The Court of the Crimson King

To many, Red wine is the only worth drinking. While this is over-simplifying the world of wine, reds do reign supreme. Chardonnay, Reisling, and Viogner have their season. But, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Pinot noir flow year round, exciting tastebuds and complementing meals the world round. And, today “The rusted chains of prison moons Are shattered by the sun” in the Court of the Crimson King, since it’s National red wine day. But, unlike the King Crimson song, this is a happy occasion. There are no black queens with death marches. Although, there may be some wise men who share a joke or two. For, our Crimson King is descended from Bacchus himself. Eschew the purple piper for purple grapes, and come share joy in the court of the Crimson (wine) King.

Budweiser calls itself the King of beers. But, Red wine is the king of the wine world. And, the beauty of red wine is that it comes in so many varieties. Those who don’t like red wine speak from limited experience. While Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and wines like Pinotage are very assertive. Gamay Beaujoulais, Pinot Noir, and schiava hit the polar opposite of the red spectrum with sweet fruity wines low in acidity and tannin. And, most vintners use a combination of different grapes to create a unique drinking experience. Sure, white wines are, generally, smoother, lighter, and drink well chilled. But, reds are an explosion of flavor, and representative of the entire viticultural kingdom. So, let’s look at what makes red wine so special.

It’s more than Cabernet Sauvignon in The Court of the Crimson King

Bordeaux is the premier wine region of the world. It earned that reputation by producing the most iconic and, often, most expensive wines in the world. These are the wines of legend, and dare we say: The crimson King. The predominant grape varieties there are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Due to this legend: These 2 varieties are also the #1 and #2 most grown and sold varieties of wine in the world (not just Bordeaux). Cabernet is full bodied. Merlot is medium. But, depending on where and how they grow, they can have similar characteristic. Bordeaux has a unique climate and soil. But, nowadays, these grapes are grown in areas with higher or lower temperatures, and varying soils and altitudes which affect the grapes. As a general rule of thumb, warmer climates create heavier more distinct grapes. And, let’s not forget the effects of weather.

That’s why vintage plays such a key role in determining the greatness of a wine. Too much rain causes rot. Too little creates lesser grapes. While The 2 biggies here are relatively hardy, other grapes tend to be more temperamental. In the movie Sideways, Miles does a great speech on the difference between a grape like Pinot Noir vs Cabernet. He’s right that there is more of an art and care to fully express the potential of lesser known varieties. While acknowledging Cabernet’s status as a great grape, it’s ubiquity makes it (in Miles’s words): Prosaic. And, why would you want to drink just one type of grape. Of the top 10 grapes in the world, 7 are red. There are about 3 dozen major red wine grape varieties in the market. Many find their way into blends, Including the great wines of Bordeaux.

How do you choose?

People spend lifetimes in pursuit of the perfect glass of wine. Despite all the money, education, and resources, I hate to inform them: there is no such thing. Wine drinking is subjective. While one can describe a glass with a plethora of adjectives, descriptors, and flavor comparisons, its beauty is, ultimately, in the mouth of the beholder. You can train yourself to look for and even savor certain aspects in a glass. But, to truly appreciate a wine, it has to make sense to you and you alone. Anyone can tell you: this is the best wine, or this is rotgut. Anyone who claims it’s “the best” is lying. Although, if it’s rotgut, you may want to think twice. The best we can do is take in what reviewers say about certain wines to guide us toward a good one. But, in the end, the proof is in the tasting.

And, that’s where good reviews come in. Not a high score, but, the actual review itself. A good review says things like heavy on plum, a hint of raspberry and vanilla, moderate tannin, and a long finish. If you are pairing a wine with a lighter meal, that long finish may not be right for the moment. And, that’s what really makes for a great wine drinking experience: that perfect moment (as Spaulding Gray sought). Because there is no perfection, only times akin to a perfect moment. When the stars align, the meat is cooked to perfection, the vegetables have the right seasoning, the starch bends everything together, and the wine (yes, the wine) blends just right. The cassis notes , the flow of the liquid coating your tongue with an elixir of fruit, tannin, acidity, and just the right amount of moisture brings the moment to life.

A perfect moment in The Court of the Crimson King

A reliable, relatable reviewer is important when it comes to choosing a perfect wine. This holds true to all reviews. When you pick a restaurant for dinner, if you ask the attendant at the gas station he may send you to a diner. If you ask a hipster, that person will send you to some place with a $200 plate of flavored foam. Consider the source. The same applies to wine. If you read wine spectator, they cater to wine snobs. If you ask the clerk at a local beer and wine store, they’ll tell you what’s popular. You really need a more tailored recommendation. Some stores do have a trained professional on staff who can do that. And, don’t forget to read between the lines when reading or listening to someone. Look for those descriptors and picture how they fit into your planned wine drinking.

Ultimately, the best way to pick a wine is tasting it. While this isn’t always an option, there are many stores that offer wine tastings on a semi-regular basis, often even a daily sampling. But, beware, they are usually trying to boost sales of either something that isn’t moving well or steer you toward a wine they want to sell for a high mark up or other reason.That’s not to say you won’t find a good wine in those situations. You most definitely can. And, you can judge whether it will work with how you plan to serve it. But, beware, You may taste something in a store that seems great at the time. But, when you bring it home and have it with whatever you’re eating, it comes across as too harsh or just off for the situation. I don’t remember it being this sweet…

A brief overview of going red

7 of the top 10 wines are red. So, it’s pretty easy to get the common grapes. That doesn’t mean they are boring. You can get some good wines. The top red grapes are:

• Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, tempranillo, Syrah (shiraz), Trebbiano Toscano, Pinot Noir, grenache

But, there are dozens more to choose from. And, of course, there are blends to create a unique flavor. And, don’t forget terroire, climate, weather, and vintage year have profound impact on the wine you get. Before shopping, check to see what years were exceptional vintages for particular varieties. The difference from one year to the next can be dramatic. When Forest fires swept through Napa valley a few years ago, vintners were hit hard. This affected production quantity and quality for years. So, the task of figuring out a good vintage may be daunting. Luckily, there are some places that try to sum things up, like this chart from Wine enthusiast.

Although, these have their limitations. They only pick the top top varieties. And, they don’t take into account your personal subjective view of what you want in a wine. But, we hark back to actually reading reviews beyond the numbers. Whether it’s reading a review, watching a video, or talking to a wine expert, the important thing is the characteristics of the wine. Look for terms like fruit forward, dry vs sweet, tannin levels, body, finish, and a variety of fruit descriptors. With reds you’ll hear a lot of plum, various berries, cassis, and things like tobacco and leather. Your job is to visualize the combination of flavors with mouthfeel and aftertaste.

An array of characters in the court of the crimson king

The purple piper, black queen, pattern juggler, and yellow Jester aren’t the only characters in the court. Red wines range from light and fruity to heavy and dry, and everything in between. That’s why blends are very popular. This is the vintners own combination of ingredients. While some vintners experiment with flavors, there are a few staple combinations that have their own name. Bordeaux is not a variety of wine, but a combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and a couple other varieties changed at will. The classic Rhone style wine is a combination of Grenache, Syrah, and mourvedre (shortened to GSM). Chianti is a Sangiovese blend and Rioja starts with Tempranillo.

So, now you see why wine drinking is such an obsession to many people. Not only do varieties have good and bad years, the cast of characters is constantly changing. Even some wines sold as a particular variety usually incorporate a second or third blending wine to balance them. Blends try to accomplish a happy medium since a straight light wine lacks oomph, while heavier wines may be too cloying or overbearing. So, your task for today is to enjoy some red wine, not the most expensive or highest rated, but something that makes sense to you. Your best bet is to do a tasting. Most liquor stores offer samples these days. Or you can go to a restaurant or wine bar and order a flight. Either way, it’s time to pay homage in the court of the crimson king.

And, don’t forget to pair the wine with some red friendly food like these recipes:

Vegetarian Lasagna

cheffd

Print Recipe

Prep Time 45 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Cooling time 2 hours hrs

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Servings 12 Servings

Ingredients

  

• 3 Lb Ricotta Cheese
• 1.5 Lb Mozzarella Cheese
• 4 Oz Parmesan Cheese
• 2 Quart Marinara sauce Preferably Home made
• 1 Pint Diced Onion
• 1 Pint Diced Carrot
• 8 Ounces Fresh Spinach
• 2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh garlic
• 1 Cup Chiffonade Fresh Basil
• 2 Each Large Eggs
• 12 Sheets Lasagna Noodles
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• olive oil for cooking

Instructions

 

• Cook Lasagna noodles in salted boiling water according to instructions on package. be sure to stir while cooking to prevent sheets from sticking together. When cooked, remove from water and toss lightly in oil. Cool naturally spread out on a sheet pan. Alternatively, you can cool in ice water. Set aside
• Cut all your vegetables. Saute onions, carrots, and garlic in olive oil, lightly season with salt and pepper. Cool these in a mixing bowl.
• In a separate pan, saute the spinach just until wilted, Lightly season as it is cooking. Transfer it to a fine strainer and push out as much liquid as possible. Don't overcook. It may take several batches depending on how big a pan you have. Allow to cool. Then add to mixing bowl with onion, carrot, and garlic. Add in the basil.
• Whisk the eggs in a small bowl.
• Add the ricotta, parmesan, and 2/3 of the mozzarella to the vegetable mix. Fold in the eggs, and mix everything well.
• Preheat oven to 350.
• Spray a 9 by 12 casserole or 1/2 hotel pan with pan spray. Spread an even layer of sauce on the bottom. Place lasagna noodles side by side to make a layer on top of the sauce. Spread cheese filling on top of this. Top with sauce. Then repeat this process for another layer. You want 2 to 3 layers. Top the top layer of pasta with sauce and mozzarella cheese.
• Bake for about an hour until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. The cheese should be a golden brown. Check after about 1/2 hour. If it is browning too quickly, you can cover it with plastic wrap and foil. Be sure to remove the coverings for the last 10 or 15 minutes for better coloring. It may take a little over an hour depending on your oven. That's why it's important to check the internal temperature.
• Cool completely. Put in fridge when it is cool enough to handle and let it set up. This can be done overnight. Once fully set. Cut portions, and separate them. Reheat as desired. If you aren't going to eat all of the portions within a few days, individually wrap and freeze extras. They are a great go to meal.

Keyword 3 cheese, Lasagna, Layers, Pasta, sauce, vegetables