Wine Beneath The Palms

Rosé is the wine when you don't know what to drink

When you're stumped, when you can't figure out what wine to serve with a picnic, barbecue or casual summer supper, try rosé. It's as close as there is to an all-purpose wine.
In France they drink it with ratatouille, roast chicken and cassoulet. 
In Italy they drink it with chicken, veal, seafood and pasta. In Spain they drink it with squid salad, manchego cheese, spicy shrimp, grilled chorizo and Serrano ham.
   In America we drink it with tuna salad, takeout pork from Pollo Tropical and good old-fashioned barbecue, from pulled pork to deeply smoked ribs.
   It's delicate enough to drink by itself, crisp and tart when well-chilled to beat the summer heat. It's crisp enough to cut through fatty dishes and rich and fruity enough to handle spicy food. And it's cheap. 
Well, a lot of it is.
    Rosé can be made with any red grape. The wines in the list below are made of cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, gamay, grenache, cinsault, syrah, tempranillo, pinot meunier, corvina, rondinella and molinara.  Even the white Italian grape called cortese.
   It can be made in two ways … both based on the fact that even the juice of red grapes is white. A deep, dark cabernet sauvignon gets its inky hue from long contact of the juice with the red skins after crushing. Pour the juice off earlier … sometimes within hours of crushing … and you have rosé. The other way is to add just a bit of red wine to wine from a white grape like the Italian cortese or the French chardonnay just before bottling.
The epitome of rosé wines is rosé champagne … tinted from pale salmon to deep cherry red, with pinprick bubbles rising through them and the flavor and scent of fresh flowers. 
We drink that with everything. 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
· 2009 Jaboulet “Parallele 45” Rosé , Cotes du Rhone, France (grenache, cinsault, syrah): spicy black cherry and mineral aromas and flavors, crisp and tart; $12.
· Nonvintage Pommery Rosé Champagne, Reims, France (chardonnay, pinot noir, pinot meunier): tiny, long-lasting bubbles, pale strawberry hue, aromas of roses, flavors of yeast and ripe peaches; $60.

RECOMMENDED
· 2009 Pascal Jolivet “Attitude” Rosé Pinot Noir, Loire Valley, France (pinot noir, gamay, cabernet sauvignon): light and lively, crisp and fruity, with tart cherry flavors, tart finish; $16.
· 2009 La Scolca “Rosa Chiara'' Rosato, Piedmont, Italy (cortese, pinot noir): aromas of camellias, flavors of tart cherries and minerals, soft, rich and dry; $16.
· 2009 El Coto de Rioja Rosado, Rioja, Spain (tempranillo, garnacha): tart, crisp
strawberry flavors, lean, with a hint of tannin; $14.
· 2009 Hecht & Bannier Rosé, Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc-Roussillon, France (syrah, cinsault, grenache): ripe, red raspberry flavors, crisp, intense fruit, tart finish; $13.
· 2009 Santi “Infinito” Rosé, Bardolino, Veneto, Italy (corvina, rondinella, molinara): rich, tart strawberries, full-bodied, tart finish; $11.

 

Syrah a wine for all seasons

   Syrah has always been one of my favorite grapes. Grown in France's Northern Rhône Valley, it makes an august, powerful wine tasting of black plums, licorice, spice and black pepper, with a powerful opulence that improves when aged 10 years or more.

   Grown in warm, sunny Australia, where they call it shiraz (even though it's the same grape) it can be jammy and soft, tasting of strawberries and cinnamon, and can be drunk the day you buy it.

   It has a kind and forgiving nature. More than any other grape, to me, it forgives being grown in the wrong place, made under less than perfect conditions. Try that with, say, pinot noir and the resulting wine would be undrinkable.

   All of which means that, if you have to buy a really cheap wine in these hard times, buy a syrah. It'll probably still be OK.

   Because of all this, syrah is grown nearly everywhere -- France, California, Washington, Chile, Australia, South Africa, even Switzerland.

   Syrah also, as they say in preschool, plays well with others. Winemakers blend it with
cabernet sauvignon, grenache, mourvedre, malbec, zinfandel, sometimes even with a touch of
viognier, which is a white grape.

   With its rich, ripe flavors, syrah goes well with barbecue, grilled meats, slow-cooked
brisket, wild game, aged hard cheeses. In a perfect world, I would hunt down a wild boar,
stud it with garlic, roast it on a spit and serve it with a plate of potatoes cooked in
the coals and a glass of syrah. As things are, I could have a cheeseburger.

   

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

   

   • 2006 Crozes-Hermitage Nouvelère, by Philippe & Vincent Jaboulet, AOC
Crozes-Hermitage: ripe and full-bodied, with aromas and flavors of toasted oak,
blackberries and earth; $40.

   • 2006 Kendall-Jackson Estates Grown Syrah, Vintner's Reserve, Calif. (87 percent
syrah, 9 percent zinfanfel, 4 percent grenache): spicy black cherries and licorice,
opulent and ripe; $12.
   

RECOMMENDED

   

   • 2006 Emiliana Coyam, Los Robles Estate, Rapel Valley, Colchagua, Chile (34 percent
syrah, 31 percent merlot, 17 percent carmenère, 12 percent cabernet sauvignon, 3 percent
malbec, 3 percent mourvèdre): blackberries, sandalwood and vanilla, rich and ripe and
generous; $30.

   • 2006 Goat Rock Syrah, Taz Vineyards, Santa Barbara County, Calif.: rich and ripe,
with blackberry and black pepper flavors; $28.

   • 2007 Pillar Box Red, Henry's Drive Vignerons, Padthaway, Australia (65 percent
shiraz, 25 percent cabernet sauvignon, 10 percent merlot): black cherries and dark
chocolate, round, ripe tannins; $12.

   • 2005 Wilson Winery Syrah, Dorothy's Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley: aromas and flavors of
oak, blackberries and spice, ripe tannins; $28.

   • 2006 Novy Syrah, Sonoma County: black cherries and black coffee, rich and ripe; $19.

   • 2006 Rosemount Diamond Estate Shiraz, Australia: black plums and mocha, soft and
round; $7.50

Resolved: to drink better wine in 2009

   

     In spite of what you may have heard, wine lovers are not perfect. We need New Years resolutions too. Here are mine:
     · I will lose 30 pounds (OK, that’s out of the way).
     · I will taste every wine I come across that I’ve never heard of before. This is a very rewarding resolution. In 2008 I learned about grillo, a delightful, light, crisp wine from Sicily that tastes a little like green tea.  Couple of years ago I tasted a cabernet sauvignon allegedly made in Cuba. One out of two isn’t bad.
     · I will try wines from every new wine area I learn about. Ever have a syrah from British Columbia? It’s by Mission Hill, and it tastes of black plums, tobacco, black pepper and red meat. Yes, all at once.
     · Speaking of that, I will adopt the philosophy of illegitimati non carborundum (look it up; they won’t let me say it here in English) when people get on my case about my enthusiastic wine descriptions. It’s my hobby.  As Billy Joel would say, I have been a fool for lesser things.
     · In hard economic times, I will become relentless in pursuit of really nice wines under $10. Last year’s winner was the 2007 Bodega Norton Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina: chocolate-cherry aromas and flavors; soft, ripe and mellow; $9.
     · I will take with a grain of salt those medical studies that say wine prevents heart attack, stroke, glaucoma, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s. I will take comfort that those researchers are raising some of the healthiest mice on the planet.
     · I will taste an English wine, if I can find one (and work up my courage). The British press says that, due to global warming, there are more than 200 wineries today in the sceptered isle. And if English wines are as good as English food, well….
     · Oh, don’t write in. There’s nothing I love more than strawberries with clotted cream. (I just wonder how they clot it.)
     · Even though Chateau Mouton Rothschild’s price has plummeted by half to less than $600 a bottle, I will not urge a federal bailout of the wine industry.
     · I will try not to lose my taste for expensive wines. I will try to cultivate richer friends. (If they have a boat, so much the better.)

Wines for top chefs' holiday fare

  So you've been watching TV cooking shows and perusing websites all year, and you're gearing up to try one of their fancy dishes for Christmas or Hanukkah. But you realize those chefs didn't mention what wines go well with their masterpieces.
   I've got you covered. Happy holidays!
APPETIZERS
   Martha Stewart's mini-Asian crab cakes with wasabi www.marthastewart.com

  • 2005 J. Lohr White Riesling, Monterey County: off-dry; white peaches; crisp and fruity; $12.
    Daisy Martinez's Cuban black bean soup www.daisycooks.com
  • 2007 Martin Codax Albariño, Rias Baixas: ripe pears and melons; rich and creamy; $15.
ITALIAN SEAFOOD
   Lidia Bastianich's jumbo shrimp Buzara style www.lidiasitaly.com
  • 2006 Placido Pinot Grigio delle Venezie, IGT: light, lively, crisp; $10.
VEGETARIAN
   Giada de Laurentiis' Gorgonzola Porcini Risotto www.foodnetwork.com
  • 2003 Rutz Cellars Pinot Noir, Sonoma Cuvée: cinnamon and tart cherries,
smooth; $17.
   Beverly Lynne Bennett's Moroccan vegetable stew www.veganchef.com
  • 2007 Murphy-Goode ‘‘The Fumé'' Sauvignon Blanc, Alexander Valley: rich, ripe and complex, with tropical fruit; tart finish; $12.
HOLIDAY ENTREES
   Martha Stewart's roast goose with wild rice www.marthastewart.com
  • 2004 Sartoni di Varona Amarone delle Valpolicella: dark cherries and dark chocolate; $34.
   Three Guys From Miami's lechon asado (icuban.com).
   • 2003 Marquis de Riscal Reserva Rioja, Spain: tart plums and cinnamon; $17.
   Paul Prudhomme's turducken (chicken inside a duck inside a turkey; www.chefpaul.com
  • 2006 Columbia Crest ‘‘Two Vines'' Gewürztraminer, Columbia Valley, Washington: crisp, lightly sweet lychee flavors; $8.
   Christopher Kimball's roast beef loin with mushroom-onion stuffing www.cooksillustrated.com
  • 2005 Antinori Tignanello, Tuscany IGT: mulberries and mocha; ripe, powerful, smooth; $90.
   Linda Gassenheimer's kosher brisket with latkes www.dinnerinminutes.com
  • 2003 Barons Edmond & Benjamin de Rothschild Haut Medoc Bordeaux (kosher): cassis and black coffee aromas and flavors; $31.
CHRISTMAS COMFORT
   Rachael Ray's turkey and stuffing meatloaf www.rachaelrayshow.com
  • 2006 Black Swan Shiraz, Australia: soft, ripe, black plum flavors; $11.
DESSERT
   Ming Tsai's Tahitian vanilla crème brûlée www.mingspantry.com
  • 2006 Mission Hills Five Vineyards Riesling Ice Wine, VQA British
Columbia: very sweet, soft; candied orange peel; $20 per one-quarter bottle.
   Sandy Moyers' dark Christmas fruit cake www.bellaonline.com
  • 2006 M. Chapoutier Banyuls dessert wine (red grenache): red raspberry and chocolate flavors; moderately sweet; $30.

Expensive champagne still rules for holidays

   Your holiday party swirls about you, halls bedecked, guests happy, laughing, dancing, making sparkling conversation, toujours gai, sans souci, devil-may-care. Somebody pours
you a glass of champagne.

   Stop.

   Pause a moment, says Richard Geoffroy. Consider what's in your glass.

   "Champagne is for celebration, to be sure. But there's more. Champagne is serious. It's a mirror of you. You must be available to it, give it attention, empathy. The relationship to champagne must be as to a human being."

   Geoffroy may be forgiven his small upbraiding. He works as chef du cave at Moët & Chandon, in Epernay, France, making Dom Perignon Champagne. So he's speaking about his own wine, of course. But much of his philosophy might apply to other top champagnes as well.

   To appreciate a fine champagne -- the ones in this column sell for $35 to $450 -- the reveler must linger over its qualities, Geoffroy says. Its aromas and flavors -- toast, brioche, smoke, peat, coffee beans, candied fruit, tangerines, kiwis, dried flowers, caramel, mushrooms, truffles. Its "mouth feel'' -- texture, weight, from the brilliance of its attack as it enters the mouth to the fullness of its flavors in the mid-palate to the persistence of its finish. Its precision, its elegance, its finesse, its penetration, its relevance, its harmony. Geoffroy is good with adjectives.

   "There's a great presence to Dom Perignon but also a fragility. It's yin and yang, a paradox, a contradiction. It's sophistication, based on intimate observation."

   OK, you can get back to your chicken dance.

   And you thought drinking champagne was easy.

   

   HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

      • Nonvintage Henri Abelé Brut 1757, Reims: vanilla and toast, crisp lemons, tangy; $40.

   • Nonvintage Laurent-Perrier Brut L-P, Tours-sur-Marne: toast and caramel aromas,
powerful tart orange flavors; $45.

   • Nonvintage Taittinger Brut La FranÇaise, Reims: toasted brioche and citrus, vanilla,
rich, mellow, generous; $55.

   • Nonvintage Louis Roederer Brut Premier, Reims: toasty aroma, tangy citrus and green
apple flavors; crisp; $47.

   • Nonvintage Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut, Epernay: toasted brioche, minerals, golden
apples, almonds, crisp; $45.

   • Nonvintage Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve; Reims: toasted hazelnuts and orange peel,
soft bubbles, very rich; $55.

   • Nonvintage Bollinger Special Cuvée, Ay: toast and orange marmalade, hugely rich,
baked apples; $70.

   • Nonvintage Pol Roger Brut Réserve, Extra Cuvée de Réserve, Epernay: aromas of bread
dough and beer, flavors of vanilla, caramel and hops, rich; $45.

   • Nonvintage Billecart-Salmon Brut Réserve, Mareuil-sur-Ay: toasted croissant aromas,
tangy grapefruit and toasted nut flavors, very rich, $40.

   • Nonvintage Ruinart Brut Blanc de Blancs, Reims: minerals and tart green apples,
criosp and lively, long, fruity finish; $65.

   • Nonvintage Mumm Mumm de Cramant Grand Cru Brut Chardonnay, Reims: vanilla and white
peaches, frothy and light, bone dry, very fruity; $75.

   • Nonvintage Bruno Paillard Brut Blanc de Blancs, Réserve Privée, Reims: vanilla,
oranges and caramel, lush ripe peaches, intensely fruity; $107.

   • 2002 Louis Roederer Brut Blanc de Blancs, Reims: ripe peaches, hint of sherry,
sweet-tart fruit, firm structure; $78.

   • 1999 Pol Roger Brut Blanc de Blancs Extra Cuvée Réserve, Epernay: toasted brioche
aroma, flavors of citrus peel and ale, rich, powerful; $128.

   • 1999 Delamotte Brut Blanc de Blancs, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger: white flowers and vanilla,
creamy and light as air, citrus peel flavors; $90.

   • 1999 Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Blanc de Blanc, Chouilly, Epernay: cardamom and candied
citrus, sherry and cider, light and frothy; $52.

   • 1998 Duval-Leroy Brut Blanc de Chardonnay, Vertus: beer, caramel and hazelnut aromas,
sherry flavors, frothy, aged quality; $50.

   • 1995 Charles Heidsieck Brut Blanc des Millénaires, Reims: buttered toast aromas, rich
orange peel flavors, cream sherry; $110.

   • 1995 Dom Perignon Oenotheque Champagne, Epernay: aromas of candied fruit and brioche,
flavors of red berries and sweet caramel, creamy body, endless finish; $400.

   • 2003 Louis Roederer Brut, Reims: wheat and lemon aromas, tangy, tart lemon flavors;
light and lively and frothy; $75.

   • 2002 Deutz Brut, Ay: toast and nuts, wheat and green apples, firm structure; $70.

   • 2001 Delbeck Brut, Reims: orange peel and caramel, berry and rich, fulll-bodied; $94.

   • 1999 Pommery Brut Grand Cru, Reims: aromas of wheat and nuts, tart and beery,
full-bodied; $85.

   • 1998 Henriot Brut, Reims: orange peels and caramel, tart oranges, rich, aged quality;
$95.

   • 1999 Laurent-Perrier Brut Millésime, Tours-sur-Marne: lightly toasted nuts, vanilla,
light and frothy, tart kiwi finish; $65.

   • 1999 Pol Roger Brut Extra Cuvée de Réserve, Epernay: charred oak and nuts, flavors of
beer and sherry, powerful, full bodied; $103.

   • 1999 Gosset Celebris Extra Brut, Ay: oranges and sweet vanilla, rich sherry, full
bodied, orange peel finish; $95.

   • 1998 Gosset Celebris Extra Brut, Ay: aromas of aged fino sherry, nuts and minerals;
$173.

   • 1996 Duval-Leroy Brut, Vertus: cream sherry aromas, flavors of caramel and nuts,
opulent, aged quality; $50.

   • 1995 Dom Perignon Brut Rosé, Epernay: red berry and citrus aromas, smoky, earthy
flavors, endless fruity finish; $450.

   • Nonvintage Nicolas Feuillaatte Brut Rosé, Chouilly, Epernay: orange rind and cream
aromas, tart orange peel flavors, light as air; $53.

   • Nonvintage Moët & Chandon Brut Rosé Impérial, Epernay: red apples and yeast, tart
grapefruit peel, minerals, firm structure; $50.

   • Nonvintage Duval-Leroy Brut Rosé de Saignée, Vertus: sweet flowers, peaches, flavors
of red apples, apricots, tart but lush; $40.

   • Nonvintage Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut Rosé, Reims: sweet oranges and spicy toast,
tart apple peel and bread dough, firm structure; $60.

   • Nonvintage Henriot Brut Rosé, Reims: red apples, minerals and apricots, rich and
generous; $70.

   • Nonvintage Besserat de Bellefon Brut Rosé, Cuvée des Moines, Epernay: sweet, ripe
peaches, very tart kumquats, candied fruit, full body; $55.

   • Nonvintage Gosset Brut Grand Rosé, Ay: golden apples and cinnamon, big, rich, tart,
frothy, light; $85.

   • Nonvintage Delamotte Brut Rosé, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger: cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger,
sweet-tart oranges and spice, hearty; $99.

   • Nonvintage Bruno Paillard Brut Rosé Premier Cuvée, Reims: toast with orange
marmalade, rich, sweet-tart orange peel; $95.

   • Nonvintage Delbeck Brut Heritage Rosé, Reims: dark toast, nuts and vanilla, tangerine
rind, very crisp, generous, rich; $85.

   

  RECOMMENDED

   • 2000 Dom Perignon Brut Champagne, Epernay: aromas of dried flowers and spices,
flavors of toasted nuts, earth, smoke and peat; creamy and voluptuous; $150.

   • Nonvintage Pommery Brut Apanage, Reims: oranges, lemons and caramel, bright and
lively, almost spicy; $50.

   • Nonvintage Pommery Brut Royal, Reims: toast and minerals, sweet-tart vanilla; $42.

   • Nonvintage Piper-Heidsieck Brut, Reims: toast and nuts, minerals and kiwi, long
finish; $42.

   • Nonvintage G.H. Mumm Brut Cordon Rouge, Reims: minerals and yeast, caramel sweetness,
soft; $35.

   • Nonvintage Moët $ Chandon White Star, Epernay: toasty aroma, tart lemons and green
peaches, soft bubbles; $35.

   • Nonvintage Nicolas Feuillatte Brut, Epernay: mint and pineapples, powerful vanilla
and kiwi, crisp and firm; $43.

   • Nonvintage Henriot Brut, Blanc Souverain Pur Chardonnay, Reims: lemon meringue
aromas, very frothy, lemon pie flavors; $60.

   • Nonvintage Besserat de Bellefon Brut Blanc de Blancs, Cuvée des Moines, Epernay:
toasted nuts and limes, tart kiwis, light and frothy; $70.

   • 2003 Moët & Chandon Brut Grand Vintage, Epernay: toasted nuts and minerals, sweet and
soft, candied lemon peel; $70.

   • 1999 Bruno Paillard Brut Assemblage, Reims: vanilla and brioche aromas, flavors of
green apples, light bodied; $115.

News of the weird in wine

     The 2005 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild is just sitting on wine shop shelves, even though its $549 price is half what it was going for six months ago. Hard economic times hit even rich connoisseurs.

     Copia, the wine museum opened by Robert Mondavi and Julia Child, is closed.

     England, to encourage moderation and health, is pondering doing away with happy hour.  So much for "this happy breed of men."

     On a happier note, researchers now say drinking wine may help to reverse Alzheimer's Disease.

Where are the wines, she asks

Dear Mr. Tasker,

     I appreciate your information on wines. I would be happier, though, if I could know where to get these wines in Miami. Especiallly the ones that are not expensive. I have asked in some stores and they don’t know what I am talking about.

Mary A. Jorda, Miami

Dear Ms. Jorda,

      Good question. For the inexpensive wines in the item below, I checked the prices of every one at my local Publix. I’m sure Winn-Dixie carries most of them as well.

       A tip: Sometimes supermarket clerks don’t know how to find the wines on their shelves. A good way to locate a wine is to see what country it’s from. Many supermarkets keep their U.S. -- mostly California -– wines in one shelf area, and their international wines in another area. Italian wines will be together, as will wines from Australia, Chile and so on.

    Good hunting.

Fred Tasker

Easy wines for hard-times entertaining

     I swear I’m no wine snob, but one of my pet peeves is to go to a party or an art show opening where they’re serving wine and cheese and see them pouring wine out of gallon jugs with ears on them.

     I mean, have you ever had wine from a gallon jug that was even adequate?

     Life is too short.

     You’re telling your guest you care little enough to give the very least.

     Even box wines are getting a better reputation than gallon jugs.

     On the other hand, there are some very nice, quite inexpensive wines being sold these days in magnums – bottles that are twice the size of regular wine bottles, holding 1.5 liters of wine instead of 750 mililiters.

     These cost about $7 to $15, and they’re how you can save entertainment money without shortchanging your guests. They come from all over  -- chardonnays from California, pinot grigio from Italy shiraz from Australia.

     I did a wine column on these in September, and I found some good ones. I’ll repeat some of the tasting notes here.

· 2006 Beringer Founders Estate Chardonnay, California: rich, crisp and fruity, with ripe pineapple flavors; $12.99.
· 2007 Yellow Tail Shiraz, Australia: soft and ripe with red raspberry flavors; $12.99.
· 2007 Frontera Merlot by Concha y Toro, Chile: soft and sweet with 2006 Placido Pinot Grigio, Italy: crisp apricot flavors; lively; $15.29.
· 2007 Woodbridge Chardonnay by Robert Mondavi, California: lean, lemony and crisp; $13.99.
· 2007 Woodbridge Sauvignon Blanc by Robert Mondavi, California: crisp and light; lemon and limes; $13.39.
· Nonvintage Corbet Canyon Sauvignon Blanc, California: soft and lightly sweet, with apricot and peach flavors; $9.99.
· 2007 Vendange Sauvignon Blanc, California: sweet lemons and pineapples; full-bodied; $9.25.
· 2007 Woodbridge Zinfandel, California: rich and ripe, with red raspberry and chocolate flavors; $13.39.
· 2005 Vendange Cabernet Sauvignon, California: soft and ripe, black cherry and coffee flavors; $8.49.
· 2005 Lindemans Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia: soft, lightly sweet; red raspberry and cherry flavors; $12.99.
· 2005 Turning Leaf Cabernet Sauvignon, California: black cherry and black coffee flavors, ripe tannins; $12.99.
· 2005 Fetzer Vineyards Valley Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon, California: firm tannins, black plum flavors; $12.49.
· 2007 Bolla Pinot Grigio delle Venezie, Italy: peach and apricot flavors; $14.99
· Nonvintage Rene Junot Dry White Table Wine (50 percent chenin blanc, 30 percent sauvignon blanc, 20 percent chardonnay), France: light, slightly sweet; lemons and minerals; $7.99.
· 2007 Woodbridge Chardonnay by Robert Mondavi, California: lean, lemony and crisp; $13.99.

Fred's Best Bet: A French Wine Tasting

Ozzy Riverol has a big French wine tasting tonight, Fri., Oct. 24, at The Wine Shoppe, 1706 S. Red Road, Miami. He’s pouring:

· White Burgundies, including a Macon-Villages and a Chablis.
· Cotes de Provence, the 2007 Henry Fessy Cuvee Farigoul.
· Beaujolais, the 2007 Henry Fessy Brouilly.
· Bordeaux, a Saint Emilion, Pomerol and Haut Medoc.

It’s $10, and you get hors’d’ouvres and a take-home glass.

Call 305-267-9921 or see www.the-wine-shoppe.com

News of the weird in wine

          

            * Wine and politics: A small, organic winery in Chile finds itself caught between U.S. Dems and GOPs because it makes a wine called Palin Syrah. Republicans are proudly buying bottles; Dems are buying them, crossing out her name and writing in the name of Obama.

            * Wine and the White House: That Chilean wine won't be served in the White House. It pours only U.S. wines, says Daniel Shanks, whose official title is "usher of food and beverage" there.

             * Wine and the environment: Chile's Vina Errazuriz is unveiling a wine bottle that's 12 percent lighter than regular bottles. Doesn't say if it breaks more easily.

              * Wine and food flavors: The usual list of perceived tastes -- sweet, salty, tart and so on -- is far too narrow, a top European chef says. He would add such new "flavors" as fat and CO2 to the list. Imagine what he can do for wine.