Archive for the ‘Rioja’ Category
Varietal: Tempranillo
Region: Rioja – Spain
Cost: $13
Winemaker’s Notes: Garnet red color with intense fruit aromas that pairs well with any meat dish.
My Review: I enjoyed the 2003 Montecillo Rioja Reserva so much that I didn’t want to wait too long before opening up this bottle. I’m glad I didn’t.
Since it was an absolutely gorgeous Monday here in Richmond, Virginia, my wife and I decided to grill out on the deck and enjoy the weather and some wine. I stopped by a local shop on my way home and picked up a New York Strip Steak and a Lobster tail – that’s right, we went surf n’ turf for dinner. The steak and lobster grilled, some risotto with parmesan cheese whipped up to go with it, and the bottle of wine opened and we were ready for dinner.
Varietal: Tempranillo
Region: Rioja – Spain
Cost: $18
Winemaker’s Notes: A deep red in color with bright flavors of ripe berries and oak that will pair with duck, any red meats, and roasted vegetables.
My Review: A few weeks ago a pair of bottles showed up to my office. Whereas most samples I get have at least some tasting notes, if not a letter from the winemaker/vineyard owner/head of marketing letting me know something about the wine that might not be in the tasting notes, the two bottles of Montecillo (one the 2003 Reserva, another to be reviewed later), had nothing. In fact I took a moment to look over the shipping label to make sure that they were in fact intended for me.
Knowing what I know now, I would have at least kept the 2003 Reserva anyways.
Varietal: Tempranillo
Region: Spain – Rioja
Cost: $10
Vanilla and cherry on the nose with crushed fruit on the palate. Pairs well with roasted chicken and grilled meats.
Recommendations: I’m a big fan of Spanish wine, Tempranillo in particular, so I was looking forward to this wine when it showed up at my office. My wife and I took the bottle with us when we headed up to visit our parents in Northern Virginia for the Father’s Day weekend, knowing that we would all be having dinner together – and I was tired of my father picking on me for not sharing some of the samples I get.
On Saturday we opened the bottle during a dinner of grilled chicken and beef tenderloin with roasted potatoes. The wine was lighter than I was expecting, and it was a good pairing for the beef tenderloin, but it did somewhat overwhelm the chicken for me, but that might be because the chicken wasn’t very heavily seasoned. Read the rest of this entry »
Varietal: Rioja (90% Tempranillo; 10% Graciano)
Region: Spain
Cost: $11
Ruby red color with notes of violet. Flavors of black fruit, vanilla, and coconut. Pairs well with cheese and red meat.
Recommendations: This wine is a perfect example of wine you listen to your wine guy. While attending the Friday tasting held by The Wine Cellar, the manager recommended the Burgo Viejo, knowing that my wife and I are fans of Spanish wine. Let your wine store know your palate and they will find great wines for you.
It didn’t take us long to get the bottle open once we got home, deciding to pair it with the pork tenderloins we had been marinading for two days in bourbon (ask me for that marinade some time – it’s awesome). Great jammy flavors of black fruit were readily evident on the palate, with a nice smooth finish that belied the 13.5% alcohol. Read the rest of this entry »
Varietal: Rioja
Region: Spain
Cost: $21
Dark color with aromas of crushed red berries, anise, and sandalwood. Fruit, nut, and spice flavors in the mouth will pair well with meats, Mediterranean food, savory pasta dishes, and world class cheeses.
Recommendations: I have a confession to make, a mea culpa if you will. I was a bad wine writer and drank a bottle of this several months before and dropped the ball by not writing about it. That’s why I was so thrilled when the International Wine of the Month Club sent me a bottle to try out. Redemption, thy name is wine.
I’ve always been a fan of dark wines, and the Vina Zaco Rioja is certainly that. Crushed fruit on the nose lead into great flavors of dark fruit and spice that paired well with a dinner of slow cooked beef roast with potatoes, carrots, and onions in au jus.
As far as versatile wines go, this is certainly one to keep in mind. It pairs well with a lot of different foods or is great just on its own. It’s at a good price point (and I’ve often seen it on sale at stores), and even received a 90 point rating from Wine Spectator for those that put stock in those things. The only problem you’ll have with this wine is deciding whether to enjoy it with food or by itself. If only all decisions in life were so hard.
By: Sara Kahn, Founder of The Cheese Ambassador.
Whether you are hosting a soiree or a casual get-together this holiday, your mission is to provide your guests with warm hospitality, lively conversation and a delectable spread of food and drink. Whether the menu is complicated or simple it better be delicious. Serving a sumptuous gourmet cheese course is perfect as a starter or centerpiece of the meal. Not only is the preparation simple (no cooking!) but more importantly, your guests will enjoy discovering and savoring new favorites. As a wine lover, you want to impress with the right pairings but the overwhelming selections of wine and cheese can make your head spin. Relax. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to choosing the right combinations of cheese and wine. Just keep in mind a few simple considerations.
A cheese course is about observing and enjoying contrasting and complementary flavors. For a foolproof gourmet cheese course, select 3 – 5 cheeses that vary in texture and flavor. Add some crusty bread, fresh or dried fruit, olives and nuts and voila!
Remember, wines are meant to cleanse the palate, wash away the tongue-coating richness of the cheese and prepare your mouth for the next delicious bite. It’s important that your selections don’t overwhelm the cheese and vice versa. Essentially, you’ll want to match wine and cheese of the same intensity level. Just remember “like for like”.
Take a look at the gourmet cheese categories and wine recommendations below for guidance. You’ll see how easy it is to serve an elegant wine and cheese course. For best results, just add friends and family.
Read the rest of this entry »
