The main wine this month is Lost Eden Saperavi (Saw-Pear-Ah-Vee). It is a noble, world-class grape variety that is an ancient, thoroughly Georgian grape varietal. The name Saperavi means to paint or dye. The name is apt because the varietal is one of the rare teinturier grapes with red pulp and its resulting wines are dark. Saperavi ranks high in every wine characteristic: deep color, bold flavor, crisp acidity, firm tannins and known age-worthiness. Deb paired a dish for this wine and here is her impression: "This wine is bold and flavorful so something as rich and complex as Pasta Puttanesca is a great match. The wines deep black fruit flavors of mulberry, cherry and blackberry matched amazingly with the salty-savory warm flavors created by the anchovies, olives, garlic and red pepper flakes. The capers and tomatoes added a tangy and acidic profile that really brought out the brightness of the wines memorable finish. This combination had an umami-rich satisfaction that made me think comfort food all the way!!
The Complement Red is Domaine Cazes Cinsault Nature DOC "Samso. This varietal is widely planted throughout southern France and Corsica. Cinsault is usually a varietal that is used for blending with other varietals. The "Samso" wine is 100% Cinsault and is made organically with minimal intervention and is unsulphited. The wine exhibits soft fruit, mineral and earthy notes. The dish that I made to pair with the Domaine Cazes Samso Cinsalt Nature was a shredded chicken dish that had onion and black beans in it. This dish is very versatile, you can make into tacos or a rice bowl, if you are carb free use corn tortillas instead of flour or just eat the chicken mixture on its own or over a salad. The woodsy smoked paprika, earthy cumin, spicy chili powder and herbal oregano spice mixture that the chicken marinated in, complimented the soft fruit and earthy flavors in the wine. The black beans earthy flavors brought out the notes in the wine. I used flour tortillas and topped my dish with sour cream, avocado squeezed with fresh lime and fresh cilantro. The toppings helped to bring out the brightness in the wine. Overall, this was a great dish, the chicken mixture whether with the beans or not, can be used in many different ways. Cinsault is a nice change from typical varietals like Tempraillos, Pinot Noirs, Chiantis, or other old world reds. Cheers!
Our featured white this month is a Furmint. While the Tokaj region of Hungary is renowned for its dessert wines made with Furmint, the grape can also be vinified as a dry wine if the grapes are picked early and aged in stainless steel. This white is 100% Furmint and is completely unoaked, giving it a bright and super refreshing quality. It has a nice fruit-driven roundness, but lots of acidity that makes it easy to drink and paired beautifully with the Spicy linguine with Shrimp, Lemon and Capers I made. I love anything pasta, if I had only one "carb" to eat the rest of my life, pasta would be it. The fruit notes in the wine balanced out the peppery notes in the dish. The wine shows hints of citrus which brought out the brininess of the capers and lemon in the pasta. This wine on it's own without the pasta was fruitier, but with the dish, the wine came across the palate much drier. Spicy foods pair perfectly with wines that are fruiter, they help to moderate the heat. The Hungarian word for “cheers” is “egészségedre”. Since I can not pronounce that, I will just say "Cheers"!
Recipe links below. ENJOY!
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Lost Eden Saperavi:
TASTING NOTES: This grape is known for its deep midnight-purple color that glows crimson in direct light. The wine exhibits a fragrant aroma with notes of mulberry, cherry, and blackberry, and overtones of wild violet flowers. On the palate, it's smooth and silky with layers of black fruit flavors that develop more fully with age. The finish is bright and memorable.
Recipe to pair with Lost Eden:
https://www.vinomas.com/Puttanesca-with-Lost-Eden-Saperavi
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Domaine Cazes Cinsault Nature:
TASTING NOTES: This racy, mineral, certified organic bottling is made of 100% Cinsault and hails from coastal vineyards in the Roussillon in France, just miles from the Mediterranean Sea. Made with no sulfur additions, this is gorgeous, super fragrant and expressive stuff, showing layers of black currant, black raspberry, wild strawberry, underbrush, and fresh violets. Certified Organic!
Recipe to pair with Cinsault:
https://www.vinomas.com/Shredded-Chicken-Taco-or-Rice-bowls-paired-with-Samso-Cinsalt
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Evolucio Furmint:
TASTING NOTES: Aromatic and flavorful, it's bursting with citrus, green apples, apricots, minerals, and subtle floral notes. The palate is ripe with rich flavors of stone fruits and citrus, but again, that brisk acidity makes this an excellently balanced, mouthwateringly delicious wine.
Recipe to pair with Furmint:
https://www.vinomas.com/Spicy-Pappardelle-shrimp-Lemon-Capers-Evolucio-Furmint
High Tier Wine Club:
Oliver Red Blend from Two VIntners
Tasting notes: The fuller-bodied Oliver features plush tannins and acidity that is on the modest side. It's creamy texture makes flavors like black cherries, caramel and toasted walnuts feel like they are gliding along a skating rink. Oliver's black cherry, dark chocolate and amaretto flavors are equally hedonistic.
The name Two Vintners came from the collaboration between Morgan Lee and David and Cindy Lawson. The brand launched when Morgan was 29 years old in 2007 and had no winemaking education. Fortunately, it worked out.
"Branching out. Trying new styles. New varietals. We want to expose you to wines that show how unique Washington wine can be. Our goal is not just to be the best at what we do, but to be the only who do what we do." Morgan Lee
Wine Enthusiast: 90 Points