Youre being warned you have a wine-geek in full throttle on your hands this week! I had a couple meetings with wine importers over the last few days, showing wines that I could possibly list at one or two of the restaurants I consult with.
Now, the thing is, as much as I absolutely adore the four wines Im sharing with you this week, its not always the time or the place to put them on a particular wine list. Various reasons, really; sometimes the price-point doesnt jive with the flow of a list, sometimes a wine wont be a good fit for a certain restaurants cuisine, and sometimes theres just simply no available space. These wines, though, will certainly be top of mind for the next little bit and Im keen to shine a spotlight on them. Each wine is really worth your time and a little attention. Theyre not just food-friendly, but nuanced and complex hits that are a little off the beaten path.
Manoir de la Tête Rouge 2009 LEnchentoir Saumur-Puy-Notre-Dame | Loire, France | $35-ish | Private wine stores
When many think of Cabernet Franc, they recall green and ruddy, higher-alcohol Californian versions of the past, a workhorse blending grape in Bordeaux, or simply assume were talking about the grapes big brother, Cabernet Sauvignon. This take on the grape, from its second French home in the Loire Valley, is a sophisticated, lighter version, with violets and currants on the nose, bright red fruit on the palate, and a slight wisp of pepper on the finish. Great with wild game, charcuterie and bold cheeses. Oh, and do serve it with a slight chill, itll keep the liveliness on-point!
Domaine Marcel Deiss 2010 Riesling | Alsace, France | $40-ish | Private wine stores
The third-generation of the Deiss family now has the reins of this Domaine, and their attention to detail, coupled with rather natural farming and winemaking methods have raised the profile of whats still a pretty humble estate. I love, love, love the beeswax-y viscosity of this one (I warned you I was geeking out this week!), which ties together all of the lovely mandarin orange, lemongrass and lime-leaf notes. While theres a dry finish, each sip is fruity and rich. Will go with Chinese take-out, which isnt always the easiest food to pair with. Jump at the opportunity.
The above two wines are brought in by Thats Life Gourmet; hit em up if you need help finding a bottle! ThatsLifeGourmet.com
Pierre Ponnelle 2011 Bourgogne-Passe-Tout-Grains | Burgundy, France | $19.99 |
BC Liquor Stores
Last year I wrote about the 2009 version of this blend of Gamy and Pinot Noir, and while we seem to have leapfrogged to the 2011 vintage, it hasnt skipped a beat in stylishness or consistency. Plums and more plums, with a basket of cherries, some cinnamon and cloves. With the sun starting to come out a little more, throw some salmon on the barbecue or enjoy it with a bag of good ol supermarket rotisserie chicken.
Celler el Masroig 2009 Sola Fred | Montsant, Spain | $18-ish | Private wine stores
While the neighbouring Priorat region gets all the glory as the it place in Spain, save yourself a few bucks and dive into Montsant and this juicy, un-oaked blend of Carignan and Grenache. The chalky, clay and schist soil provide fresh minerality that keeps all of those blackberries, blueberries and currants upbeat! Im thinkin ratatouille or cassoulet.
These two are from Waldorf Wines, who always bring the delicious. WaldorfWine.com.
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