Finger Lakes Wine of the Week:
Zugibe Vineyards 2011 4 Freds Red
By Nicholas Baldwin
With a few picture-perfect weekends in hand, it’s a sure thing that the grills are fired up and searing all different cuts of juicy steaks. Aptly named after four generations of Freds in the Zugibe family, the 2011 Zugibe Vineyards 4 Freds Red is a blend of 30-percent Cabernet Franc, 30-percent Merlot, 30-percent Lemberger and 10-percent Cabernet Sauvignon that is a perfect partner to hearty meats off the grill.
Each grape complements the other nicely and gives the wine a beautiful garnet hue with aromas of cedar, licorice, ripe raspberries, cherry, vanilla and lingering notes of plum. The 2011 4 Freds Red is a medium-to-full bodied wine with medium tannins that tickle the inner sides of your cheeks. It has nice acidity that matches the 13-percent alcohol-by-volume.
With Father’s Day just a few weeks away, the 2011 Zugibe Vineyards 4 Freds Red would make a perfect gift along with thick cut ribeye steak for Dad to season up and toss on the open flame. It would also make a nice pairing with grilled pork and veggies, aged Gouda cheese and dark chocolate truffles from your local patisserie for dessert. This wine packs a pleasant punch for $22 and it is well worth it. Check your local wine shop for this bottle.
Nicholas Baldwin has worked in the wine and spirits business for more than 12 years and traveled the world visiting vineyards. He holds numerous wine certifications.
For more of Nicholas Baldwin’s wine tasting notes, click here.
