2005 Guigal  Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge 1/2 bottle
I love half bottles- you’ll love them too, especially if you have trouble getting through a whole bottle of wine, on a budget or like to taste several wines at a time.

Here is a real value no matter the reason. The name Guigal has been trusted by The Party Source for years. With this historic vintage now in a half-bottle, I promise all you medium to full bodied red wine lovers you will enjoy this one.   The 2005 vintage is all but drunk from CdR- these half bottles are some of the final remains.

Cheers!

Danny

One year ago on Memorial Day weekend, Mary Claire Schnier was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. She is doing great! Mary Claire wanted to raise money and some attention to finding a cure for her disease. Mary Claire’s father, Lou, asked The Party Source if they would host a wine tasting to benefit Mary Claire’s cause and we were happy to do so.

On Tuesday, June 30th the wine tasting was held at EQ.
Mary Claire raised over $700 and all the proceeds from the event are being donated to  Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Diabetes Center!  Keep up the good work Mary Claire – together we can beat this disease!

The EQ Staff

The Lackey 2006 Shiraz
This is one supped up and glossy wine with tons of bells and whistles. The Lackey doesn’t lack anything especially power and intensity. It pours a cross between raspberry jam and midnight in color, blowing off a bouquet of crushed herbs, black pepper, earth, oak, and vanilla and blackberry liquor. This BIG Aussie some how pulls off a pleasant harmony on the finish making it very desirable for either your wine cellar or backyard barbeque.

Cheers!

Danny

Another fun evening was had by all last Friday night at Krohn Conservatory.  Not only did we shake some great cocktails and eat some fantastic appetizers, Diana Hoffman and Gary from Kama Salsa taught us some sexy salsa dance moves and Hannah Eaton from Mitchell’s Salon and Day Spa dazzled us with slick tricks for stylish summer party hairstyles and make-up.  The swag bags were filled to the brim with hand fans from the Bitty Breeze, Sunglasses, a sample bottle of Taste of Florida Mango Real Fruit Mixers and Hypnotic, mints, lip balm and coupons.  Check out the event photos and join us for our next Girl’s Night Out @ Krohn Conservatory on October 9th for “How to Host a Wine Tasting Party” presented by  Amy Tobin , party planner extraordinare.

See you there!

Connie Volker
EQ Event and Marketing Director

by Jay Erisman, EQ Wine and Spirits Manager

Local wine blogger and frequent EQ student Michelle Lentz is throwing her ruby slippers in the ring to nab what has got to be one of the all-time greatest internships. Murphy-Goode Winery in Sonoma County, California, is looking for a rare specimen, someone skilled at both social media and wine, for a six month job as a lifestyle reporter. Applicants are to submit a one minute video explaining why they are perfect for the gig. I think Michelle nailed it, but then I am perhaps rooting for the hometown team and a pal of mine. C’mon…she teaches Twitter. Here is Michelle’s Murphy-Goode page, where you can cast your vote–or just click the video below. And check out Michelle’s dedicated website–Oz looks more fun than ever with a bit of wine!

The Wines of Merryvale
Napa, California
Recently,  at the Reserve restaurant on the Levee, we had 46 people out to dinner (my 3rd biggest tasting yet). At the dinner we met Paul Cimenero with Merryvale who gave some great stories and history on Merryvale. We poured and paired these wines with a great menu. Here are the results.

Merryvale Chardonnay $17.99 with tempura fried Lobster.
Why? One of the food matches possible is a buttery Chardonnay with Lobster tail. Here the Chard was not overtly buttered or oaked. It was dense but with nice stony and citrus notes. Really a great Chardonnay from California for the price that steps outside the popular norm.

Merryvale Sauvignon Blanc $15.99 with Sicilian flatbread.
Why?  With Asiago cheese, olives and tomatoes we wanted to pour a white that was lively and acidic as well as crisp and clean to let all those flavors shine through. From the response of the crowd we nailed it.

Merryvale Merlot $23.99 with Chicken Diablo over penne pasta
Why? Here matching spice with tannins was the idea hoping they would meet each other half way and play off each other. The Merlot was bold and smooth. Some said it was the pairing of the night a few thought we missed but hey that’s ok.

Merryvale Cabernet Sauvignon $24.99 with Prime Rib
This I jokingly called the “Fred Flintstone” course because of the huge portion of beef. This was a no brainer. We took a gorgeous, classic California Cab and paired with one of the best cuts of meat out there. There were lots of smiles and to go boxes.

Cheers!

Danny

Weingut Jakob Schneider Riesling Kabinett
$15.49 (LITRE BOTTLE)
Germany, Aisle 7B
Here lies one of the best value medium dry German Riesling I can offer. This wine is an even balance of citrus fruits, dry acid and low sugar levels. Remember not all Riesling is sweet the term Kabinett shows that. With a lively spritz of lime zest and stony minerals this wine is a patio pleaser for sure. Jakob Schnieder Riesling would pair perfectly with spicy Asian cuisine, sushi and curry dishes. Whether you like wine with a little sweetness or want to try something new and refreshing this bottle goes a long, long way with it’s quaffable charm.
SCORE: 3++
Cheers!
Danny

The Wines of Patricia Green:
Oregon, Aisle 6A
I had the opportunity to taste the wines of what is my opinion one of the top Oregon Pinot producers. At the EQ inside the Party Source last Saturday, winemaker Jim Anderson was on hand tasting and talking about 6 of his estates  Pinot Noir’s.   This was a true testimony to how different the same grape can taste based on soil, climate and total production.   From their entry level Reserve to the high end Old Vine all these wines showed very well. Here are my tasting notes on the ones that stood out to me.

#4 Eason Vineyard- $32.99
This was the lightest in color with a very alive and super bright cherry bouquet that was long and refined. The wine had a huge mouth feel that was full of bright berry flavors and spices with high acid and chewy tannins. Somehow  Eason Vineyard was able to tie all of these big and ripe flavors and bring them to a sophisticated harmony.
SCORE: 3++++
#3 Balcombe Vineyard- $36.99
Deep earthy nuances of soil, tobacco and a hint of cherry juice on the nose. More earthy flavors dominate the palate with blackberry fruit in the background. Second sip and man oh man this is a savory wine and is a perfect showcase on what sets Oregon Pinot apart from the rest of the world. My comment to Jim was that this particular wine reminded me more of the wines I tasted in Oregon 2 years ago more then any of the others. He agreed that it was the most Orgonian in style.
SCORE:4+
#2 Estate Vineyard – $36.99
The nose on the Estate bottling was very French like with notes of leather, earth, and plum but had the distinct bouquet of Oregon’s volcanic soil. The flavor profile showed racy fruit flavors of cranberry and pomegranate and at first sip I knew this wine was going to be serious. This Pinot was more thick, rich and dense than any of the others on the table and finished with great poise and concentration.
SCORE:4++
#1 Estate Old Vine – $39.99
This wine was the show stopper. It might not have been the one that showcased Oregon’s soil and unique climate but it was too good not to rank #1. The essence of the wine was of silky and satin textured fruits, and a bouquet of red roses. The old vine was super smooth, and elegant. I was very impressed and think I said wow 3 or 4 times tasting this one. It had a feminine quality to it that could not be denied with little kisses of fruit that would show up here and there. This would be a prize possession for any Pinot fan.
SCORE: 4++++

Cheers!

Danny

Terre de Mistral:
$9.99
France, Aisle 7B
This red from the Rhone is my new favorite $10 bottle of wine in the store. Packed with juicy red fruit this Grenache dominated vino from the French is super friendly and over delivers for it’s price. There is an earthy aspect that acts as the knot that ties this little gem all together. Terre de Mistral is a serious wine for the money and would best enjoyed with barbequed pork and grilled Filet.
SCORE: 3++++

Cheers!

Danny