Neat Thoughts About Food, Wine, Travel & More
I went looking for a Chateauneuf du Pape and ended up with this little gem. In the glass, the wine is dark and leggy. On the nose, it’s big on cherries with black licorice and dried herbs. It drinks more like a C-d-P than a Côtes du Rhônes – it’s big with big cherry flavors laced with black pepper.
Pairings: Grilled lamb, beef stew, roasted duck
Style: Red wine
Grape Type(s): Grenache, Mourvedre
Region: Rhône, France
Around $25
I discovered this beautiful pale pink wine with the 2009 vintage and it’s been one of my go-to summer rosés.
This zippy Spanish wine is super dry with a great level of acidity. Strawberry, floral and slate nose. Light fizz on the front of the sip that dissipates into a dry finish. Bright, ripe strawberry flavors make this a great wine for summer sipping or to match up with foods that are a little fatty like salmon or event lamb chops.
Wine&Spirits – 90 points.
Style: Rosé
Grape Type(s): Hondarribi Zuri and Hondarribi Beltza
Region: Pais Vasco, Spain
Around $20
It’s hot and muggy outside and for many, including me, the weather calls for light, refreshing white wines. While I’ve poured my share of Assyrtiko, Sauvignon Blanc and Albarino this summer, I’m now craving reds that pair well with burgers, ribs and steaks.
15 Red Wines to Uncork at Summer Barbecues:
Wines for Burgers:
Wines for Ribs:
Wines for Steaks:
What are some of your affordable reds?
Cheers,
Veronique
I’ve detailed the concept of virtual wine tasting in previous posts and I try to participate in several of them each year. Last night was the Wine Industry Technology Symposium (WITS) and a virtual tasting of three California wines was hosted from my friends at WineTwits.
For those of you who are new to virtual wine tastings, this is what the concept entails:
The virtual tasting was well-attended and the three wineries whose wines we sampled were very active with the virtual tasters. Cheers to Wente Vineyards, Garnet Vineyards and Renwood Winery for interacting with us to the extent they did. I’ll follow up and make tons of new wine friends today as a result of last night’s event.
Here are my tasting notes from the featured wines:
2012 Wente Morning Fog Chardonnay
For those of us who enjoy moderately-oaky Chardonnay, this is a nice option. 50% of this wine was barrel-fermented in French oak and the other 50% was fermented in stainless steel tanks creating a wine that’s not overly oaky/buttery and has some fruit freshness to it.
Aromas of Asian apple and lychee jump out of the glass. In the mouth, the 2012 Wente Morning Fog Chardonnay is medium-bodied with Meyer lemon and tropical fruit flavors. Finish lingers with some oaky notes and a nice level of acidity.
Pairings: Roast chicken, salmon, pasta in light creamy sauce
Style: White Wine
Grape Type(s): Chardonnay
Region: Livermore Valley, CA, USA
Price: $13
2011 Garnet Vineyards Pinot Noir
Garnet pinot noirs have amassed rave reviews over the years and the 2011 Monterey County Pinot’s no exception. While it’s a bit more transparent in the glass than I would have suspected, it doesn’t lack in aroma and flavor. On the nose, it’s more jammy strawberry than the typical cherry one might expect. In the mouth, it’s velvety and the cherry is prominent with hints on vanilla and oak.
Pairings: Roasted duck, chicken or turkey, mushroom dishes
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): Pinot Noir
Region: Monterey County, CA, USA
Price: $14.99
2010 Renwood Winery Premier Old Vine Zinfandel
At 15.5% alcohol, this is a big, beautiful baby. This style of Zin is right up my alley. It’s a huge mouthful of dark, ripe berries with mocha and pumpkin spices notes. This wine screams for a hot grill and meat…and my glass.
Pairings: Barbecue ribs, grilled beef or lamb
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): 92.5% Zinfandel, 5.8% Syrah, 1.7% Souzao
Region: Amador County, CA, USA
Price: $19.99
For those of you on Twitter, search for #WITS2013 and see all the fun conversations folks had during the virtual tasting. You’ll likely find interesting wine fans to connect with.
Cheers,
Veronique
This year, 4th of July was celebrated with beef and beefy red wines at my home. My guy grilled a whole beef tenderloin and I baked my Cabot Creamery Seriously Sharp Cheddar Mac N Cheese.
Since I had a nice lineup of Jacob’s Creek’s current release, I decided to focus the party around their wines. Here’s what we tasted:
I know I should have poured American wines of this very American holiday, but I enjoyed the lineup very much and look forward to pairing up those heavier reds with my grilled meats this summer.
Cheers,
Veronique
These wines were provided to me for sampling and I’m adding to my repertoire as they’re truly enjoyable.
Bright ruby red in the glass with typical cherry and pumpkin spice aromas and a mouthful of ripe cherry flavors – love this style Pinot.
Pairings: Roasted duck, chicken or turkey, mushroom dishes
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): Pinot Noir
Region: Sonoma County, CA, USA
Price: $32
I had the California Cabernet Sauvignon at a recent wine pairing dinner and it was big and round and rich with stone fruit aromas and chocolate covered cherry flavors. It was paired with short ribs and côte de boeuf and it was simply decadent.
Pairings: Roasted or grilled meats, cheese course
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Napa Valley, CA, USA
Price: $65
Last weekend, I hosted my 4th Annual Food and Wine Chickie Lobsterfest and was really pleased with the two wines I poured for an aperitif. Both were sipped along a variety of foods ranging from light to very rich and stood up nicely.
2012 Banrock Station Pink Moscato ($8), delicate pink in the glass with refreshing, lightly floral flavors. The small amount of fizziness and nice level of acidity balance out most of the sweetness.
2012 Banrock Station Moscato ($8), lightly citrusy on the nose, tropical fruit flavors and bright and refreshing finish.
These wines from Australia’s McLaren Vale region are affordable, approachable and delicious.
Cheers,
Veronique
These wines were provided to me for sampling and I’m adding to my repertoire as they’re truly enjoyable.
This Spanish Rioja is inky black in the glass and offers aromas of ripe cherries with herby and a little funky notes. Chocolate-covered cherries and dark berry flavors on this great example of Rioja. It’s a little tannic and peppery on the finish.
Pairings: Grilled meats, spicy food, barbecue
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): 85% Tempranillo, 10% Mazuelo and 5% Graciano
Region: Rioja, Spain
Price: $25
I brought this California Zinfandel to a camping trip to pair with my World’s Easiest Baby Back Ribs and it was a nice pairing.
It’s deep purple in the glass with stone fruit and mocha aromas. For those of you who love huge fruit bombs, this is likely not the Zin for you. It’s medium-bodied with cherry and chocolaty flavors and a velvety mouth feel.
Pairings: Grilled meats, spicy food, barbecue
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): 94% Zinfandel, 6% Petite Sirah
Region: Lake County, CA, USA
Price: $30
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