F inally, the
arrival of the 21st day of December, the day to start thinking about Winter and some winter wines to enjoy!.
This year of El Nino and La Nina has seriously challenged
our notions of the weather. In Philadelphia, the weather has
been in the 50's until now. My neighbor still has flowers blooming
in her front yard. In contrast, at our local nature center, the
Marmots are now in hibernation, a sure sign that winter is fast
approaching.
I am optimistic; the weather forecast is for the temperature
to fall into the thirties tomorrow and then into the teens.
Bravo.. Bring out the winter wines!
W
hen I think of winter wines, I recall the
wonderful evenings after cross country skiing. A dinner with a nice white wine
and some big red wines Later, in front of the fire or potbellied
stove, time to uncork the Vintage or Tawny Port or some other
sticky saved for the end of the meal.
I
n the foothills of the Voges mountains, The
Alsace winegrower knows about winter wines. A cool climate region dominated
by white wine production,
Alsace has the terrior to produce
wines as the Meyer-Fonne PINOT BLANC
Vielles Vignes 1997.
Felix Meyer, the boy genius of Katzenthal, manages to make
a wonderful Pinot Blanc (related to the Chardonny) every
year. The 1997 vintage is particularly fat and complex. His
secret? Could it be the very old vines, the low yields, the hillside
vineyards or the careful hand picking of the grapes? Why don't you
decide?
T
he Rhone Valley is
not normally a cool climate unless you are there in January. Then, the Mistral blows from the wintry Swiss Alps down the valley over the "Plan de Dieu" (the Plain of
God), chilling your bones but also cleansing the soil of those
little pests who create havoc in the vines the rest of the year.
On the western slope of the mountainous
Dentelles du Montmirail, the village of Gigondas is a place where time stands still. Vineyards are passed on from father to son and to daughter with each new
generation learning to make these wonderful red wines. Gigondas is one
of the of the classic reds of the Rhone and is leading the charge
for high quality wine in the South.
At his
Domaine
Raspail-Ay in Gigondas, Dominique Ay just released his remarkable Domaine Raspail -Ay GIGONDAS Rouge
Reserve 1996. While the 1995
Raspail-Ay is considered a classic vintage to cellar, the 1996 is like
a graceful Swan; round, rich, and smooth with soft tannins to match a
nice Rack of Lamb, Roast Goose or Filet Mignon with beurre
blanc or sauce avec poivrons. Yummy!
For this New Year's Eve, Restaurant CIBOULETTE will serve a Rack of Lamb with a
sauce of Gigondas red wine. See the menu below.
P
orto has always been considered the
traditional winter warmer. How else could the British get through those bloody awful
winters in England!
Not British at all, Miguel Champalimaud has the distinction of owning Quinta do Cotto (an old chateau) in the
Douro
Valley of Portugal where he produces very fine red wines and Vintage Porto. He can claim a British connection since his great-great grandfather fought successfully alongside Wellington against Napoleon at the battle of Bussaco during the Peninsular Wars. At his Quinta at Citadelhe, an old Roman fortress, he has produced a Vintage Porto 1995 which is just
delicious!
Champalimaud VINTAGE PORTO 1995
is packed with red fruits such as cassis, blackberries and raspberries with soft rich tannins that would go wonderfully with fresh fruit tarts, Stilton cheese, or your most outrageous chocolate dessert!
V
oilà! Our winter wine suggestions are complete. Actually, there could be other possibilities depending our your menu choices.
Please send us an
E-Mail if you have any questions. Now check out this
menu!
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