I've Moved

A couple of months ago I decided to move to a hosted URL, and I realized that I never updated this site to reflect that. You can now get your wine reviews at my new site, The Good Wine Guru (http://www.thegoodwineguru.com). Hope to see you over there.

Root:1 Cabernet Sauvingnon

If you've read this blog before, you know what a big fan of the Root:1 Sauvignon Blanc I was.  While poking around my local Whole Foods (or Whole Paycheck as many affectionately call it), my wife and I found a bottle of Root:1 Cabernet Sauvignon.  We quickly snatched it up.

Part of me was worried that it wouldn't live up to my expectations, as I had quickly fallen in love with the Sauvignon Blanc, but at $10.99, what did I really have to lose?  I shouldn't have worried as the Root:1 Cabernet Sauvignon was everything that I could have hoped for.

The hints of vanilla were great, but didn't overpower the fruit flavors of cherry and plum.  The tannins were just right, and it was very easy to drink and enjoy.  In short - it was great.  If you've tried the Root:1 Sauvignon Blanc, I can't think of any reason not to go out and try the Root:1 Cabernet Sauvignon.  I give the Root:1 Cabernet Sauvignon 4.75 stars out of 5.

Rockbridge Cabernet Franc

I live in Virginia, and while there are pros and cons to that, one good thing is that here in Virginia, we're big on making wine.  While we do some varietals better than others, one that seems to thrive here is the Cabernet Franc.  For my wedding my wife and I were given a subscription to a Virginia wine of the month club.  This past month we recieved a pair of wines from Rockbridge Vineyard.  One a white that was far too sweet for our tastes, and the other a Cabernet Franc.  

The Rockbridge Cabernet Franc has a nice earthiness to it that I find quite enjoyable.  A very dry Cabernet Franc, this red wine went great with a very sauce-heavy pasta and red sauce meal I prepared.  The one thing I did notice was that after my meal was finished and I was just drinking the wine, it was a bit too dry to be enjoyed by itself.

This is a great wine to eat with a hearty red sauce or juicy steak, but if you're looking for a wine to drink by itself, I think you can find a better Cabernet Franc for that purpose.  I give the Rockbridge Cabernet Franc 2.5 stars out of 5 since it'll go great with a meal, but leaves something to be desired by itself.

Wine Snobs - Are You One?

Through the years I've encountered numerous wine drinkers.  While many are true lovers of wine, there exists a select group of those that don't enjoy wine simply for the enjoyment of it.  They enjoy wine so that they can tell others that they enjoy it.  They preach about their wine, they suffer for their wine, they criticize the wine selections of others.  They are wine snobs.

Whereas most culture snobs (food, music, art, etc) will tell you that they're snobs about their preferred cultural medium, wine snobs are often oblivious to their status as a bane to the existence of those of us that actually enjoy wine simply to enjoy it.

Wine snobs are easy to pick out.  They tend to be white, upper to middle class, often young, and often try to be trendy in both dress and manner of carrying themselves.  In short, they're the sort of person that you tend to want to smack as soon as you see them, but restrain yourself from doing so.

Wine snobs will can often be found at wine tastings, cocktail parties, trendy cafes or bars, and are often overheard talking with somebody about how much they enjoy wine, how much they spend on wine, and how if wine doesn't come from a certain region (usually France) and cost a certain amount, it's not really worth drinking.  These people must be stopped.

The key to making sure that you yourself don't become a wine snob is to remember a few simple things.  First, just because wine costs more than you make in a month doesn't mean it's good.  I'm not saying I haven't spent $50 on a bottle of wine before, but the amount I spent on it didn't make it any better or any more enjoyable.  The wine did that.

Second, just because the wine you're drinking has a name you can pronounce doesn't mean it's bad.  Many wine snobs are firm believers that only wine made in France is worth drinking, a belief that most of France also shares.  I'm not saying I don't enjoy French wine, but that doesn't mean I don't also enjoy Italian wine, Australina/New Zealand wine, South American wine, American wine....I think you get the point.  Region doesn't make a wine better or worse.  Sure, some regions make some varietals better than others, but that doesn't mean it can't be good from elsewhere.

Third, just because you don't drink a Chateau this or that that's older than your first born child doesn't mean you're drinking bad wine.  Contrary to popular belief, aging wine too much can actually be detrimental.  How you say?  Wine turns to vinegar eventually, and while corking technology has come a long ways in recent years, any wine that is old enough to suit a wine snob wasn't bottled during the time of synthetic corks or screwcaps.  That means that odds are pretty good that oxygen has found its way into the bottle and turned the wine into vinegar.

Fourth, and last, don't suffer for your wine.  I'm a big believer in trying new wines, experimenting with food pairings, and moving outside of my wine "comfort zone".  Sure, I'm a pinot noir guy through and through, but that doesn't mean I'm miserable if I don't have a bottle of pinot noir from France that was bottled in 1985.  If I want to suffer for something I'll go back to a Catholic Church and suffer for a religion.  Wine is supposed to be enjoyed, not a torturous experience.

Wine snobs are everywhere, and with the growth of the popularity of wine, more are sprouting up every day.  Just remember what I've listed above and you can both avoid becoming a wine snob and, if the moment presents itself, put a wine snob in their place.  Remember to enjoy your wine, no matter what kind you happen to be drinking.

Root:1 Sauvignon Blanc

I've been on a big kick with South American Sauvinon Blanc lately, and thanks to the Root:1 Sauvignon Blanc, I have something to feed my addiction. This Chilean white wine is repeatedly finding it's way into my fridge and onto my table. With a great, crips citrus flavor, this wine goes great with seafood, chicken, pork, or just on the deck on a hot day. The light coloring is about the only thing light about this full-flavored, yet clean tasting Sauvignon Blanc.

My local store carries this for a lowly $7, a steal for anybody in the market for an inexpensive white wine that they can pair with anything. A bit of research shows that it does sell for upwards of $15, but I wouldn't recommend paying that much for it, not because it isn't worth it, but because you can find it for less. And isn't that always the point? I give the Root:1 Sauvignon Blanc 4.75 stars out of 5.

Find this wine online at WineZap.com