Happy #chardonnayday! Review of 2010 Raymond Napa Valley Chardonnay

I am notoriously ABC (anything but Chardonnay) , but since I had this sample chilling long after I snarfed down the delectable Sauvvy B, I thought why not?  And I coerced anothe friend who said, "Okay, while I don't like to drink Chardonnay in other  people's houses, yours, I'll try".  Wow!  We were glad we did.  With the pollen count as high as the sun and spring fever vying with hay fever, we were feeling the white wine.  This came out of the glass a bright lemon yellow.  Aromas of white flowers and pear tart.  Nice mouth feel with silk and crisp balanced.  Flavors of dried pear with a wisp of smoke in the mid palate. Lots of tropical notes in the yummy finish.  I got the sense of deft oak treatment. I was curious, so pulled the winemaker notes:

"Using no Malolactic fermentation and moderate oak influence, our Napa Valley Chardonnay is made in a style that focuses on the inherent qualities of this varietal. To preserve the unique Chardonnay flavors and aromas of grapes grown in this region, this wine was whole cluster pressed and cold fermented in stainless steel tanks. We aged 50% of the Chardonnay for five months in Nevers and Allier French oak barrels, selected for their tight grain that delicately restrains the oak flavors. This gives the wine a touch of oak and creamy vanilla flavors without overwhelming the natural fruit flavors". 

The folks at Raymond treat the wonderful fruit from Napa Valley with respect and it shows in a lovely, well integrated wine. We drank it all!  I don't have any pairing notes because it was such an easy to drink wine, we paired it with a warm evening and good conversation. 

If you are in the St. Helena area, it is such an interesting place to visit!

Raymond Winery

849 Zinfandel Lane
St. Helena, CA 94574

More info here

Whatever you are drinking, I hope you have a happy Chardonnay Day!

#WBW77 After a Bad Day at Work: Quivira North Coast Rose

Coincidentally, I had two bad days at work just in time for this Wine Blogging Wednesday. As I told the other Brix Chicks over the weekend, after a bad day at work, I often want something pink with a screwcap for quick access, and chilled to cool me off (or down).  Rosé is also easy to pair with most foods, making it an easy choice.  So, I was ready for Monday.  I had a Spanish Rosato chilling for the occasion, only to open it and find it not suitable at all—too abrasive and acidic like much of bad day at work #1.  (And as if a bad day at work and a disappointing bottle of wine weren’t awful enough, I discovered later that the Daily Show isn’t on at 11:00 PM these days—boo!)

Not to be disappointed, Tuesday brought bad day at work #2.  In an unusual move, I first hit the gym rather than the couch and remote control after leaving work.  And when I came home from a pretty rigorous workout, I decided not to mess around with my wine choice.  I grabbed the Rosé out of the box I brought home from Quivira this last weekend and threw it the freezer.  (Well I didn’t throw it—that would have been too melodramatic and disastrous even for me after a bad day at work).  I know their wines well, and I knew I would not be disappointed.  Plus:

Screwcap, check!

Pink, check!

Chilled, check!

The 2011 Quivira North Coast Rosé (Mourvedre, Carignane, Counoise, Grenache, Syrah) is bright, herbal, fresh, and lush, and maybe the best vintage I’ve tasted of this wine.  When I tried it at the winery several weeks back, the nose was filled with fresh mint; but this time I noticed more strawberry and basil than mint.  Along with fresh strawberry, green herbs, and minerality, there’s a little brown spice in the mid palate and a soft finish.  It went beautifully with the salad and leftover chicken I had for dinner last night and the straightforward salty and fatty chicken sandwich I had tonight.  And with an easy drinking 13% alcohol, it’s a pretty darn good post-workout recovery drink too.

More than anything, the wine brought familiar and new comfort after a long and frustrating day.  One of my dearest friends introduced me to Quivira over 20 years ago.  Since then, I’ve shared Quivira’s beautiful zinfandels, Rhone-varietals, and sauvignon blancs with many friends.  (I’m a member there, too).  Last weekend, Brix Chicks Michele, Xandria, Liza, and I joined Quivira’s farm-to-table dinner to learn about the biodynamic farm, take in the sunny Dry Creek Valley, and feast on exceptionally prepared food from Quivira’s gardens paired with their wines. 

Brix Chicks Michele, Xandria, and Liza at Quivira

Wine that evokes sunshine, conversation, friendship is a great salve for a bad day at work.  It’s even better if it has a screwcap.

#wbw77 What to drink after a bad day at work - Review of 3L Big House Red

Quality, quantity and good QPR?  My dark corporate overlords have given me LOTS to drink about in recent history, so when Wine Blogging Wednesday #77 was announced, I was already experimenting with something I had received as a sample: The 3 Liter Octavin version of "Big House Red", which takes its cheeky name from its physical proximity to the "big house" well, California Correctional Institution , in Soledad, CA.  Which is near Monterey, CA a lovely place to be sent to---Monterey County, not the prison!

Wine maker Georgetta Dane takes a wild assortment of  varieties: 27% Petite Sirah, 14.5% Syrah, 8.6% Montepulciano, 8.2% Barbera, 6.4% Nero d’ Avola, 6.1% Tempranillo, 3.3% Malbec, 2.4% Aglianico, 2.4% Souzao, 2.3% Charbono, 2.2% Petite Verdot, 2.1% Cabernet Franc, 2% Tannat, 12.5% Other Esoteric Reds and melds them together into a comforting melange. 

Luscious aromas of dark fruit, raspberries, hints of cigar box and vanilla.  Flavors of mixed berries and satisfyingly elegant finish kissed with vanilla and spice.  But best of all, Premium cask version ($22) contains the equivalent of four bottles, which is enough to wash away a month and a half of bad days .With the convenient spigot, it will even blunt some bad Monday Morning Concall Marathons with a little half glass at lunch.  Go ahead, it's sitting right on the counter waiting--although the Octavin folks suggest you tuck the cask into a dark place with constant temperature. 

I ended up experimenting for the full 6 weeks.  It was super reliable with the brightness and freshness holding on pretty well for the entire six weeks.  The hardest thing for me was not drinking it all up in the first three weeks. The packaging also made it easy to alleviate not just my own workaday struggles, but all my friends who dropped by got a snootful too. 

Basically, the wine ships safe in its cardboard cask in a silver plastic bag with a spout.  When you get it home, you position the bag in the cardboard cask, open up the spigot and you have the ability to accompany your dirge, sea chantey or happy dance with a tasty fresh glass of wine. But wait!  It's not just good for erasing a bad day, its good for the environment , too.   Since you eliminate the need for four glass bottles, you eliminate 85% of the waste and reduce the carbon footprint by 55%. So it's not just good or good for you, it's also good for the planet!

 And, Ginzu-like, there's more! Since comfort foods, like entire bottles of wine, are notoriously difficult on your waistline, having the packaging means you can easily measure out a single 5 oz/110 calorie serving  so the "mean reds" don't take you from Holly Golightly to Holly Goliath.

So whether you're stocking up for a pity party a pool party or a party-party, look for this to supplement your wine plan.  And I hope your day is good!

I received this as a sample