♥ Wine Club 14: Conquista Malbec, Elderton Shiraz

Date: May 31st, 2012
Host: Andrea
Served: Chicken Enchiladas, Rice and Beans, Gelato

Conquista Malbec 2010 (Argentina) 13% alcohol, $5.99 at Otto's Wine Cask

Andrea says (16): I enjoyed this Malbec. It was very smooth, dark and rich. It had very noticeable legs indicating high alcohol content. It smelled and tasted like raspberries.

Kim says (14): Well, this was a technically strong wine with the exception of Aroma and Bouquet, although I have come to the conclusion that is not necessarily the wine's fault. I seem to have difficulty discerning particular aromas... case in point, I apparently smelled "berries" with this Malbec.

Christine says (15): Deep dark claret; looked like a young wine. Lots of legs. Smelled like cherries and raspberries. Medium-dry taste; pleasant; not too fruity. Short finish, but good. A nice and simple wine...I liked it with the chips and salsa we had before dinner.

♥ Elderton Shiraz 2005 (Barossa Valley, Australia) $24.99 on sale at Otto's Wine Cask
 ♥ Love love love ♥ : This wine scored 18 or higher with each of us.

Andrea says (19.5): This wine was delicious and technically superior! The color was a pretty, dark red/brown. The only half point that I took off was in the "overall" column. The bouquet was fantastic! I could smell and taste mostly strawberry and chocolate. I think this would be great with dessert, and went well with the gelato.

Kim says (18.5): These are the first wines I've scored using the third version of our rating form and what great timing! Smelled faintly musty (not in a bad way) and for lack of a better word, deep, pleasant and of general spices. Amazing body... I had to resist the urge to actually chew it! Thoroughly enjoyed this wine and am glad that the very helpful woman at Otto's laid her hand on the bottle, said something along the lines of, "Now this bad boy..." and highly recommended it. Too bad it was the last one. Well worth the price!

Christine says (20): Very dark brick color. Awesome smell! It reminded me of Amarone. I picked out chocolate, oak, tobacco and dried strawberries in the bouquet. Taste was ripe dried strawberries; smoky; complex and good, with a long finish. This impressive wine was amazing with the enchiladas. I also thought it would be great with chili-rubbed steak, lasagna, bacon, blue cheese, figs and more. If only the budget allowed, I'd find a lot to eat with this winner!


I made the enchiladas from Tyler Florence's recipe from Food Network.com. They went over very well, and went well with the Gelato from Paciugo at the Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa.

★ Wine Club 40: California Chardonnays

Date: April 2nd, 2013
Host: Kim
Served: Chicken rolls, roasted vegetables, oranges with rosemary-infused honey

Hahn Estates Chardonnay 2006 (Monterey County, CA, USA), 14% alcohol, $10 at Discount Liqour

Kim says (13.5): A beautiful color, like polished brass by candle light. I smelled wood... just raw, naked wood; and a hint of general spices. When I swirled my glass, this wine instantly brightened up... it was so extreme that there was something that stung my eyes and palate. Possibly the alcohol? But there was also something sweet, making the tart finish a bit of a surprise.

Andrea says (15): A pretty golden color, looked like honey. The smell was crisp and tart. A smelled apple, pear and honey, and a slightly oaky smell. The first taste was surprisingly oaky, with an apple/pear taste in the middle, and tart, dry finish that tasted mostly of alcohol. Not as sweet as it smelled. But I still liked it. I would drink it again. It went well with the meal, but clashed with the dessert.

Christine says (16.5): Deep and intense gold color. Smelled like honey, pear and oak. It was more tart than expected, but was well-balanced. The wine had nice underpinnings of spices and a medium to long finish. Not much of any specific taste except oak. Versatile wine that was good with the fresh-tasting veggies (summer squash, leeks and mint).



★ BearBoat Chardonnay 2010 (Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, CA, USA), 13.5% alcohol, $10 on sale from $15 at Discount Liquor

Kim says (18): Identical in color to the Hahn... I think I've decided that Chardonnays are the prettiest wine! I smelled tropical, fleshy fruit- like mangoes. Swirled the glass and wow! Again, this wine really brightened up. The change was extremely dramatic and instantly brought grass, spring rain, and apple blossoms to mind. Great body but I was not crazy about the taste (oaky?) and while I thought this wine was well-balanced, the long, complex finish actually made me pucker (which I liked). I am very surprised by my score... 18 seems high given how I feel about this wine. But it's simply a technically superior wine... the two missed points were in a subjective category. It paired very well with the roasted veggies and chicken but blech! with the dessert.

Andrea says (17.5): This wine was also a golden color, almost the same as the Hahn, maybe a little more goldenrod. The smell was delicious, very sweet! Banana and pear at first, then citrus, honey, and floral. It had a buttery texture, very smooth and clean. Taste was citrus-y like pineapple and a little smoky. I approve! 

Christine says (19): Deep honey gold color with clear edges. Smelled very much like honey, plus orange, pineapple and floral. Kim picked up apple blossoms, which I think is a perfect description. The aroma was wonderful. Oak taste, nice structure, long finish. Elegant style of Chardonnay. I only docked it a half-point each for bouquet and overall likeability: it did well in these categories but wasn't exceptional. We liked it better than Hahn with the Neufchâtel-stuffed chicken rolls. It would also be good with cream sauce or smoked cheese.

Chicken Rolls

6 oz block Neufchâtel cheese (I use the easy-to-find, domestic/US Neufchâtel, not the true Neufchâtel from France)

1 green onion, chopped

2 T melted butter

2 C cooked chicken breast, bite sized (I used shredded rotisserie chicken this time)

2 packages crescent rolls (8 crescents each)

Mix together the cheese, onion and chicken. To form each chicken roll, leave two crescents together to form a square, add a dollop of the chicken mixture and fold the dough over. Turn right side up and be sure to pinch closed the seam on top. Dip the top in melted butter and roll in bread crumbs, sesame seeds or crushed croutons. Place on a baking sheet sprayed with vegetable oil and cook at 350° for 20 min or until browned. Depending on how much you stuff them, this recipe will make 6-8 chicken rolls.

I wanted every other dish to be nice and light so I opted for Roasted Zucchini and Summer Squash with Mint for the side (Weeknights with Giada), and Food & Wine's Oranges with Rosemary-Infused Honey for dessert (and wound up adding a pinch of cayenne to the honey).

Wine Club 10: J.W. Morris Gewürztraminer, Honey Moon Viognier

Date: May 2nd, 2012
Host: Kim
Served: Stuffed Cheese Bread, Quinoa Salad


J.W. Morris Gewürztraminer 2011 (CA, USA), 12.5% alcohol, $4.99 at Trader Joe's

Kim says (20): Well, we drank our way through nine wine clubs before finally coming across a bottle that I felt deserved a perfect score. It hit every single category exactly right, and it would be four months before another perfect 20 landed on my score sheet... loved this one! If Beaujolais was my gateway red, than Gewürztraminer was definitely my gateway white and though I had recently been moving away (unintentionally) from this wonderfully aromatic wine, I am more than pleased to rediscover it.

Andrea says (18): This is a great wine for a great price! Sweet and tart, very tasty. I remember us comparing the taste to the juice in a can of fruit cocktail. I only docked it for having a shorter finish and milder bouquet. I revisit this wine often. I think it goes well with everything.

Christine says (15): I really liked this wine, especially when you factor in the $5 price tag. Very pale blond straw color with clear edges. Pleasing, but subtle, bouquet of peaches. Sweet taste, with a nice tartness mid-palate that kept it from being cloying. Tasted like peaches, fruit cocktail and petroleum. Short finish. Would be super for parties.

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Honey Moon Viognier 2010, (CA, USA), 13.5% alcohol, $7.99 at Trader Joe's

Kim says (11): Maybe this one suffered in the shadow of the Gewürtztraminer, or maybe it was the hype... I am a fan of Viognier (Cono Sur makes an excellent one hailing from Chile and it is hands down my favorite every day white). Whatever the reason, I rarely give out this many zeros but Body and Balance both suffered and most telling... Appeal (dislike) and Overall Opinion (lacking). So this was no honeymoon and took hard hits in both objective and subjective categories.

Andrea says (11): I didn't write many comments for this wine. Only that it smelled better than it tasted. I docked it in most categories and was pretty disappointed in it. For a date this early an 11 is really low. I may even score it lower if I tried it now.

Christine says (8): Pale greenish yellow, with some gold. Smelled mostly of cat urine, with some floral. Surprisingly round! Still, it had only slight flavor, and I could only detect minerals. The worst score I have given a wine (so far).


Quinoa  and Mushroom Salad

1 C dry quinoa                                                 8 1/2 oz artichoke hearts
2 t olive oil                                                      1 carton cherry tomatoes, halved
8 oz sliced mushrooms                                   1 bunch green onions, chopped
1/8 t salt                                                        1/4 C chopped fresh basil (or more to taste)
1/8 t black pepper                                           2 T lime juice
1 avocado, sliced                                            4 oz green chili peppers

1. Cook quinoa according to package directions. Set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
3. Add mushrooms, salt and pepper. Cook until mushrooms are tender.
4. Combine the remaining ingredients in a large bowl.
5. Stir in mushrooms and quinoa.
6. Serve.

♥ Wine Club 39: One Honey of a Wine

Date: March 21st, 2013
Host: Christine

Served: taco meat loaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, chocolate creme pie

♥ Honey Badger Sweet Red 2011 (South Africa), 95% Shiraz + 5% Pinotage, 12.5% alcohol, $9.99 at Discount Liquor in Manitowoc

     ♥ Love love love ♥ : This wine scored 18 or higher with each of us.

Christine says (19): Pretty raspberry color with fuchsia. Smelled of red berries (mostly raspberries, but strawberries, too) and jam, plus a hint of sweet, edible tangerine peel and tobacco. For taste, my first thought was "Wow!" It was very much like brown sugar, plus tangerines. Lively and jumping off of the palate. Sweet and good. I would love this with cheese! Or other picnic foods. The wine was good with a chill on it...warmed up at room temp for 1/2 hour out of the frig seemed perfect to me. I loved it.

Andrea says (19): This would be a great wine for people who say that they don't like red wines. Sweet and fruity. Smelled like strawberry, blackberry, citrus-maybe tangerine and jam. My first taste was of honey and strawberry, next I could taste tangerine and grape. A delicious light, bright red. Highly recommended, great with dessert (thanks for the suggestion T.B.).

Kim says (19): Holy grapes, Batman! Throw the words "honey" and "sweet" around and I am already inclined to dislike it but that was not the case with this lovely find! A very pretty color... vibrant and warm. Smelled wonderfully of berries (red), kiwi and bananas. Tasted like fruit and brown sugar. Even served below room temperature, this wine had a nice, long finish... like I had just finished a mouthful of deliciously ripe berries. Note to self... try with Andrea's dreamy apricot baked brie!

Terre des Chardons Marginal 2009 (Costières de Nîmes, France), Grenache + Syrah, 13.5% alcohol, $9.99 on sale at Waterford

Christine says (11): We've often snickered over the previous months, wondering if this wine would live up to its marginal name. In that regard, it did not disappoint! It looked very thick in the glass, with an intense deep blood-red color. It smelled like Dwight Schrute's farm: barnyard and beets. By beets, I mean earthy, sweet and fresh. A hint of the spices I put into pickled beets (cloves, allspice, peppercorns, bay leaves). It was a chewy wine. I didn't like how much I had to think about it. I'd be disappointed, too, if I were that customer who dropped $27 apiece for a case of this stuff. I was starting to feel like an 11 score was generous as I struggled to finish my glass. Though I've never had a Costières de Nîmes, I felt like this example had a lot of terroir. I'd try the region again.

Andrea says (11.5): This was an interesting wine that I was eager yet nervous to try. I had purchased it at Waterford for $9.99 marked down from $27.00. A discount like that made me curious. An employee told us that customers had been put off by the scent. It had a dark maroon color, almost bloody, and very thick, you couldn't see through it. The first smell was pretty awful,  burnt rubber and asphalt.With some heavy swirling I could smell berry, licorice, sweetness, apples, and something earthy. The taste was berry but mixed with chemicals and rubber. It was interesting and very complex. It actually went well with the meal, but I certainly didn't give it a $27.00 score....

Kim says (14.5): You know how you look too hard at something and then it kind of shifts right in front of you? Yep, that's what Marginal did. This wine was deep burgundy in color and so dark that it made me think of thick, velvet drapes. The up side- no hint of brown. The down side- the instant and overwhelming smell of barnyard funk and asphalt. Also (on about the 30th inhale in my stubborn attempt to find something redeeming about this wine), the oh-so-faint and barely discernable tease of carmelized onons and wet cardboard (in that order). Unfortunately, it also tasted exactly what it smelled like... sharp, burnt, acrid, chemical. But when I took a significant mouth full (again, stare long enough and you might see something different), I could pick up on the hidden spice and something vaguely sweet. Would I buy this for myself? Perhaps. Would I serve it to someone else? Heck no. But it did pair very well with Christine's delicious taco meatloaf!

My maiden voyage with the Taco Meat Loaf recipe was a success! I baked it at 350 degrees instead of using the slow cooker (glazed after baking for 50 minutes).  I used 1/2 pack each of taco and fajita seasoning instead of 1 pack of taco, because it was what I had on hand. I added 1/3 tsp. chili powder. This was a delicious make-again. I added sour cream and paprika to the mashed potatoes. I bought a chocolate pie, anticipating that Andrea would bring red wine. : )

Wine Club 38: Battle Beaujolais

Date: March 14th, 2013
Host: Andrea
Served: Crudités, beef stew, cheddar biscuits, brownies

Georges Dubœuf Morgon 2010 (Beaujolais, France), 13% alcohol, $15.99 at Otto's Wine Cask

Andrea says (16.5): Ruby color with pink edges. I smelled raspberry, vanilla, jam, and strawberry, very sweet. Taste was a little tart, slight vinegar flavor that sits on the back of the tongue. But I also tasted strawberry and a little bit like pine.

Christine says (12): Blood red, with slightly brownish edges. Jam, violets and a slight vinegar smell I've been finding in all the Duboeuf Beaujolais we've tried. Not that the wine is bad, or going bad, it's just there. Taste had a nice balance of acid and tannins, but not much fruit. I docked it on body and sugar. Nice medium-long finish. Overall, just OK.

Kim says (16): Definitely not a flashy wine- standard color without a lot of dimension or depth. Good clarity and didn't have the "stickiness" of the other Georges Dubœf Beaujolais... I can't figure out if that means it's a bit calmer on the acid or tannins. Smooth but thin body and a flash of rot on the finish (but only once and just for a split second). A very straightforward wine.

Domaine Diochon Moulin-à-Vent 2009 (Beaujolais, France), 13% alcohol, $24.99 at Waterford Wine

Andrea says (18): Also a ruby color, but more purple, maybe a burgundy. I loved the smell and thought it was very complex. Raspberry, red licorice, floral, spicy, musty and a little jammy. I gave it a rare 3 points for  bouquet. Tasted like jam,cinnamon, blackberry and raspberry. Very good Beaujolais from the famed 2009 vintage.

 Christine says (17): Very pretty, bright intense ruby. First impressions were intense floral and blackberries. Needed to swirl it aggressively around in the glass to open it up. Also smelled jam, and the wine smelled good and sweet. With a rich mouthfeel (and more muscular than I tend to expect from Beaujolais), it tasted like fresh mint leaves and berries, especially strawberries. I docked it for short finish and bouquet, because I couldn't pick out much. Still, this wine was a treat.

Kim says (11): Huh... looking at Andrea and Christine's scores, I have no idea what happened here. Nice color- good depth and bright around the edges. Not as translucent as the Morgon and a rather vague bouquet... possibly grape Pez was about all I was able to detect. For me, I felt bouquet, body, tannins (high), sugar (low) and balance were all missed opportunities for this wine. And it wasn't due to hype or disappointment... I'd actually had this wine the week before so I knew what to expect.

I have used this Six Sisters website a few times for Crock Pot recipes. Great place to find simple and inexpensive meals.  The Hearty Beef Stew was a crowd pleaser.

Wine Club 37: Happy Birthday, Christine!

Date: February 28th, 2013
Host: Kim
Served: Mushroom & Swiss bread, Italian Wedding Soup
Bonus Bottles: Puech Auriol Coteaux d'Ensérune; ChocolatRouge

Ruffino Orvieto Classico 2010 (Italy), Grechetto 40%, Procanico 20%, other white grapes (Verdello, Canaiolo bianco) 40%. 12% alcohol, $10 at Discount Liquor

Kim says (14.5):  Very faint bouquet... I couldn't pick out anything except possibly peaches. High in acid and a long finish that I think was just the alcohol. I was feeling slightly better than "ambivalent" in the appeal category but felt it was average overall.

Christine says (13): Translucent lemon yellow color. Floral and very slight honey bouquet. Rich mouthfeel; short, slightly tart finish. I think it's better with fattier food...I liked it with the pork and Parmesan meatballs.

Andrea Says (14.5): A very pale and cool color. I smelled grape juice! Which is a first for me with a white wine. It also smelled sweet, like pear but no strong aroma. Honey and peach  flavors were noticeable but mostly I tasted the alcohol. I thought it went well with the soup.

Alexander Valley Vineyards Dry Rosé of Sangiovese 2011 (Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, CA, USA), 13.2% alcohol, $13 at Discount Liquor

Kim says (12.5): Beautiful color... like pomegranate! I couldn't discern any specific aromas but it certainly did smell pleasant! Interestingly enough, this wine smelled much better in the one mismatched, bell-shaped glass. Full points for color and aroma but took a hit for tannins (high) and sugar (low). So while it was very pretty, would I buy it? Probably not.

Christine says (13): Definite frizzante bubbles and a gorgeous deep salmon pink color! Smelled good, though I could really only pick out bananas. I also smelled very slight strawberries and watermelon, but only because I was looking for it after reading the label. Fizzy feel and refreshing, plus a long, dry finish that tasted like strawberries. We all preferred it with the soup. The wine looked so pretty and intriguing, I couldn't wait to try it. But it wound up being just okay.

Andrea says (17): I really enjoyed this wine! A beautiful dark coral color but very clear. Smelled of cherry, vanilla, banana and pear. After Christine mentioned watermelon and strawberry from the label I could smell those too. I thought it tasted like strawberry candy! Since it was frizzante, it actually reminded me of the strawberry soda that I always drink at my Grandma's house. I also liked this wine with the food. Maybe I would serve it again with dessert.

Puech Auriol Coteaux d'Ensérune 2011 (France), Chardonnay grape, 13.5% alcohol, $9.00 on sale at Waterford Wine

Kim says (14.5): Alright, I think something was definitely wrong with my smeller tonight! Again, just the vague aroma of autumn fruit and the general impression of it smelling clean. But I enjoyed the nice warm color of this, tannins were right on and had a good finish.

Christine says (17.5): Intense gold color; smelled of honey, floral, yeast, peaches and beer. Yes, beer! Andrea picked it out, and I could detect beer in both the bouquet and taste. The wine had medium body, good tannins, and tasted complex and expensive, even with the odd hint of barley-pop! I liked this one.

Andrea says (15): A pretty, clear goldenrod color. At first I thought that it was a little stinky. Eventually I smell beer, peaches and honey. Sounds like an odd combination but actually, I liked it. Tastes like it smells, beer, peach and honey. Sharp on the front of your tongue with a long finish.

Kim says: this was very tasty... decadent and rich! While I thoroughly enjoyed this, I actually preferred the Chocolate Port from Simon Creek.

Christine says: ChocolatRouge on the rocks made for an amazing dessert that tasted like a mudslide! Yum.

Andrea says: Delicious! No trouble polishing off this bottle.

This is only the second time I have ever made soup and the first time I have ever made meatballs! Thanks to Food & Wine magazine's Grace Parisi, this Italian Wedding Soup was an easy, one-pot meal! I doubled the orzo, added a bit of garlic to the broth, was very generous with the spinach and went scant on the salt (I needn't have and wound up adding it back in later).

Wine Club 30: Wisconsin Wines & Christmas Brunch

Date: December 15th, 2012
Host: Christine
Served: Cranberry salad, blueberry muffins, sweet potato-andouille hash, lemon meringue pie
Bonus bottle: Poinsettias!

Wollersheim River Gold NV (Prairie Du Sac, WI, USA), Seyval Blanc grape, 10% alcohol, $8 at Wollersheim

Christine says (16): Very pale; cool, silvery color. Smelled of must, pear and floral. Sweet, with a tart bite. Short finish. Bright taste. Pleasant, likeable wine.

Kim says (16): A pale silver color which I found odd but attractive. Musty (but not too bad) and honeysuckle on the bouquet that made me think of a hot, summer day. Flavor was sweet (high sugar), buttery and rich (nice body). Rather unique for a wine... I could literally just drink this like juice!

Andrea says (17): This wine was very pale, looked like water. Bouquet that smelled like pear, banana and flowers. The taste was sweet and smooth. Pear and green apple flavors. This wine complimented the spices in the hash. I really like both (the hash and the wine).

Wollersheim Prairie Sunburst Red 2011 (Prairie Du Sac, WI, USA), Foch grape, 13% alcohol, $9 at Wollersheim

Christine says (11): Plum/garnet color. Thin appearance, but pretty. Cherries and vanilla in the bouquet. Tasted thin. Burned in the nose when tasted. Some spice, and slightly acidic. It reminded me of Barbera d'Asti with its light body and streak of acid.

Kim says (9): Hmm. Well, I apparently didn't have much to say about this wine because I didn't actually write anything down! Tannins were correct, and I felt this wine had good balance, good appeal and overall was a good wine. Looks like the low score was a result of being slightly off in all the other technical categories (color, body, acid, sugar, etc).

Andrea says (13): Ruby color like cranberries. I also smelled cherry and vanilla and something a little smokey. Tasted cranberry, raspberry and cherry. But I agree with Christine, thin taste. It seemed very different from when I had tasted it at the winery.... Unlike the River Gold, I thought it really clashed with the hash, made it extra spicy and burned my tongue.

I mixed Jaume Serra Cristalino Brut Cava NV (Spain; $7 on sale at Whole Foods) with cranberry juice to make poinsettias. The humble hash doesn't look like much, but it tastes like heaven. What a delicious way to use up sweet potatoes! Top with a fried egg or two.

The salad is great for the holidays. I used 5 T. red wine vinegar instead of 3 T. balsamic. I subbed chopped green onions for the chives and shallots called for, and also tossed some green onions into the salad. Hold back some dressing to dress it to your tastes.