Category Archive for ‘WINOS Pick of the Week’ at Laptop Television Mom

Archive for the 'WINOS Pick of the Week' Category

WINOS Pick of the Week: Silver Oak 2005

2005 Silver Oak Napa Valley

It’s time for another Winos Pick of the Week, and this time I am glorifying a 2005 Silver Oak Cab. Simply put, I don’t think my words can do this wine justice.

If you are not familiar with Silver Oak Cellars, let me share a bit about their history. The winery was founded in 1972 with the mission to perfect the Cabernet Sauvignon. Well, I think they are darn close to perfection. The bottle claims “finesse and elegance,” and they are on their way.

Out of respect for the winemaker, I will refer to his/her tasting notes and agree that the wine had a wonderful garnet color with hints of dark cherry, cinnamon, cloves, lavender and licorice. While my palate might not be refined enough to note each flavor this wine has to offer, my palate tells me this wine is fantastic. In layperson’s terms: I loved the deep color and the rich, deep flavor.

My husband and I enjoyed this wine with our traditional Sunday night fare: grilled filet mignon and roasted veggies. We previewed the wine with some Gruyere and Dubliner cheeses. I believe this wine can stand alone without food, but it certainly made my cheese and steak sing.

As much as I love this wine, the marketer in me adores the Silver Oak tagline: Life is a Cabernet.

To find out more about winery tours, tastings, wine parings and more, visit SilverOak.com

– LTV Mom

Photo Credit: Silver Oak Web site

Published

Stacy Libby

on July 14, 2010

in Laptop Television and WINOS Pick of the Week

. 0 Comments

WINOS Pick of the Week: Ruston Cuvee Simone

Ruston Cuvee Simone

Do you know my favorite way to spend a Saturday night? Home-cooking, wonderful friends and really good wine. This is how my family spent last Saturday night, and it was awesome. Three families joined us for dinner, each bringing a dish to share and a bottle of wine to enjoy. (It’s worth noting that each family also brought a daughter who quickly donned dress-up clothes and looked super-cute!) Anyway, the stand-out wine of the night was new for most of us: 2006 Ruston Cuvee Simone. And it was delicious.

About the Wine: Our friends recently visited the Ruston Family Vineyards in Napa Valley and generously shared this bottle with us. This truly is a special wine that was top-pick by everyone at the dinner party. The blend is 26 percent petit verdot, 26 percent syrah, 24 percent cabernet sauvignon and 24 percent merlot. The bottle’s label touts the wine as dry, and I will add that it’s elegant and memorable. The deep-red wine was flavorful and very smooth. It was the first bottle we opened, even before dinner, and it held it’s own without food. After tasting the wine, I wish we had saved it to pair with grilled filet mignon; so I guess we’ll just have to buy another bottle!

About the Winery: The Ruston Family Vineyards are located just west of St. Helena in the Napa Valley. It’s a family-owned operation; in fact, the family has been farming the land since 1941. They currently grow cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, and petit verdot grape vines. The wines are sold in limited distribution, and can be found in A-list restaurants including French Laundry, Craft, Spago, Gramercy Tavern, and Jean-Georges. Visit and Web site or contact the owner (john@rustonvines.com) for more information.

Previous WINOS Pick of the Week selections can be found HERE.

– LTV Mom

Photo Credit: Bottlenotes.com

Published

Stacy Libby

on May 9, 2010

in WINOS Pick of the Week

. 3 Comments

WINOS Pick of the Week: Elodian Cabernet Sauvignon

Elodian Cabernet Sauvignon

We love the “BevMo! Five Cent Sale” at our house. If you live hear a BevMo! (which is magical liquor store that is really called Beverages and More), you probably know about the regular sales where you buy one bottle of wine and you get an identical bottle for (you guessed it) a mere five cents. It’s a great opportunity to try new wines, even get out of your viticultural comfort zone. My hubby hit the sale this weekend and discovered a gold-mine: Elodian 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon by the Eddy Family Wines.

About the Wine: This is a special wine, and I think we paid $30 for the bottle (and five-cents for the second bottle… score!) It is a complex cab that tasted like wonderful berries with a hint of an oak flavor. After one sip, I told my husband “go back to the store and buy a case!” The wine is smooth and flavorful and easy to drink. We enjoyed the wine with our favorite accompaniment: filet mignon and roasted asparagus. I am going to try a cheese pairing with my next bottle, er I mean glass. Read the winemaker’s tasting notes HERE.

In case you are wondering, an elodian is a sea turtle found in the Galapagos Islands, where owner Kerry Eddy’s family lived years ago. The family brought elodians with them when they moved to San Francisco, and sold them with the ship’s cargo (and they “went like hotcakes!”)

About the Eddy Family: The winery is a family-owned and operated winery located in Calistoga, California. They produce less than 1,500 cases annually. And I can’t wait to discover more of their wonderful wines.

Photo credit:Eddy Family Wines

Published

Stacy Libby

on March 2, 2010

in Laptop Television and WINOS Pick of the Week

. 0 Comments

WINOS pick of the week: 2007 Nemesis

2007 Nemesis

My husband and I recently invited our friends over for a wonderful evening of home-cooked food, a beautifully set table, dozens of lit candles, great conversation and amazing wine. One friend took this opportunity to introduce us to a wine we’d never heard of, but certainly a wine we will enjoy again.

When our friend handed us the bottle of 2007 Nemesis, we couldn’t take our eyes off the bottle. The beautiful blue label is striking against the dark glass, and we immediately realized it’s a wine we had never seen before. It turns out the wine is from Paso Robles, Calif. and is bottled by Linne Calodo Cellars. It’s 82 percent Syrah, 12 percent mourvedre and 6 percent grenache. And (you know this is coming) it’s 100 percent delicious.

Quite honestly, this wine was a pleasant surprise, especially since I rarely choose a bottle of Syrah. It’s hard for me to describe the flavors in this complex wine, but I can tell you it tasted awesome with brie and red meat. I found flavors of deep, rich berries and a smooth, almost sweet flavor. I read one review that said the wine almost tastes like blueberry cheesecake, and in a weird way, I can see that. Regardless, this wine has a unique flavor that is immediately drinkable and just delicious.

Suddenly obsessed with the wine, I checked-out the winemakers, Linne Calodo Cellars. I was so happy to discover the winery is family-owned and a sustainable business, which is “environmentally sound, economically feasible and socially equitable.”

The 2007 Nemesis can be purchased online at Paso Wines or by contacting the winery HERE to check availability.

Photo Credit: PasoWines.com

Published

Stacy Libby

on January 21, 2010

in Food and WINOS Pick of the Week

. 0 Comments

WINOS Pick of the Week: 2006 Ghost Pines Cabernet Sauvignon

: 2006 Ghost Pines Cabernet Sauvignon

It’s time for a look at the new wines appearing in my wine-fridge. My husband and I have been wondering the aisles of CostCo looking for new — but not overpriced — wines to try. We recently stumbled across a 2006 Ghost Pines Cabernet. And it’s good.

We had never heard of Ghost Pines before buying a few bottles, but the Web site leads me to believe it’s owned by Louis M. Martini Winery in St. Helena. The online retail partner The Barrel Room calls the winemakers “young” and “hot-shot” so I’m not sure who they are. But their Cab is delicious.

The 2006 Cab is drinkable now, no need to cellar this one. It’s tasty with hints of jam and berries. It’s not a peppery or earthy Cab, so I have been drinking it without meals (just a little bite of salty cheese.) I think this Cab would be good with a medium rare filet mignon, but I say that about every red wine I enjoy. At the end of the day, we found a wine that will please most red-wine fans and we proudly serve it to our friends. It’s not too overbearing, it’s just smooth and tasty.

The Ghost Pines cab sells for about $23 at The Barrel Room. We found it at CostCo and Safeway for a lesser price of about $16. I see the winery also bottles a Chardonnay and a Merlot, but have not tried them yet.

As much as I enjoy the wine, I absolutely love the tagline: “Sonoma Spirit. Napa Elegance.” (Yes, I love Sonoma for is down-to-Earth goodness.) The label tells me the Cab is 72 percent Napa County, 28 percent Sonoma County. I think it’s 100 percent tasty.

– LTV Mom

Note: Following the new FTC rules, I’m going to confirm the opinions are my own and I bought this wine all by myself! And yes, I am more than 21 years old (just barely).

Published

Stacy Libby

on October 6, 2009

in Food, Laptop Television and WINOS Pick of the Week

. 0 Comments

WINOS Pick of the Week: Ksara Chateau 2003

Ksara Winery

I like to write about good wine, but I usually stick to California reds, with an occasional Chardonnay. (Okay, and I’ll uncork a Willamette Valley Pinot or a Tuscan Chianti every now and then!) But when I launched my WINOS Pick of the Week segment, I never imagined I would taste and enjoy a delicious red from Lebanon.

My husband and I recently made new friends through our daughter’s school, and we invited the couple (and their darling daughters) over for a dinner party. Our new-found friends, one of whom moved to the United States from Lebanon when she was 16, brought this wonderful Lebanese wine from Chateau Ksara for us to try. We were excited to sample this wine, totally new territory for us, and we openly acknowledged that California reds are our comfort-zone. That said, we were pleasantly surprised by the wonderful drinkability of this wine. I served it with a goat-cheese appetizer (read HERE for more information), and the flavors of the wine nicely complemented the flavors of the food. It certainly left us wanting more.

About the Chateau 2003: It was a tasty red wine from the first sip. I liked the berry flavors and the smooth texture. The Web site says the wine is good with red meat, and I agree. We followed the appetizers with healthy-sized Filet Mignons and a Tuscan white-bean dish. Click HERE to order the wine and have it shipped to the U.S.

About Ksara wine: Ksara wine is known as “the wine of Lebanon” and the winery is located in Beqaa, Lebanon. The official Web site can be found HERE.

All I can say is this… great wine, delicious food and new friends. What a wonderful evening!

- LTV Mom

Photo Credit: Chateau Ksara

Published

Stacy Libby

on March 26, 2009

in Food and WINOS Pick of the Week

. 2 Comments

WINOS Pick of the Week: Goosecross Cellars

My husband and I discovered Goosecross Cellars about 10 years ago, and I recently re-discovered their delicious wines with my girlfriends during a trip to Napa Valley. I introduced my three long-time friends (think best friends since high school!) to Calif. wine country, and I wanted them to experience the charming, warm, personal side of Napa. Goosecross Cellars was an easy choice.

The winery tasting room is tucked away from the busy highways and thoroughfares of Napa. It is a quaint room with friendly (and funny!) wine educators, which I’m pretty sure is the new term for sales staff. We tasted many fantastic red and white wines, and as a result, I had to whip out my credit card to cover the big purchase.

I shared one of the Goosecross Cabernets over Thanksgiving weekend, and decided it must be my WINOS Pick of the Week. I opened the 2005 Napa Valley Cab, and it was simply delicious. The wine is flavorful, smooth and tastes like rich berries with a touch of chocolate. We sipped the wine while sampling a cheese platter and munching on sausage appetizers… and I made certain there was not a drop of the wine left in the bottle. (It’s worth noting the 2004 Howell Mountain Caberent is even better, but the $69 price tag is forcing me to save it for my birthday!)

If you aren’t close to Napa Valley, the Goosecross Cellars online wine store can be found HERE.

Whether you like reds or whites — or even chocolate-dipped wines– I highly recommend Goosecross Cellars. Every wine is enjoyable and memorable.

Published

Stacy Libby

on December 2, 2008

in Travel, Trying to be Cool and WINOS Pick of the Week

. 2 Comments

WINOS Pick of the Week: Opolo Zinfandel

Opolo 2006 Summit Creek Zinfandel

Not only was it a wonderful WINO weekend, it was a weekend with my sisters! (Okay, one sister enjoys the wine, the other sticks to beer!) Regardless, we sipped a fantastic Zinfandel by a lake in West Des Moines, Iowa, and we are excited to share the recommendation.

It was a warm and beautiful Midwestern afternoon, so my sister and I headed to Gateway Market to sit outside and enjoy some food and wine. Upon entering the cool (and actually chic) market, I quickly spotted one of my favorite wines from Paso Robles. LTV Husband and I visited Opolo Vineyards several years back, so I was excited to share the find with my sister.

The wine is absolutely wonderful. We tasted flavorful black cherry and smooth spices. The wine was drinkable immediately after opening, so decanting is not necessary. Flavors were great at room temperature, and tasted great with or without food. It was easy to drink, and we had no trouble finishing the bottle. (We even shared it with the guy working the wine bar, he liked it too!) It was reasonably priced at $24, which makes it both affordable and delicious.

So, if you ever find yourself in West Des Moines, head over to Gateway Market, grab a bottle of Opolo Zinfandel and eat the amazing burger in the cafe! Bon appetit!

Published

Stacy Libby

on October 13, 2008

in WINOS Pick of the Week

. 2 Comments

WINOS Pick of the Week: Ceago Del Lago Cab

My husband
and I were introduced to a wonderful new wine over the weekend. Our
friends shared a fantastic Cabernet from Ceago winery in Lake County, Calif. The winery says
the wine tastes of "red cherry, mocha, cinnamon and spice." I
agree, and more importantly, I thought it was drinkable, flavorful and very
complementary of the dinner I served.

This cab was
a great addition to my self-proclaimed gourmet BBQ (think steak burgers, and
potatoes with arugula, bacon and Gruyere cheese). The cab was smooth and
easy to drink. I highly recommend it, and think it would be good with or
without food.

After
our party finished the bottle, I decided to research the
winery online. I discovered the grapes are grown in the unique style of Biodynamics. According to the winery web
site: “Biodynamics is a science of life-forces, a recognition of the basic
principles at work in nature, and an approach to agriculture which takes these
principles into account to bring about balance and healing. Biodynamics is an
ongoing path of knowledge rather than an assemblage of methods and techniques.”

In my mind,
the most important part of biodynamics farming is that “no use of chemically
synthesized fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or fumigants, no hormones,
antibiotics, growth regulators or GMOs.”

Finally, the
winery also says “each farm is a living entity and has its own
individuality.” As a Midwestern girl who
loves her California wine, I love this
motto and I love this wine.

The Ceago winery is open for tasting and tours, or you can order wine HERE. Enjoy!

Published

LaptopTelevision

on September 7, 2008

in WINOS Pick of the Week

. 1 Comment

WINOS Pick of the Week: C.G. di Arie

We had long-time friends visit for the weekend. As usual, we had a great time together, focusing on the kids during the day (park-time, play-time, together-time) and on the adults during the evening (catching up, sharing words of wisdom, and enjoying delicious wine).

We met our friends in Silicon Valley and spent lots of time sipping Napa and Sonoma wines. Since they moved to Grass Valley, Calif., about three hours North, they have introduced us to some wonderful wines from the Shenandoah Valley. When we visit them, we frequent an adorable little wine-shop in Nevada City and a glorious wine bar/restaurant called Carpe Vino. (Isn’t that a great name?!)

So, sticking with the tradition, they shared a delicious bottle of Zinfandel from a winery called C.G. di Aire. We had never heard of the winery, but quickly noticed the winemaker’s signature on the bottle. We happily uncorked the bottle…

The Zin was fruity and delicious. It’s not so bold that you need food to capture the flavors, but we could certainly taste the berry and cherry (with a hint of vanilla). It almost tasted like a smooth jam or jelly. As we sipped the Zin outside in the cool air, it was warming and filling and oh-so-tasty.

If you are reading this post from outside Northern California and want to give C.G. di Aire a try, you can find distributors HERE; if you are local and want to check them out, click HERE.

Previous "WINOS Picks of the Week"

Published

LaptopTelevision

on July 21, 2008

in WINOS Pick of the Week

. 4 Comments