Camp Viejo Rioja Tempranillo (2013) Wine Review

Campo Viejo (Spanish for “old field”) is also the name of the winery that brings us this week’s Wine Wednesday feature, the 2013 Campo Viejo Rioja Tempranillo. Rioja is a wine region in Spain where the primary varietal is a black skinned red wine grape known as Tempranillo. It is believed that Tempranillo is native to Spain.

Though the varietal is often blended with other varietals, single varietal Tempranillo wines are becoming increasingly popular and this wine is 100% Tempranillo. There are three main sub regions of Rioja - Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Baja.  The three sub regions vary due to altitude, climate and soil and the grapes from each sub region vary as well. As is quite common with Rioja, winemaker Elena Adell blended Tempranillo grapes from all three sub regions capturing her favorite characteristics from each.

In the glass, the wine had a deep dark cherry color. On the nose, dark fruit, vanilla and a hint of black licorice. On the palate - well balanced dark fruit specifically cassis and subtle smoke.

This is a great go-to weeknight wine. It’s consistent, affordable, an easy drinker and pairs well with a wide variety of food. We had it one night with grilled lamb chops and the next night with pizza.  Try also with my Bistro Burgers. To print or save the recipe pairing suggestions, click the links below.

Grilled Lamb Chops

Brittany's Bistro Burgers

Savor Collective Sauvignon Blanc (2015) Wine Review

To most of you it will be quite obvious as to why I had to try this week’s Wine Wednesday feature, the 2015 Savor Collective Sauvignon Blanc. The name alone was enough to find its way into my cart, but being a Sauvignon Blanc; especially a New Zealand (Malborough) Sauvignon Blanc has me wondering why I took just one bottle. I love NZ Sauvignon Blancs and some French ones as well. I’ve said it in the past, “Why does anyone else bother with the varietal.” I keep trying others thinking eventually someone will change my mind, but so far, I stand by that quote.

I always like to research the wines I review to learn as much as I can about them. This week, I was sad to find so very little about this wine.  Even the web address on the label was inactive.

This leads me to another topic that’s been on my mind. I know my friends in Tennessee are now excited that wine will be available in grocery stores. Since moving to Arizona where you can by wine at the grocery store, gas station, drugstore, you name it, I have a new perspective on this.  

As an appreciator of wine, I would gladly forego the convenience.  Here is what I see as a result.  There is a limited selection – everyone stocks the same wines from the large labels at competitive prices.  Then there are the big box wine stores. The selection may be a little better, but it still feels the same. Isles full of very drinkable wine, but no gems to discover.  It all feels like Walmart, the same merchandise everywhere with no one with any passion for the product waiting on you. The big box stores also seem to have winemakers that sell to or make wine for only them.  I suspect this may be the case with my feature this week.  I bought it at Total Wine, a big box store with a good selection at rock bottom prices. 

This wine however, to me drinks like a gem. It’s frustrating that it may be difficult to find anywhere else. However, if you are a fan of NZ Sauvignon Blanc, I suggest you try.  On the nose I found that grapefruit scent so signature to NZ Sauvignon Blancs but in addition, honey and nectarine. The mouthfeel was slightly rounder than the usual with just a touch more body, along with a slight salinity and minerality. It had that crisp clean finish I’ve come to expect that in this case, fit the name. It was long and lingering, causing one to pause and SAVOR the Flavors!

Try with Grilled Swordfish with Lime Crema or Prosciutto Pasta Roulade. Click the links below to print or save the recipes.

Grilled Swordfish with Lime Crema

Prosciutto Pasta Roulade

Yalumba, The Strapper (2011) Wine Review

”The Strapper “ is a British English term mostly used in Australia for someone who looks after racehorses by doing everything from mucking the stalls to grooming and saddling (thus the term strapper). The Strapper is reliable, solid and trustworthy.  

It’s been my experience that all of the offerings I've tried from Yalumba possess these desirable qualities causing me to continue to reach for their brand while wine shopping.  This one is a GSM. GSM is an acronym for Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre, three varietals commonly blended in French, Southern Rhone wines including Chateauneauf-du-pape.

This GSM however is from the Barossa Valley of Australia. The blend is 48% Grenache, 47% Shiraz and 5% Mataro (Mourvèdre).

First off, I noticed its garnet, somewhat see-though, color.  On the nose - chokecherry or boysenberry syrup, cranberry and violet and a hint of cedar and baking spice. On the soft palate, I found it to be fruit forward, slightly jammy with a peppery yet lengthy finish possessing moderate tannins.

We enjoyed this with grilled pork chops slathered in Bone Suckin’ (Hot) Sauce and Savory Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Spiced Pecans one night and BLT’s the next. If you are making crock-pot dinners this summer, try with my Braised Beef Tips and Mushrooms over Riced Potatoes. To print or save the recipe pairing suggestions, click the links below. 

Savory Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Spiced Pecans

Braised Beef Tips with Mushrooms and Riced Potatoes

Secco Italian Bubbles (2013) Wine Review

Perlage – that’s the word of the day this Wine Wednesday. Perlage is French (pronounced pear LEE ziə). The word translates as beadwork but is also used to describe the beads that form in sparkling wine. Yes, you guessed it, this week’s feature the 2013 Secco Italian Bubbles is indeed a sparkling wine.

The name “Secco” seems to allude to “Prosecco” an Italian white wine which is usually sparkling. However, this is not Prosecco even though it’s produced by two Italian sisters, Ginevra and Olivia Casa, who happen to be quite passionate about Prosecco. Washington state rock star winemaker Charles Smith joins them in this effort and shakes things up a bit.

Instead of the Glera grape varietal used in Prosecco, here they are using 100% Moscato Blanco. Sparkling wines have varying degrees of perlage and I would describe this as “frizzante”, a semi-sparkling wine.

As the days get warmer and lazy summer afternoons grow nearer, you might want to stock up on a few bottles of this. The low alcohol content (5%) makes this the perfect summer sipper.

On the nose (and palate as well) floral and tropical fruit notes. On the tongue, the sweetness of the Moscato is offset by the effervescence making it enjoyably but not cloyingly sweet.

We savored this with Grilled Bruschetta and Salmon Cucumber Canapés for one of our Saturday night appetizer night dinners. Start planning your weekend, sit on the patio or under a giant shade tree, play a relaxing game of checkers or Scrabble and sip on some Secco this Saturday or Sunday afternoon! Click the links below to print or save the recipe pairing suggestions.

Grilled Bruschetta

Salmon Cucumber Canapés

Machi Torrontes (2012) Wine Review

Could you recommend a wine to serve with salmon?  I’ve been asked this question more than a few times and there are several great options, but upon tasting this week’s Wine Wednesday feature it was the first pairing that came to mind. 

The 2012 Machi Torrontes comes to us from the Salta wine region of Argentina. The name pays homage to Machi, traditional healers and tribal leaders of ancient Indian culture indigenous to the area in the far north of Argentina. Machi relied on medicinal herbs and other remedies for healing and thus inspired the name and winemaker to use natural viticultural techniques to craft the wine.  

Torrontes, pronounced Tor RON tez (roll those r’s) is the most widely cultivated white wine grape of Argentina.

In the glass, a rich golden color. On the nose, bold herbal notes, also floral, though more the leaves of flowering plants, lychee and spice. It has an incredibly silky mouthfeel – a wine with weight – and a beautifully balanced acidity delivering a crisp, clean, yet complex finish of citrus, spice and lastly honey on the roof of your mouth.

The mouthfeel and weight of the wine makes it an ideal pairing for salmon, arctic char or other more oily fish dishes. The complexity of the wine will hold up to the bolder flavors of salmon and other oily fish yet not overwhelm them. The herbal aspect will also nicely compliment my Salmon with Dill Sauce. Also try with spicy Indian food or Thai flavors like those in my Tempura Fish Tacos. Click the links below to print or save the recipe pairing suggestions. 

Salmon with Dill Sauce

Tempura Fish Tacos

Pfaffl Zeiseneck Grüner Veltliner 2012 Wine Review

Austria. I love Austria. I’ve been there several times and each time I’ve experienced this visceral sense of belonging. I have no knowledge of ancestry there, but sometimes what you feel is greater than what you know.  If I were one to believe in former lives I might conclude that one of mine had ties there. 

What’s interesting is the last time I was in Austria was in 2005, the first was in 1991 and if I have any regrets it is that I didn’t discover Grüner Veltliner until about 8 years ago.  Now I have yet another reason why I simply must return! Grüner Veltliner is the most important native grape to Austria. Over 75% of the varietal comes from Austria.

Today’s Wine Wednesday feature the 2012 Pfaffl Zeiseneck Grüner Veltliner is the entry level Grüner Veltliner from winemaker Roman Josef Pfaffl.  The wine comes from the Weinviertel region near Vienna which also borders the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Zeiseneck is the name of the vineyard the grapes are sourced from.

As days start getting warmer I start turning to lighter fair and wines such as this. On the nose, herbal notes and a distinct minerality with subtle hints of smoke. I enjoyed the slightly round mouth feel with a clean crisp finish and what some may describe as a bit of pepper on the finish as well.  I think of it more as a slight tingle on the tongue that can often accompany a wine aged in stainless tanks. This for me adds to the refreshment and makes it a great summer sipper.

The vineyard for this wine lies on the largest fossil oyster reef in the world and the terroir seemingly predisposes it for pairing with shellfish. Try with Steamed Mussels or Clams alla Puttanesca. In fact use it in the recipes as well. To print or save the recipes, click the links below. 

Steamed Mussels

Clams alla Puttanesca

Callaghan Vineyards Ruth's Blend (2014) Wine Review

AZ wine is fine! At least, that is my opinion of this week’s Wine Wednesday feature the 2014 Callaghan Vineyards Ruth’s Red Blend. In February while my parents were visiting us in AZ we took a little road trip which included wine tasting along the Sonoita Wine Trail near Sonoita and Elgin, AZ about an hour south of Tucson. I had visited the wine trail about 3 years ago, interestingly enough, the day after wine tasting in Napa and Sonoma. At the time, I didn’t have high expectations for AZ wine, but was curious none the less. During my 2013 visit I was surprisingly impressed and purchased several bottles to take home with me. Once home and time had passed  I was equally impressed when I realized I loved the wine as much as I did while tasting at the winery. The wines of winemaker/owner Kent Callaghan were among my favorites then and once again they topped the list!

Ruth’s blend is named after Ruth Graham, co-owner of Golden Rule Vineyards where the grapes for this wine are sourced in Cochise, AZ. Cochise is about an hour north and east of Elgin. This blend is 67% Cabernet Franc and 33% Petit Verdot.  On the nose, black cherry, plum, cocoa and baking spice. On the tongue, big fruit, moderate tannins and a tart juicy finish. This wine is an incredibly balanced wine that is easily paired with a variety of dishes - a real go-to wine as a crowd pleaser for red wine drinkers. 

Ruth’s blend is not on Callaghan’s official tasting sheet, but be sure to ask for it.  The wine can be purchased and shipped from the winery. Contact them via the contact section on their website to purchase.

While visiting the Sonoita Wine Trail, make Callaghan one of your first stops and purchase there as other wineries are good, but not better. I recommend staying in Tucson.  

For dining, visit my friend Chef Alisah at Chef Alisah's Restaurant for delicious homemade European comfort food and Bosnian dishes.  I also recommend Downtown Kitchen and Cocktails and Wilko near the university.

We enjoyed Ruth's Blend with a Grilled New York Strip with Burgundy Mushrooms (I used the wine in the mushrooms) and a side of Oven Roasted Fingerling Potatoes.  Try with my Roast Beef Sandwich Au Poivre or Bouja (Harvest Stew). Click the links below to print or save the recipe pairing suggestions.

Burgundy Mushrooms

Oven Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

Roast Beef Sandwich Au Poivre

Bouja (Harvest Stew)