The big moment has arrived! After months of planning, dreaming & waiting, I finally received the go ahead from the Liquor Board to open the doors (more like the trunk of my car!) for my new business, Queso y Vino. WHOO HOO!
After graduating from the Spanish Table last spring after six years as their Wine Manager, I knew that I needed to find a way to put my passion to use, selling the wines that I love, but in my own special way.
I've always dreamed of my own gourmet shop, but in crunching the numbers for opening a brick & mortar shop coupled with a troubled time for traditional retail establishments, I summoned up my creative juices (I'm originally a poet by trade) & decided to think outside the box. And so, the idea for Queso y Vino was born!
While listening to NPR business blurbs can scare the bejeebers out of any new small business owner, I know in my heart that people don't want to give up the enjoyment that wine brings them, they just want better values for their money & that's what I've specialized in for years because of my area of expertise. Folks have always been floored by the values that abound in places like Spain & South America, but as a value consumer myself, I've collected quite a list of wines from other parts of the world that really float my boat for the money.
So I have dedicated myself to the pursuit of truth, happiness, & finding great wines for under $15 bucks. A pretty good gig! That's what Queso y Vino is all about...
How does this all work?
- I have a weekly e-newsletter that divulges all my new wine finds & favorites, complete with bargains, some worthwhile splurges, up-coming events, & a mouth-watering recipe for you to try out at home. Sign up by emailing yours truly at quesoyvino@gmail.com No sharing, no spam. Promise!
- Anything that piques your interest is deliverable & doable within a week's turn-around in the Greater Seattle Metropolitan area. Orders over $150 are good to go, smaller trial selections & special deliveries will include a nominal $10 delivery fee. How convenient is that! Want wine shipped? Let's talk! We can probably make it happen.
- Come to a Queso y Vino wine dinner--incredible chefs, copious pours, the list just keeps on growing---get on board! I am amazed by how quickly our wine dinners have been selling out, but then again, my goal has been to keep fantastic foodie experiences at reasonable prices & give me a legal tasting room! Dinners have thus far ranged from $35 to $60 bucks, wine included (now where are you going to find that?) After all my years in the foodie business, I've been privileged to befriend many of Seattle's top chefs, no lie. Their enthusiasm to pair up with me on private dinners has me pinching myself. Again, sign up for the newsletter at quesoyvino@gmail.com and check your inbox frequently!
- Arrange a private wine tasting at your table--if you would like a personal tour through my stomping grounds, talk to me... I'm always up for meeting with enthusiastic wine lovers who truly enjoy being educated, without airs.
Will be compiling a much bigger list of wine that are near & dear to my heart, but here is a list of recent fave's from my newsletter! Glad to be of service & please let me know if I can enlighten your holidays with these wines...
Happy holidays to all, & to all, a goodnight glass of Garnacha or Tempranillo in hand,
Catherine "Caterina" Reynolds, Presidenta, Queso y Vino
CATHERINE'S QUESO Y VINO HAND-PICKS~
CAVA:
Montsarra Brut Cava, $14.99
This has to be one of
my favorite affordable sparkling wines from anywhere in the world. Por que? Maybe it's the abundant golden
apple & bright citrusy aromas with hazelnut & spice cake flavors. Then
there's the deliciously toasty & fresh pear notes, a body that's round,
creamy, & crisp with frothy bubbles that reminds me of expensive Champagne. There's even
a hint of jasmine pearls. I'm ready to celebrate!
Gramona Gran Cuvee Cava 2004, $21.99
Gramona is one
of the last hold-outs for cava producers that are still family run rather than
operated by large companies, & my favorite cava for special occasions. A
traditional blend of Xarello & Macabeo with the rare addition of Chardonnay, I love the exceptional
elegance of this sparkling wine from Spain. Honey & beeswax aromatics float
above golden apple fruit & macaroon notes--but let's talk about the bubbles,
shall we? Very fine with an extremely crisp mineral side, this does become the
creamy, toasty style I crave as it opens in the glass. Fantastic value, really.
WHITES:
Marques de Toldeo Verdejo, La Mancha $7.99
One more thing to love about La Mancha--they give us Manchego cheese
& this deal of a Verdejo to go with it! Verdejo usually hails from
the northern region of Rueda which fetches a higher price, but in La
Mancha, land is cheap & home to many of the best values in Spain. I
tasted this on a day where about 100 wines passed my lips--and this
little number got a mighty big star when I saw the price. Classic
Verdejo lemon drop flavor with a soft & slightly salty finish. It's
oyster season, & this quaffer would love to come join you for
appetizers...
Gramona Gessami 2007,
Penedes $17.99
This spectacularly elegant white is one of my
favorite discoveries from Penedes. Unlike a splashy citrus-wrapped Rueda, or the
big-boned Albarino's from the coast that I usually gravitate towards, Gessami
(made from Sauvignon Blanc/Muscat d'Alexandria/Muscat de Fontignac) is a
delicate departure with poetic notions. Bergamot, rose & cherry blossom
underpinnings delight the senses along with tropical starfruit, tangerine peel,
but quartz minerals leave you with a lively mouthfeel that is crisp as fresh
linens. "Gessami" originates from the Hebrew word for jasmine--a wine as exotic
as the flower itself. You'll be sad when your glass is empty, or at least I
was!
REDS:
Terra Andina Cabernet Sauvignon 2007,
Chile $7.99 (reg. $8.99)
This is a brand new (& I must say, an swirly artistic label
that definitely shocked me when I saw it--you go, Teo!) wine that
brings Bodegas Reyes well into the 21st century. 100% Tinto Fino
(Tempranillo) aged 7 months in American oak, Tamiz offers a sweet shop
of tootsie roll, brownie & black cherry aromas to sink your nose
into. Cedar & framboise oo la la, fine spices with good strong
shoulders. I would be diggin' this with some mole braised short ribs,
oh yes I would.
Palate: Structured and concentrated. It has a soft texture with firm and
rounded tannins which give a very long aftertaste."
Carmernere: "Aroma: Tasty blend of black currant, blackberry, grilled red pepper
and black pepper, those flavors carry over to the palate.
Palate: With a very varietal character, this wine shows balance with
volume and soft but present tannins and a pleasant aftertaste."
Merlot: "Aroma: Very ripe fruit like plums and blackcurrant flavors
complemented by black pepper and grilled red pepper. With sweet
spice flavors.
Palate: The texture is smooth, rich and well balanced. Pleasing
aftertaste."
Gouguenheim Cabernet Sauvignon 2006,
Mendoza ARG $9.99
Vina Alarba Old Vines
Grenache 2006, Calatyud $9.99
Don't
you want to walk right into their fairytale label? Calatayud is a
wonderland of old vine Grenache at ridiculous prices. Vina Alarba has
earned its following over the years, & it continues to rock the
house whenever I host a wine dinner. No oak keeps things fresh &
vibrant with earthy strawberries, sugar plums and a blueberry pie
appeal, all from vines 50 to 70-yrs-old. Ripe but dusted with spices (I
caught bit of curry leaves, myself) this is my kind of everyday wine.
Whisk yourself away to Aragon tonight & coo
Quo Grenache 2007, Campo de Borja $9.99
I love this wine. How is it that Grenache from Spain can keep getting better & better? Florencio Lopez-Navarro
of Quality Wines of Spain has outdone himself in sourcing out this
wonderful new value. I was enamored instantly by the nose of rosy
currants, kirsch & white pepper, & the fresh supple body makes
this the perfect transition into autumn wines. Herbal essence & a
soft ripeness makes this extremely versatile & hard to stop
sipping. I will definitely be putting a bunch of Quo in our little
cellar because I can afford to open it any dang night of the week.
Merum Monastrell 2006, Jumilla $9.99
Here's
a handsome new Jumilla to celebrate! Winemaker Juan Jiminez makes this
custom cuvee for Quality Wines of Spain here in the states, but at a
very Jumilla-like price. This is actually a blend of 85% Monastrell,
10% Syrah (a new introduction to the area), & 10% Tempranillo to
round things out. Dark as a star-less Andalucian night with mocha,
dusty earth notes, & concentrated black cherry liqueur... Merum's
alive with a fleshy, supple attitude that's peppered with spices, and a
dark chocolate shavings/anise finish. Too bad for Spain--they don't get
any, it all comes to us!
Ercavio Tempranillo 2007, Toledo $11.99
More
than just a tourist destination, Toledo is beginning to export some
fantastic wines. The local varietal Cencibel is a clone of Tempranillo
with an earthier dark-fruited feel that had me crowing.
Fermented partially in traditional tinajas, clay vessels dating back to
1851, Ercavio
speaks the language of coriander, soil, black currants
& basil. Loved the melted chocolate essence of this vintage &
this is always a fave when I've poured it. This would go hand &
hand with a wooden plate of
garlicky chorizo & a sultry flamenca by your side. Ole!
-90 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Bodegas San Prudencio Cueto 2007, Rioja $9.99
A
Rioja for $10, get out! The price of Rioja's (along with everything
else) has been steadily rising so it was indeed a pleasure to have
this Tempranillo come into my life. Wunderkind Ruben Saenz completed
enology studies & became a consultant at several wineries in the
Rioja before even hitting the age of thirty. His boundless energy
shows, & the importer says that during harvest, Ruben is out in the
vineyards well into the night to inspect his grapes by moonlight! Ruben
selected vineyard sources in Montelaturce, the highest growing region
in the Rioja, & the long hang-time makes this joven
extra-special. Dark majestic black plum hue but with Tempranillo
translucence, Cueto shines through the clouds with blackberry &
wild plum fruit. Ripe & approachable, silky & supple with a
smattering of black & white peppercorns, this blend of Tempranillo,
Graciano, & Mazuelo is the ticket to putting Rioja's back on the
bargain table!
Monte dos Cabacos 2002, Ribatejo $10.99 (reg. $11.99)
As many of you know, this has long been one of my favorite
Portuguese wines & the value is astounding. It first entered the
market as a $20 wine & the price tag has dropped because the
distributor simply bought too much! (Found out this week they took all
of this vintage while the the winery was being renovated...)
Local distributor/importer Vinum Wine discovered this wine while they were dining
in Sao Rosas, a classic restaurant in Estremoz--turned out it was the
"house wine" made by owner Margarida Cabaco. When they found out it
didn't have a US distributor they jumped at the opportunity. A modern
blend of Syrah, Cab, Touriga Nacional & Aragones, you can't hold a
candle to Cabacos' densely purple opaque hue that makes you feel like
you're going to high dive into blueberries! All the plush dark
raspberries, blueberries & blackberry fruit reminded me of a very
attractive Monastrell or Syrah with a definite elegance as its
matured--gravel pit earthiness accompanied by a creme de cassis ending.
Exotic as it sounds & extremely delicious. This is a LOT of wine
for your money.
Quinta das Maias Tinto 2004, Dao $10.99
One thing that I love about wine is that there is always something
new to be learned. My happiest recent discovery is that the Portuguese varietal
Jaen has been declared to be a direct relation of Mencia, one of my absolute
favorite Spanish grapes. Geographically this makes a lot of sense as pilgrims
would have had no trouble bringing cuttings from the mountains of Bierzo in
northwest Spain into the northern mountains of Portugal. And as usual, underdog
Portugal can offer us stellar values as the wines of Bierzo continue to go up,
up, up!! This blend of Jaen, Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro, & Tinta Roriz
has an exotic nose that lured me right in with perfumed French oak nuances...
But what really stood out for me can be expressed in one word: elegance. Supple
with spice box notes, savory plum & dry cassis, Maias has taken the rustic
reputation of the Dao & put it to bed. Looking for a refined
"cellar-protector"? Put this at the top of your list.
Vinos de Terrunos Siete7 2007, Navarra $13.99
A
new favorite from Navarra, Siete is a juice-laden pleasure wine. Vinos
de Terrunos is a project of importer Jose "Pepe" Pastor & famed
winemakers from throughout Spain who have crafted these custom cuvees
for our enjoyment. All of the Terrunos wines are organically farmed
which is something to cheer about... No oak on this one, Siete's savory
berry combo bounces from the glass with floral twinings, and just a
touch of sweet tobacco. 80% Grenache with 20% Tempranillo provides pure
& succulent fruit with a slightly textured grit, & the gentle
tannins make this a versatile food fit. (I rhymed!) Definitely a
departure from the dusty Navarra wines that I've come to know--a view
into the future of this little-exported region.
Ogier Caves des Papes Les Truffiers 2005, Vacqueyras $14.99
Okay, so you don't really think that I live in some Iberian bubble
& just drink Spanish wine, do you? I love wine from everywhere, but
ironically, I've been prejudiced about Vacqueyras wines. Shame on me! I
actually just attended a tasting of 98/99 Rhone Villages wines & I
found my usual dislikes emerging in my notes. But I say, "I do" to Truffiers'
plump yet silky cassis, that liqueur-like element I revere in
Grenache-Mourvedre-Syrah based wines, and am always willing to cross
the border for that wild card of brambly fruits off the vine &
meatiness this region is known for. Darn it, my last sip was
gone before I knew it, so enjoyable was the Truffiers. Good French stuff for fifteen bucks? Love it.
Luna Beberide 2007, Bierzo $14.99
What
took you so long? For years, I've read about the wines of Luna
Beberide, & now I finally have had a chance to taste what
everyone's been talking about. Wines from the mountainous region of
Bierzo are certainly no longer a secret, & winemaker Alejandro Luna
was wise to return from Madrid to partake in the Bierzo Renaissance at
his family's winery in Villafranca. Wines here are made with
old-fashioned tender loving care--the grapes are hand-picked, no
pesticides are used, & the wines are aged in "a big rambling house
of the XVI century". Hopefully I'll see it for myself someday! Made
from 100% Mencia, this entry-level wine from Beberide is light on the
wallet & heavy on charm. The enchanting bouquet of crushed
wildflowers, mineral & graphite lured me into the glass, with
lucent boysenberry & spiced blueberry in waiting. This is
unfiltered & unoaked so the fruit is left unobscured, and the
finish definitely promises potential for enjoying this for years to
come. If you are a Chinon-lover, jump right on the Bierzo band wagon!
Teofilo Reyes Tamiz 2006, Ribera del Duero $17.99
According to Robert Parker, "By most accounts, Teofilo Reyes
is the
most legendary winemaker in Ribera del Duero." This comes as no
surprise as Reyes made his first wine in 1950 at the young age of 28,
and went on to become the winemaker for famed bodega Pesquera from 1974
to 1993, and finally went off to form his own winery in '94. And I'm
partial to graduated renegades these days, okay?
Quinta de la
Rosa Tawny Port, $13.99
Broadbent 'Lot 1 Auction Reserve Port', Porto 375 ml/ $12.99,
750 ml $24.99
This is a PLEASURE to drink. While I usually reserve
such enthusiasm for single vintage ports, this one (bottled by Niepoort) seduced
me into believing that yes Virginia, great blended ruby ports do exist. On the
tongue, you'll find cherries & boysenberries dipped in milk chocolate, pot
au creme & a caramel/custardy richness. It's as if you dipped into a box of
cordials–the sweet fruit hooks you & then a rich caramel/vanilla sensation
glides down your tongue. The flavors make you want to sip it slowly, but the
delicious nature of this port is hard to resist.
Copyright 2008, Queso y Vino
