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Don't be Afraid to Think Pink!

Happy spring! Winter in Michigan is finally waning (we hope). This is a transitional time in nature and it's a transitional time for wine drinking as well. This is the time to start putting away the heavy winter reds and getting out the roses. Dry rose wines are perfect for spring and summer sipping and very complimentary to the foods of the season. They're very refreshing, yet still have just enough body to be more substantial than many whites. These dry roses typically have notes of strawberry, cherry, raspberry, watermelon, and mineral with refreshing acidity. Try a dry rose with your favorite ham, turkey dish, salads, broiled chicken, and even hot dogs. Chill a bottle of rose and spring into spring!

Here are 6 of our current favorite dry roses-




2007 Domaine des Karantes Rose des Karantes Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape
$10.99

A brilliant blend of 50% mourvedre, 20% grenache, 10% syrah, and 20% carignan from the south of France. Delicious!

www.eagleeyeimports.com




2006 Jules Cotes de Provence Rose
$16.99

An aromatic blend of 30% syrah, 30% grenache, 20% carignan, and 20% cinsault from the heart of Provence. Dry, fresh, and fruity.

www.jules-wines.com




2007 Crios de Susana Balbo Rose of Malbec
$11.99

A rich, full-bodied dry rose from the Mendoza region of Argentina. A rose of substance!

www.vineconnections.com




2006 Louis Jadot Beaujolais Rose
$13.99

A delightful new dry rose made from gamay grapes from the Beaujolais region of France. Fresh, clean, fruity, and fun!

www.kobrandwine.com




2006 Julian Chivite Gran Fuedo Rose
$11.99

This Spanish rose is made from 100% Garnacha Tinta (grenache). Medium-bodied, fresh, and fruity from the Navarra region.

www.chivite.com




2006 Chateau d'Aqueria Tavel Rose
$19.99

A blend of grenache, syrah, cinsault, and clairette grapes from the south of France. Serve it at your next barbeque.

www.kobrandwine.com




Great Recipes for Rose

Nicoise Salad

1/2 pound red potatoes, scrubbed and cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch thick slices
1/4 pound haricots verts, or small, thin green beans, ends trimmed
2 pounds yellowfin tuna loin, trimmed of sinew
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 rosemary sprigs
1 large head romaine or Bibb lettuce, rinsed and patted dry
2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon leaves
Anchovy Dressing, recipe follows
1/2 pound Roma plum tomatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/3 cup halved and seeded black brine-cured olives
1/3 cup halved and seeded green brine-cured olives
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and sliced
Chopped fresh herbs, for garnish (parsley, tarragon, chive, etc.)

Bring 2 medium pots of salted water to a boil. Add the potatoes to 1 pot and blanch until tender, about 5 to 6 minutes. Drain in a colander, pat dry, and set aside. Add the green beans to the other pot and blanch until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain in a colander, pat dry, and set aside.

Arrange the tuna on a cutting board and cut into 4 equal portions. Season the tuna steaks with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, each. Heat the oil in a large skillet (or 2 medium skillets), over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot but not smoking, add the rosemary sprigs and tuna steaks and sear, about 30 seconds per side for medium-rare. Remove from the pan and dice the tuna into 1-inch pieces.

Tear the lettuce into bite-size pieces and combine with chopped fresh parsley and tarragon. Toss with enough of the Anchovy Dressing just to coat. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper as needed. Toss the potatoes and green beans in 1/4 cup of the Anchovy Dressing. Arrange the lettuce along the side of 4 large plates (or 1 serving platter). Spoon the vegetables along the other side of the plate. Arrange the diced tuna over the lettuce. Arrange the tomatoes, olives, sliced red onions, and eggs on the other sides of the plates (or serving platter). Garnish with additional herbs if desired and serve immediately.

Anchovy Dressing:
1 anchovy fillet, drained
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon chopped garlic
1 large egg*
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
6 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons minced shallots
2 teaspoons capers, drained and chopped
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

In a medium bowl, mash the anchovy, salt, pepper, and garlic into a paste with the back of a fork. Add the egg and whisk well to blend. Add the lemon juice and mustard, and whisk well. Add the oils in a steady stream, whisking constantly to form a thick emulsion. Add the shallots, capers and Worcestershire, whisk well, and adjust the seasoning, to taste. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Yield: 1 cup

Crab Cakes

1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
4 large eggs, beaten lightly
6 tablespoons sour cream
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley leaves (preferably flat-leafed)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste
2 pounds lump crab meat, picked over
2 cups fine fresh bread crumbs
1/3 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup vegetable oil
Tarragon tartar sauce, as an accompaniment -- Recipe follows
Lemon wedges, as an accompaniment

In a bowl whisk together the butter, the eggs, the sour cream, the parsley, the lemon juice, the Worcestershire sauce, the paprika, the salt, and the cayenne and stir in the crab meat and the bread crumbs gently. Form 1/2-cup measures of the mixture into twelve 3/4-inch-thick cakes and transfer the crab cakes as they are formed to a baking sheet sprinkled with half the cornmeal. Sprinkle the crab cakes with the remaining cornmeal and chill them, covered with plastic wrap, for at least 1 hour or overnight.

In a large heavy skillet heat the oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking and in it saute the crab cakes in batches, turning them once, for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until they are golden, transferring them as they are cooked to paper towels to drain. Keep the crab cakes warm on another baking sheet in a 200 degree oven. Serve the crab cakes with the tarragon tartar sauce and the lemon wedges.

TARRAGON TARTAR SAUCE

Recipe courtesy Gourmet Magazine
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
3 shallots, minced
4 cornichons (French sour gherkins, available at specialty foods shops and some supermarkets), minced
18 green olives (preferably brine-cured), pitted and chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh tarragon leaves
1 tablespoon cider vinegar, or to taste
Hot pepper sauce, to taste

In a small bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, the shallots, the cornichons, the olives, the tarragon, the vinegar, and the Tabasco until the tartar sauce is combined well. (The sauce may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled).

Yield: 2 cups

Chicken Cordon Bleu

4 double chicken breasts (about 7-ounces each), skinless and boneless
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 thin slices deli ham
16 thin slices Gruyere or Swiss cheese
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
1/4 cup flour
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 eggs
2 teaspoons water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lay the chicken between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. Using the flat side of a meat mallet, gently pound the chicken to 1/4-inch thickness. Take care not to pound too hard because the meat may tear or create holes. Lay 2 slices of cheese on each breast, followed by 2 slices of ham, and 2 more of cheese; leaving a 1/2-inch margin on all sides to help seal the roll. Tuck in the sides of the breast and roll up tight like a jellyroll. Squeeze the log gently to seal.

Season the flour with salt and pepper; spread out on waxed paper or in a flat dish. Mix the breadcrumbs with thyme, kosher salt, pepper, and oil. The oil will help the crust brown. Beat together the eggs and water, the mixture should be fluid. Lightly dust the chicken with flour, then dip in the egg mixture. Gently coat in the bread crumbs. Carefully transfer the roulades to a baking pan and bake for 20 minutes until browned and cooked through. Cut into pinwheels before serving.




Click here to access Previous "Thoughts on Wine & Favorite Picks"

If you are interested in building a cellar in your home or getting your current one appraised,
we recommend Nidal Daher at Unique Wine Cellars. Tell him Merchant's sent you!
http://www.uniquewinecellars.com/links.htm




In regards to Wine, you can email us at wine@merchantsfinewine.com



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