Acquagiusta - Rosso

Year: 2008
Bodega: Rosso
Country: Italy
Region: Toscana
Grapes: A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (35%), Merlot (35%), and Syrah (30%).

This wine was recommended to me by a coworker and President of the Food and Wine Society of his city. He is an older gentleman, very good at his job and with good life and wine advice.
Description:
- Complex, woodsy smell, but very light, not strong
- Colour deep red, almost purple in the light
- Dark fruit flavors, mixed with oakiness in this wine, and spices
- Velvety tannins, semi-long aftertaste
- Full-bodied and smooth to the taste

Tonight, the wine will be paired with a "Greek style" pizza - with dough made from scratch, basil pesto, spinach, campari tomatoes, kalamati olives, Valbrezo feta cheese, banana peppers, sprinkled with a bit of rosemary and oregano, and topped with grated whole milk mozzerella cheese.

Music Selection:

Question - Old 97s
Song from SCRUBS

Personal Rating: 7 / 10
I have no complaints with this wine, but it doesn't have the spicy, bold flavours I prefer in a red. A good wine that won't disappoint, but not entirely something I was attracted to.

Riparosso - Illuminati - Montepulciano

Year: 2008
Bodega: Illuminati
Country: Italy
Region: Abruzzo
Grapes: Montepulciano 100%.

About the Montepulciano Grape:
Montepulciano is a grape. Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is a wine made from the grape, in the region of Abruzzo. Montepulciano is also a village in Tuscany, that happens to be nowhere near where the grape is grown. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is the name of a wine that has absolutely no Montepulciano in it (it’s Prugnolo Gentile, the local name for Sangiovese). So why is a grape named for a village so far away from where it’s actually grown? No one knows. Characteristics of the grape: plump, juicy, medium to full-bodied, low to medium tannins, cherry, red plum, hint of clove, sometimes slightly vegetal, more aged versions show some coffee and chocolate notes. (www.snooth.com)


Description:
- complex, semi-dry, lightly succulent
- un equilibrio maravilloso de la fruta y la estructura
- smell is strong and clear, heavy fruit notes of blackberries,black raspberries, maybe blueberries, those kind of things.
- smooth taste, lush seductive tannins

I've read that the Illuminati family of this winery (lead by Stefano Illuminati) feel a special kinship with Texas. They fly a Texas flag out in front of their winery and display on the porch a certificate signed by former Texas Gov. George Bush declaring Dino Illuminati, the family patriarch and Stefano's dad, an honorary Texan.

I would pair this wine with a Catalan fusion dish I created the day before: oven roasted in olive oil - eggplant, tomatoes, onions, garlics, and red peppers - dressed in olive oil, salt, pepper and red wine vinegar. And topped with pan roasted boneless chicken.

"You and I" by Lady Gaga

Powerful song for a powerful wine. Just makes you want to go out on the porch of a rustic farm house at dusk with it, and this song.

Personal Rating - 8.5 / 10
One of the best wines I've ever tasted. Now that I can no longer find my staple, favorite wine Periguita by Jose Maria Fonseca, this will be new go-to wine for regular weekend and weekday meals. It's so good.

Torroxal, Rias Baixas - Albariño

Year: 2009
Bodega: Viñas Do Torroxal
Country: Spain
Region: Rias Baixas, Galicia, España
Grapes: 100% Albariño.

About Albariño:
Albariño is my favourite type of white wine. It is the signature grape variety from the region of Rías Baixas. Just like you might say Cabernet Sauvignon is the signature variety from Napa Valley. Rías Baixas is the birthplace of Albariño. Albariño is also grown extensively in neighbouring Portugal, where it produces a lighter style of wine. In warmer regions it produces a riper wine with lower natural acidity.

Description:
- Crisp and refreshing!
- An aromatic and concentrated fruity wine
- Without the heaviness of a chardonnay, without the dryness of a pinot grigio, or the overbearing sweetness of a riesling... this wine is the perfect crisp mix of flavour and substance
- 4 months in stainless steel vats., 1 month in bottle
- In my opinion goes great with Spanish dishes like cooked gambas y langostines, salt fish.
- Albariño from Rías Baixas is said to be an ideal accompaniment to many types of Asian food, including Indian, Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese.

I had this wine with this a light vegetable pasta and marinated Manchego cheese:


Music Selection:
This is my favourite song right now.

Paulina Rubio - "Ni Rosas Ni Jugetes"

Personal Rating: Since I love Albariños, and this one did not disappoint - 7/10

Torres - Vina Brava

Year: 2006
Bodega: Torres
Country: Spain
Region: Catalunya Denominacio d'Origen
Grapes: 65% Garnacha, 35% Carinena

Description:
- Best suited for roasted and Mediterranean dishes.
- I hear it's best to let this wine "open" for an hour before drinking
- Sweet, flavourful, just the right amount of tannins and acidity
- Since I had visited this vineyard while living in Catalunya, I trust this name...
- A very good wine, not extravagant, but good for everyday Mediterranean cooking. Mixes well with roasted chicken, tomato based sauces, champiniones...

This wine would go well with this roasted lamb with a Spanish/Arabian eggplant, tomato and shallot recipe (I actually used the wine to cook as well):



Music Selection:

OT - David Bisbal & Elena Gadel "Mienteme"

And this was one of my favorite songs to learn Spanish to... I used to listen to it every night. I can still sing it in my sleep. About a love that drains you so much but you cannot leave it...


Personal Rating: 7/10 I am adding this to my staple everyday wine list. So far the only wine I buy with consistency is Jose Maria da Fonseca's Peringuita.

JM Fonseca, Twin Vines - Vinho Verde

Year: 2009
Bodega: Jose Maria da Fonseca
Country: Portugal
Region: Vinho Verde region, Minho, Portugal
Grapes: ?

Description:
- Transparent, pale straw color.
- Citrus aromas focused on limes and lemons.
- Spritzy with a mild lemon flavour.
- Tastes watered down, not the best vinho verde out there.
- Recommended if on sale, and Casal Garcia brand is not available...
- Would go great with light appetizers or Portuguese seafood dishes of shellfish, seafood, light pasta dishes & summer ensaladas. Vinho verdes in general can be an excellent match with linguine in white clam sauce, but I would choose a different brand. JM da Fonseca is one of my favorites, but the Twin Vines Vinho Verde is to be passed up.

Music Selection: A light crisp song from Fanny Lu - Tu No Eres Para Mi (Meaning: You are not for me... just like this wine).

Fanny Lu - Tu No Eres Para Mi

Personal Rating: 3/10

Condesa de Leganza Crianza Tempranillo

Year: 2004
Bodega: Condesa de Leganza
Country: Spain
Region: La Mancha
Grapes: 100% Tempranillo

Description:
The “Crianza” designation just means that the wine has spent one year in oak barrels. On other Spanish wines you may find “Reserva” which means this wine has been aged for two years in bottles, and at least one year in oak. “Gran Reserva” wines see two years in oak barrels, and three years aging in bottles.
- First smell: Earthy, smoky
- First taste: Spicy, with notes of plum & cherry
- More earthy than jammy, earthy being more characteristic of an old world wine rather than a new world wine
- Strong & tasty, smooth elegant finish
- Relatively "un-fruity" for a Tempranillo
- Would go well with lamb, grilled meats with a sweet sauce, hearty vegetable dishes. I had this one with a southern Spanish stewed aubergine dish.
- I really liked this wine. For it's price, it's pretty tasty and satisfactory, without being too earthy and musty, or too tackily fruity. Would buy again.

Music Selection:

Melendi - Un Violinista en tu Tejado

Personal Rating: 5/10

Casal Garcia Vinho Verde

Year: NA
Bodega: Avaleda
Country: Portugal
Region: Vinho Verde region, Minho, Portugal
Grapes: Loureiro, Trajadura, Arinto and Azal

Description:
Vinho Verde (green wine) is a unique Portuguese wine from the Minho region in the far north of the country. It's not intended to be a "serious" wine, but rather a light summer wine.

"Selected grape varieties are brought from the extensive vineyards of the Vinho Verde Region to our winery, to produce a smooth and fresh wine with a delicate aroma. It is the wine with the longest history at Aveleda and is easily identified by its blue label, which represents one of the magnificent embroideries of the Minho region."
- Casal Garcia

It’s alcohol content is low, around 10%, so you won't have to worry much about the hangover in the morning (or later afternoon). At a pretty low price, you can get this around 3 EUR in Portugal, or $5-6 here (in EEUU).

- Light yellow-green in colour
- First smell: citrus, and a crisp, spritzy acidity
- First taste: light, fresh, and effervescent; fruity, non presumptuous
- Made perfectly to pair with seafood and light salads. Maybe some honeydew melon. Especially Portuguese seafood and Portuguese salad :)
- This wine will definitely become a staple of mine.

Music Selection:
My friends and I popped open this wine before going to the summer event "White Linen Nights" in the Heights. While we were drinking, we heard this song on the radio... and thought "WTF is this? Some eastern European or Turkish song?" I thought it was some kind of Latin song since the station I listen to had dubbed it with reggaeton. Well, apparently it is the #1 song in Europe right now. It's funny though. Light, effervescent just like the wine. Now whenever we hear this song, we invariably think of this wine.

We No Speak Americano - Yolanda Be Cool & DCup

Rating: 8/10 One of my favorites types of wine and my favorite brand of vinho verde.