Alejandro Fernandez with a side of Lamb

Today is my day off. Like most of my days off I try to really live it up. Most people my age might disagree, but living it up to me is putting a big piece of meat in the oven on a low heat, reading a couple hundred pages in a book and drinking half a bottle of good wine while I wait for the meat to cook. Then, once dinner is ready, polishing off the second half of that bottle. So today I did just that. I bought some lamb and a bottle of Alejandro Fernandez's 2004 Dehesa La Granja, 100% Temparnillo. I put the lamb on a low temp and opened up the bottle to get a little taste. The aromas exploded out of the glass… cider spice notes and blackberry aromas. The first taste was exactly what I wanted from this wine, sweet spices covered with dark berry notes followed by smooth silky tannins. Excellent!

Alejandro Fernandez is a living icon of modern Spanish wine, Alejandro Fernández was one of the first in his country to return to biodynamic, low yield viticulture in order to produce concentrated oak-aged red wines capable of extended bottle aging. Alejandro was the person to rein in his fellow wine makers in the Ribera del Duero and say "Hey we can make world class wine here, that shows the grape and the land." That is exactly what he did.

The wine has developed gracefully over the last 3 hours revealing softer tannins and a beautiful acidity. Though the wine has rested in a American oak for 2 years it never seems overwhelming, just apparent enough to understand why it was aged in American oak. This wine was excellent with dinner and really suited the lamb. The wine brought out flavors of the lamb, as well as the lamb with the wine, an overall great pair. Lamb the four letter word of food.

Wine of the Day

Cantina Giardino Le fole Aglianico d’Irpinia 2008. Well it isn't really the wine of the day because I had it last night, but I still think it is worthy of Wine of the Day status. In my opinion, Le fole is the best wine you have never heard of.

Aglianico is an inky-skinned red wine grape native to southern Italy. It was the first wine that turned on the light in the attic to illuminate what Italian wine could be and should be. Aglianico is one of the most accessible wines in the world. It is real hard to miss the complexity of the wine. It is humble, but powerful without being over the top. Elegant, full of velvety tannins and it continues to be the greatest value in wine. If you haven't tried Aglianico, the Le Fole is the one to try. At $24.99 it is a steal. A great wine shows its place. This wine shows its place. You taste the volcanic soils, the sun drenched vineyards, the salt from the sea. You think I'm kidding? Well, maybe I'm embellishing a little, but if you take anything from this post take this: GO OUT AND BUY AGLIANICO while it is still inexpensive. Sooner or later it will get the respect it so rightfully deserves and the price will go through the roof. Until then buy Aglianico from producers like D'Angelo in Basilicata, Mastroberardino in Campania and Cantina Giardino in Campania.

1999 Chateau Simard Saint - Emilion

When I first opened this bottle of aged Bordeaux all I could think was breathe, baby breathe!!  My wine mentor and all around life coach Charles Scicolone once told me, in a thick Brooklyn accent, "Bill, old wine is like an old man and you don't shake up an old man." For those of you who don't speak Brooklynese, Charles was saying when you open a wine with some age you have to let it wake up. So be patient and you will be rewarded with more than just a drink… an experience.

Chateau Simard is situated on the sunny southern slopes of Saint-Emilion. The estate is surrounded by first growth vineyards. The grapes of Simard have excellent exposure and grow in soil made up of clay, sand and gravel. The wine making is traditional in style with an emphasis on aging the wines prior to their release. The current vintage is 1999, while the current vintages of most other Bordeaux on the market are 2005, 2006 or 2007 and even younger for Bordeaux Superior. Chateau Simard prides themselves in delivering wines of great value that are ready to drink now.

The first hour after I popped the cork the juice was tight and tasted like Merlot water. As the second hour approached the sun began to rise over the mountains, and my wine yawned and shook off the cobwebs. He had put on his robe of velvet tannins, picked a bowl full of black cherries for breakfast, and opened up the door to the cedar wood sauna. He showed the elegant power of a Bordeaux twice the price, yet remained humble at only $29.99. By the third hour the party was in full swing and he was singing Prince's 1999 at the top of his lungs "If you didn't come to party, don't bother knocking on my door!" Well, maybe that was me. I love an older wine!

I would pair this beauty with lamb chops, roasted chicken or something fatty like duck. Nothing too heavy, but don't be afraid, this wine is versatile. It would pair well with a wide range of dishes. Do yourself a favor, hit up the Jug and grab a bottle of 1999 Chateau Simard .

Alamos Chardonnay 2009

Chardonnay is a confusing varietal. Not by nature, but because we have created two distinct styles of the wine. The grape itself exhibits characteristics of apples (from granny smith to honeycrisp), citrus, minerality, and spices, which are most apparent in the leaner more elegant styles of Burgundy. And yet, those flavors respond so well to oak that we've created the voluptuous, oaky, buttery wines most commonly coming out of California.
Chardonnay is going to be really pissed at me if I make you think you that she is a bipolar hot mess. The truth is that she is more than just two extremes. There are a lot of producers creating chardonnays that both parties will want to hang out with. You must be open to traveling beyond France and California to discover your less partial cocktail wine. The good news is that you will save some money as well.

I parked my car on the median in Argentina. The 2009 Alamos Chardonnay smells like baked apples and lemon creme. The mouth feel is creamy and the flavors of oak and crisp citrus acidity are in great balance. Alamos Chardonnay from Mendoza will please the most diverse of palates and, at $9.99, will be easy on the lightest of wallets.

Von Shubert Maximin Grunhauser Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett 2007

Here on the official unofficial blog of The Jug Shop in San Francisco we don't mess around. That is why for our first official unofficial post we decided to attack the most complex of wines: German Riesling. Riesling is one of the most misunderstood grapes. Cheap riesling can be cloy or syrupy, but good riesling is everything delicious and more. Think I'm kidding? I don't joke around about RIESLING! Believe me when I tell you you won't keep this Kabinett in your cabinet for long.

Riesling from the Mosel is usually soft, broad and full of flavor. The Grunhauser shows all these characteristics and more. The color is like sun blanched lemons. The nose is typical for Riesling, hints of rubber tires and stone fruit. It starts with a beautiful juicy honeyed mouthfeel and just a touch of effervescence followed by refreshing citrusy minerality. Think fruity rocks. Oh but it doesn't stop there this riesling unfolds in your mouth revealing hints of nectarines and blue vein cheeses. One of my favorite things about Riesling is the fact that after you have finished drinking it it stays with you. Riesling lingers on your palate for such a long time. If you don't rush you can get the enjoyment of 2 bottles in one or you can just drink two bottles. I prefer the latter.

Buy a bottle, or two, now at TheJugShop.com.

At $29.99 I think this wine is amazing. I drank a bottle while I wrote this post. I could drink another and probably will. Thanks for checking in to the Jug Shop Blog. We will keep drinking even if you don't come back, but we will probably stop writing about it.

I would also like to thank Remy LBO for providing the soundtrack while I wrote this post. Please click on his name and check him out.