Wine and the Wordsmith

‘The Wine Kitchen’ in downtown historic Leesburg Virginia has been drawing food and wine lovers out of Washington DC and surrounding towns since its inception in 2008. The reason for these pilgrimages to Leesburg is mainly due to the local and inventive farm to table menu served at The Wine Kitchen as well as the deliberately well-chosen wine menu. Also adding to the allure is another talent of the owner and budding restaurateur Jason Miller, that of wordplay. Mr. Miller has a way with words and describes the wine he serves with the same passion he puts into his wine list and menu. With each wine served comes a card illuminating the wines attributes with eloquence, wit, and imagination. Jason Miller is what you get when you cross Walt Whitman with a sound sommelier. The following is some of Mr. Miller’s favorite wines and what he thinks of them.

Mas de Libian, Syrah (2009, Cotes du Rhone, France): “A ballerina dancing to Miles Davis in a pair of work boots. Light, delicate, perfumed notes of candied cherries and fresh rose petals leap across the glass. A jazzy bit of funk in the middle with the flavors of hickory chips and melted chocolate providing the rhythm. A finish that has the soft touch of a well-turned pirouette while still being able to support a hard days work of eating and drinking.”

Majella, Sparkling Shiraz (2005 Coonawarra, Australia): “What if you could drink excitement? The intriguing creamy vanilla notes are propelled by the powerful scents of strawberry and cinnamon. You take a sip and your taste buds erupt with enthusiasm for the charged flavors of cherry, spice, and just the right amount of pepper. If your mouth had a mouth it would scream with excitement after each sip!”

Donkey and Goat, Poussanne (2008 El Dorado, California): “This wine just spray painted lemons on the side of the local school and stole a truck filled with graham crackers. The hardcore notes of lemon rind and roasted nuts give way in the middle to the more nuance and intellectually stylized presence of spring flowers and fresh honeycomb. This wine could beat you in chess then punch you in the face and steal your car.”

Gnarly Dudes, Tow Hands, Shiraz (2008, Barossa Valley): As subtle and reserved as an 80’s hair band rocker. Giant guitar licks of blueberry and plums rock out of the glass. Heavy drum rolls of chocolate bundt cake and licorice notes that you feel in your chest. A wine brash enough to have been asked not to come back to certain establishments but finishes so smooth and fresh it leaves a trail of groupies in its wake”.

Champalou, Chenin Blanc (2007, Vouray, France): Imagine a 19th Century French Duchess sitting in a gazebo drinking this wine, pinky extended, remarking how much her wine tastes like fresh fruit dripping with lavender honey. This wine evokes a royal garden worth of apricot, orange, and pear notes with a princely sum of briny acidity and lime zest. The lemon cream finish flutters off gaily like a royal group of girls into a late spring afternoon skip through a garden.”