Marolo de Barolo, Grappa & Chamomile
Last summer, I learned how to correctly drink grappa. Wine drinkers tend to swirl and then hold the liquid in their mouths in order to enjoy or evaluate. This the worst way to drink grappa. Grappa should not be swirled and should be sipped and swallowed without lingering in the mouth. You are tasting the finish. Once I discovered the proper way to appreciate grappa, I found a new world of elixir to explore. Marolo is made by distilling leftover Barolo solids. While the grappa is aging in French oak barrels, fresh, local, chamomile is added. The quality of this grappa is fantastic. It expresses a myriad of flavors on the finish. It starts with notes of chamomile, honey, and flan. As the finish evolves, flavors of peaches, green tea, plantains, lavender, pecans, oranges, brazil nuts, and coconut are layered in your mouth. A tiny sip offers all this. This is a great gift for a scotch, bourbon, or cognac drinker.
-BF $70
Joe's Durango Liquors and Divino carry this grappa.
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Honig 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California
This wine can holds its own against many $100 a bottle cabernets at a fraction of the price. It is extremely dense, with a soft sachet of dried lavender on the mid-palate. The slight earthy note is integrated into the ripe black cherry flavors. A great value for the money.
-BF $60

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Mount Veeder Winery 2002 Red Blend, Napa Valley, California
This blend is another incredible value for the money. Dense flavors of milk chocolate, pencil shavings, vanilla, and kiffer lime leaves marry to create a memorable drink from start to finish. Soft tannins and a hint of licorice on the finish.
-BF $45
Incredible Wine Store and Crossroads Wine and Spirits in Grand Junction carry this wine.
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Rutherford Grove 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California
This wine is a beautiful color of purple. Flavors of chocolate cups, black cherries, cassis, vanilla, mint with soft tannins. Velvety on the palate with concentrated flavors from the fore-palate finish.
-BF $25

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Sumaridge 2004 Pinot Noir, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa
Smoky aromas waft from the glass and then carry over to the palate. The wine is brimming with cherry flavors and notes of vanilla spice and clove. The wine offers generous fruit flavors and is balanced and smooth. It is an outstanding value for the money.
Tasted November 2, 2006
-BF $25
Little Raven Vineyards carries this wine.
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Sumaridge 2005 Charonnay, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, South Africa
Citrus and floral aromas, like nasturtium flower, lead to bright flavors on the palate. This wine is crisp, minerality, offering flavors of caramel, lime Lifesaver, lemon, hazelnut, and quince. It has the perfect touch of acidity and has a subtle, yet lingering lime zest finish. Gorgeous use of oak barrels. This wine is clean and accompanies food with an absolute grace.
Tasted November 2, 2006
-BF $17

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Green Point 2004 Chardonnay, Victoria, Australia
This chardonnay comes from a cool growing region in Australia. Aromas of tropical fruit rise from the glass. On the palate, hints of anise, mango, papaya, peach and nectarine fill the mouth. The mid-palate and finish are complex with hints of lemon. I had this white with a salad and was delighted at how well it paired with this difficult dish.
-BF $20
Reserve List and Incredible Wine Store carry this wine.
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Green Point 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz, Victoria, Australia
Australians are very creative and like to dabble with unusual blends. They been very successful in blending Bordeaux varieties with Rhône Valley grapes. This red is dense and soft, with perfect acidity. It offers flavors of blueberries and vanilla with sultry earthy tones. There is a soft note of black currants on the mid-palate. Excellent juice for the money.
-BF $25

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Green Point 2004 Shiraz, Victoria, Australia
This is a fine example of how cooler growing regions of Australia can create a Shiraz that is an marriage of new world and old world styles, It's a touch of Hermitage, on a Shiraz canvas. This Shiraz is intense and smooth. Notes of dark bitter chocolate and berries are followed by a floral elegance.
-BF $25

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Green Point--Matt Steel
You find a common thread when you meet winemakers. They are usually foodies, if not gourmet cooks. They appreciate artistic endeavors, weather it is their pastime or another's, and they have a knack for nurturing. Matt Steel, one of Australia's rising young winemakers loves to cook and garden. He tells me about his small yard, overgrown with herbs, lettuce, and vegetables outside of Melbourne. "I allow the lettuce to self seed. There are always young tender leaves as well as plants going to seed. I wished I had a larger space to garden at home."
     Matt's love of flora extends to his job as well. As the winemaker responsible for all still wines at Green Point Wines, he gets to collaborate with their grape growers. "We can sit down with our growers and discuss the wine. If it needs more concentration, they may need to adjust the canopy management." His understanding of how good wine is made from quality grapes reinforces the importance of vineyard management.
     Green Point Wines is owned by Moët & Chandon. Rather than create another Australian mega-brand, which Moët & Chandon could do with its massive resources, they explored first-rate vineyards in the Yarra Valley for the possibility of high quality sparkling wine. The potential was so great that they adopted both sparkling and still wine production in this cool valley and other areas of the Australian state of Victoria. Consequently, Matt works with some of the most prestigious vineyards in the Yarra Valley. Pairing Matt's talent with the ability to contract with the best vineyards is like giving a fine artist the best oil pastels money can buy.
Read more . . .
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Coppo 2004 Costebianche Chardonnay, Piemonte, Italy
A tropical nose with melon aromas. On the palate the wine offers anise, pear, and lemon. Seventy percent sees French oak and the rest is aged in stainless steel. This chardonnay did not undergo malolactic fermentation, (which sometimes imparts a buttery flavor). The acidity is complimented by the creamy flavors imparted by being aged on its lees. A touch of new world with old world elegance.
-BF $19

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Coppo 2002 Campo du Rouss, Barbera 'd Asti, Italy
The density of flavors showcase these older barbara vines. It sports a spicy, spicy nose. On the palate it is bright and interesting. It offers notes of wild cherries, chocolate, kiffer lime, and cloves. It's balance shows versatility for dinner party guests or an evening watching movies.
-BF $18

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Coppo 2001 Pomorosso Barbera 'd Asti
This is barbera comes from fifty to sixty year old vines. The nose is an orchestra of aromas offering violets, mocha, and vanilla. In the mouth, the wine is layered with flavors of black cherries, chocolate cup cake, black raspberries, clove, and vanilla infused cream. It is smooth and concentrated, able to stand up to hearty foods. It finishes with notes of violets. A densely flavorful wine.
-BF $60

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Coppo 2000 Alter Ego, Italy
This wine is part cabernet sauvignon and part barbera. Each part is vinified separately and tasted many times before the two are blended together to make this wine. It is a synergy of the two grape personalities offering notes of cherry, cassis, graphite, tar, kiffer lime, clove, and dark chocolate. Polished tannins offer a compliment to the layered flavors.
Read more
-BF $50

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d'Arenberg 2003 Galvo Garage, Adelaide, Australia
This is a Bordeaux style blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, and petit verdot. Bright flavors of plums, pomegranate, black licorice, fill the palate. The mid-palate and finish offer a touch of smoked meats. Intense and interesting, a tasty bottle for giving, sharing, or collecting.
-BF $27
Cost Plus carries this wine.
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Cennatoio 2001 Etrurian, Tuscany, Italy
This bottle sports the female goddess of war with Etruscan lettering. It is concentrated and smooth, made from 100% Sangiovese Grosso. It expresses flavors of cinnamon, clove, anise, soft white pepper tannins. The spices compliment a subtle canvas of cherry. A bottle of red fit for a goddess and appropriate for any fan of better quality Tuscan reds.
-BF $60
carry this wine.
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Censio Erte 2003, Tuscany, Italy
This Super Tuscan is an incredible value for the money. Half sangiovese, half cabernet sauvignon, it offers a synergy between the two varieties. Focused black cherry flavors are complimented by earthy tones. If you're a fan of Chianti, you'll love this unusual blend.
$15
Divino Wine & Spirits carries this wine!
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Avignonesi 2002 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Italy
The Avignonesi were the Italians who moved to France with the Pope during the Avignon Papacy during the fourteenth century (think Châteauneuf du Pape). They learned the winemaking techniques of the French. When they returned to Italy they had a different mindset about making wine. This Vino Nobile di Montepulciano may not be unusual these days, but they continue to practice winemaking in a multi-cultural way. Sangiovese is king in this part of the world. This example is dense, with notes of balsamic vinegar, black pepper, and soft wild cherries. This was and still is a regal wine, well worth the price.
-BF $25
Incredible Wine Store carries this wine.
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Hare's Chase 2004 Red Blend, Barossa, Australia
This is an interesting blend of Shiraz, cabernet franc, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and tempranillo. Rich, with notes of chocolate, vanilla, cloves, and a touch of graphite. Bright, with notes of blueberries and raspberries.
-BF $15
Hampden Liquor Warehouse carries this wine.
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Do you make your own beer?
If you make your own beer we are interested in your thoughts, recipes, and experiences. If you would like to share with our readers, we will include you on our weekly newsletter and-or add your contribution to our Do It Yourself section.
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Left Hand, Smoke Jumper, Imperial Porter, Colorado
The essence of smoke on the nose is incredible. The grains were hand smoked in small batches in order to import this savory flavor of smoke. It's brownish black color is dense, showing off its malty presence. This brew is complicated with notes of sassafras, chocolate, coffee, smoked meats, and a smoldering campfire. This is an impressive bottle with its Champagne muselet (wire cage and cap). It would make an impressive gift for any micro-brew lover.
Very limited production.
-BF $6 for a 22 ounce bottle
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Oskar Blues Old Chub Lip Balm
Notes of almond, macadamia nuts, and Scottish Ale? Yep, this is one tasty lip balm. It is made from almond and macadamia nut oils with a splash of Old Chub Scottish Ale. Perfect for skiing with its SPF15 protection. A great Christmas gift for the beer fan in your life. Order it online http://www.oskarblues.com
Tasted all day long!
-BF $3 a tube
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