The Bitter Giuseppe

21 Monday Jan 2013

The classic/craft cocktail boom has many benefits and a few detractions. In the plus column, the availability of once-extinct ingredients makes creating the true classic cocktail so much easier and the end product so delicious. In the negative column, this same availability has spawned all manner of questionable cocktails, most are well meaning, but just plain awful.

But every so often, a bartender gets it right and the mixture is a wonderfully new classic. Witness the Bitter Giuseppe, a “new” classic created by Stephen Cole of Barrelhouse Flat, in Chicago. I stumbled upon this wondrous elixir in the January 2013 edition of Imbibe Magazine and I’m really glad I did.

The cocktail uses Cynar, an Italian Amaro based on artichokes as its base, with the use of full-throttle Carpano Antico as an accent, which at first I thought would make a syrupy-sweet mess. The addition of just a hint of fresh lemon juice cuts the cloying sweetness perfectly and renders a refreshing and complex cocktail.

The Bitter Giuseppe

2 oz. Cynar

1 oz. Carpano Antica (Sweet Vermouth)

1⁄4 oz. Lemon juice

6 dashes Orange bitters, (Regans’ Number Six)

Stir all ingredients with ice until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice, then garnish with a piece of lemon peel.

Cheers!

Clontarf Triple-Distilled Irish Whiskey

24 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by musingsonthevine in Spirits

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I went in search of something interesting… Not really having anything specific in mind, I stopped at Wampum Corner Fine Wine & Spirits. My hope was to wish my good friends a Merry Christmas and pick up something fun… Well, to my pleasant surprise I was presented with a fine bottle of Irish whiskey, one of which I had no prior experience, not even a passing nod of recognition, but Fran (the elder) indicated that he thought it a fine whiskey and he was wondering what I thought, so I took it home for some research!

First, some history… Clontarf has significance in Irish history, being the location north of Dublin where the decisive battle between the Vikings and the Irish under Brian Boru was fought in 1014. It marked the turning point in the Viking occupation and unfortunately the demise of Brian Boru…

Next, the whiskey is a product of Castle Brands, the folks who bring you Goslings Rum and Jefferson’s Bourbon among other products… There are three types of Clontarf – Classic Blend, Reserve and the Single Malt. I sampled the Classic Blend and found it to be quite nice, especially given its price – around $20 average retail per bottle.

The Clontarf has a smooth palate with rich, woody tones and hints of butterscotch and vanilla. Clean on the finish with a refreshing nutty, spicy quality. Quite nice for an Irish blended whiskey, which I sometimes find a little hot and one-dimensional.

So, if you’re interested in toasting a bit of Irish history, why not toast with a whiskey whose name drips of significance – Clontarf 1014!

Sláinte!

No. 9 Park, Boston, MA

19 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by musingsonthevine in Restaurants

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This blog has been a long time coming… Back in September we visited Boston for the weekend, staying at The Four Seasons and enjoying some really great food. We had never been to No. 9 Park (http://www.no9park.com/#no9_home), but had heard such amazing things over the years, so we made plans to dine there for our anniversary.

The restaurant itself is relatively unassuming, perched near the top of Park St, overlooking the Boston Common and the State House – very Brahmin… The dining room was cozy, with a welcoming vibe, perfect for a romantic evening of gustatory pleasure.

We each ordered a cocktail before the meal and having heard so many great things about the bar program at No. 9 Park, we were excited to sample our libations… Alas, we were a little disappointed… My Boulevardier lacked balance and the Corpse Reviver No. 2 was way too heavy on the Absinthe – neither cocktail was appropriately garnished… We thought this odd, given the accolades heaped on the bar at No. 9 Park, so we assumed that it must have been an off night…

Fortunately, the cocktails were the only minor distraction in an otherwise perfect evening. We opted for the Chef’s Tasting Menu, with several supplements and wine pairings – amassing eleven courses all together – La Grande Bouffe, indeed.

Overall the food was some of the finest creations we’ve ever had. Each course was delicious to eat and a feast for the eyes. The wine pairings were each very well done, providing a perfect balance to the food.

A few of the highlights from the evening worth noting…

Roasted Rainbow Trout with mi-cuit egg, American caviar and bacon – Moist, flaky fish with a lively, crispy skin – a perfect blend of delicate, brininess with smoky richness. (å Paired with 2009 Domaine Weinbach Pinot Blanc Clos des Capucins – Wonderfully fruity, played beautifully with the range of flavors in the dish – the acidity in the wine made a perfect palate cleanser.)

Handmade Garganelli with veal sweetbreads, Pecorino-Caggiano and Burgundian escargot – Wow! Simply outstanding – a teasing mix of sour and sweet with layers of unfolding complexity – toothy consistency – Yum! (å Paired with 2010 Dei Rosso di Montepulciano – Pure perfection – light enough to allow the layers of complexity to shine with enough structure and acidity to balance the dish.)

Seared Labelle Farm Foie Gras with prime sirloin carpaccio, frisée and celery rémoulade – Amazing! Duck liver is such a wonderful delicacy, with a richness all its own. (å Paired with 2010 Château Soucherie Anjou Rouge – Good pairing, a little rustic and muted. The 2010 Pellegrino Passito di Pantelleria was a better match – the sweetness of the wine paired lovingly with the rich fattiness of the duck.)

Selection of Artisanal Cheese: Pecorino Caggiano; Delice de Bourgogne; Cardo; Orb Weaver Cave Aged Northstone; Bayley Hazen Blue – Superb – the cheeses were an ideal transition to dessert, each one ripened to perfection, showing marvelously. (å Paired with 2010 Domaine de Fenouileet Muscat de Beaumes de Venise; NV Gonzalez Byass Amontillado Sherry Viña AB; Ferreira 10 year old Tawny Porto – The wines were a bit of a mixed bag given the selected cheeses – the Muscat paired well with all of the selections; the Tawny went well with most of the selections, although it was a little light for the blue; the Sherry struggled with all of the selections and was a bit disappointing.)

Chocolate Pavé with bourbon raisin, miso and banana – a perfect conclusion to a perfect meal – rich, luxurious and exotic. (å Paired with Broadbent Madeira Malmsey 10 Years Old – Well matched – equally rich and the burnt orange rind and fig notes picked up dried fruit of the raisins perfectly creating a lovely echo on the finish.)

Service was exceptional – our primary server, Christine was a love, giving us all of the details we crave. Well informed about the wines, she was a helpful guide through our culinary adventure.

Our only regret from the evening was that we wished we had visited sooner!

Cheers!

La Maison de Coco, Newport, RI

17 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by musingsonthevine in Restaurants

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I love authentic and artisanal! I love places where attention to detail is everything. I love an experience that feels like it was tailored just to me. And I especially love when I don’t have to travel far, nor spend a fortune for such amenities.

Of where do I speak? La Maison de Coco (www.lamaisondecoco.com) in Newport, RI, that’s where.

Nestled on the upper portion of Bellevue Avenue (#28 to be exact), and directly across the street from The Hotel Viking, La Maison de la Coco feels like a Paris transplant.

We thoroughly enjoyed an afternoon at their sidewalk tables, basking in the late fall sun on an unseasonably warm day. We first stopped at the Newport Wine Cellar (www.newportwinecellar.com), a small but well-provisioned shop next door. The owner is friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic, with a nice selection of tasty libations. We snapped up a 2009 Hugel Pinot Blanc from Alsace for lunch.

We wandered directly next door for just a moment, into the companion shop to Newport Wine Cellar, Le Petit Gourmet, a wonderful little shop specializing in well-ripened cheese and other artisanal products. We picked up a few truffle oils and nice balsamic vinegar for the road.

Finally, we settled into our sidewalk perch at La Maison Coco. Our wine was thoughtfully chilled and opened, served with a delightfully light fare – authentic French Onion soup, along with mixed greens drizzled with a tangy vinaigrette and a soft, fluffy crepe stuffed with asparagus and mushrooms. The wine was a perfect match – lightly floral, but with nice acidity to cleanse the palate.

We finished with an assortment of house made truffles – their specialty, and a well-balanced espresso.

Simply marvelous – like taking a trip to Paris without the hassles of airport security, or jet lag!

Bon Appétit!

Rye Whiskey

15 Saturday Dec 2012

Posted by musingsonthevine in Cocktails

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Call me old fashioned, but I was born to savor rye whiskey. Almost non-existent a mere few years ago, there has been an explosive resurgence of rye whiskey as a direct result of the latest classic cocktail craze – and I say Amen to that! No longer do I have to overpower my mixed drinks with the cedar sweet pungency of Bourbon. Instead, I can roll a classically balanced cocktail with the crisp, yet mellow character of rye. Ah…

Given the plethora of rye on the market, where does one start… Well, for openers, just a few years ago, my choice for rye was a dependable, straightforward bottle of Old Overholt. Cheap and plentiful, Old Overholt was my bar standard and it mixed a mighty charming Manhattan, if I do say so myself. But no man is an island, so as the options for rye have grown, I have dutifully investigated the slate and come up with a host of additional players… In no particular order…

Riverboat Rye – An unfiltered whiskey from Bardstown, KY – Slightly hazy – smooth but with a slight edge – spicy and nutty – makes a perfect mixer.

Willett Rye – An aged, single cask strength whiskey from Bardstown, KY – Deep caramel color with a captivatingly complex nose – butterscotch, vanilla and allspice. Excellent for sipping and makes a nice companion to Carpano Antico.

Rittenhouse Rye – Bottle in bond, 100 proof, this whiskey is not shy, but nor is it the bruiser that is high proof might suggest. Solid, if not a little one-dimensional – makes a spirituous drink.

Bulleit Rye – 95% rye and bottled at 90 proof, this Lawrenceburg, KY whisky is remarkably smooth. Clean with a slightly spicy finish – excellent for sipping.

Ryan & Wood Rye – Locally distilled in Gloucester, MA, this whisky is a blend of rye, wheat and barley that produces a smooth and flavorful spirit. The advertising on their web site touts the unique Cape Ann climate… Maybe that’s why this rye has a hint of brine on the finish…

Jefferson Rye – A 10 year old, straight rye whiskey that is smooth with hints of cinnamon and vanilla. Excellent for sipping and also makes a really nice Old Fashion cocktail.

High West Son of Bourye – Not entirely rye, but a near 50-50 mix of rye and bourbon. Potent, with a rich, mellow flavor. Definitely for sipping, I find there is too much caramel richness to produce the desired results in a cocktail.

Pendleton 1910 Canadian Rye – A 12 year old, 100% Canadian rye whisky – smooth with butterscotch and allspice notes. Lovely for sipping, or mixing.

Cheers!

The Jacob Hill Inn

15 Saturday Dec 2012

Posted by musingsonthevine in General

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I have written about the Historic Jacob Hill Inn (http://www.inn-providence-ri.com/) in Seekonk, MA in prior iterations of my Musings on the Vine newsletter, but I thought a refresh was in order.

Recently we spent a romantic weekend at this lovely property, a former horse estate built in 1722 and nestled on a quiet, wooded, country road, less than 15 minutes away from downtown Providence RI. An idyllic location combining the quaint appeal of an historic New England bed & breakfast with the luxurious amenities of a Select Registry property, The Jacob Hill Inn is a magical get away any time of year.

Bill and Eleanora Rezek are gracious hosts, providing warmth, hospitality and some of the best breakfasts in New England. They painstakingly restored and renovated the Inn, striking a perfect balance between historic character and pragmatic modernity. Amenities include in-room Jacuzzi tubs and plasma screen televisions, with a full size pool table and game room, as well as in-ground swimming pool and tennis courts. Most rooms feature King Size beds and romantic, comfortable décor.

One of the best features of the Inn is its location. Conveniently close to several major highways, the Inn provides a great base for exploration of southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. On each of our visits we have made a point of taking in many of the fine dining establishments of Providence, as well as most of the wonderful wineries along the coast.

The relaxed vibe that permeates the property makes a stay at the Jacob Hill Inn a real treat, which is why we try to visit as often as we can.

Make sure to make your reservations early, the Inn’s popularity means it fills up quickly during the year!

The Boston Suite – Our Favorite Room!

Cheers!

RESCHEDULED: October & November 2012 Wine Tasting Events

15 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by musingsonthevine in Wine Events

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We are pleased to continue our 2012 wine tasting season with two fun and exciting events, one in October and one in November…

*NEW DATE* October 20, 2012 – Chateauneuf du Pape @ 3:00pm

Cost: $100 per person

Location: Wrentham, Massachusetts

When people ask me what’s my favorite wine, I usually reply that I have too many to list… But if you ask me what wine I would want to have if I were stranded on a desert island, it would have to be Chateauneuf du Pape. Full, throttle red wine from the Southern Rhone, CDP has vaulted from “tremendous value” to “expensive treat” over the last several years, largely due to the preponderance of great, consecutive vintages. At this event we will taste through numerous CDP wines, all from the recent highly touted vintages and we may throw in a couple of older wines to give people some experience with how CDP ages.

And…

*NEW DATE* November 17, 2012 – Wine & Food Pairing @ 3:00pm

Cost: $50 per person

Location: Wrentham, Massachusetts

Taste is perhaps the most subjective of our senses. This is due to the fact that human physiology causes people to interpret tastes in a manner unique to each individual. Add to this the now dizzying array of cuisines and wines that are available and you have a recipe for gourmet disaster. In this one-day class, we’ll examine the concepts of how we taste and how this applies to matching wines with food. This class will include a series of white and red wines, each paired through a food components exercise, as well as light appetizers.

Cheers!

Santa Maria Inn

10 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by musingsonthevine in General

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We were looking for a nice, relatively inexpensive place to stay on an overnight in wine country (Central Coast – Santa Rita Hills/Santa Ynez). We like places with character and history, so the Santa Maria Inn (www.santamariainn.com) caught our eye. Billed as “the historic” Santa Maria Inn, the original property consisting of 24 rooms, 24 baths, a kitchen and dining facilities was built by Frank McCoy in 1917. Over the years additions were made to where the inn stands today: 164 rooms, including 18 suites, all recently renovated and refurbished in 2000 and 2005.

We opted to stay in the Tower section of the Inn, where the rooms are more spacious than in the Original Inn. Another thing that we learned about the Inn is that the Original Inn is haunted by a number of ghosts. I have to admit that the period decorations in the public spaces on the first floor, as well as the creepy child portraiture throughout the corridors and elevator lobbies create a mood not unlike Stephen King’s The Shining. We did not tell our six-year-old about the ghosts…

The hotel boasts of quite the guest list, featuring Hollywood A-list and International dignitaries alike. Guests such as Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Joan Crawford and Lee Marvin all enjoyed the one-time luxurious accommodations. Other notable guests included President Herbert Hoover as well as William Randolph Hearst himself (along with Marion Davies). Cecil B. DeMille also stayed in 1923 while filming the Ten Commandments in Guadalupe. Many of the rooms in which the rich and famous of yester year stayed are now marked with a star on the room’s door displaying who has previously stayed there. A neat piece of folklore…

There have been numerous reports of various ghostly, unexplained paranormal activities throughout the Inn, although most of the reports seem to contain the activity to the Original Inn and the surrounding gardens. The most famous ghost is that of Rudolph Valentino, who is said to enjoy playfully scaring guests in room 221. There is also the ghost of a sea captain, murdered by his mistress, who appears to like room 210. A lot has been written about the ghosts, but we can thankfully say that we saw nothing untoward during our visit. By the way – references to a piano playing without a player were easily explained – it’s a digital player baby grand – no ghost involved.

We dined in the Garden Room restaurant and had a lovely meal – classic, continental cuisine with a very nice wine list of local offerings. Service was impeccable – attentive without being intrusive. All of the staff was very friendly and there was ample parking in front of the Inn.

We certainly would entertain staying at the Inn again, especially if we were looking for someplace close to Central Coast wineries, The Hearst Castle, Solvang or any of the other wonderful destinations in that area.

Cheers!

Santa Rita Hills Update

10 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by musingsonthevine in Wines

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Back In December of 2007 I wrote about a then emerging AVA in the Central Coast area of California, the Santa Rita Hills. In that article we featured Alma Rosa as a wine to watch… Fast forward almost five years and on my most recent visit to California, I decided to check-in at a handful of Santa Rita Hills wineries and see how they were progressing. We circled through the area on a near-perfect summer day and stopped at five wineries. The following is a report on the findings:

First up we stopped in at Mosby Winery (www.mosbywines.com), a lovely property situated about one mile south of Buellton on Santa Rosa Road. The winery was started in 1976 by Bill Mosby, who is also the winemaker and currently has approximately 46 acres under vine, planted mostly to Italian varietals. The literature states that the property “provides a perfect growing site for the various vines due to a multitude of microclimates.” Louise Smith, our perfectly gracious host in the tasting room was an absolute joy. We tasted through the current offerings of wine and Louise happily shared her passion and insight. The winery produces approximately 4,000 to 5,000 cases, almost all estate grown. While we were not able to taste any of the grappa and brandy produced at the winery due to legal issues, we were able to bring one back with us and it was simply lovely with layers of delicate fruit essence and a remarkably smooth finish. The good news for my fellow Massachusetts readers… Gilbert Distributors in Boylston, MA carries the wine – the bad news is that only the Lucca (not tasted), Pinot Grigio, Dolcetto and Sangiovese are in the Beverage Journal… worth a call to find out about the other wines…

2011 Cortese (Estate)
Floral, perfumed nose. Light bodied firm acidity. Citrus palate, crisp. Moderate length, clean and refreshing. $18/per bottle **

2010 Pinot Grigio (Estate)
Pretty, citrus nose. Light bodied with firm acidity. Minerally with citrus palate, hints of grass. Short, refreshing finish. $18/per bottle **

2010 Rosato Di Canonau (Estate)
Red berry nose, bright and floral. Medium bodied with firm acidity. Sour cherry, lightly floral. Crisp and refreshing. Very nice. $12.00/per bottle ***

2007 Sangiovese (Estate)
Lovely cherry nose, violets and vanilla, leather. Medium bodied with firm acidity and moderate tannin. Dark fruit core with cherry, anise and vanilla. Moderate length, complex. 2 to 3 years aging. $28/per bottle ***

2006 Primitivo (Paso Robles)
Spicy, lively nose. Bright red berry fruit with fresh herbaceous hints. Medium bodied with moderate acidity and moderate tannin. Bright red berry fruit with spice and vanilla notes. Moderate length with layered complexity. Very nice. $26/per bottle ***

2006 La Seduzione (Paso Robles Lagrein)
Dark fruit aromas. Black cherry and spice. Pretty. Full bodied with firm acidity and dry tannin. Dark fruit core with plummy fruit and spice and dried herb. Long finish. Nice. $28/per bottle ***

2007 Sagrantino (Estate) (4 acres – first in the state)
Bright lively nose, cherry, spicy very pretty. Medium to full bodied with moderate acidity and firm tannin. Dark fruit core with rose attar and allspice. Moderate length with layered complexity. Very nice. $28/per bottle ***

Sofia (20.5% alc)
Bright raspberry aroma, perfumed. Medium bodied with firm acidity. Sweet but not cloying. Lovely finish. $18/per bottle ***

Next up, we traveled further up Santa Rosa Road to Alma Rosa Winery (www.almarosawinery.com), the winery featured in our 2007 piece, owned by the lovely Richard and Thekla Sanford. I won’t go into all the gory details of the history behind the winery, for that you can read my original piece from 2007 (www.musingsonthevine.com/MusingsNewsletterV6_4.pdf). That said, the winery has a reverence that belies the humble, rustic surroundings. Chris Burroughs was our host in the tasting room – little did we know that we were amongst Hollywood royalty (the web site notes “Chris is of Sideways fame”) – Chris is down-to-earth and quietly passionate about the Alma Rosa wines… Our original love for the wines in 2007 continues forward into 2012 – you cannot visit the area without stopping in a trying these wines. To me they represent the great potential for Pinot Noir in the Santa Rita Hills, long ago originally envisioned by Richard Sanford himself…

2008 Sta Rita Hills
Bright floral nose with red raspberry fruit – pretty. Medium bodied with moderate acidity and moderate tannin. Red berry fruit. Moderate length. $32/per bottle **

2010 Sta Rita Hills
Soft nose with light floral hints. Medium bodied with moderate acidity and supple tannin. Jammy red fruit. Long finish. $32/per bottle ***

2009 La Encantada Vineyard (Clone 115)
Bright raspberry nose, violets. Medium bodied with firm acidity and dry tannin. Dark fruit core, floral and herbaceous. Long finish. $43/per bottle ***

2010 La Encantada Vineyard (Clone 115)
Dark, almost brooding fruit. Medium to full bodied with moderate acidity and dry tannin. Dark fruit core with anise. Long finish. $43/per bottle ***

2009 El Jabali Vineyard (Mt. Eden Clone)
Bright, red berry nose, some floral hints. Full to medium bodied with moderate acidity and dry tannin. Dark cherry with herbaceous notes. Long finish. $43/per bottle ***

Next we stopped a little further up Santa Rosa Road at LaFond Winery and Vineyards (www.lafondwinery.com). Lafond has a lot going on with a Bistro and Marketplace in Montecito, another winery in Santa Barbara proper, as well as connections to an Upstairs Art Gallery and a Clothing Line (Wendy Foster). Kathleen, our hostess in the Santa Rita Hills tasting room, a transplant originally from New Hampshire was friendly and congenial. The wines were nice and in Massachusetts they are distributed by Atlantic Importing Company, although the Beverage Journal only lists the 2008 SRH Pinot Noir.

2010 Sta Rita Hills Riesling
Citrus nose, perfumed. Light bodied with firm acidity. Lemony palate with minerality. Moderate length. $20/per bottle **

2009 Lafond Vineyard Chardonnay (33% new oak 100% ML) (Estate)
Tropical nose with creamy, vanilla hints. Medium bodied with moderate acidity. Citrus, apple apricot notes. Moderate length with cream and oak. $38/per bottle **

2009 Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir
Red berry, floral and spicy. Medium bodied with moderate acidity and moderate tannin. Dark fruit core with mint and dried herb. Long finish. $27/per bottle ***

2007 Lafond Vineyard Pinot Noir
Dark fruit nose – black cherry and anise. Medium to full bodied with moderate acidity and moderate, dry tannin. Long finish. $38/per bottle ***

2010 Sta Rita Hills Syrah
Bright spicy, jammy black berry. Full bodied with moderate acidity and moderate tannin. Dark fruit core, herbaceous earthy. Moderate length. $23/bottle ***

2007 Lafond Vineyard Syrah
Spicy, peppery nose with black cherry. Full bodied with moderate acidity and firm tannin. Sour cherry with mint. Moderate length with pepper and allspice. $40/per bottle ***

We decided to head up towards Santa Maria where we planned on staying the night (I’ll be blogging about the historic Santa Maria Inn shortly…) and we stopped at Foley Estates Vineyard and Winery (www.foleywines.com) on Highway 246. The winery is situated on the beautiful Rancho Santa Rosa vineyard, featuring a thoroughly modern tasting room and events center that offers truly spectacular vistas of the neighboring mountain ranges, coastal oaks and contoured hillside vines. On our visit a lovely couple that was scoping out wedding venues tasted alongside us, captivated by the surroundings as much as the wine. Susan Pratt was our wonderful hostess, providing great information about the wines, as well as the surrounding area. Susan was such a warm and inviting ambassador. The winery actually precedes the establishment of the Santa Rita Hills AVA (2001), with two major vineyards (Rancho Santa Rosa and Rancho Las Hermanas) providing the grapes for all of their wines.

2009 Rancho Santa Rosa Chardonnay (75% ML) (16 months in oak 50% new/50% used)
Lightly fruity nose, creamy with oak hints. Medium bodied with firm acidity. Citrus, apple and apricot – tropical. Moderate length. $30/per bottle ***

2009 Barrel Select Chardonnay (75%ML) (21 months in oak 40% new/60% used)
Woody with smoky hints. Medium bodied with moderate acidity. Woody, some fruit. Creamy finish. $50/per bottle **

2009 Two Sisters Las Hermanas Chardonnay (50% ML) (20 months in oak 100% new)
Lightly fruity nose, lightly creamy. Medium bodied with moderate acidity. Woody with apple and lemon curd. Moderate length. $55/per bottle ***

2009 JA Ranch Pinot Noir (clone 115/113)
Bright red berry fruit. Spicy with floral hints. Medium bodied moderate acidity and moderate tannin. Fresh cherry and roasted game notes. Long finish. Nice. $45/per bottle ***

2009 Rancho Santa Rosa Pinot Noir
Lightly earthy, saddle with nice red fruits. Medium bodied with moderate acidity and moderate tannin. Dark fruit core with light roasted game notes. Long finish. $40/per bottle ***

2009 Two Sisters Las Hermanas Pinot Noir
Lightly fruity with elegance and restraint. Medium to full bodied with firm acidity and firm tannin. Dark fruit core with rose attar and cherry notes. Long finish, peppery with saddle. $75/per bottle ***

Our last stop for the day was Babcock Winery and Vineyards (www.babcockwinery.com ) located on a picturesque hill overlooking well-manicured rows of vines on highway 246. The vineyard property goes back to 1978, with the winery following in 1983. The web site boasts of selling fruit to well-known vintners Rick Longoria, Fred Brander and Jim Clendenen during the early days of growing. John was our affable host in the tasting room, taking us through their Terrior Tasting.

2010 Identity Crisis Syrah (Rose)
Strawberry, bright. Medium bodied with firm acidity. Fruit forward, red berry fruit. Short, clean, floral. Nice. $12/per bottle **

2009 Santa Barbara County Chardonnay (Wine Diamonds) (100% ML)
Tropical, apple nose. Lightly floral. Medium bodied with firm acidity. Apple, peach. Moderate length. (This was a wine that had the presence of tartaric acid crystals (i.e. wine diamonds) in the bottle, so they marked it down and are selling it off, hence the price) $9.75/per bottle **

2011 Sauvignon Blanc (Estate Grown)
Gooseberry, grassy, asparagus. Medium bodied with firm acidity. Grassy with flinty finish. White pepper and gun smoke. $20/per bottle ***

NV Red Table Wine
Spicy, peppery with red fruit. Medium bodied with firm acidity and supple tannin. Fruity. Not for aging. $9/per bottle *

2010 Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir
Dark cherry fruit, floral. Medium bodied with moderate acidity and moderate tannin. Dark fruit core. Simple and supple. Not for aging. $20/per bottle **

2010 Precocious Pinot Noir El Camino Vineyard Santa Barbara County(187 cases)
Floral with red berry fruit. Gamey. Medium bodied with moderate acidity and supple tannin. Dark fruit core. Long finish. $60/per bottle ***

2010 Déjà Vu Pinot Noir Rabbit Ridge Vineyard Paso Robles (214)
Bright, red berry fruit. Medium bodied with moderate acidity and moderate tannin. Ripe red cherry fruit. Moderate length. $60/per bottle ***

2009 The Loin Cabernet Sauvignon Estellle Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley
Dark fruit aroma, black cherry vanilla – jammy. Dark fruit core. Black cherry. Long fruity finish. $50/per bottle ***

Cheers!

Blood & Sand

07 Friday Sep 2012

Posted by musingsonthevine in Cocktails

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For some reason I had a craving for a cocktail containing orange juice… Not sure why, but I did. I thought long and hard about what to mix: Monkey Gland? Bronx Cocktail? Screwdriver? Then it hit me… Blood & Sand!

Blood & Sand is a Scotch based cocktail introduced in 1922. It was named for Rudolph Valentino’s 1922 bullfighter movie Blood and Sand. The red coloring of the Cherry Heering helped tie it to the film. The recipe first appeared in the 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Blood & Sand:

1oz. Blended Scotch

1oz. Orange Juice

1/2oz. Cherry Heering

Shake the ingredients with crushed ice, vigorously. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry.

Enjoy!