Wednesday Wines (under $10)

I am going to reinstate one of my original blog themes.  Trying to find the perfect wine is hard enough, but finding the perfect wine for under $10 is even harder.  That is why I am going to review a bottle of wine once a week that is a bargain find.

This week I am featuring a Trader Joe's wine from Burgundy.
Blason de Bourgogne - Bourgogne Aligote

The Aligote grape could be characterized as the Sauvignon Blanc of Burgundy.  Traditionally Burgundy is known as one of the worlds largest cultivators of the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.  But, Aligote is the second most widely grown white grape in Burgundy, France.

Okay, enough of the technical history, here is my assessment of this particular wine:


Color - pale, light yellow

Nose- pineapple, lime, grass, and jasmine

Taste- lemon, basil, and cream



This delicious white burgundy has so many characteristics of a sauvignon blanc but all the body and feel of a chardonnay.  The balance of herbs, citrus, and long dry finish make this the perfect companion for greens and mild cheeses.

I have paired it with a white pizza topped with kale sprouts, sweet peppers, and fresh mozzarella.  In my Riedel Montrachet glass, it is the perfect companion.

Eat, Drink, SAVE LIVES!

If you are a foody like myself, you are always looking for the hottest new restaurants to try, and if you're not exactly rich (also like myself), you also thoughtfully research what you are going to get for your money.  Well this June keep your eyes peeled for a great opportunity to try new restaurants for a good cause.

Last year Mario Batali teamed up with (RED) to create a network of culinary masters who came together to fight AIDS.  You can be a part of this fight simply by doing the three things we foodies love to do anyway... eat, drink, and be merry.  I don't know about you, but I missed out on this last year, so this year I wanted to do my part.  Not only will I be finding restaurants in June to participate at, but I will also be giving you ideas and reviews.

Keep your eyes peeled for links and info as we get closer to summer.

Live. Laugh. Love.

Journeyman's New Rye!

Years ago a humble Michigan distillery shocked the world of Bourbon fans with their Ravenswood Rye.  Journeyman entered the ranks of my favorite whiskeys when I randomly discovered them on a trip back to Chicago, IL from Ann Arbor, MI.  I stopped in there for a small break, about halfway through my trip. It didn't take long for me to decided that I need to order a flight of their whiskeys because the tiny hole in the wall atmosphere was so endearing I felt I needed to support this establishment.  However, I was not about to drop $50 on whiskey I never tried, let alone whiskey of which I had never even heard. After looking around at the four shelves that constituted the "store," it was time for a taste (don't worry I did not drink to excess, this flight totals no more than 2 ounces of alcohol #drinkresponsibly ).

Because the world of Whiskey (and mostly any food item) is such a subjective realm, I feel I should give you some reference for my taste... before I tried their Ravenswood Rye, Templeton's Small Batch Rye was all alone in the world of Rye's that I adored.  Well needless to say they had me at the first poor, but of the six different whiskeys I tried that day it was Silver Cross and Ravenswood that flew to the top of my new favorites chart.

Well, it has been over a year since I was introduced to this distillery all I can say is the Journeyman affair lives on...

Their new limited release rye, Fedralist 12th, is everything I expected and more.  Starting out at a bold 90 proof, I expected this rye would drink slightly hotter than some of the more popular one's out there, and I was right.

Nose: The first sniff I took from my Glencairn was not exactly pleasant. But, on the second smell I was completely intrigued, the aroma had a hint of cinnamon and clove that was immediately drowned in a wash of maple.  Finally, the third sniff brings out the hints of toasted marshmallow and tobacco.

Taste: The first burn is pleasant, tantalizing the tongue bringing forward all of the floral qualities of the mash bill.  Then, moving to the sweetness of toffee, and finishing with the smoothness of butter and honey, with a salty aftertaste.

I give this $50 bottle a 3.75 of 5 stars.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, if you are lucky enough to get your hands on this delicious spirit.