WHINE # 73

LEFTOVER WINE:   Occasionally (in my case rarely) there is wine left in the bottle.  The question is how to keep it for the next day.   Still white wine is rarely a problem.  Replace the cork, or simply cover the neck of the bottle with plastic wrap, and put it in the refrigerator.  It will be fine for two or three days.

Still reds don’t keep nearly as well as whites, but sealed and kept cold they will probably be fine the next day.  There are devices on the market that extract the air from the bottle in order to slow the deterioration of the wine.  I have not found these to work all that well.  The main thing is to not leave the bottle on the counter.  Oxidation occurs much faster when the wine is warm.

All of this leads me to the problem of leftover sparkling wine.  It is always a treat to share a glass of bubbly as a starter to a meal.  However, one frequently wants to switch to a still wine when the food arrives, particularly if it is red meat.  What do you now do with a half bottle of Champagne or Cava or Prosecco?

Clearly the special corks that are used for sparkling wines (you know the ones that rapidly expand once pulled), like a genie, cannot be put back in the bottle.  Nonetheless, the wine must be sealed completely; otherwise the effervescence will dissipate and the wine will be ruined.    I recently discovered that if you put the wine in a plastic water bottle (and a 500 ml bottle may be the perfect size for the leftover bubbly) and tightly screw on the cap, the wine will be just as bubbly the next day. 

One final bit of advice:  When you open the plastic bottle do so out of sight of whomever you are serving.  There is nothing elegant about pouring $ 60. Champagne from a plastic water bottle.

LOUIS MARTINI:  Like many others I love a good Cabernet Sauvignon and like most others I think the best Cabs come from California.  Unfortunately California Cabs have been rising in price, and it is not always easy to find a good but affordable Cabernet.

One California winery that stands out for value is Louis Martini.  In 1933 Louis Martini, an Italian immigrant, was one of the first five to open a winery in the Napa Valley following prohibition.  His winery mostly produced bulk wines, but also some better wines.  In 2002 the winery was purchased by Gallo (largest wine company in the world) and the quality of the wines has been steadily improving since that acquisition.  I should point out that the grandson, Michael Martini, is still involved and manages the winery.

Why am I writing about this particular winery?  First, the wines are widely available (Quebec being an unusual exception) and, second, Louis Martini produces  a wide range of fine Cabernets.

For everyday affordable drinking their entry level Cabernet is simply called Louis Martini Sonoma.  More expensive but worth the price jump is either the Louis Martini Alexander Valley or the Louis Martini Napa.  For very special occasions the Louis Martini Monte Rossa Series is magnificent.  Finally their top wine is called Lot 1.  I can’t comment on this one because it’s definitely out of my price range.

RED CAP INN:  It is always great to find a restaurant that has good food and that also allows you to bring your own wine for only a corkage fee.  This past summer while travelling in Nova Scotia we decided to stay at the Red Cap Inn in West Pubnico.  The restaurant has a reputation for excellent fresh seafood.  We were not disappointed. 

The 6-room motel was clean, comfortable and basic.  The restaurant was modest in décor, but offered incredibly fresh seafood at very low prices.  West Pubnico, of course, is one of Nova Scotia’s most successful fishing villages.  To our surprise there was no corkage fee, even though the restaurant had its own wines and spirits available.

Finally, we lucked out in that we were there on a night when they had live music.  Our expectations were not particularly high, but our chanteuse, Yvette d’Entremont,  kept us in the restaurant until closing.  And we now frequently play one of her CD’s.  If you ever get a chance to hear  her sing, don’t pass it up.

If you haven’t been to West Pubnico, it’s a lovely place for a summer visit.  Drop down to the wharf and watch the large fleet of fishing boats, take along a good bottle of wine to the Red Cap Inn, and don’t forget a visit to the West Pubnico Golf and Country Club.

OPIMIAN OFFERING 247:  Although this offering features some fine Chablis and some excellent reds from northern Italy, my recommendations are for two inexpensive but very drinkable wines from the south of Italy.  9029 Montepulciano D’Abruzzo goes with heavier food, and 9045 Colpasso Nero D’Avola from Sicily will be perfect with pasta and Sicilian sausage.