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 We admit to a fondness for Duckhorn Vineyard wines. We visited the winery 20 or so years ago during our first California wine trip. We liked the wines then. We still like them. This extremely drinkable Sauvignon Blanc has a gentle, appealing nose reminiscent of apples, melon and herbs. Pale in color and very clear, the wine exhibits a good balance between fruit and acidity. It’s a full-bodied, smooth and silky wine with herb, ripe lemon and vanilla flavors. The addition of some Semillon gives this relatively dry wine texture and richness. It’s well worth the price. As a starter wine, it pairs well with goat, Swiss and Gouda cheeses and most dishes made with them. Vegetable and poultry pates also are good matches. On the dinner table, it’s a natural with creamy pasta dishes and most seafood preparations. For fun pair it with crab cakes or takeout fish and chips. OTHER GOOD BETS THIS MONTH
2001 Tavel, in France’s Southern Rhone region is known for its delicious rosé wines. That means this wine is pink, but it is not sweet. Instead it’s a crisp, fruity wine filled with caramel, red cherry, tobacco, strawberry and orange zest flavors. Serve it chilled, but not icy, with roasted chicken with rosemary, quiche and spicy shrimp dishes.
1999 Chewy and bold, the Sebastiani Merlot is spicy and bursting with the flavors of dark berries and a bit of pepper. It’s a complex, moderately dry wine at an appealing price. It comes in with a bit of a pucker, but those tannins ease off quickly to produce a very drinkable wine great with chicken or beef teriyaki, blackened steak and risotto with herbs and mushrooms. Image by S. Parks Halls Back to the Wine Rack index page |
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