Sorry for the delay in post.  I was in Las Vegas.  I went to one of the only three wineries (as of last count) in Nevada.   I will write a post about that in a few days.
   While there I found a Sangiovese (a grape that makes red wine) made in Umbria (Italy, I have been to that part of Italy once before) by La Carraia. La Carraia started making wine in 1998.  There is more information about the winery at: http://www.lacarraia.it/en/  .
   The wine smelled rustic to me.  I like using rustic to describe wine because it evokes a feeling.  I usually use the word rustic when it smells like: dirt (freshly planted flowers in dirt), a farm, charcoal, and charred wood.  There are more aromas and flavors that can be described as 'rustic'.  I can not taste or smell them but other people can.  If you can smell or taste other flavors and aromas that could be described as rustic, I would love to know how you describe them.
     I enjoyed the taste of the wine very much.  It had a cherry/black cherry flavor, along with an earth, charcoal, and almost a campfire like flavor.  It comes out strong and finishes low.  This makes it perfect for drinking all by itself.  It is not so great with lasagna, or any type of tomato sauce.
   I would drink this wine again.  It would be great for before dinner.

Enjoy!!

What Does Costco/ Kirkland have to Offer for Wine

    Well it has a lot to offer.  Their Zinfandel received 88 points from Wine Spectator.  Today I am writing about their Pinot Grigio.  It is their 2010 from Friuli Italy, and it is only $6.99.
    The wine is a nice light green color.  Its nose is bright lime and citrus.  It almost smells like a fresh cool summer day.  The wine has a nice warm flavor with a clean finish.  These flavors come through when the wine has been out of the fridge for a while.  When the wine is cooler it is more refreshing wine, great for a hot day.  There is a real crispness to it than.  The wine leaves a lingering citrus flavor, the finish.
    What I would like to leave you with has not as much to do with this wine, but to give the Kirkland brand a chance.  Not all of them will be amazing.  Some will be good for their price, but not great.  But there are some really great ones out there.  Give them a chance, and let me know what you think.
Enjoy!




photo from http://costcowineblog.com/2011/06/04/2010-kirkland-signature-pinot-grigio-friuli.aspx

A New Way to Drink Young

   This is the motto of a Prosecco I recently had.  Prosecco is a sparkling wine from Italy.  I had the Azienda Vinicola Wine Farm, Prosecco Mini.
     "About two years ago, toasting an evening with friends, I thought of a completely new way of developing the knowledge of wine amongst the young people of today, especially a wine that characterizes our Trevigian area ..... that is Prosecco."
   I completely agree with their mission.  One thing I really enjoy about all proseccos are the fruit flavors they have.  I also love that proseccos are reasonably priced.  Here are some of the wonderful addition that the Prosecco I tried offers, besides delicious sparkling wine.

 - The mini bottle holds just about 2 glasses of wine
 - It has a screw top
 - The bottle is so fun looking (they are able to do this because of the 'second skin')
 - The second skin covers most of the bottle which helps protect the bottle from climate change
 - Also if the bottle is dropped and brakes the glass stays together

   Now onto the sparkling wine.  They describe the wine as
        "Colour: Falls in the glass brightly dancing, perlage discreet and persistent. Pleasant straw color.
         Fragrance: Scent of apricot and sweet bread.
        Taste: Delicate warm flavors, almond’s taste back in the mouth. "
I completely agree with the description of color.  I taste some fruit, particularly strawberry and melon.  However with some sips the fruit flavor is barely there.  The flavor 'warm' is there with every sip.  I have struggled with how to describe the flavor of prosecco for a while now.  Warm is a good descriptor word.  I can see why they used the word almond, I am not sure if that is the word I would have used but I can not offer anything better.
    I had some of the Prosecco from the bottle and some from a wine flute.  I swear that the sparkling wine that I had right out of bottle had more of a strawberry taste then the sparkling wine in the glass.  You will have to let me know what you think after you try it.  Enjoy!

quotes and information from http://www.spinato.it/prosecco/a_new_wey%28EN%29.htm
information from http://www.spinato.it/index.htm
picture from http://www.spinato.it/prosecco/Produzione%28EN%29.htm