Chef Linton Hopkins of Atlanta's Restaurant Eugene and Holeman and Finch was just named a Top New Chef by Food and Wine Magazine. Chef Hopkins is a force to be reckoned with. His Holeman and Finch Public House won Best Overall Pairing in the RIding Dirty Wine Pairing Challenge and he's genuinely rocked the house in the South and beyond.
When asked by Food and Wine to name his favorite wine, he responded with Yellow + Blue... What many would consider boxed wine. ???????????????? On the surface, many would think that either this is a belated April Fools joke, or that he has zero palate for wine. But--- I recently tasted these wines, and I really like them. Like "Fo' Real!" like them.
These are not your typical "boxed" wines. They are in Tetra Pak versus a bulky, cardboard, bladder type box, they are vintage, organic, and actually tasty. They are more environmentally friendly than a traditional glass bottle, have a smaller carbon footprint, and the package is 95% wine and 5% package... Plus they come in 1 liter packs versus 750ML bottles. (Who doesn't want more wine?)
Most of us have become accepting of screwcaps or alternative closures for our "drink now" wines. These wines in Tetra Pak work very much the same. These wines in them are made for immediate consumption and are not meant to benefit from aging. With this being the case with many wines, why not put them in the most environmentally friendly (and cost effective) packaging available?
I tried both the Yellow + Blue Torrontes and Malbec. Initially the Torrontes was a little narrow, refreshing, and pleasantly balanced (medium bodied, medium acids, medium + finish). But after a few minutes of being opened, it became wonderfully floral and lively. Very surprising!
The Malbec was solid. Blackberry, a little herbal, full bodied, smooth, medium soft tannins, and a long decent finish. I am not in love with Malbec, but I found this solid, food friendly, and open fer bizness!
Are these wines mindbendingly complex, or will they bring you face to face with the alien overlords? No. But they are tasty and will change the way you will accept alternative packaging.
I've had a few other wines in Tetra Pak that I despised.... (I am being polite). Yellow + Blue is very very different.
When asked by Food and Wine to name his favorite wine, he responded with Yellow + Blue... What many would consider boxed wine. ???????????????? On the surface, many would think that either this is a belated April Fools joke, or that he has zero palate for wine. But--- I recently tasted these wines, and I really like them. Like "Fo' Real!" like them.
These are not your typical "boxed" wines. They are in Tetra Pak versus a bulky, cardboard, bladder type box, they are vintage, organic, and actually tasty. They are more environmentally friendly than a traditional glass bottle, have a smaller carbon footprint, and the package is 95% wine and 5% package... Plus they come in 1 liter packs versus 750ML bottles. (Who doesn't want more wine?)
Most of us have become accepting of screwcaps or alternative closures for our "drink now" wines. These wines in Tetra Pak work very much the same. These wines in them are made for immediate consumption and are not meant to benefit from aging. With this being the case with many wines, why not put them in the most environmentally friendly (and cost effective) packaging available?
I tried both the Yellow + Blue Torrontes and Malbec. Initially the Torrontes was a little narrow, refreshing, and pleasantly balanced (medium bodied, medium acids, medium + finish). But after a few minutes of being opened, it became wonderfully floral and lively. Very surprising!
The Malbec was solid. Blackberry, a little herbal, full bodied, smooth, medium soft tannins, and a long decent finish. I am not in love with Malbec, but I found this solid, food friendly, and open fer bizness!
Are these wines mindbendingly complex, or will they bring you face to face with the alien overlords? No. But they are tasty and will change the way you will accept alternative packaging.
I've had a few other wines in Tetra Pak that I despised.... (I am being polite). Yellow + Blue is very very different.
