J. Lohr Arroyo Vista Chardonnay 2006

Price: $15.95 @ Macy's (W. Roxbury, MA)

Recommended by: Curiosity

Comments: We don't drink a lot of Chardonnay, and when we do, we typically talk about how much we don't like it. But lately, we've been trying more and enjoying it (at least the oaky ones). This wine exhibited some of the traits we've been looking for lately. It is rich, smooth, and oaked. The nose is apple, lime, and pineapple. The flavor is dominated by apple and caramel with a little spice and a long smooth finish. If we're in the mood for an oaky chardonnay in the future, this is one we'll seriously consider (along with the Matua Judd Estate).

Rating: 7/10

Pairing Wine with Brodetto

One dish we've been really enjoying lately is brodetto, a seafood stew native of Italy. The Italian version is called Brodetto di Pesce, but since we cannot use ingredients from the Adriatic Sea, we've enjoyed our own New England version. The broth is a delicious blend of tomatoes, onions, seafood broth, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, wine, garlic, saffron, parsley, and red pepper flakes. Throw in some little neck clams, fresh mussels, and a white fish (halibut is great), and serve with fresh bread, and you have an amazing dinner.

So, what wine do enjoy with this delicious dish? The authentic Italian version screams for a dry Verdicchio, which is produced in the Marches region of Italy, where Brodetto di Pesce is one of the most popular dishes. The French Marsanne is also another great pairing with brodetto. Marsanne is often blended with Viognier, which would also be an excellent choice to enjoy with the dish. You can't go wrong with a nice American Chardonnay, and we've even enjoyed a nice, floral Chilean Carmenere Blanc (Viña Tierra y Fuego).

The one wine we highly recommend is a Dry Riesling, particularly Chateau Ste Michelle's. They're a bit citrusy with a nice spice. We think you'll love it with brodetto, particularly if you're looking for something other than a Chardonnay.

Rietvallei Estate "John B." Sauvignon Blanc/Colombar 2008

Price: $9.99 @ Wine Gallery, Brookline
Recommended by: Saleswoman
Comments: This South African blend (60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Colombar) is a nice, basic wine. Floral aromas meet the nose. The taste is dominated by a strong, crisp lemon flavor. We don't like it as much as we do the New Zealand (Marlborough) Sauvignon Blancs we often drink, but it is enjoyable and went well with the sushi we had for dinner.
Rating: 6.25/10

Chateau Ste Michelle Cold Creek Merlot 1999

Price: about $25
Recommended by: the wonderful folks at Chateau Ste Michelle winery, Woodinville, WA (go visit!)
Comments: What an evening! We polished off a bottle of white Italian Vermentino (Rocca di Montemassi) while making a fabulous batch of mushroom risotto. The wine was exceptional, but we can't blog about it because we finished it so damn quickly! With the actual risotto (did we mention it was amazing?!?) we drank this Merlot, which is quite dear to us. Back in September 2007, we visited the winery and purchased this bottle for a special occasion. Rob has been hard at work for the past few weeks, finishing up his first book, and while it's not quite done yet we're celebrating the near end of many years of hard work. This wine was an appropriate celebratory libation. Wine Spectator gave it 90 points back in the day, and it's only gotten better with time. Rich, earthy flavors dominated by plum, vanilla, and mocha, with hints of chocolate. YUM! We wish we had another bottle!
Rating: 8/10

Jim Barry Lodge Hill Shiraz 2006

Price: $15.99 @ Vinnin Square Liquors (Swampscott, MA)
Recommended by: Wine Spectator gave this a 91
Comments: We do not usually buy a Shiraz that's over, say, $12, but this one was worth the extra couple of dollars. It is very smooth, with flavors of black cherry, plum, vanilla, and chocolate. It is a tad high in alcohol (15%), but you couldn't tell in the flavor. If you want to move past your basic Shiraz, this is a great one to consider. We think it's the best one we've had (perhaps even better than Wolf Blass Gold Label).
Rating: 8/10

Bodegas Tomas Cusine El Vilosell 2005

Price: $15.99 @ Vinnin Square Liquors (Swampscott, MA)
Recommended by: salesman at store
Comments: This is a really good Spanish blend. It is 50% Tempranillo, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 9% Garnacha, and 5% Syrah aged for 9 months in new French oak. It has a nice taste of pepper, cherry, and some blueberry. The flavor is long-lasting and the wine is quite smooth. The only drawback is the price. The wine is good, but we've had a lot of good Spanish wines in the $10 range. Spanish wines are a great bargain in general. Perhaps we would get this wine again for a special occasion, but we wouldn't have it again with pizza!
Rating: 7/10

Longball SauvignYoouuk Blanc 2006

Price: $15.99
Recommended by: Red Sox fans everywhere
Comments: Perhaps Youk should have tried this wine before slapping his name on the label! (At least the $$ goes to charity.)
Rating: N/A