Wine: Cheap reds whet tailgater's appetite
Most of the foods you might choose to serve at your tailgating party, such a burgers, hot dogs or sausages, might go better with a red wine than a white.
Last week, we recommended whites under $12 you might use at a tailgate party. When I provide the wine, I take both red and white.
For the red, I look for something easy to drink, affordable (under $12 a bottle) and something that will go with a variety of foods.
I asked my wine-tasting group to compare a half dozen such wines. Any of the six would work well, but we did pick some favorites. The winner, from Argentina, may not be readily available, but there are other good choices. The results are below.
» 2008 Baqueano Patagonia Cabernet/Malbec, $11.99.
We discovered scents of candied cherries, cranberries, milk chocolate, wintergreen, pine resin and a slight medicinal smell. On the tongue, we tasted wintergreen, gingersnap-like flavors and minerals. This was a nice blend of two red grapes. It ranked first in our tasting.
» 2007 Snap Dragon California Red, $10.99.
The aroma included dark scents of spiced plums, coffee, leather, dark chocolate and sweet tobacco. In the mouth, we tasted everything from the aroma, especially sweet cherries and tobacco. This wine would go great with burgers or sausage. We voted it second.
» 2007 Red Truck California, $8.99.
We found dusty scents of black cherries, saddle leather, baby powder, unsweetened chocolate and a hint of cassis. This red blend was dusty and dry, round and smooth, soft and fruity sweet. The Red Truck tied for third.
» 2008 Toscolo Chianti, $9.99.
First aroma impressions reminded us of Worcestershire Sauce or A-1 Steak Sauce, along with strawberries and sweet tomatoes. The palate was different from the aroma, with bright cherry flavors, great acidity and a really dry nature. The Toscolo would be superb with grilled burgers, chicken or brats. It tied for third.
» 2006 Hayes Ranch California Cabernet Sauvignon, $9.99.
The nose suggested black cherries, cooked strawberries, caramelized apples and cranberries. We tasted sour and Bing cherries and other dark fruit. This wine was not too heavy on the palate. The Hayes Ranch was juicy from beginning to end.
» 2007 Louis Jadot Beaujolais, $11.99.
This French wine had a musky bouquet of strawberries and salt-water taffy, along with a pleasant weedy scent. Light on the tongue, it had higher acidity than most on this group. For those who like a fruitier wine, this would be a nice choice.
SURFING THE WINE SHELVES:
» 2005 Wild Horse Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon, $20.
This wine yielded scents of caramelized sugar and blackberries. It also had distinct aromas of smoke which did not transfer to the palate. Instead we tasted cherries, clove, blackberries and alcohol.
» 2008 Concannon Central Coast Sauvignon Blanc, $10.
Gentle aromas of lime and citrus led to tastes of lemon and lime rind followed by melon rind and grassy herbs on the finish. It had clean, steely acids that would pair well with herb-roasted chicken.
» 2006 Chateau St. Jean Sonoma County Chardonnay, $14.
Smells of vanilla and toast with a hint of jasmine met the nose. Toast, roasted almonds, honey and pineapple showed on the palate. It had a nice, clean finish.
» 2005 Grgich Hills Estate Napa Valley Merlot, $42.
Open this wine early to allow the aromas of eucalyptus and herbs to present themselves. In the mouth fruity black plum notes and earthy black tea flavors were somewhat overshadowed by a lot of alcohol. It also had plenty of tannins, making it a good choice to serve with red meat.
» NV Lamberti Rose Spumante, $15.
Aromas of Maraschino cherries and sweet fruits made their way through enough bubbles to take a bubble bath of this sparkling Italian rose. It tasted of bananas and pineapple with some floral notes.
» 2007 Graham Beck Brut Rose, $17.99.
Aromas of lemon, raspberries and apples greeted the nose from this South African sparkling wine. In the mouth, it had bright and refreshing flavors of raspberries and strawberries with a bit of lemony spritz on the finish.