Carneros Creek 'Cote de Carneros' Pinot Noir

Attributes:
Producer:

Carneros Creek
Region:

Carneros, United States
Varietal:

Pinot Noir
Bottle Size:

750 ML

2001: Tastings Rating: 83
Acidity:

soft
Body:

light, medium-bodied

2000: WineSpectator Rating: 82
Acidity:

lively, soft

2000: WineEnthusiast Rating: 87
Flavors:

cherry, currant, mocha

1997: WineSpectator Rating: 84
Flavors:

black cherry, herb, spice, toasty oak

1997: Tastings Rating: 81
Acidity:

soft
Body:

medium body
Flavors:

cherry, vanilla

Food Matches:
Cheese: Brie, Feta, Goat Cheese, Gouda, Sharp Cheddar, Swiss
Fish or Shellfish: Seared Ahi Tuna
Herbs & Spices: Anise, Fennel Seed, Tarragon, Basil, Cinnamon, Mint, Pepper (black, white, green), Rosemary
Pasta & Grains: (Grilled) Tofu, Pasta with Creamy Mushroom Sauces, Pasta with Truffles
Poultry & Eggs: Roast Chicken with Herbs, Roast Duck, Roast Turkey
Red Meat: Curried Beef, Curried Lamb, Curried Pork, Grilled Flank Steak, Hamburgers, Pork w/Fruit Sauce, Roast Pork Tenderloin w/Sage, Sausage
Sauces: Red Wine Sauce
Vegetables: Beans, White, Beets, Mushrooms, Tomato, Vegetable Gratin or Stew

Carneros:

This small section of Northern California is situated at the base of both the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Carneros has made its reputation with its Pinot Noirs, which are filled with strawberry, cherry, spice, and chocolate, and are very rich and seductive. Chardonnay is also excellent, very buttery but not too fat.


Pinot Noir:

(pee noh nwahr)—A tricky grape to grow, Pinot Noir makes some of the best wines in the world. The prototype wine is red Burgundy from France but Oregon, California, New Zealand, and parts of Australia also produce good Pinot Noir. The wine is lighter in color than Cabernet or Merlot with relatively high alcohol, medium-to-high acidity, and medium-to-low tannin. Its flavors and aromas can be very fruity or earthy and woodsy, depending on how it is grown. It is rarely blended with other grapes.

Pine Ridge 'Epitome' Chardonnay

Attributes:
Producer:

Pine Ridge Winery
Region:

Carneros/Napa, United States
Varietal:

Chardonnay
Bottle Size:

750 ML

Food Matches:
Cheese: Brie, Gouda, Soft Pungent Cheese, Swiss
Fish or Shellfish: Garlic Shrimp, Lobster Salad, Sea Bass
Fruits & Nuts: Citrus Fruits
Herbs & Spices: Anise, Fennel Seed, Tarragon, Basil, Curry, Ginger, Nutmeg, Mace, Allspice, Rosemary, Saffron, Thyme
Poultry & Eggs: Chicken or Turkey, Roast Turkey
Sauces: White Wine Sauce
Vegetables: Caesar Salad

Chardonnay:

(shar dohn nay)—This noble grape’s reputation was established in France, particularly in the Burgundy region, and the highly prized Chardonnay wines from Chablis, Mâcon, Mersault, and Pouilly-Fuissé are imitated by winemakers around the world. Generally an oaked wine (whether from expensive oak barrels or a quick soak in oak chips), its fruity aromas and flavors range from apple in the cooler regions to tropical fruits such a pineapple in the warmer regions. It can also display subtle earthy aromas, such as mushroom or minerals. It has a medium to high acidity and is generally full-bodied. Classical Chardonnay wines are dry. Chardonnay is also an important grape in the Champagne district where it's picked before fully ripe and while it still has high acid and understated fruit flavors—the perfect combination for champagne. California has adopted this grape with a fervor and there are some 200 wineries producing Chardonnay wines in other parts of the United States. Chardonnay has also seen a tremendous planting surge in Australia, and new vineyards are being planted in Italy, Lebanon, New Zealand, Spain, and South Africa.

Starry Night Sauvignon Blanc

Attributes:
Producer:

Starry Night
Region:

Dry Creek Valley, United States
Varietal:

Sauvignon Blanc
Bottle Size:

750 ML

Food Matches:
Cheese: Feta, Fondue, Goat Cheese, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Ricotta, Swiss
Fish or Shellfish: Ceviche, Salmon with Lemon
Fruits & Nuts: Citrus Fruits, Mango Salsa
Herbs & Spices: Anise, Fennel Seed, Tarragon, Basil, Cilantro, Coriander, Curry, Dill, Thyme
Pasta & Grains: Pasta with Pesto
Poultry & Eggs: Chicken Stir Fry, Chicken w/Lemon
Red Meat: Liver, Pate or Liver, Pork Chops
Sauces: Vinaigrette, White Wine Sauce
Spicy Food: Yakisoba
Vegetables: Artichokes, Asparagus Quiche, Roasted Asparagus, Roasted Sweet Peppers, Salad, Spinach, Tomato

Sauvignon Blanc:

Comes mostly from California, France, New Zealand, and South Africa. Its highly acidic wines are often suggestive of herbs or grass. Light to medium bodied and usually dry, European versions are generally not oaky while California Sauvignon Blanc can take on many of the qualities of Chardonnay. France has two classic wine regions for the Sauvignon Blanc gape: Bordeaux and the Loire Valley The Bordeaux wine is called Bordeaux Blanc and the two best known of the Loire wines are called Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé. In Bordeaux, Sauvignon Blanc is sometimes blended with Sémillon.

Border Grill Skewered Salmon

Rated

Ingredients

1 ½ lb salmon fillet
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup teryaki sauce
2 lb swiss chard, torn into pieces - rec chard maybe substituted
1/2 cup balsamic vinaigrette, prepared

Preparation

Soak 12" long skewers in water.

Cut the salmon into 1-1/2-inch chunks and thread 4 to 5 chunks on bamboo skewers Sprinkle with salt and pepper and place in a shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the salmon and marinate for no longer than 20 to 30 minutes, turning to coat.

Preheat the grill or broiler.

Grill or broil the skewers about 1-1/2 minutes per side. Or sauté the salmon in a hot nonstick skillet over high heat for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until the fish is just cooked but still a little pink inside.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat and blanch the chard just until wilted.

Drain, transfer to a bowl of ice water, and drain again. Squeeze out any excess water. Transfer to a large bowl and toss with the vinaigrette.

To serve, place the chard leaves on plates and arrange the skewered salmon on top.

Yield

Serves 6

Cook Time

Prep Time: 15 mins.
Cook Time: 5 mins.

Nutrition Facts

Nutrition information is provided as a resource. Values will vary depending on specific ingredients used.
Serving Size: 1
Number of Servings: Serves 6
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 314 Calories from Fat: 144
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*  
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*  
Total Fat 16g
24%  
Carbohydrates 16g
5%  
Dietary Fiber 4g
16%  
Saturated Fat 4g
20%  
Calories 314kcal
15%  
Cholesterol 72mg
24%  
Protein 32g
53%  
Sodium 2647mg
110%  
Calcium
2%  
Iron
11%  
Vitamin A
200%  
Vitamin C
90%  
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.