Brix26, a personalized wine recommendation service located in San Francisco at the crossroads of Napa and Sonoma. Created in 2005 by Peter Langenstein, Peter works
directly with many of California’s boutique wineries, obtaining the unique opportunity to taste hundreds of the finest varietals available. Brix26 clients are able to browse and purchase single wines or mixed cases on the website, and are encouraged to call or email Brix26 directly for one-on-one recommendations. Each bottle will be shipped directly to home or business, complete with customized tasting notes and the option for individual gift-wrapping.

Peter has put together some suggestions for wine lovers and wine givers this holiday season for some of his top picks.

The Most Bang for Your Buck (Under $25)

Ever tried to figure out how much should you spend on a wine gift? One of the biggest misconceptions the wine industry has foisted on consumers is the more expensive the wine, the better—or even more misguided, the longer it will age.  It’s just not true – there are great wines, even wines that can age, at all price points.

Peter Recommends:  The Twenty Rows 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley ($19.99)—a rare 100% Napa Valley Cabernet. Tasting as though it could be a $50 Cabernet, it’s a second label from one of the Valley’s top wineries.

Got the Urge to Splurge?

If you’re dishing out the dough, you should be assured you are receiving something spectacular. Unfortunately there is a sea of overpriced Napa Valley cabs, all hoping to be the next $100 cult wine. The good news is that there are wines that are able to back their lofty price tag.

Peter Recommends: The Robert Foley 2005 Claret Napa Valley ($159 – 94 points). You won’t go wrong with this bottle, which is made by the previous winemaker at Pride Vineyards. Foley’s Claret (a Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc) is consistently one of our favorites every year.

For the Ultimate Wine Snob

How do you impress the wine lover who claims to have seen (and tasted) it all? For this type of person, a highly rated, difficult to obtain Cult Cabernet will get their blood racing every time!
Peter Recommends: The Blankiet 2005 Paradise Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (95 Points – $299)

Party Picks

Let’s face it. There will be plenty of soirees this season and you won’t want to show up empty handed. Parties are the perfect opportunity to spice up your selection with something to please all palates.

For a great Chardonnay that’s not too steely, Peter recommends The Patz & Hall 2007 Chardonnay Napa Valley ($34.95)

As for a red, don’t be afraid to be adventurous! Unless steak is on the menu, there’s no need to serve Cabernet at a party. Try something a bit lighter such as a California Zinfandel.  A great option—a rare single vineyard treat from a venerable Napa Cab producer, is The Nickel & Nickel 2006 Bonfire Vineyard Zinfandel ($48).

The Icebreaker

Looking for a bottle to spark conversation and keep the gang talking long after the last sip?

Peter Recommends: *Orin Swift’s 2007 “The Prisoner” Napa Valley ($35). It’s guaranteed to garner attention and probably become the new crowd favorite.

The bottle is equipped with a visually striking label (from artist Francisco Goya) and is an intriguing blend of several red varieties including Zinfandel, Cabernet, Petite Syrah and several others,

Shhh…It’s our Secret!

For the bottle that you’re dying to share, but don’t want to anyone to discover, we’ve found some phenomenal small production wines that are truly hidden gems.

Peter Recommends:

The Atrea 2004 Old Soul Red, Mendocino ($26.99). As one of my favorites this year, it’s an interesting blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Malbec and Petite Syrah from Mendocino—an area often overlooked. This choice is sure to impress any fan of big, rich reds.

The Palazzo 2005 Proprietary Red Napa Valley ($55). For Bordeaux fans, this has been one of our best discoveries as there are only 1,000 cases of this Merlot/Cabernet/Cabernet Franc blend. This particular bottle was modeled after France’s Right Bank wines but unabashedly ‘made in California’. It’s a beautifully balanced blend produced by Scott Palazzo and will pair well with meat-based dishes.

Cheers!

Setting the tone for the New Year can be done right with the perfect bottle of champagne.

While New Year’s Eve usually means either low-priced domestic fizz (think Cook’s) or high end fancy French Champagnes, I’d like to suggest a taste of something both domestic and high-end.
Peter Recommends:

Schramsberg 2000 J. Schram ($89) – Possibly the finest sparkling wine produced in California, this Champagne rivals the finest bottles available, and frequently tops them in blind tastings.

All of these wines can be purchased at Brix26. They can be reached by email at info@brix26.com, or by phone at 1-866-4Brix26 (427-4926)

(images provided by Brix26)

Post from: EveryJoe

Brix26: An Exclusive Wine Service

Fairmont Chateau Whistler
Image source: Fairmont

I got into the Village in the early afternoon, and was pampered and treated like a queen by the Fairmont staff, and after grabbing a bite to eat, I headed down to the main Cornucopia site for my first session, “White Rhones” with Thomas Perrin from Chateau Beaucastel (and I got his personal email address, so I will be contacting him for an interview!)

I learned a ton, tasted some gorgeous white wines (yes, the Rhone Valley does indeed grow white wine grapes and they make some beautiful wines with them!), and took copious amounts of notes.

I’ll be posting about the seminar particularly, but I wanted to get the first Cornucopia post up and then go grab food before the Crush Gala Grand Tasting tonight. More to come!

Post from: EveryJoe

Cornucopia: Day 1

The Seven Daughters White Winemaker’s Blend is composed of seven distinct varietals including Riesling, Symphony, Chardonnay, Orange Muscat, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc and French Colombard. Some sultry sweet scents of orange blossom, musk and melon danced around with the fresh flavours of lychee and tangerine.  My first sip was lovely, and it finished with a slightly spicy note.

Yes, the Seven Daughter’s white is good, but then I tried the red, and I just about fell over.

The red blend is a sophisticated mix of Syrah, Merlot, Zinfandel, Carignane, Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose reminds me of blackberry and pepper, with a hint of subtle notes of lavender and vanilla. Overall, this wine tastes like dried cherries and big red fruits. Can you tell I loved the red? I did.

If you get a chance to try either of the Seven Daughters blends, whichever you prefer really, jump at it. It’s definitely worth it!
(image source: Seven Daughters)

Post from: EveryJoe

By the Glass: Seven Daughters Wines

1. Their favorite candy
2. Their favorite awful reality television
3. A bottle of wine that’s tasty and humourous

Fortunately for California’s Dog House Winery, the value in a bottle doesn’t stop at laughs for the Patches Pino Grigio. While you’re joking and trying to forget what brought on this occasion in the first place, you’ll be knocking back a truly delightful wine that’s both light and distinctive.

The tasty citrus-ness is balanced out by sweeter hints of melon, which keeps the palate from being turned off by too much of a grapefruit vibe. Priced at $9.99 USD ($13.95 via the LCBO).

At the end of the night, all three female friends/comrades/taste-testers gave Patches a thumbs up – well done, boy.

Post from: EveryJoe

Breaking up is hard to do, but Patches Pino Grigio helps

This was a welcome improvement from the wine tasting I co-hosted on Friday (more on that later) where no true winners really emerged. I expect I’ll be exploring what other exotic goodies Madrid has to offer very soon.

(Photo: website)

Post from: EveryJoe

By The Glass: Spain’s Marques De Riscal Rueda

Creepy Baby – semi dry white. $8/glass

Could you have resisted ordering something with a name so unforgettable?

Alas, thank goodness this particular restaurant chose to list the wine with such a hilariously apt nickname (see ghostly child featured on wine label), since I’m quite sure I would have missed “Ballet of Angels” entirely. And that would have been a shame – this Sharpe Hill wine is one of the most lovely, refreshing mixed varietals I’ve encountered. Crisp without being sharp, pungent without offending the senses, every person I’ve since introduced it to has been just as enthralled as I am every time I open a bottle.

As Creepy Baby (yes, I insist on calling it this) is not available in Canada, my trips to the US are generally preceded by a number of requests to return with bottles of this divine treat. At under $12 USD/bottle, I’m more than happy to oblige.

Post from: EveryJoe

Dear Sharpe Hill…a naming suggestion.