Spring is finally in the air, and the spring flowers are defiantly pushing through the soil here on Long Island. And with that lovely change comes the time for slightly lighter or more medium-bodied reds. One red that fits the bill perfectly is the 2017 La Fontana from Raphael Wine in Peconic.
This beautiful Bordeaux-style blend is incredibly reminiscent of the style of Bordeaux found in the Côtes de Bordeaux region of France. This similarity isn’t completely surprising as both Long Island and the Bordeaux region of France share a maritime climate. The blend of this stunning wine is 33% cabernet sauvignon, 29% petit verdot, 26% merlot, 6% cabernet Franc, and 6% malbec. The grapes used to produce this wine are hand harvested and hand sorted. The wine is fermented separately and aged for 18 months in French oak barrels before blending. The care placed in the creation of this lovely wine by winemaker Julie Vergari results in extremely fresh flavors with bright cheery notes, light notes of anise, soft velvety tannins, and a long, persistent, dry finish. This is not an overoaked, or overripe wine. The flavors are complex and lyrical, and they complement, not compete with, a large variety of foods.
This would be a wonderful wine for Easter dinner. Whether you are serving Virginia ham, roast pork, or lamb, the balanced acidity of this wine will help the flavors to sing without overpowering the meal. After dinner, this wine could also be served with cheesecake or dark chocolate. This wine retails for $29, and if you are hosting Easter dinner it might be best to have at least two bottles on hand.
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