Cool Summer Refreshment

I normally go for my wines unadulterated, but this looked so good I had to try it.  Boy am I glad I did. The Yardley Inn's white sangria was a crowd pleaser.  A delicious mixture of white wine with a touch of lemon, fresh raspberries and blackberries.  Best summer cooler I've had this season.  The dining room is a little noisy, but the views are terrific.  The old building has a lot of charm.  Situated in Bucks County right on the Delaware River.  There crab bisque is also wonderful.   If your looking for something cool and refreshing to beat the summer's heat.

Try the Yardley Inn at 82 East Afton Avenue & Delaware Avenue in Yardley, PA 19067.  (215) 193-3800  www.yardleyinn.com

#YardleyInn #BucksCounty, #Sangria, #TomCook, #Delawareriver

... Tom Cook


 

Time in a bottle

I lost several dear friends today.  There life was long and celebrated.  I looked at them often in my wine rack.  Their care and growth had been under my supervision for many years.  Today that all ended.  When they were gone, I reflected back on the joy they had given me.  Each one different in so many ways.  I couldn't help but feel as though my life was the greater for having known each bottle.  Even the ones that left a bad taste in my mouth had given me a valuable lesson in some way.

Wine like people has a life expectancy.  No one knows just when we'll pop that cork.  Or when we do weather the celebration will  start or come to an abrupt end.  When the liquid goes into the bottle we begin to  spin the dreams of what may lie ahead.  Aside from speculation, we never know where and how it's journey will end?  Or will it be dropped on the floor and all our dreams shattered in a single accident.  Will the cork become ill and allow in oxygen like a cancer.  Taking away what might have been a long life.  Maybe my existence will be celebrated in a long glorious life, penned in verse about what lie ahead.  Only to be met with great sorrow at my demise and reflected upon with great joy at the parties end.

Perhaps we are all a cautionary tale only to be labeled, "best if used by..."  I only hope when the smoke has cleared and all stories told; that I am not missed.  Instead I wish to be celebrated as you look back across my accomplishments and speak fondly of the times we shared.

#life, #wine, #reflection



...Tom Cook

Lascombes, Margaux, Bordeaux 2000

Lascombes, Margaux, Bordeaux 2000

 

Dark Cheery, plum with a hint of tobacco, I found coffee notes lingering after a few sips. This is a drinkable wine but I have to say I would love to see what unfolds in another 2-4 years. I think even after 13 years it is still young.  The price point is rich for many but I would even consider putting a “rainy day” fund in place for this one.

... Marcus 

Want To Learn About Wine? Ask Tom

I am writing more about my blog partner Tom Cook, than really about wine. I have to say, I have been passionate about wine for many many years and I have meet a wide variety of individuals who embrace the same passion. I have to tell you, Tom not only is extremly passionate about wine but he is an expert in wine selection, pairings and all around knowledge of all there is about wine. I am sure Tom could sit and with great passion share with you for many an hour. But that may not be what you are looking for. Need someone to select a wine for your next dinner party, date night or just because? Trust me, I know wine, but I do not come close to what Tom has in his head. Look for me of Tom Cooks posts about what goes well with a variety of food and celebration.


... Marcus

Passing

I truly believe wine as a place during many a celebration, be it  birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, graduations and also at what can be more solemn moments. My father passed suddenly last Friday. He was with us one moment and gone the next. He had a long and wonderful life filled with adventures. I truly believe you could not ask for more. I guess you could, but I don't know a reason why you would even want to. Whats this have to do with a wine blog? Well, wine certainly becomes part of the celebration of life. Toasts to his long life, to his many achievements, to the type of man he was and to each of us who remained and certainly to our collective good health. No matter if you uncork a bottle of white or red, inexpensive to expensive it all comes down to the moment. Mark the moment, they come past quickly and you never are promised another. Embrace the moment, Love Well, and raise a glass to mark the moment if you are so inclined.

.... Marcus

Summer Sparklers tasting notes

Let me start by saying that 4 out of 19 bottles tasted were "off."  What do I mean by "off?"  The bottles were improperly stored, causing the corks to dry out and fail.  This in turn allows oxygen into the bottle and causes the wine to age in the bottle as is it has been left open; often causing an off-odor or caramel like / maderized flavor.  The importance of this information is: 1) Always buy wine from a reputable wine dealer.  2) Ask questions about your stores storage methods.  3) Ask the store about their return policies.  If they won't refund your money or exchange bottles of returned wine, shop at another store.  The ideal storage of wines is at 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit and 65-75% humidity.  The bottles should also be stored on their sides to help eliminate corks from drying out.  That being said, most people don't want to shop in a store that is 50-60 degrees and humid. They also want to see their bottles standing up so they can read the labels.  So... beware, don't buy dusty bottles.  Shop in stores that are busy and have a high turn over of their products.  This way you are less likely to get a bottle that has been stored upright on a shelf too long and possibly bad.  It only supports what I've always said; don't save the wine for a special occasion, the wine is the occasion!

1) Marteluzzu Prosecco; Italy NV
This wine has a slightly doughy nose with scents of strawberry and citrus and finishes in the mouth slightly sweet with accents of lemon peel, peach and apple.
83, drink now.

2) Zardetto Prosecco; Italy NV
The nose gave off scents of honey, anise, biscuits, rose petals and lemon peel.  In the mouth it was slightly tart  and confirmed flavors of the same.
84, drink now.  Approximate retail, $12.99

3) Schloss Biebrich, sekt; Germany NV
This wine carried an aroma of candied orange peel. While the wine was slightly sweet with a slight bitter finish, it drank with flavors cake batter and stonefruit with a creamy mouthfeel.
BEST BUY 84, drink now. Approximate retail, $4.99, Trader Joe's exclusive.

4) Gruet, Brut; New Mexico NV
The nose gives hints of toast and orange marmalade. The wine is dry and has flavors of berry and citrus, with a slightly short bitter finish.
83, drink now. Approximate retail, $10.99

5) Gruet, Blanc de Noir; New Mexico NV
Aromas of cinnamon danish and pear.  The wine drank with flavors of apple, pear and pineapple.
85, drink now. Approximate retail, $10.99

6) Gruet, Brut Rose; New Mexico NV
While this wine gave off aromas of strawberry rhubarb pie, it drank with flavors of sour cherry, honey and red licorice and hinted at flavors of dough.
85, drink now.  Approximate retail, $11.99

7) Gruet, Demi-Sec; New Mexico NV
Aromas of melon and honey and drank with flavors of green apple, honey dew and creamy vanilla finish.
84, drink now.  Approximate retail, $10.99

8) Charles de Fere, Blanc de Blanc, reserve Bru; France NV
This wine starts out with floral and bread dough notes and leads into tastes of almond paste and pear with a nice creamy balance.
BEST BUY 88, drink now.  Approximate retail, $8.99

9) Varichon & Clerc "Privilege," Blanc de Blanc; France NV
This wine was very enjoyable. It starts with pineapple on the nose which continues through to the palate with the addition of blackberry.  This wine is pure fruit driven, clean and crisp with no yeasty tones at all.
BEST BUY 90, drink now.  Approximate retail, $10.49

10) Scharffenberger, Brut; Anderson Valley, California NV
Not tasted due to an "off" bottle.
Approximate retail, $15.99

11) Schramsberg, Blanc de Blanc, Brut vintage 2006; California
This wine is 100% Chardonnay and has aromas of toasted nuts, cocoa and pastry dough.  It carries through to be slightly sweet with flavors of citrus and pineapple.
83, drink now.  Approximate retail, $20.99

12) Schramsberg, Blanc de Noir, Brut vintage 2006; California
This wine is made up of 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay.  Aromas of carrot juice give way to tastes of berry and pineapple. This example is fairly complex with a tangy acidity.
84, drink now.  Approximate retail, $25.99

13) Montaudon, Brut; Champagne, France NV   375ml
Not tasted due to an "off" bottle.
Approximate retail, $15.99

14) Freixenet cordon negro, Brut; Spain NV
 A nose of flowery hand soap and baked apples. The wine itself is very dry, clean and crisp with flavors of lemon peel.  Overall not very well balanced.
82, drink now. Approximate retail, $8.99

15) Mumm Napa cuvee M; Napa Valley, California NV
Aromas of baked bread, orange cream, honey and grapefruit. The wine tastes of pink grapefruit, meringue and mandarin orange.
83, drink now.  Approximate retail, $17.99

16) Mumm Napa, Brut prestige; Napa Valley, California
Aromas of baked bread and orange carry through to tastes of lime, toast and tart apple. The wine has a good balance and nice mouthfeel.
85, drink now.  Approximate retail, $17.99

17) Jacquart, Brut Mosaique; Champagne, France NV
The wine had a salty aroma of steamed shellfish that quickly blew off to scents of buttered rolls.  when tasted the wine was rich and dry with a buttery acidity.  With flavors of brioche, this is classic Champagne.  Try pairing with a ripe Brie.
89, drink now or hold 1-3 years.  Approximate retail, $23.99

18) Veuve Clicquot, Brut; Champagne, France NV
Not tasted due to an "off" bottle.
Approximate retail, $39.99
19) Nicolas Feuillatte, Brut; Champagne, France NV
Not tasted due to an "off" bottle.
Approximate retail, $34.99 
 

Cabernets on a budget

With the cost of California Cabernets these days, I just can't afford to drink what I want on a daily basis. If you are like me, you need to be selective and find value for your dollar.   Let's look at why that bottle of wine costs so much.  Most states operate on what is called a three tier system: the winery, the wholesaler and the retailer. For the sake of discussion, let's take a bottle of wine selling for $50 in a restaurant. The winery sells it to a wholesaler; called a distributor for about $12.50.  The distributor then marks it up about a third and sells it to a retailer for about $16.50, plus freight and state taxes.  The retailer would then sell it for about $25 and the restaurant for double that charging you around $50.  The cost of that bottle for the winery to produce is about $10.50



For a $50 bottle of wine, within the three-tier system, here’s how it breaks down:

• 7% – cost of grapes and/or growing ~ $3.50
• 9% – cost of wine making ~ $4.50
• 4% – bottles, corks, boxes, labels ~ $2.00
• 2% – marketing ~ $1.00
• 13% – sales people, distribution from the winery ~ $6.50
• 3% – administrative costs ~ $1.50
• 2% – interest ~ $1.00
• 4% – taxes to government ~ $2.00
• 5% – actual winery profit ~ $2.50
• 20% – wholesaler markup ~ the people who get the wines to wine shops and/or restaurants ~ $10.00 (There are lots of overhead and payroll costs involved at this level)
• 31% – wine shop markup ~ $15.50 (There are lots of overhead and payroll costs involved at this level)

The more often you buy a bottle of wine directly from a winery, the more profit there is for the wine company owners. Because there’s more profit, it allows for those with advanced social consciousness to take better care of their workers, and they do. This exists even more so if the wine company is also growing its own grapes.

Now that we know how the costs stack up, how did our selections of budget Cabernet Sauvignons fair?  Let's start with what we are looking for in a typical Cabernet Sauvignon  grape.  Cabernets are often called the "King" of wines.  They make big, powerful, age worthy wines; why?  Characteristically Cabernets produce high tannins, moderately high acids, and carry big pigments and phenolics.  This all adds up to big powerful wines with massive structure.  You should also be looking for aromas of:
                                       black cherry                              cedar
                                       vanilla                                       chocolate
                                       black and red  currants              pencil shavings
                                       herbs                                        tobacco
                                       blackberry                                black pepper
                                       mint                                          tea
                                       blueberry                                  eucalyptus
                                       toffee                                        coffee
                                       cocoa

When these wines are young, they tend to be deep purple in color, have more fruit components in their flavor profile and exhibit big dry mouth puckering tannins. This is often referred to as a "closed' style.  For those that have patience enough to store their wines for often a decade or more, the wines start to turn brick red in color.  The flavors become more delicate; coffee-toffee, fragrant cigar box, and the tannins soft and supple.  How you prefer tour wine is certainly a matter of taste.  For the sake of our tastings, this is why I will rate a wine drink now or hold for x years.  Sometimes we will even recommend a wine as a cellar selection.  It's all a matter of preference.  Check out our reviews on the Cabernets we tasted, taste them for yourself or even send us comments on what you thought of the wines.  May you have the good fortune of good wines and good friends to share them with!


... Tom Cook

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