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Final Thoughts

by jatemack on February 1, 2011

This will be my final post, so it’s a doozy. Scroll all the way down the page to see each portion.

Touring Bronco Wine Co.

I got the chance to see where Charles Shaw is bottled and shipped from in Napa. Here are the highlights:

Fred Franzia is a simple man. He drives from his home in the Central Valley to Napa in an old truck with a ton of miles. He calls his workers a “hell of an asset”. He has delivered more than 500 million CASES of two buck chuck through one distribution channel, Trader Joe’s. The warehouse by the Napa airport holds 700,000 cases of wine. They produce 240 bottles per minute, or 50,000 cases per day on just one bottling line. He doesn’t like screwcaps. He runs a tight ship (you could eat off the floor). Trader Joe’s has only one liquor license in New York State, so it’s used at the Union Square store. A 2400 square foot facility that sells the most Charles Shaw in the Nation. A truck acts like a mobile warehouse circling around the block restocking the shelves when needed.

He makes a ton of wine under a ton of different brands. Chances are you have had his wine and didn’t even realize it (I served a sparkling wine and a cab at our wedding, both of which are produced by Bronco and I didn’t even know it until I took the tour).

He’s a nice guy that has a bad rap, all because he found a niche.

Tastings (Press samples):

Folie a Deux 2009 – Chardonnay, Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon $18 – $24, all very good – 88-90pts

Lodi Wine Country: Don’t dis these wines til you try em. My favorites included 2007 Bargetto Winery Old Vine Zinfandel 88pts ($19), 2007 VanRuiten Family Winery Zinfandel 92pts ($16), 2007 m2 “Artist Series” Zinfandel 92pts ($35) and the 2006 Mettler Family Vineyards Epicenter Zinfandel 90pts ($19).

Kosta Browne Wines:  Delicious Pinot Noir if you can find it.

Jackson Triggs Niagara Estate Winery: Inniskillin Icewine – Vidal Gold Icewine, Riesling Icewine, Cabernet Franc Icewine, every bottle was good, although my favorite was the Vidal Gold.

Brix Chocolate: Wine friendly Chocolates – Not bad but I still prefer cheese as a wine pairing.

Oakville tasting 2007′s:

Overrated wines: Far niente Cab, Futo Cab, Venge Cab, Opus One

Underrated: Swanson Cab, Gamble Family Cab, Ghost Block Cab, Kelham Vineyards Cab, Miner Cab, Paradigm Cab

Appellation St.Helena Tasting 2005′s:

Excellent: Vineyard 29 Aida Cabernet Sauvignon,Rockledge Cabernet, Salvestrin Cabernet, Corison Kronos Vineyard,  Jaffe Estate (Cab and Blend Great value), Stanton Vineyards Petite Syrah, Crocket & Starr Cab, Flora Springs Cab, Hall Cab, Raymond Cab

Mediocre: Whitehall Lane Cabernet, Wolf Family Cabernet, Spottswoode Cab, Titus Cab, Robert Biale Petite Syrah, Duckhorn Cab, Parry Cellars Cab

Lacking: Ehlers Estate Cabernet Franc, David Fulton Winery, Anomaly Blend, Casa Nuestra Cab,  Titus Zin, Vineyard 29 Aida Zinfandel

The Wines of Navarra Spain: I didn’t like most of the wines from the region. Very acidic for my palate. There was one stand out winery though: Tandem. They offer an 04 Cab/Merlot Blend that I gave 92 pts ($30). A 3 person winery started by 2 friends making some good wine from 20 year old vines.

PS I love you – Petite Syrah Tasting

Good: 2007 Parducci 92pts($12), 2006 Robert Foley 92pts($60), 2007 Aver Family Vineyards Blessings from Organic Grapes 92pts($45), 2005 Quixote Stags Leap 90pts($50), 2008 Michael David 90pts($18), 2007 Artizen 92pts($25), 2007 Cinnabar 92pts($36)

Final Thoughts

Consumers: Wine is a delicious beverage, but it is still just that. Don’t buy into the hype of expensive star produced wines. You can find same great caliber wines for a lot less from little known producers. Support your local wineries. Support your local retailers. Explore different varieties. Always drink in moderation.

Bloggers: Don’t do it for the money. Don’t accept samples, there are to many strings attached. Blog to inform your friends and maybe some other readers will come along for the ride. Stay grounded.

Take Care,

Jathan

P.S. You can still follow me at www.jatemack.com where I plan to revamp the site and blog about everything I enjoy, not limiting myself to one subject. I am busy building a online inventory management application for Used Car Dealers to post their used cars to Craigslist, and other vehicle advertising websites like Autotrader and Cars.com, as well as getting their own website that connects to social media. www.autoadmanager.com

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Farmstead Cheeses and Wines

by jatemack on January 31, 2011

I love the personal attention you get when you walk into a small wine shop. You end up talking to very knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate people. That’s something you don’t really get when you shop at larger chain stores. I missed that for the last year or so, as I’ve been sent a lot of press samples and purchased my wine mainly from Trader Joe’s or Costco, which do provide good values, but do lack what I just described.

I just dropped into a store I’ve been meaning to visit for some time now in Alameda, Farmstead Cheeses and Wines. With a selection of more than 300 different wines and 150 different cheeses, you are bound to discover something you like. They carry everything from Sauternes and Assorted Vinegar’s to trophy wines and rare finds. With Craig’s help, I picked up a Pinot from Napa for $10 that normally sells for $37 in restaurants from a little known winery with virtually no distribution. Not bad.

Here’s to a first class wine purchasing experience.

Note: Check out their website, a ton of information and some well written posts.
www.farmsteadcheesesandwines.com

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Review: Octavin – Monthaven Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet

by jatemack on January 21, 2011

Octavin Package with Monthaven WineWould you drink from a plastic bag? What if a piece of cardboard with pretty lettering was wrapped around it? Most people would answer no, but guess what? If you have ever purchased a fountain soda, you’ve done just that. That syrup concoction that gets mixed with carbonation just before being pumped out of a pretty plastic dispenser is a cheap and efficient way to hide the original packaging and deliver a product people pay for. Now what about in the wine world? We consume our wine out of pretty glass bottles, but there is a ton of weight tied up in that package, and a lot of waste. Is it possible to put the same quality product in a different container and get people to drink it? So far the answer is not really.

I was sent three press samples of the Octavin, a wine in a plastic bag stuffed inside a pretty cardboard box. I took one of these bad boys to a gathering and found something unsurprising: most people didn’t want to touch it. Wine from a glass bottle that was opened was gone before people could wipe off the blank stares on their faces while they gazed at the plastic twist spigot the Octavin uses for dispensing. As far as the wine itself goes, it wasn’t terrible. I would rate each (Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon) about 80-82 pts (B-). They’re comparable to most wines that sell for under $7 at your local retailer.

The convenience is there though. Each one stores the equivalent of 4 bottles (3 Liters) and isn’t much bigger than a single glass bottle. It’s also nice to have a container you can leave in the fridge and pour from when you want just a glass, or even 1/2 a cup for that recipe your trying.

Unfortunately, most wine lovers aren’t ready for this. Even if you could find your prized Bordeaux or Napa Cab in this, most wouldn’t want it; it’s all mental. I do think that a company like DeLoach, who is making a refillable wine barrel for restaurants with by the glass sales might be on to something. Plastic Eco bags are swapped out of a faux barrel that is purchased separately in its Barrel to Barrel program. Perhaps someone will take a tip from soda and beer producers and set up a tap system with multiple wines with a Oak barrel facade. Easy to store, refill, temperature control, and serve. The customer won’t care, just as long as he doesn’t really think about the plastic bag it came from. Seems to already be a winning concept.

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Free Tickets to Bay Area Wine Event Dark and Delicious

by jatemack on January 21, 2011

Do you love wine? Do you love free wine? How about free wine and free food that also tastes good? I have available 2 free tickets for you and a friend to attend the “PS I Love You’s Dark & Delicious Event” in Alameda on Friday, February 18th from 6-9pm. The event will be showcasing petite syrah from 40 different wineries and serving food from 30 different producers. Normally, tickets are $63 each!

More details can be found here and here

DETAILS

Dark and Delicious 2011
Rock Wall Wine Company
2301 Monarch Street
Alameda, CA 94501-7509
February 18, 2011 6PM – 9PM

HOW TO ENTER

Simply add a comment to this post with your name and you will be entered. I will randomly select a winner next week.

THE RULES

One entry per person please. Open to U.S. residents only. The winner will be announced next week, randomly chosen posts from the comments section of this page! Click the photo below for more details.

Disclaimer: These tickets are being provided to me for free from the PR company putting on the event. Sure I could have taken them for myself, but what fun would that be? Maybe I’ll buy a couple tickets and join you!

Dark and Delicious Flyer 2011

Winexpression to Close

by jatemack on January 14, 2011

I must fly away to another flowerAfter almost 8 years, I have decided that my Wine Blogging journey has come to an end. Thanks to all the readers, PR staff, and fellow wine bloggers that supported me through this journey. I have a few posts to finish up and will explain a bit more, but basically this forum has run it’s course in my life and I am ready to move on. I have valued the feedback I have received and thank you all for your support. Stay tuned for a few more posts with the most valuable wine lessons I’ve learned, tips for wine bloggers, and some final reviews and notes from recent tastings I have attended.

Best,

Jathan.

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Review: Milagro Reposado and 1800 Select Silver 100 proof

by jatemack on November 2, 2010

What makes for a delicious tequila? Is it the complexity, smoothness, or its mix-ability? Certainly all of these are factors, and a well crafted example will excel in these areas. But is there something more? Does the taste take you away, perhaps connecting you with a cherished memory? Is the lingering flavor on your tongue something you want to return to? This is the goal of every drink manufacturer, to harness your neural senses and begin brand loyalty.

Personally, I feel that tequila can have a place amongst the single malts and Cognacs of the world. Who would think that a lowly cactus from a humble country could produce a high quality spirit? It is possible, and some brands hit these high marks. I was recently sent a couple different tequilas, let’s see how they fare.

Milagro Reposado

Milagro Tequila, Reposado, 100% Blue AgavePrice: $29 USD

Notes: This triple distilled tequila hails from the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. The roasting is done in clay ovens. The yield is a clear to light straw colored spirit with aromas of citrus and caramel with a pleasing taste that envelops your mouth. The finish has a small alcoholic bite but is overall very smooth and complex. A very nice value for the price.

1800 Select Silver 100 Proof

1800 Select Silver

1800 Select Silver, 100 ProofPrice: $29 USD

Notes: This tequila just kisses some American and French Oak for a mere 15 days and comes with a top that can supposedly pour a shot (I never got it to work right). Also from the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico this clear spirit offers mild aromas of banana and sugar. It is surprisingly smooth for a drink that is 50% alcohol. A nice finish that warms the tongue. Great for margaritas.

My Own Awesome Margarita Recipe:

1 oz lime juice (about 1 lime)
1 oz agave syrup or simple syrup (see note)
.5 oz favorite orange liquer like Countreau or Grand Marnier
1 oz tequila (not Añejo)

Mix everything in a glass topped with ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.
(Note: make your own simple syrup by heating equal parts sugar and water just until combined.)

Final Thoughts

While both of these tequilas are very good, they don’t quite hit the level described above. I guess that’s what Añejo’s and reserves are for.
To be continued….

Milagro Tequila Website

1800 Tequila Website

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Review – Bin 36 Wine from Chicago Restaurant/Wine Bar

by jatemack on October 1, 2010

Bin 36 - First Wine Release

Bin 36, an acclaimed Chicago Restaurant, Wine Bar, and Market, has done what a lot of Restaurants do: offer a wine with their name on it that is produced by an established winery (in this case Hahn Estates from the Central Coast of California). It’s good marketing, and importantly, a good way to control the quality and pricing of some of the wines on the list.

But are these wines any good? I was sent the latest release line up so let’s find out.

2009 Bin 36 Sauvignon Blanc – Dry Creek Valley, CA
ABV: 13.9%
Price: $16
Notes: The nose isn’t quite all there for me but perhaps it will open up with a little air. The palate offers bright and crisp flavors of green apple and lemon peel. Good acid with a fresh citrus finish.
Score: 86pts (B)

2007 Bin 36 Pinot Noir – Monterey, CA
ABV: 14.5%
Price: $26
Notes: This Pinot is beautiful in color and offers earthy aromas like mushroom, mineral, and a touch of cherry. Well balanced on the tongue with a light to medium bodied weight. A nice clean finish.
Score: 88pts (B+)

2006 Bin 36 Zinfandel – California
ABV: 14.2%
Price: $16
Notes: This is a very nice all around wine with good blackberry and blueberry aromas with a touch of tar that lead into a medium bodied mouth feel with a very nice finish. Food friendly and well done.
Score: 90pts (A-)

2007 Bin 36 Cabernet Sauvignon – California
ABV: 14.5%
Price: $16
Notes: This is a nice well rounded cab with a nose that is full of fresh summer berries, plum, and a touch of mint. Leads into a nice taste on the palate that is full bodied with chewy tannins on the finish.
Score: 88pts (B+)

All these wines are well made and show the fine reputation that Hahn has made for itself over the years. I like the label design, it’s got some character. Try a bottle and let me know what you think.

Full disclosure: These wines were sent to me as press samples for review.

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Should You Watch Wine Video Podcasts?

by jatemack on October 1, 2010

According to Viral Video Film School from Current TV, the answer is no. Here’s why:

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How Much Does Wine Actually Cost?

by jatemack on September 29, 2010

These type of infographics reveal the actual cost of the materials used to make a bottle of wine, but fail to take into account everything else (similar to that forwarded email about the cost of the actual active ingredients in Medication), like the overhead of the winery including building/office cost, staff salaries and benefits, marketing, distribution mark up, taxes, and so on. However, it does reveal how all these years Fred Franzia has been able to produce a wine for only $2 and turn a profit. Small margins paired with huge volume and the cheapest materials possible.

So using the average numbers from the graphic, a bottle of Australian wine not aged in Oak costs $3, whereas a California Cabernet aged in Oak runs around $12 to produce.

Would it be cost efficient for more wineries to offer refillable large jugs/bottles for tasting room patrons? The Wine Garage in Calistoga does this already. I tasted the Bordeaux blend from them and it was quite delicious. Could they be on to something?

View [Snooth.com]

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Winners Announced for Week of September 20th Contest

by jatemack on September 28, 2010

Congratulations to Ciara and Naomi! I’ll be emailing both of you with a list of books you can choose from.
Now how can you win this week?

The Contest

Just leave a comment below with your favorite type of music or a specific song you like to listen to when you drink wine.

The Rules

One entry per person please. Comments will be closed after October 4th, and a winner will be chosen at random and announced next week.

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