WINE TASTING AT DOMAINELA WITH ME

UPDATE: THIS IS NOW ONLY $10!!!!

WHEN: THURSDAY, JANUARY 29TH, 5-8PM
WHERE: DOMAINELA
$$$: ONLY $10 FOR THREE GLASSES
WHO: YOU + ME + UR FRIENDS + MY FRIENDS

NOTES:
- NO RESERVATIONS/TICKETS REQUIRED
- I THINK SHIRTS/SHOES ARE REQUIRED THO
- JUST COME, OK?

HERE'S A FACEBOOK INVITE THING TOO IN CASE THAT'S YOUR THING

I'm so excited to kick off DomaineLA's new Thursday night tastings this Thursday! DomaineLA is one of my favorite wine stores in LA and I couldn't think of a better place to host my first legit tasting. I'll be serving up three of my favorite natural wines from Italy, France and Spain. It's the best $10 you could possibly spend in Los Angeles. Where could you possibly get three really awesome glasses of wine for $10? Plus listen to dope vinyls I will be curating? Plus get a celebrity sighting? (The celeb is me btw, don't get your hopes up, that was a joke). 

ANYWAY, BEST $10 EVER. AND I REALLY HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT!

Flyer made by my main squeeze, Ben Blascoe. Inspired by a Breakfast At Tiffany’s poster. He chose the adjective “friendliest” for the record. I am super friendly for sure, but the adjectives I chose were much crasser. 

IT'S ME. AND WINE. BUT A GIF.

My awesome cinematographer/director/bud, Josh Fuss, surprised me with this GIF from the footage we shot at Municipal Wines this past fall.

Wine Time: Fattoria Moretto with Nathan Hazard

Fattoria Moretto
Price: $18.50
Region: Emilia Romagna, Italy
Retailer: Silverlake Wine

I sat down with my good friend Nathan Hazard of The Table Set podcast and LA pop up, The Coconut Club, for a Lambrusco lunch. It tastes like Harry Potter. I know I've used that comparison before, but THIS TIME I MEAN IT THE MOST!

Check out more episodes of Wine Time here!

Cinematography by Antoin Huynh 
Music by Monster Rally 
Edited by Faith Davis

Leitz Out Rieseling

Leitz Out Riesling
Price: $15.99
Year: 2013
Region: Germany
Retailer: DomaineLA

I bought this because the label. Obviously. How was I going to ignore something that I thought said "Lez Out" and has a tagline as strong as "A Super-Sassy Riesling Spectacular!" 

You'd be crazy to see this and not buy it. 

I'm very particular about Rieslings because I don't like sweet wines. My homeboy at Domaine, Dylan, had not tried this so it was a gamble. I put my sixteen bucks on "Witty" and "Great design" and rolled the dice. 

This is like the Zooey Deschanel's of wine. Yes, Zooey has been "sassy" in her career, but these days she is super pretty and palatable in a perfect sundress. She's drinkable and lovely and says silly things that make you tune into television on Tuesday nights. Zooey, if you think about it, is really quite "witty" with "great design".  She's lovable. And you love her too. Even if you can't admit it, there is something deep down that makes you melt a little over Zooey, and there is nothing you can do about it. She's just, sweet. 

And so is this wine.
It's 100% likable.

That being said, this wine isn't for me. I think the winemaker and myself have very different definitions of "sassy", and that's okay. Just like I don't regularly watch New Girl, it doesn't mean I don't get it; it just means I'm not going to buy it every week. 

But I bet, most of America would love to. 

This wine is really well made. I genuinely hope if you like fuller/sweeter Rieslings, you check it out.

And the label, is still one of the best labels I've ever seen. EVER. That in itself was worth the $16.

Tasting Notes: VERY big bouquet, smells like a blossoming orange tree. The palate is a pound of pressed peaches with a touch of orange zest and a dash of salt. Really well-balanced with a little minerality. It's definitely sweet. I had my boyfriend taste it too, so it's not just me. It's a sweeter wine. So, enjoy you sweet wine lovers! 

Ross Test: So damn easy. LORDY. Fuck a glass, just drink the whole thing like you're standing in front of your fridge without any pants at midnight, right out of the bottle. 

3:11AM EDIT:
So, I not so accidentally took some painkillers and started watching Sex & The City with my best friend, but then she left, but I am still obviously awake. I ran out of Pinot, so I turned back to this warm Riesling that has been sitting on my shelf since 8PM.

I have to say, I enjoy this Riesling 120% more warm than I did cold. I never thought I'd say that, but it's true. This wine is much more drinkable at room temperature. While watching Carrie and Big start dating again. Because I've only ever seen two seasons of this. Because I just started watching it. Oooops.

WHATEVER. THIS WINE IS REALLY GOOD RIGHT NOW. LIKE WAY BETTER THAN IT WAS 9 HOURS AGO COLD.
AND IT ISN'T THE PAINKILLERS. OR MIRANDA IN A KIMONO.

IT REALLY IS JUST BETTER!

DRINK RIESLINGS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE EVERYONE! I AM A GENIUS! A DUMB IDIOT GENIUS WHO SHOULD HAVE GONE TO BED THREE HOURS AGO, BUT CARRIE AND NORCOS AND DELICIOUS LEITZ OUT. 

Alright, time to wash my face for forty-five minutes because it feels so good.

xoxoxoxooxoxoxox

Calabretta "Cala Cala" Vino Rosso

Calabretta Vino Rosso "Cala Cala"
Price: $18.99
Year: Multi-Vintage (2005, 2008, 2009)
Region: Sicily 
Retailer: DomaineLA

Editor's Note: I AM SO PISSED BECAUSE I ACCIDENTALLY DELETED THIS POST BECAUSE IN THE NEW SQUARESPACE EDITING YOU HAVE TO SAVE AND THEN GO INTO SETTINGS AND THEN SAVE-PUBLISH ASDKJASHDKJAHDSKA THIS IS WHAT I CAN REMEMBER OF WHAT I INITIALLY WROTE LAST NIGHT AND I AM SAD BECAUSE I REALLY, REALLY LIKED THIS POST. :(

This wine isn't from Rome, but I still thought it would be a good wine to break in my new Nino Rota vinyl. La Dolce Vita is so dreamy, dark and a little desperate. And as I stare out in the black abyss that is my front yard, I can't help but think that is exactly how I feel going into the new year-- dreamy, a little desperate, staring into a dark unknown. Oh, what I would do to have my days filled with press conferences and my nights spent frolicking in the Trevi Fountain. Or simply just being back on the Via Veneto. IL SOSPIRO. 

As much as I want to say that the Cala Cala somehow relates to Roman cafe society, it doesn't at all. 

The Cala Cala reminds me much more of Michael back in the homeland during The Godfather, Part One. You know, where he's hit by the lightening bolt that is Apollonia? Yeah this tastes like that. It's like BANG! I love it! And sure, Michael is loving Apollonia's tits or face or both but I'm like, LOVING this wine.

It's a dusty hillside stroll covered with wildflowers and some cow shit.
So, a pretty solid hillside in my personal opinion.  

Tasting Notes: Coffee and cherries and that aforementioned cow shit on the nose. Super lively and bright in your mouth, but has a really meaty quality to it. It's an organic wine, so it's pretty funky and kinda sour. I wouldn't serve it to your Italian grandmother, she would be very confused, but definitely serve it to your friends who are up for a little chalky weirdness.

Ross Test: Great on the front, a bit rough on the back. 

PS. I'M SORRY I DON'T REMEMBER MORE OF WHAT I WROTE THIS WAS INITIALLY SUCH A GOOD POST [weeps]

Favorite Wines of 2014

2014 was a good year for wines. 

I have no idea if 2014 was actually good for wines on the whole, but I am 11100% sure it was a really good year for wines and me, so yes, 2014 was a good year. A fucking fantastic year, in fact.  This was the first year I decided to take my relationship with wine more seriously, and it yielded quite the memorable vintage. I drank so many delicious wines, visited so many beautiful wineries, met so many incredible people. I learned so much and will always remember 2014 very fondly.

I will never make a list of "Best" wines. Just the thought is preposterous. But I will tell you about my favorite wines of the year.

2014 was the year of Beaujolais-Gamay for me. I had one bottle of weird-ass French shit and it was game over. I couldn't stop drinking it. I don't think I've gone through such a heavy wine phase since I first started drinking wine and refused to have anything but Cabs because I was twenty-two and an idiot. 

Still kind of an idiot, but now I'm twenty-five. [wiiiiiink]

#10 MUNICIPAL Bright White Dry Riesling 

($24) A couple months ago, I was belly to the bar at Silverlake Wine at a Monday Tasting, as I tend to do. I generally go alone, as to focus on wine. On this particular night, the gentleman next to me and I started shooting the shit. Turned out he was an importer and he set me up to visit Municipal Wines the following weekend. I had never had any of Municipal's wines, and after my visit, I was in love. One of my favorite things about their Riesling-- besides it being a confident dry white with an energized palate of grapefruit and awesome minerality-- is that it can be served at room temperature and it's still insanely refreshing. Municipal's Bright White Dry Riesling is one of the best Rieslings I've ever had, and it makes sense that when I revisited just yesterday, they were completely sold out of this shit. If you can buy it, DO IT. YOU WON'T REGRET IT.

#9  Čotar Teran

($27.99) I served this Slovenian gem at my Halloween tasting at my house. I was surprised to find that it was a crowd favorite, considering I chose this wine to represent blood in the tasting. But that's the crazy thing about trying new wines, you might actually like something even if you swear you only drink Pinot Noir. Anyway, this wine is pretty weird but really good. It's really intense, from bouquet to mouth. Warm, dry, with lots of cherry and high tannins. And, in my personal opinion, a bit of blood.

#8 Cane & Fable Cabernet Sauvignon

($19.99) I was hesitant to buy this wine because I do not like bugs and the label has a huge fucking bug on it. But it kept getting recommended to me, so I finally gave in. And I'm so glad I did. It's a classic, bold Paso Cabernet, but it's so smooth and drinkable with big notes of plum, cedar and blueberry. Truly a great wine that everyone likes. Seriously everyone fucking loves it. This is a perfect go-to wine if you don't know what your host is into it. It's the new Malbec.

#7 Le Cantine Di Indie Vino Rosso Del Popolo

($13) I described this as "A Good 'N Plenty wrapped in cashmere and raspberries" and I still stand by that assessment. Also, I said it was "the best $13 you'll ever spend on wine" and I still stand by that assessment as well because I have yet to find a $13 wine that tastes this freaking good. I DON'T EVEN LIKE GOOD 'N PLENTY CANDY. THAT CANDY IS THE FUCKING WORST. I HATE BLACK LICORICE. And yet, here I am. Adoring an Italian red that has a good punch of anise. This is my favorite wine for comparing and contrasting wine store wines versus grocery store wines. There's a good chance you spend $13 on wine at the grocery store and I bet it tastes like a barrel of sugar was poured into it right before bottling. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DRINK THAT SHIT. MAKE AN EXTRA STOP AT YOUR WINE STORE AND SPEND THE SAME $13 ON SOMETHING AWESOME. 

#6 Le TelQuel

($17.50) Le TelQuel is a French Gamay with what looks like a dachshund on the label. Behind  the label though, is a delightfully bright natural wine that is an absolute must if you love either Gamays or natural wines. It smells like cranberry juice and tastes like a flat, sour cherry beer. It's phenomenal. Definitely on the wackier side of wine drinking, although this was another I served at a tasting and found it to be a favorite. 

#5 La Boutanche Gamay

($16.99) If based purely on the volume of wine purchased in 2014, the La Boutanche would be number one on this list. I don't think I've gone a week without replacing this and then immediately drinking it only to buy another bottle, and again, just drink the shit out of it. First of all, it's an awesome Gamay that is still light and sour, but much more approachable than some of the other Gamays on this list. This is a great introductory Gamay. It's highly drinkable, and it comes IN A LITER. SO MUCH BANG FOR YOUR BUCK. This is my go-to every time I entertain now because duh, extra delicious wine.

#4 Angiolino Maule Masieri

($19) I first had this wine while I was in Venice-- Italy, not the beach-- over the summer and fell in love with it. I was so happy to find it at DomaineLA. Another natural, bright wine with big lemon notes and some really wacky earthiness. Also shares that "sour beer" taste that the other natural wines on this list share. It's just really fun and different, and pairs really well with two of my favorite things-- pasta and seafood. 

#3 Broc Cellars Valdigué
#2 R-13

(Valdiguié, $23.99) There used to be over 6,000 acres of California devoted to Valdiguié, and now there's only about 300. This rare California varietal is now a personal favorite. It is a really interesting, lighter red with great layers of strawberries and raspberries, and finer floral notes like jasmine and even a hint of roses. This wine is complex but so juicy that it's a really easy drink that pairs well with basically anything you would put out at a dinner party. This is for sure my dinner party wine. It's impressive without being a dick, which is my favorite. 

(R-13, $20) This shit is the shit. I fucking love it. It is the weirdest wine, and it is what started me on this whole crazy Gamay trip I've been on it. It legit smells like manure on wet redwood, but tastes like, you guessed it, a sour beer. It is so tart and funky, I can't even really explain it. I will tell you, this is a very polarizing wine. People either love it or hate it, so be careful who you serve it to. It turns out some people are not interested in wines that smell like shit and then taste like heaven but whatever, more for us. 

#1 Scribe Cabernet Sauvignon 

($65) And then you have the daddy of all daddies, the king of my heart and master of my palate, the Scribe Cabernet Sauvignon. This bold beast is smooth but poppy, and reminds me of drinking in a warm summer night full of blackberry brambles sunk in subtle soil, with fireworks in the dark distance. It has everything you love about classic California Cabernets but with a soft brightness that sits in your soul for the rest of your life until you somehow can afford to just be drinking $65 bottle of wines whenever you damn well please, which unfortunately for me, is not today. Aficionados and amateurs alike cream their pants over this shit. It's just the best. That's it. Nearly everything Scribe touches is perfection. Along with this Cab, I have to say, they make the best Chardonnay I've ever had (it's unskinned and a fucking miracle in a bottle).  And they have the most beautiful winery, so if you're ever in Sonoma, do not miss it.

Carvella Limoncello & Limonata

Today I had a great idea while drinking Limoncello because I've been drinking Limoncello for like 36 hours and what can I say, I've been known to have a couple great ideas. 

I decided to mix Limoncello with Limonata.

Upon first taste, I was like, "Hm, maybe not the best idea" but now that I've had like four Espresso cups worth, I THINK IT'S THE BEST IDEA. In theory, it is so smart, and in my mouth, it tastes super smart. 

The Carvella Limoncello is fine on its own as well, but I mean, it's not like your Italian aunt's Limoncello. It's the only Limoncello they sell at the Vons by your house. And that's chill, but I mean, it's 

So yeah, pretty sure that's how I'm going to spend the rest of my day drinking with my four best friends, actually you might know them? 

"Honey tasting much sweeter than wine..." No, actually that's not possible Paul. Sorry babe.

Ask A Wino: Holiday Editions

I was going to wait until the New Year to roll out my new video series, but hey, HAPPY HOLIDAYS GUYS. ASK A WINO IS HERE. 

Have a question? Submit any question you'd like to ask at leisureenthusiast@gmail.com or @MarissaARoss on Twitter/Instagram #askawino

Leftovers: Holiday Dinner Edition

When your boss is a very successful woman with a big fashion tooth, it is not easy to buy her presents. So after three years, I gave up and invited Mindy Kaling over for a three course Italian holiday dinner, everything chef'd from scratch by my boyfriend Ben and somm'd by yours truly.

The great thing about coursing out your meals (and your wines) is that you have a lot of leftovers, and tonight I am revisiting the wines I served last night.

All the wines served are from Silverlake Wine and are under $40 (I know, the price point is high on this post, BUT FUCK, IT'S NOT EVERY DAY YOU'RE HAVING MINDY KALING OVER TO YOUR HOUSE AS A FUCKING PRESENT).

Course One: 
Pan-fried Truffle Oil Gnocchi 
Paired with ARPEPE Rosso di Valtellina Nebbiolo 2012

Truffle oil is not to be trifled with, and when you're serving dishes that prominently feature it, you need a wine whose flavor profile is not going to try to compete. Nebbiolos are similar to Pinot Noir in that they are an extremely delicious and versatile red wine and go well with nearly everything.

Nebbiolos in particular are great for pairing with truffle because they have a lovely earthiness to them that really compliments the truffles and enhances their flavor. This Nebbiolo smells like a big red fruit that is grown in the middle of the Forbidden Forest from Harry Potter, but like, more green and not so scary. And it tastes really delicious. Light, fruitful, vibrant, and slightly floral. A really great wine. I would drink this with anything.

As for the leftovers...
This bottle got left open all night cause, oops. It's now super acidic, but still better than most anything you'll buy in a grocery store. I'll take tang over sugar any day of the week. But please cork this. I feel like such a fucking fool. Like, I spent MONEY on this shit! I shouldn't be allowed nice things (JK GIVE ME ALL THE NICE THINGS, I BRUSH MY SUEDE SHOES AND NEVER LOSE SUNGLASSES).

Leftover Ross Test: 
Prickly, but doable. 

Course Two:
Winter Salad featuring Radicchio, Savoy Cabbage, Belgian Endive,  Parmesan and Walnut Oil dressing
Paired with Rojac Royaz Sparkling Rosé 2010

So this wine is dope because normally bubbles are added after the wine is basically already made, whereas with this Rosé gains its bubbles from its natural fermentation. It's also from Slovenia, which I've found recently has amazing wine (RE: the Cotar Terran from my Halloween tasting). The color of it is absolutely astounding. It's the most perfect coral pink, with a pretty cloud to it. I want a drawer of jewelry the color of this wine, and I'm not even that big on jewelry. 

This wine paired excellently with the salad because the leaves were so bitter. Bright, spring fields of strawberries, faint floral and thyme notes really complimented the bite of the dish. I really, really enjoyed it (although I almost took off my face opening the damn thing, and I mean, I was opening it like a normal human, unsealing it, and it just tore the fuck off the bottle on its own, so BE CAREFUL). This is something I wish I could just have in my fridge at all times. It's familiar in a sense that is a dry Rosé, but it is so unique in, for lack of better words, how it sits in your mouth. Its feel mimics its cloudy appearance. It just like, hangs out. But in a good way. Like a marine layer in your mouth. Wait this sounds kinda gross I PROMISE ITS NOT, IT'S SO GOOD.

As for the leftovers...
Still really good. I'm probably going to drink the whole bottle. It's definitely less bubbly and more acidic than it was yesterday (and, I corked it sooo,) but it's still so drinkable. Tastes like "sour" candy melted down. I say "sour", because it's not that sour. But it's not bad. You know those candies? You're like, "Alright this is kinda false advertising but whatever, still delicious."

Leftover Ross Test:
Not my favesies. Has a vodka aftertaste, which is too sad for me. :(

Course Three:
Braised Short Ribs with tomato Cabernet sauce
Paired with Praesidium Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva doc 2009

Normally with a dish like this, I'd spring for a Cab. I know, terribly boring, but the truth is, I just really love Cabernet. But since this was an Italian holiday meal, I needed something Italian.  Italian wines are a vast sea of knowledge I've barely snorkeled in. I'd never had a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo before (which is odd considering its popularity in Italy but ok), but I love them now  because this shit, was the fucking shit.

This inky dream smells like an herb garden in late summer, still fresh but a little dusty, and tastes like the bulkiest plum you've ever bitten into with rugged, clayish tannins. It went so fucking well with the ribs. They were falling off the bone, and the wine just grabbed them and held them. It's like they were hugging in my mouth. And it was straight up true love. I would highly recommend this for any stewed meats you're making this season, especially ones with slightly spiced sauces. Just remember to decant for at least an hour beforehand.  

As for the leftovers...
Have you seen American Hustle? Remember how Jennifer Lawrence talks about the sweet trash smell of her nail polish? Yeah it smells like that. Like, kinda gross, but you're also 100% addicted to smelling it. Definitely lost a bit of its original complexity to acidity, but still tastes so good. 

Leftover Ross Test:
Don't. 

Overall Best Leftovers:
The Praesidium and the Short Ribs. 

I legit just crushed a cold rib while downing the rest of this bottle and I couldn't be happier. The other reason this is the best Leftover, is that the braising sauce from the short ribs is going to go on some rigatoni later this week and I'M ALREADY SO EXCITED.

Wine Time: Tinajas de la Mata with Mark Cope

Tinajas de la Mata
Price: $24.99
Year: 2011
Region: Alicante, Spain
Retailer: DomaineLA

This is a really weird wine, but it's one of my absolute favorites. It is so weird though, that I wanted a guest who would be 100% honest about it. So I invited childhood best friend/college roommate/protective older brother forever and "The Most Popular Girls In School" creator Mark Cope to come sit on tiny poufs and drink this funky shit and make fun of me and the first time I ever got drunk because that's what life long friends do. 

This is a super cool wine also because it's a natural orange wine. Bernabe, the bro who makes this, puts all the grapes in these clay pots called Tinajas and just lets them do their thing. And the thing they do is AMAZING. IT'S SO FUCKING GOOD. It tastes like the year I spent drinking Petrus Aged Pales alone at Sunset Beer.

Check out more episodes of Wine Time here!

Cinematography by Antoin Huynh 
Music by Monster Rally 
Edited by Claire Gavin