This is the first entry in a series on Flying Off The Handle, where I opine on a particular beverage that I’ve had in the past or have recently had.
I have joined the massive legion of people around the world who, when the mood hits them, will indulge in a glass of wine to cap off a day of activity and unwind. I lean towards red wine more than white wine, just because I like the boldness at the first sip. Within the past few years, I’ve taken more of an interest in distinct reds after going through the growing pains. (I still have one close friend who teases me about drinking Gato Negro waaaaay back in the day.) I like to think I have an intermediate level of knowledge about wine, but I’m still learning. And of course, the health benefits of drinking red wine are another appealing factor. (Side note - I was once informed, more like lectured, at a party about the benefits of bathing in red wine to help improve circulation. I'm not going that route, but I heard it worked wonders for Amar'e Stoudamire. Go Knicks.)
This past holiday season, I knew I was going to visit a couple of friends and we’d all get together and be merry. Certainly with adult beverages. So I stopped by Big Nose, Full Body in Park Slope, a neighborhood in Brooklyn that I’m very familiar with. I wanted to gift my friends a red with distinction, and my eyes fell upon the bottle of Topo Tinto on the shelf. I was intrigued by the highly decorative label and picked up two bottles. When I got to my friends’ pad later, and we opened it up to go with some charcuterie…that first sip let me know it was a winner.
Topo Tinto is made by Casa Santos Lima, a family-owned vineyard based in Lisbon, Portugal that dates back to the 19th Century. That history was present in the first glass, which was elegant, and had the right balance of fruit and spice in each sip. I already had a jones for a visit to Portugal, and Topo Tinto was just another nudge in that direction. It’s a wine you can have with a nicely done steak, or just as a one-off while you’re kicking back and listening to some downtempo or jazz music. I’m looking forward to having this be a solid fixture in my wine rotation.