Wine Pick of the Week: February 4, 2016

Pasqua 2011 Passi Mento (Italy)

This week and next, I’ll feature romantic wines for Valentine’s Day, and, since I’m featuring Italian food on the “Soul” page, the wines will be Italian, too. First up is this red blend from Verona with the intriguing label.

Verona, as you may know, is the setting for William Shakespeare’s tale of Romeo and Juliet. There is a house there, La Casa di Giulietta, said to be where the real Capulet family (and Juliet) lived. A tradition developed of people writing their beloveds’ names on the wall outside, believing that by doing so the love would be everlasting. Awww.

Pasqua has made this wine a tribute to their hometown attraction and named it for the “appassimento” process by which it’s made. The process leaves hand-harvested grapes to dry in wooden trays for one month, reducing the water content and concentrating the sugar.  This wine is 40 percent Merlot, 30 percent Corvina, and 30 percent Croatina.

The 2011 has a deep purplish color and a rustic sense. The nose is blackberry and cherry with chocolate and coffee. There are red cherries to start on the taste, a little earthy spice, then that coffee and a little tobacco. It’s off-dry and slightly acidic, but softens and sweetens as it lingers in the glass.

It isn’t a terribly complex wine—there’s a blast of flavors, then it finishes with red fruit. Passi Mento is dry enough yet sweet enough to handle the cured meats and hard cheeses of antipasti. It would also be good with pasta and red sauce, pizza, bleu cheese and a burger with grilled onions and mushrooms.  

Next week, prosecco with dessert. Molto ben. 

Wine Pick of the Week: December 30, 2015

Lucien Albrecht Cremant d’Alsace Brut Rose NV(France)

This is a lovely way to end the year. The beautiful pale salmon color of this sparkler comes from soft pressing hand-picked Pinot Noir grapes and leaving the skins on briefly—and this is 100 percent Pinot Noir. The Albrecht family of Alsace has been making wine since 1425 and was instrumental in the evolution of cremant.

 I get a light scent of strawberries at the very first, then fresh baked bread. Strawberry comes through right away at first taste, too, and transitions to tangy citrus and lemon. This is not a sweet wine, nor dry. The finish is soft and more off-dry with a hint of minerals. It’s refreshing, and the bubbles make it tingle.

It’s also under $20, which is reasonable for a quality French sparkling wine. I know that it’s available at Malcho’s Wine & Spirits on Empire Blvd. in the Rochester, NY area.

This would be beautiful with a strawberry in the glass. Pair it with a strawberry or raspberry swirl cheesecake, mild cheeses like brie with a raspberry glaze or Port Salut, and charcuterie that isn’t too spicy.  

Thank you for your support of ArtSoulWine.com this year, and best wishes for 2016! 

Wine Pick of the Week: December 17, 2015

Deaver Vineyards Almond Sparkling Wine NV (California)

Continuing with our toasts to festive bubblies this month, I present Deaver Vineyards Almond Sparkling Wine.  Made from a California sparkling (probably mostly Chardonnay grapes) and natural almond flavoring, the wine is definitely on the sweet side without being syrupy or sugary. When I sold a similar product in Oregon, I nicknamed it “Almond Crack.” Before finishing the first glass, everyone wanted more.

The nose on this is the almond flavor. A friend tasting this bottle with me noted a “tang” but the wine smoothens out to the finish. I picked up a little apple flavor at first, then definitely almond, which dissipates to a more honey finish.  While it’s a sparkling wine, it isn’t as crisp as other styles—i.e. Champagne, Prosecco, cava—and the bubbles don’t last quite as long.

This easy drinker is just fun, perfect for bridal showers and weddings and any festive get together. For the holidays, enjoy it with other yummy treats like nut breads and rolls, sugar cookies, almond cookies, anything vanilla, or start your celebrating earlier in the day as the Deaver Vineyards website suggests, and pair it with a bear claw. 

Wine Pick of the Week: December 10, 2015

Dr. Konstantin Frank Chateau Frank Celebre Riesling Cremant NV  (NY)

If you drink wine and live in New York state, Dr. Konstantin Frank is a fixture, an institution, a standard in the wine industry, especially when it comes to Rieslings. Consistently winning gold medals for the last two decades in competitions throughout the world, Dr. Frank’s wines are what got the international and US aficionados to take a closer look at the Finger Lakes. That said, I saw this on the shelf and had to try it.

The nose is definitely honey with a touch of fruit—apple or a bit of citrus. Pale color with lots of long-lasting bubbles. By the way, this is made in the traditional Methode Champenoise with 100 percent Finger Lakes Riesling grapes.

The tasting begins with fruit—apples, actually—a little tart at first and not really sweet Riesling. Flavors transition to honey with the slightest hint of vanilla. It’s crisp, then silky. The finish is off-dry with just a waft of fall spice possibly.

This is a crowd pleaser for holiday parties, and the $20 price isn’t outrageous for the smooth flavors and unique take on this traditional grape. I will be adding a few more bottles to my frig.