Last weekend was spent poking around used bookshops and
flea markets north of Toronto where I stumbled upon an old copy of Wines of France by Alexis Lichine. I now have three copies of this book in various editions, one of which travels everywhere with me. Lichine's words captivate, and I am truly fascinated by his recollection of the historic villages in Burgundy. I also intend to follow his notes next month as I make my way through the same
villages and stand in the same stonewalled vineyards 60 years later. Excitement might be an understatement!
This week, a Spanish favourite of North of 9 makes its third appearance
in Wine for the Weekend.
This red changes slightly from one vintage to the next (as do all quality
wines) and this year, I find that it packs a slightly bigger punch in
terms of flavour intensity. We’ll also
travel to Germany ’s
Pfalz region for a taste of Gewurztraminer that I think you will enjoy as well.
I am thrilled to have Christine Cooper aka. MamaCoop sharing
her thoughts with us in this week’s WineSpot.
I’ll be sure to link you to her website after the post where you can explore a never-ending
cookbook of recipes, photos, and delicious pairings…
Thanks for reading and enjoy the wine!
White
2011 Darting,
Gewürztraminer Kabinett – Pfalz, Germany
An über tasty last minute quaffer as we wave good-bye to
summer. Ripe stone fruit with a creamy
richness; stewed peaches, lychee(ish), and a hint of spice that grabs you
mid-palate. The 10.5% alc/vol allows for
the residual sweetness and there is the slightest amount of effervescence,
though only barely detectable in terms of texture. A
touch more acidity would benefit, but this suffices nicely as a light, simple,
and unassuming sipper. Serve well
chilled. $16.95 (#944181) Vintages – off
dry
Red
2008 LAN Rioja Crianza
– Spain
Aromas of vanilla extract, subdued dark fruit and hints of leather. I really enjoyed this. The taste
explodes with plum skin and cranberry tartness; medium bodied and laced with mouth-watering acidity. The cranberry lingers well into the finish. This one just begs for a food pairing - let’s try it with tapas on the patio as
the leaves begin to fall. $15.95 (#166538)
Vintages – dry
BANFI CENTINE 2010
VINTAGES 947440 | Italy
Christine shares her thoughts with us: Castello Banfi has a well-earned reputation
for producing some incredible wines from Italy ’s Montalcino region, in
particular, their expensive Brunello di Montalcino labels. At $15.95, the 2010 Centine may not be a bottle of Brunello; it is, however,
a blend of sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and a straight up bargain! For its age and cost, this one is a winner
all the way.
The 2010 Centine is very light on both the palate and
nose. It’s not a complicated wine but
there is no denying the very distinct taste of sweet, juicy, ripe black
cherries synonymous with wines produced in this region. The blend of the three grapes lends itself to
drinking this wine while it is still quite young. I jokingly refer to this bargain as a 'Super
baby Tuscan'.
As for food pairings, this wine begs for simplicity. You can keep it really easy by serving it
alongside a basic rustic cheese & charcuterie board or even better, a
Margherita styled pizza with fresh basil, San Marzano tomatoes and mozzarella
di bufala. This wine is also perfect for
a cheap and cheerful spaghetti dinner - Nothing says loving quite like a big
plate of pasta! Here’s my recipe for my
all time favourite pasta sauce, a traditional Emilia Romanga styled Bolognese: recipe link
Link to Vintages product availability >> here
~> I’d love 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.
