Only a few days remain until we bid farewell to 2009 and welcome a fresh start to a new year. While we wave goodbye with one hand, we will certainly hold a glass of bubbly in the other.
With that in mind we developed a list of bubblies that will help make your New Year's Eve fun. Since sparklers are great food wines, we give pairing ideas too so you can also begin the evening with some bubbly.
Sparkling wine is typically thought of as a special occasion wine. That simply should not be. Bubblies, as we call them, are great to pair with food and for that reason should be considered a main wine at any happening that has food, including New Year's Eve celebrations. But why?
Sparklers usually have higher acid levels than still wines and are great options for foods of high acidity (ie., salads in balsamic dressings, prosciutto).
Sparklers cleanse the palate when having with high fat foods (ie. cheeses, quiche, deep fried foods), and cut through the fat nicely.
On the contrary, sparklers are not good usually for pairing with fruit. A fruit's sweetness usually clashes with a sparkler's acidity.
Cheese is an easy food for sparklers - try hard ones - Manchego or Parmigiano Reggiano or soft ones - Brie or Camembert.
Enjoy our bubbly suggestions!
Jean Francois Merieu, Loire Valley, France ($18.99): Not Champagne but from the Loire Valley, this dry sparkler is mostly Chenin Blanc with some Chardonnay. Divine and our first choice after Champagne, this bubbly has a bright nose of apples and pears with hints of citrus.
Perrier Jouet Fleur Brut Champagne 2000 ($153.99): This is a specialty sparkler that is one to impress and proves true time and time again. Doesn't hurt that it rates 94 points. Perrier Jouet is a producer that's most known for its "flower bottle," one of Champagne's most recognizable designs.
1+1=3 Cava Brut, Spain ($15.99): This Spanish sparkler has smooth, dry, citrus fruit flavors that make it a great alternative to Champagne.
Grandial Brut, France ($10.99): If you want something from France but can't do the price of Champagne this should be your choice for a dry bubbly. This surprised us and others recently who had it at an in-home wine tasting.
Thierry Triolet a Bethon Brut Champagne ($37.99): Delicious yeast on the nose & palate, this Champagne has a mouth feel of golden delicious apples & fresh baked bread. You can't expect a better Champagne for the money!
Jacquart Rose Mosaique 1999 Champagne ($57.99): From the famed Champagne house, Jacquart, this Rose is lovely with soft notes of cranberries, raspberries & dried bread. The perfect Brut!
Carpene Malvolti Prosecco, Italy ($16.99): About an hour drive from Venice, Carpene Malvolti is a leader in Prosecco production. This dry Italian sparkler has delicate, fresh pear notes that end in a full, pleasant finish. Our Prosecco of choice for 2009's end.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Wonderful Winter Wines
2007 Adelsheim Willamette Valley Chardonnay, Oregon. This wine is crafted of grapes from three vineyards in the Chehalem Mountains, Oregon. It's stainless steel fermented to retain the fruit's purity, flavors and aromas and then sits a little in neutral French oak to augment textural richness and create a more balanced and complex wine. It is truly delicious!! ($22.99)
2006 Milbrandt Traditions Merlot, Washington State. Washington State has been continuously producing top notch wines, and this Wahluke Slope Merlot is another to put on the list. Mostly Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec and Barbera produce rich aromas of ripe plums, cherries, toasted oak and blackberries. ($16.49)
2006 Zin 91 Old Vine Zinfandel, CA. A recent Wine Club selections, this Old Vine Zinfandel was sourced from an exceptional vineyard in California's Dry Creek. The wine is well structured with a unique resinous pepper-spice. The ripe, full bodied, juicy character of red raspberry marries nicely with the more supple dark plum and cherry flavors. A fantastic wine for the winter season. ($14.99)
2008 Ferraton Crozes-Hermitage Blanc, France. The Ferraton Crozes-Hermitage Blanc is made from 100% Marsanne a unique white grape that is in white Cotes du Rhone. It delivers aromas of acacia, fresh flowers and roasted almonds while the palate is soft with a great minerality and an offering of white peach. Not something you see everyday, but this is truly a magnificent bottle of wine. ($19.99)
2007 Ferraton Cotes du Rhone Villages, France.This wine is 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah; it offers aromas of lavender, black currants, licorice, and spice. Medium to full-bodied with silky tannins, it has a beautiful purity and long finish. It can be consumed now or will improve with 3-4 years aging as well. A sleeper of the vintage and a real staff favorite!! ($14.99)
2006 Milbrandt Traditions Merlot, Washington State. Washington State has been continuously producing top notch wines, and this Wahluke Slope Merlot is another to put on the list. Mostly Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec and Barbera produce rich aromas of ripe plums, cherries, toasted oak and blackberries. ($16.49)
2006 Zin 91 Old Vine Zinfandel, CA. A recent Wine Club selections, this Old Vine Zinfandel was sourced from an exceptional vineyard in California's Dry Creek. The wine is well structured with a unique resinous pepper-spice. The ripe, full bodied, juicy character of red raspberry marries nicely with the more supple dark plum and cherry flavors. A fantastic wine for the winter season. ($14.99)
2008 Ferraton Crozes-Hermitage Blanc, France. The Ferraton Crozes-Hermitage Blanc is made from 100% Marsanne a unique white grape that is in white Cotes du Rhone. It delivers aromas of acacia, fresh flowers and roasted almonds while the palate is soft with a great minerality and an offering of white peach. Not something you see everyday, but this is truly a magnificent bottle of wine. ($19.99)
2007 Ferraton Cotes du Rhone Villages, France.This wine is 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah; it offers aromas of lavender, black currants, licorice, and spice. Medium to full-bodied with silky tannins, it has a beautiful purity and long finish. It can be consumed now or will improve with 3-4 years aging as well. A sleeper of the vintage and a real staff favorite!! ($14.99)
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Our New Savory Selections
2008 Elderton Unoaked Chardonnay, Australia. A medium, bright wine, this clean, crips Chardonnay offers fresh melon and peach on the nose, with a subtle note of spun sugar that appears the more it breathes. It has lovely fruit flavors of sweet cantaloupe with a tangy, orange peel note too. This Chardonnay covers the palate beautifully and is wonderfully soft on the finish. ($15.99)
2007 Twenty Rows Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, CA. The grapes for this lush Cabernet Sauvignon come from two renowned vineyard sources in Napa Valley - Howell Mountain and Yountville foothills. It has penetrating aromas that begin with a presence of black currant, graphite, hints of earth and undertones of espresso. It is bright yet plush, with black cherry, blackberry, licorice, chocolate and smoke flavors, all neatly layered for complexity. This is great Napa Cab for the money. ($20.99)
2008 Weingut Rotes Haus Gemischter Satz, Austria. From Austria's capital of Vienna, this white field blend of mostly Gruner Veltliner, Weissburgunder and Riesling offers fine, fruity aromas on the nose of citrus and apple. It has a wonderfully seductive texture and is incredibly well balanced on the palate. Great length, it has a perfectly fruity but dry after taste. Rarely are we lucky enough to taste such a unique and pleasing wine, a true find. ($20.99)
2008 Domaine du Cros, Marcillac, Lo Sang del Pais, Philippe Teulier. This name is a mouth full - Whew! Made from the hearty Fer Servadou grape, or Mansois as it is known locally, Marcillac is one of those secret wines of France that holiday makers never experience. We've found even Francophiles haven't heard of this gem! We love its untamed quality - seductive, spicy and peppery with a velvety, raspberry-charged palate and grassy finish. A taste of the real France. What a fantastic bottle of wine. ($14.99)
2007 Twenty Rows Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, CA. The grapes for this lush Cabernet Sauvignon come from two renowned vineyard sources in Napa Valley - Howell Mountain and Yountville foothills. It has penetrating aromas that begin with a presence of black currant, graphite, hints of earth and undertones of espresso. It is bright yet plush, with black cherry, blackberry, licorice, chocolate and smoke flavors, all neatly layered for complexity. This is great Napa Cab for the money. ($20.99)
2008 Weingut Rotes Haus Gemischter Satz, Austria. From Austria's capital of Vienna, this white field blend of mostly Gruner Veltliner, Weissburgunder and Riesling offers fine, fruity aromas on the nose of citrus and apple. It has a wonderfully seductive texture and is incredibly well balanced on the palate. Great length, it has a perfectly fruity but dry after taste. Rarely are we lucky enough to taste such a unique and pleasing wine, a true find. ($20.99)
2008 Domaine du Cros, Marcillac, Lo Sang del Pais, Philippe Teulier. This name is a mouth full - Whew! Made from the hearty Fer Servadou grape, or Mansois as it is known locally, Marcillac is one of those secret wines of France that holiday makers never experience. We've found even Francophiles haven't heard of this gem! We love its untamed quality - seductive, spicy and peppery with a velvety, raspberry-charged palate and grassy finish. A taste of the real France. What a fantastic bottle of wine. ($14.99)
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Give The Gift of Wine
Holidays are times to give thanks and also times to celebrate. We want to offer ideas that will bring joy to your family and friends - wines that will bring people together...for holidays...for all year.
Whether or not you are ready, the holidays are here!
If it's hard to know what to give to a friend or loved one this holiday, it sometimes is even more difficult to know what to give "the boss" or a corporate client.
Does a great bottle of Barolo, Magnum of Chateauneuf du Pape or 90-point rated California Cabernet convey the appropriate message? Or would a wine basket say it better?
We look forward to helping with your gift giving - corporate or personal. The Savory Grape is proudly selected to help many RI and national companies choose the perfect holiday gifts - whether it's 50 wine baskets shipped out-of-state or a single bottle delivered to Smithfield.
To plan your orders, please contact Jessica Granatiero (jessica@thesavorygrape.com) or Sabrina Solares (sabrina@thesavorygrape.com).
Whether or not you are ready, the holidays are here!
If it's hard to know what to give to a friend or loved one this holiday, it sometimes is even more difficult to know what to give "the boss" or a corporate client.
Does a great bottle of Barolo, Magnum of Chateauneuf du Pape or 90-point rated California Cabernet convey the appropriate message? Or would a wine basket say it better?
We look forward to helping with your gift giving - corporate or personal. The Savory Grape is proudly selected to help many RI and national companies choose the perfect holiday gifts - whether it's 50 wine baskets shipped out-of-state or a single bottle delivered to Smithfield.
To plan your orders, please contact Jessica Granatiero (jessica@thesavorygrape.com) or Sabrina Solares (sabrina@thesavorygrape.com).
This Week's Savory Selections!
2007 Almira "Los Dos" Grenache/Syrah, Spain. This electrifying blend of Old Vine Grenache and Syrah truly took us by storm, unlike any wine we've had from the area of Campo de Borja. Bold aromas of ripe raspberries,and minerals erupt from the glass while spicy raspberry fruit coats the palate with a very pleasant mineral finish. ($10.99)
2006 Dominio de Heredia Rioja, Spain. It never gets old finding wines that over deliver for the price. Rioja's Heredia is one - 100% Tempranillo from 25+ year old vines. Fine, fresh berry fruits and spices awaken the nose while the rich dark cherry fruit, smooth mouth feel and perfectly balanced palate seal the deal. ($14.99)
2007 Foris Pinot Noir, Oregon. Classic Oregon Pinot Noir. Brimming with Asian spices, sandalwood, cherries and raspberries, the aromas highlight fruit with a little oak spice playing a supporting role. The palate is well balanced, plump upon entry, with brisk acidity and fine grained tannins trailing into the finish. Delicate, delightful and delicious. ($19.99)
2008 Foris Pinot Gris, Oregon.
You're first welcomed by aromas of pear layered with tropical notes of guava and coconut. Asian spices are subtle yet evident in the nose and on the palate along with hints of cardamom and ginger. Flavors of Kiwi and melon add freshness and provide a smooth transition to a crisp, clean finish accentuated by a distinctive minerality. ($15.99)
2006 Dominio de Heredia Rioja, Spain. It never gets old finding wines that over deliver for the price. Rioja's Heredia is one - 100% Tempranillo from 25+ year old vines. Fine, fresh berry fruits and spices awaken the nose while the rich dark cherry fruit, smooth mouth feel and perfectly balanced palate seal the deal. ($14.99)
2007 Foris Pinot Noir, Oregon. Classic Oregon Pinot Noir. Brimming with Asian spices, sandalwood, cherries and raspberries, the aromas highlight fruit with a little oak spice playing a supporting role. The palate is well balanced, plump upon entry, with brisk acidity and fine grained tannins trailing into the finish. Delicate, delightful and delicious. ($19.99)
2008 Foris Pinot Gris, Oregon.
You're first welcomed by aromas of pear layered with tropical notes of guava and coconut. Asian spices are subtle yet evident in the nose and on the palate along with hints of cardamom and ginger. Flavors of Kiwi and melon add freshness and provide a smooth transition to a crisp, clean finish accentuated by a distinctive minerality. ($15.99)
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