Since wine is to be enjoyed with food and food is enhanced by wine, then it would be easy to conclude that there is pleasure in pairing the two together every day. One would also presume that they should vary every day. It might be okay for a 5 year old to have chicken nuggets and milk every night for dinner, but it would seem a bit odd if an adult were to have hamburgers and Merlot or pasta and Chardonnay every single night for dinner. It would get dreadfully boring and become a tedious routine versus something exciting to look forward to at the end of a busy day.
There is a world of wines available to us; more than ever before. It is so easy to find good wine at a reasonable price and it is so much fun to pop the cork, smell, and taste a new bottle of wine. The excitement is like buying and wearing a new pair of shoes or purchasing and driving a new sports car, or getting a new tennis racquet or golf clubs. Just imagine if all of those things you could acquire and have new every day. Well you can with wine! You can experience a variety of aromas, flavors and textures. You may have your favorites, but it is fun to branch out, expand your horizons and experience something different.
If you have never had a white wine from Spain, you are missing out on some fabulous wines and grapes. You may have heard of red wine from the Rioja region in Spain, but have you had a red wine from Toro, Campo de Borja, or Montsant? There are marvelous, full-bodied, well-drinking and reasonably priced wines available from these regions of Spain. I challenge you to adorn your dinner table with one of the wines from Spain listed below or at least search for a wine from these regions. You will not be disappointed. All I can say is delicious!
Sitios de Bodega Conclass, Rueda 2007 - $12
This wine is a pale gold color with a perfumed aroma of citrus and orchard fruit alongside minerals and herbs. There is lemon, lime, and pink grapefruit with minerals traces on the palate and on the finish. The vines are 70-100 years old and the grapes that make up this wine are 70% Verdejo, 20% Viura, 10% Sauvignon Blanc. It is a refreshing summer wine that goes well with salads, fish, seafood and lighter spring meals—a great summer sipper by the pool or beach.
Valdesil Montenovo Godello, Valdeorras 2007 - $12
The color is pale straw with fresh citrus on the nose. As you taste there is peach, melon, citrus and minerals with wonderful body and acidity. This has lots of character and it is made from the aromatic Godello (go DAY yo) grape native to the Valdeorras region within Galcia. This is reminiscent of Chablis in Burgundy. Savor this wine with a bowl of garlic shrimp.
Bodegas Alto Moncayo Veraton Campo de Borja - $25
This winery makes some very high end wines and this is their entry wine which is phenomenal. It is 100% Garnacha from vines 35-92 years old located in Campo de Borja just down the river from Rioja. The aroma dances with blackberry, black cherry, blueberry combined with a bouquet of earth, toast, and cinnamon. On the palate you enjoy dense layers of dark berry flavors, toasty oak and licorice with a floral note on the finish. A full-bodied, well-balanced wine at a steal. Enjoy this with beef and cinnamon inflected empanadas.
Bodegas Maurodos San Roman Toro 2004 - $45-$50
Toro is located west of Ribera del Duero on the Duero river. The grape is Tinto di Toro (Tempranillo).The color is a dark purple and on the nose waifs a perfume of toasty oak, mineral, spice box, flowers, and blackberry. In the mouth you experience beautiful black fruits such as plum and blackberry along with sweet cola and spice flavors. This is a rich and balanced wine that can be enjoyed now or in a few years. Pinchitos Morunos (pork kebobs) is a wonderful pairing with this wine.
Montsant, Laurona 2004 - $30
The region of Montsant surrounds like a horseshoe the famous Priorato region in Catalonia. This wine is a blend of 50% Grenache, 25% Merlot, 15% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is purple in color with an explosive nose of black currant, plum, spice, and oak. There is a concentration of black fruits and red fruits with minerals, herbs and spice on the palate; lots of depth. This wine begs for a spice rubbed steak on the grill.
What are you waiting for? Run down to your local wine shop and find one of these wines or something else you have never tried. There is a whole world of wine out there just waiting to tantalize and excite your senses. Don't bore yourself with the same wine tonight.
If you are keeping within a budget and are seeking new wines $15-20, stay tuned. Come back soon and be surprised.
Note: If you live in Fairfield County, CT you can find or order these wines from these local wine stores: Peter’s Spirit Shop, Weston, CT; Anacona’s, Ridgefield, CT
Map of the wine regions of Spain
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Every Day is a Wine Day
When is a day not a wine day? Wine should be a part of everyone’s evening meal. Why not have seven “wine daze” in a row? You probably drink coffee or tea every morning with your toast or muffin as it complements that food and it wakes you up for another day in the rat race. Why not enjoy wine with your dinner every night? The food and the wine harmonize together well and help you relax after a long day and it is healthy. Scientist Dr. Serge Renaud has proven, “2-3 glasses of wine a day reduces death rates from all ailments by up to 30%”.* This includes not only heart disease, but also most cancers. So include wine in moderation seven wine daze a week. Mmmmm, can't you taste it now, a roasted leg of lamb or beef tenderloin and potatoes with a bottle of 2005 Bordeaux—a great wine from a great vintage.
That is exactly what some of my friends and I did this past weekend. We opened five bottles of 2005 red Bordeaux $17-35 and were enchanted with every sip. There was not a bad wine in the group. We had two wines from the Right Bank for the Merlot fans and three wines from the Left Bank for the Cabernet enthusiasts.
Here are the wines we tasted, some tasting notes and the approximate retail cost.
Right Bank – Merlot Based Wines Tasted:
Chateau Peyroutas, St. Emilion Grand Cru 2005 - $30
With 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc this wine is soft and supple with ripe plum/blueberry fruit and some subtle spice notes. This is drinking superbly now, but could age a few years.
Christian Moueix, St. Emilion 2005 - $25
This is a very firm wine that is 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. It has blackberry, vanilla, and slight licorice aromas. It is a bit more serious now, but will mellow more with age.
Left Bank – Cabernet Based Wines Tasted:
Lacoste Borie, Pauillac 2005 - $35
This is the second label of fifth Growth Grand-Puy-Lacoste and the expertise of the winemaking shows through significantly. It is classic Pauillac with soft black fruits, oak/dryness and a touch of cigar-box that suggests sweetness. It is a blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
ChateauTour Saint Bonnet Cru Bourgeois Medoc 2005 - $15
Robert Parker considers this to be one of the big time sleepers of the vintage. It does seem a little asleep to me. It has an inky ruby/purple color with cassis and sweet fruit on the nose and palate, but it is a bit tight and tannic on the finish. However, it is an excellent quality/value wine that will not disappoint. Buy this for your mid-daze wine.
Chateau Paveil de Luze, Margaux 2005 - $28
This is classic Margaux blend of 65% Cabernet, 35% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. It has an elegant sweet nose of black and red fruit with subtle herbs. The tannins and acidity underlay the ripe, juicy fruit and the finish is velvety smooth and long. This wine is drinkable now, but also can age another 10 years. This is an excellent value wine!
Even though I enjoy the higher end ($50-60) California Cabernet's and Merlot's, I would encourage everyone to pass those bottles on the shelf and head to the Bordeaux section. You can get the same full-bodied wine with good fruit and balanced tannins in a 2005 Bordeaux for half the cost. Many of the wines in the 2005 vintage are drinkable now and affordable for even a mid-week meal. Run to your local retailer and grab as many bottles left from the 2005 vintage as you can since the 2006 bottles are beginning to hit the shelf. The 2006 vintage falls in the shadow of a great year, but in a global economic meltdown, these too may be affordable and ready-to-drink wines (albeit a bit more hit and miss). Stay tuned!
Note: If you live in Fairfield County, CT you can find or order 2005 Bordeaux from these local wine stores: Peter’s Spirit Shop, Weston, CT; Harry’s Wine & Liquor, Fairfield, CT; Elmer’s Wines, Norwalk, CT.
*Biological Research 2004;37(2):183-7 http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?pid=S0716-97602004000200002&script=sci_arttext&tlng=en
That is exactly what some of my friends and I did this past weekend. We opened five bottles of 2005 red Bordeaux $17-35 and were enchanted with every sip. There was not a bad wine in the group. We had two wines from the Right Bank for the Merlot fans and three wines from the Left Bank for the Cabernet enthusiasts.
Here are the wines we tasted, some tasting notes and the approximate retail cost.
Right Bank – Merlot Based Wines Tasted:
Chateau Peyroutas, St. Emilion Grand Cru 2005 - $30
With 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc this wine is soft and supple with ripe plum/blueberry fruit and some subtle spice notes. This is drinking superbly now, but could age a few years.
Christian Moueix, St. Emilion 2005 - $25
This is a very firm wine that is 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. It has blackberry, vanilla, and slight licorice aromas. It is a bit more serious now, but will mellow more with age.
Left Bank – Cabernet Based Wines Tasted:
Lacoste Borie, Pauillac 2005 - $35
This is the second label of fifth Growth Grand-Puy-Lacoste and the expertise of the winemaking shows through significantly. It is classic Pauillac with soft black fruits, oak/dryness and a touch of cigar-box that suggests sweetness. It is a blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
ChateauTour Saint Bonnet Cru Bourgeois Medoc 2005 - $15
Robert Parker considers this to be one of the big time sleepers of the vintage. It does seem a little asleep to me. It has an inky ruby/purple color with cassis and sweet fruit on the nose and palate, but it is a bit tight and tannic on the finish. However, it is an excellent quality/value wine that will not disappoint. Buy this for your mid-daze wine.
Chateau Paveil de Luze, Margaux 2005 - $28
This is classic Margaux blend of 65% Cabernet, 35% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. It has an elegant sweet nose of black and red fruit with subtle herbs. The tannins and acidity underlay the ripe, juicy fruit and the finish is velvety smooth and long. This wine is drinkable now, but also can age another 10 years. This is an excellent value wine!
Even though I enjoy the higher end ($50-60) California Cabernet's and Merlot's, I would encourage everyone to pass those bottles on the shelf and head to the Bordeaux section. You can get the same full-bodied wine with good fruit and balanced tannins in a 2005 Bordeaux for half the cost. Many of the wines in the 2005 vintage are drinkable now and affordable for even a mid-week meal. Run to your local retailer and grab as many bottles left from the 2005 vintage as you can since the 2006 bottles are beginning to hit the shelf. The 2006 vintage falls in the shadow of a great year, but in a global economic meltdown, these too may be affordable and ready-to-drink wines (albeit a bit more hit and miss). Stay tuned!
Note: If you live in Fairfield County, CT you can find or order 2005 Bordeaux from these local wine stores: Peter’s Spirit Shop, Weston, CT; Harry’s Wine & Liquor, Fairfield, CT; Elmer’s Wines, Norwalk, CT.
*Biological Research 2004;37(2):183-7 http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?pid=S0716-97602004000200002&script=sci_arttext&tlng=en
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