Mo's Wine & Spirits

Will we be seeing a Depp-Paradis wine any time soon? According to press reports, actor Johnny Depp has bought his long-term girlfriend Vanessa Paradis a vineyard in France.

Depp is perhaps most recognized for his work in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series as well as in director Tim Burton’s dark and quirky productions, like Sweeney Todd now playing at movie theaters.

Lucy Shaw and Oliver Styles of Decanter.com, report that the actor purchased the French estate “as a gift to celebrate the release of Paradis’ new album, Divinidylle.”  In their article the authors go on to reveal that, despite the purchase, it is unlikely that the pair will produce wines. Based on conversations with Les Fouleurs de Saint Pons, a spokesperson for the local wine co-operative, they reveal that the property bought by Depp does not contain winemaking facilities.

Still, Depp is known for his love of French wines. In a linked article Depp reveals that his favorite wine is Château Calon-Ségur, a Saint-Estèphe third-growth, and that he also has a fondness for Pétrus and Château Cheval-Blanc. “With those wines,” Depp said, “you reach nirvana.”

I was attending a fashion show,only the models were Brunello di Montalcino 2003. There was excitement in the air. One glass seemed better than the next. The thrill of pure Sangiovese in the room. Old world style in a new world setting.There was simple raw power rising from each glass.Very masculine. A well cut suit always accents the shoulders just so.I could just imagine a beautiful hillside vineyard in Montalcino,basking in the Tuscan sunlight. Perhaps a trip to Italy is in order.The 2003 Brunello di Montalcino vintage will be strutting its stuff at Mo’s Wine and Spirits in March.                    Cheers, Sharon

Are you a wine newbie? Maybe you just enjoy wine and happen to know a thing or two about the beverage? Or perhaps you’re an expert on the grape, a connoisseur? Now you can test your wine knowledge in any of three levels of expertise. 

Presented by Dr. Stephen Reiss, Ph.D., this trio of Wine Education quizzes cover the basics (for the general public), those wanting a challenge (be careful what you wish for!) and an exam for those who are not faint of heart!

In each, you’ll be asked to respond to a series of 15 multiple choice questions. If you do well, you may be acknowledged as a “full fledged Cork Dork!” If not, you might want to study up on Reiss’ Wine Basics!  Either way, you’re sure to pick up a new pearl of wisdom to enhance your enjoyment of wine.

I have a great respect for those who can craft the simple grape ito the champagnes and sparklers I end up falling in love with.      Take for example my latest “crush” on Lucien Albrecht Cremant Rose from the Alsace reigon of France. The wine is  100% pinot noir. Cremant is all things Champagne except location, and the French are really strict about exactly where champagne comes from.
It was LOVE at first  pour. The pale salmon color intrigued me. It reminded me of my summer roses. No shortage of carbonation here, tiny pinpoint bubbles danced their way to the surface of the flute. You can literally smell the clean minerality mingled with subtle  fresh strawberries and light cranberry juice. I haven’t even tasted it yet, and I am already putting it into the #2 slot of my “all time favorite” Sparkling Wine catalogue. Here we go..Beautiful.  
The cran-strawberry theme is balanced by beautiful acicity. Crisp, elegant and dry, and at the same time flirty and playful. I  am admiring the soft antique rose hue I have in my flute as I let the wine seduce my senses.  What a joy this will be to drink on a warm summer evening , relaxing  on a chaise  near my salmon colored roses …..Cheers, Sharon 

There are book clubs, garden clubs, coffee clubs and yes, even a bacon of the month club! I currently have a “boat club” membership and have had health club (gym) memberships.             

Chances are you are a wine drinker or are curious about wine if you are still reading . Great! You probably eat once in awhile, and have at least 1 or 2 friends who drop by with “questionable beverages” then order mystery take-out. You might even wish for something to talk about besides politics, your job or the weather.Here’s where I come in. TA-DA! 

I present you with Mo’s Wine Club. This is much more than just another shameless club plug.(a lot of thought went into this)     Mo’s Wine Club is an easy, educational and economical way to have good old FUN at home, or at someone elses  place.     

I plan on using the wine club in my neighborhood with my friends. I can easily walk to the boat club for a beverage, but when I want to stay home here is the plan:

1.  Choose a wine and a recipe
2.  Shop for ingredients
3.  Whip up meal and browse notes.

Dinner is cooking, notes are browsed, wine is open, neighbors arriving. A chance to re-invent the same old dinner conversation with FUN facts about your new wine and your delicious recipe.      

We give you 3 wines and 3 recipes and notes on the wines.
That’s enough for  : 3friend drop-bys, 3date nights, 3 mini wine courses, 3meals with your beloved, 3 neighbor nights, or 1 big neighbor night, 1 big wine course, a very cool wine month for yourself, 1 super neighbor Sunday etc, etc, etc..
Shall I continue? Have I piqued your interest? Let’s talk!       

Cheers, Sharon          aka”The Winebrat”      

Wine is enjoyed around the world and has been for centuries. It’s is a rich cultural history, as evidenced by 9 Wine Traditions From Around the World,a sampling of different wine experiences from Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and northern Africa as presented on ewineracks.com.

Among the traditions identified are a few we take for granted today. Like clinking glasses. “Back when goblets and flagons were made of wood and metal, vigorous collisions were the object,” according to the article. “This lively jostling caused the contents of glasses to spill over and intermix, signifying a trust that neither companion had slipped the other a mickey.”

There are also a number of traditions that today may seem illogical. Such as Egyptian burial rites.

“Even in death, royals in ancient Egypt enjoyed a higher standard of living than most commoners. As provisions for the afterlife, it was prescribed that five large jars containing the different wines of the region be included in every royal tomb.”

Even in this century wine traditions are still being created whenever friends or family get together. What are yours?

The Three Thieves. For quite a few years I have believed their little ruse. The first presentation. I have sold their “bullet” tetra pack wines and liter jug wines with a soft spot. French ancestry, romance and intrigue. They sent a charming Captain Jack Sparrow type of “thief” to be the spokesperson for the first time in the US and it was a brilliant move for the Three Thieves.    For those unsure of the tetra pack, “everyone” buys them in Europe. The accent has spoken! Oh by the way, the juice was OK, did I mention that at all? Sourcing from the best possible places until their “winemaker thief” could make their own wine. Now onto why I forgive them for their chicanery. Presentation counts for something. There are three different labels to choose from. Hatch Show Print of Nashville did show posters for the likes of Johnny Cash and even Bruce Springsteen. Check out Hatch Show Prints.   The wine is Central and North coast AVA Cabernet that dominates the blend. Merlot is added to temper the mix. Cabernet Franc gives The Show some extra personality and the acidity it needs to be the ultimate performer. Petit Sirah and Petit Verdot round out the quartet adding color and a hint of violets.Overall you will taste dried cherries, bright fruit and spices. Put together like some of the big guns.  Love that cab franc!  Cheers Sharon 

Are you game for a fun, new way to share your passion for wine? If so, the White Wine Game™ is for you! This specialty board game combines wine, food and strategy for entertainment both wine enthusiasts and beginners can enjoy.

Hosts decide how easy – or elaborate – preparation will be by selecting four food items to serve. Choose from your own favorites or any of 45 recipes included with the game. “Anything from opening a box of snack crackers to preparing a gourmet dish will do,” say the game’s creators.

Then, when guests arrive, simply uncork a bottle of white wine. Choose from Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Riesling or any other white varietal.

The fun starts when players begin recording the colors, aromas and flavors they observe in the wine. Points are soon racked up as players navigate the game board, landing on spaces corresponding to wine characteristics or on Food Match spaces where they sample wine in combination with a food choice.

For more game details or information on how to order, visit the game’s web site at whitewinegame.com.

As I wrote on Dec. 7th we conducted a tasting of 7 different Cabernets from California. The results we somewhat surprising. The wines tasted were:

Dominus ‘04 Juslyn Spring Mountain ‘03 Shafer One Point Five ‘04

J Davies Spring Mountain ‘04

Beringer Private Reserve ‘02 (corked)

Heitz ‘02

Grgich Hills ‘03

All the wines had their own style from soft and velvety to austere and bordeaux like. All of the customers who participated had never tasted 6 different Napa Valley Cabernets that all had totally different qualities. Some realized what they really, truly like. Every wine was great in their own way, but actually pinpointing your exact style is hard to do. Practice makes perfect! My favorites (in order): Shafer (most concluded the same), Dominus, Juslyn, J Davies, Grgich Hills, and Heitz.