The Handsome Cab Wine Blog

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

A few articles to read

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

FlipSide PA - PA Red Wines

Check out the link from my article in FlipsidePA.com

http://www.flipsidepa.com/spirits/ci_27550432/dont-be-snob-try-sip-local-red

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

GMS not GSM, but close - Finding a new blend from a new friend

A new friend of mine found this wine locally and loved it and I wanted to share with all of you. This is a Chairman's Selection at your local Wine and Spirits Shop in Pennsylvania. Outside of PA, ask your local store or Total Wine if you have one for it. It is only $14.99 a bottle here.

Usually GSM stands for Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre blend from the Rhone Valley in France, but those Aussies are making this with Shiraz.

E&M Schild wine created this blend from winemakers Scott Hazeldine an Alex MacClelland and the vintage is 2013. The alcohol content is 14.5% and the grapes were grown in a red clay over limestone soil. to this wine.

This blend is 47% Grenache 27% Mourvedre and 26% Shiraz and is from the Barossa Valley Region of Australia. Using these blended wines showcase a unique quality that ensure balance, purity of fruit and drinkability. The color is a dark cherry or ruby red. with fruited aromas of fresh cherries, red currant and raspberries combine with some blue frit notes before a hint of a stony minerality and subtle notes of pepper, spice, lavender, and herb. This wine has delicate soft tannins that lead you to a velvety feel to the wine.

Get out today and try some.

Winemaker Notes: 2013 saw warm and dry conditions throughout most of the growing season, but without any significant periods of severe heat. Yields were low and many red varieties ripened evenly, with great flavor depth and some firm prominent tannins which have softened well during maturation. As a result, many of the wines from the year show great structure and framing when young and look to have the ability to genuinely age well too.

Here is video I found on YouTube you can check out... so cool https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V-1cyswxBA#t=16.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Great time for Italian - Collefrisio Montepulciano

I had a friend over for dinner on Sunday as we were picking out wine glasses that we would utilize for The Handsome Cab. I think we had about 30 sample glasses. I purchased this wine at the state store for our Holiday Happening this Saturday and she came with a bottle of this in hand as well. I guess great minds think alike. I enjoyed it enjoy enough to run back to Eastern Blvd and pick up a few more bottles. This is a Chairman's Selection and is only $9.99 per bottle. We really enjoyed the wine, but what we found is that you really should decant this wine. It needs about 30 minutes of being open before drinking it. It really adds to the flavor.

The wine has a dark ruby red color and violet hues with an intense nose of berries, spice and black cherry jam. It is well balanced and has an excellent structure. It contains about 13.5% alcohol and consists of 100% Montepulciano d'Abruzzo grapes. It is a DOC by Italian designation. Even though it doesn't have the higher DOCG, don't be afraid of this wine as it is a great tasty red wine from Italy.

This wine is made by 3rd generation winemakers in the foothills of Frisa in Abruzzo. I hope you enjoy this wine as much as we did. Check the Wine and Spirits shop on Eastern Blvd in York or Shrewsbury for this. You never know how long they will have it.

Friday, November 21, 2014

2009 French Bordeaux, is so nice. RUN now and pick up a bottle.

I picked up this bottle at the state store last night and enjoyed several glasses while working on a project for our art gallery called the Cab Gallery that will open next year. It is only $14.99. I suggest you hurry and pick a few bottles up because I am headed back for more of this today. It isn't available online, I already tried that. I suggest calling the stores first for this one.

Prices for Bordeaux wines continue on the rise and with 2009 a banner year, I would suggest you run quickly and pick up a bottle of this wine. It is amazing for the price. France has seen demand rise so much for their wines because of guess................drum roll............ CHINA. They are buying up large wines, but what I find interesting is that they also lie, cheat and steel. Just like software they pirate wine and put crappy wine in bottles with copied labels and sell for very expensive wines and hey, get away with it. It is really unbelievable.

This wine comes from the Puisseguin Saint-Emilion Region of France. It is located on the right bank and like many other Bordeaux wines from 2009, it is a great vintage. The blend of this Bordeaux is 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet. Not the typical blend of a Bordeaux, but a great wine indeed. With Merlot based red it displays the aromas of cedar, cherry, currant, and cassis with a bit of plum and blueberry.

The vines used to grow this wine are more than 45 years old. Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion is one of the so-called “satellites” of Saint-Émilion, home of some of Bordeaux's most famous producers. But the “satellite” wines carry price tags significantly lower and represent especially good values in solid vintages such as 2009.
The palate of the wine is expanse and very polished with a silky smooth finish. I really enjoyed this, I know it won't be around for more than a few days.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

French Cuvee "G" Amazing - Try it today

Domaine Le Colombier Vacqueyras Cuvee G 2007

This evening I wanted a treat and I went to the local wine store and it didn't take me long to find one.

After opening the bottle I noticed the deep intense color and said to myself - YUM.

This wine is a Grenache and Syrah and is 14.5% alcohol
from the Rhone region in France.

The bouquet is very complex with flowers and ripe dark fruits. With A harmonious touch of vanilla. Finely balanced, the cuvee G show silky tannins and well balanced with an exceptional length. It would go great with spicy food, lamb, and/or something with rosemary.

It is soooo smooth and luxurious. Worth every penny. I think I paid $24.99 a bottle. Wine Spectator rated this wine #39 of the top 100 for the year 2010.

Get some today before it is all gone.

Notice the Cuvee "G". This is like the batch of wine. In the French tradition, you may see this on a label. It has several different meanings in French, but the concept is the tank of wine that the bottle came from. Please note this is not regulated or mean that the wine is of superior quality, but it will help you find the batch you liked and usually means the wine is of higher quality.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

It's Square not round - California Square

After a long trip across 4 states in 6 days I thought it was time to add a wine to the blog.

The first thing notable about this wine is that it is in a square bottle. NO NEED for a wine rack as it doesn't roll across the counter.

Because of the design of the square bottle, it is easier to pack, ship, store and is definitely green for the environment because less packing materials are used.

Now a few words about the wine. This wine is from the Paso Robles region of California - or central coast. It is a 2012 vintage. I find the wine very smooth and in the Bordeaux style wines from France. This wine is a blend of Petite Sirah, Syrah, Sangiovese, Zinfadel, and Merlot.

It isn't bold, but doesn't lack flavor and is dry. The wine doesn't have a lot of fruit forward notes, but I do taste a bit of blackberry and possible some blueberry. No cherry in this wine. I would put it as a medium bodied dry red. They did a nice job with this wine. Try it the next time you see it.

2012 was a great year for California wines in the Paso Robles appellation. The crop was smaller but the concentration of flavors was much more intense.

The alcohol content is 14.6% and the wine would pair wonderfully with red meats or pastas that have a red sauce.

California square also makes a Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon. Enjoy and happy tasting.