Review on David Fulton Winery in St. Helena

 Happy Wine Down Wednesday Winos!

Let me start off by saying this is one of my new favorite wineries. The David Fulton Winery has been around since 1860 and is still family owned today. Pictured above is Richard Mather 5th generation of the Fulton family as he works on the marbled effect on the wax of the ME Wine in the back of the cellar. ME is an affiliated wine created by Richard Mather and Jason Elkin (Mather+Elkin=ME). He is such a cool guy that is really laid back and makes you feel like part of the family. I have never experienced such wonderful customer service experience. I also love that while this winery has been around 155 years but has such a current with the times marketing campaign. It was a breath of fresh air to see wine aimed at my generation and not my parents. Social media is a big part of their campaign and have wines named #Selfie, #Bestie, and #Bromance. Across the # named wines a portion of the proceeds goes to good causes.

So let's get into the wine! 

The price ranges from $36-90 with the roughly half ranging in the $35-50 and the ME Wine being the most expensive at $90. As far as the white wines go I liked the Liora it had flavors of creme brulee and cantaloupe and it was a slightly smooth wine. It is a nice wine to drink on a summer evening. #Bromance was the red I was quit fond of. The name matches the fact that it can be a manly drink for a man and thus creating a #bromance. It has a peppery taste to it perfect for my fiancé, yet approachable in tannins enough for my mom. Another cool thing about #bromance is that a portion of the proceeds goes to surviving members of fallen soldiers with the TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors). To bring awareness to this the wine label is camoed up. Those two wines were the top for me, tell me what you think in the comments.

To sum up my experience it was good wine, great customer service, great causes. What's better than that!

Cheers!

-Shawntelle

Clos Du Val

Happy Wine Down Wednesday Winos!

I know it has been awhile since my last post, so I promise these next few posts will have been worth the wait.

Recently, I went to Clos Du Val and my experience was actually pretty exciting. As you can see in the picture above I got to taste a 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon. The bottle was opened with a Coravin bottle opener which punctures the cork with a needle and uses argon gas to suck up the wine with a push of a button, then when you pull out the needle, the cork reseals itself so that it is almost like it was never opened and is good for roughly 35 pours. The wine was totally fresh and everything you would hope for in an aged Cab, nice brownish color and unlike anything I've ever tasted before. 

My tasting host was very friendly and I really enjoyed my tasting experience. He was very knowledgeable and has been in the industry since the 1970s. I did the Single Vineyard Tasting, and getting to taste the unique differences from a single vineyard really shows the specific style of the winemaker. The one thing that I liked was that nearly all of the wines are very approachable. They could be like by many and have a more neutral taste with a few WOW wines to mix it up. The wine that I would most like to note was the Pinot Noir, I give it a 5 star rating. Previous to this tasting Deep Sea's Pinot Noir was my all time favorite, however, Clos Du Val is making me second guess that placement. The specific Pinot I tasted was the Estate Pinot Noir, Block 99A2 from the Carneros region. It has a fantastic aroma, smooth front and a spicy high tannin finish. It is manly yet approachable. The other wine to note was the Cabernet Franc, it was the wine that keeps on going. Many wines have either a fantastic front or finish and this has both with very distinct differences that it is almost like drinking two wines in one it was a very pleasant surprise. 

The wine is a little pricier and runs from the $30-$70 range with the most expensive wine being the 1993 vintage which is incredibly reasonable. The wine is approachable and easily accessible as their wines can be found at BevMo and many other liquor stores near you. 

Cheers!

-Shawntelle

Sexy Gerwürztraminer

Happy Wine Down Wednesday Winos!

Gerwürztraminer
If there is only wine that brings me joy to talk about it's Gerwürztraminer. While the German translation is "spicy grape" the spirit of the translation means perfumed or aromatic grape. It's like a beautiful woman with a lovely perfume, her personality is spicy and electric and everyone likes her.

Tell Me About It!
Gerwürztraminer likes it chilly, it is often grown in Germany; Alsace, France; Canada; Washington state; and Northern California. For being a white wine the skin is actually pink instead of green. They have to be picked at just the right time because they ripen easily. They can be made to be semi-sweet to sweet.

Today's Pick
Fetzer's Gerwürtraminer. I picked this one up at Winco for under $8 and even though I had never tried it before until just now, I looked at the info on the back to lead me to this one. I prefer my Gerwürtraminer to be sweet. The reason why this wine is so nice for everyone including beginners is that even when it is sweet, it isn't "too sweet" for many that feel like Moscato is too sweet yet sweeter than a Chardonnay for those that feel it is too dry. It is a perfect balance. This wine is yellow in color, not quite golden. It tastes like flowers and honey and fruit. It is divine!

Also on a completely separate note, I love the marketing on Fetzer. "Rebels: Nothing worthwhile is never easy." Growing Gerwürtraminer isn't easy but it definitely is worthwhile. Plus for all you hipsters out there, you too can enjoy it before it's cool. It can be hard to find and not many winemakers make it. They also pride themselves on sustainability and making earth-friendly wine. I actually think that is pretty cool.

*Pro Tip*
White wines should be served chilled, if the wine is too warm take an ice cube and swirl it in your glass for 3-5 seconds. This will cool the wine down without watering it down.

Cheers!
Shawntelle

www.fetzer.com

Chardonnay on Display

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day on this Wine Down Wednesday.
Quick News: I will be heading to Napa next month and will be doing many wine tastings and reviews. For any of you that don't know when I'm not sipping down on wine I am a photographer and I will be there on assignment. If there are any places you'd like me to review on please let me know in the comments.

Chardonnay- That white wine you have chilled on ice that you grab when it's hot out.

Tell Me About It!
The most famous white wine in the world is Chardonnay. While its history is a little rocky, one thing is for sure is that Burgundy is where it found its claim to fame. Chardonnay is a green grape that can be grown all over the globe; the climate and terrain give it many unique flavors. It is a wine makers wine since they can form and shape it to taste how they want it to taste with ease. It can be oaked, unoaked, and malolactic fermented these different processes give the wine a 3rd dimension.

Today's Pick!
Dark Horse Chardonnay made here in California with varietals coming from Lodi and the Delta. I got it at Winco for $7.98 a bottle. It is a golden hue white wine. Slightly sparkling with strong citrus aromas, high acidity, and is medium dry. I taste strong citrus flavors, some pear and the tiniest hints vanilla and brown sugar. This is one of the better Chardonnays I've tried, mostly for that hint of vanilla and brown sugar adding the slightest sweetness which makes the wine for me. I personally am not a huge fan of super dry wines, they need at least some sweetness for me to enjoy it and this wine has just that. While many Chardonnays have flavors of a buttery flavor, this simply does not because it did not go through a malolactic fermentation. It reminds me of when I went wine tasting with my mom and we tried a Chardonnay she said it reminded her of popcorn because of the buttery taste, yet all I could taste was the strong apricot taste. All taste buds are different and Chardonnay is so flexible for the wine makers, I encourage you to just go out and try some yourself.

Cheers!

-Shawntelle

http://www.darkhorsewine.com/wines.php#chardonnay

It's Getting Hot In Here

Happy Wine Down Wednesday Winos!!

It is getting hot here in sunny California as the Greater LA just had our first 100˚F + weather. As it gets closer to summer, I picked a drink for you to cool down to.

Today's Pick
I decided to do a Wild Vines Blackberry Merlot. Now before you leave saying that I've gone too cheap, hear me out. I chose this wine to use for a frappe. I poured it in a blender with some frozen strawberries and ice. Now I wouldn't do this with any Merlot, however, the Wild Vines Blackberry Merlot is sparkling, sweet and only $2.75 a bottle at Winco, but there is hardly ever a grocery store that doesn't sell it. It smells and tastes like grape juice and the alcohol can'tbe tasted. The first time I had this was at the state fair with my mom, and they have Wild Vine frappe machines. It is such a treat!

If Blackberry Merlot is not your thing, the Wild Vines website (link below) has other recipes to mix up their wines like Strawberry Zinfandel.

This is the wine that for many people that say they don't like wine, just haven't tried this yet. This is perfect for a summer party. No you won't find this in a fine tasting room with a sommelier, but wine is meant for drinking and enjoying not necessarily something to be a snob about. Sit back, relax and enjoy this Blackberry Merlot frappe. Here's to the beating the heat!

Cheers!
-Shawntelle


http://www.wildvines.com/wines/blackberry.htm

Old Vine Better Wine

Happy Wine Down Wednesday Winos!

Previously, I have been giving you my first reaction of trying a wine I have never tasted before. Unfortunately, that left me bringing you some lesser inspirational wine. This week I will be re-enjoying a wine I tasted earlier this week. I am very excited about it. Tonight I'm bringing you Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel Vintage 2013. This is from Lodi, CA and the vines are between 35 and 80 years old. I bought this at Vons for $7.99.

About Zinfandel:
Lodi is proudly known for having the finest Zinfandel in the state of California. The term "Old Vine" is not regulated so it is important to know when picking out your win precisely how old the vines really are. After much grooming and pruning for 30 years, the vine becomes more consistent and starts to produce less fruit. Between 75-100 years is when a vine should truly be called an "Old Vine." During the growing boom of Chardonnay and Merlot  in the 1970s-80s, White Zinfandel saved the Zinfandel vines from being burned down. Once red Zin became more popular again the vines were already older.

Gnarly Head:
This is a wine that both my fiancé and I really enjoy. By looking at it, it is a medium bodied. A swirl and sniff test opens up the aromas of berries, spice, plum, and vanilla playing peek-a-boo. A taste test reveals tannins all the way thru the tongue, lots of pepper, it's complex with many flavor swimming on the tongue. This would pair very well with a nice steak, smoked BBQ, Italian sausage, duck, Asiago cheese, blue cheese, and pepper jack cheese.

Atmosphere:
I recommend drinking this as an outdoor BBQ wine. Lots of friends around, music playing, and with 14.5% alcohol you'll be feeling nice and toasty.

Below is the link to Total Wine and More to buy the Gnarly Head Old Vine.

http://www.totalwine.com/eng/product/gnarly-head-old-vine-zinfandel/5068750

Cheers!

Tempranillo Tempranillo!!!!

Happy Wine Down Wednesday Winos!!
There is a reason why the Spanish typically enjoy their wine with food and that wine is tempranillo. Family, friends, food and a delightful table wine.

Tempranillo

Tell Me About It!
Tempranillo is a Spanish black grape with a thick skin. The name being derived from the word temprano meaning "little early one" due to its early ripening. Tempranillo came from the Phoenicians which originally came Lebanon some 2000 years ago. While it is primarily made in Spain, it is now made all around the world in sandy cooler climate. It is the most popular Spanish wine and the most planted too. Most Tempranillo are fermented in oak barrels, have medium acidity and medium to high tannins. When looking at it, notice that it is dark red and translucent.  The flavor is typically neutral enough to be used in blends and also easily paired with most foods.

Today's Pick!
Albardiales Tempranillo from Spain, purchased from BevMo part of the Buy 1 Get The Second for 5 Cents. Two bottles for $9.95. It smells very spicy. This wine is full-bodied and can be tasted throughout the tongue. Very high in tannins. This wine is pretty complex and I wouldn't recommend it for beginners, this wine is for the wine enthusiast. I typically like tempranillo with more vanilla flavors.

http://www.bevmo.com/Shop/ProductDetail.aspx/Wine/Tempranillo/Castilla-La-Mancha/Albardiales/Albardiales-Tempranillo/34794

Wonderful Day with Cabernet!

Happy Wine Down Wednesday Winos!

Wine is a wonderful thing to share with friends, or alone, at anytime because wine tastings close at 5pm. Don't ever let anyone judge you for drinking before 5pm.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Tell Me About It!
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the recognizable wines. Even the least wine knowledgable person has heard of a Cab. It is grown all over the world and often used in red blends. The Cabernet Sauvignon is part of a family; its parents are a Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc hence the name Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Sauvignon married Grenache and made Marselan, now there are some stories the Cabernet Sauvignon spread its seed elsewhere, but we are going to pretend like that never happened.

The Cabernet Sauvignon is noted for being high in tannins and having a thick skin. They are typically fermented in oak or in other countries they might use another type of wood. To save on costs some companies will ferment in stainless steel and use a process called tea-bagging, which means they throw the oak chips in with it to get the taste and chill out the tannins. Cabs should be decanted and let out to breath to get the full flavor.

Today's Pick!

2013 Unruly Cab owning 13% alcohol volume. The smell is very strong in blackberries and plum. This cab is really great it is easy (not complex and light viscosity), fruit forward medium to high in tannins. My fiancé is not a fan, however, because he likes his cab to be more manly: smokey and leathery. To each their own but I would recommend this wine for newbies or groups to get something most everyone can agree on. Especially since we got this wine at BevMo as part of their But One Get One For $.05 sale for under $12. Link below.

http://www.bevmo.com/Shop/ProductDetail.aspx/Wine/Cabernet-Sauvignon/California/Unruly/Unruly-Cabernet-Sauvignon/35781

Cheers!
Shawntelle

Wine Down Wednesday: Sauvignon Blanc

Happy Wine-Down Wednesday Winos! Today we are talking about Sauvignon Blanc. If you are new to wine, a really great place to start is a white wine since it is much more simple than a red. It is a go to wine for spring and summer since it is a light and refreshing beverage.

Tell  me about it!
Like many wines, Sauvignon Blanc is  french wine, and means "wild white." It comes from Bordeaux but is made in many different regions around the world. Sauvignon Blanc is a green skinned grape. is mostly barreled in stainless steel and is now more commonly found with a screw top rather than a cork top.

Today's Pick:

2013 Callaway Sauvignon Blanc purchased at BevMo for their "Buy One Get The Second For 5 Cents" deal which ends up being around $5-6 per bottle for two. I picked this wine specifically because of the deal and because it is fermented in stainless steel meaning it will be a brighter more fruit forward wine.

Just as my last post, this will be my first time tasting it. When I first pour it, it bubbles slightly which is a sign it is stainless steel fermented and even smells bright from the acidity. The taste is not fantastic, a tad bit boring and lacks zing. It is a solid pairing wine, best for lunch or small portions of fish and chicken. It has an alcohol percentage of 13% so if you are deep in conversation and people have already been drinking a bit, and you want to save some money on bottle number two, you can get away with sneaking this one in.

If you want to save for a sunny day I would highly recommend V. Sattui Sauvignon Blanc for $22. Yes, it is roughly four times the cost per bottle than the BevMo deal and isn't as easy to purchase since it is not sold in major retail stores, it is well worth the effort. Sometimes when it comes to wine you get what you pay for.

Cheers!
Shawntelle

Happy Wine-Down Wednesday Winos!

It's a foggy gray day here in the Ojai Mountains, but have no fear I have just the right wine for you and your wallet that will keep you toasty. 

Port- happiness, warmth, and love in a glass

Tell me about it!

Port is wine is fortified with Brandy or grape spirits with origins from the Douro Valley of Portugal. True Port is only produced from Portugal just as Champagne can only be produced in Champagne, France; however, "port-style" wine can be produced in other countries. While there are many different types of Port, I will just discuss Ruby Port which is the most inexpensive and easily accessible. It is a great gateway or starter Port for the newbies. They are young, fruity, sweet, and ruby in color (hence the name). 

The great thing about a Ruby Port is that it doesn't need aging, once opened doesn't need a decanter and can be served right away. A little goes a long way so you won't need to worry about drinking it quickly like you would with a Vintage Port which only lasts 24-48 hours after opened. 

Atmosphere

While most people have an image of Port being an old man's drink, I have fond memories of relaxed gloomy days, on the couch, candles lit, good music playing in the background, close friends around with great conversations, and a delicious glass of Port in hand. The 19-22% alcohol content provides and toasty warmth that subtly moves through your body. I am convinced that it could easily be the wine of hipsters since it isn't a trendy wine, it is the unknown wine that you too can know about before it becomes cool.

Today's Pick

I could have gone with a Port that I have tried before but where is the fun in that? We are going to experience Sandeman Ruby Porto together. Pro tip: if it says "Porto" it is an authentic Port produced in Portugal, as this is. I wanted to go with one that was easily accessible, so I picked this up at my local Vons/Safeway for $12.99. Like most Ports it does have a masculine labeling and branding to it but don't be discouraged because I'm convinced you will feel like a badass when you pick this up, as it is 19.5% alcohol.

I always start by smelling the wine and make sure there is no vinegar smell to it, that would signal that the wine has gone bad. After doing a swirl and sniff test to open up the bouquet, it has a strong plum and cherry smell. Take a sip with a tad bit of air and it feels warm on the tongue, plum and berry taste, light on the tannins. I'd say most of my tasting experience is on the tip and middle of the tongue. If you are in a cheese mood and have a bit on bleu cheese, grab it the two would taste fabulous together. If you are in a chocolate mood go for a dark chocolate, they don't call Port a dessert wine for nothing!

My Experience
For me personally, I've acquired a taste for the more complex Vintage Ports. I think as a beginner and/or being on a budget this will definitely do the trick. A couple sips in and it tastes better and better, then it tastes bomb! A great wine on a gloomy day, feeling toasty already and not even finished with my first small glass. If you don't have a partner to cuddle with get a Port you will feel the love with its toasty warm hug embracing your body.

Cheers!
-Shawntelle

Welcome

Resplendent [ri-spen-duh nt]
adjective
1.      shining brilliantly; gleaming; splendid
Synonyms
radiant; dazzling, gorgeous, magnificent

WELCOME! My name is Shawntelle, I am a twenty-something photographer living in the greater Los Angeles area. Follow me on my journey of living opulence on a dime. We'll discover wine, fashion, art, and many other loves of culture.