HotCosts WebLog

Wine Bottle Chandeliers for Holiday Gifts

Indie Winemakers — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:25:31 +0000

I’m sorry but – it’s time to start thinking about holiday gift giving. Considering that you’re reading this, you are undoubtedly planning on giving wine to some of the people on your list. For those friends of yours who love wine, why not give them a wine bottle chandelier? You can’t find this at your local home furnishing store! To get more information on these unique, hand-crafted chandeliers, visit our website at Hotcosts.

Discounted Wine – 06 Syrah East meets West

Indie Winemakers — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:42:37 +0000

Discounted 30% and free shipping for one week only.

$18.99 or $16.25 for purchases of 6 or more. Order here

Only 75 Cases Produced from Departure Wine Company

The East component (roughly 25%) comes from a block of Clone 1 Syrah in the Happy Canyon growing area in the far-eastern corner of the Santa Ynez Valley. Afternoon temperatures out here can be as much as 20 degrees higher than the western end of the Valley and allow our “East” component to express a bold flavor profile packed with dark fruits and a plush mouthfeel. The “West” portion of this blend (roughly 75%) comes from a block of Clone 1 Syrah planted in the heart of the Santa Rita Hills AVA. This growing area on the western edge of the Santa Ynez Valley is a true cool-climate region heavily influenced by coastal fog and bracing afternoon winds. Our “West” Vineyard was planted on a sandy knoll next to some of the Santa Rita Hills’ pioneering sites such as the Melville, Babcock, and Clos Pepe Estates. The cool, long growing season at this end of the Valley allows our “West” Syrah to showcase healthy acidity and elegant cool climate aromatics. This West lot was picked almost three weeks after the East block, yet it is only a few miles away.

Our tasting Notes:
Dark red, almost purple in color, clear thick teardrops. On the nose, we got lots of fresh spring field aromatics with lavender and white pepper. Tasted blueberries, lots of it! Also had some blackberry influences. A long finish that shows the influence of the warm vineyard character and intensity of flavors.

Click here to find out more about this wine

2006 Syrah – Santa Barbara County

Indie Winemakers — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:26:44 +0000

Discounted 28% and free shipping for one week only.

Departure Wine Company obtained this fruit from Foxen Canyon, Happy Canyon and Ballard Canyon in Santa Barbara County. A few extra tons of Syrah became available from one of Santa Barbara County’s most coveted Syrah vineyards. This vineyard is planted on a patch-work of steep hillsides just off Foxen Canyon Road (a growing area that’s home to the earliest plantings of Syrah in Santa Barbara County – circa 1978 – and that has established itself as a prime growing area ever since). This is a one-time only offering of this wine. Only 125 cases were produced!

Our tasting Notes:
Ruby red color, clear with a slight pink tinge. On the nose, we detected dark fruits and white pepper. Tasted chocolate, lots of it! Also had some blackberry influences. A long finish that shows the confluence of the cool vineyard character and an intensity of flavors.

Click here to find out more about this wine

Wine Tasting Techniques

Indie Winemakers — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:46:14 +0000

If you know the characteristics of a wine varietal, you can blind taste a wine and give a pretty good estimate of the type of wine, age and region it came from. We’ve created a powerpoint that gives you a methodology to build these skills. We hope you enjoy and let us know if you have any success stories after following this process.

Here is the link to the powerpoint

Sale – Kosher Wine from Napa Valley

Indie Winemakers — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:56:15 +0000

Hagafen Cellars 2006 Prix Reserve Pinot Noir, Fagan Creek Vineyard – Block 38

$45 ($36 for purchases of 6 or more) only on HotCosts.com

Free Shipping

Only 373 Cases Produced!

Grape-grower Ken Nerlove planted this picturesque hillside vineyard Block 38 in south Napa Valley in 1998. It was an extension of Fagan Creek Vineyard. As a farmer, pinot noir has always been Nerlove’s focus. HotCosts has a limited allocation of this wine available this week only.

We suggest you pair the 2006 Reserve Prix Pinot Noir with Wild Mushroom Ragout. Our website contains all technical data, tasting reviews and a suggested recipe to pair with this Cabernet.

States Hagafen Cellars ships to: CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, LA, MI, MO, MN, NC, NE, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, TX, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY

Napa Valley Wine Sale Alert – Free Shipping

Indie Winemakers — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:15:48 +0000

Hagafen Cellars 2006 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

$40.50 ($36 for purchases of 6 or more) only on HotCosts.com

Only 427 Cases Produced!

This intensely inky-colored Estate Cabernet Sauvignon wine is grown in the well-drained, stony and iron-rich soils of the Weir Family Vineyard along the Silverado Trail. The rich, spicy nose of baker’s chocolate and black cherry compliments the brooding and spice-filled black licorice, black cherry, plum and cranberry on the palate. The addition of 11% Cabernet Franc enhances the complexity of the wine, as well as adding to the robust and silky mid-palate. This wine is Kosher and has been produced according to Jewish dietary laws. HotCosts has a limited allocation of this wine available this week only.
The 2006 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon displays the varietals lively textures, which make it a perfect pairing for grilled and roasted meats. We suggest you pair this wine with Braised Lamb Shanks in Cabernet Wine Sauce.
Our website contains all technical data, tasting reviews and a suggested recipe to pair with this Cabernet.

Showket Vineyards Sale

Indie Winemakers — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:23:44 +0000

Showket Vineyards 2006 Sangiovese – Free Shipping

$34 ($27 for purchases of 6 or more) only on HotCosts.com

Only 490 Cases Produced!

States Showket ships to: CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, LA, MI, MO, MN, NC, NE, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, TX, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY

Tasting Notes: Nice and clear cherry red color. A slight rim variation color of pink was noted. After a slow swirl of the glass, the wine showed clear, slow teardrops along the side of the glass (inside that is)! Aromas of red berries, especially cherries were noted. Lots of big, fresh fruit flavors with cherries being most noticeable. Smooth and round feeling in the mouth with a long finish. A very nice example of Sangiovese. Let sit for 20 minutes in glass and notice how the wine becomes smoother and bigger over the course of your meal. HotCosts has a limited allocation of this wine available this week only.

The 2006 Sangiovese displays the varietals lively textures, which make it a perfect pairing for chicken, grilled and roasted meats, hearty pastas, and most dishes which include Parmesan cheese, tomatoes and basil. We suggest you pair this wine with Newman’s Own® Zilicious Ziti.

Our website contains all technical data, tasting reviews and a suggested recipe to pair with this Sangiovese.

Free Shipping on Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Indie Winemakers — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:02:54 +0000

Joseph Family Vineyards 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon

$39 ($31 for purchases of 6 or more) only on HotCosts.com

Only 970 Cases Produced!

Accolades

92 Points! – Wine Enthusiast “A very fine example of Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, showing the elegance and complexity that wines from that Sonoma County region can attain. Soft and intricate tannins, the wine shows a mélange of blackberry, current and cherry sweet dried herbs and smokey flavors that are delicious now, and should hold well for several years.” HotCosts has a limited allocation of this wine available this week only.

This Cabernet Sauvignon was made in a classic Bordeaux style, with extended maceration (the juice left on the skins for over 30 days) and aged in 65% new French oak for 21 months. The 2005 vintage is complex, with multiple layers of bright, black cherry overlain with a mocha finish, the result of seamless integration of creamy sweet tannins rendered from both the fruit and toasted oak barrels

Our website contains all technical data, tasting reviews and a suggested recipe to pair with this Cabernet Sauvignon.

Paso Robles Zinfandel Blend

Indie Winemakers — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:13:39 +0000

Vines on the Marycrest 2005 Zinfandel Blend

$25 ($20 for purchases of 6 or more) only on HotCosts.com

Only 270 Cases Produced!

This wine is made from a tasty blend of 45% Zinfandel, 28% Syrah, 18% Mourvedre, 9% Petite Syrah. The fruit was sourced from: Abascal Vineyard, Remo Belli Vineyard, French Camp and Halter Ranch, Robert Hall Vineyard and Victor Hugo Vineyard. HotCosts has a limited allocation of this wine available this week only.

Our website contains all technical data, tasting reviews and a suggested recipe to pair with this Zinfandel.

Paso Robles Syrah / GSM Blend

Indie Winemakers — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:18:35 +0000

Vines on the Marycrest 2005 Syrah Blend

$25 ($20 for purchases of 6 or more) only on HotCosts.com

Only 250 Cases Produced!

The popularity of Rhone-style GSM red blends has neve been higher than it is now. This wine is made from a tasty blend of 45% Syrah, 33% Mourvedre, 22% Grenache. The fruit was sourced from: French Camp and Vista Creek, Robert Hall Vineyard and Halter Ranch. HotCosts has a limited allocation of this wine available this week only.

Our website contains all technical data, tasting reviews and a suggested recipe to pair with this Syrah.