2000 Lidakis Archanes

Despite the fact that wine has been made in Greece for thousands of years, Greek wine still is hard to find in the U.S. and many wine lovers know little about it. Yet this is a tragedy as there are many excellent Greek wines that people would love to drink. It is worth taking a little extra effort to seek out Greek wines.

An excellent resource on Greek wines is Greek Wine Makers, a site created by Nick Cobb. I have met Nick numerous times at wine tastings and he is passionate about wine. His site is filled with tons of information on Greek wines and is well worth checking out.

Nick also works for a wine distributor, Vineyard Road, and they import some interesting Greek wines. This evening, I opened a bottle from their portfolio, the 2000 Lidakis Archanes.

The 2000 Lidakis Archanes ($18) is a blend of 75% Kotsifali and 25% Mandilaria, both indigenous Greek varietals. You can find more information on these varietals here. The winemaker, Vangelis Lidakis, is from the Archanes region of Crete. This wine is named after that region. The wine is also biodynamic and a low production wine, only 300 cases.

The Archanes is a deep red color, though a couple steps from being inky dark. The nose gives you some dried cherry smells which also comes out on the palate as well. The palate gives much dried fruit, cherry and cranberry. But there are some intriguing other flavors as well, an elusive taste that is hard to pinpoint. But which is very pleasing. It has some nice acidity, mild tannins and a lingering finish. It is well balanced and has a fair amount of complexity.

For this price, and such a low production wine, this is an excellent value. I have had this wine before, and I think it has continued to improve with age. I strongly recommend this as a Drink & Buy.

I paired this wine tonight with a garlic sausage and egg noodles, in a garlic/oil sauce. I think the pairing went well and the wine stood up to the strong flavors as well as the pork. This is a wine that would stand up to wild game as well. I could even picture this as a good BBQ wine.

Summer Winter in Burlington

Thanks to a Chowhounds post for bringing my attention to a new restaurant opening in Burlington.

Summer Winter, a new American restaurant, will open in October at the Burlington Marriot. It will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant is a culinary collaboration between chefs Mark Gaier and Clark Frasier. Gaier and Fraiser are the chefs/owners of the renowned Arrows Restaurant located in Ogunquit, Maine. The menu is said to be a seasonal, modern American menu with fresh ingredients grown on-site.

With the involvement of Gaier and Fraser, this new restaurant could be excellent. I will post more details when they become available.

Stoneham Sun: Recommended Wine Stores

This week's column of "A Passionate Foodie" can be found in the September 5 issue of the Stoneham Sun newspaper. It may also be in newspapers in Reading, Medford, Saugus and Winchester.

I write a weekly column that concentrates on reviews of local restaurants though it may also touch on a few other food and wine topics. This new column was published today and is available online as well. This column contains five wine store recommendations as well as information about some special wine tastings events that are scheduled for the near future.

I am adding some supplementary information here about some of the wine stores mentioned in my article.

As for OurGlass Wine Co., you can read more about the recent Italian red wine class and the Unusual White wine class. They are also having a special Sicilian wine dinner on September 22, at 6:30pm. Call them to make reservations.

Sicilian Wine Dinner Menu:
Antipasti: Gamberetti ala Finocchio (Pan Roasted Shrimp with Fresh Fennel and Golden Raisins over spiced Polenta)
Primo: Crostini con Fungi (Seasoned bread topped with Tallegio cheese and sautéed wile mushrooms with fried leeks)
Contorno: Insalata di Sareno (Romaine and Baby Arugula tossed in a lemon vinaigrette with Pancetta crisps and Asiago croutons)
Secondi: Pollo Saltimboca ala Marsala (Chicken Breast stuffed with Prosciutto, Fontina and Sage served with Gnocchi al Forno)
Dolce: Zabaglione with Fresh Berries
Courses will be paired with some exceptional Sicilian wines, like Nero D'Avola and Grillo. Cost is $75 per person which inc. tax and gratuity.

As for The Spirited Gourmet, their new Belmont store, which will open this fall, will be located at 448 Common Street, Belmont.

You might also be interested in my articles, Choosing a Wine Store and Recommended Wine Stores.

If you have any questions or comments about my column, feel free to add them here. Next week, my column will be another restaurant review.

Dine with passion!

2006 Vina Abad Godello

I love finding interesting, indigenous varietals. One such varietal is Godello. In the Valdeoarras region of Spain, Godello seems to be making a comeback. It is actually a very old varietal, extending back to the ancient Romans. Valdeoarras is part of Galicia, in northwest Spain, like Rias Baixas. But, Valdeorras is about 100 miles inland and its terrain is mountainous.

Godello makes fruity white wines though with definite minerality and acidity. A good Godello can improve for about five years from its vintage date. Godello is usually paired with shellfish. Godello also grows in Portugal where it is called Gouveio.

The 2006 Vina Abad Godello ($14) is made by Bodegas Cooperativa Jesus Nazareno, S.C.G. It is 100% Godello and has 12.5% alcohol content. It is a golden yellow in color with a bit of a citrus nose. It has a full mouthfeel, with clear apricot and apple flavors on the palate. There is a mild minerality and crisp acidity. This is a very pleasing wine and I enjoyed it very much.

I drank this wine with some Rappie Pie, which has chicken, pork and potatoes. This is different from pairing it with seafood but I do think it went well. Rappie Pie is a mellower dish, not really spicy. I think Godello would pair well with many chicken dishes as well.

A Drink & Buy. A good value at this price, especially if you want to try something new and different.

Midwest Grill: More Details

As I reported before, the Midwest Grill of Inman Square in Cambridge is opening a branch in Saugus. I have now learned that it is likely to open up later this month. It will not be located on Rt.1. It is supposed to be located behind the "Cove" though I am unsure exactly where that is located. A search of Saugus did not turn up any restaurants named the "Cove." I'll keep seeking additional information. And I look forward to their opening.