Thoughtful Beer & Wine List

Requests come often to suggest this restaurant or that restaurant to Vine & Grape readers, or to The Greenville Wine Meetup's 800-plus members.

Those are fair requests. Running a restaurant is tough and competitive. All of us want to succeed.

A new restaurant is opening tonight, however, that has earned a mention—and they didn't even ask for it. First, I'm a seafood fan. Second (and most of all for Vine & Grape readers), we need to support restaurants that take the time to put real thought and care into their beer and wine selections. This venue scores on both counts.

So, if you are out-and-about in Greenville, SC, tonight, stop in at The Plaid Pelican on South Pleasantburg (in the same shopping center as Fresh Market). I was a fan of Chef Paul's fish dishes when his restaurant was located in an out-of-the-way spot on Stallings Road. I'm an even bigger fan now that I have seen the beer & wine list at the new location. Too seldom do we see interesting, thoughtfully-constructed lists, offering multiple opportunities to try something new; to learn and to grow.

Ah, wine lovers! We think we have it tough when we are trying to decide among six gorgeous Sauvignon Blancs (more on that in a post yet to come, on the recent Greenville Wine Meetup "shoot out" spanning France, California, and New Zealand).

But life is tougher still, if you've laid claim to the term "Mommy" in your wine branding.  Click here, to see the New York Times article.

One caution:  the New York Times allows access to the online version if you are a print subscriber (Susan and I do subscribe).  If you have problems with the link, above, perhaps that's the reason.  But hope you'll have no problems!

We Don't Always Drink Wine!

OK, friends! We don't always drink wine. While Susan, her sister, and I were in Sedona, AZ, last February, we encountered some of the nicest tequilas we've tasted. Beyond that, this firm's margarita mix is better than the made-from-scratch recipe Susan & I developed.

Tres Agaves is the brand (NOM 1109 for those who follow tequila), but sadly, it's not yet available in South Carolina. But if you are traveling to Virginia—or better still, out West—don't miss the chance to try their product. The line-up in the photo shows the silver, reposada, and añejo (right to left), followed by the margarita mix and a bottle of agave nectar, in the event you'd like to craft your own mix!

Awesome Aussie Foursome

Susan & I have wonderful Australian friends, Bill & Wendy Scholtes.

Susan worked with Bill, before he and Wendy returned to Australia. The last visit they made to the U.S., Bill brought along some of his favorite wines for all of us to enjoy.

We so much enjoyed being together, I only made limited tasting notes. But these wines were so good, I had to post them.

An additional reason is because, for those who know me well, you know my palate generally favors Europe—with much (but not all) of California and Australia being too ripe and too alcoholic. So, either the friendship was so warm with Bill & Wendy (it was!) I didn't notice the alcohol, or these were good examples of the balance that can be achieved even at 14.5%.

Of particular note was the 2006 St. Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. The texture was extraordinary and the fresh eucalyptus in the nose was the most distinct I've experienced. These wines reminded me of why I've loved my visits to Australia.  Checking WineSearcher.com, it appears the St. Hugo and the Centenary Hill are available in the U.S. For the two others, you'll have to join us on Qantas soon!

Real Wine

Readers of Vine & Grape and members of The Greenville Wine Meetup know how often we've talked about old world vs. new world; non-interventionist winegrowing vs. interventionist winemaking; balance & elegance vs. bold & alcoholic. Readers know I'm not without an opinion in this debate—as none of us should be.

So, it's a pleasure to present a bottle we can call "real wine." Yves Cuilleron consistent produces balanced, intelligent wines of intellectual depth and complexity.

I was seeking a bottle of his Bassenon recently. When I unable to find it, I tried the 2002 Terres Sombres ("dark grounds"). Fabulous!  Dried cranberry, red currant, desiccated cherry, with wonderfully balanced fruit, acidity, alcohol (12.5%, thank you!), and gorgeously silky tannins.  Long, multi-layered finish with rosemary and white pepper beginning at 15-20 seconds.

If you haven't read Questions of Taste: The Philosophy of Wine, buy it to help form wine opinions of your own.  The goal is not for you agree with me. The objective is for all of us to know why we love the wines we love.