Friday, December 26, 2003
I drove up to Los Angeles on Christmas day to share the holiday with my radio show co-host, Ken Rutkowski. For those of you that never listen, what's taking you so long. Visit KenRadio.com and hear what 200,000 other people already know....that there is more to my life than just wine !!!
Anyway, the two wines selected were more for the menu that was selected. Baked whitefish and Grecian lamb. Not having any Greek wine in the cellar, I went for two wines that would match up nicely with the meal.
1999 Smith-Madrone Napa Valley Riesling
I don't quite recall how this wine ended up in my cellar, but I suspect it was via Wine Seller and Brasserie's David Derby's regular selections for their monthly mailing program some years back. The wine was not Alsatian, nor was it German. It was totally Californian in style, with a very lovely silky texture, aromas of sweet peach, melons and oranges. On the palate the lovely lychee, mango and apricot flavors blended nicely to lemon juice over the white fish. On the finish, the wine was light and refreshing, not cloying like so many over sweetened California Rieslings.
2001 Napa Cellars Napa Valley Merlot
I've had the delicious 2001 Napa Cellars Napa Valley Merlot four or five times in the last few weeks and every time someone who shares the bottle wants to buy it by the case, or in some case cases. The red wine is so deep it drinks more like a Cabernet or Napa Cabernet and Merlot blend than the traditional California Merlot. Made in the style of the old days of Napa winemaking, this big, bright, sturdy and delicious red wine has so much going for it that you want to savor it, but unfortunately it's light on the palate, easy to drink style seems to make it disappear in a few seconds after finding its way out of the bottle. The bing cherry, chocolate and blackberry flavors all make this wine about as perfect as a wine can be.
Cheers,
Andy
Anyway, the two wines selected were more for the menu that was selected. Baked whitefish and Grecian lamb. Not having any Greek wine in the cellar, I went for two wines that would match up nicely with the meal.
1999 Smith-Madrone Napa Valley Riesling
I don't quite recall how this wine ended up in my cellar, but I suspect it was via Wine Seller and Brasserie's David Derby's regular selections for their monthly mailing program some years back. The wine was not Alsatian, nor was it German. It was totally Californian in style, with a very lovely silky texture, aromas of sweet peach, melons and oranges. On the palate the lovely lychee, mango and apricot flavors blended nicely to lemon juice over the white fish. On the finish, the wine was light and refreshing, not cloying like so many over sweetened California Rieslings.
2001 Napa Cellars Napa Valley Merlot
I've had the delicious 2001 Napa Cellars Napa Valley Merlot four or five times in the last few weeks and every time someone who shares the bottle wants to buy it by the case, or in some case cases. The red wine is so deep it drinks more like a Cabernet or Napa Cabernet and Merlot blend than the traditional California Merlot. Made in the style of the old days of Napa winemaking, this big, bright, sturdy and delicious red wine has so much going for it that you want to savor it, but unfortunately it's light on the palate, easy to drink style seems to make it disappear in a few seconds after finding its way out of the bottle. The bing cherry, chocolate and blackberry flavors all make this wine about as perfect as a wine can be.
Cheers,
Andy
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