SAUCE MAGAZINE
Posted On: 08/01/2010
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.
Shannon Ridge “Ranch Collection” Petite Sirah 2008, Lake County, Calif. Although Syrah/Shiraz gets most of the attention in the world of Rhône-type reds, the best of Petite Sirah (not at all related to Syrah) tends to give consumers more bang for their buck. For $15, this offers what the high-end Petite Sirahs do; it’s just pure mouth-filling red-wine sexiness. Make this beauty your go-to wine for barbecue this summer.
St. James Winery Chardonel 2007, St. James, Mo. At about $7 a bottle, this dry white from one of Missouri’s leading wineries is as good as, and mostly better than, anything else in this price range from anywhere in the world. Don’t let the name confuse you – a $7 Chardonnay is not likely to be nearly as enjoyable as this Chardonel.
Fritz Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Russian River Valley, Calif. You could think of Sauvignon Blanc as a misunderstood grape variety looking for its identity: New Zealand types tend to be steely and grapefruity, while West Coast selections tend to be overoaked. Here’s one to get behind: A dry white that has great elegance, but is also ready to surprise with its fun side. It’s outstanding at $18.
Pecan Brown Ale, Hill Brewing Co., St. Louis, Mo. While I’ve seen a lot of unusual ingredients added to beer, adding pecans to a brown ale was something I’d never heard of. I’m surprised I haven’t seen it before, because it works well. The pecans add a wonderful nutty note to this very smooth brown beer.
Oasis, Tallgrass Brewing Co., Manhattan, Kan. Although it arrived in St. Louis just last month, the Tallgrass Brewing Co. has already made a huge splash with Oasis. Available only in 16-ounce aluminum cans, this is a hoppy and malty monster of a beer that can provide some refuge from fizzy pale lagers.
Restoration Pale Ale, Abita Brewing Co., Abita Springs, La. Restoration Pale Ale was created to generate funds for the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. This easy-drinking beer has been dry-hopped with American Cascade hops to provide a citrusy aroma.
