Stretch your budget and please your palate | Phil Your Glass
It’s all fun and games until the credit card bills arrive. The idea of sending your mom seven swans a-swimming seemed just ducky back in December. January, however, is when we realize just how many halls we decked over the holidays. It’s time to tighten our belts and use restraint with every purchase. That includes bottles of wine.
Skimping on quality, though, is not an option.
I kissed a lot of frogs to find this under-$10 beauty from Portugal. The 2020 Guarda Rios red blend is a bottle you can enjoy long after your tax return arrives from the IRS. This one's a keeper.
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Just to be certain, I sampled it on four occasions with an array of different foods. It’s a blend of 40% aragonez (tempranillo), 25% syrah, with trincadeira and Alicante Bouschet balancing out the remainder. For me, I don’t care if I can pronounce the name of the grape. It’s what’s inside that matters. And with this bottle, $9.99 never tasted so fine.
The flavors of black raspberry and red plum were perfect with my carryout order from R&B Street Tacos & More. I came upon this new-to-me Mexican restaurant while driving north on State Road just before I got to Steels Corners Road. My sister and I were quite happy with our chicken tostada, chicken taco and barbacoa beef burrito. The chips and queso were tasty also.
The winery suggested fish as a good pairing with this tinto blend, so I picked up an order of seared ahi tuna from the Giant Eagle Market District’s sushi counter. The pairing was so delicious that I will try a bottle next time I pick up carryout sushi. Grab a hunk of your favorite aged Gouda. You’ll love how it enhances this wine.
After four bottles, I am quite certain this wine will stretch your wine drinking pleasure and budget. Don’t forget to buy six bottles to get your 10% discount. You might want to keep a few bottles on hand for when you neighbor Gordie the Guzzler stops over.
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Look for another budget-friendly wine in my column next week.
Buy this wine at Mustard Seed Market Montrose, Krieger’s Market, Cornerstone Market in Munroe Falls, Beau's Market in Copley, HomeBuys in North Canton, Top Shelf of Ohio in Jackson Township
Send me an email at philyourglass@gmail.com with any wine questions and follow me on Instagram @pmasturzo_philyourglass
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Value wine Guarda Rios under $10 tastes delicious: Phil Your Glass
