The Friday Tailgate

read about the various sundries la commish puts in her mouth.

well, those of a vinous nature, anyways...

cape mentelle wines of western australia

CAPE MENTELLE wines, this week's selection, were chosen for the approachability of both the wine and of their winemaker rob mann (both are yummy morsels, though la commish prefers drinking the former while engaging the latter over dinner.)

CAPE MENTELLE sauvignon blanc/semillon...

for white wine lovers, you'll find this bottle to be a great tailgating wine. it's punchy, vibrant, fresh and manages to retain its acidity with the saltiest of dishes. (this means you can pair it with french fries, potato chips and other classic tailgating fare.) taste-wise, it leans towards the fruit-forward side of dry, making it an excellent sipping wine for the sundays you'll laze away on the couch. in terms of size, this is fairly full-bodied and long on the finish...just how la commish like her men!

CAPE MENTELLE 'trinders' cabernet/merlot blend...

by now, even the most neophyte of wine drinkers should have caught on to the wine powerhouse that is australia. as recently as 10 years ago, australia was a small player in the world of wine, then along came a little brand called yellowtail....to put it another way, if wine were american idol, then australia would be kelly clarkson. the meteoric rise of australian wine to global prominence has everything to do with quality, fruitiness, drinkability, and affordability. the CAPE MENTELLE 'trinders' is based upon the classic blend of grapes found in the bordeaux region of france. the cabernet lends fullness while the merlot gives softness and cherry flavors. this is another great bottle to drink alone or with various snacks.

CAPE MENTELLE is a very popular brand (they're partners with the champagne house of veuve clicquot) so your local wine shop should carry them. (if not, you can buy them at http://www.beaconwines.com). incidentally, CAPE MENTELLE also make a chardonnay and a shiraz which are definitely worth checking out if you prefer these varietals.

happy tailgating!