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What to drink on July 4th

2/7/2013

 
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What's on my shelves from good ole USA
July 4th. The day Americans celebrate their liberation from the Brits, and any excuse for a wine theme at Purple Teeth. So, whether you're hosting a barbecue and looking for robust reds, or simply hoping to sip a cool white in the evening, the wines of the USA have plenty to offer.

Of course California is the "go to" state with around 98% of American wine exports hailing from there, but there are notable wines on offer from other states such as Oregon, gaining a world class reputation for Pinot Noir and Virginia, where whites like Viognier come into their own.

Here's my selection of what to enjoy...

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I could not resist opening this Frog's Leap Zinfandel tonight as a warm up to accompany a lovely beef chilli.

It's a very spicy wine which is full flavoured enough to stand up to such hearty fare, yet surprisingly only 13.5% abv - pretty light for a Zin.  It's £22.99 from Alfred the Grape, so a little indulgent for a midweek treat, but with good tannin structure this should keep well on the wine rack for a few years and result in something even more awesome.  Just a pity I had no will power!

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The Bonterra Organic Chardonnay is currently on offer at £8.99 at Waitrose reduced from normal price of £11.99 
I've reviewed this back in November so I'll keep it simple.  This is probably the Chardonnay I buy the most frequently.  As well as the benefit of being organic, it's got just the right amount of oak to provide body and vanilla without overpowering the fruit.
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I first drunk this back in March alongside a Napa Viognier both of which were rather fabulous.  I had to go back to Tanners to get another bottle despite it's heft >£20 price tag.  Oregon Pinot Noirs can be hard to get hold of but they are well worth seeking out if you get the chance.  Hopefully Purple Teeth will get the chance to visit Oregon in the next year for a more detailed look.  As I mention in the March blog post, the Napa Viognier was also rather incredible, but sadly Alfred the Grape have sold out.
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Ridge Lytton Springs is a Zinfandel blend with Petite Sirah as the next biggest grape component.  I've got a bottle of 2007 on my wine rack.  You'll be lucky to find anything older than 2009 and the 2010 is available for £26 a bottle from The Wine Society.  I'll be saving mine for a special occasion and will continue to look out for this on restaurant wine lists when I'm with hard to please friends.  Ridge makes some exceptional wines.  One day I hope to sample some of their even more pricey wines!
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Finally, for those lovers of huge wine, I suggest a Napa Frog's Leap Cabernet Sauvignon.  This is definitely the signature grape of Napa and I first tasted this one as part of my WSET advanced course.  Mr Purple Teeth loves a good Cabernet and I hope he will like this one as much as I did when we get round to opening it.  It's full of blackcurrant and comes in around £30 a bottle - about the same as a decent Bordeaux, but to my mind, far more rewarding.

Jo link
2/7/2013 01:55:44 pm

I have made a mental note to drink more american wine. My very first blog post was about a bottle I bought in Sonoma back in 2007: http://perfectfridaywine.com/2012/10/19/forgotten-wine/ (hope you don't mind the plug, but thought you might like it)

Heather Harrison
2/7/2013 02:01:53 pm

How funny, the Zin I'm drinking tonight is from Rutherford. Been a while since I had a merlot though :-)
Now a wine fridge may be just what I need if only to stop myself from opening £23 bottles on a Tuesday!


Comments are closed.

    Purple Teeth

    My name's Heather and I've been enjoying wine for over 20 years. I'm the 2013 winner of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust Rhone prize for oustanding students at the advanced level.
    My mission is to share my passion for the myriad varieties of fermented grape juice, hopefully inspiring you to try something new, or to host  a Purple Teeth wine party in your own home or business.

    My blog mainly features wines you should be able to find on your local high street or online, and occasionally, I will review restaurants, travel and other forms of alcohol, since my qualification covers spirits too.  I believe it's important to enjoy the calories and the cash we spend on alcohol, and I hope my guidance can help you reduce the risk of making a bad buy.
      
    When I'm not drinking wine, you'll find me on the dance floor where West Coast Swing is my dance of choice. Socialising with the friends I've made there from all over the world has also brought me new adventures in alcohol!  And just in case you're interested, I also write a blog called Confidence Within.  You'll find it at heatherharrison.weebly.com


    Remember to enjoy wine sensibly...
    For a woman, 2-3 units per day is the recommended maximum allowance.  This equates to around one standard "pub measure" glass of wine:
    175ml of 13% alcohol wine is 2.3 units (and a scary 140 calories).  
    You'll find all the facts you need about safe, moderate drinking at the www.Drinkaware.co.uk site. 
    Purple Teeth supports safe drinking. Never drive or operate machinery after drinking alcohol.

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