If you are looking for a nice evening of dinner and wine, might I suggest Javinos in north scottsdale. The wife and I went there again last night and had a great dinner and wine. They are constantly running specials, ladies night on wednesday and have a very nice happy hour (3-7pm). The wine list is not large but it also does have a bottle over $50. Here is the link to ther website http://www.javinos.com/ please support our local establishments.
2007 Chiarello Vineyards Giana Zinfandel
The nose has hints of dark ripe fruit with a light vanilla and oak to it. When i first taste this I get a slightly spice/pepper flavor at the beginning with a mild finish. Here is what I love about this wine, after about an hour in a decanter the finish starts to smooth out and ends up with a candy-like taste! Only 575 cases were produced and Wine Spectator gave this 90 points. I have had this wine on three different occasions now and love it (for the most Part)! The last bottle pulled a bit of Jeckll and Hyde on me and never rounded out like the previous two bottles. So that begs the question. Which is the “REAL” 2007 Chiarello Vineyards Giana Zinfandel? I’m not sure but hopefully this will find its way to MR. Chiarello and he can tell me what to expect the next time I taste this wine.
Kevin - WineDudeOnline
California wines get alcohol boost
I had a glass of Bogle Sauv Blanc last night and have to say that it will probably be the last time that I try it. I had heard of this brand but had never tried any of their wines nor did i have any prior knowledge to where they were made. The nose was that of citrus and a slight grass aroma which led me to believe that it was from the Australian or New Zealand region. The palette had a strong grapefruit and a metallic taste to it. I went online to read up on this winery and realized that this is indeed a California winery located in Clarksburg, CA. This is not your typical California Sauv Blanc. I would say that if you truly enjoy the typical California Suav Blanc, you probably would not want to get this one. I rate this as low and will take a pass on it.
Kevin - WineDudeOnline
Why Wine Ratings Are Badly Flawed - WSJ.com -
Given the high price of wine and the enormous number of choices, a system in which industry experts comb through the forest of wines, judge them, and offer consumers the meaningful shortcut of medals and ratings makes sense. But what if the successive judgments of the same wine, by the same wine expert, vary so widely that the ratings and medals on which wines base their reputations are merely a powerful illusion? That is the conclusion reached in two recent papers in the Journal of Wine Economics.
Helping You Know Your Bordeaux - NYTimes.com -
A new Web site set up by the promotional body for the Bordeaux wine region of France will allow wine drinkers to get a little practice the night before, in the privacy of their own homes. On the site, people can post questions to a panel of sommeliers, who answer via video chats. The site, www.enjoybordeaux.com, is part of a €2 million, or $3 million, campaign by the Conseil Interprofessionel du Vin de Bordeaux that is aimed at lifting sales of the region’s wines in the United States, where they have fallen sharply during the recession. The campaign aims to introduce casual drinkers to wines priced at less than $35.
WINES OF SUBSTANCE - Periodic Table of Wines
Each bottle has its own ‘element’ symbol ie:
Ch = Chardonnay
Re = Riesling
Pg = Pinot Gris
The website is annoying (I hate flash) but the packaging is so ultra clever, I don’t care. #wine #wino
I had a bottle of 2006 ZD Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley this past weekend. This wine has a very nice all around taste with medium velvety tannins. You get touches of dark berry fruits, chocolate and a touch of vanilla. There is not an over abundance of oak flavor even though it was aged for two years in American oak barrels. I would say that this is a medium to medium high purchase, as it is around $50 if you buy it from the vineyard. If you find it on a local wine list it may be in the $60 - $70 range, which for a restaurant is not that bad. If you live in the Phoenix area you can try it at the Alto restaurant which is located inside of the Hyatt Gainey Ranch Hotel. I am including the wine list because I feel that this is one of the more rounded lists that I have been able to find and was very surprised to see some of the higher end wines being poured by the glass. This enables you to taste some of the more expense wines without having to buy the bottle first.
http://www.hyatt.com/hyatt/images/hotels/scott/AltoWine101509print.pdf
Thank You for reading.
Kevin – WineDudeOnline!
I will not claim to be the end all be all when it comes to wine. I realize that everyone has a different palate and won’t always enjoy the wines or restaurants that I like. My style will lean more towards a Vay-ner-chuk rather than a Parker jr. rating system. However, I will let you know what I think of a wine that I have tasted in an effort to help you make a more informed decision. If you don’t agree with my views on anything that I may post, please feel free to let me know.