Still Tasty After 50 Years?

My torrid love affair with Chateauneuf du Pape (herein known as CDP) has been well documented throughout this blog, so imagine my giddy anticipation when my friend Dean, who'd been rummaging through some vintage household items, asked for Vino Chick (not Nicky, so I knew it was serious) to stop by and rate his latest discovery.

Before I could adequately prepare myself for what I was about to see, there she was, sitting majestic on the rec room bar. Her label was slightly tattered and rough around the edges. It bore the year 1961, the year JFK was inaugurated President, the Soviets put the first man in space, and "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" was a hit by The Shirelles.

Yes, this brilliant, rich, full-bodied specimen of France's southern Rhone region had been (and probably been kicked out of) places, no doubt places a lady won't discuss, yet she was nonetheless stunning and damn near royal in the elegant and regal calligraphy of her font; the gentle curve of her top somehow unspoiled by the hands of time.

 This was a CDP from A. Ogier & Fils. In 1961, rich powerful wines had emerged from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and experts say the best are still drinking well.

So what about our gal? Had she held up the merciless ways of Father Time and the intense desert heat? The top of her cork had disintegrated a bit over time, and immediately slid back down into the bottle when Dean tried to remove it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbmnbWL8EVU

Then it was time for a taste of French history...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGY3Ur5NVOo

An hour later (and after some serious palate cleansing) came another foray into the glass...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-ubqJhagqs

Throughout the evening, comments from tasters ranged from "You could start a lawnmower with it" to "Its like seeing a really, really hot guy and you're gonna get together and it just doesn't happen."

All corks and cliches aside, in the end this little CDP did the best she could, given her age and the conditions in which she lived her life. And really, that's all you can hope for when looking for the wine of your dreams.

Follow me on Twitter @VinoChick75.

Downtown Palm Springs Restaurant Beats the Heat with Wine and Watermelon

Scorching temps are certainly upon us, and what better way to cool off than with a specialty cocktail?

At Rio Azul Mexican Bar & Grill in downtown Palm Springs, bartenders use only the freshest ingredients available, perfect for mixing cool summer-inspired drinks.

My new favorite combines two irresistible ingredients: watermelon and wine. The end result is crisp, refreshing, and hard to pass up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u2ddGmXkzw

I also tried the Paloma, a formidable concoction that melds tequila and grapefruit juice into an icy delight.

So next time you find yourself sweating it out downtown, step inside Rio Azul for a few sips that are sure to carry you away to cooler climes.

WATERMELON WINE SPRITZER
2 oz Pinot Grigio

4 oz of fresh chopped watermelon
Splash of grenadine
Blend together

PALOMA
1 1/2 oz el jimador blanco tequila
2 oz grapefruit juice
1/2 oz lemon flavored soda
1/2 oz soda water

Special thanks to Rio Azul Mexican Bar & Grill:

350 South Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs

(760) 992-5641

http://www.rioazulpalmsprings.com/

Follow me on Twitter @Vinochick75.

A Twin Pomegranate Killing

Without a doubt, Ojai is one of the most idyllic towns I have ever visited, and my first visit to its annual wine festival was a memorable one.

One of my most unusual finds came at the end of my visit there, and it was one I almost walked right by, literally. Brian and Nick Davis, two brothers known as the "Twin Poms," have crafted three Pomegranate wines, of all things, from their small production wine company in Fresno. The bottles carry a disclaimer that "Consuming One Glass May Promote Smiling."

I know..the jokes could be endless...should be twice as good, right? Or maybe double the flavor? etc...predictably, I could go on and on... but I won't...because I must say...as I sipped their light and slightly floral table wine (they also make a sparkling wine and a white blend), I imagined myself sitting on a small fishing boat out on the lake we were facing, a plateful of steamed Old Bay shrimp on my lap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3LHOla6FJA

The fact that these guys are really cool and pretty cute doesn't hurt either...but seriously, try their wine...and find a serene body of water and some shellfish worthy enough to share it with.

For more information go to:

http://www.twinpomegranates.com/

Follow me on Twitter at Vinochick75.

Palm Springs Bistro Puts a Flavorful Twist on Farm to Table Pairings

The above picture speaks volumes about Twisted Bistro, arguably the most enjoyable new restaurant to hit Palm Springs in a while.

Executive Chef Michelle Heinrich and her talented team are culinary artisans, culling the best produce and freshest ingredients from local sources, and bringing them to your Twisted table.

Dishes like Northwest King Salmon with avocado butter atop fava beans with pesto, grilled fennel, and squash.

Of course, all of this is essential to the wine (dish pictured above served with Primitivo) that I enjoyed in one wonderful, sensory-overloading six-hour marathon evening there. Heinrich describes her list as "frivolous, intense, sexy, dirty, crisp, full-bodied, light-bodied, fruity, earthy, cherry, blackberry, grapefruit, apple, dry, and oaky."

I must agree on all fronts, and this Napa and Lodi-dominant list, peppered with a few Oregonian and Italian offerings, is a good one...just as good food and wine don't lie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUy1vEqWT80

Just when I thought I was full from the salmon, Heinrich whipped up what I am certain is one of the best things I have ever tasted. Tender, flavorful crabcakes filled with, of all things, sweet potatoes and beets.

In case you're wondering...yes, it works...boy does it work, especially when paired with a crisp 2009 California Viognier from Miner Family Vineyards.

Other standout pairings include Twisted's thin crust pizza. I enjoyed a slice topped with oyster mushrooms and feta (and gluten free, which I didn't know til I had already wolfed it down), also paired with the Viognier.

Since I'm always crushing hard on red (get it? Crushing...grapes...I know, dumb), my favorite wine of the night was the '09 Felino Vina Cobos Malbec, which has a ton of chocolate, dark berry, and more velvet than Lou Reed and his Underground.

Since I was way too full for dessert, I grabbed a handful of the cocoa-dusted almonds that double as bar nuts there. No surprise here...even they went fast.

Special thanks to Michelle Heinrich and the staff at Twisted Bistro Palm Springs:
1775 E Palm Canyon Dr # 220
Palm Springs, CA 92264-1646
(760) 325-8180
http://www.twistedpalmsprings.com/

Follow me on Twitter @vinochick75.

Ojai Wine Fest Offers a Taste for Every Palate

It stands to reason that when you find yourself drinking wine along a beautiful waterway, not much can go wrong.

I discovered this on my first ever visit to the unbearably gorgeous Ojai, California.

The 25th Annual Ojai Wine Festival, held on the serene Lake Casitas, drew thousands of people and more than 60 wineries in celebration of adult grape juice.

The very first sip I took was a jammy and yummy Carignane from Toucan Wines, a family owned micro-winery in the Arroyo Grande Valley...this was a wine with character...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRiFsFYlV3Y

WHAT DO ROSE OF TEMPRANILLO AND A SEXY NURSE HAVE IN COMMON?

One of the more interesting finds was a Rose of Tempranillo from Vines on the Marycrest, a small boutique winery out of Paso Robles. The winemaker's descripton of his creation was intriguing and slightly offbeat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYk2_mAuB2A

BIG LOVE FOR A LITTLE GRAPE

I had the pleasure of tasting some killer reds from Michael David in Lodi. Offerings like Lust, a blueberry-inflected Zin that makes you wanna hurt someone.

My wine loving friends know that I will do just about anything for some of their Petite Petit, a dreamy blend of Petite Syrah and Petit Verdot. I was lucky enough to learn a bit more about these wines from the folks in the trenches:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ90S2r1fi4

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

One vintner had a novel approach to marketing his 'not yet ready for prime time' wines, conducting an on site barrel tasting to take the pulse of future customers:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTQZAWoxNbQ

ITS EASY BEING GREEN

At least one winemaker offered samples of an earth-friendly grape growing philosophy...the big and bold Petite Sirah from Green Truck (Red Truck is the more familiar label) would be perfect with any mole dish.

After a delicious meal with new friends at the iconic Boccali's Restaurant...

it was time to hit the road for the journey home...

After enjoying such fabulous views and wines, something tells me I won't be leaving Ojai in my rear view mirror for very long.

Vino Chick would like to thank Angela May and the folks at the Ojai Wine Festival for their gracious hospitality:

http://www.ojaiwinefestival.com/

 Follow me on Twitter@vinochick75

Days of Wine and Fragrances

I've conducted plenty of wine and food pairings in my life, but a recent event I participated in at Saks Fifth Avenue was quite unusual, even according to my quirky standards of taste. Just how does one match up wines with perfumes?

The concept actually makes perfect sense. If we're tasting vino properly, we're sniffing, swirling, and inhaling the aromas, or bouquet, of that particular wine. Same goes for perfume: when we sniff and inhale the notes it offers, we quickly decide whether we like it or not.

I took five wines and one port, pairing them with quality scents from the Saks collection that I felt matched well. First up was Bond #9's Madison Square Park, a perfume that has notes of huckleberries, grape hyacinth, grass, teakwood, and vetiver root, among others. The wine I chose was a non-vintage Champagne from Michel Olivier, slightly dry and full of fruit.

Next was Jo Malone's Sakura Cherry Blossom, which has a delicate aroma of rose and bergamont. naturally, I thought an exotic, flowery Rose would pair well, so I selected the off dry 2009 Las Mulas from Chile.

A creamy Napa Chardonnay like the 2008 offering from Leese-Fitch seemed to go well with Aventus from Creed, arguably my favorite scent of the group. With top notes of black current and royal pine apple; heart notes of birch and patchouli, and base notes of oak moss, ambergris, and vanilla, it was a terrific pairing that went over well with Saks customers.

In what was my favorite matchup of the afternoon, I paired Maison Martin Margiela, a perfume based on green floral notes that also has some incense, musk, and an earthy quality. It seems that the 2010 Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc was made for this particular scent, as this varietal is extremely grassy and green-like when it comes from New Zealand.

Lastly, I needed something with warmth and a bit of heft for the Jimmy Choo Eau de Parfum. This scent is nothing short of intoxicating in its own right, with rich, woody depths that evoke glamour, confidence and refined sensuality. This perfume has toffee and Indonesian patchouli too, so I picked an R.L. Buller non-vintage Fine Tawny Port from Australia. The melt-in-your-mouth vanilla, amber, and molassas flavors were truly to die for.

This isn't rocket science, folks...its about smell and taste and the marriage of the two...can't wait for my next nuptuals.

Follow me on Twitter @vinochick75.

Special thanks to PS Wine & Specialty Foods in Palm Springs who supplied the wines for this event:
188 South Indian Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92262-6604
(760) 322-4411

Saks Fifth Avenue Palm Desert:
73555 El Paseo
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 837-2900
http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/