As Halloween approaches and our thoughts turn to parties, pumpkins, fun little treats and the libations to serve at table, we implore you to resist bottles that sport names like Vampire, Bitch and Naughty. Although perfectly reasonable liquid to pour, might we suggest a few others, which are just as good, add a bit of mystery and are sure to ingratiate you with your party guests more so than that exotic dancer costume you plan to don.
Some of the funkiest foods we’ve cooked and some of the most esoteric wines we’ve served have been at the annual Halloween shindig. Why you ask? Because it’s truly the one time a year to serve guests those bottles you’ve been dying to drink but are too scared to pop. You know, the ones lurking in the back closet, covered in cobwebs and dessicated butterfly wings. The bottles you bought at that old world wine dinner which was heaven on earth but you forgot about them in the wine cooler because something more shiny came along.
It’s time to dust those ugly-beauties off! Break the shackles of Halloween wine mainstream and unleash the mysterious! Below are a few of our favorites and what we’ll be pouring this year. Big thanks to Aaron Epstein, AKA The Wine Dad, who we’re collaborating with on our Wine Subscription Service called Le Metro Wine. Underground. A few of the selections below are club favorites, so get your Howling Good-time Groove on!
2008 Contratto Millesimato Brut Pinot Noir / Chardonnay Piedmont
A golden hued sparkling wine with scents of white-fleshed fruits and toasty hazelnuts which lead to a complex and powerful mouth feel, all complemented by a fresh, upbeat finish. Ideal to serve as ice pick (breaker) to get your party guests salivating.
2012 Szőke Mátyás ( Soe-ka Mautch-yash) (winery) Irsai Olivér (Ir- sha-y O-lee-vair) (grape) Mátra Hungary (see photo right.)
An hour and a half northeast of Budapest, the Mátra mountains have been planted with vineyards since at least the 11th century. This interesting bottle has a mineral, almost saline quality that balances out the perfumed floral aromatics which includes a surprisingly seductive smokiness. (And the wine label looks like bleached bones!)
Irsai Oliver
2009 The Scholium Project “Midan Al-Tahrir” Solano County Verdelho / Chardonnay / Gewurztraminer / Sauvignon Blanc
The Midan’s perfection lies in its imperfections. The wine is totally un-manipulated – it’s barrel fermented, barrel aged, and there’s no stirring, racking, or added sulfites. It’s quite a departure from the “winemaking by numbers” formula that so many follow, and the result in the glass is a wine with many unexpected dimensions. Boo! A Le Metro signature bottle!
2010 Beni di Batasiolo Sovrana Barbera d’Alba Langhe
So pretty, warm in the mouth with juicy flavours of cherries and blackberries and a touch of mocha from light wood aging. Serve with meat and cheese or just about anything that might belong in your mouth.
2011 La Sibilla Piedirosso Campi Flegrei Piedirosso, Campi Flegrei DOC, Campania
The Piedirosso smells and tastes like fire. The region it comes from, Campi Flegrei, took its name from the ancient Greek word for “burning” due to its volcanic location. The scent of smoke and red berries erupts from the glass. Serving grilled fish at the Halloween table? Pop the Sibilla. A big hit at our Le Metro Club Party recently!
2011 Tenuta di Fessina Erse Etna Rosso Nerello Mascalese / Nerello Cappuccio, Etna, Sicily
Better than that exotic dancer costume, voluptuous cherry dances around intense herbs and warm spices. Tannins slink across your palate, gracefully supporting the whip-like acidity. Got fire, a cauldron, some meat? Pour a few bottles of the Erse. A Le Metro wine staple!
We drink these wines and of course we sell them through Le Metro. Give us a shout at [email protected] if you’d like a few bottles for your Halloween Bash–they’ll be on our tables.
Happy Halloween!
Tina and GUY, Partners
PROTOCOL wine studio
