Jane's Weekly Wines from the Atlanta Wine School PRINT AND GO VERSION June 8th, 2006 Dessert Wines for Summer Fruits *************************************************************************************** RETAILERS WHO SUPPORT THIS COLUMN AND HAVE HAD THIS LIST OF WINES IN ADVANCE. Corner Wine & Art, 1402 N. Highland Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30306 -- 404-875-8810 Home Town Wine & Spirits, 4856 Hog Mountain Rd, Flowery Branch, GA --770-965-6058 The Colors of Wine, 2355 Cumberland Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30339 -- 770-432-2828 Sigman Bottle Shop, 425 Sigman Road - Conyers, GA 30012 -- 770-929-8797 Shiraz, 675 Pulaski Street, Suite 400, Athens, GA 30601 -- 706-208-0010 Windward Beverage, 12915 Hwy 9, Alpharetta, GA 30004 -- 678-566-3301 IS YOUR WINE SHOP NOT LISTED HERE? HAVE THEM CALL 770-668-0435 *************************************************************************************** Hogue Cellars Late Harvest White Riesling 2005 Columbia Valley, WA Medium-bodied moderately sweet wine; pale straw. Gentle aromas of fresh peach, apricot and Asian pear apple. Crisp sweet yellow stone fruit in mid palate, with a touch of the taste of honey. Very even-keeled, with nice acidity keeping the wine balanced. Residual sugar 4.75 %; total acidity .7; low ph (3.15), and moderate alcohol (12%). Finish could be a mite longer. Very good value. Grape: Riesling. Serve moderately chilled, about 55 degrees, in tall tulip-shaped glasses. Keep sugar at bay in any dessert pairing. Panna cottta flavored topped with crushed fresh yellow or white stone fruits (or a mix) (see p. 46, The Wine Lover's Dessert Cookbook); grtilled peaches stuffed with mascarpone; baked peaches stuffed with crushed buttered coconut macaroons. Winery also suggests fruit sorbets, poached pears (more of a fall fruit but still available now), and apple crisp. We'd also take a chance on it with a salad of fruits and grilled chicken, with a gentle citrus-based vinaigrette. See "Chilled Stone Fruit Compote," p. 39, The Wine Lover's Dessert Cookbook. Great "around the pool" summer sipper. Atlanta Wholesale Wine $11 87 ************************************************************************************* Nederburg Special Late Harvest 2004 W.O. Western Cape (Stellenbosch and Paarl), South Africa Medium-bodied slightly sweet white wine; medium golden straw. Aromas of golden apple, lychee nut and quince; complex flavors reveal quince, lychee nut, brown spice, baked apple custard, pear. Very long, crisp, clean finish. Not at all cloying, but instead crisp and sweet, with a long, clean finish. Beautifully balanced and refreshing thanks to good acidity. Alc.14.5%;. Residual Sugar: 6.3%; Total Acidity: 6.6%; Moderate ph: 3.45. Grapes: Chenin Blanc; Gewürztraminer and Moscadel (a/k/a Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains. Awesome value. Moderately chilled, about 55 degrees, in tall tulip-shaped glasses. Lots of uses: orange-almond tarts; coconut raspberry bars; cheesecake with raspberry; apple-almond tarts; pineapple cobbler or upside down cake; creamy bleu cheeses (Combozola) with sautéed pears or apples; puddings baked with fruit; polenta cake or pound cake with fruit topping; fruit-topped custards. In the fall, use dried fruits. Also use with mildly seasoned slightly spicy fare: roast chicken stuffed with cous cous and dried yellow fruits. General Wholesale $11 90 ************************************************************************************* Fonthill Winery Valle Mistello Verdelho 2005 McLaren Vale, Australia Medium-bodied moderately sweet white wine; pale straw. Aromas of honey, a touch of almond extract, white fruit (white melon, Asian pear apple); flavors focus on honey-caressed white fruits. Lovely lingering finish. Light texture, with an alluring softness. Grape type: Verdelho. Serve moderately chilled, about 55 degrees, in small tulip-shaped glasses. Deserts should not be too sweet. Peaches poached in slightly sweetened water and sweet white wine, with a touch of cinnamon and cardamom; fresh stone fruits with mascarpone; panna cotta covered with fresh yellow and white stone fruits (a mix); cream-based fruit tart with peaches or kiwi; not-too-sweet pineapple cobbler; coconut bars with fruit filling (peach or apple); apple crisp. Grapefields $19/500 ml. 89 ************************************************************************************* Cantina Saint Evasio Moscato d'Asti D.O.C.G. NV Piedmont, Italy Light-bodied slightly sweet, fruit-focused sparkling white wine; medium pale straw. Aromatic with fresh, zingy fruit aromas, combining peach and apricot, with fresh vibrant stone fruit flavors. Clean, sweet but not cloying. Long, crisp, refreshing finish. Light as a sigh on the palate. Low alcohol, 4.5 Superior value. A gorgeous example of the genre. Grape type: Moscato Bianco, a/k/a Muscat Canelli. Serve chilled, about 45-50 degrees, in tall flutes. Nearly universally useful: Cheese cake with light suggestion of raspberry; Whole Foods' blueberry blackberry bar; raspberry coconut bar (DeKalb Farmers Market); peach tart or pie (just watch the sugar); poached apricots or peaches; strawberry shortcake; panna cotta with fresh crushed fruit of any sort; creamy mild blue cheeses (Combozola or gorgonzola dolce) with fruit. Unique World Wines $14 92 ************************************************************************************* Gruet Demi-Sec NV New Mexico Light-bodied slightly sweet sparkling wine; coppery straw color. Gentle aromas of red fruits, with a delightful toasty yeastiness. Flavors tilt to tart apple (Granny Smith), pear and other white fruits, with delicious acidity, brisk crispness, and persistent small bead. Creamy texture. Mouthwatering. Finish goes on like a fishin' line. Grapes: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Residual Sugar is 2.5%, low for a demi-sec. Alc. 12%; Total Acidity .7. Sixteen-year-old vines are planted above 4,000 feet. Serve very cold, at about 45-50 degrees, in tall flutes. Lots of uses: Mexican-style pineapple upside down cake (see Mexican Everyday, WW Norton & Co., 2005)--other fruits may be used equally successfully; cream- or custard-based tarts with blueberries, blackberries and raspberries; orange-and-almond tarts; guava; fruit-topped cheesecake; awesome with Whole Foods' blueberry blackberry cheesecake butter bars (acidity cuts through the richness); creamy blue cheeses (Combozola) with sautéed apples and pears. Probably not sweet enough for a typical wedding cake. I'd also bet on it with mildly spicy Asian seafood and chicken dishes. And go head. Drop that strawberry into it. Quality Wine & Spirits $18 91 ************************************************************************************* Marenco Pineto Brachetto d'Acqui 2004 Piedmont, Italy Light-bodied slightly sweet spumante red wine; medium dark ruby red with pink highlights. Aromas of roses and fresh crushed red fruits, especially strawberry and red raspberry. Flavors hit all the berry notes, from blackberry to strawberry to raspberryAmple acidity, sweet but pure fruit flavors, not cloying, and a slight sprits to revive the palate. Low alcohol, 5.5%, making it a great summer sipper. Grape is also Brachetto-pronounced (Brah -Ket-oh). Serve chilled, at 55 degrees, in tall flutes. A berry plate with creamy bleu cheese (Gorgonzola dolce or Combozola); black or red raspberry tarts on a cream base; ricotta cheesecake with berries; strawberry (or other berry) shortcake; blueberry crisp or cobbler (made with real fruit, not canned); cherry-covered brownies; strawberries or cherries dipped in dark chocolate. Maybe with mole poblano? Quality Wine & Spirits $20 92