The countdown continues - there are only 2 days remaining until Valentine's Day, so this week's SayVino focuses on all things RED. Here are two wonderful cherry-red wines which will work well with whatever elaborate meal plans you have for the holiday - or any other cold evening when you want to warm things up!

 

The Domaine Chandon Pinot Noir 2005 hails from Carneros, located just 40 miles north of San Francisco. Fog, wind and moderate temperatures lead to a cool, extended growing season that is terrific for growing Burgundian grapes like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, providing the longer hang time needed to create complexity, intense aromatics and flavor. Domaine Chandon was founded in 1973, the first Californian property established by a French Champagne house (Moët & Chandon) in order to produce California sparkling wine using the traditional method. In 1996 they also began producing small amounts of still versions of Pinot Noir, and it has consistently been one of our favorites for years. Full of classy French nuance and elegance, it's also full of delicate flavors of cherry and raspberry.

 

The Tres Picos Garnacha 2006 is another perrenial favorite in our house. Made from 35+ year old Garnacha (Grenache) vines from the Aragon region of northeast Spain, this is another great value wine from importer Jorge Ordonez. This man has single-handedly improved the quality of Spanish wines dramatically over the past decade! Robert Parker has compared this wine to "cherry pie in a glass" and consistently rates it 90 points or higher (the 2006 vintage has yet to be reviewed). It is spicy and ripe, with really rich mouthfeel and a nice finish. We usually pair it with barbeque but it will work with almost anything.
 

Domaine Chandon Pinot Noir 2005, Carneros $21.97/750 ml, $263.64/case (regularly $24.95)

Tres Picos 2006, Spain $12.97/750 ml, $155.64/case (regularly $15.95)

How about another dish for your Valentine's feast? The Cranberry Goat Cheese log from Celebrity International makes an elegant addition to the meal. This rennet-free block of mild goat cheese is made in Canada and is fresh and creamy with a slightly sharp and lightly acidic flavor. With its hint of cinnamon and tart cranberries, I usually spread it on plain crackers or bread - there's plenty of flavor to enjoy.

 

Need a last minute gift for your sweetie? The Bissinger's dark Chocolate Bark with Dried Cranberries and Pecans is one of my new favorites. Full of tart cranberries and crunchy pecans in rich dark chocolate, the bark can be broken into pieces and served in a dish to make an elegant dessert presentation, or simply break off a chunk to nibble whenever. Enjoy! Last item: if you want a little something to take along with that special bottle, how about one of our Prestige Glass Bottle Stoppers? Available in many different styles, these two seemed particularly appropriate this week!

 

Cranberry Goat Cheese $9.99/11 oz

Bissinger's Cranberry Pecan Bark $14.99/10 oz

Prestige Glass Bottle Stoppers $10 each

 

There are still spaces available for next week's Third Thursday Wine Class, Thursday, February 21st, when our own Brian Flannery will confront the topic: Syrah to Shiraz: Petit and Beyond. The goal is to find the best examples of Syrah from around the globe, from the big producers and the boutique. There will be ten wines to taste, along with paired snacks. Reservations in advance are required because space is limited. Guaranteed to be informative and fun. Hope to see you there.

 

02/21 THU - 6:30 to 7:45 p.m., $20 for CAP members (and you will become a CAP member). Contact Schaefer's at 847-677-WINE (9463) or by email to sign up.

Pre-arrival offer. Now's your chance to get a bottle or two of this outstanding Chilean red. A joint venture between Baron Philipe de Rothschild and Concha y Toro, the wine is styled as a Cabernet-heavy Bordeaux, with this year's - only their 7th vintage - made from 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Carmenère (similar in many ways to Merlot) and 5% Cabernet Franc. Robert Parker gave it an impressive 94 points and said "The 2005 Almaviva is dark ruby-colored with a classy nose of smoke, violets, mineral, pencil lead, espresso, black currants, and blackberry. This is followed by a supple-textured wine with layers of sweet fruit, excellent depth and concentration, and well integrated oak, tannin, and acidity. There is enough structure to support 5-7 years of further evolution in the bottle and it should continue to drink well through 2037." While available in multiple bottle sizes, only limited quantities of this wine will be available, so please contact us immediately if you are interested in requesting a bottle.

 

Almaviva 2005, Chile $84.97/750 ml (regularly $99.95)

Almaviva 2005, Chile $43.97/375 ml (regularly $54.95)

Almaviva 2005, Chile $179.97/magnum (regularly $219.95)

Almaviva 2005, Chile $349.97/3-liter (regularly $399.95)

While the sun is out of sight and the mercury in the thermometer is too, think warm thoughts with some Mexican treats - these spicy bright red chili & lime tortilla chips from El Rey, made almost-locally in Milwaukee, pair up terrifically with Pacifico Clara from Mexico. Pacifico is a pilsner that was first brewed in 1900 when three Germans opened the Cerveceria del Pacifico brewery in Mazatlan, a port city in the state of Sinaloa, México. The picture inside the lifesaver depicts Las islas de los venados which means 'the deer islands'. The El Rey chips have to be the spiciest chips anywhere, so brace yourself for an experience. Our own store-made fresh guacamole might help.

 

El Rey Lime & Chili Tostaditas Chips $3.79/16 oz.

Pacifico, Mexico $8.59/6-pack

Join us this Saturday, February 16, for our FREE tasting. This week we will be featuring warm reds (and a few whites), plus comforting snacks from our Deli Department, including our own delicious Potato Leek soup! Stop in and enjoy!

 

02/16 SAT 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

That's all for this week. If we may be of any further service, please stop by our store at 9965 Gross Point Road in Skokie (for directions, click here), visit our website at http://www.schaefers.com, give us a call at 847-677-WINE (9463), 800-833-WINE (9463), or click here to contact us.