This “eye-opener” was sent to Fermented Thoughts by one of our friends in the field, whist on a wine scouting mission. If ever the importance of line breaks needed to be emphasized, I’d suggest we start here.

Who was asleep at the wheel of this ship?

Sad…

How will this winner tackle the economy - the war - health care - the environment or more importantly, the rising cost of wine? It won’t… But, it will satisfy your thirst.

Here at Fermented Thoughts, our vote was to celebrate the election coverage with the 2006 vintage of Orin Swift’s The Prisoner, an irreverent five grape blend comprised of 51% Zinfandel, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Syrah, 6% Petite Syrah and 6% Charbono.

Dave Phinney, the mastermind behind Prisoner, found his way from the treacherous macroclimates of Arizona and through the daunting youthful phases of ambivalence to ultimately follow his dream of making wine. Utilizing a popular phrase from this historic election night, I’m certain Phinney must have thought to himself along the way “Yes, we can!”

Popping the cork, the paroled juice showcases a color reminiscent of black orchid with vivid, almost luminescent purple hues holding to the rim. Swirling the glass, reveals a wildly viscous nature that leads to a perfume of black fruit and cinnamon, folded with blueberry jam and faint metallic hints which fade into a mild mocha.

True to the dominant Zinfandel, the front palate is full, heady, hot, and initially holds back on the fruit. Given a little time and air however, the wine glides across the palate offering brambly blackberry, dried plum, and cherry fruit complicated by a little dark chocolate, coffee and a finish of powdery tannins.

A wine with a clear mandate to help ring in the next four years.

$30-35, Wine Spectators #17 among the Top 100 wines of 2007 (vintage 2005)

Vincent Dureuil-Janthial Bourgogne Aligoté 2006

Welcome to Bourgogne, France (aka Burgundy). Home to eastern French headliners Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Oh, and Aligoté [ah-lee-goh-TAY] a lesser known, almost rambunctious yet immensely pleasant grape from the small appellation of Bourgogne Aligoté.

Who doesn’t love an underdog? Consistently in the shadow of its enormously popular neighbor Chardonnay, Aligoté gets very little play but when produced from old vines, for those in the know, a special treat awaits.

Lost among my mid-summer wine purchases, I discovered this racy bottle while searching for the right wine to enjoy with some fresh roasted pumpkin seeds. It’s that time of year again and let me state clearly, I’ve stumbled upon paring perfection…

Golden lemon in color, this Aligoté opens with the generous perfume of sweet, spiced citrus, mild carrots and layers of rich tropical fruit. The palate is no less than electric. Medium-bodied with a knife-sharp initial acidity that smooths into an intense marriage of lemon, salted nuts and grassy bay leaf flavors. Bright, fresh, clean and complex.

The mixture of citrus, tropical and nutty characteristics lead me to believe that this wine saw time in oak and possible aging on the lees, thus adding to its rich character. With a dual-sided, crisp yet savory nature this Aligoté served as a delightful complement to the season’s first batch of roasted pumpkin seeds and delivers pleasure far beyond its value-based price of $16-18.

In buying, pairing and sipping remember, there’s more to life than Chardonnay.

Over at Fermentation: The Daily Wine Blog, Tom Wark brings up a good question regarding blogs and their publishing frequency. “Is one post per week too much to ask?”

This topic, in all seriousness is near to my heart and if you’re a regular reader of this blog, you may recall why.

Like many of you, I read a lot. Blogs, magazines, newspapers and other wine content are part of my daily regimen and often times I find it soothing to happen upon one that is less frequent but more unique in its focus or style. To draw a parallel, I love wine but I do prefer to enjoy quality bottles less often than drinking mediocre juice daily.

However, I do agree with Tom that posting once per week (on avg. mind you) helps unlock any potential, Fermented Thoughts included. Potential itself refers to the existence of possibility or capability for development. But, with potential it’s important to note that things may also develop into something worse if not done correctly. Posting for the sake of frequency (or eligibility for awards) is a waste of potential. Too often I find that many a blogger survives primarily on “re-blogging”, where one simply reads and regurgitates another’s well thought posts. This too is a waste…

At Fermented Thoughts, a concerted effort has been made to increase posts but, not at the cost of quality or unique content. As I see it, the potential of this blog is not just to introduce and review wines but also to entertain, educate and even possibly inspire.

To that end, in addition to regular in-depth reviews, I started “live-casting” or “live-posting” when applicable, where photos are posted of tastings, travel, key events and associated wine-lifestyle items as they happen – live, with short descriptions. These offer “sips” of information and a view into areas of the world and wine that many find fun and entertaining. These live posts serve to keep your (my readers) thirst satiated until the next in-depth post is written…

In the end, I’m humbled by my readers and their expressions of enjoyment. To me, it’s simply about being yourself and putting quality content out there whether it’s a little or a lot.

Sitting in Monaco at Quai des Artistes on the shore of Port Hercules,
I find myself under the spell of this fine shank.

After the casino this, paired with an anonymous Burgundy gave rest to
my non-winning soul.

Limoncello. Lemonade stirred with a very sharp knife. Indeed.

Valpolicella from Sant’Antimo. Tenuta Sant’Antimo Vendenimia 2007.
Yes, I am in Monaco but, my heart is in Italy.

Clear the palate in preparation for le vin prochain. Or so they say…
A little French before some more Italian wine.

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2005 by TreRose. At Cacio e Pepe in
Monaco. Severe old world style. Too good to type about.

Weinhenstephan, a taste of Germany while in Monaco.

Sitting at Cafe de Paris across from Le Casino Monte Carlo I feel it
necessary to have a beer in an area of such concentrated wealth.