Style & Screwtop

Screwtop Wine Bar opened in Arlington, VA right before the 2009 holidays. I actually learned about the new bar through a write-up on the Daily Candy, which prompted me to start following Screwtop’s blog. Within days, my girlfriend and I were checking the new place out. The atmosphere was fun—casual, quaint, and neighborhoody—with limited seating, but an overall good vibe. Our waitress didn’t seem like she knew much about wine, which is problematic in a wine bar, and she forgot to bring us one of the three cheeses we ordered with our cheese plate. Now, the problem with going to a new restaurant or bar when it first opens is that none of the kinks have a chance to be worked out yet, so I don’t want to judge it to harshly without giving it another chance. However, I will say that the in-bar experience didn’t leave me dying to return.

That all said, the cheese and wine shop part of Screwtop was very interesting, and since Hubby and I are often in the area for a weekend brunch, I can see the store becoming one of those places that we occasionally visit for a fun bottle of wine or for a special cheese. After spending a ridiculously long-time ogling the wines for sale, I left that first visit to with a bottle of Spanish Garnacha.

After work and my condo association meeting on Tuesday, it seemed like the perfect time to open the bottle of Style Old Vine Garnacha. To say that I was absolutely exhausted only two days into the week would be an understatement, and I was looking for a fun and fruity wine to lift my dragging spirits.

The Style Old Vine Garnacha was a deep purple, with ruby flecks and big, drippy legs. The nose was big and fruity, with very ripe raspberries and strawberries, followed by a touch of nutmeg and white pepper. In the mouth, there were red plums, strawberries, and tart raspberries. The wine had a lime-like acidity, low tannins, and a light-to-medium body.

Is this worth a glass after work? Sure…you won’t be drinking anything out of the ordinary, but you’ll definitely have a decent, reliable glass of wine. At $15, the wine was fine and definitely helped me unwind at the start of a hectic week. However, I just didn’t feel inspired when drinking it. So, while I will definitely find myself back at Screwtop looking for more wines made by smaller producers, I don’t see myself buying another bottle of Style Garnacha.

Overall: 3 Corks

A Zinful Zin

Last Wednesday was the President’s State of the Union (SOTU) address, and while I don’t generally give details about my “day job,” many of you know that I work in the political arena. Therefore, the day of the SOTU was a busy one, as I speculated on and answered questions about what would be included, not to mention trying to figure out what it would mean for me in my new job if all of the rumors were true. After a busy of day, which included working a bit later than usual, I headed home to make a quick and easy dinner for Hubby and me and open a bottle of Zinfandel, since Zins are one of my favorite types of wine when it’s particularly cold outside. There’s just something about the spicy, jamminess of a good Zinfandel that warms me up. After dinner, I refilled my glass, grabbed my blackberry, and tuned in to watch the President.

The 2007 7 Deadly Zins (winery, snooth) was a deep, deep ruby. On the nose, there were raspberries, blueberry jam, nutmeg, cedar, spices, earth, pine needles, and ferns. In the mouth, there were raspberries, vanilla, cedar, and a touch of cola, pine needles, and earth. The wine was super acidic with medium tannins.

Unsurprisingly, this wine, which has a catchy name and label, has been reviewed by a number of my favorite blogs, including this review on luxury blog Luxist, this review on wine blog CheapWineRatings.com, this review on wine blog Wine Life 365, and this review on wine blog Wine Harlots. As you can you see from the other write-ups, there are mixed feelings about this 7 Deadly Zins, so if you’ve had a chance to taste it yourself, I’d love to know what you think.

As for me, Is this worth a glass after work? Sure…you won’t be drinking anything out of the ordinary, but you’ll definitely have a decent, reliable glass of wine. At $15, on it’s own, the wine was fine, although nothing particularly special. The beautiful nose led me to expect a luscious wine that I could sink into while watching the SOTU address, and it didn’t quite live up to those expectations. However, when paired with a soy-sesame marinated steak, the spiciness of the wine complimented the steak perfectly (for you regular readers, you’re probably tired of me pairing wine with a soy-sesame marinated, but I absolutely love it!). In general, it was a decent, enjoyable wine. You could definitely do worse.

Overall: 3 Corks

Day-Tripping & Chianti

***I received this wine as a sample***

This past Friday, I was in Philadelphia for the day on a work trip. It was very interesting, although incredibly tiring, particularly as I’m not used to waking up at 5:30 in the morning. However, after a venti latte and a smooth, 2-hour train ride, 14 of my colleagues and I arrived in the “City of Brotherly Love” for a jammed packed day, full of talking with Mayor Michael Nutter and his staff, discussing the city’s innovative approaches to workforce training with resident experts, and visiting the city’s training and resource centers. Our hosts kept us all very busy, to the point where we were literally running to catch our 6pm train home. By the time we arrived back at DC’s Union Station around 8pm, we were exhausted, although I think we all thought it was a worthwhile trip. Once off Amtrak, I said good-bye to my coworkers, hopped on Metro, and headed home, stopping only to get the regular, Friday night pizza. I walked in the door, ready to eat dinner and crawl into bed, but there was no way I could miss ending such a great day with a nice glass of wine, so, as Hubby grabbed plates, I popped the cork on bottle of Chianti.

The 2007 Ruffino Chianti Superior (winery, snooth) was 75% Sangiovese and 25% Canaiolo Nero, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot grapes. The wine had a deep ruby color, with a hint of garnet on the rim. On the nose, there were cherries, strawberries, cloves, smoke, and vanilla, followed by a hint of rose petals and cedar. In the mouth, there were ripe cherries, red plums, smoke, cedar, and a hint of vanilla. The Chianti had high acidity and low-to-medium tannins.

Is this worth a glass after work? Sure…you won’t be drinking anything out of the ordinary, but you’ll definitely have a decent, reliable glass of wine. At $13, this wine was a nice accompaniment with my pizza and a good way to shake off the travel dust as I relaxed into the evening. However, for $2 more, you can buy the 2007 Ruffino Aziano Chianti Classico, which was a bit more complex and gorgeous when paired with traditional Italian dishes. So, if you have a bottle of the Superior, definitely open it up and enjoy it, but if you’re heading out to buy a Ruffino Chianti, it’s worth the few extra bucks to buy the 2007 Ruffino Aziano Classico.

Overall: 3 Corks

(And yes, it’s almost February and our Christmas lights are still up. That’s what happens when you go away right after the holidays.)

Back to Work with a California Zin

2010 has started off as a crazy, but fun year. The first week of the New Year was a busy one at work because everyone was ready to jump right into the next big set of projects after having time off for the holidays. After that first week of planning, though, I was out of the office on vacation. Hubby and I went to Antigua for a week of warm, tropical weather and beautiful, sandy beaches. We had a great time relaxing, reading, sightseeing, and, in the middle of it all, celebrating our 3rd wedding anniversary. I even had a chance to taste 3 of Sandals (& Beaches) resorts limited edition wines, which I’ll review in a separate post. Unfortunately, since Hubby and I haven’t won the lottery and we’re not independently wealthy, we were both back to work yesterday. I came back to work to find an overloaded email box, reports that need to be read and commented on, meeting requests that need to be answered, and several speaking engagements that require preparation. I absolutely love my job, but no matter how much I love it, the first day back from vacation was simply not fun. I ended up staying a little late to make sure things were organized, but, after that, I was ready to go home, open a comforting bottle of wine, eat dinner, and just crash on the couch. My bottle of Lolonis Zinfandel was practically calling my name.

The 2005 Lolonis Zinfandel (winery, snooth) was made with organically grown Zinfandel grapes, where ladybugs (not chemicals) were used for pest control. The wine had a medium-to-dark ruby color with big legs that clung to the side of the glass. On the nose, there were big, juicy blackberries and dark plums, followed cedar, smoke, and a touch of earthiness. In the mouth, the wine had a spiciness that turned into blackberry jam, with a touch of smoke on the finish. The wine was very dry, with low-to-medium acidity and medium tannins.

Is this worth a glass after work? It’s worth more than one! What are you waiting for? At $18, the Lolonis was a solid, affordable Zinfandel that perfectly paired with grilled steak. On its own, it was enjoyable, although it could have used a touch more body. However, when paired with a soy-sesame marinated steak (the marinade recipe is from Mark Bittman’s How to Cook Everything), and the wine left me practically giddy with happiness. It was the perfect pairing, as the combination toned down a little of the spiciness in the wine, while helping make the berry flavors in the wine and the soy sauce flavor of the marinade stand out.

A special thanks to my in-laws for introducing me to the wine! The bottle was part of my Christmas present, and they definitely picked a wine that I will buy again.

Overall: 4.5 Corks

Thinking Warm With A Summery Vouvray

I was one of those fortunate people who didn’t have to work between Christmas and New Year’s because my office was closed. I spent the week catching up on chores around the condo, scrapbooking photos that are years old, and trying to stay warm in the uncharacteristically frigid DC weather. In an effort to “think warm,” I decided to open one of my favorite types of summer wine—a Vouvray.

The 2007 Charles Bove Vouvray (snooth) was 100% Chenin Blanc grapes with a nice, lemon color. On the nose, there were luscious fruit aromas—mostly nectarines, grapefruits, and pineapples with a touch of something floral. In the mouth, there were nectarines and pineapples, followed by surprisingly tart granny smith apples on the finish. The wine was very soft in the mouth, with a touch of oiliness, although the acidity kept the wine tasting fresh.

Is this worth a glass after work? Definitely! If you see this wine in the store, grab it; you won’t be disappointed. At $18, this is the type of wine that is fun to just sit and relax with, as its velvety smoothness is perfect for rolling around your tongue. Admittedly, just drinking my summer wine didn’t make me feel any warmer, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the Vouvray. The wine tasted like drinking a lightly sweetened fruit salad, but avoiding being too heavy because of a bright tartness that caused mouth puckering right on the finish. It would pair nicely with a salad or seafood, although, admittedly, I enjoyed most of the bottle all it on its own.

Overall 3.5 Corks

Happy 2010!! Cheers!!

Bubbly & BBQ Bash...The Results

Last Wednesday was my condo associations’ big holiday party—the Bubbly & BBQ Bash. For the last couple of weeks, I’ve written up several wines (here, here, and here) that I decided against having at the party for a variety of reasons. It should be no surprise that several readers have contacted me to ask if I planned on sharing what sparkling wines I finally decided to offer, and of course I plan to share! I wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity to share sparkling wines, particularly since they are my admitted weakness.

As the association’s social committee chairperson, it was my job to plan all aspects of the party, not just the wine. Last year, we had Red, Hot, & Blue BBQ, which was a huge success. Up until that time, it was our largest community party and there were hardly any leftovers. I decided that there was no reason to mess with a good thing, so Red, Hot, & Blue was on the menu again this year. The challenge came with finding the sparkling wine because, to be honest, bubbly isn’t exactly what comes to mine when you think about eating BBQ. However, it’s a surprisingly good pairing and all the residents were thrilled. We had more people at this year’s holiday party than ever before!

As I researched sparklers for the evening, I was looking for two types of wines—ones that would act as good palette cleansers and ones that would pair well with the food itself. I also wanted wines that were a variety of price ranges and were fairly easy to find. I wrote up festive tasting notes, with a picture of each bottle’s label in order to make it easier for anyone who wished to purchase the wines at any of our local wine stores. In the end, we offered 6 sparkling wines—2 Champagnes, 2 Cavas, 1 Prosecco, and 1 California sparkling wine. I rated all of the wines with 4 corks or above, and they are all bottles that I drink in my own house.

The 2 Champagnes were fairly traditional—Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut NV (5 corks) and Montaudon Extra-Dry (4.5 corks). The Veuve Clicquot was one of the favorites of the night, although the Montaudon was not far behind. The fresh, brightness of both helped awaken taste buds between the pulled pork and pulled chicken.

The 2 Cavas were Segura Viudas Brut Reserve (4 corks) and Mont-Ferrant Brut Rosé (4 corks). The Segura Viudas, which I’ve reviewed before, served as a palette cleanser and the Mont-Ferrant was a nice accompaniment with the BBQ. As a heavier sparkling wine, the Mont-Ferrant has enough body and complexity that it didn’t get lost in the strong flavors of the BBQ, but rather added a nice, almost fruity compliment. It was definitely the sparkling wine that caused the most discussion, as people either absolutely loved it or hated it. The people who loved it seemed to come back for more at the expense of drinking the other wines and the people who hated it dumped it out after a few sips.

The Prosecco—Canella Prosecco di Conegliano (4.5 corks)—is another wine that I’ve reviewed in the past. This sparkler has a beautiful fruitiness that, when combined with its crisp acidity, worked well as an apéritif.

Finally, the California sparkling wine—Korbel Brut Rosé—was a nice, light rosé that both complimented the BBQ or was enjoyable once finished eating.

It’s a slight departure from my usual presentation, but in the spirit of the holidays, here are images of the tasting notes we used.

A Little Birdie

Last Monday was the beginning of a slower period at work, which, I admit, was a huge relief. I’m not entirely sure how I started a new job and immediately felt like I had fallen behind in my work, but that’s exactly what happened. Thankfully, with things slowing down a little, I finally had the time to start playing catch-up. By the time I left work on Monday night, I was feeling like I’d accomplished a lot and that I was ready to go home and put the finishing touches on my take-home final before lighting the Chanukkah candles, tasting the last bubbly to try before my condo association’s holiday Bubbly & BBQ Bash, and enjoying a nice dinner with Hubby.

The La Tordera Valdobbiadene Prosecco (winery, snooth) was almost clear, it was such a light, straw yellow. The bubbles in the glass were big, bountiful, and beautiful. On the nose, there were grapefruits, lemons, and yeast, followed by a touch of white peaches and white flowers. In the mouth, there were slightly under-ripe white peaches, lemons, white blossoms, and a hint of nectarines on the finish. The sparkler had a nice, crisp acidity and a light-to-medium body.

Is this worth a glass after work? Definitely! If you see this wine in the store, grab it; you won’t be disappointed. At $18, this Prosecco was surprisingly complex, fresh, and fruity. I enjoyed drinking it on its own, but when I paired it with flounder stuffed with spinach and feta, it was absolutely gorgeous. I admit that I didn’t end up using this sparkling wine for the Bubbly & BBQ Bash, but that was because it was a little harder to find than the Canella Prosecco di Conegliano, which I ended up using because I really wanted to provide sparklers that could be easily purchased. That said, if you see the La Tordera, don’t pass up the opportunity to taste it. It will be the perfect addition to any brunch, particularly mixed to make a Bellini/mimosa, or to a relaxing evening after a hard day of work. A special thanks to Schneider's of Capitol Hill for recommending this great wine.

Overall: 4.5 Corks

Chanukkah Chianti

***I received this wine as a sample***

Last Friday, after a week of ups and downs on my big work project, everything was completed, submitted, and out of my hands. Admittedly, I made a few mistakes during the process, but being new, those were easily forgiven, and, overall, everyone seemed pleased with the end result. Normally, after a hard, but successful week, Friday would have been about relaxation and celebration, and add to the fact that it was the first night of Chanukkah, it would generally have been down right festive. However, I had a take-home final to tackle, so, instead of lighting candles and opening presents before enjoying the evening with Hubby, I cooked dinner, opened a bottle of chianti, and worked on my final.

The 2007 Ruffino Aziano Chianti Classico was 80% Sangiovese and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Canaiolo grapes. The wine had a nice, deep color and an aroma that instinctively made me say “Mmmmm.” On the nose, there were cherries, cedar, strawberries, and tobacco mixed with a touch of black pepper, smoke, cocoa powder, and something meaty. In the mouth, there were strawberries, meat, tobacco, and violet petals with a touch of smoke, and cocoa powder. The wine had a bright, lime-like acidity, low tannins, and a medium body.

Is this worth a glass after work? Definitely! If you see this wine in the store, grab it; you won’t be disappointed. At $15, this is a complex, yet easily accessible and enjoyable wine that pairs amazingly well with Italian food. The Chianti’s true colors showed when I paired it with cheese ravioli in a tomato sauce and garlic bread. Truthfully, on its own, the Chianti is just ok, so if you don’t intend to drink it with with a good Italian dish, grab a differently bottle because you’ll be doing yourself and the wine a disservice. The food brought out basil, violet, and rose petals flavors while tempering the acidity in a way that made the wine sing in my mouth. The Chianti and ravioli provided the perfect diversion from my final and was great way to celebrate the first night of Chanukkah.

Overall: 3.5 Corks

Hope everyone celebrating Chanukkah had a wonderful 8 days!