"How Delightful to talk about ideas, especially with someone
laboring in the same vineyard."
                                            Annie Dillard

And, right back to the vineyards of  Australia, Yalumba Winery, and my musings, of course.  

We ventured into the world of Grenache with the Yalulmba Barossa 2006 Bush Vine Grenache.  This delightful easy-drinking wine was created from 70 year old Barossa vines.  It just happens to be one of my personal favorites as it is what I like to call a "no-brainer."  Grenache of this caliber is not fussy.  You don't have to dissect it to enjoy it and you don't have to spend a ton of money to acquire it.

Grenache is a varietal all its own and is responsible for the beautiful wines of the Southern Rhone in France, most notably Chateauneuf-du-Pape.  Also, Garnacha is a principle grape grown and produced in Rioja Spain but a rose by any other name is still ......Grenache.  And, Yalumba's Grenache is like a subtle fruit bomb in the mouth. The wine is full of ripe plums, cloves and sweet berry, cherry flavors.  It is full and soft and seamless to the end with juicy tannins.

Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate gave this lovely an "87" out of a 100 scale. Pretty good for a wine that retails for $18.99 and is consistent from vintage to vintage.  

bush_vine.jpg

So, the next time you visit us at State Street Exchange, remember that the wine tastings are every Thursday from 5:00-8:00 pm. We open a white, a red and a sweet wine for the chicks... (or rather a sweet wine for the men to take home to their chicks, after some persistent prodding on my part)   And that the above picture is not of your Grandpa after a few......but rather, one of those 70 year old vines that keep producing some outstanding, affordable wines from Yalumba.

Until
The Wine Tellar
A


 


WOW!  You survived the great Indiana earthquake of 2008!!

And, as if some seismic unsettling of the earth's core wasn't enough to set you on edge, then I can help you.  It's the end of the world as you know it so get a refund for that carbon off-set you purchased and trot on down to Greenfield Liquors, aka State Street Exchange, drink some wine with me and we'll all go down together..... to Australia that is.....which is exactly where we landed on Thursday with the wines of Yalumba in tow.

Welcome to the wonderful world of one of my favorite vineyards.  But, to all of my faithful readers out there (all one of you) you already know this little factoid so I will plow forward with brevity, wit, and a few descriptive adjectives thrown in, just to confuse those of you in Greencastle.  

I was delighted to open, from the "Y" series of Yalumba wines, the 2007 Reisling. This is a tremendous wine not only for the price, $12.29, but also for the lime, grapefruit, and citrusy flavors that exploded from this straw colored wine.  This is not your typical sweet Reisling.  It is dry, acidic and delightfully clean on the finish. Do yourself a favor and pick up a bottle or two for the upcoming weekends.  

After all, with all of the children's activities clouding up your free time, don't you owe it to yourself to partake in a little prince/princess time now and then.  If not, I have also found that soccer games go by much faster while sipping on a fresh, clean glass of wine.....I'm just saying.

Until
The Wine Tellar
A






Thursdays wine tasting at Greenfield Liquors has introduced some seductive and delicious white wines and this past week was no exception.  We opted to go back to the classroom to learn our A,B C's again. And, A,B,C does not stand for "Anything But Chardonnay" because that is exactly what we opened, tasted and thoroughly enjoyed.

From the whimsical winery "A to Z", home based in Oregon, this unoaked Chardonnay was well balanced and wonderfully friendly.  To those wine tasters who are unfamiliar with unoaked Chardonnay, to put it simply, these grapes were aged in a stainless steel tank so that more of the natural flavors of the Chardonnay grape could come shining thru.  And, shining thru they did with vivid pears, green apples, limes, tangerine and a hint of smooth butter finished off this succulent summer wine.  

The price is a little, well, pricey for what I would consider an 'everyday' wine meant to drink now although may hold its own for about two years.  At $15.99 you might want to save a bottle or three of this wine to entertain and serve to your rich uncle with a heart condition, if you know what I mean.  Or, purchase a bottle and save it for a special occasion. But, from where I sit, everyday is a special occasion and worthy of partaking in the grape, so crack open that cap, come on over to my house, and we'll toast the coming of Spring.

Until then, see you on Thursday and remember: 

                  "The purpose of life is the expansion of happiness!"*

and the expansion of my wine cellar....

The Wine Tellar
A

*Quoted by Depok Chopra

Welcome to the return of "Thirsty Thursday's" wine notes as we are back pouring our hearts out along with some great wine on Thursdays from 5:00 - 8:00 pm.  I am sacrificing my precious evening hours at State Street Exchange to help you, the finicky wine connoisseur, get a jump on some great wine for yet another busy but pleasurable weekend.  The things I do for wine!  The things wine does for me!  It's a beautiful partnership.  Now let's talk some wine....

The red wine selection of the day was from one of my favorite wine makers Greg Graziano who hales from Mendocino County in northern California.  The Graziano family of wines has been around since 1918 and in my humble opinion, taste better every year.  We opened the 2001 Petite Sirah and never looked back.  This delicious little beauty is actually 95% Petite Sirah and 5% Zinfandel, and originates from old vines scattered throughout the bench lands (places to sit after drinking to much for those of you in Knightstown) and hillsides of Mendocino County. 

On the palate, this wine is smooth, soft and ripe full of ripe berries, plums, cherries and a dash of spice.  It would pair amazingly with roasted lamb or beef and even hearty pasta dishes, preferably with red sauce, should the urge to cook actually overwhelm you and make you forget, even for a second, the wonders of carry-out.
But I digress because I don't cook!!  Yes, it's true....a wine drinker who actually doesn't pair wine and food and actually drank this "Petite Gem' with a chicken quesadilla compliments of Qdoba and found it equally delightful long after the tasting was over the panty hose had hit the floor.  Now that I've delivered that promising imagery to your frontal lobe I will bid you good-bye and tell you to "Never Expect more than this and a mental ramble.  I'm in the market for some present tense",*  Or in my case, some "wine" tense.  See you Thusrday.

The Wine Tellar
A

*Quote compliments of Annie Dillard

Welcome to the continued musings of the Wine Taster of Greenfield.  I taste it, and drink it, so you don't have to....unless you really like it then of course, buying it would come under your purview.  We continued Saturdays tasting by turning our attention from "Shoo Fly"  to Shiraz and before you know it we'll be sharing sea shells by the sea shore.....Sorry, I have spring break on the brain......back to the tasting.  
Yalumba, the oldest family owned vineyard in Australia,  delivers quality wines vintage to vintage and has done so for over 150 years.  This particular wine is grown from 30-50 year old vines from the Barossa Valley.  The final product is 95% Shiraz with 5% Viognier blended in to actually soften and enhance the color of the wine (a little French trick).  This has always been a favorite wine for me because at under $20, it delivers a mouthful of dark cherries, plums and fruit flavors that are well balanced with a nice, easy smooth finish.

Enjoy this wine at your favorite upcoming family gathering or just as a nice way to end the day.  After all, finding a great wine at a great price, so close to home is a delightful way to to end any day......especially those days ending in "Y".

As Always,
The Wine Tellar
A

Hello fellow tasters of the grape!!  A belated Happy Easter to all of you across the fruited plains.  I apologize for the lack of interesting and informative wine tasting notes from our now infamous Wine Tastings at Greenfield Liquors. But, alas, my trusty computer took a serious nose dive and had to be placed in intensive care. While minions of "techno geeks" were pouring over my hard drive, I too, took a nose dive on Saturday and poured myself a new addition to the store from Southern Australia.

May I introduce you to "Shoo Fly, Buzz Cut 2006." This reasonably price white blend is new to the store so in an effort to appear chic and cutting edge, we chilled this little Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Viognier blend and popped the "Stelvin Enclosure" (or Screw Top for those of you in Lebanon) Unfortunately, I think we chilled our little "Fly" just a scoosh too much as the initial taste was bland and lacking in any kind of flavor. However, I am happy to report that, by tastings end, the wine had warmed up and the citrus of the Sauvignon Blanc and the flower of the Viognier could definitely be identified on the palate.  

So, for those of you who tasted my little "Shoo" early on and were seemingly disappointed, just remember, "Days in summer are apt to linger"* and when they do, may you have plenty of good summer wine to enjoy with a little food, a few good friends and minutes that linger as you watch the world go by... in "Fly " time, of course.

As always,
The Wine Taster
A

*Quoted by Oscar Wilde


Welcome to my musings on yet another successful wine tasting at Greenfield Liquors.

Saturdays at the store are quickly becoming the destination spot for both the seasoned wine drinker as well as the newbie.  And, although the weather enticed most of you to stay away (it was downright tropical on Saturday) those of you who did venture over to the wine counter walked away with some pleasant nuances on your palate.  

First on the lips was the Ruffino Pinot Grigio from the Friuli region of Italy.  This was a surprising wine to taste.  I am so used to the light, tastless Pinot Grigio's from California, think Ecco Domani, that when I first tasted the Ruffino I was taken aback. The palate was rich and full of flavors blasting forth with ripe pears and crisp juicy apricots. The finish on this full bodied wine was long and zesty.  The price point, at $12.99 made this wine even easier to swallow.  With spring right around the corner, put this little gem in the "fridge" and pop it out whenever you have company over that you want to impress.

The red selection of the week was from Argentina.  Bodega Trapiche, under the label of Broquel, has bottled one outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon.  This 120 year old winery harvested these grapes from the warm region of Mendoza and that made all the difference.  This was a very seductive wine and had me at Hello!  The bottle opened up with a bang.  The aroma was fruit filled but a little tight at first.  As the day progressed, this Cab opened up and softened into creamy, well-crafted juices full of black cherries and wild berry flavors.  The finish was firm, long and fresh.  And, as luck would have it, local chef and Carnegie's restaurant owner Ian Harrison stopped by long enough to give this wine his nod of approval as well. But, most impressive of all is it's price tag, at $15.49 this jewel will impress even the most ardent wine snob.

Last on the tasting table was the Muscadelle Tokay from the Chambers Rosewood winery of Australia.  This dessert wine was full of molasses, spices and brown sugar with a little rum raisin ice cream finish.  The 18.5% alcohol content along with the high residual sugars creates an amazing concentration of flavors that are meant to be relished after dinner in front of a fire.  This powerful little bottle of wine has a little something for everyone.  Share it with yourself first and if there's any left over, grace someones palate... but only if they are worthy.

Well, that concludes our trip around the world!  Your wine passport has no doubt been enhanced and you are now thirsty for more.  Don't despair, every Saturday is traveling day so join me from 1:00-4:00 pm and we'll hop the wine train together.

Until...
The Wine Tellar
A

Well, the Saturday before Valentines Day was business as usual.  The men presented themselves in uniform fashion while purchasing their favorite libations and I verbally taunted them for not tasting this weeks wines.  Most men will say they don't "do" wine.  To which I respond, "It's not for you, it's for the lady in your life."  There are always a few comments, some funny, some sad, but inevitably, a few manage to set their beer up on the counter and saunter on over to share some wine and a story or two.
I have found in my many hours of wine tasting with the general public that people are very shy to step up to the bar and simply try the wine being poured.  I think the men are intimidated by what they don't understand (we'll chalk that remark up to both wine and women) and the women are actually shy about  drinking in public.  But, after a little friendly banter, many patrons have 'bellied up to the bar'  and put their inhibitions on hold for all of 5 minutes. And, much to their chagrin, they have sipped and actually purchased some devilishly good wines.

This weeks selections were chosen for their "love" appeal.  First up was 'Red Electra', a sweet wine made from the Muscat grape.  This sinfully delicious wine is loaded with berries, cherries and a hint of tiny bubbles.  All told, this California favorite has only 5% alcohol.  And, I'm told by an inside source that this is the wine of many a "working girl".  I'm not going to go in to any details because a women's greatest asset is a man imagination.... so use your imagination and let's move on.

Il Cuore was the red wine choice of the day.  This blend of Sangiovese, Carignane, Zinfandel and Syrah was absolutely music to the palate.  The plums, berries and ripe cherries in this northern California creation were as similar and tasty as any Italian Chianti fresh off the boat.  And, at a retail price of $13.69, any Italian wine lover would approve of this little gem should it arrive at their doorstep via the cabana boy or the lady who drinks Red Electra.

Our last little luscious wine is aptly named, Desiree'.  And, desire it you will after the first taste.  This dessert wine from Rosenblum in California is as close to candy bar in a bottle that you will experience.  It's dark ruby in color and the aroma is like a creamy cherry chocolate pie.  I admit, I was a little nervous about a wine that brags about tasting like chocolate as I am a non-chocolate consumer.  But, after my first sip....let's just say I was delightfully surprised, and you will be too!!

Well, that's all for this week.  A truly Happy Valentines Day to all you wine lovers out there.  And, for the yet undiscovered wine lovers, a magical 'loveapalooza' to you as well.  Until we chat again.....

The Wine Tellar
A

I've been working on all our beer inventory this week.  This is one our fastest growing areas in Greenfield Liquors, particularly the microbrews and imports.  We have beers from around the world and our own backyard.   Some of the names are FUN!   Gumball Head, Aged Yeti, Dead Guy Ale, Hazed and Infused and Hoppin' Frog..just to name a few.  We have mix and match 6 packs and many singles available so you can try one at a time!

February 2, 2008...prelude to Super Bowl Sunday.  And, believe me, the beer drinkers were out in droves which leads me to believe that all you  wine drinkers were home drinking to get through another masculine weekend full of nachos, pizza and "Hey, Honey, get me another one will ya?"  But, alas, there were a few curious 'tasters' out there so let me give you a little preview as to what was on the palate that you missed!

We began the festivities with an old favorite, the Moseland Riesling from Germany. We had tasted this wine before the Thanksgiving holiday because it pairs so well with turkey.  And magically, it also paired well with some of our patrons.  This wine has the benefit of originating from the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer in Germany, known for its crisp, fresh Rieslings.  On the front end, this wine delivered pineapples, pears,mangos and finished the same with just a hint of bananas.  This is a universal Riesling as it is semi-sweet yet not to much so, and fits any palate and any occasion. This wine is also beautifully packaged.  Each bottle contains a unique picture that flows through the wine and captures the imagination. And, my father always said that a woman's greatest asset was a mans imagination.  I'm just saying.

We then transversed our way back across the 'pond' to rejoin our friends in Napa. Fittingly, the red wine of the day was Blue Jean Wine, a blend of Syrah, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Franc.  This delightful value of a wine was just as fitting to taste as the fit on your favorite pair of blue jeans that you may be wearing right now as your sitting at your computer, wine glass in hand, reading this blog...(you really should get out more).....anyway, its not a pretentious wine, just a simple wine with an almost bistro style personality to it.  The mouth was full of juicy ripe berries and finished with a red, dark cherries.  And, as if its universal appeal isn't enough, it retails for under $9.00.

Our last selection of the tasting was a lovely dessert wine, Nivole Moscato D'Asti from Italy; sorry, we did a little globe trotting last Saturday,but, as usual, the Italians did not disappoint.  This wine is sweet due to the high residual sugar, low in alcohol and full of fun 'tiny bubbles' or "Frizzante" as the Italians like to say.  The nose is rich and pleasant and the palate is full of honey, apples, and pears.  This is a wine to be served before dinner, as a toast for any occasion or simply as a night cap to lull oneself to sleep after a day of international travel.

So, I hope you have been enticed to join me next Saturday.  I welcome the curious, the seasoned veteran, and yes, even the beer drinkers.  After all, March Madness will be upon us soon and, sometimes, we chicks, prefer something other than beer.

The Wine Tellar
A


 


Castle Rock Wines were at the top of their tasting game this past Saturday at Greenfield Liquors.  The introduction of the Castle Rock line to the market brought with it all the same pleasure one might receive should the Colts ever find themselves back in the Super Bowl.  

I like this wine for one simple reason: their mission statement. Castle Rock pledges to source the best grapes from vineyards in California and Washington State, hire the best winemakers, outsource the fermentation, the bottling etc., then present to the market, great value wines...all without a lot of overhead or marketing.  We call it a "virtual winery" as there virtually is no tasting room or winery to speak of.

So, on behalf of all virtual wine tasters everywhere, we opened and tasted the Sonoma County Pinot Noir, the Mendocino County Zinfandel and the Central Coast Chardonnay.  In addition to these, the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and the Napa Valley Merlot are also available at Greenfield Liquors.

All three wines were a big hit!  The Pinot Noir was full of strawberries, and raspberries along with cherries and hints of smoky flavors.  The Zinfandel was complex with flavors of black fruit, raspberry and plums mixed with notes of pepper, and spice. The Chardonnay, although a bit oaky for my taste, was still full of vanilla, pear, citrus and melon flavors.  I also had the pleasure of opening both the Cabernet Sauvignon and the Merlot while loosing at Euchre to my overly opinionated brother and his wife.  And, thanks to the full palate, the long finish and fresh fruit in both of the wines, the loss was a lot easier to swallow.

These wines all retail between $10.39 and $15.99 and are consistent vintage to vintage, which is just another reason why I like them so much.

Stop in this Saturday and introduce yourself while picking up your last minute Super Bowl necessities.  Nothing says football like a great bottle of wine, and virtually nothing says wine quite like Caste Rock!

xoxoxo
The Wine Tellar
A


Full Moon Winter Ale by Blue Moon 

As the winter storm threatens, here at Greenfield Liquors we are embracing winter with a special on Blue Moon's Full Moon Ale. This is a great beer!  The beer reviews suggest the aroma is warm and nutty to start with and it pours a nice rich, amber. There is an essence of brown sugar that comes through very well.  The flavor reflects the aroma as this is a mellow, relaxed beer with deep nutty malts and a velvety texture.

So...get it while it lasts and snuggle up by the fire and enjoy the snow!
Full Moon, regularly $8.11 now $6.79 while supplies last!


(Alcohol reviews)

It is time to get comfortable with your favorite jeans and this new wine! It is part of Americanna to end a tough day and go home and slip into your favorite jeans. This wine is made with the same philosophy...relaxed and comfortable, yet original.  This red wine is a blend of Syrah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc and many others to keep it interesting.  The aroma is raspberries and a hint of the zinfandel spice.  The flavors are juicy plum with a touch of oaky vanilla on the finish.  It is  semi-dry and easy to drink going easily from pizza to steak.  At  $8.79 a bottle, it is comfortable on your wallet as well.

I love their catch phrase:  Blue, it's the new Red!!!

OK, I know the Colts are not there, but at least we can have a party to cheer for the Giants!  If not, I guess you can just drown your sorrows until next year.

We just had a tasting of the Diagio line of pre mixed drinks that make it easy to get the party going...just add ice!  They have all several different styles.  One is the Smirnoff Grand Cosmopolitan, made with vodka, cranberry and Grand Marnier.  Another is the Jose Cuervo Golden Margarita.  It is ready to serve with the tequila right in it along with a touch of Grand Marnier for a great flavor.  The Friday's line of drinks are also included.  Flavors like Mudslide and Orange Dream are favorites.  The snacks or ice are on the house with a $2.00 off offer!

Mark your calendars!  State Street Exchange aka Greenfield Liquors has thrown down the gauntlet to all you oenophiles (or wine enthusiasts) to take a few hours out of your hectic errand running weekend to sip some wine and tell a few stories at their Main Street location.  Every Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, I will be pouring selected wines from around the world, telling you my wine stories and interested in hearing yours.  I typically open a sweet wine otherwise know as a dessert wine, a white wine and a red wine.  Something for every palate to partake in, enjoy and possibly even purchase!

My love affair with wine started as my love affair with Mr. Williams was ending.  Everyone needs something to be passionate about when love departs.  I chose wine because it was soothing, elegant,tasty, and never once told me to lose weight.

Since then, I have worked both sides of the wine aisle from consumer to wholesaler.  I have traveled extensively to California and Washington State to sit in tasting rooms, eat magnificent food, and listen to vitners tell their stories.  

I am excited to be pouring wine again simply for pleasure!  I hope you'll join me on Saturday and introduce yourself.  I am Amanda, wine lover, new blogger and from now on, the "Wine Tellar".  

Come drink with me soon.....and look for my weekly "tasting notes" at this sight.
A


Mixed Drink Recipies:

A pair of Jacks beats a full house! This new drink recipe was a highlight

from a recent visit to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. Although I do not have

all the details….here are the ingredients. Use your imagination and put

these together to make your own!

  • Absolute Pear Vodka
  • Cranberry juice
  • Simple syrup
  • Triple Sec Liqueur
  • Fresh lemon
  • Bitters and Ginger ale

Mixed Drink Recipes:

We rang in the New Year with my best effort on the fabulous "Mortini" from the famous Morton's Steakhouse!   This is one of my favorite drinks! Their pomegranate martini was topped with a unique, tantilizing pear-cinnamin foam.   The passion fruit was the only ingredient I was not able to find on short notice, but the classic pomegranate worked well as a base.

Base:  Rose's pomegranate drink mix
          Grey Goose Vodka
          Twist of Lemon
          **mix in shaker with plenty of ice**

Topping:  (prepare this first)
         pasturized egg whites, whip to make 1 cup foam
         3 TBS Pear puree
         2 TBS white sugar
         1 TBS Goldschlager Liqueur
         ***stir gently into foam and spoon on top of base***
          

Product reviews:

Big Tattoo White, Two Brothers

Good wine for a great cause!  This blend is a mix between a semi-sweet/dry Riesling and a sense of the full bodied Pinot Blanc grape, which is very similar to the Chardonnay grape.  This wine has a sweet tart taste on first sip and completes itself with an interesting pear and melon finish.  This would make a nice food wine and $.50 of every bottle sold goes towards breast cancer research!

The brothers lost their mother to breast cancer and took action to save others in a fun way.  Buy some wine and make a difference for someone's Mom!!  Click to read more about the Big Tattoo Wines.


Malvasia Di Castlenuovo Don Bosco

This bubbly, soft red wine, is from a delightful Italian winery.  After tasting this wine for the first time, I was very pleased to find that although I was expecting an overly sweet dessert wine, the wine was light and refreshing.  The aroma of the wine had a hint of cherry.  After tasting Malvasia, I found it had a nice strawberry and fruit as well as tiny bubbles which only added to its charm!  This would make a wonderful wine to server as a pre-appetizer drink or to serve with dessert.


Here is your chance to try some new wines! If you haven't met Amanda yet, you are in for a treat! She brings her knowledge of wine and bubbly personality to Greenfield Liquors every Thursday evening from 5-8 p.m. She will be choosing something new every week and looks for a little something for everyone. We often choose small, wineries that bring unique and quality wines that you won't find at the grocery stores! So if you love wine or have never even tried...she will have something for you!!! Come in and join us!