Britney's (oops), not quite...

Britney Spears, a certain friend to the Rampant Oenophile, had an (un)forgettable performance opening the 2007 MTV Video Awards last night, and I thought we could look at (oops), from Pearlfisher. This morning, I bet that Britney wished she had enjoyed a bottle of wine instead of doing the MTV thing again.

(oops), parentheses and all, represents Pearlfisher's marketing spin for four new wines (three reds and a white) from Chile. The labels have a newsprint theme and each wine has different stories and headlines. Every rampant oenophile knows what kind of sucker I am for a cool label concept.

I'm impressed with the Carmenere Valle Central 2005. (oops) did a great job with this deep purple red wine. The label promises blackberry aromas underscored with pepper and spice. Frankly, (oops) doesn't have undertones of anything. Spices, oak, and pepper fill your mouth and nose instantly with this full bodied wine. You'll notice herbaceous goodness pairing this wine with meats and strong cheeses. It compliments potent food flavors, so would overpower anything light. Go for the NY Sirloin and a bottle of this bold red. Expect a strong finish and mouth feel, and expect to buy two bottles. ABC and World Market both offer (oops) for under $10.

Giordano Wines

My father had a wine inspiration for my 38th birthday gift, a wine fridge and a gift basket with 12 assorted bottles from Giordano Winery. Finding anything about them on the Internet is a challenge, so I'll find the original links to their wine club. It's worth a look.

Their 2006 Chardonnay Sicilia tastes of the old world Chards with a rich buttery taste and silky texture. If you like crisp and citrus laced Chards, as so many of the current breed are, then you should avoid this wine. Giordano tastes more in the tradition of the old full-bodied chardonnay style, full of butter, cream, oak, and malolactic fermentation. It's got great legs in the glass, a deep yellow color, a full nose, and a very silky texture that fills your mouth and lingers. I tasted it with a dinner of spicy chicken enchiladas, and it held flavors against the heat of the peppers and onions. It would also be good with lighter flavors like salads and sea foods.