The New Zealand stand off

When it comes to Sauvignon Blanc there is only one country I think of, New Zealand.  As I was wondering the great wall of wine at the local supermarket I was surprised to see a bottle of Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc.  I was not surprised to see the brand there, I do consider Kim Crawford one of the best massed produced wines from New Zealand, but I was thrilled to see it marked down in price.  So I took the opportunity to get a few bottles to bring home with the idea of a little New Zealand throwdown.  The contestant being a 2009 Kim Crawford from the store versus a 2008 Stafford Lodge from PRP Wine (yes I know they are different vintages, but its the best I can do).   

Ready to Rumble!!

oh Kim, can I run away with thee?

First came the Kim Crawford, strong aromas of ripe pear, banana peels, pineapple and tangerine.  The aroma leads the mind in the direction of fresh fruits and away from the grassy fields and hay bails that most french Sauvignon Blancs take me to.  The color is a very light pale gold, luring the mind to hope for a rich flavor and texture.  Upon the first sip I was not disappointed, you are greeted by under ripe pear in both flavor and feeling.  The freshness on the wine reminds me of biting into a crunchy pear, the sound and refreshing crunch echo in my mind with each sip.  As the wine rolls across and down the tongue flavors of pineapple, grapefruit and light lemon zest become apparent.  There is almost a hint of honey on the finish as you swallow the wine lending a nice flavor to a very clean and refreshing finish.  

A new year of an old friend

Next, the Stafford Lodge, a new vintage of an old favorite of mine, the 2007 is reviewed here.   There is not much change from the 2007 to the 2008, the aromas still attack the nose even from a distance.  Bell peppers, gooseberries and granny smith apple almost over power the senses with its strong aroma.  The color is almost water like giving the impression that the wine, in contrast to the aroma may be weak, “it’s probably dull like water” has been said a few times at tastings.  The first sip will make you believe that looks are not everything, the strong flavors bombard the mouth with a crisp lively feeling.  Green pepper, celery heart and gooseberry muscle out some of the subtle flavors of pear and lemon grass that can be found on the finish.  This wine demands respect and dares you to find a pairing partner for it.  

In this aspect the Stafford Lodge in my opinion is a better food pairing wine, going great with grilled chicken, spring vegetables (gilled peppers, yellow and green zucchini are a personal favorite) and vegetable roll sushi.  The Kim Crawford on the other hand can be drank alone or paired with a dish that contains a touch of spice, such as Shrimp and Grits.  Toe to toe they are both outstanding wines that fill a great role if you are looking for a new flavor in your Sauvignon Blanc.   

So after the battle who is the victor, who gains the title?
Of course it is the one from New Zealand………  

Happy Drinking!

Local Gems: The CheeseKeeper

I am always looking for that great little secret place that is hiding in your own backyard.  You know the place, where only those who know about it keep it a secret, a place where everyone stops talking as you walk in the door because you have found there secret.  These places range from local hangouts and restaurants to local shops.  When ever I am lucky enough to stumble on to one of these I feel it is only right to share it with everyone, after all what good is a gem if it can’t shine.

For those of us who live around St. Louis, we are fortunate enough to have seen a huge increase in specialty food stores and unique shops.  The challenge however is for those of us in the metro-east to find a wide selection of these places on the Illinois side of the river.  Luckily there is the CheeseKeeper!

As simple as the sign says

Located at 6500 West Main, in Belleville Illinois, the cheese keeper is in my opinion the best place to get Artisan cheeses in the St. Louis area.  Tucked away in a brick ‘Arcade’ and easy to miss if you are not looking closely (trust me I passed it three times the first time I looked for it) the Cheeseskeeper sits waiting for you to visit.  Upon entering you are greeted by the warm comforting smell of roasted coffee, not something you expect to  smell when walking into a place called the “Cheesekeeper”.  This is just the first of a few surprises this great little shop contains.  At first glance I was surprised by the smaller size of the store, but impressed at the layout.  Not to be surprised, the wonderful coffee aroma comes from a center island surrounded  by sacks of beans, from a simple French Roast, through specialty roasts to Kona.  On the island display shelves are an assortment of hot drink mixes and a multitude of flavored teas.

On the other side of the island and through out the store on various racks is one of two my reasons for being here, Wine!  Keep in mind the name of the place is the Cheesekeeper, not the wine stop, so the amount of wines might not be as many as some people would wish, but the variety of wines is more than satisfying.  From bargain wines under $10 to the wallet terrorizing $150+ they have a little of everything (yes it is hard to resist buying a bottle or seven of Opus, or Silver Oak when its starring you in the face).  While in the shop make sure to sign on for their e-mail notifications (you get a notice every other month or so) that will inform you of when they are holding wine tastings.  This past Tuesday they hosted a wonderful tasting of Southern Hemisphere wines presented by Southern Starz.  I thouroughly enjoyed the 2008 Sherwood Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough region of New Zealand, intense flavors of pear, gooseberry and bell pepper for only $12.99 (anyone surprised by the New Zealand pick, haha).

The tastings the host are great, the wine selection is fun and not overwhelming to search through, but the main reason I am here is the cheese!  With a cooler case behind the counter top cutting board filled with a wide variety of shapes, colors and containers of cheese, it is easy to figure out where the name comes from.  I am as far from a cheese expert as one can be, my knowledge is limited to the facts that it is made from milk of some kind and I like to eat lots of it.  The great thing is you do not have to know anything about cheese to buy it, the the “try anything you want” motto I was told while staring blankly at the case, all you need to know is if you like the flavor of what you try.  Another great plus in my opinion is that you can buy as much or as little of any of the cheeses you want, yippie for budget friendly variety!  I recommend the Bravo Cheddar & Chipolte, the Five Counties, and what I have to believe the the shop favorite the Herbs & Spice (a creamy cheese with flavors that fit with anything and take me back to tea time snacks as a kid in NZ).  If you want a little cheese lesson, or are having a party and are not sure what you need, feel free to ask them questions about any of the cheeses, what they will go well with, wines to pair with, anything.

Words can only do so much, I strongly advise that if you are around town, in St Louis or even just visiting, that you stop by the Cheesekeeper.  It is a trip that is well worth it, who knows, maybe I will be in that ‘the owners know my name’ crowd that looks at you as though you are stealing my precious gem as you walk in for the first time (god I love places like this!).

Ode to New Zealand…

Oh, New Zealand
How I love thee
Let me count the ways:

1. Unmistakable Sauvignon Blancs
2. Unique Pinot Noir
3. A strong and unbeatable Rugby team
4. And everything else not listed above!

My love for New Zealand is nothing new, as most already know my parents and I were privileged enough to live there for four years when I was young.  But my love for New Zealand has grown since I have discovered their wines.  Because of this I figured it would only be right to make my first wine post about a country and a wine that are dear to me.

 The 2007 Stafford Lodge Sauvignon Blanc is one of my favorite wines offered through PRP Wine.  Coming from the Marlborough region on the southern island (personally my favorite island) this wine reminds me of days past when living in NZ.  The aroma is strong and vibrate, if left open it will quickly fill the room with scents of gooseberry, grapefruit and a hint of lemon zest.  Notes of celery and fresh greens mix with a grassy-ness that reminds me of spring and summer days that were filled with travel through the countryside.

At first sip I am reminded of the All Blacks rugby team, thankfully not by the flavor but by its strength (bet that’s the first time you have heard of a wine compared to rugby)!  A crisp acidity attacks and clears the palate of all previous tastes to allow a rush of flavors.  Gooseberry leads the pack rounded out on both sides by green bell pepper and celery heart.  As the wine works down your tongue it cuts with a clean finish of citrus, grapefruit and a subtle touch of pineapple.  The finish is as powerful as the initial flavor and lingers for minutes teasing you to take another sip.  It is a wine that is loud and screams notice and respect me (images of the All Blacks Haka, a war chant, come to mind).

On days here in the mid-west when its 90+ degrees and 98% humidity this is my ideal grilling wine.  Rather its to sip on while I prep the fire for a steak (not drank with the steak) or to serve with grilled chicken this wine is a frequent guest at most of my summer dinners.  The best pairing in my mind is with grilled kabobs; skewered chicken with lime pepper seasoning, fresh green bell peppers, red onion and pineapple cooked over a charcoal fire.  Be careful not to over smoke or over-cook the kabobs, as you want the crisp flavors of the ingredients to stand out, I recommend cooking the pineapple and veggies separate from the chicken to give you better control over the cooking times.

Well now that I have sat and thought about what I have always considered my home (and someday will again become) I must now go flip through some old photo albums while I enjoy the rest of the bottle.  For those that have never seen the Haka or the All Blacks rugby team here is a little treat for you.  Enjoy!

That still gives me chills!