Van Webb 7/17/15 Van Webb 7/17/15

Cool Red Wines For Summer?

If the idea of "cool" and "red" applied to wine seems out of the ordinary, it is because we typically drink red wine that is too warm. The concept of chilling red wines may take some getting used to, but is worth trying out. Especially when the summer heat is on.

Finer wines and heavier reds will not display their full aromatic character and complexity if too cool. But chances are, you have never had a red wine that was "too cool". Reds should be optimal when served between fifty-five and sixty-five degrees. A half-hour in the refrigerator before pulling the cork will give you a refreshingly different version of your favorite wine. Heat, even prolonged exposure to room temperature, is a primary enemy of red wine. If keeping an open bottle in the refrigerator will help sustain it for multiple days, why wouldn't cooling it briefly before opening make it more drinkable?

Maybe you don't want to put ice in your red wine, but give the chill a chance for a satisfying summer experience.

My preferred wine for outdoor grilling season is a light and fruity Barbera. What about you? What is your favorite chilled red wine for summertime?

Van Webb 3/17/15 Van Webb 3/17/15

Best of Santa Fe - Wine Service and Dining

A brief, but satisfying, weekend wine and dining adventure.

Wine

This trip was not focused on wine discovery, but I still found time for a few treats:

Service

Izanami at Ten Thousand Waves - Kaz, Japanese Customer Service Manager, (their title) was everywhere. At the restaurant. At the spa check-in. Around the spa grounds. Always checking on me personally, attentively. Delivering messages between spouses creatively. My Izanami waitress was similarly attentive, taking extra time to guide me through a sake tasting and explaining the food items, like the Kinpira Gobo below.
The Compound - Alex and his team of five took very good care of us from start to finish. He was particularly helpful with wine selection, finding out our desires and recommending the wine that was drinking best at the time, and cheapest, of three bottles in consideration.

Food

The Compound - I tasted twelve food items, from Tuna Tartare to a chocolate snowball treat, and all were delightful in their own ways. Braised Lamb Osso Bucco with wild mushroom risotto and garlic chips was a replacement (for veal) feature that stood out.
Smothered Breakfast Burrito at Tune-Up Cafe - Roasted and smoky the green chile sauce would have been enjoyable as a soup, but performed well over the bacon, egg, and potato burrito.
Kinpira Gobo at Izanami - My surprise of the trip, with slivers of burdock root, and carrot, in sesame soy dressing. Light, simple, and startlingly therapeutic to nibble at with chopsticks.
Green Chile Breakfast Burrito at The Anasazi Restaurant and Bar

Best cocktail

Blood Orange Margarita at Fuego Restaurant

Van Webb 1/8/15 Van Webb 1/8/15

Wine Tasting By The Glass - Stonehorse Cafe

A restaurant with a strong wine program can provide the setting for a by the glass wine tasting, and potentially turn you onto your next go-to bottle. Recently at Stonehorse Cafe, three of us shared the following wines and observations.

Cultivar Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 - This was the unanimous favorite. Very dark and powerful, with spicy sweet finish, and requisite vanilla note. $28 (retail)

Coppo L'avvocata Barbera d'Asti 2012 - My top pick, but I'm a Barbera fan. Red fruits and a spicy effervescence. $14

Scarpetta Barbera del Monferrato 2012 - We all agreed on this for our bottle with lunch. Fruity, though darker, with earthiness. $16

Telmo Rodriguez LZ Vinedos de Lanziego Tempranillo 2011 - Jammy with smoke. Very pleasant and lengthy. Only one of us was a fan. $18

Recuerdo Malbec 2012 - Full of dark berries and currant, a little grassy. $16

Chateau La Hase Bordeaux Blend 2012 - Very mild, suffering against the bigger and fruitier opponents. It had no chance in this lineup. $14

Tasting several wines the glass can be an informative and fun social experience, and our impromptu session led us to a few bottles to seek out for the full experience. Take advantage of your dining out opportunities to experiment, and find the next big wine on your list.