Wines with food

[Florida Jim]

With a lunch salad:

2003 Dom. Lafage, VDP Cotes Catalanes Cote Est:

Another charming Eric Solomon wine; this one of grenache blanc; lightly floral with white fruit and very light honey tones; crisp and fruit sweet on the palate, slightly mineral, nicely balanced; moderate finish. Pleasant, airy and just the thing for aperitif or a light lunch.

With pasta with salmon:

2003 Le Clos du Tue-Boeuf, Gamay Touraine:

An herbal/stemmy scent that seems to be prevalent in many of the red wines of the Loire accents very ripe gamay fruit that smells of sweetness, light spice tones complete the aromatics; round and lush on the palate, jammy with bare hints of herbs, spice and flowers, the wine is soft in the mouth (the structure all but hidden) but still fresh, good concentration and balance; medium finish. For drinking now. Another delectable incarnation of gamay and excellent with the dish.

With lunch of salad, crackers with cheese and spreads:

2002 Anselmi, Capitel Foscarino:

Garganega doesn’t get made like this often; captivating aromatics of sweet gum, flowers, minerals, ginger and white fruit; beautifully fresh and lively in the mouth with ripe fruit, minerals and peppery spices all undulating across the palate in perfect balance, focused and delineated yet all of the same whole; clean and long on the finish. Finesse, aroma and structure; floral, plump, bright and mouth filling; and, all in perfect harmony; a testament to what can be done with this grape and this vineyard. And at $15, just plain stealing. Lovely with the lunch. To borrow from the VLMTR, fundamental.

With chicken nachos and salsa:

2003 B. Giacosa, Dolcetto d’Alba:

Dark chocolate and black fruit on the nose, deep and brooding; rich and full bodied with flavors that follow the nose, mouth-puckering tannins, excellent ripeness and concentration and good (albeit, grippy) length. Good stuff with strongly flavored food, way too tannic without.

and,

2001 Copain, Syrah Cailloux & Coccinelle:

From the Walla Walla Valley in Washington, 14.3% alcohol; as Arpy might say, a mythical blend of California syrah and Crozes-Hermitage; olive, bacon and forest floor are somewhat stronger on the nose than the black fruit and wood spice elements; the same on the palate with more Old World flavors and textures than New – nonetheless, the ripeness levels are domestic, intense, concentrated, complex and well–balanced; good length. Once again, Copain delivers quality and, even more important, promise. Excellent wine.

Best, Jim

Edited December 1, 2004 by Florida Jim (log)