À la Sofia

Ah, Coppola's Sofia Mini! Très chic, oui?!

I've been constantly amazed by the growing accessibility of wine to consumers. While I agree that the de-snobbifying of the seemingly esoteric wine world has been fabulous, I can, on occasion, get a little miffed with unnecessary gizmos that look like they came straight off an infomercial (see also: The Hip Sip... don't even get me started.)

Enter Francis Ford's answer to grocery store ease: single-serve cans [with straws attached!] of California bubbles. Eating pizza and don't want to get those Reidels smudged with finger grease?! Crack open a 6 pack of these bad girls to compliment those PBR tallboys. The mini is perfect for a covert picnic operation ('cause hey---they look like petite Coca Cola cans, and who'd drink bubbly with a straw anyway?!) and certainly an entertaining party novelty. The mini is an easy-sipping 11.5% alcohol from a non-traditional "blanc de blanc" blend of Pinot Blanc, Riesling & Muscat. The big-kid's bottle features the same grape varieties in variant percentages. Now this is a de-glamification I can get behind!

Bubbles in the Night

Odom distribution's second annual bubbles party was brimming with exuberant Champagne fanatics. In a bustling room such as this, it's hard to miss how bubbles can brighten smiles, inspire fantastic food pairings (chocolate covered strawberries!), and bring a positive, sprightly energy to any evening.

We shared delicate classics like Veuve, Mumm, and Perrier Jouet, discovered some unique tastes like the perfumey honied-peach of Gavi by Villa Sparina ($20), and enjoyed previous favorites such as Shingleback's beautiful Black Bubbles ($20), which I plan on employing as a fantastic base in homemade ice cream floats for desert this Thanksgiving!

°.°Bubbles & Port°.°

Aperitif met desert at Lucier for an industry tasting. Here, I meandered with fellow industry friends to giggle over bubblies and mellow out with Port.

We munched on an array of salumis, cheeses, and artisan breads while reviewing wines organized by distributor. Some of my favorite sparklers included:

• the complex and fruity Dom Ste Michel Luxe ($16). I adored its every aspect from the wonderfully integrated bubbles to its affordability and orangy, white chocolate covered strawberry essence.
• Piper Heidsieck Brut Cuvee ($40) excited my palate with bright lemony orange peel and nasturtium flavors.
• the eccentric Louis Perdrier Brut Rosé ($10!) held perfectly lateral off-dry, light bubbles across my tongue while integrating a bright under layer of citrusy raspberry.

Then we began our round of desert wines:

• yum! a light, white raisin, almost inky port: the Nicolas Feuillatte Millenium Cuvee Special ($50).
• the amazingly complicated, unassumingly lightly syruped Osborne 20year aged Port ($42) had a deceptively heavier and richer nose than the 10 year (savory salumi maple for $28), and earned it a ♥ ♥ in my note book.
• Flavor explosion! Another deuce heart extravaganza, this time orange liqueur flavored baby food from Royal Tokaji: Red Label (05/06, $29), and an awesomely effervescent white grapefruit-esque Mad Cuvee (2008, $15!).

Taittinger offered an intriguing rosé, Prestige ($66), which stood out from the rest with a quick crash of bubbles and overt notes of soapy pink flowers as if to beg, "bath time!" A yeasty contrast, the Chas Heidsieck Brut Reserve ($43), elicited images of 1950s school house life with taunting burnt hair and muddy wet dog.

A representative from Armand de Brignac offered a speech and a pour of "what the young kids like to call the Ace of Spades" champagne, whose bottles are hand dipped in metallic coating, and worth around $300. Though the high end bubbles were certainly delicious, smooth, and mushroom-like, the presentation was a little overdone, almost up-tight-turned-kitschy.

Bubbles best pair with food-- as it is able to cut through fat, cool spice on the palate, or brighten any heavy plate-- and special occasions; this event left me beaming with newfound bubbly appreciation. Port, I've found, is best served solo or alongside blue cheeses, walnuts and chocolates; after this tasting, I have a renewed, voracious appetite for such desert wines.

See you next time in the tasting room!

Entrée Not Included

The typical American carb-focused diet is a recipe for lethargy -- too often have I experienced a "food coma" directly after unthinkingly stuffing myself on an over sized, heavy entrée. Thus, I have become enamored with Mediterranean food habits, whose leisurely indulgence in life's simple pleasures is fantastically inspirational. To create and delight in a great charcuterie board can be inventive, romantic, entertaining, and surprising, and it needn't involve hours of preparation or even cooking; plus, the lack of carbohydrates leaves you with a protein buzz, which makes for a nice aphrodisiac! Relaxedly snacking on and discussing meats, cheeses, olives, and fruits, provides light and healthy accompaniment to fantastic friends and conversation. Our recent evening of blind tasting and pairing wine to decadent charcuterie left us fulfilled and energized with a renewed lust for life!

Charcuterie

three cheeses (above)

meats: sweet coppa & prosciutto

greek olives

sliced, sea salted avocado

sliced golden pear

Vin sur la table

Though I am often the bubble skeptic, I was awed by the nutty smoothness of Freixenet Cava brut. Effervescent sparkling wines pair expertly with most foods, and this bottle, when combined with our charcuterie plate, was most definitely drool-worthy. Impeccably paired with: avocado.

To double blind taste my other, I chose a 2006 Finca La Linda Malbec: a smooth Argentinean bottle with a delectably understated, inky backbone. I adore Malbecs, and for its minimal price tag and soft chocolaty notes and medium body, I would buy a case of La Linda to enjoy as an everyday guilty pleasure... not to mention it paired stunningly with every item on our charcuterie menu. Impeccably paired with: sweet coppa wrapped La Leyenda, Spanish sheep's milk cheese.

My blind taste challenge was revealed as Vignamaggio Terre di Prenzano Chianti Classico 2004. Such Italian wines often end up on a lower level of my palatable enjoyment. Despite such preceptions, this Chiantis heavy, earthy, cherry Sangiovese profile exhibited sweet vanilla, and was well structured and mouthwatering.