I do not consider myself wine snob per se, but it is a fact that my palate was not formed by convenience store coolers, but by wine hand-selected by master sommeliers. Clearly some treasures exist in the vast gap between the two and in these tough economic times, I confess that the price tag of my “table wine” is enough to make me think twice about my hasty dismissal of affordably priced wines.
Smoking Loon Lineup
At a recent gathering of the Women’s Wine Council, I was delighted to find Smoking Loon Wines dispelled my notion that affordable wines lack refinement and nuance. Priced at just $7 to $9 a bottle, Smoking Loon over delivers in every category. Besides, I simply cannot resist a winery that encourages me to “Be Your Own Loon.” Have they been reading my journal?
Although I am a “Red” girl at heart, more precisely a “Big Red” girl – think Cabs and Zins – the Smoking Loon 2008 Chardonnay and 2009 Pinot Noir were my favorites of the evening and earned a spot on my (now more reasonable) grocery list.
The 2008 Chardonnay was notably lush on the nose with tropical aromas of papaya and tangerine, with just a hint of sandalwood from French oak barrels. Not excessively oaked (hallelujah), the nose gave way to juicy apple, mango and citrus zest on the palate. The zesty notes leant just the right bright moment to each sip and had us reaching for Laura Plant’s Hominy Green Chile Casserole as a possible pairing. Wow! The spicy flavors of the casserole made the wine pop and the bright fruit flavors in the wine offered a cooling contrast. Check out the recipe HERE in Linda Kissam’s recipe column for the Examiner.
Hominy Casserole
The 2009 Pinot Noir was everything I love about a high-end Pinot without the flashy price tag. Light garnet color and aromas of raspberries, strawberries and cranberries lured us in. This fruit-driven Pinot delivered on its promise with red fruit and subtle earthiness on the palate. Dried sour cherries from CJ Olson’s in Sunnyvale, CA brought out big cherry flavors and it made the dried figs taste more figgie (that is totally a word). Although this wine clearly likes fruit, it also paired quite nicely with Sue Richter’s Mushroom Risotto with Chicken. The subtle earth in each made for an ideal match.
Cheers from the Women’s Wine Council
Regardless of the price point, food and wine at their best simply serve to bring us together. Smoking Loon Wines brought us to the table, and, as always, the Women’s Wine Council served up the food and friendship – a perfect pairing.
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