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Wine Lovers Weekend in the Kitchen With Cotes-du-Rhone

Sommelier Jodi Fritch

There is something wonderful about sharing a meal and wine with close friends and family that is like no other experience in the world. This experience for me is amplified, when the food is prepared at home.

It often occurs to me that I may not be normal. When I am planning to have people over, I get really into it. For me this is more than just a passion, this is full blown obsession. Planning all of the courses (there are usually three to four), making sure that each course makes sense in the scheme of the whole meal. Sometimes its about the wine and I plan that part first, and sometimes its about the food. This weekend was a great weekend for cooking. One of those weekends in which everything turned out perfectly. Although we cooked several different dishes this weekend, we served the same wine all weekend and it was a great match.

My passion for wine is based on the shared experience of pairing wine and food with friends. This weekend we were lucky enough to stumble on to a great value Cotes-du-Rhone at my local wine store. We purchased this wine (a lot of this wine over the weekend) at the incredible price of $4.99. I approached this wine with caution, fully expecting to have to stick the cork back in it and return it to its retail home of origin. The great thing about wines at this price point when you are lucky enough to find them, is that you expect nothing. If the wine is drinkable at all (and this one was), it is almost impossible for it to under-deliver. I realize that with three years on the bottle, the reason why it was on sale–potentially past its prime. Would we have rescued it in time? Good with Roast Chicken on Thursday, Good with Mushroom Pasta on Friday night, and I think perhaps the best with Breaded Pork Chops and Sage Cream Gravy on Saturday night. Success!

I found this experience useful in reminding me that it is easier to match wine with food than many people think. I believe that there are some matches that are better, but overall it’s pretty easy and nothing that should intimidate anyone. It also reminded me that I have a sort of rustic style to my cooking that makes a wine like Cotes-du-Rhone a great match for many of the dishes that we enjoy at home.

I have enjoyed wines from the Rhone (as well as Rhone style wines from the New World) for quite some time. I would have to say that this affair with Cotes-du-Rhone wines was love at first sip for me. The red wines labeled Cotes-du-Rhone are made for early consumption. Typically, they are bursting with red and dark fruit flavors and aromas and are very light on tannin. This makes them generally pretty easy drinking and a nice pairing for a variety of foods. If you prefer a fuller bodied wine, search for a Cotes-du-Rhone Village, or perhaps a Cotes du Luberon or Cotes du Ventoux (sub-appellations of Cotes-du-Rhone).
Sexy Zinfandel – Should I Drink It Or Screw It

Kamary, Indie Wino

I don’t do this that often

(or maybe this is the first time, can’t remember) but I just can’t resist quoting this wine review I received in Facebook. You’ll find a link below to the original posting and by all means, take a peek because there’s more.

Nonetheless, I got such a kick out of this wine description. I know it’s an exceptional review from the author and not his/her normal schtick but man… after reading it I wasn’t sure if I should open the bottle or ‘use’ it in some wicked way, LOL!

No matter your reaction, Wine Time TV is not affiliated with the wine nor winery in question so indulge at your own risk. I’ve posted this as pure entertaining fodder for wine fodder-lovers and whether you have the slightest idea what the wine tastes like after this impressive description is of little interest. Got 40 bucks to burn, go for it!

And I quote;

Overall character is that of a sex loaded scarlet; endowed, jaunty and erotically scented with every part smelling and tasting provocative, flamboyant and blooming. Its gorgeous, vaunting style is burning, mantling and amorous with a extravagant softness that is grandiose, exotic and pursed lipped.

There is a edginess, sophistication and dominating air that questions whether your palette has the true aptitude to handle the complete clutch of this much worldliness. The body is chasmal, bounteous and a little weighty. In the tasting profile you will never find the true heart of this scandalous wine so just enjoy your x-rated time together. Be aware you will be left lauding and lost when you awake.

The principle flavors change dramatically throughout the decanting process and are generally very floral including red roses, lavender, geranium, dried hibiscus flowers, cranberry raisins, currant jelly, mango with skins, red plums, cobbler, red cherry pie, marmalade red apple skins, strawberry balsamic, raspberry iced tea, fig jelly, orange flower water, cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander, paprika, star anise, graham cracker, sweet baking spice, at times cassis, blackberry bramble and whole black peppercorn.

I don’t know about you but right after I figure out what the hell “chasmal” means, I’m off for a cigarette.
Phew!

Thanks for reading.

READ MORE about this sexy Zinfandel via SONOMA SOMMELIER :: AZZARO ZINFANDEL 2006.
Wine Scores – Do They Matter

Sommelier Jodi Fritch

Do wine scores matter?

This seems to be a favorite topic among bloggers and wine consumers, so let me throw ‘what I believe’ into the ring. You have to love the internet!

What if I like a wine that has been rated poorly?

What if my friends find out?

OMG! Seriously! Relax – this is supposed to be fun. This is wine. Swirl it, smell it, taste it, and decide one very important thing . . . do you like it.

However, let’s talk about the way wines are evaluated and perceived, and how you can apply some of this to your own wine tasting experience. The only way to learn this is lots of practice. I know, terrible news.

Professional wine tasting is based on two things, objective and subjective evaluation of the liquid in your glass. An objective evaluation of wine will provide the taster with information regarding the more concrete qualities of wine (acidity, sweetness, and tannin). These qualities are roughly measurable and experienced in the same way by most people. These qualities are measurable when we remember that on a scale of low to high – medium is the norm.

Subjective evaluation of wine will provide information regarding the wine’s smell and taste. These qualities are interpreted by an individual’s memory. They are perceived differently by an individual based on their past experiences.

While it is important to note that professional wine critics taste hundreds of wines every year, it is also important
Do Wine Scores Matter
to note that this is done so in a very sterile environment and independent of food and the company of good friends, which in tampawinewoman’s opinion, always enhance the wine drinking experience.

The end game is all about how you interpret the wine, whether you are comfortable with the wine’s value (the enjoyment of the wine versus the price paid for the glass or bottle), and ultimately whether you love or hate the wine.

The thing that wine critics have over us “regular” people, is that they taste more wine then we could imagine (and I can imagine a lot). Therefore, they are comfortable with the process of evaluating wine. Learning to taste wine like a professional is a skill, something that with practice you can learn. Lots of thoroughly enjoyable practice!
So Cheap I Felt Like I Was Stealing

Kamary, Indie Wino
I consider myself an ‘everyman wine drinker’. That is to say, I’m far from qualified to speak on the impeccable vintages out there being indulged upon by the upwardly mobile, particularly as I can’t afford the exorbitant prices. No, instead, I pride myself on finding impeccable bargains.

The dictionary defines BARGAIN as follows;

a thing bought or offered for sale more cheaply than is usual or expected : the secondhand table was a real bargain | [as adj. ] household and electrical goods at bargain prices.

I define bargain as;

A great tasting wine at a cheap price.

A Wonder Inexpensive Wine

The last few months I’ve had the pleasure of living in Europe. It’s been a pleasure for a variety of reasons but one
of the things I’ll miss most (I’m off to Cali in Feb.) and I’ve said it before, will be the great many wines they have here. Great wines at everyman prices.

If you’ve been with us here at Wine Time TV.net since the beginning, then you already know that I on occasion like to share the wealth of my worldly wine exploits. Or simply put, I like to brag about scoring killer wines at awesome prices.

Today I was blessed with another bottle of 2007 Toscana Rosso. A soft and fruity Italian wine with a tinge of tang to it. Sparkling rich in color and a friendly nose, this wine has a certain neutrality to it that I imagine it could easily appeal to those who don’t really dig red wine and those who do, will appreciate it’s taste and respect it’s origins.

Oh, and did I mention it costs a mere €1.99 a bottle? Wine on.

Thanks for reading.
A Year in the Life

Sommelier Jodi Fritch

One of the things that I love about wine is that there is always so much to learn.

This passion for learning (some may say obsession) contributes to the rather extensive wine library that I keep at home.

As I was putting some notes together for a presentation I am giving, I came across one of my favorite wine quotes.

“every single bottle represents a year in the life of somewhere.” (Matt Skinner)

In addition to being an insightful statement about terroir (more about terroir another time), this statement echoes some of my feelings about tasting and appreciating wine.

1. Be respectful of the juice

2. Give credit to the effort that goes into producing every bottle.

and, most importantly …

3. Slow down

Take the time to get to know your wine. Smell the wine. Really get in there, and not just once. Great wine will
Terroir
change dramatically the longer it is in your glass. Put away the gadgetry (specifically the Vinturi and other similar aerators) and let the wine do it’s thing on its own timeline. Enjoy this experience. It’s a new year, start it out just a bit slower and appreciate all the aromas in your glass of wine.