Arcadian and Parador wines

These are the wines that I tasted on October 16... I am happy because they were good wines.. hmmm yummy!!

Tasted 17 new wines today..

2005 Arcadian Chardonnay
Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, Sta Lucia Higlands
Very nice chardonnay, from the beginning to the end. Little bit creamy, full body. Pears on the bouquet

Tried three different Pinots - they are all very good:

2005 Arcadian, Pinot Noit, Sleepy Hollow, Sta Lucia,

2005 Arcadian, Pinot Noir, Dierberg Vineyard, Sta Maria Valley. This is the one that I like the most. Very well balanced. No dry. Very smooth back end. Anise bouquet.

2005 Arcadian, Pinot Noir, Pisoni Vineyard, Sta Lucia Highlands.

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Met Steve from Parador today. He has amazing wines.
2005 Parador, Tempranillo, Napa Valley. This is a very nice tempranillo, very well balanced, spices, nice bouquet

2002 Parador, Tempranillo Reserva, Napa Valley. This is bigger than 2005. Full bodied, and little bit drier. Nose: Gum :o)

2004 Parador, Red Blend. 58% CS and 42% Tempranillo. Very nice nose, strawberry. Dry. Spices

2003 Parador, Red Blend. 78% Tempranillo, 22% CS. Nicer bouqet of anise.

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2006 Bell, Sauvignon Blanc, Lake County. It was a little creamy and has a very nice nose. Not bad. Easy to drink. Good on summer days.

2006 Bell, Chardonnays, Napa Valley. Very nice wine. Creamy, buttery. Great bouquet of pears, melon.

2006 Bell, Syrah, Canterbury Vineyard. Very nice nose of dark fruits. Fruit forward on the palate. Good finish.

2006 Bell, Claret. White pepper on the nose

2005 Bell, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley. Nice bouquet of white pepper, cooked strawberry.

2004 Bell, Sonette. It is a little bit dry, long lasting flavor.

2004 Bell, Clone 6 - totally different nose, crushed herbs, green bell pepper, dirt. Full body on the palate and dry.

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2005 Epiphany, Rodney's Vineyard, Sta Ynez Valley, Petite Sirah - Good one (B)

2004 Alibi, Dry Creek Valley, Zinfandel - I was impressed with this zinfandel. Well balanced wine. (A) -$22 Very good price too for this nice zin.

Wines I want to try or check

There are too many wines to check and I am creating a list of wines with notes for references.

Anglim - well known for Pinots
Littorai - I heard great things about the Pinots but hard to get.
Longfellow - friend mentioned to me about their wines
Jaffurs - good ratings for Syrah
Blockhedia - zins
Sea Smoke - I am still on the waiting list.
Don Quixote - Petite Sirah.

Shhhhhhh!!!!

I have a weakness for marble cakes... if I see it .. I will buy it. Luckily, I don't see it very often.

I need to find a good recipe.

Churros con chocolate, this is a traditional spanish breakfast.

I remember on the weekends, my sister and I will wake up early in the morning to buy the churros... good times.

Pain au chocolat

my other weakness.. can you tell that I love chocolates?

Charcuterie

Lomo Embuchado is a dry-cured loin of pork, meaty and tender with virtually no fat

Pairing: J. Runquist "R" Petite Syrah - it is a great combination

$40/lb

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Chorizo Soria, very popular cured meat (embutido) in Spain. This is a must in every Spanish home.

Bocadillos de chorizo are everywhere in Spain.

$20/lb

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Chorizo Blanco

Jamon Serrano

Salchichon de Vic

Fuet

Cheese

Flagship, Beecher's, (Seattle)
Type: semi hard cow's milk
Pairing: J.Runquist "R" Petite Syrah
$16.95/lb
Reserve $22.95/lb

This is one of the best cheddar cheese that I tried, specially the reserve one. Interesting.. the website suggests pairing with a Syrah, but I tried with Saxon Brown and yuck! that didn't work for me, but I am sure it will work with a different Syrah.
distributor: yes

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Burrata is a fresh Italian cheese, made from mozarella and cream. Served in room temperature, with olive oil and sea salt. Delicious!!!
Type: water buffalo milk
Pairing: Saxon Brown Syrah
$3.5 one ball

distributor: yes

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Delice D'Argental is similar to Explorateur. A triple cream cheese from Burgundy, France.
Type: Cow's milk
Pairing: Terraces Petite Syrah. I read it is best paired with dessert wine such as Sauternes (as dessert course) or Sancerre.
$20lb

SP tried with Ken Brown Chardonnay, and by his face expression I don't think that was a good pairing.
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Saint André, triple cream cheese similar to Delice D'Argental
Type: Cow's milk
Pairing: I haven't tried it yet, but it will probably work with Petite Syrah

Saint André is so fatty it can make a white wine taste sour and metallic - light beer and a slice of pear are suggested as better complements
One more comment: Absolutely heavenly
$10

Distributor: yes
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Prima Donna Aged
Hard cheese, cow's milk, Netherlands
Suggested wine: Merlot
I tried Napa Landing Merlot and I didn't like it, but then I tried Baxter Merlot and it was better than others, but not a 'wow'. It can work..
This cheese is very similar to Parmesan but smoother.
The following day I tried pair this cheese with a wine, and I can't find any that works very well.

$13.99 / lb
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English Farm House Cheddar
This is not my favorite cheddar cheese but it is not bad
$9.99/lb
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Manchego - sheep's milk (semi hard)
Mahon - cow's milk (semi hard)
Valdeon - blue cheese with goat and cow milk
Iberico - three milk (semi hard)
Murcia al vino - goat milk cheese with wine
Tronchon - three milk (soft)
Urgelia - cow milk (semi hard)

What did I taste today?

August 21, 2008

2004 Joseph Swan, Mancini Ranch, Russian River, Zinfandel
2005 Carver Sutro, Palisades Vineyard, Napa, Petite Syrah
2005 Selene, Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon

August 12, 2008

2006 Walter Hansel Cahill Lane Russian River Chardonnay
Amazing bouquet with pear, peach, very sweet smell. Medium body on the palate, good acidity, oaky

2006 Walter Hansel Cahill Lane Russian River Pinot Noir
Light color - it reminds me a similar style as Joseph Swan and Eric Ross Pinots. Fruit forward. On the nose, I smelled crushed strawberry.

2005 Saxon Brown Parmelee Hill Vineyard Sonoma Valley, Syrah
I am not a syrah person, but I really like this one. The first time that I took the sip I wasn't too crazy about the wine but this syrah took sometime to open up. I took another sip again, and wow! I was very pleased with the wine.
Nice fruit forward on the nose. It is a very well structured wine. I tasted a combination of dark fruits, mineral, herb. Also, very nice finish.

New wines at Artisan

Vie was started by Bryan Kane who asked a small group of friends (Bryan Robertson, Rachel Blatt, and Barry Dorf) who were also passionate about wine, to join him in his desire to produce high-quality, unique rhone varietal wines

Vie comes from the Old French word meaning "to invite" or "to give occasion for". Or, in French today, it is simply translated "Life". Make an occasion to enjoy Vie with friends. Enjoy Vie! Enjoy Life!

**Notes from the winemaker:

2006 Vie Winery L’Imaginaire Santa Barbara County Grenache
Aromas of blackberry and blueberry liqueur with a hint of pepper and minerals.
Enjoy this wine with fish, chicken or duck over the next 5-7 years.

2006 Vie Winery L’Etranger Sonoma County Zinfandel Blend
60% Zinfandel, 35% Syrah, 5% Petite Syrah
This wine combines the spicy peppery flavors and up-front blueberry, blackberry, and raspberry fruit of Zinfandel with the mid-palette weight of a Syrah and the tannins and structure of Petite Syrah. Enjoy over a barbeque or red meat over the next 3-4 years.
92 Points Wine Enthusiast