Posts Tagged ‘Dry Wines’
Varietal: Malbec
Region: Mendoza – Argentina
Cost: $9
Winemaker’s Notes: Full-bodied and smooth with intense black fruit flavors and aromas. A good pairing with grilled foods including steaks.
My Review: I have this habit of picking up steaks and red wine whenever my wife is gone for the evening and I’m feeding myself. This past Thursday was just one of those nights and given the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been having here in Virginia I decided to take advantage of being able to use my grill and grabbed a steak at my local Fresh Market. While there I browsed the wine aisle to see if anything caught my eye and was recommended with a steak and decided on this bottle of 2010 Dos Lomos Malbec, in no small part because of the unique bottle shape.
Varietal: 100% Malbec
Region: Argentina – Mendoza
Cost: $11
Winemaker’s Notes: This unoaked, delicious, cozy, well-balanced Malbec is ruby in color and texture. Notes of cherry, candied apple and caramelized onion mingled with great tannins to make this a perfect wine for hearty stews, smoky mushrooms, spicy sauces, sausages, tomato based pastas and steaks.
My Review: You may (or may not) remember that a few months ago I reviewed the 2010 Alex Elman Torrontes and that I enjoyed it overall, but that it wasn’t what I was expecting based on my experiences with Torrontes. Had I kept that in mind I probably would have been less surprised by the 2009 Alex Elman Malbec.
Varietal: 100% Pinot Gris
Region: Oregon – USA
Cost: $15
My Review: I don’t drink too much Pinot Gris, so when the Good Works Wine Club included a bottle in a recent sample pack they sent to me I was certainly interested to try it. If you don’t remember my previous mention of the Good Works Wine Club you can check out the details of their organization here, but the long and short of it is that they make charitable donations when you buy wine from them.
With Cinco de Mayo upon us, my wife and I decided to forgo the typical “Mexican” food that is prepared on this “holiday” and went with some tequila/lime chicken and homemade fried rice with bell peppers. Wanting something crisp and acidic to go with that, and not feeling like blending up some margaritas, I decided to open up the bottle of 2009 Winfield Estate Pinot Gris, wanting to see just how “bone dry” it really was. It was plenty dry.
Varietal: 100% Carmenere
Region: Chile – Maule Valley
Cost: $10
Winemaker’s Notes: Deep in color with aromas of cherry, plum, vanilla, and green pepper that lead through to the mouth. Pairs well with fresh cheeses, meats, and pasta dishes.
My Review: In case you haven’t guessed by now, I’m a fan of Chilean wine. I think the vineyards and winemakers down there are doing great work coming up with great wines at an amazing cost to the consumer. While during the warmer months I usually turn to a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc for something to sip on, thanks to a wine tasting last year, I’m finding myself more and more drawn to Carmenere when I’m looking for a red. The flavors of green pepper and fruit are a great combination that’s unique from most any other grape I’ve tried and one I find I like quite a bit. Read the rest of this entry »
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.
