Stag's Leap Wine Cellars' Artemis Cabernet 2007

Usually I don't write about wines that are nearly impossible to come by. I call it the Wine Spectator syndrome. They are forever raving about wines that I will never have the chance to see, let alone drink. That is, unless I'm in the same provincial French hamlet where they happened to find this local wine for a mere €250. I like to talk about things that you can run out to the store, buy one, take it home and try for yourself. This time I'm going to go a little rarer because I had an excellent bottle of wine with friends the other night. It was a 2007 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars' Artemis Cabernet. This wine is still available in a couple of better wine stores, but they're presence is getting scarce. One of the reasons is that 2007 was a phenomenal year for much of California. Near perfect climate conditions made for one of the best years in recent history for them. Even average Cali wines turned out really tasty and, in turn, came to be great bargains for wine lovers.

My family joined my friend Henri and his family for dinner recently. We sat on their covered patio overlooking the garden having some beer and cider before dinner. (Shiner's Ruby Redbird and Ace's Pear cider to be specific. Both delicious.) Henri's wife Linda had everything food related under control as she usually does so when we saw her fire up the grill for the steaks, we knew it was time to open some wine to decant it. I brought over the Artemis, uncorked it and gently poured it into the decanter. Even with a cool breeze wafting across the patio, I could smell the wonderful aroma of this dark purple Cabernet. Blackberry was the prominent ester with a faint vanilla floating behind it. I polished off my Ace Pear cider and cleansed my palate with a few mild crackers. I wanted badly to dive into the wine, but I also wanted to wait on the steaks. I waited and it all paid off. The medium rare steak was magnificent. We also had some roasted veggies from the garden that lay before me and some crusty French bread. What made the whole meal complete was the Artemis. It was one of the more complex wines I've had in awhile. There were blackberries, black cherries, raspberries, currants, cedar, vanilla, and new word I learned, "petrichor" or the smell of earth after it rains. (It's a word not associated with wine yet, but I'm working to change that. Petrichor. Try it out yourself.) That's the terroir influence shining through all that fruit. It was wonderful.

I finished my steak and veg and sat back fat and happy with half a glass of wine to sip at my leisure. And sip it I did. Even after the wine was open and decanted for about forty minutes, I could tell the tannins were still very present. This made me realize that I could have saved this bottle for a least another five years and it would have softened a little more and been even tastier. As it was, though, I'm glad I opened it and enjoyed it. Even better was having great friends to share it with. Which is really how wine is supposed to be enjoyed. Friends, food, and fermented grape juice.

As I said before, finding this particular vintage might be difficult if not impossible. If you find one, just get it. You'll be glad you did. If you pick up a more recent vintage of the Artemis, the tannins will more than likely be pretty bold. Just let it air out for a while in a nice decanter. I've never had a bad bottle of wine from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars and I can bet you won't either. Cheers.

Go see Stag's Leap Wine Cellars at http://www.cask23.com/

See more reviews at www.talkingsimian.com

Poggio Anime Sameal Montepulciano D' Abruzzo

For the last decade, I haven't been one to always pair a regional food with a wine from the same region. When I was first becoming a wino, I did this all the time. Northern Italian foods with Northern Italian wine, French provincial with Burgundy, etc. While that kind of pairing is usually quite good, I don't necessarily follow that anymore. I'll put together a chicken parm with a German Kabinett if that's the mood I'm in. Tonight, however, I decided to go back to the beginning and have this Montepulciano with a good Italian meal. I drummed up some marinated beef kebabs and spaghetti with a simple marinara. (Many thanks to Francis for the recipe.)

I poured a couple of glasses and let the wine air out a bit. As per usual, I can't wait until dinner to drink wine so I sampled it. It was unmistakably a Montepulciano. It had the old world wine flavors that reflect the terroir of the region; earthy, herbal, and dark fruitiness. Another little tidbit about this wine is that it is aged in tightly grained Slavonian oak barrels. It is a less expensive barrel alternative to French oak and it imparts only the faintest of woody flavors which leaves plenty of room for the fresh blackberries and rich cherries. The concentrated flavors only became more complex as the wine rested in the glass. Overall, this inexpensive wine was the exact right thing to have with my kebabs. Other things that you could match it with would be a nice bolognese, some lamb chops, or a cheesy supreme pizza. (Hold the green peppers on mine, please.)

About the label. That is Samael. He is one of the seven archangels. According to Talmudic texts, he serves God, but he wants humans to act evil. He is said to be both good and bad, which translates easily to Montepulciano. In Italy, it's easy to get tired of this wine because it is ubiquitous. That's the bad. The good is that it is a very tasty wine. Not all Montepulciano wines are good. I've had some bombs, but this one is not. It is a very tasty, inexpensive dry red wine that you should make an effort to try. Saluti.

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American Grill, Grove, OK

If I remember correctly, the old saying goes "From the ashes rises the phoenix" and that is exactly what happened to The American Grill. When The Grill was in their small location on 3rd Street, I was a frequent diner. I had tried everything on the menu and it was all really good. Through a series of unfortunate events, it was broken into, ransacked and set on fire. I was quite angry that someone would do that to a business, not to mention it was one of my favorite businesses. Fortunately, they were not deterred and not only started cleaning up that place, but also looking for a new bigger place. They found a location on Main Street attached to a motel that was being vacated by another restaurant. Hard work and dedication led to a 2014 New Year's grand opening for the new American Grill with much more seating including an old fashioned lunch counter.

Their menu kept most of the tasty favorites that I had before, but added some new things that I am ready to add to my list of things I've eaten there. The name American Grill is an apt one since the cuisine is delicious American food standards. They have great burgers, big sandwiches, steaks, salads, pasta and the American staple chicken fried steak. Also on the menu is the instruction that if you can't find what you want, make a request. If they have the ingredients in the kitchen, they will make something just for you. Try doing that at a chain restaurant! If that wasn't enough, they also have daily lunch and dinner specials that may or may not be on the regular menu. And they didn't let a good building go to waste. Their old location is the home base for their fantastic catering services. There isn't much more praise I can bestow on The Grill. Friendly staff, good management, skilled cooks and great food all make for a pleasant dining experience even if you have to wait a few minutes for a table on Friday and Saturday nights. You can find them at 1623 S. Main in Grove. You can also call in a to go order at 918-787-8689. Tell them the Talking Simian sent you. They'll have no idea what you're talking about but it will be funny for a couple of seconds. Happy dining. 

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Beauty is Embarrassing

I don't know about you, but I love love love a good biography. Whether it's a book or a film, I enjoy hearing about people's lives. I'm not prejudice about subject matter either. The stories could be about Clint Eastwood, Dr. Dre, or Ben & Jerry or they could be about Noam Chomsky, Whitey Bulger, or Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The person's notoriety isn't as important as the story itself. A case in point, the film biography of Wayne White. It's called Beauty Is Embarrassing and it is important.
Wayne White is a name you probably haven't heard before, but you may have seen his work. He was a puppet designer, puppeteer and set designer for Pee-wee's Playhouse. He did animation work for Pee-wee and other kid's shows. He also did the animation for the Smashing Pumpkins' video Tonight, Tonight and Peter Gabriel's video Big Time. Wayne is a painter, sculptor, illustrator, musician, public speaker, and an all-around great guy. He cusses a lot but it isn't malicious. Like me, its just how he talks.
Wayne was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He had a long career of television work on both coasts but decided to scrap all of that and move back to his home state. There he and his wife, Mimi Pond, (a prominent illustrator herself) their son and daughter all live creative, artistic lives.
If you are an artist, a musician, a business person, or you wish you were, this is a fantastic documentary for you to watch. Wayne has been through the wringer that life often gives creative people and has come out the other side playing the banjo and singing. If you need a little inspiration to motivate you into being the creative person you want to be, watch Beauty Is Embarrassing. It's streaming on Netflix, but it's a film that I have ordered so I can have a copy to watch if they ever drop it. I don't want to forget a film like this. I hope you enjoy it too.

"This place is so beautiful it hurts my feelings." - Wayne talking about Tennessee.
Here is a link to his website. http://waynewhiteart.com/

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Banfi Rosa Regale

With the dawning of a new year, I have decided not to make resolutions other than to be a better Jonathan than I was last year. Better at whatever it is I decide to do. One thing is to be a better wine lover.
I personally enjoy most varietals and sweetness levels of wine, but my preference is dry red wines. They are just more compatible with my senses. I can, however, taste the driest natural Champagne in the same sitting as the sweetest Sauternes or Ice Wine. If a wine is good, I will drink it. If it's too sweet, I won't drink much of it, but you're really not supposed to.
This New Year's Day, I opted for something a little sweet since my drinking partner thinks dry Champagne tastes like vinegar. No amount of samples and instruction from me will change her mind, so I picked out a sweet sparkler to share. It is one of the best and most overlooked sweet wines in the world, Banfi's Rosa Regale.
Brachetto grapes have been growing in Italy for a long time. In a certain vineyard in the Piedmont (Piemonte)area in northern Italy, they have been growing these grapes annually since the mid 18th century. In 1979, John and Harry Mariani acquired the vineyard for Banfi Vintners and renamed it Vigne Regali. Since then, they have honed this 100% Brachetto wine into what I had as my first wine of the new year, Rosa Regale.
Even though Rosa Regale is categorized as a demi-sec or semi-sweet wine, it is so rich and fruity that the brain is tricked into thinking it is sweeter than it actually is. (All that is based on sugar content, not taste.) That didn't stop me from enjoying the heck out of it. It is a darker rosé and is packed full of wonderful tiny bubbles. The taste of Rosa Regale is akin to a raspberry jam, full of fruit, pleasantly sweet but not overly so, and as smooth as they come. I have heard in the past that this wine is the absolute perfect wine to have with chocolates, so that's exactly what I did. I had a couple of dark chocolate truffles that I paired with one glass. They, whoever they are, were correct. Chocolate and this wine are made for each other. I didn't want to stop there. One of my traditions for the new year is Blueberry Pie...long story, but it is. So I poured another glass, got a piece of warm pie with whipped cream, and enjoyed them both immensely. The fruit of the pie and the fruit of the wine made the first day of the year very fruitilicious. They have Rosa Regale available in split bottles that are half the size of regular bottles. However, the big bottle would be the perfect addition to a Valentine's Day box of chocolates. Hint Hint, gentlemen. 
Go see Rosa Regale here. http://www.rosaregale.com/

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Dom Ruinart Brut Rose NV

The end of the year brings thoughts of resolutions for the coming year, making peace with the year that we've just experienced and, of course, a New Year's Eve party. Any New Year should have an obligatory bottle of Champagne to celebrate, whether it's a sweet California sparkling wine or a crisp and dry tête de cuvée from one of France's Champagne houses. Bubbling wine is both a tradition and a joyful way to count down to midnight.
Here's the lesson part. The differences in wine with bubbles is simple. True Champagne comes from the small region in northern France and sparkling wine is from the rest of the world. There are a few names for the ones found outside of Champagne. In Germanic areas it is called Sekt, in Spain it is Cava, and in California it is called whatever they want to call it. You may see some wines that aren't from France labeled Champagne. It's their right to do that, but in my opinion, they are charlatans and should be flogged with a grapevine branch.
I have had jobs that have afforded me the luxury of trying a lot of great wines. I have tried most Champagnes and sparkling wines that are available in the US, and a few that aren't. I've tried some of the heavy hitters like Roederer's Cristal, Dom Perignon, Veuve Clicquot, Bollinger, and Taittinger. While those were all fantastic, one sparkled a little brighter than all the others for me while costing the same or less than these great wines. It was from France's first established Champagne house that often gets overlooked here in the US, but it shouldn't. It was Dom Ruinart's Brut Rosé. I used to have a bottle of the Non-Vintage (NV) Brut Rosé sitting in my wine cabinet waiting for me to set it free. I was waiting for a special occasion and realized special occasions don't come often enough so I should just open it now. And I did. And it was great.
The ritual of uncorking a Champagne is a different one for me. I don't see how loud I can make the POP, but I try to make as little noise as possible. Technically, the less it pops, the more bubbles are retained in the wine. Is it enough for you to notice a difference? Probably not. I just do it for the weird satisfaction of opening Champagne without the whole party knowing. It gives me the chance to have an extra glass before everyone sticks their glasses in for a taste.
Dom Ruinart's Brut Rosé was light, crisp and fruity while still remaining as dry as Brut can be. There were thousands of little bubbles dancing around popping the subtle flavors. The aroma from the glass is intense and fruity with fresh ripe cherries and red berries. The flavors translate from nose to tongue and is followed by a hint of Spring flowers. The overall experience of this Champagne was heavenly. I was eating some great French and Belgian cheeses while enjoying the wine, but I could have been drinking it with nothing as I watched the Times Square ball drop. If you celebrate the New Year and like a good Champagne that is worth a special occasion, try Dom Ruinart's Brut Rosé. You'll be a better person for it. Cheers.
Discover them here. http://www.ruinart.com/

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Domaine Gachot-Monot Côte de Nuits-Villages 2011

Here's a bit of boring geography. In southeastern France, there is a strip of land that grows grapes that make my favorite wines. The Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, or wine region, is collectively known as Burgundy or Bourgogne. The northernmost area of Burgundy, within the Côte d'Or, is the Côte de Nuits. Collectively, the area masterfully makes the best Pinot Noir in the world. Most of that was merely to let you know that I know where the wine I'm reviewing comes from. My lesson about the globe is over. Now, onto the wine.

Kermit Lynch is a wine merchant who travels Europe's wine regions looking for wineries that have outstanding wines, but may not have the means to distribute their wines efficiently or at all. The Gachot-Monot vineyard was such a find for Kermit. He saw that the area near the town of Corgoloin was ripe for the picking. (Pun intended.) Damien Gachot works the vineyards and makes the wine. Kermit Lynch brings it to the world. One of the fantastic wines that has made it across to America is the Domaine Gachot-Monot Côte de Nuits-Villages. The "Villages" at the end means it's more like a casual table wine rather than the super expensive wines from Beaune or other pricey areas. It's still nothing to snub your nose at. I got this bottle for just over US$30.

I had the distinct pleasure of sampling the 2011 vintage tonight. It emerged from the dark bottle the color of a flawless ruby. You could see through the glass, the wine and make out shadowy shapes on the other side. This was certainly not a deep, heavy wine that is prevalent in Bordeaux. It was light, easy and perfect. As with most French wines, there is a complexity to it that is hard to describe without sounding like a complete loon. There are hints of strawberry, cherry, limestone, mushroom, blah blah blah, typical aromas and flavors that wine experts impart on French Pinot Noir. The only thing you need to know is this wine is simply exquisite. It has a mild tannin structure so it doesn't make your face pucker. It has a bright fruity taste, but not sweet or jammy like some Pinots from California or Australia. The overall effect of the wine was that it made a hectic day fade into oblivion. I was going to pair it with something from the kitchen so I could tell you how it could be matched up. What happened was I just drank the wine and forgot to grab something out of the deli drawer. Even after drinking the wine by itself, I can still make a judgement call about what you can pair it with. Plan on a great meal of lamb, pork loin, or game birds (quail, pheasant) with some veggies, a little smoked Gruyere and bread. The upscale, but not ridiculously expensive, wine will match an upscale but not expensive dinner. Or, if you're really a mutton head like me, just sit on your couch and drink it while you're watching food shows on the telly. Love a French wine today. This French wine. Cheers.

Here is a link to Gachot-Monot. http://www.gachot-monot.com/
And here is a Kermit Lynch link. http://www.kermitlynch.com/

See more reviews at www.talkingsimian.com