"What's all the CHATr about?"
Member Location:Seattle, WA Member Since:February 2007 Website:www.winechatr.com
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chatrbox's Postings
Last Entry Posted 11/13/2009
GENERAL POST
(1 Member Vote)
Posted
11/13/2009 at 7:58 AM PST
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Wine from Scratch: A Practical Approach
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For many, learning about wine can seem like a pretty daunting task. Where do I start? What do I need to know? How do I go about getting the right info? Rather than overwhelming yourself with the details it’s better to jump right in and get your hands dirty- or in this case, your mouth. 4 Steps to Knowing What You’re Drinking 1. One Grape at a Time Blends (wines made using multiple grape varieties) can produce fantastic results. But when you’re just learning it’s best to go one grape at a time. Start by picking up a few different varietal specific wines, containing at least 75% of one grape. Common grapes such as Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc work the best due to brand diversity and availability. Then simply drink the wine and take notes on what you smell and taste. You’ll eventually begin to discover common flavors and aromas in the wines/varieties you enjoy. 2. Style... ...
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GENERAL POST
(1 Member Vote)
Posted
10/14/2009 at 1:55 PM PST
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Wine from Scratch: A Global Approach to Wine
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Anyone that knows me knows how obsessed I can be about getting information. Hey, what can I say, I’m a do it yourselfer with an addiction for answers. This is especially true when it comes to wine. There’s just so much to know, that sometimes I have trouble drawing the line between beverage and obsession. Ask my wife, she’ll tell you! I’m not one to just walk the line, or drink the grape flavored Kool-Aid as they say. I want to know why things are the way they are. If someone tells me that I need to lay a bottle down for a few years before drinking, I want to know why. When a waiter hands me the cork at a restaurant, what’s that all about? These are things I want to know. So, on a recent trip to Italy, you can imagine how frustrated I was when I realized that I truly knew nothing about the world of wine. Don’t get me wrong; I knew all about the grapes, the growing regions, and how the wine was made, etc. But what I... ... View Full Post >>
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GENERAL POST
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
10/5/2009 at 7:15 PM PST
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Happy Do Something Nice (with wine) Day
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On Do Something Nice Day (always October 5th) I recommend working some wine into the mix. Everyone loves wine, and people really appreciate when you say thank you, I love you, or even just hello with wine. So, whatever you're up to today (or night) let's throw some wine into the mix... -If you're going out to dinner, share some of your bottle with a table nearby. -Going over to a friends house? Bring a bottle or two, no matter what you're up to...twister, football, or dinner. Everything is better with wine. -Cook someone dinner...with wine of course! A little wine in a dish goes a long way, adding great color and flavor. It's always a nice excuse to have a bottle open in the kitchen anyway. -Open that special bottle. Do something nice for yourself and open one of those bottles you just haven't found the right occasion for. Drinking good wine always makes for an occasion. -Do something double nice and share that special... ... View Full Post >>
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GENERAL POST
(1 Member Vote)
Posted
10/3/2009 at 3:16 PM PST
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Happy Frugal Fun Day: Wine & Football
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If you're looking for something to do this Frugal Fun Day (first Saturday of every month) then let me recommend some Wine & Football. The weather has begun to turn, so more than likely it's cold and/or rainy outside, and there's plenty of quality college football on the TV. So, why go out in the elements in order to spend too much money at the bar for the big game? Instead go to your neighborhood grocery store, pickup a budget-friendly bottle of wine, or two, or three, and then head back home for a day of wine and football, while staying comfortable and warm on the couch. If you're not into football then rent some movies, or dust off those Netflix envelopes that have been laying around for the past month. Going budget on wine is a great opportunity to experiment. Choose some international wines/varietals that you've never heard of, and/or get really crazy with alternative packaging -- tetra paks or box wines. Either way there's some great wines available out... ... View Full Post >>
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GENERAL POST
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
10/1/2009 at 4:15 PM PST
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Happy Vegetarian Day: Pairing Red Wine & Vegetables
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When looking for red wine & food pairings you usually end up getting a list of meat recommendations; something like "pairs with lamb or game" or "great with red meats". Rarely do you ever see vegetables as a recommended pairing with red wine. So, in light of World Vegetarian Day I've put together a couple general pairing to keep in mind the next time your red wine swillin', veggie lovin' friend comes over for a visit.
Try pairing veggies with fruity, light to medium bodied red wines with plenty of acidity and not a lot of tannins. Roast or grilled vegetables are a good match.
Most Mushrooms & Polenta - Pinot Noir
Tomato Based Dishes - Sangiovese
Roasted Peppers - Cabernet Franc (on the lighter side)
Mild to Sharp Cheeses - Fruity Reds
For more info on World Vegetarian Day visit HolidayInsights.com.
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GENERAL POST
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
9/18/2009 at 11:14 AM PST
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Happy National Cheeseburger Day - Celebrate w/ Wine!
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As a way to pay tribute to one of our favorite culinary delicacies – the cheeseburger, I wanted to share some fun cheeseburger and winepairing links from around the web. Enjoy…and don’t get any on ya!
First, a little cheeseburger history:
http://www.petermanseye.com/curiosities/food/803-national-cheeseburger-day
“Wine & Cheese” Burger Recipe
http://www.sippitysup.com/sipswineandcheeseburger
EAT & DRINK Recipe: Local Organic Burger with BlueCheese and Walla Walla Sweet Onions with Sweet Potato Fries
http://www.eatdrinknorthwest.com/store/media/recipe_v1b2_blueburger.pdf
Tailgating Wines: Best Bottles for Pairing
http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/tailgating-wines-best-bottles-for-pairing
Not related to either except by name, but still just as fun:
http://icanhascheezburger.com/
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WINE RATING
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
8/17/2009 at 8:53 PM PST
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Smith-Madrone 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon
  [93/100] Score Info
Avg. Member Score of 86.5 based on 2 Tastings
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View Wine Details Click the link to view full details.Winery: Smith-Madrone Country: United States Region: Napa Valley Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon Click on this box to hide me
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I'm not sure what the hell I was thinking the first time I posted tasting notes on this wine. Possibly the bottle was shocked or dumb. For a 2000 Cabernet this is tasting phenomenal. Elegance and strength is right. This is one delicious winewith great flavor and enough power for the long hall. I was really surprised how well the winehas stood up over nine years. According to the winemaker notes, the wine issupposed to last until 2025. I don’t know about that, but it should definitelylast at least 5-7 more years. The aromas seem to be spot on with wood spice, nutmeg, oak,truffle, and black fruit. Chewy with solid tannins and lively acidity. Blackcurrant and black pepper with a spicy eucalyptus finish. Seek this wine out. --- Original Winemaker notes --- The 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon, dark red in color, is a wine ofelegance and strength. Powerful and rich aromas of spice, nutmeg, oak andtruffles, crushed lavender and black cherries.... ... View Full Post >>
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GENERAL POST
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
8/12/2009 at 11:52 AM PST
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David O'Reilly does it again with ROOK
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There's been a lot of buzz lately around the new Corvidae Wine Company and their red wine "ROOK", a Cab-Syrah-Merlot blend. Corvidae Wine Co. is a new label from famed Nortwest producer David O'Reilly of Owen Roe. These days it's difficult to keep track of all the various wine projects he has his sinister winemaking hands in, which include Sharecropper's, Ex Umbris, Sinister Hand, Northwest Vine Project and O'Reilly's. But what's even more astonishing, than the vast number of different labels, is the fact that they are all pretty much great wines! For this reason you can never go wrong choosing a wine made by David O'Reilly. Of his numerous wine projects, Owen Roe is definitely at the head of the table in both name and quality, and the more expensive of all the labels. His other projects however offer a great value to quality ratio. I've always been a fan of the O'Reilly's Pinot and it's $16 price tag. These new wines from Corvidae follow... ... View Full Post >>
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WINE RATING
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
8/4/2009 at 9:20 PM PST
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Cristom Vineyards 2006 Mt. Jefferson Cuvee Pinot Noir
 [87/100] Score Info
Avg. Member Score of 87.0 based on 1 Tasting
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View Wine Details Click the link to view full details.Winery: Cristom Vineyards Country: United States Region: Oregon: Willamette Valley Varietal: Pinot Noir Click on this box to hide me
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One of my favorite Pinots $30 or under. Found in many higher end wine restaurants around the country, from Vegas to Charleston, this is often a good option when surrounded by $100+ (restaurant pricing) Pinots.
Aromas - Candied cherry, cherry cola, subtle rasp & strawberry
Tasting - Red currant, red fruit, baked cherry pie, nutmeg & cinnamon, cigar box
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GENERAL POST
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
8/3/2009 at 1:35 PM PST
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Wine Bloggers Conference '09 - Wines To Remember
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Following up on my overview of the '09 Wine Bloggers Conference I wanted to share some of those wines that really stood out to me. Below is a list, not in any necessary order, of wines that I thought warranted remembering. Not that the other wines weren't good, but after two full days of nonstop tasting it takes something special to stand out from the crowd. Note, some of the wines I didn't have vintages for but if you contacted the winery and asked what was poured at the WBC I'm sure they would be able to tell you. Cheers!
Snows Lake Vineyard TWO (blend of Cab Sauv and Cab Franc)
http://www.snowslakevineyard.com
Mark West 2007 Appellation California Pinot Noir
http://www.markwestwines.com
Arrowood Vineyards 2006 Chardonnay
Arrowood Vineyards 2004 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
http://www.arrowoodvineyards.com/
Thomas George Estates 2008 Viognier, Sonoma Valley
http://www.thomasgeorgeestates.com
Titus...
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GENERAL POST
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
7/29/2009 at 4:32 PM PST
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Wine Bloggers Conference '09 - If you missed it, you missed out.
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My thoughts on the recent 2nd annual Wine Bloggers Conference in Santa Rosa, CA… KICK ASS! At what other wine related conferences/events can you taste for two and a half days straight with meals included for around $95?!?! None that I know of. Traditional tasting events are all over 100 bucks and normally last only 4-6 hours. This results in a speed tasting at the thunderdome type atmosphere, especially once all participants are through the door and start to get a little lit. You're never able to get food because of the lines and you definitely never get to all of the wineries you want. WBC is the exception, which is why this event is quickly becoming one of the most sought after tickets in town. This year the event was held once again at the dirty bird (aka. Flamingo) resort in Santa Rosa. The first day progressed pretty much the same as the year prior, including wifi hiccups…not good for a conference where the ability to get online is pretty... ... View Full Post >>
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GENERAL POST
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
4/23/2009 at 3:11 PM PST
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New winemaker's game geared toward females.
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Interesting new game concept for the female wine enthusiast...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 20, 2009
Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Winemaker Extraordinaire, Merscom’s latest downloadable casual game for the PC and Mac, is the ultimate fantasy for wine geeks. You play Maria, a city girl so fed up with the corporate rat race that she leaves her buzzing cell phone behind and hops a plane to Italy. Her vinous mission? To honor her late grandfather’s dying wish and run his winery in the rolling hills of Tuscany.
But there’s a deeper task at hand. Maria must reunite the estranged Guild of Extraordinary Winemakers. The Guild fell apart years ago, and her grandfather’s last act as guild leader was to tear up the group’s secret to vino ultimae, the world’s most coveted wine, and give each member a piece. Now, as Maria, it is your responsibility to seek out the Guild members, prove your worth as a winemaker, reunite them...
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REVIEW
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
4/13/2009 at 8:52 AM PST
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Taste Washington - A beautiful day to drink 400 wines!
 
Avg. Member Rating of 4.0 Stars based on 1 Review
Review Category: Event or Service
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Taste Washington - Grand Tasting
Seattle, WA
http://www.tastewashington.org
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The Grand Tasting portion of Taste Washington is the premier Washington wine event of the year. If you are a fan of not just WA wine but wine in general this is a can’t miss event. Here are the stats: 200+ wineries, 60+ restaurants, and an incredible amount of wine (approx 400 different bottles)! The ticket prices at $85 and $125, for early entry, may seem a little steep but it’s really worth it considering everything you get. I recommend the “VIP” ticket, which really doesn’t provide any other amenities except getting you through the door early. But with an extra 2 hours to drink and eat before things get really crowded can provide the best opportunity to hit the key wineries you’ve always wanted to try…many of whom pour out of wine during the event. My focus is always on the wine, with everything else including the food around as an extra bonus. I usually nerd up a couple days before and go over the list of participating wineries... ... View Full Post >>
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REVIEW
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
4/13/2009 at 8:50 AM PST
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Taste Washington - A day of wine education.
Avg. Member Rating of 4.0 Stars based on 1 Review
Review Category: Event or Service
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Taste Washington - Education Seminars
Seattle, WA
http://www.tastewashington.org
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As part of Taste Washington, the educational seminars provide an informative look into Washington’s wine industry prior to the Grand Tasting on Sunday. Now you might not think that sitting through a wine class on a Saturday afternoon sounds like that much fun, but the seminar experience is more often about tasting/drinking wine than getting too nerdy over a bunch of facts and figures.
This year the three sessions included seminars on Klipsun Vineyard, Best New Washington Chef’s, value wines, a 1999 to present day comparison tasting, Champoux Vineyard, Cabernet Franc, Washington’s Garagiste winemakers, and a “Which One’s Washington” game show-like tasting.
At $45 per class the seminar might seem a little steep, especially if you plan on attending more than one, but after you consider everything included it’s actually a pretty good deal. A light breakfast is provided before the early session and lunch is included with any seminar...
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WINE RATING
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
3/25/2009 at 1:00 PM PST
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Robert Craig 2002 Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon
[89/100] Score Info
Avg. Member Score of 89.0 based on 1 Tasting
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View Wine Details Click the link to view full details.Winery: Robert Craig Country: United States Region: California: Napa Valley Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon Click on this box to hide me
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Rich dark fruit flavors and aromas including blackberry, currants, and black cherry, with additional notes of tobacco, leather and plenty of pencil lead. When I first opened this wine I thought the fruit was starting to taste a little faded. But after letting it sit for a couple days I tried another glass and it still tasted good, maybe even a little better. The secondary flavors tend to overrun the fruit but I would give it an "excellent" for the ability of this wine to last after opening. Definitely decant to let it open up.
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