Wine Show Episodes

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06
Jan 10

Episode 9 – Baby It’s Cold Outside!

In this chilly winter episode, we’ll taste some unconventionally crisp and refreshing winter wines, and some more conventional deep warming ones too. Also, look out for sweet wines!

  1. Adega Coop, Ponte Barca (Vinho Verde). Portugal.
    • This is a crisp refreshing White, with lively notes of lemon lime, and honeydew melon, with a touch of natural effervescence. It is perfect to have before a meal.
    • Cost: $13.99
  2. Seven Sisters: Yolanda (Chenin Blanc). South Africa.
    • This Chenin Blanc is full of upfront tropical flavors with underlying green pepper and vegetative notes. Acid is clean and fresh on palate with lingering fruity aftertaste.
    • Cost: $16.99
  3. Robertson, Gewurztraminer. South Africa.
    • A sweet full bodied South African white chocked full of intense tropical notes of pineapple, banana leaf and fresh honey. It is a perfect match for spicy food.
    • Cost: $13.99
  4. Le Mourre De L’isle, Côtes du Rhône. France.
    • This is a blend of 60% Grenache Noir, 40% Mourvèdre with aromas of blueberry on the nose and smooth tannins in the mouth with sweet little red berry fruits and coffee hints in the finish.
    • Cost: $18.99
  5. Koyle, Cabernet Sauvignon. Miapo Valley, Chile.
    • Koyle Cabernet Sauvignon is dark ruby, with a nose showing a great amount of blackberry, dark chocolate, cedar, tobacco, and coffee and spice notes typical of the Maipo Valley. Tannins are well-formed, and come together beautifully, with a silky and balanced finish.
    • Cost: $22.99
  6. Sweet Baby, Cagnina di Romagna. Italy.
    • This is a sweet, grapey red, with hints of ripe fruits, and lots of berries, it is smooth, silky and devilishly sweet. It is a great match with dark chocolate cake, and fairs well with a little chill on it.
    • Cost: $16.99

This week at WineStyles SOLO we have all of these wines open to try by the glass as well, so if you’re in Chicago come in and see us!

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Wine Show Episodes — No Comments
27
Dec 09

Episode 8 – Bubbly Wines For New Year’s Eve 2009!

In this bubbalicious bubbly tasting, we’ll look at 6 off-the-beaten-path sparkling wines to spice up your New Year festivities!

  1. Finca El Retiro, Extra Brut (Chardonnay & Pinot Noir). Mendoza, Argentina.
    • Love it!
    • Cost: $13.99
  2. Castillo Perelada, Brut Cava. Spain.
    • AWESOME nutty, citrusy, bready heaven
    • Cost: $15.99
  3. Antonin Tuffer, Blanc de Blanc (Chardonnay). France.
    • Large Party Worthy… buy for cost, not quality
    • Cost: $11.99
  4. Luis Pato, Maria Gomes, Portugal
    • Fun, rare, more for food then celebration
    • Cost: $19.99
  5. Luis Pato, Baga. Portugal.
    • Jammy, dry and wonderful
    • Cost:$19.99
  6. Michel Loriot Cuvee, Brut Champagne Rose. Champagne, France.
      • A perfectly elegant dry Champagne Rose
      • Cost: $46.99

      Remember that each of these wines, and all of the rest of the wines you see on WineSoaked, are available through my Chicago wine store, WineStyles South Loop.

      To order, call (312)431-9999 or email me at SaraKay@winesoaked.com. Note that if you need me to ship, standard shipping and handling will apply!

      HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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      28
      Nov 09

      Episode 7 – Beaujolais Thursday!

      This week we celebrate the transitory nature of life by sampling the year’s freshest and most fleeting wines! Every November France’s Beaujolais appelation releases a new crop of fresh, young wines out into the wild. Sara Kay explains the Beaujolais Nouveau tradition and reviews three of the newly released 2009 Beaujolais Nouveau offerings:

      • Louis Téte 2009 Beaujolais Nouveau – $15.99
      • Georges Dubæuf 2009 Beaujolais Nouveau – $8.99
      • Mommessin 2009 Beaujolais Nouveau – $14.99
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      11
      Nov 09

      Episode 6: What the Heck, Malbec?

      • PSH (Malbec) 2008 $14.99… This Malbec is from Mendoza Argentina. The wine maker is Philip Schell, a native frenchman from Bordeaux, who is trying his luck in Argentina, so needless to say I was excited to try this wine. However, I found it to be shockingly fruit forward with bright notes of blueberry and blackberry notes, and the acidity was shockingly overwhelming. It was a good burger wine, and not much more.
      • Antis (Malbec) 2008 $15.99… This is also a Malbec from Mendoza. This was significantly more pleasing. It had a lovely nose of plums, tobacco, and leather, and a medium bodied velvety palate, that makes it lovely to drinkable wine on it’s own or with a juicy piece of steak!
      • Bianchi Famiglia 2007 (Malbec) $24.99… This is the KING of Malbecs. This one has been aged in oak for at least 10 months and it shows. It is significantly more complex and less acidic then the 1st two. It also offers up some richer bakeshop elements such as cocoa, coffee, and cinnamon. I could drink this all night long… and just might. It also seems the only one worth cellaring.
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      31
      Oct 09

      Episode 5: Happy Hallowine!

      The first Wine Soaked Halloween Episode! Featuring:

      • Pure Evil Chard… $10.99… an obvious example of over MLF treatment, as well as “wood chips” opposed to quality oak barrels, the fruit and butter is overwhelming and flat. However the 14 + alcohol kicks the party into gear. I will say it’s significantly better with melon pop-rocks. Makes it sooooo much better.
      • Evil Cab Sav… $10.99…… This is a Cab from S. East Australia… it is a cooler climate, so this Cab is different then what we think of as Cabs, it has bright notes or cranberry, and raspberry, high acidity and low tannin. It is opposite of the Cabs we know from Bordeaux & Napa. It will not blow your socks off, but it will get the job done.
      • Ghost Pines… $22.99… This Cab is a delectable blend of Napa and Sonoma fruit fermented in new french Oak, and it shows. There are lovely elegant layers of black cherry, tobacco, leather, and a touch of eucalyptus on the nose, and it is followed by a dry smooth toasty pallet. It is hauntingly good!
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      29
      Oct 09

      Episode 4: Fall In Love With Wine

      Sorry for my absence, gang! I have been suffering through flu seasion, and if there is one time I can tell you that you should absolutely NOT drink fine wines, it is when you can not smell. Because 75% of the experience is lost.

      This week I focused on wines that keep you warm as the temps drop this fall… and go great with fall time food, such as homemade chicken noodle soup, chili, stews and more.

      1. Divine Light Verhelho by: Vinaceous from South Austrailia $16.99
      2. Barbera D’Asti From Italy $14.99
      3. Terrapura Carmener Chile, Central Valley – $18.99
      Wine Show Episodes — 1 Comment
      29
      Sep 09

      Episode 3: Get Screwed!

      For Episode 3 of Wine Soaked, Sommelier Sara Kay brings you Chicago’s only punk rock wine show! Sara Kay punks out with a full meal’s worth of wine sealed entirely with new, non-traditional enclosures–including “Stelvin” screw caps & even pop tops.
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      Wine Show Episodes — 2 Comments
      21
      Sep 09

      Episode 2: The Dinner Party

      Sara Kay looks at three wines that she’s selected for a dinner party, explains how they pair with her food, and shows how to open three types of wine bottles.

      In this episode:

      • Emri Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc ($15.99)
      • Dry Creek 2008 Chenin Blanc ($21.99)
      • Van Duzer Vintner’s Cuvee 2007 Pinot Noir ($23.99)

      Also, check back here later on in the week. Sara Kay will be posting her wine list for the upcoming show, so that you can buy in advance and taste along with her!

      Wine Show Episodes — No Comments
      14
      Sep 09

      Episode 1: Blanc de blanc vs. Blanc de Noir

      Sommelier Sara Kay gets a bubbly start on her new Winesoaked wine video blog series by examining two bubblies: Pierre Delize blanc de blanc and Gruet Brut blanc de noir. Along the way you’ll learn how to open champagne (or any other bubbly), the purpose of a champagne flute, and, if you’re lucky, how to enjoy bubbly as much as Sara Kay does.

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