“Wine is bottled poetry.” - Robert Louis Stevenson
Discovering new wines and champagnes is something that I truly enjoy. I love opening a bottle of wine with my husband in our kitchen, with music playing softly in the background. For me, a glass of wine at the end of the day is the perfect way to unwind, and music is the perfect compliment to that.
Today, I am sharing four spectacular picks - three wines and one champagne, plus a playlist to go with your next wine down.
2019 Betelgeuse Rosé
You may recall me singing this rosé’s praises recently, but this wine is totally worth an encore feature. This rosé will now be a staple in my home, and it’s absolutely lovely.
The grape of this wine is:
Pinot Noir
This rosé has notes of:
Red fruit: strawberry, cherry, watermelon
Tropical: guava, kiwi
The watermelon and strawberry notes are so well balanced, also stone fruit was immediately present on the palate as well. For the secondary notes, you’ll taste rose petal and a touch of citrus and lemongrass.
A perfect pairing for this wine would be a seafood, grilled chicken, or vegetarian dish. Also, this rosé is perfect to sip by itself.
Orin Swift Machete
This California Red Blend is simply lovely. The grapes in this wine are:
Shiraz/Syrah
Cabernet Sauvignon
Grenache
Malbec
Merlot
Petite Sirah
It is a complex wine, with a ton of mouth feel. The notes in this bottle are pronounced, and you’ll find:
Black fruit: plum, blueberry, and blackberry
Oak: vanilla and chocolate
Earth: leather and smoke
Red fruit: cherry and raspberry
Spice: licorice and anise
Also, there are some subtle notes of floral and dried fruit as well.
This wine would pair wonderfully with beef, lamb, veal, turkey, or chicken. A dry aged steak would honestly be a lovely dish to have with this wine as well.
2013 Bressan Schioppettino
I fell in love with this wine during my trip to Italy in 2019, and I’m desperately holding onto this last bottle in my collection. This wine is so unique, and like nothing I’ve ever had.
The grape in this wine is:
Schioppettino
This wine has the following notes:
Spice: white pepper and black pepper
Oak: clove and tobacco
Red fruit: cherry, raspberry, and strawberry
Earth: leather and smoke
The Bressan Schioppettino would be the perfect pair with beef, pasta, lamb, or venison. Personally, I love pairing this wine with Cacio e Pepe the pepper in both the pasta and Bressan blend beautifully together.
Pierre Paillard Bouzy Grand Cru Les Parcelles Extra Brut
My local wine shop recommended this champagne, and although the price tag on this bottle was a bit steep, it was really amazing.
The grapes in this wine are:
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
For the notes, you’ll taste:
Tree fruit: green apple and pear
Citrus: lemon
Also, you’ll find a lot of brioche and toast notes on this champagne.
This champagne pairs perfectly with pork, salmon, tuna, shellfish, mild and soft cheeses. I love pairing this bottle of bubbly with smoked salmon or lobster - it is simply divine.
XO, Analise