Manoavino Taste!

Piombo Shiraz, Drop Dead Delicious Wine from McLaren Vale Australia

Popped open this baby for Xmas Eve dinner. I love wines from Mclaren Vale and was anxiously waiting for the right occaision for this one.

Dinner was inspired by these Hawaiian/Asian recipes, grilled lamb chops done in a Hawaiian Honey Ginger Glaze, Coconut Rice Erupting With Spices, Nuts & Peas and Asian Stir-Fried Brussels Sprouts. We usually spend our Xmas holiday in a sunny climate, this year we decide to bring the sun to us.

I thought this awesome wine, Piombo Shiraz 2005, was just right for this exotic meal.

Two Very Good Inexpensive Wines, a French White and a Chilean Red

I had the opportunity to taste these two delicious wines at our friends' holiday party this past weekend.

They are both well priced considering their excellent quality.

The first is a French wine from the Loire Valley, France, Marigny Neuf Sauvignon Blanc and the second Cantaluna a Pinot Noir from the Colchagua Valley, Chile.  

Rose is usually a Spring and Summer wine, but this one by Susana Balbo, Rose of Malbec, I drink all year round

My friend and brother in law Daniel Slager introduced me to this wonderful wine many years ago. He found it in a great little wine shop in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Dan and family now live in Minneapolis, where he is Publisher & CEO of Milkweed Editions, so we don't get to share wine that often, but I will always have fond memories of the day we shared this wine, Rose of Malbec, by Susana Balbo. 

Since then I have come to enjoy all of Susana's wines. She is a highly recognized enologist in Argentina and has been a driving influence in raising the quality of wines of Argentina to the fine recognition they enjoy today. Her bright spirit and progressive outlook has born many wines of unique style and high quality.

She and her husband, Pedro Marchevsky operate their winery  Dominio del Plata in beautiful Mendoza, Argentina.

This wine is beautiful in many respects.

Try this Gruner Veltliner wine by Weingut Karl Fritsch you will be pleased.

Gruner Veltliner is a grape grown in primarily in Austria, the Czech Republic  and Hungary, but no where else. It makes wonderful wine that fits many occasions.

It is very food friendly. This one has the scent of grapefruit, white pepper and spring sprouts on the nose, on the tounge a distinct structure of light citrus fruit with spice and salty minerality. It goes down so smoothly with a bright sparkle as it hits the back of your throat.

Tonight I had this terrific Gruner with Japanese take-out, tempura, hijiki and salad with ginger dressing from our favorite  Dai Kichi in Upper Montclair.

I would have it with a variety of fish or chicken dishes, cheese, hummus or salads.

This wine is found at Shoppers Vineyard in Clifton for 14.95 and other fine wine stores in NJ.

Gruner Veltliner Steinberg 2007