Yesterday, I discussed "Dog Day Wines of Summer" on XM Radio's Broadminded with Jill Zimorski of Cafe Atlantico & Mini Bar. The perfect wines on a hot summer day exude crisp and refreshing acidity and don't tire the palate. Look for high acid wines from grapes like Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Albariño, Pinot Gris/Grigio or blends from Spain's Basque Region. Stay away from oaky Chardonnay as the weight of the wine can tire out the palate, not to mention high alcohol wines can come across "hot".
Here is a recap of wines discussed on yesterday's program. Click the link below to hear the audio clip from the show.
XM RADIO DOG DAY WINES OF SUMMER
Xarmant Txakolina, Basque Region, Spain--fresh white blend from Spain's Basque Region from indigenous grapes. Lemon-limon and citrus notes, mineral, slight bit of spritz. Mouthwatering finish. Great with sushi/seafood.
Morgadio Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain--aromatic with notes of banana, melon, apricot, spring flowers. Little more weighty than the Xarmant but crisp acidity and refreshing finish. Great with seafood.
Ca' Bona Pinot Grigio Rosé, Lombardy, Italy--the coolest Pinot Grigio I have ever seen. As Pinot Grigio grape skins have a slight pinky color, its possible to make a Rosé from macerating the grape skins with the grape juice to extract color. Fresh and light like a white Pinot Grigio with a slight watermelon and strawberry flavor.
Cederberg Chenin Blanc, Cederberg, South Africa--over the top aromatics. Loads of white grapefruit, lemon-lime zest and a touch of peach. Zesty finish.
Lynfred Seyval Blanc, Illinois--Perfect for those looking for a sweeter wine yet is refreshing. Smells similar to Sauvignon Blanc with ripe grapefruit, lychee/floral notes, apricot with just a little sweetness. Refreshing finish.
For those of you who just don't do white, try high acid reds like Beaujolais, Pinot Noirs (from Oregon or Europe) or even the Italian favs Dolcetto or Barbera. Chill the reds for approximately 15 minutes in the fridge for a more refreshing experience.
Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Wine of the Week Returns...
It's been a while since I have made a weekly recommendation on something for you all to hustle out to the wine shop like a herd of elephants and snatch up. My apologies. This week, I have decided to send you out on a little white wine hunt for Noon Gun from Flagstone Winery.
What a bargain! Only $7.99 at the Wine Specialist at New Hampshire and M Streets, NW in downtown Washington, DC.
This is a GREAT everyday drinking wine. Loads of vivid fruit...peach, nectarine, lemon, orange and a touch of green grass. Crisp acidity. A fine pairing for tomatoes drizzled in olive oil and asparagus. From the Western Cape of South Africa. A blend of Weisser Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon.
Photo courtesy of flagstonewines.com
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Going South....
So, we all know that Chilean and Argentine wines are hot. They both seem to be the darlings of the wine press as of late. South Africa has also had its share of the limelight. This evening I had an opportunity to taste some of the more exciting wines helping to put South Africa on the world map of wine.
After a grueling day in the office, I met up with Mark Congdon, a contact of mine from the Country Vintner. The Country Vintner is one of the area's best wine wholesalers, specializing in smaller, boutique producers. Mark had just finished a tasting with the folks from Acadiana Restaurant and we met afterwards to taste his lot of South African goodies.
Two grape varietals stand out as being the best to come from this far corner of the globe: Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. The Syrahs are quite good too and I am also beginning to get a handle on Pinotage (the grape which is a cross between Cinsault and Pinot Noir). Both the Chenin and Sauvignon Blancs exhibit crisp, clean flavos, with piercing acidity. Perfect for sipping on a hot summer day in August.
Some picks:
2004 Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc
2004 Graham Beck "Waterside" Sauvignon Blanc
2003 Firefinch Sauvignon Blanc
Another fav was the 2003 Bouchard Finlayson Missionvale Chardonnay. I almost thought I was drinking White Burgundy with its rich mouthfeel notes of oak, vanilla, and crisp fruit. A beautifully crafted Chard.
By far one of the best of the bunch was the 2002 Onyx Noble Late Harvest Dessert Wine. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE NOSE. Notes of mango, apricots and orange peel with an almost viscous mouthfeel. Ample acidity to keep the wine from being overly cloying. Made from 100% Chenin Blanc.
After a grueling day in the office, I met up with Mark Congdon, a contact of mine from the Country Vintner. The Country Vintner is one of the area's best wine wholesalers, specializing in smaller, boutique producers. Mark had just finished a tasting with the folks from Acadiana Restaurant and we met afterwards to taste his lot of South African goodies.
Two grape varietals stand out as being the best to come from this far corner of the globe: Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. The Syrahs are quite good too and I am also beginning to get a handle on Pinotage (the grape which is a cross between Cinsault and Pinot Noir). Both the Chenin and Sauvignon Blancs exhibit crisp, clean flavos, with piercing acidity. Perfect for sipping on a hot summer day in August.
Some picks:
2004 Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc
2004 Graham Beck "Waterside" Sauvignon Blanc
2003 Firefinch Sauvignon Blanc
Another fav was the 2003 Bouchard Finlayson Missionvale Chardonnay. I almost thought I was drinking White Burgundy with its rich mouthfeel notes of oak, vanilla, and crisp fruit. A beautifully crafted Chard.
By far one of the best of the bunch was the 2002 Onyx Noble Late Harvest Dessert Wine. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE NOSE. Notes of mango, apricots and orange peel with an almost viscous mouthfeel. Ample acidity to keep the wine from being overly cloying. Made from 100% Chenin Blanc.
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