TaylorEason.com: Foodies unite » Everyday

Affordable everyday Wine review: Smoking Loon 2009 Zinfandel California

Taylor Eason — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:31:46 +0000

When people talk about "everyday" wine, I've sometimes wondered exactly what they mean. Is it a wine that goes with all sorts of food so it can be consumed without care? Is it a simple wine that that can appeal to many different palates? Or is it an inexpensive wine that you can afford to sip everyday? Family-owned by Sonoma County's Sebastiani and Sons, Smoking Loon wants to be all that and more.

Wine review: Vin Parfait 2009 Chardonnay California

Taylor Eason — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 23:07:01 +0000

Although the pitch is transparently focus-grouped and massaged, Vin Parfait [PAR fay] 2009 Chardonnay was a crowd-pleaser at a recent blind tasting. But it's predictable, non-distinctive and sweet.

Wine review: The best $5 bubbly you can buy — M. Chevallier Cava

Taylor Eason — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:33:50 +0000

I tasted the black label M. Chevallier Carte Noire Cava with trepidation and suppressed my high hopes, attempting to give it a fair and balanced assessment (which is tough without tasting blind). But I was pretty damn impressed. That was a few months ago. Now, it's my house pour on a Sunday morning, sometimes mixed with tangerine or orange juice for mimosas, sometimes straight up. It all depends on what kind of eggs we're having.

Wine review: Trentadue 2009 Old Patch Red Alexander Valley

Taylor Eason — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:38:02 +0000

Red blends appear to be all the rage these days, and I'm all for it. Many times, single varietal wines can be one dimensional and flat, lacking in personality or interest. But mix in some other grapes and beautiful things happen. The Europeans, of course, have known this non-secret for eons, especially in Bordeaux, France and most parts of Spain and Italy. And Trentadue has known this for 30 years.

Wine review: Estancia 2009 Pinot Noir Monterey Pinnacles Ranch

Taylor Eason — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:00:25 +0000

Even generic, corporate-owned wineries like Estancia can make good wine if they have great fruit from Monterey, specifically their Pinnacles Ranch vineyard. And another thing corporate wineries have to offer is lower prices. Like under $15 for a pretty decent Pinot.

Wine review: The Climber Unoaked California Chardonnay in a pouch

Taylor Eason — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:22:46 +0000

The tasty Climber Chardonnay is part jumbo juicebox, part boxed wine. The pouch houses 2 bottles of wine with 90% less waste than glass. And... it's quite drinkable. Even tasty. What's more... it's affordable and 1% of sales go towards Trees for the Future organization.

Wine review: Banfi 2008 Centine Toscana

Taylor Eason — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:20:05 +0000

When I explored the limitless wines of Italy's Tuscany wine region during a trip last year, I became enamored of the high quality "Toscana IGT" labeled reds. These simple table wines helped salve my weary wallet, already weathered by the leather purse and jacket shops of Florence. But they weren't just inexpensive -- they were high quality sangiovese-based reds, reminiscent of the more expensive Chianti which normally cost a lot more money but often aren't worth it.

Wine review: Tormaresca 2008 Neprica Puglia (Italy)

Taylor Eason — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:49:07 +0000

Bravo to this deliciously affordable Italian red wine, made from two grapes few have heard of -- Negroamaro and Primitivo (the Italian equivalent to Zinfandel) -- and the ubiquitous Cabernet Sauvignon. Neprica also hails from an obscure region in Italy, Puglia -- the heel of the boot -- where vineyard land doesn't fall into the ranks of the absurdly expensive. Puglia (also called Apulia) is an up-and-coming wine region, having shod their former lowly, bulk wine rep, and now competes successfully in the international red blend market.

Wine review: Carmel Road 2009 Riesling Monterey and Carmel Road 2009 Pinot Gris Monterey

Taylor Eason — Sun, 29 May 2011 14:48:14 +0000

I wished I lived on Carmel Road, 'cause maybe I could stop by any random Tuesday night and swap some tomatoes for wine. Yes, I would gladly give up homegrown tomatoes -- perhaps my favorite thing on earth besides wine -- for their wine. Based in cool climate Monterey, Carmel Road winery excels at everything that excels in cooler weather - Pinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. And for under $20 per bottle. Perhaps it helps to have a successful parent company -- Kendall Jackson Wine Estates - looking out for them, but winemaker Ivan Giotenov has his eye on the ever moving vinous ball. And consumer tastes.

Wine review: Snoqualmie Naked 2008 Merlot Columbia Valley

Taylor Eason — Mon, 16 May 2011 14:26:23 +0000

Snoqualmie is owned and operated by the fine folks who bring us Columbia Crest and Chateau Ste. Michelle wines in Washington State. Per their corporate mantra, this is a good value wine that's well made but there's one added benefit to this brand: Snoqualmie practices sustainable and organic grape growing.

Wine review: Santa Christina 2009 Chianti Superiore

Taylor Eason — Tue, 10 May 2011 14:21:33 +0000

Tuscany is home to Chianti, likely the most famous wine region on the planet. The straw baskets have been discarded for sleek bottles and modern winemaking went mainstream here about 20-25 years ago. Santa Cristina, made by Italy's Antinori wine family, is most definitely part of this modern revolution yet still maintains a traditional Chianti style.

Five refreshing white wines for spring and summer

Taylor Eason — Tue, 03 May 2011 14:25:07 +0000

Warmth is finally peeking out from underneath the underbelly of winter, escaping to where people wear shorts and sandals. When the mercury rises to this level, it's difficult to slurp red wine, so I recommend these five inexpensive white and sparkling wines that should quench the thirst tugging at your tongue.

Wine review: 181 2008 Merlot Lodi Valley (California)

Taylor Eason — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:53:59 +0000

Located southeast of Sacramento near California’s eastern edge, Lodi Valley isn’t romantic, sophisticated wine "country" (yet), but it’s got the hip enviro edge. Lodi is so serious about the health of its land, growers there formed a trade group, Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission (LWWC), which in 1992 laid down its environmental imperatives in a farming manifesto, "Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing." Thus the 181 Merlot was produced from grapes exposed to less pesticides.

Wine review: Mulderbosch 2008 Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch (South Africa)

Taylor Eason — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:03:05 +0000

In new world regions like South Africa, Chenin Blanc transforms. They often call this white grape "Steen" in South Africa. And the Mulderbosch Chenin was mistaken for a White Burgundy at a recent blind tasting... embarrassing all the certified sommeliers in attendance.

Wine review: Hess 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Allomi Vineyard Napa

Taylor Eason — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:10:12 +0000

Hess Collection is more known for its rich and extracted red wines (especially Cabs), but they a make mean white. The Allomi Vineyard sits at the base of Howell Mountain in a remote area of Napa Valley, spending its days in tourist-free peace. It's an enviable spot. Can you say secret, trespassing picnic?

Wine review: The Climber 2009 Sauvignon Blanc California

Taylor Eason — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 15:26:18 +0000

The Clif Family -- yes, the same people who make the cand...er... "nutrition" bars -- started making wine in 2004 after moving to Napa Valley. Like their bars, they source from sustainably and organically-grown vineyards (link) in northern California. Winemakers Sarah Gott and Bruce Regalia do an outstanding job with all the Clif wines, especially whites like this one.

Wine review: Glen Ellen 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Proprietor’s Reserve California

Taylor Eason — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 15:12:00 +0000

There are days when blind wine tastings (link) slap my ass and call me Sally. Like when a stereotypically derided wine brand like Glen Ellen actually represents well in the glass. It's not a tempting bottle to reach for from the samples rack on a random weeknight, so blind was the *only* way to assess it without prejudice.

Wine review: Bogle 2008 Petite Sirah California

Taylor Eason — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:58:11 +0000

Bogle Vineyards, a third generation, family-owned and -operated winery, owns 1,500 acres and isn’t beholden to a bank. That's how they can sell high quality wine at a low price. That, and they've been making Petite Sirah a long time.

Affordable wine review: Trapiche 2009 Pinot Noir Mendoza

Taylor Eason — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 15:41:11 +0000

Huh? A Pinot Noir from Argentina? Not exactly what they're known for... Malbec, yes. Pinot, not so much. But I apparently was impressed with Trapiche Pinot with their 2004 vintage as well, so they're consistently tasty.

Affordable wine reviews: Elios Mediterranean Red and White

Taylor Eason — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 15:23:29 +0000

It's probably a smart idea for the producers of these wines not to tout that the grapes hail from Greece. Although this region pretty much invented wine, Greece hasn't exactly sustained a stellar reputation in recent years. But maybe Elios can break that cycle.