Little Italy /w/ a Big Italian Chianti Classico!!! CastelVecchi, 2012

Link To Episode 6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFQ_WsOmLys

one of the great questions of life:what is chianti classico? it is the noble red wine of tuscany primarily made from the sangiovese grape and often blended in small percentages with the canaiolo grape…growing up we all knew as the cheap and rough wine in the bottle surrounded by a basket…often kept and used for candles to drip and drip…and yes chiantis could be rough and harsh…I have often said…their worst expression is like a dusty, dirty shag carpet in your mouth…well now some great news…the gorgeous and sexy marisa visocaro, owner of Little Italy restaurant, found one of the most stunning Chianti Classicos, CastelVecchi, 2012-bright red fruit such as ripe cherries, raspberries and a depth of elegance with an addictive finish that makes me want to drink the whole bottle…i could drink this wine all day…(and i have)…of course, the obvious pairings: eggplant rollatini, mussels,  all pastas with red sauce(I love rigatoni), pizza but this wine would also be harmonious with light red meats such as burgers or a delicate steak…where to find it..@ Little Italy, 824 Afterglow, SATX, 78216 @JS Fine Wines, 638 W. Rhapsody, SATX, 78216….thank you marisa for finding this life changing chianti classico!!!

 We’re Stuck on Fruiliano!!!

Link To Episode 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmL7LrgA8qY

The most awesome Kye Silver McCammon selected a  refreshing wine to launch Summer of 2016, Scarpetta Fruiliano, 2013 that comes in under 20$$$ hailing from Northeastern Italy, Friuli, the white grape is known as fruiliano.  It has a vibrant balance of earth and fruit-fresh, ripe strawberries, stone fruit such as apricot and crunchy minerality.  I love this wine with any type of salad especially simple salads with white balsamic vinegar. It would also be tasty with any type of salami or prosciutto…speaking of great food …this wine is the project of Master Sommelier,  James  Beard Award winner , French Laundry experienced , Friuli fanatic Bobby Stuckey who  owns the world-acclaimed restaurant, Frasca in Boulder , CO…his passion for Northeastern Italy finds it way in every bottle of Scarpetta Wine…to be truly enjoyed with the light meals of summer or by itself while experiencing the  heat of summer…wc

check out this wine & his other wines: http://www.scarpettawine.com/

The Rocket Scientist Discovers A Stunning Burgundy Rouge for Under 20$$$!!!! albert bichot, bourgogne rouge, 2012

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Link To Episode 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woXHhCczlao

the brilliant, passionate and insightful aleisha weston knockenhauer discovered just recently a sassy, classic, and explosive bourgogne rouge(pinot noir from burgundy, france)…one of the most prized wine producing regions in our world for under 20$$$...albert bichot, 2012, sourced from 4 different vineyards….it fulfills all our burgundy demands…dried tart fruit, orange zest, and an earthiness that sends you somewhere else…to nirvana…perfect with all our seasonal poultry dishes-turkey, duck, quail, etc….the genius of burgundy is the pure, complex, and opulent balance that the french are masters at…this wine delivers…thank you aleisha for your discovery!!!

found at:                                    joe saglimbieni fine wines/js fine wines, 

                                         638 w. rhapsody, san antonio, tx, 78216, 210.349.5149

Saumur: Les Pouches, 2013,  Loire Valley, France …Grape: Chenin Blanc…12.99 …4200 cases produced…

Link To Ep. 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpobXY6VuOk

it has been worth the wait....all summer without a post… mr. ron bechtol…insightful wine & food reviewer for the san antonio current discovered this hidden gem @ joe saglimbenis/aka jsfine wines & spirits/aka joe sags(638 W Rhapsody, San Antonio, Texas 78216)
(210) 349-5149)…its upscale cousins made from the same grape…chenin blanc…similar terroir…sauvienneres and vouray command 25-60$$$ because they are known…this gem @ 12.99 is a steal….racy, enduring acidity /w/ crisp green apples makes this a wine to be enjoyed almost /w/ any food…I just had it with some spicy boiled gulf shrimp…perfect harmony…Kathy, the food consultant at joe sags had it /w/ mussels and reports it is stunning….this wine really really flies under the radar and once you drink it….you will want more and more….just only tell people who love wine about this gem…really would like to keep it flying under the radar especially at this price point, 12.99…the wine chairman…check out the episode #3 /w/ mr ron bechtol discussing this wine…

gessami: stunning wine chosen by the most stunning chelsey!!!

the most gorgeous chelsey(my business manager) chose this blockbuster spanish white wine that is exploding with aromas of jasmine, ripe apricot, and lychee…4 dynamic  aromatic varietals that always deliver…gewürztraminer,  2 different varietals of muscat, and the backbone of this wine- sauvignon blanc…imported by the one of the best: eric salomon(As an importer, we wish all our wines to speak distinctly of a “place”-that their expression is one of the particular locale…unobscured by winemaking interventions.”)  has the talent to find these gems from spain…origin: penedes: the home of our beloved cavas...this wine is so enticing and mesmerizing that my buddy rodman and i drank it within ½ hr. sunday nite on the wine chairman’s patio…we paired it with some lite cheeses and salamis…a must pair with thai food and of course, under 20 dollars!!!

Please watch the video….with the ever lovely chelsey and the winechairman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on3muxqwUD0

pouilly fuisse=unoaked chardonnay from burgundy,france

pouilly fuisse is a great entry to white burgundies for under $20…100 percent chardonnay and almost always no oak…great acids, great fruit flavors- green apples, guava, pineapple…tropical fruits…often these wines are very expressive and pair with summer foods such as grilled seafood, shrimp and oysters from the gulf, summer salads and light fruit and cheese plates…you can find these wines at joe saglimbienis, whole foods, central market and heb…if they don’t have a pouilly fuisse…ask for a macon…the next best wine that has similar characteristics and are under 20$$$...a great way to begin your study of white burgundies!!!  Also…here is a great website…quick and easy that i use all the time as a reference for french wines… 

http://www.terroir-france.com/

the wine chairman

malbec and bonarda…the durigutti brothers unlock the beauty of argentine malbec & bonarda!!! (both under $20 @ central market & joe saglimbeni’s!!!)

about 4 years ago, a colleague of mine presented me with a bottle of durigutti malbec for my birthday while working in houston, tx….i  took it back to my hotel  room thinking….a malbec…yuck…they are all bad…bad oak…bad alcohol…bad thinness! i opened the bottle, poured it and did the “sniffy sniff”…wow…the floral notes hit me… the fresh violets…the balance…like i never experienced with a malbec…all my wine friends began to have a love affair with this argentine star….now this week I just picked up their bonarda…bonarda is a grape that possibly came from france, italy, croatia…known as charbonno in cali, where there are some plantings…this wine is fresh rain on violets with stunning balance…both wines are awesome with red sauce, burgers, steaks or just because it is a red wine night! the chairman loves both of these wines and thanks the durigutti brothers for their attention to delivering the beauty and essence of these two grapes…malbec & bonarda…cheers…salud…nostrovia…thank you durigutti brothers!!!

take me to your bieler rose!(11.99!)

the label may look french and regal, but all you have to say when you go to your favorite wine store(central market, whole-foods, twins liquors), take me to your charles bieler rose! it is laser focused with hints of fresh rain and wild strawberries of provence, france...it is made from red grapes we love-cabernet sauvignon, grenache, syrah...it is so refreshing on these hot, sticky days by itself or with any any summer food from grilled burgers to cucumber-tofu salad!  get it now because this wine has a serious following and it may be gone before the end of the summer! check out my video review of this wine /w/ amber von cure!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKRxs1Qbv5Y&feature=youtu.be

                       sassy riesling from rheingau

($13.99, central market)

this is not your ooeeey gooey super-sweet german wine that we grew up(the blue nuns) with!....intensely floral...this wine is focused with puckering acidity injected /w/  lemon zest and red apples and fresh minerals such as flint and quartz...this wine is perfect for our hot texas summer coming in @ 11% alcohol...it is a a perfect pairing /w/ almost any type of  latin-amercan cusine such as tex-mex, interior mexican, cuban, etc. and also any type of asian food-i  love it  /w/ thai curries and with  any type of grilled poultry(i love it /w/ chicken thighs!)...and oh the winemaker , Johannes Leitz, Winemaker of the Year, so cool, so nice and so  humble!  and  for some strange reason he tours texas every june escaping the cool, perfect climate of germany to hang out /w/ us in our 100 degree, 1000 percent humidity texas summer!...you’ll find this wine @ central market or any wine store that has some degree of insight...

A Rose for Spring and Our Texas Summer!...Not Your Sweet or Gurly Rose!

Charles & Charles Rose, 2011, $12.99 @ Whole Foods & Central Market!

this is not your mother's sweet rose...it is dry, focused /w/ arresting hints of strawberry, banana and bursts of watermelon...it will virtually pair /w/ any food on the planet or will be a hit @ your fiesta soire!(viva fiesta!)  It is just refreshing to drink ice cold while planning your yard work(i do a lot of that)...i have been enjoying this wine for the last 3 vintages and this vintage is by far the most powerful!  charles smith & charles bieler are the coolest & most down to earth winemakers that are showcasing the vibrancy of washington state grapes! test a bottle asap because this wine is seasonal and is only available thru this spring/summer! it always flies off the shelf! i am enjoying a glass right now! cheers!

Malvar: A Blast of a Wine from Madrid, Spain!!!

Zestos, 2010, 100% Malvar!!! $10 @ Central Market, San Antonio(thank you heidi!)

well i was wandering around the wine dept@ central market in san antonio looking for white wines and roses because i needed to clean the patio, hose down the bird do-do, etc. and listen to frank and maybe chase a possum or two from kitty's food bowl...well as i wandered to spain because i love verdejos(previous post), i found this one...100% Malvar.....pulled out my iPad..."an obscure grape grown south of Madrid...6500 acres total in the world!!!"

It is a blast of tropical fruits and minerality(reminds me of semillon). ! i love it  and it will make cleaning that patio so much more enjoyable while watering, hosing down the bird do-do and chasing away those nasty Texas possums!!!

Cheers and check out this wine at Central Market, San Antonio, Texas  /w/ Heidi's awesome Wine Team!!! They will show you where it is on the shelf!

A Great Spring Break White Wine!!! A New Experience /w/ Verdejo!

Hermanos Lurton, Verdejo, 2010-Whole Foods,$11.99...Here is the chairman's choice for my Spring Break! This is a white grape that is from Spain from the Rueda region...this wine is full of stone-fruit, hints of honey-dew melon, fresh rain, hint of basil...no oak on this wine... pure fruit....moderate acids...low alcohol 12.5%...nicely chilled this is great for sipping in your backyard, all types of chicken dishes from chicken fajtas to baked chicken,  eating /w/ cheese plates and maybe some seafood...this is also a great wine for the boat this summer or while hanging  around some body of  Texas water! Cheers and happy spring break!!!

Experience Albarino from Espana for $10 @ Whole Foods!!!

Raimat: Albarino, 2011...i  picked up this wine tonight @whole foods...albarino is the white grape of galicia, spain...it should have some fruit like apricot or peach....higher acidity...and some minerality due to the granite and slate soils and saltiness due to the close proximity to the atlantic ocean...this wine delivers!!!...well-balanced, apricot notes, minerality, rolling acids that do not pierce the tongue and alcohol that is low...12.5% ...this allows the fruit to speak  and does not burn your throat....i am enjoying it /w/ some pork spare ribs and a portabella mushroom stuffed and broiled /w/ goat cheese, tomatoes and olive oil ...this wine would also pair /w/ chicken, some fish and seafood dishes and would be great while enjoying your favorite texas lake or river...check out this producer or another producer of albarino! cheers and enjoy!

stags leap merlot(2008, $30) v. angeline merlot (2010, $15)

chairman's choice tonite: angeline, merlot  reserve, 2010

why: angeline is balanced...fruit is balanced /w/ alcohol(13.9%) v.stags leap (14.2%)...although tenths of a difference...very noticeable on the nose...a puff of alcohol to my brain and on the palate...also a little pruney...and bitter...stags leap does have some old worldish...right bankish... bordeauxish characteristics...but it is not fooling me..the alcohol is still there...the chairman also does like the way angeline  pairs /w/ tonight's meal...ropa vieja(cuban beefy-tomatoey-olivey stew)....angeline's fruit is pretty!