113247 Sun Jul 20 20:49:41 -0700 2003 3 7 Chicago Area 0 615746 Saturday, I stopped by Famous Liquors on Madison in Forest Park, and ran into one of my favorite sommeliers and fellow unemployed writer, Jim Matthews, who had an array of wines he was offering as part of the regular weekend tasting. I had a few, but the one I liked best was the first I sampled: Penascal, Sauvignon blanc, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon, 2001. Now, as an aside, The Wife has been in Salamanca, Spain, for several weeks (detained, I suspect, by a matador by the name of Don Pepe; unconfirmed) and the wine actually brought me closer to her, psychologically, without the obvious inconvenience of actually being in the same room together. But back to the wine… Bodying forth an indescribable reverberation of riojas I had in the late 70s, Penascal is one helluva a wine value. I just had it with barbecued pork steaks (Moo & Oink for $1.69/pound), but I’m sure it would go equally well with chicken, salmon, or some smoky cheddar or Swiss. The finish is very clean, and it would probably also be an excellent counterpoint to fresh oysters or other bivalves, though with The Wife out-of-town, I suppose it’s best not to mess with those. Penascal is also slightly slatey, very grapefruity, and with the remarkable ability to provoke a puckering dryness while at the same time stimulating the tongue’s sweet spots. It may be the perfect summer wine for me – guests who like a sweeter wine will not be overwhelmed , and those who prefer it dryer will get what they want, too. The punchline: it’s $4.99. Just finding a wine this good (hell, finding a wine that’s drinkable) at this price point is a miracle sufficient to meet a Spanish saint’s canonization criteria. Mere mortals (and by that, I do not mean guys like Al) will have a hard time finding a wine this good at that price…or even three times the price. I took home a case, and I’ve got four chilling right now for unexpected guests. Stop by…I think I’m supposed to be in mourning. Sun Jul 20 20:49:41 -0700 2003 0 David Hammond 1 615763 I stopped by Famous on Friday before Jim was open for business, didn't get to taste anything. Thanks for the recommendation and, based on previous experience with Penascal red--also an incredible deal--look forward to trying this. Mon Jul 21 13:10:10 -0700 2003 615746 0 Mike M 2 615796 Could you please give the full name and year of the red? Any description? Thanks. Mon Jul 21 23:54:38 -0700 2003 615763 0 bryan 3 615799 Penascal Castilla Y Leon Red. It's almost entirely tempranillo. Bright, good balance of acid & fruit (deep cherry, some chocolate, moderate tannin). Depending on where you get it, it runs $5-8. In the course of the six or seven years I've been acquainted with it, can't say I've ever paid much attention to vintage so, regarding your question about year, I'd say "most recent". I think Emilio's has it as one of its house wines. I'm not sure Wine Discount Centers (at Famous Liquors) currently carry it, but they have in the past. Tue Jul 22 08:34:53 -0700 2003 615796 0 Mike M