WINE: 2006 Michele Chiarlo Barbera d’Asti Superiore le OrmePacked with aromas of bright cherries and raspberries, this straightforward wine from Italy’s Piedmont region is ideal for pasta. Flavors of ripe, red fruits and subtle fig meld well with this dish’s foundation of sweet vermouth, while the pasta’s mushrooms and the wine have a sweet earthiness in common. Despite it’s fruitiness, the wine is quite dry and robust, which easily holds up to garlic, pecorino-Romano and peppery arugula. With low-to-moderate tannins, medium body, and nice acidity, this is a very versatile food wine.
The best examples of Barbera wines are from the Piedmont areas of Asti and Alba. Barberas from Alba (Barbera d’Alba) can be rich, complex and fairly full-bodied, while Barbera d’Asti wines tend to be somewhat light, fruity and easily quaffable.
GRANT HENRY
PRICE: about $14.00
Also Pairs Well With: Tomato-based pastas, mushrooms, pepperoni pizza, full-flavored cheese, cured meats like prosciutto, barbeque ribs, grilled chicken.
Category- Red Wine
Varietal- Barbera
Region- Piedmont, Italy
Available at:
So mint tricks your brain into thinking your mouth is cooler. How about something that tricks your brain into thinking your are fuller. That’s worth a million.
I just dug up a bunch of mint that is taking over our garden. I“ll have to come back here to get ideas on what to do with it all.
I adore your suggestion for cold apple mint tea.
I used to have a pet guinea pig that would squeak for mint. Seriously. He’d serenade me, rooms away, as soon as I popped an Altoid. I took to buying him fresh mint leaves that he devoured like a favorite candy. I can’t see/consider/taste mint without reminiscing about the little guy.
So many varieties of mint! Great info!
Seriously, any plant that manages to smell like an After Eight is okay in my book… Other favorites of mine include lemon mint and Moroccan. I like making bouquets of mints and plunging my face into it, inhaling deeply (actually I do this with most herbs, but mint is especially nice).
Also, I have teapot envy.
… is such a great idea. We have mint in our front garden (I’m trying to figure out if it’s one of those pictured here or which variety it is from your description). My mother in-law gently but unsuccessfully suggested that I plant it in a pot rather than in the ground. Now it’s out of control! No worries, though — we like our minty summer cocktails so we’ll have plenty.
Greg, you’ve got me craving mint now. Mine died over the winter and I sure hope it comes back to life. Mint is supposed to be easy to grow but I’ve never been successful with it. Guess I better to get to the garden center right away and get some new mint.
Sam
Ah, I just went through a bunch of the stuff this weekend – spearmint, I think. I feel ashamed not knowing exactly which kind, but it was great with banh xeo! And the idea of making mint tea is very appealing, especially just before bedtime. I must say, your suggestion of pouring it into an ice cube tray to have later with chilled tea is brilliant. I’m going to have to hit the market soon and re-load on mint!
romantic and delicious as I can imagine! GREG
Sounds like heaven! I love mint, I plant it along the driveway in the landscaping. When guests get out of the car they step on it and the air is permenated with a lovely mint smell. I used to have roses but it wasn’t appreciated as much as the mint! 😉