Stuck in a rut. That’s where many wine drinkers find themselves. It’s just so easy to fall back on the same varietals—and even specific bottles—that you drink over and over again. As a nod to this month’s focus on resolutions, we’re arguing for wine drinkers to step out of their comfort zones and investigate the endless possibilities in local shops. A few respected merchants made the following suggestions, which are great starting points for a year of adventurous sipping.
J. Wilkes
Pinot blanc • 2013 • $15
Chardonnay drinkers will love a pinot blanc, says Eileen Bonemery, wine manager at Calandro’s Select Cellars on Government Street. The varietal was actually an unintentional offshoot of pinot noir that is now cultivated independently. Some pinot blancs present a profile similar to chardonnay. “This one is smooth and dry and will go with anything,” Bonemery says. Produced in the Santa Maria Valley of the Central Coast of California, J. Wilkes 2013 pinot blanc is a medium-bodied white with notes of pear and apple and a crisp finish.
Pair with: sushi, hearty salads, seafood pasta and crab cakes.
Notorious Pink
Rosé • France • $16
Like many wine merchants, Bill Hounshell is eager for Baton Rouge to fully embrace rosés. While it’s often mistakenly thought to be sweet, rosé wine is dry, food-friendly and can be full-bodied. “Rosés pair beautifully with so much of our Louisiana cuisine,” says Hounshell, manager of Matherne’s Supermarket on Highland Road. Notorious Pink is a Grenache Rosé produced by Domaine la Colombette in the south of France and was a featured wine at Fête Rouge in August 2014. Its frosted bottle reveals an aromatic wine with a floral profile and good minerality.
Pair with: Asian fare, tuna tartare, fried seafood and boiled crawfish.
