would have pulled out a nice Gewurztraminer if I had one, but settled for a Fontana Candida Frascati Superiore DOC 2008. Getting time to clean out the old wine fridge. Shirley keeps doing her part by challenging me to come up with a pairing for some of her weird dinner experiments. Here the grapes for Frascati are grown.

Stoney Lonsesome Estates 2008 Reserve. I love it when Shirley decides to experiment in the kitchen. It either means we end up going out to dinner or I am in for a special treat. What I do know is that she cooked skinless chicken breast in apple juice with oyster mushrooms, slices of gala apples and diced mint fresh from the garden.

I don't often go with Shirley and Pam to the Saturday morning Central New York Regional Farmer's Market, but I made an exception today. was also out of bed early enough to tag along, which is unusual. did stop at one and tasted their 2007 Meritage. It seems to be that the wine always is a bit different, no, a lot different than what I remembered.

I've been holding out on the wine reviews until everything gets back to normal after my surgery. At present, my Cardiologist has OK'd 3-4 oz. of wine per day and, for me, that just don't cut it. do cheat a bit and I also skip some evenings. That is what happened with the first bottles I opened. little lighter bodied than what I'm used to in Zin.

Last March I posted a press release on a new collection of artisan wines in an innovative attractive new package. An international wine collection with six brands and ten items packaged in a new exciting premium 3L wine cask from the Octavin Home Wine Bar ™. The Chardonnay was not impressive. Definitely a good party wine.

This week I decided to open a dry and semi-dry from the same winery to compare and I chose one of the nicest Rieslings so far; Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2008. With May and New York Riesling month coming to close soon, it is safe to say that I tasted more Riesling this month than any one year in my life. Why, I'm not sure. Truly enjoyable.

My choice for the evening was a 2008 semi-dry Riesling( $14 ) from the Long Point Winery. This past Monday evening was a first for me on-line. Because of my work schedule and Shirley's extra long 'honey-do' list I never have the chance to do a tweet up on Twitter or follow a wine party on Facebook. All from the Seneca Lake wineries.

The first one I opened was the Zugibe semi-dry 2008( $14 ). This past weeks edition of the Syracuse New Times, a weekly alternative newspaper published in Syracuse, New York, contained an interesting article on Finger Lakes Riesling. Evan is passionate about Finger Lakes wines and authors some of the most interesting articles on the subject.

The two wines we tasted were the 2008 Riesling and the 2008 'dry' Riesling. To continue Riesling month here in New York, I wanted to find something other than my favorites from the Finger Lakes region. Doing so seemed almost impossible. Brotherhood also happens to be America's oldest winery. Enough history.

The 2008 Red Tail Ridge semi-dry Riesling was suggested by my sister-in-law. Just finished watching the movie "Avatar" while sipping on my first Riesling of the summer. Finger Lakes Riesling of course. This month is Riesling month in New York and this will be the first of many I'll enjoy over the next 30 days. Sound good? What else is better!

Recently, the wife and I have been discussing a possible trip to California next year. few of the issues are for how long and where. Of course my choice would be Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley or Russian River Valley, the home of some of the best wines in the world. Oh, I'm sorry, did I leave out Paso Robles, Lodi, Central Coast or Livermore Valley.

The first of the Zin's I recently stocked up on is the Rancho Zabaco Dry Creek Valley 2004 Reserve. The 2004 vintage is 96% Zinfandel and 4% Petite Sirah. I'm leaving Chile(till later) and heading over to California to try a few more Zin's. Deep dark fruit aromas with some cherry. Hey, you're never too old to learn. Not that I am old??

Over the past 50 years they acquired seven small estates, Gretole, Santedame, Montemasso (all 3 in Chianti Classico), Lodola Nuova Estates (in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano), Greppone Mazzi Estate (Brunello di Montalcino), Poggio Casciano Estate (Chianti Colli Fiorentini), and La Solatia Estate (Chianti Colli Senesi).

Tonight I uncorked another Carmenere from Concha y Toro , the Casillero del Diablo 2008 Reserve. This is the third of the Carmenere wines I tasted this month. As I stated in my previous two articles, Carmenere is one of the wines I've pushed aside in the past, but have placed on a list to re-examine in 2010. I'm still not sold on Carmenere.

It's been a few years since I tasted Carmenere. If I remember right, it was a take it or leave it, nothing special, too many other fine wines, don't shop for wine. My last review confirmed that feeling, but in a very serious attempt to expand a lazy palate I purchased a few different labels to compare. The first was disappointing.

Wish I had a nice Canadian wine tonight so I could toast the Canadian Olympic Hockey Team on their winning of the Gold medal. am not an avid hockey fan, but I do watch occasionally and tonight enjoyed one of the best ever games. Instead, I uncorked an Arboleda Carmenère 2006 from the Colchagua Valley of Chile. Bring on the steaks!!! Wine Acidity: 5.31

Think my taste buds are back. I've been having a few problems with red wines since finishing some prescribed meds a few weeks ago. No matter what was tried I was getting a very musty taste. opened a few old reliables thinking there must have been some bad bottles in the rack, but they turned out to be the same. Bogle Winery 2007. Great value!!

The tasting room is located in an 1850s farmhouse and the wine is the Cline Cellars Cashmere 2008. Cline Cellars is a national sponsor of the event and contributes $25,000 from the proceeds of 2008 Cashmere sales. was reminded of just that this past week as I chatted with an old friend and High School classmate from the mid-60's.

Sometimes when you least expect it, you open what may becomes your new favorite bottle of wine. Tonight I opened one of my remaining bottles of Finger Lakes wine purchased at my last tour in December. An Atwater Estate Vineyards , Cabernet-Merlot 2007. blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon and 47% Merlot. Can't do much better than that. Alcohol: 13.0%

Big break in weather today here in Central New York. Temperatures will reach about 30F. Must be the annual January thaw! To celebrate I figured to open one of my usually reserved for warm weather whites. My choice is one that was recently purchased at Lakewood Vineyards on Seneca Lake at the December 'Deck the Halls" event. 2007 Riesling.

Trentino Traminer Aromatico Casato Montfort 2004 Varietal: Gewürztraminer Region: Trentino Aged 5 months in steel vats and 3 months in bottle. Cataldi Madonna Montepulciano 2007 DOC Varietal: Montepulciano Stewed prunes, raisins, ripe cherries, granny smith apples, and spices with a brisk acidity. Well, here they are.

Somewhere among my 50 New Year's resolutions (99.9% failure rate) was to leave my wine comfort zone more often as I continue to expand my trapped palate. To do so, I will have to taste, I mean drink, more wines that I never tried or wines I just never liked. So, to start off the new year I opened one of my least favorite wines, Zinfandel.

Syrah has always been one to those wines I could take or leave it. Almost all that I had ever tasted were the Shiraz from Australia. While visiting Damiani Wine Cellars on Seneca Lake this past spring I tasted an excellent Syrah and I was sold. From that day on I was a fan. enjoyed the Syrah with Shirley's three bean chili.

This has been one fantastic year of enlightenment for me when it comes to all things wine. Believe I may do a year end article on the subject. If I do, I will have to include the German grape, Dornfelder as one of the highlights. Dornfelder is a cross between Helfensteiner and Heroldrebe grapes. It is the 3rd most planted red wine grape in Germany.

** Disclaimer: I received these wines from Martellotto Wine s One of the benefits of writing a wine blog is the occasional UPS delivery of wine to taste and review on the blog. It can also be disappointing when the wine received is one that I don't normally drink or one that I have a hard time with. Now Cabs I have no problem with.

Can't seem to find a Finger Lakes Riesling I don't like. Thanks to my son, this past weekend I opened a dry Riesling from Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars located in Lodi, NY, on the east side of Seneca Lake and my first stop on the annual " Deck the Halls " event on Dec. have to say his timing was impeccable. g/L pH: 2.93 Alcohol by Volume: 12.1

Tonight I added another favorite place to eat in Syracuse, Joey's Italian Restaurant. Shirley and I have been dining here for the last 10 years and it seems that the food just keeps getting better and better. Best of all is the fabulous and always changing wine list. The only downside is the lack of New York wines on the list and no NY reds.

Now I have a few and tonight I chose a 2008 Reserve Reisling from Fox Run Vineyards. Thankfu lly for me, a no sugar guy, the 2008 vintage is a dry Riesling, 1.0% Only in years when ripening conditions are outstanding will this wine be produced and the 2008 is well worth it. The downside of this Riesling is the price.

passed over many of my favorites before keeping out a Billsboro Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2008. I think it gets a little scary when you choose a not so good wine for three consecutive nights. That happened this week. But, halllelujah, tonight was a bit more successful. pulled every bottle of white wine I had (about 20). Not a great buy, but.

Every Friday and Saturday after work, a few friends and I visit our favorite lounge for some great food off the bar menu and to down a few glasses(maybe more than a few) of wine. Of course, the lounge is owned by my son and his fiance and has become our regular hang out since opening one year ago. Finally, he has listened to his dad. At that price.

About two years ago I found a special deal on a gift pack of two wines from Candoni Wines. The gift pack wasn't what sold Shirley and I on the purchase, it was the label. The gift pack included a bottle of Merlot and a bottle of Pinot Grigio, of which we opened at a dinner dance held during my annual military reunion. First, the label. for $11.

Alright, here's my dilemma or at least one of them. Tonight Shirley and daughter Pam are making 'halupkies' for dinner. Halupkies are also known as stuffed cabbage or as we called them in our house as kids growing up in the Pennsylvania coal region, 'blind pigeons.' The dilemma, I have no clue as to what wine to open. That only added to the dilemma.

There comes a time when you believe that a certain wine just can't get any better. hope I never get to that point in my lifetime. don't hide the fact that in the past two years I have fallen in love with wines from the Finger Lakes region of New York. have my favorite Finger Lakes wineries and my favorite Finger Lakes wines. Such is the case today!

While in Virginia on vacation, I picked up four bottles of Virginia wines, figuring I would try all four and choose one to review. Tonight I opened up the second bottle and had maybe the best white wine find of this summer, a 2006 Michael Shaps Viognier from the King Family Vineyards. The wines are produced with a traditional old-world style.

I 'm currently making room in my wine cooler for a recent large quantity buy, so I pulled out a Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2005 Riserva for a pizza dinner tonight. Tags: Italian red wine montepulciano d'abruzzo Turned out to be a good move. Winemaker's notes: Intense violet robe. Aromas of plums and ripe blackberry.

2008 Grosset Wines Polish Hill Riesling, Clare Valley. 2004 Wynns Coonawarra Estate John Riddoch, Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra. 2004 Mt Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz, Grampians. 2004 Penfolds RWT Shiraz, Barossa Valley. 2004 Dalwhinnie Eagle Series Shiraz, Pyrenees. 2008 Angullong Sauvignon Blanc, Orange.

Fortunately, our friend also brought a bottle of Cantina Zuccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva, which we drank our last night. 2004 Mouton Cadet Bordeaux. 2004 Cantina Zuccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva * (Previously reviewed) Nice bright fruit this tasting, with good acidity and a lightly silty texture.

and a good value (it must be, since she served it at a shower for our friend's daughter) this is the kind of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo that reminds me of thin crust pizza. A Wine Spectator 90+ wine according to my mom - when did she start paying attention to such things? It's a big wine, dense, dry and tart, probably best served not too warm.

Abruzzo Italian Wine Series: The Wines of Abruzzo Whites: Trebbiano (Bombino) Reds: Montepulciano d'Abbruzzo Rose: Cerasuolo Provinces Chieti L'Aquila Pescara Teramo Located 150 miles east of Rome , Abruzzo is a dry mountainous region, while its proximity to the sea makes for great growing conditions.

©2008 photo by Dave Trieger To me many of the Montepulciano D'Abruzzo around today are are usually in the blander category of red wines, so to find one with full-body like this at such a great value is a pleasure. On the palate you'll find a creamy ribbon of preserved fruit/jam flavor and chewy dark berries. Alcohol by volume is 13.5%.

Straccali Sangiovese Di Toscana 2004 IGT This is a 100% Sangiovese red wine made from grapes from various locations in Tuscany, Italy. Fattoria Del Cerro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2004 DOCG This DOCG from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy is made from 80% Prugnolo Gentile (a Sangiovese clone) and a 20% blend of Canaiolo Nero and Mammolo.

©photo 2008 by Dave Trieger This 2004 DOCG from Montepulciano , Tuscany , Italy is made from 80% Prugnolo Gentile (a Sangiovese clone) and a 20% blend of Canaiolo Nero and Mammolo. 80% of the grapes are aged for two years in Slavonian oak and 20% in French oak. This winner can be found at The Wine Room

Next up was Villa diAngelo Vino Nobile (also a Sangiovese ) di Montepulciano 2003 DOCG which is a Prugnolo Gentile varietal with aromas of cola, spices, and violet perfume. Tommasi Poggio Al Tufo Rompicollo 2004 IGT. First up was a 100% Sangiovese. Giaconde Sangiovese Rubicone 2006 IGT. Fifth up was the Supertuscan from Maremma.

The only other reds that I really liked at the whole tasting were the 2004 Poliziano Nobile de Montepulciano Asinone and the 2003 Terre degli Svevi Aglianico del Vulture Serpara. I wasn't going to write about this because I don't have much of anything nice to say. And I've never even heard of most of the producers I tasted. 2000 Cav.

From Tuscany we have a Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano 2004 that screams Tuscan elegance and from Piedmont we have an organic Barbera D'Asti 2005 that defines the tradition of why this grape is best with food in Piedmont. Well the Wine Starter kit for January went very well. We are pretty stoked by the reception. Cheers