Archive for July, 2009
Varietal: Tempranillo
Region: Spain
Cost: $13
Purple coloring with aromas of ripened fruit. Fresh, light, and fruity on the palate, this will pair well with most food, including fancier food such as elaborate pasta dishes, or with hamburgers and BBQ.
Recommendations: I picked this up on a recommendation from John, my wine guy, and was pleased by the results. A bit of alcohol on the nose doesn’t completely mask the aromas of ripened fruit. A fairly fruit forward tempranillo, this will be a great pairing with just about anything, including whatever you cook on the grill, or while watching TV on a Sunday with the wife (which is what I did).
One neat feature about this bottle is that, much like Coors Light is doing, they’ve placed a ring around the logo on the label that turns blue when the bottle is at the correct temperature for drinking, a nice feature that can take the guess-work out of what the correct temperature to serve a bottle is.
For the price this is definitely a Tempranillo worth trying out, if for no other reason than the novelty of the color-changing ring. With less alcohol on the nose than a lot of other ones, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one as much as I did.
Varietal: Tempranillo
Region: Spain
Cost: $20
Very purple coloring with aromas of red currant, kirsch, and plum that lead into similar flavors on the palate. Great with grilled food, including ribs, burgers, and beef or pork barbeque.
Recommendations: My wife and I disagree on some of the flavors of this wine, but since this is my blog, my opinion is the one that shall prevail. Sorry sweetie. I found the wine to be fairly fruit forward, though not in the same way that many California wines are, just that the fruit flavors were very prominent.
A heavy aroma of alcohol masks most of the aromas, but this does mellow as you let the wine rest in your glass, which gives you ample time to appreciate the deep purple coloring of the wine. Paired with some burgers and fries, this was a great wine to just enjoy a simple meal. I’d really like to try it with some nice juicy ribs, as I think the barbeque sauce would pair great with the fruit flavors of the wine. This is a great cookout wine that doesn’t need fancy food to be appreciated.
Special thanks to the International Wine of the Month Club for supplying the wine.
I’ve tried to think of about three different ways to start this review, but it always boils down to one simple thing: go to Verde! I’m a big fan of Panera because of their fresh breads, sandwiches, soups, and atmosphere. My only complaint about Panera has been that they don’t serve wine. Verde does.
My wife and I had been meaning to dine their for quite a while, and finally we did last week. We were greeted soon after entering and walked up to the counter to order our food and a bottle of wine. The man waiting on us offered to put our bottle of Sauvignon Blanc in a bucket of ice to keep it cold (which we accepted) and invited us to choose a place to sit as he would bring our food out to us.
The atmosphere in Verde is what I love – there are a couple of high tops with chairs, a couple of tables with booths and chairs, and then a pair of very comfortable arms chairs and a couch with tables that are perfect for enjoying your meal, some wine, and the company you’re with. We chose the two arm chairs.
Our food was soon delivered and it was delicious. I chose their Italian Panini and my wife chose the Chicken Pesto one. Each was freshly pressed and warm when brought out to us. The only ones in the restaurant at for dinner (I assume they get more business at lunch than dinner), we were able to enjoy our meal and each other’s company in peace.
The menu at Verde isn’t huge, but it does have a wide range of foods that should appeal to most tastes. Their wine selection is very impressive and they have wine available by the bottle or the glass, or to be taken with you, as well as small selection of beer.
The only complaint that I can levy against Verde is that all of their food is served in to-go style packaging as opposed to plates when you’re dining in. I don’t know if this will change, but I suspsect it’s because they offer delivery service and most of their diners are workers on their lunch just running in to grab something to take back to the office.
If you’re in the West End of Richmond and looking for something like Panera but not Panera, I really do recommend Verde. I’ve only been once, but I’m already planning my next trip there. Check out their selection online at: http://www.verdefreshfood.com .
Varietal: Sangiovese
Region: Italy
Cost: $19.50
Flavors of ripe cherry and plum with aromas of spice and sandalwood. Ruby red coloring that catches the eye before enticing the palate. Will pair well with pasta, grilled food, or just about anything.
Recommendations: When I got this bottle I really had to resist the urge to just open it up and start enjoying it. While patience (and the knowledge that my wife would kill me if I drank this without her) won out, I have to say that this wine was spectacular. Nice, earthy aromas pair well with the cherry and plum flavors and a good tannic finish. Paired with a meal of pasta and red sauce with some ground sausage, this was a perfect compliment to the sauciness of the meal.
The flavors of this wine are subtle, but that’s a good thing as it makes it enjoyable to drink even after the meal is finished without making you want more food just to pair with it. Light, easy to drink, and enjoyable with just about any meal, this is a great find for anybody looking to try Sangiovese.
Special thanks to the International Wine of the Month Club.
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: South Africa
Cost: $9
Light and crisp, with flavors of tropical fruit and citrus. Light on the nose with a more golden color than is typical for Sauvignon Blanc. Pairs well with chicken, pork, or seafood.
Recommendation: I bought this mostly out of a desire to try something new, and because I wanted something to pair with the pork chops I knew I was having for dinner that night. While the Spier Sauvignon Blanc isn’t my favorite, it has certainly opened me up to the world of South African Sauvignon Blancs in a very positive light.
Not nearly as citrusy as the Sauvignon Blancs from South America or even New Zealand, this white wine paired well with my grilled pork chops. I’m not sure if this would work as well for a lighter meal of appetizers or with something overly spicy, but as an alternative to Pinot Grigio or for those that don’t enjoy the citrus of many Sauvignon Blancs, this is a good pick. For the price it’s hard to pass up, especially if you’re interested in trying wine from South Africa.
Varietal: Chardonnay
Region: California – USA
Cost: $14
A steel Chardonnay that has never touched oak, this white is crisp with flavors of apple, white peach, and pear. Pairs well with chicken, seafood, and seasoned pork.
Recommendations: My wife and I picked up this bottle on the recommendation of my local wine store expert (John Witherspoon at the Wine Cellar in Richmond, Virginia is great if you’re in the area). My wife is not a fan of oaked Chardonnay, and he recommended this as a great steel Chardonnay for a great price. Trusting his judgement, we took it home and paired it with a meal of pork tenderloin.
Wines like this are why you should always trust your wine store guy. This crisp, slightly acidic white was a perfect compliment to a pork tenderloin with a lot of seasoning and flavor. The lightness of the wine did an excellent job of cutting the seasoning on the meat so that it wasn’t overwhelming.
I’ll be the first to admit that I had never heard of Four Vines before, but now that I’ve tried their Chardonnay I’m very interested to see what else they have. If you don’t like Chardonnay that’s been in oak, I highly recommend giving the Four Vines “Naked” Chardonnay a try.
