Villa Maria 'Taylors Pass' Sauvignon Blanc

Attributes:
Producer:

Villa Maria
Region:

Marlborough, Australia/New Zealand
Varietal:

Sauvignon Blanc
Bottle Size:

750 ML

Food Matches:
Cheese: Feta, Goat Cheese, Mozzarella, Ricotta, Swiss
Fish or Shellfish: Catfish, Dover Sole, Red Snapper, Tilapia, Walleye, Ceviche, Grouper / Swordfish, Monkfish, Ligurian Fish Soup, Pan-fried Trout, Salmon with Lemon, Sea Bass, Shellfish (scallops, clams, crab, lobster, shrimp, etc...), Soft-shelled Crab
Fruits & Nuts: Citrus Fruits, Mango Salsa
Herbs & Spices: Anise, Fennel Seed, Tarragon, Basil, Cilantro, Coriander, Curry, Dill, Thyme
Poultry & Eggs: Chicken or Turkey, Chinese Chicken Salad, Roast Game Hen
Sauces: Vinaigrette
Vegetables: Asparagus, Asparagus Quiche, Greek Salad, Nicoise Salad, Salad, Tomato

Sauvignon Blanc:

Comes mostly from California, France, New Zealand, and South Africa. Its highly acidic wines are often suggestive of herbs or grass. Light to medium bodied and usually dry, European versions are generally not oaky while California Sauvignon Blanc can take on many of the qualities of Chardonnay. France has two classic wine regions for the Sauvignon Blanc gape: Bordeaux and the Loire Valley The Bordeaux wine is called Bordeaux Blanc and the two best known of the Loire wines are called Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé. In Bordeaux, Sauvignon Blanc is sometimes blended with Sémillon.


Marlborough:

When the first growers planted grapes in Marlborough in the 1970s (there is evidence of plantings as early as 1870s), it is unlikely they would have foreseen the extent of the growth and fame that the region’s wine industry would achieve, based upon a single varietal called Sauvignon Blanc. The distinctive pungency and zest fruit flavours of the first Marlborough wines, in particular Sauvignon Blanc, captured the imagination of the country's winemakers as well as international wine commentators and consumers and sparked an unparalleled boom in vineyard development. Worldwide interest in Marlborough wines, particularly Sauvignon Blanc, has continued to fuel that regional wine boom.

Ramon Bilbao 'Limited Edition' Tempranillo

Attributes:
Producer:

Bodegas Ramon Bilbao
Region:

Spain
Varietal:

Tempranillo
Bottle Size:

750 ML

2004: WineSpectator Rating: 88
Body:

solid
Complexity:

focused
Flavors:

black cherry, licorice, mineral, plum, smoke

2003: WineSpectator Rating: 87
Flavors:

coffee, oak, plum, smoky, spicy

2002: WineSpectator Rating: 85
Aromas:

floral
Flavors:

black cherry, licorice

2002: WineAndSpirits Rating: 86
Complexity:

simple

2001: Tanzer Rating: 87

1999: WineSpectator Rating: 85
Flavors:

black cherry, coffee, smoky, spicy

1999: WineEnthusiast Rating: 88
Texture:

round

Food Matches:
Cheese: Aged Cheddar, Goat Cheese, Sharp Cheddar, Soft Pungent Cheese
Fruits & Nuts: Almonds, Dates, Figs & Raisins, Hazelnuts
Herbs & Spices: Cilantro, Coriander, Cinnamon, Cumin, Saffron
Poultry & Eggs: Coq Au Vin, Roast Chicken with Herbs, Roast Turkey
Red Meat: Barbeque Pulled-Pork or Ribs, Beef Stew, Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Ham, Spicy Sausage, Wild Game - Elk, Caribou, Moose, Venison
Vegetables: Artichokes, Beans, Green, Beans, White, Carrots, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Gazpacho, Mushrooms, Potatoes, Roasted Sweet Peppers, Swiss chard or Kale, Tomato, Vegetable Gratin or Stew, White Aspargus with Mustard Vinagrette

Spain:

This mountainous country possesses more vineyard land than any other country on earth, and ranks third in wine production after France and Italy. Spain is best known for its red Riojas and its Sherries, however other wines and regions are quickly gaining notoriety. Like France, Spain divides wine into categories; table wine at the bottom level and quality wine at the top, with a large emphasis on geographical origin. VdM (Vino de Mesa) is a basic table wine. VC (Vino Comarcal) wines are a level up. VdlT (Vino de la Tierra) refers to one of the country’s 25 distinct regions, and each wine possesses a local character. At the top level, only about fifty wines are considered DO (Denominacion de Origen). These wines come from the best-known regions and are the equivalent of France’s Appellation Contrôlée. DOC (Denominacion de Origen Calificada) is reserved for wines that adhere to the most stringent regulations. So far, Rioja is the only wine to gain the Calificada classification.


Tempranillo:

This Spanish grape gives wines deep color, low acidity and only moderate alcohol content. In recent years the Ribera del Duero region has been producing wonderful wines featuring this grape; in older, more traditional regions such as Rioja, the grape is blended with others.

Alto Moncayo Aquilon

Attributes:
Producer:

Bodegas Alto Moncayo
Region:

Campo de Borja, Spain
Varietal:

Grenache
Bottle Size:

750 ML

2006: Tanzer Rating: 94

Aromas:

floral
Compliments:

racy
Flavors:

blackberry, candied, cherry, mineral, minerals, raspberry, red berry, rose, smoky, spices
Fruit:

sweet

Food Matches:
Cheese: Aged Cheddar, Goat Cheese, Sharp Cheddar, Soft Pungent Cheese
Fruits & Nuts: Almonds, Dates, Figs & Raisins, Hazelnuts
Herbs & Spices: Cilantro, Coriander, Cinnamon, Cumin, Saffron
Poultry & Eggs: Coq Au Vin, Roast Chicken with Herbs, Roast Turkey
Red Meat: Barbeque Pulled-Pork or Ribs, Beef Stew, Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Ham, Spicy Sausage, Wild Game - Elk, Caribou, Moose, Venison
Vegetables: Artichokes, Beans, Green, Beans, White, Carrots, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Gazpacho, Mushrooms, Potatoes, Roasted Sweet Peppers, Swiss chard or Kale, Tomato, Vegetable Gratin or Stew, White Aspargus with Mustard Vinagrette

Grenache:

Originally from Spain, this grape comes in both red-wine and white-wine varieties and is often associated with France’s southern Rhone Valley. The Grenache grape does well in hot, dry regions, and its strong stalk makes it well suited for windy conditions. It ripens with very high sugar levels and can produce wines with high alcohol content. Grenache wines are sweet, fruity, and very low in tannins. They are usually lacking in color, except in growing areas where yields are low. In Spain Grenache is widely planted in Navarra as well as in many of the hotter areas of the country. In southern France Grenache is widely cultivated in the areas around Languedoc- RoussillonRousellon, Provence, and the southern Rhone. It is also extensively grown in Algeria, Australia, Corsica, Israel, Morocco, Sardinia and California's central valley. Red Grenache wines are usually blended with other varieties: trempranillo in Spain and cinsaut and carignan in France. It’s the primary grape in chateauneuf-du-pape as well as in several rose wines.

Fancy Asparagus Pasta

Rated

Ingredients

1/2 of a 16-ounce (454 g) package penne pasta
14 asparagus stalks, cut to 1-1/2-inch (4 cm) lengths
2 tsp (10 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
2/3 cup (160 ml) finely chopped onion
10 mushrooms, quartered
1 cup (250 ml) sliced cooked ham, cut to approximately the same width and length of asparagus
1 cup (250 ml) light cream
Salt
Pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain; set aside.

2. Place the asparagus in a pot and fill with 1/4- to 1/2-inch of water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and steam the asparagus until tender, about 7 - 10 minutes.

3. In a large skillet, warm the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until it begins to turn translucent. Add the mushrooms and ham, and cook until mushrooms are drained of liquid.

4. Add the asparagus to the skillet and pour in the cream. Continue to cook over low heat until the sauce thickens, about 8 minutes. Pour the sauce over the drained pasta and mix well. Serve immediately.

Yield

Makes 4 servings