Tag Archive for ‘Cabernet’ at Laptop Television Mom

It’s been ages since I wrote a WINOS Pick of the Week, but trust me, the lack of wine-posts is not a reflection of the amount of wine being consumed in my house. I’ve just been busy with work and life. This post is actually two firsts for LTV Mom: 1) I am writing about a Spanish wine, and 2) I am including a vlog from Organic Wine Review (Watch. Laugh. Drink.) The tagline alone makes me love these guys!

Last week I enjoyed a dinner for two (with one of my amazing girlfriends) at Cyprus Bistro and Cafe, a quaint organic restaurant in downtown Campbell, Calif. We were so excited for two hours of uninterrupted chatting and solving all the world’s problems. Little did we know we also would discover a new wine.

I was in the mood for steak, so I ordered a grilled filet mignon with a cherry compote and loads of grilled organic veggies. The restaurant is strictly organic, so I was unfamiliar with most of the wines on the list. I asked the waiter to recommend a wine to pair with the meal, and he suggested a 2006 Can Vendrell from Penedes, Spain. This particular wine is a blend of 60 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 40 percent Tempranillo, and is made from organic grapes. The wine is also vegan, which means there are no animal products (such as gelatin) used during the fermentation process.

My friend and I each ordered a glass of the Can Vendrell, and it was love at first sip. We enjoyed the rich cherry flavors, and it paired very well with the beef. It’s got a unique flavor, but it’s not so complex or bold that it’s scary for red-wine newbies. Organic wine distributor Organic Vintners calls this wine “bright and lively.” My friend and I agreed, and we left the restaurant with two bottles each!

If you are in the mood for something different, I recommend you try this hard-to-find gem at your local wine store. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find online, but I found a 2005 bottle for sale at the wine portal Vinquire.

Enjoy!

– LTV Mom

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.