Domaine De FontsainteCorbieres 10'

Naked Wine Review 138

Wine: Corbieres Rouge " Reserve La Demoiselle"

Grape Varieties: Carignan 70%, Grenache Noir 20%, Mourvedre 10%

Producer: Bruno Laboucarie

Vintage: 2010

Region: France>Languedoc-Roussillon

Appellation(s): Corbieres, Corbieres Boutenac

Price: 17.00

Date tasted: 1/25/14

Place tasted: I was somewhere. There was a woman with me and she kept singing an ancient song in Chinese that made my teeth itch. She wore a powder blue dress and carried a red rose. The rose symbolized truth in memories; the dress was the soft harmonious connection among all energies; but the song was a warning to pay attention to that which is right in front of you when you stop seeing life through your cell phones eye. I thanked her for her painful song of wisdom and we sipped wine together in silence for a while. 

Served with: Vegetable wafers with Asian duck stuff. Goes well with more challenging flavors and spices. Try with bold cheeses such as bleu, super dark chocolate things, and any variety of grilled red meats and strong herby dishes.

Appearance: So deep and black you can't see the bottom of her mysterious pool. If you crunch her with light you'll find a heavy fuchsia drenched in wet dark purple.

On the snoot: A bouquet of wild flowers and cedar mixed with the slightest hint of black current. 

Taste: The journey begins with a mouthful of earth and pepper haunted by the soul of blossoming hyacinth. A quiet mist of dark fruit adds its blessing to the other elements completing the complexity of her spirit. Finish is very dry with polished soft leather tannins, sandalwood, and drops of sweat from a muscular naked ebony god. Very nice.

Balance: Jagged edges form at the top of her swell before slow thick bulbous legs texture the sides of your glass. Her personality is dry and bold. Acid, tannins, and alcohol combine in a beautiful way with no residual sugars to compromise her sincerity. 

Comments: A unique and interesting wine experience. Challenging, thought provoking, and all around delightful. 

Rating: 4 tipsys

Cantina ZaccagniniMontepulciano d'Abruzzo 10'

Naked Wine Review 137

Wine: Red Dry

Grape: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Producer: Cantina Zaccagnini

Vintage: 10'

Region: Italy>Abruzzo>Pescara>Bolognano

Price: 13.00

Date tasted: 1/14/14

Place tasted: I was at home talking to my new ghost about the price of organic carrots. He was appalled! says back in his day ALL carrots were organic and only cost a penny or two a bunch. We then shared some quiet time while I prepared food and uncorked the wine. During dination & libation I described to him all the wonderful scents and flavors I was experiencing for his vicarious pleasure. 

I've decided I like having a ghost around the house. He can stay.

Served with: Try it with my special 'linguini & friends'. It is a very food friendly wine and would go well with a nice antipasto spread, herby red sauce dishes, strong cheeses, roasts, grilled meats, lamb, and game. Just stay away from the more subtle flavors of fish or cream sauces and you'll be just fine.

Appearance: Profound ruby hue with an incandescent candy apple red glow and violet refractions.

On the snoot: A strong handsome nose bursting with fruit and tastefully accessorized with sarsaparilla and mineral rich wet grass. 

Taste: She presents to the palate wearing a gown of black cherry with a halo of herby basil and licorice spice. Soft tannins like the nap on fine velvet are present throughout and linger in a slow woody finish even after the fruit has faded. 

Balance: She sports a slender graceful naked body with long fast athletic legs. Soft blossoming tannins suspend in a pool of well proportioned acid and alcohol with no icky residual sugars. A well structured wine, smooth and beautiful.

Comments: Great upon opening right out of the stunningly well dressed bottle. Born in beautiful Italy and most likely available in beautiful your neck of the woods. 

Give it a try, it's good anytime… doesn't matter, wine can't tell time. 

Cin Cin my friends.

Rating: 3.8 solid tasty tipsys

Hidden Legend Pure Honey Mead

Naked Wine Review 136

Wine: Pure Honey Mead

Producer: Hidden Legend Winery 

Vintage: Not stated on label

Region: Montana>Victor

Price: 13.00

Date tasted: 12/31/13

Place tasted: In my happy place, singing with mead. I was a mere child when I was baptized in the fire of Bach's Christmas Oratorio. Today a thousand musical experiences flood my memory and fill me with joy. Take comfort with me now in music and raise a toast to the mother of all creation in all of our skewed perceptions, and in truth…prepare thyself Zion.

Served with: Brie with black currant preserves and brandy topping. It would go well with fowl, curries, and any spicy dry foods for contrast. 

Appearance: A tender golden topaz, deep and clear. 

On the snoot: Distinctive pear with layers of honey and a twinkling of oak.

Taste: Mellow succulent honey levitating through the power of alcohol and cradled in the spirit of an ancient troubadour. Soothing finish of ripe pear lingering in a late summer orchard.

Balance: Not dry but not sticky sweet either. Unlike many of us, she's pretty well balanced and good natured, AND she looks good naked. What more do you want?

Comments: This well crafted Montana mead is available in many states. I would urge you to try it and also seek out and try the various other meads available in your area. Explore, enjoy, have fun.

A toast to the ancestor of all fermented drinks. Gia' Sou!

Rating: 3.7 tipsys

Fleur du CapPinotage 11'

Naked Wine Review 135

Wine: Pinotage

Producer: Fleur du Cap 

Vintage: 11'

Region: South Africa>Western Cape>Stellenbosch

Price: 11.00

Date tasted: 12/10/13

Place tasted: I had been riding my blue magic carpet ($54 at Sports Authority) through galaxies gathering up energy and channeling it back to the Earth; she who belongs to no man. Even the ones who try to claim her power will be consumed by her in the end. This thought comforted me. How grounded and grateful I felt for the turning of the great wheel. A place to be born, and a place to rest. A place to sing, dance, and sip wine in the in between times. 

May holiday blessings twinkle in delight, and fill you with joy through the longest night. 

Cin Cin!

Served with: Marinated country style pork ribs. Would be great with grilled or roasted lamb, beef, pork, or game. It's a powerful wine and meets well with challenging spicy foods and strong heady cheeses or dark chocolate. 

Appearance: The blood and life force of the great Dionysus himself flows into the color and character of this wine. Black with deep garnet and purple secrets revealed only when held to light. 

On the snoot: Powerful snoot of dense herb and tar with black fatted fruit and fancy rubber band snaps. 

Taste: Blackberry compote with strong tobacco smoke and leather spanked vanilla beans. Very dry yet weighted with character and layers of delightful and varied tastes, like oak soaked trolls toes(for example). Zippy triangular tannins perform enchantingly throughout and follow through a long intensely satisfying finish.

Balance: She has the body of a majestic mountain with slow exotic naked legs flowing down from it. Not too sweet; not too hot; not too acid; lots of tannin. She's perfectly proportioned with great structure.

Comments: It's a rich and earthy contribution to what good Pinotage should be. I loved it so much I went and bought another bottle as soon as the first one was gone….and I never do that. 

Rating: 4 smitten tipsys

'O' WinesRed Wine 10'

Naked Wine Review 134

Wine: Merlot, Cabernet, Syrah

Producer: 'O' Wines

Vintage: 10'

Region: Washington>Columbia Valley

Price: 15.00

Date tasted: 12/1/13

Place tasted: I was wandering around outside late at night, or was it early in the morning? Lights were twisting behind a lost mountain in the distance where aliens howled like confused wolves at the silver crescent moon. I decided to go inside where I was safe that I might take comfort in wine, cheese and candlelight. Welcome to December.

Served with: Baked fennel with Gorgonzola. It's a hearty wine and would be good with grilled steak, lamb roasts, venison, strong cheeses, and herby red sauces.

Appearance: Dense garnet that when held to the light reveals a rusty neon halo.

On the snoot: She has a beautiful exotic nose; herby with sweet cherries and black currents muddled in a muscular punch to the snoot. 

Taste: Rich and full of character with ripe red cherry and cassis. Chiming notes of cracked pepper, cocoa, and cedar harmonize and blend with a plethora of warm toasted tannins following through a lengthy luscious finish. 

Balance: Well balanced showing meaty beautiful legs. Dry yet mellow with lots of tannin. She's fairly hot so let her breathe a while before imbibing. 

Comments: Another beautiful creation from Washington State. She's a great wine with great purpose. 

From the back of the bottle: "Your purchase helps O Wines provide scholarships to low income young women so they can meet their highest potential through education."  

Rating: 4 staggering tipsys

Schug Pinot noir 09'

Naked Wine Review 133

Wine: Pinot Noir

Producer: Schug

Vintage: 09'

Region: California>Sonoma Coast

Price: 19.00

Date tasted: 11/12/13

Place tasted: In a dream where moonlight meets with a long enchanted highway leading to the other side of the Earth. An Irish blessing I once read on your wall came to mind:

May the roads rise to meet you, May the winds be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields, And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

Served with: Cornish game hen with wild rice stuffing. It's a good wine to serve with birds of all kind. Go with more subtle earthy flavors and cream sauces so not to overshadow her delicate floral essence.

Appearance: A dazzling clear garnet with rusty bright orange edges.

On the snoot: She caresses the air she breathes with a strong floral bouquet, soft wet grass and herbs. A lovely treat to the snoot.

Taste: Strawberry fruit laced with mineral and earth. Dry and light hearted throughout with subtle tannins and a long wet clean finish.

Balance: Lightly balanced, elegant and dry. Not terribly leggy but viscous none the less. 

Comments: Would go great with your holiday meals, or on your own on a quiet evening with a plate of soft cheese and tropical fruits. I really liked her and though she's a California girl, she speaks with a convincing French accent. 

Rating: 3.8 tipsys

Ecco Domani Chianti 10'

Naked Wine Review 132

Wine: Chianti 

Grape: 92% Sangiovese, 8% Merlot

Producer: Ecco Domani

Vintage: 10'

Region: Italy>Tuscany

Price: 9.00

Date tasted: 11/1/13, during Samhain 

Place tasted: I had finished not knowing what to do hours ago and had been working on something with great purpose and meaning; I forget what it was. The light of day was fading into a misty dark glow and the presence of friendly familiar ghosts embraced my memories through a thinning veil of separation. Sometimes I'm reminded that the world will never be the same as it was yesterday, and though there is grieving there is also gratitude for having been blessed with connections eternal through ever changing dimensions. 

'To all here now, and to all here gone.'

Cin Cin

Served with: Cheese & Meat Stuffed Jumbo Pasta Shells in Marinara. Would go well with any red sauced pasta dishes, roasts, and antipasto.

Appearance: A brilliant ruby color with undertones of deep vintage red. 

On the snoot: As beautiful on the snoot as she is easy on the eyes. A wet intoxicating floral bouquet laced with cherries, berries, and complex spicy notes.

Taste: Opens with bright dancing cherry spirits that gently mellow and mingle with more subtle hints of licorice spice and pepper. Pleasingly soft tannins stroke the palate throughout then fade as she lingers in a long and satisfying afterglow. 

Balance: Medium-light bodied with slender pretty naked legs. Nice and dry; not too hot; lots of warm fuzzy tannins. She's a well structured wine. 

Comments: Simple, elegant and very drinkable. I was won over by her perfume alone. I will surely be enjoying THAT again! Drink em' if ya got em' folks. Ciao

Bonus Bit: He who scrubs the head of an ass, wastes his time and efforts.

-Italian Proverb

Rating: 3.9 tipsys, excellent value

Arenal Carmenere 10'

Naked Wine Review 131

Wine: Arenal Carmenere

Producer: Vina Peralillo

Vintage: 10'

Region: Chile>Central Valley>Rapel Valley>Colchagua Valley 

(I don't have the actual address)

Price: 10.00

Date tasted: 10/17/13

Place tasted: Maple yellow leaves crashed to the earth marking the end of their befuddled journey; they are today's cat toy of choice. A copper bird hung in a barren apricot tree, still sadly green with hope. In new twilight where sun and moon argued over who gets the sky, I gazed into all that is Autumn and felt a calm sense of gratitude for birth, death, all the fun little cat toys in between; and life, that which carries us one fascinating dimension to the next without end. I took one sip and then another until the full moon won the sky.

Served with: Chocolate cherry fudge brownies topped with ganache…mmm! Would go well with grilled red meats, hearty cheeses, herby Italian red sauces, Bask style eggplant or ratatouille, lamb, duck, venison and other game meats….and of course, dark chocolate! 

Appearance: A dense ruby glow with subtle violet refractions swim in her pool; and the chorus line of meaty muscular legs that move in perfect unison down the sides of your glass give her quite a sexy edge.

On the snoot: Aromas of dark cherry and rich blackberry dance naked in clouds of cotton candy. The snoot alone will guide you to your happy place.

Taste: Dark jammy fruit forward with hints of cardamom and cocoa. On the finish a touch of cedar embraces soft well rounded tannins. 

Balance: She's sports a nice medium balance with no sticky residual sugars and no one element overpowering the other. 

Comments: A very satisfying journey from snoot to finish; complex but not challenging; tasty and highly drinkable. Let her breathe a while before imbibing, then sip your way to a better day ;) 

Cin Cin

Rating: 3.8 tipsys

Frei Brothers ReserveChardonnay 11'

Naked Wine Review 130

Wine: Chardonnay

Producer: Frei Brothers Reserve

Vintage: 11'

Region: California>Sonoma Valley>Russian River Valley 

Price: 15.00

Date tasted: 9/30/13

Place tasted: At home, watching the Breaking Bad marathon leading up to the series finale. What is Vince Gilligan going to do to us tonight? He looks like such a kind and gentle man, the sick bastard. Jokes aside, I'm really excited to see how it ends and I'm grateful to have had such a brilliant television production to look forward to on Sunday evenings for the past almost 6 years. Here's to you, writers, cast, and crew... Salude!

Served with: She would go well with subtle flavors of white or shell fish, cream sauces, Cornish game hens, wild rice & mushrooms, breathy herbs or woody spices. Perfect with chicken cordon bleu. For a cheese plate go with Camembert, brie and others of a soft delicate nature along side apples, pears, or tropical fruit. 

Appearance: She sports a brilliant crystal gem-like sunshine yellow aura that is impressive and captivating. 

On the snoot: Is the alluring essence of papaya mixed with the crisp morning breeze over an autumn apple orchard. 

Taste: Begins with a slice of ripe dripping mango that quickly blends into soft buttery rich toasted carmel then finishes with a three point landing on a luscious cloud of thick cream and freshly baked apple pie. 

Balance: As balanced as the brain in some other guys head. A symmetrical triangle of acid, sugar, and alcohol. Great big flavors without lots of mucky sugars one way or squeaky tart daggers the other. She's the perfect chardonnay for you.

Comments: She's everything a good Chardonnay should be. Buy some, drink some, share some, have some… fun.

In other comments: Breaking Bad. Ya Bitch! Best series ever!! 

Rating: 4 tipsys, excellent value.

Smoking Loon Merlot 12'

Naked Wine Review 129

Wine: Merlot

Producer: Smoking Loon

Vintage: 12'

Region: Chile>Valle Central

Price: 9.00

Date tasted: 9/10/13

Place tasted: Tell you what, I was at the doctors office earlier today for a routine check up when the guy suddenly lost his mind and tried to push a bunch of vaccination shots on me. 

I was all like "No Doc, I don't believe in putting that poison crap in my body"

… and he was all like "I'm the doctor, you're just a google educated idiot. You need these shots or you'll die! you'll die and go to hell!" 

I gotta tell ya, I don't think I'll go back to that THAT guy. He was so pushy I finally had to run out of the building, gown open in the back, being chased by a university educated man in a white coat with a hypodermic needle yelling "You really need this! You really need this!"

Now I ask you, who would not want to come home and pour themselves a big glass of wine after an experience like that? 

Wine, may it be the only medicine you'll ever need. 

Salude!

Served with: Herbed Lamb chops with mushroom balsamic reduction. Would be good with any hearty dish featuring red meat or herby red sauces. I think I'd really like it with a nice bleu cheese; or fine dark chocolate. Mmmmm. She's a very food friendly wine. 

Appearance: Deep opaque garnet with purple edges that shine in sunlight.

On the snoot: A pleasing cherry and vanilla cigar spirit wafted from my challis landing me a gentle kiss on the snoot. A most pleasant introduction.

Taste: Comes on strong with Jammy dark cherry and blackberry fruit saturated in soft vanilla essence that follows the train of taste through subtle hints of pepper and tobacco, oak and herb. Finish is lengthy and full with light gentle tannins. 

Balance: Good medium balance. Just a little light on tannin and just a little heavy on sugar but still dry, complex, and delightful.

Comments: A good solid merlot, phat and drinkable. I would classify her as 'comfort wine', like a warm eiderdown wrapped around as you gaze into soul cleansing flames framed by the hearth on a chilly fall evening. 

Rating: 3.7 tipsys

Campo Viejo Tempranillo 10'

Naked Wine Review 128

Wine: Tempranillo

Producer: Campo Viejo

Vintage: 10'

Region: Spain>La Rioja>Rioja

Price: 12.00

Date tasted: Quite a while ago.

Place tasted: I had been stuck in a time loop all day which threw me into a continuous deja vu experience. I remember you saying that before. The cat stretched that way just before she puked…before. I stubbed my toe on that thing(#@!$*)before, and on and on. There was a naked dancing lady just out of the corner of my eye that would disappear every time I turned to look directly at her.  Where'd she go? Where'd she go?

So when I finally was able to pull myself from the loop, a calm glass of wine and nice steak dinner made for a grounding evening and helped to keep my focus in present time. 'Be here now', it's still a good thing to practice.

Served with: Grilled steak & spaghetti squash with pesto. Good with grilled red meats, roasts, red sauced pasta dishes and bold flavors in general. A very tasty and versatile wine. 

Appearance: She's dressed in a deep velvet ruby gown. Leggy and viscous yet light on her feet, she practically dances around the glass.

On the snoot: Powerful, exceptional snoot featuring rose petals, creosote & wood, dusted with cocoa.

Taste: Upon impact a gentle yet firm oaky, tar, smoke, and spice combine with cassis and some unidentified red fruit. She's complex and delightful to ponder. Chewy, sticky tannins keep the palate interested and involved throughout a long meaty and satisfying finish.

Balance: Nice n' dry with lots of chewy tannin. No residual sugar; more acid & alcohol forward so let her breathe and warm for a while before drinking. 

Comments: I have nothing more to say about the wine so I leave you with this quote from Mahatma Gandhi , “First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win.” 

Here's to you, cheers!

Rating: 3.7 tipsys

Pacific Rim Dry Riesling 11'

Naked Wine Review 127

Wine: Dry Riesling

Producer: Pacific Rim

Vintage: 11'

Region: Washington>Columbia Valley

Price: 10.00

Date tasted: 8/18/13

Place tasted: My friend stole my pig and then asked if I'd help her butcher it and put it in my brothers freezer. I said no; why ya gotta go steal my pig like that? Then I woke up; no more afternoon naps for me. So I took my little bottle of wine and bolted up to lovely Lake Mary Ronan to visit the blessed and beautiful Tuffitland. Here's to the good times, past, present, and future. May all beings everywhere be happy and free. Cin Cin.

Served with: It's just perfect with curried chicken salad. It would be good with any Indian or Thai curries; fried or barbecued chicken or pork; tropical fruit with brie and other soft or subtle cheeses...lots of good options with this one. Experiment and enjoy.

Appearance: Clear, bright and caramelized summer sunshine.

On the snoot: A tropical breeze with high floral notes anchored in a heavy soft fruity syrup. 

Taste: Gentle as a butterfly, not too much edge. A nice plump peach, mango and papaya blend with maybe just a hint of citrus and pear. Finish holds the palate in the long smooth naked embrace of her confidence and comfort; much longer than you'd expect from a white. Very nice.

Balance: Light and lovely in balance with just enough sweet to temper the bright. No bite, no bitter, no drama.  

Comments: Good wine for hot summer day drinking. Take her on a picnic with you. She's a fun and entertaining companion so include her in your picnic plans.  

Rating: 4 solid tipsy's, excellent value.