misa en place

Cari amici,

Grazie to those who have sent me decent Grenache recommendations in the past couple of weeks. It is much appreciated and has made me feel like less of a wine outcast recently; when I tell people I am on a Grenache kick they inevitably look at me with either a) a puzzled look of complete varietal ignorance or b) a visage of complete disbelief about such an obscure, intrusively spicy, and usually expensive indulgence. I am loving the Spanish versions due to their “Wining Women” pricetag though am still in search of a Californian contribution.

Here are my recent musings:
1. Italian imports are ridiculously overpriced: n.b. wines from Abruzzo. Do not confuse with wines that are actually from Tuscany, specifically Montepulciano and Montalcino. Abruzzo does produce some very good wines but they are usually not worth the price offered here (nor with ridiculous exchange rate with Euro).
2. Do not ever bring a Barefoot wine to a party: GAUCHE.
3. I had a syrah from Whole Foods that was so mediocre it made me crave a Miller’s gin martini with 4 olives: it is called Block 45 and unless you plan on chugging it while sitting on a worn-out bedspread on the beach, contemplating crustacean-laden ocean currents while mildly intoxicated, spend the 8 dollars on a bottle of wine from TJ’s, a Manchego, and Ak-mak crackers from Sanger, CA.
3. Please do not crucify me – the newest Charles Shaw offering is GREAT. Now, do not rush to conclusions, I have never been a fan of “2buckChuck.” In particular, the grossest offerings are ALL OF THE ABOVE. But, take a look at the Nouveau ” Valdiguie” – 2007 California. It is a refreshingly fruity nouveau that would pair nicely with spring vegetables such as spring peas as well as that Easter pork tenderloin about which you have been salivating. It brings to mind that foot-stomping pressing of September grapes paired with that first pressing of olives – fruity, citrusy, and exuberant.