomegranate Wine
For centuries, the pomegranate has been recognised as a superfruit, containing A, B, and C vitamins as well as being rich in antioxidants. Truly, it is one of nature's wonders, and for the past five years an Israeli family, the Nachmias, have been bottling pomegranate as a wine.
Now, this wine is about to become available in the UK for the first time – and deserves to become popular if the dessert wine we sampled is anything to go by. After chilling it in the fridge as instructed for several hours before drinking, we uncorked it to be met with a pleasantly fruity smell which called out 'try me'.
And we were not disappointed. The taste of the wine is sweet and rich, and slips down very easily. Although it is a dessert wine, it tastes just as good when served as dinner wine with a steak meal – or you can enjoy it on its own afterwards.
Read More....Something Jewish
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Sauvignons to Savour
Cabernet Sauvignon at best is a deep-red wine with a firm structure from tannins which leave a grip or dryness in the mouth after you have swallowed it.
Flavours can suggest plums or berries, and there is often a hint of spice, cedar, chocolate or coffee from ageing in toasted oak.
Sometimes there's a vegetal hint, which adds excitement and complexity.
However, unripe grapes can make the vegetal character unpleasant and the wine thin and mean.
Cabernet sauvignon is best with red meats or full-flavoured vegetable or cheese dishes.
More....Otago Daily Times
Wine: Frost and Drought
There is somewhat of a romantic notion surrounding winemaking.
We tend to picture grape growers and winemakers tending to their vineyards, crushing grapes, fermenting their bounty and then sitting back enjoying the liquid fruits of the harvest. For anyone who has participated in a grape harvest or any other substantial fruit harvest, the above notion can quickly dissipate. It is hard work, not to mention nerve-racking and frustrating, as is the case this year.
"It's a tough year to be a farmer," said Matt Hatcher of Hatcher Winery in Murphys. "We are seeing the result of the damaging frost from late last April."
But Hatcher thinks there are some upsides. The fruit appears to be terrific, said Hatcher, and it is an early harvest.
"We'll be done by mid- October at this rate. No worry about working into late November this year," he said.
Dave Wend of Wend Tyler Vineyards echoes Hatcher's opinion on the harvest's quality. He picked his Modesto chardonnay vineyard last week, and it appears to have escaped most of the frost.
"Yields are definitely down, but they show good quality and sugars."
Read More @ the Modesto Bee
Review: Montebelli Fabula Rossa Monteregio
Montebelli Fabula Rossa Monteregio 2005 - Mmmmm, made of Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, and Canaiolo, this wine is a wonderful! Even more amazing is that it only costs about $12.00. A great rating and price for this wine. Ruby, very aromatic, and notes of cedar and cherry linger. Wow!
The mouth feel is outstanding and while dry has juicy cherry, followed by cedar,smoke, coffee, and vanilla. Complex wine? Oh, yes! Full bodied and classic italian. (94) - The Perfect recipe for this wine is:Pasta with Bolognese Sauce
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Review: Fratelli d'Italia Pinot Noir
I know, Pinot Noir from Italy?! I was not expecting much from this Pinot Noir when my glass was poured. And, while not an amazing Pinot Noir, it was suprised....in a good was. This Pinot Noir was a very nice wine. Very nice ripe cherry nose, inviting nose, and a classic fresh flavor that the wine is known for. Cherry and strawberry, oak, mint, and a touch of coffee permiate this wine. Dry with good mouth feel, fairly complex, and a light body. Pinot Noir has gotten to be ones of those wine you generally have to pay for to get anything good, this is a rare exception. At About $11 a bottle it's probably the best Pinot Noir I've tasted under $25.(88) The perfect recipe for this wine is: Grilled Salmon with Basil Aioli
Friday, September 12, 2008
Review: Finca Flichman Gestos
Finca Flichman Gestos 2007: Hmmm...different malbec. I am a big fan of Finca Flichman wines. Dedicado and Tupangato are sublime and amazing, even their $10 range wines are great buys. Gestos however is a bit different though. It is a malbec wine that is 50% high elevation grapes and 50% low elevation grapes...interesting concept. Anyway, the wine is juicy with a background of earth, yet maintains a fruity complexity.
For those who don't like dry wines, this is a good bet. Lot of black fruit here. This is a perfect wine for BBQ's though I would not serve this to guests(see next comment). One warning, this wine has lots of histamines in it, so if you are sensative or have allergies you will probably get a small headache.(83) The perfect recipe for this wine is:BBQ Ribs with Molasses Bourbon Sauce
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Free Wine Reviews and Recipes
Thanks for visiting East of Napa - Free Wine Reviews, Ratings, and Recipes. Check out our online store for great wine gifts and wine t-shirts. You'll find great reviews and ratings here for wines such as plumpjack, cakebread, chimmney rock, mondavi, stags leap, frogs leap, as well as first-growth bordeaux!
Wine Gifts and Accesories - T-shirts
East of Napa Wine Reviews / Wine Ratings and Recipes is proud to announce great wine t-shirts and wine gifts. In addition to free recipe and wine ratings and wine reviews from Napa Valley, Finger Lakes, Bordeaux, and Italy we now have wine t-shirts and wine gifts available. Please visit out wine gift store!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Review: Armani Pinot Grigio 2005
Armani Pinot Grigio Vigneto Corvara 2005: Mmmmm. If you like great Pinot Grigio you must try this offering from Armani. trust me...if you are still behind the curve and drinking Santa Margarita , you MUST try Armani.
They make a variety of Pinot Grigio and all eclipse Santa Margarita in quality, and at $16.99 it's less expensive. Anyway, this wine is very elegant with lemon and apple on the nose and very aromatic. Apple, peach, apricot, vanilla and a hint ofg oak brinf this medium bodied and complex Pinot Grigio to life. Well Done! (89)





