Wine Outlook

Last night was all about wine. And seeing one of my best friends (the sommelier) for the first time in ages. With her, it’s always all about wine. I told her it’s funny that living in California I still haven’t found anybody to drink wine with how we used to drink wine together.

While we were eating, she pulled out her little journal, in which we would record tasting notes and reactions to bottles. For every entry there were at least 2 or 3 bottles that were consumed in restaurants, at someone else’s place, or when we were just too drunk or busy to put pen to paper.

Here are some of my favorites: (more…)

A beginning to the reviews of wines assigned for this trip home. First, I must say my case was Fogarty/Martella heavy. When you can combine quality and value, that is always a plus in my column of numbers. In addition, I want to share what I do for a living with the people I love. Wine has always been important to me; now it’s a part of almost every aspect of my life.

Therefore, bottles I carted from CA to MS:

2005 Martella Fiddletown Zin (not yet released)
This one had a makeshift label, as it has been bottled but isn’t for sale yet. Everyone really liked it, maybe the near 18% alcohol had something to do with it. That, and it went beautifully with the shrimp and crab gumbo my aunt had waiting when I arrived home Christams Eve. The heat of the dish was the right accompaniment for such a peppery full-bodied wine.

2003 TF Fiddletown Barbera (x2) These grapes come from the same vineyard in Amador county as the Zin—farmed byRichard Martella, our winemaker’s big brotherOne of my favorite Fogarty wines ever… this one is no longer available, except for the few I whisked away (adding more to my wine bill) before it disappeared. One is for a gift, the other I opened Christmas morning to share with the fam. I thought it especially appropriate because we’re Italian. The smoky vanilla and juicy red fruit results were better than I remembered.

2002 TF Lexington Meritage
Present for the parents

Yet to be consumed:
2003 Martella “Heart Arrow Ranch� Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004 Karly Orange Muscat, 2004 La Vieille Ferme Côtes du Ventoux , 2005 TF Rose of Barbera/Cab Franc, 2003 TF “Fat Buck Ridge� Syrah, and the big ones:1997 Franciscan Magnificat & 1996 Ridge Monte Bello

Thomas Fogarty, Michael Martella, gumbo pairing, Barbera

So I realized I’ve mentioned being a poet, but other than that haiku a few posts ago, I haven’t really given you any poetry. But I’ll begin sharing, starting today. This one is not directly about wine but rather the need for thing you don’t have. And wine does make an appearance. (more…)

With airline restrictions concerning carry-on liquids still in place, holiday travel may be a little more difficult this year. Not that it’s ever easy.

For instance, I reside in the middle of wine country, work at a winery, and write a wine blog. Therefore, I cannot, will not, go home empty-handed. This causes several problems.

The first dilemma. I have been building up quite a collection, for me. I realize some would scoff at what I consider my best pieces. (Well, not the ’96 Ridge Monte Bello, hopefully, even if it is a split.) Yet how do I decide what to take? Some wines I want to bring may not be at their peak drinking point, which leads to another issue that I don’t want to hurt my head thinking about now. Besides, there is only so much room.
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In conjunction with my previous blog about my home state, I meant to include a link to an article I wrote for the Jackson Free Press. It’s my personal favorite of the ones I wrote when I was the sub wine columnist last summer.

Check it out.

Meanwhile, I also love this positive ad campaign.

In relationships, people have ‘a song’ or restaurant or I don’t know, I’m single and it’s been a while. However, it takes a special friendship, I think, to have ‘a wine.’ Since today is the birthday of one of my best friends, I thought it appropriate to write a review of our wine.

The Coppola ‘Sofia’ Blanc de Blancs was my find, I’m happy to say. On the way to Kelly’s one night with a smoked salmon pizza, I stopped by a favorite wine shop (see MS entry: Briarwood) to get a bottle. Looking for sparkling, as it goes oh-so-well with salmon, the first thing that drew me to the Sofia was the fun pink cellophane that encased the bottle.

The second was the name, as I am a big fan of Lost in Translation and liked The Virgin Suicides as well. Meanwhile…can’t wait to see Marie Antoinette.

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When people find out I am from Mississippi, inevitably they ask how I got into wine. My standard response is, “Just because we don’t make it… doesn’t mean we don’t drink it.â€? And drink it we do. True, people consume a large quantity of the inexpensive stuff (and yes, sometimes that means out of a box). However, we southerners have also been known to drink the fancy vino. So don’t get this southern girl riled up– unless you can stand the heat and an increase in the occurrence of an accent.

After all, Mississippi is not just folks sitting on the front porch with a glass of iced sweet tea, fanning themselves in the sweltering humidity. It’s not just old men fishing off a bridge with cold cans of Budweiser. There’s that, true, and times it shouldn’t be any other way. But there’s also art and music and literature. Fine dining and little boutiques. Air conditioning, even. Besides, if the International Ballet Competition and exhibits like the Splendors of Versailles choose to show there, why wouldn’t you be able to get a good glass or bottle of wine?

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Talking to my family on the phone the other day really got me missing them.

Aside from feeling sad, I also realized I had a bottle of wine in my inventory that may be past its prime. Most whites aren’t meant to be aged, but sometimes Semillon is the exception to the rule, especially from certain parts of Australia (Hunter and Barossa Valleys). So I had a bottle of 2002 vintage Peter Lehmann that I was planning on keeping for a few years. Until I looked it up on Wine Spectator Online and realized it should have been drunk last year.

So since my family had been eating my mom’s chicken and dumplings when I talked to them and weather on top of the mountain had been cold and foggy, I decided to follow suit. And open that bottle to go with it.

Well, the chicken and dumplings were delicious and almost did the trick to cure my blues. And the wine itself wasn’t bad, per se. But they definitely didn’t go together. The wine was way too crisp and herbal to go with the creaminess of the food. Maybe better with grilled chicken, which I would have known had I looked on the back of the bottle.

But life is about learning–the good and the bad. And the in between.

semillon, Peter Lehmann, food and wine pairing

Just wanted to start with some credentials and an explanation as to why I am so into wine….

Back home, I got into it working at a restaurant that won the Wine Spectator award year after year. (If you happen to pass through Jackson, MS, scoot over to Highland Village and eat at Bravo—I highly recommend the smoked salmon pizza with a glass of sparkling or penne with beef tenderloin paired with a nice Pinot Noir). With a great wine list and generous discount, I’d go there often and have a bottle with friends. It became a game to see what kind of dent I could make. A fairly large one, I found.

Several years and wine books later, I decided I wanted a job in the business. With my introductory sommelier test behind me and a few articles for Jackson publications, I charmed my way into the Thomas Fogarty tasting room. There I pour wine, sell it, sometimes help bottle it, pick the grapes, write the tasting menu, edit and write for the newsletter, and pretty much everything that is needed. No job too big or small.

And just the other day I realized that a large portion of my income is spent on wine. I have amassed quite a collection, considering my budget. For a girl who used to spend more on shoes and clothes, my wardrobe has definitely suffered consequently. Yet every time I bring another bottle (or four) home, I tell myself—it’s all in the name of research. Right?

Bravo, Thomas Fogarty