I’m looking closely at a bottle of wine — one of several recently received from nephew and niece Ron and Sherry — that begs me to think about a worthy meal. I must tell you, right now, that it’s far too good a wine to offer with what I plan for dinner tonight. But it’s making me think about pairing white wine with mixed seafood. I imagine we’ll save this wine for a more sophisticated meal.

And what is this glorious gift wine? It’s Altivo Reservo 2009 Chardonnay/Viognier from the Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina. Fermented in barrel, its label says to expect white peach, apple blossom and pineapple aromas and flavors. It’s almost certainly round, rich in bright acids and just perfect for accompanying seafood and spicy or cheesy dishes.

So why not drink it tonight?

Because it’s a world class wine which is a bit out of my tasty peasant-pleasing bistro comfort-food plan. So I’ll probably save it and try a Chardonnay from Toasted Head or Dancing Bull. [Keep breathing while you wait for a report!] This note you’re reading is gift enough for the moment — although I will certainly report on the Altivo in due time.

For tonight: short-grain steamed whole wheat rice with baby (salad) shrimp and salad-type calamari rings and plenty of the squid tentacles that so many fussy norteamericanos award a “No thanks!”

The seafood will grace a simple gravy (meaning generous quantity, as opposed to “sauce”) of fine-chopped romano tomatoes in a simple pasta sauce lightened with an equal amount of light sour cream. We three — Judy, Erik and I — will divide six seared sea scallops with scallions and almonds that sit pristinely alongside the rice and gravy. For politically-correct decency (and also because we like bright green veggies) I’ll steam fresh local green beans. Judy will paw through the back and corners or the refrigerator for leftover chunks of artisan breads because it’s a gustatory (if not federal) crime to waste rich gravy.

How’s this going to go down? I can tell already it’ll get rave reviews from my family (“Nice.”) You can imagine something similar as well, I hope, if we don’t reside on different planets.

If this sounds good, just go and do likewise. Why else do you think I buy and use these infernal electronic communication machines? — Bob Cramer, The Fearless Taster.