Wine & Words

Ku De' Ta Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (Casablanca Valley, Chile)  Regular Price $11.50, Feature Price $9.20

The Ku De' Ta ("coup d'etat") line of wines bills itself as "a revolution in wine."  It is the brainchild of 35-year-old Kevin Mehra, who bills himself as a "novice" wine drinker who, like many of his age mates, was baffled by the complexity and scope of the "world of wine."  The new line overthrows the geographical limitations of producers that only make wine in their home area.  Instead, Ku De' Ta "sources from the regions of the world growing the best grapes for each individual wine varietal."  That's why this Sauvignon Blanc is from the Casablanca Valley which is gaining renown as the ideal climate and soil for growing Sauvignon Blanc wine grapes.  The long, warm days and cool, foggy nights create just the right balance of tropical fruit flavors and bright, crisp acidity.  Wine Enthusiast magazine gave last year's vintage 88 Pts and listed it as a "Best Buy."

Food Pairings:  Grilled seafood, spicy Asian dishes, goat cheese, salads.

Just Pinot Noir 2007 (Vin de Pays D'Oc, Languedoc, France) Regular Price $11.50, Feature Price $9.20

Another new range of high value, low hype wines is the JUST range from Frenchman Paul Sapin.  These are wines that are made to be enjoyed with casual meals or a group of friends.  This Pinot Noir is unpretentious but very well made.  It is soft and juicy in the mouth, with that hint of acidity that makes Pinot Noir such a good food wine.  As the label says, "JUST enjoy yourself."

Food Pairings: Pinot Noir goes well with almost anything, but we like it particularly with lamb chops or grilled salmon.