Region Loyalty

Well after a much undeserved siesta from bloggin...I'm back with a whole new stockpile of wines to discuss. Seeing as we are wedged tightly in the sweaty grip of summer, I feel it is only appropriate we discuss the lighter wines in life. We have come across several wonderful white wines this summer and they all have the same thing in common, they come from the other side of the world...literally!

Our first experience came from a random grab from the local grocer (I wasn't pleased with the selection at the time) We iced it down and I reluctantly popped the twist cap, it doesn't have the same ring does it. Anyway we popped it open and found one the most refreshing white wines we have ever had and so began our obsession with this region.

The wine in particular that got our attention was a 09' Kim Crawford Sauv Blanc. It was a price stretch for this guy at $15 american dollars, but worth every penny in the glass.

Shop Locally

If you enjoy wine, then you already know this but, you need to visit Napa Valley at least once in your life. I know it is expensive, from the flights to the food, from the lodging to the wine, but trust me it is worth every penny. That being said with the new additions and transitions in our life, our next trip is nowhere to be found when looking at the calendar.  Disappointing I know, but fear not as we have found an equally enjoyable substitution, local wineries.

And you say really? That was your big find? I would reply, YES! I have known about local wineries for years, and never gave them much thought until our trip to the west coast. Sure they miniature in size comparison, but what makes them weak (size) is what sets them apart. The people! There is something about standing next to a barrel of wine fermenting, and talking strategy with the vintner shaping the juice into the nectar we have all love. The people I have met at the local wineries like you and me, an everyday Joe that happens to love wine.  So support them, and share their dream with them.

Wineries that I enjoy: Blue Jacket Crossing, Pirtle Winery, Holy-Field, Sommerset Ridge. I would highly recommend any of these wineries to anyone living or visiting the Kansas City area. I would also like to know what wineries you like to visit.

Cheers- Brandon

the proof is in the price tag

This whole adventure started with an idea to expose the under-appreciated wines that resided in the "value" bin at your local stores, and quite frankly have been fairly successful. But, as I plod through the aisles I can’t help but notice the price of wines increasing! I am finding it harder and harder to find wines that fit my criteria. Am I missing something? I can’t help but wonder if the “trendiness” of wine has gone to our pocket books. I will admit I constantly fight the urge to drop $20 bones on bottle, but every time I find the gem it makes my nights that much more enjoyable.

I would like your input; I started a quick poll on my facebook page www.facebook.com/lifeandwine to see if I am the only one shopping in this price range. Please share your opinion.

Cheers- Brandon

Battle of the Budget

The whole idea of writing about life and wines began with a quest, a quest to tell what find to be interesting stories, and share wines to enjoy without breaking the bank. I made it my goal to find as many wonderful wines as I could at $10 or less. It has been an interesting journey to say the least. I won’t pretend that it has been a chore, but I have run across several wines that were less than impressive. But, I do it for you, the fans! I mention all that above only to tell you that I have found what I believe to be the value buy of 2011. That’s right I am calling it right here, right now.

A couple weekends ago we had some friends over who were kind enough to bring over a bottle of vino to share during game night. They brought the much-celebrated “Two Buck Chuck,” a favorite of our household. We decided to do a side-by-side taste test with the newcomer (referring to our cellar) we recently picked up on a whim. We busted out two decanters and let them each breathe equally. We sipped, drank, and compared our notes and came to a unanimous decision. It was glass #2; the newbie beat the wiley veteran. Okay, I was a little dramatic there but this is a big deal, we still love "Chuck" but we now have an accessible alternative. The winning wine is a 2007 Cab. Sauvignon, we picked it up at, of all places, Wal-Mart. It is called Oak Leaf, and as the title refers to it has wonderful oaky flavor. The color was good, it wasn’t bitter, and hung around on your pallet just long enough. The best part, it set us back a whopping $2.96 per bottle. That is cheaper then buying a friend...well anything at the bar short of buck night. Needless to say we had a great evening.

In our lives, Wine is synonymous with friends whether that is just my wife and I or the small parties we host occasionally. (we are slacking on this currently due the terrible parking situation in our neighborhood) When I find a wine that tastes great, and is as affordable, it makes it easy to share. So I am doing just that. I am sharing with my friends through words until we can “clank” our glasses in person.

Cheers- Brandon

P.S.- this bottle equals out to 50cents a drink (6 glass per bottle)

Taking on Rex Goliath

Another weekend has come and gone, and as usual it went way too fast. This particular weekend seemed to move a little quicker then usual. I have come to realize quick weekend = fun weekend…well, for the most part. There were three major accomplishments made this weekend, and all made it a little tougher to head into work this morning.

First of all, the weather finally broke! Next, my wife and I ventured out on our first bike ride of the year. We hopped on our mountain bikes and put in some solid miles on the bike paths of Bloomington/Normal.  There is nothing like taking in the fresh air while cruising down the bike path with nothing on my mind. Secondly, my wife’s best friend from Kansas City came to visit. This being our first out of town house guest in the new home, we were ecstatic. With the bambino on the way, our lifestyle has changed from going out to the bars to nice, quiet evenings at the homestead. With a guest in town, we wanted to show her a good time, and we did exactly that without spending all of our life savings. As we get older, we have discovered that it doesn't matter where you hang out because it is about the time that you spend with others. 

Now, to the point of the blog, and the third accomplishment, good WINE! Friday night we had some friends over to play cards.  Everyone showed up around 8 and we commenced learning the game of Yuker. It is a fun game, sort of like pitch, but with only face cards. Along the way, Allison whipped out a bottle of Rex Goliath cabernet sauvignon.  Now, this is wine that is common around here; however, the label turned me off slightly. There is nothing wrong with it, just seemed “cheap.” I guess that the labeling is fitting, seeing as the bottle prices under $6. We grabbed a glass and went to town. How surprised was I! What a delicious wine. It was bold, not bitter and actually hung around the mouth a little. I was very impressed, and that combined with some good cards it was a good night.

It was a good night until everyone left. As Allison was getting in her car she noticed she had received a parking ticket. Upfront, I know a law is a law and I try to follow it, but I have serious beef with this ticket. Our street is a snow route, meaning we can’t park on the street…at all. So we must use the drive way or park a block down on a side street. DUMB. But on top of that, it is illegal to cover the sidewalk with a car. Now, I am not a fan of this law but understand the relevance in certain circumstance. What I don't understand is what a cop was doing in one of the quietest neighborhoods at 11:30 at night, and what compelled him/her to write a parking ticket at that time. No warning no looking the other way, just a $30 donation to the city of Normal, IL.  So needless to say, a good night turned south at the hands of a pen wielding police person.  

What I am trying to say is to Try Rex Goliath…use the money you save to donate to our parking ticket fund. I am just kidding, but really…

Cheers- Brandon

Oh my gosh...that was TERRIBLE

…that was TERRIBLE! No, I am not referring to the weekend. Actually, this weekend was a great one. We will work backwards starting with Sunday. We had a good day, had several unplanned but welcomed visits with friends and family capped off with a wonderful dinner. Seeing as though Valentine’s day lands on Monday, we decided to have our romantic dinner tonight. Good food, Great conversation, and all done in sweats and hoodies. (ha we are old…and love it) As for Saturday Mindy was taking care of some testing for school, and I took advantage of some free time to join B3 (Brandon U. Brandon B. & Brandon M) at the bike shop killing time and talking to friendly people. Friday after work we met up with Mindy’s folks for Taco night. It was going great right up until we opened the bottle of wine. That can be right, can it? Yup, believe it or not, the wine was not good!

Empty bottle!

We are members of the local liquor stores “wine club” if you will. This pretty much means we get a postcard that notifies us of their special of the month. It is usually a pretty good deal (<$10) and we have found a few winners in the batch. Well, a month or so ago Lamadrid came across the mail box and in the spirit of adventure, and based on a recommendation of the checker at the store we purchased a couple. {Lamadrid Cabernet Sauvingnon, 2008 Argentina} It then sat in our make shift cellar until we opened’er up. We pulled out a black composite cork, and set it aside to let it breathe. When we came back the smell of it alone warned us to be weary, but did we listen? Nope!  It was not pleasant from the first sip, but again, in the spirit of adventure I stuck it out and did my best to finish it. I do NOT waste wine…until tonight. For what seems like the first time ever, I dumped a bottle of wine. I am not sure if it was a bad batch, didn’t seal properly, or if there is such a thing as composite cork taint (yeah cork taint is real) but it was aweful. Either way the only words that I could find to describe this bottle of wine was…Oh my gosh, that was TERRIBLE!

Cheers- Brandon

Buehler....Buehler?

This weekend we made a trip to Kansas City to spend some time with some good friends and family in the area. I have a hard time using the term vacation because I am pretty sure we are far busier here then we would be working on our home, none the less it is always a blast.

We always make it a point to stop and my aunt and uncle's to visit them and my crazy cousins. I would have to credit them for introducing me to wine and fueling my desire to learn and try more. I can always count on them to open a bottle and share their new finds. This particular trip we drank two pretty tasty selections the first of which was picked out by my sister Rebecca,(Mckenna's not quite of age) who is finishing up school here, and living with crew. She chose a Jacobs Creek Cab Merlot. This is the second Jacobs Creek wine that I have had recently and it played pretty true to my expectations. At first open it was a little bitey, but after letting it it sit for 30 minutes or so (allowing it to just breathe), it developed into a delicious wine and definitely a good value.

The second wine that we sampled was a Cabernet Sauvignon by Buehler....Buehler! This was very good as well, my uncle actually visited this winery while in Napa strictly because of the name, and found a wonderful value. He had purchased a case while in the valley but had recently found it at the Costco in Mid Town (KC) for $17. This is a little above my price range still but I will be grabbing a bottle or two on our way out of town for a special occasion i.e. post Jr.'s arrival.

These two wines are officially on my go to list, depending on my budget and mood. I would recommend either both highly, but why don't you make up your own mind and try them for yourselves.

Cheers- Brandon

Just Breathe

One of the hardest things for me to learn about wine was patience. I did not grow up around wine, and equated it to other forms of alcohol in the “pop the top and chug” sense. It took me several failed attempts, but only one successful, to understand that just a little bit of patience will often drastically enhance your experience and leave more satisfied. I am referring to letting a wine breathe. This is as simple as opening the bottle and allowing the air around the wine do its work. This allows wine warm up and expose aromas and flavors that my otherwise be missed. Delicious right?

There are few widely accepted options each with their benefit. First of which is simply opening the bottle and letting it sit, not the most efficient but free and easy if you plan ahead. The second is an aerator; they are quite common, and range anywhere from $25-$45. We got ours at Amazon click the link to see what specials they are running. We discovered these wonderful devices three years ago and is truly a life saver. You pour the wine through this devise and it sifts through a fine screen allowing air to circulate through the wine as it is poured into your glass. This method is by far the quickest, but not the best, but better than nothing. The last is by decanting, this to me is the best way to air out your wine. It isn’t easy to describe but check the picture for details. The reservoir allows a pocket of air to sit close to the wine and maximize its potential. To be fair it is faster than just letting a bottle sit but still takes time and a little planning, not to mention you better finish the bottle. The lack of a lid prevents you from prolonging the wines life much longer then an evening. 

Decanter

So…patience is good, No brainer right? That is what I thought, and then I realized the blatant lack of patience in my everyday life. This concept recently reared its ugly head in of all places the Best Buy parking lot. We were making a quick run after a miserable Bears playoff loss, and ran into the 2 biggest dummies in Bloomington.  (The whole story is too crazy and long to include here but I will be glad to share over a glass of wine) Now, I won’t lie and tell you I handled it perfectly, and it wasn’t my proudest moment, but all things considered it wasn’t too bad. But, as we drove home I found myself a little embarrassed of my reactions in the parking lot. I realized the insignificance of these people and the situation.

So if want the most out of your life and wines, practice some patience and “Just Breathe”

Cheers- Brandon

One Lucky Duck

I have heard the phrase "your one lucky duck" plenty of times in my day, and frequently from my wife, and I would have to agree with her. Growing up on the farm, and with the friends I did, "lucky duck" wasn't just a phrase it was a lifestyle! There are countless stories that could be share, but one sticks out in my mind specifically, entitle:

"Hoof'n It"

This takes place in the mid to late 80's (I was young enough to not remember exactly) making me anywhere from age 5-7. When you grow up/live on a farm you were expected to pitch in when and where you could.

It was cold morning and we were working cattle, Red Angus to be exact, from the corn stalk to our homestead to feed for the winter. At this point, each cow weighs just over 1,000 lbs. and had completed their fall calving. This left them particularly jumpy and agitated. Imagine trying to wrangle wild cats, not easy.

Red Angus cow and calf

 We use panels pictured below to create a sort of instant pen, to allow us to catch the cattle in the pasture or field. They fit together like Lincoln Logs at best.

So my dad and grandfather were corralling the last of the cattle into the horseshoe shaped pen we constructed and in doing so were spooking the rest of the herd and threatening to tip the pen over. I was sternly instructed by all involved to stay in the safety of the truck, but wanting to be the good son and help out, I climbed on the fence and started mimicking my dad. (hollering and yelling) About that time the fence came a crashing down landing literally on top of me, followed by 12 full grown angry cattle running over the top of me. Somehow, despite the there 48 separate chance to catch a hoof carrying a half of ton, I escaped with nothing more than being scared and GREAT story to tell. Just goes to show you, parents know what they are talking about…most of the time

 

What does this have to do with wine you ask? It is simple really; a friend of ours had found a Riesling that she wanted us to try called “Lucky Duck.” As it turns out it was pretty darn good. It was easy to drink, and not too sweet. The best part was that she picked it up from the local store for under $5.00! Any time I can snag a respectable bottle of wine for under $10 let alone $5 dollars it is okay in my book. I would definitely suggest picking up a bottle of Lucky Duck Riesling next time you are out and about.

Cheers- Brandon

Life in a box

If you have been following my blog, you are aware that we have recently moved into a new home. It has been a long process, but we are officially in and extremely excited to be back in a home of our own. Our journey across the Midwest started in April of 2010.  It was not an easy decision, especially with the state of the housing and jobs market. We pulled the trigger put our house on the market, resumes in the mail, and faith in God and boy did they all three deliver.

Knowing that the sale of the house was up in the air to say the least, we got it on the market ASAP to insure we got it sold before we moved. Little did we know, we would sell our house in less than a week, now what? Well, we packed up our stuff and hauled it to a storage unit in Central Illinois, and moved the three of us (wife, bulldog, and myself) into my grandmother in-law’s two bedroom apartment. Then, we made the move into my wife’s family’s home while we saved and searched for the perfect home. Despite the reactions and probably your immediate thoughts, living with the in-laws was great, although I think we all were ready for some space especially my wife and I. We had gone from our own home and space, to relying on family, and living out of a box.

This was an experience and a half for me. I don’t know that I was “SPOILED” but there was very little that I wanted growing up, and even to date, I have been lucky enough to be able to “get” what I want/need.  Our life in a box started in April 2010 – current date, and well we survived and to be honest it was a little liberating. We found this idea that we dreaded really wasn’t that bad, so I figured I would take a look at another “box” with negative stigma. BOXED WINE! Ahhhhh

There I said it, boxed wine! I know what you are thinking, boxed wine is terrible and is only good for college students and drunks, and I am not saying I disagree but I did find some interesting information on it. First off I found that the packaging in boxed wine is far more environmentally friendly then the current method of glass bottles. Secondly, you eliminate the risk of cork taint and reduce the risk of spoilage due to slow consumption; personally the latter of these is rarely a problem. The minute you open a bottle of wine it begins to oxidize as air fills the space where wine once was, and if you have ever tried a wine that has been open for too long you realize the nastiness that brings. The one down fall of the BOX process is the way they are sealed. Because of this process the actual shelf life is shorter then a bottle. I can’t explain the science but if you care that much, I can send you some links. But as for the wine its self, I have found it to be pretty par for the course in regards to other wines in its price range. Franzia for example is what 10 bucks for dang near a gallon? That is pretty cheap wine, thus the expectations we have for it should match.

I will break the mold and recommend one boxed wine for those who actually enjoy on levels above cheap intoxication; Black Box Cabernet is VERY good. It compares nicely to other $20 bottles I have tried and you get nearly four times as much. Seeing, as I am in to economically friendly wine this is a no brainer! I would highly recommend you put aside the persona try life in the box…you may be surprised!

Cheers- Brandon

Its a Monday thing...

Monday, Monday, Monday! Today is by far the black sheep of the calendar week. It is hated and complained about more than any other day I can think of, everybody hates Monday’s well except this guy! I spend the weekends doing what I please my wife pleases. I joke, but seriously, we watch movies, we clean, catch up on honey do’s, and occasionally we will just flat out be lazy. (although that is rarely the case, it does happen)

This particular weekend was one of those weekends that I have learned to take advantage of. My wife and her mother, met up with her aunt in Bolingbrook, IL (did everyone follow that) to do some shopping for our new home. This left me with an entire Saturday of “Man” time. I am pretty sure she wasn’t out the drive way at 9 AM and I was on the phone to my two buddies organizing the day. In true guy fashion although the planning started at 9 we didn’t get around until 12 and our day consisted of a trip to the bike shop, Taco Bell, Xbox, cycling movies, and various beverages from Gatorade to bottles of wines. Days like these call for only one type of wine, Two Buck Chuck! It is the quintessential party wine, good enough to taste early, and cheap enough to not taste late. It was glorious! As night grew closer the group slowly departed just in time for me to make a mad dash and accomplish a few chores to hide the fact I had wasted an entire day. The Mrs. Got home just before 9 PM and made it a point to congratulate me on the fact the house was not a “Cluster Bomb.”

I spent the remainder of the evening with the wife. We rose early the next day to get our lives together before the “big game.” We spent Sunday w/ her folks watching Da Bears lay a stinker and lose to the Pack. Due to the emotional strings attached this topic we are leaving it at that. The highlight was easily the get company we shared along with a surprisingly good bottle of Kendall Jackson Chardonnay. This particular wine surprised me with its quality, especially because it erased my preconceived correlations between the quality of a wine, and the fact it has a commercial. I have never been a fan of wine commercials, and I am guessing not many people are judging by the fact that there aren’t many playing, but none the less this one was worth it.

Back to my point, I love Mondays! It is usually my most productive day, and most enjoyable as I reflect on the fun and not so fun activities of the weekend, and start planning for the next making each day one step closer to time with family and friends.

Cheers- Brandon