I love rich, full bodied, dry red wines. I have sampled some great ones on my own good judgement/luck, but I'm interested in some reccomendations from everyone else. Please also describe the wine in a few words to me so I can get a picture of it's character. I'm having some good friends over this weekend and we are roasting a side of goat, making kebab, dolmades, and there will be some curried dishes like cous cous and cucumber salad. Looking for something that can pair well with these kinds of foods.
2006-09-19 04:52:39 · 7 answers · asked by Goddess of Nuts PBUH 4 in Food & Drink ➔ Beer, Wine & Spirits
My family enjoys Lebanese cuisine often and one wine that pairs well with your menu and is affordable is called J.Lohr Merlot. It is full bodied and a little dry with hints of berry and a nice round, woody finish. You won't regret buying it!
2006-09-19 06:36:03 · answer #1 · answered by Cayman_tac 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There's a great red from Napa Valley California called Screw Kappa Napa. I prefer the Merlot, but the Cab is good, too. Here in the US it's about $8.99 a bottle. I plan on opening a bottle of the Merlot tonight, in fact. I also really like Rosemount Estates Shiraz ($11 here in New Jersey, it was $9 in California) from Australia. It's a very consistent bottle from year to year and pairs well with most everything. This is our house go-to wine. The Merlot is also nice and robust and usually a dollar cheaper. I serve that with hearty beef dishes because it can hold it's own with big flavors. Alamos Malbec (Argentina) is around $10 and is one of my recent favorites. My husband isn't as into this one as the others, but he likes it.
2016-03-27 08:59:36 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First Caymus is good but I'm sensitive to sulfites and it gave me a killer hangover on relatively light consumption.
From USA
89/100 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Columbia Valley, Washington, United States
Produced By: Columbia Crest Winery
Distributed By: Charton-Hobbs
The suave Grand Estates cabernet is made with fruit grown at Horse Heaven Hills and Wahluke Slope (aromatics and complexity). Typically about 10 of the berries remain whole lending the wine bright fruit character. The flavours are a mix of cherry and chocolate with a whiff of coffee. The textures smooth and sleek and the acidity well balanced. Easy sipping and showing enough mature bottle flavours. Well-done and fine value.
90/100 Kendall-Jackson Merlot Grand Reserve 2003
Sonoma - Napa, California, United States
An extended cold soak prior to fermentation continues to enhance the round, supple nature of this merlot with its spicy black fruit nose and cedar-y, olive underbelly. Similar flavours mark the palate with flecked with cherry cola and chocolate. The fruit is a rigourous selection of top lots from Sonoma (77) and Napa (23). Winemaker Randy Ullom is using 23 per cent new French oak here and it’s really firm up the mid-plate and finish. Well done.
From Canada
92/100 Mission Hill S.L.C. Merlot 2002
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
The latest edition to B.C.’s roster of elite wines is Mission Hill S.L.C. Merlot 2002. Mission Hill’s picture perfect winery has garnered a lifetime of accolades for its architecture but now they have a wine with similar impressive structure. Spice, smoky garrigue and licorice root aromas mix easily with black cherry pudding, vanilla, black olive and coriander. The merlot is perfectly ripe with concentrated fruit and supple tannins. Restrained spicy, black cherry jam and chocolate pudding flavours laced with mint, olive, resin and coriander finish long and stylishly. This is the best wine John Simes has made in B.C. and his vineyards are only beginning to fill out.
91/100 CedarCreek Cabernet Sauvignon Platinum Reserve 2002
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Dark cherry colour. Lots of spicy, peppery, cedar, tobacco leaf mixed with resiny, smoky vanilla aromas cassis and olive. Lovely round, ripe supple textures with fine grained tannins. Fresh cassis, coriander and pepper entry with spicy, cherry, smoky oak and vanilla flavours. Long and warm but well balanced with good finesse. Young, showing some oak, will improve over the next 3-5 years. Newer Bordelais style ― this is very fine, well crafted cabernet sauvignon. Bravo B.C.
From Aust.
90/100 Heartland Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
LanghorneCreek - Limestone Coast, South Australia, Australia
The Heartland cabernet is a mix of Langhorne Creek (55) and Limestone Coast (45). It gets a 10 per cent hit of shiraz although its thick almost meaty character suggests it probably doesn't need it. Look for big sour minty cherry fruit and mocha undertones in what is a brawny bold red with stylistic links to Coonawarra. Bring on the steaks.
Couldn't find a merlot from down under I would recommend as it seems this is a celebration and not a simple gathering.
J Lohr is very good as well. I have not tried the merlot but the Cab / Sauv is great. Great cherry and vanilla flavours nicely balanced oak with smooth tannins.
2006-09-19 05:39:23 · answer #3 · answered by LAUGHING MAGPIE 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
where are you? i'm going to assume you're in the us, so your access to the european wines i'd usually recommend is probably limited. i'll therefore suggest an australian one, penfold's koonunga hill shiraz cabernet. it's a smooth wine with a fruity undertone that goes well with spicy foods. another one you could try is the south african nederburg cabernet merlot. heavier than the penfold's and great with flavoursome meats. enjoy! :-)
2006-09-19 05:01:24 · answer #4 · answered by nerdyhermione 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1985 Camus It is like drinking butter so smooth. Full flavor . One word WOW!
2006-09-19 04:56:25 · answer #5 · answered by Mudtime4me 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it's a carmenere from chile. LaPlaya reserve nice big bit to start but finishes nice and soft. yummy. cheap too!!
2006-09-19 05:03:13 · answer #6 · answered by moi 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Big A** Cab...I'm not kidding.
I think I found it at Whole Foods.
2006-09-19 06:53:42 · answer #7 · answered by Trid 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋