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Bordeaux Wines Fun & Games

by Regine Rousseau
Blogs, Uncategorized
March 29, 2019

Vin de Bordeaux is making wine education fun again with their Bordeaux Wines Pop Up Trade Tasting series. Wednesday, March 25, 2019 Chicago class hosted at Virtue restaurant in Hyde Park used an interactive casino style game to teach about the diversity of Bordeaux wines. The restaurant's bar area was set up with six top tables covered with a large mat resembling a black jack table and casino chips.“We’re playing a blind tasting game!” I heard someone say! Few things...

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Looking for Something New?

by Regine Rousseau
30 Wine/Spirit Reviews in 30 Days, Blogs
January 12, 2019

Looking for a delicious and affordable sparkling rose? Try the Langlois Chateau Cremant de Loire Brut Rose (Average price $25) 70% Cabernet Franc and 30% Pinot Noir. This wine has a pretty pale pink color with ripe raspberries on the nose. A creamy mouthfeel, fresh and crisp with sweet raspberries, cherries, and nuttiness on the finish. ...

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Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?

by Regine Rousseau
30 Wine/Spirit Reviews in 30 Days, Blogs
January 12, 2019

Guess who’s coming to dinner? I’d give you the tea, but good girls don’t cook and tell. I will share this, when making mussels, don’t use a cheap wine for your sauce. The recipe (for 2) calls for one cup of dry white wine, so splurge! Trust me, if you don’t want to drink it, don’t cook with it. Tonight bachelor number ten gets three treats: my company, my cooking and my last bottle of Iris Vineyard Chardonnay. Keep an...

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Black Manhattan

by Regine Rousseau
30 Wine/Spirit Reviews in 30 Days, Blogs
January 12, 2019

Amaro (Italian for bitter) is a bittersweet Italian liquor usually serves as a digestive. CH Distillery, a Chicago based company produces a yummy amaro that I love to substitute for sweet vermouth when making a If Manhattan. This amaro has baking spice and bittersweet chocolate flavors which adds some complexity to my favorite cocktail CH Distillery Company.Recipe:Black Manhattan (212)2 ounce rye whiskey1 ounce CH Distillery Amaro 2 Dashes of Angostura Bitters (Stir don’t shake) ...

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Bodegas Lan Rioja Reserva

by Regine Rousseau
30 Wine/Spirit Reviews in 30 Days, Blogs, Uncategorized
January 12, 2019

WINE:Bodegas Lan Rioja Reserva 2011 REGION: Rioja GRAPE VARIETIES:92% Tempranillo, 8% Graciano TASTING NOTES: I want a ring the color of this wine- a deep, glowing garnet. The nose has aromas of red and black berries, vanilla, leather and black licorice. The palate is abundant with flavors of black berries, leather, spices and pepper. This wine drinks beyond its price point (ave price $17). ...

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Bourbon Love

by Regine Rousseau
30 Wine/Spirit Reviews in 30 Days, Blogs
January 12, 2019

Bourbon lovers if you’re not up on Barrell Bourbon I am about to change your life. You may love and hate me for introducing you to this brown liquor deliciousness. Here’s the story, Barrell Bourbon blend products from “different distillation methods, barrels and aging environments, and bottle them at cask strength. Every batch is produced as a limited release...

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Put This On Your Sweet Map

by Regine Rousseau
30 Wine/Spirit Reviews in 30 Days, Blogs
January 12, 2019

Put this on your sweet map: H.M Borges Old Reserve 10 Years Old Bual Madeira!What is Madeira? It’s a fortified wine, like Port or Sherry. Madeira wine gets its name from the volcanic island of Madeira in Portugal. In the 1600-1700s, Brandy was often added to wine in an attempt to keep if from spoiling (fortifying wine). The island of Madeira was a key location for shipping wines to England and America. The casks of wines would go through an...

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Sunday Funday

by Regine Rousseau
30 Wine/Spirit Reviews in 30 Days, Blogs
January 12, 2019

I have a short list of people who I clear my calendar for. My family, best friends, a certain lover and Tavi. When @chiataglance sends me an invite, I know good food, cocktails and wine will be had- good bye plans. Sunday funday was spent dinning at Bobby’s Lincoln Park ( 2518 N Lincoln, Chicago) check out @chiataglance blog for her review! I started my meal with Whistle Pig Manhattan and went in for the wine list. This list was full of options...

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Find a Little Balance

by Regine Rousseau
30 Wine/Spirit Reviews in 30 Days, Blogs, Uncategorized
January 12, 2019

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc producers are usually doing the most. Too much grapefruit, grass and or sugar. I rarely find one that is balanced. I don’t mind a dramatic wine but I prefer those that show some restraint. When a wine class or meal calls for a New Zealand Sauv Blanc, Astrolabe is a go-to. Sweet pink grapefruit, lemon, thyme and jalapeño pepper on the palate. All the flavors you want from a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc in the...

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