Château de Cugat Bordeaux Supérieur

Château de Cugat Bordeaux Supérieur
Price: $12
Year: 2010
Region: Bordeaux, France
Retailer: DomaineLA

I've been on a super funky wine kick. Like all natural organic shit, weird Beaujolais  and orange wines. After annihilating probably fourteen bottles of Gamay last month, I decided I needed to get classic. I need to be pulled back with a bold red, rooted in the traditions of wine. I needed a Bordeaux. 

There's something special about a traditional Bordeaux. Something in the name that is just seeped in wine snobbery. It sounds like something I shouldn't be able to afford. That deep inky red pouring into the glass, becoming a black sea wafting waves of deep red fruits. 

As much as I love the sour kick of these new school wines, there is something very sexy about a good traditional wine. It tastes like chivalry or something. 

This wine is Christoph Waltz, a sly older gentleman that knows the customs of a world I was never a part of. He pulls out all sorts of courtesies, but still has an excellent youthful sense of humor. He's intoxicating because he is escapism. I can pretend to be a classy stately woman for a couple hours, while making sassy asides and sexual innuendos that don't go unnoticed.  TBH, I'd probably fuck this wine.

AND ALL THIS FOR $12?!?!?!

This is why grocery store wine buying is a joke, guys. I hate to say it but I mean, when's the last time you picked up a wine from the market that you almost needed to jerk off to while drinking? Probably never. And yet here I am! If I wasn't 15 minutes away from leaving for dinner I'd probably set aside the next hour for "me" time.

Tasting Notes: Big cherry, currant and tobacco on the bouquet. Smells so nice, being real, it'd probably be a very nice candle for a cabin. Has a fantastic flavor profile with cherries, currant, coffee and herbs. Medium bodied and very smooth with a semi-strong finish. Definitely is there but isn't overpowering.

Ross Test: Not too shabby, just a bit bitter. Very do-able.

VIDEO: Cleaning & Drinking With Dyson

Note: This post was not approved by Dyson. Or anyone.

You may not know this about me, but I am very much into homemaking. I love decorating. I love entertaining. I even love cleaning, but not as much as I love drinking wine. Cleaning is something I do nearly every day because I have pets and a boyfriend and a closet full of dirty clothes and because I'm just like my mother and my house needs to be fucking clean. I'm a busy modern woman renting a house with like four fucking jobs, so it's not always easy to fit cleaning into my busy wine drinking schedule.

Luckily with the Dyson DC59 it's TOO EASY!

No more tripping over cords and spilling wine everywhere! No more having to put your wine down to get out a step stool to dust those pesky spider webs! And no more getting on your hands and knees to collect dust bunnies instead of pouring yourself another glass! 

YOU REALLY CAN HAVE IT ALL, WITH DYSON.

Shot by Antoin Huynh
Music by Monster Rally

Louis-Antoine Luyt 'Pipeno Santa Juana'

Louis-Antoine Luyt 'Pipeno Santa Juana'
Price: $16.99
Year: 2014
Region: Chile
Retailer: DomaineLA

I'm not one for Daylight Savings. In fact, I fucking hate it. Sure, you get an extra hour of sleep THAT ONE DAY, but then for the next six months it gets dark before you're even home from work. Yes, I know it's "for the farmers"... in like the 1800's. It's outdated bullshit and the only thing I think Arizona and me agree on.

I find I drink more when it gets dark so early, probably because it feels a lot later. It looks like it's 8:00, which is an acceptable time to be on your second bottle. But it's actually 6:02, which is not quite as acceptable.

This is when liter bottles come in especially handy, especially delicious ones like this Pipeno Santa Juana.

I've been on a HUGE Gamay kick of late. It's basically all I've been drinking. This is not a Gamay, but you wouldn't know it. It has all the qualities I love about Gamays-- bright and light bodied, fruity but with a lovely punch of bitter-- but it's not a Gamay. It's Pais, a common grape in South America that is basically just like Gamay. Apparently.

This Pipeno is pretty perfect for the California climate right now because it can be served at room temperature or you can chill it. So you can drink it when it's in the 70's, and you can put it in the fridge and drink it when it's in the 80's. So you can drink it when it's sunny, or you can drink it when IT'S DARK AT 5:10PM. :<

If we're being honest, this Pipeno is just keeping from totally jumping off a bridge because not only is it fucking dark, but they are filming something next door with seemingly just a dog named Brody and my dogs are going bananas and the animal trainer keeps yelling at Brody and now my other neighbor dogs are going bananas AND EVERYONE IS GOING FUCKING BANANAS. EVERYONE JUST DRINK SOME PIPENO AND CALM DOWN. PLEASE FOR GOD'S SAKE, PLEASE EVERYONE CALM DOWN. AND PLEASE SOMEONE DO MY LAUNDRY, WHILE I'M JUST OUT HERE BEGGING FOR SHIT THAT ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.

Bless you Pipeno. You are so delicious and beautiful, you are a beacon of light in an otherwise totally dark house because I forgot to turn the lights on BECAUSE IT'S 5:11PM AND I HATE THIS. :<

But hey, at least I have half a bottle left. #liters

Tasting Notes: Crisp bouquet of berries, wet dirt and a touch of apple. Bright, tart, light bodied with a very nice finish and plush tannins. Definitely going to finish this liter and refuse to apologize for it.

Ross Test: Pretty good, although quite a bit thicker than it is drinking from a glass. 

Un Saumon Dans la Loire 'La Boutanche' Gamay

La Boutanche Gamay
Price: $18
Region: France
Retailer: DomaineLA

I can't even count how many bottles of this I've gone through in the last couple weeks. It is my new go-to wine, because not only am I obsessed with Gamays, but IT COMES IN A LITER.

Tangy, airy, plush. A god damn lovely wine.

It also maintains itself incredibly well. I left a bottle open on Friday, corked it Saturday and drank it Sunday and it tasted nearly as good if not AS GOOD as it did when I opened it. Such a feat!

October Tasting

1. Hocus Pocus, Syrah
California

2. Tam-Tam, 70% Syrah, 15% Carignan and 15% Grenache
France

3. Le TelQuel, Gamay
France

4. Li Veli Montecoco, Primitivo
Italy

5. Čotar, Teran
Slovania

6. Marca Trevigiana Bisson, Frizzante Glera
Italy

Pair with:
• Sage Cheddar
• Marbled Port Salut
• Smoked Gouda

All wines under $30, found at DomaineLA and Silverlake Wine

Pampelonne Red Sangria

Pampelonne Red Sangria
Price: ~ $20
Region: France
Retailer: Whole Foods (next month)

Remember when I found the PERFECT canned wine this summer, the Pampelonne Rosé Lime? 

Everyone has gone nuts for it, and rightfully so.
It's delicious. It's refreshing. It's mobile.

But it was very summery.

That doesn't really matter much in a place where summer never ends, but, even as a native who loves the heat, every once in awhile I like to ~feel~ like there is some sort of seasonal change taking place. I just need to mix things up now and then. Like, I'd love to be comfortable in a cozy oversized sweater on the couch eating tomato soup.

That is a physical impossibility at this juncture in time.
It is too fucking hot.

Ideally, I'd be drinking spiced mulled wine in luxury sweats carving pumpkins and watching Hocus Pocus while my whole house smells like warm cinnamon sticks and I get all nostalgic and shit. BUT NO. INSTEAD, I'M LIKE, OH, SHOULD I WEAR A BIKINI TOMORROW? I ALREADY HAVE TO APPLY SPF10000000 SO WHY NOT.

I'm very upset about the situation. It's been summer for a year & a half and I have some really dope mom jeans and Thanksgiving crafts I would like to debut to the world. 

But that's why the Pampelonne Red Sangria is so perfect right now. It tastes like the holidays, but is refreshing like a Pellegrino. It's light and spicy, and goes down so easy it's almost troubling. 

The way it makes me feel inside is that warm fuzzy awesome feeling I've only felt like four times in my life because it never gets cold here... BUT you know when you're like super, super cold? And then you finally warm up? And then you eat a big meal with loved ones? And then you eat painkillers and watch the first Harry Potter by the fire? You know that warm, fuzzy feeling?

THAT'S HOW I FEEL! RIGHT NOW! IT'S GREAT!
LIKE IS IT CHRISTMAS IN ILLINOIS RIGHT NOW?!
CAUSE IT IS IN MY BELLY!

I was fortunate enough to be gifted one box of these tiny little spiced miracles, and I've crushed it. It's gone. 

And that's the only problem with these.
IS THAT YOU CAN'T GET THEM FOR ANOTHER MONTH.

So be on the look out my friends.
Cause you know that these are Ross Test central.
100%, A++++ pass every time.

Previously: Pampelonne Rosé Lime

Wine Time: Mezzacorona Pinot Noir

Mezzacorona Pinot Noir
Price: $8.99
Year: 2013
Region: Dolomiti, Italy

This wine tastes like Jesus made it for Forever 21.
But does it pass The Ross Test? You know it.

Side note: Their Pinot Grigio made Wine & Spirits Best For Under $10 this year so, all those moms on K-Day are seemingly on to something.

Check out more episodes of Wine Time here!

Cinematography by Antoin Huynh 
Music by Monster Rally 
Edited by

UPDATE: Mezzacorona is not happy about this.

Wine Time: Earl Stevens Function Red Blend with Steak Tooth

Earl Stevens Function Red Blend
Price: $14.99
Year: 2012
Region: Northern California
Retailer: Grocery stores (check this store locator)

Rachael Steak Tooth Finley Anderson is one of my favorite people in the world to drink wine with off camera, so it was obviously very fun to drink wine with her on camera. 

Check out more episodes of Wine Time here!

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

La Tordera Saomi Prosecco Doc Treviso

La Tordera Saomi Prosecco Doc Treviso
Price: >$20
Year: Unspecified
Region: Bigolino, Italy

I don't believe you need juice to enjoy sparkling wine in the morning. I don't believe you even need a flute, especially if all your flutes broke in a move two months ago and you were like, "Fuck replacing those flutes that are constantly breaking."

All you really need is Prosecco and a good pair of sweats.
And there you go. Perfect Sunday.

Put on a little Dave Brubeck on the ole LP player if you want to make it extra perfect.

So, yeah, basically just been chugging this delightful Prosecco and listening to "Take Four" eight hundred times because that is always how many times I need to listen to "Take Four". 

I'm pretty obsessed with the La Tordera because it's dry and not that sweet and that is just my favorite way to roll when it comes to having my own personal brunch on the couch. Fuck getting dressed and dealing with crowds of people in their best hangover fashions; I really do not need to get up-and-downed by some hipster bitch that probably looks a lot like myself while eating overpriced avocado toast when I have an entire bottle of Prosecco to give me all the energy I need for the rest of my day lounging the fuck around. 

And on that note, I just remembered I am not lounging the fuck around and there are people showing up to my house for a BBQ in forty-five minutes and I should have washed my hair and my house isn't quite spotless enough and I don't have any uppers so I need to get my life together, which is my least favorite thing to do on Sundays. 

Please send help [uppers]. 
XOXOXO

Tasting Notes: Dry, lively and uncomplicated. Just a straight forward, really nice Prosecco. I can't really tell you about how it smells because I haven't put it in a glass, but I'm sure the bouquet is fresh and lovely. 

Ross Test: Considering half the bottle is gone and I have no plans of stopping, I think it's safe to say we have a "pass with flying fucking colors". 

R-13 and Broc Cellars' Valdiguié

Two of my new favorite wines of the season that I plan on keeping stocked in the Ross household.

R-13 is really for wine lovers, people who aren't afraid of getting into some weird shit. Literally. It's super wacky on the nose, I'm talking it smells like manure on wood or a urinal. Up for debate. But it is surprisingly superb on the palate. Everyone smells it and is like, "Marissa, you're insane." And I'm like TRUST! And the moment it hits their tongue, their faith is restored and they are joyous and so shocked at how different the nose and palate are.

The Broc Cellars Valdiguié is a smooth gem. Airy, fruity but dry, very versatile. This is a varietal that you don't see very often on its own (it's usually blended). Most people haven't ever had it, but once they do, they are immediately in love. And Broc Cellars is just phenomenal anyway. 

Both taste like velvety blackberry sour beer wines. Amazing for the Fall transition. And they go really well in a tasting together. I suggest serving the Valdiguié first. 

Both are around $20 and both are currently available from DomaineLA.

I already bought another two I love them so much!