Our "Super" Big Game (Food & Wine) Picks!

The "Big Game" is approaching and, even know our beloved Chiefs are not there, we are still willing to watch four to five hours of football and hilarious commercials (No-to-mention the 50+ hours of pre-game, etc.) Just because football is a typically a beer sport means you need to make sure you don't forget to include wine at your Big Game party. That’s right, we said it, wine (What else would I write about with only 100 hours until the event)!

Your friends at eat - entertaining and training and the National Wine Market Council make it easy by pairing game-day snack stand-bys with favorite wines. Big Game Sunday isn't just for beer drinkers anymore (No offense to the beer drinkers out there)!

Spicy Buffalo Wings

Piquant and vinegary wings need white wines with a lot of acidity like Schuster Sauvignon Blanc (NZ) or Esperanza (Spain) to stand up to the sharpness of the flavors. If the wings are exceptionally spicy, an off-dry Riesling (Selbach) from Germany or (Poet's Leap) Washington State also works well to tame the heat.

Pizza

With so many variations in its preparation, pizza matches well with many different wines. Keeping with the Italian theme, Cennatoio's E (100% Sangiovese) is a natural fit. Its tart cherry flavor and bright acidity meld well with any pizza's tomato sauce. Red wines from the Barbera grape, which is produced in Northern Italy's Piedmont area and parts of California also has a nice tang to accompany pepperoni or sausage. For a pizza emphasizing garlic or vegetables, try a crisp Pinot Grigio from Italy. Maybe the Tenuta S. Anna?

Chili/Sloppy Joes

These quintessential American foods call for quintessential American wines. Try a lush, fruit-forward Wellington or Fitch Mountain Cabernet (California) with a sloppy joe; the bright berry flavors will have affinity for the sweet, tomato flavors. With chili, a Langmeil Shiraz from the Australia or a Rioja from Spain (a few will be open this weekend) works wonders, as these wines have the same earthy and meaty characteristics.

Veggies and Dip

Crispy and crunchy crudités call for a fresh, zippy white like Rome Sancerre (French Sauvignon Blanc) or an unoaked Chardonnay from Chile or France (Cousino-Macul or Novellum). If you're in the mood for a red, try something light and fruity like chilled Salmon Run's Petite Noir from New York or an inexpensive Foris Pinot Noir from Oregon or Grayson Pinot Noir from California.

Nachos or Quesadillas

One of the best matches for anything with corn, such as chips or tortillas, is Chardonnay (Maybe the Holy Cow or The 3rd Bottle). This is the case here, as Chardonnay also will complement creamy cheeses and counterpoint the salsa. In the red category, Zinfandel (BR Cohn, Deerfield Ranch, Muscardini or Rosenblum from California) likewise accompanies spicy salsa and Felino Merlot can have a cooling effect. Consider drinking the reds slightly chilled.

Submarine Sandwiches

When you roll out that big sub at halftime, consider a big wine like Onyx Shiraz from South Africa or even an Felino Malbec from Argentina, which will happily go with any meat. If the sandwich has a spicy mustard flavor, go with a Baileyana Pinot Noir from California or Garaudet Cote-de-Beaune from France. If the sandwich is a cheese steak, consider a bottle of Truth Lindsey's Cuvee or even Sophia's Cuvee (we met the former winemaker and he assures us it rocks), which goes beautifully with beef.

Whatever you do to celebrate; be sure to Drink Vino!

Michael and the cru @ eat - entertaining and training!

We have some Australian Shiraz to sell ...

After doing some quick math and realizing the walls and shelves are looking more like what I like vs. what I need to sell (I do this exercise twice a year – It sucks but is necessary and the results are usually better for the guests; both in price and in selection).

So, after a quick check of the Aussies, here is what we have to offer you today:

- 2006 Earthworks Shiraz ($17): The 2006 Shiraz saw an identical regimen of tank and barrel. Purple-colored, it exhibits aromas of smoke, sausage, bacon, and blueberry which jumps from the glass. Medium-bodied, ripe, and sweet with no hard edges, this superb value can be enjoyed over the next 4-6 years (90 points in WA).
- 2005 Langmeil Three Gardens ($20): The 2006 Shiraz (44%) – Grenache (35%) – Mourvedre (21%) “Three Gardens” was aged for 12 months in seasoned French and American oak. It offers a lovely perfume of cedar, tobacco, plums, and black cherry. Medium-bodied, the wines has ample spicy blue and black fruit flavors but narrows slightly in the finish. Drink it over the next 6-8 years (90 points in WA).
- 2005 Craneford Quartet ($35): The proprietary Bordeaux blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc as well as 8% Shiraz, the 2005 Quartet, is a brilliantly crafted effort revealing flamboyant aromatics of lavender, black currants, cedar, licorice, and roasted meats. It is a juicy, medium to full-bodied red with loads of sweet tannin, glycerin, and length. Drink it over the next 10-12 years (91 points in WA).
- 2005 Elderton Nurioopta/Barossa Valley Shiraz ($35): The 2005 Shiraz “Nurioopta” is purple/black with a brooding nose of smoke, tar, licorice, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. Full-bodied and voluptuous, it is dense and concentrated, with gobs of spicy black fruit flavors. It will evolve for 3-5 years and drink well through 2020 (94 points in WA).
- 2006 John Duval Plexus ($50): The 2006 vintage of Plexus is an intricately structured blend comprised of rich and vibrant fruit from Barossa Valley’s old, low yielding vines. A true reflection of Barossa’s soil and climate, Plexus expresses a fragrant, aromatic nose of red fruits and subtle oak. On the palate, red and dark, black fruit combine with layers of spice. Intense and elegant, Plexus demonstrates ripe, fine tannins, an impressive concentration, and a seamless balance. Traditional winemaking practices and 15 months in French oak barriques will ensure the age worthiness of this fourth release. Enjoy the 2006 vintage now or cellar it for 8-10 years to garner additional complexity (Unrated, yet past vintages have averaged in the low to mid-90s).
- 2006 John Duval Entity ($50): The 2006 vintage of Entity is an intricately structured wine comprised of rich and vibrant Shiraz fruit. Entity displays youthful blackberry, blueberry and savory French oak aromas. Entity’s palate is rich and generous, with concentrated dark fruit and fine, ripe tannins. The finish is elegant and carries through with excellent fruit intensity. Traditional winemaking practices and 17 months in French oak barriques will ensure the age worthiness of this third release. Enjoy the 2006 vintage now or cellar it for 10 years to garner additional complexity (Unrated, yet past vintages have averaged in the low to mid-90s).
- 2002 Elderton Ode to Lorraine ($51): An impressive blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Shiraz, and 7% Merlot, the 2002 Ode to Lorraine possesses an extroverted bouquet of red and black fruits, pepper, licorice, cedar, and sweet, toasty new oak. Full-bodied, heady, and rich, it appears to have been made for the quintessential hedonist. It should continue to drink well for 6-7 years (92 points in WA).
- 2006 Mitolo G.A.M ($55): The 2006 Shiraz “G.A.M.” (the initials of the Mitolo children) was aged in French and American oak, 60% new. Opaque purple in color, it has an aromatic array of roasted coffee, violets, lavender, pepper, Asian spices, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. In the mouth it is velvety-textured, deep, concentrated, opulent, and altogether hedonistic. It will evolve for 5-7 years and drink well through 2026 (95 points in WA).
- 2006 Ben Glaetzer Anaperenna ($70): The 2006 Shiraz (75%) – Cabernet Sauvignon (25%) “Anaperenna” is the wine formerly known as Godolphin, the change resulting from a trademark dispute. It was aged for 15 months in new French and American oak. Opaque purple, it offers a sensational bouquet of pain grille, scorched earth, meat, game, blueberry, and black currants. This is followed by a surprisingly elegant yet powerful, structured wine with gobs of spicy fruit, ripe tannins, and a plush texture. The long, 60-second finish is succulent and sweet. Give this classy wine 4-6 years in the cellar and enjoy it through 2030. Hats off to Ben Glaetzer for producing an extraordinary portfolio (94 to 97 points in WA).
- 2006 Ben Glaetzer Amon-Ra ($90): Amon-Ra has become one of Australia’s icon wines. Made from 100% Shiraz sourced from vineyards ranging in age from 80-120 years and with microscopic yields of 0.5 tons per acre, the 2006 Amon-Ra was aged for 15 months in new French and American oak. The wine is a thick, glass-coating, purple/black in color. The aromas cover a wide range of scents including smoke, vanilla, pepper, Asian spices, coconut, espresso, blueberry, and chocolate. Thick, rich, layered, and complete, this monumental wine offers extraordinary intensity and length. It requires 10-15 years to fully evolve and should easily last through 2040. Hats off to Ben Glaetzer for producing an extraordinary portfolio (97 to 100 points in WA).
- 2004 Elderton Command ($100): The 2004 Shiraz “Command” comes from a single block of 104-year-old vines. It was aged in 100% new oak puncheons (400 liter barrels). Opaque purple-colored, this Shiraz has fabulous aromatics of smoke, melted tar, licorice, espresso, game, and blueberry compote. Layered but tight, this full-bodied wine is thick, rich, and totally hedonistic. The finish lasts for 60 seconds. However, be warned. This monumental Shiraz needs 10-15 years to fully unfold. It will provide pleasure through 2035 (98 points in WA).

There you have it … lots of Aussie winners needing homes.

Cheers,

Michael