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
2001 Imported from France by Robert Kacher Selections, this is truly a fun wine and a very French wine. It smells French and it tastes French. If you’ve ever drunk wine in the French countryside, it will transport you back. (Or, encourage you to take the trip.) It’s a Beaujolais from Régnié, one of ten specific villages in the northern part of the Beaujolais district. All these wines, made from the Gamay grape, are characterized by their fresh, fruity flavors. The nose is what first impressed us about this wine. It’s jammy, very jammy and bursts with blackberries and a dash of black pepper. Blackberries and pepper also dominate the flavor of this moderately dry, easy-to-drink wine. This is an everyday wine meant to be served lightly chilled with simple foods, like pasta and hamburgers. It also will pair well with roasted chicken, pork sausages and goat cheese. It’s a good choice for a wine and cheese party. OTHER GOOD BETS THIS MONTH
2001 This easy-to-like red from Argentina has a nice garnet color and a nose that bursts with cherries, chocolate and dry spice, like cinnamon or cloves. Medium to soft tannins make it just a bit chewy and add to the enjoyment of the cherries and chocolate flavors. With its medium body and long finish, this is a bargain wine to enjoy with just about any chicken dish, grilled vegetables and pastas. 1998 Ahh......Chianti Classico. Is there a better choice for Southern Italian dishes? We don’t think so and this is an exceptionally good choice. It’s a brawny wine with dark fruit, tobacco and spice flavors, strong tannins and a slight tartness that softens when enjoyed with foods, like spaghetti and meatballs and other tomato and pasta dishes and Parmesan and Asiago cheeses. Surprise! It’s also a good match with barbecue. Image by S. Parks Halls Back to the Wine Rack index page |
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