Tag Archives: skank wine of the month

LAMURA Rosso Terre Siciliane

Cost: Average price $6.99

Where buy now: Stinson Wines & Spirits

Grapes: 100% Nero d’Avola

Region: Sicily, Italy

Vintage: 2013

LAMURA Rosso Terre Siciliane
LAMURA Rosso Terre Siciliane

I’ve been sick all week and with that sickness comes an air of selfishness. You could blame my mom for being the most nurturing of matriarchs. You could blame my birth order and the entitlement I feel as a first child. You could blame an unconditionally loving husband who strives to make me happy. However, it all truly comes down to this fact, I choose to be a big baby.

 

Zinc lozenges, Generic Dimetapp and nasal spray had my tastebuds all bug-a-boo. I couldn’t taste. My diet consisted of Northern Minnesotan fare: bland, white food. Saltines and chicken noodle soup. I was sad. No wine. No bubbles. No happiness. I consumed Xanax as a way to achieve a wine buzz I so desperately craved.

 

As the fog slowly lifted, my tastebuds began returning to a normal state. What does any Italian gal do after a diet of bland food? Turn to pizza and pasta. Gimme spice, gimme garlic, gimme pizzazz. To test the tastebud waters, I didn’t want to blow it on some expensive (ie: $15) bottle of wine. Last week I picked up some cheapy bottles (as if I subconsciously knew) for such an occasion.

 

I picked up Lamura Rosso Terre Siciliane. This one rang up at a whopping $6.99.

 

“What the fuck am I doing? I’m being cheap. No, I’m being adventurous AND it says Natura Sicilia. Go organic!” I told myself.

Scene from The Savvy Lush research and recovery operation.
Scene from The Savvy Lush research and recovery operation.

 

So, here I sit. In bed. Dog at my feet. Crappy daytime T.V. on the boob-tube. Me, a pizza and a glass of red wine. It’s fucking awesome. I’m back, baby. Lamura Rosso Terre Siciliane wine is light on the lips. There’s enough cherry-berry fruit to taste, without being jammy and it’s not overly dry or tannic. It’s soft, gentle and thin on the palate. Perfect for this recovering (addict) sick gal.

 

It’s all working. You can blame my inability to taste fully. You can blame my laziness that is a frozen pizza. You can blame my day-drinking. However, it all truly comes down to the fact that I deserve these just rewards.

 

Skank wine of the week – one deserving of my selfishness recovery.

CK Mondavi Merlot

CK Mondavi Merlot

 

Cost: $6.99

Where buy now: Stores nationwide

Grapes: 80% Merlot, 4% Syrah, 4% Petit Verdot, 4% Petite Sirah and 8% “other”

Region: Wild Creek Canyon, California

Vintage: 2012

It’s a new year, full of possibilities. New exercise regimes, new dieting fads, new budget dedication, and any other new resolution that will most likely fade as we enter the second month of the new year.

 

My biggest resolution this year is to get my budget in check. I’ve been spending like an asshole on wines all in the name of “research” [burrrp]. If I EVER want to put in that oh-so-desired wine cellar and continue my international travels, I need to reign it in!  But I will not sacrifice taste.  Well…

 

Just as I’m committed to tightening up my budget, I’m committed to drinking wine, dammit. I’m kicking this year off with a CK Mondavi Merlot.  With a mere $6.99 price tag, this has weeknight “skank” wine “sampling” written all over it. It’s a no frills bottle of red that’s as easy to drink as it is to open (thanks to the twist-off cap).

 

This wine is a burst of cherry and plum flavors. It’s quite fruit forward but not like actual grape juice. (I found the CK Mondavi Cab Sav to, ahem, embody more of that fruit juice flavor.) This, at least, has some oaky hints, which provide some structure.

 

Again, this CK Mondavi Merlot isn’t some Master Sommelier-caliber, complex, expensive, multi-layered vino. It is however, shall we say, community college-fortified. It’s practical and will give you what you want without breaking the bank.

 
Happy New Year’s and now, I’m off to visit the gym. . .for the THIRD time this year.

Cecchi Sangiovese

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.