Neat Thoughts About Food, Wine, Travel & More
Bright purplish ruby in the glass, this affordable Italian wine has a ripe dark fruit nose laced with spiced notes. In the mouth, it’s round with a nice balance of rich dark fruit and chocolate with good acidity.
Had this 2007 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Fattoria Del Cerro paired with rare duck and it was a nice pairing.
Pairings: Grilled chicken or pork, cheese course, mushroom risotto.
Style: Red
Grape Type(s): 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo Nero
Region: Tuscany, Italy
Around $20
Paired this Tuscan wine with my cheese course at a recent dinner party and it matched up well. Lighter and fruitier than its counterpart, Brunello di Montalcino, this wine didn’t overwhelm the mild soft cheeses and stood up to the stinkier, riper ones.
In the glass, the 2009 Castello Di Camigliano Rosso di Montalcino is vibrant red and it offers bright fruit on the nose. In the mouth, it’s well-balanced with a dark berry mixed with mushroomy/earthy flavors. Meant to be drunk young, this affordable wine can be served on a Tuesday night with pizza or at a party with more complex dishes.
Pairings: Grilled chicken or pork, cheese course, pasta with red sauce.
Style: Red
Grape Type(s): Sangiovese
Region: Tuscany, Italy
Around $22
I enjoyed this delicious Greek wine at Kellari Taverna in Manhattan with perfectly grilled octopus.
In the glass, this wine is a lovely golden color. On the nose, this Assyrtiko offer clean, citrusy aromas. In the mouth, it’s crisp with tropical fruit and Meyer lemon flavors. Well balanced wine that’s perfect for summer grilling but can hold up to heartier dishes.
Pairings: Seafood, grilled fish.
Style: White
Grape Type(s): Assyrtiko
Region: Santorini, Greece
Around $20
I got this bottle to pop open at my mom’s 65th birthday celebration. What could be more festive than Champagne on a milestone birthday?
On the nose, this French Champagne offers apple, vanilla, yeasty aromas. In the mouth, this wine is creamy with a big mouthful of tiny bubbles. The finish is buttery and a little smoky. Just delicious and way better than other Champagnes at this price point.
Pairings: Lobster, fish, foie gras.
Style: Champagne
Grape Type(s): 40% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier and 40% Chardonnay
Region: Reims / Champagne, France
Around $40
I’d had this bottle for a while and when I planned a casual grilled steak dinner for Memorial Day weekend, I opted to open it for my guests.
In the glass, the wine is bright ruby with some violet hues. Very pretty. On the nose, there are aromas of stone fruit with a little coffee and chocolate and some spiced notes. On the palate, this rich Australian Shiraz is big with dark cherry flavor and plummy chewiness laced with clove and nutmeg.
Pairings: Grilled steaks, meat lasagna.
Style: Red
Grape Type(s): Syrah
Region: South Eastern Australia
Around $10
Summer’s coming and when you’re craving a crisp, light white wine that’s more floral and complex than Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, there’s Viognier.
The 2010 Domaine des Salices Viognier offers a classic Viognier nose – floral, lemony and fresh. On the palate, it basically tastes like it smells but with lime and a little ground clove on the finish. Bright, crisp and pretty tasty for a $12 wine.
Pairings: Lightly sautéed sole / halibut / sea bass, grilled scallops.
Style: White
Grape Type(s): Viognier
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Around $12
Bought a 2-pound porterhouse steak to share with my guy last week and wanted a special wine to pair with it. The 2005 Fattoria La Lecciaia Brunello Di Montalcino fit the bill beautifully.
On the nose, this Italian wine is an explosion of ripe dark berries and Bing cherries with earthy notes. On the palate, this full-bodied wine is big and beautiful. Lots of ripe blackberry and stone fruit flavors laced with exotic spices, almost chewy in consistency with classic Brunello silkiness. The finish is long with a little pepper to end a great sip.
Pairings: Grilled red meat, slowly-simmered red sauce.
Style: Red
Grape Type(s): Sangiovese
Region: Tuscany, Italy
Around $30
This Italian wine is vibrant red in the glass. The 2009 Coltibuono Chianti Classico offer spiced red berries on the nose and big berry flavors on the palate with a little chocolate and some earthiness. Nice level of acidity and long, pleasant finish.
Pairings: Pasta and red sauce. Grilled meats.
Style: Red
Grape Type(s): Sangiovese
Region: Tuscany, Italy
Around $15.
For fans of fuller-bodied sparkling wines (me, me, me), this is a super option.
There’s apple and pear on the nose. This French champagne offers an earthiness and mouth-watering apple and peach flavors with hints of vanilla. Long, dry and completely enjoyable finish.
Nicer than most champagnes at this price point.
90 Points Wine Spectator.
Pairings: Lobster, ripe berries, cheese souffle.
Style: Sparkling
Grape Type(s): Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir
Region: Champagne, France
Around $40.
Nearly black in the glass, this Argentine wine is fragrant with dark berries on the nose. On the palate, this medium to full-bodied wine offers aromas of ripe raspberries, dates and notes of pumpkin pie spices. The finish is medium in length and showcases oaky and peppery notes.
I poured half the bottle through my Vinturi wine aerator and had the rest straight out of the bottle. Aerating or decanting would be optimal for this young wine.
Pairings: Grilled rack of lamb or Thai food.
Style: Red
Grape Type(s): Malbec
Region: San Juan, Argentina
Around $10.
This wine was provided to me for sampling and I am adding to my repertoire as it is truly enjoyable.
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