King Estate Pinot Noir Signature Collection 2007

Served With: Stroganoff

Five Things: ruby, buttery, silky, baked cherry pound cake, juicy

COO: Willamette Valley, Oregon

Notes: On the nose it was like walking into a bakery and a hot cherry pound cake had just come out of the oven. A silky, juicy Pinot Noir that cut through the creamy stroganoff and really picked up the earthy mushrooms in the dish as well. One of my favorite pairings and favorite Oregon Pinot Noir's.

Website: King Estate Winery

Rating: Very Good

Tags: King Estate, Pinot Noir, 2007, oregon

Coturri Albarello 2001

Served With: Pasta with Red Sauce

Five Things: intense, dusty, chocolate, deep, terroir

COO: Sonoma County, California

Notes: San Marzano tomatoes from Italy have an almost mythical wine-like terroir status in the culinary world due to the volcanic soil in the region. Tony Coturri's wines have that same ability to transport you to a specific place and time, in this instance, Sonoma Valley, California, 2001.

Website: Coturri Winery

Rating: Very Good

Tags: coturri, albarello, 2001, sonoma, california

Charles Smith Kung Fu Girl Riesling 2008

Served With: Szechuan Green Beans and Eggplant over Rice

Five Things: pale straw, gooseberry, melon, crisp, mineral

COO: Columbia Valley, Washington

Notes: I have to admit, as much as I like Charles Smith's wines, the names are a hoot too. I don't know if it was intentional, but my first reaction upon seeing this in the store was to start humming the 1976 Blondie song "Kung Fu Girls"... As far as the wine, it didn't quite overcome the spicy Asian food, so we'll try to find something a little less intense for the next round.

Website: Charles Smith Wines

Rating: Good

Tags: columbia valley, washington, 2008, riesling, charles smith

The Velvet Devil Merlot 2007

Served With: Gumbo

Five Things: magenta, strawberry, herbaceous, cocoa, heat

COO: Columbia Valley, Washington

Notes: Tasted for the #WAMerlot twitter event. I wasn't sure going into the meal if this Merlot from Charles Smith would pair with the spices (smoked paprika, file powder) and heat (cayenne) from the gumbo (okra thickened), but the wine amplified the smokiness and tomatoes and brought a little heat of its own in the process. Well played, sir.

Website: Charles Smith Wines

Rating: Very Good

Tags: 2007, charles smith, merlot, velvet devil, washington

Cooper Mountain Vineyards "20th Anniversary Reserve" Pinot Noir 2007

Served With: Morel Mushrooms

Five Things: garnet, cherry, cigar, pine, biodynamic

COO: Willamette Valley, Oregon

Notes: I'm glad we saved this silky balanced wine for mushroom season -- when the morels are popping up in springtime, I want an earthy Oregon pinot noir. The Cooper Mountain fit the bill perfectly and delivered the goods.

Website: Cooper Mountain Vineyards

Rating: Very Good

Tags: Cooper Mountain, 20th Anniversary, Pinot Noir, 2007, Oregon

Reginato Blanc de Blancs 2007

Served With: Cheese, Crackers, Olives

Five Things: straw color, mineral, dry finish, pear, crisp

COO: Mendoza, Argentina

Notes: The phrase "Scrubbing Bubbles" would not be out of place to describe this Blanc de Blancs from Argentina. It was a very nice starter to the evening, as the sparkling wine (a Chardonnay/Chenin Blanc blend) almost evaporated off of our tongues while we nibbled on cheese, crackers and olives while making dinner.

Website: Vine Connections

Rating: Very Good

Tags: mendoza, Argentina, blanc de blanc, 2007

Vinum Cellars PETS Petite Sirah 2007

Served With: Stir-fry

Five Things: inky, earthy, juicy, berry, tannins on finish

COO: Clarksburg, California

Notes: This inky juicy wine picked up the Hoisin-based sauce in the stir-fry quite nicely and complimented the dish with a good texture and broad tannins on the finish.

Website: Vinum Cellars

Rating: Very Good

Tags: vinum cellars, petite sirah, california, 2007

Spellbound Petite Sirah 2007

Served With: Torta

Five Things: loamy soil, plum, inky, cocoa, thin

COO: California

Notes: A disappointing wine, with great promise on the nose, but a very thin finish, like it fell off a cliff. Better in the glass than out of it.

Website: Spellbound

Rating: meh.

Tags: petite sirah, california, 2007, spellbound

Dopff & Irion Gewurztraminer 2007

Served With: Stir-Fry

Five Things: topaz color, apricot, gardenia, minerality, zippy acidity

COO: Alsace, France

Notes: The heat from the spicy stir-fry brought out a flinty character only hinted at on the nose. Nice balance of residual sugar and acidity with a smooth finish

Website: Dopff & Irion

Rating: Very Good

Tags: alsace, dopff & irion, gewurztraminer, france, 2007

Calma Rioja 2007

Served With: Pollo con Higos (recipe here)

Five Things: cherry, oak, earthy, finesse, French terroir

COO: La Rioja, Spain

Notes: This wine surprised me -- I poured it, gave it a swirl and let it sit out for a bit while finishing the cooking. When I came back to it -- to take notes -- and finally took a sip, I had to look at the bottle again to make sure I hadn't opened a French wine in error. Nope, it was a Tempranillo from Rioja. In an ironically synergistic moment, we matched it with a slow-braised recipe that was almost French (with an Espagnole sauce) by-the-way of Spain (figs and annatto rice).

Rating: Very Good

Tags: calma, rioja, spain, tempranillo, 2007

Bodegas y Viñedos del Jalón Calatayud Viña Alarba Old Vines Grenache 2007

Served With: Pizza

Five Things: dark cherry color, dusky, strawberry, tobacco, soft tannins

COO: Calatayud, Spain

Notes: I would imagine if you looked up "under $10 pizza wine" on teh internets, you would find a picture of this wine. Which was convenient, as that's what we were eating and drinking tonight -- simple grenache goodness from Spain.

Website: Bodegas y Viñedos del Jalón

Rating: Very Good

Tags: Bodegas y Viñedos del Jalón, Calatayud, spain, Viña Alarba, Grenache, 2007

Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Served With: Frittata with Arugula, Fennel & Avocado Salad

Five Things: pale yellow, field in summer, green grass, lemon verbena, mild acidity

COO: Marlborough, New Zealand

Notes: Tasted as part of #SauvBlanc twitter event. Kim Crawford has always been a benchmark Sauvignon Blanc for me. I've had this a number of times and use it (fairly or unfairly) to reference other wines from Marlborough. But for me, this hits all the Marlborough notes -- citrus, white stones, herbaceous and ever-so-slightly sweet. Paired with a frittata and salad with fennel & avocado it was like a walk through a field on a gloriously sunny day in deep summer. Wishful thinking for March? Perhaps...

Website: Kim Crawford Wines

Rating: Very Good

Tags: Kim Crawford, Sauvignon Blanc, 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand