We profile each type of wine we carry, and we help you make sense of what it will taste like, what it goes well with and whether you might enjoy it. Each wine is described in these ways:
- Level of sweetness. From really sweet to very dry.
- Amount of body. Wines range from light body that is very easy to drink, through full body with lots of flavor, to very full body with intense flavors that can be a challenge!
- Taste. Each variety has a one-word (ok, sometimes a two-word) summary. We chose words like floral, fresh, crisp, rich, luscious, fruity, smooth, and spicy to describe the wide range of flavors in wines. I even found little clip art pictures to help you imagine the flavors before you buy. (Ever try to find a picture that describes a taste? It ain't easy!)
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| Pinot Noir is fruity, but not sweet |
Pinot Noir and Beaujolais:
- Dry (not sweet)
- Medium body, flavorful
- Tastes "Fruity" like fresh fruit
- Drink with turkey, fish, ham, roast beef
- Serve lightly chilled
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| Merlot feels smooth to taste |
- Dry (not sweet)
- Full body, very flavorful
- Tastes "Smooth, Soft Fruit" like it feels soft in your mouth
- Drink with roasts and beef dishes
- Serve at room temperature
Cabernet Sauvignon:
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| Cabernet feels kind of square in your mouth |
- Dry (not sweet at all)
- Full body, very flavorful
- Tastes "Herbal, Square" (not smooth!)
- Drink with roasts and beef dishes
- Serve at room temperature
- Very dry (not at all sweet)
- Full body, intensely flavorful
- Tastes "Big, Intense" with a powerful flavor
- Drink with spicy dishes, peppery foods, spiced or marinated steak
- Serve at room temperature
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| Shiraz and Zinfandel feel BIG and INTENSE in your mouth. |
- Very dry (not at all sweet)
- Full body, intensely flavorful
- Tastes "Big, Intense" with a powerful flavor
- Drink with spicy dishes, peppery foods, spiced or marinated steak
- Serve at room temperature
Red Wine Blends like Shiraz/Cabernet, and Cab/Merlot:
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| The big red blends feel softer than the Shiraz or Zinfandel alone. |
- Dry (not sweet)
- Full body, very flavorful
- Tastes "Softer" like it feels soft in your mouth, compared to Shiraz or Zinfandel
- Drink with pizza, rich foods, peppery dishes, steak
- Serve at room temperature
Next time, we'll talk about the burgundies, chillable red, red rose and other red wines.
