The Connections Warren-Watchung Edition Feb 2020

PAGE 41 Located in Warren Unique Wine Shop Including SALE ITEMS! With several exceptions. 15% OFF Your Entire Purchase With this coupon. Offer valid now thru March 31, 2020. 61 Mountain Blvd (Next to Lukas’ Restaurant) At intersection with 2 massive American Flags. Ph: 908-222-WINE Town Center Dr Lukas’ Seafood & Grille WC10Below winecentrals10below JUST GREAT WINES. $10.97 AND BELOW. Each wine carefully chosen. Most are $15 and up regular price. A wine blog by Debbie Vanderbeek 10 Below is fully stocked with all types of varietals to help you through the next few months of winter. Focus on a good book, streaming your favorite show or just spend time with friends. A wonderful assortment of red wines has been curated to accompany you on your journey! G RAPESINTHE G LASS Emporia Ekho Rioja, Spain 2014 If you are looking for a good red sipping wine, this is it. The tempranillo grape makes for a medi- um bodied red, with soft tannins and red fruit fla- vors. A hint of the garna- cia grape balances out the fruitiness. The Empo- ria Estate handpicks and presses their own organ- ic grapes, and matures them at the vineyard for a minimum of six months to ensure a higher quality end product. 10% of the profits are donated to non-prof- it charities annually. This wine is easy drink- ing and is versatile enough to pair with just about any food choice. I recommend always having a bottle on hand. Reg.price: $14.99 / Sale price: $10.97 Chateau Les Millaux Bordeaux, France 2018 Fun fact: This Bordeaux wine is 100% Merlot! Typically a Bordeaux wine is a blend of both Cabernet and Merlot grapes. Depending on the location of the vine- yards the percentages of the blend changes, which accounts for the many nuances and complexities of a Bordeaux. This wine is very well rounded and balanced for a sin- gle grape wine. Although the wine is fairly young, the ruby color is very pronounced as is the roundness of the flavors. The tannins are soft, yet the wine packs a burst of flavor that has some finish. This wine definitely benefits from some airtime. Open the bottle early and watch how the flavors change from the first to the last glass. Smooth enough to drink on its own and bold enough to pair with coq au vin, veal osso bucco, or a plain old cheese burger! Reg. price: $13.99 / Sale price: $9.97 Casa Santos Lima Colossal Reserva Lisbon, Portugal 2014 Colossal, a big name for a big wine. Wine Specta- tor rated this wine 90 points! Wine.com sold out at $24.99! From the first pronounced whiff you know the flavors will not disappoint. This Por- tuguese red blend is deep ruby in color. First sip shows dark black fruit, along with mint and oak notes thanks to aging in both French and American barrels. This wine is definitely higher in tannins, but with some aging already on the bottle they are not overbearing. The tannins round out the intensity of the fruit and provide a nice fin- ish. Cook up a big juicy steak or a comfort- ing pasta dish for Valentine’s Day and let this wine shine. This was my personal favorite. Reg. price: $14.99 / Sale price $10.97 Antico Fuoco Rosso Veronese IGT, Italy 2018 Fondly referred to as a “Baby Amarone”, this intense, full-bodied wine does not disappoint. A rare red blend of grapes results in a well-bal- anced, drinkable wine. Rich in color and taste, this wine needs a hearty accompaniment. Start with a plate of salty parmesan cheese and finish with a beef bourguignon or venison. Again, this wine will benefit from time in an open bottle or in the glass. Decanting is a great option that will enhance your drinking experience. Reg. price: $14.99 / Sale price: $10.97 Dining Out theconnectionsnj.com