Recipe Repository

Remember in high school when you used pre-published “notes” on classical literature to get you through your exams and term paper assignments? The marketing team at the Familia Zuccardi vineyard must have taken a cue from those commercially available crib sheets, based on the information printed on their wine bottle labels. Their 2006 Cab has “Tasting Notes” as well as “Serving Suggestions” printed on the back of the bottle. While the wine snob in me objects to taking dictation from what the vineyard says their wine tastes like, I can appreciate this approach as advantageous for consumers who want to learn more about wine and don’t speak in “wine reviewer” code.

Fortunately for us, the “Cliff’s Notes” on the bottle were reasonably accurate. Certainly there are “Black cherries and currant flavors” and “a touch of plum and spices at the end”. The one observation I’d add is that the fruit here is not sugary sweet. The dry finish compliments the first taste of fruit, and this went down entirely too smoothly. I have no record of exactly what we paid for this bottle, but it must have been less than $20. A good buy.

The Kunde Estate Winery & Vineyards of Kenwood, California have hit the nose on the head with this muscular, spicy zin. Clearly stated pepper notes are accented by a hint of tannins in the finish. This Zin would be strong enough to hold its own when paired with chili, spicy barbecued ribs, or a roast leg of lamb. Recommended for those who appreciate a hearty Zinfandel.

The wine makers at Viña Ventisquero in Rancagua, Chile have cultivated a bold yet balanced Cabernet Sauvignon with a claim to fame: their grape vines are grown on the original European root stock, not grafted onto generic root stock, a practice used in most other parts of the world due to the susceptibility of grapevines to the phylloxera disease. According to Viña Ventisquero’s marketing team, this biological difference is the secret ingredient that accounts for Root: 1’s fruity, rich flavors and aromas.

As a gardener myself, the biological difference is interesting, but ultimately it is the taste of the wine that has inspired me to make this purchase again and again. Root: 1 is indeed bold in flavor, but without being overpowering, harsh, or cloying. The grape, currant, and cherry flavors are nicely balanced against a background of sweetness and a hint of dry finish. The texture of this wine is almost port-like, though the sugars feel natural on the tongue, not contrived. This is a slurpable wine, and one that any red-wine lover will appreciate. At about $11/bottle on average, it is also an amazing deal. Highly recommended.

*This post marks a new era in the Recipe Repository: in addition to posting our own original food recipes and adaptations, Rick and I will be adding reviews of our favorite beverages, from wines, beers, and coffees, to our favorite cocktail concoctions.