Viognier

With time springing forward and temperatures rising, its time to start cracking open white wine bottles! I know this spring and summer we will talk about Chard, Sav Blanc (domestic and imported), but I want to really look at varietals that are not main stream. So tonight we will get short preview of Viognier.

The Origin of the name Viognier is also obscure. The most Common namesake is the French city of Vienne, which was a major Roman outpost. Another legend has it drawing its name from the Roman pronunciation of the via Gehnnae, meaning the "the road to hell"

However what pushes me to this grape is flavor profile. Its major components are floral like nose and Muscat wines. It is to be consumed early, even though laid down it will improve, but I tend to find its floral notes gone after three years. I tend want my Viognier to be young and fresh.

Tonight’s bottle of wine is Bridlewood Reserve ($15) from the Central Coast of Cal. It shows great depth in the nose. I tend to pick up lilac, and tropical fruit. Its growing a fan base here in the states and many are saying its the new Chardonnay. Only time will tell.

Cheers!

First Course

To explain my passion about wine is asking me to give an answer that is not ever going to be complete. I can say so much and only come close to a failed attempt to tell exactly what I need to say about vino. In water one sees one's own face; but in wine one beholds the heart of another.

There might only be one thing I love more than wine, and that's only because its my rock and constant. Wine will change from vintage to vintage and you can fall out of love with one producer and permissiveness actions allow us to accept and choose another wine. Ahah! we found a new lover, a wine never tasted or appreciated till that current vintage.

I have always liked the idea of wine from the vineyard to the bottle. Most wine drinkers understand that great vineyards are what make great wine. I want to talk about wine in the romantic sense . I want to share whats in my glass. That's why I have titled this blog, "thoughts from the glass." When the mood hits me, I will post my review/educational value of a particular wines I'm drinking. Tonight is a what is not a normal wine. But since this my first blog entry, I wanted to give you something that is not always a everyday wine. Nor an every holiday wine, this specail wine is an Alter Ego, made by Chateaux Palmer. Vintage 1998.

A snap shot of Chateaux Palmer, is that's it's one of fourteen "Troisièmes Crus"(Third Growths) in the historic Bordeaux Wine Classification of 1855. Alter Ego de Palmer, previously named Réserve de General. This is a second wine from the Chateaux its always been a blend Cabernet and Merlot. I love it some much because of it being in Margaux. These wines are elegant not overpowering and have a sense of style that demands your attention creating the act of foreplay and seducing my palate.

Margaux produces wines to that are silky in texture over the tongue, giving just enough kiss to make you yearn for the next sip. The 1998 Alter Ego has a wonderful nose, showing dark fruit, plums, a hint of wood but not enough to think anything less then a mahogany highlight. Its an excellent bottle to showing its maturation, but still could hold out for a bit more. To me its a classic rating of 92 + points. I never pay much attention to others or Parker's ratings. But I would agree with him and others on this one........