Wino Wednesday, a monthly feature on Food Gypsy where we choose a bottle from the recycling bin and tell you how much we enjoyed drinking it.  April's pick: 2002 Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Rose, Champagne a bit of bubbling happiness.  

April seemed a jovial month, things were looking up when, WHAM, the last week knocked us right back to square one.  The why and how doesn't matter much; when crisis strikes it's how you deal with it that counts, and how we dealt with it was to crack a bottle of bubbly and celebrate.

The 2002 Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Rose, Champagne ($72) has been chilling for several months.  A gift from a good friend, it was to be a cork popped for some unknown amazingly-fantastic occasion in the future.  But life has taught me that the end of one thing is simply the beginning of another, so why not say goodbye to the old and welcome the new with a touch of style.

Tinted pink by the pigment of the Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier two of the blend of grapes that ferment to give us this swanky bottle of sparkling rosé.  It's full pink/salmon colour and fruity falvour lends hints of ripe berry after it's first breath.  The smoothness of the mousse really got me, creamy with a hint of spice.

2002 Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Rose is a crisp, clean champagne with a long finish.  I might like to cellar the next bottle that comes my way for a decade or so and see how it compares.  Excellent in a crisis.  Bubbles go with anything: salty snacks, barbecued meats, even tears, which quickly turned to laughter.  It's hard to be blue drinking something so perfectly pink.  How bad can it be if there's champagene?!

Gypsy Scorecard: 90/100 ---  a fine bottle on a not so fine day.

Wino Wednesday, a monthly feature on Food Gypsy where we select our favourite bottle from a month of liberal boozing.  March roared in and kicked up a  winter fuss then brought the temperature way up for some premature patio weather, and finished with a bit of rain, like a proper spring, all of which said to me 'valpolicella'.  

Corte Majoli Amarone Della Valpolicella 2007 ($33.95) prized for it's ripe fruity falvour, rich cherry undertones and plum-toffee finish, it's a beautifully balenced wine and a solid value.  Can't believe I resisted it for a whole 10 days as it sat, 'aging' in my wine rack, it got dusty.

This is my favorite pick of the year thus far, the Corte Majoli Amarone Della Valpolicella is my kind of wine; a little candlelight,  a light pasta, a strong cheese,  a big, bold meaty something --- it can take it.  Among the more moderately priced bottles in the Amarone category, and at 15.5% alcohol it packs a punch.  By gum, I was tipsy after a couple of glasses.  Good thing I didn't crack this baby until after dinner was on the table.

This is not a wine with legs, this is a wine with thunder thighs!

We here at Food Gypsy are not paid to sample and slurp, we do not receive cases of wine via courier so that the waiting public might be blessed with our verdict.  Just like you, we go the the isles of our local wine & spirits purveyor and spend our hard earned cash (or gratefully accept donations to the rack from friends), and on occasion we pass a splendid find on to you.  The Corte Majoli Amarone Della Valpolicella 2007 is one of them.  Gypsy Scorecard: 92/100

Should said wine makers insist on sending a case of the above noted vintage... I accept your challenge.

Wino Wednesday, a monthly feature on Food Gypsy where we feature one of our favourite wine(s) from the past month.  And what a month February was.  Valentine's day and a visit from a good friend mid-month; I felt the need to dry out for for a week or so.  

God bless my hearty liver.

Apothic Red, 2008 Wine Makers Blend ($16.95) found its way to our table because I, like many other women, often shop by label.  Now, before you turn your nose up at my wine-by-art selections, I would like to tell you why I shop this way.

Wine begins in the vineyard, it matures in the cellar, then comes of age when it is bottled, capped and ready to be sold.  Afterwards it is the job of a graphic artist (who likely has never put his or her lips on this vintage) to encapsulate the hopes and dreams of a vintage into one, 2 x 3 inch space with enough information to convince you, the wine consumer, to spend your hard earned dollars.

Most graphic artists I know are hardworking artists; frequently under appreciated and often under paid. Chances are they have finished canvases in the basement and kids in college.  Every time I see something that appeals to me on a visual level, I buy it for the art and the artist.  I then harvest these tiny wine art and paste them lovingly in my wine journal. (A task that has become increasingly difficult since the industry switched to vinyl labels, thank you very much.)

I have found over many years of helter-skelter-throw-caution-to-the-winds purchases that, often, appealing labels match the content of the bottle.  However, there have also been a few instances when I have been less enthusiastic about my purchases.  "PHOOWIE!"  *cough* "That's HORRID... into the stew it goes."

So while the chef in my life strains for hours, reading reviews and quizzing sommeliers, I gleefully dance through the aisles, petting bottles, purring "Ooooooh, pretty" and plunking my favourites in the cart.  (OK, so I read books and stuff... sometimes.)  Our success rate is pretty much equal; this often stuns him.  I bought the Apolthic Red for the swirlies, I'm a big fan of swirlies.   It made me want to go goth and quote Anne Rice. Instead I wore yoga pants and served it with braised pork belly; which is like kind of like vampire poetry for bacon lovers.

Apothic Red is a swirly little blend of syrah, zinfandel and merlot.  A new world wine made in the old world style and for a 'table wine' it finishes beautifully.  A smooth, plush mouth and creamy, fruity flavour; a touch of plum a hint of cherry, a splash of vanilla and the bite of moca.  It's simple but intense.   

It even has a cork.  Gypsy Scorecard: 90/100

Dry, medium bodied, the Apolthic Red is a very easy to please red and perfect for parties because it pairs so easily, and it's under $20.  (Do I know how to pick 'em or what?!)

Wino Wednesday, a monthly feature on Food Gypsy where we we feature our favourite wine(s) from the past month.   'Cuz that's how much we care.

Brumont Cotes de Gascogne 2010, Gros Manseng / Sauvignon ($13.95).   The Gros Manseng grape is not a grape you read a great deal about; grown primarily in the South of France, its thick skinned fruit produces a grey coloured juice, which (handled correctly) yields a deep golden hued wine.  If the press is too rough the wine can be coarse with an over abundance of tannins (thankfully not the case here).

The Gros Manseng  is one of those great food pairing grapes. In France it's often paired with foie gras and thanks to its low intensity it allows the richness of the charcuterie to shine through.

The Gros Manseng / Sauvignon Blanc blend in the Brumont Cotes de Gascogne 2010 has a powerful nose, ripe with lemon and grapefruit.  It has a charm and a full, round mouth with a persistent finish.  I taste pineapple and something even more exotic, a light hint of vanilla way in the back of the mouth, almost as an after thought, thanks to a bit of breathing.

This is a wine that could easily cellar for a couple of years, it's so new.  I might like to sock one away for a year or so and compare it then.  Gypsy Scorecard: 83/100

A bright accompaniment to foie gras, seafood or sushi or a mild goat cheese, and interesting pick for the palate.

Wino Wednesday, a monthly feature on Food Gypsy where we we feature our favorite wine(s) from the past month.  In December we did a bit of celebrating, good thing we had a solid stash of bubbly on hand.

We are champagne pigs, anything that sparkles and fizzes gets play with us; any country of origin, any shade from cream to pink, if it's got a cork and a cage we will swill it.   Some are hits and some are misses; the Perles roses Cuvée Antonia Naveran 2008, was a big holiday hit.

For my money, some of the best old world wine being produced today is coming from Spain.  Big, bouncy reds, bright, chirpy whites and some stunning sparkling (cuvée) vintages with beautiful colour.   Produced with craftsmanship;  Naveran is among the smaller the artisan wineries making name for itself this year with several nominations on the world stage.

Made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes, its amber-pink signature tone is reminiscent of sunrise in the fresh montain air, with a ripe, fruity palate it is balanced and creamy.  A bite of tartness against a doughy background with hints of black cherry and teeny, tiny bubbles; the Cuvée Antonia is so easy to like.    Pairs well with: joyous toasting and salty snacks.  Perles roses Cuvée Antonia  Naveran 2008 ($19.95),  Gypsy Score Card: 91/100.

Apologies for not shooting the label, which is transparent, featuring a stylish cameo (link to vineyard above).  However, if you're looking to keep your bubbly, bubbly just drop a spoon, handle down, into the neck.  I've heard it can keep your bubbles intact for as long as 36 hours.  But seriously, who leaves sparkling wine just sitting there, all by itself for 36 hours?!  I can see 12 hours, even 24 in a pinch, but 3 days?  That's just bubbly abuse.

For a delightful little grape filled tour of the vineyard, thought you might enjoy this post by Slave to the Grape, a San Francisco wine professional who spent time this past summer with Naveran wine maker Michel Gillerion, and made me positively jealous.  (Time for some Gypsy wandering...)

For more wine reviews; Food Gypsy is also a featured blogger (under my semi-real name) at:  http://www.nataliemaclean.com/member/207282/gypsy

"For when the wine is in, the wit is out."  ~ Thomas Becon
"Drink up, I'm funnier when you're drunk." ~ Gypsy

Wino Wednesday, our monthly feature on Food Gypsy with some of our favorite picks, this way you two whole days before the weekend hits so you can go shopping.  ('Cuz Lord knows, you need your wine.)  On this (mostly) Wino Wednesday we're getting caught up on old business; seems we got all wrapped up in the holidays and skipped November.  (Mon du!)

So, here's the deal; we mistakenly took the De Bortoli Deen Vat 10 Pinot Noir 2008 to a mixer with folks we didn't know,a decision we immediately regretted when we returned for a second glass to find the bottle empty.  We were then forced to choose from the varying grades of plonk that remained.  If we'd been smart we would have stayed at home with two big glasses.

Oh well, perhas we introduced someone to decent wine, I can live with that.  A big, fresh and juicy pinot with a hint of spice and twang, the De Bortoli Deen Vat 10 is an excellent value at $13.95 and our pick of the month for November.   Dam but I love a good pinot.  Gypsy Score Card: 93/100.

Next time I'm going to whip up a big, cheesy pasta and drink it all by myself... OK I might share it with my guy.  Maybe.  Only if he's cooking.

For more wine reviews; Food Gypsy is also a featured blogger (under my semi-real name) at:  http://www.nataliemaclean.com/member/207282/gypsy

Drink wine, it's good for you, just not MY wine.  Drink your own wine --- wine thieves.  Humpft.

Move over orange juice, champagne has a new brunch companion  for a snazzy, light brunch cocktail.  I give you the Pomosa, champagne & pomegranate cocktail.

Lovers of champagne that we are, a fridge full of the stuff offered a unique opportunity for experimentation this season.  There it was sitting right next to a bottle of pomegranate juice, in need of a little brunch pick-me-up, we indulged.

The result was a bright, rosy cocktail; the natural acidic tannins in the pomegranate allows the flavour of the champagne to shine through rather than overpowering the tiny bubbles.

We finished the glass with some ripe pomegranate seeds and a small dice of green apple, to make it festive and fresh.

For your next special occasion; think pomegranate.

Pomosa, Champagne & Pomegranate Cocktail Recipe

3/4 cup champagne, chilled
1/4 cup pomegranate juice

Three gifts for the wine lover on your list this holiday season; one serious, one sentimental and one just for fun.

Let's start with something serious... ish.  Quickly making it to the best seller list, the recently released, wine soaked adventures of Canada's Natalie MacLean; Unquenchable, A Tipsy Quest for the World's Best Bargain Wines.

Reading it I realized how under-educated I am on the subject of wine, but not in a bad way.  While most wine experts look down their nose and pontificate Natalie MacLean laughs, fills your glass and tells a story that is at once interesting and entertaining.  Sharing the personal details that others skim over, punctuated by bits of juicy gossip, she brought me with her into the world of wine making as an invited guest in conversation of some of the greatest wine makers of our time.

We traipse along with MacLean lost on the back roads of Australia, awkwardly cutting potatoes in Germany, grappling with the social climate of South Africa, walking the path of the Cosa Nostra in Sicily, riding through the high plains of Argentina and wandering the fields of Provence; all the while chatting merrily about fermentation, oak barrels and aging processes.  How it is that I've learned so much while laughing out loud (at times) as I do?

Her's is a rare gift.

Unquenchable is broken into sections of wines for different days of the week (Monday; the Unbearable Lightness of German Riesling), with solid selections and practical resources in every chapter.  Captivating story teller that she is, MacLean winds you through the cellar to peak at the bottles you only see in the glassed-in, climate-controlled rooms of the really fancy liquor stores then presents you with a splashy find, perfectly priced for your pocket book.  Was there ever a more timely wine book?

Available on good old fashioned paper ($20 - $15) at your local book store and those new fangled e-books ($14). Unquenchable will be found under the tree of some of my best (able to hold their liquor) girlfriends this holiday season.

Speaking of girlfriends... that brings me to gift number two on our gift list for wine lovers; the sentimental journey of a couple of bottles between friends, lovingly encased in glass.

When the wine industry began shifting away from the use of natural cork as stoppers in wine bottles, I started collecting them.  Often branded, and stained by the vintage it seals, I have become a keeper of corks. Such is my obsession, that I have been known to rummage through the trash when well meaning friends helped tidy-up, in search of the corks from a memorable evening. (It's best to have a buzz on when digging through the remains of the day, trust me on that.)

Around the same time, I began surreptitiously gathering corks at weddings, birthdays and milestone celebrations, setting them aside and presenting them later, in a well chosen vessel with a cleverly worded card, as a gift to commemorate time spent together.  Jars of corks now grace the homes of several friends.  If they get tired of the corks, they always have an interesting jar.

The jar you see here was collected during a weeklong birthday "festivas" to mark the passing of my 45th year with one of my dearest friends. (It should be noted that we had not seen each other in several years, and there were more people involved in the drinking of the wine behind these corks than just us girls.) This jar holds memories of drunken Princess Leia impressions, I simply could not part with it.  Sometimes the best gift is the one that makes your day... every day.

Jar $5.  Corks: free (with wine).  Wine fueled memories: priceless.

Last on our little holiday list is a sassy glass that was under my tree last year that reads "Will behave... for PRESENTS!"  

When I first saw it the snob in me said "Oh good LORD!"  but then I discovered that it fashionably holds about a third of a bottle of wine.  Short of tying the bottle around my neck, this glass ensures pure, vino driven, happiness.

The holiday season will never be the same.

A spicy warm aroma that packs a punch, Mulled Port could level you if you're not careful.  What better way to celebrate the holidays than by being blissfully toasted by the fire.

This is not mulled wine.  Wine ranges anywhere between 9% and 15% alcohol. Port is wine's big brother; also made from grapes, it starts as wine but is then fortified by the addition of a natural grape spirit called 'aguardente' to stop fermentation, its then barrel aged to perfection.  This leaves the residual sugar in the wine and  boosts the alcohol content.  An average bottle of port is 19% - 22% alcohol, and it tastes terrific!

Mulled Port is deceptive in it's properties, therefore I post this recipe with the following caveat:

• Do not... load wine flask with mulled port and go skiing.  "SKI PATROL!!!"
• Do not... grab a steaming mug full of mulled port and go for midnight stroll in the snow. "I just need a little *hick* nap... here... by this tree..."
• Do not... operate heavy machinery or sharp objects while under the influence of mulled port.  "Did you find my thumb?!  They said they could reattach..."

Port is NOT WINE, this is 19.5% alcohol, and it will kick your ass.

"How about a little taste of 'The Recipe'?"

• Do... sip and enjoy mulled port in good company.  Beautiful way to end a meal, a cheeky accompaniment to cheese or chocolate.
• Do... try mulled port with our Chiplotle Chocolate Soufflé.  Stunning combination.
• Do... utilize mulled port to dull the pain of holiday family get-togethers, while claiming that you are not from this planet.  (Works for me.)
• Do... eat the ginger afterwards, it's WICKED.  You've heard of Candied Ginger?  Well this is Boosy Ginger.

We chose a full bodied Portuguese; Offley, Tawny Porto REI ($12.95), with a rich, red-tawny colour and natural sweetness. It has a smooth finish and won't break the bank.  You're mulling, so going high-end would be foolish, any rich, smooth port will do.

Gorgeous colour...

Mulled Port Recipe

14 oz tawny, full bodied port
12 whole cloves
1 stick cinnamon bark
8 whole peppercorns
2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh ginger
1 tablespoon orange zest

Method:

1. Add port to medium, heavy-bottomed sauce pan, over medium-low heat.  Add spices.
2. Bring to low simmer for 2 - 3 minutes, stirring constantly.  Immediately remove from heat.  Do not boil.
3. Allow to stand minimum of 4 hours, preferably overnight.

Can be served hot or cold, strain and serve in SIPPING glasses... NOT MUGS.

... mmmm, boozy ginger...

Wino Wednesday, is a new feature on Food Gypsy, this gives you two whole days before the weekend hits so you can go shopping.  ('Cuz Lord knows, you need your wine.)  On this (Mostly) Wino Wednesday we feature our favorite wine(s) from the past month.  

Above: La Demoiselle de Sociando Mallet, Haut Medoc 2008, France. ($27.95)

If you find it, pick it up.  Restrained but well composed, this subtle little Bordeaux blend is brimming with fruit both red and black and backed by solid tannin.  I like the hint of red cherry, that makes it a favorite with bold, meaty flavors.

La Demoiselle is a great date wine, just a touch on the "chewy" side.  (The dragon/damselfly being one of my totems, it's a must have for the wine book.)  Gypsy Score Card: 86/100

We had several bottels worth noting  durning our little winey-cheesey foodie frolic last weekend, but the hit of the night was the wine Chef B paired with the fondue.   A  Béthanie, Arbois 2007 (pilfered from his father’s cellar in France) but also available in Canada ($21.80) was a truly outstanding match.

A true specialty of Burgundy, the Vin Jaune (“yellow wine”) made from the white Savagnin grape and aged for at least six years.  As it ages under a layer of yeast, the wine slowly oxidizes, leading to complex aromas and flavors from walnut to sultana, spices and truffles.

It's colour is a clear, clean straw-yellow, it hits the high notes like a choir boy and mellows a sharp, pungent cheese to a harmony of flavor.  Gypsy Score Card: 88/100

Pago del Vicario Penta Barrica 2007, another hit from last weekend is a saucy little number from Spain.  Many of my favorite vintages are coming out of Spain of late.  (A tough bottle to find, should retail around $24.00)

The Vicario has a bright juicy cherry colour and aromas that hint plum mellowed by a good oak barrel.  I want to swim in this stuff.  The flavour attacks in the most delightfully forward way; solid acidity, toasty, tasty, a touch of 'bad boy'.  It reminds me of Spain in every positive sense, very 'running with the bulls'.  Gypsy Score Card: 87/100

There has been some discussion of Food Gypsy considering a wine importer's licence just so we can bring some delightful boutique vintages that have become our favorites to more fans (and leave Chef B's Dad's Cellar in better condition when we depart).  But, it may have been the wine talking.  Until then we'll just have to keep sampling and sharing with you via technology (or party invites).  If you might be interested, let us know, supply may very well rise to demand!

For more wine reviews; Food Gypsy is also a featured blogger (under my semi-real name) at:  http://www.nataliemaclean.com/member/207282/gypsy

Drink wine, it's good for you.