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 PICK2000 If you don’t recognize Meritage as a variety of grape, don’t worry. It isn’t. The word, which rhymes with “heritage” is a made up one, used by wineries to identify wines blended from several different grapes in the Bordeaux tradition. Some wineries give these wines special, proprietary names like Beaulieu Vineyards “Tapestry.” Others like Lyeth, simply call them Meritage. These blends can be red or white. This one is deep red and well worth trying. It has an enticing, aggressive and spicy nose with hints of spearmint and some nice fruit undertones. Medium-bodied and nicely dry with light tannins, it’s an easy red wine to drink. We’ve never been disappointed by any vintage. The spices in the nose carry over into the flavor and complement the rich taste of dark berries and cherries. No “Rambo” red, this is a versatile food wine. Try it with steaks and game, pork chops, dishes laced with garlic and tomatoes and fattier fish. OTHER GOOD BETS THIS MONTH
2000 This Washington State white surely will please fruit lovers. Both the nose and the flavor burst with tropical fruit, especially not quite ripe pineapple. The combination of Chardonnay and Fume Blanc (Sauvignon Blanc) provides a good balance between fruit and acidity. Best of all this pleasantly dry price is an extremely good value. Pair it with light springtime brunch or picnic foods. It’s also a good bet for creamy pasta dishes and vegetables in cheese sauce. 2000 Whether they’re priced at the low end or getting up there, like this one, Bonny Doon wines are fun to buy (because of their wonderful labels) and fun to drink. A bit puckery in the mouth, this wine may not be for everyone. But we loved it. The nose is spicy and a little earthy. It has some nice spice flavors as well. Fruity and wonderfully dry, this is a young wine that’s very drinkable now and will get even better with some age. Pair it with red meats and full-flavored cheeses or just drink it. Image by S. Parks Halls Back to the Wine Rack index page |
TM