Smile and Show Your Purpley Tooth

It was supposed to be an afternoon of fun aimed at the kids. Bring all the kids over and let them play around on our humongous playhouse; they’ll tire out and both you and they will have a good night’s sleep. The kids were having a great time so we decided to continue the play through dinner. Everyone stay for burgers on the grill (something that can be done in Florida all year long) we said and they did. I discreetly move over towards my husband and whisper the question everyone else was wondering about, “Should we open a bottle of wine?” Sure why not. The kids have been playing all afternoon; let the adults have a turn. The quandary then turned to which wine to open. As I stood in front of the wine cooler – much like a kid in front of the fridge wondering what exactly to get – I finally drew out the Dusted Valley Stained Tooth Syrah. This is an exceptional wine made from a blend of co-fermented Syrah (85%), Viognier, Mourvedre and Grenache (5% each). The scents drift out of the glass and offer the nose a rapture of dark fruits. The tannins are ripe and offer a silky, lengthy finish. Mind you this wine isn’t called “Stained Tooth” for no reason. After one sip and swirl around the mouth, your teeth and tongue turn a plum color. By the time the glass has been fully enjoyed, your mouth is the color of a purple Crayola. This coloration is confirmation of the greatness of the wine. Because red wines get their color from the grape’s skin, you may be able to determine fullness of body. If the skin is in contact with the wine juice for a longer period of time, the wine will be darker and more full-bodied. On the flip side, less contact a lighter color – this is how some rosés are made. You may also be able to tell what kind of wine it is; lighter coloration comes from grape with softer, thinner skins like Pinot Noir or Beaujolais. Color in wine also offers you a glimpse of the age of a wine and whether it has had contact with wood. A red wine will develop tawny to brown hues in it as it ages. Back to the wonders of the Stained Tooth Syrah – we enjoyed the wine with the grilled burgers, grilled pineapple and a tasty bow-tie pasta salad whose dressing was not at all too vinegary. Needless to say it turned out to be a fun day for both the kids and the grown-ups!