Reds and Whites Fit For a King and Merrymaking

It seems a special selection of wine was "entombed with the boy king to quench his thirst for all eternity," and it has inspired the folks at the Royal BC Museum to host an evening of tasting entitled "Tut-ankhamun's Wine Cellar" to discuss the wine found in the Egyptian pharaoh's tomb.

Leonard Lesko, Egyptologist, ancient wine specialist and author of King Tut's Wine Cellar, will headline the event and share his knowledge of wines and winemaking during the time of the pharaohs.

The wines available for sampling, although younger, will be related to the muscat wines of King Tutankhamen's time and will include Blue Grouse Winery's Black Muscat (from nearby Duncan) and the Hillside Vineyards' Muscat Ottonel out of the Okanagan.

Muscat grapes were used extensively in ancient Egyptian wine and are well known for their fragrant perfume and fresh, fruity flavour. Their inherent sweetness no doubt convinced the Egyptians that if any wine was going to age, this would be it.

Egyptian-themed cuisine, prepared by local chef Todd Neil of the Gatsby Mansion, will also be on hand including the likes of Babaghanou and Pita, Fasolia Khadra Lil Salata (tomato and green bean salad) and Seliq Tahini Mulukhiyya (roasted lamb with lentil-stuffed swiss chard rolls, apricot compote and crispy leeks).

In the case of King Tutankhamen's famous tomb, it housed 26 bottles of wine from 10 vintners, marked with the labels "good," "very good" or "for merrymaking."

Speaking of merrymaking, keep you eyes open for a new-to-the-market Lujuria Merlot - Monastrell 2002. Lujuria is one of those savvy Vancouver wine stories. North Shore artist Melanie St. George had her art spotted at the Esplanade Starbucks and the next thing you know it's on the label of Lujuria, an inexpensive Spanish red imported by Next Beverage.

In this overtaxed market, a wine that sells for $8.95 is always welcomed, but this 70/30 blend of monastrell (mourvedre) and merlot is much more than inexpensive. Look for an earthy, dark, chocolate-scented red with plum fruit undertones. Simple grilled meat dishes will work here.

The equivalent must-have white is the latest release of Les Fumees Blanches Sauvignon 2003. The Midi sauvignon could be the best-value white in the market. Notes of mineral, lees and smoky citrus aromas mix with green apple skin and melon to great effect. Both elegant and fresh, you will be hard pressed not to like its green apple, melon, pink grapefruit and passion fruit flavours. It's perfect for most seafood dishes and a Stelvin (screwcap) closure assures it will remain fresh and be interminably easy to open.

Similarly restrained is the Chateau de Chasseloir Muscadet de Sevre et Maine Sur Lie 2002 from the Loire Valley. Look for mineral, red apple and smoky, quince aromas. It's dry, round and delicate in style yet balanced with citrus peel, mineral, baked green apple flavours. It's clean, fresh and stylish, a perfect foil for sauteed sole and poached oysters.

Domaine du Theron Cahors Cuvee Tradition 2000 is an ode to cabernet franc with a dash of merlot from southwest France. The nose is a mix of peppery, waxy, earthy, black cherry fruit with smoky licorice undercurrents. This is a big rich, blocky wine with black cherry, licorice, earthy, clove flavours. It's smooth and warm (alcoholic) with some tannin to shed. If you drink it now, try with an oven-roasted duck or goose.

My last two picks are a study in shiraz/syrah.

First up is an impressive $30 screwcap: Wolf Blass Shiraz Viognier Gold Label 2002. The cool Adelaide Hills-based red has an aromatic fresh ground black pepper nose mixed with smoky roasted pepper and licorice. The palate is round and elegant with black plum jam, coriander, vanilla and smoky cassis flavours and a long, juicy, spicy finish. Nice styling and a decidedly different style from past Blass oak bombs. Good acidity and the screwcap finish ensure this wine will have a bright future.

The Cuvaison Syrah 2000 from Napa Valley is a true syrah, not shiraz. Blackberry, gamy, garrigue, saddle leather and smoke mix effortlessly with licorice and black plum flavours and a meaty, floral, chocolate licorice. Drink now or over the next two to five years. Excellent.

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Tutankhamun's Wine Cellar takes place at the Royal British Columbia Museum on Sept. 25 at 5 p.m.; admission is $60. The tasting will feature both B.C. wines made from muscat grapes related to those of ancient Egypt, and modern Egyptian wines presented by Lesko from the department of Egyptology at Brown University. Tickets may be purchased in person at the museum, by phone at 250-387-4007, or by a faxable registration form from the on-line events calendar at www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca.

Weekend Tasting: Wines fit for a king
 
WINE: Lujuria Merlot - Monastrell 2002, Yecla, Spain
PRICE; $8.95
UPC: 8422445001178
SCORE: 86/100
COMMENTS: Good value dry Spanish red made for grilled foods and tapas.

WINE: Les Fumees Blanches Sauvignon 2003, Languedoc, France
PRICE: $11.33
UPC: 721298769522
SCORE: 88/100
COMMENTS: Ridiculous value in an easy- to-use screwcap.

WINE: Chateau de Chasseloir Muscadet de Sevre et Maine Sur Lie 2002, Loire, France
PRICE: $20.65
UPC: 015643801013
SCORE: 88/100
COMMENTS: Super fresh and stylish seafood wine; serve with sole or oysters.

WINE: Domaine du Theron Cahors Cuvee Tradition 2000, Cahors, France
PRICE: $20.65
UPC: 3760065650066
SCORE: 87/100
COMMENTS: Huge smoky, black cherry, licorice, spicy red for rustic dishes.

WINE: Wolf Blass Shiraz Viognier Gold Label 2002, Adelaide Hills, South Australia
PRICE: $29.99
UPC: 098137333474
SCORE: 91/100
COMMENTS: Fresh-ground black pepper, plums and coriander. Big time screwcap.

WINE: Cuvaison Syrah 2000, Napa Valley, California
PRICE: $47.95
UPC: 082148087723
SCORE: 93/100
COMMENTS: True syrah: blackberry, smoked game, garrigue with licorice and black plum.

*VQA and selected private wine shops