Tag Archives: wine

From Chile, a red and a white for Dad

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Dad’s sock drawer is full. But there’s always room in the house for wine.

Pop will likely be delighted if you show up for the Father’s Day cookout with a bottle in each hand, a red and a white. Here are two great choices from Vina Ventisquero, a leading producer of estate and single vineyard wines from Chile’s most prestigious growing regions.

image005Queulat Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2012 is pale green to the eye and fruity on the nose, with tropical aromas of grapefruit, lime, pineapple and pear. This isn’t one of those wimpy, flowery Sauv Blancs. It has a pleasingly acid taste, with a slightly flinty finish. Serve this with the salad course or with grilled swordfish.

Ventisquero’s 2011 Pinot Noir Reserva is a gorgeous color, deep ruby tinted with violet. It’s velvety and fruity, with notes of strawberries and sour cherries and gently spicy tones of vanilla. I’d chill it slightly to about 55 degrees and pour it with pork tenderloin or grilled chicken.

Both wines have an MSRP of $17.99, offering both the quality and value we appreciate in Chilean wines. Plus, Dad won’t worry that you are spending too much money on him. Or if he thinks you spent more, that’s OK, too. After all, Dad is worth it.

 

The first rosé of the season

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imagesAs we glide toward summer, let’s uncork a rosé from the sunny vineyards of Portugal. I’m pouring Defesa Rosé, an intense, elegant wine with notes of red cherry and blackberry made by the Herdade do Esporão winery, in the Alentejo region, also a celebrated source of olive oil.

No shrinking violet, Defesa is robust for a rosé, with a slightly herbal feel. The color is the deep pink of a Mediterranean sunset.

If you shy away from rosé wines, I encourage you to give one a try the next time you light up the barbecue. Defesa is a good match for grilled chicken or spicy shrimp or perhaps a salad sprinkled with pomegranate seeds. Also think of a nicely chilled bottle of rosé as a thoughtful gift for your hosts, delivered with a bouquet of pink roses. Expect to pay about $14 for this well-made import.

Keep your cool with tilt

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There’s a downside to the glorious spring weather embracing the East Coast, which has millions dashing to decks, patios and balconies.

M.aspxHow to keep the dip chilled?

Hopefully, you are prepared with tilt, with a lower-case T, a decidedly cool stainless steel ball that you can drop in dips, salads and drinks to maintain their cool, without ice.

This handy, low-tech gadget comes from Soiree Home, the enterprising folks who invented what has quickly become an iconic, pour-through device to decant wine.

tilt is flavorless (so as not to corrupt your hummus) and reusable, at the ready in your freezer, where it demands little more space than an ice cube. Or store it on the counter in the enclosed silicon stand and chill four to six hours before use. (MSRP: $34.99 for a set of two or $17.99 for a singleton.)

You can buy one large shiny orb or a pair of chillers. Each comes with a handy hook for retrieving the devices when the party’s over. Clean up is easy. Wash with soap and water until the next use.

From Spain, two great value reds

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When I’m looking for reds that suit both my sensibility and my budget, I often turn to wines imported from Spain, birthplace of food-friendly wines that also are focused on style.
VinaZaco_Temp_NV_HRTwo noteworthy wines in the coveted $15 or less category come from Bodegas Bilbainas, the largest estate in the Rioja Alta, where traditional character blends with modern production techniques. Both are 100 percent Tempranillo. Think fruit. Color. The best of the grape.

Vina Zaco 2010 is lively and assertive, yet its scents of violets and fresh feel make it a good match for grilled chicken and veggies, as well as the meats from the barbecue that we usually serve with reds on a soft summer night. Because it isn’t overly heavy, tempranillo is a great match with small bites, your very own tapas hour.  Wine Spectator loved this offering, awarding it 90 points. You will enjoy it, too.

Vina Pomal Crianza 2009 is more traditional, yet is still simpatico with a wide range of dishes from cheeses to grilled fish. Expect an aromatic bouquet of black cherry, licorice and vanilla. The winemaker suggests serving at 60 degrees Fahrenheit. For optimum flavor, pop it in the fridge an hour before uncorking. Honest! No need to decant. Pour and enjoy.

 

Uncorking the holidays

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As we approach the official start of the holiday season, let us give thanks for well-made, well-priced wines.

Here are four wines from California that fit the bill, bottles you will want to keep on hand from Thanksgiving through dinner on New Year’s Day — and beyond.

At our Thanksgiving table, I like to serve a red and a white. Educated Guess 2010 Chardonnay, from Roots Run Deep Winery in the Napa Valley, offers crisp acidity and fresh fruit, without oaky overtones. Expect creamy notes of vanilla and toast that are a good match with apple stuffing and green salad. MSRP: $17.

I often serve Pinot Noir with turkey and Garnet 2010 Monterey County is a fine one, with tones of clove, coffee and juniper berries and fat, juicy notes of blackberry and raspberry. Pass the gravy, please. And the cornbread and strawberry preserves. You can pour this palate pleaser for less than $15.

When you have devoured the last of the leftover turkey, uncork Educated Guess 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, a big red that pairs well with beef. Expect blackberry and chocolate-covered cherries, vanilla and a whiff of mint, with a price tag of less than $20.

At Layer Cake, the winemaker’s goal is to make reds that taste like a $50 bottle but cost $20 or less. Layer Cake 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon serves up silky blackberry and cherry
flavors, with a dusting of cocoa. With its ruby color and elegant finish, it tastes expensive. But it’s not, so you can readily indulge in treating your guests. MSRP: $15.99.

A Landmark pinot noir

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We have missed our friend Matt and we want him to know how special he is to us.

So, we invite him to our house for dinner. No fatted calf mooing in the pantry. So, I’ll make filet mignon. With bacon, baby.

And for a special friend, I decant a special wine, the 2010 Grand Detour pinot noir from Landmark Vineyards in Sonoma, an elegant shift from the beefy Zinfandel or hefty Cab you might expect with filet. This thoughtfully crafted pinot plays perfectly with the salad as well as the beef, carrying us happily home to a dessert of lush, ripe strawberries and blueberries.

Expect a well-balanced blend of berries and plums. The wine is soft and round, with pleasing, earthy and slightly spicy notes. The finish is silky and lingering. Hmm. This also would be luscious with lamb.

Grand Detour gets a big thumbs up from my husband and Matt, too. Expect to pay about $35 for a bottle for this approachable, food-friendly special-occasion red. (Don’t forget, a special occasion can happen at any time!)

Written off red meat? Grand Detour would swim nicely with wild salmon or an assertive mushroom dish.

If you fancy a white, Landmark’s 2010 Overlook Chardonnay is a classy choice, with notes of fresh bread, citrus, vanilla and peach. Expect creamy tones, not too much oak and a huggable price point of about $20.