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The Wine Rack

By 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.

NV
Perrier Jouët 
Grand Brut
Champagne
(About $40)

We rarely recommend a wine with a $40 price tag. But we just couldn’t let this one pass without writing about it. Fine Champagne’s don’t have to been vintage Champagnes, as this one so aptly illustrates. In fact, some say Champagne producers should be judged by the quality of their nonvintage offerings. If so, this just confirms that Perrier Jouët makes a fine wine. As the bubbles fill your glass, breathe in the aromas of tropical fruits and citrus. The first sip will reveal that this is a lively, fresh, bright Champagne filled with the delicate and subtle flavors of apples and lemons. Although this is a perfect Champagne for just sipping, its crisp flavors make it a good food wine as well. Match it with chilled seafood or smoked oysters. Roasted game hens, creamy risottos and fettuccine Alfredo are other good matches.  This is a great special occasion wine. If you don’t have one coming up, create one!

OTHER GOOD BETS THIS MONTH

2000
Happy Cat
Zeller Schwarze Katz
($8 - $10 500 ml)

We have to admit we bought this wine because of the bottle which is shaped like a sleek black cat. We were pleasantly surprised to find that this Zeller Schwarze Katz is an extremely pleasant and drinkable German wine. Very fruity and not nearly as sweet as we expected, this white will go nicely with a variety of foods, including fattier fish, pork and dishes made with cream sauce. It’s also fun to just sip chilled on a warm evening.

1999
Brancott Vineyards
Gisborne Reserve
Chardonnay
($18 - $20)

Peaches and cream is a good description for this excellent wine from New Zealand. Pineapple, melon and other stone fruits also come through in both the aroma and the flavor. Quite dry with some nice spices and toasty oak, this is a rich, flavorful and full-bodied Chardonnay. Pair it with rich chicken and fish dishes, full-flavored cheeses and roast pork.

Image by S. Parks Hall