All Set in Massachusetts

Carone Bin 33 Quebec Red Wine - Grapes of the Great White North

We didn't know that wine was produced in Quebec until we ventured to Hudson, Quebec to attend our friends Jen's and Matt's engagement party. All night, they were pouring Carone wine, and one of our favorites was the Bin 33 dry red wine. We enjoyed it with Mexican food that night, but have since found it just as drinkable it with Italian food and pork tenderloin. With berry aromas and soft tannins, it makes for a great fall drinking wine.  So next time you're in The Great White North, definitely give the "local flavor" a try!

A&T Ranking: 7.5/10

Boot Camp, Body Combat, Body Pump....Burgundy!

Jean-Luc & Paul Aegerter

Nuits-Saint-Georges

Reserve Pesonelle, 2004

Today, we pushed our workouts to a new level - doing three hours of consecutive exercise classes, starting at 7 AM!  We rewarded ourselves tonight with beef tenderloin and Jean-Luc & Paul Aegerter Reserve Personnelle. Alice picked up this Burgundy when she visited France last year on business, and we'd been waiting for the right occasion to enjoy it. We found this wine to be pretty mellow for a French wine, with a smooth blend of spices and a distinctive earth flavor and aroma (which seems common to many French wines we've tried). It was easy to drink and complemented the flavors of the tenderloin nicely.

A&T Ranking: 7.5/10

Peju California Table Wine - A Unique Twist on Pink

California Table Wine

Peju Winery

Provence

$22

We bought this Peju California Table Wineon our visit to Napa Valley back in August of 2005. After a day of saturating our palates with robust reds and crisp whites, this refreshing, deep rose-colored wine stood out to us. We purchased a bottle, planning to drink it at a summer dinner party. Instead, it gathered dust on our wine rack for four years - guess the occasion never seemed quite right!

When we finally brought the bottle with us to enjoy with Alice's family on the Cape last week, we were a little nervous that it might have gone bad, but it was as delicious as we remembered! This wine is meant to be served chilled, and is perfect with a cheese plate. We enjoyed it with smoked gouda, jarlsberg, and aged cheddar, and found that the wine complemented - but didn't overpower - the cheese. It features bright strawberry, cherry, and rasberry scents, yet is not too sweet and has a soft finish.

 

The wine is a proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Zinfandel with Chardonnay and French Colombard from Napa and Mendocino counties. We felt that the flavors of Zinfandel and Chardonnay especially came through, and that the wine strikes a delicate balance between the dryness and fullness of a red and the citrus freshness of a white. It's definitely worth trying if you're looking for a summer appetizer wine with a bit more substance!

 

A&T Ranking: 8.5/10

 

Olympic Trials

Jackson-Triggs

Meritage, 2005

Proprietor's Grand Reserve - Niagra Peninsula

When Alice traveled to the Toronto area in May, she got her first exposure to wines from the Niagra region. Knowing nothing about these wines, she purchased a bottle of Jackson-Triggs, recommended as one of the best-known winemakers in the area. Turns out that Jackson-Triggs is the official wine supplier of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, which we are planning to attend! This Meritage wine is a blend of Merlot (51%), Cabernet Sauvignon (35%), and Cabernet Franc (14%) - three classic Bordeaux grape varieties. The wine is deep in color and rich in flavor, with the strong black currant aroma of a big Napa Valley red. Flavors of ripe berries, plums, and pepper fill your mouth, but the finish is a bit strong for our liking. This wine is probably best with paired with food, such as lamb or meat. We ate it with chicken, and enjoyed it much more with food than by itself. It's fun to try a wine from a new region, which is mostly known for it's ice wines. Alice also purchased a small bottle of the ice wine, so stay tuned for that report...

A&T Ranking: 7/10

Santo Wines - One of the World's Most Spectacular Views!

If you want a fun wine tasting experience while in Santorini, definitely make a stop at Santo Wines. You can taste 12 wines (healthy pours) and get a cheese platter for the bargain price of 16 Euros. Plus, you will be treated to one of the most spectacular views imaginable. We will post photos soon, but honestly, this is one place you have to see with your own eyes... Alice even commented that she'd like to have a second wedding (to Thadd, of course) at the winery. They were setting up for a concert the day we were there, and we were thinking how great it would be to see a big name band (The Killers, perhaps?) live from Santorini.

Thadd's Price-Wine Score Ratio- P/WS Ratio

A valuation ratio of a wine’s current price compared to its Wine Spectator Score.

For example, if a wine is currently selling at $20 a bottle and has a Score of 91, the P/WS ratio for the wine would be 0.21 ($20/91)  vs. 0.60 ($55/91)

Also sometimes known as "wine multiple" or "wine scoring multiple".   

In general, a high P/WS suggests that wine lovers are drinking over-priced wine and wasting their money.

Verona Vines

Palazzo Della Torre

Veronese, 2001

Allegrini

$14.99

We purchased this Italian red wine at the New Hampshire Liquor store last summer because it was one of Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2005 and decided to enjoy a glass tonight as we prepared the sauce for our spaghetti and meatballs feast. While we are still learning what characterizes Italian red wines, we can say that this wine has a distinctively different flavor than any American red wine we've tasted. It has a rich, somewhat earthy smell with elements of berry, spice and firm tannins. Each sip is hearty and chewy with hints of strawberry and a nice finish. The flavor is bold but not overpowering. Definitely a nice change.

A&T Ranking: 8/10   

Medal Worthy Wine

Franciscan Oakville Estate

Winemaker Reserve, Napa Valley, 2000 Red Wine

We enjoyed this spicy, complex Winemaker Reserve as we ate steaks and watched the final night of the Torino Winter Olympics. While Bode Miller let us down one final time by missing a gate in the slalom, this wine did not disappoint. The Franciscan Oakville winery did not impress us as much as some of the outstanding vineyards we visited in Napa/Sonoma last summer, but this wine was suprisingly tasty and smooth -- and perfect for a snowy winter evening. Made from the best Bordeaux-style wines of the 2000 vintage, the winemaker produced only 2000 cases of this wine. Watch out for sedminent at end, but everything along the way is a delight.

A&T Ranking: 7.5/10.

Big B from France

Louis Bernard - Cotes-du-Rhone-Villages, 2003

Orange, France Grenache 70%, Syrah 30%

New Hampshire Liquor Store $12.99

This wine has a great aroma of spices and red fruits. It’s dry with a tart berry flavor (bordering on harsh) but a harmonious long finish. This wine can be enjoyed with most dishes, including pork chops, roasted chicken and picnics. We tried it both with food (a grilled scallop and veggie dish) and without – and definitely prefer it when it accompanies a meal. Also, we drank it over three evenings and far preferred it on the first or second day. The Louis Bernard "B" stamp certifies the quality and authenticity of the wine.

A&T Ranking: 6/10

Jest Red for Everyday

Jest Red

Red California Table Wine

Purchased: Atlas Liquors

Price: $8.99

This wine was recommended to us as a great everyday drinking wine, and it certainly lives up to its description. Light and bursting with berry flavors from seven grape varietals, this wine is smooth going down and easily digestible without food. Definitely fun and affordable enough for anyone to try.

A&T Ranking: 7.5/10