June 2024 1st Week Delectable Reviews

Recommended pairing: Trout Amandine or mild Asian dishes
This was definitely a "happy accident" purchase that worked out nicely. Quality wine producers will have wines that usually stand the test of time if they're stored properly . I give Artesa a lot of credit as their estate white wines all come in dark or brown glass bottles which protects the wine from light strike. This is an overlooked yet serious issue with modern wine which I will be highlighting in an upcoming post. BTW, the Artesa Winery in Carneros (Sonoma) is a stunning winery to visit with great quality wine.

Recommended pairings: Shrimp, creamy chicken pasta dishes
Talk about a QPR champ here. It's ~$9 at Total Wine and is a Winery Direct offering so counts towards their frequent 10 to 15 % off sales for multiple bottles. This is definitely the Chardonnay if you're in the ABC crowd.

Recommended pairings: Lamb, mild or medium spice beef Enchiladas
I bought this at a famous local Barcelona wine shop in the city. Priorat is only one of two Spanish wine regions to receive their highest quality designation, DOQ. (The other one, Rioja, is of course much better known internationally.) I let the wine shop employee pick half a case of wines and couldn't resist this anniversary vintage. Storage was impeccable as this has aged gracefully.

Recommended pairings: Goat cheese, Herb & Cheese Frittata
We got this last year from a local wine club and retail shop. I definitely count Chenin Blanc as an underrated white varietal and that high acidity makes for a great food pairing wine. Chèvre - French goat cheese, is the classic pairing.

Recommended pairings: Tomato soup, salads or just sip poolside
My sister-in-law brought this over. It looks like a simple Provence rosé quaffer but is unexpectedly complex. If you want a rosé with more personality like this, seek out Bandol.