Archive for March, 2009
Varietal: Petit Verdot
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $19.95
Dark red fruit flavors lead into a tempering of black currant, spices, bacon, and a hint of smoky tobacco. Tannins lend to a very dry finish to this otherwise velvety wine. Can be enjoyed now or anytime over the next five years and will pair well with even heaviest game dishes and the fattiest sauces.
Recommendation: The 2007 Jefferson Petit Verdot was only recently bottled, so there’s no reason not to sit on this bottle for a couple of years and let it age. That being said, it’s still amazing to drink right now. Enjoyable by itself or with a heavy dish, this red wine from Virginia will hold up great. The pairings of fruit and smokiness made me feel like I was drinking wine made from either silk or velvet, as it was smooth and rich. If you’re planning on serving a rich dish with fatty sauces, this is the perfect wine to pair with it. Pick this up whether you plan to enjoy it now or in a few years. Either way, you won’t be disappointed with this full-bodied wine.
Varietal: Carmenere/Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Chile
Cost: $21
Numerous aromas accompany this wine, with berry spice and earthy notes leading the way, but moving into blackberry and coffee after the wine has been allowed to breath for a while. Flavors of blackberry and a smoke compliment the fruits, only to be finished with a tannins that border on a peppery finish. Will pair well with everything from veal to duck and on to hearty red sauces.
Recommendations: I really liked this wine. I mean I REALLY liked this wine. South America has been producing some amazing wines, and this one is no exception. It flirts on the line between medium-bodied and full-bodied, but never crosses over into either. The tannins on the finish gave it an almost peppery finish that almost reminded me of Cabernet Franc, but also a good Bordeaux. The longer I let the bottle sit, the better the wine got, and I would recommend that anybody that tries this at least let the bottle sit for 10 to 15 minutes, though decanting would probably be the best. This wine will compliment any upscale dinner party you’re hosting, but the price won’t make you cringe every time you pour some out. A great blending of Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere have created an excellent wine. This is a must buy.
Special thanks to the International Wine of the Month Club for supplying the wine.
Varietal: Garnacha (also known as Grenache)
Region: Spain
Cost: $20
Very dark red coloring leads into a surprisingly medium-bodied wine. Very subtle aromas of berry are followed by equally subtle flavors of cherry and spice. The subtle flavors allow this to pair well with most foods, as the aromas and flavors of the wine will compliment rather than over-power whatever it is paired with.
Recommendations: I was very surprised by this wine when I took the first sip of it. The dark red coloring of it lead me to believe that it was going to be of a much bolder flavor than it turned out to be. That’s not to say that I was disappointed in the flavors, only that it wasn’t what I expected when I saw the wine in my glass. The subtle flavors of this wine are what I love about a lot of medium-bodied wines: they work with whatever you’re eating, not against it. While I enjoyed this wine by itself, it’s easy to imagine pairing it with everything from something rich like steak or lamb to something as simple as pizza. Spanish wines are slowly but surely claiming more of my wine cellar every time I visit my local wine store, and its wines like this 2007 Bodegas that are the reason – wines that go with anything. If you see this in your store, grab it. You won’t be sorry.
Special thanks to the International Wine of the Month Club for supplying the wine.
Varietal: Cabernet Franc (75% Cabernet Franc, 24% Cabernet Sav., 1% Petit Verdot)
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $24
Minerals, spice, jam, and toasty characters are the staples of this medium bodied wine with smooth textures. A versatile wine, will pair well with a range of food from green salads to grilled lamb.
Recommendation: This is a great medium bodied red that’s as good by itself as with food, something I find quite enjoyable in a bottle of red wine. The peppery finish that is the stable of most cabernet francs is there, but is very subtle, and the petit verdot that is blended in does an excellent job of making this a very smooth, almost silky wine to drink. One you’ll enjoy if you bring it home.
Varietal: White Table Wine
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $10.95 – $12
Floral bouquets lead into a very light, and refreshing wine that pairs well with chicken, seafood, spicy faire, or as an apertif.
Recommendations: My wife and I enjoyed this wine with a spicey shrimp dish, and the lightness and slight sweet finish did a great job of cutting the heat of the shrimp. If you’re looking for a robust white wine, this isn’t going to be the one for you, but if you’re looking for something that is light, works well with spicey food, chicken, and seafood, AND as a deck wine on a hot day, then you really should pick up more than one bottle of this Virginia White.
Varietal: Red Table Wine (45% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, 18% Tannat, 8% Touriga, 7% Chambourcin)
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $13
Very simple, straight forward table wine. Lake Anna labels it as: ”No red cherries. No spicy berries. No toasty nuances. No suggestive notes.” Good for enjoying by itself or with a meal. Great value for the price.
Recommendation: I’m a big believer in the table wine, a wine that isn’t overly complex, but nice and simple that goes well with a simple meal and doesn’t cost much, and Lake Anna has been kind enough to supply us with one. The Totally Red table wine from Lake Anna is perfect for anybody looking for a bottle of wine that will go great with steak, pasta, chicken, pork, appetizers, chili….I think you get the point. As red table wines go, this definitely ranks as one of my top ranked ones, and is one that I am sure to continue to keep in my wine cellar, and that I recommend you do as well. Enjoy.
