Bold

Bold and Satisfying wines

Bold and Satisfying is the term I use for our most full bodied and robust red wines. Wines with full flavor, full body, and full tannins. Cabernet is the name everyone recognizes and is by far the most popular example. But, what is life without a little variety. There are numerous reds out there, that aren’t cabernet, that fit the bill. For example, merlot and zinfandel are often considered a step down from cabernet in intensity, but can easily stand in place of a big cab if produced using very ripe grapes from a nice hot sunny climate and given a full regimen of oak aging. This type of wine pairs well with steaks, stews, lamb, game (the walking kind, not the flying kind) or really any meat (or cheese) with a big bold flavor on its own. We offer wines from Priorat, or the Douro Valley in Spain. Aglianico, Barolo or Barbaresco from Italy. Bordeaux from France or bordeaux-style wines from California or Australia. All are bold and all will satisfy your taste buds.

At the ABC wine and liquor stores on the east side of town, I have arranged all of our wines into flavor based categories regardless of what grape the wine is made of or where it came from. So you can select from anything near your ‘go to’ cabernet and be assured you are getting a wine that will compliment your ribeye every bit as well. Now I realize that I have just slammed you with a bunch of ‘wine guy’ words, let me pause for a second to explain.

Full flavor is all about intensity. That slight pinch in the back of your jaw as you take that first bite of a great steak. The effect of any food or wine that makes you salivate intently the second it touches your mouth. Call this the mouth watering characteristic. To be technical, ripeness of fruit and final acidity level play a big role here. Age has an effect too; intensity dropping off as a wine ages.

Full bodied is one of those ‘wine guy’ terms that really throws people. I make this assumption based on the looks I often get from guests when I use that term. Allow me to explain. Body is the textural quality of wine. Mouth feel is what the food network people calls it.

Full tannin is a little easier to quantify. Tannin is actually most of the solid matter suspended in your wine glass. It comes from grape skins and gets leeched out of oak barrels. It is an antioxidant which is where the health benefits of wine come from. Tannin is the substance that allows wine to age. Tannin is great at cutting through fat. This increases the intensity of fatty meat or sauces.

Look for something bold and satisfying for your next dinner party. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone a bit and try a new wine. Some of life’s joys come from surprises.

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