LACRIMA

  Maggie is smiling right now because she already knows how much I adore this wine.  Lacrima Di Morro D'Alba from Conti Di Buscareto is a wine like no other.  I think of it as an escape.  The first scent you are greeted with is roses and candied violets.  The overwhelming beautiful scent of this wine is an escape of its own.  You instantly feel more relaxed and content.  The flavor is intense dark fruit and firm but soft tannins.  The finish is a long and lingering perfume on the lips.  As we roll into the holiday season, couldn't we all use an escape to beauty?  Lacrima will give you that escape in an instant!!
Lynn

Jones: Rosé of Syrah

I wasn't in the store the day we did our Jones tasting, so I didn't get the opportunity to taste the various wines. So, when I saw the Rose of Syrah in the cooler this evening, I had to try it. To be completely honest, I wasn't trying it because of the wine, I was trying it because it's pink. It is a gorgeous, deep, almost luminescent pink and it looks wonderful in our BELLA wine glasses! It also has a really nice smell and it fills your nose with a flood of scent. The first sip was a bit of a surprise. It is not partically dry or exceedingly sweet. I was instantly hungry for cheese. I'm not sure what it is about wine, but all I ever want to eat when I drink a good wine is a good cheese. My second and third sips were even better. They came with even more cravings for food. As Bev says, a good wine gets you ready for your next bite of food. It isn't a particularly dry wine, but it does have a bit of a kick to it. It's light, but fruity and feels great in your mouth. All in all, this was a great wine. I can see myself drinking it over dinner or just sipping it on the porch enjoying the last few days of summer.

Hope you're all enjoying the first days of fall!
- Caite

a rose by any other name!!

We got a wine truck in today and I am always looking for the most intriguing label.  This time it happened to be a wine from Southern France, Perrin Nature ( I have a fondness for butterflies) from the Cotes du Rhone.  I LOVE wines from this region for they tend to have just the right spicy fruitiness for my taste.  Beverly and I thought that it would be fun to compare this young 2010 wine with Domain Clavel, a 2007 wine from the same region.   Wow was it fun to tast and see the differences!  Domain Clavel had a nice brick color.  It was very pleasing to my nose as I smelled deep black cherries or currants.  There was full fruit with lots of peppery spices in the back.  Comparing this to the Perrin Nature, the colors were strikingly different.  The Perrin Nature was more solid with dark plummy colors.  It had a more earthy smell with hints of flowers.  The tast was even more young tasting, as it was brighter and seemed to be softer in body.  It had more fruits than the Domain Clavel had, and with only hints of spices.  I had lots of fun tasting these side by side as it helped me understand how wines can come from the same place but still have their differences.  For the ending thoughts on both of these lovely wines, I have to say that I like them both!  For dinner I would have the Domain Clavel and for sipping, bring on the Perrin Nature! 

Maggie

Pasqua Prosecco

I happened to be in the mood for a sparkling wine to celebrate the arrival of my friends baby and wanted something different to experience.  We have a stack of Pasqua at both stores and being as it is also at a GREAT value, it was time to take this one home!  I was immediatley impressed!  I loved the fruity smell it gave and once I tasted it, it immediately became my new favorite celebratory wine.  It is very soft, and is fruitier than most sparkling wines I have had.  I had an easy time drinking this as it was creamy and had this great sweetness right up front.  It was just so light and went well with the peaches and strawberries. 
Take one home and enjoy!
Maggie

BABY BELLA

Mushroom Jack Cheese that is. Sierra Nevada, Organic Baby BELLA Jack Cheese, is such a delite. This creamy, hearty cheese invites you in with just a glance from across the room. It caught my eye while I was standing just feet away.  Moments later I knew that I had to take it home with me. We dined together enjoying such a richness, with added notes of sea salt and garlic, atop a fabulous grilled chicken pasta. This delectable cheese would pair nicely with a Pinot Gris from the Northwest or your favorite Viognier from France.  Whatever you choose, your cravings are sure to be fulfilled.
Thanks Maggie for the kind introduction...

Jen

Walldette....another Forgeron Cellars wine

I would have to say that wines from Forgeron Cellars has to be impressing the BELLA crew this month for we keep writing about them!  One of the new additions to our wine selections is Waldette, a white wine blend of Chardonnay, Roussanne and Orange Muscat.  A wonderful combination of grapes that had me curious!  When I first smelled this, I got a lot of citrus and floral notes, which I have not noticed particularly with chardonnays before.  So, to take a sip of this wine, I found myself taken away by the soft white peaches and pears with the creamy heartiness a chardonnay carries with just a touch of spice.  I love this new found wine and could say that it went well with my crackers and brie!  I would also love to have this with some chowder!    
Maggie

Forgeron Cellars '09 Ambiance

    One of the best parts of wine, to me,  is learning more about it than just the taste.  There is so much "in" a bottle of wine.  I first loved Forgeron when I found out that it is a woman making these wines!!  I love the thought of an intelligent and truly talented woman crafting my wines.  I had never tasted a Merlot with so much depth and character until BLACKSMITH with its strong bold flavor and lasting silky finish.  Keep in mind I have not had that many Merlots, but I can taste the art of crafting with love for what it is and will become.  I am certain this woman loves what she does.  In the beautiful white blend she has made, AMBIANCE it strikes that certain chord in my mind that puts my mind at ease.  Its sensational aroma of honeysuckle flowers and stone is the first characteristic that made me close my eyes and say Mmmm.  This white wine is silky, full bodied, and complex.  One can taste honeydew, a little green pear and the Roussanne brings this stunning reflection of terroir.  My favorite part is the lasting power of the finish. I am thinking I need to try this one with some lobster!!
Lynn

For the LOVE of FRENCH INSPIRED WINE...

Forgeron Cellars, 2009 Ambiance; It says it all in the name.."AMBIANCE"  This  remarkable blend of Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, and Viognier, puts my mind in state of romance. It envelopes my taste buds with a creamy yet tart, thirst quenching flavor. With the smell of green apples picked right from the tree, wet river rocks running through my nose.  This full bodied white is the perfect ending to a fairytale.  Paired alongside Rogue Creamery's Touvelle Cheese, with the rosemary flavor making it a perfect match.  Creates memories of almonds and nutmeg in a rich buttery bechamel sauce served upon a bed of homemade fresh pasta...Mmm, I'm hungry for dinner...anyone want to join me??

Jen

Forgeron Cellars: Blacksmith Merlot 2008

When I first tried this wine, I was a little hesitant. Of course, that isn't saying much. I really don't have much experience with wine so I'm hesitant around most of them. One of the first things I noticed about this wine was the color. It's a very nice, deep red, with a hint of burgundy; it kind of reminded me of the color of grape jelly. It also sits very nicely in my glass. It moves as I move and reflects just the right amount of light. There isn't much I could say about the smell. It smells like wine, which is a good place to start I suppose. I am still in the process of fine tuning my nose. When I first tasted it, I didn't really have much to say about it except, it's dry. Now, my mother loves dry wines. So I grew up tasting her wine and it didn't do much for my fondness of dry wines. The first few sips left my tongue cringing. However, I tried some Bravo chipotle cheddar cheese and then some paté. Boy, did that make a difference. I immediately changed my mind after having some paté. Not only did the paté relieve my tongue, it also brought out more flavors in the wine and made it a much more pleasant experience. Suddenly, the dry, albeit pretty, wine was something I could see drinking with dinner.

- Caite

BLACKSMITH

  This 08 Blacksmith Merlot from Forgeron Cellars in Walla Walla is outstanding!!  Everyone who loves big, full bodied reds must take 2 bottles of this wine home.  When you finish the first bottle you won't have to worry if there is any left at BELLA.   What a find!!!
Lynn

Time to Start Tasting!

The BELLA Grand Cru will post their notes and thoughts about the world of great wines (plus many more thoughts about wine, food and chocolate of course!) right here...
Stay Tuned!!
Here's Maggie getting a head start!