This is Eleven "Unplugged" by Andrew Murray

Fans of the cult movie, “This is Spinal Tap” will appreciate this wine for the title alone.  We discovered E11EVEN wines while visiting Andrew Murray earlier this year (Santa Ynez Valley Wine Adventure).  When we first arrived, I have to admit I was a little disappointed they were no longer producing the Days Off series (read about some favorites, Days Off and First Kiss)…that was until I tasted the “This Is E11EVEN” series. 

Unlike the wines traditionally made by Andrew Murray, the Eleven Series are not Rhone wines.  In fact, they stretch the imagination and blend some grapes that may not traditionally be blended together.  The result ~ fun, tasty, affordable wines.

We tried two, the 2010 Eleven Red, and 2010 Eleven “Unplugged”.  They are both quite good, but “Unplugged” scored a smiley face and a purchase!  The tasting notes describe it so well, “Think of this blend as un-amplified trio of acoustic guitars, each played by a legendary icon…each variety stands out a bit, but there is also a tremendous harmony here.  The lead-solo is the Chenin Blanc…smooth and haunting…braced up by Sauvignon Blanc…bracing and racy, trying to steal the show…all kept in tune and in time and balanced with the oldest player… Chardonnay.” 

The wine has a crisp, fresh citrus taste, with a slight butter finish. Incredibly refreshing all on it’s own.  It also paired perfectly with grilled chicken and vegetables while enjoying a summer night on the patio.

This new brand for Andrew Murray is all about over delivering on quality to price ratio. Priced at under $20, they certainly achieved this goal.  It's also a screw cap, which you know I love.  Nigel would agree, this wine goes to 11!

Check out this fun video on The Eleven Series

Shared bottles are the best ~ A to Z Pinot Noir

As we’ve frequently said, wine always tastes better when it’s shared. This past Christmas, my brother and his wife gifted us a bottle of A to Z Pinot Noir.  It is one of their go-to wines, and after tasting it, I completely understand why!

Founded in 2002, A to Z Wineworks is the fastest growing winery in Oregon.  The name A to Z refers to the fact their wines are sourced from various Oregon wineries, and the wines are crafted to be the essence of Oregon rather than reflect a specific single vineyard.  

Their 2009 Pinot Noir is deeply colored and smells of minerals, red and black cherries, and spice. In the mouth, it opens up with rich flavors of boysenberry and plum fruits, and dusty tannins.  It finishes with ripe acidity and tannic structure.  This is definitely a wine that fits my “ingredients to dessert” label.  It was quite enjoyable on its own, with dinner, and we finished the bottle off after our meals were complete! Wine Spectator recommends drinking it now through 2014.

Besides the yumminess, this wine has two other great characteristics – screw cap and under $20!  It is pretty widely distributed, and can be found at BevMo (~$19) and Specs (~$16). Pick up a bottle ~ you’ll enjoy!

Tasting the Napa Valley Appellations

There are various regions throughout Napa Valley that possess distinct microclimates and terrains, with recognizable characteristics that can be found on the grapes grown within them.  Over the years as we’ve tasted more and more wines from the Napa Valley region, we have discovered that we gravitate to certain valleys more than others.  The soil, daily sunlight, wind, swings in temperature and slope of vineyard all impact the flavor profile.  On our recent trip to Napa, we visited some of our favorites in the more mountainous regions. 

Mount Veeder – Hess Collection

2008 Mount Veeder 19 Block Cuvee

(69% Cab Sauv, 13% Malbec, 8% Syrah, 8% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Cab Franc)

This wine has aromas of black cherry compote and ripe plum with hints of vanilla and spice.  A silky, berry taste with rich tannins fills the mouth, with a lengthy finish ~ would pair well with a spicy flat iron steak.

2008 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon

(82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 8% Merlot)

Full body, with a long, silky finish, this wine is full of aromas of toffee and wild berries.  It has a rich mid-palate and full of tannins.  It’s a big cab that could age up to 10 years.

Howell Mountain - Cade

2008 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon – 92 points by Robert Parker

(96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot) 

A cab with a powerful punch, this wine has aromas of black fruit and a little smoke.  On the palate, dense flavors of black cherry, baker’s chocolate, and a touch of herbs, and finishes with well-structured tannins and acidity that will allow the wine to age well for 5-10 years. It’s a screw cap!

2009 Howell Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

(100% Cabernet Sauvignon)

This one earned our “pfg” rating.  Aromas of black cherry and dark chocolate that carry through to the palate bringing in flavors of espresso and cardamom, which balance with the deep, round tannins.  This wine would benefit from aging 5-10 years.

Wonder what appellation would appeal to you?  Here’s a quick description of flavor profiles typically produced from some of the more popular areas:

Howell Mountain – powerful, firm, richly tannic, with blackberry-currant flavors

Mount Veeder – tannic backbone with dark fruit and floral flavors & aromas

Rutherford – subtle tannins, with tastes of mineral, earthy & cherry

St. Helena – deep and ripe, “chewy” and round with flavors of currant, blackberry & chocolate

Spring Mountain – powerful, tight, richly tannic & mineral-y, red fruit notes, good acidity for aging

Stags Lead District – lush and velvety, with soft tannins and perfumes of cherry and red berry

Yountville - Ripe but supple, with firm tannins and aromas of violets and black raspberry

CADE ~ great wines, great experience!

photo linked to cadewinery.comPlumpjack has always been a favorite of ours. So, you can imagine our excitement when we learned their sister winery, CADE, opened a new tasting room. With the tagline Live Green, Drink Green, we were intrigued and had to visit ~ what a great discovery!    

The drive to the winery alone is amazing. CADE is located on Howell Mountain, and has views spanning Napa Valley from North to South.  The day we visited it was overcast in the valley, but we sat high above the clouds at CADE.  We enjoyed our tasting in the lounge area, taking in the amazing views while sipping the equally enjoyable wine.  CADE is Napa Valley’s first LEED Gold Certified Winery ~ a distinction earned for their sustainable farming practices, as well as design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. The tasting room showcases their commitment to the environment.  Very cool. 

CADE winery produces four wines, two of which are high on our list:

Cabernet Sauvignon ~ Howell Mountain ($72)

98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot

This is a big cab ~ with big fruit and big tannins. For those that like a bold red wine, you’ll love this one. The nose has fruits of black cherry and currants, with a hint of smokiness. The flavors carry through in taste, adding in a dash of cocoa powder. There is no question on what to eat when you pop open this bottle ~ meat and cheese...a juicy blue cheese burger would be awesome with this one!  

Sauvignon Blanc ($26)

93% Sauvignon Blanc, 6% Sémillon, 1% Viognier

Another great screw cap wine!  This is a very lovely sauvignon blanc that has an interesting balance of citrus, crispness, and a little bit of oak.  It is a very versatile wine ~ great on own, and pairs well with lighter fare such as salads, grilled chicken/seafood and vegetables, or even herb flavored goat cheese.

If you find either in your local wine store, or on a restaurant list, give them a try.  They also have a list of nationwide distributors available on their website.  And, if you are in the Napa Valley area, visiting the winery is a must ~ it’s an experience you won’t soon forget! 

Wine is hanging out on our new bistro table found on our pizza and wine adventure...thought it appropriate to display on a re-purposed wine barrell!

Erath Pinot Noir ~ Don’t be afraid of the screw cap, you may miss out on a gem!

When you see a screw cap, it’s not uncommon to immediately think “cheap wine”. This is a consumer perception some winemakers have struggled to overcome. In reality, screw caps provide one of the best seals for bottled wines. With the screw cap you don’t have to worry about “corked” and oxidation problems that may occur with a traditional natural cork. Great wines, such as Conundrum and even Plumpjack all use screw caps. Another favorite sealed without a cork is Erath Pinot Noir.    

I first discovered Erath Pinot Noir during a night out with co-workers at Olive & Ivy in Scottsdale, AZ. Prior to this, I had really only tasted Pinot’s from California.  At first sip, I knew this one was different. In general, Oregon pinot’s are lighter in color, and have earthy aromas and subtle fruit character compared to California style pinot’s which are much darker in color, fuller-bodied, and have stronger fruit aromas and taste. 

The ’09 Erath Oregon Pinot Noir has smells of raspberry pie, and fresh, bright flavors on the palate. It does well on its own, but is best with food. We recently enjoyed a bottle with prosciutto and a ‘nutty’ cheese, followed with a thin crust margherita pizza (delicious!). 

Shortly after discovering the wine, I recall ‘finding’ it among the many bottles lined up down the grocery store aisles. I was so excited to see it, and then realized, it was probably there all along and I had probably snubbed it because of the screw cap. Shame on me, I had no idea what a gem was inside!

We enjoyed the wine so much (and so often), it was top of the list of places to visit during our first trip to the Willamette Valley, OR. (read A great day in Willamette Valley, Oregon for other great wines from this region). While at the winery, we discovered several other great wines ~ including their Sweet Harvest Pinot Blanc which was served during our Pinot-Palooza party in 2010.   

Next time you are cruising the wine aisle at your local store, don’t immediately skip over the bottles with screw caps, you may just miss out on a gem! Want to know which wines are topped with a screw cap?  Wine.com features a section devoted entirely to screw cap wines.

What hidden gem have you found in a screw cap?