Where is Waldo?

How about... WHERE IS WINEGIRL15???



Or perhaps I should say, "Where is winegirl15 going to taste next"? I need your help in choosing! What California region should I taste next?

After I receive your emails or posts, I will choose next Monday!

Thanks for your help!
Cheers,
Winegirl15
xoB

Quiz I found online... Part one!

Q & A (part 1)
1. How many acres are planted to grapes worldwide?
2. Among the world's fruit crops, where do wine grapes rank in number of acres planted?
3. How many countries import California wines?
4. What was the primary fruit crop in Napa Valley during the 1940's?
5. How many gallons of wine were lost in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake?
6. When was phylloxera first discovered in California?
7. How many acres of Napa County vineyards have been replanted in the last 15 years because of phylloxera?
8. How many more acres of Napa County vineyards will need replacement?
9. How long does it take to harvest a commercial crop from newly replanted grape vines?
10. How many varieties of wine grapes exist worldwide?
11. How much does it cost per bottle to age wine in a French oak barrel?
12. How much does it cost per bottle to age wine in only new French oak barrels?
13. How much white zinfandel is consumed in this country?

Answers:
1) 20 million
2) #1
3) 164
4) Prunes
5) 30 million
6) August 19, 1873
7) 10,450
8) 4,450
9) 4-5 years
10) 10,000
11) 90 cents
12) $2.50
13) Too much!

November - $60 bottle of wine

Paso Robles: Southern California

Winery: Turley Wine Cellars
2900 Vineyard Dr
Templeton, CA 93465
(805) 434-1030

http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/turley+zinfandel+pesenti/2005/usa

2005: Zinfandel: Pesenti Vineyard

Price: $61.99

Description:
winemaker's notes:
"The impressive, powerful 2005 Zinfandel Pesenti Vineyard exhibits a dark ruby/purple color, plenty of minerality, loads of bright, savory, black cherry and black currant fruit, and notions of pepper and crushed rocks. This is one of the deepest, richest, most full-bodied 2005s in this portfolio." 91-93 Points
Wine Advocate
December 1, 2006

critical acclaim:
"91-93 points "The impressive, powerful 2005 Zinfandel Pesenti Vineyard exhibits a dark ruby/purple color, plenty of minerality, loads of bright, savory, black cherry and black currant fruit, and notions of pepper and crushed rocks. This is one of the deepest, richest, most full-bodied 2005s in this portfolio. ""
93 Points
The Wine Advocate

Winegirl15: My girlfriend Julie and I drank this wine together. Julie is definitely my wine buddy! She picked this bottle up a year ago when she visited Turley Wine Cellars. I cooked dinner and we sipped the wine together. The wine was deep plum in color and was very smooth. We tasted black current, cherries, and pepper. I suggest this wine for anyone that likes a robust Zinfandel. Thanks Jewelz for sharing this bottle of wine with me! We need to plan a weekend in Paso soon!

Cheers,
xoB

November - $10 bottle of wine

Paso Robles: Southern California

Winery: Peachy Canyon Winery
2025 Nacimiento Lake Drive
Paso Robles, CA 93446
1(800) 315-7908

http://www.peachycanyon.com

2006: Incredible Red

Price: $8.99 Trader Joes
$12.00 Peachy Canyon Winery

Description: Bright fruit mild acid and an elegant finish that makes it a very food friendly wine that is reasonably priced.

Winegirl15: This month I choose Paso Robles to blog about. A friend of mine suggested Peachy Canyon Winery. I was at my local market (Trader Joes) I found Peachy Canyon under the Zinfandel section. Paso Robles is known for Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Zinfandel. I chose a Zinfandel because I like the fact they have blackberry, anise and pepper flavors.

"Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance."
--Benjamin Franklin

My husband and I drank this bottle before heading to dinner. We were both very surprised how much we liked this bottle for only $9. It was sweet, spicy, and had a great after taste. I recommend this wine for an everyday bottle. You can’t beat the flavor for the price.
Cheers,
xoB

Aerator!

This afternoon while browsing the internet I came across the following jem...

This is the aerator put together:


This is just the aerator:

This is the stand alone:

Anyhow, I might be purchasing this today on the following site:
http://www.cambriacove.com/
Cheers,
xoB

October - $60 bottle of wine.

Temecula: Southern California

Winery: Leonesse Cellars
38311 De Portola Road
Temecula, CA 92592
(951) 302-7601

http://www.leonessecellars.com

2006: Signature Selection Merlot

Price: $95, only 212 cases produced.

Description: Complex aromas of blackberry, coffee, tobacco, and vanilla accented by a subtle herbaceous note. Flavors of ripe cherry are complemented by firm, supple tannins and a long, lingering finish.

Wine is made of: 85% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot.

Winegirl15: Why did I choose a Merlot you might ask? This is now a popular question since the movie “Sideways”. The quote from wine snob character Miles tells his friend Jack before a double-date dinner: "If anyone orders Merlot, I'm leaving. I am not drinking any f -- Merlot." After the movie people wouldn’t order merlot, and if you dare order merlot people will look at you funny!

Now, I’ve done a little research on the subject of grapes (I majored in Psychology so don’t be too critical). And basically Merlot was one of the most popular and over produced grapes and even one of the most used grapes to blend… counterpart being Cabernet. In the early 80s Merlot grapes were rapidly planted until it was so widely available that it brought down the value. Some say that this could happen to the pinot grape. Interesting thought, or is that a myth because pinot grapes are more finicky to grow?

"Wine is more than a part of dinner - for many people, it's a fashion statement. And no varietal is more vulnerable to the vagaries of coolness than Merlot."

Personally, I don’t generally order merlot not because of the movie hype, but I find it to be your typical table red that is sometimes overly fruity in flavor. So, I would say I’m definitely a Cabernet or Pinot girl… However, if the Merlot is a high end wine… I have no problem ordering it! They can be outstanding!

This month I was surprised to see the winery my husband and I belong to sent out our shipment of 3 2006 Signature Select Merlots. Leonesse has 3 different wine club levels. Grant and I belong to the best of the best. And that is what they are. Leonesse is the best winery in the valley… hands down! They were even featured in Westways magazine for November/December issue. I’ve been a member for 4 years, and I will always remain a member there. I got engaged there, bachelorette party, and I go every other month (if not monthly). I suggest this wine for anyone that has a special occasion or a special holiday gift.

I thought the wine was exceptional. I really enjoyed this bottle of wine. I used my Vinturi aerator and sipped slowly. I could taste the blackberry, boysenberries, and a hint of tobacco. The finish definitely lingered and I had a hard to sharing with my husband. Good thing we have 2 more bottles!

Hope you enjoyed my blog! Below is a picture with one of the girls at Leonesse… I was enjoying a tasting of the 2006 Signature Select Merlot there! :)

Cheers,
xoB

October - $30 bottle of wine.

Temecula : Southern California

Winery: South Coast Winery
34843 Rancho California Road, Temecula, CA 92591
(951) 587-9463
website: http://store.wineresort.com/wild-horse-peak-petite-sirah

2006 Petite Sirah: Wild Horse Peak, Mountain Vineyards/Reservoir Block

Price: $38.00 / Case: $456.00

Description: Lavender earthly flavor, fig aroma with spicy oak, berries, damson plum, and aged in French Oak.

Winegirl15: Let me start out by saying why I chose Temecula this month… Temecula was the area I grew up going to with my parents, and it’s a place I frequent about every other month now. My parents belonged to Wilson Creek Winery when I was a child and would often go with friends, and my first winery that I belonged to was South Coast Winery. I call Temecula “A grown up’s Disneyland”, because it is the happiest place on earth... Or at least the happiest place close to where I live.

“Life’s too short to drink bad wine.”

My husband and I drank this wine while we were meeting with our financial advisor (he meets at our house quarterly). The ironic part was when we were talking about our savings account and what we generally spend our money on… even though my husband and I don’t spend thousands of dollars on wine, our advisor definitely gave us a look when I said that the current bottle we were drinking was about $40 (if he only knew the next bottle for another tasting was $95). Grant and I gave each other a look and giggled.

“What is the definition of a good wine? It should start and end with a smile.”

Comments on my chosen wine: This was a fantastic wine. I definitely suggest this wine for anyone that likes a fuller body wine. I thought it was a tad spicy which I like in a Sirah and I tasted the plum with every sip. I used my Vinturi aerator to open up the wine because I didn’t decant this wine. If you don't have one, I suggest you also buy one of those as well. You can get them at crate and barrel and at Bevmo. I have those websites on the side of my blog. So, click and buy!

I hope you all enjoy my blog! I have the other I'm finishing later today, and it will be posted tomorrow!

Cheers,
xoB