Paradise Found

And just like that I've returned to the Loire Valley. With last night's meal of tomato soup and grilled cheese, I opened a bottle of 2010 Le Paradis Chinon ($9) and I was a happy camper. This cabernet franc is sumptuous with black fruit and cassis and is seriously killer when paired with guilty pleasure TV. 

My show of choice last night was Nashville. Have you guys watched it yet? OMG. So awesome. Lots of great country music with equally great plot lines. Major melodrama. Well I watched the first season finale last night and it did not disappoint. All in all, it was a pretty wonderful Thursday night. Hope you all had a lovely evening as well and are enjoying your Friday. 

Cheers!

Big & Rich

map via wine drive

Last night I deviated from my Loire pattern. I made myself some really simple pasta with chicken bolognese (purchased at my local market Zupan's) and wanted something to stand up to the meaty sauce. I needed something bolder, richer. So I ventured Southwest and poured myself a glass of Château Le Roc "La Folle Noire d'Ambat" Fronton ($13)

Primarily made of the Négrette grape (tastes similar to a blend of syrah / malbec), this wine is serious. Bright and surprisingly tannic, this deep purple vin naturel is killer when paired with food, especially meat or a stinky cheese. (Not so great on its own!) So make sure you've got some good appetizers on hand when pouring this bad boy. 

Cheers! 

Rainy Day Reds

Cold, drizzly evenings call for soul-warming wine. Lately, I've been drinking pretty much exclusively Loire Valley gems. From Cabernet Franc to Gamay, my glass has been filled with earthy French reds that are high in acid and floral notes. Yes, these wines aren't readily available at your local market but if you seek them out, it will be well worth it. Ask around for a fun, funky wine store that focuses on natural wines. Become friends with the merchant, discuss your weakness for vin naturel and you'll be hooked up for life! Plus, these wines aren't super-expensive, generally coming in at under $25. 

My latest Loire love? The 2010 Domaine de la Charmoise Gamay Touraine  ($14) It's zippy minerality made it pair deliciously with last night's dinner of roasted veggies and polenta. So good! 

Cheers! 

Sunday Supper

Sunday nights are made for comforting meals paired with great television. Case in point, last night I paired my lemon herb chicken over mashed cauliflower with roasted green beans courtesy of Whole Food's with HBO's lineup of Game of Thrones and Veep. 

It was close to perfection. 

The problem? I couldn't figure out what wine to have! The meal said white but the shows were all red. So guess what? I decided to make a compromise. A Rosé. A full-bodied pink with the acidity of a white. My pick - the 2011 In Fine Rosé. A blend of Grenache and Syrah, this wine comes in at a budget friendly $8. 

So the next time you can't decide between a red or white, just go pink! 

Cheers!