Dog Days of Summer

I’m asked all too often these days “So TexaCali Ali, what are you actually drinking in this heat?” Easy…here’s my personal list of August Wine Delights. They all pair beautifully in the comfort of air-conditioning and a good friend…four-legged or two!

2005 Handley Cellars Pinot Noir Rose, as see in Wine & Spirits Magazine this month too. Low production, so only the quickest wine hunters will get their hands on this beauty. This Rose shows fragrant wild strawberry and floral blossoms on the nose with a solid core of strawberry in the mouth, finishing with hints of cranberry and spice. YUM. $17.99

2002 Fort Ross Chardonnay, ahh, here’s a chardonnay that loved more time in the bottle before sipping. This was among the Dallas Uncorked Tasting bottles and was the most elegant wine of the night. Extremely well balanced, blind tasted you’d guess it was from France. If you love or hate chardonnay – this is a keeper and a wonderful sipper this summer. $34.99

2005 Storrs Gewürztraminer, FINALLY this has arrived in Texas. It needs some help from all of you since it’s a new kid on the block in the Lone Star State – distribution is just getting started so don’t hesitate to mention Storrs Winery to your favorite Fine Wine Shop or Sommelier. Exotic fruit, flowers and spice make this wine one to buy over and over and over. A perfect wine to drink over these so-hot-and-sticky summer nights. $18.99

2005 Pellegrini Sauvignon Blanc, on my list of favorites for years now. More Sancerre style than New Zealand, more mineral and lemon zest than crazy grapefruit. This wine is on many wines by-the-glass menus across Texas this summer. $12.99

2005 Crios Malbec, another perfect occasion red wine from Argentina’s Susana Balbo. Don’t say NO to Malbec until you give the Crios a whirl, I convert merlot drinkers weekly with this fruit-driven bottle of Malbec. This is a wine that you’ll want to buy by the case because it can be consumed at almost any occasion, whether at a fancy dinner party, or just curled up on the couch in front of a movie. Fun and delicious—what more can you ask for?! $14.99

2003 Handley Cellars Mendocino Zinfandel first heard about the Handley Zin after it won a Silver Medal in the California State Fair. It’s my kind of Zinfandel (oh and so is the Pellegrini Eight Cousins Zin, don’t forget this baby!). Handley’s Mendocino Zinfandel offers fruity aromas of cherry, pomegranate, and blackberries, with a lovely dusting of cocoa. Plum flavors predominate, with accents of cassis and cedar. A Perfect food wine – frozen BBQ Pizza to spicy turkey tacos!! $19.99

WOOF! It's a long hot summer out there... Ali & Henley