Archive for June, 2009
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: California – USA
Cost: $3
Light, crisp, and with an ever so slight citrus flavor, this light white wine will pair with appetizers, seafood, pork, or chicken.
Recommendations: This may sound weird, but while I know this was a Sauvignon Blanc, it tasted more like a Pinot Grigio to me. Granted a half-way decent Pinot Grigio (especially for the price), but it lacked the citrus and acidity that I usually associate with Sauvignon Blanc.
Much like the Charles Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon, it’s hard to argue against this wine for the price if you’re already in Trader Joe’s, but it’s also not hard to do better than this Sauvignon Blanc for the price (Ponga and Terra Andina are both under $10 and taste better)
If you’re already in Trader Joe’s it’s worth it to pick up a bottle of this to pair with an afternoon snack (my wife and I drank this wine with cheese, crackers, hummus, bread, and sausage), but keep in mind that you can do better for not much more money.
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California – USA
Cost: $3
The house wine brand of Trader Joe’s grocery store, this wine is very fruit forward in the style of most California Cabernet Sauvignon with a smooth finish with very light tannins.
Recommendations: As a general rule I’ve become less a fan of California Cabernet Sauvignon as I don’t like the fruit forward flavors they tend to exhibit. This Cabernet from Charles Shaw is no exception.
If you like your Cabernet fruit forward and are looking for something that you can buy a case of for under $50, this may be up your alley, but don’t delude yourself into thinking this is any kind of top quality Cabernet. That being said, as a wine to cook with or if you’re stocking up for a party you’re throwing and quality isn’t the biggest concern, the Charles Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon will fill that void.
All in all, there are better Cabernets out there, but for the price it’s hard to argue against at least picking up a bottle of it while you’re in the store. Don’t go out of your way, but go ahead and grab it for a table wine on a lazy Sunday.
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: New Zealand
Cost: $9.99
Light and juicy with just enough grapefruit flavor to let you know it’s a Sauvignon Blanc wthout overwhelming you with citrus flavors. Great for seafood, sushi, appetizers, or on the patio.
Recommendations: While Terra Andina Sauvignon Blanc has take its place in my heart as my go-to summer deck wine, Ponga is certainly giving it a run for the its money. Light and crisp with just enough citrus to be refreshing without beating you over the head with it, this white from New Zealand was the perfect compliment to a lunch of cheese, crackers, hummus, and home made bruschetta that my wife and I enjoyed this past weekend. That being said, I would definitly recommend pairing the Ponga with a piece of spicy tilapia or even some sushi.
If you’re in the market for a deck wine and don’t want to spend a lot of money on it, the Ponga Sauvignon Blanc is a great value with a great taste. Half the fun of drinking it is just saying the name, but you’ll get a lot of enjoyment drinking this on the deck as the temperature continues to climb. Grab this one.
Varietal: Cabernet Franc (2007)
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $22.99
Light coloring with a fruit flavors and a finish of dark cherry, spice, violet, and black currant on a medium to full-bodied wine. Will pair well with red meat, pasta, or by itself.
Recommendations: Potomac Point is another of my favorite winerys here in Virginia, and while they’re relatively new, they’re already producing some great wine. Their Cabernet Franc is everything that you would want in Virginia’s signature grape, with nice spice and pepper on the finish and not too much fruit in the beginning.
I paired this red wine with a steak, and the pairing of Cabernet Franc and red meat continues to be one of my favorites. While the only way to currently get this wine is to visit the vineyard or find it in a Virginia ABC store, it’s well worth it if you’re in the area to stop in and pay them a visit. Their tasting room and patio are a great way to spend a day trying this and other great wine. Give this one a shot.
Varietal: Rioja (white)
Region: Spain
Cost: $8
A dry white wine with a crisp finish and slight acidity. Aromas of almond and wildflower on the nose go well with the flavors and allow this wine to pair well with chicken, pork, seafood or on the deck.
Recommendations: As fans of the more traditional red rioja, my wife and I were intrigued when we saw this at our local grocer. For the price alone we figured it was worth it, and I can say that his light to medium bodied white is certainly worth every inexpensive penny.
Paired with some fish, this Spanish white did a great job of adding acid to the meal without being overpowering. The light, crisp flavors were refreshing and were great during and after the meal. As I’m always on the look-out for a table wine, this one has certainly made it onto the list. If you’re a fan of rioja, give this one a try. If you’ve never tried rioja before and are looking for an alternative to chardonnay and pinot grigio for seafood, definitely give this wine a try.
Varietal: Blended Red Wine (Touriga and Cabernet Franc)
Region: US – Virginia
Cost: $24
A popular blend of a Portugese and Virginia grape, this red wine offers light garnet coloring, rich aromas of plum with balanced acidity and just enough soft tannins to make it an excellent pairing for pasta or red meat such as veal.
Recommendations: If you’ve been reading this blog at all, you know that I’m a big fan of Grayhaven Winery. The Sojourn is no exception to that. Light in color but with great flavors, this medium-bodied red pairs well with various foods, but is just as enjoyable by itself. The light tannins on the finish make it a good pairing for pasta, but as they’re not overwhelming you can pair this with somewhat lighter fare and it will still compliment whatever you’re eating.
If you’re a fan of either Touriga or Cabernet Franc, or just looking to try something new, the Sojourn from Grayhaven is definitely worth trying. Go visit them too, everybody there is incredibly nice and they have a great winery to spend an afternoon at.
