Red Wine of the Week | Red Wine Reviews

Maraia Barbera del Monferrato

Cost: Average price $9.99

Where buy now: Costco

Grapes: Barbera

Region: Italy

Vintage: 2012

Maraia Barbera del Monferrato

What kind of liquid endorphin has got me on tenterhooks lately? It’s a few Italian wines that recently hit the shelves at Costco. Costco’s inventory turns over quickly so you’ll want to get in on my “skank” wine, a budget Sangiovese that’s stupid (and contagious) tasty for $6.99. You can read about it here http://bit.ly/1fYV4Dc/Cecchi Sangiovese

My most favoritist, though, is a Barbera del Monferrato. You may be familiar with Barbera d’Alba or d’Asti. Well, there is a third Barbera zone: Barbera del Monferrato. All three hail from the Piedmont region which is North Eastern Italy. (Remember the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino? That was in Piedmont.) Oddly enough, Barbera del Monferrato is the largest of all three zones and yet you don’t hear much about it. I’m a bit embarrassed to say that I was one of those people.

I’ll tell you that I have a straight up Barbera fetish. There isn’t one that I haven’t enjoyed, though I’m more partial to Barbera d’Alba over Asti [much the same way my husband is partial to Barbara Eden vs. Barbara Streisand]. “They” (wine gods?) state Barberas from Alba and Asti are more robust where as the Monferrato is more aromatic and softer on your palate. I cannot tell you if it’s true, because I didn’t simultaneously sample Barberas from all three zones to test this theory. Why? Because I would have drank all three bottles and been in an alcohol induced coma. I love Barbera that fervently and have SOME sense of dignity. Well…

What I can tell you about this wine is that it’s an agreeable lil’ number. I enjoyed the rich red cherried plum flavors, it’s soft vanilla undertones and peppery tinge. It’s a touch more jammy than one would find in a Barbera- not so much with the earthy funk. Nevertheless, this would be a great wine to experiment with. I mean by tasting and/or pairing it. Don’t go wasting it by sploshing it on your wet and messy cakesitting fetish friends.

Skank Wine of the Month | Wine Reviews

Cecchi Sangiovese

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Cost: Average price $6.99

Where buy now: Costco

Grapes: 95% Sangiovese & 5% Merlot

Region: Italy

Vintage: 2011

Cecchi Sangiovese

My Savvy “Skank” vino d’Italiano is found at Costco right now. For how long? One never knows. It’s a Sangiovese straight out of Chianti country and it’s stupid, ridiculous good. The price point? A whopping $6.99, which makes it all the more delicious. (Remember, you don’t need to be a Costco member in Minnesota to buy booze. Righteous.)

This wine is easy drinking. You’re not going to be swirling a long time, contemplating the latest NPR think piece whilst reminiscing of your adventures abroad. What you will do is pour it in your glass, give it a couple swirls and enjoy it. This is a fruit-forward style Sangiovese- I get this unique, dusty strawberry fragrance. (I say that because I recently cut into a dusty, strawberry that was about past it’s prime. That aroma is this wine’s essence. In a good way.) It’s aged in stainless steel so no strong oak, vanilla undertones nor any earthy funk. It’s a straightforward wine ripe with spiced cherry and strawberry flavors with a bit of tang. One to try if all you’ve been buying lately are big Cali red blends. This will stretch your palate but not in a way that’ll make you cringe of cat tongue. The fruit forward flavors will be reminiscent of the big domestic red blends but without all that crappy residual sugar and overripe finish. Again, it’s $7, so live on the edge. The edge of frugality(?)

Since you’ll already be there, let’s pair this Sangiovese with some Costco vittles. I made an amazing grilled cheese, comforting on a frigid Winter’s night. Take some Boudin San Fran Sourdough, butter each side. Add one slice each of Swiss, Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Colby [oh my!] from the Finlandia variety cheese pack. The only non-Costco item I used was Stonewall Kitchen’s Bourbon Molasses Mustard http://www.stonewallkitchen.com/shop/speciality-foods/mustards/120810.html/Stonewall Kitchen Bourbon Molasses Mustard which I liberally schmeared on top of the cheese. Grill golden brown, then chomp into that ooey-gooey masterpiece that marries sweet and savory. Wash it down with this Sangiovese. Repeat.

Grilled Cheese Stuffs

Not a mustard fan? Well, you’re weird and we will never be friends. That aside, I’d recommend throwing some rosemary, oregano and garlic powder on the cheese slices and grill. There, I’ve just set you up with a paired dinner all for under $10. You’re welcome.

Anna Kucera

A Conversation with Anna: her new year’s resolution to drink wine

A New Year’s Resolution: Drink More Wine

The Chardonnay Line Up

New Year’s resolutions are notoriously difficult to keep. My resolutions of bygone years (EXERCISE!, DRESS NICELY!, SHOWER MORE!) are clearly evidence of an inflated sense of personal potential. So last January, I made a promise I thought I could stick to: drink wine. And I committed to learning more about it.

Twelve months ago, the extent of my wine knowledge was that it comes in two colors — red and white — and that Chardonnay was nasty. As I deal with most things in life, I began my buzzy journey by reading books. I chose the authors carefully, as I was warned the subject can overwhelm and discourage.

I kicked things off with “Drink This: Wine Made Simple” by Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl, in addition to the gorgeous, intelligent, approachable and wildly entertaining Savvy Lush. (Here’s where I earn my keep as guest blogger. See how I did that? In this case though, it’s all true. She can also turn water into wine coolers, slay dragons and float four feet off the ground.)

“Dara,” as I like to call her, wrote a book that’s perfect for a wine novice like me. (Here’s where I pretend I actually know Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl. I don’t. I have looked in her windows though, and can you believe it? Neon beer signs plaster her living room wall and there are peanuts on the floor. (This is also a lie. I don’t know where she lives.))

I skipped ahead to her chapter on the green-skinned, evil grape; the green goblin of the wine family: Chardonnay. It’s the one I thought I hated, so why not make sure? I asked for help at the wine store and made the clerk explain all the words I didn’t understand. I can’t underline the importance of asking questions enough. You learn more if you have no shame, so be shameless. This approach will also help you drink more.

With a great deal of assistance, I purchased the following wines and set them on my counter for examination (see photographic proof): a 2010 LaCrema Chardonnay, a 2011 Toad Hollow Unoaked Chardonnay, a 2011 Four Vines Naked Unoaked Chardonnay and a 2010 William Fevre Chablis Champs-Royaux. Here are my extensive wine notes:

LaCrema Chardonnay: Vomit, sans chunks.

Four Vines Naked Unoaked Chardonnay: Not bad.

Toad Hollow Unoaked Chardonnay: Darn good.

William Fevre Chablis Champs-Royaux: This is Chardonnay? It’s amazing! I officially apologize to all the Chardonnay grapes I’ve bad-mouthed in the past. You’re delicious, and your parents should be proud of you.

The rest of 2013 proceeded much as you read above. I pestered an army of liquor store employees, swilled some splendid wine and pieced apart what I think tastes like sick and what tastes like singing. Here’s to 2014!