The easygoing, knowledgeable staff at CWM in New York and the Regal Wine Company poured a nice arc of wines matched to the salty intake of your typical Super Bowl spread. Our thanks to their Cali cool and sunny smarts for helping us get game-ready out and pick some winners. Go…team!

• NV (non-vintage) Castellroig Cava Brut Sparkling Wine, Spain
  THE PANEL SAYS: “The cheerleaders should love it: sweet like Taylor Swift, light in body like Hugh Grant, easy to drink. Hints of apple cider, grapefruit, melon, a Fourth of July sparkler at sunset – great way to start off the game. If there’s any left at the end of the game, trickle it down the coach’s back.”
• 2009 Arona Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand
  THE PANEL SAYS: “‘Arona’ is a Maori girl’s name meaning ‘colorful.’ Okay, the label is a little Mardi-Gras-at-the-Marriot, but the Arona brought prominent Rocky Gervais-level acidity and hits of tart apples and ginger.”
• 2007 Annabella Chardonnay Napa Valley, CA
  THE PANEL SAYS: “Its label looks like a wedding invite, but the Annabella is actually way more casual. Melon, vanilla, almond and fresh potting soil aromas lead to a tastes working an egg-cream, and creamy vanilla. Would go good with popcorn. If you like Phil Collins and Chardonnay, you’re psyched” — No Jacket Required. If not, hello, I must be going.
• 2007 Code Noir Merlot Rattlesnake Hills, Washington State
  THE PANEL SAYS: “Manly, BOLD type on the label – this has gotta be a Super Bowl wine! Oh yeah – fragrant of blueberry, licorice and wood, with currants, tea and jam dancing in the end zone. A great burger-and-chili wine, dammit!” — and the Merlot haters dug it, too.
• 2005 Old River Road Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Sierra Foothills, CA
  THE PANEL SAYS: “Nice and dark, boysenberry and licorice coming through. On the taste, jamming with black pepper spice, jam and passion fruit. Someone said they would drink this with Abe Lincoln (honesty?), but it makes you pucker like Victoria Beckham, and should age well. That’s a balance, baby – and a lot of it!”
• 2006 Talmage Pija Blend Mendocino, CA
  THE PANEL SAYS: “Label even looks like a team logo. Another inky/dark berry vibe on the nose, a draft pick due to height and solid build. Dr. Brown’s Black Cherry Soda and pencil lead coming through – got a lot of depth to its game.”
Thank you to CA Wine Merchants for hosting the first WineFlirt Pleasure Panel.
All wines were great value.
Thank you for the participation of our panel:
Jeff from Great Neck
Bob from the Slope
Wendy from Williamsburg
Sandra from NYC
Lauren from Greenwich
Michael from Westchester