The Frugal Oenologist

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Hefrich Now&Zen 2008

This Alsatian white, called Edelzwicker locally, is a blend of five different varietals. It tastes of pineapple and tropical fruits and is somewhat assertive, so I'd be careful what to pair it with, but with a strongly flavored dish it's quite pleasant. If you can find some at the closeout price of $5.99, by all means get it.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Castillo de Molina Sauvignon Blanc 2010

This young Chilean white announces itself with a pungent aroma of pear that is confirmed on the palate, along with some citrusy notes. In some ways it reminds one of a Marlborough Valley. By all means get it at the closeout price of $6.99.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Arrogant Frog Pinot Noir 2008

While this red from Languedoc calls attention to itself with a cute name (I suppose the self mockery must be intentional) what it is is a simple but fairly pleasant country wine. Ther are red berry flavors and some vanilla, along with soft tannins. $7.99.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Luna di Luna San Giovese/Merlot 2009

This Italian red from Umbria is reasonably full bodied, with dark berry flavors and a lot of tannin. We differed on this one; my CDC liked it, I was put off by the somewhat bitter finish, although, in all fairness, I just don't much like Merlots. If you can find it at the closeout price of $6.99 you might want to try a bottle.

Principato Pinot Grigio Blush 2008

For those of you who are put off by the flinty, citrus dominated characteristics of a good Pinot Grigio, this rose from the Veneto is just the thing. It' almost, if not quite, sweet, with peach the most prominent element. It might make a good summer picnic quaff. $11.99 for the 1.5 liter bottle.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Hope Chardonnay 2008

This Australian Chardonnay is anything but your typical California fruit bomb. There is not even a hint of sweetness, the dominant element is citrus with underpinnings of melon, and there's a slight prickliness. A very nice all around wine, particularly suited to a hot summer day. Very nicely priced at $6.99 and a part of the profit goes to breast cancer research.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Fuchs Gruner Veltliner 2008

Grown near the Hungarian fontier, in the Burgenland, Austria's easternmost province, this white is a nice wine, with predominantly apple and citrus flavors and an even finish. Unfortunately, once again, at $10.99, it's massively overpriced. You can get it for four dollars less in N.J.

Some Personal Notes...

I was born and grew up in Belgium. There, as in all of the francophone world, children, as soon as they were old enough to sit up at table to have their dinners (usually at midday) with the adults, were allowed a glass of wine. The thought behind this was that they should enter their turbulent teens already accustomed to alcohol and not treat it as yet another exciting discovery, to be abused with the ungovernable energy that the hormonal storms of those years produce. By and large, this premise was a sound one. The level of alcoholism in the French-speaking countries tends to be well below that of the Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian ones, never mind the United States. To be sure, this datum can be challenged on a matter of definition: while there may be fewer binge drinkers who get raging drunk whenever they have access to alcohol, a goodly proportion of the working class, which habitually has a glass or two of wine with breakfast, is working on a mild buzz throughout the day. Still, the results are less deletirious: they function. At one point a Prime Minister of France, appropriately named Mendes-France, himself an anti alcohol crusader, launched an initiative to persuade the French to throw away their wine and drink milk instead. Needless to say, the project was still-born. The French consume as much wine as ever. The point I'm trying to make is that it seems to me that it is eminently possible to go through life enjoying one's wine without being seriously impaired in one's judgement or one's work level. In the old days in Europe one had the main meal of the day at noon, invariably following that up with a nap, so that when one returned to work one's mind was again clear. Nowadays dinner tends to be taken in the evenings, which means that one isn't really fit to do much serious work afterward, but I would argue, pace all you workoholics, that one's evenings should be devoted to less demanding and more congenial activities. I have enjoyed my evening wine throughout a long life, I've drunk some very good bottles and remember them fondly, and I would urge you to do the same.S