Complement your meal with these fruits of the vine:
Reds Herencia Remondo Rioja, Spain, 1996, $12. A Crianza
(aged) blend of 4 grape varieties — Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo. Nuances of raspberries and vanilla. Argyle Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon, 1998, $12. Ripe and generous with blackberry, blueberry and plum flavors. Drink now through 2008.
Whites Domaine de l’Orangerie Chardonnay, France, 1999, $8. Fresh, clean, with nice complexity. An excellent value. Bigi Orvietto Classico, Italy, 1998, $9. Lemony, bright and crisp.
Sparkling Wines Cava Marques de Gelida Brut, Spain, $10. Remarkably clean, ripe, with lemony-orange-rind scents; an excellent value. Zardetto Brut Prosecco NV, Italy, $11. Thick, full-bodied sparkler with a bountiful honeydew character and fresh finish.
Dessert Wines DeNoix’s Petite Liqueur de Chataigne, France, 1/2 bottle $19. This chestnut liqueur has a light, sweet flavor heightened with a touch of vanilla. Vin Santo Bianco dell’Empolese, Italy, 1994, $28. Vin Santos have a strong alcohol content, making them an excellent sipping wine at the end of the meal. Bonny Doon Vineyard “Vin de Glaciere” Muscat, Calif., 1998, $16. Exceptionally concentrated, wildly aromatic dessert wine. Spicy pear, apricot and citrus flavors.
