The Desert WIne Guy - 2011 Evohe Tempranillo

 

2011 Evohe Tempranillo

                                                    

    In today's article you will all be let in on on a little secret as well as a little discovery I made and you will be let in onto a secret, a hidden treasure in the form of a wine I discovered. The discovery I am going to let you in on is that of a grape. You say "so what Desert Wine Guy, that's why we read your blog anyway". That is true but this is not just about just any grape or for that matter, just any wine.
    Let's first start with the the Treasure. This treasure I speak of is the 2011 Evohe Tempranillo (http://www.evohegarnacha.com/what-is-evohe). To make this treasure a little more precious, I am talking about a wine that sells for $10-$12. You say you've never heard of this Vineyard/Winery well that's O.K that is one of the reasons it is a treasure and also why we are here. I am here, to expose you to new wines, ideas and news of the wine world and hopefully you are here, discover and to learn from this information.
    Now we are on to the the discovery, or a secret. The discovery or secret we are going to discover is the varietal named the Tempranillo. Here is a short run down on this beautiful grape. The Tempranillo, nicknamed "little one" due to it's early flowering, budding & ripening is actually a Black grape and is Spain's most popular and famous native grapes. This is a grape that is normally used for blending in deep reds and "Jug Wine". Don't let the "Jug Wine thing throw you. This is a grape that, in my opinion people have simply just overlooked. When I first tasted this varietal I was at South Coast Winery (http://wineresort.com/) in Temecula (Southern) California. I was doing a tasting and this wine was poured along with Cabs and other reds. I was in Heaven quickly and even though the wine was not inexpensive I simply had to buy a bottle. If you are a deep, peppery, spicy red then you have hit pay dirt here. You can take your secret and discovery, to the store and  buy a bottle of the 2011 Evohe Tempranillo today and impress your friends tomorrow.
   The idea of Evohe Winery began in 2006 when three wine lovers Ricardo Mosteo, Henrik Heikel and Alfonso Mort got together and decided to "share the wisdom of generations of winemakers". The Vineyard/Winery is located in Aragon, Spain. The winery itself was actually built in 1912 and uses the fact that there are natural Concrete deposits to keep the wine cool while Fermentation to it's advantage by making a great wine. The wine also uses wild Yeasts that occur naturally in the Grapes. The weather in Aragon is very dry and therefore gets very little rain. According to Evohe Vineyards this along with the big temperature swings ensure that the vines that do survive are strong and produce only the best grapes for wine. Evohe Vineyards makes three varietals of wine such as a Grenache, a Tempranillo and a Sparkling (Brute) Wine.

Evohe Vineyard

Joan Mila

                                                     
   Now for the moment you have been waiting for, the review. Let's begin at the beginning with the pour. This wine is a dark Purplish in color but seems to darken around the edges of the wine while it  rests in the glass and tends to become a deep, rich looking enticing Red. It was both visually
appealing to see the deep red and at the same time made it even more appetizing. Unlike most deep, rich red wines there is no Oak used in making this wine. A deep Red without Oak, interesting. The bouquet of the wine was Peppery and did have the aroma of Oak even though, as I said there is no  the touches the wine. Let's step deeper into this wine by getting to the heart of this review which, of course is how it tastes in your mouth. Happily this is a classic Tempranillo, Spicy Peppery, Black Current, Cocoa. The first flavor that came to my Palate was that of Blackberry which was followed closely on the heels of a moderate amount of Black Current. If that isn't a great combination there is more to follow. How about a touch of Pepper with some Cranberry thrown is for good measure? If this isn't sounding like a complex wine that should be costing more that $10 you are right. Tasting this wine is like tasting a nice, dark, Red  powerhouse of a wine that comes across as if it were in your Cellar for years, aging and becoming nearly perfect. The Black Current mixing in with the spice really, I think sets this wine off. The wine is simply smooth, elegant and delicious. Hold on though this review isn't over just yet, no this wine is not done. The wine also opens up a little and brings a little Cocoa along with it for good measure. The Cocoa doesn't linger to long but it's presence is definitely felt in the wine. I think it might even add to a sense of softening of the wine just before you swallow. If you are starting to feel as if you are in need of a glass of this wine as you read this article don't feel bad you are not along. I am wishing I had a bottle with me right now, or at least one in the Cellar along with one to put away. There is most definitely a lot going on in this wine and you would think that there is so much going on that it would be overpowering but you would be wrong. This is what a good Tempranillo should taste like and the reason I fell in love with the grape in the first place. I am so infatuated with this grape that if I wasn't growing two different varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon) & Sauvignon Blanc) right now or if I had room for a third I would be purchasing some vines come Spring Time. This grape is known to be a challenge to grow but the way the 2011 Evohe Tempranillo expresses this varietal so wonderfully makes you just want to go out and want to at the very least grow the grape. I think the 2011 Evohe Tempranillo has done a lot to advance this grape as a standalone grape. I highly recommend that if you have never had a Tempranillo that you start off with this wine so that you get a feel of what the varietal is supposed to, or can taste like like if time is taken with it. Before ending this review there is one last thing I wanted to throw out there that makes this wine unique. As I stated earlier, Tempranillo has been used as a blending grape but was rarely ever attempted as a standalone wine, at least in this country. Lately there are two wine that I have tasted that are %100 Tempranillo this happens to be one of them, the second being the 2011 ST AMANT Tempranillo that I have a review pending on.
   To sum this all up in a nutshell. The 2011 Evohe Tempranillo represents the varietal very well. The wine is put together very well and makes for a wonderful wine to enjoy a great Porterhouse or Rib eye Steak with special company. Then again you might just want to keep this wine our little secret.
 On The Desert Wine Guy rating scale I give this wine 93 points. 

Matching Dinner

                                                  
   This is a special review for me because this is my first guest blog I've ever been part of and I am very grateful to Michelle Leonardson the owner of WineDineDIY.com who was adventures enough to take up me up on the invite of actually doing a guest blog. Michelle is going to send me an article she will write for her own site (WineDineDIY.com) and I will put it up on my Blog (http://desertwineguy.blogspot.com/). I have to say, Michelle is one of the few Bloggers that I have contacted with this invite who is confident enough in her ability and online presence to branch out of her comfort zone and open her world up to other wine lovers. There have been a few wine writers who have websites whom I have contacted who rejected the idea of swapping articles for whatever reason. Perhaps they forgot that they started small at one time as well and they were given opportunities to expand by people who were also adventures and were able to "think outside the box" so to speak as Michelle is. Once again thanks Michelle.


                                                                                                                   The Desert Wine Guy  


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The Desert Wine Guy - Review Of A Unique Wine Offer From Groupon

 Today (October 15, 2016) I want to write a short article on a amazing and unique deal that Groupon is running and one I think you guys might be super interested in. Before I go on let me say that I have no interest one way or another with Groupon or it's affiliates nor do I gain or lose anything if you buy or don't but any Groupon. I also do NOT get nothing for writing this article.
   So today I am searching the internet for a wine tasting event here locally that I might want to go to tonight and I happened to came across this Groupon (https://www.groupon.com/deals/own-a-napa-vineyard-las-vegas). The title of it is "$119 for One-Year Ownership of Two Vines at Carneros Della Notte". This really interested me and I found it very unique. As I read on I saw what you get for this $119. For the money you get the following;
1) Certificate of ownership with a picture of your vines
2) Your name laminated and tagged on each vine
3) The ability to visit your vines 24/7
4) Access to hands-on lessons on how to pre-prune, prune, sucker, leaf, or harvest grapes
5) Access to a live webcam view of the vineyard
6) 50% off all wines made at Carneros Della Notte Winery
7) Two tickets to the annual night harvest party in September, including live music, grape picking, and tours.                                                             
  Now I don't know about you but this sounds like a wonderful and unique idea. I especially love the ability to physically visit the vines 24/7. Can you imagine access to a professional vineyard at night with all the peace and quiet and wonderful surroundings? While doing a little bit of research on this vineyard I came across the Yelp site (https://www.yelp.com/biz/carneros-della-notte-napa) where the company is reviewed and the reviews are outstanding. I think this is a wonderful idea and allows you to be directly involved in the harvesting of not only your vines but of the entire vineyard in general. It at least makes you feel like you have a direct say in the growing of at least two vines.
  O.K folks I hope you found this offer as interesting and unique as I did. I will be purchasing the Groupon shortly and look forward to watching my vines start budding and watch them grow for the season.








                                                                                                                The Desert Wine Guy

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The Desert Wine Guy - Milos Cellar - Boulder City, Nevada

Milos Cellar

    Well folks today I have the opportunity to review Milos Cellar (http://www.milosbouldercity.com/) which is located in Boulder City, Nevada. The other day Mrs. Desert Wine Girl and I had a recent opportunity to head out to Boulder City which is about 30-45 minutes from my house and about 20 minutes from Henderson Nevada when a friend of hers had a baby. Since I'm not big on baby party's I asked to be dropped off at Milos Cellar. I figured while I was there I would do a little review of the place. I mean it is a Cellar, right? Walking up to the place the first impression I got was that it looks like an older establishment, there really isn't anything fancy one hand but on the other it does look very inviting to have a glass (a few in my case) of wine and relax in a place that does not even know that the word "pretentious" exists. There is a nice sized covered patio outside that also borders the other business sits right next to it with the only separation being the different style tables outside. The chairs outside are plastic and the tables themselves were like a fake marble type. The outside patio is also where dogs are welcome as well. When I was there I saw a couple with two Dogs enjoying the day. The walkway to the other businesses runs thru the middle and the road itself is a few feet away, by the way you are able to park your car right in front of the patio if there is room. If you are

View of Patio From Inside

Selection of Wine - View #1

Selection of Wines By My Table

Selection Of Wine #2

Bar Area

worrying about traffic noise, don't be concerned as this is a very sleepy town and the only thing moving fast are the servers. Overall I have to say that the outside area is very pleasant and the people that visit are in very happy moods.  Moving inside I saw a fairly nice display of wines for sale. These wines were displayed on weathered looking wooden shelves.  The chairs and tables inside were bar style and also weathered looking. The tables were tiled and clean. I want to state here that when I say "weathered looking" I do not mean broken down or falling apart, I simply mean that they have the appearance of  long time use. The Milos Cellar itself is not a large place yet it's not really small either. The Cellar strikes me as an establishment where mostly middle aged locals probably come everyday to relax after work or on weekends and tourists are happily welcomed to blend in  join in on the fun as well. Milo's by the way is also not just for wine as they also have a nice assortment of beer ranging from the common (Sierra Pale Ale from California at $4) to the exotic (Xingo Black Beer from Brazil at $5) however none on tap it is all bottles kept in a refrigerator which is on display. Milos also had some wonderful food as you will soon see.

Espresso Area

   I was seated about a minute before the Waitress (Barbara?) approached me and asked me if I would like a Menu. I headed straight for the wine section and saw that there was a White and Red Flight Plans (sampler at $15 each) which consisted of your choice of any three wines on the wine menu each poured with a 3 oz pour. I started with a Flight of Reds which consisted of the 2014 Red Rock Merlot Reserve ($6.50) , 2013 Klinker Brick Old Vines Zinfandel ($12) and the 2014 McManis Family Vineyards  Petite Syrah ($7.50) . All three wines were on the simple side yet very pleasant and enjoyable. The Klinker Brick stood out nicely and had notes of Pepper and Blackberry and I ended up purchasing a bottle for $21. Comparing the Red Rock and the McManis Family revealed that he Red Rock was slightly more of a simpler and less noteworthy wine (although still enjoyable) that the McManis Family. As for the White Flight I chose the 2013 Covey Run Riesling ($5.50), 2013 Jackson Estate Chardonnay ($13) and the 2015 Brancott "Flight Song" Chardonnay ($7.50). Both the Jackson Estate and the Brancott were truly awful with the Brancott was REALLY awful. Both wines had opening and finishing notes of burnt Oak and pounding heavy note ) is that they expand it. Looking at all the choices of wine they sell I think that there is no reason why the wine menu should not be expanded.  I did feel that my choices of wine were limited on the Flights. They did have an undisclosed house Red, White and Sparkling wine for $5 if you should chose that route.

Dr. Sketchys Invitation

http://www.milosbouldercity.com/wp-content/uploads/clickforwinelist.pdf
of overdone Grapefruit, STAY AWAY! I did however really like the Riesling and would highly recommend it if you come out here. I should add that my feelings on the two Chardonnays are no reflection on Milos themselves. My only wish is for the wine menu (

Red Wine Flight

Whit Wine Flight

Smoked Salmon Plate

   Well after tasting so many wines I decided that it was time to grab a bite to eat. I chose a dish which unfortunately I forgot the name of  (I know shame on me) that consisted of Smoked Salmon (Lox) Capers, Caviar, Cream Cheese and onions, there were one or two other ingredients that I simply forgot. This dish also came with crackers that went perfectly with this dish. Overall I give this dish a 10 and presentation was a 10 as well. The Salmon (Lox) was cold and fresh and the Cream Cheese was creamy and appeared to be home made was not simple store bought Cream Cheese thrown on top, The whole meal was awesome. The only bump (not really) came

Crackers To Go With The Smoked Salmon Plate

when I finished the Cream Cheese before everything else. I asked my waitress if it was possible if I got some more and she happily went to the Kitchen and came back with Cream Cheese and an apology. The apology was due to the fact that there was no more of the Cream Cheese that cam with the meal originally. I did not find this to be an issue however because to me it meant that it was probably so fresh that it was made that day and that the demand surpassed the supply, ahhh.....fresh food. Tomorrow there will be more and it will be fresh for YOU (and me as well). There are kids menu items of Ham & Cheese ($6.95) & Turkey & Cheese ($6.95) as well.

Inside Seating

Miss. Desert Wine Girl Jr.

   Later on in my visit I struck up a conversation with a Male Waiter whose name I didn't get but he said he has been there 8 years and he took me on a tour of the place. He took me to a small, (again rustic) banquet section and upstairs where there is also a 3 room Bed & Breakfast. I was also informed that there is a Massage Therapist on call as well. One other item of note is that  the owner of Milo's (Milo Hurst is a big supporter of the arts with the first Tuesday of each month being a chance for all artists to display their work for a $10 entry fee. This is also an opportunity to sketch from a live (clothed) model . The hours of the art fair are 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM.
   One last item I would like to cover is the service. I thought the service was very friendly and professional. The two servers I did have a chance to interact with when things slowed down were long term employees with one being there 8 years and the other 10 years, they both seemed genuinely happy to be there. If there was one negative item I could say that I noticed it would be that I thought one more server would have been nice during the busy times because it seemed that the servers didn't really have enough time to interact with the customer and in a casual small town setting I think that is very important. It really did seem like they wanted to talk and develop a down home /  professional relationship there simply wasn't any time to. Were they busy for a few hours? Yes they were but that one more server would have made things a little more interactive for the servers and the customers as well as given the servers a couple of seconds of down time to catch their breath. One last note here before I wrap this up. Milos does have an Espresso Bar as well although at the time I didn't see anyone at it it the Espresso machine did look fancy.

White Wine at Milos Cellar

   So here is the wrap up. I thought Milos Cellar was very nice indeed. The prices could have been slightly lower as I thought they were a little overpriced. The atmosphere is very welcoming and casual, so casual in fact that it almost feel like anything but shorts or is over dressed although you would certainly not stand out with a pair of faded Blue Jeans on should you choose that option (as I did). If you are a people watcher you will feel right at home here as well. I sat by myself and did not feel out of place. People were laughing and simply enjoying the great weather and there were no loud drunks to spoil the vibe. Service as I mentioned previously was great and very welcoming. Would I come back? Absolutely without a doubt but this time I would stay away from those two White wines I mentioned.

                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                    The Desert Wine Guy

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The Desert Wine Guy - 2012 Starling Castle Riesling

  With Summer ending and the last of the pool days slowly (in Vegas) coming to an end I felt like grabbing a nice Riesling for our review today. Come on up to the Loft, have a seat and relax. Let me pour you a glass of the 2012 Starling Castle Riesling. This is one of those wines from the beginning that I was slightly put off on. Why was I slightly put off? This wine just so happens to have a screw cap, that's why. Those of you who have read some of my articles already know how I feel about screw caps. I think they should be reserved for Mad Dog 20/20 or Manischewitz Kosher Wine. Yes I can be a wine snob at times and I guess when it comes to screw caps I am. What first caught my eye when looking for a Riesling was actually the bottle of the Starling. The bottle appears to have almost a type of paint on it instead of the common paper label. I actually thought the bottle was interesting so I decided this is as good as any. At about $10 a bottle I was interested enough to forget about my favorite Riesling (Chateau Ste. Michelle) and the fact this wine had a Screw cap. I decide I was going to be a little crazy today and here we are so let's head on into this review.

                                                                

   
   While attempting to do some research on this wine I came to a dead end. I could not find anything about the Winery, Vineyard or the Wine Maker. What I found was that the wine is fairly popular and is from Germany and the Mosel region which is one of Germany's 13 official wine regions. Mosel is also Germany's third largest in term of production and it's most popular grape is the Riesling.
   Like is typical of a Riesling this wine has that sweet, flowery Bouquet of fruit that comes to your nose right away. The Bouquet of Pear was most pronounced and this was followed by Apple. I know you are probably saying "that's it? Yep that is it. The wine did have a bright, bubbly, Fruit Orchard aroma to it and I had hopes that the rest of the wine was just as enticing. To the mouth with this wine we go.
    The first taste of the wine was almost the same as the Bouquet, Pear which was followed by Apple but now joining those flavors was a fresh Semi-sweet Honeydew flavor. The wine finished with a very slight lemony twist. This Lemony ending was not bitter at all and I sort of enjoyed it. It was almost like an after thought. Just when you thought you tasted a very simple wine the lemon came out of nowhere. The wine seems to feel limited in its ability to give the drinker any excitement however and was kind of a lot of Pear mixed with a little of this and a little of that.
   Putting this all together now I have to say that the wine was not really what I would call a bad wine but it was a little too sweet for my liking. The wine is very fruit forward as you have probably already guessed and is a kind of "here I am " wine. It hides nothing, does not open up or change in flavor and is consistant throughout. Is the wine worth the $10 you ask? Considering I can get the Chateau Ste Michelle for 7-8 dollars I think will have to pass on this. The wine was not put together as well as the Chateau Michelle and was a little more expensive at the same time.The wine is also NOT made in America as is the Chateau Ste Michelle (Washington State) and if given the choice I will support a wine from this country. The flavors were not as diverse either. I guess if I couldn't find the Chateau Ste Michelle I might go for it again but then again I am The Desert WIne Guy and as such I do wine reviews and am always on the lookout for an interesting wine so maybe not. In answer to your question I am going to stick to my Chateau Ste Michelle thank you. On The Desert Wine Guys point scale I give it 85 points.

                                                                                                                 The Desert Wine Guy

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The Desert Wine Guy - 2005 Iron Gate Tempranillo - Paso Robles

                                                        

   Today's wine came from a short day trip my daughter and I took to Cedar City Utah. Being that most people haven't discovered that wine grapes can be grown in the Desert yet, there aren't too many wineries around the Las Vegas area. In fact Iron Gate Winery (http://igwinery.com/) is the only Winery in Southern Utah. Going to Cedar City is a pleasant trip though and my "Travel Partner" and I hopped in the car and went straight up Highway 15 North to check out the Iron Gate Winery.  Groundbreaking for the Iron Gate Winery itself was in January of 2012 when the new owner added a very small Production area on to what was already an existing "Historical" cottage. The place is very small and set in a beautiful area. While it is small it does get the job done as you will soon see.

2005 Tempranillo - Paso Robles

    When you arrive at the Winery you might be a little surprised, I have to tell you that I was. If you are expecting to walk through or at least see an actual Vineyard or two you will be surprised to discover there are none,  as I said I know I was. It turns out that none of the wines made at the Winery actually come from grapes grown on property (Estate Wine). The grapes are sourced from California, Washington State & Oregon. The only grapevine we saw was a small wild vine growing to the left of the building and you really had to look hard to find it. It was growing almost like a weed would. The Winery is also actually in a residential neighborhood so when you follow your G.P.S don't think it's broken and a repair is needed you actually are at your destination. Like I'm sure many people do you will think that the country house up front is the Winery, it is not, it is actually a Bed & Breakfast that is on the same property (which according to Trip Advisor is supposed to be fantastic by the way). The actual Winery is the building in the back. Drive your car on the path to the left of the Bed & Breakfast and head to the back building. My Daughter and I went in the middle of July and the weather was beautiful and the front of the property is decorated by super nice plants that unlike Vegas actually grow beautiful flowers. We also enjoyed the Apple Tree that is on the property and although the apples are small they were delicious. The Winery itself produces a regular as well as an Off-Dry Riesling, A Sauvignon Blanc, a regular as well as a Reserve Chardonnay, A Roussane, a Cabernet Sauvignon, a tempest, a Syrah, a Mourvedre, a Late Harvest Zinfandel as well as our review wine, a Tempranillo. This I must admit is a lot of different varietals and shows a great degree of confidence and (one would presume ) talent by the Wine Maker. So how does our Tempranillo (which is my favorite wine by the way) showcase the varietal? Let us find out right now.
   The first item of business is to inform you that this wine must be decanted. To drink this wine before Decanting it for at least 2 hours of letting it open up is a disservice to this wine and to the varietal itself. I made the mistake of drinking the wine just shortly after it was opened and I am glad I drink slowly. I am going to do something that I have never read of a reviewer doing before. I am going to first include in this article my thoughts on the wine BEFORE the wine had a chance to "open up" and develop. Normally the review you read here is based upon the wine having fully opened enough to express itself. There are times I will start the wine and put some notes down on paper. Somewhere along the way I will enjoy noticing the wine evolve into what it was meant to be. Way back (before The Desert Wine Guy came to be) I never believed that a wine could "open Up". I just thought that was wine snobbery talk....that is until I experienced it for myself first hand. This review should be taken as a little lesson for those of you who are just discovering the world of wine. There are beliefs or thoughts or myths about wine that have permeated into the wine world that actually have no basis in reality. Let's get onto the review now but remember that the first chapter notes were written down BEFORE the wine had a chance to develop. With time things change let's see if that applies to this wine.
   This Tempranillo poured a medium Purplish in my glass with a Bouquet of Oak, Cassis and Black Current. As for putting all these flavors together in way so as not to overpower one over the other that was done nicely but the flavors in combination were weak to say the least. You could tell that the wine wanted to express itself but that simply wasn't happening. The problem was there was no depth to the wine. A Tempranillo is supposed to be a deep, Peppery, rich wine, unfortunately at the time of opening and shortly after that this wine had neither of these characteristics in enough force to matter. On the Palette the wine did have the taste of Black Current and Cassis but as already said not in enough amounts to make a difference. There were very slight Tannins noticed but overall it ended up slightly on the watery side which really helped to put a damper on the Tempranillo varietal. This is NOT what this varietal is supposed to be. At this point in the review if the wine stayed where it was and (I had already learned that a wine most times will "open up") I would have assumed the wine was bad and the review was going to reflect just that and as such I would NOT have recommended it. Thankfully wine does develop, Open Up most of the time and this particular wine was no exception. At the time of opening the wine I would have rated it an 85 on The Desert Wine Guys point scale. Let's see what development can do for a wine.
   Now lets get to what is my final review, the review meant for readers which is what you guys normally would see when reading  this blog. This review was done around 2 hours into the bottle being opened and this is the minimum amount of time I would recommend you wait before drinking it. The wine is definitely not for the faint of heart. Strong Cassis and Current are now joined by a beautiful Tobacco/Peppery flavor. The Oak in the wine stands out as well.  The Pepper in the wine along with the Tobacco  shows what a medium in body Tempranillo can taste like when done correctly. The Tannins in the wine also do increase ever so slight and end up being strong (although not to strong) enough and to the point where they assist in the opening and developing of the wine into something worthwhile to drink.  The wine still remains a medium in color Purple in the glass but adds more red to itself. While I would not say this wine is a classic example of a Tempranillo by any means, overall I would say that this is a decent example of how the Tempranillo varietal can show off it's characteristics if given half a chance. By the way, don't be alarmed when you see something clinging to the inside wall of the bottle, this wine is also unfiltered as I learned when I noticed that there appeared to be stains inside the bottle. I E-Mailed and sent pictures (see below) to Doug who is the wine maker and he was nice enough to respond and inform me that what I was seeing was actually some grape skin and that it was due to the wine not being filtered. I actually think that was a nice touch to the wine. In the end this wine ends up being given a Desert Wine Guy rating of a 90 which is a big difference from the undeveloped  raw rating of an 85.

Unfiltered Tempranillo

   Let's wind things up here with a summary of the wine as well as an unexpected lesson (which was an after thought once I started writing this article) that I hope those new to wine will take and learn from. First the summary. Although as I said, while this is not the perfect example of the Tempranillo varietal it IS a good one. The characteristics of this wine, although not as strong as I prefer are pretty good and the wine is well done enough for me to recommend it. The price of $23 is slightly high but then again that is the price the Winery is selling it for, usually a retail store, especially a big box store will usually have a lower price. If you like a medium depth red with Tobacco and spice then you will appreciate this wine.
   Now for the lesson I promised. Those of you just starting off should be willing to experiment, experience, ask questions, watch, listen and learn, respect nature and the soil and you will open up yourself to a whole new world ,the world of wine. It is an exciting world (in my opinion), I think to begin learning about the wine itself, then move onto learning about the vines themselves, then design your very own Vineyard. When you finally get the courage to put your plan into action do your part in the construction of that Vineyard. Then finally, plant and watch your grapevines grow. It is cool to watch your first bunch of grapes for the new growing year develop. It is great to learn about the characteristics of the grapes you are growing also. Then Finally after all this has sunk in.....make your first bottle of wine. I will let you know how that last part feels as soon as I experience it myself. In the meantime bring a small bag for the Apples and visit the Winery. While you are there say hello to Tony (who was awesome) if he is there and tell him The Desert Wine Guy said hi. Tony was behind the counter when my daughter and I visited and I was nice enough to participate in a video about the winery. You can see that video here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9brGmzOoOJU).

                                              

Doug - The Winemaker

                                                                                                                 The Desert Wine Guy


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The Desert WIne Guy - Review Of The Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar

The Lazy Dog Restaurant And Bar

   The other night my Wife and I had the opportunity to visit the Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar (https://www.lazydogrestaurants.com/location) which is located in the downtown Summerlin mall here in Las Vegas. There are also have locations in Texas and California by the way. They also claim to have a "scratch Kitchen" which they say means "we make everything inside of our building". Looking at the outside of the restaurant I was excited to see if the inside and the food was as inviting aa the outside was.
    When we first walked into the restaurant the area where you check in had a nicely lit decorative background. The two Hostesses who greeted us were extremely friendly and seemed to have genuine smiles as well. My Wife and I  were also seated politely and courteously. We were in our seats no longer than 5 minutes when our Waiter, Dave came to the table to take our drink orders. My wife ordered a soda and I ordered a Guinness. I was unfortunately informed that due to a beer change over (I'm assuming from Winter to Spring or Summer) there was no Guinness and that they no longer carried it. They also didn't carry any dark beer. Dave sincerely apologized and when I asked him how a particular beer

Inside Front Entrance

that I had never heard of before tasted that I happened to see on tap he took the time to described it and very quickly asked me if I would like to try a sample. When I responded that I would like that Dave immediately went to the bar and returned with a sample for me to try. I eventually decided on a different beer but the thoroughness with which Dave carried out this drink order was impressive. Drinks were taken care of and Dave left for a short few minutes and returned to see if we wanted any appetizers. My Wife and I decided on the Chicken Lettuce Wraps for $10. The order took about 7 minutes to arrive. The chicken part of the meal was presented on a

dark Brown bowl which was than placed on a White plate. Displayed on the White plate was four large leaves of Romaine Lettuce, A nice portion of Japanese Cucumber Salad and a small cup of Sweet Sesame Soy Sauce. It was nice how the Lettuce was shaped into a sort of gully where you could put the chicken as well as the other food items that came on the plate. It made for very efficient and neat food placement. The Lettuce itself was crisp and fresh. Looking for what I wanted for my main entree gave me the opportunity to study the menu. The menu showed a very good and varied selection of food. There was a nice selection of salad type items along with a good selection of appetizers. The main entrees ranged from Meat to fish to chicken with a nice selection of each type. The drink menu was separate and there also was offered a good number of beers, wines and mixed drinks. The drink menu was rather impressive and there was something for everyone to choose from. Dave gave us just the right amount of time to decide without us feeling rushed on one hand or forgotten about on the other. I decided on the Fish & Chips and my Wife ordered the Cast Iron Idaho Trout. Having time to enjoy a nice beer and look around the restaurant I was rather impressed once again. The bar was stocked very nicely with all types of liquor. It is beautifully lit and decorated and had a good amount of T.V to watch sports. As for the seating in the restaurant there were also various types of that as well. Just outside the bar where kids can sit as well were nicely made fancy bar type cushioned chairs.

Bar Type Seating Area

The tables were the bar type as well as being higher off the ground than regular tables but were not simply your run of the mill average bar table and chairs. These items were made of quality materials and fit in nicely in this upscale restaurant.  The other seating in the restaurant was regular tables and booths that were designed for two people as well as regular sized booths for larger party's. All furniture was of high quality. Everything in the restaurant was also spaced nicely apart and did not give you the feeling of being on top of the other customers. Out back there was a large patio that also kept the nice spacing between customers and also at the same time provided that sense of privacy you might want with a date or even with simply your family. The back Patio is also where you are allowed to bring your Dog which I think is super nice especially at a business named Lazy Dog. The restaurant was well lit with different shades and colors of lighting. I will also say that whoever designed the interior knew exactly what they were doing with lights, fixtures and interior design in general. I also noticed that while all the staff was busy they all appeared to be happy and get along with each other as I watched their interaction among themselves.The restaurant was staffed perfectly as well.

Lettuce Wraps

Fish & Chips

   We waited about 15 minutes for our food and when it arrived the presentation as was with the appetizers was awesome and very professional in appearance. My wife's trout was served on a cast Iron platter and had Walnut Butter with a half of a charred Lemon and Grilled Asparagus, Red Peppers and sea roasted potatoes. My wife said that the Trout was cooked to perfection and the vegetables were done just right. Her overall opinion of the food was (in her words) "excellent". There were no complaints from her at all about anything. My fish and Chips were served on a nice plate with a wax paper type lining that was placed just right and had equal amounts of paper hanging over the edges which while not really important did show that the paper was

Cast Iron Idaho Trout

placed with

Bar Area - Liquor

some thought in mind, once again very nice presentation. There were four fairly nice sized pieces of fish that were battered and at least on the outside looked like they were cooked for the proper amount of time. There was a nice sized helping of Cole Slaw which was placed on a leaf of Iceberg Lettuce. The French Fries appeared also to be cooked for just the right amount of time with the perfect brown color. The portion was just right as well. Taking a piece of the fish revealed that it was cooked just as well inside as it appeared to be on the outside. The fish was tender and not greasy. The batter was not thick at all and each piece of fish was just that, fish. As far a Dessert goes my Wife ordered the White Chocolate Brownie which was a fairly large and shaped like a circular Brownie with a large scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream on top. I assume I don't have to tell you that the Dessert tasted as good as it looks in the picture. We both shared it by the way.                                                            

White Chocolate Brownie

Bar Area - Beer

   If there are two things that I feel I must complain about, one was the bathrooms and the other was the prices. Let me start with the bathrooms first. I purposely went to the men's room to see if the attention to detail in the decor, food, service and the building aesthetics was matched in the bathroom. Here I was disappointed. The fixtures in the men's room were clean and the bathroom did appear to have been cleaned recently in some aspects. The issues were that one paper towel dispenser was completely empty and there was a nice size amount of water just before the sink with soaked paper towels laying it. There was also soaked dirt or grime in the corners that I thought were very visible and nasty and should have been cleaned. As for the women's room my wife told me that two out of the three toilets were out of service. She reported no other issues. Now onto issue number two. I felt that although the food was incredibly good that the prices were on the high side. The name of the restaurant as well as the casualness of the atmosphere I don't feel warrants the prices being so elevated. The restaurant is however located in a very exclusive part of Las Vegas (Summerlin) and I think that has a lot to do with their ability to get away with the elevated prices. As an example the Dinner my wife and I got with tip was $80. I do feel that $16 for Fish & Chips and $17 for Trout is rather pricey. While the restaurant might appear by it's name to be casual dinning the prices dictate otherwise.One last thing on the price of their food. According to Chris Simms, founder and CEO “We started Lazy Dog with ambitions to be a neighborhood restaurant where parents could take the kids but also sit back and enjoy a great meal and cold beer,” Well I guess you will have to judge for yourself if that particular goal has been met or not.

Outside Patio Area

  I would like to make a special section here on the service that I experienced as well as witnessed while observing the staff at work. Let me start off by saying that David was phenomenal. His service was impeccable. My Wife and I can't say enough great things about him. I don't think that anyone could have asked for a better Waiter. David was attentive and professional although I wish he would have smiled a little :) Having watched the staff work and interact with customers I will say that whoever is managing the restaurant is doing a great job and fostering an environment that is productive to both the employees as well as the customers which in total means the company.

Cleanliness Issue Under Men's Room Sink

   I guess the question comes down to would my Wife and I come back again? The answer is most definitely yes but due to the cost of the meal it would have to be once in a great while or be reserved for a special occasion. Overall I highly recommend eating at Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar.














                                                                                                                The Desert Wine Guy

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The Desert Wine Guy - Can I Grow That Plant In My State - Using The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone guide

   Lately I have been getting some questions on what type (varietal) of grapes or species of plants in general for that matter are best suited for growing in a particular area of the country. Rather than answer everyone individually I figured I would simply write a very short article on the subject and include some graphics that will help you all in determining for yourself what you need to know. I recommend that you are still in doubt as to whether to plant a certain plant that you ask your local plant store (not Walmart) since they will only carry plants that can grow in your area. As with anything there are no "cut and dry" rules when it comes to planting either. O.K folks let's get into this. Instead of answering each persons questions individually  As always what ever questions you have on grapes or other plants please don't hesitate to contact me  (desertwineguy@gmail.com). While I am in no way an expert on these things I will research an answer for you and I WILL get back to you.

   To start off this article I have to tell you about one of the most important things you will need to know and that is that you need to discover what "Plant Hardiness Zone" you live in? There is something called the "USDA Plant Hardiness Zone". Here (http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/phzmweb/interactivemap.aspx) is the link to that page. Simply click on the area you live in and you will know what zone you are in, it's that simple. By the way I live in zone 9a but the state of Nevada actually ranges from 4a-10a. That is 13 different zones. The zone is based on the average low and high that your particular area (zone) experiences. There are some minor issues with the zones but for the most part the zones are reliable. Please note that if you are up for moving your potted plants everyday you can get around some of the zone issues. As an example let's say that you grow a potted plant that needs three hours of daylight at a maximum of 85 degrees. You can grow still that plant in Las Vegas and in the Summer as well but you will simply have to move the plant either inside or into the shade at a certain time each day and in THIS case I would therefore use the zones as a guide only for plants rooted into the ground. Another drawback is that the USDA map doesn't account for the beneficial effect of a snow cover over perennial plants, the regularity or absence of freeze-thaw cycles, or soil drainage during cold periods. And in the rest of the country (west of the 100th meridian, which runs roughly through the middle of North and South Dakota and down through Texas west of Laredo), the USDA map fails. Once again I would suggest using the zone map as a guide but it shouldn't take the place of you using the knowledge of your particular micro-climate and your particular situation. For me the zone guide really helps because I go to California a lot and of course there are really cool looking plants that I see there but knowing the zone in which I live, I can't grow them. I am too busy during the day to be moving potted plants back and forth so I have to settle for plants that have flowers that probably wouldn't be worth bothering with in other parts of this state or in other states in general. For those of you interested in grape vines or fruit trees here (http://www.aaronsfarm.com/Grape-Vines-s/1824.htm) is where yours truly goes for his vines. The prices are very reasonable as well considering my local plant store here sells a single Cabernet Sauvignon vine for $25 (yep).
   Well I hope I have helped you guys out and shed some light on what you most likely can and can't grow for your area. Please share this article with you friends who love the garden or are thinking of growing grapes yourself.

                                                                                                                  The Desert Wine Guy

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