2011 Rose des Karantes

I have been a big fan of this producer since I met the winemaker at a tasting event in Grand Rapids in 2008, and at that time I bought a half case of the 2005 Diamant des Karantes, which to this day is one of the best examples of the Languedoc wine, aged for 18 months in new French oak and vinified in the tradition of La Clape, what a wonderful wine that truly brings out the terroir of the south of France.

Well, tonight we have a bottle of the 2011 Rose des Karantes, a wonderful blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, of my!  Well for those of you familiar, the GSM blend is foundation for many of the most wines from the south of France, including the wonderful Châteauneuf-du-Pape!  Well needless to say, wince I love the traditional red GSM blends, why wouldn't I like a rose?  After all, when it's 100 degrees outside, I could use a nice chilled wine with my meal!


The wine itself has a wonderful nose of fresh strawberry, green apple and melon.  The taste is clean and refreshing, with citrus tones and ripe summer fruit, particularly notes of strawberry and some kiwi, but it is not sweet!  Oh no!  This wine is very dry and crisp, the perfect accompaniment to any hot summer evening, like the one I'm enduring, I mean enjoying tonight!  For this wine, I easily rate it an 8, it is by far my favorite rose of the few I've tasted, and for a sale price of $9 how can you go wrong?


Speaking of accompaniments, tonight I am enjoying this wine with a meal inspired by my friends from Schuler Farms, who were at G.B. Russo's today where I bought this wine.  I love the folks at Schuler Farms as they always have the most wonderful produce that inspires the best in my cooking.  Thanks to them, I got some fresh dill today, and that inspired me to make some lemon dill cream sauce, but what could I put that on?  How about some alder planked salmon?  And maybe add some Klondike fingerling potatoes and some steamed purple asparagus and there you have it, the perfect meal to accompany this wonderful rose!

2008 Liberty School Cuvee

Ok, I will fully admit now that I've been a total and complete slacker on my wine blog, part of it's due to not drinking a whole lot of interesting wines lately, but also the fact that I have been super busy.  With what, I'm not so sure, since I can't recall accomplishing much over the last few weeks!

Tonight I am reviewing the Liberty School 2008 Cuvee, an interesting blend that I've never tried before.  In the past I've tried Liberty School's cabernet sauvignon and was a pretty big fan, a nice bold cab at an awesome price.  So I happened upon this wine at my regular rounds to G. B. Russo's in Grand Rapids and it was on sale for something like $10, which is sure to get me to try new things.  Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed.

The Liberty School Cuvee comes from Paso Robles, on the central coast of California, and a place where some of the most wonderful Zinfandels come.  But this wine is not a Zin, but an up and coming blend (which apparently is becoming a big deal in the central coast, who knew?).  This wine is a blend of Syrah, Petite Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre and Viognier, making it so close to the fine blends from the south of France that I have so come to adore.

This wine is a lighter style that is really perfect for summer, or a summery 80-degree afternoon in early October!  It's light in color, but crystal clear, with a nose that exhibits clear fruit aromas of cherry, blackberry and currant and a hint of smokiness.  The taste was lighter and fruit forward, but nonetheless complex.  With flavors of cherry, strawberry and plum combined with hints of black pepper and anise, I was surprised by the soft tannins and resulting smooth dry finish reminiscent of the fine blends of the Rhone Valley.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, particularly given the $10 price tag!  Try some today with a grilled salmon steak or perhaps a nice pork tenderloin with some freshly grilled summer squash!

Ahh...the power of good korma with the 2005 Chateau des Karantes Diamont Couteaux de Languedoc la Clape

Get it?  Karma and Korma?  Anyhow tonight I am making myself some easy Indian food for dinner, using some convenient Trader Joe's Korma simmer sauce with some chicken and veggies!  For those of you who fear Indian food (like me!), simmer sauces make it so easy and delicious.  Tonight I had some nice boneless Tyson chicken breasts, which I diced and sauteed in some cooking oil, then added some diced red and yellow peppers, some sliced carrots and some mini bella mushrooms cut in half or quarters depending on the size.  Then as the veggies softened, I added a can of petite peas and two jars of simmer sauce (if there is not Trader Joe's near you, Patak's and others make similar simmer sauces in supermarkets across the US).  Steam some basmati rice and ladle the chicken korma over the rice for a delicious and exotic dinner at home!

Oh, and of course, what sort of wine shall we have with our Indian cuisine?  You know I only like reds, and tonight I have a nice 2005 Chateau des Karantes Diamont Couteaux de Languedoc la Clape!  A very nice big, bold red from the south of France, bold flavor and a velvety feel, perfect for sipping in the evening or enjoying with a hearty meal. When I first met the winemaker and tried it at a tasting in 2008, you could almost feel the warm breeze off the Mediterranean as you sipped! The wine is somewhat expensive, but well worth it from an underappreciated region!  It is a blend of a third Syrah, Grenache and Mouvedre, so a classic of the south of France!  When paired with the exotic flavor of Indian food, with the rich spice and exotic flavors, a perfect combination as the warmth of the Mediterranean meets the warmth of the Indian subcontinent! 

Try a little something different and exotic from your own kitchen tonight, enjoy!