So, readers, we have reached the end of the wine reviewing year. Of course, I fully intend to continue trying new wines over the summer in anticipation for the fall. For those of you who are graduating, my gift to you: the cheap and dirty guide to drinking wine.
Good wine can be inexpensive.
Invest in a sturdy corkscrew and some real glasses.
White wines are chilled and ideally you will keep it cool throughout drinking.
Red wines are served at room temperature and many benefit from breathing.
Rules are made to be broken?you can drink a red wine with fish.
When serving multiple wines, start with the lightest wine and progress to the heaviest.
The best places to buy cheap wines are in state liquor stores and duty-free shops.
Dessert wines are served in smaller quantities than regular wines?think a generous shot.
Don't discount a wine just because it has a silly name or a screw cap.
BOXED WINE IS NOT GOOD!
Wines taste differently to everyone, make your own opinion.
On to the reviews!
Four Sisters 2001 Shiraz
This wine was brought to my attention by a couple of my tasters, who enjoy it so much, they've had three bottles in the last week. Obviously, this kind of popularity should not be ignored. My tasters and I agreed with the other fans. It has an even flavor, which one taster described as "leathery but in a good way." It has a very spicy wine, tasting like peppercorns more than any kind of fruit. Our conclusion, this is the wine for all outdoor cooking ventures this summer. It cries for a thick grilled steak but also would pair very well with veggie kebabs or a good homemade burger. You want to drink this wine, trust me. As an added bonus, the corks are fabulous, but I'm not telling why. Buy a bottle and find out for yourself. $11.99 at the NH State Liquor Store.
Gamla 2004 Sauvignon Blanc
Alright, I admit that this was a leftover from Passover. However, my tasting group did not take that into account when tasting it. My tasters and I could not really come to a consensus on this one. One taster cried "too bitter" and "hated it" another found it "bland" and yet another found it "crisp but mild." We did agree that it was a very light wine. It has no fruity or flowery taste, which was, I think the cause of dissension. I personally found its taste to be very mineral. Upon offering this suggestion, others agreed or at least could understand why I said it. In all, not a bad wine, but not our favorite. However, with the summer coming up (so they say) I could see it becoming more popular as an enjoyable afternoon quaff. $9.99 at 86th Street Liquor Store (NYC).