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Festive Spring Pairings
If
you stand very still and listen carefully, you can hear and feel it in
the air: the crocuses have popped, the robins have returned, and your
screen porch is once again beset by houseflies. Yes, though it felt as
if we'd never see the day, spring is practically here! With the
changing of the seasons come those annual festivals which people of
every faith celebrate to welcome the world's rebirth. Whether you
celebrate Easter, Passover, or the Vernal Equinox, here are some great
wines to go with a number of Spring classics.
Lamb
Juicy,
gamey and rich, thoughts of lamb conjure up a wide array of food
pairings. While it may be tempting to go with an over the top
Californian or Australian Cabernet, wines with a bit less body and a
touch more acidity actually make a much better match. Below is an array
of wines from around the world which will best bring out the complex
flavors of any cut of lamb.
Bodegas Juan Gil Monastrell Jumilla Red Wine was $16.99 now $13.99
L'Aventure Estate Cuvee 2005 was $69.99 now $48.99
Familia Mayol Bonarda 2006 was $15.99 now $13.99
Cass Estate Paso Robles 'Hacienda' Mourvedre 2005 was $29.99 now $24.99
Domaine Les Pallieres Gigondas 2004 was $35.99 now $29.99
Sandrone Barbera D'Alba 2004 was $35.99 now $28.99
Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Fabius 2004 was $58.99 now $46.99
Ham
Though
this moniker covers a broad range of styles and flavors, most ham may
be characterized as fatty, sweet and salty. As such, ham begs for a
wine that is both light in body and fruit driven enough to pick up on
the meat's sweetness and balance out its saltiness. Pinot Noir,
Beaujolais and Rose all make wonderful matches, amongst others. Below
are listed some of our favorites.
Pierre-Marie Chermette Cuvee traditionnelle Beaujolais vieilles vignes 2006 was $15.99 now $12.99
Louis Jadot Chateau des Jacques Moulin-a-vent 2005 was $25.99 now $21.99
Les Jamelles Pinot Noir Vin de Pays d'Oc 2006 was $9.99 now $8.99
Miguel Torres Santa Digna Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 2007 was $10.99 now $9.99
Domaine Bellevue Touraine Rose 2007 was $11.99 now $9.99
Christian Lauverjat Sancerre Rose 2007 was $19.99 now $17.99
Eggs
Whether
hard boiled, deviled or scrambled, people are often put ill at ease
with the prospect of pairing eggs and wine. With a lightness of flavor
that makes them ill suited to reds, and a propensity to taste sulphuric
with still whites, there is only one solution to the problem of eggs: a
bottle of bubbly! Sparkling wine's inherent effervesce brings out the
flavor in almost any dish, and with the right combination of delicate
aromas and good acidity, a sparkler will bring out the best in almost
any preparation of this incredible edible. Here are a few of our
favorites.
Zefiro Prosecco Brut was $13.99 now $10.99
Adriano Adami Bosco di Gica Prosecco Brut was $15.99 now $13.99
Simonnet- Febvre Cremant de Bourgogne was 19.99 now $16.99
Simonnet-Febvre Pinot Noir Cremant de Bourgogne was $19.99 now $16.99
Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label was $41.99 now $38.99
Bitter Greens
Turnip,
Spinach, Chard and their ilk, being some of the first vegetables to
come up in the new season, are common fixtures on many a springtime
table. Whether prepared in a light salad or boiled with ham, these
leafy greens will be brought to life in the company of a dry, high acid
white such as Sauvignon or Chenin blanc.
Domaine de Vaufuget Vouvray 2006 was $11.99 now $9.99
Dog Point Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007 was $21.99 now $18.99
Kenwood Sauvignon Blanc 2006 was $9.99 now $7.99
Les Champs Clos Sancerre 2005 was $23.99 now $18.99
Asparagus
Aspargus
is one of the few foods with a biological disposition against pairing
with wine. High in a chemical dubbed "cynarin," Asparagus (and its
cousin the Artichoke) will make most wines consumed in its company
taste sour and metallic. Though this is almost universal, there are a
few places in the world that produce wine immune to this reaction. If
you plan on putting these tasty shoots on your dinner table, make sure
you have a bottle of Alsace or Alto Adige white on hand; here are a few
of our best sellers.
Trimbach Gewurztraminer 2004 was $17.99 now 15.99
Cantina Terlano Gewurztraminer 2005 was $25.99 now $19.99
Cantina Terlano Alto Adige Terlaner Classico 2006 was $19.99 now $16.99
Domaine Jean-Luc Mader Gewurztraminer 2006 was $19.99 now $ 15.99
Milk Chocolate
By
now most of us have plowed through the last of our Valentines day
truffles and are ready for the milk chocolate eggs and bunnies! Where
the former's rich filling and (usually) darker chocolate call for a
bigger, richer wine like port, milk chocolate is better suited to
something a bit lighter. Italian reciotos, while by no means 'light,'
pack less of a punch than their fortified cousins, and are therefor
less likely to overcome the chocolate. Botrytised wines like Saunternes
and Tokaji also make a great accompaniment.
Guarini Rarum Salento Passito was $34.99 now $27.99
Falesco Pomele 2005 was $25.99 now $21.99
Chateau Coutet Sauternes-Barsac 2003 was $25.99 now $22.99
Chateau Rieussec Grand Cru Classe Sauternes 2003 was $59.99 now $53.99
Royal Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos 2003 was 45.99 now $40.99
Pick up a bottle and toast the coming of spring!
Cheers,
The Wine Specialist
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