Wine

Aug 31 2014

Rocabela Vinho Verde Rose

I should have been scared. By two things.

In the case of this wine, the Rocabela Vinho Verde Rose, I should have known that something that is “Vinho Verde” and “Rose” might suffer from an identity crisis. Plus, “Delightfully Refreshing,” as it says on the bottle, is code. Usually, code for “something I won’t like.” I still want to talk my way into Portugal someday to figure out what the story is here…but, til then, let’s get to the review.

Rocabela Vinho Verde Rose Review

First of all, we’re using the PC and can’t find the right key to add the accent mark. So sorry about that. Plus, the whole SEO thing might mean that we need to keep the accent mark out of this post. Anyhow…

Taste

Tasted like it wanted to be a champagne, but an average one at that. Tiny amount of bubbles – why does it pale in comparison to that other rose? No clue. (“That other rose” is the one from Trader Joe’s that we reviewed here.)

We expected – with the weather and the barbecued chicken – to find this to be the perfect thing yesterday. IT WASN’T. So disappointing.

Profile

As opposed to the Vinho Rose from TJ’s, this is “Vinho Verde Rose,” which refers to the region of Portugal where it’s grown. Learn more here and, Wines of Portugal folks, consider this our audition – we would love to come visit.

10.5% ABV.

Value

Only $4.99 at Aldi. Not a…well, not a BAD buy. But we’ve had much better from Aldi.

Metasip Grade: B-

We can’t pull the trigger on a higher grade. We are anxious to try more Portuguese wine – again, there’s really good stuff made there, and not just Port and Vinho Verde (the wine, not the region).

Aug 11 2014

Flirty Bird 2012 Syrah

Aldi: You don’t disappoint. You’re like the Triple Crown of Alcohol.

Let me explain what I mean there, and why Aldi’s Flirty Bird 2012 Syrah has a “Triple Crown of Alcohol” thing going for it.

See, you don’t want to spend too much, do ya? It’s okay to splurge, it’s okay to go buy a $50 bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon if that’s your thing. But it’s not our thing – and we don’t think this site would have gotten the traction it has gotten so far if we focused on the $50 bottles.

But you also want something that DRINKS more expensively than it actually is.

This is why we focus on the three pillars to make up our Triple Crown: Taste, Profile, and Value.

It’s got to Taste good, that’s a given. But Profile is often overlooked – and that actually gets woven into the overall Metasip Grade. If the “profile” of the wine is “White Zinfandel,” then you have a certain level of expectation, right? (Cheap, watered down, flavorless, too sweet, etc.) And you would expect to pay…what…$6 for an enormous jug of the stuff?

Value, then, has a little something to do with Profile and Taste, too.

It would be easy to get an A grade here at Metasip if you had a dynamite White Zinfandel that tasted outstanding and only cost $1 for a bottle. But the odds of that happening are slim.

However, as you’ll learn in this review…the odds of Flirty Bird 2012 Syrah getting an A? Pretty good.

Flirty Bird 2012 Syrah Review

Taste

I was actually very impressed with this bold, dry, earthy Syrah. It took a few minutes – it needed to breathe – but once it did, it served as a great complement to steak. It was what you would expect from a big, bold Australian Shiraz, were you to pick one up from any of the Aussie providers. Read here for a review from the…unfortunately named…Terroirist website.

Sidebar: really, I know you’re trying to be cute over there, but it looks too much like a word that would get you on the NSA watch lists.

And, before we get back to the review, one other note. We can’t explain the difference between Syrah and Shiraz very easily, so let’s let someone from Popsugar do it. Here’s a link. Popsugar on Syrah vs Shiraz.

Anyway, this wine, IMHO, has a very Australian character to it…which segues nicely into the “Profile” section of the review…

Profile

IT’S FROM SPAIN????!!!!

Those extra exclamation points are warranted because – SHAME ON ME! – I didn’t actually read all of the label. I just saw “Syrah,” thought “Shiraz,” and said “cool! Australia!”

It’s from SPAIN.

This is totally unexpected. And a bonus, in my book, since I’m drinking something that has the profile you’d expect from Australia, but it’s not even from a country you’d expect to get THIS wine from.

Value

$4.99. A jaw-dropping price.

Metasip Grade: A

Yes, that Triple Crown. Tastes great, an expensive profile, and a VERY affordable price. I’m buying more.

Jul 30 2014

Is Cooper’s Hawk Worth It?

It’s a really clever concept, when you think about it: a wine club wrapped around a restaurant. Or is it a restaurant wrapped around a wine club? Anyway, we aim to tackle these questions and more as we ask the age-old question: Is Cooper’s Hawk Worth It?

I can tell already: this is going to take a little finesse. Metasip, after all, is a site that is (1) just getting off the ground, (2) reviews alcohol, and (3) relies on affiliate relationships and sponsorship to pay the bills. Meanwhile, we need to be fair and balanced – not THAT fair and balanced – and ensure that we’re recommending the right experience for our readers.

Cooper's Hawk Barbera — Cooper’s Hawk Barbera

I’m choosing my words carefully when I really shouldn’t have to: we don’t have a relationship with Cooper’s Hawk, and they didn’t know we (or, more accurately, I) were coming to review the “experience.”

I’m babbling, so let’s cut to the chase.

Is Cooper’s Hawk Worth It?

What I’ve learned is this: one man’s fine dining is another man’s Ponderosa. One woman’s divine bottle of wine is another’s Boon’s Farm.

In my half-dozen years in the wine business, I have bumped into all types. I’ve met people shopping at Costco who need assistance because they want the $250 bottle that’s under glass. I’ve chatted with people in supermarkets who won’t spend more than $5 on a bottle of anything. And everyone in between.

I am trying to make this site – this Metasip Experience – something that provides a little bit for the expensive shopper, but mostly for the “value” shopper. So I’d say we’re somewhere in between the two examples above, because the value shopper hits Costco because they want to get the most bang for their buck.

Bringing us to Cooper’s Hawk – where, dare I say, you can find some value. But you’ve got to be smart about it.

Plus

Diners can get two “tastes” – I’m going to guess an ounce or two – per visit. This is smart – you don’t have to buy anything.

Minus

Take a look at the menu below. None of this, to me, says “value-priced.”

Cooper's Hawk Wine List — To be fair: restaurant pricing.

Plus

Wait a minute – you’ve got to look a little closer…actually, not pictured is the “Flight” option. $14.99 for a flight of reds – 3 ounces each (according to our server), four different wines. That’s a pretty good deal, actually.

Minus

“Sweet Red.” And a bunch of fruity-frou-frou wines. Stuff that, for the most part, the discerning palate ignores.

Plus

Shut up, Dave – this blog is supposed to be approachable. Remember that scene in the movie “Big Night” when that restaurateur said he was successful because he gave the customers what they wanted? THAT.

Enough Plus/Minus: How Was the Wine?

First, we tried the “Winemaker’s Blend.” Which they said was their proprietary Meritage and…it was good. It had a cab-meets-merlot character to it, not a ton of fruit, dry, quite a few tannins. (Metasip Grade: B. Better than average, not phenomenal.)

Next, the Barbera, which, after the taste sip thingy, we ordered a glass of. More to our liking and worthy of a higher grade – though not an A-level drink, a Metasip Grade of B+ is certainly respectable. I think the tannins they talk about on the menu really appealed to us. In fact, we ordered a burger and this struck us as something that would be a really good steak wine.

Now comes the bigger question…is the wine club worth it?

[EDITOR’S NOTE: We rely on affiliate links to help pay the bills…not to sound like a PBS pledge drive here, but we’d love it if you check out the Clubs over on that part of the site. Thanks. Back to the review.]

So here’s a link to the Cooper’s Hawk Wine Club pricing, and we’re at least a little confused. $80 for a one-bottle wine club shipped to you? I know shipping wine is complicated and expensive and the rules vary from state to state…but that seems a bit much.

However, and here’s where I think the real value is – and why we’d say that it’s a possible win:

If you live near one of their restaurants, the pick-up option makes total sense.

This is positioned as Premium wine, so $18 for a B+-rated or higher wine, per bottle, is a rather good deal. And, if you’re the kind of person who won’t spend more than $20 but also won’t spend less than $10, this is in that range. (Such an animal exists – actually, this was feedback I received over and over in my wine-selling days: under $10 is usually a gamble. More than $20 is a waste.)

What About the Food?

This isn’t a food blog, so I’m not going to do a restaurant review here. I had a burger, it had jalapeno cheese and bacon on it, I ordered it “medium” and it came…medium. It was tasty. The fries were good. Service was excellent and very attentive.

Overall?

I don’t think it’s fair to give the entire winery a grade based on sampling two different wines, so I’ll hold off on that. And, down the road, we’re eager to try a little more of their stuff.

However, the fact that I’m already plotting my next trip is, in my book, another thing in the “Plus” column for Cooper’s Hawk.

Jul 02 2014

Espiral Vinho Rosé

Sometimes, in the sober light of day, you change your mind. Other times, you stick to your first impression.

In the case of the Espiral Vinho Rosé, which I said on Facebook was worthy of an “A” rating, there’s no way I’m changing my mind. This, my friends, is a darn good wine value – and, while in a different class and category (IMHO) than the Sofia reviewed here last week, actually earns more points. Extra credit, if you will.

The fact that it’s from Portugal adds to the allure – there’s got to be more to Portugal than Port and Vinho Verde, eh?

I found this at Trader Joe’s. I paid $5.99. I will buy more.

[Editor’s Note: If you don’t have Trader Joe’s near you, maybe try Aldi – well, not for THIS wine, but for other great values.]

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To the review!

Espiral Vinho Rosé Review

Taste

I don’t want to be one of THOSE wine bloggers, the ones who say “like summer in a glass!”

And, to be fair, this is closer to a bubbly to me – there’s a hint of effervescence.

Floral nose, a little bit of fruit but not at all sweet – like a dry champagne, y’all – and there’s a hint of peach. Clean finish. Food agnostic – I had barbecued chickent with it but could very well have had it solo. Because it’s like summer in a glass!

(I couldn’t resist.)

Espiral has done some really solid work – and this wine has been around awhile, it appears; check out this blog from 2012: The Winegetter. And they also do the Vinho Verde thing – which has to happen because, well, Portugal.

Profile

10% ABV. From Vina Nova de Gaia, Portugal. Learn more about that place right here.

Value

Where this wine EARNS its grade.

I don’t mean to get off on a rant here – but didja know there’s a site called Beergraphs and they have a metric called “Beers Above Replacement?” Or something like that.

The general concept – replicating that of baseball’s Wins Above Replacement – if you removed the beer and replaced it with something average, how much better (or worse) than average is this one?

Where they lose me is whether there’s actual Moneyball-esque value for what you’re paying for the replacement – like if movie ratings were based on dollars you should pay, not whether the movie is 4-stars.

So, this wine is better – MUCH better – than an average Rosé. And I paid $5.99, which makes it a tremendous value.

Metasip Grade: A

Not a minus. This is a solid, well-earned, well-deserved A.

Jun 25 2014

Sofia 2013 Rosé

Ready for a wine to become your go-to for summer drinkin’? Why yes, Sofia strikes again with her 2013 Rosé.

Sofia 2013 Rose — Francis’ Daughter, which you of course knew.

If you don’t know about Sofia, the person, a quick primer on the maker of the Sofia 2013 Rosé. Sofia is Sofia Coppola. Visiting the Wikipedia page tells me that she’s no longer married to Spike Jonze, which is a piece of pop culture that eluded me. This nugget must have been obscured by the Kardashians.

Digressions aside, the Coppola family – scion Francis also holds his own in the film industry – knows its wine, too, as Dad bought the former Chateau Souverain estate in Geyserville and started making wine.

When we write the sidebar piece about visiting Napa Valley, it will include this tip: visit just one of the big boys, such as Coppola, just to hear from the big boys, get the tour, understand the process, all that stuff. Then spend the rest of your time at places recommended by locals, friends, etc.

Sofia has been at it for awhile, and even got a 90-point rating from Wine Enthusiast for the 2011 vintage. How will the 2013 stack up, at least according to this reporter? Let’s get to the review.

Sofia 2013 Rosé Review

Taste

FACT: Americans don’t drink as much rosé as French. By insanely wide margins, as referenced in these charts from the French. Probably because of the following if/then logic issue that, I’ll admit, crosses my mind all the time:

IF White Zinfandel is pink AND White Zinfandel is swill, THEN all pink wine is swill.

In fact, it wasn’t til some other wine lovers hooked us up with some really really good rosé that my own thinking started to change.

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This, per the website, is a Rosé of Syrah, Pinot Noir and Grenache. (Ya know, reading that website makes me think that I should be capitalizing the word “Rosé.” Because it’s a variety of grape. Also, that stands out and I can then show off that I figured out how to do the accent aigu in Francais. (Now, about that cedille.)

This is not sweet. I don’t do sweet wine. I want something with a great nose – this has it – and some earthiness to it – this has that, too, probably the Pinot. Can’t taste like chalk (which I get from a lot of Chardonnays, personally; a surefire sign that I’m not spending enough on my Chardonnays).

Quintessential “summer drinkin’ wine.” An absolute delight – enjoyed some at the block party this past weekend and, well, it didn’t disappoint. Plus, stands up to lighter stuff you’re eating – which, in my case, was a salad. Not a steak wine at all, but that’s okay, because block parties aren’t about steak.

Profile

Syrah. Pinot. Grenache. Not sure how much of each. ABV of 12.8%

Value

$12.99 at Costco. SCORE! Website says you can pay $14 or so with a membership. My last time visiting Coppola’s Estate (the winery, not Frank’s house; don’t call him “Frank,” either) the person in the tasting room told me: “Don’t buy our wines here. You can get them cheaper anywhere else.” Smart marketing, though, to mark their own stuff up so it’s got some caché from buying it there. Or not.

EDITOR’S NOTE: On my most recent trip to Costco, this was $9.99, not $12.99. May not have been $12.99 at all – though we’ve had friends in other states tell us $12.99 was their price.

Metasip Grade: A-

Why doesn’t this get an A if it’s an “absolute delight?”

My thinking is this: at $12.99, without a lot to compare it with, I’m not sure it qualifies on all the scales for an A. It’s a great value – if you buy it at Costco. And it drinks more expensively. BUT, it’s not the right mix of Taste, Profile, and Value to justify an A.