A Great Red Wine

If you like . . .

In Vino Veritas

Name a show or movie that the line "In Vino Veritas" was used . . .

Just for Fun

If you were a wine, what wine would you be?

2010 Sonoma County Harvest Fest

Had a great time at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair this weekend.  I always forget how much fun it is.  Veritas Ridge medaled on both Merlots that we entered!  We poured at the fair with a very favorable response from all!  And, on a totally non-wine related note . . . How 'bout those Giants?!!!  Post Season Here We Come!

How many Grapes, you ask?

Common question asked in a tasting room . . .

How many grapes does it take to make a bottle of wine?
It takes about two and a half pounds of grapes to make a standard bottle of wine.

And more facts...
-A single standard wine barrel holds 60 gallons of wine.

-How many gallons of wine are produced from an acre of grapevines?
This is a tough one because there are so many factors involved. Age of the  vineyard, what variety they are, etc. But approximately 800 gallons of wine are produced from one acre of grapevines.

New Release! 2008 Veritas Ridge Merlot Tasting Notes

2008 Veritas Ridge Merlot
All Russian River Valley Appellation, Herrick Ranch off Old Redwood Hwy.
100%  Merlot

-Big, bright berry aromas with a well built balance of fruit and tannins.
-Bright aromas of sassafras, raspberry, cinnamon & a bit of vanilla will wake  up your  senses.
-Delicious, mouth filling flavors of blackberries, cherry cola, cocoa & dried cherries.
-Medium bodied, this wine is drinkable in its youthful state, however will cellar well for 3 to 5 years.
-I am not usually a Merlot fan but I love this wine!

(Picture Taylor Swift chilling in an old school vintage diner sipping cherry coke through a cinnamon stick!  Innocently sexy and appealing!)

Retails for $32.00
Club IVV Member Price - $25.60

2007 Veritas Ridge Merlot - How Merlot Can You Go?

Tasted on October 25, 2010
With local sommelier, Sean Hughes.

My first taste of the 2007 Merlot took me to southern France, specifically Bordeaux.
Balanced, complex, and earthy with balanced fruit.  It's a young wine but I will be interested to see how it ages.  After putting air in my glass, the acidity and tannins softened enough to allow incredible blackberry and strawberry flavors to come forward.  The aired wine still has well structured tannins & acidity.  The oak adds just a soft velvet touch on the palate.

It's a big Merlot, A Merlot for Cabernet drinkers! Drink now with a NY strip, rib-eye or any high marbled beef cut. Or even better, hold on to this wine and see what it develops into.

* Special Thanks to my sommelier friend, Sean, for tasting with me.

World's Oldest Bottle of Wine

Unearthed during excavation for building a house in a vineyard near the town of Speyer, Germany.  It was inside one of two Roman stone sarcophaguses that were dug up.  The bottle dates from approximately 325 A.D. and was found in 1867.

The bottle is  on permanent display, along with other wine antiquities, at the Historisches Museum der Pfalf, worth a visit if traveling near the area of Speyer,  Germany.  Sounds like fun!  Let's go!

2007 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting Notes

2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville

This is a great representation of the quality Cabernets that Napa Valley is known to produce.  Big, Explosive & Rich.  The tannins are there, but fade when decanted to a perfect balance.  The oak adds a touch of cedar & smoke.  Flavors of currant, blackberry, raspberry & cocoa are very forward.  There is a bit of cinnamon spice & black pepper.  I paired it with Godiva Chocolate. It was so perfect I didn't want to taste another wine that day.  But with some more thought I couldn't resist the thought of a medium rare fillet with melted blue cheese . . . or braised short ribs.

This beautiful Cabernet will age nicely for at least 6 years.  A wine fit for Royalty!  Retails for $65.00 a bottle.

* Special Thanks to Sean Hughes for tasting with me.

What's your favorite Wine Quote?

Wine makes every meal an occasion
Every table more elegant
Every day more civilized 

Wine and Food Pairing