Premier: Wine Made Easy

Pale straw in color. Displays a zesty bouquet of Granny Smith apples and lemon meringue, with just a hint of buttered pear. This wine pleasantly balances a suggestion of richness with mouthwatering acidity, giving it an edge. Crisp green apples continue on the palate, flooding your senses with every sip. This would pair wonderfully with Cornish hens roasted with herbes de Provence and buttered potatoes. All in all, this is a graceful, restrained, and delicate Chardonnay with just a slightly lean finish. This isn’t a Chard for everyone, but I really enjoyed the apple notes. Drink now.

Just like Marlena Shaw’s “California Soul,” The Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody,” Cliff Nobles’ “The Horse” or even (inexplicably) Booker T. & the MG’s classic instrumental “Green Onions,” this soulful wine started life as a B-side. You will find when you pour yourself a glass, however, that it drinks more like a double A-side… a smash hit on the nose and the palate. Opaque ruby in color. You are greeted by aromas of cassis and pencil shavings with hints of black pepper and wild blueberry, lent possibly by the small amount of Petite Sirah added to the wine. The palate contains flavors of plum and ripe dark cherry with a mildly oaky finish and chewy tannins. Pair with peppercorn crusted lamb shanks with orange chutney and wild mushroom risotto. Drink now. Can you dig it?

Aromas of plum and black currant greet you on the nose, while ripe cherries and blueberries come through on the palate. The berry flavors continue on the finish and are joined by a caramel essence. This is a well structured, muscular wine that is a good candidate for decanting and begs to be paired with a nice juicy steak.

“Hey, hey, Coopers Creek win’ry
Bouquet of passionfruit and gooseberry
Make way, for Coopers Creek win’ry
Grapefruit on the palate, with brisk acidity
All alone, New Zealand stands
Best Sauv Blanc in all the lands
Classic Marlborough; a place you can’t ignore
This ’09 is colored pale yellow-green
With a delightful finish that is crisp and clean”

This Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with most seafood, particularly oysters on the half shell, or ceviche; but I enjoy it most with either dolmades or sashimi and, of course, Neil Young (preferably Harvest, On The Beach or American Stars ’N Bars, given that these albums came out around the time Sauvignon Blanc was first planted in Marlborough). Drink now and often.

Translucent ruby in color. This Pinot Noir has wonderful aromas of jellied cranberry, strawberry preserves, menthol and a hint of earthiness. You will find this wine to be delicate on the palate, having smooth tannins and notes of ripe cranberry and brambles. I poured this wine at Thanksgiving dinner to much acclaim, and thus would recommended you pair it with turkey… it is also a perfect red wine to drink with salmon.

2007 was a spectacular vintage for the Rhône Valley, and this Crozes-Hermitage is no exception. This medium bodied Syrah exhibits cascading aromas of white peaches and white pepper which, in turn, give way to floral undertones of lavender, lilac and acacia. You will find the mouthfeel to be quite pleasant as the “Les Galets” possesses both medium acidity and medium alcohol. The palate lends generous flavors of ripe cranberry and black tea with hints of iron. Overall, this wine is outstanding, well balanced and a tremendous value. Pairs exceptionally with roast duck and other game/fowl dishes.

You will be amazed to find out that the Paros Reserve Red contains 60% white juice as you notice the opaque purple color of the wine in your glass. Black cherry and olive brine are most prevalent on the nose, with underlying aromas of white peach and caramel as well, due largely in part to the Monemvasia. Mouth-ripping tannins are joined by notes of sour cherry and cigar box; the cigar box notes carry onto the lasting finish. This wine would appeal to any Italian red wine drinker, or anyone looking for a very unique yet well-made wine.

This Brut Cava is made up of 50% Macabeo, 35% Parellada, 15% Xarel-lo from the Alt Penedès region of Spain and made in the mèthode traditionnelle. The nose displays plenty of citrus and lemon peel, with a hint of pear as well. The palate consists of creamy lemon custard and toast, with a finish of crisp Granny Smith apples. This is, without a doubt, the best sparkling wine I have ever had for under $10. Segura Viudas continually impresses me with their Cava, and that is why you can always find a bottle in my refrigerator… because you never know when you may need to celebrate with bubbly. Drink now and often… especially with friends.

Ripe cherry and chocolate aromas run rampant in this wine, with hints of plum as well. The palate serves up dusty tannins and ripe dark fruit overlapped by hints of earth. This is another strong offering by Semeli and would be a fantastic choice for fans of Italian reds looking for great wine at a crazy value.

Offers aromas of white peach, nectarine, cantaloupe and the slightest hint of cucumber on the nose. The white peach and nectarine carry through onto the palate and are complemented by dried floral notes. This wine has a tasty finish of orange zest. This is a perfect wine for Gewürztraminer drinkers looking for something new (and a ludicrous value in general). I’d have liked it a little more if not for the slight heat on the finish.

Light golden color. Tselepos’s offering shows a floral-laden nose of rose petal and citrus. There is excellent acidity on the palate, with notes of green apple and fresh lime. All together, I could describe the style of this wine as falling somewhere between Pinot Grigio and Riesling, and thus would recommend it to fans of either.

The 2007 Twenty Bench Cabernet is on the dark side of everything! Dark ruby in appearance. Breathe, breathe in the wine. Don’t be afraid; it’s divine… containing notes of dark currant, blackberry and plum. The palate is ripe with flavors of black (black, black) and blue (blue, blue) berry, dark cherry, plum, and tobacco. Ample acidity and gripping tannins allow this to accompany filet of beef, quite nicely; and for not a lot of money, it’s a hit. So if the wines you’ve been drinking start to taste a little drab… I’ll see you on the Dark Side of the Cab.