Join Our Mailing List Enter your e-mail address Subscribe Unsubscribe

Picks & Pans January 2001/December 2000

Wine of the Week reviews one or more wines each week. Most are picks; a few are pans. Please write in and let us know if you agree or disagree with our opinion. Note: The wine prices in our reviews are the prices we pay (before any discount) at our local wine stores or that are suggested by the distributor. They are given solely as guidelines. We do not sell any wines.

This week's wine (1/29/01) is 1997 Castell del Remei, Gotim Bru, Costers del Segre ($12.99)

Deep dark ruby in color with long thick legs, this blend of Tempranillo, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon has a big nose of ripe bing cherries and black currants, accompanied by some smoke notes. Medium bodied with luscious berry flavors and hints of spice and pencil shavings, its flavors linger on the palate. Well structured, this wine has a good finish as well. Enjoy it with a grilled steak. Imported by European Cellars Direct, New York, NY 10001.

We just posted this month's feature: Recessionary Reds. It reviews eleven value priced ($4.99 to $10) wines that are perfect for everyday fare like meat loaf.  We also have a new Valentine's Day TableWine Challenge. It asks you to find the perfect wine for a romantic recipe from our celebrity chef. Enter, and you could win some great prizes. Details are on our Challenge page.

This week's wine (1/22/01) is 1999 Chateau Valcombe, Cotes du Ventoux "Les Griottes" ($12.99)

Deep purple in color with a multitude of legs, this Rhone blend of Syrah (50%) and Grenache Noir (50%) exhibits a multitude of legs and has an inviting nose of bing cherry and cedar, with hints of ash and slate. The nose seems to waft from the glass. Dry and still quite tannic, it has soft tannins that envelop jammy fruit flavors, with blue-plum, blackberry, and some vanilla characteristics. After a little time, deep cherry flavors develop on the the tongue. These flavors linger, and the wine has a good mid-palate. It's a well structured wine, with tannins, alcohol, and fruit in good balance. The finish is just right, with a hint of sweetness. Enjoy this wine with any hearty winter stew, but be sure to give it some time to breathe before serving. Imported by Jeffrey M. Davies “Signature Selections,” South Kearney, NJ.

This week's wines (1/15/01) comprise a pair of Italian whites: 1999 Placido, Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie, IGT ($8.00) and 1999 Principessa Gavia, Gavi, DOCG ($12.00)

Very pale straw in color, this Pinot Grigio has a big nose of lemon citrus and grass, together with some mineral notes. On the palate, it's crisp and dry and has a nice mouthfeel. Well balanced, with good acidity, it delivers mineral and lemon zest flavors that linger. It also has a nice, clean finish with some hints of vanilla. This wine perfectly complemented a pasta served with grilled chicken, sun dried tomato, and arugula, in a lemon and white-wine garlic sauce and goat cheese. Imported by BV Imports, Old Brookville, NY.

This Gavi is straw to pale yellow in color. It has an inviting floral nose of wildflowers, with a hint of nut oil. Medium bodied, this wine has a good balance of acidity and fruit. Its flavors are primarily grapefruit and green apple, with some chalk notes. It has a nice finish, with a touch of white-pepper. Enjoy this wine with a plate of scampi alla Veneziana. Imported by Banfi Vintners, Old Brookville, NY.

This week's wine (1/8/01) is 1998 Michel Lynch, Sauvignon Blanc, Bordeaux ($8.99)

Pale gold in color, this white Bordeaux has a big, forward nose of gooseberry complemented by herbaceous, vanilla, and floral notes. On the palate, it delivers crisp mineral flavors. It is well structured with good acidity for food. The flavors linger, and the finish is good with some grassy notes. Not at all complex, this is a traditional white Bordeaux at a great price. Enjoy with simple fish dishes or as an aperitif.

This week's wines (1/1/01) are 1998 Donnafugata, Sedàra, Sicilia, I.G.T. ($19.00) and 1999 Mas Des Aveylans, Syrah Vin de Pays du Gard  ($9.99)

Made from the Nero d'Avola grape, this Sicilian red is light ruby in color with long, beautiful legs. It sports a big nose of brambles, black cherry, and plum. On the palate, the wine is very dry and well structured, with soft tannins and plenty of good acidity. It delivers black fruit flavors, like black cherry and plum and has a nice acidic finish. This wine was wonderful with an eggplant Parmigiana. The bitterness of the eggplant accentuated the subtle sweetness of the wine. Imported by Parliament Import Company, Atlantic City, NJ.

Deep purple in color with long, slow legs, this Rhone red has an alluring nose packed with loads of jammy, blueberry fruit complemented by black-pepper and pencil-shaving notes. On the palate, it's big, full bodied, and dry, with firm tannins. Its blueberry and cherry flavors, however, appear, at least for now, to be overpowered by the tannins. (It needs some time to breathe.) The wine has good acidity and a pleasant finish with hints of caramel. Enjoy this well priced red with spicy grilled sausage. Imported by Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC.

This week's wine (12/25/00) is 1997 Trefethen, Cabernet Franc, Estate Grown, Napa Valley ($18.99)

Deep ruby in color and beginning to show some age with a little glycerin around the edge, this Chinon-style Cabernet Franc has an elegant, complex nose of crushed black pepper, jammy black cherry, with hints of chalk. On the palate, it's quite dry with soft tannins, and delivers delicate cherry flavors, followed by lingering spice notes. Its spicy finish, however, is a tad short. It's reserved, and not at all showy, in style. In other words, it seems to have been made to play a supporting role to food. This wine would be perfect with a veal stew.

This week's wine (12/18/00) is 2000 Santa Julia Vineyards, Torrontes, Mendoza ($7.00)

Pale straw, almost clear, in color, this Argentinean white has a huge, almost seductive, nose of mangoes and other tropical fruit. On the palate, it delivers loads of flavor, with apple, honey, and Muscat characteristics accompanied by some spice notes. These flavors linger. This medium-bodied wine is well structured, with good acidity, and it also has a nice finish, with hints of spice and tart apples. It would go well with a seafood pasta, like linguine with white clam sauce, spicy Asian fare, or can even serve as an aperitif. A real value with plenty of character. Imported by Wine-Sellers, Ltd., Stokie, IL.

This week's wines (12/11/00) are 1999 Francis Coppola, Diamond Series, Gold Label Chardonnay ($15.00) and 1998 Francis Coppola, Diamond Series, Red Label Zinfandel ($14.00)

Pale straw in color, this wine has a clean, enticing nose of butterscotch with lemon citrus notes. On the palate, it's full bodied and unctuous, with lemon citrus flavors followed by lingering butterscotch. It has a good finish with some spice notes. This wine is well structured, has good acidity, and oak is judiciously used. Perfect for dishes like halibut in a white cream sauce or a simply roasted Cornish game hen.

Deep ruby in color with beautiful legs, this zinfandel has a classic nose of black pepper and ripe jammy plums, complemented by some cedar notes. It's dry, firm, and full bodied, with soft tannins that envelop plenty of black fruit flavors, but pepper and spice flavors predominate with just hints of sweetness. Black pepper follows through on the finish. This wine would go well with a spicy pasta arrabbiata or grilled sausages.

Our latest addition to the site is a listing of BYOB restaurants contributed by readers to our Forum. If you know of a good restaurant in your area that's BYOB, please share it with us. Here's a direct link to the TableWine Forum.

This week's wine (12/04/99) is 1999 Fefiñanes, Albariño de Fefiñanes, Rias Baixas ($12.99)

Pale straw in color with greenish tints, this Spanish white has a huge nose of green apples, butter, and lemon citrus together with some fennel notes. On entry, it's crisp with some petillance and then appears somewhat unctuous. It delivers plenty of flavor characterized chiefly by green apples and lemon citrus. The flavors linger. The wine has a nice dry finish with hints of spice and under-ripe  honeydew. This wine is well structured with adequate acidity to stand up to food. Serve with a garlicky seafood pasta or any Mediterranean dish that calls for a white wine. (I've seen this wine on sale for a little as $7.99.) Imported by USA Wine Import, New York, NY.

Wine of the Week Archives

Send mail to info@tablewine.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2000 TableWine