Leaf detail and yard cleanup were the priority last weekend. And while I
did manage to address that task to completion, I believe that far more time was
spent writing about my trek through the Côte d'Or earlier this month. If
you've been following my blog, thank you for reading. If you would like
to join the adventure, I've posted three separate articles detailing the trip.
I'll link you up after this week's wine selections.
Having come close to Pinot Noir saturation over the last two weeks, I found
myself in search of a contrasting taste. A trip to the Italian section of our
cellar produced a bottle of Barbera that quickly solved that dilemma. Barbera's
style hints at Pinot in terms if body and the obvious red fruit, but the real
difference lies in the streak of acidity that I find pairs perfectly with pizza,
pasta, burgers, or most other flavourful profiles - but the best part is that the lable I've found will only set you back 17 dollars.
This week's white selection sneaks above the $20 limit, sorry about that, but
trust me when I say this late harvest German Riesling is well worth the
little bit extra.
In this week's WineSpot, Annette from Windsor
shares her thoughts with us on a few go-to wines that she keeps handy for
impromptu gatherings. I think you will enjoy the convenience of her setup.
Enjoy the wines...
White
2009 Bollig Lehnert, Riesling Spätlese – Mosel,
Germany
The pronounced late harvest aromas of apricot and honey jump out of the glass
while a fine balance of sweetness and refreshing acidity hold the package
together nicely. Lime citrus lingers on
the finish. A very good bottle of
Riesling to enjoy alongside Chicken Kiev. Vintages #284422 750mL $21.95
off-dry
Red
2009 Climent Cossetti, Barbera d'Asti –
Piedmont, Italy
This wine knocked my socks off. Like Chianti or Crianza Rioja, Barbera
is light bodied with a bright, juicy core of dark fruits that will pair well
with a wide range of food styles. This particular example also has a slight roundness
on the palate, likely due to very ripe fruit at the time of harvest which takes it one-step
beyond the typicity of the style. Serve slightly chilled alongside dried
meats, olives, and herbs breads. Vintages #106278 750mL $16.95 dry
Annette tells me that she does a fair amount of entertaining. Many of the
guests who stop by her condo do so with little notice, which she really enjoys.
The key, she recalls, is that when impromptu guests arrive, you need to
be ready with a stash of go-to wines and ready-to-serve appetizers.
"It's fun when people pop by for a visit and I like to make it look
like I was expecting them." she jokes.
Annette's essential bottles for short notice gatherings
- Sparkling wine - always chilled and ready-to-serve while you whip together a
few nibblies and listen to the latest news over the countertop. You can
keep the cost down by serving Cremant, Prosecco, or Cava instead of expensive
- A crisp white and a fruity red - both pair well with so many different food
styles. Keep them both chilled. The white is ready-to-serve and the
red will warm slightly in the glass as you chat. Think Pinot Grigio and Chianti
classico or even
- A big red - sometimes people need a shoulder to lean on, and a soothing full-bodied
red served at room temperature can taste so good at the wrong time. Try
California Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, or an Australian
I love this thought process Annette - thank you for sharing your ideas with us!
~> I’d like to hear your thoughts on a food & wine pairing: What is your favourite dish? And which wine highlights the flavours of the
food? Send me a quick note with your
thoughts and I’ll publish it in a future edition of Wine for the Weekend.
Link to: Exploring Burgundy 's Côte d'Or
As always, thank you for reading and have a wonderful weekend.
Cheers,
T
