When it comes to enjoying and collecting wine, perhaps one of the more overlooked considerations is – Where do I get my wine? For the average person, the local grocery store (Kroger, Meijer, etc) will have an adequate selection. However, I have found that many grocery stores place a heavy emphasis on American wines and sometimes have an unorganized selection. That grocery stores catering to mass market retail would focus on American wines is hardly surprising: American wines dominate national consumption figures.
In a (fairly) recent Harris poll, 91% of wine drinkers claim to regularly buy and/or drink American wine. However, only 44% buy Italian wines and 40% buy French wines. The same poll indicates that many more people would consider purchasing wines from countries other than the USA (73% would consider Italian wines and 62% would consider French wines) but, either due to a lack of knowledge or availability, American wines continue to dominate the marketplace.
Each person has to find his or her own favorite shops, but I will attempt to list a few that have proven successful for me:
Hiller's – This upscale supermarket has a very robust selection of wines. With multiple locations across Metro Detroit, there is probably one very close to you. The selection of French and Italian wines is notable but not exceptional. However, it is as good as or better than any other supermarket. There is also an abundance of Spanish, Australian and South American wines. Furthermore, Hiller’s has its own wine club. An individual who signs up would receive up to twelve different wines each quarter, hand-selected by Hiller’s wine buyers, for either $120 (Taster’s Table) or $240 (Collector’s Club) per case.
WineStyles – Part of a recent trend in retail wine shops, WineStyles is dedicated to “demystifying the wine buying experience”. The chain started in 2002 and has since expanded to 22 states, as well as Mexico and Puerto Rico . Unlike traditional wine shops, WineStyles organizes its wines by taste or sensation rather than by grape varietals. Their eight classifications or ‘Styles’ are Bold, Mellow & Fruity for red wines and Crisp, Silky & Rich for white wines, with Nectar describing the sweet dessert styles wines and Bubbly including champagnes and carbonated wines. The staff is knowledgeable and eager to help. Winestyles’ focus is on carrying affordable wines, but they do carry a selection of more “upscale” wines in the back part of the shop.
World Market – Never mind, World Market is going out of business across the state of Michigan . However, with locations in nearly every state outside of the Northeast, chances are you will run into one again. Unlike many stores, World Market lists its entire selection online, although you can’t actually make a purchase. One thing to be wary of: World market carries wines of all qualities. You might see a Barolo sitting next to a non-DOC Italian or a Cru Bourgeois sitting next to a bottled simply labeled “Product of France”, so just keep that in mind. Overall, though, the selection is above-average.
Market Village – Relatively new to the Novi area, Market Village has a high quality of selection and variety of wines. Unfortunately, the location is poor and I am not sure how long the place will stay open. Hopefully their traffic picks up, because the location is very convenient for me! No matter what type of wine you happen to be looking for, Market Village will have it, including high-end Barolo and Barbaresco wines. I was surprised to pick up a couple of bottles and see $100 price stickers on the back, just mixed in with the other wines. Of course, Market Village also has an extensive selection of more moderately priced wines. According to their website, they have over 1500 different bottles of wine in their selection.
Merchants Fine Wine – Located in Dearborn, Merchants certainly doesn’t look like anything special from the outside. Even once you step inside, it has the feeling of a drafty warehouse. However, what counts is the selection and service, and both are exceptional. Since I no longer have much reason to go to Dearborn , I haven’t been to Merchants in quite awhile, but it is definitely a recommended place to shop for wine.
simply wine – I haven’t actually been to simply wine, but from its description, it appears to be very similar in concept to WineStyles, where the wines are organized by taste, rather than grape or origin and the focus is on value wines. I’ll hopefully make a visit in the next month and provide an update on my findings.
Unfortunately, internet purchases of wine are prohibited in Michigan, which makes it just a little bit tougher to find that specific wine you might have in mind. However, with the large number of shops in the area, you are bound to find it eventually, or maybe something even better! Happy hunting!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
March/April Update
Here are some wines that I have enjoyed over the last couple of months:
2004 Boroli “Anna”
This is a blend of Nebbiolo, Barbera and Cabernet Sauvignon, which I ordered at Paesano’s about a month ago. The wine had a very full flavor and I would rate it as one of the best wines I have had in quite awhile. The wine went perfectly with my meal and, in fact, I just purchased two more bottles for my collection. The Boroli Anna is described in Paesano’s wine list as a “punchy, lively red that offers both a good dose of red cherry and some kick behind it too! Friendly, but doesn’t give up on its character and versatile to boot”. That sums up the taste of the wine better than I could have, so there you go. This wine can be had for a relative bargain of $15.
2005 Beni di Batasiolo Barbaresco
Relatively young for a Barbaresco, I was not particularly impressed with this wine. I ordered it at 220 & Edison’s, and I would definitely make a different selection the next time around. This is not to say that the wine was bad, but I was a little tired of it by the time the evening was ending. Perhaps under different circumstances, I might have enjoyed it more.
2002 Napa Ridge – Pinot Noir (Central Coast)
I pulled this bottle from my collection, and while I wasn’t blown away, it wasn’t terrible either. With a light, lean flavor the Napa Ridge Pinot Noir lacked the depth of an “authentic” Pinot Noir. However, this wine was miles ahead of a Michigan “attempt” at Pinot Noir, as tried by the Wine Club a few weeks ago. That bottle went straight down the drain, so by comparison, this was a true keeper.
2005 La Carraia – Sangiovese (Umbria)
Another bottle from my collection, I tried this one just last night. Very light and fruity, I didn’t particularly enjoy the first glass, but the taste improved dramatically after the second glass. Whether it was the complement of Chicken Parmesan and pasta I had cooked for dinner or simply a little more air, I did notice a difference by the end of the bottle.
2004 Terra Alta “Sexto”
2004 Lan Rioja Crianza
Unfortunately, I finished both of these wines over two months ago, so I can’t really recall my opinion, which probably means that the wines were good, but not spectacular. Of course, this was before I had intended to chronicle my wine adventures, so I wasn’t really considering the unique taste qualities at that time. The “Sexto” would be an interesting purchase given that it is a blend of six different grapes (Grenache, Carignan, Tempranillo, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Lledoner Pelut Noir) and is best described as a “fruit-bomb” from the Catalonia region. I may buy another bottle just so I can recall the flavor. I don’t remember anything about the Lan Rioja, but both wines can be had for under $15.
2004 Boroli “Anna”
This is a blend of Nebbiolo, Barbera and Cabernet Sauvignon, which I ordered at Paesano’s about a month ago. The wine had a very full flavor and I would rate it as one of the best wines I have had in quite awhile. The wine went perfectly with my meal and, in fact, I just purchased two more bottles for my collection. The Boroli Anna is described in Paesano’s wine list as a “punchy, lively red that offers both a good dose of red cherry and some kick behind it too! Friendly, but doesn’t give up on its character and versatile to boot”. That sums up the taste of the wine better than I could have, so there you go. This wine can be had for a relative bargain of $15.
2005 Beni di Batasiolo Barbaresco
Relatively young for a Barbaresco, I was not particularly impressed with this wine. I ordered it at 220 & Edison’s, and I would definitely make a different selection the next time around. This is not to say that the wine was bad, but I was a little tired of it by the time the evening was ending. Perhaps under different circumstances, I might have enjoyed it more.
2002 Napa Ridge – Pinot Noir (Central Coast)
I pulled this bottle from my collection, and while I wasn’t blown away, it wasn’t terrible either. With a light, lean flavor the Napa Ridge Pinot Noir lacked the depth of an “authentic” Pinot Noir. However, this wine was miles ahead of a Michigan “attempt” at Pinot Noir, as tried by the Wine Club a few weeks ago. That bottle went straight down the drain, so by comparison, this was a true keeper.
2005 La Carraia – Sangiovese (Umbria)
Another bottle from my collection, I tried this one just last night. Very light and fruity, I didn’t particularly enjoy the first glass, but the taste improved dramatically after the second glass. Whether it was the complement of Chicken Parmesan and pasta I had cooked for dinner or simply a little more air, I did notice a difference by the end of the bottle.
2004 Terra Alta “Sexto”
2004 Lan Rioja Crianza
Unfortunately, I finished both of these wines over two months ago, so I can’t really recall my opinion, which probably means that the wines were good, but not spectacular. Of course, this was before I had intended to chronicle my wine adventures, so I wasn’t really considering the unique taste qualities at that time. The “Sexto” would be an interesting purchase given that it is a blend of six different grapes (Grenache, Carignan, Tempranillo, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Lledoner Pelut Noir) and is best described as a “fruit-bomb” from the Catalonia region. I may buy another bottle just so I can recall the flavor. I don’t remember anything about the Lan Rioja, but both wines can be had for under $15.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Current Inventory
While I haven’t purchased, or even tried, many wines that retail for over $30, I have managed to acquire a relatively varied and inexpensive wine collection. At first, I primarily bought California wines, with an occasional South American or Spanish thrown in for good measure. I generally avoided the French and Italian sections of wine shops because the truth is that I had no idea what I was “supposed” to know. However, now that I’ve picked up a fair amount of basic knowledge regarding the regions and classifications for both of those countries, I have started to expand and diversify my collection ever further.
Italy:
2001 Dievole Novecento Riserva – Chianti Classico DOCG
2005 Caposaldo – Chianti DOCG
2005 La Carraia – Sangiovese (Umbria)
2004 Tenuta Sant’Antonio – “Torre Mellotti” Cabernet Sauvignon (Veneto)
2003 Genofranco – Merlot (Sicilia)
2003 Genofranco – Chardonnay (Sicilia)
France:
2003 Chateau d’Arcins - Haut-Medoc Bordeaux Cru Bourgeois
Moet & Chandon Champagne
Germany:
2004 Johan Klauss – Piesporter Michelsberg (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer)
Argentina:
2004 Trapiche – Malbec (Mendoza)
2005 Trapiche – Malbec (Mendoza)
2003 Funky Llama – Shiraz (Mendoza)
Spain:
2003 Penascal – Tempranillo (Castilla y León)
2003 Penascal – Sauvignon Blanc (Castilla y León)
United States:
2002 Napa Ridge – Pinot Noir (Central Coast)
2002 Vendange – Cabernet Sauvignon (California)
2003 Red Truck - California Red Wine
2001 Stonestreet – Chardonnay (Sonoma)
2004 Delicato – Pinot Grigio (California)
2005 Chateau de Leelanau – Pinot Gris (Leelanau Peninsula, MI)
Port:
1982 Porto Barros – Colheita
St Julian’s “Catherman’s Port” (Michigan)
So, you can see that I have selections from a number of different regions and varietals. As of late, I’ve been on a bit of an Italian wine fix. I’ve tried a several different Italian wines when going out to eat and most of my recent purchases have been Italian. I really enjoy the Nebbiolo, Barbera and Sangiovese varietals and I have had good luck with them recently. I also find Malbecs to be very interesting wines. I would like to try more French wines, so I will likely buy a couple of bottles in the near future.
Additionally, I definitely prefer red wines over white. Other than a recent trip to a Chateau de Leelanau tasting room, I can’t recall the last white wine I bought. Most of the American wines I have are of the “bargain bin” variety (and have been sitting in my wine cabinet for quite some time) so I am not expecting much out of them, except perhaps for the Stonestreet Chardonnay. However, I am kind of looking forward to trying the Red Truck, even if it is only labeled as “Red Wine”.
As always, suggestions and recommendations are welcomed. Of course, I’m limited by what I can find at the local wine shops, since Michigan has a law prohibiting the shipping of alcohol, which effectively eliminates internet sales, but it is always good to have a few new ideas in the back of my mind.
Italy:
2001 Dievole Novecento Riserva – Chianti Classico DOCG
2005 Caposaldo – Chianti DOCG
2005 La Carraia – Sangiovese (Umbria)
2004 Tenuta Sant’Antonio – “Torre Mellotti” Cabernet Sauvignon (Veneto)
2003 Genofranco – Merlot (Sicilia)
2003 Genofranco – Chardonnay (Sicilia)
France:
2003 Chateau d’Arcins - Haut-Medoc Bordeaux Cru Bourgeois
Moet & Chandon Champagne
Germany:
2004 Johan Klauss – Piesporter Michelsberg (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer)
Argentina:
2004 Trapiche – Malbec (Mendoza)
2005 Trapiche – Malbec (Mendoza)
2003 Funky Llama – Shiraz (Mendoza)
Spain:
2003 Penascal – Tempranillo (Castilla y León)
2003 Penascal – Sauvignon Blanc (Castilla y León)
United States:
2002 Napa Ridge – Pinot Noir (Central Coast)
2002 Vendange – Cabernet Sauvignon (California)
2003 Red Truck - California Red Wine
2001 Stonestreet – Chardonnay (Sonoma)
2004 Delicato – Pinot Grigio (California)
2005 Chateau de Leelanau – Pinot Gris (Leelanau Peninsula, MI)
Port:
1982 Porto Barros – Colheita
St Julian’s “Catherman’s Port” (Michigan)
So, you can see that I have selections from a number of different regions and varietals. As of late, I’ve been on a bit of an Italian wine fix. I’ve tried a several different Italian wines when going out to eat and most of my recent purchases have been Italian. I really enjoy the Nebbiolo, Barbera and Sangiovese varietals and I have had good luck with them recently. I also find Malbecs to be very interesting wines. I would like to try more French wines, so I will likely buy a couple of bottles in the near future.
Additionally, I definitely prefer red wines over white. Other than a recent trip to a Chateau de Leelanau tasting room, I can’t recall the last white wine I bought. Most of the American wines I have are of the “bargain bin” variety (and have been sitting in my wine cabinet for quite some time) so I am not expecting much out of them, except perhaps for the Stonestreet Chardonnay. However, I am kind of looking forward to trying the Red Truck, even if it is only labeled as “Red Wine”.
As always, suggestions and recommendations are welcomed. Of course, I’m limited by what I can find at the local wine shops, since Michigan has a law prohibiting the shipping of alcohol, which effectively eliminates internet sales, but it is always good to have a few new ideas in the back of my mind.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Bienvenido!
Welcome! Lately, I have been spending a good portion of my free time enjoying wine and fine dining. The goal of this blog is primarily to document the experiences for my own benefit. I'd like to be able to remember what wines I drank and where I drank them six months from now! Of course, I could do this on my own without sharing, but this forum will allow friends and strangers alike to learn from (and critique) my observations.
Now, some basic information about me.
I live in Detroit, Michigan. Now, you may be thinking "Detroit?! What kind of culinary enjoyment could possibly be derived from that dump?" However, that could not be further from the truth. Granted, Detroit is not New York, Chicago, or even remotely comparable to any city in California, but people forget that Detroit is still one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country, which attracts a good deal of variety and talent when it comes to restaurants.
I cannot claim to be a wine expert. In fact, I have really only been drinking wine for the last three years or so. Over the last six months, I have learned an incredible amount from the "Wine Club". One of our members has substantially more knowledge regarding wine than the rest of us, and has graciously imparted his wisdom over the last few months in twice-monthly 'gatherings'. Up until then, I had no idea what the differences were between Bordeaux and Burgundy wines, had never heard of Barolo and Barbaresco, and generally judged wine quality by its price. So, hopefully you can understand that I'm still learning here.
Periodically, I'll update this site when I go out to eat at a nice restaurant or try a new wine and give my opinions.
For starters, a few recommended restaurants in the Metro Detroit area:
220 & Edison's - Birmingham (Italian) An upscale Italian steakhouse located in the middle of downtown Birmingham, this restaurant has an impressive menu that is enhanced with a variety of daily specials. The wine list is also fairly robust. Trendy decor make this a local favorite.
Gaucho - Northville (Brazilian Steakhouse) For those of you who have never been to a Churrascaria, it is an experience you have to try. Included in the flat rate of around $35-$40 is an endless supply of high quality meats, ranging from Filet Mignon to Lamb to traditional pork sausage. Salad bar, bread and other sides are also included, but let's be honest: You're going for the meat.
Zinc Brasserie and Wine Bar - West Bloomfield (French/European) As you might guess from the name, Zinc puts its wine front and center, with a lengthy and impressive wine list. The food is also outstanding, and I highly recommend the Lamb Osso Bucco.
Paesano's - Ann Arbor (Italian) Not located directly in downtown Ann Arbor, I feel that Paesano's does not receive the recognition of other Italian restaurants like Gratzi and Palio. However, Paesano's has one of the most creative menus I have seen and a very extensive wine list comprised exclusively of Italian wines. Very authentic.
Cafe Habana - Royal Oak (Cuban) Cafe Habana may not look like much from the outside and only has about ten tables, but the food is excellent and is very representative of Cuban cuisine. I can also personally recommend the Mojitos.
Bangkok 96 - Dearborn (Thai) Of the many Thai restaurants in the Detroit area, Bangkok 96 might be the best. Be sure to go on Monday, Wednesday or Friday, when they serve their Hot and Spicy soup.
Now, some basic information about me.
I live in Detroit, Michigan. Now, you may be thinking "Detroit?! What kind of culinary enjoyment could possibly be derived from that dump?" However, that could not be further from the truth. Granted, Detroit is not New York, Chicago, or even remotely comparable to any city in California, but people forget that Detroit is still one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country, which attracts a good deal of variety and talent when it comes to restaurants.
I cannot claim to be a wine expert. In fact, I have really only been drinking wine for the last three years or so. Over the last six months, I have learned an incredible amount from the "Wine Club". One of our members has substantially more knowledge regarding wine than the rest of us, and has graciously imparted his wisdom over the last few months in twice-monthly 'gatherings'. Up until then, I had no idea what the differences were between Bordeaux and Burgundy wines, had never heard of Barolo and Barbaresco, and generally judged wine quality by its price. So, hopefully you can understand that I'm still learning here.
Periodically, I'll update this site when I go out to eat at a nice restaurant or try a new wine and give my opinions.
For starters, a few recommended restaurants in the Metro Detroit area:
220 & Edison's - Birmingham (Italian) An upscale Italian steakhouse located in the middle of downtown Birmingham, this restaurant has an impressive menu that is enhanced with a variety of daily specials. The wine list is also fairly robust. Trendy decor make this a local favorite.
Gaucho - Northville (Brazilian Steakhouse) For those of you who have never been to a Churrascaria, it is an experience you have to try. Included in the flat rate of around $35-$40 is an endless supply of high quality meats, ranging from Filet Mignon to Lamb to traditional pork sausage. Salad bar, bread and other sides are also included, but let's be honest: You're going for the meat.
Zinc Brasserie and Wine Bar - West Bloomfield (French/European) As you might guess from the name, Zinc puts its wine front and center, with a lengthy and impressive wine list. The food is also outstanding, and I highly recommend the Lamb Osso Bucco.
Paesano's - Ann Arbor (Italian) Not located directly in downtown Ann Arbor, I feel that Paesano's does not receive the recognition of other Italian restaurants like Gratzi and Palio. However, Paesano's has one of the most creative menus I have seen and a very extensive wine list comprised exclusively of Italian wines. Very authentic.
Cafe Habana - Royal Oak (Cuban) Cafe Habana may not look like much from the outside and only has about ten tables, but the food is excellent and is very representative of Cuban cuisine. I can also personally recommend the Mojitos.
Bangkok 96 - Dearborn (Thai) Of the many Thai restaurants in the Detroit area, Bangkok 96 might be the best. Be sure to go on Monday, Wednesday or Friday, when they serve their Hot and Spicy soup.
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