Not so spooky night

Tonight after the sun sets and the "trick-or-treating" is all done, a group of 30 will be sipping "blindly" on a few wines from around the world in Austin. My old college friends Shane and Lisa are hosting this gathering for their friends and neighbors and have invited me to lead the night away. Here's the lineup... please play along if you like! Cheers - Ali

Blind Reds:

1. This grape is known for its elegance. This wine exhibits unmistakable characteristics typified by brilliant color, silky texture, delicate mouthfeel, and upfront flavors of framboise, cherries and spice. Burgundy, Oregon, California, New Zealand are leading the way in production of this fine wine. Retail $38

Name the Grape: ___________________________________

2. A wine “Altitude”. The grape was sourced from a 45-acre parcel of 80-year-old vines at an average elevation of 3300 ft. above sea level and aged for 12 months in French oak. Purple-colored, it displays an alluring bouquet of cedar, spice box, violets, and black cherry. Medium-bodied and elegant on the palate, it has plenty of savory fruit, cinnamon and allspice notes, excellent depth and concentration, and a fruit-filled finish. Retail $27

Name the Grape:___________________________________

3. This is a blend of (76% and 24%) 2 grape varietals. This bottle delivers notes of toasty oak and cedar from the oak barrel aging, along with concentrated fruit flavors of strawberry, red cherry, and raspberry. This traditional blend and style shines from Bordueax, California, Chile, and Washington State. Retail $25

Name the Grapes:_________________________________

4. Made by a rising star in the wine world, this is a blend of 2 grapes traditionally found in Bordeaux, France, Australia, California and Washington State. This blend shows the nice structure and aromas of “first varietal” up front, and then the more you drink it, the plump, fruit-packed “ second varietal” flavors come welling up from underneath. The firm grip and structure makes it a perfect match to hearty foods and juicy red meats. Retail $25

Name the Grapes:__________________________________

5. Composed of 70% “name the grape” with the balance equal parts Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit comes from vines planted on chalk and limestone at high altitude. Purple in color, the wine offers aromas of pain grille, damp earth, vanilla, black cherry, and black currant. Thick and chewy on the palate, the wine has excellent depth and concentration leading to a tannic finish. You will only find this main varietal in the heart of Spain. Retail $15

Name the Grapes:_______________________________

News from Davis Family Vineyards...

If you've been following the TexaCali Wine Trail over the past 4 years or just became a recent fan, you know how much I enjoy drinking (and selling) the beautiful wines made by Guy Davis and his son Cole of Davis Family Vineyards in the Russian River Region of Sonoma. Guy is a HUGE fan of Texas and is dedicated to making sure we get a fair amount of his wine here too. Thank you Guy!

If you live near Fredricksburg, Austin or College Station - you're in for a real treat on Dec.3, 4, and 5 - Guy's leading winemaker dinners in all 3 places. So excited to have him here to kick-off the December Holidays!

This just in from Davis Family Vineyards: We are thrilled to announce that Davis Family Vineyards won FIVE gold medals and a Best of Class at the Sonoma County Harvest Gala! Only one other winery received more golds than we did with over 1200 wines entered in this competition; from Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma Valley and our very own Russian River Valley. Vineyards known all over the world for wine excellence. It is the largest and, in our
opinion, the most prestigious regional wine competition in the United States.

Whooo-hooo! We are celebrating!

There is no doubt we are going to run out of all these wines very quickly.

GOLD and BEST OF CLASS (beating out 78 other Pinots and a runner-up for
the Sweepstakes Red): 2007 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

GOLD: 2007 Russian River Syrah

GOLD: 2006 Barn D'Or Cab/Syrah Blend

Read more about his wines & Guy on his website here. Oh and of course - please look for or ask for Davis Family Vineyards at your favorite place to buy wine in Texas! Cheers - Ali

Patience, Passion and Hustle.

Last Wednesday I spent a few hours with Gary Vaynerchuk while he was visiting Austin for his book tour of Crush It! Boy, I needed that shot in the arm, Gary led an inspiring chat after the book signing for anyone who is or wants to be an entrepreneur. After growing his family's wine retail business from 4 to 60 million dollars in a handful of years, he's going for it - he wants to own the NY Jets one day (and I bet he reaches this goal). Gary's big picture is driven by passion for business, while urging all of us to "stop doing things you hate" and start living your passion.

When did I decide to take control of my career and turn my passion into a living? Year 2002 - While sitting in a cubicle facing out a window with a beautiful view of a red-brick wall while working for CNET Networks in San Francisco. I remember telling all my co-workers and managers that I was leaving to go work in the wine business and suddenly became everyone's hero at the office. I did it. It certainly hasn't been the easiest road, but thank God for my DNA (which Gary talks about having in Crush It!) of Patience, Passion and Hustle.

TexaCali Wine Co. turns 5 years old in 2010, Patience, Passion and Hustle are abundant! Take a few minutes to watch Gary speak at the Web 2.0 Expo in NYC last month. See ya on the TexaCali Wine Trail soon! Cheers - Ali

White Hat Trick for Texas this Fall

Handley Cellars - an Anderson Valley Legend...

My day did not go as planned, ended up running around town more than I scheduled. I was suppose to talk to Handley Cellars today (among others), so their wines where top of mind and a fun topic discussed throughout the day. I've had a long love affair with Handley Cellars - from their Brut Rose (only sold at the winery) to their pretty Syrah - I love them all. For now I'm very excited about the 3 whites that are in stock in Texas this fall, you will fall in love like I did - I promise.

2007 Handley Anderson Valley Chardonnay:
Each component of this Estate Chardonnay adds another layer of flavor. It offers aromas of fresh pear and apple compote with a hint of nutmeg. Clean and bright flavors of ripe apple are nuanced by lemon cream and vanilla. This wine is nicely balanced with a graceful texture and lasting finish. It is perfectly suited for food pairing. Excellent matches might include herb roasted chicken, shrimp risotto, sautéed scallops, or mushroom lasagna.

2007 Handley Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc: The 2007 Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc offers aromas of daffodil and lemon zest with forward fruit, tropical flavors, and a creamy finish.This is an ideal wine to serve with a goat chevre. The tangy acidity of the cheese complements the balanced acidity of the wine; the chevre’s creamy texture lengthens the wine’s presence on the palate. approx. $14

*2008 Handley Gewurztraminer: Most of the fruit for this Gewürztraminer blend comes from the Boonville end of Anderson Valley, where the warmer weather tends to encourage tropical fruit and floral aromas as well as ripe tannins for this "spicy" grape. This vintage offers enticing aromas of rose petals, honeysuckle, peaches, and orange zest, which are complemented by the balanced palate, with flavors of pears, melon, lychee, and a hint of nutmeg on the finish. Our 2008 Gewürztraminer is balanced and fresh enough to be served as an aperitif or with many dishes. It has a rich texture that pairs well with a variety of cheeses, Thai curries, or Chinese food. approx. $18

3 Cheers for Anderson Valley's Handley Cellars! - Ali *for all you "sweet wine" lovers - go for this one!

2009 Top 100

Hats Off to Spain's Gramona and LIOCO from California for being honored by Wine & Spirits Magazine this year!

If you haven't picked up a bottle or a case of these beautiful wines yet - head straight to your favorite wine shop this weekend - they are selling like crazy in Texas so collect them while you can and drink up! Cheers - Ali

News from Block 7 Wine Co. in Houston

This week's Saturday Tasting...Sake to me

Join Block 7 every Saturday from 2-5pm for a free tasting in our retail store. This week, get educated on Japan's historical beverage from sake expert, Alison Smith ("TexaCali Ali" or @texacaliali on twitter). Taste through 4 different styles of sake and learn the history and production techniques of this great drink.

Sake included in the tasting are:

Takasago Ginga Shizuku, “Divine Droplets”, Junmai Daiginjo
300 ml - Bottle Price $34.99 / Case Price $31.39

Sato No Homari, “Pride of the Village”, Junmai Ginjo
300 ml - Bottle Price $25.99 / Case Price $23.99

Rihaku, “Wandering Poet”, Junmai Ginjo
300ml - Bottle Price $17.99 / Case Price $16.19

Tozai, “Snow Maiden”, Junmai Nigori
300ml - Bottle Price $12.99 / Case Price $11.59

Wanna brush up on your sake education before the tasting? Check out some tips on Vine Connections Japanese Sake Education Center.

*Any 12 bottles at Block 7 can be purchased at the case price. We encourage you to expand your palate and mix and match.

Salute!

To sign up for the wine supplement to our newsletter & be in the know about featured wines, special retail offers & wine events click here

Hunting Season

Another early morning for TexaCali Ali. Off to work with Ana Lopez of Gramona in Houston over the next 48 hours then talk Ginjo Sake at Houston's newest and most hip wine bar and boutique retail shop. I don't know why I'm up so early, it's a ponytail day, no need for the hour of washing and blowing-out the hair today - the weather channel tells me the humidity is 84% and already 82 degrees at 5am. "It will feel like 103 today folks", BLAH.

What's coming out of the woods this season? It's been a interesting year so far, the ridiculous & unreasonable humans have far outweighed the sane and happy humans in month 10 of 2009. This week I've had the living daylight knocked out of my spirit, the joy of what I am so blessed to do each day sucked away like the strength of an airplane door opening in mid-flight.

What a difference a few days make, last Thursday I was humbly honored to hear unsolicited praises and encouragement from one of the most important humans in the Texas wine business. He concluded his kind words by calling me an old-soul, I'll take that, I've lived through a few more lifetimes than anyone could ever know. From the West Coast of California to the eastern hills of Spain, I thank God for the gray-haired wine warriors who 1) have taken notice of this new girl in town with the utmost respect 2) have set a fine example of how to treat others and run their business. Their time & support given to me over the last few year is priceless. I've learned so much from them and continue to thrive on their enthusiasm and inspiration. My eyes are on the staffs of the wisest shepherds who've invited me to join their flock. The wolves in sheep's clothing will always lurk from afar.

After a dinner-less evening, I fell into bed last night with tears of fear, anger and exhaustion in my eyes. I'm on meeting 40-something by 11am today for the month and mile 1500. You know what though? I'm in it to win it, TexaCali Wine Co. is my life, it's my family's future and this wine-loving girl is Catching a Ride on a Smile today. The wine-making families I am so honored to represent here in Texas are counting on me...one day at a time. Cheers - Ali

Only $65

Next Tuesday night in Dallas - please join me for a fantastic evening of culinary delights! I'm leading a Pellegrini Family Vineyards of Sonoma Wine Dinner at Steele...check out the menu and call Steele to RSVP 214.219.9908

Steel Restaurant & Lounge

Pellegrini Family Winery Dinner

Tuesday October 13^th, 2009

Reception

Clear Dashi Wild Mushroom Soup “Shooters”

Eel, Salmon, Hamachi and Tuna Sushi

Spicy Tuna Roll and Shrimp Tempura Maki Rolls

Pellegrini Sauvignon Blanc, Lake County

1^st Course

Seared Jumbo Sea Scallop with Jade Sauce

Pellegrini Unoaked Chardonnay, Russian River

2^nd Course

Roasted “Hacked” Pheasant Finished with Cognac, Served with Soba Noodles

Olivet Lane Chardonnay, Russian River

3^rd Course

Grilled Salmon with Dried Cherry Genevoise and Braised Baby Bok Choy

Olivet Lane Pinot Noir, Russian River

4^th Course

Vietnamese “Shaken” Beef

Wok Sautéed Tender Pieces of Beef Tenderloin

Cloverdale Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley

Dessert

Asian Rice Pudding

Tozai, Snow Maiden, Nigori Sake

Next...Holiday Bubbles!

Whew - made it through last week, just barely though during my last hour of driving yesterday to train the fine staff of MIZU in west Austin. Cheers to Matt Licklider of LIOCO for his time in Texas last week as well as Luis and Santiago from Argentina to blow through Austin for us last Tuesday.
Resting a bit this morning - well finally working on my wedding video from July and Thank You cards. I've managed to shove off all my personal things to do for over 2 months now. Tonight I'm heading out to see Bon Iver at the Paramount in Austin. 2 tickets for me and Eric given by our close friends Carson & Jen, I've been looking forward to this show so much!

This week, a very special guest will be visiting Austin, Dallas and Houston from Spain. I've been sipping on this beautiful aged Cava for years. From the Solomon website " Gramona’s history is long and storied and the property has been a quality reference point in the zone for decades. As far back as 1816 a member of the family has been making wine in the Penedes. 1921 marks the year when the Gramona name began to be put on bottles of “Cava Champagne”. Today, the house is one of the few remaining family-owned estates in the region, with many having been bought by large companies.

At Gramona, time is never an issue. The wines receive perhaps the longest average ageing than any other cava and are never released until they are pristine. 70% of the cavas produced in the zone are released after 9 months. Gramona ages a minimum of 18 months, and an average of 4 years.

Gramona is, unfortunately, one of the last remaining family-owned cava houses of the Penedes. Here, elderly ladies from the village carefully wrap each bottle before being packed for transport and the entire operation is carried out by people who love the family and the estate."

Visit the website here: www.gramona.com Cheers - Ali

A TEXAS SIZE WEEK AHEAD

the last few days of September have finally arrived after a horribly hot summer in Texas. All year long those of us in the wine-trade speak of OND (October, November, December). OND usually represents half of the wine sales for the year - yes 3 months of wine bottles and cases flying off the shelves and double if not triple reorder business from our restaurants. I don't know anyone in the business this year that doesn't have all their fingers and toes crossed for a strong end to 2009. There is plenty of wine to buy folks, take advantage of a few bargains on old favorites and keep supporting those special small production bottles too.

So - this week is HUGE. Matt Licklider (the LI in LIOCO) is here all week, Matt's hitting the streets with Avante Beverages in Austin, Fort Worth, Dallas (with Centennial Fine Wines) and Houston. Our LIOCO focus is on their new releases from the best vineyards scattered across the California wine country. Check out Who, When & Where for our LIOCO events.

On top of having the best new California winery in town, I've got the best from Argentina coming into Austin tomorrow to visit. The teams behind Luca, Tikal, La Posta and Mendel Wineries are here to educate the Austin area wine trade for a night at the Alamo drafthouse with Malbec tomorrow night. It's an important stop, Austin is the biggest region in Texas for these brands and I'm so glad to have these guys in to show some appreciation to all of those who have worked so hard over the years to build these brands. BTW - I've seen a few bottles of the 2007 Luca Malbec on a few shelves around town, this was a Top 100 wine of the Wine Spectator last season ...for under $50 too!

Off to the races this week, another 1000 miles + on the road driving the TexaCali Wine Trail. Cheers - Ali

Texas Welcomes Rafa Soto from Mustiguillo today!

Bodegas Mustiguillo
Bodegas Mustiguillo is located in Spain, about 100 kilometers west of Valencia. The vineyard sits on a high plateau 700 meters above sea level.

In Food & Wine Magazine's annual Wine Issue (Oct. 2004), Mustiguillo was named as one of 20 "Best New Wineries." Richard Nalley wrote of the 2002 Mestizaje, "From Valencia in eastern Spain, this palate-caressing red is a blend of the local specialty -- the sappy, fruit-sweet, big-bodied Bobal grape -- plus 5 others. Mustiguillo's version, with its polished and seductive texture, pushes Bobal to its limit. Give the wine time in the decanter to unfold."

Mustiguillo has four vineyards in different locations in the region, which specifically is near two towns called Requena and Utiel. The principle variety grown is Bobal, and the others include Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha Tintorea, Syrah, and Merlot. The vineyards range from two to 70 years old.

The Bobal vines are healthy and very productive, but the winemaker keeps their number down to 1600 plants per hectare, which helps produce more concentrated grapes. The perfectly ripened fruit is hand-harvested and is placed in small 12-kg boxes. (And grapes that are harvested on plots further away from the winery are kept in refrigerated trucks.)

At the winery, the grapes are re-sorted before they are allowed to ferment in small barrels of French oak. After that, the wine ages in new oak barrels for 15 months before bottling.

* Information gathered from the Polaner Selections website. Cheers - Ali

LIOCO in Austin this Monday...

Click on image to read all the details...

Lewelling Vineyards

"Our family is proud to present this wine that celebrates 144 years as one of the oldest continuously-owned family vineyards in the Napa Valley." - Wight Family

Last call on for Texas on the remaining 2005 Vintage: (Pioneer Wine Company is the Texas distributor).

Robert Parker Reviews: 2005 Lewelling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard 94+ points $90 retail

2005 Lewelling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 92 points $50 retail

A super winery, Lewelling merits considerable attention for their Cabernet Sauvignons that are reminiscent of top-class Bordeaux Pauillacs possessing the extravagantly rich fruit of Napa. The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits a dense purple color along with a lovely perfume of burning charcoal embers and exceptionally pure creme de cassis fruit. Full-bodied with sweet tannin, stunning purity, a layered mouthfeel, and a long finish, it is an excellent Cabernet available at a bargain price by Napa Valley standards. Moreover, it should drink well for 15+ years. Boasting even more intensity, aromatic complexity, and a fuller, longer mouthfeel and finish, is the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard. Sharing the same black/purple color, purity, and personality of its sibling, it should have 20-25 years of longevity. If Pontet Canet were making Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley, it might taste like this. Don't miss these wines if you love great Cabernet Sauvignon. RP

www.lewellingvineyards.com

The vineyards of the historic Lewelling estate were established in 1864 near the western foothills in St. Helena by pioneer winegrower and horticulturist John Lewelling. Janice Lewelling Wight, John Lewelling's great-granddaughter, and her husband Russ built a home on the family property in 1950 and quickly became involved in operating and replanting the vineyard. Today Russ, together with his three sons, Alan, Doug and Dave, farm a 28-acre vineyard on a portion of the original estate, one of the oldest continuously-owned family vineyards in the Napa Valley.

During the 1870's and 1880's the vineyards of the St. Helena area established a reputation for producing some of the finest wines in the United States, a reputation that is now acknowledged world-wide and is attributed to the unique combination of soils and climate found here. Over the years Lewelling Vineyards has consistently harvested exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon grapes that have been sold to such fine Napa Valley wineries as Caymus, Viader, and Beaulieu. In 1992 the Wight Family began production of their own vineyard-designated wine.

My favorite Napa Valley producer, I served Lewelling at my wedding, damn good Cabernet. Cheers - Ali

LIOCO in the news again!

A very in-depth article in the Wall Street Journal on California's well worth the money killer Chardonnays...here's what they said about LIOCO

" Lioco 'Charles Heintz' 2007 (Sonoma Coast).Very Good. This is how Chardonnay can taste with super-ripe fruit, a caring winemaker and no oak. Complex and interesting, with great texture. Complete and soul-satisfying." Read the entire article here: $44.99. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204731804574387333738746724.html

So cool, I was lucky to taste this one at the winery last year. And well well, there's a bottle chilled in my fridge right now...this will go perfect with fresh Halibut for dinner in a few hours! Cheers - Ali

Rainy Days...FINALLY!!

Oh as I look out the window of my office, I'd so love to capture the sound of this beautiful rain storm in Austin right now. We desperately need this rain, nature's soundtrack to relax the day away.

This past week was a hectic one, I was honored to host Jurgen Wagner, the winemaker of Spain's Cellar Capcanes winery for a few days in Austin and Dallas, spend an evening with a wonderful group of wine enthusiasts at The Wine Rack in Midland and wrap the week up on Friday with the knock-out Avante Beverages team back in Dallas for their state sales meeting.

Today and tomorrow I'm going to focus on a little R&R for sure. Back to Fort Worth on Monday for an Avante portfolio trade tasting then a few days in Houston to talk shop and pump up the volume with loyal supporters of all things TexaCali Wine Co. A few wines of note I sipped over the past few days:

www.cellarcapcanes.com - the Mas Donis $15

www.medlockames.com - RED $25

www.vineconnections.com - Luca Beso de Dante $50

www.davisfamilyvineyards.com - Barn D'Or $24

www.handleycellars.com - Sauvignon Blanc $12

www.pellegrinisonoma.com - Cloverdale Ranch Cabernet $28

www.liocowine.com - LIOCO Indica $20

www.teirawines.com - Merlot $15

www.storrswine.com - Rusty Ridge Zinfandel $34

www.vineconnections.com - Crios Syrah Bonarda $15

www.langewinery.com - Freedom Hill Pinot Noir $65

Go click around on their websites today, read their stories. I always learn something new when I read up on these fine wines and others they make. Ahh, loving this rainy day, I almost forgot the sound of rain drops. All tucked in... Cheers - Ali

and one for the little guy!!

...2008 Teira Dry Creek Sauv Blanc $15 suggested retail price.

Nice one. 112 cases just landed in Dallas for the State of Texas. You'll find it on the wine list at all DFW Fireside Pies too.

Bravo Bill Knuttle and Dan Donahoe on the first time Wine Spectator review! 88pts. Light-bodied, with pretty lemon-lime, floral, Key lime and passion fruit flavors that are bright, ...ripe and extremely refreshing. Candied pear drop and orange blossom notes give this a kick on the finish. Drink now. 1,500 cases made. –MW

Ahh last summer was so much fun at Teira... http://texacaliwinetrail.blogspot.com/2008/08/skeet-shooting-and-teira.html

Cheers - Ali

Cellar Capcanes

The next two days will be spent alongside Jurgen Wagner of Cellar Capcanes, I've met him a few times now in the states during Eric Solomon's National Tastings in San Francisco and Dallas, most recently at the winery in the Montsant Region of Spain. We'll be in Austin for 24 hours and then Dallas for about 6...if you're in the Austin wine trade, come by the Hotel San Jose fro 5-7pm tomorrow night to meet Jurgen and taste a few new releases with us.

A few words about Cellar Capcanes from the European Cellars website: The property is situated in the village of Capçanes and served for several years as the village cooperative. In the 1990’s, the co-op began making kosher wines for the Jewish population of Barcelona, and from that exposure in the much larger city, the property began to attract a greater level of interest. In 1995, a vast investment took place and the whole winery was been completely restructured and modernized. Eric Solomon was quite impressed with the quality of the wines and saw the potential for even further improvements and launched several custom cuvee projects with Capçanes, building the strong foundation on which their close relationship is built.

This bottle is my personal favorite...Costers del Gravet 2006

Appellation of Origin: D.O. Montsant

Varieties: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Grenache, 20% Cariñena

Vineyards: Sourced from different vineyards throughout the valley

Age of Vines: 30 - 60 years old

Altitude: 200-550 meters above sea level

Soils: Clay and granite with several plots of slate, slopes and old granite terraces

Aging: Aged for 12 months in new and one year old mainly French oak barriques

Rating: 90WA

Cheers - Ali

August 8, 2008

REPLAY. Sipping on some great Davis Family Vineyards wines tonight with a few wine collectors in Austin. Davis Family Vineyards of course - are available in Texas, but if you really want a few treats for your cellar and table, you've got to sign-up for the the "Friends of the Family" here http://www.davisfamilyvineyards.com/fotf_register.htm to get the year-round wine goods.

Last week Guy was in Dallas with me as well as his new 2007 releases. PHENOMENAL Vintage for DFV! I'm telling all the TexaCali Inner Circle members to sign up directly with his club or else, these 2007's wines will not be available much longer in regular distribution around here. Supply and demand at its best.

So my point is, invest in the future here and wines you'll be proud to serve to your dear friends and tell this "dream-come-true" story about. Do you know about his old vine Zinfandel Vineyard at the bottom of this slope? Epic! Enjoy the video I filmed while sipping

glass of DFV Russian River Chardonnay while visiting the Davis Family home last year... Cheers - Ali

LIOCO "2009 Winery of the Year"

speaking of the LIOCO Indica Old Vine Carignan below...

Job well done by the men of LIOCO! Cheers to Kevin, Matt and Kevin! Available at your favorite place to buy wine in Texas. Cheers - Ali

(please click picture to enlarge).

name that vine!

Is it Garnacha from Spain? Malbec from Mendoza? Syrah from France? Post your guesses, it's a fun one!

HINT: this was taken from an iphone in July from a producer I represent. Cheers- Ali

UPDATE: Thanks to all the comments on Facebook, Steve Edmunds was the first to guess the correct grapevine - Carignan from Redwood Valley in Mendocino County, California.

Found on www.liocowine.com "a selection of benchland vineyards in mendocino’s redwood valley compose this wine. the fruit comes from predominately old-vines which are dry-farmed and head-pruned. this cool, upland valley supports gradual (and often late) ripening. the soil is red clay strewn with fist sized rocks. the combination of vine age, an extended growing season, and tougher soil conspires to produce complex, intense wines.".

Next Post...2009 Wine & Spirits "Winery of the Year" LIOCO! Cheers - Ali

New Reviews from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate #184

Please click on image to enlarge.Bravo to the winemakers of Vine Connections. Argentine wines are ON FIRE in Texas (oh in a very good way!). Cheers - Ali

A transitional wine...Crios Malbec from Argentina!

Featured on NBC's Today show with Ray Isle. Cheers t0 2008 Crios Malbec "My transitional wine from Summer to the Winter, a lot of dark fruit, black berry and spice...drink this now with sausages on the BBQ". Kathy Lee Loved it, we all know she's a boozer : )

Congrats to Olivia and Feast!

For all you foodies out there, Bon Appetite magazine's September 2009 issue praises 2 of Texas' best! Here's a blurb from the website...

2009's Top Ten Best New Restaurants in America

Today's most exciting restaurants have a lot in common. They represent the new standard: simple, satisfying local food—all served with zero pretense. They support local farmers, sustainable agriculture, and regional cuisine.

Olivia

2043 South Lamar Boulevard, Austin; 512-804-2700; olivia-austin.com

There's only one thing on the walls of Olivia: a Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings concert poster that chef James Holmes's grandfather gave to him. The image—two groundbreaking country music legends from Texas—captures the spirit of this sophisticated yet laid-back spot. The restaurant's clean art-gallery-esque interior really shows off the poster—and Chef Holmes's food. He gathers his culinary inspiration from (and in) his backyard vegetable garden. The resulting menu includes produce-based dishes like risotto made with squash and greens, and spinach-potato gnocchi with olives and tomatoes. Holmes is also fond of riffs on comfort-food classics, like spaghetti cooked in red wine and the milk-braised pork shoulder here. The diverse clientele—a tattooed musician on his way to a show or an operagoer dressed to the nines—only adds to Olivia's considerable charm.

Feast

219 Westheimer Road, Houston; 713-529-7788; feasthouston.com

The locals didn't have much faith in Feast, a British-style gastropub with a menu that includes bubble and squeak, black pudding, and tons of offal. "They told us that we must put steak on the menu or we wouldn't make it. This is Texas, after all," says co-owner Meagan Silk. Despite the skeptics, Silk, her husband, James, and their friend Richard Knight decided to press on. And it's a good thing they did. Today, the restaurant—and its Brit-centric menu—is a huge hit. For the offal novices, we chose this recipe, which makes good use of beef neck bones and pig's feet. Try it. We promise that it's delicious.

eParker Wine of the Day...

and one of my personal favorites from Eric Solomon's Spanish portfilio. Eric took us to visit the Castillo family and winery during our visit in Spain. Unbelievable balance in these wines folks!

WA Tasting NOTE: The 2007 Monastrell is even better than the 2006 which received 88 points in Issue 175. The wine is estate grown and bottled from old vines and low yields. It was aged for six months in seasoned French and American oak barrels. Dark ruby-colored, it exhibits a nose of spice box, black cherry, and blueberry. This leads to a medium to full-bodied wine with layered fruit, savory flavors, enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years, and a pure close. Drink it over the next four years. Importer: Eric Solomon, European Cellars, Charlotte, NC $9-$15 Retail.

2007 Bodegas Casa Castillo Monastrell

A Mourvedre Dry Red Table wine from Jumilla, Spain

Wines of Origin - LIOCO

A few solid suggestions for the weekend...look for LIOCO at Centennial, Whole Foods, The Austin Wine Merchant and Block 7 to name a few retailers around the state! Cheers and TGIF! Notes from Tanzer...

2007 LIOCO Chardonnay Sonoma County Pale gold. Vibrant, pure aromas of citrus fruit, flowers and herbs. Juicy lime and lemongrass flavors are complemented by notes of anise and honeysuckle. Gains power on the finish, which strongly repeats the anise note and offers good mineral cut. This is an outstanding value. $20, 90pts.

2007 LIOCO Pinot Noir Carneros Vivid red. Smoky red berry and cherry aromas are complicated by pungent herbal and floral notes. Mineral-driven red fruit flavors are refreshingly tangy, with a bite of cherry skin adding grip. Becomes deeper and chewier with air and finishes with excellent clarity and sweet persistence. Give this some decanter time. $37, 90pts. 2007

LIOCO Red Wine Indica Mendocino County A blend of carignane, petit sirah, grenache and mourvedre) Bright red. Flamboyant aromas of raspberry, cherry preserves and incense. Lively but supple red berry flavors are given depth by anise and cherry pit qualities. Reminds me of an open-knit 2007 southern Rhone wine, with excellent finishing clarity and persistent sweetness. $20, 90pts

Davis Family Vineyards Winemaker Dinner

Come on out and join Guy Davis, owner and Winemaker of California's Davis Family Vineyards...

Tillman's Roadhouse in the Bishop Arts District - Dallas.
Wednesday August 26, 7pm

The evening's lineup...

Seared Diver Sea Scallop
Pancetta butter beans, tomato consumme and sorrel swirl
2006 Gusto Sauvignon Blanc

Java Rubbed Lamb Ribs
jammy red wine glaze and tiny greens
2005 Barn D'Or

Jimi Hendricks Quail
Cherry wood smoked with spoon bread
(Special Davis Family Olive Oil)
2006 Old Vine Russian River Zinfandel

Cypress Grove Truffle Tremor
With Pistachio lavosh, baguette studded grissini and comeback creek figs
2005 Russian River Pinot Noir

Buttermilk Panna Cotta and Blueberry Powdered Sugar Dusted Landy Lemon Bar
With Blackberry Splatter
2006 Russian River Syrah

$95 per person.
Seated is limited for this special evening, please call Tillman's for reservations.
(214) 942-0988

See you at Tillman's!

TexSom 2009

Wonderful News tonight...Please join me in congratulating June Rodil of Uchi for winning Texas Best Sommelier tonight in Dallas!

It's a might fierce competition and she just rocked the house. I am very proud of our Austinite and fellow lover of Sake too! She's as sweet as she is smart - what an honor! And what super great news to kick-off my over-due blogging of late. Please congratulate June next time you see her at Uchi - outstanding my friend! Bravo and Well Done! - Ali

(This is a pic of June during out first "twitter happy hour at Uchi a few weeks ago).