|
|
|
|
By Chuck Hill
Wines of the Week
Chuck's Wine Reviews
|
Wines of the Week
Wines for Oysters And Mussels Seafood lovers rejoice! It is a great season for half shell oysters and a fine time for steamed mussels – both paired with delightful white wines. Shuck some fresh, delicious Kumamoto oysters (www.taylorshellfish.com) while your partner is preparing steamed mussels (sauté some garlic, add minced parsley and white wine, then steam the mussels, covered, for about 8 minutes). Slice up some rustic bread and pull some corks! You’ll find that lighter wines will
better complement the delicate half shell oysters, while those wines
with more body and richer flavors will show more affinity with the
mussels. Here are some choices to start your research – oyster wines
followed by mussel wines! Adelsheim Vineyard 2006 CH The folks at Adelsheim craft this beauty with mostly stainless steel fermentation and just a hint of barrel contact in neutral cooperage. Look for aromas of spicy pear, honey, white peach and mineral leading to a palate of pear, citrus and mineral flavors. Great with oysters!
Aromas of fresh grass, mineral,
lemon and grapefruit
Some online wine pundits criticize this wine as being simple and light. While they are wrong about “simple,” the wine is light – a delicious pairing with half shell oysters. Aromas of lemon, lime and baking spice lead to a crisp palate of citrus and melon – a lip smacking choice with Kumamotos. Hogue Cellars This has been one of our “go to” wines for half shell oyster pairing for several years. Pear, citrus and orange zest aromas lead you to flavors of Granny Smith apple, sweet grapefruit and herbs. Widely available and cork-free! Waterbrook Aromas of grassy herbs, citrus and hints of toasty oak intrigue the taster into slurping an oyster, then enjoying the flavors of light tropical fruits, citrus and melon as the wine refreshes the palate for another slurp! Thistle Winery Jon and Laura Jennison offer this crisp and delicious Pinot Blanc, harvested from their vineyard in the Red Hills of Dundee, Oregon. Spicy earth and mineral aromas mingle with citrus and pear notes. The palate of citrus, melon and Bosc pear is a perfect, refreshing match for the briny sea taste of the oyster. Robert Mondavi Private Selection
An intriguing blend of Pinot Gris with small amounts of Gewurz, Sauvignon Blanc and other varietals, this light and refreshing wine is very tasty with half shell oysters. Aromas and flavors of pears, stone fruits, and tropical fruits make for a great match. Mussel Up!
L’Ecole No 41
Amavi Another blockbuster mussel wine from a Walla Walla producer! Look for aromas of melon, pear, citrus and herb leading to a creamy palate of pear and mineral with notes of anise and citrus and bracing acidity.
Chateau Ste. Michelle A combination of barrel and stainless steel fermentation gives this wine great complexity and expands the varietal character. The nose is of fresh grass, mineral and citrus with notes of herbs and earth. The palate is rich with citrus, mineral and light creaminess from the sur lie aging. A quintessential wine for mussels, though those seeking a more substantial oyster wine will find this appealing. Amity Vineyards This rich Pinot Blanc offers aromas of melon, pineapple, baking spice and mineral. The palate is rich with flavors of pear, citrus and tropical fruits making a fine contrast to the hearty flavors of steamed mussels. Cor Cellars This blend of Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer is from a relatively new winery near the town of Lyle in the Columbia Gorge. Nose offers pear, mineral, vanilla and tropical fruits. Palate offers rich flavors of apple, white peach and lychee/rose finish. A very nice wine and complementary to mussels! # # #
All rights reserved.
|
