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01/22/2003 Archived Entry: "Two New Wine Buys"

Here are two wine buys from Carol Berman, the “Wine Chick.” Listen to her every Wednesday at about 12:30 p.m. on Food Talk, WOR radio 710 AM. And remember that Wine Country, at several locations in New Jersey, now features Carol’s wine buys of the week. Look for the special display in the Wine Country stores.

Colosi Rosso, Dry Red Wine, 2000, Sicily, Italy
It is not very often that I come upon a red wine that is so soft, satiny and easily drinkable on its own.

Colosi Rosso is made mostly of the grape Nero d'Avola, which is a widely planted Sicilian grape. It can produce wines that are easy and pleasant, as in this bottling, or with more guts and grip. Both styles are wonderful, and as I always say, there is always a style of wine appropriate for every occasion.

Colosi Rosso is a juicy wine, with definite cherry and plummy aromatics. On the palate it softly fills the mouth with a most pleasing balance. This 2000 bottling is, as I said to start, perfect on its own, but it would also be a great accompaniment to any number of appetizers or cheeses. I'd also serve it with salmon or seared tuna. It’s a red wine that won’t overpower them. Of course, it would also be a good wine to drink with a red-sauced pasta, or any grilled meat or poultry.

A great value at $8.99 average retail. Imported by Vias.

Bonny Doon, Domaine de Blageurs "Sir-Rah" Syrah
Once again the magical mind and skills of Randall Grahm have emerged in this terrific bottling of Syrah, an of-the-moment grape variety if there ever was one..

In this episode, which falls under the category of his "Euro-Dewn" line, Grahm, a California winemaker, has joined forces with a French winemaker in the Languedoc region, specifically the Minervois, known for great syrah. Grahm is, however, involved in the whole process, which includes finding the best grapes, making the wine in France, then shipping it to California, where it is bottled by his winery, Bonny Doon.

Grahm is one of the original "Rhone Rangers," the California winemakers who saw the similarity between the French Rhone wine-growing area and California and then planted Rhone grape varieties. Here he’s gone even further by putting a Rhone wine under a California label.

It’s a really deep and lush red wine, full of blackberry and lovely spiciness. It is sure to please. Arthur adored it.

The word blageurs means joker in French. How appropriate given the personalities involved, and the label playfully says it all. The drawing of a joker playing card is in the style of Ralph Steadman, the cartoonist-caricaturist of the wine world.

The wine should cost from $10.99 to $12.99. It is distributed by Michael Skurnik Wines, Syosset, NY.