For those of you who have seen the movie “Sideways” you may remember the scene where Miles makes the statement (“I’m not drinking any f***ing Merlot”). I certainly remember it because during that time all I drank was Merlot and I loved it. I couldn’t wrap my head around why he felt Merlot was bad and Pinot noir was superior. In the clip above, however, Miles’ passion for this grape and the wine it produces is made clear.

I must admit that my palate has matured slightly and I can now relate (somewhat). You see I have tried various Pinot noirs and have like some and hated others. Some of them I’ve found to be very soft and smooth, delicate even on the tongue. Others were quite garish with a lingering aftertaste. I was just about at a point to categorize them as “so-so” when I discovered the 2007 Limited Selection Pinot Noir from Gainey Vineyards.  In the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley, Gainey is located near many of the places that served as location spots while the movie “Sideways” was being shot.

This Pinot noir however has really made me re-think the grape as well as the wine. The smell of dark fruit and spice teases your nose, while taste of dark cherries and blackberries overtake your taste buds. This wine is rich but not over-powering. It is very luscious and full, something that is lacking with a lot of Pinot noirs. As Miles mentioned in the movie the Pinot noir grape is hard to grow, so for it to produce a wine with a structure this solid is quite impressive.

I wasn’t a huge fan of Pinot noir in the past but I am willing to give them another chance; at least when it comes to Gainey’s Limited Selection Pinot Noir.

If you are into wines and haven’t seen “Sideways” you’ve missed a treat. Head to your video store to day and rent a copy. I am sure you’ll love it.  Check out the trailer below…

Dinked on a Corked Wine – More bloopers are a click away

Is your wine corked? You don’t know??? Well I am going to try to explain to you exactly what a corked wine is so that you will be able to spot one if you come across it. Corked wine is a wine of contaminated by 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA).  Wine that has been contaminated by 246 TCA has a characteristic smell of mold, wet newspaper, damp basement or old socks. The taste is also very astringent instead of the normal fruity taste that consumes a good wine. Although wines contaminated by 246 TCA are harmless, a wine that is heavily contaminated will be truly undrinkable primarily because of the putrid odor.

TCA contamination occurs primarily when a wine is oxidized. If a cork doesn’t fit securely and snugly around the wine bottleneck a contamination can occur. Contamination can also occur due to processing in wood barrels. It is estimated by the wine industry that 2% to 7% of all wines are contaminated by TCA. However, a lot of contamination is undetectable by consumers.

A small amount of TCA can actually ruin a wine, although, the levels found in wine today doesn’t pose a health risk. TCA is not the only thing that can spoil a wine, however, it is one of the primary things. TCA is also not only found in wines; it is also found in some municipal water. So you must be able to identify the musty smell.

As stated in the video above it is a smart thing to buy wine at your local wine shop because they will be more willing to take back a wine that is corked. This isn’t to say that if you buy wine at your local grocer or liquor store and you identify that it’s corked that you shouldn’t take it back. No matter where you are, if you receive a bottle of corked wine you should either send it or take it back to where it was purchased.

For a little more info on corked wine please see the video below. Thanks and don’t forget to drink responsibly.

Beautiful Hawaiian Sunset

On our recent trip to Hawaii we spent the first few days indulging in the tropical food and drink of the island. We ate lots of delicious fruit and even tried some of the traditional dishes like the Loco Moco (rice, hamburger patty, brown gravy and a fried egg). We also tried various tropical drinks including the Blue Hawaiian, Tropical Itch and the Lava Flow along with a few others. However, after a few days of this we were craving the food and drink of the mainland and opted to find a restaurant where we could get a nice steak and a bottle of wine.

We were encouraged to try d.k Steak, which overlooks Waikiki Beach. Arriving at the restaurant we were pleasantly surprised at the romantic ambience. The lights were very dim, however, we were seated very near the window that overlooks the beach. d.k Steak is unique in that they dry age their steaks in-house. There were a variety of choices cuts as well as aging to choose from. Prior to receiving our steaks they brought us warm bread with garlic butter & a touch of cayenne pepper. It was very tasty. Our appetizer, ahi sashimi, was also extremely good.

d.k Steak

Having tired of the fancy umbrella drinks we perused the wine list, which was quite extensive, for a nice bottle of wine to go with our steak dinner. We settled on a bottle of Four Vines “Old Vine Cuvee” Zinfandel from California. We found this wine to be very enjoyable. The aroma of dark berries and spice consumes your nose as the flavors of black plums and blackberries caress your tongue. The taste is rich and toasty while the finish is creamy smooth. This wine paired extremely well with our steaks.

Four Vines Zinfandel

If you are ever on the island of Oahu d.k Steak is a must try. You will enjoy the beautiful ambience, great food & drink and a table near the window will allow you to experience a very romantic Hawaiian sunset.

Cheers & Mahalo!