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
2000 While the name is French, the wine is from California and a lovely example of an easy-to-drink Zinfandel. The berry, cherry and tobacco nose leads to a fruity, flavorful wine marked by strong cherry flavors and a good dose of spices. Moderately dry and medium-bodied with soft to moderate tannins, it’s a fairly priced wine. “Folie à Deux,” by the way, roughly translates as “lunacy or delusions occurring in husband and wife at the same time.” Perhaps that’s what we should call this column. Put this on the table with your St. Patrick’s Day corned beef dinner. It also will pair well with grilled or roasted lamb and beef roasts. Vegetarians can serve it with lentil soup or other bean and lentil dishes. Good Bets
2001 We love bargains and this wine certainly is one. Look for a soft berry, tobacco and pepper nose and blackberry and cherry flavors. You’ll also find hints of mint and plenty of black pepper in the taste. Full bodied with strong tannins that give the wine a little pucker, this is a good hearty red meat wine. It also will enhance game dishes and go well with sharp cheeses.
2001 Toasted almonds and pineapple are the flavors we found dominant in this California Chardonnay. Medium-bodied, slightly thick on the tongue, this is a moderately dry and slightly acidic wine that will go well with creamy chicken, egg or seafood dishes. It also is a good match with veal chop and other veal dishes, Image by S. Parks Halls Back to the Wine Rack index page |
TM