By Matt Palaferri
Well the holidays are over, the chaos and scrambling to make everyone happy is behind us, and now it’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy some quiet time. Back to some casual dinners, some steaks on the grill and some nice wines.
When I talk to friends about wine, it’s funny how seasonally people drink the adult grape juice. Some folks only drink red when it’s winter time and only drink white when the suns out. Certainly, drink what you like and like what you drink, but it’s totally acceptable to drink Sauvignon Blanc during the cold of winter and to sip on a nice Cabernet in the middle of summer.
I have a few wines that are great anytime whether it’s day or night, winter or summer. The Kunde family has been farming the Sonoma Valley for more than 100 years! They began sustainable farming when Woodrow Wilson was in office and have continued to do things the right way not only thinking about making great wines, but caring about our planet as well. If you want great wines and would like to support a great family, pick up a wine from Kunde.
2017 Magnolia Lane Sauvignon Blanc
Very crisp, dry Sauvignon Blanc with lemon zest, key lime and jasmine. This wine can pair well with so many dishes including oysters, goat cheese, grilled chicken and shrimp cocktail to name a few. This is such a nice wine that both Chardonnay drinkers and Sancerre aficionados will enjoy it.
2015 Kunde Estate Merlot
I love merlot. I think a lot of people do, but they don’t buy it or order it off a wine list. Merlot is soft, easy to drink, great with food or by itself watching your favorite curling team. This is a unique wine from the Kunde estate from rich volcanic soil that creates a big taste with soft tannins. Dark fruit rounds out this great merlot and it finishes with a hint of caramel.
2014 Kunde Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
We can’t finish up with Kunde without talking about Kunde Cabernet. This is a full-bodied cab that actually taste like a cab. It’s balanced with oak, acidity and a ton of fruit. It’s 95% cab with Petit Verdot and Malbec for good measure. It’s dark, rich and ready to drink. You could certainly sit it down for a few years, but who has time to do that? Drink it!
