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The summer cookout is a staple of the season, and if you’re a vegetarian (or you’ve got friends and family that are) portobello mushrooms are a fantastic choice. Of course, nothing elevates a hearty meal like the right bottle of wine, and there are a lot of great small-production wineries making top-notch stuff. So, we figure, why not enhance the tradition of the American cookout with some boutique, uniquely American wines? Here are some great bottles to enjoy when you’re grilling portobello mushrooms:
Cass 2013 Mourvedre
Grape(s): 100% Mourvedre
Region: Paso Robles, Ca
Price: 35-40
Tasting Notes:
Aromas of raspberries, cherries, and pomegranates meld with traces of spice, game, and minerals on the nose. A sip delivers flavors of bright red berries and pomegranate along with accents of pepper, butterscotch, and rose petal. Robust flavors and plush tannins make it a fine pairing for portobello mushrooms topped with roasted tomatoes and a balsamic drizzle. 730 cases produced.
Rating: 89
Comanche Cellars 2013 Tempranillo
Grape(s): 100% Tempranillo
Region: San Benito County, Ca
Price: 25-30
Tasting Notes:
Notes of blackberries, blueberries, and plums combine with suggestions of spice and smoked meat on the nose. Flavors of blueberry, blackberry, and cherry open up into nuances of pepper and smoke on the palate. Fruit driven with robust non-fruit highlights, it’s an ideal wine to enjoy with portobello burgers. 125 cases were made.
Rating: 90
Zenaida Cellars 2013 “ZC Red” Blend
Grape(s): 60% Petite Sirah, 25% Cabernet, & 15% Syrah,
Region: Paso Robles, Ca
Price: 20-25
Tasting Notes:
Cherry, blackberry, and cranberry aromas mingle with hints of tobacco and white pepper on the nose. With a sip, flavors of bramble berries, cranberries, and bing cherries interweave with whispers of smoky oak and spice. Lush, yet lively, a portobello covered with sauteed onions and crumbled Gorgonzola would be a fine companion. 370 cases produced.
Rating: 89
Eberle 2012 Barbera
Grape(s): 100% Barbera
Region: Paso Robles, Ca
Price: 25-30
Tasting Notes:
A bouquet of cherries, raspberries, white pepper, and bacon rises up from a glass. The palate reveals flavors of cherry, boysenberry, and raspberry that come together with traces of smoky earth and all-spice. Vibrant flavors and acidity, make it a very food friendly wine. 528 cases were made.
Rating: 90
Midnight Cellars 2012 “Starlight” Sangiovese
Grape(s): 100% Sangiovese
Region: Paso Robles, Ca
Price: 30-35
Tasting Notes:
Aromatics of raspberries, pomegranates, and strawberries are accented by hints of spice and vanilla on the nose. Pomegranate, raspberry, and cherry flavors unfold into allusions of baking spice, vanilla, and minerals on the palate. Bright with a friendly acidity, pair a glass with a portobello burger topped with fresh mozzarella and a balsamic vinegar drizzle. 143 cases produced.
Rating: 89
Cambiata 2013 Pinot Noir
Grape(s): 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Monterey County, Ca
Price: 20-25
Tasting Notes:
The nose offers aromas of cherries, plums, and boysenberries that blend with traces of cola, bacon, and smoke. Flavors of cherry, plum, and bramble fruit combine with highlights of sweet spice, cola, and white pepper on the palate. A welcoming acidity and elegant tannins make this wine a fine pairing for grilled mushrooms. 682 cases were made.
Rating: 89
Sol Rouge 2012 “Gypsy Rouge” Blend
Grape(s): 76% Grenache, 13% Mourvedre, 4% Syrah, 3% Counoise, 3% Cinsault, 1% Petite Sirah
Region: Lake County, Ca
Price: 25-30
Tasting Notes:
Fragrances of blackberries, cherries, and raspberries come together with hints of spice and dusty earth on the nose. Blackberry, cherry, and cranberry flavors flow into suggestions of white pepper, minerals, and baking spice on the palate. A supple red with easy-going tannins but vivid flavors, it’s ideal to enjoy at your next cookout. 350 cases were made.
Rating: 90
Check out our other segments of Great Wines When You’re Grilling
