Welcome to a series of posts on our tastings of several great summer wines, all very well priced and very delicious.
In our first post of the series we are sharing our enjoyment of two lively and delightfully pleasant white wines.
The meal was a big gleaming fresh salad of wild roquette, campari tomatoes, warmed baby bella mushrooms, grilled applewood smoked bacon and havarti dill cheese, dressed with a handmade vinagrette of greek EVO, balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard and fresh herbs from the garden. Simple yet delicious.
The weather was perfect for dinner outdoors creating a wonderful venue for tasting these wines. With a party of six the wines flowed quickly and were thoroughly enjoyed.
Let me tell you what makes these two wines very special.
Recently this wine was launched nationally by Markham Vineyards to bring the highest-quality California wines at the best possible value to a larger audience.
Greystone Cellars Chardonnay is an exceptional wine made with grapes from vineyard sites known for their tropical nature. the result is bright crisp citrus texture and delicous mouth filling flavors. The color is golden apple, with peach and pineapple on the nose. It has nice minerality with vanilla cream notes behind the prominent lemon-lime and green apple flavors. It goes down very smooth and easy. It can be purchased for around $11-314 which is a real steal.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Greystone Cellars® wines will benefit The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, a not-for-profit institute of higher education.
If your local wine store does not carry Greystone Cellar wines ask them to contact Terlato Wines International, importers and distributors.
Our second wine from the other side of the globe is also a Terlato wine, imported from Cotes-Du-Rhone, France. It is called Belleruche Blanc made of 60% Grenache, 20% Clairette, 20% Bourboulenc. If your are feeling cautious about these grapes let me assure you that this wine is worth a try.
It is a rich wine with a pale yellow color and flavors of ripe green apple, moss and white blossoms with citrus aromas and exotic fruits. It is a great wine for grilled fish, pork and soft goat's cheese. It walso went very well with our salad.
The wine maker Michel Chapoutier says "that one of the most difficult tasks of a vineyardist and winemaker is to make a serious, high-quality wine, yet have it remain a good value." His efforts have been reward by much critical acclaim.
"A good core of pear and melon fruit framed by a light bitter almond note that adds length on the finish. Well-focused. Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Bourboulenc."
88 Points Wine Spectator
"The 2009 Belleruche Blanc, which comes principally from Grenache blanc and Marsanne and is aged completely in tank, offers floral and grapefruit notes with some quince and white currant. Light to medium-bodied and fresh, with good fruit and texture, it should drink nicely for another 1-2 years. "
87 Points The Wine Advocate
Available at a real value price of $11-$15.
Both these wines were totally enjoyed by the entire party. I love making people happy with good food and wine.
All our ingredients where from Trader Joe's except the tomatoes which we found at Costco and the fresh herbs from our own garden.
