If the truth be known, I’m not exactly sure where the cockles of the heart are? But with the frigid temperatures Eastern Canada recently experienced, I have discovered how to keep warm, and it involves my fireplace and red wine. Oh, and cheese. There’s always cheese.
This is actually a picture of my home and a typical Friday or Saturday night during the winter. I’ve even been known to enjoy this scene on a weeknight as well. Wine is like comfort food to me.
Here’s a wonderful wine I’ve tried recently from New Zealand, the Mas Buscados is a blend of Tempranillo and Petite Verdot. It was a medium bodied wine with soft food-friendly flavors and there were hints of black pepper and licorice. This is not overly oaky, even though 3 different types of oak were used… French oak, American Oak and Hungarian Oak. Honestly, I think this is the first time I’ve had oak from Hungary, said to soften tannins and enchance smoky characteristics. The only one I’ve ever had from Hungary was Royal Tokajji , and I’m pretty confident they don’t use oak on that delicious sweet wine. I think this is a tremendous value, at just $17.99 a bottle here in my part of the world, and almost made my wine of the week, it was that good.
My friend Judy and I have been on a huge Ripasso kick. We both love how it meets in the middle between a Valpolicella and an Amarone. This particular wine, the Fabiano Valpolicella Ripasso, is made from the Corvina grape, sometimes used in a blend, but this time it’s all on its own. I thought the flavors and characteristics of this wine were dynamic. It is very aromatic on the nose and flavorful on the palate, and Ripasso has become one of my top favorites to enjoy with pizza or pasta.
And now it’s time for my wine of the week, and I’ve actually been waiting a few weeks to tell you about this wine.
The 1000 Stories Zinfandel featuring the mighty Buffalo on the label is fantastic. Less than 200 years ago between 30 million and 60 million buffalo roamed North America, and now there are only about 1000 accounted for. This wine is aged in bourbon barrels and you might think it would have the wine tasting boozy, but it doesn’t. This wine is fabulous, with a splash of Petite Sirah added to the Zinfandel grape, to add some flavors of spice and black pepper to the wine. Great food wine, great barbecue food wine, for those like me that barbecue all year round.
Be a hero to a wine bottle near you! Have a great week everyone
Till next week, Cheers
Darlene
Wine-It’s Just My Opinion 