Grape Thinking » Zinfandel

In Terms of Pink

Meghan — Tue, 06 May 2008 03:00:30 +0000

White Zinfandel has certainly ruined many opportunities for roses in the United States. Slowly they are appearing in restaurants and at wine bars, yet, it is only the brave that are drinking this pink sensation. The rest of us, myself included until recently, don’t want people to believe that we might be drinking White Zinfandel. In reality, the only person that will care, and should care, what you are drinking is you, unless someone else is buying your drink, but that is more geared for the topic of economics, which I won’t be covering here.

I was recently at a wine bar in Paris with friends for dinner. When it came time to order our wine, I was looking at the reds, and by accident I ordered a Cotes-du-Provence thinking it was red. The server came back with our drinks. We had a rainbow of wines sitting on our table, one ordered white, another red, and apparently I ordered a rosÃ©. A bit reluctant at first, I considered sending it back, but quickly remembered the French customer service policy…

I should take the time here to fill you in on the astonishing practice of the French customer service. In France, as with most of Europe, tips are included because the servers and bartenders are receiving hourly wages. Without having to worry about tips you can be a bit more honest with your customers, I guess. The French take it one extra step; they are never wrong, even when they are wrong actually they are not. In the U.S. it’s the customer is always right, well in France the customer is always wrong.

In my situation I was wrong, but why annoy my server because she did smile when I ordered, there must be something good here. In turn, I accepted my fault and drank the wine. There are some mistakes in life worth making. I never knew springtime could be more enjoyable until I started drinking rosÃ©s. I later learned that in Paris it’s hip to drink pink. There is nothing like getting the seal of approval from your server when ordering a wine, for me at least, I’m more excited. That smile I received was her way of telling me that I would not regret my decision.

RosÃ©s are made in every region in France, but the South is more known for their winsome, approachable wines, in particular Provence. I am drinking a 2006 La Ferme Blanche from Cassis. The color on it is an orange pink, it is young, but generally best drank that way. On the nose is a slight tangerine and apricot fruit profile. Here is a good example of a rosÃ©; it’s light, dry, not complex, well balanced and extremely enjoyable. The only way I can think to describe what I’m experiencing on my palate is lifesavers. This wine is the white lifesaver. There is flavor there, but it’s not as strong as the orange, green, or red. The white lifesaver is the subtle flavor; it doesn’t over power. I have had rosÃ©s with fish dishes, as well as meat dishes, though I would stay away from heavier meats.

While I write this I feel the urge to go to a restaurant by the water and order up a dozen oysters. Seeing that I’m in Paris, perhaps I’ll just take the rest of this bottle down to the Seine, have a picnic, and watch the sunset. This is a perfect springtime and summer wine and a great way to Wine Your Diet.

Backsberg Elbar, 2005

Ruarri — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 14:00:29 +0000

Anything associated with ‘Back’ be it Charles Back, Backsberg, Fairview, MAN Vintners or Senga Wines is tipped for greatness. I’m out of my league drinking such a wine, as it runs circles around my 5 year old palate being predominately Malbec, with lashings of Shiraz, a dollop of Mourvedre, essences of Sangiovese, a taste of Petit Verdot and smatterings of Zinfandel and Viognier. This wine is a melange of wine in one wine and thus is one to drink with intrigue and wonder, a wine of such integration is a symbol of the new South Africa and a pleasure to drink.

‘Gnarly Head’ 2004 Old Vine Zinfandels

Ruarri — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 15:15:05 +0000

Brown Bagging it in Central Park

A good friend of mine was having a bad day recently and I offered to go cheer him up. When one’s been sitting around all day it’s good to get out into the open and go for a walk. With the autumn nip in the air we bundled up and started to journey the 6 or so blocks to Central Park. I didn’t have a lot of cash on me, but decided that nothing heals a bad mood like some comfort food accompanied by the nectar of the gods. En Route I stopped into a corner package store and picked up the remarkably priced ‘Gnarly Head’ 2004 Old Vine Zinfandels. I have to say that ever since I saw some of those Old Vines in Lodi, I’ve had a bit of a fetish for zin, those vines really are gnarly! After picking up the Zin we stopped off at the classic and hard to find ‘The Burger Joint’ which is nestled behind the curtains of Le Parker Meridien hotel on 57^th Street. Of course, to cheese burger fanatics its no secret that this place does one of the best hamburgers in the world, and at $5 its ant this neet little spot. No frills or garnishing, just a great burger in butcher paper, that’s how it should be. Burgers and Zinfandel in hand we trekked up into Central Park and sat on one of the rocky outcrops overlooking the ice-rink. Sinking our teeth into our sumptuous fast-food delicacies we discreetly took swigs from our little brown bag that sat between us. There’s nothing quite like washing a burger down with the rich spicy notes and luscious layers of bursting berry flavours incumbent to Gnarly Head Zinfandel, elegantly wrapped in a brown paper bag so as to avoid arrest. Dinner and drinks in a classic Manhattan location for under $25.00: unbeatable!

Grape Thinking » Zinfandel

In Terms of Pink

Related posts

Backsberg Elbar, 2005

Related posts

‘Gnarly Head’ 2004 Old Vine Zinfandels

Related posts