Month: August 2013

General Wine, Red wines

Wine Bargains No. 9 and No. 10 leave two to go

WineI’m closing in on my bargain case of quality wine for less than $100. I tasted and tested several contenders over my vacation week and made two outstanding selections: The 2011 Piazzo Barbera from the Piemonte region of Italy, and the 2011 Montes Classic Series Cabernet Sauvignon from Colchagua Valley, Chile. Both sell for less […]

General Wine

Wine Bargain No. 8: Project Paso Zinfandel

I think one of the most versatile — and underappreciated wines — is Zinfandel. This wonderful varietal produces very aromatic wines of medium acidity, medium to high tannins and medium to dry sweetness. If Zinfandel were in politics, it would be a good middle-of-the-roader. Applying this wine to food, Zinfandel can go with a wide […]

General Wine

Wine Bargain No. 7: Flaco Tempranillo

I put the sausage and lean hamburgers on the grill. The heat was near 550 degrees. The Wine Goddess had already pre-boiled the sausage, turning it tender and sweet. As an accompaniment, she was frying red and green garden peppers and onions on the stove. These were going to be better than the SP&O bombs […]

General Wine

Wine Bargain No. 6: Aveleda Vinho Verde

What white wine can you pair with both fish or bacon? It might amaze you — as it did me — that the Portuguese have a clean, crisp wine that you can drink with a breakfast meal — bacon and eggs — then pack it away for the evening hours and serve it with a […]