The Wine RackBy Suzanne and Parks Hall
Drinking wine is fun. But many people make it too complicated. That’s why for more than 10 years, we’ve tried hundreds of wines and shared what we’ve discovered with newspaper, magazine and now Travellady.com readers. Our approach to wine tasting may not be scientific. But it is down-to-earth. Since we believe wine and food are a natural combination, we consider that when trying wines and make pairing suggestions for every wine we recommend. You may not agree with all our choices. But you can be assured that the wines we recommend, whether priced at $10 or $40, represent good value. And speaking of prices, please remember that they can vary from city to city and that some wines may not be available everywhere. Top Pick
2003 Regardless of the weather, we always enjoy a good glass of dry rose. Usually we select one from France or Italy. We recently discovered, though, that Charles Melton, an Australian winery, makes a dynamite rose. In fact, it probably will become our rose of choice, until, of course, another one grabs our palate. This delightful, cherry colored wine is moderately dry and filled with the rich aromas of cherries and spice. A blend of several grape varieties, it is complex, well balanced and very smooth. It’s a refreshing wine filled with cherry and other fruit flavors. It has a gentle tang and slightly sweet undertones. Although this is a wonderful wine to just sip, it also pairs well with a variety of foods. As a starter, pair it with crudités, or a platter of salami and other cold meats. Pasta dressed with garlic and oil (and maybe some clams) is another good match. Or, try it with baked ham or spicy Asian dishes. Good Bets
2000 Sagelands Vineyard From Washington State’s Columbia Valley, this is a young, fairly priced, extremely drinkable, Cabernet Sauvignon. The tannins come in strong but are balanced by blackberry, currant and cherry flavors, enhanced by a hint of vanilla. Moderately dry and medium bodied, this is a good wine to pair with steaks, burgers and sandwiches and pastas made with Italian sausage.
1999 We were really taken with this “red table wine” from the Lazio region of Italy. Dry and chewy, it’s a hearty wine with dark fruit and nutmeg flavors and a spicy nose. Although a little puckery at first, it’s well balanced and should please most red wine lovers. A blend of several grapes, it’s a perfect match with most Italian dishes, beef and strong flavored cheeses. Image by S. Parks Halls Back to the Wine Rack index page |
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