A Taster’s Journey

Valpolicella is an easy drinking wine that is perfect for springtime, and Allegrini is one of the best producers. This wine is produced in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy, and it’s a blend of three grapes (Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara). It has a medium body with flavors of cherry, plum and spice. This wine is particularly well balanced, the fruit and acidity are in perfect harmony. Allegrini Valpolicella would pair well with chicken, pork chops, and seafood. I think this is a really nice wine, and is a great value. It should be easy to find at your favorite retail store or online.

The movie “Sideways” has created quite a buzz about Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara. Although I think the Pinot Noir is good, I prefer Syrah and the other Rhone varietals from that region. Tablas Creek Vineyard is a great winery from Paso Robles, just north of Santa Barbara. It was started by the Perrin family of the famed Chateau Beaucastel and Robert Haas, and they have made some delicious wines in the style of the southern Rhone Valley. This Cote de Tablas is like a full throttle Cote du Rhone. It is a blend of Mourvedre, Syrah, Grenache, and Counoise. This wine has character; it is big and meaty with firm tannins. But as with a good Rhone wine, it is well balanced. The earth and spices are nicely blended with rich fruit flavors. I really like this wine; it is robust with well integrated layers of flavor. It would be a perfect complement to hearty meat dishes like beef stew or a grilled ribeye steak.

Vieillefont is a red table wine made in the Lot-et-Garonne region of France, southeast of Bordeaux. This rather unknown region is better known for inexpensive bulk wine than fine wine, however I think I found a real gem. Although this winery only began in 1997, and their initial offerings were less than stellar, their hard work has paid off. Vieillefont is made from 20 to 30 year old vines, and is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec. They age the wine for a little more than a year in oak, but use a low proportion of new oak thereby making the oak influence more subtle. The result is a medium bodied wine that is luscious and smooth. It has a dark purplish color, and has a nose similar to that of a Bordeaux. I loved this wine. It is a mix of dark red berries, with a hint of cocoa and spice. This rich round flavor is perfectly balanced with light tannins and acid. This is a great everyday wine, and I am going to order another case today.

Vina Sastre is a family run winery in the Ribera del Duero region of Spain. This wine is produced from 100% Tempranillo grapes from their estate vineyards. Although I find many wines made with the tempranillo grape to be light and fruity, this wine is rich and elegant. Vina Sastre Roble has a deep red color with aromas of dark berries. It is a medium bodied wine that is very well balanced with flavors of cherries and cedar. The wine’s earthiness is an excellent example of a well made wine in an Old World style.

This wine is a great everyday wine that will pair very well with food, especially grilled meats and hearty stews.