Neat Thoughts About Food, Wine, Travel & More
I had this wine in Quebec at an outdoor party where it was paired with Dad’s Quebec Smoked Meat Sandwiches.
In the glass, this nicely-balanced wine is a medium red. The ripe cherry nose is fruity and bright. In the mouth, there is a nice level of acidity and cherries mix with strawberries on this light-medium bodied French Pinot Noir.
Pairings: Salmon, pork, roast chicken or duck. Pairs well with most food.
Style: Red
Grape Type(s): Pinot Noir
Region: Burgundy, France
Price: $15
I had this wine in Quebec at an outdoor party and it was an ideal setting for it. Great as an aperitif on a warm summer day.
In the glass, it is a deep salmon color. The strawberry nose is light and mildly floral. In the mouth, the strawberry carries through with some raspberry and a nice level of acidity. Crisp and refreshing.
Pairings: Salad, poached salmon, seafood pasta with a light sauce. Served as an aperitif.
Style: Rosé
Grape Type(s): Merlot 40%, Cabernet Franc 30%, Malbec 30%
Region: South-West Region, France
Price: $12
I sampled this wine with rare duck breast a few weeks back and really enjoyed it.
The 2010 Hahn Winery Pinot Noir Monterey offers a big noseful of ripe raspberries and cherries that I enjoy, a lot. In the mouth, it is rich with raspberry preserves jammy with undertones of pumpkin pie spice. The finish is medium in length with oaky notes.
Pairings: Grilled chicken. Pan-seared salmon or duck. Wild mushroom risotto.
Style: Red
Grape Type(s): Pinot Noir
Region: Monterey, California, USA
Price: $14
This wine was provided to me for sampling and I am adding to my repertoire as it is truly enjoyable.
This North Coast Pinot Noir is ruby in the glass with intense floral and strawberry aromas with earthy/mushroomy notes. Reminds me of grandma’s homemade wild strawberry jam on freshly toasted bread. On the palette, the 2010 Garnet Carneros Pinot Noir offers bright cherry flavors with slightly woodsy undertones. I love this wine’s silkiness, great balance and long flavorful finish.
Winemaker Alison Crowe does a super job with this wine, which is quite possibly the best Carneros Pinot Noir I have had in recent memory.
Pairings: Grilled chicken or pork chops. I cannot think of many foods that would not be a good match to this wine.
Style: Red
Grape Type(s): Pinot Noir
Region: Carneros, California, USA
Price: $19.99
This wine was provided to me for sampling and I’m adding to my repertoire as it’s truly enjoyable.
I served this delicious dessert wine at a recent party and thoroughly enjoyed it. On the nose, this German Eiswein is lively with floral and tropical notes. In the mouth, it is not too heavy and offers honeyed peach and pear flavors. The finish on the 2008 Dr Loosen Riesling Eiswein sees a little acidity to balance the not-too-sweet flavors.
93 points by Wine Spectator.
Pairings: Cheese course, lightly salted nuts. Fantastic sipped on its own.
Style: Dessert Wine
Grape Type(s): Riesling
Region: Mosel, Germany
Around $40
This is just one of those affordable sparkling wines that is great as an aperitif and also paired with food.
This Prosecco is golden in the glass with tons of tiny bubbles. On the nose, it offers big fruity aromas and in the mouth it’s creamy, foamy with bubbles with a very dry, pleasant finish.
Pairings: Bubbly pairs well with many things ranging from a cheese and cold cut platter to lobster to beef tenderloin to dessert.
Style: Sparkling
Grape Type(s): Prosecco
Region: Veneto, Italy
Around $10
Had this wine with both lobster pasta and grilled Branzino and it complimented the dishes perfectly.
In the glass, this Tuscan wine is pale yellow with a slight greenish tint. On the nose, it’s very faint, almost non-existent. In the mouth, it’s delicate with fruity aromas of green apple and pear with bright acidity for a crisp finish. Really enjoyable.
Pairings: Seafood, grilled fish or chicken. Pasta with olive oil and garlic.
Style: White
Grape Type(s): 90% Grechetto and 10% Vernaccia
Region: Tuscany, Italy
Around $15
I enjoy Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon and when I was invited to go camping (yes, in a luxury RV, but camping nonetheless) I opted to bring the 2005 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon to pair with the prime rib eye steaks I was contributing to the festivities.
In the glass, this Alexander Valley wine is deep crimson. The nose is intensely of dark fruit, pumpkin pie spice, tobacco and black licorice. In the mouth, it’s jammy, smooth and velvety with ripe berry, vanilla and toasted oak notes. The finish is medium in length with some pleasing tannins.
A wine to treat yourself to when you buy the very best steaks for the grill.
Pairings: Grilled prime beef. Cheese course.
Style: Red
Grape Type(s): Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Alexander Valley, California, USA
Around $60
Had this Chilean wine at a wine dinner at Morris Tap & Grill and really enjoyed its boldness and food-friendliness.
On the nose, the 2009 Tamaya Reserva Carmenere offers potent aromas of ripe raspberries with spicy and coffee notes. On the palate, it’s a huge mouthful of rich, concentrated dark berries with a long spicy/peppery finish.
Pairings: Grilled beef or lamb. Sharp cheese dishes.
Style: Red
Grape Type(s): Carmenere
Region: Limari Valley, Chile
Around $10
Paired this French Bordeaux with rare roasted duck and it was a nice pairing. In the glass, it’s brick red in color. The nose is an appealing blend of plum, coffee and leather. In the mouth, the stone fruit comes through along with vanilla and mocha notes. Medium finish with softened tannins.
Pairings: Grilled or roasted beef or duck. Cheesy dishes.
Style: Red
Grape Type(s): 50% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc
Region: Bordeaux / Medoc, France
Around $25
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