The blend: 96% merlot, 4% cabernet sauvignon
Why you should buy it: Because it's one of the most highly regarded boutique wines from Napa. Parker gave it a 91, and he appparently knows what he's talkign about. Also, the winemaker's surname is Gott and the winegrower's name is Pott. When you put those two together I, for one, am a very happy camper.
What it tastes like: Plums plucked from chocolate trees in a valley full of violets... with a fresh-brewed cup of coffee on the side.
What to serve it with: I had it with an amazing hamburger and it was, well, amazing
Say this and sound smart: Dion, Jose Feliciano, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and Billy Preston are among the many artists who've covered the Beatles' hit "Blackbird"
The price: $80
(We profiled three additional wines this week. Click link below to read about them)
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The blend: 100 % Riesling
Why you should buy it: Hugel is a prestige wine at a rank and file price
What it tastes like: A very fruity, floral wine that finishes clean. Which raises an interesting question — if a wine finishes dirty, does that mean it’s not the sort of wine you’d ever bring home to mom?
What to serve it with: Sautéed scallops and grilled asparagus, Asian cuisine as well
Say this and sound smart: Riesling planting in France’s Alsace region dates back to 1477, the same year as the effeminately appelled Battle of Nancy
The price: $20
The blend: 95% merlot, 5% cabernet franc
Why you should buy it: Because, believe it or not, there are a number of stellar, and yet affordable wines from Bordeaux. This is one of them, from one of the great Bordeaux vintages of the past hundred years.
What it tastes like: I picked up hints of cherry, and hints of truffle. A strange combo to be sure, but one that really dazzles the palate
What to serve it with: Chicken. And yes, I realize this is a red wine, but trust me, it rocks with chicken.
Say this and sound smart: What’s another word for ‘thesaurus’?
The price: $23
Tenuta di Arceno PrimaVoce 2004
The blend: 85% merlot, 15% cabernet sauvignon
Why you should buy it: Because the ’04 merlot grape
crop in Tuscany was exceptional. The PrimaVoce is a
Super Tuscan, and super things are cool. Superman.
Super Bowl. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. See
what I mean?
What it tastes like: Have you ever enjoyed a Right
Bank Bordeaux? This tastes like one of those. Think
chocolate-covered cherries on a bed of roses.
What to serve it with: Sausage. Lots and lots of
sausage. I’m talking “crowd at a UFC championship
fight” amounts of sausage.
Say this and sound smart: “PrimaVoce means ‘first
voice’ in an opera.”
The price: $20
Website: www.tenutadiarceno.com
The grape: Take a guess.
Why you should buy it: Because malbecs made in America (this one’s from Monterey County) are a rare breed indeed, and Lockwood’s inaugural vintage knocked our socks off. The lesson here – don’t buy cheap socks. Get the good ones with the strong elastic.
What it tastes like: Blueberries sprayed with firm tannin sauce (if such a thing existed).
What to serve it with: We had the Lockwood malbec with a grilled cheese sandwich and it was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
Say this and sound smart: The idea that palladium or titanium might catalyze fusion stems from the special ability of these metals to absorb large quantities of hydrogen (including its deuterium isotope), the hope being that deuterium atoms would be close enough together to induce fusion at ordinary temperatures.
The price: $14
Website: www.lockwood-wine.com
RED by St. Francis 2004
Why you should buy it: Because it's a really tasty table wine at a great price. Plus, it's got a cool label ... twelve of them, actually.
The blend: 60% merlot, 29% cabernet sauvignon, 7% cab franc, 4% zinfandel
What it tastes like: It's got a strong red wine quality to it
What to serve it with: Braised short ribs, pasta puttanesca, pizzetta, lasagna. Perfect for a laid-back dinner with friends.
Say this and sound smart: Having the fewest wants, I am nearest to the gods.
The price: $13
Hogue 2003 Reserve Merlot
Hogue 2003 Reserve Merlot
The scoop: Hogue is known for turning out stellar merlot, and the 2003 vintage is a fine example.
The taste: You know what a cassis is? No, it’s not Ali’s former name, silly – it’s a black currant. This wine taste’s like that: The black currant, not Ali.
Quite a pair: The notes the publicist gave me suggested pairing this wine with a bacon-wrapped filet mignon and bleu cheese sauce. That sounds incredible, but if you’re like me and can’t afford a filet, try it with a hamburger. Cheeseburger if you’re feeling fancy.
Say this and sound smart: I already gave you the stuff about the cassis … what do you want from me.
The damáge: 10 x 3 = A bottle of Hogue ’03 Reserve Merlot
Merryvale 2003 Starmont Merlot
Merryvale 2003 Starmont Merlot
The scoop: In its 23-year history, Merryvale has emerged as one of the most celebrated wineries in Napa, and – over the past three hours – it’s become one of The Imbiber’s personal faves. They produce upwards of 90,000 cases of wine per year, and this particular wine was released last May. The Starmont Merlot blend contains 12 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 1 percent Cab Franc, which really amps up the tannins. Which reminds me, if you’re planning on tannin, use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30!
The taste: Quite complex for such a young wine. Certainly a great pour now, but I’d recommend holding onto it until, say, 2009. It’ll be pregnant with flavor then.
Quite a pair: Go out and buy the best porterhouse steak you can find for the grill. Of course, if you’re taking my previous advice and cellaring the wine for a few years, there’s a good chance the meat will go bad by then. In fact, it’s probably best to hold off on buying that porterhouse until you’re ready to yank the cork on the Starmont Merlot.
Say this and sound smart: “The Cask Room at Merryvale is often cited as Napa Valley’s most memorable setting for special events.”
The damáge: $25
