For some reason I've gotten myself on a white Bordeaux kick. Generally I've been a red wine kinda guy, and some of my friends either really prefer whites or simply don't drink red wines. Usually we drink Pinot Grigio or sometimes something more obscure like a Gavi. Chardonnay can be great but often is not, and Chablis, well, we haven't found good Chablis on a regular basis.
Which leaves us with drinking or wishing we were drinking red wine. Of course, there are lots and lots of varieties of excellent wine, and it is just silly to think that we can't find them. On a whim recently I picked up a bottle of Cuvee Occitane by L'Archet (2006, 14%, $18-$20, imported by Indigo Wine Group) It was a great accompaniment to our fish dinner, rich, complex, not too 'summery', simply delightful. It is made from a blend of Marsanne, Roussanne and Grenache Blanc. In addition to those, typical grapes for this region include Semillon, Savignon Blanc, and Muscadelle.
Tonight we had haddock, roasted Butternut Squash, and a wonderful winter salad with fresh spinach, pear, goat cheese, and toasted pecans in a raspberry vinaigrette. The wine was the remains (leftover, opened last night) of a bottle of Chartron La Fleur Bordeaux (2008, 12%, $9, imported by MS Walker). Excellent, particularly under circumstances that are arguably "not the most optimum".
So, I'm all excited by this discovery of a nice white wine, at all price points, that I can enjoy and be happy to drink with my non-red-drinking friends. Give it a try, let me know what you think.
Cheers!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
White Bordeaux
I'm visiting my father in Oregon and last night we enjoyed a nice bottle of White Bordeaux. Chateau Mauros, 2007,$9.75, excellant with trout!
More on White Bordeaux to come.
More on White Bordeaux to come.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
More on Nero d'Avola
Just to add a post-script to the wine tasting blog of Nov 21, I've found another bottle that I think tastes quite good.
I Rustici Nero d'Avola, 12.5% imported by Specialty Marketing Group, Canton, MA, about $10-$12
is an excellent wine, smoother than many of the others we tasted in November but full of flavor. Also terrific with food, particularly (no surprise) Italian foods.
I think it's a great value and one of the better Nero d'Avola wines we've tried.
I Rustici Nero d'Avola, 12.5% imported by Specialty Marketing Group, Canton, MA, about $10-$12
is an excellent wine, smoother than many of the others we tasted in November but full of flavor. Also terrific with food, particularly (no surprise) Italian foods.
I think it's a great value and one of the better Nero d'Avola wines we've tried.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
10 gifts under $20 for the wine lover in your life
It's the holiday season, so I'm blogging about 10 gifts for the wine lover in your life. Eight of them can be had for less than $20, one of them (depending on where you live) might be had for less than $20, and the last one arguably could be pretty expensive. But fun!
So here we go:
1) Wine aroma wheel, $6 plus shipping, http://www.winearomawheel.com/ We use this clever tool regularly in our wine tastings. It helps to identify tastes, flavors, and aromas, and it can be a fun ice breaker when you start talking about these various flavors. It's a great device for helping all of us identify and describe what we are tasting.
2) Essential wine tasting guide, $12 http://www.essentialwinetastingguide.com/ This is a pint sized version of the wine aroma wheel plus a lot more in a wallet sized, cleverly folded booklet. It brings a lot of thought and advice to your wine tasting experience. Plus you can bring it with you anywhere.
3) A good wine reference book. I use The Wine Bible, by Karen McNeil, $12, http://www.amazon.com/Wine-Bible-Karen-MacNeil/dp/1563054345 I find it extremely interesting to read about various wines and regions, and Ms McNeils book is thorough and easily readable. You should have a copy (or something similar) wherever you drink wine. When you open a bottle of wine from a new region, or are drinking something you really like, stop and open the book and read about it. It really helps you understand the wine, where it came from, and what you might be tasting.
4) Glassware. Glassware makes a difference in what you taste, and glasses break. All of us can use more wine glasses. For our wine tastings we've managed to buy about 60 pieces of mostly-the-same shape stemware. This way you can compare two, three, or more wines at the same time with your group. We bought our stemware at a TJ Maxx store, but the most important thing is to have a good shape. A tall stem with a wide bowl that tapers toward the rim, such as a bordeaux shape, is my preference. Plus it looks really cool to look at a table full of stemware. And don't worry if it breaks.
5) OK- this one's pretty boring. sorry. Non scented candles and non scented dish soap. Boring. But you know, it makes a difference. Scented candles, which are wonderful in other situations, can ruin the flavor of wine in a wine tasting. Move the candles away from the table, or light up those beautiful non scented ones. Ditto for the dish soap. Most dish soaps are highly scented and can be tasted along with the wine. Sounds disgusting? It is.
6) Wine! This suggestion is probably the most obvious, but there are lots of good wines out there for less than $20, and more for more money as well. There are two ways to do this: a- remember what your wine lover likes and buy it, or b- ask a wine merchant that you trust what they might suggest. Be prepared to answer questions about what styles of wine you are looking for - red or white, sparkling, old world vs new world, etc. think about what wines have been successful in the past. My suggestion for a red? Mara, by Cesari, a "ripasso" style wine, sometimes called a baby Amarone. Delicious.
7) Port. Most folks like Port, and we often forget about it when buying wine. You can find a delightful Port for less than $20. Ask your wine store for suggestions. I'm fond of Tawny Port. but I like them all. If you are intrigued by Port, there is a whole arcane world to learn about. Port and a good reference book would be a thoughtful, enjoyable gift. There will be a test afterword, so be prepared.
8) Sparkling wine. We can't call it Champagne unless it comes from that region in France, but there is a lot of fun and drinkable sparkly wine available from all over the world. We've been keen on Gruet from New Mexico (of all places!) but we also like Cava from Spain and Prosecco from Italy. Spend more to get better wine. And wait for the sparks to fly!
9) Visit a winery. You can learn so much by visiting a winery, tasting the wines, and learning about what the wine makers were hoping to achieve, and it's fun. Be sure to designate a driver for the return trip home.
10) OK, this is my current travel Fantasy: Kalahari and Cabernet. We fly to Windhoek, Namibia, and spend 5 days visiting the Kalahari desert, Big 5 animal safaris, and cultural excursions. Then, we transit to Cape Town, South Africa, and head to Stellenbosch, center of the renowned wine industry in South Africa. We'll spend 5 days visiting wineries, tasting the red and white wines of this region. We'll enjoy a classic SA Braai, the meat lovers grill that sets a standard for meat eating, accompanied by Pinotage, Cabernet, and other red wines. Great food for vegetarians as well, and always great accommodations and fun. Hey, it's my fantasy. Likely more than $20.
Happy holidays, be safe, and enjoy yourself responsibly.
So here we go:
1) Wine aroma wheel, $6 plus shipping, http://www.winearomawheel.com/ We use this clever tool regularly in our wine tastings. It helps to identify tastes, flavors, and aromas, and it can be a fun ice breaker when you start talking about these various flavors. It's a great device for helping all of us identify and describe what we are tasting.
2) Essential wine tasting guide, $12 http://www.essentialwinetastingguide.com/ This is a pint sized version of the wine aroma wheel plus a lot more in a wallet sized, cleverly folded booklet. It brings a lot of thought and advice to your wine tasting experience. Plus you can bring it with you anywhere.
3) A good wine reference book. I use The Wine Bible, by Karen McNeil, $12, http://www.amazon.com/Wine-Bible-Karen-MacNeil/dp/1563054345 I find it extremely interesting to read about various wines and regions, and Ms McNeils book is thorough and easily readable. You should have a copy (or something similar) wherever you drink wine. When you open a bottle of wine from a new region, or are drinking something you really like, stop and open the book and read about it. It really helps you understand the wine, where it came from, and what you might be tasting.
4) Glassware. Glassware makes a difference in what you taste, and glasses break. All of us can use more wine glasses. For our wine tastings we've managed to buy about 60 pieces of mostly-the-same shape stemware. This way you can compare two, three, or more wines at the same time with your group. We bought our stemware at a TJ Maxx store, but the most important thing is to have a good shape. A tall stem with a wide bowl that tapers toward the rim, such as a bordeaux shape, is my preference. Plus it looks really cool to look at a table full of stemware. And don't worry if it breaks.
5) OK- this one's pretty boring. sorry. Non scented candles and non scented dish soap. Boring. But you know, it makes a difference. Scented candles, which are wonderful in other situations, can ruin the flavor of wine in a wine tasting. Move the candles away from the table, or light up those beautiful non scented ones. Ditto for the dish soap. Most dish soaps are highly scented and can be tasted along with the wine. Sounds disgusting? It is.
6) Wine! This suggestion is probably the most obvious, but there are lots of good wines out there for less than $20, and more for more money as well. There are two ways to do this: a- remember what your wine lover likes and buy it, or b- ask a wine merchant that you trust what they might suggest. Be prepared to answer questions about what styles of wine you are looking for - red or white, sparkling, old world vs new world, etc. think about what wines have been successful in the past. My suggestion for a red? Mara, by Cesari, a "ripasso" style wine, sometimes called a baby Amarone. Delicious.
7) Port. Most folks like Port, and we often forget about it when buying wine. You can find a delightful Port for less than $20. Ask your wine store for suggestions. I'm fond of Tawny Port. but I like them all. If you are intrigued by Port, there is a whole arcane world to learn about. Port and a good reference book would be a thoughtful, enjoyable gift. There will be a test afterword, so be prepared.
8) Sparkling wine. We can't call it Champagne unless it comes from that region in France, but there is a lot of fun and drinkable sparkly wine available from all over the world. We've been keen on Gruet from New Mexico (of all places!) but we also like Cava from Spain and Prosecco from Italy. Spend more to get better wine. And wait for the sparks to fly!
9) Visit a winery. You can learn so much by visiting a winery, tasting the wines, and learning about what the wine makers were hoping to achieve, and it's fun. Be sure to designate a driver for the return trip home.
10) OK, this is my current travel Fantasy: Kalahari and Cabernet. We fly to Windhoek, Namibia, and spend 5 days visiting the Kalahari desert, Big 5 animal safaris, and cultural excursions. Then, we transit to Cape Town, South Africa, and head to Stellenbosch, center of the renowned wine industry in South Africa. We'll spend 5 days visiting wineries, tasting the red and white wines of this region. We'll enjoy a classic SA Braai, the meat lovers grill that sets a standard for meat eating, accompanied by Pinotage, Cabernet, and other red wines. Great food for vegetarians as well, and always great accommodations and fun. Hey, it's my fantasy. Likely more than $20.
Happy holidays, be safe, and enjoy yourself responsibly.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Thanksgiving wine 2009
My best intention was get and serve only American wines for thanksgiving, and I had just the array in mind: We'd start with a sparkling wine from Gruet in New Mexico (winner of a blind tasting several years ago and reasonably priced), Followed by an Oregon Pinot Gris for the appetizer course, and finishing up with an Oregon Pinot Noir with the big bird. (Not the yellow big bird, of course.)
Here's what we wound up with:
Adelsheim Pinot Blanc, 2006, Oregon, 13.6%, $20.75;
Benton Lane Pinot Noir, 2007, 13.5%, $25.65;
Segura Viudas Cava, 12%, $22.29
The Adelshiem was by far the best, complex, interesting, complementary yet able to hold its own against the meal. The Benton Lane Pinot Noir was a disappointment to me. It lacked body, was more like a Nouveau Beaujolais than a complex Pinot Noir.
Now, I know I can get "big" jammy Pinot from California, but I like the complexity of the Oregon Pinot. And I've certainly had excellent wines from Benton Lane. Just not this one. I have discovered that the better Oregon Pinot Noir costs more money, and to get a reliably good wine you often have to pay more than $40, sometimes much more.
The cava was good, and I think it's a good value. Certainly worth having on hand.
Here's what we wound up with:
Adelsheim Pinot Blanc, 2006, Oregon, 13.6%, $20.75;
Benton Lane Pinot Noir, 2007, 13.5%, $25.65;
Segura Viudas Cava, 12%, $22.29
The Adelshiem was by far the best, complex, interesting, complementary yet able to hold its own against the meal. The Benton Lane Pinot Noir was a disappointment to me. It lacked body, was more like a Nouveau Beaujolais than a complex Pinot Noir.
Now, I know I can get "big" jammy Pinot from California, but I like the complexity of the Oregon Pinot. And I've certainly had excellent wines from Benton Lane. Just not this one. I have discovered that the better Oregon Pinot Noir costs more money, and to get a reliably good wine you often have to pay more than $40, sometimes much more.
The cava was good, and I think it's a good value. Certainly worth having on hand.
Nero d'Avola - Nov 21
Nero d'Avola
Nero d'Avola, the dark red grape from southern Sicily, was front and center for our most recent wine tasting. We've enjoyed this wine for several years, finding it good with food and tasty while being very affordable. This time we each brought a bottle and tasted them blind, before eating and then again during our dinner.
But first, the appetizer: Cheeses from Appleton Creamery: “Camdenbear” a soft cheese made from cow milk, and served with a cranberry chutney from Half Moon Farm; a three milk “tomme” from goat, cow, and sheep milk; and a raw sheep milk cheese, aged over 120 days and “closer to a Romano”. We shared a bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau, ($9.99, 2009, Georges Duboeuf, 12.5%). Not normally my preferred wine, this years version was better than I had expected, and was a good way to start the evening. And the cheeses? Awesome: a meal could be made exclusively from them, and we would all have been happy!
Now, the wines:
Fondo Antico Nero d'Avola, 2006, 13.5%, $10.99, imported by Ideal Wine and Spirits. (yellow)
Contrada Ragabo Nero d”Avola, 2006, 14.5%, $12.99, imported by Small Vinyards LLC. (green)
Terre Nero d'Avola, no year indicated, 13%, $10.65, Imported by Leonard Locascio. (orange)
Villa Pozzi Nero d'Avola, no year indicated, 13.5%, $16.99, imported by WJ Deutsch and sons (blue)
We normally are quite fond of this wine. It has lively flavor (berries, cherry, some spice) and enough tannin to make it good with food. But these wines were “all over the place” as one guest noted. It was hard to get a good sense of what the wine really tastes like from the four samples we had. Comments ranged from “harsh” to “sweet”, from “bland” to “comfortable, completely different”.
One wine, the first we tasted, (Fondo Antico) was universally panned. None of us really liked it, the tannins were too strong and no clear flavor emerged. The most charitable thing to say was that it would be a good pizza wine, or a good 2 Euro/bottle wine in Europe.
The other three wines were all different. Scores were closely matched, with the Villa Pozzi narrowly (should I saw “nero-ly?) edging the others for overall favorite. There were hints of blueberry in the flavor, and it had the most balanced tannins.
My favorite was the Terre, which was also the least expensive.
As expected, the wines became much, much better with food. We ate a roast leg of lamb, with roasted root vegetables and carrots cooked in cream. The wines had good body to stand up to the strong flavors, and even the least Fondo Antico was pleasant with the meal. But the others all came into their own – really adding to the meal and tasting much better in their own right.
We had fun, we enjoyed a great meal, and we talked about the next get together, whenever that will be!
Nero d'Avola, the dark red grape from southern Sicily, was front and center for our most recent wine tasting. We've enjoyed this wine for several years, finding it good with food and tasty while being very affordable. This time we each brought a bottle and tasted them blind, before eating and then again during our dinner.
But first, the appetizer: Cheeses from Appleton Creamery: “Camdenbear” a soft cheese made from cow milk, and served with a cranberry chutney from Half Moon Farm; a three milk “tomme” from goat, cow, and sheep milk; and a raw sheep milk cheese, aged over 120 days and “closer to a Romano”. We shared a bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau, ($9.99, 2009, Georges Duboeuf, 12.5%). Not normally my preferred wine, this years version was better than I had expected, and was a good way to start the evening. And the cheeses? Awesome: a meal could be made exclusively from them, and we would all have been happy!
Now, the wines:
Fondo Antico Nero d'Avola, 2006, 13.5%, $10.99, imported by Ideal Wine and Spirits. (yellow)
Contrada Ragabo Nero d”Avola, 2006, 14.5%, $12.99, imported by Small Vinyards LLC. (green)
Terre Nero d'Avola, no year indicated, 13%, $10.65, Imported by Leonard Locascio. (orange)
Villa Pozzi Nero d'Avola, no year indicated, 13.5%, $16.99, imported by WJ Deutsch and sons (blue)
We normally are quite fond of this wine. It has lively flavor (berries, cherry, some spice) and enough tannin to make it good with food. But these wines were “all over the place” as one guest noted. It was hard to get a good sense of what the wine really tastes like from the four samples we had. Comments ranged from “harsh” to “sweet”, from “bland” to “comfortable, completely different”.
One wine, the first we tasted, (Fondo Antico) was universally panned. None of us really liked it, the tannins were too strong and no clear flavor emerged. The most charitable thing to say was that it would be a good pizza wine, or a good 2 Euro/bottle wine in Europe.
The other three wines were all different. Scores were closely matched, with the Villa Pozzi narrowly (should I saw “nero-ly?) edging the others for overall favorite. There were hints of blueberry in the flavor, and it had the most balanced tannins.
My favorite was the Terre, which was also the least expensive.
As expected, the wines became much, much better with food. We ate a roast leg of lamb, with roasted root vegetables and carrots cooked in cream. The wines had good body to stand up to the strong flavors, and even the least Fondo Antico was pleasant with the meal. But the others all came into their own – really adding to the meal and tasting much better in their own right.
We had fun, we enjoyed a great meal, and we talked about the next get together, whenever that will be!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
South African Sauvignon Blanc
What a day. I noticed this morning that our freezer, a small floor model, had a puddle of ice near the door. Not good. I closed the door, made coffee, and waited for the caffiene to kick in. Cautiously I opened the door and looked at the freezer again - the ice puddle was still there. Worse, everything inside the freezer was covered in rime ice, fuzzy crystals of ice obscuring the post-it notes with the contents listed. I was afraid that another cup of coffee wasn't going to be the ultimate solution, but on the other hand it certainly couldn't hurt.
In the process of defrosting the freezer I discovered some lost items - some soup, Caldo Verde, that I love when it gets cold, and a small piece of salmon. I chose the salmon for the evening dinner. My usual cooking method is grilling, but tonight I decided to poach the salmon, and the recipe that google provided included 1/2 cup of sauvignon blanc. I got a bottle out of the cellar and poached the salmon, made Basmati rice, and a fresh (local Bowdoinham) spinach and tomato and mushroom salad.
Now, I always prefer reds to whites, and I didn't think too much about what wine I had chosen. But when I tasted it, wow! Rich, complex, long lasting, complementary to the meal, it was great. The wine was a South African Sauvignon Blanc, 2007, from Graham Beck. I don't remember where I got it or how much it cost, but it wouldn't have been a terribly expensive bottle. A perfect complement to my 6 month old frozen salmon ( a good wine can really make a meal come together, like the right rug in a room).
South Africa has been producing some very distinctive and quite drinkable wines, at reasonable prices. I'm particularly fond of the Cabernet Sauvignon wines, and now I'm keen on the Sauvignon Blancs.
Tomorrow I'll see how it goes with Caldo Verde soup.
In the process of defrosting the freezer I discovered some lost items - some soup, Caldo Verde, that I love when it gets cold, and a small piece of salmon. I chose the salmon for the evening dinner. My usual cooking method is grilling, but tonight I decided to poach the salmon, and the recipe that google provided included 1/2 cup of sauvignon blanc. I got a bottle out of the cellar and poached the salmon, made Basmati rice, and a fresh (local Bowdoinham) spinach and tomato and mushroom salad.
Now, I always prefer reds to whites, and I didn't think too much about what wine I had chosen. But when I tasted it, wow! Rich, complex, long lasting, complementary to the meal, it was great. The wine was a South African Sauvignon Blanc, 2007, from Graham Beck. I don't remember where I got it or how much it cost, but it wouldn't have been a terribly expensive bottle. A perfect complement to my 6 month old frozen salmon ( a good wine can really make a meal come together, like the right rug in a room).
South Africa has been producing some very distinctive and quite drinkable wines, at reasonable prices. I'm particularly fond of the Cabernet Sauvignon wines, and now I'm keen on the Sauvignon Blancs.
Tomorrow I'll see how it goes with Caldo Verde soup.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
I've been traveling, and am now very happy to be back at home. I was in Haiti, where the drink of choice was Rum or beer.
So now, at home, I grilled a small steak, cooked some potatoes and sauteed - very briefly - some Brussel sprout tops. I looked at the wines I had and went for a 2006 Napa Merlot, Annabella, from Oakville, 14.5% This isn't a wine I would normally drink, usually favoring Italian wines. And truthfully, I would have opened a Chilean Cab if I had one in front of me. But this was a very nice, well balanced wine.
Merlot got a bad rap for becoming too popular, but it is a wonderful flavorful wine. It goes to show you - revisit soem of those old wines we used to drink. (Well, maybe not the gallo hearty burgundy....)
So now, at home, I grilled a small steak, cooked some potatoes and sauteed - very briefly - some Brussel sprout tops. I looked at the wines I had and went for a 2006 Napa Merlot, Annabella, from Oakville, 14.5% This isn't a wine I would normally drink, usually favoring Italian wines. And truthfully, I would have opened a Chilean Cab if I had one in front of me. But this was a very nice, well balanced wine.
Merlot got a bad rap for becoming too popular, but it is a wonderful flavorful wine. It goes to show you - revisit soem of those old wines we used to drink. (Well, maybe not the gallo hearty burgundy....)
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Fuel Restaurant
Last night we ate at Fuel, a restaurant in Lewiston, Maine. Our first visit won't be our last! We chose a sampler, where the chef chooses four courses. We were asked if we had any strong preferences or particular needs. To accompany this meal we choose a wine sampler - 4 wines chosen to go with the dishes we were eating. Both the meals and the wines were well matched and delicious.
We started with a glass of NZ Sauvignon Blanc, which came on with a pronounced grapefruit and straw taste. It preceded the first course, a pumpkin risotto with fois gras and a veal reduction sauce. The risotto was delicious, soft, creamy, slightly nutty, and accentuated by toasted pumpkin seeds. The Sauvignon Blanc went well with it, but our only complaint was that we received the wine before the food and as a result the wine was finished before the food.
The second course was a tuna carpacio with a "watermelon radish", something I had never seen before. A french Pinot Noir accompanied this course, a little too fruity at first but magically perfect with the tuna. This was almost a Japanese presentation, on narrow rectangular plates and artfully arranged. Possibly my favorite dish of the evening.
Next the wine steward arrived with a choice of either a Cline blend or a BV California Cabernet. We chose the Cline and were not at all disappointed. The rich, spicy, full bodied wine was great with the next course, a combination of pork ribs, pig tongue, and pork belly, all cooked perfectly, extremely flavorful and rich. Very Rich.
Slowing down, we were served a chocolate torte that was incredible, accompanied by a glass of "Port" from the Paso Robles region in California. I an a big fan of real port from Portugal, but I must admit this was quite well done and a great foil for the rich chocolate.
The service was first rate, both the chef Justin and the wine steward stopped by the table to chat and see how we were doing. Our server was attentive but not obsequious, always appearing just as we were ready for the next thing.
We had one very minor quibble with our dining experience: it is a loud space! Although there were a few empty tables, most seats were filled and it was loud. The tables are spacious, meaning that we found ourselves having to speak up (and add to the din) just to hear each other.
We started with a glass of NZ Sauvignon Blanc, which came on with a pronounced grapefruit and straw taste. It preceded the first course, a pumpkin risotto with fois gras and a veal reduction sauce. The risotto was delicious, soft, creamy, slightly nutty, and accentuated by toasted pumpkin seeds. The Sauvignon Blanc went well with it, but our only complaint was that we received the wine before the food and as a result the wine was finished before the food.
The second course was a tuna carpacio with a "watermelon radish", something I had never seen before. A french Pinot Noir accompanied this course, a little too fruity at first but magically perfect with the tuna. This was almost a Japanese presentation, on narrow rectangular plates and artfully arranged. Possibly my favorite dish of the evening.
Next the wine steward arrived with a choice of either a Cline blend or a BV California Cabernet. We chose the Cline and were not at all disappointed. The rich, spicy, full bodied wine was great with the next course, a combination of pork ribs, pig tongue, and pork belly, all cooked perfectly, extremely flavorful and rich. Very Rich.
Slowing down, we were served a chocolate torte that was incredible, accompanied by a glass of "Port" from the Paso Robles region in California. I an a big fan of real port from Portugal, but I must admit this was quite well done and a great foil for the rich chocolate.
The service was first rate, both the chef Justin and the wine steward stopped by the table to chat and see how we were doing. Our server was attentive but not obsequious, always appearing just as we were ready for the next thing.
We had one very minor quibble with our dining experience: it is a loud space! Although there were a few empty tables, most seats were filled and it was loud. The tables are spacious, meaning that we found ourselves having to speak up (and add to the din) just to hear each other.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Nero d"Avola - Nov 21
The next wine tasting is Nov 21, and the wine is Nero d'Avola.
We've been drinking this wonderful wine for several years now. It's often a great value, with extremely drinkable wines available for between $7 and $12. Recently prices have been going up, and I think the market is catching on to what a good value this wine represents.
This is a dark red wine from Sicily, moderate tannins, excellent with food or by itself. Some wine sites compare it to Syrah, with big fruit flavors and cherry, plum, raspberry, and spice notes.
We're planning to have an Italian meal to accompany this wine, because, really, why not?
Taste some and let me know what you think.
We've been drinking this wonderful wine for several years now. It's often a great value, with extremely drinkable wines available for between $7 and $12. Recently prices have been going up, and I think the market is catching on to what a good value this wine represents.
This is a dark red wine from Sicily, moderate tannins, excellent with food or by itself. Some wine sites compare it to Syrah, with big fruit flavors and cherry, plum, raspberry, and spice notes.
We're planning to have an Italian meal to accompany this wine, because, really, why not?
Taste some and let me know what you think.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Birthday wines
Dory bought some wines recently and included a couple of bottles of Amarone, a 2006 and a 2005. Unfortunately, both bottles are gone to the recycling station, but it's fair to say that both were good, the 2005 much better. These wines didn't have that strong raisin flavor that some of them have, but they were both complex, long lived wines. We had them with grilled steak.
Then, the NEXT night, we had a Brunello di Montalcino 2003 that I received as a birthday gift. Wow! I don't normally drink many Brunellos, because of the price and because at that price I like Barolo or Amarone. Wow. It was awesome. Complex, not strong tannins (which we like, but this wine was extremely well balanced), long finish... just a wonderful experience. We had it with roast chicken and roast vegetables.
Then, the NEXT night, we had a Brunello di Montalcino 2003 that I received as a birthday gift. Wow! I don't normally drink many Brunellos, because of the price and because at that price I like Barolo or Amarone. Wow. It was awesome. Complex, not strong tannins (which we like, but this wine was extremely well balanced), long finish... just a wonderful experience. We had it with roast chicken and roast vegetables.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
White Wines for Fish
Every body knows that white wines go with fish, right? It's been accepted wisdom for ages. But which whites go with which fish, and are all whites equal? Our Dirigo Wine group decided to find out.
Normally we choose a grape and a region (the last one was Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile) and ask each couple to bring a bottle, costing less than $20. I wrap them up and we do a blind tasting. This time I assigned a grape for each couple to bring. The assignments were:
The meal was fantastic. We started with a variety of artisinal goat and sheep cheeses, followed by fresh local swordfish on the grill, accompanied with an orzo salad and followed by a salad of fresh garden greens. Desert was lemon cake with fresh strawberries.
We poured samples of each wine and started tasting and making notes. The cheeses were accompanying this course, and we all noted that cheese makes any wine taste better. Our first wine to taste (Orange yarn) turned out to be Pinot Gris (Alsace, Cave de Turckheim, 2006, 13%, $17). It was beautiful in the glass, and people commented on fruit and citrus flavors. Several of us guessed (incorrectly) that this was a Sauvignon Blanc. Many of us drink Pinot Grigio as a regular everyday white, and I think that what threw us was that this was a French wine rather than Italian or Californian wine.
The second wine to taste (Blue Yarn) was a Sauvignon Blanc (Sincerely, South Africa, 2007, 12.5%, $13). When it was first sipped it had a nearly overpowering and unpleasant smell of asparagus. After it had been open a while it had a sooty taste, and with the fish (by now it had been open about an hour) it mellowed out and was very enjoyable. It won the 'most improved' award.
Next on the list was a Fume Blanc (Green yarn) which fooled all of us because the taste of oak made us think (incorrectly) this was a Chardonnay. This bottle (Ferrari-Carano, Sonoma, 2007, 13.9%, $18) featured a Sauvignon Blanc grape which had been fermented in French oak. It was full bodied and I really enjoyed it with the swordfish.
When we got to tasting the Gewurztraminer (Fetzer, 2007, 12%, $11) we noted that the sweet taste offset the spice of a peppery sheep cheese. Other than that, we all found the Gewurztraminer to be too sweet and generally not to our liking (I have had Gewurztraminer wines that were not so sweet and syrupy, but this wasn't one of them.)
The next wine (yellow yarn) was a Chardonnay (Clos La Chance, Monterey County, Ca., 2006, 13.5%, $13.50). This one boasts that it is entirely unoaked – I thought it was a Sauvignon Blanc! It was very nice with the swordfish, not assertive, enjoyable.
It is difficult to keep tastes and flavor profiles straight when there are many wines before you – we were pouring no more than 2 oz of each and trying to describe each of them. But, it gets hard. The following wine was a Viognier (Laurent Miquel, France 2007, 13.5%, $17). It turned out that some of us had never tasted a Viognier. This wine became popular in the US about a decade ago, at least that's when I became aware of it, and is a complex, hearty wine. I like it and recognized it at first, but others didn't universally share my enthusiasm. One comment was that it had a very floral nose, which this person found off-putting. But, I liked it and thought it was a great complement to the grilled swordfish.
So, we were finishing dinner, the wines had been unmasked, and someone said “what about the Muscadet?” What Muscadet, I thought, and learned that a bottle had been brought and wrapped but not served. OK, more work to be done, so we found the missing bottle and poured. It was a delightful wine (Lasablette, France, 2007, 12%, $17) and was wonderful with the fish. The people who brought the Muscadet recalled a year their family had spent in France, and realized that for them at that time white wine meant Muscadet. It was complex, well structured, and tasted very good either with the meal or on its own.
In general, we disliked the sweet Gewurztraminer, and found all the other wines to be good with the swordfish. The most assertive wines were the Viognier and the Fume Blanc, with the taste of oak adding more structure. The most improved was the South African Sauvignon Blanc, and really, all these wines (except the Gewurztraminer) would be very good as the only wine on the table.
For my tastes, with a grilled swordfish, I would order the Fume Blanc, Muscadet, Viognier, or maybe a Gavi which we didn't taste here. But those are my preferences.
So I guess it's true – White wines do go with fish!
Normally we choose a grape and a region (the last one was Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile) and ask each couple to bring a bottle, costing less than $20. I wrap them up and we do a blind tasting. This time I assigned a grape for each couple to bring. The assignments were:
- Sauvignon Black
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Gris
- Gewurztraminer
- Viognier
The meal was fantastic. We started with a variety of artisinal goat and sheep cheeses, followed by fresh local swordfish on the grill, accompanied with an orzo salad and followed by a salad of fresh garden greens. Desert was lemon cake with fresh strawberries.
We poured samples of each wine and started tasting and making notes. The cheeses were accompanying this course, and we all noted that cheese makes any wine taste better. Our first wine to taste (Orange yarn) turned out to be Pinot Gris (Alsace, Cave de Turckheim, 2006, 13%, $17). It was beautiful in the glass, and people commented on fruit and citrus flavors. Several of us guessed (incorrectly) that this was a Sauvignon Blanc. Many of us drink Pinot Grigio as a regular everyday white, and I think that what threw us was that this was a French wine rather than Italian or Californian wine.
The second wine to taste (Blue Yarn) was a Sauvignon Blanc (Sincerely, South Africa, 2007, 12.5%, $13). When it was first sipped it had a nearly overpowering and unpleasant smell of asparagus. After it had been open a while it had a sooty taste, and with the fish (by now it had been open about an hour) it mellowed out and was very enjoyable. It won the 'most improved' award.
Next on the list was a Fume Blanc (Green yarn) which fooled all of us because the taste of oak made us think (incorrectly) this was a Chardonnay. This bottle (Ferrari-Carano, Sonoma, 2007, 13.9%, $18) featured a Sauvignon Blanc grape which had been fermented in French oak. It was full bodied and I really enjoyed it with the swordfish.
When we got to tasting the Gewurztraminer (Fetzer, 2007, 12%, $11) we noted that the sweet taste offset the spice of a peppery sheep cheese. Other than that, we all found the Gewurztraminer to be too sweet and generally not to our liking (I have had Gewurztraminer wines that were not so sweet and syrupy, but this wasn't one of them.)
The next wine (yellow yarn) was a Chardonnay (Clos La Chance, Monterey County, Ca., 2006, 13.5%, $13.50). This one boasts that it is entirely unoaked – I thought it was a Sauvignon Blanc! It was very nice with the swordfish, not assertive, enjoyable.
It is difficult to keep tastes and flavor profiles straight when there are many wines before you – we were pouring no more than 2 oz of each and trying to describe each of them. But, it gets hard. The following wine was a Viognier (Laurent Miquel, France 2007, 13.5%, $17). It turned out that some of us had never tasted a Viognier. This wine became popular in the US about a decade ago, at least that's when I became aware of it, and is a complex, hearty wine. I like it and recognized it at first, but others didn't universally share my enthusiasm. One comment was that it had a very floral nose, which this person found off-putting. But, I liked it and thought it was a great complement to the grilled swordfish.
So, we were finishing dinner, the wines had been unmasked, and someone said “what about the Muscadet?” What Muscadet, I thought, and learned that a bottle had been brought and wrapped but not served. OK, more work to be done, so we found the missing bottle and poured. It was a delightful wine (Lasablette, France, 2007, 12%, $17) and was wonderful with the fish. The people who brought the Muscadet recalled a year their family had spent in France, and realized that for them at that time white wine meant Muscadet. It was complex, well structured, and tasted very good either with the meal or on its own.
In general, we disliked the sweet Gewurztraminer, and found all the other wines to be good with the swordfish. The most assertive wines were the Viognier and the Fume Blanc, with the taste of oak adding more structure. The most improved was the South African Sauvignon Blanc, and really, all these wines (except the Gewurztraminer) would be very good as the only wine on the table.
For my tastes, with a grilled swordfish, I would order the Fume Blanc, Muscadet, Viognier, or maybe a Gavi which we didn't taste here. But those are my preferences.
So I guess it's true – White wines do go with fish!
South African Wines
At the end of May I had a chance to accompany my wife on her business trip to South Africa and Swaziland. On the South African Airways flight, direct from JFK to Johannesburg, I read about a wine tasting event in Joburg (that's what they call it). Our schedule allowed us to attend, and we learned quite a bit more about south African wines.
While talking to various producers, we learned that SA was most proud of its Cabernet Sauvignon, and Shiraz red wines, and Sauvignon Blanc Whites. I was particularly interested in tasting the Pinotage, an indigenous variety that derives from Pinot Noir and Hermitage grapes.
In general, most SA wines were high alcohol, with many reds in the 14-16.5% range, and intended to be drunk young. Many had screw tops, and were selling for the SA equivalent of $5-10. Even special reserve wines that were excellent could be found for less than $10.
As we went from booth to booth, I consistently found excellent Cabernet Sauvignons, with complex structure, good but not jammy fruit, and nice lingering aftertastes. We didn't pay a lot of attention to particular brands because we weren't sure what was available in the US (although all producers were very interested in selling into the US.)
Dory was really impressed with the sparkling wines, which she pronounced very drinkable and
delicious.
The Pinotage wines were a problem for me. Some of them I really really liked, but most, (and all I have found here in the US) had an aftertaste that I don't care for. It is a sort of smoky, burnt rubber taste, and I think it is just a characteristic of this grape. Dory likes them and didn't find this aftertaste offensive, or didn't notice it.
My big learning moment was that SA Cabernets can be excellent wines at an excellent value. I am currently completely sold on Chilean Cabernets as the best overall value, but I think we can find some serious competition from South Africa.
Many producers were proud of new blends they were producing, usually with combinations of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, but sometimes with other grapes as well. We liked them, and all would go great with a a Braai, what the South Africans call a barbeque.
There were many whites that were clean and refreshing, and time and time again we commented that this would be a wonderful libation, chilled and enjoyed in the shade on a hot African evening.
What do you think? Post a comment and let me know. And if you have the chance to visit a wine tasting show, it is well worth attending.
While talking to various producers, we learned that SA was most proud of its Cabernet Sauvignon, and Shiraz red wines, and Sauvignon Blanc Whites. I was particularly interested in tasting the Pinotage, an indigenous variety that derives from Pinot Noir and Hermitage grapes.
In general, most SA wines were high alcohol, with many reds in the 14-16.5% range, and intended to be drunk young. Many had screw tops, and were selling for the SA equivalent of $5-10. Even special reserve wines that were excellent could be found for less than $10.
As we went from booth to booth, I consistently found excellent Cabernet Sauvignons, with complex structure, good but not jammy fruit, and nice lingering aftertastes. We didn't pay a lot of attention to particular brands because we weren't sure what was available in the US (although all producers were very interested in selling into the US.)
Dory was really impressed with the sparkling wines, which she pronounced very drinkable and
delicious.
The Pinotage wines were a problem for me. Some of them I really really liked, but most, (and all I have found here in the US) had an aftertaste that I don't care for. It is a sort of smoky, burnt rubber taste, and I think it is just a characteristic of this grape. Dory likes them and didn't find this aftertaste offensive, or didn't notice it.
My big learning moment was that SA Cabernets can be excellent wines at an excellent value. I am currently completely sold on Chilean Cabernets as the best overall value, but I think we can find some serious competition from South Africa.
Many producers were proud of new blends they were producing, usually with combinations of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, but sometimes with other grapes as well. We liked them, and all would go great with a a Braai, what the South Africans call a barbeque.
There were many whites that were clean and refreshing, and time and time again we commented that this would be a wonderful libation, chilled and enjoyed in the shade on a hot African evening.
What do you think? Post a comment and let me know. And if you have the chance to visit a wine tasting show, it is well worth attending.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Chilean Cabernet
Saturday night was the latest in a series of wine tastings stretching back to November of 2005. On that night is was Australian Shiraz, but on Saturday it was Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile.
There were 4 couples, and the theme of the night was a blind tasting of Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile with a general price range of less than $20. As each couple arrived I take the bottle and wrap it in newspaper so that the label is not visible. I pour a few ounces in a glass marked with a piece of colored yarn. After we’ve tasted and talked about it I pour a bit of the next wine in a second glass, and so on until we each have four glasses with a small amount of wine in each glass.
One of the remarkable things about this tasting is that all of the wines were pretty uniformly good. This is effectively pot-luck, whatever each person decides to bring, and often based on the selection and/or recommendation of the wine shop. Often in other tastings we’ve had wines that varied pretty widely, and often wines that we didn’t really like that well. Not so this evening. All four wines were excellent, well-rounded, very enjoyable wines.
The wines we had were:
• Aresti Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2006, DO Curico Valley, 14%, $14.99, Imported by Broadbent Selections
• Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Colchagua, 14%, $12.99, Imported by Pasternak, www.pasternakwine.com, Lafite Rothschild
• Medalla Real Santa Rita Single Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Maipo Valley, 14.1%, $16.99, Imported by Palm Bay Imports, www.santarita.com
• De Martino Legado Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Maipo Valley, 14.5%, $12.99, Imported by Global Vineyard Importers, www.demartino.cl
The overall favorite was the Aresti, very closely followed by the Medalla Real Santa Rita. Both these wines were full bodied, well balanced, and had a nice lingering flavor after each sip. We noted leather, tobacco, cherry, and other flavors, but all of us had difficulty separating particular tastes from the whole.
After a preliminary tasting and discussion we broke for dinner, in this case steaks on the grill, roasted vegetables, salad, and two kinds of pie for desert. But before the Pie we once again tasted the wines with the food.
All the wines improved with the food, and also made the food taste better. They were really enjoyable (but it could also be that we were enjoying each other’s company again!)
So, before everyone left for the evening we decided on the next tasting: seafood, Oysters, Mussels, Lobster, and whatever white we wanted to bring. With those oysters, some is sure to bring a Prosecco as a starter.
There were 4 couples, and the theme of the night was a blind tasting of Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile with a general price range of less than $20. As each couple arrived I take the bottle and wrap it in newspaper so that the label is not visible. I pour a few ounces in a glass marked with a piece of colored yarn. After we’ve tasted and talked about it I pour a bit of the next wine in a second glass, and so on until we each have four glasses with a small amount of wine in each glass.
One of the remarkable things about this tasting is that all of the wines were pretty uniformly good. This is effectively pot-luck, whatever each person decides to bring, and often based on the selection and/or recommendation of the wine shop. Often in other tastings we’ve had wines that varied pretty widely, and often wines that we didn’t really like that well. Not so this evening. All four wines were excellent, well-rounded, very enjoyable wines.
The wines we had were:
• Aresti Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2006, DO Curico Valley, 14%, $14.99, Imported by Broadbent Selections
• Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Colchagua, 14%, $12.99, Imported by Pasternak, www.pasternakwine.com, Lafite Rothschild
• Medalla Real Santa Rita Single Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Maipo Valley, 14.1%, $16.99, Imported by Palm Bay Imports, www.santarita.com
• De Martino Legado Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Maipo Valley, 14.5%, $12.99, Imported by Global Vineyard Importers, www.demartino.cl
The overall favorite was the Aresti, very closely followed by the Medalla Real Santa Rita. Both these wines were full bodied, well balanced, and had a nice lingering flavor after each sip. We noted leather, tobacco, cherry, and other flavors, but all of us had difficulty separating particular tastes from the whole.
After a preliminary tasting and discussion we broke for dinner, in this case steaks on the grill, roasted vegetables, salad, and two kinds of pie for desert. But before the Pie we once again tasted the wines with the food.
All the wines improved with the food, and also made the food taste better. They were really enjoyable (but it could also be that we were enjoying each other’s company again!)
So, before everyone left for the evening we decided on the next tasting: seafood, Oysters, Mussels, Lobster, and whatever white we wanted to bring. With those oysters, some is sure to bring a Prosecco as a starter.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Quinto do Crasto
Recently we went for a dinner and discovered a new wine. It was called Crasto, from the Duoro region of Portugal, and it was extremely enjoyable. The wine was from 2006, 14%, and the website on the bottle was www.quintadocrasto.it. In the restaurant it sold for $30, so I'm guessing it would sell in the mid teens in the local wine store.
We ate at Amalfi in Rockland, and the wine list showed a definite prejudice for Mediterranean wines. There were quite a few Spanish Tempranillo wines, Italian chianti, and Pinot Noir from various regions. There were the usual Californian wines, Zins and Cabernet Sauvignon, but most of the (red) wine list was devoted to those mid body wines that pair so well with Mediterranean food. We commented to our server that we could tell a lot by the wine list, and she reported that it definitely reflected the personality and tastes of the owner and chef. She added that she was a California girl and missed that new world wines.
Luckily for us, we like old world wines and often don't care for the California fruit bombs in our price range. We narrowed the list down: a Barbara (one of our favorite table wines from Italy), a Tempranillo, and the Crasto, which we eventually settled on.
This Crasto is made from the four grapes that usually comprise Port: Tinto Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Touriga Franca, and Touriga Nacional. The first grape, Tinto Roriz, is the same grape known as Tempranillo across the border in Spain. It had some tannins, but they were well balanced, so that it didn't come across as sharp or tart. Dory tasted leather, and I tasted black cherry, and the overall effect was very nice. Because of the balance it drank well as an aperitif as well as an accompaniment to the food. Give it a try, tell us what you think.
We ate at Amalfi in Rockland, and the wine list showed a definite prejudice for Mediterranean wines. There were quite a few Spanish Tempranillo wines, Italian chianti, and Pinot Noir from various regions. There were the usual Californian wines, Zins and Cabernet Sauvignon, but most of the (red) wine list was devoted to those mid body wines that pair so well with Mediterranean food. We commented to our server that we could tell a lot by the wine list, and she reported that it definitely reflected the personality and tastes of the owner and chef. She added that she was a California girl and missed that new world wines.
Luckily for us, we like old world wines and often don't care for the California fruit bombs in our price range. We narrowed the list down: a Barbara (one of our favorite table wines from Italy), a Tempranillo, and the Crasto, which we eventually settled on.
This Crasto is made from the four grapes that usually comprise Port: Tinto Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Touriga Franca, and Touriga Nacional. The first grape, Tinto Roriz, is the same grape known as Tempranillo across the border in Spain. It had some tannins, but they were well balanced, so that it didn't come across as sharp or tart. Dory tasted leather, and I tasted black cherry, and the overall effect was very nice. Because of the balance it drank well as an aperitif as well as an accompaniment to the food. Give it a try, tell us what you think.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Yalumba Viognier
This is my new favorite house white - an inexpensive, interesting, flavorful wine from Australia called Yalumba Viogner. We opened a bottle to have a fish dinner and it was fine, not super special but a very pleasant nice wine. Look for it, less than $10.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Marques de Casa Concha
Since our next group tasting is based on Chilean Cabernet, we thought we'd get used to the grape. I opened a bottle of Marques de Casa Concha by Concha y Toro. THis was a 2006, 14%, and I believe in the $10-$12 range.
After the Evoda of the other night we really liked this wine! It had body, a full taste without being syrupy or jammy, and a nice strawberry/blackberry taste. I grilled chicken, and this was a bit much with the meal but was very good.
It did have a drawback - there was a sharp edge to it that we kept hoping would mellow with air and time --- but didn't. I think this edge is what differentiates a $10 bottle from a $20 bottle.
This was a nice find, and I would buy it again. We particularly liked the sophisticated (esp for this price) flavor that wasn't modern Californian fruit forward style. Give it a try, tell us what you think.
After the Evoda of the other night we really liked this wine! It had body, a full taste without being syrupy or jammy, and a nice strawberry/blackberry taste. I grilled chicken, and this was a bit much with the meal but was very good.
It did have a drawback - there was a sharp edge to it that we kept hoping would mellow with air and time --- but didn't. I think this edge is what differentiates a $10 bottle from a $20 bottle.
This was a nice find, and I would buy it again. We particularly liked the sophisticated (esp for this price) flavor that wasn't modern Californian fruit forward style. Give it a try, tell us what you think.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
evodia
On the suggestion of a neighbor, we bought a bottle of evodia and had it with dinner Sunday. Dinner was delicious, a pasta meal with shells, sausage, tomatoes, cream and parmigiana. It has several handwritten notes in the margins of the cookbook, The Classic Pasta Cookbook by Giuliano Hazen.
Evodia is 100% Garnacha, 14.5%, 2007, and comes from Spain. It has a rich bouquet, a full presentation in the mouth, and a lingering aftertaste. It looks rich and dark in the glass.
I liked it, Dory was a bit reserved, commenting that it might be better with a steak (probably true.) We are so tuned into the Italian wines with pasta that any wines without those Italian flavors just doesn't measure up for us. Dory commented that it had that big bold bold "california" style of fruit forward taste. I thought it tasted a bit like a Zinfandel.
Over all, we enjoyed it, but would seek to drink it with grilled steak next time.
Evodia is 100% Garnacha, 14.5%, 2007, and comes from Spain. It has a rich bouquet, a full presentation in the mouth, and a lingering aftertaste. It looks rich and dark in the glass.
I liked it, Dory was a bit reserved, commenting that it might be better with a steak (probably true.) We are so tuned into the Italian wines with pasta that any wines without those Italian flavors just doesn't measure up for us. Dory commented that it had that big bold bold "california" style of fruit forward taste. I thought it tasted a bit like a Zinfandel.
Over all, we enjoyed it, but would seek to drink it with grilled steak next time.
Chilean Cabs up next
A brief note. I'm hoping this wine blog will keep somewhat up to date with the wines we are drinking, the gatherings we have, and the wines we like.
With that out of the way, the next wine tasting will be focused on Chilean Cabernet, costing less than $20, The date is set for Saturday May 3rd. Go to your favorite local wine store, and look for something that strikes your fancy, and try it out.
We'll be enjoying grilled meat of some kind, so of course keep track of what you eat and let us know how well it worked.
With that out of the way, the next wine tasting will be focused on Chilean Cabernet, costing less than $20, The date is set for Saturday May 3rd. Go to your favorite local wine store, and look for something that strikes your fancy, and try it out.
We'll be enjoying grilled meat of some kind, so of course keep track of what you eat and let us know how well it worked.
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