Chocolates, wine are beguiling gifts
Choosing a wine for your valentine
You have your Valentine dinner plans in place but wonder what wine to pair with chocolate-dipped strawberries or oysters. Whether you are planning dinner out at a restaurant or a romantic feast at home, consider these favorites. Oysters: Pairing a bare, raw oyster with champagne is ideal but that wine may not hold up to the powerful, rich flavors of Oysters Rockefeller. Choose champagne for serving simple and fresh oysters, but for oysters adorned by sauces and toppings consider a more full-bodied white such as chardonnay. THE VALUE 2010 B.R. Cohn Silver Label Chardonnay, California (about...
read moreEnjoying the fruits of bargain search
More and more higher quality wines are being made around the world, which creates tremendous opportunities for wine drinkers along with heaps of bargains. And the timing couldn’t be better, with a slow economy putting a pinch on many a wine budget. When searching for great finds, I look for budget-friendly wines that don’t sacrifice quality. Many of the top values I found were not the expected cheap and cheerful $10 bottles of the past, but quality wines earning high scores (some 90-plus) from top critics. From Washington state to Argentina, these wines will have you drinking well for...
read more‘Bubbly’ makes every day special
Champagne gets the most attention in December in the anticipation of Christmas and New Year’s Eve. And maybe a second glance when planning a big celebration. But more and more, consumers are realizing that the bubbly fits into everyday occasions, too. Most people think of Champagne as being one distinct taste, but in reality there are many different styles. This can be confusing for consumers who are not adept at deciphering labels. Most Champagne or sparkling wine on the shelves is brut, which means dry, but also you’ll see sec (literally dry), which in vino-speak means off-dry. Demi-sec...
read moreRobust pinot noir tames wild game
My mother–in-law has an engraved wooden plaque in her home that states: “We interrupt this marriage to bring you the hunting season.” After each hunting season we have a freezer full of everything from duck to venison and many opportunities for wine pairing. Consider these tips for easy matches. FOWL Game birds such as duck, turkey, quail and pheasant generally have earthy flavors that are stronger than that of farm-raised fowl. Wildfowl generally goes best with red wines showcasing the same earthy, gamy characteristics, such as a Burgundy pinot noir. Its rich flavors of cherry and...
read moreAged wine isn’t necessarily better
A few weeks ago, my husband and I nervously pulled the cork of a bottle we had tended for almost 15 years. Many occasions came and went with the discussion of whether it was too early, late or the perfect time. Only a small percentage of the world’s wines improve with age so it’s a wonderful moment when pure patience wins over anticipation in the battle of cellaring a bottle. Wine does not have to be expensive to show the benefits of aging. Some Napa Valley Cabernets can gain spectacular benefits in 10 years while some Bordeaux transform after a hundred. Consider these tips on aging...
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