Easy drinking leads to lots of drinking

This Zamba Malbec is a beaut of a Mendoza. Malbec's are this years spunky blond everyone wants one or knows of a great one long gone. California has embraced this grape with both arms open and over the next few years we'll see quite a few stunning malbecs from Napa.

This Zamba followed an entire bottle of an old favorite and despite my drunken nature I was able to taste this bottle quite well. I just wanted a taste of this sunny wine and when it hit my mouth it was everything I wanted. Clear and bright with high notes and spice holding on strong. It was the perfect late night bottle, and I'm not to ashamed to admit a little guzzling happened. It reminded me of what Spanish wines go for. Conch y Toro hold on to your butt you've been beaten at your own game.

A sober taste reveled a dense plush wine the vineyards call "fruit-forward." Cab Sav's over whelming its fruits with tannins, or a mild mannered merlot baked in the sun all get that lovely phrase slapped on like so much extra cheese on your Big Mac. This solid wine has way more going for it than than that worn marketing-friendly phrase implies. It reminded me of hot dry day filled with earthy dusty smells and spicy food about to be enjoyed. Its definitely getting on my regular buy list. Did the wine appeal to me more when I was well into a buzz? Perhaps, but who cares! Every wine gets drunk somehow somewhere and all of those factors help or hinder the experience. In this case I found a wine well suited to a drunken night of fun.

Want to kick your heels up and drink some fancy wine?

Rainy weather didn't dampen the wino's here in Ski Town USA we boozed it up in fine spirits courtesy of the annual Steamboat Springs Wine Festival In addition to all the fabulous wineries attending Stella Artois and Skyy Spirits were there serving their brand of joy. The wineries really pulled out the all of the stops and served some of their best wines.

Want to taste many different wines in one evening from all over the globe? Want to search out the newest wine trends and talk grapes with vinyard owners? Wine festivals are where its at! For the price of a ticket you can taste as much as you can ask for in a night.

Knowing who serves up expensive wines at these festivals is key, because some vinyards cheap out with bargin bin wines. I have a lot of respect for the vinyards that serve their wines for probably pennies on the dollar to get access to a wine loving crowd. Heres the list from Steamboat about who gave up the best wines.

Penfolds, who always comes through with great wines at festivals had their Hyman and their Bin 138. In previous festivals I've tasted some rare bottles from Penfolds and if you see their table be sure to stop by and chat up the server.

Lodi Vineyards was also present and they really served up some fabulous wines most notable are the Sloth Zin and the Petite Petite. If you can buy a bottle of either of these you will be very pleased, full and strong these wines will be a fall treat that stand out.

The Trapiche Winery made a trek from Mendoza to steamboat this year to show us their Malbecs. Napa has been moving towards Malbecs this year and over the next few years I predict we'll see a lot more of them. But the Mendozas are still strong as they've been making Malbecs for decades. These didn't disappoint either, I recommend their 2008 for a great bottle under 10$. They were serving their Oak Cast but I am so beyond oaked wine I couldn't taste anything but the oak. Still the hearty Cab lovers out there might like those tannins.

Joy of Joys! No wine coolers here: Il Rosso

This wine always says summer to me, its a sparkling red with real personality. I've always thought of it as the soda pop of wine, it has a distinct sweetness that makes it appealing for non-wine drinkers. Although About.com doesn't agree with me about the sweetness. This wine is refreshing with more serious carbonation than a Lambrusco. The fun bottle top reminds you of a popping the lid on a beer and with that spirit I've brought this wine to traditional beer functions like camping and sporting events! There is no hard and fast rule that says enjoying your wine makes you a snob and this wine proves it.

They have a website and a contest going that calls for drink recipes mmmm http://www.ilsparkling.com/

I still have more Canada wines to cover but I had to add a quick post with an old favorite.

Quick Note to wine lover and frugal people everywhere!

Riedel glasses are for sale at Target at unbelievable prices! I got a set of the gorgeous stemless red for 14.99$ This is unheard of! When did this happen? I remember looking longingly at a 59.99$ price for those same glasses.

http://www.target.com/Riedel-Vivant-Collection/dp/B000BCF0IO

bad news for the silver label.......

Silver Label 2006 Cabernet, Chateau des Charmes VQA

It was older than it should have been , tired unremarkable and brick plummy red. Disappointing when you buy a bottle that should have some strength left and its a let down. In fact I really haven't been impressed with any of the Canadians wines I've tried. Except the Sibling Rivalry I tried my first night here a Merlot, Cab Franc and Cab Sav blend. A lighter bodies tanninic affair, but still enjoyable. No label as this one was tasted a few weeks ago. Wow time flies.

first post and from canada no less

I'm in Canada for a business trip and therefore my quest for yet another glass of wine is at the mercy of the LCBO. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario is the only way to get your booze here in lovely Ottawa. In my opinion a better store than than the state run affairs the the State of New Hampshire the LCBO tries to create a warm atmosphere with nice lighting and displays. Well I take that back in the spirit of taxing vices the cost of your booze is 10 to 25% higher than I am used to paying in Colorado.

Good wine finds were there for the taking and I walked out of my Sunday run for wine with two bottles.

Fuzion, a Mendoza Malbec Shariaz blend 2009. This wine was a steal at 7.45$ Canadian, meaning if I could find it in a local liquor store I might pay close to 5 or 6$. I hope I am that lucky because this wine was good! It was medium bodied; with no discerning oak, an earthy wine with light fruit. I like that winemaker didn't overwhelm this wine the blend of lighter shriaz with a fuller grape like malbec really balanced well.

I was drawn to this bottle because I've been drinking some seriously good wine from Mendoza over the past 2 years. The Malbec grape is a deep red grape that makes some full plush wines, wines I find myself daydreaming about.

Second bottle notes to follow when I get to drinking ....

Silver Label 2006 Cabernet, Chateau des Charmes VQA so you know its been made in Canada.