Budini Cab - Wine of the Week!

2004 Budini Mendoza Cabernet Sauvignon $10 bucks in Texas!

The Chronicle Podcasts Wine of the Week celebrates the beginning of Cabernet season.

Not only are premium Cabernet grapes finally being harvested in Northern California - the cooler weather means it's time for heartier food and fuller bodied wines, and according to Chronicle wine reporter W. Blake Gray, this one's a steal.

Blake also podcasts about the label featuring a wild pampas cat of Argentina, which lives in the Andes mountain foothills, where Argentina's best wine grapes are grown.

Listen/Download Audio | 3:22 min : 3.26 MB

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/category?blogid=5&cat=132

Cheers - Ali

Fort Worth Knows Malbec

Posted on Wed, Oct. 18, 2006

You should get to know malbec

By Jeff Siegel

Special to the Star-Telegram

A couple of years ago, no less an authority than Robert Parker suggested that malbec would become the next great everyday wine.

It hasn't happened yet, but Parker's reasoning was sound. Malbec -- which is to Argentina what shiraz is to Australia -- is food-friendly, mostly inexpensive and much easier to drink than similarly priced cabernet sauvignon and shiraz.

So why hasn't Parker's prediction come true?

"I think it's because Americans just don't know it," says Leslie George, who runs the wine department at Market Street in Colleyville. "Americans know cabernet, merlot and shiraz. So there's no reason why we should look for something else."

In fact, malbec is something that even Parker and those of us who drink the $10 stuff can agree on.

It's a red wine with black- and blue-fruit flavors; but with more heft than a California merlot, fewer puckery tannins than cabernet and less of an overwhelming presence than shiraz. It pairs with red-wine dishes such as beef as well as white-wine dishes that include plenty of garlic or some fat, such as roast chicken, to balance its fruitiness.

Malbec, a typical New World wine, came to Argentina from France, where it was used in Bordeaux as a blending grape. The Argentines do some blending with malbec, but for the most part they leave it alone, and they have figured out how to make it the star of its own wine. Some of this might be a function of where it's grown, in the high-altitude Mendoza region in the Andes.

You might find malbec from elsewhere (both Chile and California do it), but the Argentines are better at it than anyone else.

These malbecs will give you a good look at what the grape offers. Serve them at room temperature; if they're too cold, they lose some of their distinctive character......

Mapema Malbec 2003 ($22). An outstanding example of what can be done with malbec if you're willing to pay more. All the classic fruit is there, but so are oak and intriguing minerality (something not often seen in this style of wine). It's a bright, lively wine.

Cheers to Fort Worth for being one of the best Malbec supporting cities in Texas! Ali

This Saturday in Austin

Come by Grapevine Market for a taste of Argentina!

It's a come and go tasting from noon - 6pm, I'll actually be there from 3pm - 6pm doing my thing! We'll uncork Mapema, Crios Syrah Bonarda and a few other goodies...please stop in and at least introduce your self!

Click here for directions - http://www.grapevinemarket.com/

Cheers - Ali

Last Sunday in The Times...The 2006

Dining & Wine

Wine Under $20

Dry, Delectable and Memorable

By HOWARD G. GOLDBERG

Published: October 8, 2006

Dominio del Plata’s 2006 Crios de Susana Balbo is a brilliant example of torrontés, Argentina’s principal dry white. Its floral scents bring to mind a perfume shop. Its citric flavors are delectable.

Ms. Balbo’s torrontés incorporates characteristics of young, light riesling, alberiño and viognier. Given a quick chill, it is a show-stopping aperitif. Its spiciness can enhance Thai, Chinese, Korean and Japanese dishes. $14.99 in Texas. Cheers - Ali

Handley Cellars is Available in Texas

Natural Balance in the Vineyards and the Wine: Part II of an interview with Milla Handley

“We like to get fruit from a lot of places in this valley, because we like to make complex wines. It’s not necessity; it’s intentional.”

by Thom Elkjer
October 5, 2006 Read the full article here...

Have a Great Week Everyone! - Ali

WSJ TASTINGS TODAY

For the 2006 Vintage, The Time Is Now

Fresh, Young Wines Arrive
From Below the Equator;
Newer Than 'Nouveau'
October 6, 2006; Page W5

Sometime during this long weekend, go to the store, pick up a wine from the 2006 vintage, open right away and celebrate the harvest….

Crios Rose of Malbec - $11.99 Charming. Vibrant strawberry color and a juicy nose of strawberries, raspberries and cherries. Fresh and light, with a hint of sweetness. Perfect with a lamb sandwich. Our favorite wine of the tasting.

Crios Torrontes - $15.99 Fascinating and different, with hints of honeydew and real weight. Some lime, some intensity and a real sense of fleshiness. Needs food.

Now, Texas has been drinking these for years, nice to see the rest of the nation finally keeping up! That’s what I’m talking about…Cheers - Ali

Party for one or many!

Bottles to uncork next...

Pellegrini Sauvignon Blanc - sipping on this right now, LOVE it, you'll love it to if you like a good amount of acidity and citrus flavors that stand out in this lovely bottle. Retail $12.99

Handley Pinot Noir Rose - AHH, everytime I open this it's with someone special. Yes, a rose to save for your drinking friends who "get it". Retail $15

Storrs Merlot - DAMN GOOD with a steak hot off the grill, this is such a "date night" wine...oh yeah baby!! Retail $22

Fort Ross Pinot Noir - Symposium - I don't get to sip on Fort Ross too often since it's so limited. I had a few bottles out this week with buyers and WOWZA! This little pinot noir and pinotage blend made friends all over Texas. Retail $25

Mapema Tempranillo - I've written about this so much that I have started dreaming about it! No kidding - the "go-to" bottle in your stash for any night of the week. Went particularly well with Studio 60 last Sunday night! Retail $16

GO TEXAS - BEAT OU!!! Cheers - Ali

Attention Austin TexaCali Fans...A Great Cause

Key To The Cure
Wednesday, October 11, 2006 - Sunday, October 15, 2006 Austin, TX

To help raise awareness for all women’s cancers Saks Fifth Avenue Austin and the Entertainment Industry Foundation will partner with Fertile Hope and host KEY TO THE CURE a national shopping weekend, taking place October 12th through October 15th.

Please join the Saks Fifth Avenue Austin for the kick-off party on Wednesday, October 11th from 6-8pm with special guest Kristin Armstrong. Enjoy food and beverages by Starlite, entertainment, auction items, and of course, shopping. Tickets to attend the kickoff party are $35, with 100% donated to Fertile Hope.

Location:
Saks Fifth Avenue
Arboretum Market
9722 Great Hills Trail
Austin, TX 78759

During the kick-off and the four-day shopping event, 2% of store sales will be donated to Fertile Hope. Saks Fifth Avenue Austin will be hosting an in-store party open to the public on October 12. Events include henna tattoos, chair massages, mini manicures, auction items, and food sampling from many local restaurants.

Tickets for Kick-Off Party

To purchase tickets, please click here.

A Great Cause and Great Shopping! Be sure to grab a glass of Handley Cellars Chardonnay or Susana Balbo's Crios Cabernet! Cheers - Ali

Out of Gas

So I'm back in Austin for a day, sitting on my couch, hardly able to move from a 90 minute hot yoga class today. Nothing like clearing your mind after an exhausting week - though a very successful week. Better get your hands on the 2003 Cloverdale Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon before the rest of the country finds out how incredible this vintage is! Seriously.

Looking ahead, it's an even bigger week and month. A winemaker from Argentina, friends from California and Colorado drop in, then a visit from Mr. Pellegrini to lead a few dinners in Austin and San Antonio to wrap up the month. I'm looking into hiring a maid to at least help me with my laundry and dry cleaning, everything else...I'm two steps ahead. Like I was told many years ago when entering into the world of wine "never take your foot off the peddle"...yep, I'm in the fast lane for sure, should probably buy a new car next.

Good night, Ali

GO TIME!

I'm home for 2 seconds today then off to Houston, Austin and Dallas again this week. Business is good, but I haven't seen my own dog but one day in almost 2 months! TexaCali Wine Brands are selling strong and I'm happy to have Pellegrini of Sonoma in town this week for a trade tasting.

The Pellegrini Family traces its heritage in winemaking to the early 1900s when brothers Nello and Gino Pellegrini arrived in New York City from their native Tuscany. They soon made their way to the West Coast and in 1925 became Sonoma County grape merchants, shipping grapes throughout the U.S. for home winemaking. In 1933 after repeal of Prohibition, the brothers established the original Pellegrini Wine Company, shipping grapes from Sonoma County and producing quality wines for many of San Francisco's finest shops and restaurants. READ ON...

If you are in the wine trade, be sure to stop by the Prestige Tasting and taste the new vintages of Olivet Lane Chardonnay, Cloverdale Ranch Cabernet and Pellegrini Sauvignon Blanc. Cheers - Ali

The Argentine King of Houston Texas

I've been working the Houston market all week for Vine Connections, too many wines and ginjo sakes to list right now but I'll tell you something - the 2004 Tikal Patriota gets the gold crown! I've always loved this wine, a 60% Bonarda 40% Malbec blend, average age of the vines are 40 years and each grape that went into the Patriota bottles were all hand-harvested.

"Love in a bottle" for sure, the retail price is around $25 and is a perfect pairing for "date night"... oh yeah! Look for it at the Backstreet Cafe and Hugo's next time...Cheers - Ali

Wine Spectator Online this Week

Vine Connections is honored to announce the inaugural release of wines from Mendoza’s newest superstar—Mendel Winery

One of the many things that make Vine Connections the top importer of boutique wines from Argentina is their tireless effort to keep track of who is doing what in Mendoza, and keeping an eye out for those rare, special moments when a new world-class producer comes on the scene...Meet Roberto de la Mota of Mendel .

Winemaker Talk: Roberto de la Mota
Argentinean winemaker followed in his father's footsteps and beyond, to Cheval des Andes, and is now making his own Malbec

James Molesworth

Posted: Monday, September 18, 2006

Winemaker Roberto de la Mota, 46, has been working full-time in Argentina's wineries and vineyards since he was 19 years old. But he developed a passion for winemaking much earlier, as he often helped his father after school at the Mendoza winery where he worked for more than 20 years. De la Mota joined his father at the winery and they worked together for many years, but eventually Roberto branched out to work as a consultant with Cheval des Andes, the joint venture between Argentina’s Bodegas Terrazas de los Andes and Bordeaux's Château Cheval-Blanc that makes Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon blends. De la Mota has since become one of Argentina's biggest champions of the Malbec grape. He is a partner in Bodega Mendel, a new boutique operation that has released a 100 percent Malbec and a Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon blend, both produced from blocks of old vines located in the central area of Mendoza.

Wine Spectator: What was your first vintage in the wine business?
Roberto de la Mota: My first vintage was in 1979, at 19 years old--my last year in high school.

WS: What got you interested in being a winemaker?
RM: All my childhood was [spent] in a winery. My father was a winemaker for a big winery called Arizu, and every day after school I was in the winery, sharing time with workers and [performing] cellar activities. It's difficult to say why, but I loved the vineyards and wines.

WS: What other wineries have you worked at, prior to starting your own?
RM: My first job was at Bodega y Cavas de Weinert as a winemaker and vineyard manager. I worked there with my father Raul from 1985 until 1994. In 1994 I was contacted for Bodegas Chandon as a vineyard manager, and in 1996 I started with the still-wines project, creating Terrazas de los Andes. In 1999 we developed Cheval des Andes, the Château Cheval-Blanc and Terrazas de los Andes joint venture. In 2003 I started my own project, Bodega Mendel.

WS: Who have been your biggest influences as a winemaker?
RM: Undoubtedly my father, but after him [Bordeaux wine consultant] Emile Peynaud, who was my father’s friend. [Peynaud] visited Mendoza several times. Also my teacher in viticulture, Denis Boubals, in Montpellier, who passed on to me his love for the vineyard.

WS: What years was your father the winemaker at Bodegas Weinert?
RM: My father started with Weinert winery in 1976 and he worked there until 1997. In 1989 he passed on to me a lot of responsibilities in winemaking and operations.

WS: How has it been following in his footsteps? Have the two of you ever compared your wines to his?
RM: With my father I learned about quality, strict in all the details from the vineyards until the bottle, and obviously to love Malbec. Undoubtedly [the Weinert wines made by my father] are very different from mine. My father loves big barrels (25 to 60 hectoliters) and certain evolutions (mature flavors) in wines, but he [taught] me about finesse and elegance. My wines are younger, with more fresh fruit and less evolution, but I continue to try making wines with structure and concentration--but elegant at the same time.

WS: What is your favorite food pairing with Argentinean Malbec?
RM: Like many Argentineans I love good steak--it's simple, but one of the best combinations.

WS: What is your favorite wine (other than one of your own)?
RM: Château Cheval-Blanc St.-Emilion 1982. I had one bottle two months ago and it was spectacular!

WS: If you could be one other person in the wine business for one day, who would it be, and why?
RM: Very difficult question, but probably, Emile Peynaud during his days at Lafite RothschildChateau Léoville Las Cases. Why? Because I love to blend wines. or

www.vineconnections.com for more information and tech sheets on Mendel Wines

Cheers - Ali

New Arrival in Texas!!!

Please contact Avante Beverages to find out where to find Duchamp Wines in Texas...972.943.0672.

I'm off to Houston for the remainder of the week and won't be checking emails until Friday.

The tasting notes and Robert Parker's latest reviews are posted on TexaCali Wine

You'll be a Duchamp fan for life after just one sip! Cheers - Ali

Indian Summer Wine List

So here's a quick list to print off and take with you next time you do a little wine shopping...

Red Wines

1. $18.99 Pellegrini Carignan The color is the first thing you notice when pouring – deep garnet and blackberry with an incredibly crimson rose petal nose. This carignan is sooo easy to sip – pairs perfectly with our TexMex year round.

2. $24.99 Cloverdale Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon– from the Pellegrini Family of Sonoma, this killer cabernet just beat out 2001 Silver Oak Alexander Valley in a blind tasting in North Texas. If you are a BBQ griller or live with one – keep a case of this around!

4. $16.99 Mapema Tempranillo – no doubt this Argentine red will become your favorite Tempranillo from ANY region. Intense fruit character, with deep color and flavors of ripe black cherries and black raspberries. The wine finishes with captivating hints of cardamom and allspice.

5. $19.99 BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon - Beautiful deep purple color with perfumed aromas of ripe black cherries and roasted cocoa beans. This wine is full-bodied and incredibly lush for a young Cabernet. It explodes on the palate with red and black fruits, then shows baking spices on its way to a mouthwatering finish. In the Argentine section.

7. $9.99 Budini Malbec – I’m far from a cat person but love this delicious and fruity red. Look for the black label and yellow cat! WOOF!

8. $14.50 Crios de Susana Balbo Syrah-Bonarda - A few facts…Syrah is the well-known grape of France’s Rhone Valley and Australia’s Shiraz. Not well-known outside Argentina, Bonarda is surprisingly second only to Malbec in red grape plantings. The key to producing great Bonarda is finding very old vines growing in the warm, sandy soils of eastern Mendoza, then limiting vigor through severe pruning and irrigation techniques. Luckily, Susana’s husband, Pedro, owns and manages such a vineyard.

9. $21.99 Cloverdale Ranch Merlot – another keeper from the Pellegrini Family. One sip of this Merlot will make you a fan for life! The 2002 Merlot is so delicious, but far from being simple tasting, offering chocolate notes along with ripe red fruit and a touch of coffee on the long finish.

10. $14.99 La Posta Malbec – “Berry Pie”, Vibrant red color with aromas of red cherries, raspberries, and blueberries wafting from the glass along with notes of caramel from the oak. On the palate, the fresh berry flavors mingle with spice notes in the finish. This is a medium-bodied and well-structured wine that is incredibly full of life. Goes great with everything from hamburgers and chicken to pasta and mild cheeses.

11. $24.99 Storrs Merlot - bold and full-bodied, yet soo soft on the palate! This Merlot is loaded with black berry fruits and a tiny touch of vanilla oak on the finish, this is great to drink now or to put away for a special treat in a few years!

Rosé Wine

12. $10.99 Crios de Susana Balbo Rosé of Malbec - this one was made for those who think they don’t like “pink” wine. Far from sweet but plenty of ripe and spicy berry in flavor. This is my favorite with King Ranch Casserole!

White Wines

13. $14.50 Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes - not for Chardonnay lovers. Fruity, floral and yet still quite dry, this wine has to be tasted to be believed. Prefect with shell fish or light seafood dishes. Keep one in the fridge at all times!

14. $19.99 Olivet Lane Chardonnay – I still can’t believe this bottle doesn’t cost me at least $50 bucks! This Chardonnay is so elegantly balanced with gorgeous fruit and lightly toasted flavors. A tremendous value from the Pellegrini folks!

15. $19.99 Handley Anderson Valley Chardonnay - This wine starts with a subtle vanilla kiss. It is reminiscent of ripe pears and apples right out of a sunlit orchard, with faint floral accents. With incredible length and nice acidity, this Estate Chardonay is lovely with cream soups and complex pasta dishes.

16. $16.99 Pellegrini Unoaked Chardonnay – not very many “unoaked” chardonnays can be found these days. This chard has great citrus notes and a hint of spice on the finish. Perfect with Sunday brunch or kicking back during a fall evening!

17. $12.99 Pellegrini Lake County Sauvignon Blanc- beautiful citrus and crisp fruit. Grown in limestone so wine has intense mineral notes. More French in style, less New Zealand.

18. $9.99 Budini Chardonnay – love this very tropical style Argentine chardonnay, it sees 3 months of French oak that you’ll notice on the finish, easy drinking little bottle! It’s always a “case” buy for many wine loving friends and family.

19. $18.99 Storrs Gewurztraminer - The grapes for this wine were grown on a windy terrace in Monterey County overlooking Arroyo Seco to the north and the fertile plain of the great Salinas Valley below. The flavors are a mix of Lychee nut, honeysuckle and spice with a touch of oak and an underpinning of creaminess.

Prices will vary by retailer...Cheers! Ali

ACL WEEKEND IN AUSTIN

Last year I had the pleasure of hanging out at the Four Seasons in Austin and saw Coldplay's Chris Martin with his famous wife Gwenyth and baby Apple in tote, also Kate hudson and her famous hubby, child and his band members hanging out. Sigh...this year I'm working in North Texas all weekend sharing the love of many TexaCali Wine Co. producers. Hoping to at least catch the TCU VS. Texas Tech game...

So here's the line up - come by and say hello, it's always great to meet you in person!

Friday - Dallas Central Market, 4-7pm Pellegrini of Sonoma wines are on tap. Their Sauvignon Blanc, Unoaked Chard and Carignan will be flowing.

Saturday Fort Worth Central Market, 12-3pm we're pulling corks on Luca Syrah, Mapema Primera Zona and Crios Rose of Malbec - OH YEAH! Ft. Worth loves these Argentine beauties!

Sunday Fort Worth Central Market - 12 - 5pm Cloverdale Ranch Cabernet, Pellegrini Unoaked Chard and Carignan will be front in center on the Sabbath.

I'm also passing out a list of my favorite "Indian Summer Sippers"...see you this weekend! I'm blocking out the whole ACL thingy, have fun in Austin to everyone lucky enough to see all the shows! For sure it's going to ROCK this weekend in Austin. Cheers - Ali

Don't forget to click on www.texacaliwine.com to see the Wines of the Month for purchase at your favorite wine retailer in Texas!

Dreamy

Back from Beverly Hills, Silverlake, Hollywood and Malibu – can’t even contain the amount of energy I have after this quick trip out to California. My mind is soo overloaded with new ideas and determination to make TexaCali Wine Co. the most successful wine marketing firm in the Nation - I mean Texas...

Better make room in your cellar now folks, my new running shoes are on and heading full steam ahead to help you enjoy the best wine offerings available to buy in Texas restaurants and fine wine shops. Here a few goodies from the trip - enjoy!

Most beautiful white wine(s) of the trip: 2003 Deux Montille Puligny Montrachet Champ Gains Premier Cru and her 2004 Meursault Les Casse-Tetes…both truly elegant Burgundy wines.

Most exciting and hip wines of the trip: too may too name, just google “Jo and Olivier Pithon” “Deux Montille”, "Hospice de Nuits, Nuits St. -Georges Cuvee des Sires de Vergy - Premier Cru" and “Leclaire-Gaspard”.

Best wine store(s) discovery: Well, 2 very different retailers 1) Silverlake Wines for their great value and diverse selection. Loved the neighborhood feeling and approachable staff. 2) Malibu Wines in the Country Mart shopping center right off of Pacific Coast Hwy. Like Silverlake they carried many of the TexaCali Wine Co. producers, but had one hell of a selection for gazillionaire wine collectors. I saw more Pax wines than ever before and honestly quit looking around after I started feeling overwhelmed buy all the dreamy wine.

Most relaxing day(s): Sunday, I was in Malibu all day putting in some serious time on the beach. The day was sunny and a soothing 80 degrees. I can still feel the warm sand beneath me. Also, after a-way-to-early in the morning hike in Griffith Park (my calves are still aching), I spent the afternoon sipping Rose and gossiping with good friends on Saturday afternoon. It was seriously my first Saturday off in months.

Most exciting meal: Spago Beverly Hills, started dinner at 6:30, best seat in the house – patio actually, walked out at 11:30ish after too many spectacular courses to name, ended with the most luscious Jo Pithon “Quarts de Chaume” sweet and mouth coating sip of wine in the world! Many thanks to John, David and Amy for a wonderful evening together.

Most inspiring moment: Two actually. The first would be sitting with a wine importer while sipping and analyzing the most amazing French wines imported to America, in a penthouse smack dab in the middle of Beverly Hills... Living the Dream Baby!! Second moment, watching and discussing movies and trailers that were written and directed by the person sitting next to me in his house. Yeah, if he can do I can do it, he’s from Texas too.

Only bummer of the trip: Left my digital camera in the darn rental car at LAX!!!! ARGH!! You should see all the gorgeous pictures I took to share with the TexaCali world!

Greatest ending ever: As I stood in the security line at LAX the guy in front of me went into a full-on panic, ruffling through his bag looking for something. With one arm in his " too big for school bag", he stops, turns and looks at me to see if I’m about to jump him, and viola! - it was Dr. Robert Rey from the E! Channel Dr. 90210 – pulling out a big ass sissy pink can of aerosol hairspray that wasn’t allowed on the plane. I laughed so hard and out loud, there musy have been at least 40 others laughing with me within 10 seconds, I couldn’t hold it back, it was early, I was tired and wow – that moment was just so ridiculously funny. What a fool – hot pink shirt and snake skin jacket to boot! Ahahahahaahaahahaa! Still cracks me up so hard!!!

Well, California is my soulmate for certain, but feels good to be back in Texas and share the love. Get ready for a few rockin’ TexaCali announcements in the following days…I can’t hardly wait to share my new friends and producers in the wine business with you all. Cheers - Ali

90210

I'm off to Southern Cal for the rest of the week. While I'm out, please forward the TexaCali Wine Trail blog to all the wine lovers you possibly know in Texas. September "Wines of the Month" are posted on the home page of www.texacaliwine.com

If you haven't done so already, also submit your email address to the TexaCali Wine Co. Inner Circle, to receive complimentary insider wine news and events throughout Texas.

Big announcement for TexaCali Wine fans coming soon!

GO HORNS!! Ali

Labor Day 2006

Still recovering from a GREAT college football kick-off weekend. My favorite season of the year.
I'm tired and not working today any longer....

Ohio - shmohio. Ali

Listen Up!

“It’s nice to be important, but more important to be nice”, yeah, I encountered a few donkeys-behinds this summer that made me mutter this under my breath. Read Sunday, March 26 on the blog for more of my thoughts on the subject.

On a fun note...Handley Rose of Pinot Noir - Wine & Spirits Magazine this month says it's a perfect match for take-out chinese. That's right, goes incredibly well with take-out Thai too! Cheers - Ali

Finally

A little thunder rolls in and a few rain drops fall in Austin! A welcomed break indeed from all the heat ...this was taken a few minutes ago. 3 Cheers! Ali

Sweet Endings

The past week was about as packed as a week gets for TexaCali Wine Co. Somehow I managed to travel over 1000 Texas miles in 3 days, shake hands with hundreds of wine buyers, pour wine for those same few hundred, get through a horrible bout of food poisoning, finalize a marketing strategy for 3 new TexaCali Wine Co. producers and close a few Fall promotion deals for Vine Connections and last but not least - manage to let Henley out for a few walks throughout the week - thank you Karl and Grace!

Whewwwww - so here's to one of my all time best meals in Dallas that ended the week. I was asked to join a few new friends for dinner after our Horizon Dallas Portfolio Tasting - I am so glad - the experience was amazing, great foodie talk, incredible food in general and of course impeccable wine and bubbles along the way. The only thing that sucked was the fact that I was too tired to take course notes and more pictures during this multi-course dinner.

All I have to say is that if you haven't made time in your life to eat dinner at York Street do it soon...



Sharon Hage works her culinary magic in the kitchen that promises to put a smile on your face and make a lasting beautiful memory in your belly! Oh yeah...I leave you this morning with a few pictures from our meal and a tour of her kitchen, so generously given by Sharon after dinner. Next time you see me, be sure to ask me about this evening...so fun! Cheers - Ali

This just in...

Pictures from the Dallas Uncorked and Kitchen 1924 TexaCali Wine Co. Tasting a few weeks ago... Thanks Hayley!

More pics at the bottom of this page on www.texacaliwine.com

Dog Days of Summer

I’m asked all too often these days “So TexaCali Ali, what are you actually drinking in this heat?” Easy…here’s my personal list of August Wine Delights. They all pair beautifully in the comfort of air-conditioning and a good friend…four-legged or two!

2005 Handley Cellars Pinot Noir Rose, as see in Wine & Spirits Magazine this month too. Low production, so only the quickest wine hunters will get their hands on this beauty. This Rose shows fragrant wild strawberry and floral blossoms on the nose with a solid core of strawberry in the mouth, finishing with hints of cranberry and spice. YUM. $17.99

2002 Fort Ross Chardonnay, ahh, here’s a chardonnay that loved more time in the bottle before sipping. This was among the Dallas Uncorked Tasting bottles and was the most elegant wine of the night. Extremely well balanced, blind tasted you’d guess it was from France. If you love or hate chardonnay – this is a keeper and a wonderful sipper this summer. $34.99

2005 Storrs Gewürztraminer, FINALLY this has arrived in Texas. It needs some help from all of you since it’s a new kid on the block in the Lone Star State – distribution is just getting started so don’t hesitate to mention Storrs Winery to your favorite Fine Wine Shop or Sommelier. Exotic fruit, flowers and spice make this wine one to buy over and over and over. A perfect wine to drink over these so-hot-and-sticky summer nights. $18.99

2005 Pellegrini Sauvignon Blanc, on my list of favorites for years now. More Sancerre style than New Zealand, more mineral and lemon zest than crazy grapefruit. This wine is on many wines by-the-glass menus across Texas this summer. $12.99

2005 Crios Malbec, another perfect occasion red wine from Argentina’s Susana Balbo. Don’t say NO to Malbec until you give the Crios a whirl, I convert merlot drinkers weekly with this fruit-driven bottle of Malbec. This is a wine that you’ll want to buy by the case because it can be consumed at almost any occasion, whether at a fancy dinner party, or just curled up on the couch in front of a movie. Fun and delicious—what more can you ask for?! $14.99

2003 Handley Cellars Mendocino Zinfandel first heard about the Handley Zin after it won a Silver Medal in the California State Fair. It’s my kind of Zinfandel (oh and so is the Pellegrini Eight Cousins Zin, don’t forget this baby!). Handley’s Mendocino Zinfandel offers fruity aromas of cherry, pomegranate, and blackberries, with a lovely dusting of cocoa. Plum flavors predominate, with accents of cassis and cedar. A Perfect food wine – frozen BBQ Pizza to spicy turkey tacos!! $19.99

WOOF! It's a long hot summer out there... Ali & Henley

Mexican Wine

I've received many phone calls and emails over the past few months regarding wines from Mexico.

Many Texans spend time in Mexico in the summer months and return home hunting these fabulous wines from the Baja. "The wines d'Acosta has crafted at Casa de Piedra – known for their clean, terroir-driven style – have already achieved cult status in Mexico City, where they command prices up to $150 a bottle at fine restaurants." Check out this great article and one in the NY Times...also more information about these wines on the Vine Connections site.

Lanny's Kitchen in Fort Worth is the first to feature the Baja wines in Texas, along with the rockin' Fort Worth wine department in Central Market...the secret is out! Pictured - Hugo d'Acosta stood in the door of his Casa de Piedra winery. D'Acosta and his partners will use 200 acres of newly acquired vineyards and land to makes wines reflecting the unique conditions of Baja California's Valle de Guadalupe Cheers - Ali

Dining in Dallas

Here's a goody for all you Dallas folks...next time your dining at Stephen Pyles, a tip on a few bottles of tasty wine!

Vine Connections is well represented on the list... Mapema Sauvignon Blanc, Luca Chardonnay and Tikal Amorio.

Thanks to the Bates from Highland Park last week who graciously emailed TexaCali to express their delight of these wines..."Ali, we had a bottle of each with our good friends from Chicago, the wines from Argentina absolutely made our evening, we love to look for TexaCali Wine Co. producers on wine lists!".

That's what I'm talking about! Cheers - Ali

Shark Tonight?

My friend, lover of Italian vino and fellow wine blogger Alfonso has offered up wine pairing suggestions when eating Shark! He features A16 - my favorite old neighborhood Italian spot in San Fran too...thanks Alfonso!

"...Alison Smith is a pistol! She and Shelley are the next wave…Dividing her time between Texas, California, South America and Japan, Ali sent this in from her Bluetooth Corporate Hang Glider some where overlooking the Brazos River.“Ahh, I just sipped a 2004 Schiopetto Pinot Bianco- so this popped to mind first. Pending the shark recipe, the Crios Rose of Malbec would be lovely, it's a wonderful wine for heartier fish. For a red, a nice Barbera d Alba might work - again pending the recipe.” Not bad considering she sent this while managing not to crash into Michael Dell’s house. Thanks, and besos to you!".

Read more about wine and sharks here...http://acevola.blogspot.com/2006/08/wwws-which-wine-with-shark_16.html

Cheers - Ali

Horizon Portfolio Tasting Next Week

Send me an email for location details, I'll be in Houston, Austin and Dallas showing off the following Vine Connections Superstars...

Ginjo Sake:

Bride of the Fox
Morning Glow
Shadows of Katano
Tozai Well of Wisdom

Argentine Wine:

BenMarco Cabernet
BenMarco Expressivo
Budini Chardonnay
Crios Malbec
Crios Torrontes
La Posta Bonarda
Luca Chardonnay
Susana Balbo Brioso
Tikal Patriota
Mapema Tempranillo
Mapema Primera Zona
Luca Malbec

See ya there - Ali

Ratings or Not

A big shout out to K&L's "online stud" Brian Zucker and Cellar Master at BevMo - Wilford Wong this morning. I opened the Times to read a somewhat controversial article on wine ratings and how retailers across America are reacting and or using the different rating systems to move wine. Here's the link... Wine Ratings Might Not Pass the Sobriety Test (requires login).

I know ratings help "sell" wine, but I honestly prefer my old standby "you either like it...or not!". The scores certainly build mass market credibility up for a winery or importers, but I can't 100% agree that ratings and scores are a necessity. But they sure do help move wine to those who don't have time to consider their own taste or even have one (taste) altogether.

For instance, for years Pellegrini of Sonoma has relied on "word of mouth" and "local wine competitions" to spread the word about how wonderful their wines such as Cloverdale Ranch Cabernet and Olivet Lane Pinot Noir taste. The Pellegrini's have been making and selling wine now for over 30 years!

Something to think about this Sunday morning...Cheers - Ali

Tonight Above San Francisco

So I'm asked almost everyday if I miss living in San Francisco ... of course, who in their right mind wouldn't? The cool thing about missing SF is that it's only a picture, phone call, email or 3.5 hour flight away.

Seeing, feeling, hearing, touching and tasting the beauty of San Francisco and the wine country surround me at all times. I'm totally star-crossed with SF!

Like tonight where I'm reading through a very cool San Fran Blog - Curbed SF and read a quote from my favorite gal in the wine business - Mulan Chan.

Boom - the phone rings and it's Mulan, we end up talking for an hour - catching up and making certain our professional lives (oh and love lives) and dreams continue to move forward. Star-crossed indeed! Mulan is an expert in French wine and food pairings and has made quit a name for herself. Can't wait for her to visit Texas - get ready folks!

So the picture up there tonight is what I missed seeing "live and in person" and something that I would rarely miss while living in California, Mother Nature's show...one of my favorite memories - laying on the roof of my building atop the Fillmore Hill and Pacific Ave. and watching stars rush like waterfalls for minutes at a time. This picture is the top of the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge which appears to cradle the moon at 8:20 p.m. this past Tuesday, as viewed from the Marin Headlands. Ahh, just amazing. Cheers - Ali

Small Production - Big Awards

In today's Press Democrat ....4 Stars for Pellegrini Zin!

2004 Pellegrini Zinfandel, Eight Cousins Vineyard, Russian River Valley. Planted by the Pellegrini family’s fourth generation, the Eight Cousins Vineyard is a seven-acre site adjacent to the Olivet Lane Vineyard in Russian River Valley. Bordered on the south by the Saitone Vineyard planted in 1905, and the old Maffei Vineyard to the north, this region is unique in that it is has a reputation not only for exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but is also home to some early 20th century Zinfandel vineyards that produce wines of exceptional depth and concentration. In an effort to replicate and preserve the character of “old vine” Zinfandel, the Eight Cousins Vineyard was developed in 2000 by taking budwood from the Saitone Vineyard and grafting on to St. George rootstock.

In 2004, the first wine made from these vines was awarded a Gold Medal at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair. This Zinfandel was aged for nine months in a combination of French and American oak, one-third of which was new barrels. This wine shows classic Russian River Valley traits: deep, dark fruit aromas with flavors of blackberry and spice. The palate shows a smooth texture that is rich and inviting, with a full body, leading to a lingering finish. Drink now or over the next three to five years. And yes, this bottle shot is of the 2003, but the 2004 label is the same - happy wine hunting! Cheers - Ali

Dallas Uncorked Tasting Notes

Thanks to all of you who came out for the Dallas Uncorked and TexaCali Wine Co. Boutique Tasting last night at Kitchen 1924. An amazing group of old and new friends of TexaCali paired with a beautiful showing of wines from Argentina and California...oh and a BIG THANK YOU to Hayley of Dallas Uncorked for organizing and to Shawn for creating incredible food nibbles throughout the night! Pictures are posted at the end of this page - http://www.texacaliwine.com/abouttexacali/2006pics.html

2005 Handley Gewürztraminer - Just sweet enough for a Texan who prefers a little sugar, but enough beautiful fruit clarity and balance for serious lovers of the Alsace. Wine and Spirits Magazine gave it 93 points. This vintage will not last long in Texas!

2005 Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes – so I pulled the last of the 2005 for the event. This wine is just eye-popping good! Floral elegance is what comes to mind each and every time I open a bottle. The intensity is greatness – jasmine, lychee fruit, cherry blossoms, and apricots. It’s so hard to describe! I swear I could dab it behind my ears and receive complements on my “scent”.

2003 Handley Dry Creek Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc – I read this review awhile back, couldn’t agree more! “Crisp like a Grüner, but heavier in structure, like a Mâconnais Chardonnay. Fruits highlight the landscape of this wine, which shows green apple, peach and tangerine with hints of ruby red grapefruit rind and stones. Well balanced and lovely”. Perfect of course!

2005 Pellegrini Russian River Unoaked Chardonnay – A great example of clear and lovely Russian River Valley Chardonnay. The nose always reminds me of a soft bartlett pear. I overheard a few guys saying “I could get use to this no-oak thing!”. Slight creamy lemony finish – perfect for summer seafood in Texas.

2002 Fort Ross Chardonnay – this bottle of Fort Ross Chardonnay should be called “The Charmer”, it absolutely reminds you of why you fell for wine in the first place. Creamy, lovely Chardonnay, not too heavy in body - heavenly indeed!

2003 Fort Ross Pinot Noir – WOW! Such an elegant bottle of Pinot Noir. Crushed red cherries on the nose that magically pull your lips towards the glass. Not a big and over-extracted pinot whatsoever, vibrant berry flavors with hints of baking spices on the finish. My WOTN (wine of the night).

2004 Pellegrini Carignan – always a favorite at tastings. The color is the first thing you notice when pouring – deep garnet and blackberry with an incredibly crimson rose petal nose. This carignan is sooo easy to sip – pairs perfectly with our TexMex year round.

2004 BenMarco Malbec – the Wine Spectator just gave this one 90pts. for very strong reasons. Susana Balbo and her husband Pedro Marchevsky are behind this full-bodied Malbec. It has 12% Bonarda and 1% Cab Franc to add to the savory flavors. Perfect for anything beefy on the grill or for the grillmaster alone!

2002 Fort Ross Pinotage – listen here, this is not your average –run-of-mill Pinotage from South Africa, this one is grown and produced right along the Pacific Ocean high above most of Sonoma County. Racy, sexy, brambly – too good to be believed without sipping on a little yourself.

2002 Cloverdale Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon – my favorite Sonoma Cabernet producer, this Alexander Valley monster gets the job done every time! Full of dark peppery Alexander Valley fruit – but it’s a tease – the finish always ends with an incredible burst of wild cherry. This should always be your cab-by-the-case at home!

2001 Susana Balbo Brioso – love LOVED this wine! She only produced 595 cases of the 2001 so I;ve only had a few glasses. Intense, rich and powerful. A true Argentine meritage – I walked a bottle over to some Francophiles sitting at the bar – they swore it’s the best they’ve ever tasted from South America. Delicious. Cheers - Ali

Austin Texas Right this Very Minute...

A toast to my favorite time of day & to Crios Rose of Malbec BACK IN THE HOUSE! Oh Yeah - Ali