Bubbly bargain

I had a good day Friday and was feeling celebratory. Champagne with dinner was proposed and accepted. These tightened economic times have put a damper on drinking the fine champagnes from France and when checking on the bubble supply, I came upon Domaine Ste. Michelle - Blanc de Blanc. While this wine has been used, on many occasion, for mimosa we usually do not drink it on a "special occasion". As it turns out this wine is a true diamond in the rough. 

Domaine Ste. Michelle comes from Washington State and is part of the Chateau Ste. Michelle portfolio, which is know for their great value wines.  The Blanc de Blanc (white wine from white grapes) is made of primarily chardonnay and offers a medium dry, delicate sparkler that tastes like a $50 bottle from France. When purchased at Glen Lake Wine and Spirits it is far from $50. You can enjoy this wonderful sparkler in Minnetonka for an awesome sale price of $10.99 per bottle! The wine opens up with pear and pineapple and also shows green apple mid pallet. For this price you should find the smallest reason to celebrate.

Special treat for steak on the grill tonight

Spring in Minnetonka, Minnesota comes and one looks for every opportunity one can to spend outside. Today was the first day in about seven months to hit 80 degrees, which absolutely screams for a barbeque. When I called home, the family requested steaks and I knew it was a necessity to bring home a bottle of cabernet to compliment this joyous spring meal. Coincidently, I just received a case of Ghost Block Cabernet Sauvignon at Glen Lake Wine and Spirits and knew this would be the perfect pairing.

This wine is a special treat as there were only 1700 cases made and I only received one case. As they say, "wine is made to be drank and there is no better time than the present". As we prepared the meal, we tried a sample (I couldn't wait until dinner was served). We found aromas of cherry, blackberry, tobacco, and spice. Mid-palate offers chocolate and coffee, and the wine finishes with toffee and cherries. These are many of my favorite characteristics found in a cabernet. I wish I could drink this wine every steak grilling night but then it would not be special.

Regarding the odd name... The vineyard borders a cemetery in Yountville and legend has it that George Yount still wanders the hillsides to this day. The wine is also 100% organic for those interested in organic products. 

Nothing says summer like sauvignon blanc

 I do like white wine. I try white wine every time it is presented to me. Half of all the wine Glen Lake Wine and Spirits sells is white. The majority of the wine I drink, for pleasure, is red. There are certain meals that insist on white wine, but even more important to me there are climates that absolutely require white wine. Summer in Minnesota is very short, but when it is here and it is time to drink wine on your deck, one has to look to a chilled white. Room temperature red becomes hot (too alcohol tasting). White is also a better compliment to foods served on the deck such as salads, yes just salads. They become so much more in the Midwest when the vegetables are fresh. I look forward to salads from November all the way until June when they become available from my garden again. Sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, white bordeaux, pinot grigio, viognier all work well for summer white on the deck but my personal favorite is sauvignon blanc. 

In preparation of our rapidly approaching summer I am getting the taste buds ready by tasting an old favorite tonight. This wine has always qualified for the perfect salad wine in the past and the 2007 Sterling - Napa Valley - Sauvignon Blanc does not disappoint tonight. The wine is dry and crisp, very refreshing for the hot summer day. It does show fruit, ripe melon and citrus, but is still dry enough to please a big red drinker. I could even enjoy this wine on an ice cold January day with no salad, but then I would be wasting a perfect red day.

 As to Sterling Vineyards, I have had the opportunity of being a guest on a few occasions. Visiting Sterling is a wonderful experience even if you are not a wine drinker. Perched 300 feet above the Napa Valley floor the winery tour begins with a tram ride up the mountain. Wow! What a view, it is one of the best in the valley. The structure itself, built with white stucco in a mission style that is bound to impress and the eight church bell's reclaimed from a 17th century English church impress even more as they chime every fifteen minutes. This winery is a must see to the Napa visitor. An extra treat over the past few years has been watching the neighbor, across the valley, build Castello di Amoroso. If an authentic Italian castle, and I mean authentic, impresses you, just check the view across the valley.

Fine wines saved for friends

We had a couple of Glen Lake Wine and Spirits staff over the other night to help us sample wine. While we could surely finish these wines on our own, it is enjoyable to share these fine wines that give us conversation pieces around work for years to come. i.e. "Ah yes remember the 2002?"

 This evening I went down to the basement and chose a couple wines that I haven't tried in a while, and thought may be approaching the end of their lives.  2002 Altamura - Napa Valley - Cabernet Sauvignon and 2001 Viader - Napa Valley Red. Those of you who know my wine tastes know that Viader is one of my favorites. This wine is small production and very few bottles make their way to Glen Lake. Those that do generally end up hidden in my wine cellar. Altamura, on the other hand, is a regular at Glen Lake Wine and Spirits. Primarily we sell sangiovese from this vineyard, but cabernet can be found.

2002 Altamura - Napa Valley - Cabernet Sauvignon.  I am always pleased (or relieved ) when opening a wine I think may be past it's prime only to taste the first lively fruit. This tells my mouth that the wine still has life and the wait was worth it. This wine showed fresh black cherry, blackberry, cocoa and currant flavors. At seven years old it still is showing like it's fresh from the vineyard.

2001 Viader - Napa Valley. The reason I consistently love this wine; cabernet franc! Viader uses large amounts in every vintage, commonly approaching half. 2001 contains 55% cabernet sauvignon and 45% cabernet franc. The sauvignon gives the wine backbone, structure, character, tannins and complexity. The Franc adds suppleness and elegance, giving the wine a lengthy and delicious finish. The winery says the wine will age well for twenty years, but I am glad I drank this bottle now. It was awesome. I cannot imagine that it would get any better with further cellar time. Any 2001 you may have left I suggest drinking at the soonest opportunity (please contact me if you need to share).