Vail Daily Red, White and Brew wine & beer reviews

Odell Brewing Company Bourbon Barrel Stout, 750 ml. $15.99

VAIL, Colorado — Colorado's second oldest micro-brewery, Odell Brewing Company was started in 1989 by Doug Odell, along with his wife, Wynne and sister Corkie in Fort Collins after a move from Seattle. As a passionate brewer, Doug has always loved to experiment. To further that end, Odell created the Pilot System in the brewery to foster pushing the envelope on what beer can be. One of the latest brews from this program is the Bourbon Barrel Stout. Offered only in 750 ml corked bottles, this beer may require some company to finish as it comes in at a hefty 10.5 percent alcohol and does not save well.

On to the beer itself: opaque black in the glass with a firm, off-white head, this stout gives off smells of chocolate, coffee, dark roasted malt and a hint of vanilla. On the palate, I found the beer to be incredible. Smooth and mouth-filling, it explodes with flavors of espresso, oak, chocolate malt, caramel and just a bit of mellow sweetness from the Kentucky bourbon barrel in which it is aged for four months after fermentation. While the alcohol in the brew is quite high, at no time did I find it hot or alcoholic in flavor.

The balance on the palate is important; the dark roasted malt character is wonderfully offset by a voluminous amount of hops so the beer never comes off muddy like some stouts can. This stout would be a good pairing with many foods, some unexpected. Try it with Stilton cheese or dark chocolate for a basic pairing or get a little more creative and match it up with a good Mole dish, spicy Asian or even oysters.

You can find this beer at Alpine Wine & Spirits in West Vail and Riverwalk Wine & Spirits in Edwards.

— Clay Williams, Alpine Wine & Spirits

2008 Bodegas La Cana Albarino Rias Baixas, $16.99

I recently opened a bottle of this sublime Albarino from the lush green Celtic part of Spain, Galicia. What a beauty! Scented with lime and white peaches, it has a bracing minerality that balances the lush ripe fruit. The 2008 Bodegas La Cana, named for the canes that grow along the rivers, exhibits finesse and grace in a beautiful package.

Serve well chilled as an aperitif with a bowl of toasted almonds and olives, with summery salads and chilled seafood, grilled prawns or lobster.

You can find this at Avon Liquor, Eagle Ranch Wine & Spirits, Alpine Wine & Spirits in West Vail.

— S. Irene Virbila, L.A. Times/Washington Post News Service

2008 Mud House Pinot Noir, $23

This is a beautiful, rather unique Pinot Noir that opened up so nicely that even my wife — who typically frowns upon Pinots — gave it a thumbs-up.

If your goal is to drink a wine that's from as far away as possible, this may be it. New Zealand's Central Otego Wine Region is at 45 degrees south latitude, making it the most southerly wine producing region in the world. Kinda cool. But, then again, who cares where it comes from if it doesn't taste good?

On this score, the Mud House Pinot comes up roses, with a very nice medium body, light garnet color, and a bright, fruity flavor. There's some cherry in here, some plum and spice — but this is not an overly complex wine. If you're more accustomed to Northwestern Pinots, this Kiwi cousin will be a welcome change of pace. A little brighter, more straightforward and very drinkable, the Mud House has medium tannins and would be an excellent accompaniment to a nice lamb dish.

Visit www.mudhouse.co.nz/wines for more information.

— Alex Miller, Summit Daily Editor