Winos Anonymous

First of all, Happy Labor Day!

And now for something COMPLETELY different: Bosnian wine.

Last night I was feeling a little adventurous. There was a distinct fall chill in the late summer air and the mood called for a more full-bodied white. Enter Čitluk Kameno, a beautiful white wine from Čitluk Winery, located in the Mostar region of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The Kameno is made from (more…)

I am in a straight-up wine rut, guys. Instead of trying new things when I’m craving a crisp, zesty white wine I keep buying this bad boy:

That’s right… as I type this I’m feeling a nice little buzz from my 4th date with this Chilean (the 2009 Yali Winemaker’s Selection Sauvignon Blanc if you want to be technical about it.) Why have I gone to this wine 4 times in a row? Well, first of all there’s the price- around 9 bucks (SCORE!) And second of all, it’s freakin’ delicious. It’s zingy, bright, and crisp with notes of lime, a little green pepper, just the right amount of grass, and a lovely minerality. The result is a dangerously easy-sipping wine that pairs well with just about any fresh summer meal you can think of. Tonight I paired it with cod in a spicy cilantro marinade BUT before you go and start thinking I’m classy, I should let you know last night I paired this with peanut butter. Ok then. Drink up, winos!

Springtime is in full swing and perhaps you have already dusted off the grill or the picnic basket, gearing up to eat al fresco. But what to drink, what to drink, what to drink? Here is a light, easy-sipper that is also easy on the wallet- SCORE! (more…)

I just shared my go-to red, now it’s time I share my go-to white:

My favorite type of white over the past two years has tended to be New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, particularly those from the Marlborough region. All Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs tend to share a big zest- grapefruit, green pepper, minerality, and grass. I LOVE this combination, though it might not be for everyone. I was introduced to Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc back when I was living in Park Slope and frequenting this wonderful wine shop on 5th Ave called Red White and Bubbly. One of the gentlemen there knew I was a fan of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and recommended I try Dashwood. When he described it to me he used the typical Marlborough descriptors (grapefruit, green pepper, grass) and then he threw in “and there’s a little hint of cat piss” for good measure (Oh, you wine people and your pretentious tasting notes…) Rather than ask why the hell he knew what cat piss tasted like (or why he chose such an enticing descriptor) I went ahead and bought it, curious and a little intrigued. Long story short I fell in love, cat piss and all…

In all seriousness, though, this is of the most bold, complex, delicious whites I’ve ever had. Don’t be afraid of the cat piss- it’s more of a joke then anything else. And hey, Wine Spectator gave it 90 points if that helps convince you. As far as the cost goes, at Red White and Bubbly they sold this wine for $14.99, though I’ve found it as low as $8.99 at K&L. It’s worth every penny.