Vino Keeno, The Grapevine for the Recreational Wino

Hanzell Chardonnay 2004
$69.99

Wine label said:
This 200 acre estate in the Sonoma Valley with 42 acres in vineyards it made as if it were to become a Grand Cru.

Vineyard66 says:
A clear, star bright wine, light yellow with aromas of apple and pear. The taste of this wine is smooth with a touch of oak and long finish too.

The winemaker’s comments claim there “are compelling characters of pastry shell (baked butter and flour), a delicate toast character from the barrels, almonds, milk and bread dough.” I’d have to agree, we got a distinct buttery flavor from this wine.

All around this is a superb Chardonnay that drinks like a Burgandy Grand Cru.

1000 Best Wine Secrets by Carolyn Hammond
$12.95

Book Cover said:
Are you unsure about the appropriate way to taste wine at a restaurant? Or confused about which wine to order with catfish? 1000 Best Wine Secrets contains all the information novice and experienced wine drinkers need to feel at home in any restaurant, home or vineyard.

Secrets include: Buying the perfect bottle of wine, Serving wine like a pro, Wine tips from around the globe, Choosing the right bottle of wine for any occasion, Detecting faulty wine and sending it back, Understanding wine labels.

If you are tired of not knowing the proper wine etiquette, 1000 Best Wine Secrets is the only book you will need to become a wine connoisseur.

WebWino says:
This book rocks. The only way to make it better, is if it were to come bundled with the memory to retain all of the wonderful secrets. Technically, I suppose writing it down and putting it in the handy, easy-to-use book would qualify, but I would just be so wine-saavy if I could spout these wine factoids off without having to consult a cheat sheet first. Go go gadget-memory!

The 1000 secrets include insight on wine selection, buying, ordering, pairing with food, wine tasting, flavors from around the world, storage, myths and terminology.

Here’s a handy one for us wine reviewers:

#975 Attack: A tasting term that refers to the initial flavor of the wine when it hits the palate.

I like that. I’m going to think of being under attack as a positive from now on. Also:

#754 The leading producers of Zinfandel are Raveswood and Rosenblum. Zinfandel is one of the best value red wines around today.

Why do I like #754? Because I’ve reviewed a Rosenblum on this site before (granted, not a Zin, but I’m familiar with the brand) and I have a Ravenswood Zin sitting on my wine rack. Oh yeah baby, validation!

#18 Better wines are usually found in heavier bottles. This is a clue to quality.

Huh. Good to know.

In addition, Appendix A is extremely valuable, with 50 best wines under $20. It’s a cheapskate’s dream come true! I hope to review some of those cheapies inexpensive selections soon.

I think my only criticism of this book would be that you can’t just open the book and read a tip all willy-nilly like. The secrets are contextual, and typically continue the idea in the previous tip. Not really a criticism, more like a heads up for those of you who like to simply open the book and gain random wisdom nuggets.

So thumbs up from this Recreational Wino. Who knows, with all the info I glean from this book I might move up the ranks to Respectable Wino someday soon! Stay tuned!

Big House Red 2004 California Red Wine
$11-ish

Wine label said:
Yadda, yadda, yadda, Warden! Break outta the confines of stuffy tradition with the Stelvin, an unrepentantly practical closure by a long stretch. Cagney or Robinson would never deem it a dirty screw.

Yo, the ‘04 Holmes is a muscular but by no means inelegant, eclectic blend viz, Carignane, Petit Sirah, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Barbera, Syrah, Malbec, and Montepulciano. It more than Sing-sings for its supper.

WebWino says:
The wine label is darn hard to read, but worth it just to discover the multitude of grapes that go into this fine wine. Plus just like a label that blah blahs it’s own hype, one that yadda yaddas their label is worthy of a try in my book.

This wine is a major blend and as a result it is a very good table wine with a nice flavor. I paired it with spaghetti with a garden sauce and it was a tasty combo. I later discovered that the website claims “Big House Red is a break away hit with pizza, pasta and BBQ.” Whaddya know, I got one right! This is a great flavor for a great price.

Fiddlehead Cellars 2001 Honeysuckle Sauvignon Blanc
$27

Wine label said:
Honeysuckle Cuvee blends the spice of the sauvignon with the fruit of the Blanc. Happy canyon vineyards, westerly and vogelzang, thrive in the sunshine of the Santa Inez Valley. The grace of french oak casks add the final touch of elegance!

Grape Lady says:
The wine itself is a clear, star bright wine of dark straw color. It has aromas of honeysuckle, passionfruit and toast. Very smooth with a long finish. A very good wine.

There are two other flavors of Sauvignon Blanc offered by Fiddlehead Cellars if Honeysuckle isn’t your style. They also have Happy Canyon and Goosebury.

WebWino says:
Toast?!?

Robert Hall 2005 Viognier
$19.99

Wine label said:
The essence of Paso Robles along the central coast of California we have found a place where Rhone varietals thrive.

Vineyard66 says:
This is a clear, starbright wine of a pale straw color with aromas of white peach, apricot and tropical fruit. It has flavors of honeysuckle, sweet spice and flowers with fine acidity. We had this Viognier paired with a salad with greens, fruit, and molasses, pecan vinagrette and it was a delightful eating and drinking experience.

Click here to see how many awards this fine wine has won.