Neat Thoughts About Food, Wine, Travel & More
Deep inky red in the glass, the 2010 Salmos Torres isn’t for the faint of palate. There are big chocolaty, dark fruit and pumpkin pie spice aromas that had me clamoring for the first sip. The wine is rich, smooth with light tannins. The dark fruit with light vanilla is present and endures through the long finish.
Pairings: Grilled or roasted meats, aged cheeses.
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): 50% Cariñena, 30% Red Grenache and 20% Syrah
Region: Catalunya, Spain
Price: $35
Yes, this is a $10 wine. No, it shouldn’t be disregarded based on cost as it drinks well beyond its price.
In the glass, it’s inky and really handsome. The grapes in this blend complement each other so well with jammy stone fruit flavors mixing with dark berry and cherry ones. This wine screams for food and I served it with a pork crown roast which was a great pairing. Slightly tannic on the finish with ripe, dark fruit that lingers on the palate.
Pairings: Grilled meat, tomato sauce-based dishes, roast pork or poultry.
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): 20% Bonarda, 20% Cabernet Saugivnon, 20% Malbec, 20% Syrah, 20% Tannat
Region: Tulum Valley, Argentina
Price: $10
This wine was provided to me for sampling and I am adding it to my repertoire as it’s truly enjoyable.
The 2012 Jacob’s Creek Red Blend is deep garnet in the glass and offers dark berry, cherry, chocolate flavors with a little oak and smokiness. Not heavily tannic which makes it a good option to enjoy at any time and for no special occasion at all. We poured this bottle with our Sunday gravy and it held up nicely…especially at under $10.
Pairings: Grilled meat, tomato sauce-based dishes, pizza.
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): 66% Shiraz, 18% Cabernet, 12% Grenache and 4% Petit Verdot
Region: South Eastern, Australia
Price: $6
This wine was provided to me for sampling and I am adding it to my repertoire as it’s truly enjoyable.
Portuguese winery Herdade do Esporão is likely the best-known in the Alentejo wine region. Its white wines are affordable, available and delicious.
The 2011 Herdade do Esporão Monte Velho White is medium straw color in the glass and offers fruity, juicy citrus aromas and ripe apricot and Meyer lemon flavors. Zippy acidity and minerality.
Pairings: Seafood, fish and served as an aperitif.
Style: White Wine
Grape Type(s): 35% Antao Vaz, 35% Roupeiro and 30% Perrum
Region: Alentejo, Portugal
Price: $10
This wine was provided to me for sampling and I am adding it to my repertoire as it’s truly enjoyable.
This medium-bodied Cote de Beaune Chardonnay offers a very pretty floral nose with Asian pear notes. In the glass, the 2010 Bruno Colin Premier Cru Chassagne Montrachet La Boudriotte shows big fruit with nutty, lightly oaky undertones and a nice level of acidity on the finish. Just a lovely white Burgundy.
Pairings: Roast chicken, seafood, white fish
Style: White wine
Grape Type(s): Chardonnay
Region: Burgundy, France
Around $65
I recently attended a wine pairing dinner at Millie’s Old World Meatballs & Pizza and had an opportunity to sample Famiglia Pasqua wines provided by recently opened Cambridge Wines of Morristown.
Here are my tasting notes:
Cheers,
Veronique
Wines of Chile hosted a #WineChat event on Twitter on Wednesday, October 16. Sort of like a new world wines meets new technology.
I’ve explained the idea of virtual wine tastings in previous posts but for those of you who are new to virtual wine tastings, this is what the story is:
Here are my tasting notes from the three featured wines – 2011 Montes Twins Malbec / Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007 Santa Rita Triple C Red Blend and 2011 Los Vascos Grand Reserve:
2011 Montes Twins Malbec / Cabernet Sauvignon
Great dark fruit, richness and structure from the Cab and silky roundness from the Malbec. Little vanilla on the finish from the oak. Nice Colchagua Valley wine for the price.
Pairings: Roast chicken, mushroom pizza, burger
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): 50% Malbec, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
Price: $18
2011 Los Vascos Grand Reserve
This Chilean wine is bright with cherries and stone fruit. It’s intense, has a nice level of acidity and a fruity finish with black licorice notes.
Pairings: Duck, seared salmon, pork
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Carménère, 10% Syrah, 5% Malbec
Price: $15
2007 Santa Rita Triple C Red Blend
This Maipo Valley, Bordeaux-style blend has a lot going on for it. The 2007 Santa Rita Triple C combines the elegance of the old world grapes with new world winemaking techniques.Definitely not the typical Chilean red wine. Tons of earthy, smoky, leathery aromas with less blackberry than ripe currant that I’d expected. Deep, complex, interesting. Decant!
Pairings: Grilled meat, mushroom dishes
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): 55% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Carménère
Price: $34
I’ve been a fan of Chilean wines and these three bottles that were sent to me as samples are being added to my repertoire.
Cheers,
Veronique
This wine was aerated then decanted for an hour prior to tasting. In the glass, it’s deep garnet. Bouquet wasn’t as prominent as I’d expected. Light aromas of cherry cordial with earthy notes. In the mouth, it offers great fruit flavors with black licorice, leather and blackberry notes. Smokey finish with the tannins one would expect from such a young wine.
I’d like to try this wine with another 5 years of aging. 94 points Robert Parker.
Pairings: Game, beef, duck, pasta with mushroom or red sauce, cheese course
Style: Red wine
Grape Type(s): Nebbiolo
Region: Piedmont, Italy
Around $100
Tasted this wine after it’d been decanted for a couple hours – wow. In the glass, it’s deep garnet and one sniff had me hooked. Aromas of mocha, tobacco, dark fruit and stone fruit. In the mouth it’s lush and round and offers great fruit flavors with caramel, leather and blackberry notes. Finish lasts forever.
Simply an elegant, well-structured wine. I feel fortunate this wine was shared with me.
Pairings: Beef, duck, cheese course
Style: Red wine
Grape Type(s): 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot and 3% Malbec
Region: Napa Valley, CA, USA
Around $90
Just love this wine. It’s become my ‘go-to’ for a great Pinot that’s not outrageously-priced.
Medium ruby in the glass, this Oregon Pinot Noir offers aromas of dark cherries, ripe raspberries with peppery notes. This is a medium-body wine with rich cherry and dark berry flavors with a little spice on the dry finish. Nice body with velvety texture. Super Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.
Pairings: Poultry, pork chops, grilled salmon.
Style: Red wine
Grape Type(s): Pinot Noir
Region: Willamette Valley, OR, USA
Around $40
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