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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WhiteHaven 2006 Marlborough New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc

Before summer comes to an end it's time to try a couple of more Sauvignon Blanc. Last night we opened a WhiteHaven 2006 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. I have enjoyed several great Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough this summer and this was a new arrival on the shelf in my grocery store that I had try.

Greg and Susan White, and wine maker Simon Waghorn, established the winery in 1994. The production in 1995 was 5000 cases and next years production, 2008, is estimated to 200,000 cases so this is a winery that have grown quite a bit over the years.

The wine has a clear, very light straw color in the glass. The nose is vibrant of citrus, under ripe white peach, and hints of grass. The palate is equally pungent with apple, citrus and kiwi, with really nice acidity. This is a dry and very refreshing wine but intense and bright on the nose and in flavors. If you like more austere whites with more emphasise on the mineral component my guess is that this is not so much for you.

I found it fun and tasty and for $11.95 at Wine-Searcher.com and Winezap.com you can't really ask for a much better "budget" wine for late summer evenings...

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Ely Winebar, Dublin

I just came home from a week in New York and I have so much to tell you about the great food and wine we had, but before I go there I wanted to wrap up our England/Ireland trip by writing about a great place in Dublin.

Ely Winebar opened in 1999 and immediately turned into a hot spot, and two other location in Dublin has been opened since. They serve simple, delicious food, made with meat from an organic farm and the produce sourced from local suppliers.

We got seated promptly upon arriving and started of by ordering a bottle of Felton Road 2003 Central Otago Pinot Noir. A great Pinot from New Zealand packed with red cherry, dark raspberry, slight spice, all well balanced with moderate acidity and slightly firm tannins.
For starter I had the Cucumber and Crab with Mango Sauce. Cucumber wrapped around a light crab salad topped with the mango sauce, set around a baby lettuce salad. Subtle flavors marrying beautifully.
The entree of Pea, Mint and Lemon Essence Risotto with baby spinach and prawns were equally good. The risotto was a tad bit over cooked (wish it was a little more al dente) but the great combination of ingredients made up for that.
For dessert I just had to try the Sticky Toffee Pudding as I had never had this before. What a satisfying ending to the meal! Moist cake with a great sticky caramel/butterscotch flavor and sauce topping, served up with a side of vanilla ice cream. Yummy!
Our waiter Tony provided us with excellent service throughout the evening. Thanks Tony!

Me downstairs in the wine bar/dining area.

We all loved this place for its low key atmosphere, great food and service, and if you walk down stairs you will discover a wine bar and more tables packed with dinner guests in a cave like setting. Definitely a place to visit while in Dublin!


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Atrium, Edinburgh Scotland

Atrium was established in 1993 by Andrew and Lisa Radford and is located in the Usher Hall with the Traverse and Lyceum Theatres. They have had a consistent reputation throughout the years of being one of the best restaurants in Edinburgh, having won several awards, and they use only premium ingredients sourced from local suppliers. This small, candle lit, restaurant served us the best meal we had during our 2 1/2 week long trip through England, Scotland and Ireland.

We were promptly seated upon arrival and after ordering wine and food an amuse bouche was served and this particular night we were treated to a Carrot Soup with Sesame Oil. Subtle flavors and great taste of summer through the baby carrots the soup was made from.

We went from there to sharing two starters. The Scallops with Tomato Risotto was exactly just that: small, sweet, tender scallops served on a bed of very creamy, rich, risotto with diced tomatoes. This was absolutely delicious and the perfect starter as it would have been to heavy as a full entree due to the risotto that was loaded with cream and cheese.

The Shaved Artichoke was served on a salad of baby lettuce, tomatoes and shaved Pecorino cheese. All surrounded by traces of olive tapenade, perfect to soak up with the homemade warm bread that was served at the table. The salad was very vivid in color and flavor, and delicious.

For entree my husband had the Maize Fed Chicken. This was hands down the best chicken I have ever tasted. The meat so moist and incredibly flavorful. Served with Vegetable Medley my husband raved about it for days. And still does...

I had the Halibut with Crab Salad on a bed of home made tagliatelle with green onions, yellow onion and tomatoes. The halibut again was out of this world in flavor and cooked to perfection. The crab salad it was topped with made a perfect match. The pasta was very good but a little bit overcooked. Al dente instead and this would truly have been an amazing dish.

Dessert made me scream for more! Chocolate....(something).... with Coffee Creme Anglais. Best chocolate dessert ever! Hard to describe but kind of like a gooey, cake/brownie batter baked in a pie pastry shell, beautifully cut and decorated, and then baked to perfection. Served warm on a mirror of coffee creme anglais. Warm, gooey, intense dark chocolate. Could you ask for anything more?

On top of this complementary after dinner treats was served. I was stuffed at this point, but had to taste the Chocolate Chip Biscuit, Bittersweet Dark Chocolate Truffle, and a "Oat/Granola Bar Cookie". All delicious of course.

The other highlight of the night was the wine. I choose a Pinot Noir from New Zealand that I hadn't heard of before. At a price of around 35 British pound we did not expect greatness, but it turned out to be delicious. One of the best bottles we had during the trip. So what bottle then? It was the Momo 2005 Seresin Estate Marlboruough Pinot Noir. Intense in raspberry, cherry and great acidity and tannins. Medium bodied with a long finish. A great wine that I almost cried over when getting back and realizing that it is not available in the US. Retailing for US$20-25 in England it would have been a great everyday drinking wine! Let me know if you have found it somewhere out there and know something I don't know. I want this wine!!!

The service throughout the evening was attentive but not over the top. Being used to "American" service we thought it was a little bit slow at times, but we were in no hurry and enjoyed our evening.

If you ever find yourself in the Edinburgh area this establishment is a must visit!

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Kim Crawford 2005 Marlborough Unoaked Chardonnay

Are you just like me sometimes craving a good chardonnay without all the heavy oak? If so, this is your bottle...
The Kim Crawford 2005 Marlborough Unoaked Chardonnay was like the name suggests not fermented in oak but in stainless steel tanks. It did however go through malolactic fermentation to give it a soft creaminess. Displaying light straw color in the glass, you might as well be looking at a Sauvignon Blanc. On the nose citrus, apple and some butterscotch. Round tropical fruit and creamy citrus with firm acidity and lingering finish in the mouth. It all gives this Chardonnay a Sauvignon Blanc feel. Over all a very refreshing Chardonnay that feels light and crisp instead of heavy and over oaked. The price is also hard to beat, $13,99 (at sale) at my local grocery store. If not available in yours, you can find it at Wine-Searcher.com or WineZap.com from $12.99. Give this wine a try if you like unoaked chardonnay. I think you will find it very worthy for the price...

Dashwood 2005 Marlborough Pinot Noir

I picked up the Dashwood 2005 Marlborough Pinot Noir at Enoteca Wine Shop in Calistoga, Napa Valley. I had not heard of, or had wines from this winery before, but at $9 for 375 ml I figured it was worth trying. Enoteca carries wine from small scale artisinal producers, from all over the world, and they are all hand picked by proprietor Margaux Singleton. Her passion about what she does is obvious as you visit her in the store.
The Dashwood Pinot Noir has a dark red/purple color in the glass. Not the typical color of a Pinot. On the nose I got dark cherries and fruit, and the palate revealed the dark cherries again with a spicy note, medium acidity and soft tannins. This is a fruity Pinot upfront but on the back palate it is thin and has a shorter fininsh than I expected.
This was only an OK Pinot to me, and lacked the traditional characteristics of a Pinot Noir. For the price of $14.99 at Wine-searcher.com, or at Winezap.com you get a 750 ml bottle. This is not a wine I will purchase again though, and for $15 you can definately find a better Pinot Noir...

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The Crossings Marlborough 2004 Sauvignon Blanc

I am once again trying a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. This one placed #44 in the Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Wines of 2006 (rated 91 points), so when I saw it at BevMo for only $12.99 I just couldn't pass on it.
The name of the winery has an interesting history. Back in the nineteenth century, early pioneers found a specific spot at the Awatere River where their horses could wade across, and they called this spot The Crossings. This point now lays within The Crossings Wine Estate, and thereof the name. The Awatere Valley is a sister valley of the Wairau Valley where the legend of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc began, and they share very similar characteristics in their climate.
This wine has a very pale straw color in the glass. The nose presents a nice soft peach, tropical fruit and what I interpret as a hint of grass(?). The dry palate shows tropical fruit and some mineral. As it sits in the glass and breaths for a while the dryness softens and gives way to a softer, sweeter note.
I really enjoyed this SB but find myself liking the slightly more fruitier style of the Kim Crawford and the Huia a little bit better. The best deal I found online was at www.wine-searcher.com from $8.95. A really good deal!

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More New Zealand Pinot Noir...

We found the Sacred Hill 2004 White Cliff East Coast Pinot Noir from New Zealand at the franchise wine store Vino 100 a couple of weeks ago. Their concept is to feature 100 wines from all over the world, all of them under $25. I had never heard of, or had, this Pinot before, but at $19 I was willing to risk it.
This Pinot has a light red, translucent color in the glass. Medium dark fruit, strawberries and a floral hint on the nose. A little thin with dark fruit and red berries on the palate. Good acidity and tannins gives this wine a moderate finish.
I never quite got the whole "strawberry" nose/palate when it comes to Pinot Noir. But after having had this Pinot I finally got to experience it.
This Pinot was a little to "thin" for my taste, but never the less not a bad, or probably a pretty good Pinot, if this is the style you prefer. $15.99 at http://www.winezap.com/.

Huia 2005 Sauvignon Blanc

Out looking for something new and exciting to taste I ran into the 2005 Huia Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. I had the Huia Pinot Noir not to long ago and really enjoyed it (read more here). The 2005 Sauvignon Blanc was labeled at BevMo as at 92 pointer from Wine Spectator and was at sale for $16.99. How wrong could I go?
The grapes for this wine was harvested from 5 different vineyards throughout the Wairau Valley. Some early herbaceous grapes and some later harvest fruity, sugar plump grapes. A small percentage had a quick fermentation in old French oak and the rest, a longer in stainless steel tanks. The result is a wine with very pale straw color in the glass. The nose holds tropical fruit with pineapple and hint of citrus. In the mouth, muted tropical fruit with ripe grape fruit, and vivid, fresh acidity with a light creaminess that ends in a lingering finish.
Thanks to the fact that part of this wine was aged in oak it has a touch of creaminess, and is therefore a great Sauvignon Blanc to introduce to somebody who is set on Chardonnay, and thinks that Sauvignon Blanc are to light, crisp and fruity (like my husband).
This wine is one to enjoy with seafood, or do as I did, just sip it while making dinner.
Find it at www.winezap.com for $15.99.

Kim Crawford Marlborough Pinot Noir 2005

After having the Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc yesterday I just had to try their Pinot Noir to see if it has the same high quality. Their newest release is the 2005 and I found it in my local grocery store. This Pinot Noir has sweet, dark cherries and plum on the nose with a hint of sweet pea flower. The same dark, but not as sweet, fruit carries through to the palate with some red currant and moderate tannins that ends in a nice finish.
Now, as you know I thought the Sauvignon Blanc was spectacular for the price and the Pinot Noir is certainly a good wine at a good price as well, but my conclusion is that the Sauvignon Blanc is the one bottle out of the two you must try.
FYI: Rated 89 by Wine Enthusiast. Find it at www.wine-seacher.com or www.winezap.com from $11.99. Let me know what you think...

Kim Crawford Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2006

I've heard so much about this wine, and ranking as number 40 on Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of the Year, rated 92 for a mere $16 I just had to try it.
The color is light straw in the glass. A ton of tropical fruit, star fruit and passion fruit on the nose. The palate shows beautiful cloud berry, passion fruit and grape fruit that is balanced out with crisp, refreshing acidity on the long finish. I REALLY enjoyed this wine. One of the best buys I have come across in a long time. A must try for everyone!

Find it at http://www.wine-searcher.com/ for only $10.97.

Huia 2004 Pinot Noir

Having had a good New Zealand Pinot Noir during our Sweden trip I was curious about them and had to have another one tonight. I went to BevMo and found the Huia Marlborough 2004 Pinot Noir. It turned out to be a really good bottle as well, but a bit different in style with a little less fruit and some heavier tannins.

I served it with a Snow Pea and Green Curry Chicken dish that I made for dinner (dinner dish was already planned before the wine made it's way home), and it was not to bad of a match. The nose revealed cherry and black berry with a hint of tobacco. On the palate you'll find a nice balance of tannins and red cherries and medium dark berries with a long pleasant finish that accents the tannins. Find it at BevMo or at http://www.wine-searcher.com/ from $19.99.

This is a wine I will have again.

Christmas in Sweden and a great dinner at Grappa

Back in business again after spending Christmas in Sweden with family and friends. We had a great time seeing everybody and had our fair share of the foods at the traditional Swedish Christmas Smorgasbord, Julbord. The Julbord is a big feast of Christmas ham with mustard, sausages, Swedish meatballs, creamed spinach, oven baked omelet, cheeses, salami, liver pate, a wide selection of pickled herring, Janson's Temptation (potato au gratin with anchovies), grav lox, deviled eggs, a creamed cod dish,red beet salad, braised red cabbage, crisp bread, a special Christmas bread (Ortbrod), and whatever else you see fit. It all goes down with the traditional Julmust (a carbonated drink available only around Christmas), Christmas Beer and of course the snaps, in the Swedish case not a sweet shot but a shot of vodka or aquavit, properly spiced for Christmas (a common combination is fennel, cumin, and anise). So needless to say we were stuffing our self during the trip.
We did have one free night from family dinners/events and we tried a new restaurant in my home town, Varberg. We had gone for a glass of wine at Grappa a couple of nights before and glanced at the menu that looked delicious. Grappa is an Italian influenced restaurant, with modern Scandinavian interior design. The restaurant proprietors are Magnus Palmquist (who has a second restaurant in Varberg as well, Harry's) and Fung Dee, and the head chef is Sanna Apelqvist. Italy shines through both in the wine list and the menu. They have put together a great selection of wines by the glass that can be enjoyed over dinner or in the great little wine bar. It is made up of mostly Italian wines but also a couple from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
We had a late night dinner and decided to get the main course only. My husband had the Salami Stuffed Chicken Breast with Basil Risotto and I had the Sun dried Tomato Crusted, Oven Baked Halibut with Asparagus Risotto and a Basil Foam (?). My husband ate every last bit of his food and I loved my dish equally. The halibut was perfectly cooked, moist and flaky, which is far from always achieved in restaurants. I am a huge fan of great risotto and they could certainly make one here. Perfectly creamy from constant stirring and not from added heavy cream and great flavor from the crisp asparagus and right amount of added cheese.
With the meal we had a bottle of Villa Maria Cellar Selection Marlborough Pinot Noir 2004 from New Zealand. We had at first chosen a big, fruity, full bodied wine from Chile, not because we thought it would matches our choice of food, but because we were curious of the wine. Our waitress was very knowledgeable of the wine offered and immediately picked up on our non matching choice of wine and recommended the Pinot Noir instead as a great match. We decided to abandon our initial bottle and try the Pinot instead that we had failed to notice as we looked through the wine list. As anticipated (being a Pinot Noir) it turned out to be a great match for both of our dishes. It is not very often that you get help/guidance from staff (or the staff is knowledgeable enough to give help) when you pick a wine that does not necessarily match your dinner. A big bravo to Grappa for educating their staff of the wine list and teaching them how to smoothly guide you and/or suggest another wine if yours is not the best option.
Overall we had a great dining experience with delicious food and great service. Hands down the best restaurant in Varberg right now and I am looking forward to return this summer during our next trip home to Sweden.