As soon as I pulled the cork from this wine, the nose had me on a knee offering the marriage of my lips. Big and full, there was a strength in the vapours that pulled a deep, dark ripe cherry filled with a bit of spice (pepper and mace?) and chocolate mixed with dark raspberry….
Cycles Gladiator Petite Sirah (2012)
Here’s a grape that I quite adore for its huge body and rich taste: petite sirah (aka “Durif” outside California and Israel). This is a wine from a black-skinned grape variety, a variety known for its body and which is often used to embolden blends made from weaker grapes. If you don’t like red wine —…
Duck Magret with Sour-Cherry and Port Sauce …
This creation was me saying happy birthday to Benjamin, my über wonder dog of 18 years. That is to say, I’m not the only one in the family that gets weak in the knees when someone says “duck.” Truly, it’s a wonder that over the years I haven’t been beaned with a softball between the eyes…
Giordano Barbera D’asti (2007)
I had a number of options in choosing what to pair with my osso buco. I did think local … really, I did. But in the end, I went to the terroir of the dish, I went to Northern Italy, and I selected from my cellar a wine that’s been sitting there for about 5…
Malivoire Gamay (2012)
Food and wine … a splendid marriage for the ages. Starting in 2014, I’ll be adding a few wine reviews to my blog. I make no pretensions of being a wine critic or sommelier. I have no credentials other than my palette which loves to explore and taste. And while I have no pretensions, I…