Rueda Rose

One of our favorite summer wines is Verdejo from Rueda, Spain. This light, fruity (but not sweet) white wine has been at the top of our list since we tried it at our very first tasting in October, 2002. It is becoming more popular -- and therefore easier to find -- and overall, the quality of this wine remains high.

We were delighted to find Rose from Rueda on our last visit to our local wine shop. Vida Nueva, 2005, is made from 100% Tempranillo and is a fun, light wine. Like a white Rueda, it is bright and clean with berry tones...but definitely dry, much to our liking. A nice end-of-summer wine, we served it with a fall meal: grilled pork, roasted potatoes, steamed broccoli, and homemade applesauce.

Our very first review (here) was a Syrah Rose, and Vida Nueva compares favorably to that wine. An unexpected find!

Until the next...

Miss Harry

A few years ago, Australian Shiraz was all the rage. That was right around the time we were learning about wine, and many of our early tastings were of this varietal. We tried Shiraz from Yellow Tale and Lindemans, and recently, we fell in love with Bremerton's Old Adam Shiraz (that'll be a separate posting someday).

Tonight's wine is a Shiraz blend from Australia and, at around $20, is a real find: Hewitson Miss Harry 2004 (Grenache 44%, Shiraz 43%, Mourvedre 13%). It is a delightful, rich wine. Our notes: Aromas of mineral and earth. Dry. Low tannins, low acidity. We both tasted complicated minerals. Full-bodied but not overwhelming.

We sipped it without a food pairing, but we think it would go very well with a sharp cheese or a good steak. It is a great wine!

Western Wines

Yesterday, some friends joined us for an excellent Filipino feast (prepared by Daryl's mom), and they brought two wines from a recent trip West.

Gruet Pinot Noir 2004 New Mexico: Nice Pinot! Berry notes, smooth, low tannins and low acidity. Very refreshing and went well with the roast pork and fried rice.

The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey Chardonnay 2004 Canon City, Colorado: We aren't big fans of American Chardonnay. We have tried this varietal at all different price points but never found one we truly enjoyed, with a couple exceptions. However, this Colorado Chardonnay was very good! No oak and lots of juicy fruit. Delicious with lumpia and baked shrimp.

(Oh, and the two Chardonnays we recommend: Fetzer and Jewell Towne Vineyards.)

We also opened a Mallorcan rose and finished a Rueda. Not a bad afternoon!

"I've never seen a wine that looks so pink!"

That's a quote from one of our future Saturday Sippers when we poured today's wine: Folonari Pink Pinot Grigio 2005, Venezie, Italy. And indeed, all is pink -- screwcap, label, and liquid. Clearly, Folonari wants to appeal to women. A whimsical blonde walks a pink poodle on the label's front, and there's a catchy write-up on the back: "...the fresh aroma and juicy taste of Folonari Pink Pinot Grigio makes life a breeze. The easy screwcap does, too. So your pretty pink nails will stay that way."

We were dubious, but this wasn't a bad wine. Light tannins, touch acidic, dry. We served it with a chicken stir fry and rice, and this pink pinot grigio went well. It's a pleasant end-of-summer wine and only cost $8.

Hiatus

There once was a gal denied
Her wine; ergo, she cried.
Doc said -- don't be bad,
Lest her stomach go mad.
To heed his advice, she tried.

(This is why Kath is writing a novel and not poetry!)

We should be back next weekend. In the meantime, here is a good wine blog that we enjoy.

For fun, check this out.