It's Spring--Think Pink !

As I have said before, Spring just makes a wine drinker "Think Pink." 30 Sec Wine Advisor thinks so, too.

"There's something about warmer weather than makes a glass of crisp, dry rosé wine seem just right.

Some wine enthusiasts are wary about rosé because they've been disappointed by mass-market "blush" wines, which tend to be soft, sweet and one-dimensional.

But a true dry rosé is another shade of pink entirely - crisp and fresh and very food-friendly - and well worth getting to know if you haven't already been introduced."

Here and here too, I have previously waxed poetic about the blushes--some of my favorite wines to drink!

In fact, I have been drinking bottle after bottle of Eye of Toad for over a week. And I have enjoyed every one--with everything from liver & onions to mac & beef to chicken fried venison & gravy to a really great salad to a nicely grilled rib eye & French fries. Yes, I truly love my job.

So, you want a wine for Easter?

Try a nice rosé.

In the past rosé wines have gotten a bad rap as most people have only been exposed to inferior or sickly sweet rosé. But, a well-crafted, dry rosé can be a wine of beauty: crisp, complex, refreshing, with sprightly fruit, and often with charming spicy notes and good acid that is admirable. They pair well with poultry, fish, pork or ham, spicy Latin or Asian dishes, even lamb or venison.

Any of these would make an excellent choice:

• Luna di Luna Pink Merlot
• MARQUÉS DE CÁCERES Rioja Rosado
• Little Penguin White Shiraz
• Stone Hill Blush
• Toad Hollow Eye of Toad (one of my personal favorites!)
• Beringer White Merlot
• Beringer White Zinfandel
• Livingston Cellars Red Rosé
• Livingston Cellars White Zinfandel

Smoking Loon 2005 California Merlot

Rusty ruby color with slightly orange edges. Slightly herbal on the nose, but what is there is nicely fruited. Soft and smooth in the mouth, very true to type, with an interesting medium-length finish. Easy to drink. And it has a fun "whoop, whoop" stamped, synthetic cork. (Get it? "loon"? "whoop"?)

from the Don Sebastiani & Sons winery:

This Merlot is dark garnet in color and has aromas of fresh basil, blueberries, and Bing cherries. With good richness without being too heavy on the palate, the flavors of fresh cherry pie, sweet plum, and soft cinnamon spiked cranberry dressing finishing with notes of rich, vanilla French oak and delicate cherry and strawberry flavors.

This wine is packed with flavor yet still has a delicate body. This is a versatile wine that can be served with bruschetta over toasted French bread or cherry preserves over Brie served with water crackers as an appetizer. You could serve this wine with salmon over wild rice with toasted almonds, grilled chicken on top of a spinach salad with walnuts and dried cranberries, or thyme roasted pork chops over mashers.

Well, I can't say I would argue with the serving suggestions. It all sounds like it would mate really well.

Now, if someone will only show up and make me some bruschetta and French bread!

What wine do I serve with Thanksgiving dinner?

"What wine do I serve with turkey?"

Here are some simple guidelines:
1. Serve just one white wine, or one red and one white wine.
Keep it simple. This helps guests not accidentally mix two different wines.

2. Serve wines that go with almost any food.
Your dinner will have a huge range of flavors, from spicy, to rich, to everything in between. So you want flexible wines with some fruit.

3. Serve great, affordable wines.
Most of your family are not wine experts. Help them enjoy the wine by picking simple, easy to drink wines. If you are a big wine fan, save your $50 a bottle favorite to relax after the holidays.

Recommendations:

From our stock, we have several choices, all under $15.

White wines:

• Rosemount Traminer Riesling - long our favorite recommendation
• Columbia Crest Sauvignon Blanc
• Columbia Crest Gewurztraminer
• Bolla Pinot Grigio

Red wines:

• George DeBouf Beaujolais Villages
• Camelot Pinot Noir
• Xplorador Malbec

Enjoy!

MARQUÉS DE CÁCERES Rioja Rosado 2006

MARQUÉS DE CÁCERES Rioja Rosado 2006 ( 87 points )

A bold rosé, delivering cherry, rose, menthol and herb flavors in a firm, full-bodied style. A bit rich on its own, but a good match for food. Drink now through 2008. 18,000 cases imported. From Spain. Wine Spectator

(Personal Notes)
I and my family enjoyed this Spanish rosé at an evening cook-out. It was a hit! A rosé that is big enough to stand up to a grilled steak and buttered corn on the cob. A great nose and nice nibble of a bite toward the end. A swell wine for a summer evening.

RAZOR'S EDGE Shiraz McLaren Vale 2005 --90 points

RAZOR'S EDGE
Shiraz McLaren Vale 2005

Smooth and round, with ripe plum, blackberry and dusky spice flavors that just don't quit, lingering on the open-textured finish. Not a big wine, but flavorful and graceful. Drink now through 2012. 20,000 cases made. From Australia. Wine Spectator

(Personal notes)
This wine is very much as presented. I felt some resting time (30 minutes) was needed to quiet it. Then, it had really nice early fruit, a long finish and a fairly soft & gentle middle. Truly nice to drink. Enjoyed it with spaghetti & a richly flavored, highly spiced tomato sauce. Great!

I love my job, I really do!