29 October 2007

2006 Alexander Valley Vineyards Dry Rosé of Sangiovese

A fun little wine I've tried recently is the 2006 Alexander Valley Vineyards Dry Rosé of Sangiovese, Sonoma County, California. Beautiful salmon color. Tart and crisp with a watermelon Jolly Rancher aroma. Strawberry flavors follow. Aside from the slight fizzy mouthfeel, it's almost a perfect dry rosé.

Typically I've enjoyed rosés in the spring and summer, but the growing popularity bodes well for them being stocked year-round. And they're a great match for seafood, salads, and simple afternoon sandwiches regardless of the weather outside.

I served it with some black bean and corn quesadillas, topped with a healthy dash of peri-peri sauce. It's supposed to be hot, made from Africa's hottest peppers, but I think you could safely rub this stuff in an open wound without feeling any burn. You could probably splash it on a toddler's bowl of Cheerios and he wouldn't break a sweat. That's not to say that I don't like it--it's got a great red pepper flavor, a hint of sweetness, and just a little kick. Plus, proceeds from the sale of this sauce go to rhinoceros conservation efforts. It's available at The Fresh Market. It goes well on top of chili con carne, grilled fish, and especially roast pork.

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