Pintia Toro Add
MezzaCorona Pinot Noir Add
Gallo 'Stefani' Cabernet Sauvignon Add
Wines are recomendations only and may not be carried by this store.

Pintia Toro

Attributes:
Producer:

Bodegas y Vinedos Pintia
Region:

Toro, Spain
Varietal:

Dry Red Table Wine
Bottle Size:

750 ML

2005: Tanzer Rating: 92

Aromas:

floral
Complexity:

deep, rich
Flavors:

blackberry, blueberry, dark berries, licorice, oak, spices, vanilla
Fruit:

sweet

2004: Tanzer Rating: 93
Complexity:

opulent
Compliments:

delicious
Flavors:

berry, candied, cherry, dark berries, dark chocolate, kirsch, mineral, mocha, oak, spices, vanilla, violet
Fruit:

sweet

2004: Tanzer Rating: 92

Texture:

strong

2003: Tanzer Rating: 90
Body:

solid
Complexity:

deep
Flavors:

berry, bitter, cassis, cherry, chocolate, coffee, espresso, herbs, leather, oak, plum, spice
Fruit:

ripe, sweet

2003: WineSpectator Rating: 90
Flavors:

blackberry, coffee, game, mineral, plum
Fruit:

concentrated
Texture:

chunky, strong

2003: WineAdvocate Rating: 92
Compliments:

powerful
Flavors:

oak, toast, vanilla
Fruit:

austere

2003: WineAdvocate Rating: 95

2002: WineAdvocate Rating: 94
Acidity:

fat
Compliments:

powerful
Flavors:

blackberries, cedar, earth, espresso

Food Matches:
Cheese: Aged Cheddar, Goat Cheese, Sharp Cheddar, Soft Pungent Cheese
Fruits & Nuts: Almonds, Dates, Figs & Raisins, Hazelnuts
Herbs & Spices: Cilantro, Coriander, Cinnamon, Cumin, Saffron
Poultry & Eggs: Coq Au Vin, Roast Chicken with Herbs, Roast Turkey
Red Meat: Barbeque Pulled-Pork or Ribs, Beef Stew, Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Ham, Spicy Sausage, Wild Game - Elk, Caribou, Moose, Venison
Vegetables: Artichokes, Beans, Green, Beans, White, Carrots, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Gazpacho, Mushrooms, Potatoes, Roasted Sweet Peppers, Swiss chard or Kale, Tomato, Vegetable Gratin or Stew, White Aspargus with Mustard Vinagrette

Toro:

This district just northwest of Madrid produces powerful reds.

MezzaCorona Pinot Noir

Attributes:
Producer:

MezzaCorona
Region:

Vigneti delle Dolomiti, Italy
Varietal:

Pinot Noir
Bottle Size:

750 ML

2005: Tastings Rating: 86
Acidity:

tangy, tart

Food Matches:
Cheese: Mozzarella
Pasta & Grains: (Grilled) Tofu, Pasta with Creamy Mushroom Sauces
Poultry & Eggs: Chicken or Turkey, Game Birds
Red Meat: Curried Beef, Curried Pork, Hamburgers, Pork w/Fruit Sauce, Salami or Sausage, Sausage, Veal w/Fruit Sauce
Sauces: Red Wine Sauce
Vegetables: Vegetable Gratin or Stew

Pinot Noir:

(pee noh nwahr)—A tricky grape to grow, Pinot Noir makes some of the best wines in the world. The prototype wine is red Burgundy from France but Oregon, California, New Zealand, and parts of Australia also produce good Pinot Noir. The wine is lighter in color than Cabernet or Merlot with relatively high alcohol, medium-to-high acidity, and medium-to-low tannin. Its flavors and aromas can be very fruity or earthy and woodsy, depending on how it is grown. It is rarely blended with other grapes.

Gallo 'Stefani' Cabernet Sauvignon

Attributes:
Producer:

Gallo Sonoma Winery
Region:

Dry Creek Valley, United States
Varietal:

Cabernet Sauvignon
Bottle Size:

750 ML

1998: WineSpectator Rating: 88
Flavors:

black cherry, cedar, currant, dill, oak, smoky

1998: WineEnthusiast Rating: 91
Acidity:

soft
Complexity:

layered, rich
Compliments:

delicious
Flavors:

oak

1997: WineSpectator Rating: 88
Complexity:

rich
Flavors:

anise, blackberry, currant, mineral, plum, sage, spicy

1997: WineEnthusiast Rating: 91
Flavors:

cherry, licorice, toasty oak

1997: WineAdvocate Rating: 87
Body:

medium to full-bodied
Complexity:

rustic
Flavors:

licorice, plum, spicy
Fruit:

juicy, ripe

1997: Tastings Rating: 87
Body:

full-bodied
Complexity:

rich, supple
Flavors:

black fruit, oak
Fruit:

good concentration

1996: WineSpectator Rating: 88
Body:

solid
Complexity:

rich
Flavors:

anise, cedar, mint, plum
Fruit:

ripe

1996: WineAdvocate Rating: 88
Body:

medium to full-bodied
Flavors:

blackberry, chocolate, jammy, licorice, oak, plum, smoky

Food Matches:
Cheese: Blue Cheese, Brie, Provolone
Fish or Shellfish: Sea Bass
Herbs & Spices: Basil, Mint, Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme
Poultry & Eggs: Game Birds
Red Meat: Barbeque Pulled-Pork or Ribs, Game, Kidney, Roast Beef, Sausage, Variety Meats or Organ Meats, Veal Carpaccio
Sauces: Red Wine Sauce
Vegetables: Potatoes, Roasted Mixed Vegetables

Cabernet Sauvignon:

(cab er nay saw vee nyon)—This highly adaptable grape grows almost anywhere it is relatively warm, but the best wines come from the Burgundy region of France (where it is a noble variety), California, and Australia. It became famous through the red wines of the Médoc district of Bordeaux and is now grown in Washington, southern France, Italy, Australia, South Africa, Chile, and Argentina. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes make wines that are high in tannin and medium- to full-bodied. Usually identified as having black currant or cassis flavors, the grape can also possess vegetal tones when the grapes are less than ideally ripe. The best wines are rich and firm with great depth, and are often aged for fifteen years or more. Because it is highly tannic, Cabernet Sauvignon is often blended with other less-tannic grapes such as Merlot.

Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella Salad

Rated

Ingredients

4 slices tomato
4 leaves fresh basil
4 slices low-fat mozzarella
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Preparation

Place the tomatoes on a plate. Top with the basil leaves and mozzarella and season with black pepper.

Yield

Makes 4 servings