Taste the Aromas

Kimberly Grasso

Genesis Merlot 2006

After a night working at Kafevino, I decided to stay for a glass of wine and settled upon the Genesis Merlot 2006. Right off the nose was blueberry, plum and cinnamon. Although the cinnamon was subtle it was a welcome smell and added just the right amount of warmth to the nose and palate. This wine had an exceptional balance of silkiness, spice and fruit and the clean finish was just what I would expect from a Columbia Valley Merlot.

Dave’s Faves

David Ferrie

Groom Sauvignon Blanc

Mouthwatering but remarkably open New Zealand white. Ripe pineapple and pink grapefruit notes sail on through the long finish. Very nicely balanced. Pair it with an Alfredo sauce or Brie on a large crouton.

Comfortable With Coffee

Kimberly Cheatham

When you think about it, coffee is something very simple that has become very complicated. It is true that coffee has as many flavour profiles and nuances as wine. But most of us don’t experience coffee that way. The point of this blog is not just to get you more familiar with the coffee Kafevino sells; there will be some of that. But I will also share a few coffee stories, facts and some suggestions about what you can do with coffee besides drink it. I just want you to be comfortable with coffee. The slogan here is “Pour and Explore”. We are going to do that with coffee. As I wrote earlier, coffee can be as complex as wine. This is where we will learn about it together.

Taste The Aromas

Kimberly Grasso

Hedges CMS 2007

A little bit of this and a little bit of that- this is what you get with Hedges CMS 2007. With a blend of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 51% Merlot and a wee bit of Syrah (7%) you get a whole lotta smooth! The lovely garnet purple color and sweet vanilla toast blends well with the black cherry, cream and clove spice. The pleasant surprise to this wine was how it opened up after the first glass and how it seemed to appeal to my friends who usually don’t like a “red wine”. Kafevino has this wine on one of the red flights, called the Que Syrah Shiraz. Stop in to pour and explore and see if Hedges CMS is going to make your wine list.
Cheers!

Bogle Phantom 2006

Deanna Savage

The season for mystic phenomenon reveals Bogle’s Phantom 2006. This blend of Petite Sirah, Zinfandel and Mourvèdre glides in to warm these cool nights with a lingering presence. With the first whiff, my mouth waters with anticipation of the ripe, nearly candied black currants and caramelized vanilla aromas. The toasty American oak reflects the 1, 2 and 3 year old barrels used during ageing. Every bit of jammy fruit delivers on the palate, with a mocha flavor rounding to a sweet spice finish and polished tannins. It paired nicely with a spicy sweet Mardi Gras chili. Try it now with a hearty meal as invigoration for the upcoming winter months. Better to be safe with this one. Tuck one away for next year on this fleeting vintage while you still can.

“Aussie Aussie Aussie”

Craig Madding

If you follow Texas Hold Em as much as I do you are very familiar with the 2005 Main Event Champion Joe Hachem and his crowd pleasing chant “AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE”. Well, stop by KafeVino and you will see and hear me utter that same phrase regarding our Australian wine section. I am a huge Australian wine lover and our Australian wine section will not disappoint. It consists of numerous different varietals of wines from all over Australia. Some of my favorites are Layers and Clancy a white and red blend by Peter Lehman, also the Shoofly Chardonnay, Yalumba Viognier, Groom Sauvignon Blanc, and even the Alkoomi Riesling from Western Australia. Don’t even get me started on the enormous selection of Shiraz’s; Bulletin Place, Peter Lehman, MollyDooker, Richard Hamilton, Schild Estate, Shaw and Smith, and Shotfire. If you like dark fruit, blackberry, black raspberry, plum, peppery flavors in your wine come on down to KafeVino and try a little taste from Down Under. These Aussie flavors will go great with one of our new menu items like the Panini Sliders. I promise it will be a G’day, mate!

Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward

Just a few blocks south of downtown Milwaukee is our Historic Third Ward.  Known as ”Milwaukee’s art & fashion district,” it’s full of great places to shop, catch a show or get a massage!  Such an exciting place to be and Kafevino is happy to be a part of it, you’ll find we’re involved in many ward-sponsored community events. 

Get involved, we hope to see you around the neighborhood!

Dave’s Faves

David Ferrie

Santa Ema Reserve Merlot

Very dark fruit notes of plum and blackberry rush to the forefront without being overpowering. It finishes with cedar and eucalyptus and a hint of black licorice. This is a Chilean wine and, therefore, needs to have 75% of the varietal to be allowed to take the name. I firmly believe this wine is blended with Carmenere – and it is the better for it. This is a beef stew wine.

Taste The Aromas

Kimberly Grasso

Root: 1 Carmenere

If a wine strikes you as unusually full & voluptuous, why not say that it’s like Marilyn Monroe? That’s exactly how you could describe the Root: 1 Carmenere. With a blend of Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah this wine has a full, rich flavor full of ripe plumbs, blackberries, vanilla and spice. While most vineyards around the world are planted on grafted rootstock, Root: 1 is grown on pure ungrafted roots, producing a Carmenere with intense fruit flavor. The tannins are silky with a rich deep color. This one is a hit with some ingredients that are difficult to pair with such as garlic, basil, bell peppers and eggplant. Also try it with grilled spicy meats such as pork, beef or lamb.

Dave’s Tasting Tips

David Ferrie

Aging wine is a tricky business. There are numerous factors to take into consideration before you “lay a bottle down”. The most important one is the one most people neglect to ask: Is this wine age-able? 

Only five to ten percent of wines made in any particular vintage year are made, or have the qualities to be aged. How can you know if a particular wine can be cellared? The easiest thing to do is look up the wine on the winemaker’s website. The only caveat I have for this is that the winemaker may be a bit enthusiastic about the quality of their wine and, therefore, may be a bit optimistic about how long it will last. Another way is to subscribe to one or several online wine magazines, such as Wine Spectator or Wine Enthusiast. Or ask your wine guy at your local wine shop. If he/she doesn’t know, he/she will be able to find out for you. 

Once you’ve determined that the wine can be aged, now you need to decide when, in the process of aging, you would like to drink it. To get a better handle on this, you’ll need to practice, practice, practice. Generally, you’ll learn whether you prefer younger or older wines. I personally prefer them younger. That may be due to equal parts taste and impatience. You may want to buy several bottles of the same wine and compare their quality at successive stages of the aging process. 

Okay. So you’ve now decided you’re going to cellar that Barolo you bought on that trip to Italy and want to have it on your 20th wedding anniversary. Now you need to have an appropriate place to store it. The temperatures must be cool and consistent and out of the sunlight (hence the name “cellar”). The easiest and safest thing to do is get a wine cave since, in Wisconsin, basement temperatures can vary widely throughout the year. Wine caves are available everywhere at quite reasonable prices. So get one, and good luck! 

Me? I’m going to be toasting my tenth a little early. Here’s to you sweet heart!