Back To Normal
The Easter long weekend is over for some today. I hope it was a good one for you. The weather here in Brampton was, for the most part, pretty awesome. This year, we hosted a party for one side of my family at my house. They tell me everything was great. But, I always find that I’m so preoccupied making sure I have all the dishes cooked and ready to go and that everyone has a drink or enough food that I barely taste the little I put on my plate. By the time night fell, dessert was nearly done, and everyone was ready for a bit of a stretch. So, out we went to light a few logs in the fire pit. We happened to have marshmallows on hand, so everyone found a branch (we have a few trees in the back) and roasted the marshmallows until perfect. We had an unusual accompaniment — a shot of bourbon.
Given that we had a houseful of guests that night, we went through a few bottles of wine. Here’s a bit of a sampling.
2010 Falchini Vernaccia Di San Gimignano
Trivia: Vernaccia basically means indigenous grape
Colour – Bright and clear pale straw hue
Bouquet – fresh fruit with an emphasis of green apple and quince with a pleasant grassy edge
Flavour – crisp and refreshing with a yellow plum body and citrus zing
A perfect picnic or pool side sipper; could be great on it’s own or paired with grilled fish.
2009 Ravens Wood Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi California
14.5 % alcohol
Bouquet – an explosion of blueberry and cassis with a vanilla round off
Flavour – concentrated blueberry with undertones of spice and balsamic
– a perfectly balanced wine with a smooth finish despite the high alcohol
Pairings – grilled steak with coconut rice; a burger topped with Gorgonzola
2004 Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin
Strongly suggest decanting and letting it open up for a minimum 45 min.
Bouquet – A quintessential Bordeaux style wine
– an initial hit of dark cherry and plum that gives way to a deep and lasting aroma of rich earth, chocolate and a whiff of smoke
Flavour – Cherry and casis that mingles with vanilla and spice
– A beautiful and elegant mouthfeel with with enough structure and remaining tannins to sustain a few more years in the cellar
Would pair very well with a fine steak with sautèd onions and mushrooms.