Chateau les Roques Cuvee Frantz

Attributes:
Producer:

Chateau les Roques
Region:

Loupiac, France
Varietal:

Dry White Table Wine
Bottle Size:

750 ML

199: Decanter Rating: 4
Complexity:

rich
Compliments:

elegant
Flavors:

apricot, honey

Food Matches:
Cheese: Feta, Goat Cheese, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Ricotta, Swiss
Desserts: Macarons
Fish or Shellfish: Lobster Salad, Poached Salmon, Sea Bass
Fruits & Nuts: Citrus Fruits
Herbs & Spices: Anise, Fennel Seed, Tarragon, Basil, Cilantro, Coriander, Curry, Dill, Thyme
Red Meat: Irish Stew, Liver, Pate or Liver
Sauces: White Wine Sauce
Vegetables: Asparagus Quiche, Tomato

Chateau de la Haute Libarde Cotes de Bourg

Attributes:
Producer:

Chateau de la Haute Libarde
Region:

Bordeaux, France
Varietal:

Bordeaux - Red
Bottle Size:

750 ML

Food Matches:
Cheese: Aged Cheddar, Blue Cheese, Feta, Goat Cheese, Mozzarella, Sharp Cheddar
Herbs & Spices: Anise, Fennel Seed, Tarragon, Bay Leaf, Lavender, Mint, Rosemary, Thyme
Poultry & Eggs: Spicy Chicken Dishes
Red Meat: Beef Stew, Kidney, Lamb, Lamb Stew, Roast Beef, Salami, Sausage, Variety Meats or Organ Meats
Sauces: Red Wine Sauce
Vegetables: Ratatouille

Bordeaux:

A region in western France that grows famous red wines from the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc grapes and white wines from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle grapes. Situated on the Atlantic coast, Bordeaux has a maritime climate with warm summers and fairly mild winters as well as an abundance of rain during harvest time. When young, the finest red Bordeaux wines have a deep cranberry hue and aromas of blackcurrants, plums, spice, cedar, and cassis. For the first ten years or so these wines can be very dry, with tannin masking the fruity flavors. Eventually the wines turn garnet, and develops an extraordinarily complex bouquet and flavor as well as softer tannins. The finest red Bordeaux wines still take 20 years or so before reaching their maturity. Two distinct red wine production zones exist within the Bordeaux region; the Left Bank and the Right Bank. The Left Bank vineyards are located west of the Garonne River and the Gironde Estuary, into which the Garonne empties. The Right Bank vineyards are east and north of the Dordogne River and east of the Grionde Estuary. Of the various wine districts on the Left and Right Banks, four are the most important for red wines: Haut-Médoc; Pessac-Leognan, St-Emilion, and Pomerol. For white wines, the most important are Graves and Pessac-Leognan.

Rosenblum 'Harris Kratka' Zinfandel

Attributes:
Producer:

Rosenblum Cellars
Region:

Alexander Valley, United States
Varietal:

Zinfandel
Bottle Size:

750 ML

2005: CGCW Rating: 91
Body:

solid
Flavors:

raspberries

2004: CGCW Rating: 86

2002: CGCW Rating: 88
Flavors:

oak
Fruit:

sweet

2001: WineAdvocate Rating: 91
Complexity:

deep
Compliments:

delicious
Flavors:

cherries, earth

2001: CGCW Rating: 92
Acidity:

bright
Flavors:

spicy
Texture:

fleshy

2000: CGCW Rating: 91
Acidity:

bright
Flavors:

oak, smoke, spice

1999: Tanzer Rating: 85
Body:

lean

1999: WineAdvocate Rating: 90
Body:

full-bodied
Complexity:

rich
Compliments:

distinctive, powerful
Flavors:

blackberry, licorice, peppery, tar
Fruit:

gobs of fruit

Food Matches:
Cheese: Aged Cheddar, Feta, Goat Cheese, Smoked Gouda, Soft Pungent Cheese
Fruits & Nuts: Citrus Fruits
Herbs & Spices: Anise, Fennel Seed, Tarragon, Bay Leaf, Cinnamon, Clove, Mint, Oregano, Pepper (black, white, green)
Pasta & Grains: Lasagna, Pasta with Peppery Mushroom Sauce
Poultry & Eggs: Coq Au Vin, Game Birds, Herb Marinated Chicken, Roast Chicken with Herbs, Roast Turkey, Spicy Chicken Dishes
Red Meat: Barbeque Pulled-Pork or Ribs, Beef Stew, Game, Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Ham, Hamburgers, Lamb Stew, Minestrone, Sausage, Wild Game - Elk, Caribou, Moose, Venison
Sauces: Red Wine Sauce
Spicy Food: Beef Stir Fry
Vegetables: Lentils, Tomato

Zinfandel:

One of California’s oldest varietals, this grape actually hails from Croatia. Red Zinfandel makes rich dark wines that are high in alcohol and medium to high in tannin. The can have a blackberry or raspberry aroma, a spicy character and even a jammy flavor. Some Zinfandels are relatively light-bodied and meant to be enjoyed young, while others benefit from aging.

Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Salad

Rated

Ingredients

1 Roasted Red Pepper chopped
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Oregano to taste
1/2 head lettuce, washed and chopped

Preparation

Combine the pepper with the cheese, tossing to mix. Season with oregano. Serve on a bed of lettuce.

Yield

Makes 4 servings