SAUCE MAGAZINE
Posted On: 07/01/2010
Annie Gunn’s wine director Glenn Bardgett weighs in on which wines to drink this month, while STLHops’ Mike Sweeney offers his suggestions for beer. Check your favorite wine shop or liquor store for availability.
La Posta “Glorieta Vineyard” Pinot Noir 2008, Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina I don’t usually consider Argentina as a source for premium Pinot Noir, but this proves that old dogs can learn new tricks. It’s not only a superb Pinot but also an incredible value at about $15. Pair it with grilled pork tenderloin.
Domaine Alfred Chamisal Vineyards Stainless Chardonnay 2008, Central Coast It is great to see more unoaked Chardonnays being produced for people who like to have white wine with food without dealing with the “buttery” stuff that basically ruins any chance of the wine actually complementing the food. This is stainless steel-produced, with the freshness and crispness of this beautiful grape. About $15.
Bisceglia Terra di Vulcano Aglianico del Vulture 2006, Basilicata, Italy This is an amazingly deep and extracted red wine, and while you might first think to pair it with pasta, go for a great ribeye with a mushroom risotto instead. This is worth the search and should be about $20.
Red Rocket Ale, Bear Republic Brewing Co., Cloverdale, Calif. After pouring this beer into a glass, be certain to hold it up to the light: The Crystal and Munich malts provide a striking red color. They also contribute to a silky and malty body. But this beer isn’t one-dimensional; it also packs a wallop of hop aroma and flavor.
Belgian Witte, Highlands Brewing Co., Kirkwood, Mo. This Belgian-style wit (white) beer, only available at the Kirkwood brewpub, has a subtly spicy flavor, which never overwhelms the beer as a whole. The aroma is pleasantly funky with a few notes of sulfur, which sounds off-putting, but is actually quite wonderful.
Bluepaw Wheat Ale, Sea Dog Brewing Co., Bangor, Maine While there is certainly a big blueberry aroma on this beer, it doesn’t seem synthetic. That goes for the taste as well: There is certainly a flavor of blueberries, but it never stops reminding you that it’s a beer.
