Sunset Rd 'Independent Producers' Merlot Add
Boutari Roditis Rose Add
Taft Street Cabernet Sauvignon Add
Wines are recomendations only and may not be carried by this store.

Sunset Rd 'Independent Producers' Merlot

Attributes:
Producer:

Sunset Rd
Region:

Columbia Valley, United States
Varietal:

Merlot
Bottle Size:

750 ML

Food Matches:
Pasta & Grains: Lasagna
Poultry & Eggs: Roast Chicken with Herbs
Red Meat: Barbeque Pulled-Pork or Ribs, Casseroles / Hot Dish, Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Wild Game - Elk, Caribou, Moose, Venison
Sauces: Red Wine Sauce
Vegetables: Beans, White, Mushrooms, Potatoes, Tomato

Merlot:

(mer loh) Deep in color, high in alcohol and low in tannins, this grape is grown mostly in California, France, Washington, New York and Chile. The aromas and flavors can be plummy, chocolaty, and even redolent of tea leaves. It is often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon although it is the most prevalent grape variety in Bordeaux.


Columbia Valley:

The Columbia Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) is the largest in the state of Washington. It includes the Yakima Valley, Red Mountain, Walla Walla, and Horse Heaven Hill AVAs within its boundaries.

Boutari Roditis Rose

Attributes:
Producer:

Boutari
Region:

Greece, Other
Varietal:

Rose
Bottle Size:

750 ML

Food Matches:
Cheese: Blue Cheese, Dry Jack Cheese, Mozzarella, Sharp Cheddar
Fish or Shellfish: Grilled Salmon, Shellfish (scallops, clams, crab, lobster, shrimp, etc...), Tuna Nicoise Salad
Herbs & Spices: Anise, Fennel Seed, Tarragon, Ginger
Pasta & Grains: (Grilled) Tofu, Pasta with Creamy Mushroom Sauces, Pasta with Pesto, Pasta with Truffles
Poultry & Eggs: Duck Confit, Game Birds, Roast Chicken with Herbs, Roast Turkey
Red Meat: Barbeque Pulled-Pork or Ribs, Curried Beef, Curried Lamb, Curried Pork, Ham, Hamburgers, Pork w/Fruit Sauce
Sauces: Oil-based Sauce
Vegetables: Avocado, Bruschetta, Caesar Salad, Leafy Greens, Lentil Salad, Nicoise Salad, Roasted Sweet Peppers, Root Vegetables, Salad, Vegetable Gratin or Stew

Greece:

Greece is one of the oldest wine producing regions in the world. The earliest evidence of Greek wine has been dated to 6,500 years ago where wine was produced on a household or communal basis. At that time wine was exported to Europe as a treasured drink, but now days it is competing in a world market. In the 1960's Retsina put Greece back on the map and became their national beverage. Important Regions Include Macedonia, Patras, Santorini, Samos, Crete, and the Agean Islands.

Taft Street Cabernet Sauvignon

Attributes:
Producer:

Taft Street Winery
Region:

Sonoma County, United States
Varietal:

Cabernet Sauvignon
Bottle Size:

750 ML

1998: WineSpectator Rating: 85
Flavors:

black currant, herbal flavors, plum, toasty oak

1994: WineSpectator Rating: 84

1994: WineSpectator Rating: 84
Flavors:

blackberry, cedar, herb flavors, licorice

1994: Tastings Rating: 85
Complexity:

rich
Flavors:

cherries
Texture:

smooth

1992: WineSpectator Rating: 85
Complexity:

supple
Compliments:

nicely polished

1992: WineSpectator Rating: 84
Flavors:

berry, currant

1991: WineSpectator Rating: 85
Fruit:

fruity

1991: WineSpectator Rating: 81
Body:

light
Complexity:

supple
Flavors:

currant, herb, oak
Fruit:

ripe

Food Matches:
Cheese: Blue Cheese, Brie, Provolone
Fish or Shellfish: Sea Bass
Herbs & Spices: Basil, Mint, Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme
Poultry & Eggs: Game Birds
Red Meat: Barbeque Pulled-Pork or Ribs, Game, Kidney, Roast Beef, Sausage, Variety Meats or Organ Meats, Veal Carpaccio
Sauces: Red Wine Sauce
Vegetables: Potatoes, Roasted Mixed Vegetables

Cabernet Sauvignon:

(cab er nay saw vee nyon)—This highly adaptable grape grows almost anywhere it is relatively warm, but the best wines come from the Burgundy region of France (where it is a noble variety), California, and Australia. It became famous through the red wines of the Médoc district of Bordeaux and is now grown in Washington, southern France, Italy, Australia, South Africa, Chile, and Argentina. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes make wines that are high in tannin and medium- to full-bodied. Usually identified as having black currant or cassis flavors, the grape can also possess vegetal tones when the grapes are less than ideally ripe. The best wines are rich and firm with great depth, and are often aged for fifteen years or more. Because it is highly tannic, Cabernet Sauvignon is often blended with other less-tannic grapes such as Merlot.


Sonoma:

Like its neighbor Napa, Sonoma is a small area filled with independent wineries and characterized by microclimates that vary according to the topography. The coolest parts of Sonoma are the fog-filled south, where the grape varieties are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Northwards up the valley the climate warms and provides a good base for Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. In general Sonoma wines are less dramatically flavorful than those of Napa. Cabernet Sauvignon is relatively soft, with blackcurrant fruit, minty and eucalyptus perfume, and some soft buttery oak. Zinfandel ranges from soft and gulpable to massive bramble and pepper styles. Chardonnay is rich and juicy, especially from the Russian River, and Sauvignon Blanc can be zingy and grassy. Most Sonoma wines have a freshness and a soft edge which makes them very suitable for drinking on their own, however they partner well with strongly flavored fish and meat dishes. The old-style Zinfandels are delicious with spicy cuisine.

Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella Salad

Rated

Ingredients

4 slices tomato
4 leaves fresh basil
4 slices low-fat mozzarella
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Preparation

Place the tomatoes on a plate. Top with the basil leaves and mozzarella and season with black pepper.

Yield

Makes 4 servings