Interesting wine/food match

I'm in Durham for a couple of days for a meeting and went to "Anotherthyme" restaurant last night. I tried some Gnarley Head Zinfandel ?year - I believe from California as a match for some Indonesian style curried vegetables over brown rice. The food was only mildly cayenned but very spicey in terms of curry, ginger, etc.

The bartender let me taste the wine before I ordered it (slow Monday night) and I thought it was berry berry but flabby. By that I mean, no real acids or tannins. It did not seem overwhelmingly oaked. At the same time, I thought it was relatively low alcohol until he told me it was 14.5%!! So it carries its alcohol well and I thought it might work. It did. Very complementary and when there's no riesling, I'll look for this style wine when eating spicey foods.

Yes I know that beer works but I was in the mood for some wine.

Good choice. With that cuisine we usually go with a Zin or a Shiraz, or a Riesling or a Gewutz; OR a brewski.

Anotherthyme was one of my favorite Triangle area restaurants when I first started dining in that area. With the new restaurants opening in Raleigh and the greater distance to Durham I haven't been back to Anotherthyme in quite awhile. (Sometimes get to Nana's in Durham where Scott Howell is the chef.) Although I usually ordered meat dishes at Anotherthyme, they also have several good vegetarian dishes available on the menu.

Quite to my surprise, I have found that the best beverage to have with curried anything (and especially when there's cayenne involved) is plain kefir, or buttermilk in a pinch. Beer just doesn't seem right to me, although a low-alcohol MSR Riesling with some r.s. might work.

Anotherthyme was one of my favorite Triangle area restaurants when I first started dining in that area. With the new restaurants opening in Raleigh and the greater distance to Durham I haven't been back to Anotherthyme in quite awhile. (Sometimes get to Nana's in Durham where Scott Howell is the chef.) Although I usually ordered meat dishes at Anotherthyme, they also have several good vegetarian dishes available on the menu.

JC
Just got back from a meal at Magnolia Grill. Ooooh baby what a fine meal. Tomorrow night will be Vin Rouge.

Good choice. With that cuisine we usually go with a Zin or a Shiraz, or a Riesling or a Gewutz; OR a brewski.

I was worried that the California Zins would be too woody or alcoholic. Not the case with this one. The only Riesling on the menu was too sweet.

So if the Zin worked, do you think a Primitivo might also?

do you think a Primitivo might also?

It might work if it was a California Primitivo. I'm not trying to be funny or coy; there really is such a thing. A few wineries are making it from vineyards with a Primitivo clone. I guess I'm a firm believer in place being almost as important as grape. For example show me a California Barbera that tastes like an Italian one. I'm not knocking either; they just don't taste the same.

Interesting concept. I think you're right though. I love Unti's Barbera. It's unlike other California wines and it goes with food like Italian Barbera does but... it's not exactly Italian Barbera, I think. On the other hand, I'm sure I'm not good enough to be able to tell that in a blind tasting..

Howard,
Let me know your opinion of Vin Rouge. I haven't been there yet.

Very nice. Fun pretty extensive wine list including good choices by the glass. Many bottles in the 25 - 50 dollar range, lots of southern french rhone, rousaillon, loire choices were there. Food was really good French bistro. Chef's specials tonight were rabbitt pate, duck breast with bacon, spaetzle, cabbage. Manager recommended a pinot gris with the pate that just sang. The wait person recommended a Saint Jermaine Cote du Rhone with the duck that was superb. If I'm ever back in Durham, I'll revisit. Oh yeah, the waitstaff either really likes what they do or they pretend well. Service was excellent without being obtrusive. I saw many smiles, and easy comraderie amongst them. Really friendly, competent atmosphere. I enjoyed it very much.

The food choices you mention all sound good to me. Also the selections of wine by the glass. Guess I will have to add Vin Rouge to my future dining list. Thanks for the review Howard.