Monday, January 30, 2017

WINES OF THE WEEK: A PERFECT VALENTINE'S DAY PAIR; DR. LOOSEN 2014 WESEM PINOT NOIR FROM THE RHEINHESSEN-$23, DR. LOOSEN "RED SLATE' DRY RIESLING FROM THE MOSEL-$18

by Dwight Casimere

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Instead of going with the traditional sparkling wine or Champagne idea, why not try something different? German Riesling is a terrific dry, food friendly wine that undeservedly  gets overlooked. Most people think of Riesling incorrectly as a "sweet" wine. True Riesling is anything but that. True, it has an abundance of bright fruit flavor, green apples, citrus and hints of white flowers and a bite of tangerine or mandarin orange, but never cloyingly sweet, as some pretenders tend to be. Most people are also unaware that Germany produces some terrific dry red wines, particularly Pinot Noir, that have lovely flavor notes and aromas of crushed red roses, ripe raspberry and blueberry flavors and a hint of pepper, that make them ideal with a Valentine's meal of Surf 'N Turf or Roast Orange Duckling. The Dr. Loosen 2014 Wesem Pinot Noir from the Rheinhessen-$23 is perfect for Valentine's Day. It can take you right through the meal to a sumptuous decadent dessert, or a pairing with dark chocolates or traditional chocolate covered strawberries. Another great Valentine's Day wine is 2014 Dr. Loosen 

"Red Slate" Dry Riesling from the Mosel-$18. This is another great flavor pairing with traditional Valentine's Day delicacies; Shrimp Scampi, Lobster Thermidor or Veal Picante. Try this Riesling with assorted Valentine's Day candies, particularly the heart-shaped fruit-flavored lollipops that are so popular. You may want to save a little on the side to savor after Valentine's Day.

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

DRY CREEK VINEYARD CHARDONNAY-DCV ESTATE BLOCK TEN 2015-$21.99




by Dwight Cashmere

This is a lush, full-flavored Chardonnay from Sonoma's famed Russian River Valley. Dry Creek pulled out all the stops to create this 'runway model' of a Chardonnay. Harvested under ideal weather conditions in mid-September, the wine was pressed from whole clusters and then barrel fermented, with 50% of the juice undergoing malolactic fermentation. Aging ion French Oak brought forth a delightfully flavorful well-balanced wine with lush flavors of ripe tropical fruits; ripe honeydew melons, Meyer lemons, mandarin orange and ripe tangerine with hints of toasted almonds, cinnamon stick and a slight after taste of salted caramel. A hint of white flowers and crushed chamomille and sliced Golden Delicious Apples greets the nose just as the flavors begin to cascade down the palate. This is a terrific lunchtime wine to be enjoyed with salads, roasted free-range chicken with sage or tarragon, garlic and white pepper, then drenched in the wine for slow oven-poaching. Throw in some fresh multi-colored carrots, some tiny golden yukon fingerling potatoes and some fresh garden peas and you have a one-pot dish that will make this golden colored beauty shine. Serve a freshly baked apple/caramel crisp sprinkled with crushed almonds and a dash of creme fraiche or freshly whipped cream and you have the perfect ending to a perfect meal. Save a bit of the wine to savor alone afterward, because, with its hearty, well balanced structure and beautiful 'legs', this beauty will just start opening up at meal's end to reveal even more astonishing taste treats. Be sure to buy two, because you just may want an encore performance at the following evening's meal. 

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

WINE OF THE WEEK-CHATEAU TIMBERLAY WHITE BORDEAUX 2013-$19.44

White Bordeaux blend dazzles with finesse and complexity at under $20

by Dwight Casimere

Year in and year out, France enjoys its reputation as the finest maker of wines in the world. Also, this year, as in all others, Bordeaux remains its most prized region. The common myth is that the wines of this coveted region are priced out of the realm of reality for most of we mere economic mortals. The truth is just the opposite, there are a number of wines from Bordeaux, known as 'petite' Bordeauxs that offer the same care in winemaking and an abundant amount of complexity and flavor as their more expensive counterparts. Fortunately, they are readily available for your discovery in the New Year. A case in point is the versatile, highly flavorful and affordable Chateau Timberlay White Bordeaux 2013, a lively blend of 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Bordeaux that is crisp, dry and delicate with flavors citrus fruit, such as Asian Pear, Meyer Lemon and a hint of tangerine and lovely floral notes. It has a lovely finish that literally  dances on tongue. If you're resolving to head to the lighter side of cuisine in the new year, this is excellent wine to have to tag along as  you explore less calorie laden fare.  Salads, seafood and dishes emphasizing fresh fruits and vegetables are perfect accompaniments. Spices and herbs  are a great way to amp up the flavor quotient in meals to excite your palate and make you less likely to crave salt and salt, the two worst enemies of weight loss. Consider Chateau Timberlay Bordeaux Blanc your flavor companion as you 'battle the bulge' in the New Year!