Leslie Cramer has worked in the fine wine industry for twenty- something years. Known in some circles as "The Wine Wizardess," she'll cover topics from wine education, to trends o' the day and how to properly propose a toast, to health benefits of the grape.
Let's face it- Dads are hard to buy for, am I right? Another tie? Hohummm... A speedboat or flat screen TV? Not in this girl's budget. Ever consider wine?
Indulge your dad's inner wine-lover this year with a bold red wine that will put to shame his usual barbeque accompaniement of beer or iced tea.
No hard, fast rules apply. But in most guy's eyes you can keep the light-bodied, flowery whites. Maybe it's the testosterone or just a macho thing but most men lean towards heavier reds. Keep 'em big, keep 'em red. Bring on the tannins. A barrel fermented chardonnay may work, or a port or sherry but stay on the safe side and stick with a vin rouge.
Top picks for the Dad in your life:
Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel- Dr. Kent Rosenblum (he's a Veterinarian) makes zinfandels from all across California's wine growing regions, from Napa, to Sonoma, to the Alexander Valley. None of his 2005 vintages were rated below a 90 by the Wine Advocate. 'Jammy' is an over-worked term when it comes to zins, but the Doctor's are just that. Rich, full-bodied, with black cherry, raspberry, and licorice.
Simi Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley "Landslide," 2001- Grapes are grown in numerous soil types and micro-climates created by an ancient, volcanic landslide from nearby Mount St. Helena. Big tannins, but not overpowering.
French White Burgundies- (Sorry, I had to throw some whites in there..) All made from Chardonnay grapes. From (French) Chardonnays, to [the REAL] Chablis, (not the shloky-jugs from California that have destryed the name), to Pouilly Fuisse, to Meursaults, to Puligny and Chassangne Montrachets. You absolutely cannot go wrong with a French white burg. You can pick one up, from the lower end to through-the-roof, from $10. to a couple hundred bucks a pop.
Rosemount Shiraz, 2004- I chose this wine for it's value as much as its quality, you should be able to find this wine for under $10. This is a classic Australian shiraz, with plum, chocolate, and licorice. Silky tannins with peppery aromas.
Seppelt Sparkling Red- This is my off-beat choice, but one worth throwing in. Sparkling burgundies to many Americans conjurs images of "Cold Duck," the sweet sparkler we drank back in the day when trying to appear a little more sophisticated, a step up from Boones Farm. But not so much when it comes to the Australian version. We're talking quality wine here, made in the same method as Champagne- bottle fermented, aged on the lees, and left to develop in the bottle. But the Shiraz (Syrah) grape is used, not the Chardonnay nor the Pinot Noir. A little tannin, a little acid, with mushrooms, spice, and sweet fruit on both the nose and across the palate.
These picks have a range from around $9.00 to $200. so pick what's right for you budget, and your Dad. Raise a glass to him on his day, and pop a cork while you're at it. Skol!
Check out two of my favorite sites greatcorks.com and wineloverspage.com
Author: Leslie Cramer
Leslie Cramer is a National Examiner. You can see Leslie's articles on Leslie's Home Page.
Leslie Cramer has worked in the fine wine industry for twenty- something years. Known in some circles as "The Wine Wizardess," she'll cover topics from wine education, to trends o' the day and how to properly propose a toast, to health benefits of the grape.
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