Monthly Archives: December 2014

Happy New Year everyone.  On this, the 1st Saturday of 2015, I would like to post my annual report of my weekly blog, “Wine In My Opinion”.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who have read and shared the blog.  It is a hobby for me, and one I enjoy very much.  And I am extremely grateful, in a time where everyone is so super busy, that you take the time to read my blog.  It is very much appreciated, and the reason I sit down every Saturday to write one.  Here’s to a fabulous 2015 as we continue our journey to discovering great wine.

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 4,900 times in 2014. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 4 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Can you believe we have less than a week to go before 2014 comes to an end and we are starting a brand new year.  It’s been a great year in the world of wine.   I finished New World Wine and started the Sommelier Management.   I have discovered some new wines that I found to be delicious.  So, I’m going to take this opportunity to look back at some of the fantastic wines I discovered in 2014.

This is my friend and colleague Anthony McNutt.  Regular readers of my blog will be very familiar with Anthony, and I finally got a photo with him.  This is he and I enjoying one of the best finds in 2014.  This is the Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir, a spectacular Pinot Noir.  Southing refers to the South facing bluffs found on the estate vineyard in the beautiful Santa Rita Hills in California.  It’s a complex and elegant Pinot Noir with hints of smoke on the nose and aged in 100% French Oak, and 55% of the barrels are brand new.  What a treat…. I am so grateful that Anthony shared his wine with me.

Anthony has just started writing his own blog and you can check out Anthony’s blog here Rookie Wine Review

2014 will be remembered as the year I fell head over heels in love with Riesling.  Was never a ‘sweet’ wine person, but this versatile beauty is delicious with food or all by itself.  One of the my favorites I discovered this past year was the Wakefield Riesling out of Australia.

This is my friend Jeff Pinhey and he is holding one of my favorite finds from the 2014 Port of Wines show.  It’s a fantastic price, and all the grapes are hand picked! Ripe dark fruits, licorice and some spice had this wine was of my favorites during BBQ season.

This is, of course, Rayell Swan, the wine guru of NSLC on Larry Uteck and wine rep Kim.  Kim introduced me to a few beauties this year, including a fantastic wine at the Port of Wines.  But on this particular Fall day in 2014 he was tasting two gorgeous wines both from Grant Burge.

One was the Grant Burge Hillcott Merlot and the other was the Filsell Old Vine Shiraz from the Barossa Valley in Australia.  The Merlot is juicy and plump and explodes with flavor in your mouth.  The Old Vine Shiraz is complex and spicy and every sip is a delight.  Definitely the best Shiraz I had in 2014.

In May of 2014, I also had the pleasure of meeting Chief Winemaker Howard Soon from the Sandhill Vineyards in British Columbia.  I loved his Sangiovese but I’m going to give the nod to the Sandhill Pinot Gris for this blog.  Tropical fruits including pineapple and melon with some green apple and a real rich mouth feel.  Chicken, seafood, pork. this is a very versatile food wine.

Two Chardonnays made the cut.  The Pierre Andrew Meursault I tried a few weeks ago was  heaven in a glass.  And the Bachelder Chardonnay from the Niagara region in Canada couldn’t be left off the list.  One is a Chardonnay from Burgundy France, and the other is a Canadian Chardonnay done in a Burgundian style.  Both are over the top delicious.

Well, ready or not, here it comes…. 2015.  Thank you to each and every person who took the time out of their busy schedules to read this blog.  I’m humbled.  Here’s to a fantastic 2015

Cheers

Darlene

I almost pulled one of these today.  I am so far behind getting ready for Christmas, I think I’m in the front of the line.  I was saying to someone at work the other day, normally I’m all done by December 1st, so that the only stores I have to go into is the grocery store and the wine store.  Not this year.  Not even half way there.  How about you?  Are you ready?

I was reading an article the other day about easing some of the pressures of the holiday season.  One of the things it mentioned, was creating a list and sticking to it … here’s what my list looks like.

* Merlot

* Cabernet Sauvignon

* Pinot Noir

* Chardonnay

Only kidding….

But I’m hoping this helps with the wine lover on your list.

For that sporty person your list – try a Sauvignon Blanc.. like the Saint Clair Family Estate Sauvignon Blanc.

This is one of my favorites from New Zealand.  It’s crisp and vibrant and is a perfect match for the sporty person on your list.

Do you have an adventuresome person on your list?  Try a Cabernet Sauvignon… I tried a brand new one last night, and it was awesome.  I’m all about trying new wines, and so will that adventuresome person on your list.

I talked about the Liberty School Chardonnay a few weeks back and last night had the Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon.  It was delicious.  Rich and dark with hints of vanilla.  Reasonably priced and delicious, that will help ease the financial stresses of Christmas.

For that extra sweet person on your list…. Riesling of course!

This is my new favorite, Wakefield Riesling out of Australia.  My friend Anthony loves the Wakefield Shiraz and I wrote about that not too long ago.  Well the sweet sister in the family is this Riesling.  Tropical fruit with some citrus, this wine is elegant and will make a great gift.  And it won’t break the bank either.  Very important this time of year.

Down to Earth?  Why Merlot, thank you.  And if you’re a regular reader, you know we have discovered some beauties recently.

So many good Merlot wines, so little time.  Here’s two of my favorites, the Candor Merlot and the Grant Burge Hillcott Merlot.   Again, rich dark fruit, plums, earthiness and a hint of wood.

And finally for that fun-loving sunny personality?  Pinot Gris!

And for that fun-loving sunny personality, you should try the Sandhill Pinot Gris, if you haven’t already.  It’s made by winemaker Howard Soon who is as fun-loving as they come, with the most bright sunny personality, as evident as this picture of him when I got to meet him.

Well that’s it for this week, this blog was fun to write.  And with all the hecticness of this holiday season,  (my speller is telling me hecticness is not a real word – but I’m sticking with it anyway) I hope you make some time to relax and enjoy a glass of your favorite wine, whatever that may be.

Till next week, Cheers

Darlene