Wine Life - Houston

My husband and I shared this bottle of 2008 Lapostolle Clos Apalta at home the other evening over a grilled steak dinner; if this bottle is indicative of the typical quality, it is easy to see why it is consistently so highly rated. In the glass, the wine was a deep, almost black, ruby color with fresh aromas and flavors of ripe mixed red and black fruit with sage-herbal undertones and spicy notes. Perfectly balanced, well-structured with a silky mouthfeel and long finish, an exceptional wine. Highly recommended! We purchased a few bottles of this and I am looking forward to seeing how it evolves. The blend for this bottling is 73% Carmenere, 17% Cab Sauv and 10% Merlot.  It was purchased at The Tasting Room-Uptown for approximately $100. Related post: 2008 Lapostolle Cabernet

I opened this bottle of Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay 2009 to serve with the grilled shrimp and creamy pasta that we were having for dinner.  In the glass, it was a medium lemon yellow color with aromas of grapefruit, under ripe pineapple and light oak. Nicely balanced with medium to medium+ body, acidity, alcohol and flavor intensity. Flavors mirrored the aromas in the medium length finish. Recommended, another nice wine at a nice price! Purchased at HEB for about $12.

     I was not very familiar with Peju Province Winery until the Taste Napa Valley Wine Tasting last year where I had the opportunity to talk with owner, Herta Behensky Peju. In between tasting her five fantastic offerings, we talked about family, gardening, organics and going green-all of which is an important part of how this winery is run.      Since the majority of their wines are sold directly through their Rutherford tasting room, I was surprised to find the 2005 Peju Cabernet Sauvignon at my local HEB grocery store which I purchased for about $45. It was a deep garnet color in the glass with pronounced aromas of dark berries, cocoa powder and a touch of cigar. Rich flavors of mixed ripe berries, chocolate and baking spices were balanced by soft ripe tannins, medium+ acidity and a comfortable 14.1% abv. The finish was deliciously long. Highly recommended!

The 2008 Franciscan Estate Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley was purchased at my local HEB grocery store for about $14 to serve with my also HEB purchased tortilla crusted tilapia that I was pan sauteing and topping with a mango salsa. In the glass, the wine was a very pale straw color with -medium intense aromas of lime, grapefruit and hay. On the palate, dry, medium body, medium to medium+ acidity with crisp, mainly lime/mixed citrus flavors with a bit of minerality and a medium length finish. A good wine at a good price.

More Mer -love! This time for the 2004 Rutherford Hill Reserve Merlot from Napa Valley. My husband and I shared this bottle after dinner the other evening while catching up on some TV shows on the DVR. Appearance: Clear, deep ruby color. Nose: Fresh red fruit aromas-plums and berries with just a hint of vanilla and cedar. Palate: Dry; balanced, medium+ body, acidity and smooth tannins with rich flavors of mixed red & black berries and milk chocolate. Finish: Long & juicy. *This bottle was purchased by my husband at The Tasting Room-Uptown Houston. He does not remember the price.

     I purchased the 2009 Martin Ray Chardonnay Russian River Valley at my local HEB grocery store for about $12. I have served it a few times this summer with grilled and pan-sauteed seafood with and without cream sauce and have found it to be another nice wine at a nice price. Appearance: Clear, pale lemon color. Nose: Lemon-butter, baked pear, bit of vanilla Palate: Dry, medium body, medium acidity with lemon, peach and a bit of pineapple. Length: medium

     The Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut NV was part of an impromptu sushi night with some friends during my husband's week long birthday celebration.       In the glass, this Champagne was a pale gold with a steady stream of pinpoint bubbles. Floral aromas of jasmine and lime blossom were dominant with fresh-baked pastry and citrus notes. On the palate, it was dry with racy acidity balancing the mixed citrus flavors and long toasty finish.       Elegantly luscious at $45 a bottle.