10/20/09 – big, brawny blends

By Jesse on October 19, 2009

Fall is finally upon us, and the weather is turning brutally cold. For example, the high temperature on Tuesday in Redondo Beach is going to be a measly 66 degrees. Don’t believe me? Come out to the Young Winos and see for yourself!

We’ve got a number of great tastings planned for the autumn months, including “white wines for the fall table” (a must-attend for Riesling lovers) and our annual Thanksgiving extravaganza (no Beaujolais Nouveau, we promise). This week, we’re getting into the fall spirit in simple fashion: by countering the cold with some big, brawny wines to fill our bellies and warm the soul. And, in the interest of alliteration, we’ve decided to require that all the wines are blends.

So what constitutes a “big brawny blend,” you ask? It’s a pretty broad category, so you can interpret it as you will, but here are some general guidelines:

1) Pick a wine made from full-bodied grape varietals. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petite Sirah are three full-bodied reds that should be easy to find, and you might also get some nice brawn out of certain blends of Syrah, Mourvedre, or Zinfandel. Or what about a Tempranillo or Mazuelo from Spain, or a Nebbiolo or Aglianico from Italy? (Avoid the Pinot Noir section.)

2) Make sure your wine is a blend of at least two grape types! Single-varietal wines get their own tastings. This week, we’re looking for interesting blends.

3) Finally, while the title might make you think that red wines are the only way to go, you should feel free to bring a white blend if you know of one that could reasonably be described as big and brawny. I’d love to see that.

As always, you can opt to bring a $10 donation instead of a bottle.

We’ll be meeting at Jeremy’s place in Redondo Beach. The RSVP system works like this: if you want in, you click on this link and tell me so (don’t forget your full name, e-mail address, and a cute message conveying to me your intentions). If you’re denied entry due to a meeting exceeding capacity, don’t worry — you’ll be at the top of the list the next week.

Once you’ve gotten your confirmation e-mail, go out and find yourself a bottle of something blended and brawny (or simply bring a $10 donation, if you prefer). See you on Tuesday night!