Bottom of the Barrel

Well, summer is fast approaching, so now is the time to shake those reds, but not before we talk about a new favorite…

SO, I would like to introduce you to my favorite fusion of roosters and wine. No, unfortunately we are not talking about inebriated farm fowl (if only), but the Californian HRM (her royal majesty) Rex-Goliath.

Lets start with the rooster: this 47-pound bird was said to have toured with a Texan traveling circus around the turn of the 20th century—to put this is perspective, the average size for a rooster is between 5 to 8 pounds.

In other words, this was one fat-ass bird.

(my pet cock—i mean—rooster…and no, I’m not compensating for anything…)

It’s legacy now remains with this winery, who has adopted both the roosters name, Her Royal Majesty Rex-Goliath, and also the original circus poster on its label, which can now be found on the shelves of most major markets.

HRM Rex-Goliath (often fondly referred to as simply “Rex”) uses grapes from all over California for its wines, and was among the top 5 wines under $25 for two years in a row by Wine & Spirits’ Annual Restaurant Poll, among other awards and recognitions.

We’ll be looking at their cabernet sauvignon today. 

the Cabernet Sauvingnon grape has been around since the 17th century, at which point the crossing of Cabernet franc (a black grape that produces a pale red wine) and Sauvingnon blanc (a green grape that produces a crisp, fresh white wine), came into being.

This grape variety has been popularized due to it’s thick skin, and rot resistant vines, which make the cultivation of these beauties easier than other types.

Growing Cabernet Sauvignon in California yields an interesting result due to the soil difference of the hillside vineyards and the valley floor—

In the mountains, less fertile, thin soil is what is available, which causes the grapes to be smaller and more intense in flavor.

In the fertile valley, however, the overall yield is much higher, producing two to four times more grapes, which are usually bigger in size and give a more diluted flavor.

Rex-Goliath uses a unique combination of the two, balancing the strong hillside grapes, which alone can produce a wine with an alcohol content of 14%, with the more subtle valley grapes, allowing the drinker to get the taste of the Cabernet Sauvignon, without the flaws of each extreme.

This wine is less sweet than others I have reviewed, and instead has a nice woodsy finish, due to the oak barrels that it matures in, with soft mocha and tart raspberry undertones. It still weighs in with a whopping 13.5% alcohol content, but you wouldn’t know it from the taste, absent of the tell-tale alcoholic sting and residual pucker. You can find it selectively in grocery stores, or even Costco, for 8-12 bucks a pop.

Pair it with  fatty meat, like lamb or steak, or even just with a good burger. It’s a meaty wine, and it deserves a meaty companion. 

It seems to be a hit or miss with most independent reviewers, but it’s consistently been wining contests and medals, its most recent being a gold medal in the 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

So, screw the sourpusses who think they’re hot shots cause they know some wine terminology and own a computer

(oh, wait. thats me.)

I am officially done and sick of sweet wine. It was really great for a while, being able to drink it like juice, but in the end, you aren’t really drinking wine. Its a sad cop-out.

sweet wine is now a pussy drink, in my book.

we are back to the dark and soulful, and we are lovin it.

especially when it comes in the form of a wine with a 13.5% alcohol content. This was a night to be drunk, and goodness knows, the mission was accomplished.

Now, I found this 2009 Redwood Creek Malbec at my local Food4less and RiteAid for just about 5 bucks a pop, however, looking online has shown it to be around 7. Really though, 2 dollars isnt THAT big of a difference.

Of course, you COULD spend the 2 dollars on four jack in the box tacos, but that comes later, accompanying and satiating the drunchies. and thats besides the point.

anyway, onwards and upwards.

Malbec grapes are generally associated with Argentinean wines, which is why it’s so surprising to find a norcal (northern california, duh) wine that uses these grapes. It usually produces a full-bodied wine thats a dark, dark red.

It looks so serious, you know this shit means business.

So, it doesnt have a lot of awards to it’s name, but it did win a silver medal in the malbec catagory in the INDIE international wine competition…

…if that means anything to you…

POINT IS:

Impress a chick with this deep, romantic (bleh) red.

Or impress your man with your superb drinking abilities as you down this wine.

Either way, it’s a win win situation, and it involves someone being hammered.

On another note, we’re closing in on 300 followers! (when did this happen?)

and it’s just about the month and a half anniversary of my first post on carlo rossi (how exciting)

UP NEXT, a special on box wine: what to avoid (which is most of them), and the best balance between alcohol content and taste!

You know you’re excited.

I took a brief break from my wino lifestyle to recover from my toxic cold, only to discover that I’ve hit 100 followers!

I’m not sure how excited I should be about this, considering I’m becoming one of those annoying people who talk about their blog all the time.

see, there I go again.

on a more relevant note, I’ve found a new favorite wine! It saved me during my catastrophic and painful period of sickness, and allowed me to drink without feeling more shitty than usual. I like to think it even contributed to my rapid recovery.

I pride myself on being able to drink through thick and thin, in sickness and in health, through heat waves and blizzards, in basically any imaginable situation. So, when a cold hits, I think, “challenge accepted.”, and make a trip to the local liquor store.

While usually its a good idea to stay away from Gallo Family wine (don’t even get me started on their reds. ugh.), the idea of a “Blush Noir” wine sounded too delicious to pass up. Not to mention it was four bucks.

oh, and did I mention its a lovely shade of PINK?

i shit you not.

Gallo Family makes other wines, the usual merlots, chardonnays, pinot noirs, etc, etc. and they are generally terrible.

this one, however, is sweet, without being too sweet. Its dark enough to come off as a light red wine, so you dont feel like a total bitch drinking it, but its also got enough fruity flavors and white grapes mixed in that it tastes delicious too.

It’s like juice but with alcohol,

like a mixed drink, but without the headache and condescending looks.

I give this winner a 4 out of 5.

buy it. do it. now.

be like me: get hammered on a weekday.

you know you want to.

UPDATE:

firstly, 25 new followers since this was posted!

secondly, recommend me and i might love you forever.

http://www.tumblr.com/directory/recommend/food/winecasualty