The Connections Warren Watchung Edition Feb-March 2021

theconnectionsnj.com PAGE 31 DINING & TAKE OUT Including SALE ITEMS! With several exceptions. 1 5% OFF Your Entire Purchase 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 G RAPESINTHE G LASS Hierogram Chardonnay Russian River Valley, California 2018 Rosso Di Toscana Montalcino, Italy 2012 El Porvenir Amauta Valle de Cafayate, Salta, Argentina 2018 Azeitao, Portugal 2017 Periquita Reserva Exceptional Wines • Many Highly Rated & Single Vineyard With this coupon. Offer valid now thru March 31, 2021 2020 is a year that many would like to forget. 2021 holds the promise of the return to our old lives. However, right now we are still spending the majority of our time home together working, cooking, eating and drinking! Finding the right wines to make our evenings and small gatherings feel complete is very important. Don’t fret, 10 BELOW is here for you! The wines featured below can fill all of your needs. Start with the smooth, and pleasantly fresh Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley. Light the fireplace and sit back to enjoy a wonderful sipping Tuscan red. When it’s time to eat, move on to the choices from Argentina and Portugal. If you are still looking for something else, just ask. Enjoy! Just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean, in the heart of Sonoma, lies the Russian River Valley. While best known for its Pinot Noir, Russian River Chardonnay wines have recently made their way to the forefront. This wine clearly displays the prominent Russian River Valley traits of a clean, fruity and floral nose. It is light bodied and filled with flavors of honeysuckle, vanilla, and pears with a hint of spice. A smooth, flavorful and balanced white wine to sip alone, or pair with any chicken or fish dish! Excellent choice for the price! Reg. price: $15.99 / Sale price: $10.97 Reg. price: $13.99 / Sale price: $9.97 Reg. price: $15.99 / Sale price: $10.97 Reg. price: $15.99 / Sale price: $10.97 Malbec lovers take note and try this Absoluto –Tannat. This small, family owned vineyard specializes in Torrontes, Malbec, Tannat and redblends grownon45-50 year old vinesatveryhighaltitudes. Extreme- ly sunny anddry conditions yieldan inky redwine intense inboth color andflavor. Eachmouthful tastes of ripe raspberries, plums and raisins. I strongly recommendopening the bottle and letting it breathe before dinner. This is definitely a food driven wine with a strong finish thatmakes it aperfect choice for a juicy steakor ribs. It would also pair well with hard, salty cheeses. Datingbackto1850,Periquitawine is renowned for being Portugal’s first bottled redwine! Ablendof three indigenous grapes, Castelao, Touriga Nacional and Touriga Francesca, produce a wine with a sweet aroma anda complex taste. Periquitatastesofblackfruits,think blackberries and currants. The finishhas herbal traces ofmint and eucalyptus. The fruit and herbs balance out to provide a smooth and persistent finish. Another great choice for aheartymeat dish, or a pasta with lamb ragu or a thick red sauce. Each wine carefully chosen. Most are $15 and up regular price. ALWAYS on SALE $10.97 AND BELOW GrapesintheGlass A wine blog by Debbie Vanderbeek Ifyouhavebeenfortunateenough to visit Tuscany, this wine will transport you right back! Close your eyes and remember the red wineservedwithlunchattheopen- air trattoria. Thefirst taste is of red fruits and ripe cherries followed by a soft, slightly tanic feel on the palate. These tannins provide just the right amount of body to balance out the concentration of fruit. It’s the careful blendingof Sangiovese,Merlot andCabernetgrapesthatmakesthisanidealeveryday drinking wine for a red wine lover. I can safely say this is a wine suited for just about any meal. Villa Jolanda Reg. price $12.99/ Sale price: $9.97