Trecini 2005 Vicini Vineyard Russian River Valley Sonoma County Merlot

It is not very often that I buy a Merlot but when I saw the Trecini 2005 Vicini Vineyard Russian River Valley Merlot as a half bottle I had to give it a try.

Trecini Cellars was founded in 1999 by John and Cathy Vicini and their son David. Originally from Tuscany, Italy, John comes from a long tradition of wine, actually around 150 years. In 1994 the family started growing grapes in Russian River Valley and after that it was only a natural step for them to start their own winery. They are offering five varietals at this point, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Merlot Rose, Zinfandel, and Syrah.

This Merlot shows an intense ruby red color in the glass.
The nose offers ripe red fruit, herbal notes and rather heavy vanilla with creme brulee character.
On the palate, bright fruit with slight tartness, black cherry, boysenberry, plum, and vanilla. The long finish has plentiful fruit, decent acidity, and round, soft tannins with an ever so light green edge at the finish.

I was pleasantly surprised by this Merlot considering the price point ($14 for a 375 ml bottle). Many times I find Merlot to be gray and boring, but this has nice fruitiness, with enough structure to back it up and make it interesting. I would say this wine has a potential to be a crowd-pleaser at any gathering. Try it out and see how pleased you are?!

Find it at SophiesCellars.com for $24.99 or visit the wineries website where it's sold for $28.


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A Swedish Christmas Eve in America

Spending Christmas in the States this year I asked my husband if he wanted a Swedish or American Christmas. He responded without hesitation -A Swedish Christmas! That meant that I cooked and served up the traditional Julbord, the Swedish Christmas Smorgasbord, at Christmas Eve. Since there is just to much food involved for two persons to even come close to finish, I invited our good friends and neighbors to join us.

I thought I would share a photo with you of what the Julbord looked like this year.

The Julbord is a buffet with traditional Swedish food like pickled English cucumber, sausage, deviled eggs, cold smoked salmon with dilled creme fraiche, oven baked omelet with mushroom sauce, Swedish meatballs, mustard glazed ham, creamed spinach, potato au gratin (usually you julienne the potato and add anchovies to make Janson's Temptation, but I knew that would be a slightly odd one for our guests so I opted for a simpler, more familiar version, a potato au gratin with thyme, Parmesan and Gruyere), bread and crispbread, salami, Herrgards cheese, and instead of the pickled beets I did a slight update by serving roasted beets over arugula with Chevre. A few really traditional dishes like pickled herring, red cabbage salad, liver sausage, and our Christmas bread, Vortbrod, were missing at my table. They are all very hard to find here, and not all of them a favorite, so we did without.

For dessert we had Ris a la Malta with strawberry sauce. This one and only acceptable dessert for Christmas Eve is a rice porridge sweetened with whipped cream, confectioners sugar, vanilla and orange segments.

With the meal I served white and red wine, a variety of Christmas brews, and the infamous Aquavit, the traditional Swedish snaps that is accompanied by a song or two...

Our friends had never experienced the Julbord before but assured me that everything was delicious. I know that I felt like I was home in Sweden for a couple of hours Christmas Eve...

Hope you all had a fantastic holiday and enjoyed it as much as I did!


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August West 2005 Rosella's Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

We ordered half a case of the August West 2005 Rosella's Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir after a restaurant visit this summer and having a bottle with dinner. We are now down to our last bottle and I thought I better review it before it is all gone!

It has a beautiful dark, clear, ruby red color in the glass.

The lush nose reveals raspberry, ripe cherry, sweet vanilla, and notes of herbs.

The palate follows with black raspberry, cherry and spice. The fruit carries nicely all the way through the long finish, with a hint of red liquorice at the very end. The acidity is sufficient, and the tannins are well integrated and matches the ripe fruit nicely.

Medium to full bodied, this wine is sure to not disappoint. We have not been as you can see, with only one out of six bottles remaining, although I planned to cellar a few... Oh well, very enjoyable right now.

Find it at WineZap.com from $45.

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Jayson 2003 Napa Valley Red Wine

A short review on a wine we had with dinner tonight.
Jayson 2003 Napa Valley Red Wine is produced by Pahlmeyer, and is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, and 2% Malbec. It is made from the grapes/juice that is left over after producing the "big brother wine", Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red.

The wine is dark ruby red in the glass. The nose shows black cherry, plum, blackberry, and vanilla. The palate follows in it's path with black berries, oaky vanilla, and relatively smooth tannins that however shows notes of green wood. The nose is a step above the palate, which is a little thinner in the fruit at the finish then you are lead to believe.

Find this wine at Wine-Searcher.com from $ 59.99. For the price it is a pretty decent bottle, but there are certainly better wines in that price range out there.


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Robert Craig 2002 Mt. Veeder Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

I went over to my neighbors last night to give them some homemade Christmas treats and I got a treat right back in form of a glass of Robert Craig 2002 Mt. Veeder Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
I have had the Robert Craig Affinity (their Bordeaux blend) at several occasions before and always enjoyed it, but this wine was definitely a notch up.

The color in the glass is a deep red garnet color. Big ripe berries, black cherry and black currant meets you at the nose with oak and vanilla notes. The palate is equally lush with dark berries, black currant, and a long finish with violet candy, black liquorice notes, and supple, well integrated tannins with matching acidity.

This was a really good glass of wine and as soon as I finished my glass I wished I had a bottle waiting at home. The quality of the wine very much matches the price tag; available from $60 at Wine-Searcher.com. I would happily spend my money on this wine any day.


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Barham Mendelsohn 2003 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

This wine is made by winemaker Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat. His only bottling from Russian River Valley. 800 cases produced.

It shows a medium dark ruby color in the glass with medium dark berries, floral perfume, tea notes, cinnamon, cloves and vanilla oak on the nose. The palate shows young red fruit/berries, tart red currant, earthy spice, and a hint of black liquorice (?) and minerals at the very finish.

This medium bodied wine has good acidity but slightly harsh, still green tannins that shows on the the full length of the palate. The nose unfortunately promises more fruit than the palate carries.

Nice effort but, to me, not worth the $35 I paid for it. At $20 I could have seen it as a good value. The tannins and the tartness of the fruit did not quite fit my palate. It might however be the perfect match for someone else... I would love to hear your opinion if you have had it, and agree or disagree.

If you are interested in giving it a try it can be found at Winerz.com for $28.80.

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Valhalla Cellars 2004 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

I could not resist picking up a bottle of Valhalla Cellars 2004 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon when I saw it on the shelf in the local grocery store. Being from Sweden with our heritage of Norse Gods and Valhalla I just had to try this wine that I had never heard of before. I just loved the label with the viking ship!

Valhalla Cellars was founded in 2001 by Todd Martin and Madeleine Beeler Warner, both of Scandinavian decent. Therefore the name of their label. They are small producers that buy grapes from top vineyards in areas that produce the best quality grapes for the wine they intend to produce.

This wine was fermented in open top fermenters with the cap punched down 3 times daily. It was then aged for 21 months in 60% new and 40% two year old French Oak. Only 70 cases produced.
The wine has a very dark dense ruby color in the glass with slight cloudiness. Red cherry, dark red currant, liquorice and vanilla meets you on the nose. It is relatively smooth on the palate with red fruit, spice, vanilla, good acidity, and young, slightly tart tannins that step in at the very finish.

The color of the wine through me off a little bit to start with. I expected more darker nuances in the fruit and berries, but they are young and red. Never the less, I enjoyed this wine and for $23 I would not hesitate to long to get it again.

The only site I can find it at online is at the winery's web site for $28. They do not have a store online but I am sure you can contact them to purchase and have it shipped.

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CraftSteak at MGM Grand Las Vegas

While in New York earlier this year we dined at Tom Colicchio's CraftSteak. My husband loved the meal and I thought it was very good as well, and when given the opportunity to dine at CraftSteak in Las Vegas we had to try out this "sibling restaurant".

The restaurant is located next door to Emeril's, Fiamma and other fine dining restaurants at the MGM Grand. The space is contemporary and has a sleek, clean look with dark wood, leather, stainless steel, warm colors at the walls, and a large bar at the entrance.

As a party of six we got seated promptly at arrival. We all started of by sharing some starters as the portions are huge and more than enough for two. I had the Roasted Baby Beets, red and pink beets slowly rated in the oven and served over a few micro greens. Simple, flavorful and delicious. I also tasted the Arugula Salad tossed in a simple vinaigrette. Fresh and light. The third couple had the Romaine Hearts "Caesar" and gave it thumbs up.

For entree I choose the Rack of Lamb and my husband and friend shared the Porterhouse for Two. When I ordered my lamb I was recommended to order it medium as it is two thick pieces of meat that will come out more like medium-rare, my usual preference. I ordered as suggested and to my disappointment, cutting into it upon arrival at the table, it actually came out as a true medium. Never the less a very nice cut of meat with great flavor. The Porterhouse came out as ordered and was juicy, tender and full of flavor as well.

We shared an array of side dishes at the table. Trio of Mushrooms, a blend of roasted chantarelles, hen of the woods, and baby shitake was my favorite, along with the Yukon Gold Puree, the most delicious, rich and creamy potato puree I have ever tasted (I do not even want to think about all the butter that went into that dish). The top pick at the table as it did not last long.
Other good side dishes were the Green Beans topped with almonds, and theFries that was perfectly seasoned and crisp.

Moving on to dessert we were all stuffed but me and my friend had to try a couple of them and we picked the Liquid Chocolate Cake with Persian Mint Chip Ice Cream, and the Pumpkin Cheesecake. Both wonderful although the chocolate cake disappeared of the plate very quickly.

When it comes to the wine selection I started by ordering the Brewer-Clifton 2005 Cargasacchi, Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir, which I have enjoyed before and turned out to be a great start for the meal.
For the entree I selected the Barnett Vineyards 2002 Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon. Big and chewy with plenty of fruit and balanced tannins, this was a "crowd pleaser" at the table, and went perfect with our steaks.

Over all everybody in our party thought that the dinner was great, and I was very pleased to see that the quality in service and food that we experienced in New York also made it to the Las Vegas location, which is unfortunately not always the case when a restaurant branches out. If you are looking for a good steak house next time you are in Vegas this one should definitely be on your list.

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Wine.com lets public choose its top 100 list

The following article was published in the Sacramento Business Journal. The subject is about the top 100 list from Wine.com. Based entirely on quantities sold it is an interesting approach to having the public rate wines...
Read and judge for yourself.

Wine.com lets public choose its top 100 list
Sacramento Business Journal - by Chris Rauber San Francisco Business Times

Taking after the popular "American Idol" TV show, Wine.com unveiled its Wine.com 100 on Wednesday, touting it as "the industry's first top 100 list based entirely on customer preferences."
The top 100 list reflects the top 2 percent of wines sold nationally on Wine.com during 2007, based on unit volume, according to the San Francisco-based company, which bills itself as the nation's top online wine retailer.
"We wanted our first-ever top 100 list to be unique," Rich Bergsund, Wine.com's CEO, said in the Dec. 5 statement. "Many publications rank wines based on the opinions of their wine critics. We wanted our customers to be the judge, voting with their wallets to determine the Wine.com 100."
The top five best-sellers on the list are:
Hogue Genesis cabernet sauvignon, 2003, Columbia Valley, Washington.
Sticks chardonnay, 2004, Yarra Valley, Australia.
Cristalino NV brut cava, non-vintage, Spain.
Big House Red, 2004, Central California coast.
Veramonte Primus, 2004, Bordeaux red blend, Chile.
Northern California's highest-placed wine, a 2006 Hanna Russian River sauvignon blanc, came in at No. 9.
Despite the customer-first approach, Wine.com noted, wine critics also got in their digs. Eighty-four of the top 100 were rated 90 points or higher by industry periodicals such as Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (18), Wine & Spirits (18), Wine Enthusiast (15) and Wine Spectator (8), and 91 were reviewed by customers on the Wine.com web site.
Seventy-five of the best-selling wines are priced at $20 or below. Red wine represented three-fourths of the top 100, led by Cabernet Sauvignon (18), red wine blends (17), Syrah (10), Malbec (5), Pinot Noir (5) and Merlot (5). Of 17 white wines on the list, Chardonnay (6) and Sauvignon Blanc (5) were the front runners.
In contrast with many U.S. wine retailers, where an average of just 1 in 4 wines sold is imported, according to Wine.com, its list contains 60 imported wines. California is the leading region with 29 wines, but eight foreign countries are represented, led by Australia (18), Spain (12), Chile (7), France (6), Italy (6), and Argentina (6).
In May, Wine.com led a list of online wine sellers put together by Internet Retailer Magazine, making it the third consecutive time the San Francisco vendor has topped the list. It also ranked No. 13 on the food and drug list and was No. 199 among all Internet retailers, based on 2006 revenue.

See the complete top 100 list here!


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Vino Volo and Caymus Vineyards 2005 Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon

Going to Las Vegas last weekend our flight out of Sacramento was delayed for 4 hours, which gave us plenty of time to kill in the airport's wine bar, Vino Volo. Vino Volo is a chain of airport wine bars with five current locations; Seattle, Sacramento, Washington DC, Baltimore and New York, and with plans to expand and open many more locations in the upcoming year.
Having the option to visit Vino Volo made me very excited as airport food and drinks, in general, gives me the shivers... Vino Volo adds a touch of sophistication with good quality wine by flight, glass or bottle. Small plates are also served. We tried the cheese plate, chicken panini and the New York skewers with mashed potatoes and peas. All a step above all other airport food I have ever had.

I started of with the Pinot Noir wine flight featuring a California pinot from the Molnar Family 2005 Poseidon's Vineyard, from France the Louis Latour 2002 VOLNAY, and from New Zealand the Nevis Bluff 2003 Pinot Noir. A nice flight showcasing the many faces of Pinot Noir.

Not having killed enough time it was time for a second flight, this time the California Syrah. From Mendocino County came Saracina 2003 Estate, from Dry Creek Valley the Olson Ogden 2005 Unti Vineyard, and from Russian River Valley the Mesics-Tomerlin 2000 Timbervine Ranch, a small production wine according to the staff, and a favorite at our table.

Having an additional hour before boarding we decided to hit it big and ordered in a bottle of the Caymus Vineyards 2005 Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. We were on our way to Vegas after all. Why not start celebrating early? Cost was $165 plus a $12 corkage fee. Not to bad for retail price. Best price online I can find after brief research is $139.99 at Wine-Searcher.com.

On to the wine. Deep dark red/purple in the glass, and tons of big fruit on the nose with black cherry, dark raspberry and blackberry. On the palate the fruit and berries are equally big and intense with cherry, plum, blackberry, black currant and a hint of dark chocolate. Surprisingly smooth with soft tannins showing a green edge that hits at the end of the palate, with the long lush fruit notes.

I thought this would be to young to drink but it actually was very approachable thanks to the softer tannins. The fruit is definitely overpowering the tannins at this point, but with age I expect that the two will become more balanced. This is certainly a wine to enjoy now and in the future.

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Vosges Chocolate Truffles

I just got back after a weekend in Las Vegas with to much good food and wine. Trust me, you will hear all about it later, but today I thought I would start with telling you about the truffles I got from Vosges Chocolate.

Vosges Chocolate is located in Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and has a very chic, modern decor, and beautiful display of their chocolates.

I picked out four of their truffles to enjoy later. They were put in a classy box that got a bow around it.

Balsamico is a dark chocolate truffle flavored with a 12 year old Modena balsamic vinegar. The notes of the vinegar is pleasantly intense and measures up really nice to the dark chocolate. It is topped with chopped hazelnuts for a nice crunch and contrast of texture.

Red Fire has a nice spicy kick from Ancho chili and subtle notes of cinnamon. The heat is perfectly balanced with the dark chocolate. Sprinkled with red chili powder it looks like it tastes.

Black Pearl is a dark chocolate truffle flavored with ginger, wasabi and topped with black sesame seeds. The ginger really dominated and my initial impresson was that it all reminded me a little bit to much about the pickled ginger in sushi restaurants. Very good, but not entirely my cup of tea.

Naga is a beautiful truffle with Indian curry and coconut in milk chocolate. Although I love spicy curry this sweeter, flavorful version is perfect for this truffle. The coconut lends a perfect tropical sweet touch to the palate. Very nice!

Vosges truffles really impressed me with its high quality chocolate, ingredients and great texture of the truffles. I wish I could have tried them all, but I guess I have all the more to enjoy at a later date. And I can't wait...

They make an array of additional products like caramels, chocolate bars, toffees, marshmallows, drinking chocolates, brownies, etc. Something for every taste as long as chocolate is your thing...

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