After a hectic weekend of happy hour lady dates in the city, USA soccer games and lamb stew in Somerville, and cake tasting all over the metro west / south shore, a gal needs to unwind.   What better way to do this than a nice, decanted bottle of Rioja, freshly made toasts with Herbs de Provence and EEOO, leftover Brie covered in honey and almonds, and a serving of TGI Friday’s frozen spinach and artichoke dip?  That was Monday.  Today is Wednesday, is it too soon for repeats?

Ah, only 2.5 days until the weekend, half day Friday’s so make such a difference once the cafes put out their array of sidewalk tables and the sun shines bright into the evening…  There is so much to look forward to!  But before we look ahead, I’d like to look back at an email question I received from a loyal fan of MoreThanMerlot yesterday evening.  The tone of urgency and clever verbiage caught my eye, I just had to respond in a public forum.  The email reads:

Dear More Than Merlot,

Thanks for your most recent post. I’m a big fan!

I have an urgent wine question. Is it EVER alright to drink wine from a box? World Market has these super cute boxed wines out right now, and I’m about to let my curiosity get the better of me. Should I resist? Will wine from a box always be unassailably tacky?

Sincerely,

Irresistibly Intrigued in Georgia

First off, I don’t think I use the word unassailably nearly enough in every day conversation.  I should work on that, it’s a great word.  Second, I think this question is important because it exposes a fear that may of us share.  We have been conditioned to believe that boxed wine is scary, evil, and downright uncouth.  Now, I have posted about boxed wine in the past, but no matter how many times I buy boxed wine in a store I still feel a little bit insecure.  You know what?  New Zealand wine makers felt insecure about corking their bottles with plastic (or ever, dare I say, SCREW TOPS!) instead of traditional cork, but the result is a wine that is far less likely to turn while at the same does a lot less damage to the environment!  Sure, the primer gran crus houses of Bordeaux may never use plastic corks or screw top bottles, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us need to be that old-school!  I think boxed wines are a great way to enjoy wine on the cheap, and you’d be amazed at the flaws you can decant out of even a boxed wine!  Plus, if you like having a glass of wine with dinner but can never get through a whole bottle in one sitting, boxed wines are a great way to keep your wine fresh.  Especially for someone living in Georgia, where the heat could impact a wine in a matter of hours!  My only request is that you always keep your box of wine in the fridge, even red.  You really should keep all open wine in a cooler instead of on the counter to be honest.  Americans tend to be way off with wine temperatures as a general rule.  Most wines, both red and white, should be served between 50-60 degrees for maximum enjoyment.  Reds at room temp are blah, and freezing white wines can’t show off their full array of scents and flavors.  The Rapid Cool Wine Chiller from Crate & Barrel is a great item to have on hand, leave it on for a few minutes to bring a red to the proper temp, and keep it on a white for hours of constantly cooled whites.  But I digress…  My advice to you, Irresistibly Intrigued in Georgia, would be to go for it!  Try a few different boxed wines (over the course of a couple of weeks mind you, I’m not suggesting a constant state of inebriation for the sake of research here) and determine which you prefer.  Stick to the varietals that you like – Merlot, Cab, Sauv Blanc, etc.  I would suggest you stay away from boxed wines that do not have a discernible grape varietal listed.  ”Blush” wines, or “Burgundy” wines can be pretty sketchy in the world of boxing.  So while Franzia might be a no, JP Chenet, Black Box, and French Rabbit might be right up your alley!  And remember, if you get a box of wine and aren’t a huge fan, add enough brandy, fruit and sugar and you can create a delightful sangria.  So drink up, my little peach!  Cheers!

(photo credit: www.downtownwineandspirits.com)

Happy June!  My my, the time is flying by.  Although I am upset with myself for having taken so much time off since my last post, I am very excited to be able to share a great new find with you – Castaño.  Castaño is a Spanish red made from the Monastrell grape.  You know how I feel about obscure grape varieties…  Grow in the coastal climate of southeastern Spain, the grapes provide  a light earthy flavor that is delightfully fruity at the same time.  Strong notes of cherry & plum dominate the nose and lead to good balance and a smooth finish.  I have seen this wine popping up in various stores in my neighborhood in the past month or so, going anywhere from $9.99 to $11.99.  I think it’s well worth the price!  Try it for yourself and let me know your thoughts.  Arriba, abajo, al centro, pa’ dentro!  OLE!!

(photo credit: europeancellars.com)