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Read about it today, experience it tonight.
In this issue: $12 and under values
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Quality bottles of wine that fit into our budgets are priceless.
Having insider information can not only help you stay within your budget,
but allow you to explore new wine categories.
With the current global 'grape glut' retail stores are a shoppers paradise.
Below are a few bottles under $12 that are great buys.
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Gazela 2005 Vinho Verde, Portugal
Zesty with notes of limes and green apples with a touch of minerals.
A touch of carbonation gives this delightful white wine a festive note.
Vinho Verde means 'green wine,' named because the grapes are picked a bit early.
This gives the wine a mouthwatering snap of acidity.
Great with tapas. A little cheese, some olives, flatbread with hummus . . . yummy!
-BF $9
Where to find this wine
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Five Rivers Winery 2003 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon
This red blend is loaded with blueberry flavors.
It has fairly soft tannins and slight acidity.
There is a dark chocolate flavor layered with the berry flavors.
The use of oak offers a creamy mocha, vanilla flavor on the mid-palate.
-BF $10
Where to find this wine
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Viña Borgia 2004 Garnacha
Yes indeed, the 2004 Viña Borgia is very tasty.
Just like the previous vintage this bottle is loaded with ripe black raspberries.
There is a savory black licorice flavor and a note of black pepper.
No oak on this red,
so if you struggle with a red wine headache,
you may want to try this scrumptious garnacha.
The rest of you will be impressed by its quality and value too. -BF
$8
Where to find this wine
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Oakley 2004 Five Reds
A lovely Rhône style blend of zinfandel, syrah, carignane,
grenache, and mourvèdre.
This wine is bursting with flavors of blueberries, blackberries,
cherries, and black pepper.
A smooth blend with hints of vanilla and spice.
Soft tannins and a touch of acidity make this a very integrated wine
that is smooth and balanced. -BF $9
Where to find this wine
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Desolation Flats 2001 Chardonnay, San Lucas, California
Pineapple, and coconut on the nose carry over to the palate.
These tropical flavors are joined by some zesty lime flavors and a good dose of acid.
Brazil nuts and a touch of peach show themselves on the finish.
A truly surprising wine for the money.
$2.99
This wine is ONLY available at County Line Liquors,
northwest corner of Broadway and County Line Road in Littleton,
and Cheers Liquor Mart, 1105 North Circle Drive, Colorado Springs
Tell them you learned about it on redwhiteandrose.com
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Desolation Flats 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon, San Lucas, California
Light cabernet sauvignon with flavors of cherries, cassis, and leather.
Let it breathe a touch and opens up nicely adding a touch of spice.
Light tannins, but more ample acidity.
A good drink at a great price.
$2.99
This wine is ONLY available at County Line Liquors,
northwest corner of Broadway and County Line Road in Littleton,
and Cheers Liquor Mart, 1105 North Circle Drive, Colorado Springs
Tell them you learned about it on redwhiteandrose.com
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Why is my head pounding?
I woke up with a red wine headache. I didn't exceed my 'half bottle' limit, so why is my head pounding?
Tannin, that mouth puckering astringent you find in red wine and wines that have been aged in
new oak barrels can cause a headache. Many people who have the same complaint think sulfites cause their pain.
Sulfites could be an issue, but many of them don't have a problem eating dried fruit, which is also
preserved by sulfites. They tell me that some red wines don't bother them and others leave
them regretting their indulgence, even in small quantities.
Read
more about red wine headaches.
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Cousiño Macul 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon
What a great cabernet for the money.
Bright wild cherries on the nose carry over to the palate.
In the mouth the wine is focused, delicate, and light with wild cherries,
hints of mint and chocolate cupcakes.
No oak on this red, for those that suffer from the red wine headache. -BF
$9
Where to find this wine
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Riff 2004 Pinot Grigio, Veneto Italy
Ripe flavors of apples and peaches are focused and plentiful in this lovely pinot grigio.
The flavors follow through on the mid-palate and finish.
A mouthwatering drink that doesn't require a lot of thought. -BF
$11
Where to find this wine
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White Truck 2005 California Pinot Grigio
What a nose!!! Maybe it's from the splash of muscat canelli added to this pinot grigio.
This should be labeled pinot gris instead of pinot grigio because of its exotic and layered flavors.
Aromas of summer flowers and spice lead to a zesty white wine.
On the palate this wine is ripe with flavors of melon and peaches.
All stainless steel fermentation, so the fresh fruit flavors are showcased.
A lingering finish hint of lime zest and a refreshing dose of acidity.
A great pair for grilled fish, chicken piccata,
pasta with cream sauce, turkey sandwiches, and warm weather, lighter foods.
-BF $12
Where to find this wine
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Gimenez Riili Torrontes, Mendoza, Argentina
Expressive nose, with notes of white flowers and apricots.
Fresh and crisp with soft acidity, the palate swims in lime peel and
orange peel, pear, honeysuckle and flowers. Delightful.
Great pair with lighter foods. -BF
$8
Where to find this wine
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This mold will steal your flavor
Fresh picked blueberries, juicy peach, toasted vanilla bean, or wet dog paw,
which one does not belong? The first three flavors are great descriptors for wine;
unfortunately, the last one is a pretty accurate descriptor for a corked bottle of wine.
Nuances of wet dog or mildew, no matter how slight, are an indication of TCA,
a bleach-loving mold that infects corks and bottling facilities.
As revolting as a corked bottle can taste, TCA starts out as a loss of fruitiness
with no ill flavor. So that highly recommended, highly disappointing bottle may
still be a great wine, just not the one you opened.
Read more . . . .
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Burgans 2004 Albarino
Beautiful nose of white flowers.
The palate is lush with honey and apricots.
It is a touch creamy, yet has a prominent
flavor of tangerine offering mouthwatering acidity.
The lush flavors combines on the tongue from
the moment it enters your mouth until seconds after it has left.
Don't miss this wine if you're a lover of chardonnay. -BF
$15
Where to find this wine
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A visit to Balistreri's Winery is a relaxing way to taste and shop for wine.
Most weekends you can find winemaker John Balistreri pouring samples of his wines
in their tasting room.
Balistreri uses a mixture of new world and old practices for his wines.
He embraces the concept of allowing the wine to make itself.
He does not add sulfites, powdered tannins, sugar, and does not acidify any of his wines.
He believes, like many European producers, that good wines come from good grapes.
On the other hand he ages all his wines in American oak barrels,
a very new world practice, which adds toasty notes of coconut and vanilla to his wines.
Balistreri's wines are impressive and reflect the family's dedication to its craft.
The tasting room offers a variety of Balistreri wines for sampling
and is open 1pm - 5pm, Saturday and Sundays.
Find the tasting room at 1946 East 66th Avenue, Denver, CO 80229.
Check out their web site at:
balistreriwine.com
Call for more information at 303-287-5156.
Be sure to check out:
Balistreri 2002 Denver Merlot
Big black licorice with a slightly blackberry jam flavors.
Smoky, with notes of saddle leather.
Good acidity and soft tannins.
Dense and layered with a hint of salty-minerality.
Balistreri 2004 Lovies Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Dense black cherry flavor, almost like a cherry lifesaver.
Ample, but balanced tannins with hints of vanilla from the American oak barrels.
Bright fruit flavors that are a delightful pair to burgers, lamb, or steaks.
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Martin Ray Diamond Mountain Merlot
Big notes of French oak on the nose carries over to the palate in the form of cloves.
WOW!!! This is a very beautiful glass of wine!
Once in the mouth the wine is sultry with tannins yet smoldering with deep fruit flavors.
The flavors of blackberries and cherries are layered with hints of smoke, vanilla, and black licorice.
This bottle will do well in a wine cellar, but is very drinkable now.
It would make an impressive gift or a well received bottle to take to a dinner party.
Diamond Mountain is known for spectacular fruit and this bottle is a great value for its quality.
-BF
$40
Find this wine at Tony's Meats Fine Wine Store
Where to find this wine
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Gary Farrell 2003 Russian River Chardonnay
Glorious!
This chardonnay is a real treat!
Farrell's chardonnays are usually a single vineyard bottling,
but this particular one is a blend of several selected sites.
Layered flavors of pineapple, caramel, marshmallow,
and lime zest are complimented by a mouthwatering acidity.
The finish is incredible, lingering on and on long after the wine has been consumed. -BF
$32
Where to find this wine
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Brews
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Big Sky Moose Drool, Missoula, Montana
Dark brown, the color of bitter chocolate.
There's a root beer note on the nose.
Smoky, roasted flavors on the palate lead to a sweet finish.
A touch of black licorice marries with the flavor of burnt sassafras root and hint of soy sauce.
Not too bitter, not to malty, and so easy to drink.
A delicious ale with crowd pleasing appeal.
$8 a six pack
Where to find this beer
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What, no scores?
We think scoring wine on a 100 point scale is a wonderful idea.
Scoring 92 on a test gives us a thrill and
scoring 78 is a bit of a disappointment.
That's why we can relate to these numbers.
Everybody loves earning an 'A.'
We have a different idea about sharing information with you.
It is our idea that every wine has an audience,
which is why we strive to describe the wines as carefully as possible.
(Of course there are wines that are flawed and those wine are ruled out immediately.)
Armed with the simple
concepts of tasting,
understanding wine is an easy task.
There are so many good quality wines on the market that
we have plenty of wine to choose from when putting together this newsletter.
We always weigh the quality against the price.
We hope that our descriptions allow you to make smart choices when
shopping a retail store or wine list and will
encourage you to drink a little out of your comfort zone.
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The Emperor of Wine :
The Rise of Robert M. Parker, Jr. and
the Reign of American Taste by Elin McCoy
This book is not only a chronological account of Robert Parker's
journey to become the most powerful wine critic in the world,
it is also an account of the evolution of the American wine industry.
The book starts out portraying a young Parker with no wine
knowledge during the nineteen sixties.
Parker hones his wine tasting skills and establishes the
Wine Advocate with the history of the American wine market as a backdrop.
It is an invaluable portrait of the who's who of wine spanning the last four decades.
If you want to know more about wine,
this book is a great historical look at our modern times.
Read more book reviews.
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Dine with the winemaker!
Hearing a vigneron describe their wine in passionate, loving, and sometimes comical terms
is always an enjoyable experience.
During the second week of May there will be several very accomplished winemakers here
to share their wines with you.
Enjoy their wines with carefully selected dishes prepared by
some of Colorado's finest chefs.
- Wednesday May 10th 7PM - Table 6 - Stags Leap Winery - winemaker Kevin Morrisey - $90 - 303-831-8800
- Thursday May 11 7PM - Rennaissance Hotel, Flatz Restaurant - Beringer Vineyards - winemaker Ed Sbragia - $95 - 303-464-8400
- Thursday May 11 7PM - Avenue Grill - Chateau St. Jean - winemaker Margo Van Staaveren - $70 - 303-861-2820
- Thursday May 11 7PM - Black Pearl Restaurant - Etude Winery - winemaker Jon Priest - 303 777 0500
- Thursday May 11 7PM - Earl's restaurant - Chateau Souverain - winemaker Ed Killian - $70 - 303-792-3275
- Thursday May 11 7PM - Cuba Libre - TAZ - winemaker Natasha Boffman - $75 - 303-904-3707
- Thursday May 11 7PM - Table Mountain Inn - St. Clement - winemaker Danielle Cyrot - 303-216-8040
Availability is limited. Please call the restaurant directly with specific questions.
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