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Wine on vacation
It's midsummer in the Northern Hemisphere, the kids are out of school and the sultry "dog days" are upon us. In Europe, just about everyone is poised to hit the road on vacation in August, and in the U.S. and Canada, summer-vacation season is already well under way. (And as for our friends Down Under, I have the impression that you'll head out on vacation at any time of year.)
Combining today's 30 Second Wine Advisor with our regular Wine Lovers' Voting Booth feature, we've set up a fun, informal poll that affords wine lovers around the world the opportunity to tell us how you mesh the fun of vacation with your enjoyment of wine. As usual, we've set up an online "ballot" with a choice of likely selections, plus an open-ended "other" for those who'd like to share more uncommon approaches, as we ask, What's your vacation wine strategy? We understand that for most of us, several responses may apply. But for the purpose of this simple poll, we ask that you select the one option that fits best.
To cast your "vote," click directly to the Voting Booth,
PRINT OUT TODAY'S ARTICLE
TALK ABOUT WINE ONLINE If you prefer to comment privately, feel free to send me E-mail at wine@wineloverspage.com. I'll respond personally to the extent that time and volume permit. 
Carpineto 2003 "Dogajolo" Toscano Rosso ($14.99)
A Tuscan red with a funny name, "Dogajolo," according to the U.S. importer's fact sheet, means "to jump from the staves of a barrel." An unusual blend of 80 percent Tuscan Sangiovese and 20 percent Cabernet Sauvignon that sees time in small French oak casks, Dogajolo meets the definition of a "Super Tuscan" in that it's a modern variation on the old Chianti tradition, but in contrast with most Super Tuscans, it's priced in the affordable range and made to enjoy young. Inky blackish-purple with a garnet edge, it offers pleasant, fruit-forward aromas of black cherries and cranberries lifted with subtle spice. Fresh and bright in flavor, tart red-berry fruit and a whiff of fragrant black pepper are framed by snappy acidity and a soft, barely perceptible edge of tannins. U.S. importer: Opici Import Co., Glen Rock, N.J. (July 16, 2005) FOOD MATCH: Should be fine with grilled meats, the centerpiece of Tuscan cuisine; it was very well matched with a Marcella Hazan classic, chicken braised with dried mushrooms and a bit of tomato. VALUE: You'll rarely find a Super Tuscan, even an offbeat variation like this, as low as the middle teens, but shop around, as prices at online vendors vary dramatically from under $10 to near $20. WHEN TO DRINK: By the producer's own advice, it's meant for drinking young, but I would expect it to hold up at least as well as its cousins from Chianti; there should be no worries about keeping it on a wine rack for two or three years.
PRONUNCIATION:
WEB LINK:
FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:  California Wine Club: Just off the boat! Molitor Estate, a small, family-owned and operated winery for more than 100 years is striving to put Germany back on top of the world market. The California Wine Club has two of Molitor's handcrafted gems available now. The Molitor 2002 Pinot Noir Trocken Rheingau with hints of almond harmonizing with a velvety mouthfeel has a handsome, lengthy finish. The Molitor 2002 Haltenheimer Riesling Kabinett Rheingau carries the flag for the German heritage of fine Rieslings.Laced with hints of raisin it is crisp, proud and delicious.
These wines are available in the United States only through The California Wine Club's International Selections. Call 1-800-777-4443 or visit online at This week on WineLoversPage.com Here are links to some of our recently published articles that I think you'll enjoy:
• QPRwines: Sauvignon Blanc Last Week's Wine Advisor Index The Wine Advisor's daily edition is usually distributed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (and, for those who subscribe, the FoodLetter on Thursdays). Here's the index to last week's columns:
• Uncorking the industry (July 15, 2005)
• Losing Tocai (July 13, 2005)
• "The Emperor of Wine" (July 11, 2005)
• Complete 30 Second Wine Advisor archive:
• Wine Advisor FoodLetter: Agua fresca again (July 14, 2004)
• Wine Advisor Foodletter archive:
SUBSCRIBE: Administrivia To subscribe or unsubscribe from The 30 Second Wine Advisor, change your E-mail address, or for any other administrative matters, please use the individualized hotlink found at the end of your E-mail edition. If this is not practical, contact me by E-mail at wine@wineloverspage.com, including the exact E-mail address that you used when you subscribed, so I can find your record. We do not use our E-mail list for any other purpose and will never give or sell your name or E-mail address to anyone. I welcome feedback, suggestions, and ideas for future columns. To contact me, please send E-mail to wine@wineloverspage.com All the wine-tasting reports posted here are consumer-oriented. In order to maintain objectivity and avoid conflicts of interest, I purchase all the wines I rate at my own expense in retail stores and accept no samples, gifts or other gratuities from the wine industry.
Monday, July 18, 2005
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