2014 Peachy Canyon Westside Zinfandel

Year: 2014

Producer: Peachy Canyon, Westside

Region: Paso Robles, Central Coast, California

Grape(s): Zinfandel

Alcohol: 14.8%

Body: Medium-Full

Dry/Sweet: Dry

Tasting Notes: Strawberry, raspberry, cherry, vanilla, white pepper, baking spice

Pairings: Venison, brisket, Mongolian Beef, Korean Barbecue (Kalbi), aged cheeses

Price (approximately): $14

My Musings:

A classic expression of Zinfandel at a bargain price. A wonderful, deep ruby color gave way to expressive aromas of ripe red fruit (strawberry, cherry and raspberry) with sweet tobacco, vanilla and baking spice. White pepper notes lingered in the nose. On the palate, ripe fruit of strawberry, blackberry and raspberry jam dominate in a fruit-forward wine, but accented nicely with sweet tobacco, vanilla and spice (allspice, nutmeg, clove).  When the bottle was first opened, white pepper was rather dominant on the nose and palate, but this mellowed over time. Medium, soft tannins provided structure and the persistent spice pleasantly balanced the palate.

This would pair excellently with most red meat, especially venison or a brisket. Grilled preparations in particular would accentuate the smoky tobacco and spice. For pasta, red sauce would hold up nicely, perhaps a lasagna or meat lover's pizza with sausage. For Asian inspiration, look to Korean barbecue (Kalbi!), Mongolian Beef, and the classic Chinese stir fry of beef and broccoli.

Cheers!

2014 Hānaialiʻi Merlot

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Year: 2014

Producer: Smith Devereux

Region: St. Helena, Napa Valley, California

Grape(s): Merlot

Alcohol: 15.1%

Body: Medium-Full

Dry/Sweet: Dry

Tasting Notes: Black cherry, plum, chocolate, vanilla, oak

Pairings: Dark chocolate, grilled tri-tip, rack of lamb or barbecue ribs, Kalbi, aged cheeses

Price (approximately): $18

My Musings:

Named after Amy Hānaialiʻi Gilliom, one of my favorite local Hawaiian artists. She also produced one of my favorite Christmas albums, so be sure to pick that up in time for the holidays.

Wow, this Merlot is true to Napa form: big, bold, alcoholic and drinks like a Cabernet Sauvignon. Wonderful spicy and oaked flavors of black cherry, currant, blueberry, chocolate and vanilla. Velvety on the palate and a great, lingering finish. Fits the American palate brilliantly, and is great paired with grilled items (lamb, beef or ribs), Korean Kalbi, aged and salty cheeses (such as aged cheddar and Parmigiano-Regianno), or with some dark chocolate and Christmas music (stash this one away for a few months, you will thank me then). Often priced at $30, this may get lost in a sea of Napa Merlot, but at Costco's value price of $17.99, it is definitely worth adding one (or two, or three) to the cart.

The bottle design is a part of Hānaialiʻi. Literally. I will let her explain:

“The tattoo is an interesting part of my life ... This one, the one that is on my bottles, I did after my father passed. This is a growth tattoo, and you don’t normally put a growth tattoo on the left side of your body, mostly you put them on the right side. But I wanted it to look like a jewelry piece. This is the pika design, the octopus design ... It’s all significant, my father is here. It signifies growth, like the octopus going into different areas with the tentacles, like me with my music.”

Cheers!

2014 San Simeon Estate Reserve Viognier

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Year: 2014

Producer: San Simeon

Region: Paso Robles, California

Grape(s): Viognier

Alcohol: 15.1d%

Body: Medium

Dry/Sweet: Sweet

Tasting Notes: Apricot, ripe peach, lime

Pairings: Seared scallops with butter, fried rice, baked pie (apple, pear or peach)

Price (approximately): $15

My Musings:

Often California Viognier can be a bit too oaked for my taste, but this particular wine was a really pleasant surprise. Wonderful aromatics of apricot and ripe peach fill the nose, with soft accents of citrus (lime peel) and floral elements. On the palate, the stone fruit is balanced nicely with citrus and green apple. Slightly oaked, the nose and palate is met with toasty, spicy elements that complement rather than dominate.

Viognier is a classic pairing with scallops and lobster, particularly if there is as cream sauce involved. It is also one of my standard wines to pair with fried rice, which often carries complicated flavor profiles. Last night I enjoyed with baked pear pie. The baked crust and autumn fruit pair wonderfully with the stone fruit flavors, toasted oak elements, and round body of the Viognier.

Cheers!

2016 A to Z Riesling

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Year: 2016

Producer: A to Z

Region: Rogue Valley, Oregon

Grape(s): Riesling

Alcohol: 12%

Body: Medium

Dry/Sweet: Semi-Sweet

Tasting Notes: Spring flowers, peach, nectarine, lychee, lemon

Pairings: Indian, Moroccan, summer picnics.

Price (approximately): $14

My Musings:

I love Riesling. So much so that I have consecutive Costco Corner postings on the subject. Apologies for the duplicity.

Wonderfully aromatic wine with notes of spring flowers, white peach, nectarine, subtle lychee, honeysuckle and lemon. The lychee becomes more prominent on the palate, with ripe stone fruit, citrus and a pleasant, honeyed sweetness.

There is tremendous versatility and pairing potential. Great for dishes that are spicy and complex, such as Indian, Asian, Moroccan. My latest pairing was Indian dishes of chana masala, eggplant tikka masala and saag. The sweetness of the wine paired wonderfully with the spice and flavor profiles of the cuisine. Also reminiscent of spring and summer picnics with youthful, fresh elements. Toss in the picnic basket or just sip on a warm afternoon.

A portion of the sale from each bottle supports bee health research. So drink, be merry, and simultaneously save the bees!

Cheers!

2015 Charles Smith Kung Fu Girl Riesling

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Year: 2015

Producer: Charles Smith Winery

Region: Columbia Valley, Washington

Grape(s): Riesling

Alcohol: 12%

Body: Medium

Dry/Sweet: Sweet

Tasting Notes: Lychee, white peach, lime

Pairings: Thai, Vietnamese and Cambodian Cuisine, Mauritian grilled lobster, blackened swordfish with mango chutney

Price (approximately): $10

My Musings:

I love Riesling. Complex, wonderful fruit flavors, balanced acidity, aging potential. There is much to appreciate. With the ever expanding and experimenting New World, you can also find a decent bottle at a good price outside Alsace or Mosel.

Enter Charles Smith's Kung Fu Girl, produced in Columbia Valley, Washington. This Riesling is wonderfully aromatic with notes of lychee, white peach, citrus lime and some floral accents. Oh, and did I mention lychee? Sweet but balanced with good acidity and minerality. Wine Spectator made this a Top 100 wine of 2016. Not sure I would have gone that far, but it is a good, sweet Riesling and, at $10, worth picking up. You won't be blown away by its complexity or depth, but hey, you also didn't just spend $40 (unless you bought 4 bottles).

One of my favorite aspects of Riesling? Pairing potential. Pair with Southeast Asian cuisines that contain tropical and citrus elements, such as Thai, Vietnamese, Burmese and Cambodian. The sweetness of the wine will balance heat intensity characteristic of these regions, while lychee notes will complement tropical and citrus elements commonly contained in the dishes, such as lime and coconut. Other great pairings would include Mauritian grilled lobster and blackened swordfish with mango chutney.

Ganbei!