20
Jan 10

Episode 10: Sara Kay’s Wine Club

Each month Sara Kay chooses a selection of wines for her wine club members at the WineStyles in Chicago’s South Loop. Since everyone has different tastes, she chooses two sweet wines, two dry white wines, and two dry red wines for her wine club members to choose from. In this episode, we’ll taste the monthly wine club picks for January 2010!

  1. Red #1: Casa de la Vega, Tempranillo. (La Mancha, Spain).
    • This is a fruit driven Tempranillo with minimal oak aging. It is ample and mild, with fresh and ripe fruit notes (of blackberry and cherry) with a bit of vanilla, coconut, mint and laurel. It is much easier access then its Rioja cousin.
    • Cost: $24.99
  2. White #1: Water Color, Chardonnay. (Languedoc, Franc).
    • Bright gold‐yellow color with straw yellow tints. A very elegant nose with a quintessence of pineapple, hazelnuts, lime blossoms and quince aromas with vanilla and toasted bread notes. A rich and mellow palate with very good acidity and a long persistent finish with pineapple notes.
    • Cost: $24.99
  3. Red #2: Twisted Oak: *%#&@. (Paso Robles, California).
    • This is a charming blend of 50% Mourvedre  28% Syrah 22% Grenache. Bright, deep ruby red color. Wildly aromatic with scents of tarragon, lavender and allspice accenting the core of ultra-ripe berries. Rich and ripe on the palate with flavors of blueberry and raspberry supported by complimentary notes of earth and brown spice.
    • Cost: $24.99
  4. White #2: The White Mullet. (Clare Valley, Australia).
    • An intriguing blend of 60% Riesling, 16% Viognier, 16% Sauvignon Blanc, and 8% Chenin Blanc. Made with no oak, it is an unpretentious and zesty white perfect for everyday drinking.
    • Cost: $22.99
  5. Sweet #1: Ca’Dei Mandori, Brachetto D’ Acqui. (Italy).
    • This sweet bubbly is purplish-red color. It seduces you with the aroma of roses, and cherries; a pleasant sparkle and a tasty, inviting finish. This is best pared with chocolate cake.
    • Cost: $22.99
  6. Sweet #2: Colli Piacenti, Malvasia. (Italy)
    • This sweet wine reveals clean, elegant aromas of dried apricot, candied fruit, caramel, peach jam, and a hint of vanilla. The mouth has good correspondence to the nose, a round and sweet attack which is continuously perceivable, intense flavors. The finish is persistent with flavors of caramel, apricot and peach jam.
    • Cost: $24.99

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

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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