Q & A BlogI want to answer two of the most commonly asked questions we receive here at Sip…a wine store. 1. Do eco-friendly wines taste different? I have customers ask me all the time if I can taste a difference between eco-friendly wines and conventional wines. My answer is sometimes. I find that taste is the largest difference in biodynamically produced wines. These wines tend to express a truer sense of place while the flavor profiles are more interesting and full of rich fruit, spice and mineral flavors. Biodynamic is sometimes viewed as controversial. When you combine the lunar calendar, Rudolph Steiner, and organic farming you definitely get controversy. At least biodynamic farmers are not only correcting their soil, they are rebuilding eco-systems. What bad could come from that? I also taste a difference in Natural or non-manipulated wines. Once you open these wines they continue to develop and taste better two, three, and sometimes four days after you open them. I think this is the best and least expensive way to enjoy wine and Alice Feiring (a natural wine advacate) summed it up perfectly: "How did natural wine and natural food become separated at birth? Why are drinkers (buyers) willing to accept additives in their wine they'd never accept in their food?" 2. Why don’t our wines have ratings? A lot of our wines do receive ratings, some from very well known wine publications. We choose not to post the ratings in the store for a few reasons. First, wine ratings are really someone else’s opinion. Second, it is an inexact science. There have been a few studies recently that have proven expert wine tasters can taste wines differently depending on the time of day they taste and where they taste. In that scenario, the same wine could receive a different score in the morning than if tasted at night. Most importantly, however, is we enjoy answering questions for our customers and allowing them to develop their own opinions and palates. Why take some strangers suggestion, when you can learn to trust your own?! If you need a rating to buy a wine, we can look them up for you. Otherwise, I suggest you throw caution to the wind and try something new.
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My Favorite Wines of 2010My favorite thing about the end of the year is reminiscing. I love to think about what the year meant to me. I like reading magazines with their yearly round ups. There is something romantic about looking at the past. I thought it might be fun and fulfilling to look back at my favorite wines of the year. I have tasted everything in the store. Every wine is well made and serves a purpose. However, there are a few wines that really speak to me. Like a modern day 2009 Bonny Doon, Albarino, 2008 Silvio Jermann, Pinot Grigio,Venezia, Italy (Organically Grown): A sexy white that will make you think twice about Pinot Grigio being a simple wine, considering it so beautiful you might just stare at it for some time, what with its intense straw yellow and delicate shade of rose coloring. The bouquet is ample, fruity and intense with apple, melon, and banana aromas. These tropical fruit aromas lead to a full body that is mellow and well balanced, with plenty of fruit and an orange peel and pie tart aftertaste. This wine would be perfect with mushrooms, fish soup, and Crayfish sauce. $25.50 2009 Domaine de la Garreliere, “Cinderrillon”, 2009 Lioco, Chardonnay, 2009 Colli di Murgio “Erbaceo”, NV Champalou, Vouvray, Brut, 2009 Clos du Tue-Boeuf, “La Gravotte”, Cheverny (Organically Grown, & low sulfites): This is not only one of my favorites, it is a staff favorite. A truly natural wine made with indigenous yeasts and very little manipulation. This is a very pure, red-fruited Pinot. It’s bright, earthy, light but concentrated with a citrus tanginess to it. It’s 100% Pinot Noir from old, old vines, with very little sulfites added. Enjoy with roast duck or rack of lamb and wild mushrooms. $32.99 2008 X-winery, Red Blend, 2006 Wild Hog Cache Creek Vineyard, Petite Sirah, 2006 Domaine Rivaton, “Gribouilles” 2008 L’Aventure, Optimus (Biodynamic Farming Practices and & Dry Farmed): The best Cabernet Blend in the store! It is soooo delicious, I can hardly handle selling it as I want to keep it ALL for myself. The wine is a blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Syrah, 24% Petit Verdot and 100% of lusciousness. Integrated aromas of fir, graphite, and acacia make an excellent nose. A focused attack of crushed flowers, geranium oil, cherries, black currant, and plums wash over the palate, yet the finish is velvety and lingers with notes of orange peel and toast. Really the best Cabernet Blend in the store. $55.50
2009 Stolpman “ La Coppa” Sangiovese, (Biodynamic Farming Practices): An amazing wine that will make any Italian wine fan think twice about Chianti. Dried cherry fruit balanced with silky tannins, it is the most elegant new world Sangiovese benefitting from aging 30 months in French Oak Puncheons. Blood orange and pomegranate flavors hang on the periphery of the lifted, elegant cherry fruit. With such small yields in 2007, the Estate will go fast. The soft, integrated fruit profile maintains a food friendly finish. (Only 333 cases produced.) $22.99
2007 Paul Dolan Pinot Noir, Mendocino (Biodynamic): This was not only my favorite value priced Pinot Noir this year, it was loved by the whole staff. Delicate with scents of rose, turned earth and strawberries. The flavors were long, savory and bright. It was like a bottle of springtime. But, like spring, it too has to end. We only have 2 bts left. Our distributor is Sold Out! Hopefully the 2008 will be awesome. $18.00
2008 Radio Coteau “Le Neblina” (Biodynamic): Spanish for “fog,” la neblina rolls in from the Pacific Ocean to blanket and cool the coastal Pinot Noir vineyards of western
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