Archive for May, 2009
2007 Moulin de Gassac Rouge
Varietal: Rouge (30% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 25% Carignan, 15% Cinsault)
Region: France
Cost: $19.50
Red and black fruits and smooth French oak on the palate. A combination of tannins and alcohol on the finish for a medium-bodied red wine that will pair with rich pasta dishes, pork, lamb, roasted chicken, and spicy vegetarian dishes.
Recommendation: I’ll be the first to admit that my expertise in wine does not lie in French wine. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy it when I manage to get my hands on it, but I probably have the least experience with the region. Because of this I was both excited and slightly intimidated when I received this wine.
My wife and I drank this medium-bodied red with a meal of fried salmon cakes and while I was somewhat worried that the wine would overpower the meal at first, the richness of the cakes actually did a good job of pairing with the wine. The flavors of the wine were good, but I do have a complaint – the finish. Maybe it’s the food I paired it with, but I got a very distinct alcohol flavor on the finish that while not overwhelming, wasn’t something I was expecting. Perhaps it’s the Carignan or Cinsault, two grapes that I’m unfamiliar with, and maybe pairing the wine with something richer like a piece of lamb or some pasta would have complimented the finish, but I did find it distracting. I would recommend that you try this wine with a richer dish than I did.
Special thanks to the International Wine of the Month Club.
Target Wine Cubes
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz (50% Cabernet Sauvignon/50% Shiraz)
Region: California – USA/Australia
Cost: $15.99
Fruit forward Cabernet Sauvignon has a hint of pepper from the Shiraz on the finish. Dark berry flavors present a very mild red wine with low tannins. Will pair well with sauce heavy pastas or as a contrast to heavily seasoned red meats.
Recommendation: For now I’m going to ignore the pros and cons of boxed wine (that will be another post at date soon to come) and look more at the wine. The Target Wine Cube Cab/Shiraz blend is very fruit forward, enough so that if I didn’t know it was a 50/50 split on the blend I would think it was more Cabernet than Shiraz. This wine came camping with my wife and some friends, and for enjoying in the great outdoors with some food cooked over an open flame, it was more than adequate.
I’m not going to delude myself into thinking that Target is now the purveyor of some amazing wine, but for anybody looking for a basic table wine, you really can’t argue against what they’re offering, especially when you consider it’s 4 bottles of wine for under $20. I wouldn’t serve this at a dinner party, but it’s certainly worth keeping on hand for anybody that just drinks wine by the glass.
Varietal: Touriga
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $20
A Portugese grape being grown in Virginia, the Grayhaven Touriga is made from 100% Touriga grapes, which are often used to make Port wines. Hints of vanilla and pepper on the finish follow a flavors of cherry and grapefruit for this medium to full bodied red wine. Pairs well with steak and other rich dishes.
Recommendation: I love Grayhaven Winery for their tasting room and surrounding area alone, but their wide ranging selection of wines, which includes being one of the few wineries in the state to offer a Touriga wine. My wife and I paired this wine with a dinner of grilled bbq chicken and roasted red potatos. I was worried that this somewhat more bold red might overpower the chicken at first, but after a generous basting of bbq sauce while it was grilling, the pepper and vanilla on the finish of the wine were a great compliment to the smokiness of the meal.
Being one of the few wineries in Virginia, if not the only, to offer a 100% Touriga, I almost want to recommend this wine on that fact alone, but the great flavors and ability to pair with more than just red meat means that this is a great wine to pick up when you’re in the area. I also recommend visiting the winery if you’re ever close as everybody there is incredibly friendly and welcoming.
There are a lot of different tools and accessories available to increase your wine enjoying experience, and while it’s impossible to have all of them, here are ten wine accessories that I think everybody should have.
A Good Solid Corkscrew
Corkscrews can come in a variety of styles, designs, and sizes. Whether you’re a fan of the small hand corkscrew like those used by waiters and bartenders at restaurants or want something larger that sits on your counter, a reliable corkscrew is the first tool that every wine lover should have. I quality corkscrew can make opening bottles of wine easier, and help prevent you from shredding the cork into the wine.
If you want a counter-top corkscrew, make sure it has some weight to it – that means pass on those little plastic ones with the suction cup bases. Something with a solid wood or metal base and a good metal arm is a must. If you prefer a smaller corkscrew, I like one where the actual corkscrew part is long and narrow, and with two leverage points for removing the cork, requiring less energy. If you’re really unsure, find a waiter or bartender you trust and ask them what kind of corkscrew they have.
Paso A Paso La Mancha Tempranillo
Varietal: Tempranillo
Region: Spain
Cost: $19.49
A dark red wine with aromas of bright berry and vanilla which are mimiced in the flavors of this wine. The first sip will present berry and spice that will mellow as the wine is allowed to open up in either a decanter or in the glass. Pairs well with red meat, pasta with red sauce, and traditional antipasta.
Recommendation: If you’ve been reading this blog long enough, you know that Spanish wine has this habit of finding its way into my wine selection, particularly Tempranillo. There’s a good reason for that – it’s a great varietal. This offering is no exception. The first thing you’ll notice with this wine is the deep color with doesn’t let any light through. You would think this would lend itself to a more robust wine, but in fact the Paso A Paso is very much a medium-bodied wine.
My wife and I paired this wine with a simple meal of wheat pasta and red sauce, which we mixed a bit of the wine in with. The pairing of the bright berry and spice flavors with the rich pasta was a great mix, and was enjoyable even after we had finished our meal.
I can’t say for certain if this is my favorite Tempranillo, but I was definitely enamored of the deep color and bright flavors of this wine. For the price point it’s a definitely worth picking up.
Special thanks to the International Wine of the Month Club.
Can’t find the Paso A Paso La Mancha Tempranillo near you? Find it here.
Nine Vines Shiraz Viognier
Varietal: Shiraz/Viognier (94% Shiraz 6% Viognier)
Region: South Australia – Australia
Cost: $20.49
Big aromas of berry, especially blackberry, fruit, vanilla, and spice that only increase as the wine has time to aerate. Smooth on the palate, berry and vanilla flavors lead into a long finish, compliments of the slightly higher alcohol content of this wine (14% by volume).
Recommendations: I’m a fan of Shiraz and Viognier, so I was very interested in a blending of the two. I was not disappointed. The Viognier adds great spice to the wine, while mellowing it out on the palate. My wife and I paired this with grilled pork chops and risotto with basil and sun-dried tomatos in it, but this would go great with beef, lamb, or even ribs.
One of my biggest keys to a wine is whether or not it can be enjoyed without being paired with food, and this medium-bodied wine certainly passes that test. While it was great with the meal, I continued to enjoy the wine well after the meal had been completed and my wife and I had settled in to watch some TV.
Even if you’re not a fan of Shiraz, I would recommend the Nine Vines Shiraz/Viognier blend. It will go great with a good range of meals, but is just as enjoyable by itself.
Special thanks to the International Wine of the Month Club.
Can’t find the Nine Vines Shiraz/Viognier at your local store? Find it here.
