Wine Wednesday – 2012 Primarius Pinot Noir

Hi there!

It’s that time again!

I picked up a steal of a deal at the Harris Teeter last week.

Half off a $31 bottle of Oregon Pinot?

Didn’t have to twist MY arm.

So, I brought home all the bottles. 🙂

Okay, not really. I brought home one.

I wish I had brought home all the bottles because I also picked up a different bottle of pinot while I was there and that one was pretty disappointing.

It’s a sad, sad day in my world when the wine is disappointing. 😦

But, this 2012 Primarius Pinot Noir was most definitely NOT that!

It was light and delicious and fruity and spicy.

I kid you not when I tell you that one of the first things I smelled was SweeTarts. Remember the giant chewy ones? I used to love those! Even though they made my teeth hurt.

Seriously, those tasting notes weren’t kidding when they said “a hint of candy.” But, don’t fear – it didn’t TASTE like candy – I just smelled it mingled in with the cherries and fruit and oak. YUM!

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And honestly, I’d happily buy another bottle of this at regular price. If you happen to come across some at bargain basement prices, snap them up. And give me a call. 🙂

Talk to me: What was your favorite candy when you were a kid? Do you still love them or have your tastes changed?

– jennifer

Wine Wednesday – Thanksgiving wine recommendations

Hello, hello!

Happy Wine Wednesday before Thanksgiving Thursday!

The weather outside is most definitely frightful and, if you’re traveling today, please be careful. I’m sure your family/friends would enjoy giving thanks for your safe arrival. If you’re traveling tomorrow, the same story holds. 🙂

So, let’s talk wine.

I mean, it IS Wine Wednesday, after all!

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Do you have a plan for what wine you’re pouring with tomorrow’s meal?

If you do – Excellent! What are you pouring?

If you don’t, and you’re in charge of the wine, you’re in luck. I’m here to help!

Oh, and if you’re not in charge of wine this time around but are for Christmas, these tips will work for that meal, as well. 🙂

The first thing you need to figure out is how much wine to have on hand.

Generally, a standard bottle will yield about 4-6 glasses of wine, depending on who does the pouring. If it’s my dad, we’re looking at 4 glasses. 🙂

So, for math purposes, we’ll go with 5.

Plan for about 2 glasses per person (some will drink none and some will most definitely drink more) but 2 is a good average.

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Then, you have to figure out how many people will be there.

Adults, not children. Please don’t give the children any wine.

We’re going to have 15 at my folks’ house but out of those 15, 6 are below the age of 21. So, we’ll have 9 wine drinkers.

So, 9 wine drinkers plus 2 glasses each equals 18 glasses of wine. Divide that by how many glasses you can get out of a bottle – (remember from up there?) – 5 and we’re looking at about 4 bottles of wine for the meal.

Now, you can mix it up and offer both white and red, if you want. You’ll still want to stick to those estimated calculations. If you know that people will drink more because they aren’t driving, then you can plan for that.

Whatever you plan for pre-dinner drinks is completely up to you and if it’s more wine, you’ll have to account for that in your wine bottle total.

Ooohh, you know what’s handy?

Wine charms! If you have quite a few people drinking wine, it’s very common for someone to put down their glass and walk away for a minute only to come back and discover that it’s gone. With wine charms, everyone basically calls dibs on their own glass with a little charm! They wrap around the glass stem, aren’t very expensive, and can be found in most wine markets and places like World Market, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and, who knows, probably even Target! (*note – if the store sells wine glasses, it probably sells wine charms)

And now it’s time for the good stuff!

What to drink!!

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If you’re doing the traditional Thanksgiving meal with turkey or ham, there are a variety of wines that pair with both (and all the side dishes) quite nicely.

Let’s start with white wines, shall we?

Rieslings, Gewurztraminers, and Chardonnays are all excellent choices.

They’re all light and fruity without being overly sweet. Gewürztraminers bring a little bit of spiciness to the table and pair excellently with both pecan and pumpkin pie. When looking for a Chardonnay, you want to look for something “unoaked” or stainless barreled. Some oaky Chardonnays can be intensely buttery and might overwhelm your meal. The lighter, unoaked are both crisp and full-bodied and delicious.

Some of my favorite Rieslings include Fetzer, Chateau Ste. Michelle, and J. Lohr.

Favorite Gewürztraminers include Fetzer (again). I haven’t tried too many others so that’s all I got.

And Chardonnays include Kunde, Mer Soleil ($$), Fess Parker, and Josh Cellars.

For red wines, traditional choices are Beaujolais and Pinot Noir. You could also go with a Malbec or a Zinfandel. If you decide to buy a couple bottles of different kinds, serve the Beaujolais and Pinot Noirs BEFORE the Malbecs and Zinfandels.

Beaujolais and Pinot Noir are both light and fruity with a little bit of earthiness. Malbecs are a more lush, medium-bodied wine and Zinfandels are powerful and fruity and full of depth.

If your Thanksgiving crowd are wine lovers, you could definitely throw the Malbecs and the Zinfandels into the mix without worry but if you have wine novices or people who prefer a “lighter” wine, then you should definitely stick with the Beaujolais or Pinot Noir.

I don’t have a favorite Beaujolais as I normally grab a Pinot Noir. Some favorite Pinot Noirs include Rubeus of Lore, Edna Valley, and Decoy.

Favorite Malbecs include Middle Sister (SO GOOD!!), Acacia, or most Meritages (includes the Malbec grape).

Favorite Zinfandels include Four Vines, Seghisio ($$), and Rancho Zabaco.

So there you have it! You’re all set. Well, as far as the wine goes. I can’t help you with the cooking part. 🙂

Talk to me: Pumpkin or Pecan pie?

– jennifer

Wine Wednesday – Rubeus of Lore from Burgundy 2006 Pinot Noir

Hi there!

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Wow, it’s totally been a minute since I’ve done a Wine Wednesday post!

I hope you’ve kept yourself busy trying out the wines I’ve previously reviewed or even trying out new wines on your own. 🙂

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Well, I’m back to add another to your “must try” list!

The Rubeus of Lore from Burgundy 2006 Pinot Noir.

I found it at my local Farm Fresh supermarket and it met my $20 or less criterion without even needing to be on sale!

Can I get a woop woop?!

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One of the first things worth mentioning about this wine is the wine label.

How classy is that?

It’s simple but elegant, which is often an excellent way to describe a Pinot Noir.

If you want a refresher, here’s my take on California Pinots.

French Pinot Noirs are similar in that the grape is fickle, no matter where you plant it.

As I’ve stated before, terroir (soil and climate) play a big part in how a grape grows and how it affects the flavors and structure.

Many of the world’s finest Pinots have come from the Burgundy region in France, hence the name Burgundy. The biggest difference between a French Pinot and a California Pinot is usually the fruit.

California Pinots tend to have more up front and French Pinots tend to be more subtle and develop over time – and by time, I’m talking YEARS.

I don’t know if I have that much patience.

French Pinots are also usually a little lighter in flavor, more “subdued” if you will.

 My first sniff gave me hints of earthiness, cherries, and something floral, but not overwhelmingly so because I couldn’t completely pick out the scent.

All I knew was it smelled pretty darned good.

And actually tasting it did not disappoint in the least.

It was all simple, smooth, and subtle fruit and spice and mellowness and deliciousness. Swoon!

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I may or may not have raised my pinky on the next sip. 🙂

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My recommendation to you is to grab a bottle if you happen to see one.

You could pair it with the most simple of meals – pizza, etc – or you could certainly pair it with something fancier. Thanksgiving dinner, perhaps?

Pinot Noir pairs fabulously with traditional Thanksgiving fare and would even stand up to gamier meats, such as duck, if that’s something your family was making.

Whether you’re hosting the family or just in charge of the wine, you would definitely win with this wine at the table. 🙂

Talk to me: Have you seen the Austin Powers movies? Which was your favorite?

– jennifer