Moscato might be too sweet for most palates but when you pair it with grilled foods, watch out. Whether it’s asparagus spears, peaches or salmon, the result is something you are not likely to forget. (I wouldn’t play this pairing game with red meat, however.) Moscato’s heavy weight, paired with its fruit-forward stone-fruit notes, is the perfect match. Almost always priced low (under $10 a bottle), it’s also an ideal wine to stock up on or buy by the case for a party.
In celebration of the three-day Memorial Day weekend, here are some Moscatos to try. The most expensive? $8.25.
2010 Redtree Moscato (California, $8) contains apricot and nectarine notes and is brighter than most Moscato styles with a crisp lemon accent on the finish. (www.redtreewine.com)
2010 Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Winery Moscato (California, $8.25) is effervescent yet balanced with white-peach notes that effortlessly slip into a creamy lemon finish. (www.robertmondavi.com)
2010 Yellowtail Moscato (South Eastern Australia, $6.99), with effervescent orange, peach and passionfruit notes, cascades into a light, delicate finish. Say what you will about this mass-produced Aussie wine but the Moscato is quite delicious.
WINE DEAL OF THE WEEK
A few Saturdays ago I made a mistake. While I showed up at Ristorante Bartolotta in Wauwatosa’s quaint village right at 8 p.m. for my reservation I was actually a half-hour early for a wine deal. Oops. Starting at 8:30 p.m. – still early for dinner, no? – on Friday and Saturday nights bottles of wine are reduced to half off. This is only on selections normally costing $100 or less, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with less-than-stellar options. You could order a bottle of Prosecco and toast to a hard week. Or, explore Italian white-grape varietals from offbeat regions. Or stick with your favorite red wines from Italy. The choice is up to you, and when you’re faced with the fabulous dilemma of pairing decadent dishes from this intimate Northern Italian restaurant – like wood-roasted salmon with Ligurian Taggiasca olive sauce, or hand-cut filet of beef with Umbrian black truffle sauce – with the wine list, that’s when the fun begins.
WINE EVENT OF THE WEEK
It’s a good Friday for a drive and maybe the road will lead to Hartland? Bin One Eleven – part wine bar, part wine shop – is king at hosting wine events with a twist, and tomorrow it’s all about live music to the tune of sipping wine. As Frank B croons his way into your heart and soul, with soft jazz music, sample a glass of wine from a 35-selection list. Pair that with a cheese plate (three variations, $10 each) and (a light) dinner is served.
WINE OF THE WEEK
In the spirit of Memorial Day weekend, I figured you might be on the hunt for a crisp white wine to wile the days away on your patio or in your back yard. 2010 Four Vines Winery Naked Chardonnay (Santa Barbara County, California, $12) is that wine. Fermentation in stainless steel imparts a mineral-rich palate that doesn’t detract from the wonderful sourcing of fruit done by this winery. (One of their Zinfandels is made with fruit from the famous Dusi Vineyard.) White-peach, pear and apple notes drive this Chardonnay into a finish that’s far from acidic and buttery, laced with lemon curd. The price on this wine is hardly a match for its quality: In other words, it tastes like a $30-$40 Chardonnay. (www.fourvines.com)
