Don't Fear the Grape

2008 Banfi Rosa Regale

Price: $23.00
Varietal: 100% Brachetto d’Acqui
Region: Italy > Piemonte (Piedmont)
Website: www.rosaregale.com
Winemakers Notes: While it is appreciated as one of the few wines in the world that truly marries well with chocolate, especially dark or bittersweet, its charms extend across a palette of occasions and food pairings, from savory to sweet. On its own Rosa Regale is an elegant aperitif. Its fruity character beguiles the heat of spicy Asian and Latino fare, and its gentle acidity is an ideal foil to the piquant richness of goat cheese, especially in a spring mix salad with almonds and cranberries. Quiches, glazed hams, beets, vichyssoise, gazpacho, chowders and even the myriad of flavors at Thanksgiving dinner, all traditionally challenging wine matches, are enchanted by Rosa Regale. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, trifles and hazelnut tortes are all elevated by this frothy wine.

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Episode 46 [ 17:53 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (16)

2001 Blue Rock Syrah

Price: $40.00 (close out for $10.00)
Varietal: 100% Syrah
Region: California > Sonoma County > Alexander Valley
Website: www.bluerockvineyard.com

I really blew it on this one. The first time I had the 2001 Blue Rock Syrah, it was one of my favorite wines ever. I had been saving this wine for a time when I could share it with friends, and then blew it by not decanting this wine. This wine needs to breath for at LEAST 2 hours. Without decanting, this wine is closed and tight with very little body. But after decanting, oh boy…

The ratings listed below are based on the non-decanted 2001 Blue Rock Syrah.

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Episode 45 [ 11:55 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (26)

2010 Triacipedis and the Minotaurs Chalice

Price: $10.00
Varietal: 30% Riesling, 35% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Chardonnay
Region: California
Website: wine.woot.com
Winemakers Notes: Right out of the gate this wine is Riesling dominated with the scent of flowers, especially Jasmine and Honey Suckle and the immediate flavors are green apples with a bracing acidity. Upon airing, the aromas develop grassy notes. With only 12.0% alcohol, this wine has a nice mid-weight feel on the palate.  As the wine warms closer to room temperature, the mouth feel takes on a more rich after taste.

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Episode 44 [ 13:45 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (128)

2003 Rotllan Torra Amadis

Price: $70.00 on close out for $20.00
Varietal: 25% Grenache, 25% Carignan, 25% Cabernet Sauvingnon, 15% Syrah, 10% Merlot
Region: Spain > Priorat
Website: www.rotllantorra.com
Winemakers Notes: The Amadis 2003 vintage ranks among internationally well-reputed wines. This wine is a pleasure for the taste and the smell as red fruits and fine vanilla fragrances successively emanate from it. Its strength, due to extremely pure tannins, perfectly makes up with strongly flavored dishes.

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Episode 43 [ 24:03 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (143)

2009 Ménage à Trois

Price: $6.00
Varietal: 46% Zinfandel, 31% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California
Website: www.menageatroiswines.com
Winemakers Notes: Even if red wine is not your speed, give our Ménage à Trois Red a try. This wine exposes the fresh, ripe, jam-like fruit that is the calling card of California wine. Ménage à Trois Red brings together three strange bedfellows. On top we’ve got Zinfandel, a saucy tease that brings blackberry and raspberry jam to the relationship. Merlot, with its generous mouth feel and red fruits, fits perfectly in the middle. The rich flavors and firm tannins of Cabernet Sauvignon make it the ideal. Our 2009 Ménage à Trois exposes the fresh, ripe, jam like fruit that is the calling card of California wine. Forward, silky and soft, this delicious dalliance makes the perfect accompaniment for grilled meats or chicken.

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Episode 42 [ 19:35 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (183)