Nothing funny about feldspar

Nerello del Bastardo, Vino da Tavola Rosso
Italian Dry Red Table Wine
Vintage 2001

Trader Joe’s, $7

The label reads:

Nerello del Bastardo can only be described as a Super Piedmontese wine invented purely for fun. When winemakers in Piemonte wish to make a Barolo or Barbaresco, the laws governing these wines only allow a certain quantity after aging (minimum 4 years) to be classified Barolo or Barbaresco D.O.C.G.

I Superi (the excess) can only be sold as a table wine even though the wines are practically the same. Master winemark; Marco Dal Blanco and Italian Wine Guru; Dr. Zuliani Flavo camw up with this blend af aged wines adding just a touch of something secret.

This creation is a breakthrough in winemaking. One might say this is the illegitimate child of Barolo and Barbaresco hence the name; Nerello del Bastardo meaning; The Bastards Nerello. [No, really?--Ed.]

This full-bodied red wine is a perfect compiment to game, red meat past a rich cheese or even on its own.

We got this on spec because it was next to the Barolo (decent for $15 — must’ve been an awful year). We’ve always liked Nebbiolo, but it is really hard to find here — it’s very fragile.

It’s dry, not particularly soft, moderately complex. Not particularly fruity. We served it with Chile Verde, because that’s what we had, and it managed to stand up to the spice. It’s much nicer now that I’m having it on it’s own, however. All in all, an excellent value if you’ve got a TJ’s near you.

Orthoclase: A
Plagioclase: A

Last night, a dreary cold rainy Sunday, we opened a bottle of

“Sexto”
Terra Alta
Denominació D’Origen
2004 Spain

($8.24 on sale)

The label says it’s made of Grenache 33%, Carignan 30%, Tempranillo 20%, Lledoner Pelut Noir 6%, Carbernet Sauvignon 6%, Syrah 5%.

What the heck is “Lledoner Pelut Noir”? Apparently, it’s a “cousin of grenache” and it only appears in this wine.

I found this to be very tasty. Full, rich, and very, very tannic. Really. Like eating a sponge — my mouth went dry immediately. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It was a really nice wine to drink on a dreary day. It would probably be too much on a warm day like today, but yesterday we drank it all up yum.

I would try to get it again — assuming it wasn’t on special because it’s being discontinued…

Plagioclase thought it was more sour than dry, but I noticed he had his fair share.

Orthoclase: A
Plagioclase: (undetermined)

Jewel Collection
Petite Syrah
2004
Lodi

Alcohol 13.5% by vol.

($9.99)

The label says:

This classic petite syrah is deep and dark in color with aromas of plum that are accented with concentrated flavors of blueberry and black cherry. This intense berry fruit combines with notes of vanilla and spice from oak aging.

My tastebuds say:

If you want an unobtrusive red wine, this may just be the ticket. It was totally lost behind salmon cakes and matzo-ball soup, and didn’t even overpower pancakes and bacon.

I probably won’t get this one again, unless I forget

Orthoclase: C-
Plagioclase: C. “It wasn’t bad in anyway I could name. Might be ok for summer.”

In the summertime, Plagioclase and I trade in our kick-in-the-head reds for European rosés (no white zinfandel please). European rosés tend to be much drier than their American counterparts, though nice dry American rosés can be had, they are not as easy to find as decent Loire-valley rosés or tonight’s taste: a Spanish rosé.

We drank a 2005 Marqués de Cáceres “Dry Rose Wine” from the Rioja region. There is a little holographic label stating that it is D.O.C. ($6.99)

Here’s the marketing text on the label:

Marqués de Cáceres dry rosé is an exceptional Rioja, full of fruit, yet still light on the palate. The finest grape varieties from the best Rioja vinyards give it a perfect balance…. It is especially recommended with hors d’oeuvres, paella, seafood and chicken.

Unlike many rosés (dry or not-dry), this one didn’t feel like it was full of granulated sugar, nor did it feel like I was drinking pickle juice. It did have a nice balance for tart and sweet (it is really hard to find a really dry rosé in my normal price range), but I didn’t think of it as especially fruity, nor particularly complex. I liked it quite a bit, though. Plagioclase says, “It’s a perfectly good thirst-quencher wine.” I agree.

I won’t shy away from getting this one again.

Plagioclase: B
Orthoclase: B

Tonight’s (and last night’s) offering: 2003 Capestrano Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (D.O.C.), an Italian red from Tuscany. ($7.99)

The label doesn’t have any marketing text, but I expected a basic “Italian Red,” much like you get at an American-Italian restaurants. I was hoping not, though, because I find most “house reds” to be to sour.

What I got was a very nice, smooth red wine that held up to pizza (as expected), as well as a stinky-cheese dinner the second night. On opening, it smelled of raisins with just a little bread — so leaving it open for a few minutes really helped to smooth out the alcoholic overtones.

Another one we’ll probably try to buy more of.

Plagioclase’s rating: A
Orthoclase’s rating: A