Still thinking outside the box?
Several weeks ago I posted a blog entry titled “Think Outside the box”. The gist of this post was to encourage readers to think outside the box and periodically divert from wines they’re accustomed to and seek out something altogether different. In the wine world, variety is the spice of life, and trying different wines can help develop your wine knowledge as well as your senses of sight, smell, and taste. It’s also a lot of fun, so why not experience new regions, producers, varieties, etc. Following the blog post, a number of tweeps on Twitter responded with their most recent “outside the box” wine experiences. The wines ranged from Garganega and Graciano, to Arneis and Marsanne. One local tweep, who enjoys Virginia Cabernet Franc, visited Wegmans and tried and enjoyed a bottle of Chinon for the first time. Chinon is a village in the Loire Valley (France) that focuses on red wine made from the Cabernet Franc grape variety, so if you enjoy Virginia or New York Cabernet Franc, give Chinon a try.
The Kenneth Volk Vineyards 2008 Négrette
I’m still thinking outside the box and recently had another “think outside the box” wine experience. This experience was with a red wine variety called Négrette. Négrette is primarily grown in Southwest France and is one of the oldest varieties in the world. The Négrette we poured comes from Kenneth Volk Vineyards in California, where limited amounts of the variety are grown. I didn’t know what to expect from this wine, but from first sniff to the finish, it was very pleasing. The wine displayed a deep ruby red color with alluring aromas of wild berries, vibrant red fruit overtones, spice, and a delicate touch of perfume. The palate is smooth and balanced with silky tannins, good food-friendly acidity and a very nice medium-length fruity finish. The Kenneth Volk Vineyard’s 2008 Négrette retails for $16.99, has a real cork enclosure, and clocks in at 13.7% ABV. I found this bottle of goodness at UnWined Gourmet Wine and Cigars (Belle View location) in Alexandria, Virginia. This wine sips nicely on its own and will pair well with a wide variety of foods ranging from pizza and burgers to light Italian fare. Have you had any recent “think outside the box” wine experiences? Do tell!
Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come!
CLICK HERE to visit Kent Volk Vineyard's website.
CLICK HERE to follow Kent Volk Vineyards on Twitter.
