Spring Wines

Spring is here!

And here are some excellent selections to start off the season just right.

Dona Paula Black Label, Red Blend (Estate Edition) 2012
Varietal, Region: 60% Malbec, 37% Cab Sauv and 3% Petit Verdot, Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina
Where to buy: *
My Tasting Notes: Plum, black cherry and mocha, with hints of spice. Medium to full-bodied and smooth with an excellent finish. Balanced acidity.
My Verdict: I've always been a bigger fan of 100% Malbec wines as opposed to the blends but I think I've found my exception. You taste the undertones of the Malbec but it isn't overly dominating. It hails from the Lujan de Cuyo region, known for their excellent Malbec grapes.


*Dona Paula wines are distributed in the US by one of my favorite vineyards Trinchero Family Estate. I happened to have this wine at the Washington Club but it's been difficult to find elsewhere but I'm working on it and will post an update ASAP.

Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé, Cuvée de la Pompadour

Varietal, Region: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, Carneros, Napa Valley, California

Price: $37

Where to buy: Domaine Carneros

My Tasting Notes: Juicy hints of strawberry and peach on the nose.Very refreshing and well balanced. Medium to fine sized bubbles. 

My Verdict: This wine comes from a vineyard owned by Taittinger. This sparkling rose is a cut above the rest. Maybe its refreshing aspect, and maybe its the fact that after a few glasses I didn't even have a headache the next day. A perfect way to welcome Spring.*

*Noteworthy: 95% of their fruit comes from estate vineyards "all certified organic by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)."

Happy Canyon, Goodland
Varietal, Region: Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Barbara, California

Price: $25

Where to buy: Grateful Red, Goodland Wines

My Tasting Notes: A light white wine, no oakiness, neutral barrels. Hints of pear, melon and granny smith apples. Slightly tart but just the right amount.

My Verdict: Normally I'm not a big fan of whites but this one is great. This white tastes like Spring in a bottle.

Cheers! 

Virginia is for Wine Lovers

Image Credit: Virginia.org

I've said this before, and I'll say it again. Virginia wines are getting so much better. 

Here are two I've tried recently that I loved. 

Virginia Wines

Image Credit: Rappahannock Cellars

2012 Meritage, Rappahannock Cellars, VA

Varietal: 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot
Available at: Water & Wall (by the glass or bottle) 13/50, at the vineyard itself (or online)
My Tasting Notes: Medium to full bodied, hints of mocha and vanilla and oak with just a sliver of fruit. 
My Verdict: Excellent Virginia wine. One of the best I've had yet. . I could see myself sipping this one by the fire on a cold night on a ski mountain. I haven't been able to visit the vineyard yet, but a trip is planned in the very near future. 

Image Credit: Philip Carter Winery

Philip Carter. Cabernet Franc
Varietal: Cabernet Franc blend
Available at: Virginia ABC stores for $19.10/bottle, or find a restaurant or store
My Tasting Notes: Strong tannins, slightly spicy, toasted taste. Hints of fruit but not too much fruit. Well balanced.
My Verdict: This one is a little lighter bodied than the Rappahannock Meritage and a good bet for a drinkable, tasty Virginia red. 

Bonus: If you're looking for a Virginia wine at a local ABC store, their website has a handy finder.

Cheers!    

Wine & Eats at Kapnos Taverna

Wine and Eats at Kapnos Taverna

I am so excited Kapnos Taverna in Ballston is finally open. We went to check out the Mike Isabella creation, an extension of Kapnos DC, on opening night...and it was totally worth the wait!

The Wines

We didn't sample everything on the wines-by-the-glass list (I wish!) but we did try a handful. Here are the standouts:

   
Kir-yianni, Kapnos Reserve, 2011
Varietal: Blend of Syrah, Merlot and Xinomavro
Region: Naoussa
Price: $10/glass, $40/bottle 
My Tasting Notes: A light to medium-bodied red wine with hints of black cherry and jammy fruit with a nice finish. A good balance between fruit and acidity.
Fun Fact: Naoussa is a region in Northern Greece, which is home to the rare Xinomavro grape. To learn more go here.

   
Tselepos, “Villa Amalia” Brut, NV
Varietal: 100% Moschofilero
Region: Arcadi
Price: $12/glass, $48/bottle
My Tasting Notes: This is the first Greek sparkling wine I've ever had. It's light and refreshing with citrusy undertones and hints of lemon, pear and honey. Delicate bubbles make a wonderful finish.

      
The Food

             

Horiatiki salad with red wine vinaigrette $9

Cumin yogurt marinated chicken souvlaki $10, falafel chickpea fritters $9, and lamb

              

Sea salt caramel ice cream

Kapnos Taverna is a must visit. Not every famous-chef owned restaurant lives up to it's name but this one is definitely a winner (which is actually not a huge surprise considering Isabella once worked for one of my favorites, José Andrés). The staff is accommodating and knowledgeable about the foods and wines, which were a step above what I was expecting. In fact, my next visit is already booked.


Cheers!

Wines of Slovakia

Anthony and I went to the Embassy of Slovakia for a wonderful classical music concert recently. We've been to a few events there before because I have ancestors from the country, and some living there now! Its a wonderful way to connect with my family history, and have a cultural experience... dare I say a blend of diplomacy and wine?

There I had a great conversation and learned that Slovakia has a fantastic wine region.

Unfortunately, the wines are not available in the U.S. at the moment (the Embassy brought them over from Slovakia), but if I have anything to do with it, that will change in the near future.

    A Slovak selfie!

    The awesome chef preparing specialty Slovak dishes!

The Wine

                                          

This wine is a great red. A ruby red color, medium bodied and juicy, with hints of cherry and blackberry and a slight taste of cinnamon. Minimal tannins and well balanced.*

*Because I don't speak Slovak, it's been a little more difficult for me to find more information about this wine but I will post as I find it!

Family History

(Above) My grandfather's cousin, Martin Butora (the first Ambassador from Slovakia to the US) and I, and his wife Zora & I (below) meeting for the first time here in DC a few years ago!

Cheers to great wines and connecting with my family tree!

Pizza, Donuts & Wine

 Image Credit: Pizza Vinoteca

 I know my posts have been few and far between in the last couple of months. But, I just got married!! This means my month-long detox of no desserts and no alcohol is finally O-V-E-R. The wedding was absolutely amazing and everything I ever dreamed of, but now it's back to the swing of normal life. Fortunately, this includes the extremely tough job of trying new wine bars when they open a few blocks away.

 

`Wine Spot: Pizza Vinoteca 
Neighborhood: Ballston 

The Wines: They have a fantastic selection of wines by the glass, and I am absolutely delighted to say they do 3 & 5 oz pours (and bottles of course)! This means I can taste many of the different wines and I'm not stuck drinking a full glass of something I'm not that in love with. 
 
My two favorites are the Nebbiolo Brut Rose from Piedmont, Italy ($5 for 3oz./$8 for a 5oz.) and the Anjou "La Cerisaie" Domaine de la Bergerie, 2011 from Loire, France ($5 for 3oz./$7.5 for a 5oz.) . The Anjou is one of the best reds I've had in a long time. It's silky and light but not too light with an incredible finish.

The Food: I'm not someone who generally likes pizza. The Nduja Meatball Pizza ($9.50 for a 13" x 5") however, has a light and crispy crust made with a "whole wheat, red wine-leavened" dough and  tasty toppings (meatballs, kale pesto, fontina and tomato). The Grilled Shrimp ($12) with cannelini beans and calabrian chili is also excellent.

The Dessert: Bomboloni are Tuscan-style donuts and they are too-die-for. I dont even know how to explain how good they are. They are $2/each and neccessary for any dessert lover in Arlington to try.

                                                                                                  Pictured: Grilled Shrimp & Nduja Meatball Pizza

                                          Pictured: Tuscan-style donuts, Mexican Chocolate and Dulce de Leche

Another plus...they also have espresso! I'm in love. Cheers!