The Official Introduction: "Rappel" - My First Homemade Wine

Merry Christmas! (a few days late)

Christmas Day: Cozy. Warm. Memories. Family. Surrounded by loved ones- celebrating and thankful. Tara’s homemade wine wrapped up under the tree.

But before I start giving bottles of it away as gifts, I better make sure it’s at least tolerably consumable!

The last blog on the homemade wine was October 31st- Step V: Bottling. I also tasted it once, just before Thanksgiving. My last memory from that tasting was, “…WAY too acidic…too young. Fruity; pleasant, but needs MAJOR mellowing out.

Today I grabbed a bottle off the rack, admired our labeling and foiling work, and cracked it open! Ryan poured it into the decanter to relax and open up for a couple hours before dinner. It is the color of beautiful burgundy rubies…very deep and dark…

Two hours later, I pour some into one of my Riedel Red Wine glasses (big, oval-y ones), and swirled it nervously. Well…bottoms up!

WOW!!! I have NEVER experienced such a noticeable change in a wine than during the 6 weeks this Cab has been aging. It’s amazing the difference!

BOLD. Polished. Smooth. Fruit forward. WOW, fruit! Cherries, raspberries, oaky-subtleness, with a decent finish! I can’t believe I am describing this same wine as “smooth”. Six weeks ago it was harsh, sharp, under ripe, acidic!

I am SO RELIEVED and happy!

~Introducing “Rappel”, by Tara Merry (a.k.a. Tara “Rapp”-Smith). (Get it? “Rapp”el??!) The inaugural batch, 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, is made of 100% Australian Cabernet Sauvignon grapes; so it is on the fuller-bodied side of the scale, rich, and tannic.I am shocked. I am pleased. Cheers!...and Rappel!

Frosty December: A Perfect Time for Stout...

Stout...or Porter...or whatever you call it. According to countless sources, “There is no distinction! Maybe there was one day, but now the two terms are practically interchangeable.”

So fine, I don't care what you call it. I like it!

Yes, yes...now and then I feel the urge to blog on beer. I love stouts...especially in wintertime. Here are three 2010 highlights...

First, let's talk about Ryan's: 6 String Brew Works 2010 Homebrew Stout (-of-my-dreams). Yes, I added the "of-my-dreams" part, because it's true! It's gorgeous...not too sweet, not too bitter. Just chocolately enough, not overly coffee-ish or sweet. Perfect dessert-in-a-glass; or makes for a pleasurable sipping experience any time you want something a little heartier and special! This stout could easily compete with any high-end mainstream imperial stout.

Second, I was fortunate to savor a glass of Flying Dog's Wild Dog Barrel-Aged Gonzo (Porter) a few weeks ago at a local pub in Media, PA. It made quite an impression. Big-bodied, very dark beauty with licorice, spice, and everything nice! Whiskey and figs- oak characteristics like vanilla and caramel. It was a fabulous treat for a celebratory evening.

Third, Philadelphia Brewing Company's Shackamaximum...what a stout! We had it bottled from our local Wegmans. We were so excited to come across it, as we had tried it last year draft at a special limited tasting at Khyber bar in Philly. Dark, delicious, licorice, Hershey's Chocolate syrup. Maltiness and bitterness- perfectly combined. Too sweet for me to drink with dinner- but made GREAT dessert! Aside: Shackamaximum is named after Shackamaxon village, which was the Native American village that was once located where the Philly Brewing Co. now resides, in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood.

Cheers, brew fans, and Happy Christmas!
xo

Pics:
1)Ryan's: 6 String Brew Works 2010 Homebrew Stout (-of-my-dreams)
2)Sipping Wild Dog Barrel-Aged Gonzo :)

Thanksgiving was a whirlwind of loveliness...

I was surrounded by ones I adore, and initiated numerous cooking challenges!

We had a small Thanksgiving dinner, then welcomed a larger group for dessert. I took advantage of every opportunity to indulge in high caliber wines that I had been acquiring through the months and years. We decided to open a bottle of "Champagne". In quotes because it was actually a "Sparkling Wine" called Rainsong, from Oregon. (Those who know this wine and quaint, family-owned vineyard will heartily approve!) It is made by blending Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay, followed by primary and secondary fermentations, aligned with th Methodé Champenoise (traditional method for making Champagne). It's a proven fact that it tastes even better when you use fancy-dancy crystal stemware, right mom?! (Gotta break out the Lenox once-in-a-while! Just don't BREAK it!) I have just recently found out that this small, precious winery has a program where you and your wino friends can buy a barrel of wine (makes ~25 cases), go over to the vineyard, bottle it, label it, then..bottoms up! Next time I visit Oregon I am renting a truck and driving across the country, so I can participate! :)

In addition, we cracked a bottle we carried back from New Zealand in June 2010. Wild Rock Pinot Noir originates in New Zealand's Central Otago Valley, the southern-most wine-making region in the world. As we traveled through the region, we tasted some of the finest new world Pinot Noirs on the planet. I love this wine, full of bright cherries and cranberries (no wonder it was so good with turkey dinner!!), herbs - especially thyme, and token pinot noir earthiness! Unfortunately for me, it has been impossible to find Wild Rock pinot within this State's borders (and neighboring ones, too!) since we opened the bottle; and believe me, I've searched! (For more on NZ Pinot Noir, check this out.)

We also opened a bottle of Buried Cane 2006 Chardonnay, from Washington State. Did you know that chardonnay is the most widely planted varietal in Washington? The best part of this wine is that it tastes like ripe Washington apples and mild butterinss and baking spices from the oak. I have actually re-purchased Buried Cane Chard since Thanksgiving, and paired with our celebratory "MBA-semester-#1-is-officially-over!" dinner on Monday night, consisting of pan-seared scallops and wild mushroom risotto (and it was GOOOOD)! Horray for having time to cook!

Try these out, or browse the wine shop and buy something totally random to try...like I did this past week! I actually ended up buying a bottle of Pinotage that I haven't tried before...but also selected especially so I could introduce you to that varietal if you haven't tried it! More to come.

Cheers!

Pics:
Top- Eager, virginal champagne crystal...on the verge of christening!
Bottom- A few of those I love who tolerate/embrace my wine passion...as long as I keep their glasses full. :)

Survived the First Semester...Time for Some Wine!

It's official...I survived the first semester. I can't think of a better reason to celebrate!

Things I did in the past 72 hours since turning in my last final (that I missed soooo much!):

-Picked up a book and read for pure enjoyment (The Story of My Life, Giacomo Casanova)
-Goal during break: finish the book

-Picked up my guitar and tried to remember my chords
-Goal during break: learn 1-2 (easy) Christmas songs for my own personal sing-along!

-Researched local non-profits
-Goal during break: Volunteer at a non-profit org I haven't worked with before

-Most importantly: started reaching out to friends and family that I've horrendously ignored for the past 4 months
Goal during break: Ensure that all appropriate persons know how much I love and miss them! Prepare them to be neglected once again in January.

-AND ALSO quite important...wrote a blog! I've been DYING to blog ever since Thanksgiving! I've tried some great wines, and it's high time I told you about it!
Goal during break: At least 2 blogs per week for the next 3 weeks!

Perhaps too ambitious, but you know me...

OK, so QUIT BLABBING and blog, already!

Where to start...how about a with a nice Meritage! I first discovered Murrieta's Well 2007 Meritage around this time last year. By April, I could no longer find it at PA Wine and Spirits stores, but to my surprise and delight, it resurfaced in October, and I promptly stocked up.

The name "Meritage" is given to those wines styled after traditional Bordeaux reds and whites, but grown outside that region.

The word "Meritage" was established for these wines in the late '80s, and is a combination of the words "merit" and "heritage". The "need" for the name came about as a way to differentiate this style's quality and craftmanship, versus other blends that have not been made under the specific stipulations of a Meritage. To clarify, red Bordeaux is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes, with smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Similarly, a red Meritage must be made from at least two of these grapes (or the lesser known varietals St. Macaire, Gros Verdot, and Carmenère), with no varietal comprising more than 90% of the blend.
Murrieta's Well is elegant, exhibiting characteristics of the Bordeaux style: old-world subtleness, dark berries and plums, and oak-induced attributes like toasted graham crackers, chocolae, and licorice. It is smooooth and gorgeous. I'm not sure how when it will reach its prime, but I have a bottle on my shelf waiting for that day. I am having the hardest time walking past it without wanting to open it up! As an aside: The story/name of the winery is pretty kool too, and goes back to Gold Rush days. Joaquin Murrieta was a "Robin Hood" type (stole from the rich, gave to the poor). The wine estate was actually his home, centuries ago!

Anyway, with my love for the charming old-world French styles, I'm sure you're rolling your eyes over my obvious partiality towards all things Meritage!

Sante! It's good to be back blogging for a few weeks!

Pics:
1) Murrieta's Well 2007 Meritage
2) The actual well at Murrieta's Estate