How To Taste Wine

I received this article from Food & Wine today and thought it was too good not to share. It breaks down all the different aspects of wine tasting and gives ways to practice! Have fun!

http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/wine-tasting-workout-train-yourself-to-be-a-better-wine-taster?xid=WINELIST091912WineTastingWorkout

 

Cheers to Tiny Boxwoods

“How fair is a garden amid the toils and passions of existence.”

Tiny Boxwoods is a true gem hidden in the heart of Houston. You can’t see it from the road as there is no signage. You have to know where you’re going or you’ll miss it. This is one of the reasons this lovely spot is in fact so lovely! It honestly feels like a true escape from the city. Tiny Boxwoods started as an espresso bar in a nursery and garden center and (maybe last year?) began opening for dinner and has blossomed into a beautiful dining spot. Every time I visit I leave happy and satisfied. When you arrive and enter through the garden gate the beautiful green lawn and the walls of flowers surrounding the patio welcome you into another world where faeries might exist.

Luckily there is abundant seating on the patio so if the weather is nice this is the ultimate place to dine or sip al fresco. The young chef, Baron Doke, consistently comes up with creative menu options with a rustic French flair. The food never disappoints and the wine hasn’t either. He’s super friendly and charming and gets out and speaks to the patrons and will discuss the food with you. You can tell he’s genuinely excited about what he does and that love comes through in his food. I’m told he chooses the wines on the wine list as well but if that is incorrect someone please tell me. Whether it is him or someone else, they always have a great short list of wines to choose from.  While some restaurants offer wine lists long enough to rival the dictionary, Tiny Boxwoods goes the complete opposite direction. Clean, concise and creative are three words I would use to describe the wine list at Tiny Boxwoods. I love trying new wines and they always have something new to taste.

The last time I was there, our fabulous server was chatting with my husband and I about wine and he mentioned dessert wines (not on their menu at the time). He said they were thinking of branching out and adding the to the wine list soon but were still playing around with the selections. When I expressed interest, he set up a dessert wine flight for me that was out of this world delightful. I was like a kid in a candy store and way too excited to play it cool! The sad part is that I took detailed notes on my BlackBerry so I could post on here about my delightful experience and then I lost my notes when my phone ran out of memory… I was sick. So while I can not tell you about the specific wines I tasted that night, I can tell you that I had such a terrific time and tasted some delicious wines and fantastic food and would recommend the experience to anyone. We dined inside the cafe that night and the ambiance just added to my pleasure filled evening. Vintage French music played, the wine flowed and the food thoroughly impressed.

If you feel like escaping the hustle and bustle of the city for a night I highly suggest you pay Tiny Boxwoods a visit for a little taste of garden magic!

 

First Night Out!

What a wonderful whirlwind life has been lately! This won’t be any surprise to any parents out there but it was sure a shock to me… my life has really changed! I’ve traded in my wine glasses for baby bottles as of late but I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel and things will calm down a bit once we’re out of this newborn phase (all the parents out there are saying “Yeah right!”). Ok a girl can dream… Anyway, my husband and I had our first night out in December (umm we’re now coming up on April if that gives you any indication about how behind I am with this) and it was fabulous! Still, though, while I’m out I’m constantly thinking of the little one and wondering what she’s doing. That didn’t stop me from thoroughly enjoying the delicious wine and food we had that night, though!

We went to dinner at Azuma as I was craving sushi non-stop the entire time I was pregnant! I’m sure our waiter thought I was crazy because I ordered enough sushi for about three people and just plowed through it! It had been a long time coming and I wasn’t feigning a dainty appetite. It was delightful! I enjoyed a clean, crisp glass of champagne (Chandon Classic Brut if memory serves… always a favorite) with my sushi but was saving my real wine delights for Cova next door. We walked over after dinner and it was packed as always. I always enjoy the atmosphere in there. I ordered the Sexy, Silky and Sensual wine flight which was completely enjoyable. The first glass was an old favorite of mine that I had sort of forgotten about, Laetitia Pinot Noir ’07. I was so happy to become reacquainted with this lovely wine and it was even better because we also ordered the Sarah’s favorite brownie with caramel topping for dessert and it was a sublime pairing. I was in Heaven and this was just the first glass. The dessert really brought out the creaminess in the wine and the warm, smooth caramel undertones. My mouth is literally watering as I’m reliving this in my mind. It had a little bit of lavender on the nose which always reminds me of the lavender fields at Becker Vineyards in Fredericksburg. One of my favorite places. The second offering in the flight was new to me, Cru Pinot Noir ’07 from Vigna Monte Nero, CA. It was totally different from the first glass and I never was able to really get my head around it. It had a tangy, meaty smell which reminded me of jerky. It had a clean finish and very little aftertaste. I’m sure if I would have ordered this on it’s own it would have been fine, but it just did not flow with everything else I was tasting that night. Definitely the odd man out. The last glass was Ancien Pinot Noir ’07 from Carneros, CA. I’m a sucker for Carneros Pinots so this was definitely more my speed. It reminded me of the Laeticia a little bit because of the floral hints on the nose. It had a warm, buttery flavor and a smooth texture. There was a slight hint of raspberry on the nose and palate. This would be a great holiday party wine. It was very good and I would definitely order this and the Laeticia again.

All in all it was a great night out with the hubby and I thoroughly enjoyed myself! I no longer take for granted nice meals and nice wine. It’s become such a treat but still nowhere near as sweet as the little treat I have at home! Cheers to all the parents out there! I get it now!

 

Baby Uncorked!

Just in case anyone has been wondering where I ran off to… I promise I’ll be back! Rumor has it wine’s not so good for you when PREGNANT! Yay! That’s right, I have a tiny little bun in the oven so my wine tasting had to go on hold for a while. My little one is due in October so my palate will be rested, refreshed and ready to go this winter! I have a few older reviews I’ve written and not posted that I’ll put up for the time being. So in the meantime, my friends, have one for me!

Mandee

 

Santa Margherita 2006 Chianti Classico

“When the world seems to shine like you’ve had too much wine, that’s amore” – Dean Martin

My new Italian love. Sophistication starts immediately with a gorgeous bottle that looks older than it is, like you might have to blow a bit of dust off the label. Deep reds and gold hues give  overt impressions of good taste and class. Inside, the contents are just as elegant. Medium bodied wine with a smoky, structured backbone. It was absolutely delicious with the papparadelle from La Vista that I picked up for dinner that night.  It suited the hearty mushroom ragout and goat cheese perfectly. I beheld rich aromas and flavors of coffee and tart plums with a chocolate, caramel and toffee aftertaste. It was a stunning combination. Well balanced and smooth, it was extremely easy to drink. I found this new favorite for about $23 and it gave me more than enough reasons to seek it out again. I highly recommend this gorgeous wine. It obviously works with Italian food but would be just as lovely for a cozy evening curled up on the couch with your own amore (ok so I’m not Italian…).