None of us are on the chronologically young side. Let's put it this way -- Rick is the youngest and it distresses him that he isn't younger. So, we thought we'd bring some young wines to the party -- wines from 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Now, not every wine gets better with age. Some are fine early on, others are actually made to be sipped when they are young. The whites are more likely to hold up well when young but we weren't so sure about the reds.
The good news is that we all pretty much liked everything on the tasting table!
We started with Dick's Cavit Pinot Grigio IGT 2015 (Italian). This wine is freely available in grocery stores so it makes for an easy buy. Cheryl our resident white wino said "I love it! It's lovely!" (And she liked it so much that she kept this one as we went on to reds another wine later!). Dick said, "Every other Cavit white I've tried I haven't liked but this is pretty good." It was light, tart, and very fresh. At $9, a good buy, especially for a party when the wine is flowing (and white doesn't stain. Much.)
We tried another white next -- Bob brought Josh 2016 Sauvignon Blanc from California. this was totally different from the first. It was smoother and more sophisticated but to me it felt "heavier." It was a little sweeter than I like. Bob paid $12 or $13 on sale, so figure another dollar or so more.
Pat brought Robert Mondavi Merlot 2016, Private Selection. This was another good buy -- $9.99 at our Meijer grocery but she got it on sale for $8.99. I really liked this one. It had a lot of tannins and you could taste the black cherry without it being sweet. We could see the "legs" on the glass (those drips down the inside of the glass when you swirl). I'd definitely get this one, especially at that price.
Barb brought Chateau Ste. Michelle's 2015 Indian Wells Merlot from Columbia Valley, Washington. She called it a "tried and true friend."Clayton noted it was "Dry -- it's good!" and we all noted then ice tannins. Mike noticed "a little oak flavor in the back." My palate isn't nearly so sophisticated. I like it or don't, for the most part. This one was nice. Barb found it for $15 at Costco. (My photo of this bottle must have been fuzzy. Sorry about that.)
However, at this time it might be useful to point out that if you don't have Wine-Away and you spill red wine on the light carpet -- whether it is a drop, here, or the better part of a glass (later), oxy-clean works really well!
Bob brought a second wine -- another Josh and another Merlot (2015). This was interesting because it gave us a chance to taste several of the same kind. I wrote down "This is nice but I think I like the Mondavi better." It's all preference, folks. He said this one was $14.
Anne brought Bridlewood 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robls, CA. Rick called it "A delicious wine." And someone said, and maybe it was me but I think probably not "I'd buy a half dozen and cellar it for five or six years. It was definitely good now, but I do think time would make it even better. This was the picey wine of the day -- $20.
Dick brought a second wine, Ghost Pines Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Winemakers Blend. This is a combination blen of several different vineyards. Anne noted it was almost like a pinot noir, lighter than one would expect from a Cab. Someone else said, "This has dimension." Sorry -- I don't have the price on this one.
We wrapped up with the Franco Serra Barbera dÁlba DOC 2016 from northern Italy, which I picked up at our local wine store for $14.99. I am such a fan of the wines of the Piedmont. They're full of flavor and this rich red didn't disappoint. As I was researching it, they noted that Barbera dÁlba is best given several years of bottle to age to allow the fruit, oak and tannins to best blend. It was terrific as is -- so I might pick up a couple of bottles and try my hand at cellaring! (Rick said it was his favorite.)
Corkie dinners are always the best! Cheryl had a pretty table with wine-button bookmarks for us to take home which served double duty as napkin rings.
Dick had made a wonderful Irish Stew which we had with Rick's bread (not that we hadn't half filled up on Pat's cheese and crackers and bread during the tasting).
Top it off with Anne's cornbread and Barb's salads and you're in for food heaven.
For dessert I made Isabelle Lambert's Lemon Meringue Log. This is like a yule log only with a light cake filled with a super tart and totally delicious lemon curd, then "frosted" with Swiss meringue and torched.
It was my first time with Swiss meringue or torching -- I had Rick do the honors there. The recipe is from her book "Lemon" ("Citron") and it includes 100 recipes that feature lemons. It's a winner.
If you're into trying wines and want to check out our Cork Poppers take on various types, click on the Cork Poppers link on the menu here!
Thanks, Monique, for introducing me. (This is Isabelle's website but I couldn't get the translate feature to work on the primary copy -- just the headers, so if you can read French, check it out!)
Sharing with: Let's Keep in Touch at Let's Add Sprinkles
50 comments:
Such great times, Jeanne! You and your hubby are so fortunate to have such a great group of friends. Oh-the wine tasting! I'm not a liquor person, I do like beer, especially outdoors. And Pinot Grigio is my white wine of choice. Can I say Barefoot? Just so light and fruity and tingly on the tongue!!! lol! :) You can see I'm a connoisseur!
Such a great post and I want to thank you for your visit today. I feel like we are good friends already!
Jane x
Well, I don't have good knowledge about wine, so everything you've written about these wines sounds abstractly for me haha!
But I can't be proffesionalist in everything :)
It's always good to get together with a bunch of like minded friends. It sound like you had a great time :-)
And a great time was had by all, that's what's important!
Not much of a wine drinker, but always nice to party with friends.
It all looks wonderful and your lemon cream yule log has me drooling, yummy. Glad you found some good wines. I use Oxi to get rid of coffee stains, it's good! Have a lovely day, hugs, Valerie
Looks like a fun fun time! Oh--and I love lemon desserts!
Deraest Jeanie,
how about coming to Monferrato and buy here the wines you like most, such as Barbera, Moscato, Pinot and so on?!?
I do live near Asti, you know, and I'd love to know you so much!
Thanking you so much for sharing your moments of gladness with us,
I'm sending blessings across the many miles
XOXO Dany
Hooray--been missing your Corker posts, Jeanie! FUN with the focus on young wines this time, Jeanie! Some nice selections you tried. Younger wines are sometimes more wallet-friendly prices, so we try new wines a fair bit. Robert Mondavi wines are nice! Ghost Pines--what a great name! And I like the sound of the taste of that one. Oh, and you're so right, Piedmont wines rarely disappoint! Such good food to go with wine... and your dessert looks sooo good! Love lemon, lemon curd, love meringue...mmm... Thanks for sharing the fun and abundance! :) ((HUGS))
I like everything about this group and I'm not a huge wine drinker! It just looks like fun. :)
Any group called “Cork Poppers” is one I want to sign up for! Before I retired I worked for a private company whose owner was a wine connoisseur and he bought all manner of vintage wines, and every so often he would put together an assorted case for me. Today my budget is a little more conservative, Jeanie, but if you make it up to this area we can clink a few glasses together! Eat a little fine cheese......some pâté........artisan bread.........see a few birds even.......I’ll drink to that!
Sounds like you had a great time, and enjoyed the wine selection... Even if you liked some more than others.
Dinner sounds like it was nice too. I especially like the sound of Rick's bread followed by that lemon dessert you made.
Even though I'm not a discerning wine taster, I learn so much from your wine tastings with friends just reading the comments. I love these posts. The food Oh my, I would've been as full as a tick with an evening like that! lol
Your dessert looks fantastic. I've been in a lemon mood lately, and I've chosen a lemon pie to feature on Pi Day! I'll show Trip this post because he enjoys trying new wines. He likes red, so he might like the one that Rick liked best!
I will have to look into the lemon cookbook.
Sounds like such a fun and informative evening Jeanie! And such a great way to learn what wines you like and don't like. I had to laugh at the photo of the carpet cleaning! I never serve red wine at a party just for that reason!
Jenna
I'll pass on the wines, but the lemon log looks scrumptious. I'm not about to be torching any dessert, I suppose, but the thought of lemon curd always makes me drool. I recently discovered that Bonne Maman is making lemon curd now. I tried it, and believe me, that $3.98 curd from Maman more than equals the curd I've always preferred from American Spoon, which is more than a touch more expensive.
I love posts like this Jeanie. You provide us with such the perfect touch of friendship, news, knowledge and plenty of smiles. I have tasted a few of these wines myself!
Jemma
Great.
Ho fun! Such a rich life filled with great friends Jeanie..I am going to send Isabelle a link to this:) Your log..C'est beau!!
So many wines..oy re the rug.. been there in our almost 45 yrs of marriage:)
What fun! Many years ago, I spent 20 years as the co-owner of an inn/restaurant in central New York (right smack in the middle of the triangle formed by Syracuse, Utica and Binghamton - talk about the sticks! LOL). One of my favorite times of the month was the wine tasting when the salesmen came to try to get us to update our winelist LOL.
As always, thanks for sharing - it's fun reading about your full life!
I don't drink wine much anymore, but I will try Cavit Pinot Grigio sometime. We've tried the Robert Mondavi Merlot before and liked it. You guys have so much fun!
Merci Jeanie pour les bons commentaires, c est très apprécié :)
I hardly know where to start. I have been reading some of your posts. That baby boy is absolutely beautiful and looks like he will soon conquer the world.
I enjoyed your post on genealogy. It is certainly fun to find out about our past. I remember how wonderful it was to meet a first cousin I never knew I had because she researched her genealogy and the family she never knew.
Of course, I always enjoy the adventures of the Cork Poppers. The wine and the food all look so good.
Thank you for sharing, Jeanie and have a great week.
It looks like you had fun!
I miss my little group that did wine tasting. I think we will plan a small event this year, get together and taste wine. I'm a white wine lover but love some reds. I always enjoy your cork poppers posts!
Jeanie, I was afraid that lemon log was going to slip off the plate! I love anything lemon. Bob and I must do a wine run to Denver next week. Wines here in the mountains are extra-expensive.
That lemon dessert looks most wonderful. I love anything lemon. I have two friends that are really into wine, one just got certified as a sommelier. She would enjoy your post. That Oxiclean is the best for sure. I love seeing all the fun your group has sipping and nibbling.
How fun! I guess I need to order a couple of bottles of
Robert Mondavi Merlot 2016!
Jeanie, you all have so much fun! I always enjoy your cork poppers posts! Ooh, the lemon dessert looks delicious, I am a fan of lemon curd!
I love that you have this group of like-minded friends that can get together and enjoy wine and food and each other's company. I can't drink any alcohol with the neds I a on for some inflammatory issues but I love your reviews. xo Diana
I am very impressed with that awesome log cake you made. It not only sounds delicious, but it's looks fabulous! I bet it was a hit of the evening. I think your cork popper groups like a fun bunch, and I hope Rick isn't feeling too old because he's got so much life in him from what you tell us. Actually, you both seem like a couple that loves life. Hope all else is well. Hugs-Erika
Oh what fun. Thanks for sharing the information on the different wines.
Your Lemon Meringue Log is making my mouth water!
What a great group of friends enjoying each other's company, food and wine. Tell Rick he's not old the way he rides! Impressed with your cake, I think I would love a piece of that, I love lemon and citrus flavor. Always enjoy your get togethers........
It looks like a nice get together, Jeanie. Your lemon meringue log sounds Yummy. I love lemon goodies. I can always tell who you are in the picture because you're always the one smiling. : )
~Sheri
I always love these posts and see some wines we would like to try. I'll tell you something funny now! The Robert Mondavi wine with that pretty Lighthouse label is one of our favs right now. We drink a glass of wine for dinner every night and love this one. Anyway...to the funny part. The lighthouse label peels off...very easily! They used some kind of glue that allows you to peel it off without tearing. And then if you have a piece of craft paper...you can still it right on. I put one on the front of some paper to make a journal. So there's your handy dandy tip for the day! hahaha! you have SO much fun! Wish I could join you! Hugs, Diane
Swiss meringue looks yummy!
Young....what is that? haha. Wait, I think I do remember that a little bit!! haha...looks like you are always doing something fun. Now as for wine, used to be a drink of choice at one point in my life but then it started affecting my headaches, and made my breathing difficult. Then I found out it is the sulfites in the wine. It would set off a migraine so fast and it would mess with my asthma. But, I used to drink both white and red, learning that I like the white the best. Sutter Home White Zinfandel was my fav.
Fun times. You all look so happy (and I'm sure it's not just the wine:-)
Amalia
xo
Okay, so I know nothing about wine, but I vote for the Ghost Pines bottle as the best name and best looking label.
Your group has the most fun. I would love to be a fly on the wall! I think it's good to keep entertaining in homes. My friend group has chosen to meet at a restaurant weekly. It is a great way to keep up with each other but doesn't have the personal touch a home has. It makes you lazy too!
I love that you try different desserts as well as wine.
This looks like so much fun. Tasty wine and lots of great food too. :) Thanks for sharing this with us. Wine and cheese sounds good for tonight (it's snowing out now).
~Jess
I am not a wine drinker, but I have tried Merlot and hated it. I guess my taste runs to dessert wines. However, I was totally impressed with the meal and your wonderful yule log. Stunning food, good conversations, and a bit of clean-up made for a great post. LOVE it even if I don't care for wine.
Those button bookmarks are too cute:) You and your friends are so creative.
I love your cork popping posts. They are always put fun and joy.
What a great name for your wine group! I love these posts. Looks like fun for all.
OMG ..Don’t you have fun ... I do love Pino Grigio .. but my hubby would probably go for the Mondavi... Infact, there are a few I have never tried... so bring on the Party ( ha ha)... I really enjoy potluck ... the menu was a perfect match for the wine gathering ... but OMG ...that Yule Log looked YUMMY !!! Good company , good food and lots of laughs is what life is all about...Thanks for sharing this fun loving post... Hugs
Jeanie, what a fun, fun evening. Love those Cork Poppers! I bet the Bridlewood would've been my favorite. Or one of the reds anyway. I'm not a big fan of white wines.
I am a fan of your Cork Toppers posts . . .
Saving this post . . . so as to try some of the favorites.
As I get older there are times I am content with just the cheese, crackers and appetizers . . .
Another meal on top is almost too much . . .
Maybe my tummy is shrinking, wouldn’t that be a good thing!
Love the fun these evenings bring . . . friendships too . . .
There's nothing wrong with being on the older, more mature side of things. Nick and I absolutely prefer spending time with people older than us. :-)
It sounds like you had some very nice wines and great food. Your yule log looks great. You missed out not using the torch. It's pretty fun!
I am so jealous of the Irish stew That seems to be something I am completely incapable of making. I've been tormenting us for years with failed (epic failures) attempts. This year I've promised Nick that I won't do that to us. He was very relieved!
It looks like such fun. Good food and fellowship. The meringue looks lovely and delicious. Thanks for sharing at Keep In Touch.
Post a Comment