Hey Mambo

Hey Mambo Bistro Style Wine. What Bistro? Nice beginning and yucky finish. The discriminating pallet of my cousin and myself decided never to buy this stuff again. It was nicely followed up with a dirty martini courtesy of my fantastic neighbors. Thanks for saving the day guys! Paired with enough food varietys to feed four and have leftovers. Cousin - send me the salad recipe!

International Wine - Thanks Z!

How to acquire international wines:

Step 1. Work for cool people who travel internationally
Step 2. When they ask you if they can bring anything back from abroad tell them nothing at all. Then drop the hint that you LOVE red wine.
Step 3. Reserve said bottles to share with your best friend.

I reserved both bottles to share with my very best friend, my cousin. She referred to the 1st bottle we opened as "the demon" (a reference to the wording on the label...all foreign). She said "the demon" was the same quality, if not better, than the Folio wine which she picked up in Florida. Hey, if you've had Folio then you know what I mean. If not - you need to.


The cool person who traveled internationally said:

You are very welcome. Thank you for everything as well. I am glad to know that you liked the wines, I was a little nervous as I am very unsure of my wine tasting and selection ability.

I didn’t get them in the same location. I purchased one in Germany right outside of Heidelberg where Jennifer grew up, and the other I found in a small little wine shop in Venice . I actually killed a bottle of the Chianti in Venice , and I liked it a lot. I figured that one was pretty good so I went back to the store and purchased another one to bring it home for you.

I actually miss that little shop in Venice – even though Venice during the day was hot and miserable during the night it was cool, relaxing and quite romantic. Sitting at a restaurant drinking a bottle of wine was quite relaxing.

---------------------

Can I just say that knowing the coolest people on earth really rocks my wine glass?

Este

Este De Bodegas Alto Almanzora 2004. Red table wine. Product of Spain. Wow! Good job Ok so I didn't use a glass. Just kidding! Says it's an Eric Solomon - European Cellars Selection. That should sound a little familiar. But more importantly, is that a cow on the label? A goat? A Fictitious animal? I am munching on hot wasabi peas. With or without the peas though...this wine is way beyond five stars. $7.99. You can't beat that unless you have a baseball bat and you really want to. But why would you want to do that to your wine?

Yauquen

Yauquen Cabernet Sauvignon - Malbec 2004. From the label: "Accoriding to mapuche tradition, "Yauquen" is the ritual of sharing a drink." Are they nuts? I'm glad they shared it with me. But if they meant that I should share this bottle of wine with someone - well they're just plain crazy. It was a bit zippy at first. But very good. I paired it with a cheese, that had it been saltier, the combination would have been perfect. Three and a half stars. But because I didn't share it - five stars. Cheers!

Redwood Creek

Redwood Creek California Cabernet Sauvignon 2006. Most likely you will find yourself drowning the taste of this wine with a salty cheese, a pretzel, or even a toothbrush. You really shouldn't bother with this one - even though it is under $10. The only good thing to come out of this wine was the cork. Why? Because it's a cutesy "portable ruler". I know a few guys that wouldn't appreciate it. It's ...well....bigger.
Taste: no stars.
Humor: Well, because of a certain man I know: 5 stars.

Jacob's Creek

Jacob's Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Vintage 2005? How is it vintage already? I paired this wine with a tomato basil tortillia, tofurkey, mexi cheese and parsley. Then I nuked that. On the side we have pickled garlic and parmesan cut from a wedge. Truely outstanding with or without the food. Yay on the stars!

Cellar No 8

Cellar No 8 Cabernet Sauvignon California 2004. I don't usually dig on the Cali wines. This one, however, is worth purchasing again. The label is classy. The taste is classy. "Cellar No 8 is a great discovery which might just become your next tradition." I think they're right. Thanks Cali!(finally!)

Kondor

Kondor Cabernent Sauvingnon - Mendoza Argentina 2003. Spiffy label eh? This was on sale for $3 a bottle. It was really damn good. Funny thing though, the corks wouldn't come out. They had to be pushed into the bottle almost every time. I think 3 out of 5 times. Yes we shared that many. Pushing the cork in alone -2 stars. Pushing it in with your best friend and laughing your ass off +5 stars.

Bueno!

Bueno! In every sense of the word. On a Sunday afternoon when you find that your live in chef is falling in love and that you could you could use a study break, you should open a bottle of Bueno! You'll buy it because it says Malbec. You'll enjoy the company because you'll argue about who has the better wine; Argentina or Australia. Snack all day. It really doesn't matter what you eat with this wine. However, it's best paired with a homemade bread that turns out - well - it has a bad middle. Mendoza, Argentina; good job. Bueno y gracias. 12 stars. Chef and I needed it (peppers and chocolate. who knew?!)

Altos Las Hormigas

Altos Las Hormigas Malbec 2006 Mendoza Argetina. Today the amazing chef paired this wine with what she describes as boring. "Basic penne pasta with a really simple marinara sauce, ceasar salad, food for the sake of sustainable food, ya gotta eat, I was craving pasta. But I always use fresh stuff...fresh ingredients. " Her words. She didn't want me to quote her. She thinks the wine would be better paired with seafood. Like I care. The wine has a zipper effect on the tongue at first. By the second glass that fades. The wine is good. I have to go. She just handed me some Havarti on a toasty piece of bread....I'm out! Ten stars. (duh) Oh and put your pj's on!

Alba Liza

Tikalo Alba Liza Tempranillo Granache blend. A european wine. Served with pan seared tilapia with a spicy plum pico de gallo, and strawberry parmsean couscous. Go ahead and ask me why it was served with this. Nevermind, I can no longer stand the suspense...I've hired a live in chef. Thanks, Chef!!! The wine was 10 stars and the food was fabuloso! If you're bored visit here.

Mattie's Perch

Mattie's Perch South Eastern Australia Cabernet Shiraz. The label says, "Dinky-di!". I have no idea what this means. There is also a very cute koala bear on the label. If you want to see it then click here. Oh ok...I just read the label. Apparently, dinky-di, means "the real thing". WHATEVER! Australia!!!? Why do you fail me so? Yuck, yuck, yuck!!! This wine rates negative on the star scale. EW! I don't know what else to say....I'm sad now and I need a Kleenex.

Lindemans

Lindemans Bin 45 Cabernet Sauvingnon South Eastern Australia 2006. This is a smooth and beautiful red for around $10. I paired it with shrimp, baby spinach and feta. Get it because it looks expensive and tastes expensive. Five stars. (my new crappy camera phone)

Barton & Guestier

Barton & Guestier Merlot 2004. I told her that you couldn't mess up purchasing Merlot. I was right. Thanks for the bottle LV. It was good. Tiny, but bright, stars.

Da Vinci

Da Vinci 2005 Toscana Chianti. Jesse, thank you!!! This is a fantastic product of Italy. Paired well with Jesse and her friends at my dining room table. 10 stars. My first Chianti. No fava beans........

Thorntree

Thorntree. South African merlot 20o3. From the beautiful label:

The "umbrellas" of the veld, starkly sihouetted against the breathtakingly beautiful African susnet, is a memory etched in the mind of many a traveller. The Umbrella Thorn (Acacia Tortillis - from the Greek word "acantha" meaning thorn) provides shade and shelter to both man and beast, all year round.

The words are beautiful. The wine is beautiful. $8.99. A bazillion stars.

Cousin,

The glass in the photo is the one I bought for you.

Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's. From Bronco Wine Company. Charles Shaw Blend. Cabernet Sauvignon. $2.99. Did you see that? $2.99!!!! As a first bottle it rocks at $2.99! How did you know I would say $2.99 again? People all over Atlanta are flocking to Kroger for the $2.99 KILLER WINE. Go get your own. Enough stars for $2.99.

Il Bastardo

Il Bastardo Sangiovese - Rosso di Toscana - Indicazione Geografica Tipica 2005. Red Wine. Product of Italy. Bottled by RM - Rufina - Italy. Mine was imported by HB Wine Merchants of NY, NY. Thanks New York. I adore you. Someone please refer to my previous post regarding Fat Bastard. Because the similarities here are insane. Except that Italy knows what "zing" means. Amazing!

Hogue

Cabernet Merlot, Columbia Valley 2003. Make sure that your brand new wine opener is not broken. Then make sure that this is not your first bottle. If it is, use it to cook your food. I cooked and paired it with scallops, shrimp and onions that I sauteed in the wine - drained - and added heavy amounts of butter. If you really want to enjoy the wine with the food - add red pepper flakes to your food. I hope that Hogue Cellars has something better to offer. 2.5 stars. Get your own seafood.

Smoking Loon

Smoking Loon 2005 Cabernet Sauvingnon. Very worth it. Find it on sale...or not. The tapestry on the label is calming. I want a print for my living room. Synthetic cork. Serve it with any cheese. Please do visit their site. If for nothing else, do it for the man in the photo who we hope is a transman. If you know me, you know why I say this. Anyway, don't forget cheese with this one. Why? Because I'm about to start blogging my cheese. That's right. I'm a snob. I won't ruin the surprise of the tapestry on the label for you. Go find your own bottle. 5 stars.

Fat Bastard

Thierry and Guy, Limited Release, 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon. Whoa Nelly! This has got to be liquid gold. Cousin had to go pop a cork on it too! Visit their site and get gear, join the fan club and find out about events. Hell, they even have an "on air" radio. Enjoy. All the stars.

Yellow Tail

The Reserve 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon. Esta bien! She likes yellow tail.......that's why I got it. Many stars. Visit them here.

Folio

This is a "ride or die" wine. If you're special to me, you will know what that means. Montepulciano D'abruzzo. Ask for this italian wine at any vendor. See if they will import it. The 2005 is unsurpassed. Unlimited stars. You may visit them here.

Paringa

get yourself some

Fifth Leg

Fifth Leg is brought to you by Devil's Lair.
Cabernet. Australian. Perfect.
I strongly urge you to visit their superb site.
Dinner at the Atlanta Fish Market.
We will absolutely return.
A show at the Fox Theatre. Excellent.
Cocktails with friends at Blakes on the Park. Good times.

Woop Woop

Epicurean Wines 2005 Cab Sauv uses grapes that are 100% Cabernet from South Australia including 54% Langhorne Creek and 40% Mclaren Vale. What does that mean for you? It means that for $13 per bottle you're a fool not to get yourself one. It has the previously mentioned Zork, not cork. As clever as they are - opening your bottle is half the fun. I paired this wine with a tres romantic holiday night & those little goldfish crackers. Woot! 5 stars.

Quara

Noun (Zool) - member of the biological family "camelidae" a domesticated South American type of llama used as a beast of burden by the Incas.

Dig on the label. Dig on the site. Dig on the wine. Quara's Cab is an Argentinian beauty. The 2004 wine was shared at the end of 2006 with one of the most important people in my life. She encourages me, she indulges me, and she enlightens me.

Many stars.

Los Vascos

Cabernet Sauvignon. Chile! Yes. An Ansley Wine merchant explained that it was one of the best reds under ten. She was right. Visit pasternakwines for more information. Don't hesitate to pick up a bottle. 3 stars.

Alamos

Remember Billington Wines (Trumpeter)? Well the 2005 Alamos Cab is pretty darn good. Just under $10 check out the wines of catena. Argentine, smooth, decadent. Warning: your friends will adore you. 5 stars.

Yellow Tail

Yellow Tail 05 Merlot. Yellow Tail of any kind is excellent. It's Manda preferred if I am correct. Oh wait, having a glass that's not empty...that my dear is Manda preferred. Go have fun with their web site. They have a cute little blog and a gear shop! They also have downloads ( no you can't download wine). "This wine is a great “slurper” with juicy, ripe fruit flavors, complemented by aromas of dark plums and a touch of mint and soft vanillin oak. " Look if they say "slurper" on their site - I LOVE THEM! 5 stars.

Banrock Station (aka BANGKOK!)

Banrock Station is the bomb! Specifically, their '05 cab sauv that hails from Australia. Someone take me down under already! Drinking their wines even preserves wildlife. Visit their site for the proof. I'll drink to that! This stuff went on sale for under $5. I'll definitely drink to that! Sharing it with a loved one..I'll drink to...oh well you get the idea. 5 pretty stars.

Broken Earth

04 Cab Sauv. Tandou has a not so user friendly web site for you. But the wine is very nice. Australian even. "Today’s world is one of constant and increasingly rapid change. " Really? What a boring web site. Pretty label. Nice wine. Will buy again. 3 stars.

House Wine-Red

"It is so smooth it gives velvet a run for its money!" Walla Walla, Washington. Thanks sweetie. It is worth having again. $10, natural cork. 3 stars.

Mano Mano

Queen of Hearts

Lucas & Lewellen vineyards presents the Queen of Hearts. She is a naturally corked cabernet sauvignon. Tonight it's an after dinner wine. We cooked a whole chicken by slathering her down with butter and sprinkling her inside & out with salt, pepper, basil & oregano. Add a quartered lemon to the inside after squeezing one of the quarters all over the bird. Sorry folks, no photo today. Just know that this was the best damn bird we've ever seen or tasted. This mostly dry and less fruity wine is about to be savored. And yes, sweetie told me that I was her queen. 5 stars because we're officially on vacation - again.

By the way - Hey cousin, do you want a glass?

Black Opal

Black Opal Cabernet Sauvignon. Did I mention..you guessed it - Australian! Sweetie likes this one a lot. They claim to be the Australian Gem. Find out for yourself. I dig.

Little Boomey

Little Boomey Cabernet Sauvignon. Again, the Australians know what they're doing. Have I stressed this enough? Paired with my sweetie. Life is good. Cutsie label eh?

Cycles Gladiator

Cycles Gladiator 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon... YUCK! If you wanna see the naked lady on their label then click here. I should have poured it over ice and drank it with a splash of cranberry juice. Listen, I even poured out everything after choking down the first glass. If you know me...this is SO not me.

Dynamite

Dynamite Vineyards 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon from the North Coast. Yahoo for the second bottle. Even better when given as a gift. Why bother going to the store at all? Hit up their web site and have it delivered to your home.

Monterra

Monterra Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. Monterra means "my land". From our land to your glass....yah ok well the rule of thumb is that if it lands in my glass then mostly likely I'm gonna drink it.

Paired with snacks and friends 3 stars.

Fish Eye

Fish Eye

Cabernet Sauvignon

2004 - California

I paired this kick ass, good for the money, wine with mussels in garlic and tomato sauce. I sprinked fresh parmesan and parsley over 'em. Princess made a homemade onion bread that was out of this world. A few sharp cheddar and swiss cheese cubes - well needless to say....this is what a meal is all about. This wine is neither dry nor "non fruity", however it was still great. 4 stars because I'm such a damn smart cook.

Pity the poor merlot.

Wine fanciers sour on merlot as bumper crop ripens
By Guy KovnerNew York Times News Service
Article Last Updated:10/08/2006 05:53:23 PM MDT

Pity the poor merlot.
Once an ascendant star in the California wine universe, the red wine grape with roots in Bordeaux is now an albatross, literally hanging - unsold and unpicked - in some North Coast vineyards.
In desperation, growers are selling merlot for as little as $400 a ton - a third or less of the spot market price early in the year.
Some merlot will wind up rotting on the ground, some vines will be yanked out and some grafted to another varietal.
"Merlot right now is kind of the four-letter word in terms of getting people to buy it," said Glenn Proctor, a grape and wine broker for Joseph W. Ciatti Co. in San Rafael.
Merlot and cabernet sauvignon, longtime mixing partners, share the unenviable consequences of overplanting, overproduction and falling prices in a competitive global wine market in which supply and demand are increasingly difficult to balance, wine industry experts say.
"The market is a little out of whack right now," said John Enquist, president of the Mendocino Winegrape & Wine Commission.
Consumer demand for cabernet, the crown prince of California red wines, is growing, offering hope for eventually draining away the excess supply now sitting in winery storage tanks.
But merlot, following an upward rush in planting and price in the 1990s, is now reeling from flat demand compounded by three straight years of uncharacteristically fulsome harvests, Proctor said.
Wine industry officials in Sonoma, Mendocino and Napa counties say that while cabernet is in a rough patch, merlot may be in dire straits due to market vagaries and celluloid influence.
Just six years ago, merlot passed cabernet as America's best-selling red wine, but the 2004 hit movie "Sideways" body-slammed the varietal when the cranky oenophile Miles declared: "I am not drinking any (expletive) merlot."

Red Knot

Red Knot 2004 Shiraz. McLaren Vale, Australia. Get Knotty. My cheeks went all tart with the first two sips. The third sip was smoky. This is a good wine. I might pair it with a blt. Shut up. 3.5 stars.

Get knotty with Zork. "ZORK - the revolutionary wine closure that seals like a screw cap and pops like a cork." Ok people 1/2 the fun of drinking the wine is opening the bottle. FUN FUN FUN. It looks like wax.

Trumpeter (again)

Merlot and Cab Sauv

5 stars when your girlfriend is a chef and the wine is on sale.

Alice White

Thanks Alice.

Trumpeter

Trumpeter 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon. Billington wines....very diverse, so check them out. This red was the follow up to the white that I just mentioned. Check out their web site for the very interesting "meet the wine maker" blog. The wine itself was actually quite good. I heard it was on sale.....I went to bed a very happy wine drinker. 5 stars.

Bondi Blue

Bondi Blue 2002 chardonnay. South Eastern Australia. Evans & Tate run this show. Did you ever come home and your sweetie had candles burning all over the place and a romantic picnic ready for you in the middle of the living room floor? It had been so long since we had shared that experience - as well as a good white. The chardonnay was on sale. I think she said it was $3 for the bottle. Fantastic! It was paired with chinese takeout and a red wine....everyone needs a second bottle honey. 5 stars, because I was in perfect, romanitc company.

Dancing Bull

Dancing Bull 2003 Merlot. If you like the taste of cough syrup - this one is for you! YUCK!
Negative 5 stars (and I didn't think that was possible!)

Toasted Head

Toasted Head 2003 Merlot. Do you like wax on the top of your natural cork? More importantly, this is one of the baddest ass wines there is. Like the label? You can purchase it as art via the site. This is an RH Phillips product. I paired this wine with Old London Melba's Italia Toast. Their web site sucked bones. But the treat was a wonderful mouthful of garlic. Add two types of cheeses and you've thrown yourself a party. My intent from the beginning!

I almost forgot! They are supporters of - www.corkamnesty.com. Hey RH - I can't wait to see what else you've got!

Porta

You know she's your best friend when she makes sure that you have two bottles of wine to share!! Porta Reserve 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon. Aconcagua Valley. Chile. Can you say raspberries? Plenty of wines boast of their fruit flavors. This one is the epitome. The label says that it offers up raspberries and it sure the hell does! The label is also black with copper lettering. It just oozes upper class. So if you're having over wine drinkers that like to keep it fruity - steer clear of the Arbor Mist and get this one instead. 5 stars because I shared it with my best friend Manda and she made sure my glass stayed full. (SAKE BOMB!)

Goiya

Goiya 2004 Shiraz Pinotage. Another wine of South Africa. Thanks Manda! She paid for it. A huge plus in the wine world eh? Anyway, apparently the South Africans are some damn good wine makers. This particular wine was my first shot at a Shiraz. I was pleasantly surprised. It's from the Hemingway and Hale cellars of fine wines. I almost forgot - the label has artwork on it that I'd like hanging in my home. Check out their site for a very quick and easy wine 101. 5 stars!

Tall Horse

Tall Horse Cabernet Sauvignon 2003. Well worth it if it's not on sale. How can you go wrong if there is a giraffe on the label? You can't! I dig. I dig! Elevate your senses. These are wines of South Africa. Their web site is fun too. Don't be lame. Go buy yourself a bottle and check out the site. 5 stars.

Stone Cellars

Refer to the previous post about the boring label, sale and blah blah blah. The same applies here. Stone Cellars by Beringer actually boasts a tad better flavor than my previous entry. 2.5 stars. Oh and I didn't care for the synthetic and boring cork in bottle. Let's hear it for wine sales - shall we people?

Redwood Creek

Frei Bros. Redwood Creek. California Cabernet Sauvignon. Over 100 years of fine wine tradition. Blah blah blah and the label is that boring too. There was really nothing special nor totally horrid about this wine. The best part was that it was on sale. The worst part was that the bottle was empty too fast. Overall a decent wine. 2 stars.

Smashed Grapes

RED ALERT! SCREW TOP! Let this be the second bottle that you open. Smashed Grapes is still a great cabernet sauvignon. Just saying "cab sauv" is fun. "Grapes don't mind being smashed. It's their destiny." When a company understands this you just gotta love 'em. This one is a little more sweet than I like them. Tangy even! But if you make it your second bottle then you're making the right choice. Free - when someone misses you!

3 Blind Moose

My sweetie missed my wine blogging. So last week she bought the cutest bottle of 3 Blind Moose California Merlot for me. 2003. The cork is so cute! I won't give it away. "We think you'll fall head over hooves..". This one was dry the way I like them and not too sweet. It's summer and as you know it's scorching hot all over. But she missed me. So she cranked up the a/c and she surprised me with a bottle (or two). Cost? Free. Don't you love it when someone is thinking of you?

King Fish

King Fish Cab......Yay. And thanks for being on sale for $4 a bottle. It made me go back for two more.

Lost Vineyards

Lost Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon....tres sweet. When grouped with grapes and smoked gouda cheese it will balance the berry flavor. Purchase this extremely inexpensive wine and pair it with something expensive!! 20% cabernet sauvignon / 80% tempranillo. Alone 1 star; add grapes and cheese 4 stars.

Stimson Estate Cellars

Merlot is simply better. Estate Cellars markets a better than average merlot. For stats you don't need (and to see their boring label) visit here. For taste, go pick up a bottle. Four stars.

Red Bicyclette

$3 more than what I normally like to pay. But SMOOTH.
Synthetic cork. I dig the natural corks a lil' more. THE LABEL IS OUTSTANDING.
Besides, the wine is foreign. We all need to expand our horizons don't we? 5 stars.
p.s. my ten speed was blue, not red, and matched the lawn furniture.

Crane Lake

Crane Lake Merlot 2003 does not suck. However, it's not fantastic. Therefore at $3.99 per bottle - you guessed it. I bought another one.

Five Rivers

Five Rivers Winery has a merlot with a natural cork. Great! Remove said cork and let the wine breathe for 24 hours. You'll be amazed at the improvement. Day 1 - 1 Star. Day 2 - 2 Stars. That worked out well didn't it?

Marco Real

Marco Real Garnacha 2003
A kick ass product of Spain. An Eric Soloman selection. This wine is as dry as they come. I thought I had a kitty cat tongue after two glasses. A coolie label. A perfect bouquet. A perfect taste. 5 stars. Looking forward to Eric's next bottle....

Quinta

Quinta Do Portal Colheita 2001. Natural Cork. $13
It was a little sweeter than I like my reds.
It had a pretty pink label with a door.
Don't we all wonder what's on the other side?
Imported from northern Portugal - Fifth of the Vestibule.
Add this kick ass meal (hell yes, we cooked it ourselves) and
you've got a 5 star evening. Adeus!!

The Little Penguin

The Little Penguin $13. Synthetic Cork. 1.5L of Australian cab sauv. It smells very berry. Current weather is cold. This calls for pajamas and a full glass. Label 5 stars. Wine 3 stars.

Two Tone Farm

2002 Two Tone Farm Cabernet Sauvignon $10. I bought this wine for the label. Then I got it home and realized it had........a screw on top!! The bottle boasts "..no old-fashioned farm tools (a.k.a. corkscrews) are ever required." Smart fellas. I was nicely surprised. The first sip was tart. But the aroma was purdy and that first zap of the tongue set in fast. I quickly began enjoying this wine from Napa Valley. I look forward to the next bottle. 4.5 stars.

Marcus James

Marcus James Mendoza Argentina 2004 merlot. $9
1500 ml, synthetic cork. semi-harsh bouquet, but who will care after one glass. 4 stars.

Papio

Papio is a very close second. Also approximately $8-10;
Synthetic cork. Great choice, 5 stars.

Barefoot

Barefoot wine is $8-10.
Natural cork. Excellent in every way. Always fill the glass almost completely. It matters not whether it is the Cabernet Sauvignon or the Merlot. This is by far my favorite; 5 stars.