sybaritesauvage   Uncorking a Mind Twisted by Wine, Food, Love & Remembrance

This little guy doesn’t have a guilty bone in his body.  Neither should you.  Here is this week’s $15 or less offering. 

No-Guilt Wednesday is not about compromising on quality.  It’s all about drinking good wine that does not break the bank, eating good food and of course, it’s about sharing with the ones you love.  

Last week, I was a little late in publishing the Wednesday Wine.  This week, a little early.  It all balances out in the end, right?  I couldn’t wait to share this little find– and we need wines like this now, especially as we head into the teeth of the holiday season.  Today’s offering begs for a lightly breaded fried calamari with fresh squeezed lemon and a spicy garlic aioli.  It reminds me of warmer days (that seem so far away at the moment) when a glance, a wink and the soft brushing of bare knees under the cafe table promise an afternoon of conversation and pleasure. 

L’Ameillaud Vin de Pays Vaucluse 2010 ($8).  This blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 20% Carignan is another winner from Vaucluse .  Slightly funky wet stone notes dominate the nose to start.  But these soon yield to savory herbal notes hinting at sage and thyme and spices.  On the palate, these vibrant herbal elements are carried forward to complement the blackberry and blueberry notes that lead to an almost stone-like minerally finish.  If you want to taste what terroir is about this is a very approachable example showing off the impact on flavor of the clay, limestone and alluvial soils found in the vineyard.  Nicely balanced by the tannins and acid, this is a crazy good value at this price.  Rated **1/2

This little guy doesn’t have a guilty bone in his body.  Neither should you.  Here is this week’s $15 or less offering. 

No-Guilt Wednesday is not about compromising on quality.  It’s all about drinking good wine that does not break the bank, eating good food and of course, it’s about sharing with the ones you love.  

A little late for Wednesday?  Perhaps.  Do I feel bad about that?  No.  From the northeastern part of the Languedoc, we get today’s offering.  According to the distributor, although the property lies within the boundaries of the appellation Pic St-Loup, the production from the vineyards is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, a grape varietal that is outside of the constraints set for the A.O.C. in the Languedoc. This means that in lieu of getting an A.O.C. cru status, the wine can only take a Vin de Pays d’Oc designation.   Do we care?   Seriously, did I just ask that?  Screw that– what’s in the bottle Monsieur? 

Les Traverses de Fontanes Vin de Pays d’Oc Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 ($12) 13.5%.  Although not particularly aromatic, this little biodynamically farmed beverage says, “Drink me in the afternoon before you get really serious about your wine.  Still there are undeniable notes of underbrush and herbs d’ Provence.  But they do not overwhelm.   Is less more?  The Limestone and clay soils that yield this fruit do come through.  Light to medium bodied on the palate with red cherry notes, it’s simple, yet pleasantly simple in a girl next door kind of way– freckles and all.  Medium tannins and a clean, yet short to medium finish.  Rated **

This little guy doesn’t have a guilty bone in his body.  Neither should you.  Here is this week’s $15 or less offering. 

No-Guilt Wednesday is not about compromising on quality.  It’s all about drinking good wine that does not break the bank, eating good food and of course, it’s about sharing with the ones you love.  

Estezargues Côtes Du Rhône Villages Signargues La Granacha 2009 ($10) 14.5%.  You could do much worse than this little gem.  Savory herbal notes layered on top of luscious red fruit.  A bit tight at the start but then revealing its true character as it opened to reveal a touch more fruit.  Supple tannins and supportive acidity make this one you keep coming back to and makes this an easy bottle to drain.  As befits a 100% Grenache wine, this is terrific with Manchego.  A great value to boot.  Rated **1/2

This little guy doesn’t have a guilty bone in his body.  Neither should you.  Here is this week’s $15 or less offering. 

No-Guilt Wednesday is not about compromising on quality.  It’s all about drinking good wine that does not break the bank, eating good food and of course, it’s about sharing with the ones you love. 

 Santa Rita Medalla Real Single Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 ($12).  This is what I look for in a Cab Sauvignon.  Pretty cherry flavors layered over some herbal elements and the smell of autumnal forest and sweet spices.  In my own bizarre way, this reminded me of the way that Ricola cough drops approach the whole fruit-herb thing.  Only this is not a freaking Ricola.  From the start the aromas announced that this was going to be good in the same way that Renaissance trumpeters announced the arrival of the crown prince to the ball: “I may not be king— yet.  So I am free to go about the village wenching and drinking.”  Drinking and wenching indeed.  Cherries and Herb.  (I wish I could say Peaches and Herb– but that would be so wrong.)  Years ago, I had my first Santa Rita wine.  I remember loving that little discovery.  This one brought me back to that moment.  With a touch of graphite on the fine finish, it would be silly not to buy more of this.  I don’t know whether this will age as the tannins are quite fine.  But, who cares– drink this now.  Rated **1/2

 

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This little guy doesn’t have a guilty bone in his body.  Neither should you.  Here is this week’s $15 or less offering. 

No-Guilt Wednesday is not about compromising on quality.  It’s all about drinking good wine that does not break the bank, eating good food and of course, it’s about sharing with the ones you love.  

Back to the country of my forefathers, España.  The wines of Ribera del Duero have come on to challenge the wines of Rioja.  Tonight is a great example of the quality that this region which is located north of Madrid can offer in affordable wines. 

Hito C21 Ribera del Duero 2008 14% ($13.50).   My wine merchant turned me onto this little gem of a wine.  Initially, a whiff of mint and cedar box mixed with earth.  This reminded of a tart cherry pie with a savory crust and a touch of spiciness on the finish.  Restraint up front and softly acidic and gently tannic on the back end, this is a balanced and classically styled wine that is big on terroir and distinctively appealing.  Rated **1/2

This little guy doesn’t have a guilty bone in his body.  Neither should you.  Here is this week’s $15 or less offering. 

No-Guilt Wednesday is not about compromising on quality.  It’s all about drinking good wine that does not break the bank, eating good food and of course, it’s about sharing with the ones you love.  

With the onset of November and the changing of the clocks with the expanding darkness that foretells the colder, darker and shorter days ahead, my mind shifts in many directions at once.  There is this seven week period which bridges us to the Winter Solstice which is a turning point when the days promise more daylight and more coldness.  I am reminded of just how rapidly the year has whipped past me and the fact that the aging guy in the mirror is not the same guy I feel like every day when I awake.  (Truthfully, though, there are also days when the guy whose head hits the pillow feels exactly like the guy in the mirror.)  And as the expanding hours of darkness have consumed my days, I find myself pondering how best to lighten each day. 

The pleasures of the table also have a dark side.  Our instinctual inclination is to consume more and store fat for the dark frigid days ahead.  It is no wonder that folks come out of the “holiday” season girded for the coldest days of the year and looking for relief from their celebratory cuisines at their local gymnasiums as they attempt to reverse the personal Holiday larding of their bodies in the early days of the New Year. 

A Sybarite should not care about these things, right?  But I am also a person who craves balance.  Between light and dark, red and white, fat and fit.  I also crave pleasure, and those pleasures– a group of friends, a nice meal, a great little wine– bring lightness in these dark days.  

Tonight’s wine, a Vaucluse, from the Rhone is one I found over the weekend at a local shop:  A Grenache and Syrah based wine elegant in its simplicity.  

Michel Glassier Cercius Cotes Du Rhone Villages 2009 ($14).   Full of earth and dark spicy fruit with a pinch of dusky sour cherry, this wine kept my tongue clicking with its savory edges.  The name Cercius, a Latin word, refers to the North-Northwest winds that sweep over the vines in the village of Visan on the northern end of Vaucluse.  With moderate tongue-coating tannins, and aged for 6 months in concrete prior to bottling, this blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah softly whispers, “The cold days ahead are made for us.”  Rated **1/2

This little guy doesn’t have a guilty bone in his body.  Neither should you.  Here is this week’s $15 or less offering. 

No-Guilt Wednesday is not about compromising on quality.  It’s all about drinking good wine that does not break the bank, eating good food and of course, it’s about sharing with the ones you love.  

Tonight’s wine come from Languedoc-Roussillon– a great place to hunt for bargains in French wine.  Bathed in the warm Mediterranean climate, I have at times found wines from Languedoc-Roussillon to be a bit overripe.  But that is not the case with this week’s offering from the Côtes de Thongue, a relatively small area in Languedoc-Roussillon.   

As far as I recall, I have never tried a wine from Côtes de Thongue.  I am including several maps to show where exactly this wine comes from since I had no idea where this was and I presume many of you are in the same boat. 

This little guy doesn’t have a guilty bone in his body.  Neither should you.  Every Wednesday (though it could be Tuesday or Thursday) I will write-up a wine that I feel delivers good value for drinking in the middle of the week.  Aside from quality, my only other criteria is price.  To start, less than $15, but ideally less than $10, for a 750 ml bottle. 

I will also add any recipes that I paired with the wine.  I hope to leave you with a recipe that you can use to match up with a wine of your choice if you can’t locate the one I recommend.

No-Guilt Wednesday is not about compromising on quality.  It’s all about drinking good wine that does not break the bank, eating good food and of course, it’s about sharing with the ones you love.  

This was another tough week.  What a I do to pay the bills and to fund the wine habit as well as recent focus on slimming down forced me to delay the Wednesday review.   But here, on a Friday, I am.  I decided to review a widely available Columbia Crest wine today.  I also asked Ms. R to give her comments on this.  Certainly, the price is right.   

Columbia Crest Horse Heaven Hills (H3) Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 ($11).   Very shallow nose with a slight grapey dustiness.  Simple ripe cherry flavors.  On the finish there are tannins to lend structure.  On a retasting the next day, I found that some herbal flavors started to emerge.  But from my perspective, the wine is flawed because of its lack of acidity.  Ms. R says, “This is bringing nothing to the table.  I can see teenagers drinking this and getting off on it.”  I hate to admit it– I have created a Frankenstein.  But in the end, I agree with her assessment if not her sentiments.  Turn my nose up at it if offered to me?  No.  Buy it again?  No.  Rated * 1/2

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Like what you see?  Hit the Subscribe/Follow button and don’t miss another Sybarite Sauvage post.

This little guy doesn’t have a guilty bone in his body.  Neither should you.  Every Wednesday (though it could be Tuesday or Thursday) I will write-up a wine that I feel delivers good value for drinking in the middle of the week.  Aside from quality, my only other criteria is price.  To start, less than $15, but ideally less than $10, for a 750 ml bottle. 

I will also add any recipes that I paired with the wine.  I hope to leave you with a recipe that you can use to match up with a wine of your choice if you can’t locate the one I recommend.

No-Guilt Wednesday is not about compromising on quality.  It’s all about drinking good wine that does not break the bank, eating good food and of course, it’s about sharing with the ones you love.  

Another Wednesday?  Back from the gym and showered and feeling thinner, it was time to celebrate a bit.  I’ve been told that I shouldn’t deprive myself too much.  Like that’s a real problem.  So, I looked over the recent acquisitions from my local wine merchant.  Last week we went for the almost Bordeaux from Northern Italy.  Today, we get to try a widely available Burgundian white from a biodynamic producer.   My Sybarite-in-Training served me some thinly sliced quince with manchego.

 Olivier LeFlaive Bourgogne Blanc Les Sétilles 2009 ($15).   On the nose we get some clean florals leading to flavors of apricot and quince.  Mineral sensations finish this off with a pleasing citrus-like acidity.  In summary, a nice quaffing and tasty white that is great to serve with a simple appetizer.   Rated **

Just in case you were thinking it, this producer, as far as I know, is no relation to Flavor Flav.

Like what you see?  Hit the Subscribe/Follow button and don’t miss another Sybarite Sauvage post.

This little guy doesn’t have a guilty bone in his body.  Neither should you.  Every Wednesday (though it could be Tuesday or Thursday) I will write-up a wine that I feel delivers good value for drinking in the middle of the week.  Aside from quality, my only other criteria is price.  To start, less than $15, but ideally less than $10, for a 750 ml bottle. 

I will also add any recipes that I paired with the wine.  I hope to leave you with a recipe that you can use to match up with a wine of your choice if you can’t locate the one I recommend.

No-Guilt Wednesday is not about compromising on quality.  It’s all about drinking good wine that does not break the bank, eating good food and of course, it’s about sharing with the ones you love.  

Last night I had a good friend and colleague over for dinner.  He does not make it over to the states often, so I wanted to make sure that it would be memorable.  Being English, he is a lover of fine clarets.  And we had that, indeed– a 2000 Chateau Duhart-Milon from Pauillac– a Grand Cru Classé from Domaine Barons de Rothschild (Lafite).  Now that’s not our usual mid-week fare, I grant you, but when moments with good mates are rare, you have to take advantage.  The conversation shifted from our work to talk of family, kitchen renovations (his house, wife and children are currently smothered in dust), rugby and cricket.  Half-way through, Ms. R joined us for a glass or two.  The Duhart-Milon was a beautiful pairing with our gorgeous medium rare filet mignon and two side dishes.   One of those sides is was brussels sprouts– which can be challenging to cook in a way that brings out the flavorful nuttiness that it harbors without the heaviness of flavor that dark green vegetables can sometimes have.  I decided a two-step cooking process was called for– steaming to provide moisture and ensure they are fully cooked followed by a saute over medium heat for carmelization and finished with a little bit of Dijon mustard added at the end of the cooking to enhance and bring out the natural flavor of this magnificent vegetable.  Ms. R, not normally a fan of Brussels sprouts, loved these. 

This worked so well, that I offer this simple preparation for the next time Bordeaux or Bordeaux-style blends are on the menu.  And speaking of Bordeaux blends…

Maculan Brentino 2008 ($11.50).   Today’s wine is a far more affordable Bordeaux style blend from Veneto, in Northern Italy.  55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, this little wine surprised with its finesse.  Fruit, yes, but not so much to overwhelm.  But let’s start at the beginning.  Medium bodied and with a hint of sweet spice on the nose that the belies bright cherry and pomegranate flavors.  It seemed more Cab than Merlot.  The tannins, while soft, still lent support to the overall experience of the wine, though it was the acid that brought the right amount of balance.  The finish, though medium in length, was still satisfying.  Rated ** 1/2

Ingredients

• 10 Brussels Sprouts, trimmed and cut lengthwise in half
• 2 Tbsps EVOO
• 2 Tbsps Unsweetened Butter
• 1 1/2 Tbsps. Dijon Mustard

Procedures

1. Steam Brussels sprouts until cooked through, but not mushy.  They should still retain their bright green coloration.
2. Place the sprouts in a bath of ice water to stop the cooking process and set the green color and strain
3. Warm up the oil and butter in a large saute pan and once melted add the sprouts cut side down.  Cook over medium heat for a few moments until carmelization occurs.
4. Stir in the Dijon Mustard and remove from heat to avoid burning the mustard.
5. Serve alongside any meat or fowl.

Serves 4

© Sybarite Sauvage 

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