syrah

Normally when I reach for a bottle of red wine, I grab a Zinfandel or Pinot Noir. Only recently, while at a Syrah tasting, did I wonder why I've been neglecting Syrah. At the tasting, there were plenty of wonderful Syrahs, however, Tallulah's 2004 offering ($28) was the most memorable.

From the Sonoma Coast, this Syrah has a dark plum color with delicious aromas of cherry and pepper. It's an elegant, soft, full-bodied wine — that is neither too bold nor too fruity — with an intense finish. I would pair it with a cheese plate or a rich pasta sausage casserole. The nostalgic label and moderate price range, make it a great gift wine.

Over the weekend I had the lovely opportunity to taste many of California's Rhone-style wines at the Rhone Rangers wine tasting. I'm not too familar with the Paso Robles wine-making region, so it was exciting to taste what they had to offer. While I enjoyed sipping both the Syrah or Grenache, I found that the Rosés better complemented the sunny Spring day.

One that stood out was the Arroyo Robles 2006 Syrah Rosé. Normally I don't love Rosé, but this wine was smooth and uncomplicated. It has a lovely, rosy pink color with a fresh fruity aroma and it tasted like Summer in a glass. At $21 a bottle, it is affordable enough to purchase now and enjoy when the weather actually warms up.

A few weeks ago, a wonderful chap named Ben stopped by the office to drop off a few bottles of wine for me to sample. It was hot and I was disappointed with his offerings of all red wines. However, when I tasted the Project 3000 Syrah on a cold, San Francisco night, I was instantly delighted. With its deep purple hues and fresh pepper aromas, this wine was both bold and subtle at the same time. The second glass was better than the first, as the bottle had time to breathe. I paired it with a delicious dinner salad filled with grilled chicken and fragrant lemon basil, but this would work wonderfully with grilled meats and gourmet sausages.

Lately, I've been craving blueberries so much, I had to find a dessert recipe that would highlight their pure tart flavor. I came across many cake, pudding, and pie recipes, but was in the mood for something different, something unusual that would shock my guests. I had an Eureka moment when I found this recipe for blueberries in a black pepper-Syrah syrup. While the name sounds sophisticated and complicated, this dessert is surprisingly simple to put together. It's a heavenly finish to an elegant summer dinner and pairs decadently with a chocolate truffle and a glass of bubbly, so get the recipe, just read more

This weekend I had the opportunity to taste a lovely sparkling red wine. Even though I knew it was a sparkling Shiraz, I couldn't help but think it would be light colored, like a rosé. However, when I poured Vixen by Fox Creek Wines into my glass, it was definitely a full-bodied red color. The effervescence caused by the bubbles added just the right bit of fizz, and it definitely rounded out the subtle black cherry flavor. Overall, it was very smooth and fruity, but had just enough bubbly that it ended up dancing on your tongue. Sparkling reds are still uncommon in the US, but are increasing in popularity in Australia and I'm sure it's only a matter of time before it becomes commonplace on our shores. Available for $19.99.