Steven's choice:2008 Epiphany Gypsy

It seems Eli Parker, son of the late Fess Parker, has followed in his father’s footsteps by creating his own brand of wines. When Steven brought over a 2008 Epiphany Gypsy for Brandon and me to try, I was impressed.

Epiphany is by no means a bargain-bin wine, but oenophiles understand the need to splurge. With aromas of vanilla, raspberry, cherry, cranberry, and a hint of spiciness, Gypsy has everything you would ever hope for in a $25 California red Rhone blend.

Two thumbs up.

Cost: $25

 

2008 Epiphany Cellars Gypsy, Santa Barbara County

(39% Grenache, 33% Mourvedre, 16% Counoise, 11% Cinsault, 1% Syrah)

 

Halos de JupiterCostières-de-Nîmes

I love Friday nights. And to celebrate the beginning of another much anticipated weekend, I opened Les Halos de Jupiter Costières de Nîmes. Having all the yummy qualities that make a Rhone wine worth buying--enticing dark color, deep black fruit flavor, and notes of herbs and spice followed by a nice, long finish--Robert Parker gave this palate pleasing Grenache/Syrah blend 89 points. I guess it is safe to say RP and I agree: this is $14 very well spent.

Avg. Cost: $13.99

 

Halos de Jupiter Costieres de Nimes Rouge, 2009

 

An outstanding bargain, 60% Grenache and the rest Syrah and Carignan. It is a pretty, Burgundian-styled effort displaying lots of forest floor, red berry and cherry notes intermixed with a hint of spring flowers, good density, medium body and soft tannin. -Wine Advocate

 



Derby Vinyarddoes it again!

I know not everyone enjoys the fruity and robust, jammy red wines that come from grapes grown in the Paso Robles heat. I do. Since being introduced to Derby wines a year or so ago, I have become a fan. Not only are their bottles reasonably priced, but this $9.99 FIFTEEN10 is a delicious Rhone-style blend of 38% Syrah, 28% Grenache, 28% Counoise, and 6% Mourvedre.

If you favor Paso Robles wines and Grenache-Syrah blends as much as I do, then this is the wine for you.

Cost: $9.99, Topline Wine, Glendale CA

 

Derby 2006 Fifteen10 Red

 

Tasting notes: "Aromas of red berries combine with notes of licorice, tobacco, spice, and earth on the nose. Raspberry and cherry flavors unfold into suggestions of anise, smoked game, earth, and spice after a sip."

The Crowd Pleaser:Tres Picos Garnacha 2010

I am excited to blog about my favorite Spanish Granacha from Tres Picos. This wine is fantastic. I have yet to pour a glass for someone who is not instantly won over by its rich, dark berry flavor.
 
Wine Spectator gave this Grenache a well-deserved 90 point rating. Costing only about $14, I suggest you buy a couple bottles for your next party. Everyone from newbies to the more sophisticated wine drinkers will be pleased.

Cost: $13.99
Drink: Now trough 2015

 

Tres Picos Borsao Garnacha 2008

 

"Glass-staining purple. Lively, faintly medicinal aromas of cherry, blueberry and licorice, plus hints of smoky herbs and flowers. Juicy and expansive, offering sweet, deeply pitched bitter cherry and dark berry flavors supported by a taut spine of acidity and fine-grained tannins. Finishes with powerful spicy thrust and suggestions of candied flowers and woodsmoke. This could pass for a northern Rhone wine, and a really good one at that." -International Wine Cellar, 91 Points

Black Mountain's2011 winning white

As the end of daylight savings time approaches, I suggest an impromptu picnic in the park to give our extra hour of sunlight its last hurrah. Take your favorite brie and crackers, a jar of organic fig jam, and, most importantly, this refreshing $5.99 must-have Sauvignon Blanc from Black Mountain. Considering I prefer red wines over white, after buying three bottles (and I only have one left) it is safe to say I think 2011 was a great year for this Napa Valley winery.

Cost: $5.99, Trader Joes

 

2011 Black Mountain Sauvignon Blanc (Three Candles)

 

Tasting notes: Notes of melon, mint, and grapefruit are harmoniously engaged and create a satisfying effect. The crisp acidity adds to the charm and invites one to pair this wine with food or simply sip by itself. 

Steven's choice:Valréas Côtes Du Rhône

Last night Brandon and I invited Steven* over for wine and cheese. With Wines for the Economy on my mind I asked Steven to bring a blog-worthy, under $15 bottle that I have never had before.

 

I would like to introduce Valréas “Cuvée Prestige” Côtes Du Rhône. If you want a true Rhone flavored wine (medium-bodied, dark fruits, peppery spice) but do not want to spend twenty-five dollars, you are in luck: this $5.99 bottle has a classic Rhone taste that, for the price, will not disappoint even the most fastidious wine snob.

 

Cost: $5.99

 

 

2011 Valréas “Cuvée Prestige” Côtes Du Rhône Villages

 

*Steven, my good friend and neighbor, introduced me to wine in 2007. Before then if someone had two different half open bottles of wine, I saw no reason why he or she could not combine the two into one bottle. Enough said. Not only was Steven patient enough to endure the four months it took to develop my palate, but he was generous enough to share his 1999 Plumpjack with Brandon and I; and his 2000 Duckhorn; and his 2004 Darioush Cabernet, just to name a few. To say I respect his opinions about wine is an understatement.

 



Cameron Hughes'Amazing Rosé

After trying this last week and loving it, I drove to Costco yesterday to buy 3 more bottles. Cameron Hughes has offered some impressive value-priced wines over the years, but Lot 349 has to be one of their best Rosés.

With layers of citrus, raspberry and sliced melon, this gem is the perfect holiday wine. For under $10 I suggest you buy multiple bottles since only limited quantities are available. Subtly sweet with natural fruit flavors (rosé’s do not contain any sugar) this is a refreshing, classic Rosé.

Lot 349 is a must buy: I know Costco stores (especially in Southern Cali) can be madhouses, but I promise this wine is well worth it!

Cost: $9.99, Costco

 

Lot# 349 ~ Cameron Hughes 2011 Napa Valley Rosé

 

Succulent red fruit balances elegantly with lively acidity resolving in along and sustained finish. Visit the Cameron Hughes website to see what store locations carry this wine.

 

Kunde: wineshopping made ea$y

There is no way for me to continue Wines for the Economy without including Kunde’s 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (I have bought at least three of them). If you are willing to spend a few more dollars on a pleasant, richly flavored bottle of wine, I highly recommend this $13-$15 cab.

Visiting friends for dinner and need to bring wine? No need to break the bank. This bottle will more than satisfy your host/s.

Cost: $12.99, Trader Joes

2009 Kunde Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley, Family Estate Series

"The bouquet of our 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon jumps out of the glass, filling your nose with raspberries, black cherries and a dark chocolate note that is so unique to the Sonoma Valley.” - Winemaker Zachary Long

Ol' Faithful:Buena Vista Pinot Noir

***UPDATE***
Trader Joes stores are down to their final cases of BV Pinot noir -- and they are going fast. If you want to take advantage of the $9.99 price tag, I suggest you stock up now.

I nicknamed Buena Vista's Pinot Noir "ol' faithful" because whether you are hosting cheese night or serving filet mignon for dinner, this wonderful medium-bodied wine will totally deliver. With many layers, BV's earthy 2008 is a must-buy and can be found at most Southern California Trader Joes' for a mere $9.99.

Cost: $9.99, Trader Joes

 

2008 Buena Vista Pinot Noir Carneros, Napa, California

Evodia:A Weeknight Favorite

Okay, so clearly I cannot be any less up-to-date on my motherhood blog than I have been…

Fortunately this is wonderful news. For years I have been talking about creating a blog geared toward wine lovers who want to enjoy great wines while staying on a budget.

And I do understand budget.

Before the birth of our daughter, my husband and I thought nothing of going into our favorite wine store* and spending a couple hundred dollars. [And that was just one wine store! Let's not forget Costco, Silver Lake Wine, etc.] Suffice it to say, things have changed. Today I am a stay-at-home mom of a precious two year old (and I love it!) living in Los Angeles where 40%+ of my husband's income goes to taxes.

As a result, today marks the birth of "Wines for the Economy."

People who know me know I have an appreciation and love for good wine. Basically if I have met you at least two times and you are morally sound and not an alcoholic, you have been invited over for a glass.

So to start I will introduce the beautiful Garnacha I am enjoying now: 2011 Altovinum Evodia

I am a huge fan of Grenache wines. I find their smooth, rich, pleasantly light flavor more than satisfying. This wine is the perfect bottle to open when friends unexpectedly stop by. Trust me, they will love it. A fantastic value under $10: $8.00 at Costco/$9.99 at Whole Foods. Buy it today.

Nothing says "yum" like an empty glass of wine.

Avg. Cost: $8.99

 

 

2011 Altovinum Evodia Old Vine Garnacha Calatayud

89 Points | Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

90 Points | International Wine Cellar , September/October 2012

Tasting notes: Aromas of blackberry, boysenberry, smoky minerals and white pepper, with a suggestion of candied rose. Supple on entry, then firmer in the mid-palate, with vibrant flavors of black and blue fruits and floral pastilles. Finishes with powerful blue fruit and spice notes and very good length.

 

*Topline Wine in Glendale, Ca. of course.

W(h)ine

“Why are the last three posts in this blog about pregnancy?” you ask. The answer is simple: because I was too lazy to design a new blog (hey, I have a two year old asking nonstop questions in the background) and found it easier to use my old one. Also, the pregnancy posts are fun reads that paint a, shall we say, more colorful portrait of who I am… or was. Being a wine connoisseur is one thing, but how a woman acts while pregnant is no joke. But, yes, this is a wine blog. Feel free to stop here [or continue reading].

I have spent the past couple of weeks on a hormonally-charged emotional rollercoaster.

I am a sensitive person; I always have been and always will be (my astrological sign is Cancer). Sadness, delight, frustration, or contentment—every feeling is intensified with pregnancy and I now experience the world through an emotional magnifying glass. People and circumstances that hardly bothered me before now drive me crazy: a friend’s superficiality; the child two rows behind me in the movie theatre with the burbling runny nose; the woman from church who is always asking why I am not in bible study but never how I am feeling; the simultaneous chirping of our four parakeets; the girl standing next to me in line chomping on gum. Instead of sitting down and writing, I waste time being irritated and annoyed.

I stopped drinking wine the day First Response gave Brandon and I the exciting news; however, I must admit I miss having a rich, full-bodied Pinot or fleshy, fruity Grenache with dinner. I often wonder how much easier the next six and a half months would be if alcohol was safe during pregnancy. Two years ago my husband and I were introduced to the wonderful world of wine. Since then we have become self-proclaimed wine connoisseurs (aka. wine nerds) and have enjoyed hundreds of bottles from regions all over the world. Now that I have a baby in my belly to care for, I fill my Riedel with lime-flavored Perrier and look forward to the day I can drink wine again.

At eleven weeks I am relieved that I am beginning to have days when I am not as tired. Dizzy spells are less frequent and my skin is no longer breaking out like a teenager. My irritability has skyrocketed, but at least I have decided to stop answering the phone sounding like my visit with Misery was being interrupted. Less than two weeks ago I began experiencing mild lower back pain and heart palpitations. Heart palpitations are a normal, but rarely talked about symptom of pregnancy. Unfortunately, my heightened emotional state caused me to mistake the frequent, irregular heartbeats for heart disease. Sheesh!

Overall, my pregnancy symptoms have been minimal. There were moments when my lack of ‘real symptoms’ had me worried that I had miscarried without knowing. Luckily, those were just fears and I am grateful that my first trimester is going as well as it is.

Basically, I cannot complain—but am embarrassed that I do anyway.

A Blog about Nothing but the Truth

Some things we just know intuitively. As for me, I’ve always had a feeling I would not LOVE being pregnant.

From conception to week seven, I felt great. Apart from the mood swings, my rather symptom-free pregnancy seemed too good to be true.

It was.

At eight weeks I am convinced that pregnant women who claim to love everything about their changing, growing, hormonal selves are not in the first trimester. While my body is hard at work developing the baby’s breathing tubes, connecting brain cells and forming primitive neural pathways, I am fighting the urge to retreat to the bedroom, fluff my pillow and dream the day away. I have equated my symptoms to feeling like I am coming down with a cold two days before my period. I am cranky, spaced out and lethargic. Nausea hits early in the morning but graciously subsides after a light breakfast. Queasiness during the day is a signal that it has been two and a half hours since the last time I ate. I am happy one minute then complaining to my husband the next. With each sunrise I am greeted by new blemishes on my chin and jaw line. According to most pregnancy websites I should be experiencing excessive saliva, but regardless of how many liters of water I drink a day, my mouth is always dry. Then there is the pregnancy fog that rolls in at random and whisks my mind away to some place high in the clouds. My pregnancy is still a secret; I have been staying in weeknights and even missed a couple dinner parties because I was feeling out of it. As of now I am afraid that until the big announcement (at twelve weeks)--or until I am fun again, whichever comes first--I will be spending a lot of evenings at home nesting.

Time seems to be dragging its feet; my April 28th due date feels so far away. The only times I am not hypervigilant of the amazing metamorphosis that is taking place inside me are when I am working and running. The rest of the day I am prodding to myself to take mental breaks: Julie, for the next couple of hours, forget you are pregnant. Unfortunately I associate not being pregnant with enjoying a glass of wine. Back to square one.

Overall, I must admit my pregnancy has not been bad. I am grateful that [so far] I have not had to hug the toilet bowl once. My biggest complaints are feeling tired and swirly and no longer being able to do as I please. Who knows, maybe there will be a major rush of endorphins waiting to lift me up and carry me into the second trimester. I’ll keep you posted.