House Wine Primetime

Nepenthe - House Red

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:40:19 -0500

2009 Neil Ellis Pinotage Stellenbosch:

Ashley: “Just really really really good. Subtle, smooth, full of vigor. Why am I blogging this in my crappy wine blog? What have I become?!”

Nepenthe - Big Sur, California

Virgin America Airlines - House White

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:33:00 -0500

Wente Vineyards House Chardonnay:

Ashley: “Baby’s first in-flight alcohol! I was filled with child-like wonder and anticipation at how it would be to be drunk in the sky, and the experience did not disappoint. I learned two things:

First, I discovered that Virgin has a $6 mini wine bottle (similar to the Amtrak Woodbridge size), and it *also* has a $12 near-full-sized bottle. I had chosen the full-size, unaware there was an option for modesty. KNOW THIS, FUTURE TRAVELERS.

Second, I learned that being buzzed from a near-full-sized bottle of wine, in a 2000 lb tube of recycled air suspended by magic about 9000 meters above the earth is at least as exquisite as you would expect.”

Virgin America - en route

Lucy's - House Red

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:38:00 -0500

House Red:

Ashley: “The details are foggy, but I definitely finished drinking it, so it must have been alright? What am I, some rocket genius who can just remember every wine she drank all night?”

Lucy’s - New York City, NY

The Watering Hole - House White

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:35:00 -0500

House Sauvignon Blanc:

Ashley: “This little jerk started out with a sharp nose Simple Green and an acrid, nigh crumbly mouthfeel. After allowing it to breath via spilling it all over my table, it relaxed into a mellow ride through a history of Jolly Rancher candy - from sour apple to watermelon.

Also, this bar will give you free wings and fries if you live without fear of disease. Overall, A-.”

The Watering Hole - New York City, NY

Saloon - House Red

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:09:00 -0500

House Red:

Ashley: “An equestrian wine, evoking leather straps, hay, rustic Vermont barns and their various wood-parts; some porcupine food undertones. Not bad, but it was preceded by a bacon-infused rye, so like, forget it.”

Saloon - Somerville, MA

Church - House White

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:46:00 -0500

House White:

Ashley: “Nose of Bonnie Bell lipsmackers. Palette of rice vinegar, Farley’s fruit snacks and cardamom. Truly shocking.”

Church - Boston, MA

Radio - House Red

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 04:17:00 -0500

House Merlot:

Ashley: “Opaque and paste-like, this uncharismatic red opens with notes of dust, rocks, and fallen plaster, gradually leading into the claustrophobic sensation of an entire mouthful of Hunts ketchup. Then, there were more rocks. I implore you to learn from my mistakes and not put this wine in your body.”

Radio (formerly Club Choices) - Somerville, MA

Grendel's Den - House White

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:47:00 -0500

House Pinot Grigio:

Ashley: “Harsh. Sore throat, cleaning products, notes of falsehoods and chicanery. All wrong, all done. I wouldn’t regret it, even if I had the choice. “

Grendel’s Den - Cambridge, MA

St. Anselm - House Red & White

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:33:24 -0500

Draught Syrah:

Ashley, heavily DayQuil’d: “This tastes like KETCHUP and smells like NOTHING!”

Draught White Wine:

Dan: “Sweet white, paired well with various animals.”

St Anselm - Brooklyn, NY

The Soda Bar - House White

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

House Pinot Grigio:

Christmas: “FUEL. Pure fucking rocket fuel. San Diego, I’m yours.”

The Soda Bar - San Diego, CA

The Model Cafe - House White

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

“This Is White, I Think”:

Ashley: “The details of the actual flavors elude me, which in retrospect was all part of the plan. Better than the many other poisonous and/or inorganic liquids that could have been poured in rather than wine. At least, I think.”

The Model - Allston, MA

Tulsa Convention Center - House White

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 01:59:00 -0400

Stone Bluff “V” Sweet White:

Christmas: “Literally described as nothing more than a ‘Sweet White’ on the Stone Bluff website - seriously guys. Have a little self respect. That aside, it did hit the spot, once I came to realize it was not a true house wine, but rather a Sno Cone pineapple syrup-flavored tropical drink with wine-esque undertow. Good for post-show sippin’ while discussing Death Note with a guy wearing cat ears.”

Tokyo In Tulsa Convention - Tulsa, OK

Fenway Park - House White

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:51:00 -0400

Woodbridge Chardonnay:

Ashley: “This is a vivid and unique recontextualization of one of the most characteristic of the Robert Mondavi wines, the Woodbridge Chardonnay. Tepid yet sprightly, this wine danced upon the palette and won my heart immediately. Consumed outdoors in lazy early-evening stadium basin heat, it truly shines in ways it doesn’t have the chance to when I get it every single time I ride Amtrak.”

Fenway Park - Boston, MA

HWPT On The Move! 31st Street Pub - House White

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:11:00 -0400

House White:

Christmas: “Sweet berry wine! I detect lychee and nicotine. Drink it fast before the cigarette smoke obliterates your tastebuds!”

31st Street Pub - Pittsburgh, PA

d.b.a. - House White

Tue, 17 May 2011 17:50:17 -0400

House White:

Ashley: “A nostalgic nose of lazily washed glassware. Tastes like the best possible tasting shoe. Despite this, would not order again.”

d.b.a. - Brooklyn, NY

Night of Joy - House White

Mon, 09 May 2011 13:19:52 -0400

House White:

Ashley: “OK. I should have taken this photo with a quarter or human-thumb in the photo for scale. This was a generously poured tumbler of wine, and I think we can all agree that in the world of House Wine, quality comes after quantity. The wine itself tasted somehow acrid and mellow at once - kind of an aged soft cheese/stomach acid/lemongrass affair. But when one can sip a tall glass of wine in a quiet place with ample seating, is there any flavor not considered acceptable?”

Night of Joy - Brooklyn, NY

Great Scott - House Red

Sun, 01 May 2011 13:11:00 -0400

House Red:

Ashley: “Despite Great Scott playing a prominent role in the Boston dive-bar-and-venue-youth-wasting scene, somehow it had escaped notice by HWPT until now. This is a dark, mean cad of a wine, with prominent, jammy animal blood notes. A finish of prunes and shoe polish slaps you on the ass on the way out.”

Great Scott - Allston, MA

Phoenix Landing - House White

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:50:50 -0400

House White:

Ashley: “Welch’s-esque, with a playful double entendre of Juicy Fruit chewing gum and balsamic vinaigrette. Complemented by human sweat, this wine is insouciant and sassy. Also, I did not spill!”

Phoenix Landing - Cambridge, MA

The Barbarian Group - House Red

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:59:00 -0400

2009 Boxhead Shiraz:

Guest Blogger/Wine Model Lisa: “It’s a nice boxy red from the luscious grapes of the Australian underbelly, I endorse this. Also the label is the cutest in the whole wine shop.”

Ashley: “http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD2LRROpph0”

The Barbarian Group - Boston, MA

Sushi House - House White

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 14:40:00 -0400

HWPT On the Move!: Jacksonville, Florida, House Chardonnay:

Ashley: “No nose whatsoever, though this could be due to my sense of smell being obliterated by Florida’s allowance of smoking inside bars and venues. Gentle, wispy flavors of lemon, peach, high fructose corn syrup, and chlorine. A good breakfast wine.”