abc (anything but chardonnay)

We've all heard the phrase, "anything but chardonnay" and as I explored the next four white grape varieties, Arinto, Arneis, Bombino Blanco and Catarratto, this definitely rang true.

Once again I convinced Steve and Virginia to assist me with tasting the next couple of grapes on my list. The first wine, a Broadbent Vinho Verde NV from Portugal, is a blend that includes the grape Arinto (aka Pederna). Vinho Verde is the most popular white wine in Portugal. The wine was very clear (almost like water), light (only 9% alcohol) with a hint of lemon and slightly effervescent. We decided to pair this wine with a grilled chicken Caesar salad; compliments of Steve's grilling talents and Virginia's culinary skills. Locating a wine with this grape variety, Arinto was challenging but I found it at the Inwood Village Pogo's Wine & Spirit (http://www.pogoswine.com/) with the assistance of Michael Needleman. I can honestly say that I would probably pass on another bottle of this wine but happy that I was able to share it with good food and much laughter with Steve and Virginia.

The next wine that Steve, Virginia and I sipped was an Italian 2008 Costalupo Illuminati, a blend that includes the Bambino Blanco grape. I discovered this dry, crisp white wine with the help of Alfonso Cevola (http://www.alfonsocevola.com/) at Jimmy's Italian Food and Wine store. ( http://www.jimmysfoodstore.com/. The grilled chicken Caesar salad also paired well with this chilled wine and we agreed that seafood, pasta and even Mediterranean cuisine would compliment the wine also. The wine had hints of citrus and a little pear and Virginia commented that anyone who enjoyed Chardonnay should try this wine. We did discover an undefined finish and as Steve so humorously put it "the finish just went poof"! I may try this wine again but it will be by the swimming pool next summer on one of those hot Dallas afternoons.

The third white grape variety that I tasted was the Italian grape Arneis (ahr-NAYZ) primarily grown in Italy's Piedmont region. The wine, Ceretto Blange' Arneis purchased at Jimmy's for $19.89 was truly delightful! The Thomas sisters, Ann and Jane joined Meredith and me as we sipped this very appealing dry, lightly bubbly white wine with its bouquet of apples and pears. We served it with a yummy Artesian Sea Salt bread from Tom Thumb grocery store, a great bargain at 99cents. The sea salt in the bread and the wine's light fruitiness was a wonderful combination. It was decided that the wine would be a perfect aperitif and/or served with fruit, a creamy cheese or even a brunch omelet. I have been making a list of "keepers" since I began this tasting project, and the Ceretto Blange' Arneis will definitely be added it to my list.

The final "abc" grape variety was a wonderful Sicilian wine, 2008 Regaleali Tasca D'Almerita Bianco that included the grape, Catarratto (kah-tahr-RAHT-toh) in its blend. Catarratto is Italy's most cultivated white variety. Meredith and I were pleasantly surprised to discover this wine with its bright color, mild acidity and hints of honeydew melon, apricots and lemongrass. We served it with broiled shrimp marinated in olive oil and a lemon/garlic spice from Penzeys Spices store. Unbelievably delicious! The lemon flavor in both the wine and the marinated shrimp created a "bomb effect" in your mouth that exploded with flavor! Meredith described this tasting experience as "it's the bomb"! What a fabulous combination~ This wine will be Numero Uno on my "keeper" list.

Two Red Wines

I made a quick trip to Houston this weekend to explore two red grape varieties with my daughter Meredith and my parents, three generations of wine aficionados. The wines we tasted were a 2007 Francis Coppola Alicante Bouschet and a 2006 Tinto da Anfora from Portugal. Both of these wines with the grape varieties Alicante Bouschet and Alfrocheiro proved challenging to locate but Robert Emery at Goody Goody's liquor store in Addison once again came to my rescue. The Coppola Alicante Bouschet was surprisingly good with a medium bodied texture and fruity aromas such as red currants and cherries. Pulled pork sandwiches and roasted vegetables pair well with this wine. "No matter what color their skins, the great majority of wine grapes have clear juice. Very few have red colored juice; the French call these types teinturier, literally "dyers". One of the most famous and widely-planted is a wine grape cross, Alicante Bouschet, created by a French father and son vine breeders." (http://www.winepros.org). Alicate Bouschet was also popular in California during prohibition. The intensely colored wine could be diluted and still taste good.

The second wine that we tasted was the Tinto da Anfora from the Alentejo region of Portugal. It is a blend with 5% Alfrocheiro and these grapes making up the balance: Argonez, Touriga Nacional, Trincaderia, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine was a dark ruby color with a plummy, ripe fruit, rustic, earthy aroma. We discussed Tyler Coleman's definition of the 'arc'. "You need to pay attention and try to capture the entire arc of the wine. The best wines have a beautiful arc. The arc is broken down into three states: the "attack", the midpalate and the finish. Think about plotting this on any X-Y axis and sketching at what point the wine is most intense. Many young wines today are all attack and then fall flat." We all agreed that the Tinto da Anfora definitely fell flat on the finish but we would look forward to opening another bottle of the Alicante Bouschet for our next family tasting.