Cotes du Rhone Villages

Red Cotes du Rhone wines are from a key wine region in the Southeast of France and are a blend of Syrah, Granache, and maybe Mourvedre.  Most French wines do not possess the characteristic of being strongly fruitforward, but this wine had a wonderful array of fruit flavors to offer such as crushed blueberries and bright cherries, spice, black pepper, and smoke. It can also boast of a silky,smooth finish.

I paired it with smoked pork steak (cooked with a spice rub) served with a side of Country Bob's barbeque sauce. This was an awesome combination of flavors.  (We also had a bottle of Valpolicella wine (partially made in the ripasso style) that went equally as well with the smoked meat.)

Laurence Feraud of Domaine du Pegau and Andre Brunel of Les Cailloux partnered together for this wonderful Rhone blend that has received scores of 86-91 from several organizations. Prices are around or below $20.  I found it for less at Costco - whose a thoughtfully assembled wine collection I regularly survey.

Keep this one in mind for summer barbeque and hardy meats - especially grilled and smoked! Cheers!

Louis Latour! Ooolala!

I am in love with Louis Latour -- his wines, I mean.  Over the weekend, I was fortunate enough to attend the Food and Wine Experience at the renowned Chase Park Plaza Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri, which for 3 days offered various levels of tasting opportunities.  In the VIP Tasting Room, we were treated to wonderful hors d'oeuvres supplied by Schnucks Markets and some incredible wines.

I took the photo below with my iPhone, one-handed - hence, the blurriness.  Nonetheless, the famous branding of Maison Louis Latour identifies the pedigree of these outstanding wines.

From the Cote D'Or in Burgundy, France, I savored samples of a Marsannay Rouge , a Chassagne Montrachet Chardonnay, and an incredible Aloxe-Corton Premier Cru Les Chaillet Pinot Noir. Even for those who struggle to identify the array of flavors present in wines, when it's a good wine, a wine lover knows it! The Latour family has been producing wines since the 17th century, and they are masters of fine wine production.

The best way to get familiar with great wines is to attend wine tasting events such as this, where you can taste a variety of wines side by side. Learn how quality wines taste. This then becomes your measure for others.  Are you familiar with good Chardonnays? Outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon? An great old world Pinot Noir? Find local wine shops and attend those tastings. Cheers!

Barbera d'Asti

 

Barbera d'Asti is a great dry red wine from the Piedmont or Piemonte wine region of Italy. In northwestern Italy, the Asti area is perhaps the best known.  Quality wines are rated DOC; exceptional wines DOCG - Denominazione de Origine Controllata e Garantita - where the G represents a promise (guarantee) of quality.
This 2010 Barbera does not disappoint. it offers great berry/dark fruit flavors, lingering nicely on the palate. I found this one at Trader Joe's in the St. Louis area.