Around the Wine Blogs

by Andrew Barrow, Posted Nov 16th 2005 @ 5:19PM

champagne bottles Six Blogs.... Six Wine Recommendations and a Spirit. Like food blogs, those dedicated to wine are mushrooming across the internet. Here are five of them - a couple of old favorites, the rest new to me...

Alder at Vinography recommends a sparkling wine from Italy - Il Colle Cuvee 46 Parallelo, Prosecco, Conegliano, Italy. He recommends this as an aperitif "for which it did wonderfully, but it would also be a lovely accompaniment to any sort of raw fish or crudo. If you're not going to just drink it for the heck of it, then bring it to sushi."

Virginie's Wineblog looks at Sancerre in the Loire region of France. The Pascal Jolivet Sancerre 2003 is "deliciously citrussy" and recommends with "creamy cheeses like mozzarella with some olive oil and herbs over the top. For a more traditional pairing, will be nice with fully textured seafood such as a dozen of oysters or hearty fish. Serve chilled". There are some delicious Sauvignons from the Loire available but they seem to be eclipsed by New Zealand all the time.

The Caveman meanwhile is sipping Condrieu and selects Francois Villard Deponcins Condrieu 2004, Rhone, France and Yes Cuilleron Les Chaillets Vielles Vignes, 2004, Rhone, France to write-up. Sadly Condrieu is not cheap; I can't remember the last time I sampled any.

Benito's Wine Reviews covers a sparkling wine - Freixenet Brut de Noirs, NV, Spain. He writes " A decent wine for hanging around the house, listening to music and reading a good book. I know that sounds... less than manly, but a sparkling wine is an ephemeral thing, and I hate to leave an open bottle sitting in the fridge overnight. " Cava, often looked down on as little more than cheap bubbly for mixing with orange juice, does offer some great value wines. Not in the same class as Champagne but worthy of investigation; especially for the party season if the budget won't reach to the 'proper' stuff.

Courtney Cochran writes on Hip Tastes. No wine recently but offers a helping hand in pronouncing Grand Marnier Cuvee de Cent Cinquantenaire.

Finally 750ml has been getting all pornographic with a Meo-Camuzet, Richebourg Grand Cru, 2001, Burgundy, France. "This is pornographic pinot noir. It's heavy, decadent, but nonetheless spry--an upside down pyramid of sensations. The nose justifies cost."

[The image comes from Jerry Cheng's Little Things Photography blog].

Filed Under: On the Blogs, Drink Recipes
Tags: wine