Let me explain. We already know that not every Rosé is like sex.  I mean, after all, White Zinfandel is a Rosé. I mean, technically speaking.  But really. Ew.

So it’s not summer, and unless you’ve been under a rock, you already know that Rosé is my favorite summer wine.  I’ve recently discovered that it’s pretty close to being my favorite winter wine.  Or, more accurately, Rosé is my “go to” winter wine.  You know, kinda like George Clooney is my “go to” fantasy.  Don’t tell the Wineaux Guy.

I opened up a bottle of 2010 Hug Cellars xoxo Central Coast Rosé wine last week (just for this review) and was blown away.  Unfortunately, I pretty much drank it all and didn’t pay attention to the details.  So I was forced – forced! – to open up another bottle, and this time I took the time to really enjoy the nuances of  this Rosé.  I reviewed last year’s offering of this wine and loved it then, but it’s grown up a bit with this vintage.

First of all, “Rosé” is a misnomer.  It is darker than pink, certainly a lot different from the Rosés of Provence that are a light salmony peachy color.  It almost looks like a Gamay or a light Pinot Noir in the glass.  This is definitely a grown-up’s pink wine, mostly because there’s not much actual “pink” involved.

… Continue Reading

The hardest thing about doing wine review tastings is that you usually have to taste pretty young wines.  These young wines are not bad – especially the ones I go out of my way to taste; life is too short for bad wine – but they’re not as good as they’re going to be.  And that can be a real problem, especially when you know that the wine that you’re drinking OUT OF YOUR OWN CELLAR is going to be sooo much better in just a couple of years.

One of the complaints I’ve received about my occasional tasting notes and/or videos is that I’m tasting wines that sometimes cannot be purchased anywhere any more.  I would like to say I’m sorry, but I’m really not.  At least not from my standpoint. I always enjoy doing tastings of wines that I like and that I know I’m going to be finishing once the tasting notes or video are done.

Let me explain.

… Continue Reading

Geez, Irene!  Why do you have to disappear all the time?  Can’t you hang out for a while even once?!?

When I started this several weeks ago – I’m embarrassed – there was a lot going on. I just added a word here and there and didn’t get to finish the most important posting of the year – the first one.

I’m going to go over a few events in 2010 that affected me, Vegas Wineaux, and the local wine scene in general.

First, the Vegas Wineaux Wine Club has absolutely exploded. New members, assistant organizers (I can’t do it by myself), a variety of events, both in home and public, have seen incredible participation and enthusiasm.  The club purchased a barrel from the Grape Expectations Nevada School of Winemaking, and we’re very excited about bottling our own wine this year!  We are also tentatively planning a meetup in May at the Paso Robles Wine Festival, and I can hardly wait!

… Continue Reading

Two of my recent discoveries – although they’ve been around for a while – are two butcher shops here in town.  One, John Mull’s Meats, has been around, it’s said, for nearly thirty years since this part of town was on the outskirts of the middle of nowhere.  The other, The Butcher Block, is on Rainbow just south of the 215 near Robindale.  It’s relatively new because that area was mostly desert and dirt a few short years ago.

While my culinary adventures take me to a lot of places, Larry’s Meats had been my butcher shop of choice because it’s close to the day job and have super fresh meats, including game.

This time, I’m going to brag on The Butcher Block.  They will occasionally get in some actual veal bones, and I just got a bunch for stock. Yes, I’m tackling Demi Glace.  In their deli case, however, they have a lot of other items, and I purchased some homemade venison sausage.  Three sausages set me back ten bucks, but, hey!  It’s an adventure!

Pan seared in a tiny bit of my own version of blended oil (grapeseed and EVOO), and finished in the oven, they were stunning.  Like a famous brand of potato chips, I couldn’t eat just one.  With a salad of fresh veggies lightly dressed with olive oil, fresh lemon (yes, my Meyers are ripening), fresh garlic, and salt, they made a great dinner.

The wine (did you think I talked about all of this without bringing up wine?!?) was one that I was initially reluctant to open, because I wanted to save it for a special occasion. However, because of the encouragement of the Wineaux Guy, I did so (see mushy, loving smile) and was glad that I did.  The wine was a 2007 Hug Cellars Boulder Ridge Vineyard San Luis Obispo County Pinot Noir. Whew.

I dunno.  Something about “Hug” and “Deer” just seemed to fit.  But I digress.

… Continue Reading

One of the things I’m happy about when doing a wine review is the fact that I usually have some familiarity with the varietal/blend, or I know someone who does.  That way I come across as someone who’s schooled, knowledgeable, wine-savvy, and has a clue. Not the case here!

The review actually began with an early evening phone call from Rod, the Wineaux Guy.  Instead of the usual sweet nothings, he started off with a “What do you know about Mourvèdre?”

“Uhh…   Not much.”

As it turned out, he had opened up a bottle of 2007 Hug Cellars Santa Barbara Highlands  Vineyard Mourvèdre – Santa Barbara County, and it had thrown him just a bit.

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to be smelling or tasting,” he explained.  ”It’s so different.”

OF COURSE I had to open up my bottle of Mourvèdre – a few days later, that is – and try it for myself.  This wasn’t a one-time, in-one-sitting tasting.  This turned out to be a three-day adventure for him and a nearly identical adventure for me.  And most of it’s ’cause we don’t know everything we should know about Mourvèdre.  But we do know just enough to be dangerous.

… Continue Reading