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I have to admit, there are many martial arts shoes that you can buy. You can buy tai chi shoes, or even kung fu shoes. Buying Martial arts footwear is a difficult proposition online since you will need to find the perfect fit for a shoe that you most likely cannot try on. However, if you are trying to find the perfect taekwondo shoes, jiu jitsu shoes, or judo shoes then just try to look for shoes for kung fu and you will find what you are looking for. It is really that easy.

However looking for a Martial arts gi is even more difficult. Martial arts uniforms are difficult to shop for in person and finding the right size online might be really hard considering that you cannot try it on in person. You could be shopping for a jiu jitsu gi, a judo gi, or a kung fu gi, or maybe even a karate gi or last but not least a tai chi gi. Finding the perfect kung fu uniform for example, is something that should be taken with great diligence and precision. You dont want your uniform falling off while practicing now do you?

The Secret to Mastering Thanksgiving Wine Pairings | The Menuism Blog

from menuism.com

In a way, Thanksgiving is a wine lover’s nightmare. With a laundry list of dishes packed with contrasting flavors and textures (some unctuous and sweet, others savory, crisp, vegetal or earthy), the Thanksgiving table could easily demand up to ten different wines. There’s an ongoing debate amongst the wine elite as to whether bubbly, whites or reds make the best match for Thanksgiving fare, and within these categories there’s an infinite number of contenders—off-dry German riesling or mineral Chablis for the whites, patriotic American zinfandel or spicy northern Rhône syrah for the reds. Now who has the energy to sift through all of that when you’re trying to avoid poisoning your guests with an undercooked turkey, struggling to figure out how to cram eight side dishes into a single oven, all the while turning your kitchen into a disaster zone in search of your grandma’s antique gravy boat?

Start with the Sides

When it comes to finding the perfect wine pairings for your illustrious feast, forget about the turkey for a minute and focus on the preparations, the sides and the sauces. These elements harbor the bold-flavored spices, herbs and garnishes that will help dictate which wines you should reach for. While the turkey is Thanksgiving’s pièce de résistance, it’s a neutral canvas that derives its flavor from everything around it, including its marinade, the gravy and all of the traditional or not-so-traditional accompaniments (depending on your ethnic background).

Check out these quick tips to create wine pairings that will elevate the bird, and more importantly, everything else that makes Thanksgiving so enticing.

Spices

Aromatic spices such as cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and cardamom add a pungent boost to many Thanksgiving recipes for yams, sweet potatoes and butternut, acorn or kabocha squash. To make these heady dishes shine, choose a red wine that has lots of spice character such as a carmenere from the region of Colchagua in Chile, a peppery syrah from the northern Rhone in France (try one from St. Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage or Cornas) or a Spanish garnacha blend from the regions of Priorat or Montsant.

Herbs

Fresh and fragrant herbs such as sage, rosemary, thyme and parsley often play a starring role in stuffings, wild rice dishes and gravies as well as compound butters, marinades or rubs for the turkey. To bring out the herbal notes in these items, choose a white or red wine that has pronounced herbal undertones such as a grassy sauvignon blanc from the Loire Valley in France (try one from Sancerre or Pouilly Fume), an herbaceous cabernet franc from Chinon or Saumur Champigny, also in the Loire, or a minty pinot noir from the Willamette Valley in Oregon.

Sweetness

Thanksgiving food is notorious for its use of honey, molasses and brown sugar. When faced with foods that are sweet, such as cranberry sauce, sweet potato pie, candied yams and cornbread stuffing, you want to make sure to choose a wine that has enough ripe fruit or else the wine will come off as tart, sour or even bitter. If your Thanksgiving recipes tend to fall into the sweeter camp, opt for a wine with plenty of ripe fruit and a touch of sweetness (residual sugar) such as an off-dry German riesling, a floral gewurztraminer from Alsace in France, a Sonoma zinfandel or a fruit-forward malbec from Mendoza in Argentina.

Richness

Green beans aside, most of what adorns the Thanksgiving table is quite rich in nature. Dishes made with a hefty amount of butter and fat interact wonderfully with sparkling wines such as champagne, cava or prosecco, whose bubbles and high acidity help to cut through the richness of heavy foods and refresh the palate. This is key when enduring a marathon feast. If you’re rolling high class, try a small-production grower champagne as opposed to a more commercially produced champagne, and if you’re doing bubbles on a budget, try a prosecco made in the regions of Conegliano or Valdobbiadene in Italy’s Veneto.

via menuism.com

Big Day Out In Barcelona

Editor’s Note: Today we feature experienced travel writer, Duncan Rhodes, who is the Editor of Barcelona-life.com who has kindly offered to shared some ideas on how to spend a day (and night) in the company of The Great Enchantress.

Chances are, if you’re a regular reader of this blog and you’re on your way to Catalonia, there’s only one thing on your mind. You’re on a pilgrimage to the fertile plains of the Penedès and the Holy Grail looks suspiciously like a large wine glass full to the brim with the seductive effervescence of the region’s famous sparkling wine. But even if you’re a single-minded devotee of Dionysus it’s well worth taking a break from the vineyards and cellars which litter the Catalonian countryside to discover the urban charms of the capital, Barcelona, dubbed ‘The Great Enchantress’ by art critic and author Robert Hughes, just one of many men (and women) who has fallen under her spell.

Like most cities whose allure is perhaps too well-documented, Barcelona is constantly in danger of becoming a full-scale tourist circus, and those who arrive with expectations fuelled by Vicki Cristina Barcelona (where crowds, thieves, squatters and impoverished immigrants have been successfully edited out of the picture for one reason or another), and guidebooks brimming with superlatives may find the hype hard to justify. More than most cities it’s a place that can infuriate almost as much as stimulate, but thankfully the sizeable ‘cons’ (petty crime, terrible service, disinterested locals, filthy streets, more petty crime) are still outweighed by the dazzling ‘pros’ (grand geography, sensational architecture, fantastic climate, endless supply of fiestas and festivals, great food and drink, liberal atmosphere).

One of the best things going for Barcelona right now, from a visitor’s perspective, is the creativity and diversity of entertainment that such a competitive tourist market provides. 2010 has been the year when tour providers cottoned on to the fact that many tourists don’t want to be labeled as such, and so these days, as well as the usual glut of Gaudi coach tours and historical walks, you’ll find companies specializing in bespoke shopping excursions, strolls through sketchier parts of towns and bike rides out into the old industrial zone of the city (where your guide is sure to challenge you to a game of ping pong).

Antiques and Boutiques was set up by two English girls and fashion addicts who both fell in love with the design-conscious Catalan capital. Their tours will get you away from the ubiquitous Zaras and H&Ms that line every high street of the world (curse ye globalization!) and deliver you into the folds of independent fashion designers, old school arts and crafts workshops and the lavish vintage stores where Hollywood costume designers go shopping. The girls, Lisa and Niki, are also walking directories of all the best places for eating and drinking and they always send their customers packing with plenty of top tips on the best tapas, seafood, ethnic joints for the rest of their trip, so a meeting with them is often the perfect way to begin any trip to BCN. Walking Planets meanwhile was set up by a local Catalan guide, under the strapline ‘atypical city walks’.  They offer jaunts around El Borne and Gotico but the most authentic tour – and the owner’s favourite – is Planet Raval. You’ll be led through the medieval streets of one of Barcelona’s most colourful – and it has to be said, sleazy – districts, where you’ll discover unlikely treasures like the burial place of Guifre the Hairy (the semi-legendary father of Catalonia) and the beautiful Gothic hospital where Gaudi died and Alexander Fleming experimented on the corpses of beggars (penicillin didn’t invent itself you know). Along the way you’ll learn how this ethnically diverse district has been lifted from red light no-go zone into arguably the hippest area in town by an ambitious programme of urban renovation (cynics would say the job is completely done yet!).

Bike tours are a great way to see a side of the city that most tourists simply won’t see. Your handsome and charming guide will do more than point out a couple of Modernista buildings, but take you to out to the tranquil and spacious district of Poblenou: where he’ll introduce you to bustling flea markets , show you around the workshop of recycled fashion gurus Demano, where beautiful bags are made from PVC posters (otherwise doomed to pollute the environment) and help you perfect your topspin backhand on one of Barcelona’s many outdoor table tennis tables.  (I should probably come clean now and admit that this glowing review owes more than a small amount to the fact that Steel Donkeys is a side project of my own; although I’m now being given a helping hand by my trusty sidekick, Caroline, who specializes in revealing the secrets of the charming district of Gracia).

Another tour/activities company well worth checking out is Lifestyle Barcelona. They have a whole section on their website dedicated to ‘something different’ so if you fancy belly dancing classes, sightjogging (like sightseeing but more calories burnt!) or swimming with sharks in Barcelona’s aquarium then they’re the guys who can make it happen. Moreover they have a number of food and drink experiences for epicureans, such as a gastronomic treasure hunt around the city, wine making classes (available during Sept and October only) or – bizarrely – an underwater wine dive. Following a practice which started in Chile, just off the Costa Brava you’ll find Europe’s only underwater wine cellar where extreme temperatures and pressure are said to create unique vintages and new taste sensations. The idea is that you don your tank and flippers for some coral spotting and, whilst you’re down there on the ocean floor, pick yourself up a bottle! Perfect for wine-lovers who always fancied themselves as secret agent material.

When the sun finally dips below Tibidabo mountain, glazing the city’s Modernista facades with a patina of orange light, there’s still plenty of life in the old port yet. If surrounded by the vines and fertile soils of the Catalan countryside is one way to sample the best vintages of the region, then the opposite experience – in the cramped environs of one of the city’s xampanyerias (Champagne bars) – is equally unmissable. The most authentic xampanyeria is undoubtedly Can Paixano, hidden away on a nondescript street in between Barceloneta and El Born. Everyone from suited gents and senoritas in cocktail dresses to bronzed hunks in flip flops with a towel slung casually over their shoulder, pop by for the bocadillos and Cava. The quality of both, not to mention the dirt cheap prices, goes some way to explaining the crush that ensues here daily from around 7pm, so don’t expect to find a place to sit. You’ll have to sharpen your elbows and find a place on the counter just to rest your glass, but at least you can take pride in eating out in true local style. El Xampanyet (C/Montcada 22) is the other famous Cava bar in town and you can find it on the same street as the Picasso Museum.

I believe it was Shakespeare who observed ironically that wine heightens one’s desire, whilst reducing one’s capacity, which is why Barcelona’s poetry brothel might be the best port of call for those feeling a bit fruity after one too many glasses. After all at the Prostibulo Poetico only the poets perform, whilst the client only need pull up a pew and allow their ears to be stroked by the erotic verses on offer. All good clean(ish) fun, although such events are rare (once a month) so you’ll need a slice of luck if you don’t want to leave Barcelona textually frustrated. Check their website for dates: www.prostibulopoetico.com

If you’ve survived your trials by Cava and cantations,  then Barcelona offers no shortage of amusing places to finish yourself off in (bars are open until 2:30 during the week, 3am at weekends). For somewhere vaguely civilized tried Miramelindo (Passeig del Born, 15) in El Born, where homemade cocktails (including Cava concoctions of course!) sit in fish bowls on the bar waiting to be imbibed, or let anarchy rule the night with a trip to Bar Marsella (C/Sant Pau 65) back in El Raval. Unlike Javier Bardem in VCB you won’t stand a chance of snagging a table, and moreover you’ll have to dodge plenty of pickpockets and prostitutes outside, but this bar is deservedly part of Barcelona’s nightlife folklore. Opened way back in 1820, cobwebs and grime coat every corner, chandelier and decorative bottle, but the atmosphere is fantastic – as is the famous absinth. Just be careful, the misanthropic owner will chuck you out at the first sign of either singing or dancing. Drinking however is highly encouraged.

Cheers,

Duncan

Duncan Rhodes is a freelance travel writer based in Barcelona and editor of Barcelona-life.com, Urbantravelblog.com – plus occasional Steel Donkey bike tour guide. (You can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/Barcelona-life).

All Photos are by Ryan Opaz and licensed under a Creative Commons license. To see more photos of Ryan’s visit his flickr page.

Related posts:

• Barcelona: Which Wineries You Can Visit By Train
• Tour Company – Vintage Spain
• Planning a Trip to Barcelona? A Food and Wine Lover's Perfect Day in the Mediterranean
• Tapas at El Xampanyet
• Planning A Trip To Lisbon? A Food and Wine Lover’s Perfect Day

via google.com

Origins of Spanish Wine - Part III

Link to Spanish wine Origins - Part I

Link to Spanish wine Origins - Part II

In the 17th and 18th centuries saw the popularity of special Spanish wines such as Sherry prosper.  However, the advent of the European Industrial Revolution in the 1700's saw a major decrease in the popularity of Spanish wine in comparison to other wine-making countries such as France.  Luckily for Spain, once the 19th century rolled around, the phylloxera epidemic hit many European vineyards, especially those of France, yet Spain did not get hit hard until the mid 19th centuries.  During this period, the French traversed the Pyrenees and brought several methods to Spain, including the oak barrica which was used for wine aging until they switched over to American oak around the time the epidemic hit.  The fact that the phylloxera epidemic and the Industrial Revolution hit Spain much later in both instances could are several of the key factors as to why the international popularity of Spanish wine today bloomed much later in comparison with those wines from France and Italy.

The beginning of the 19th century also saw the rise of Spanish sparkling wines, especially Cava wine.  The popularity of Cava wine and the amounts produced nearly rivaled that of Champagne for a while.  The phylloxera epidemic and the constant civil and political unrest that haunted Spain throughout the early 1900's that ravaged many vineyards put a halt to the growth all Spanish wine.  Further economic troubles in combination with World War II, where European exports were briefly blocked off, further damaged the Spanish economy, as well as the growth of the Spanish wine industry.  However, the first foundations of the D.O. system were established under the dictatorship of General Miguel Primo de Rivera in 1926.

In between WWII and the Spanish transition to democracy in 1975 (after the death of General Francisco Franco) was the rebirth of the Spanish wine industry.  Large co-op wineries were formed and bulk wine exports, such as Chablis, were developing a good market, and the well-known Sherries and Rioja wines were making their comebacks as well.  The establishment of democracy enhanced economic freedom within Spain which in turn only further enhanced Spanish wine prospects as exports, as well as the Spanish middle class, grew.  The acceptance of Spain into the European Union in 1986 gave these wines an even better market.  By then, the great reputation of Spanish wine was beginning to be restored as their signature wines were becoming more favored abroad, rightfully replacing the bulk wines as the major Spanish wine exports  This was due to the increased focus on wine quality in comparison with quantity.

The Best Wines of the Year?: Taste Testing the Wine & Spirits Top 100

Jake Nieminen

From vinography.com

The difference between a good public wine tasting and a bad one can be quite dramatic. The bad ones are in crappy locations, are poorly organized, offer no food, and only mediocre wines. The good ones are, well, just the opposite -- nicely organized, well catered, and offer great wines. And the best ones? Well, they throw in a jazz quartet, and all you can eat oyster bar, a dessert bar, and wines that sometimes retail for hundreds of dollars, if you can find them, at all. And that's just what you get at the annual Wine and Spirits Top 100 tasting.

Like many of their peers in the magazine world, Wine & Spirits publishes an annual award issue, in which they celebrate what they think are the Top 100 wineries around the world, based on the quality of their wines. Regular readers know that I'm no fan of such lists, which I generally find to be meaningless. Thankfully the Wine & Spirits list doesn't actually rank these wineries from 1 to 100. They just publish an issue with profiles of each and list their high scoring wines (which presumably got them on the list to begin with).

But more to the point, the magazine also puts on an event every year where all 100 of these wineries are invited to pour the wines that were rated highly by the magazine, and it ends up being one hell of a tasting, and this year was no different.

Keeping the winning formula from last year, this year's event included food from the magazine's picks for the top new restaurants in San Francisco.

In any case, on to the wines. Most wineries brought only 2 wines apiece, usually their two top scoring wines of the year. I've divided my tasting notes into sparkling, white, and red, and grouped them by score, as usual.

Enjoy.

Sparkling

SPARKLING WINES SCORING BETWEEN 9.5 AND 10

1988 Veuve Clicquot Champagne "Rare Vintage"
Yellow gold in the glass, with nearly invisible bubbles, this wine has a fantastically aromatic nose of marzipan, toasted bread, and roasted nut aromas. In the mouth, the wine has amazing balance and poise, with flavors of roasted hazelnuts, lemon rind, butter crackers, and an incredibly long, fine finish that has a savory, even slightly salty quality. Outstanding. $120. Click to buy.

SPARKLING WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 9.5

2002 Louis Roederer "Cristal" Brut Champagne
Light gold in the glass with very fine bubbles, this wine smells of lemon juice and toasted sourdough bread. In the mouth the wine has a classic profile of lemon juice, sourdough toast, and Ritz Crackers. Nicely balanced, and utterly delicious. $180. Click to buy.

SPARKLING WINES SCORING BETWEEN 9 AND 9.5
NV Louis Roederer Champagne Brut Premier. $??
NV Bruno Paillard Champagne Brut Rosé Première Cuvée. $55 
1999 Saint-Chamant Champagne Brut Cuvée de Chardonnay. $78 
2004 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Vintage Rosé. $80 
2002 Movia Goriška Brda Puro Rosé. $47

SPARKLING WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 9
NV Bruno Paillard Champagne Brut Première Cuvée. $65 
2000 Saint-Chamant Champagne Brut Cuvée de Chardonnay. $78 
NV Saint-Chamant Champagne Brut "Envy" Blanc de Blancs. $56 
2006 Gramona Cava Gran Reserva Imperial. $30 
NV Pehu-Simonet Champagne Brut Rosé Grand Cru. $60

SPARKLING WINES SCORING BETWEEN 8.5 AND 9
2003 Roederer Estate Anderson Valley L'Ermitage Brut Rosé. $??
2001 Gramona Cava Brut Gran Reserva Celler Batlle. $80 
NV Pehu-Simonet Champagne Brut Sélection Grand Cru. $55

White
WHITE WINES SCORING BETWEEN 9.5 AND 10

2007 Didier Dagueneau "Pur Sang" Blanc Fumé de Pouilly
Near colorless in the glass, with an incredibly mineral nose of wet limestone and lime zest, this wine conveys a remarkable crystalline delicacy on the palate. Flavors of lime juice, grass or green hay, wet steel and a surprising hint of green melon hang suspended in a weightless, resonant river over the palate. The finish is incredibly long and satisfying. This is sadly the last vintage made by this master of the Loire, and a good reminder of why his premature death in a plane crash is a crushing loss for the wine world. Outstanding. $100.Click to buy.

WHITE WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 9.5
2008 Didier Dagueneau Blanc Fumé de Pouilly. $65. Click to buy. 
2008 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos. $100. Click to buy. 
2008 Domaine Faiveley Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru. $400. Click to buy.

2008 J. Hofstätter Alto Adige Kolbenhof Gewurztraminer. 
Light greenish gold in the glass, this wine has a heady perfume of roses and orange peel aromas, which suffuse the wine from start to finish. The flavors swirl between these two poles atop a bed of rainwater freshness that is disarming and delicious. Wow. $50.

2007 Chateau de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc
Light gold in color, this wine has a phenomenal nose of green olives, dried orange rind, and acacia honey. In the mouth, the wine's satin texture and weighty presence on the tongue bring to mind the voluptuous curves and invisible brush strokes of nudes in Botticelli paintings. Flavors of orange zest, lemon curd, dried mango and dried pineapple swirl amidst a bright acidity and deep resonant minerality that leans towards the saline end of the spectrum. Both rich as well as light on its feet, this is a wine that begs to be swallowed, especially as it lingers for a long while after the fact. Outstanding. $90 Click to buy.

WHITE WINES SCORING BETWEEN 9 AND 9.5
2008 Schloss Gobelsburg Kamptal Gobelsburger Riesling. $70 
2008 Schloss Gobelsburg Kamptal Gaisberg Reserve Riesling. $48 
2007 Schloss Gobelsburg Riesling "Tradition". $50 
2005 Marcel Deiss Alsace Burg Bergheim Vineyard Premier Cru. $42 
2007 Movia Goriška Brda Ribolla. $30 
2008 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros Côte Bouguerots. $100 
2008 Bouchard Père & Fils Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru. $250 
2008 Bouchard Père & Fils Beaune Premier Cru Clos St-Landry. $65 
2007 Domaine Leflaive Meursault. $155 
2007 Domaine Leflaive Clavoillon Puligny-Montrachet. $145 
2008 Domaine Antonin Guyon Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru. $??
2007 Chehalem Dundee Hills Ian's Reserve Stoller Vineyards Chardonnay. $34 
1987 R. López de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva. $100
2007 E. Guigal Condrieu La Doriane. $180 
2008 Niepoort Douro Redoma Branco Reserva. $45

WHITE WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 9
2008 Hermann J. Wiemer Finger Lakes Dry Magdalena Vineyard Riesling. $25 
2007 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage Le Chevalier de Sterimberg. $70 
2008 Joseph Drouhin Chablis Premier Cru Dom. Drouhin Vaudon. $20 
2000 R. López de Heredia Rioja Viña Tondonia Reserva . $40 
2009 Casa Silva Colchagua Valley Cool Coast Sauvignon Blanc. $22

WHITE WINES SCORING BETWEEN 8.5 AND 9
2008 Domaine Gerovassiliou Epanomi Malagousia. $25 
2008 Hermann J. Wiemer Finger Lakes Reserve Dry Gewurztraminer. $20 
2001 Château Musar Gaston Hochar. $34

WHITE WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 8.5
2008 Domaine Gerovassiliou Epanomi Fumé Sauvignon Blanc. $25

Red
RED WINES SCORING BETWEEN 9.5 AND 10
2008 Williams Selyem Block Ten Massal Selection Pinot Noir. $?? not publicly available.

RED WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 9.5

1991 R. López de Heredia Rioja Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva
Light ruby in the glss with distinct orange at the rim, this wine has a pungent nose of sandalwood incense and dried cherries. In the mouth it is ethereal in quality, with a lightness on the palate that is remarkable. Faint dusty tannins swirl in a cloud of sandalwood, dried flowers, dried cherries, and as the wine heads for its minutes long finish, a note of cream sherry. $85. Click to buy.

2007 Wind Gap "Griffin's Lair Vineyard" Syrah, Sonoma Coast
Dark purple in the glass, this wine smells of white pepper, cassis, and macerated blueberries. In the mouth the wine has an unbridled power that is quite extraordinary, strung between a deep resonant mineral undertone, and rich blackberry and cassis fruit. The wine finishes long with a sweet aroma on the finish. Excellent. $45 Click to buy.

2007 Perrin et Fils Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape. $100. Click to buy. 
2007 Achával-Ferrer Mendoza Finca Bella Vista Malbec. $90. Click to buy. 
2006 Bond Napa Valley Quella. $225. Click to buy. 
2006 Bond Napa Valley Pluribus. $225. Click to buy.

2001 Château Musar Red Wine, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon
Cloudy garnet in the glass, this wine smells of leather, cherry fruit, and a deep rich river mud. In the mouth the wine offers nothing if not fantastic honesty. Impeccably balanced, with great acidity, the flavors of cherry, wet potters clay, and leather swirl with herbal and floral qualities for minutes through the finish. Alive. $49. Click to buy.

RED WINES SCORING BETWEEN 9 AND 9.5
2007 Flowers Sonoma Frances Thompson Noir. $70 
2007 Flowers Sonoma Coast Sea View Ridge Pinot Noir. $70 
2008 Williams Selyem Westside Road Neighbors Pinot Noir. $55 
2007 J. Hofstätter Alto Adige Barthenau Vigna S. Urbano Pinot Nero. $65 
2008 Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru. $71 
2008 Domaine Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru Les Cazetiers. $105 
2007 Moric Burgenland Neckenmarkt Alte Reben Blaufränkisch. $120 
2007 Niepoort Douro Charme. $98 
2007 Quinta do Vallado Douro Reserva. $65 
2007 Wind Gap Russian River Valley Castelli-Knight Ranch Syrah. $48 
2005 E. Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape. $43 
2005 Yarra Yering Yarra Valley Dry Red Wine No. 1. $95 
2002 Yarra Yering Yarra Valley Underhill Shiraz. $95

RED WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 9
2007 Chehalem Oregon Reserve Pinot Noir. $49 
2007 Williams Selyem Sonoma Coast Hirsch Vineyard Pinot Noir. $75 
2007 Louis Jadot Pommard Premier Cru Clos de la Commaraine. $50 
2007 Moric Burgenland Lutzmannsburg Alte Reben Blaufränkisch. $112 
2007 Moric Moric. $50 
2005 Stéphane Ogier Père et Fils Côte Rôtie La Belle Hélène Côte Rozier. $100 
2007 Stéphane Ogier Père et Fils Côte Rôtie. $100 
2006 Catena Zapata Mendoza Gualtallary Adrianna Vineyard Malbec. $120

RED WINES SCORING BETWEEN 8.5 AND 9
2007 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert. $??
2008 Moric Blaufränkisch. $30 
2008 Quinta do Vallado Douro. $25 
2006 Catena Zapata Mendoza Altamira Nicasia Vineyard Malbec. $120

RED WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 8.5
2006 Casa Silva Colchagua Valley Microterroir de los Lingues Carmenère. $39 
2007 Quinta do Vesuvio Douro. $70

RED WINES SCORING BETWEEN 8 AND 8.5
2007 Louis Jadot Pinot Noir. $15

Untitled

Cava Wine was developed in the 1860′s after a wine maker, Josep Raventos, discovered this sparkling wine in the Champagne region of France.  He loved the crispness and the dry yeasty taste displayed by the sparkling wines and wanted to create his own in Spain in the same method as the French used which is described here. The Spanish sparkling wine he eventually created he called “Champán,”  Spanish for “Champagne” which would become the name for these Spanish sparkling wines until the European wine makers union forced the Spanish wine-makers to change their name.  They eventually did so to “Cava,” the Spanish word for cave, which was usually where the Cavas were stored.

In essence, these Cava wines are not that much different compared to French champagne.  I should mention that for this article I mention Champagne made in France, not the American “champagne” you can buy for $8 at the liquor store.  Mostly the same grapes are used and the processing and storage methods are exactly the same.  Why is Cava wine then so much cheaper than champagne generally?  For one, French champagne is way more popular.  Ever hear of Dom Perignon?  Cristal?  Exactly.  Basic economics of supply and demand mandate that Champagne can be priced higher due to increased demand.  Add in the many dollars (or Euros) thrown in for the marketing of champagne to maintain the association of Champagne with glamour and the priced can be bumped up even higher.  The more money put in to get the wines sold, the more they can charge.  Another reason perhaps?  The climate of the Champagne region in France where the grapes are grown is generally colder however, year to year the average temperature of the region can change drastically.  Predicting when to harvest the grapes every year is quite difficult, adding more work to maintain the high quality.  Therefore add an extra bump in the price.  Champagne makers also hand pick the grapes and grade every single grape in quality.  Add in the regal prestige of Champagne (for example the first bottle of Cristal was made specially for the Czar of Russia in the late 1600′s and never became publicly retailed until the early 1900′s) and Cava never had a chance to compete prestige-wise after it was first made.

Poor Cava never had a chance it seems.  Until this current economic downturn.  Cava was flying under the radar for quite a long time.  People were even buying it in the States without even knowing it was not Champagne but, Cava.  If you have ever bought “champagne” from Freixenet or Cordoniu then you really bought Cava.  Even I made this mistake before I became more interested in Spanish wine.  Some people even consider Cava to be better than Champagne which is really no surprise.  The warmer and more consistent climates that produce Cava can actually make the grapes more ripe, therefore better for wine production.  The grapes are even handpicked and graded in the same fashion as the French yet the cost is drastically lower.  To put this all together, there is a strong potential that for a much lower price Cava wine could be a better buy than actually buying French Champage, and even American “champagne.”  The method of production, the hand-picking and quality grading of the grapes, and the Cava D.O.’s themselves can lead to a much better sparkling wine than what people expect.

If you are on a budget and want to enjoy a good foreign sparkling wine of high quality at a lower price then look away from the French and strongly consider Spain.  You, and your wallet, might thank you.

Jake Nieminen

Rioja returns to favor in US

Jake Nieminen

from http://www.winophilia.com/2010/10/21/rioja-returns-to-favor/

For many American wine lovers, especially those of a certain age, Spanish wine means Rioja—and specifically red Rioja. Riojas are typically based on Spain’s indigenous tempranillo grape; the wines display a range of red fruit and floral qualities, with sound acidity providing backbone and freshness. Traditionally, Rioja’s flavors, texture and weight were reminiscent of Bordeaux. But in contrast to classic Bordeaux, most Riojas received extended aging in barrels, usually made of American oak, and this approach yielded wines that were drinkable soon after release. The juicy red fruit, spice and vanilla flavors and supple tannins of classic Riojas made these wines quite popular among savvy American consumers through the 1980s and early 1990s. Fair prices didn’t hurt their appeal either.

In the early 1990s American importers began expanding their Spanish portfolios, exploring regions in Spain’s dry, warm west and southeast that previously had virtually no presence in the American marketplace but whose wines could offer excellent value. Market share for these new areas came at the expense of Rioja, whose wines are drier and more structured than those warmer regions’ examples, which tend to be fruity, low in tannin and higher in alcohol as well. But tastes are cyclical, and many of today’s winos are shifting away from rich, jammy reds in favor of more graceful, structured wines that work better with food. That plays straight to the strengths of Rioja. The good news is that prices have mostly remained stable over the last decade. Even better news is that winemaking standards have leapt forward, as has the selection of Riojas available to Americans.

During my extensive annual Spanish wine tastings for the International Wine Cellar (hundreds of the best Spanish wines are reviewed in the current issue, with more on tap for the next one), I mostly tasted wines from the cooler, damper 2008 and 2007 vintages. While collectors are mostly shunning those years for the more ageworthy 2005s that are still in the market, or waiting for the promising 2009s, a number of ’08s and ’07s make for delightful near-term drinking. So they are good choices for consumers who don’t have proper conditions for cellaring wine or who simply believe in instant gratification.

Among the standouts of this year’s tastings was the 2007 Bodegas Palacios Remondo La Montesa Rioja ($20; Folio Fine Wine Partners), made by famed Spanish winemaker Alvaro Palacios, who is also responsible for some of Spain’s most sought-after and expensive wines from Priorat. It offers smooth texture, upfront fruity appeal, and the alluring oak-spicy character that marks classic Rioja. With no hard edges, it’s delicious right now.

Bodegas Don Sancho de Londoño (Olé Imports) makes some of the greatest value-priced Riojas in the market, and while their entry-level Cortijo bottling is always a stunning value at around $10, the next step up, the 2008 Calma Rioja ($15), a blend of 90% tempranillo and 10% graciano, is a more complex and solid wine, with greater depth and power as well. It drinks well now but will be even better in a few years.

For a wilder example of Rioja try the 2007 Ramon de Alaya Lete e Hijos Viña Santurnia Rioja Crianza ($15; Antalva Imports), which offers serious complexity for the money, with smoky, meaty and spice qualities complementing sweet red fruit. It’s a very flexible wine with food and would be great with braised lamb dishes this fall.

Made in a more modern, fruit-driven style, the 2008 Conde de Hervías Mencos Rioja ($16; De Maison Selections) presents a compelling array of flowers, spices and red and dark berries, along with a seamless texture. For the money it shows serious depth and drinks well right now. In a similar vein but with more brightness I recommend the energetic 2008 Luberri Seis de Luberri Rioja ($18; De Maison), which offers sweet red and dark fruit flavors and silky tannins. The 2007 version, which is still available in some markets for the same price, displays more depth and a greater emphasis on dark fruits than the 2008.

If you’re up for a splurge, try the 2007 Finca Allende Rioja ($26; Fine Estates from Spain), an exotic, exhilaratingly spicy and perfumed Rioja that delivers a load of juicy fruit. This wine bears comparison to plenty of other Riojas that sell for twice the price.

Incidentally, for as little as $19.95 (for a two-month trial subscription), you can get immediate access to all of my coverage of Spain, as well as unlimited access to the entire on-line IWC, which includes the current issue, nearly 13 years of back issues, and an archive of tasting notes that now exceeds 80,000 wines. Your subscription also provides links that can help you find recommended wines in the marketplace and enables you to participate in the unusually civilized IWC discussion forum.