Wine Notes and BEER!

Just a quick update on a wine from my favorite wine maker and a new example of a style of beer that is new to the market from about as big a producer as you can find.

First, the wine of course.

Paul Hobbs Russian River Chardonnay 2007

(USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley)

Nose: Pineapples and pear, minerality, some white flowers and crème fresh

Color: Glimmering golden straw

Palate: Explosive, yet refined. Great mouth feel and lingering finish, does pick up weight quickly the first 30 minutes as it warm up to room temperature. Lemons, subtle pineapple, a touch of cardamom and vanilla, exotic. Oak is there, but a compliment. Food: Crab and shrimp cakes, watercress salad. Great pairing!

Not the absolute best version of this wine, but very in line with the style, but a touch more exotic, very clean. The 2007 vintage is very apparent in this wine in its clean, layered flavors and structure. No flabbiness that you would find in a hot vintage like 2003, not a lot of extra oak that may seem more apparent in a leaner year. Not as supreme as the 2002, but darn good. It may not last as long as my last 2002 which was happily consumed this past January – and it was in great shape mind you, though at the end of its optimal drinking window.

2003 Etude Pinot Noir Heirloom

(USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros)

Color: Rudy red, slightly lighter red edges(USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros)

Nose: Pretty Pinot nose, strawberry, earthy, cherry and some flowers.

Palate: Fresh minerality, cherry and mocha. Supple tannins and good acidity.

Not on par with the last bottle (which was bought at the winery). This bottle was from auction sourced wine. The last version of this same wine, from the same vintage, was fantastic and led me to buying this wine at auction so I could later share it with Lisa as I had the first one by myself over the duration of one evening.

My notes from my previous tasting of this wine went something like this:

“This bottle was really singing tonight! A very solid wine example of the Etude single vineyard Pinot regime. Well made start to finish. Immediately it was impressive and after an hour grew more complex. Mellowed with time as this was a 2003, this could easily go another 5 years as it was still chock full of complexity and concentration, yet smooth as silk. I remember initially having this wine and remembering it was a big wine that would need time to mellow out.”

Well, what can I say; bottle variation is a real fact and can lead to a disappointing wine. It could have been much worse. At least it was still a good wine and not flawed.

BEER!

OK, wheat and white beers happen to be a favorite style of mine, especially in the summer and fall. I don’t know much about beer beyond the styles and hops, in fact, I probably don’t know that much at all, but here it goes:

Bud Light Golden Wheat

“Brewed with Coriander and Orange Peels” (says so on the bottle!)

Just in time for all things orange: fall leaves, weird shaped squash, pumpkins and everything Halloween, Budweiser has released its newest mass produced product to the masses: Bud Light Golden Wheat. I wonder if Coors is pissed they created this Blue Moon “light”? Ok, it’s actually a lot better than a regular light beer, especially Bud Light. Personally, I am not sure what is wrong with Budweiser as I think they make the worst “light” beer in the big company category (I am a Miller Light guy and do like regular Budweiser). And to add to that, Bud Light Lime could be the worst beer since Tequiza. Weighing in at 118 calories, it’s not the lowest in the calorie count for a light beer, but much better than a Blue Moon at 171, and Hoegaarden at 176 if you are a calorie counter.

Color: Golden, pale and cloudy amber color

Nose: Yeasty, citrusy

Palate: Lots of citrus, yeast, and maybe a bit too much of the coriander, almost like it’s too obvious.

Cost: $6.99 for a six pack, about a dollar or so more than I would pay

Overall, Bud Light Golden Wheat is not a bad beer. Very drinkable if you like wheat beer, but do not worship them. If you happen to be a serious beer drinker, and an even more serious wheat beer fanatic you probably won’t be impressed. If you like Blue Moon and are looking for a low calorie alternative, this is your beer.

Happy Halloween if I don't check back in before then!

CHEERS!

Tom