Screw Kappa Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Silly Name… Serious Wine

I used to see this wine on the shelves at the grocery store and crack up laughing. I thought the name of it, Screw Kappa Napa, was so funny that it couldn’t possibly be anything actually drinkable. It wasn’t until one day when I was playing around on the Sebastiani website that I realized that this silly sounding wine was actually one of theirs… Sebastiani has a division called Three Loose Screws and under that label they have several wines, one being the Screw Kappa Napa. Once I realized that this wine did in fact come from a reputable place my curiosity got the best of me and I bought my first bottle of SKN Cabernet Sauvignon. Lo and behold the wine was great! It’s somewhat similar to its cousin (see previous post) the Sebastiani Cabernet but a little less aggressive. The regular Sebastiani Cab is one I go to when I’m looking for something serious… a big, bold wine that doesn’t mess around. The SKN has just as much to offer but is a little bit more mellow. It offers the same smoky tobacco aromas and is dark ruby in color. It tastes of blackberries and black pepper. This would be a great wine to enjoy with a steak dinner but also gets the job done as an after work cocktail! So don’t let the funny name throw you… this wine means business.

 

Masi Masianco Pinot Grigio

Sweet Sweet Summertime

So maybe this wine isn’t so sweet but it sure does remind me of Summer. Thanks to Kaleb at Cork Café for introducing me to this lovely little Italian treat. While I have lately come to enjoy the lighter whites, I took to this one even more than usual. I think it’s because it was not what I expected. I believe the little twist comes from the blend of the pinot grigio grapes with verduzzo grapes (25% worth). So while you are still getting the classic white fruits of the pinot grigio you also get the pleasant surprise of almond and pineapple flavors along with a little bit of creaminess brought in by the verduzzo. The bright acidity is balanced out by just a hint of brown sugar sweetness that lingers on the tongue. I felt like this wine had more structure than most pinot grigios I have tried. If you are looking for a refreshing Summer staple this wine definitely fits the bill. It would be a great accompaniment with many foods as well. I believe you should be able to find a bottle for around $15 in stores. Salute! 

 

Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Smooth & Sultry From Sonoma

What a sexy little bottle this was. It was complex and alluring and definitely got my attention. This was a wine that actually made me sit down and evaluate what was going on with it. This Sonoma County Cabernet has something to say. “Drink me.” Sebastiani used grapes from three different sub-appelations to create this California beauty: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma Valley and Alexander Valley. While it is 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, it also features small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot. This blend adds to the astounding complexity that this wine offers.

What first struck me was the depth of the garnet color as I poured it into my glass. I’d forgotten how dark a Cab can be. Before I even lifted the glass I was getting whiffs of rich black cherry and cedar (cigar box as the winery notes called it). I could tell that this was a wine I would need to let breathe for a bit. It was worth the wait. Firm in tannins and structure, it was a teensy bit tart on the tongue giving off flavors of black cherry and even a little bit of hazlenut from the oak but had a smooth and creamy finish. It also had flavors of smoke and black tea. So many wines I’m just indifferent about… this was not one of them. This was a wine that really made me think. My boyfriend and I enjoyed it so much and would definitely buy it again. I bought this one at Spec’s in Houston (Old Farm location) for around $16. This would be a perfect wine for a night when you felt like grilling steaks. It could definitely hold its own against hearty food but I think it would be just as enjoyable with a salad dressed with balsamic vinegar. Great… now I want a steak.

 

Sofia’s Sparkles

Pretty Pink Bubbles

I remember the first time I ever ordered Sofia Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine at a bar and was absolutely stunned when the bartender brought me a champagne flute and a hot pink can. What the heck??  Wine in a can? Ewwwww. The precious pink can quickly won me over just because it was so darn cute with it’s peppy pink color and swirly white writing. While I thought the can clever and cute, I didn’t expect much from the wine. However, it was actually really good! I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s the best I’ve ever had or anything, but definitely tasty. It was a bit heavier than I prefer my sparkling wines but the flavor and bouquet were very unique. The fragrance is almost like a perfume and the flavors are bright – think melon, lemon and honeysuckle. This wine was created for Sofia Coppola by her father, Francis Ford Coppola as a wedding gift so you could say it was created with love.

I had actually almost forgotten about these little bubbly babies (as my juice usually pours from a glass container) until yesterday when I was at a surprise party being thrown to congratulate a friend. A friend of mine brought several 4-packs of Sofia Minis (this is what the cans are called) and they were absolutely adorable in the silver ice bucket. They come with little straws attached to them… perfect for saving lip gloss! So cute for a party or any time you need bubbles on the go (maybe poolside). Everyone oohed and ahhed and got such a kick out of them so if you’re planning on entertaining any time soon, the Sofia Minis might be worth considering. If cans aren’t really your thing, you can also purchase Sophia Blanc de Blancs in a bottle that is so lovely and comes wrapped in pink cellophane. The presentation of these wines is half the fun. Whichever you choose, bottle or can, it will definitely make a flirty and feminine statement. If you are in Houston, you should be able to find these wines at Spec’s. I actually found a bottle at Fountainview Liquors in the Galleria area for $17.99 which is a good price. I believe the suggested retail is around $19.

This wine is made from a blend of Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat grapes grown in Monterey County where they enjoy a long and cool growing season. This allows the wines to develop that crisp acidity that we all enjoy so much from our bubbles. There is one Sofia wine left for me to try and that is the Sofia Pinot Noir Rosé. It’s on my list! I’ll let you know what I think once I have a little taste. Until then, sparkle on my friends!

 

1+1=3 = Delicious

Sparkling Spanish Cava at a Spectacular Price

1+1=3 is how U Mes U Fan Tres, a Spanish winery, labels all of their bottles. Their non-vintage cava brut is definitely worthy of some space in your refrigerator. It’s crisp and clear and tastes clean and only slightly sweet. It is spectacular alone but since it doesn’t have an overwhelming fruitiness it is the perfect partner for OJ on Sunday Funday (mimosas=yummy happiness). Non-vintage only means that the grapes used to make this wine weren’t all grown and harvested in the same year. This is common for sparkling wines. Sometimes you will see them marked as NV. Cava can sometimes be a bit harder to find due to the overwhelming popularity of it’s bubbly French cousin, champagne. The difference between the two is primarily geographical as they are both made using the same method. Italian Prosecco is made a little differently creating a fruitier final product. If you are in Houston, one place that I know carries this wine (they actually recommended it to me once) is a wine bar/store called Cova. It is located near Rice Village on Kirby. There is another location on Washington but I am not sure that they carry it. You should be able to pick up a bottle for less than $15. Enjoy the bubbles!