Sadly, I have to have a day job...chilling out with wine doesn't pay the bills.
My whole team, folks from three states, is in town for the week, and I brought a few bottles to dinner last night, as the place we ate did not serve alcohol.
Bottle each of 2006 Zin and Chard, large bottle each of 2007 Zin and Chard, and 2007 Diamond. 19 of us, 80 minutes, and it the first non family Gowden's Wines sampling was a hit.
This was the first I've tasted the 2006 Chard in a while. It's mellowing out wonderfully. My Zins are still a little harsh, but hold up well to pasta. Anyone who likes sweet, loved the Diamond (and I'm a little surprised Heidi gave up a bottle so easily ;-)
I was a little nervous. A few bottles here and there have gone rogue, and this was my boss, his boss, and my peers...not where I want to drop the ball/cork/grape..insert metaphor here. I do wish I had the time to bottle the blueberry, and I wish the 2006 Syrah had something more like flavor. Oh well.
Happy drinking!
Sean
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
New Years Realization
Hello everyone.
I've been enjoying some much needed time away from work during the holidays and reacquainting myself with my hobbies. I got to spend a few hours in the cellar this week racking my reds and sampling this past September's Chard. The good news? I was able to clean the cellar while the wine racked. The bad news? My reds are not living up to their potential yet.
Honestly, I've never been really pleased with my Zins. The first year's Bella Giada was very tasty. It wasn't 'great' but it was my first try. My Zins over the last 2 years have had loads of flavor, but an off-putting bite. Never, could any of them be called 'smooth'.
I spent New Years Eve with my friend Tony and his family. Tony led me into the hobby, and darn it, he makes some tasty wines. We sampled his Zins from this year, and it was pretty interesting. He had 4 demijohns, and 4 completely different tasting wines. We have our theories as to why this is, but all but one were tastier than my one carboy of Zin from this past year.
I bought my grapes with my finances in mind. I went with a supplier who offered the best price per case, scoffing at the quotes I had that were up to 50% more per case. Tony bought some with me, but finished his wines with grapes from elsewhere. Tony made the right call.
Three years in a row I've followed the rules, racked when I should and took care to make the best I could. Even now, opening my second years Zin, it's nowhere near as good as the wines I've tasted, made from grapes from other suppliers.
I know that in life you get what you pay for. I feel I've been burned 3 times now with grapes that simply did not have a good wine in them. I can't explain the very tasty Chard this year.
There's a rant on the Sangiovese...but that's for later.
Maybe there's hope. Maybe the wines will mellow. Maybe because they're only 3 months old I'm expecting too much. Maybe Tony's holding out some secret.
Maybe I need better grapes.
Sean
I've been enjoying some much needed time away from work during the holidays and reacquainting myself with my hobbies. I got to spend a few hours in the cellar this week racking my reds and sampling this past September's Chard. The good news? I was able to clean the cellar while the wine racked. The bad news? My reds are not living up to their potential yet.
Honestly, I've never been really pleased with my Zins. The first year's Bella Giada was very tasty. It wasn't 'great' but it was my first try. My Zins over the last 2 years have had loads of flavor, but an off-putting bite. Never, could any of them be called 'smooth'.
I spent New Years Eve with my friend Tony and his family. Tony led me into the hobby, and darn it, he makes some tasty wines. We sampled his Zins from this year, and it was pretty interesting. He had 4 demijohns, and 4 completely different tasting wines. We have our theories as to why this is, but all but one were tastier than my one carboy of Zin from this past year.
I bought my grapes with my finances in mind. I went with a supplier who offered the best price per case, scoffing at the quotes I had that were up to 50% more per case. Tony bought some with me, but finished his wines with grapes from elsewhere. Tony made the right call.
Three years in a row I've followed the rules, racked when I should and took care to make the best I could. Even now, opening my second years Zin, it's nowhere near as good as the wines I've tasted, made from grapes from other suppliers.
I know that in life you get what you pay for. I feel I've been burned 3 times now with grapes that simply did not have a good wine in them. I can't explain the very tasty Chard this year.
There's a rant on the Sangiovese...but that's for later.
Maybe there's hope. Maybe the wines will mellow. Maybe because they're only 3 months old I'm expecting too much. Maybe Tony's holding out some secret.
Maybe I need better grapes.
Sean
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