“Wine is bottled poetry.” - Robert Louis Stevenson
Red wine and champagne are my two favorite types of wines, and both really hold a special place in my heart, as well as our wine cabinet. I make it a mission at least once a month to pick up new bottles at a local wine shop. One of my favorite activities is tasting and trying out new wines - it’s so nice to stumble upon selections that staff members hand pick for you.
As the weather begins to get a little bit cooler, I’m stocking up on a few of my favorite varietals for the season ahead. Today, I am sharing four wines that I’ve been really enjoying lately - two reds, and two champagnes.
2017 Sidekick Cabernet Sauvignon
2017 Sidekick Cabernet Sauvignon
The inner comic book nerd in me totally gravitated towards this bottle. How cool is the graphic novel inspired artwork on this?! I absolutely thought the idea was brilliant, and could not wait to taste this lovely Cabernet Sauvignon. For less than $20 a bottle, it is pretty enjoyable, and had notes of cedar, mocha, plum, tobacco, and licorice.
The wine is most certainly bold and tastes of dark berries. This Cab is high in tannin, well bodied, balanced fruit, and the acid is a little lower than most Cabernets - which I really loved. You can enjoy this wine by itself, with a burger or any chicken dish.
Hello World Petit Verdot
Hello World Petit Verdot
It is so rare to find a delicious 100% Petit Verdot, but this bottle totally lived up to my expectations. Also, this wine is super reasonably priced at $20. What is absolutely so neat about this wine is that it’s aged in both stainless steel and oak barrels.
The Petit Verdot has aromas of bananas, cherry, and leather. This wine has spicy notes, strong tannins and the finish lingers on in such a great way. The perfect pairing for this would be cheese, or some type of rich meat dish like grilled steak or lamb.
SoloUva Franciacorta Brut
SoloUva
Remember that time I went to Italy, and picked up this lovely bottle of champs? Well, this is still a favorite of mine. I’m so happy that G and I picked up several bottles of this bubbly during our vacation in Rome to bring back home.
This champagne is a Chardonnay grape and is aged in stainless steel for approximately 36 months. Also, this wine is vegan, which is so unique for a bubbly. I love absolutely pairing this with oysters, or any seafood related dish.
Alain Vincey Champagne Brut Rosé
Alain Vincey Champagne Brut Rosé
This french champagne is so delicious, it is a blend of 40% Pinot Noir, and 40% Chardonnay with 20% Pinot Meunie, and truly does not disappoint. The bottle of bubbly is refined, and has aromas of berries - strawberry, cranberry, and raspberry to be exact. It has notes of orange, pistachio, and has a light toast as well.
One of my favorite things about this champagne is that it is crisp, gentle on the palate, bone-dry, light, and has a slight mineral note to it as well. I was actually super impressed that this bottle averaged around $50, when other high end champagnes typically hover closer to the $100+ threshold mark. This bottle is the perfect pairing to pork, salmon, and mild or soft cheese.
XO, Analise