Wine Whore Review

Wine Whore Review:

X Winery North Coast California White X 2008
(click for more info)
Taste Score = 8.5/10 Points
Cost Score = 9/10 Points
Overall Score = 8.5/10 Points (Additional stats below)


This week's tasting went from this:


To this:



Here's how it worked... you voted, I drank... and then I drank a little more!

This week, I welcomed some new technology to help us share a bottle. Introducing a new way to see The Wine Whore that I like to call 'The Wine Whore Television (TWWTV). Click the TWWTV icon here (or any of these icons) to connect with me at any time for a drink or even just to chat:

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Wine Whore Review:




You may remember the Mad Housewife from a couple week's ago... well, she is back and sweeter than ever! This week, WWCrew photographer, Jen Senel is sharing a cupcake of Cabernet. Her wine of choice: Cupcake Caberbernet Sauvignon.

Here's how it went:

"This is a lovely wine. Black and Blue berries tease your nose, semi sweet taste, light and extremely enjoyable. It seems to be a wine that can start your evening with a nice cheese appetizer, through the main of a nice pasta, steak, or roast. And a rich chocolate mousse for desert."




Show your love for the grape!

Download any of these images by right-clicking the image and selecting "save link as" or "save target as" and then select the desired location on your computer to save the image. Mac users can also just click the image to open the full size view and drag that to their desktops.

To set the image as your desktop wallpaper, Mac users should follow these instructions, while PC users should follow these.




Like What You See?

If you are interested in owning an archive quality, limited edition print of these images, please check out Jen's site for details.



(Read more wine reviews and info at The Wine Whore)

Wine Whore Review

Wise Wine Review:

Kluge Estate Albemarle Virginia Simply Red 2004 (click for more info)
Taste Score = 7.5/10 Points
Cost Score = 9/10 Points
Overall Score = 8.4/10 Points (Additional stats below)



There are just too many places in the world for good wine. In the US, we all know about California, Washington, and Oregon, but how many other places do we really pay attention to when it comes to the grape?

Boy was I missing out!



While at my local wine shop talking with friends and owners Sean and Jenn, I stumbled a wine that has changed my view on the world wine. I was surprised to learn that this Bordeaux style blend was from none other than Virginia. Go figure!

Do you know of a great winery in a state besides the "Big 4" (CA, WA, OR, NY) that makes great wine? Share it with me here.

Wanna know more about this Virginian winery?

Here's what they have to say about themselves:



"Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard, located on the southeast slope of Carter’s Mountain in Albemarle County, is tucked into the edge of the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. The 2,000-acre estate lies next to the birthplace of American viticulture, Thomas Jefferson’s famed Monticello. This region is gaining recognition for producing serious wines and Kluge Estate is at the forefront. Combining meticulous winemaking practices with a genuine love of the land and support for the Virginia wine community, Kluge Estate is driving the region to fulfill its potential of creating world-class wines from the east coast of the United States."


Let's get down to drinkin'!


(Continue browsing below for the full review and scores…)


Wine Geek Vintage Info:
"All grapes are gently hand‐picked, then sorted and cold‐soaked for several days to enhance fruit character. The wine is aged for 14 months in 100% French oak sourced from seven major cooperages, 70% of which is new oak and 30% of which is 1‐2 years old, adding to the wine’s dimension.

This Bordeaux style blend has a balanced, smooth and silky palate. With a brilliant, intense ruby red color and smooth, velvety tannins, the wine is medium‐bodied with complex mineral expression. There are nuances of blackberry and black currant with delicate licorice, vanilla, smoke, and spice notes." –Kluge Estate



Recommended Food Pairing:
"This elegant wine is the ideal companion for beef carpaccio, baked brie, salad, pizza, cheeses, and French‐American cuisine. It even pairs well with firm, white fish, such as cod and swordfish."



Stats:
Producer: Kluge Estate
Vintage: 2004
Varietal: 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Cabernet Franc, 19% Merlot
Appellation: Virginia
Residual Sugar: N/A
TA: N/A
pH: N/A
Production: 3683 Cases
Alcohol %: N/A
Aging: 14 months in 100% French oak 70% of which is new oak
Cost: $19/bottle Call for special Winemall Price(Get your own bottle!)


Wine Whore Score:

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Wine Whore Review:

How did wine play a role in your life this weekend?

The sun sets over another great wine weekend!

• Did you drink an expensive bottle from your wish list?
  
• Maybe you finally opened that special bottle that was tucked away for years?
  
• Perhaps you discovered a new favorite wine or varietal?
  
• Or did you just have fun relaxing with a cool glass in the sun?

Let me start by saying, DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!!

As a professional wine whore, I am going to sacrifice my palate in the name of science. Once again, I am going where no wino has gone before...

For this week's poll, I am going to attempt another feat of awesomeness that even wine guru Robert Parker would be afraid to tackle. I am going to taste wine in one of three unconventional ways and report back my findings to the world of wine.

To add to the suspense and excitement, I am letting YOU decide which scenario to compare. Choose your favorite by voting for your choice in the poll located at the top of this page. The winning scenario will be announced, tasted and featured in a review later this week.

Wine Whore Review:



When I am not busy drinking wine, thinking about wine, or writing about wine, I like to see the world and meet new people. I am especially happy when wine has a chance to play a role in these adventures. For me, there's nothing more exciting than the discovery of a new place and a great meal accompanied by a nice bottle of vino! I have to admit that although I live in Florida, some of my fondest memories are set in the 'Left Coast'.

How does someone from Florida, or anywhere for that matter, find great places for wine and food?



Off the Vine is a magazine passionate about all the fabulous food and wine that the left coast has to offer. They talk about everything from wine and restaurant reviews to their favorite weekend getaways, cookware and even taco trucks. They're based in the Napa valley, but have coverage spanning all the way from Vancouver, British Columbia down to San Diego, California and everywhere in between. If you're looking for the best wine, restaurants, gourmet shops (or anything else culinary) to be found on the west coast, you will be sure to find it in Off the Vine.

Wine Whore Review:

m2 Wine (click for more info)
m2 Wine Lodi California Old Vine Zinfandel 2007
m2 Wine Sierra Foothills California Trio Red Wine 2007

m2 Winemaker- Layne Montgomery

• m2 Wine Lodi California Old Vine Zinfandel 2007
  "This is classic Lodi Zin at its best. Intense, upfront rich, deep flavors of jammy blackberries and black cherries, along with strawberries and cassis. Our winemaker calls this one “Velvet Elvis."
  
  
  
  
• m2 Wine Sierra Foothills California Trio Red Wine 2007
  "This is our signature blend of Cab, Syrah and a hint of Petite Sirah. Complex and layered flavors of red and black fruit with a long, lingering finish. Aged in hybrid French/American oak."
  

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• To the Eyes: Mysteriously deep purple hue
  
  
• To the Nose: Dirty wood with a hint of minty acidity
  
  
  
• To the Tongue: Velvet Elvis: gaudy and a little over the top, yet you can’t look away

• To the Eyes: Overflowing crimson waves of blood
  
  
• To the Nose: Fruit roll-up sprinkled with a hint of spice
  
  
  
• To the Tongue: Great blend between tart and sweet exits in a graceful finish