Wegenstein Blaufränkisch Klassik 2009

This was another BOGO at Merkur - 2 for €4.95, like the Bordeaux from a few posts ago, but this one's Austrian. Blaufränkisch is a deeper red than a Zweigelt, and typically produced in the Burgenland region of Austria, next to Hungary. I've tried Wegenstein's Zweigelt as well, and was not impressed, but the Blaufränkisch is quite good. It is, after all, called Klassik. 


The color is a deep ruby red, and there and hints of blackberry and pomegranate, though it does have high alcohol content, which gives it a bit of a bite. To be paired with food, most definitely. Honestly, this wine is not very good on its own. I bought a selection of cheeses as well at Merkur, and among them, white Irish cheddar, roulade aux noix (goat's cheese with walnuts) and a smoked Gouda tasted quite lovely on Kaisersemmeln and a glass of Blaufränkisch.


One note: the Blaufränkisch is to Zweigelt as Cabernet Sauvignon is to Merlot - have I mentioned this before? Anyway, one is the "parent" grape and the other is the "baby" which gives one a stronger, hardier flavor in the wine...and a better aging process. Oak barrels recommended.

Chateau Ricaud Bordeaux 2008

Oh, yes. I felt the need to indulge in one of my comfort foods - comfort wines? A good ol' Bordeaux. 


I don't know why Bordeaux is my favorite, my standby. Perhaps because it was one of the first wines I tried that I liked, or I get nostalgic about living in France and the taste, smell, feel of a Bordeaux wine sends me back to a summer evening in Paris. In any case, whenever I'm in a grumpy mood or feeling a little down, I look for a bottle of nice Bordeaux red (but not in an alcoholic way, really!) Sort of how animal crackers and Kool Aid send you right back to Kindergarten. There's something charmingly simplistic and quintessential about it to me.


Some people dislike the Bordeaux wines because, frankly, they all taste the same. There's not much variety, if you control for quality. Well, being a creature of habit (I hate to admit it), I think of Bordeaux as my old reliable. Also, it's hard to find a bad one. But it's easy to find a cheap one! Especially if you are living in Europe (like me).


This particular wine, Chateau Ricaud 2008, I snapped up at Merkur during a BOGO - normally priced at €4   apiece, I got two for €4. Lucky me!

Stellenrust Pinotage

This South African pinotage has similar taste and tannins to the California wine I bought a couple of months ago from Wine & Co. I'm starting to think whoever is in charge of stocking at W&C is letting his or her taste buds get in the way of a diversity of stocking choices. For everything under €10 that is.


These wines are both too sweet for my taste. As I've mentioned, I like my reds meaty (this from a vegetarian!) and had I known that pinotage was a mix of pinot noir and another, lesser grape, (see here for Wikipedia page) I probably would have skipped it - yes, even though it was on sale!


As things stand, I may have to skip W&C for a while. Their reds are seemingly disappointing, and why splurge on a bad bottle of €9 stuff from South Africa when I can get a perfectly good bottle of Bordeaux at Billa for under €3? I did, nonetheless drink the whole bottle (it's bad luck to waste wine!) so it couldn't have been that terrible.

Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

I bought this wine for Halloween (think: devil) but didn't have the chance to drink it until now.

It was definitely worth the wait, and the extra cash spent (a whole 8 euros, I know - broke the bank on this one)! Delicioso. Very much like a Tempranillo, not too sweet, not too dry. A little spicy, but not devilishly spicy (wink, wink). It was bought on the same trip to Spar that featured the delicious Hiedler Veltliner.  All in all, a great round of purchases, I think.

Their website has a lackluster commercial in league with Manchester United (...in league with - get it? OK, so it's not all that clever) that probably fared a lot better with South American audiences than with me. Perhaps you need to be a real fútbol fan and not just a poseur (i.e. me). 

Botte Buona Sangiovese Rubicone

This is one of those cheap-o wines (€1.99 at Billa) that is so cheap, you've just made up your mind before drinking it that it will be disgusting. You almost have your heart set on bad wine. You think, "A wine without a date? That just says 'Red wind from E.U.' on the bottle? I'll just lower my expectations to the least common denominator."

But, Rubicone (named presumably for the river in Italy - one of the reason I got it. I am such a Classics nerd) was, actually, not only palatable, but quite so! I found it fruity, dark and dry, with a flowery bouquet and plum-type taste.

I will most likely be buying this again. Definitely a Sangiovese fan.

Ironstone Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel 2007

This, I believe, is the first California wine I've tried in Europe.

Not that I'm a snob about it or anything. Mostly, it's because (like European wines in America), buying a California wine in Austria just isn't cost effective, when there are cheaper, and equally good, local (or at least non-imported) wines to buy all over the place. But, since it's been a while, and I feel a bit homesick (maybe?) I thought I would get a California wine, seeing as it was also on sale - and looked pretty good, to be honest.

Speaking of honesty, I must admit, I'm not much of an "Old Vine Zin" fan, although I probably should be. Like most Americans, I am more familiar with White Zinfandel (sadly the staple at Christmas and other family gatherings) and I know what I feel about it. No nostalgia, no warm, fuzzy sensations - unless it's been shoved down my gullet and in struggling to get away I unwittingly imbibed too much of it. So, Zinfandels, I've had it out for you since before I could drink. Legally.

I remember my first encounter with Old Vine Zinfandel (red as opposed to rose wine) and it was not unpleasant: getting a bottle of Gnarly Head at some World Market campaign during senior year. Also a California wine, I remember being pleasantly surprised. However, it's been quite a while since then, and perhaps my taste buds have changed.

The second of my Wein & Co. bargain purchases, Ironstone Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel is dark, flavorful, and very sweet...for a dry wine. It tastes, in fact, a little saccharine. i like strong flavors, nothing artificial, and to me, wine should not be like Coca-Cola but like wine.

The Zinfandel grape, it must be known, has a high sugar content, which is precisely why it makes such a popular wine. In fact, the sugar allows the wine to ferment to very high alcohol percentages, upwards of 16% in certain processes.  However, that aftertaste of sugary-syrupyness is not what I desire in a full-bodied wine. Leave me to my Merlot, and I'm the better for it.

My motto thus far has been: don't get anything in Europe that you can get at home. I think it'll stick, for now.

Vista Tinta Roriz 2008

This tasty wine is not only a good sippin' wine (similar to a Spanish tempranillo), but also the official wine of Portugal! Similar to a Cognac, Champagne, etc., the Roriz has a special regional significance. Because it is the national wine of Portugal, only the Portuguese can produce it, in the Douro region. It is produced by Alianca.

Also the first of my bargains from Wein & Co. This little bottle set me back 5.59 euros, being the "wine of the month" (at normal price, 6.99 euros - 6.29 per bottle at 12 bottles from W&C...) the flavor is smoky, with a bit of a peppery after-taste. Perfect with savory items, like grill foods and cheeses.

The flavor is a bit heavy for this time of year. I would say this is more of an October wine, considering the spice factor. A lighter red, like a new wine (2010) or perhaps a Beaujolais would go better with high 70s temps. In any case, this is definitely an enjoyable (and cheap!) wine from a region which, unfortunately, doesn't get a lot of press.

Wein & Co. & the Bargain Bin

Recently, I was at the Naschmarkt, getting some cooking supplies/ingredients, when I saw a big, fat red sign in the window of Wein & Co. (a chain liqueur store in Vienna) which read: 50% OFF SUMMER CLEARANCE! Which lured me in, and I'm glad it did: I got 3 interesting wines for under 20 euros. Now, unfortunately, Wein & Co. has a reputation for me...and not a very good one.

Here's why:

1) I despise chain stores.
2) This is the very place I got that quite disgusting rose mentioned in this post.
3) The prices seem overly inflated for tourists and the like.
4) Being unable to afford expensive, quality wine, I normally just stake out one or two of my tried-and-true brands sold at the grocery store where I shop.
5) Being the consummate bargain hunter, I look at price tag first.

But, being the consummate bargain hunter, I am also lured by getting something for less that sticker price. And, with 50% off nice wines, I can start to afford them! From this expedition, I found: a Portuguese wine, a California wine, and a French wine.

More to come...once they've been "taste tested"...

Il Sole: Rosso delle Venezie 2010

This Italian red is also an organic selection, bought from Bio-Markt Maran in Vienna.

The bouquet is spicy, with notes of cherry and cinnamon. And from the name, it is discernible that the wine is from Venice. More, such as the grape variety, is less discernible. By that, I mean it doesn't say what it is on the bottle. However, the taste is reminiscent of a Chianti or a Temperanillo...a nice red grape grown in a southern clime. Near the sea?

On sale for €3.59, I bought two bottles. Although I can't taste an appreciable difference between organic and "regular" red wine, like I can with tomatoes, for example, the price difference is completely nonexistant, at least in this instance. Definitely a keeper.

Thanks* A Bunch

After I tried the white wine from the Austrian Winvino collection, I immediately thought to try the red as well, being obsessed as I am and all...

Danke is a light, fruity, Zweigelt from Burgenland. Sour cherry notes can be detected, as well as a hint of spice...cinnamon? Since the 2010 is still a new wine, it is much crisper than an aged Zweigelt, which would tend more toward the Cabernet Sauvignon end of the body spectrum.

For a mere €2.89 at my local Penny Markt, I was able to procure this flavorful Austrian wine. Because of the similarity in taste and quality to a Pinot Noir grape, and because the French variety is so much better known worldwide, it is often difficult to find a Zweigelt outside of Central and Eastern Europe,where the grape is mainly grown. However, seeing as I am in Central Europe, what better way to celebrate than with a Zweigelt?

Prost!


*For the non-German speakers in the audience, danke is "thank you"in German. Think the song "Danke Schön" made famous by Wayne Newton and sung by Matthew Broderick in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Darling, Danke Schön!

More Wine Splurges in Venice: Caffe Florian

Much like our other post from a few days ago, this one is about our indulgences in Venice.

me with (unseeable) bell town in background

While in Venice, we partook in the Venetian cafe culture at the Caffe Florian on Piazza San Marco. Although a bit more than what we should have paid for a glass of wine (8 euro) and sandwich (12 euro), the cafe is one of the oldest coffee houses in the city (serving overpriced sandwiches since 1720) and was a great cultural experience, albeit one I only need to do once in a lifetime. We chose Caffe Florain for 1) name recognition (thanks, Rick Steves) and 2) for its live music. All of the cafes on St. Mark's Square have live bands in the evening, but Caffe Florian's band had a little something special. Perhaps it was the woman violinist? The accordion player?

Callie enjoying the music

Knowing that Venice caters to tourists almost as a natural process of the city's functions (it's hard to imagine Venice without tourists, actually), felt too-good-to-be-true at times: like Disney World. Like there was no real life in the city, and no real inhabitants. Just pretty buildings and canals. Like we were visiting a museum for an extended weekend. And like we really mattered to the wait staff, hotel staff, etc., etc. as long as we could pay up in the end. Venice, decidedly so, is not for the faint of pocketbook. Thus, splurge ;)

Also, photos of us enjoying Bellinis (finally uploaded!!)

Lelovits Kékfrankos 2007

the Kekfrancos grape on the vine

Similar to a Pinot Noir, the Kékfrankos grape is red and juicy and grown in Hungary and eastern Austria (known in German as Zweigelt).


Unfortuantely, our latest attempt at getting a Kékfrancos...that is, replicating the absolute heaven that was a bottle of Kékfrancos bought in 2007 in Budapest, was a no-go. V.C.'s latest trip to Hungary (resulting in 2 bottles of wine) was less successful than originally hoped, mostly due to her inability to remember exactly what kind of wine she got last time - just that it was a Kékfrancos. And communication in A) Hungarian and B) English with Hungarians can be, to put it diplomatically...difficult.

Result? The realization that not all Kékfrancos are created equal. A mediocre yet incredibly cheap (< 1000 Forint, i.e. ~ 4 Euro) bottle of Kékfrancos from a charming wine shop midway between our hostel and the downtown (Pest) ended up coming home with me, to be drunk about a week ago in my apartment in Amstetten.

Says C.B.: "Not as divine as what we had 3 years ago." With yucky-face sort of like this: >:P

Habánské sklepy 1614 Zweigeltrebe

 In Prague, I picked up an absolutely delicious Zweigelt (similar in flavor to a Pinot Noir) at a Billa.

I was, in fact, quite lucky to get a good wine...not because the Czech Republic is rife with bad wine, or anything, but my Czech abilities are - how shall I put this? - nonexistent. Which makes it difficult to pick out a wine you'll like, if you can't exactly read the bottle.

I was biting my nails all the way home, wondering if I had bought by mistake a sweet red wine (they are somewhat more popular in eastern Europe than in the Mediterranean...except for Greece, inexplicably). But, because of my German abilities, and having tasted a Zweigelt before, I thought I'd be pretty safe. Zweigelts are an Austrian grape, and known to be spicy and rich in tannins, but not as heavy as the Blaufränkisch, another popular eastern European grape variety.

At around 100 Czech Korúny, or €4, this was an especially good choice for the connoisseur on a budget...moi! I accompanied my wine with a nice Austrian cheese (Bergkäse - similar to a Gruyère) and stuffed mushrooms...DEEEE-LISH! The wine's color was ruby red, with raspberry notes and a woodsy flavor which paired excellently with the mushrooms.

I only wish now I had bought more bottles. Though I doubt that they would have fit in my backpack. This can be another excuse to go back to Prague - not that one needs excuses...

Prague's famous Astronomical Clock

Ouf alors! Matayac Cahors

This delicious wine was brought back from Paris in V.C.'s luggage. You can tell it's a good one because the bottle is sealed with wax...rather than aluminum foil or a screw top. Either that, or the vintner wants to give the illusion of something special.

In the case of the Matayac Cahors, the "something special" is not a veneer...

We saved this wine in our dorm room, expecting to drink it upon graduation...and then didn't. So I brought it home with me, waiting for a special occasion to drink it. We finally decided that, since I would be headed back to Europe on a Fulbright teaching assistantship, and C.B. made it down for a rare appearance in Green Bay, this was occasion enough...otherwise, when would we drink it? 

I certainly was not going to lug it back across the Atlantic...nor was I comfortable leaving it in my parents' house (Mom would probably put it in the refrigerator, drink it without me, or do something equally sacrilegious to red wine consumption...)

Thus, we popped off the wax, decanted, and enjoyed! According to CB, it was "good even before decanting." Other comments? "Wow!" Stats include:

Year: 2005

Appearance: deep red/purple

Cost: 10-15 € (can't remember exact price)

Taste: smoky, with notes of blackberry and hibiscus; 

                      aged in oak barrels, which accounts for the smokiness

Bought: in 2008 at Carrefour, Boulogne, Paris, France 

Le Bâtonnier

view from top of Mont Royal

A Québec wine from the vintner Denis Paradis, bought from a vendor on the streets of Montréal  for the somewhat unaccustomed price of $20 CAD, Le Bâtonnier, or “president of the Bar” (i.e. lawyer) in French, is a depart from the usual. A tart North American wine, made from grapes grown in Québec, the fruits are young-tasting, with notes of cranberry, and fluffy…like the wine equivalent of angel food cake.

Normally, I prefer a more full-bodied red, but the cranberry tartness and the young sweetness make it a great summer wine. When you don’t want anything too dark. Goes well with goat cheese, a pear and nut salad, or other summery dishes.

The price was a bit steep for the quality – my one critique was that the “oak barreled finish” seemed like a cop out for not knowing what else to do with the wine. Then again, red wines are meant to be aged…thus, the problem if you are drinking a young one.

Budget or Bust: we attempt Aldi

Having nothing better to do on a fine spring Wednesday, VC and I trekked down to the local Aldi. I had never been in one before, so it was a chance to see for myself cardboard boxes replacing shelving and off-off brands of products. Happy Farms instead of Crystal Farms. They did however have German pumpernickle bread, and (here's the important part) a wine selection. Of course we got the most expensive, for $10... a 1.5 litre "Bell'Italia" red wine imported from Tuscany -- one of those pot-bellied bottles nestled in a half-basket.

Well, this wine must have had all the red grapes of Tuscany mashed into it. It was not bad but very intense, sort of what you get if you mix chianti and sangiovese and merlot. Eaten with a hearty ratatouille (which was supposed to be pasta but our pasta disappeared... hmm), it was not ideal but not terrible either. As they say... everything gets better with more wine.

Casa Solar Tempranillo

Casa Solar Tempranillo, a lovely Spanish blend, can be found at World Market for only $4.99 (or at least it could be a few weeks ago...). We put it to two purposes: cooking and drinking. It worked well for both -- I added it to a caramelized onion soup, and then finished off the bottle with the meal. Yum yum. The wine is dark, a little spicy, and quite full-bodied. Not for the faint of heart, or those who can only drink dessert wines. But then if you only drink dessert wines, you shouldn't be reading this blog.

Recommended as a good, cheap wine.