Valley Vinophiles

Los Vascos Revisited

2012-02-29T19:31:00.000-06:00

Between revolving bouts of flu/colds and bad allergy attacks, February has been a very rough month for wine drinking. I fact this is both the first and last post for the month. However, we hope to get back into the swing of things this weekend with the BHA's Third Annual Wine Tasting.

Despite everything, I did manage to get in a good meal and nice bottle of wine last weekend. I worked up some skirt steaks from Thomas Heller's Ad Hoc at Home and cracked open a bottle of Los Vascos' 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile's Colchagua Valley. The previous Los Vascos review was of a different vintage of the winery's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, and you could tell the difference. The Reserve was both more refined and bolder on the palate, but the standard Cab was still a good wine for dinner.

The 2008 Los Vascos Cab had a big nose with nice aromas of cherry, plum, and dark fruit. On the palate it was slightly sweeter and thinner than its reserve counterpart. Still, nice strong overtones of cherry and currant worked over the palate. Despite being a nice Chilean Cab, the Los Vascos offered up a very mellow finish with nice soft tannins.

The Chilean Cab was tailor made for the skirt steaks, mashed potatoes, and salad with red wine/herb vinaigrette. I know skirt steaks are fajitas, but these were cut into 6 ounce steaks; marinated in garlic, rosemary, thyme, and pepper infused olive oil; and then pan-seared and broiled to a perfect medium rare. You could taste all the herbs in every juicy bite. A stronger red may have overpowered the subtle flavors the marinating infused into the beef, so the mellowness of the Los Vascos was a perfect compliment. All the flavors of a solid Cab were present, but they didn't overpower the meal.

We picked up the 2008 Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon at H.E.B. for about $12. You can find out more about Los Vascos' wines at: http://www.lafite.com/eng/Other-Estates/Vina-Los-Vascos

Heron: A Pinot for all Occasions

2012-01-22T22:19:00.000-06:00

Back around Thanksgiving I picked up a few Pinot Noirs to have some variety in what we selected to go with the turkey. One of the wines I picked up from Jones Liquor was a 2010 Heron Pinot Noir from Sonoma County. A few days ago Pris and I decided to crack it open since we were looking for a mellow wine to sip while working on some crackers and cheeses.

The Pinot was everything we've come to expect from Mike Jones' recommendations. Mellow, fruitful, and easy to drink. Smooth aromas of cherries and dark berries are the first thing you notice with this Pinot. On the palate the Heron is all smooth rich berries with a touch of vanilla and oak. This Pinot had great structure and a nice mild acidity. The Heron finished much like it started, with a good fruitful flavor that finishes smoothly and doesn't linger too long.

This was a mellow and easy to drink wine that would pair pretty well with just about anything due to its mild flavors and drinkability. Once more Mike Jones did not steer us wrong on a wine recommendation.

We bought the Heron Pinot Noir at Jones Liquor here in Brownsville. It costs $19 a bottle, but is worth the slightly higher price tag. You can find out more about Heron wines at: http://www.heronwines.com/

Lunch with Friends and Pascual Toso

2012-01-22T22:15:00.000-06:00

Shortly after the new year started Pris and I had a couple friends from Indianapolis down for late lunch. I had to bribe them with food to get them to Brownsville, but they brought an excellent wine and a great cranberry dip. Chris and Tara Wren brought a bottle of 2009 Pascual Toso Malbec from Argentina.

The Pascual Toso was surprisingly mellow, more akin to a Pinot or a Zinfandel than the full bodied Argentinean reds. Loads of rich plum with just a tough of oak greet you on the nose. This was a fruity Malbec, with good amounts of blueberry and blackberry up front on the palate. Towards the back of the palate there are hints of vanilla and oak that add a nice backbone to the wine. The Pascual Toso ended softly with a nice lingering finish.

We paired the wine with a couple of honey-glazed cilantro and chevre coated roasted chickens, a summer vegetable gratin, and a wild mushroom polenta. Even though the wine was a rich red, it went exceptionally well with the rich meal. The fruity Malbec was a great compliment to the savory and cheesy polenta. Similarly, the wine was a good counterpoint to the tangy and savory chicken. Even though this was a rich red, it did not overpower the chicken.

I need to thank Tara and Chris again for bringing this wine. Pris and I now have another one that we'd like to stock up on when we can. Since it was a gift I don't have any information on price or where to purchase it. You can find out more about the Pascual Toso wines at: http://www.pascualtoso.com/welcome

A Little Bit of España in Tejas: Llano Estacado Tempranillo

2012-01-07T22:20:00.000-06:00

Last Friday night I whipped up a meal I'd thrown together some time back. I cooked up garlic shrimp with Spanish chorizo, prosciutto wrapped asparagus, and patatas bravas. To go with the food, I picked out a Llano Estacado's 2009 Cellar Reserve Tempranillo.

The Llano Tempranillo was every bit as good as most of the Spanish Tempranillos we've had over the last couple of years. The aromas of plum and light fruit were the first thing to hit, but they are not indicative of what was to come. This Tempranillo was slightly fruity with good structure and a touch of oak. Like most Tempranillos it was full of fruit, but still maintained a full bodied presence. Robust cherries and berries mingled on the palate with a touch of spice and smoky oak. Supple tannins provided a well balance finish that was neither too bold, nor too fruity.

As the wine oxidized the sweetness became more pronounced. Even with vacuum pumps, by the third day this wine was considerably sweeter than when it was opened. So if you're into sweet wines, open it and wait a couple days to drink. If you're into more robust and drier reds, finish this one off in a day or two.

We paired the wine with the afore mentioned foods, and it complemented the rich savory and salty meats that seasoned the meal. The wine paired well with the savory garlic, light shrimp, and spicy chorizo. What's more, the Texas Tempranillo did not overpower the jamon wrapped asparagus or the patatas bravas and sauces, even though they were a touch lighter.

The 2009 Llano Estacado Cellar Reserve Tempranillo was a good little wine to have with the meal, and thanks to its robust flavors would work just as well with steak. I picked this wine up at Jones Liquor here in Brownsville, and it was recommended by Mike Jones, who hasn't let us down in recommendations. This Tempranillo runs $17 a bottle. For more information on Llano Estacado's wines you can visit: http://www.llanoestacadowine.com/

Kicking off the New Year with Riondo Proseco

2012-01-07T21:59:00.001-06:00

When new Year's rolls around you have to toast it in with something bubbly, and for Pris and I that usually means Proseco, Cava, or some other semi-sweet sparkling white. The main reason for this is that I cannot drink champagne. I like champagne well enough, and have developed a better appreciation of it over the years, but I cannot drink it safely. For whatever reason, champagne gets right to me and causes almost instantaneous inebriation. For this reason we've moved to the other sparkling wines that don't have quite this effect on me.

I picked up the Riondo Proseco Spago Nero at H.E.B. while grabbing a few last minute items the day before New Years Eve. I was looking for Cava actually to go with the garlic shrimp, but as expected they didn't carry it at the supermarket. Instead I grabbed a couple bottles of Proseco to both cook with, and ring in the New Year.

The Riondo Proseco Spago Nero boasts that its rated 90 points by Robert Parker - Wine Advocate, and its definitely a good sparkling wine. Light, fruity, and incredibly refreshing. Soft fruits hit the nose first followed by strong citrus on the palate. Crisp effervescent citrus is both flavorful and refreshing. This wine finishes quickly with a crisp refreshing finality that leaves almost no aftertaste.

This isn't just a good wine to celebrate with, but a good wine to drink . With an alcohol content of 10.5% its far easier to imbibe more of this Proseco than your standard red wine. Granted its citrusy and refreshing character seem better suited to warm spring or summer afternoons, but here in the Valley we can get those year round.

The Riondo Proseco Spago Nero was purchased at H.E.B. on Ruben Torres and Paredes Line here in Brownsville. I understand they're carrying at most H.E.B.'s and Central Markets here in Texas. At $11 a bottle this a great sparkling wine to stock up on. For more information on Riondo's wines you can visit: http://riondousa.com/

Last Wine of the Year: Dreaming Tree Cabernet

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000-06:00

So we finished out the year with a nice little Cab from Dreaming Tree, from wine maker Steve Reeder and Dave Matthews. Yes, the Dave Matthews. We received the 2009 Dreaming Tree Cabernet Sauvignon for Christmas from some friends of ours and decided to opened it up to go with our New Years Eve meal. This California Cab from the North Coast was a great accompaniment to our final meal of the year.

The Dreaming Tree Cab was exceptionally mellow and easy to drink. The Cab's nose was ripe dark berries and cassis with a undercurrent of spice. On the palate this wine was loaded with blackberry, cassis, and dark chocolate. Across the mid-palate there's a nice bit of oak and spice. Supple tannins made for a nice mellow finish. Again, this was an exceptionally smooth and easy drinking wine.

The wine went exceptionally well with the steak, Tuscan herbed mashed potatoes with fresh mozzarella, and the green bean/chayote squash casserole. Of course the wine went great with the steak, the dark rich fruit were perfect with the medium rare strip. The mellowness of the Cab allowed it to go with the lighter sides.

Since the Dreaming Tree Cab was a gift, I'm not sure how much it costs. I know I saw it on sale at Feldman's when I was there picking up lunch a few days ago. For more information on the Dreaming Tree wine you can visit: www.dreamingtreewines.com

Christmas Dinner with Alma Andina

2011-12-29T10:32:00.000-06:00

For Christmas Eve I planned out a nice little dinner of prime rib, sautéed asparagus, and mashed potatoes. Despite a little hiccup with the freshness of the asparagus, the meal turned out well. To go with our pre-celebration dining Pris selected a bottle of Alma Andina 2010 Malbec-Bonarda blend. This ripe red from Argentina was a great compliment to this meal and our Christmas meal the following day.

The first thing you notice about the Alma Andina is the deep rich purple color, and immediately after that the ripe nose hits. Exceptionally ripe blueberries and raspberries with an undercurrent of spice and vanilla assail the nose and give a hint of what was to come on the palate. Rich raspberry, blackberry, and subtle oak all mingle on the palate. The wine is full bodied but not overpowering or dry thanks to the blending of the Bonarda with the Malbec. This blend, while full flavored, offered soft tannins for a nice mellow finish that faded easily.

Pris was afraid the wine was going to over power the meal, but thanks to the mellowing effect of the Bonarda grapes this did not happen. It turned out the wine went quite well with the rime rib and the balsamic vinaigrette I made for the salad. While this was good to find out, what was really pleasant to discover was how well the wine paired with tamales on Christmas day. The rich fruit in the wine was a great compliment to the spice and cornmeal in the tamales. Pairing local foods with wine has generally been a touch difficult, but this is definitely one I would recommend to go with pork, chicken, and bean tamales covered in salsa.

The 2010 Alma Andina Malbec-Bonarda was another selection from the Wall Street Journal Wine Club. At $12 a bottle its a pretty good everyday wine, even after you factor in the shipping costs. You can find out more about this wine at: www.wsjwine.com

Cruising through our Cameron Hughes Stockpile with Lot 157

2011-12-26T20:39:00.002-06:00

Sunday night a week ago (yes we've been lagging in the posting, but it was Christmas) Pris and I opened up a nice Cabernet Sauvignon from Cameron Hughes to go with a simple sirloin and mashed potato dinner. Pris picked out Lot 157, which was a 2007 Cab from the Yountville region in Napa Valley. So far, the Cameron Hughes wines have been excellent and diverse, and Lot 157 was no exception.

Lot 157 was a great deep dark wine with great garnet coloration. On the nose this Cab was loaded with blackberry, cassis, and raspberry. While the berry is powerful, it was not overwhelming. When this wine hit the palate it was go time as rich fruits powered through the palate. Ripe red fruits were dominant on the palate, but it was balanced with subtle tobacco notes. Supple tannins round out this wine providing a smooth and mellow finish with none of the big bold dryness usually associated with Napa Cabs. The finish lingers nicely and was very refreshing for a Cab.

We paired the Lot 157 Cab with a simple sirloin that was accompanied by mashed Yukon Gold potatoes with garlic and mascarpone cheese and salad with a simple red wine vinaigrette. The Cab was a solid performer with the steak and sides. As usual, its hard to go wrong with the combination of Cabernet Sauvignon and steak.

Unfortunately Cameron Hughes' Lot 157 is now sold out. If you search you can probably find some for sale on the internet. However, you can also search Cameron Hughes' website and they will list similar Lots that they still have in stock.

O Me O My Meiomi

2011-12-19T21:42:00.001-06:00

Saturday night was another shut in night for Pris and I. We had a wedding downstairs, albeit one that ended at 10, so we had to settle in early. In order to properly provision us I picked up a Spanish platter, some pork loin, baba ganoush, and hummus from Feldman's Market Center. I also grabbed a bottle of Belle Glos Meiomi 2010 Pinot Noir. I wanted a lighter wine to go with the food, and while a Rioja of some sort would've been great, we just reviewed a Spanish red.

The Meiomi Pinot was everything I expected, fruity but not jammy, and all ripe red berry. The nose was ripe raspberry and blueberry with just a touch of earthy mineral tang to keep the fruit in check. This Pinot was mild on the palate with the same raspberries and blueberries making a good showing. Undercurrents of vanilla and oak balance out this fine Pinot. Towards the back of the palate a nice bit of spice and heat make its presence known. Like a number of lighter wines, the finish is shorter, but refreshing. Strong tannins provide a good bite to go with the heat making for a strong finish.

Meiomi's Pinot is a nice medium bodied wine that will go with any number of dishes. It went well with the various chesses, cured meats, and dips that we grazed on Saturday night. But it really shined when we paired it with a tomato bisque. The fruit and spice of the wine was the perfect compliment to the acidic and herbal tomatoes. I finished off the last of the Meiomi with tonight's dinner of chicken parmesan with a lemon, dijon, caper sauce. Again, the acid and savory in the sauce went incredibly well with the fruit and spice in the wine. This really is a versatile Pinot.

Full disclosure, the price was what really drew me in on this particular wine. Listed for $33, the Meiomi was priced at $14 for Feldman's card holders. At over half off I could not pass it up, and I'm glad I didn't. At the price its a great everyday wine, but get them quick before the sale ends or the wine runs out. For more information on Meiomi wines you can visit: http://www.meiomiwines.com//

Warming up with Cepa 21

2011-12-17T14:01:00.000-06:00

Last Sunday was rainy and dreary, much like today, and I figured it was a great day for beef stew. To go with the proposed beef stew Pris pulled out one of our more recent acquisitions: Cepa 21, a Spanish Tempranillo from the Ribera del Duero region. This robust wine was a great choice, both for the meal and for warming up on a brisk and dismal evening.

The garnet hued Cepa 21 is bold and flavorful Tempranillo. Its full of rich dark berries with a slightly oaky undercurrent. On the palate this wine is robust with loads of blackberry and cassis. Subtle oak adds good support, nuance, and complexity to the Tempranillo. Bold tannins provide a rich, full, and very dry finish. The finish is actually more reminiscent of a number of Cabs or Malbecs. This is a strong Tempranillo that will hold its own against almost any big red wine.

Even though a burgundy was recommended, we paired the Tempranillo with a rich beef stew that was very similar to beef bourguignon. The Cepa 21 was more than capable of holding its own with the vegetable beefy goodness. The beef chuck simply melted in the mouth, and the mix of wine and herbs was a perfect complement. If you're having beef, or rich and heavy main dish, this is a great wine if you're looking for something other than the usual Cabernet or Malbec.

I picked up the Cepa 21 at Jones Liquor when I did my pre-Thanksgiving wine buy. Its $30 a bottle, so the price is a little high for an everyday wine, but worth every penny. For more information on Cepa 21 you can visit: http://www.cepa21.com/

McManis Pinot Grigio Soothes the Savage Tso

2011-12-11T21:28:00.000-06:00

Like the last wine post, this one also has its roots in Thanksgiving weekend. I've mentioned the last minute party that was thrown on Saturday. As a thank you for the use of the place at the last minute, the erstwhile party goers bequeathed Pris and I with a number of their leftover bottles of wine. One of those wines we opened up last night was McManis Family Vineyards 2010 Pinot Grigio.

This was a great crisp Pinot Grigio with a near perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. Abundant citrus fruit and apples rules the nose. This fragrant combo continued on the palate. The McManis Pinot Grigio was light, crisp, and refreshing with a quick and smooth finish.

We paired the McManis Pinot Grigio with a lunch of Sam's prepared General Tso's chicken. I know its bad for you, but it'd been forever since I had this particular dish. I also thought it would go well with the wine and was glad to be right. The sweetness of the wine was a perfect compliment to the sweetness of the Tso's sauce. The crisp acidity cut through the heat nicely and calmed the meal down considerably.

I would definitely recommend this wine for and number of sweet and spicy Asian dishes. Of course, its lightness and drinkability make this a great anytime wine as well. We have a little I'm saving for tomorrow night's roasted chicken dinner.

My understanding is that the wine came from Jones Liquor here in Brownsville. Since I did not buy it, or price it on my last trip there I can't report on the price. I did see it online list at $10, so it seems to be a very economical wine. For more information on this Pinot Grigio and the McManis Family Vineyards you can visit: http://www.mcmanisfamilyvineyards.com/

24/7 Riesling Keeps on Going

2011-12-11T18:18:00.000-06:00

For Thanksgiving I reviewed the Valley of the Moon Pinot Noir, but that wasn't the only wine Pris and I opened for dinner. Pris' family was over to celebrate with us and they enjoy the sweeter things in life, or at least the sweeter wines in life. I picked up a bottle of Lambrusco for them and a 2007 German Riesling from 24/7. Both wines were bought at H.E.B. for about $6 each.

The Lambrusco left with the family since Pris and I aren't into sweet reds, but the Riesling has been waiting around to be finished for a couple of weeks now. Thanks to refrigeration and vacuum seals the wine is still as fizzy and fruity as it was when it was opened. There were actually two different Rieslings, a sweet and semi-sweet. Given my in-laws predilections I opted for the sweet one, but am pleasantly surprised that the sweet label isn't quite accurate.

The nose of the 24/7 Riesling was full of citrus, apples, and a touch of honey. On the palate it was sweet, but not cloyingly so. The crisp fruit and sugars mingled nicely with a touch of citric acidity. The Riesling was not as sharp and crisp as some, but still refreshing. The wine seemed to end abruptly, but after a minute there was a bit of ripe apple aftertaste that lingered in the back of the throat.

I wasn't able to find a website or any real reviews for the 2007 24/7 Riesling. I know its at H.E.B and at Feldman's. I also know that it is a good value at $6 a bottle. So if you enjoy drinking sweeter chilled whites, this is a good everyday wine for you. Or if you're entertaining and looking for an economical dessert wine or sweeter white to go with poultry, once again this is a good choice.

Celebrating Pris' Birthday with Santa Rita's Medalla Real

2011-12-09T23:48:00.000-06:00

Monday was Pris' birthday and we celebrated simply with a couple steaks and a bottle of fine Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. To go with her birthday meal Pris selected a bottle of Santa Rita Medalla Real 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile's Maipo Valley. For Pris, and to some extent myself, there's nothing better than a big red wine and a medium rare chunk of beef.

The Medalla Real has a great nose, full of berries and black currant. Even though its a big nose and flavor, the Cab is exceptionally smooth and easy to drink. The palate is full of dark ripe berries with undercurrents of vanilla. While this is a full bodied Cab, mild tannins allow for a smooth and uncomplicated finish.

The Medalla Real went great with the steaks, and its going down great on its own as I write this review. This Cab will go great with beef and even some lighter fare. It's flavors make it a great partner for both milder and sharp cheeses.

We purchased this bottle at H.E.B. for $16. For the price, this is an excellent buy. It will work for special occasions or just everyday sipping. For more information on the wines from Santa Rita you can visit: http://www.santarita.com/international/home/

The Fruit Bomb: Beaujolais Nouveau

2011-12-08T22:12:00.000-06:00

While stocking up at Jones Liquor for Thanksgiving I grabbed a bottle of Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau. Full disclosure, this was a 2010 Beaujolais Nouveau so it wasn't really "new." However, it was on sale for half off which priced it at $5 which I could not pass up.

Beaujolais are generally juicy and fruity, but the nouveau are even more so. With almost no tannins, the wines are light and more like alcohol laced grape juice than wine. This is not to say they're not good or that they don't have a place amongst "wine drinkers."

The 2010 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau was every bit the fruit explosion I was expecting. Pris had forgotten how fruity they are and was taken aback some. Exceedingly ripe berries are the first thing that hit the nose. You can tell a lot about the taste to come from this light colored red, which is almost lavender around the edges of the glass. On the palate this wine is all light fruit which is dominated by strawberry and ripe berry. The strawberry was an interesting taste since I haven't really found it in many of the wines Pris and I drink. The finish is quick and light since there are no tannins to speak of.

If you like sweeter wines, fruitier wines, or fruity mixed drinks but want to get into wine, then this wine is for you. At $5 a bottle at Jones Liquor you can't beat it for the 2010 vintage. If they're out, the 2011 is only $10. Its also sold at H.E.B. and Feldman's. For more information on this wine you can visit: http://pa-duboeuf.com/

Bodegas Norton Big Malbec

2011-12-04T21:44:00.001-06:00

Friday night Pris and I cracked open a bottle of Bodegas Norton 2007 Reserva Malbec to go with our meal from Gazpachos. We picked an Argentine wine to go with the chimichurri rich meal. The Malbec also went well with Pris' birthday meal today.

Norton's Reserva Malbec was a great rich red. The nose is big, but not overwhelming. Ripe plum and currant lead the olfactory charge with just a touch of spice. This Malbec is robust and flavorful with good amounts of sweet raspberry. The full fruit is mellowed with nice undercurrents of espresso and spice. Despite this being a big wine, it has supple tannins the allow for a nice mellow finish.

This big slightly spicy wine went exceedingly well with both our meals. Of course Pris' birthday meal was flank steak with chimichurri, herbed roasted potatoes, and salad with balsamic vinaigrette. The sweetness and spiciness were great counterpoints to the sharpness of the chimichurri and salad dressing. The Norton was as big a hit as the meal. While Pris and enjoyed the Norton Malbec for its fullness, my parents relished its sweetness. Of course expect this from a wine ranked number 90 on the top 100 wines of 2010 that also scored 90 points by Wine Spectator.

The Bodegas Norton 2007 Reserva Malbec it a good wine for anytime, but especially for when you're enjoying rich food or tangy vinaigrettes. We bought the Norton at H.E.B. for $11. At this price this wine is a great everyday wine. You can find out more about Bodegas Norton and their wines at: http://www.norton.com.ar/

A Spectacular Sterling Merlot

2011-11-30T22:49:00.000-06:00

Pris and I have been on a bit of a comfort food kick since Thanksgiving. Maybe it was all the turkey, gravy, and stuffing. Sunday was pot roast, and last night was meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Both great cool weather comfort foods, and both were recommended with juicy Merlot. We did not have a Merlot with the pot roast, so we decided to try to rectify the pairing this time around. To go with the meatloaf Pris selected a 2007 Sterling Vineyards Vintner's Collection Merlot.

This particular Sterling Merlot was big and juicy. Ripe fruits greet you on the nose. Cherry and ripe berries mingle are balance with a subtle oak foundation. When this Merlot hits the palate it all smooth big fruit. I don't like the term "jammy" because it makes me think of something really sweet, but if there's such a thing as semi-sweet "jamminess" this qualifies. Loads of cherry and red berry dominate the palate and continue throughout. Soft tannins create a mellow finish with just a touch of bite towards the very end.

This was an exceptional wine for the price. It paired exceedingly well with the savory and somewhat sweet flavors of the meatloaf. I added some spice to the meatloaf by putting in some jalapenos and adding sriracha sauce to the ketchup topping. These spicy accents were perfect with the sweeter fruit in the wine. This Merlot is exceptionally smooth and goes down very easily. While we paired it with comfort classics, it great to drink all on its own.

We bought the 2007 Sterling Vineyards Vintner's Collection Merlot at H.E.B. for $16.99. We bought it a while back and cellared it for a bit, so I don't know if you can still find the same vintage there, but based on this wine and some of the reviews of prior vintages I'd say its worth keeping on hand. For more information on Sterling Vineyard and its wines you can visit: http://www.sterlingvineyards.com/

Step by Step Sauvignon Blanc

2011-11-30T06:53:00.001-06:00

Pris and I don't drink much white wine, that should be pretty evident from the overall lack of posts on white wines. So I figured I'd do a quick review on Step by Step's 2009 Sauvignon Blanc from Chile. In all fairness, I only bought this wine for cooking up some pork chops with apples and onions. It was on clearance at Feldman's Market Center and its original price showed it probably wasn't a bad wine.

After I used it in the dish it sat in the fridge while Pris and I worked through a number of reds. A couple days ago I decided to braise some chicken in the remaining Sauvignon Blanc with garlic, onion, rosemary, thyme, and sage. One of my favorite shows growing up was the Cajun chef on PBS. He was an older man with a Cajun accent who poured as much wine, beer, or liquor for himself as he did for his dishes he was working on. I can still imitate his accent.

So to follow his lead I poured myself an ample glass of the Step by Step and then poured the rest into the pot. The Sauvignon Blanc I poured for myself was crisp and refreshing with strong citrus notes on the nose and palate. There's a touch of apple sweetness mixed in on the palate that was thankfully subtle. What followed was a light lingering finish that faded nicely.

I picked this wine up at Feldmans Market Center here in Brownsville. It was on clearance for about $5. Since this was a clearance wine I'm not sure if they have any left, but its worth looking for if you enjoy a nice crisp white that's not too dry or sweet.

Celebrating Post 100 with Hughes Wellman

2011-11-30T06:44:00.001-06:00

When Pris and I started this blog a friend of ours told us to talk to him when we hit post 100. Well here we are at 100 and going strong, in fact there are still 2 wines on deck to write up after this one. Its been a lot of moderate wine drinking, and a few instances of wine drinking that resulted in some very unpleasant mornings after.

For this post Pris and I felt we needed an exceptional wine. From there it was a matter of deciding if we go out and buy one or crack into one of the few specials we have saved up. We opted to go for the latter and open up our last bottle of Cameron Hughes' superstar Hughes Wellman 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon from St. Helena. This vintage is sold out now, but Pris and I ordered a couple bottles when we moved to Brownsville last year. We tried our first one to celebrate our anniversary last year and decided to hold off on the second.

The Hughes Wellman Cab is subtle, complex, smooth, and full bodied. Essentially the perfect Cab. This opaque purple wine contained ripe red berries and cherry that assailed the nose right away. While the aroma is great, wait for the first sip. Full bodied, smooth, and incredibly balanced this wine is amazing. Black cherries abound at the forefront, followed by just a tough of mineral and spice towards the end. Silky smooth tannins complete the wine and create a lingering smooth finish. This wine goes down effortlessly, and is one the easiest drinking wines Pris and I have had the pleasure of enjoying.

We actually paired the 2006 Cab with a pot roast and mashed potatoes. Its not the grandest of dinners, but it was solid comfort food made with wine and many of the ingredients found in beef bourguignon. The recipe actually recommended a merlot for the meal, but the Hughes Wellman paired perfectly with the tender beef and savory sauce. This wine is so good and smooth that I'm fairly sure it will pair well with about anything. That said, it really shines with rich beef dishes so look for a roast, braised beef, brisket, and of course a perfectly cooked medium-rare steak.

At $50 this wine was a steal, but its gone now. The 2007 vintage is available at Cameron Hughes' website: http://www.chwine.com/. I haven't tried it yet, or even ordered some, but Christmas is right around the corner so maybe a nice gift of wine from us to us is in order.

An Eventful Evening with Pagos de Tahola

2011-11-30T06:42:00.002-06:00

Initially Pris and I were looking forward to a long quiet Thanksgiving weekend. However, on Friday Pris got a call from a friend asking if the facility was free since he and some friends were in a bind on an engagement party they were throwing. The place was free and Pris went ahead and booked the rental. Since she was doing them a favor they made sure we were well provisioned with food for the evening. It was a Spanish menu, and we decided to crack open a Spanish red to go with our tapas and entree.

Pris had actually pulled out a bottle of Pagos de Tahola 2009 Rioja to open earlier in the week and we just never got around to it. The wine was another from the Wall Street Journal Wine club that I get from time to time. This deep purple Tempranillo went well with the manchego cheese, Spanish chorizo, serano jamon, and smoked salmon the hosts served.

The dark coloration of the Pagos de Tahola was a sign of what was to come with the full bodied and rich wine. On the nose this rioja was deep dark berry and a touch of mineral and tobacco. This is definitely a wine that needs to breathe for a while to reach its full potential. Initially the Pagos offered dark fruit loaded with a rough earthiness and strong mineral mid-palate. As the wine oxidized, the roughness wore off and the wine mellowed considerably. Smooth juicy berry came to the forefront and the mineral bite subsided, but still maintained a pleasant presence on the mid-palate. Big tannins provided a strong full finish that did not diminish with time, but rather became more refined and enjoyable.

We enjoyed the wine with the tapas and an entree of pork tenderloin smothered with a roasted red pepper sauce, asparagus, and roasted potatoes prepared by Nena Siller. The food was excellent, and the wine paired really well with the pork and sauce. The complex fruit of the rioja complimented the smoky, savory sweetness of the peppers and pork.

The Pagos de Tahola 2009 Rioja came from the Wall Street Journal Wine Club, and it costs $14 a bottle. You can find out more about Pagos de Tahola at: http://www.wsjwine.com/jsp/product/productDetails.jsp?productId=prod50126

A Big Bogle Cab

2011-11-26T18:50:00.004-06:00

I've been seeing a lot of wines from Bogle Vineyards out and about. They're in World Market, H.E.B., Feldman's, and Jones Liquor (where they have a blend called Phantom that is apparently quite good, and will be bought and imbibed sometime in the near future). There are also a number of adds for Bogle popping up on the Google add spots, so they're pushing the product pretty strongly. We've actually already reviewed the Bogle Pinot Noir back in September (LINK), so Pris thought we'd go ahead and try their Cab.

Last night we opened up Bogle's 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon to go with a couple of steaks I whipped up. I'm not sick of the turkey yet, but the beef was a good change up. The Bogle Cab was a great wine for the meal.

Bogle's Cab had a full nose loaded with cherry and blackberry with a hint of vanilla to soften it all up. The bold fruit continued on the palate. Cherry and dark berries dominated the taste buds up front, but oak and a touch of smokiness work their way through around the mid-palate. This Cab had big bold tannins that really came out in the finish which was long and dry like a South Texas summer.

At this juncture it pretty much goes without saying that the Bogle Cab went very well with the steak. I added an extra pepper seasoning to the steak making it a bit more robust and spicy. We also heated up a little of the maple/bourbon gravy to go with the steak as a sauce. The bold wine paired well with the steak, and the bold fruit mingling nicely with the added pepper. Mixing the steak with the gravy combined sweet, spicy, savory, and fruitful with the wine. This was about as close to a perfect flavor combination as I've ever gotten.

The Bogle wines are all over. I picked up this bottle at World Market in Corpus Christi for $10. Closer to home I've recently seen them at Jones and H.E.B. For the price, this is a great everyday wine that you just can't easily beat if you're in the mood for a big Cab. It won't hold up for too long once its open, so finish it off quickly. For more information on Bogle Vineyards and their wines you can visit: http://www.boglewinery.com/home.php

Thanksgiving Dinner in the Valley...of the Moon Pinot

2011-11-26T18:48:00.003-06:00

Thanksgiving day means family, football, and loads of turkey and sides. Up until recently it was also a day for drinking beer due to the aforementioned football. However, Pris has always insisted on wine and she's slowly swung me around to her way of thinking--at least for dinner. The after dinner football is all beer time.

We looked around at what the best selections were for turkey day, and almost everyone brought up Pinot Noir, Lambrusco, or Reisling. There were a of couple places suggesting rosé or rosé champagne. That would've been interesting, but Pris doesn't like rosé and I can't drink champagne and stay sober to save my life. So we went with the Pinot since we like it and haven't really had that much on hand lately.

I grabbed a few different Pinots at Jones Liquor last week and this week so we'd have some variety to choose from. Of course I went with Mike Jone's suggestions since we've liked pretty much every single one of them. After a quick sampling in the store, I was set on the Valley of the Moon's 2009 Pinot Noir.

The wine had an excellent fruitful and complex aroma dominated by sweet plum and cherries. Like most Pinot's it was soft on the palate, and loaded with ripe red fruit. There is a nice oaky backbone to the Valley's Pinot. This is tempered by the fruit and a hint of vanilla. Soft tannins round out the wine and allow for lingering and robust finish.

One of the great things about Pinot is that it will pair well with just about everything, unless its a big steak or some equally big and rich meal.

Turkey

is not that bold and this smooth wine paired perfectly with the it. I was a little worried since the turkey was slightly sweet from the maple/bourbon glaze I cooked it in. However, the combination of savory and sweet turkey with the fruity and smooth wine were great complements.

I picked the Valley of the Moon 2009 Pinot Noir up at Jones Liquor here in Brownsville for about $19. You can find it there for sure, if Mike Jones has any left after the Thanksgiving weekend. I've also seen their wines at H.E.B., but for full disclosure, I can't remember which varietals. For more information on the Valley of the Moon winery and its wines you can visit: http://valleyofthemoonwinery.com/main_scaled.html

A Special Wine for a Special Occasion

2011-11-22T21:20:00.001-06:00

Last Friday night Pris and celebrated our 9 year anniversary of being together. Its been a great ride, and we wanted something a little special to commemorate the occasion. So I went to Mike Jones at Jones Liquor to see if he had any recommendations. As usual he had a number of them, for both the night and Thanksgiving. I ended up picking up a bottle of Maison Louis Latour 2009 Gevrey-Chambertin.

This is an excellent French Pinot Noir. Unlike a lot of American Pinots, the Latour was bold, earthy, and highly complex. The aroma was the first hint of what was to come. Rich fruit mingled with mineral undertones, smoke and licorice. The flavor was exceptionally deep and intricate. Dark ripe fruits hit the front of the palate followed by a rich earthiness. A lot has been made about "terroir" or the soil the grapes are grown in. Different folks give it different weighty, but with the Latour you can really taste the earth these grapes were produced in. This aspect of the wine adds a rich complexity that's absent in most of the Pinots we've had.

Even though I would've liked to have cooked something special for our anniversary, I couldn't due to an event the following night. So we ordered up a couple steaks from Toscafino and settled in for the evening. Despite being a Pinot, the wine paired great with the steaks. The rich complexity of the Latour was more than enough to compliment the herbed and buttered ribeyes. The versatility of this wine will allow it to mix with any number of dishes.

I picked this wine up at Jones Liquor in Brownsville. As it was a special occasion I splurged a bit on it. The Latour runs for $52 a bottle, but is well worth it. For more information on Maison Louis Latour wines you can visit: http://www.louislatour.com/pages/index.php

With Lot 169 you can "Go for Merlot"

2011-11-19T22:58:00.001-06:00

The other night Pris opened up a bottle of Cameron Hughes' 169 2007 Napa Valley Merlot. There wasn't any particular reason for it, she just wanted to get through a few more bottles this month since we were a little slow on our posting. Sometimes its nice just to open a wine for no other reason than to drink it.

Lot 169 is a perfect example of what a good Merlot should be: fruity, rich , a little dry, and full of flavor. On the nose this Merlot was loaded up with plum and currant, dark berry, and even hints of chocolate and espresso. The rich fruit continued on the palate with the currant, plum, and berry dominating the palate. It's hard to put into words, but even though these are some of the usual suspects found in most Merlots, the Lot 169 blends them in a way that is unique and sets it apart. This complexity and layering of flavors provides a easily drinkable wine.

The Lot 169 2007 Merlot is a great wine to have on hand. Its blending of mellow feel and complex flavors make it wine that can go with just about anything. Or you can drink it all on its own on a cool autumn evening. For more information on Lot 169, or to order your own, you can visit: http://www.chwine.com/wine/lot/169

Italian Night is a Great Night

2011-11-19T22:56:00.001-06:00

For any of you who watch The Borgias on Showtime you'll be familiar with the character of Giuliet Farnese, the pope's mistress in the show. She was rumored to be the most attractive woman in Rome at the time. I don't know if the wine we selected for dinner was named after her, but it was definitely a beautiful wine. A few days ago I whipped up a batch of baked pasta shells stuffed with Italian sausage and a blend of cheeses. To go with this meal we selected a 2010 Villa Farnia di Farnese Montepulciano from the Wall Street Journal Wine Club.

The Farnia di Farnese was a great Italian red. The deep red opaqueness was the first indicator that this was an exceptionally rich wine. Ripe fruits dominated by dark berries and plums offer a great fruity nose on this Montepulciano. When this wine hit the palate it was all smooth dark fruit. The plum continued on and was joined by some notes of licorice and a touch of spice at the front of the palate.

To say the wine went well with the pasta shells would be an understatement. Overall it was a very rich dish since the shells were stuffed with Italian sausage, roasted garlic, onions, basil, ricotta, marscapone, parmesan, and romano cheeses. This dish needed something rich to keep up with it. The Montepulciano, tomato sauce, and Italian cheeses were meant to be paired together. The Farnese was rich and fruitful which complimented the tanginess of the tomato sauce and savory of the cheese stuffing. Everything just clicked together.

While the Farnese is a full flavored wine, it is not heavy or dry. The smoothness and full flavor make this a great anytime wine, but it really shines with pasta dishes. What's more, at $12 a bottle its perfectly priced for everyday drinking. For more information on the 2010 Villa Farnia di Farnese Montepulciano you can visit: http://www.wsjwine.com/

Loading up on Los Vascos

2011-11-16T21:41:00.001-06:00

The other night Pris and I cracked open a bottle of 2006 Los Vascos Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon to go with our customary Sunday steak dinner. Its been slow on the wine drinking lately, but this was a great wine to come back to. The deep garnet wine was also a superb choice to go with our blue cheese, chevre, and garlic crusted strip steaks.

Los Vascos' Reserva Cab had a rich nose that was loaded with blackberry, cassis, and cherry. All the usual hallmarks of great Cabs. On the palate Los Vascos was big and bold with lots of fruit and great tannins. Despite being big and bold, the Cab was still smooth and easily drinkable. A blend of cassis and dark berry mixed with nice mineral undertones to create a robust and complex flavor. Like any good Cab the Los Vascos had strong tannins that allowed for a satisfyingly dry and lingering finish.

This Chilean Cab went great with our steaks, shallot and crème fraiche potatoes, and balsamic vinaigrette salad. The boldness of the wine was an excellent counterpoint to the richness of the flavors in the meal. The cheese topping was extremely flavorful, and Los Vascos was not overwhelmed. If fact it went great with the cheeses. Overall, this was a great meal with a great wine.

I'm not sure where we picked up this particular bottle because we've had it for a while, before we started tracking our wine purchases. Pris has it listed at $19 a bottle. I've seen it at Jones Liquor (where we purchased a bottle when we moved) and at H.E.B. Now the weather is turning "colder" these heavier wines will be good to keep you warm at night. For more information on Los Vascos you can visit: http://www.lafite.com/eng/Other-Estates/Vina-Los-Vascos

Another Lazy Afternoon with Marques De Caza

2011-11-07T22:20:00.001-06:00

There are some awesome wines out there that are so rich and flavorful that they're almost beyond description. Then there are good wines that you can drink almost anytime and they won't break the bank. Marques de Caza's 2007 Tempranillo is one of these latter wines.

When we bought this wine at Jones Liquor, Mike Jones told us it was an okay Tempranillo. Not bad, but nothing particularly special. After opening it up today I found he was once again right. That's not to say the Marques is a bad wine, it just doesn't pack any wow factor. However, at $11 a bottle its easily an everyday wine if you're a fan of Tempranillo's.

The Marques has an exceedingly fruity nose with loads of raspberry and currant. As the wine breathed and opened the nose developed a bit more bite and the fruit notes became a touch muted. The oxidation process didn't do much to dampen the lively fruit this wine packs on the palate though. Ripe red berries dominate the palate, and there is just a spice towards the back of the palate. The Marques has a mineral and spice finish that hits quickly, but then lingers for a bit. All in all its a solid Tempranillo.

We opened this bottle up to go with so left over Rudy's BBQ brisket that we heated up for lunch. The fruit and spice in the wine went really well with the smoke and spice rub on the brisket. This wine was made for roasted red meats, and though its smoked, the brisket fit that bill well. The fruit and spice also played well with the rich and spicy bbq sauce.

This is a good everyday drinking wine that is easily drinkable. We picked it up at Jones liquor here in Brownsville and it runs about $11 a bottle.

Dining with Don Manuel Carmenere

2011-10-31T22:47:00.001-05:00

Pris and I actually opened up two bottles of wine tonight. This was done partly as a back-up in case the Zinfandel didn't work out, and partly in a vain attempt to get a couple more posts in before the end of the month. As a back-up we chose the Don Manuel 2009 Carmenere from Chile. This was one of the wines from the Wall Street Journal Wine Club.

The Carmenere didn't work as well with the meal as the Zinfandel, so I'm currently working on what's left of our glasses while I get this typed up. While the Zin was fruity, the Carmenere was all big bold flavor. You could tell this was a big wine from the whiff of the bouquet which was loaded with fruit and spice. The Don Manuel was full of big dark fruit on the palate with hints of spice running underneath it all. Big tannins create a strong full finish for this big wine.

The Don Manuel Carmenere was a bit overpowering on the meal. It would definitely be better served pairing up with a large chunk of beef cooked medium rare. We got the wine from my mom's over-flow of WSJ wines. You can find out more about this wine, and order it for $14 a bottle, at: http://www.wsjwine.com/

Zipping Along with Flying Wine Maker's Zinfandel

2011-10-31T22:45:00.001-05:00

Several months ago, before we started this blog, Pris and I opened up a bottle of The Flying Wine Maker's 2007 Zinfandel from Cameron Hughes wines. The Flying Winemaker label does the same thing Cameron Hughes does, just on an international scale. Essentially, they find excess wine from various wineries, buy it cheap, label it under their own brand and sell it for less than the label price. Its a good deal and they're usually pretty spot on.

The last time we tried the wine I wasn't overly thrilled with it. I thought it was too sweet, and slightly gone by the wayside. However, we decided that if this bottle was still good it might go with the Moroccan spiced chicken and pumpkin/cheddar grits. It was a great call.

The Flying Wine Maker Zinfandel was sweet, but not so much as before. I think it helped pouring through the aerator. The wine had a good fruity nose with loads of very ripe dark fruit. On the palate, the wine was smooth with a mix of sweetness and spice. The wine finished with a great spicy bite that was a great compliment to the spicy chicken. This wine went great with dinner, and I'd recommend it for anything spicy or savory.

We got this wine at the Cameron Hughes website over a year ago. It doesn't appear that they're selling this vintage anymore. One problem with Cameron Hughes is that their wines are good, and their lot sizes are small, so they tend to run out fairly quickly. This one was about $10 a bottle and was a good wine if you're looking for a red that's not too dry. There is a 2009 vintage out there, and if the 2007 is any guide, its definitely worth looking into. For more information on the new vintage you can visit: http://www.chwine.com/

A Nice Evening with Nolia Catalunya

2011-10-30T22:35:00.001-05:00

Saturday I was running around getting everything I needed to cook dinner yesterday and today. While out I went by Feldman's Market Center to take advantage of a nice little steak lunch special they had going on. While there I picked up a couple bottles of wine for cooking, and one for Pris and I to work on over the weekend. It'd been a while since we had a nice Spanish red, and they had a bottle of Nolia 2009 Catalunya Granacha on sale for about $10.

The Nolia had a soft fruit nose with nice notes of ripe red berries. One of the selling points of this wine is that its from old vine grapes, and it shows on the palate. This wine was soft and supple with loads of raspberry and cherry. Undercurrents of spice and leather added balance to the otherwise fruitful wine. The minimal tannins allow for a light and fruitful finish to this good Spanish red.

I had a little of the wine with a steak from Feldman's, and it went well. But it didn't really have time to breathe and it was slightly sweet. This evening we drank some with our dinner of red wine and apricot braised short ribs with mushroom and cream mashed potatoes. Tonight the wine opened up nicely and went great with the tender braised beef.

Going to Geyser Peak

2011-10-30T21:53:00.001-05:00

Last weekend we opened up a bottle of Geyser Peak 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon from California's Alexander Valley to go with a simple steak dinner. Nothing fancy other than the curry pumpkin soup with some sirloin and roasted potatoes. The Geyser Peak Cab was a great choice to go with the meal.

The Geyser Peak Cab had a solid fruity nose with the usual notes of cherry and dark berry. It was lighter than most of the Cabs we've had, but still full flavored with great structure. Solid cherry and blackberry dominate the palate while mixed in with just a touch of spice. The finish was softer and ended more quickly than most Cabs, but it was still satisfying.

We picked up the Geyser Peak 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon at H.E.B. for $16.99. This is a solid easy drinking Cab that is a good everyday wine. The price is a bit on the high side for an everyday wine, but well worth it. You can find out more about Geyser Peak wines at: http://www.geyserpeakwinery.com//index.cfm

The French Know Their Stuff: Beef Bourguignon and Chatteau Messile-Aubert

2011-10-24T22:23:00.001-05:00

Pris and I really like the beef bourguignon from H.E.B. Central Market, but last Sunday I decided to try my own had at making it. After 5 hours of cooking it was finally done, and it was time for dinner and wine. To go with a quintessential French dish you have to have a French wine. Pris and I selected the 2006 Chatteau Messile-Aubert from the Wall Street Journal Wine Club.

The Chatteau Messile-Aubert was a great big red with a deep dark color. On the nose there was plenty of cherry, currant, and dark berry. This was a great rich wine, and the cherry, black currant continue on the palate. Intermingled with the dark fruit is a nice undercurrent of oak and herb. The finish was juicy and lingering. Even though this is a big full bodied wine, it was full fruited but lacking the heavy tannins that you find in most Cabs and other big reds.

The Chatteau Messile-Aubert went great with the beef bourguignon, I mean really fantastic. The rich wine was a perfect compliment to the wine infused beef and mushrooms. To go with the beef and sauce I included a couple slices of French bread slathered with herb infused chevre cheese. Again, the wine was the perfect compliment to the rich goat cheese and bread. Basically you can't go wrong pairing the Chatteau Messile-Aubert with succulent beef dishes and tangy rich cheeses.

The wine was a gift, and it came from the Wall Street Journal Wine Club, but it seems to be out of stock now. You can find it online at a couple different sites though. For more information on Chatteau Messile-Aubert you can visit: http://aubert-vignobles.com/messile-aubert.php?specid=3&langid=2

Back to Basics with Alamos Malbec

2011-10-18T20:58:00.001-05:00

Even though we loaded up on meals while in San Antonio, I finally broke down and cooked a quick meal last Wednesday. The prepared meals from Central Market are great, but there's something nice about grilling up your own hunk of beef. To go with the sirloin we opened up a bottle of Alamos 2009 Malbec. I've said it before and I'll say it again, you can't go wrong pairing beef and Argentine wine.

The Alamos Malbec is your typical big bold Malbec. The nose was all dark berry and currant. While the wine mellowed as it breathed, the bouquet stayed nice and full and bold. On the palate this Malbec all bold and tannic. Dark berries and cherries with hints of leather and tobacco flow nicely with each other across the palate. As the wine goes down the boldness asserts itself. Towards the mid-palate you start to get a nice touch of spice. The Malbec finishes strong and full with audacious tannins.

It pretty much goes without saying that the wine and steak went great together. We got the 2009 Alamos Malbec from our friend Isaac Guerra as an apartment warming gift. Pris thinks it came from Jones Liquor before that though. We have a 2010 we picked up, but that one is going to cellar for a bit. For more information about the Alamos Malbec you can visit: http://alamoswines.com/en/

Back at Home with Baron Carl

2011-10-16T21:49:00.002-05:00

I blame the lack of posting this week on a prolonged recovery from an obstacle run I did with some friends last Saturday in Bastrop. Despite being worn out, Pris and I were able to pick some good food and wines from Central Market. For dinner Sunday night we heated up a beef bourguignon from Central Market and opened up a 2006 Baron Carl Saint-Emilion to go with it.

The Baron Carl was a deep dark red wine with a great nose full of soft fruit. As the evening wore on, the wine opened up nicely. When we first started the Baron Carl was soft and smooth on the palate with light berry notes. As it opened it developed more structure and a deeper flavor. The soft berry notes were replaced by deeper, darker, and far bolder fruit. Once the wine opened up it finished with a nice dry tannic finish.

This wine went great with the meal, but this wine seems made for rich beef and potato meals. We had another similar meal tonight, but more on that later. I bought the Baron Carl at Feldman's Market Center here in Brownsville when I picked up lunch one day. It runs about $20 a bottle. Interestingly, the same folks who make Baron Carl also produce Mouton Cadet.

A Birthday Bash with Alto Moncayo

2011-10-05T22:06:00.001-05:00

OK, it wasn't so much a bash as it was Pris and I celebrating my birthday last night, and if your birthday isn't a good enough reason to break out a great bottle of wine, I don't know what is. It would've been great to have a fantastic meal to go with the wine, but due to a program going on downstairs we had to settle for a NY strip from Texas Roadhouse. Even though the meal was okay, the wine was exceptional. Pris picked out a bottle of Alto Moncayo 2008 Granacha, and it was fantastic.

Pris actually opened the bottle about four hours before we ate so the bottle had plenty of time to decant. This was done based on Mike Jones' recommendation when he sold us the wine. The Alto Moncayo was so many things, big and bold, smooth and rich, and excellent.

Alto Moncayo had an indulgent and complex nose that was a mix of ripe berry and earthiness. When this wine hit the palate it was all pleasurable layered flavor. Rich dark ripe berry melded with spicy and fruity notes that all develop and intensify as the wine progresses. The finish is paradoxically soft as the wines flavor intensifies to a fruity intensity that borders on sweetness. Despite the sweetness, this is not a sweet wine. It is a phenomenal wine, and hopefully another special occasion will come along that warrants getting another bottle.

The granacha is heavy enough to pair well with the steak, and this wine worked well with dinner. The Alto Moncayo was smooth enough to drink all on its own after dinner as well. However, where this wine really shone was when it was paired with herbed goat cheese, manchego cheese, and fontina cheese. Pris said the wine contrasted well with the spicy buffalo chicken strips I cooked up for her too.

We picked this bottle of Alto Moncayo 2008 Granacha at Jones Liquor here in Brownsville. It runs about $57.99 a bottle, which is to be expected for a 93 point wine. I couldn't find a website for this wine, but there are a number of places selling and writing reviews of it online. Definitely keep this one in mind when you're looking for a big, bold, and fantastic wine for whatever the occasion may be.

Navarro Correas has a Nice Little Merlot

2011-09-30T22:52:00.002-05:00

The last post of the month! Early on it looked like we wouldn't get through too many wines this month, the drinking just wasn't happening. But we've managed to get through a decent number of wines this month after all. The final wine of the month is Bodegas Navarro Correas Collecion Privada 2007 Merlot.

The Navarro Correas Merlot was a good easy drinking every day wine. It had a fruity nose with lots of ripe berry and a touch of musky earthiness. On the palate you're hit with a well structured fruitiness that borders on sweet. However, as the wine continues on its course it develops a bit more bite and fullness. Along the mid-palate the berry fades and a nice oakiness comes to the fore. The Merlot has a nice tannic finish that slowly fades after the sipping is done.

We paired the Navarro Correas Merlot with a paprika and flour breaded pan fried steak served with a tomato gravy. It paired really well with the meal. The fruitful wine countered well with the savory garlicky tomato gravy, and complimented the breaded beef portion all at the same time.

The Navarro Correas Collecion Privada Merlot runs about $10 a bottle. We picked ours up at Jones Liquor here in Brownsville, but I've seen it around. For the price its a great everyday wine that's really easy to drink. It's mellow nature also will allow it to go with a number of different food pairings. For more information on Navarro Correas and their wines you can visit their website here: http://www.ncorreas.com/index.htm

Bogle Vineyard's Pinot Noir

2011-09-30T21:48:00.004-05:00

Monday night I offered Pris a couple different dishes for dinner. Unfortunately for her the one she wanted took about an hour and a half to cook. On the plus side we had a lot of time to pick a wine and let it decant. Dinner was a whole roasted chicken that was rubbed with goat cheese and cilantro under the skin and stuffed with garlic and lemon. Towards the end of the roasting the chicken was glazed with honey and crushed red peppers. To go with this great rich meal Pris and I selected a 2009 Bogle Vineyards Pinot Noir.

The Bogle Pinot had a great complex nose that was loaded with berry goodness. As the wine crossed the palate it was full of ripe fruit. Towards the end there was a nice bit of mineral bite and a touch of spice. The Pinot ends with a nice lingering finish. This is a well balanced wine with nice herbal undertones that is mellow enough to go with almost any type of food.

The Bogle Pinot went really well with the roasted chicken and salad. The chicken was a mix of creamy rich cheese, sweet and spicy glaze, and the sharp tang of the cilantro and lemon. The meal was accompanied by a salad with a champagne vinaigrette with the remainder of the goat cheese and cilantro. The mellow fruit of the Bogle Pinot went great with the rich flavors of the chicken and salad.

I picked up the Bogle at World Market while I was in Corpus Christi for a conference last week. It runs about $11 a bottle, and its a great mellow everyday wine to keep on hand. I kind of wished I'd picked up a couple more bottles since our Pinot selection is somewhat limited. For more information on Bogle and its wines you can visit: http://www.boglewinery.com/home.php

Enjoying a Bountiful B.R. Cohn

2011-09-26T22:55:00.001-05:00

For whatever reason I was a little tired Sunday. I initially had grand plans for our evening meal, but by the time I went to H.E.B. to pick up supplies I was already feeling a bit rundown. So I decided to do a tried and true dinner of steak, baked potato, and salad. To go with this easy meal Pris selected a bottle of 2007 B.R. Cohn Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Cohn has is one of our go to wines when we can find it. We've bought it at H.E.B., Jones Liquor, and wherever we run across it. This is a nice little Cab. Its not as full bodied as most, but it still offers great flavor and a nice strong finish.

The 2007 B.R. Cohn Cab had a deep fruit nose that was loaded up with ripe dark fruits. This is a softer and mellower Cab, but it still had loads of rich raspberries, cherries, and cassis. All the hallmarks of a good Cab. The Cohn opens up across the mid-palate and ended with a mellow, but nicely tannic and dry finish.

Despite it being lighter, the Cohn went really well with steak, potato, and salad. Of course the deep fruit and tannic nature of the wine complimented the rich beef flavors in the medium rare sirloin. It was surprising how well the wine went with the salad that had just a simple home-made red wine vinaigrette. The soft fruit and mellow nature of the wine went very well with the tangy herbal salad. As a side note, I love making my own vinaigrettes. They're easy and hard to mess up since all you have to do is keep adding more oil or vinegar (and sundry herbs) till you get the flavor you want.

The B.R. Cohn is great little Cab, especially if you're looking for full flavor minus the big boldness of most Cabs. We picked up this bottle at either H.E.B. or Jones Liquor (we grabbed the last two there on our first trip in). The Cohn Cab runs about $17 a bottle. For more information on B.R. Cohn and their wines you can visit: http://www.brcohn.com//

Massivo & Pasta: A Marriage Made in Italy

2011-09-20T22:21:00.001-05:00

Despite all the great recipes Pris and I have been trying out recently sometimes its good to go back to old tries and true dishes. Tonight I made an easy pasta dish I light with tomato sauce, Italian sausage, and chicken. Of course this big pasta dish also allow us to crack open a great Italian wine I've wanted to get into for a while. To go with our meal we pulled out a bottle of 2009 Massivo Nero d'Avola from Sicily.

Massivo is made from the Nero d'Avola grape and is compared by some to the Australian Shiraz. This wine has a light fruit bouquet with loads of raspberry and blackberry. The berry flavors continue on the palate in this light wine. Massivo starts off light and mellow, but builds in some intensity and fullness as it crosses the mid-palate. The light red fruit flavors continue through the finish. The wine opens up some at the finish and even offers a bit of mineral tang.

The Massivo paired excellently with the pasta. I really can't put it any better than that. The fruit complimented the savory tang of the tomato sauce and spices. This is a perfect wine for any tomato based pastas and probably pizza as well.

Massivo is another wine from the Wall Street Journal Wine Club. So far we've reviewed a number of wines from this club and they've all been good. Anyway, the Massivo runs about $13 a bottle. You can find out more about Massivo at: http://www.wsjwine.com/jsp/homepage.jsp

A Bit of Yarrunga Field to go with Stuffed Burgers and Stuffed Bellies

2011-09-20T21:45:00.000-05:00

Last night I decided to do something a little bit different and cook something without a set recipe to follow. What I had decided on was stuffed burgers. Luckily burgers are hard to screw up in general, so I thought it was a pretty safe bet. To go with the burgers Pris selected a 2010 Yarrunga Field Black Label, which is an Australian red blend.

This was another selection from the Wall Street Journal Wines. Pris picked it out since it was labeled as being great with grilled and/or spicy dishes and beef. While the burgers weren't technically grilled, the wine definitely fit them.

The Yarrunga is a blend of 85% Shiraz, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot. The Shiraz-centric nature of this wine is evident in the fruity nose and on the palate. The Yarrunga has nice aromas of ripe dark berries and black currant. Once you sip it you get ripe dark fruit on the palate. The blend is slightly sweet, but isn't a sweet wine. Rounded tannins keep the Yarrunga smooth and light. Towards the end you'll just a touch of spice before a nice mellow finish.

The wine was paired with two stuffed burgers. One burger was stuffed with cheddar, grilled onions, and bacon. Apparently this is a wine you can drink with a bacon burger if you choose to. The light sweetness was a great counter to the savory fullness of the beef, cheddar, and bacon. The other patty was stuffed with blue cheese, chipotle sauce, and bacon. Again, the sweet went great with the savory. With this burger though, the spice at the end of the wine complimented the spice in the stuffing really well. Overall, a great choice of wine for anytime you're grilling.

The Yarrunga Field Black Label runs about $15 a bottle at http://www.wsjwine.com/jsp/homepage.jsp. You can also find more information there on this fine Australian red.

The Amazing Termes Numanthia

2011-09-20T19:46:00.001-05:00

Last June Pris and I were in Baltimore for one of Pris' conferences. We'd just gotten in to town and also just discovered that her museum was acquiring the Alonso Building (where we now reside). In order to celebrate, and/or get a stiff drink since we were officially moving to Brownsville, we decided to splurge a bit on dinner. We ended up at the Oceanaire which was about a block from our hotel.

It was a monstrously good dinner, that is easily in our top 5 dinners together. There was steak, tuna, lobster mac & cheese, 4 cheese potatoes au gratin, creme brule, banana bread pudding, scotch, and of course wine. To this day I don't know how we ate everything we did. The wine we selected was a 2007 Termes Numanthia from Spain. Since our trip Pris and I have been looking for this wine, and asking all our local stores if they'd consider ordering it. Feldmans did. I found it about 2 weeks ago there for $30, which is considerably less than its price in the restaurant.

The vintage is different. This Termes Numanthia is a 2008, but the wine is every bit as great as we remember. The Termes has a rich and complex nose with loads of cherry and raspberry coupled with floral and spice notes. On the palate the Termes is all silk luxuriance with intense fruit flavorings. Raspberries and blackberries hold sway here, but there are nice spice notes to liven things up. The finish is long and biting, with nice spices showing up around the mid-palate. This bite adds a nice bit of character to this great wine. After the intense flavor burst in the mid-palate, the finish is long and smooth. It lingers nicely allowing you to savor this fine wine for just a bit longer.

The nearest Oceanaire chain appears to be in Houston, but even so, the menu would be different. We could never replicate that night, but I tried anyway. Sunday I grilled up a couple NY Strips, pan fried some South Texas flavored crab cakes, and crab and cheese mashed potatoes. The 2008 Termes Numanthia went just as well with our crab and beef selections as the 2007 went with our meal in Baltimore. While rich, the wine is versatile enough to go with a number of dishes. It can stand on is own with the steak or with the spicy bite of the crab cakes. That was part of the reason we chose it then, and partly while we'll be keeping a bottle in stock as long as we can get it somewhere.

This is a great wine. Feldmans Market Center currently has it for $30 a bottle. That's a ways outside of our everyday drinking price, but its definitely a good one for special occasions or splurging on the weekend. To find out more about the Numanthia wines you can visit: http://www.numanthia.com/

The Second Wind with Red Rock

2011-09-20T19:43:00.000-05:00

Rather than put two wines into the same post, it might be simpler to separate wines and posts for a bit. Bear with me while I try it out.

So after Pris, Rusty, and myself finished off the Fetzer Merlot, we started in on a second bottle which was a 2008 Reserve Merlot from Red Rock Winery. Unlike the Fetzer, the Red Rock was a full bodied Merlot. Strong berry aromas burst out of the glass as soon as this wine was poured. Then ripe dark fruits, with notes of ripe plum and berries greeted the palate immediately. While it was full bodied, the Red Rock was still smooth. Soft tannins rounded out this wine and provided a softer light finish.

This wine went really well with the one heavier meat oriented pizza. Due to it weight and fullness, this wine would probably complement a wide range of dishes very well. The Red Rock runs about $14 a bottle. This wine also can be purchased at Feldman's Market Center here in Brownsville. You can find out more about the Red Rock Reserve Merlot at: http://www.redrockwinery.com/our-wines/reserve-merlot/index.html

Fetzer with Friends

2011-09-20T19:42:00.002-05:00

Last Thursday our friend Rusty Faulk came over for dinner and some nice political discussions. We provided the pizza from Feldman's Market Center, and Rusty provided the wine. First up was a 2009 Fetzer Merlot.

The first thing you notice about the Fetzer Merlot was how light it was for a Merlot. Both in color and on the palate this is an exceedingly light wine, more reminiscent of a Syrah than a Merlot. On the palate its all light fruit, plums and cherry. It has a nice light finish and goes down smoothly.

This particular wine went very well with the various pizzas I picked up. By and large they were lighter, with the main ingredients being tomato, basil, mozzarella, and garlic. The Fetzer Winery prides itself on being environmentally friendly, and it one of its selling points. Interestingly enough, this Merlot reminded both Pris and myself of the Bonterra Merlot we reviewed here http://rgvinophiles.blogspot.com/2011/04/bountiful-bonterra.html. Both were lighter Merlots that paired well with lighter foods.

This Merlot runs about $10, and you can find it at H.E.B. and most liquor stores. For more information on the Fetzer wines you can visit: http://fetzer.com/Default.aspx

Of Moroccan Chicken and Meritage

2011-09-13T20:49:00.001-05:00

Last Wednesday was interesting. There was a meeting going on down at the far end of our Museum's building we currently reside in and I was trying to make a relatively easy meal of Moroccan stewed chicken. I figured the slower stewing process would create less mess and smell than frying something up in a skillet. I was a bit wrong on that account, but as smells go, it was delightful.

To go with this sweet, spicy, and savory dish Pris pulled out one of Cameron Hughes' wines. She selected Lot 119, a 2005 Meritage from the Alexander Valley in Sonoma County. This was good wine that went great with our meal.

This wine, like so many others, offered several layers of flavor over a couple of days. It offered a light ripe fruit nose with plum, spice, and mocha. On the first day it was open it held sumptuous rich fruit on the palate. However, as rich as it was, the Meritage was still light and even refreshing. Raspberry and oak dominate this wine. The finish was smooth, but somewhat abrupt. On the second day this Lot mellowed dramatically. The flavors were richer, and the wine was far more smooth. From the second day on the finish lingered with a nice earthiness and bite.

As I said, the wine paired excellently with the meal which was chicken thighs stewed with tomatoes, chick peas, zucchini, garlic, and generous amounts of cinnamon, cumin, and cayenne pepper. The result was a slightly sweet, slightly spicy, and very savory dish where the chicken just melted away in the flavors. The mocha, spice, and fruit complemented the spice in the dish very well. It worked to subdue the heat a bit, and really brought out the savory in the stewed chicken.

The chicken dish itself was somewhat like a mole in the flavoring. The only ingredient it really lacked was the chocolate. So I don't think it'd be a stretch to say this wine should pair very well with chicken mole for anyone looking to branch out some.

We ordered this Meritage at Cameron Hughes' website (www.chwine.com), but it appears to be sold out at this time. It runs about $12 a bottle, which is a great price for a wine this good. The trick is finding it. I did see a couple spots online that seem to have it in stock, all you need to do is look around.

The Way of Cenay

2011-09-05T22:51:00.000-05:00

Sunday I should have been hunting with my family, but was sidelined after a small kitchen accident. However, all was not lost. Since I wasn't out in Bluetown, I was able to make a nice little dinner for Pris and I. The same injury that kept me out of the field meant that it needed to be an easy dinner, so flank steak with caper sauce and grilled asparagus seemed to fit the bill.

To go with this rich fare Pris selected a 2006 Cenay Blue Tooth Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, California. Apparently September is California Wine Month, and Pris remembered that this is a great California Cab. Despite all that though, you can't really go wrong with beef and California Cab.

The Cenay hits with loads of ripe red fruit on the nose. The typical raspberry and blueberry aromas were in full effect. This Cab was full and flavorful on the palate. The same ripe raspberries and some cassis worked together with a bit of oak worked together nicely. The Cab starts of smooth at first, and continues smoothly through the mid-palate. But then bold tannins come out and lead you into a big biting finish.

Essentially, the 2006 Cenay Cab is everything you'd expect from a California Cab. It went great with the flank steak with caper sauce, grilled asparagus with manchego cheese, and toasted Italian cheese bread. The savory bite of the caper sauce was a great counter-point to the fruit in the wine. At the same time, the beef itself complimented the lush Cab very well. We're actually finishing off the wine as I write this. It went well with tonight's dinner which was a bone in strip steak with mushroom/goat cheese polenta. Again, the bold Cenay Cab was a great compliment to the beef and the savory polenta.

If you're looking for something exceptional, this isn't quite it. If you're looking for a really good Califonia Cab and are willing to spend a bit more, then this is a wine for you. We picked up this wine originally at Central Market in Austin. This particular bottle that is now empty was purchased at Jones Liquor for $37, but they also sell it at Feldmans as well here in the Valley. For more information on the Cenay line of wines you can visit:

http://www.rowlandcellars.com/about_cenay.html

Celebrating International Tempranillo Day with a Sumptuous Sincero

2011-09-05T21:32:00.000-05:00

I was not aware that last Thursday was International Tempranillo Day until Pris told me. Since we love wine and have a wine blog it was only fitting that we celebrate such an auspicious occasion. It also helps that Tempranillo is one of our favorite grape varietals. In order to celebrate fully Pris and I whipped up some tapas and had our friends Diana Chapa and Trey Mendez over. Trey had some business that kept him busy, but he did make it for the second bottle.

Pris decided that we would open a bottle of 2007 Sincero from the Ribero del Duero region of Spain. Of course it goes without saying that this particular Spanish wine is a Tempranillo. We'd had it before shortly after we moved to Brownsville, and it was a recommendation from the staff at Feldman's Market Center. Fortunately, since it got such a strong recommendation, we bought two bottles when we first purchased it.

Patatas bravas, garlic shrimp, chorizo/manchego, and the
proscuitto wrapped roasted pear stuffed with manchego.

The Sincero had a light fruit nose that was still robust. On the palate it was all full fruit and supple tannins. Light red berries and earthy minerals mix together on the palate to provide a complex and refreshing wine. One of the great things about this wine is that it starts light in your mouth, and then opens up with well balanced tannins for a crisp finish.

We opened the wine to go with a smattering of tapas that Pris and I put together. Pris made prosciutto wrapped roasted pears stuffed with manchego cheese. I made patatas bravas (a type of Spanish fries with aioli and a spicy tomato sauce), garlic shrimp, and toasted garlic bread with manchego and Spanish chorizo. The wine went great with everything. So good in fact that the three of us finished things off in short order. We then moved to a bottle of Altorredondo that Diana brought.

Patatas bravas and sauces.

The Altorredondo was every bit as good as I remember it. You can see the post here: http://rgvinophiles.blogspot.com/2011/04/altorredondo-raising-bar.html. It was an interesting study in contrast. The Sincero was light and refreshing, and the Altorredondo was deep, full, and bold. Yet both wines came from the same grape varietal. Both wines were excellent, and neither bottle survived the night. We even got into some Cava that was left over from the shrimp, but that's a review for later.

The Sincero is an excellent wine. It runs about $14 a bottle, so its a great everyday, or semi-everyday wine. We got ours at Feldman's Market Center here in Brownsville. For more information on Sincero's Tempranillo you'll have to Google it and look around. I wasn't able to find a website for the winery using a simple search, but there's lots of info out there on this wine.

A Syrah for Summer: Domaine Saint Francois

2011-09-05T16:11:00.000-05:00

Pris and I keep reading about how Syrah and Rieslings are perfect for summer drinking, but we don't really drink too much of either of these wines. Its something of a shame too considering our summer weather usually lasts almost 6 months. However, we decided to rectify that a bit on Tuesday and open up a bottle of Domaine Saint Francois 2010 Syrah from the Wall Street Journal Wine Club.

This particular Syrah was far lighter and fruitier than most of the other Syrahs we've had. The nose was light with lots of crisp red fruit. The Saint Francois was almost effervescent on the palate, which isn't an easy thing for a red wine. Light fruit and spice meld nicely as this wine travels through the mouth. After being open a couple days, but sealed with a vacuum top, this wine really opened up. Its was far fuller with a more mature flavor. The Saint Francois ends with a nice long finish that lingers subtlety in the back of the mouth, not overpowering, but you know its there.

We paired the Domaine Saint Francois with oven "fried" chicken; broccoli/carrot slaw; and mashed potatoes with crème fraiche and sautéed shallots. The wine was a good choice for the meal. The lightness of the wine cut through the richness of the breading and the heaviness of the potatoes. It was a good compliment to the slaw which was well seasoned with apple cider vinegar. The sweet fruit and sour slaw worked very well together.

I wish the wine had reached the same taste level that first night as it did a couple days later. But that's our fault for not using a decanter. We did use our aerator, but its not the same. So if you get this wine and its too fruity, let it set a day. Or use a decanter and let it breathe for a few hours before serving.

The 2010 Domaine Saint Francois Syrah is $13 at the Wall Street Journal Wine Club site. If you like your Syrah light and fruity then order some, open it up and go to town. If you like your Syrah a bit fuller then still order, but let it breathe deeply before drinking. You can find out more about this Syrah at: http://www.wsjwine.com/jsp/product/productDetails.jsp?productId=prod380091

Caprese and Chianti: A Captivating Combo

2011-08-30T22:02:00.000-05:00

How can you not love Italian food and wine? After our Argentinean excursion Saturday night Pris and I decided to head east for our next selection. We planned out the week's menu and decided on an Italian themed steak dish for dinner Sunday. As it happened we also picked another Italian meal for later in the week, but decided to make it Monday night since we already had the wine to go with it.

Dinner Sunday was sirloin and caprese salad served over rigatoni and drizzled with pesto. On Monday it was Italian sausage with tomatoes, garlic, mushrooms, and zucchini served over pre-made polenta. That was the recipe, but next time I'll make the polenta from scratch. Its a little more work, but its got a little more oomph. So to go with these simple, but fine dishes, Pris selected a 2009 Collezione de Paolo Chianti that came from the Wall Street Journal Wine Club.

The Chianti was very light and fruity with accents of raspberry and a touch of oak on the nose. On the palate this wine was still all light fruit. Plum, light berries, and cherry worked together nicely. The Chianti offered well rounded tannins that made for a long finish with a slight mineral tang at the very end. While light, this Chianti was well balanced and surprisingly versatile with our meal selections.

The Collezione de Paolo Chianti went fantastically with the steak and caprese salad. The lightness of the wine was a great counter-point to the richness of the steak and pesto. Even Monday night's meal worked with the fine light wine. The sausage polenta dish was considerably lighter than the steak, and the Chianti complimented the lightness of the meal. Taken together, it was a great comparison of a wine working in two different ways to augment a great (if I say so myself) dining experience.

The 2009 Collezione de Paolo Chianti sells for $16 a bottle on the Wall Street Journal Wine Club site. If you buy in bulk the price per bottle goes down. If you enjoy cooking a lot of Italian food, or want a good wine to compliment lighter food pairings and salads, this is a great choice. To order the wine, or learn more about it you can visit: http://www.wsjwine.com/jsp/product/productDetails.jsp?productId=prod50070

An Argentinean Evening with Catena

2011-08-28T21:46:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a fairly eventful day for Pris and I. There was a first communion rental downstairs for most of the afternoon, the dogs got groomed (well at least one of them did), and Pris had a program in the evening. After the program, which featured beer and ballpark food (courtesy of Feldman's), Pris wanted something more substantial to eat. So we decided to order up one of our favorite meals which we hadn't had in a while: Aztecas soup, beef empanadas, and tocinetas (bacon-wrapped steak) from Gazapachos. And to go with these Argentinean style servings? A 2008 Catena Malbec from the Mendoza region of Argentina.

The Catena Malbec had a strong nose that was loaded up with alcohol and dark fruit. After setting in the glass some you can detect some chocolate notes mixed in with the fruit. On the palate this wine is robust and flavorful. Fruit, spice, and even a touch of leather all combine well in this full bodied Malbec. A nice gentle acidity carriers through the mid-palate and combines with agile tannins to provide a full and lingering finish.

Like most of the wines we've gotten (and all of the ones we've reviewed) this is a good wine. It complimented the beef empanadas and bacon wrapped tenderloin exceptionally well, especially with the chimichurri sauce they came with. The bold flavors of the wine complemented the rich flavors of the beef and the herbal acidity of the chimichurri. It took a good full wine to compliment such savory fare.

We picked up the 2008 Catena Malbec at Feldman's Market Center in Brownsville for $22. For the price, this is definitely one to keep on hand for when you need a bolder wine, or for when you simply want a full flavored wine to drink. For more information on Catena's wines you can visit: http://catenawines.com/

Dinner with a Friend and Wayne Gretzky

2011-08-28T17:00:00.000-05:00

On Thursday, Pris and I had a friend over for dinner. It was small simple meal that didn't involve too much work since I had to work all day and make the drive back home. We provided the food, Rusty provided the wine. That's always a great arrangement. To go with dinner, Rusty grabbed a couple of bottles of Wayne Gretzky Estates 2005 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon.

We actually opened up one of the bottles and proceeded to finish off the Finca El Origen that was left over while the Gretzky Cab breathed some. In a testament to lucky timing, the food was done at about the same time the Finca was finished. For dinner we had dry aged NY Strips from H.E.B., prosciutto/parsley/parmesan mashed potatoes, and the roasted tomatoes with garlic and croutons dish.

The 2005 Wayne Gretzky Cab is a good Cab, especially to go with the steaks we were having. On the nose it had all the hallmarks of a first-rate Cab: dark fruit, dark cherries, and blackberry. But then on the palate it wasn't as bold as the nose would lead you to believe. This wasn't a bad thing. The Gretzky Cab was smooth, rich, and well balanced. It had generous helping of dark redolent fruit tempered with some slightly sweet accents. Smooth tannins provided a very mellow finish for this Napa Cab.

The all around smoothness and balance of this wine made it very easy to drink, and we finished off the bottle in short order. Even though it was mellower than most of the Napa Cabs we've tried, it was still a perfect compliment to the aged steak. The mellowness also meant that the wine didn't overpower the mashed potatoes and roasted tomato sides. Other bolder Cabs would've simply buried these flavorful sides, but the Gretzky did not.

Rusty picked up the wine at Jones' Liquor. I had picked up a bottle there a little while back on Mike Jone's recommendation, but we haven't opened it yet. Now we know its a really good and mellow Cab that will go great with steak and some lighter dishes. It runs $14.99 a bottle. For more information you can visit: http://www.gretzkyestateswines.com/

Fantastic Finca El Origen

2011-08-28T16:51:00.000-05:00

Back to being way behind on posts. Well, not too behind since its been a fairly slow wine week again. Last Sunday night we didn't really cook up anything special and were still working through two open bottles that were already reviewed. By the time Monday rolled around I was actually cooked out and decided just to pick up a couple of strips at Texas Roadhouse. To go with the strips Pris pulled out a 2009 Argentinean Reserva Malbec from Finca El Origen.

The wine was mellow, but at the same time full on the palate. It was a great combination for a bolder red wine. The nose was full of cherries, blackberries, and cassis. On the palate, this full flavored Malbec was rich with heavy dark fruits. Forceful tannins round out the wine and provide a full strong finish that has a nice bite at the end.

The 2009 Finca El Origen Reserva Malbec is a great little 91 point wine to pull out when you're having steak, empanada's, or any other beef-centric dish. I've said it before, the Argentinean people know their beef and wine to go with the beef and the Finca Reserva Malbec is no exception.

We picked up the 2009 Finca El Origen Reserva Malbec at HEB for 9.99. At this price its also a great everyday wine. While it goes best with beef, the fact that its so mellow will allow you to drink it easily on it own or with some lighter fare. For more information of Finca El Origen's wines you can visit: http://fincaelorigen.com/en

Barbequing With Giesta

2011-08-24T22:34:00.000-05:00

Okay, for full disclosure we didn't actually barbeque with this wine, but we did have grilled chicken with BBQ sauce on it. My drink of choice for grilling or barbecuing is beer, and as much as I love wine I don't see that changing. Sunday was a fairly relaxing day after a long Saturday that was topped off by a nice BBQ here at the Alonso Building. We had a number of leftovers to go through so the meals could be fairly simple.

Pris was going through some new Wall Street Journal wines that my mom had just given us to try. In going through the notes she discovered one that was supposedly great with grilled meats and BBQ sauce. So I heated up some leftover grilled chicken, smothered it in sauce and loaded it up with pickles and onions on white bread. And to go with this Pris opened a bottle of Giesta Dão 2009.

This is a good Portuguese red blend. Its a mix of 45% Tinta Roriz (also known as Tempranillo), 32% Touriga Nacional, and 23% Jaen. The Giesta was loaded up with bright ripe fruit on the nose and palate. It had juicy ripe berries dominate the palate, but there's also a good acidity and subtly oak. Soft tannins round out this great summer wine and provide a mellow finish.

While I was drinking the wine I kept thinking that I'd tried it before, the flavor kept bringing up a flavor I couldn't quite put my finger on. Then Pris read the tasting notes and we discovered all the same grapes are used in Port and it all clicked. The Giesta is basically an unfortified, and far less sweet Port.

Let me just say, the tasting notes were not wrong about pairing this wine with barbecue sauced meats. The slight sweetness in the wine went great with the spicy BBQ sauce and jalapenos. The acidity and heavy fruit complimented the savory vinegary sauce and the smokiness of the chicken like nobody's business. It would have been nice to try this with brisket or ribs, but you work with what you have.

If you're a Port fan, or simply like juicy wines with loads of fruit (that are not sweet), then this is a wine for you. This wine is a great value as an everyday or weekend BBQ wine since it runs about $13 a bottle at the Wall Street Journal site, but a bit less at others if you do a Google search. You can find out more about Giesta Dão 2009 and order it at: www.wsjwines.com.

Cap Rock and Cucumbers

2011-08-21T16:00:00.000-05:00

Friday night was pretty busy. We had a party to attend, another party to set up for the following day, and dinner to put together. Normally we'd just eat out, but some chicken had already been taken out of the freezer and defrosted and was in dire need of cooking. So Pris and I threw together some Greek seasoned chicken and mashed potatoes along with a cucumber and feta salad. And to go with this light and herb heavy meal Pris picked out a bottle of Cap Rock's 2008 Viognier.

The Cap Rock Viognier is a nice slightly sweet white that we tried at a wine tasting at Feldman's Market Center in McAllen a couple of years ago with George and Virginia Gause. We liked it and grabbed a couple of bottles along with some of Cap Rock's other selections.

The Cap Rock is a nice gold hued wine that looks quite a bit like a very liquid honey. Honey actually seems to play a fairly dominant role in this light white wine. On the nose there are light fruit and floral notes, with a good bit of honeysuckle mixed in. The wine is also light on the palate with layers of light fruit opening up nicely. Again, there is an undercurrent of honey flowing through the effervescent fruit. The wine ends softly and smoothly, with a supple linger sweetness.

Cap Rock's Viognier went superbly with the cucumber salad which was well seasoned with champagne vinegar. This mix of sweet and savory worked really well together. However, the sweetness and heavy flavor of the fruit was a bit overpowering for the light seasoning on the chicken. We'd recommend pairing the wine with dishes with heavier seasoning or with crisp vegetable dishes that are seasoned in white wine or champagne vinegars.

We purchased the Cap Rock 2008 Viognier at Feldman's in McAllen a few years back for $22. For more information on Cap Rock and its wines you can visit: http://www.caprockwinery.com

Las Rocas Garnacha

2011-08-21T14:31:00.002-05:00

I got home Thursday to find Pris hard at work in the kitchen getting dinner ready. Since we've started experimenting with more food recipes she's gotten more adventurous and wanted to try out some stuff. I found out she was making Fettuccini Alfredo with shrimp and chorizo. And to go with this decadently rich meal she selected a 2007 Las Rocas Garnacha.

The Las Rocas is a light red wine with a light red taste. This Garnacha livens up the nose with berry aromas, especially raspberry. On the palate the wine is mellow and fruity, with good acidity and a touch of oak. It also goes ever so slightly sweet through the mid-palate. The finish offers up a nice tart kick right in the back of the mouth that is as abrupt as it is refreshing. But the wine does linger a bit afterwards allowing you to savor it just a little longer.

This wine is an excellent Spanish 90 point wine that seems tailor made for rich spicy and savory dishes. To say that the meal was rich would be something of an understatement. The spice of the chorizo was mellowed a bit by the Alfredo sauce, but was still present. The 2007 Las Rocas Garnacha offered both a great counterpoint and compliment to the meal. The lightness and the acidity of the Las Rocas Garnacha cut through the heaviness of the cream sauce. At the same time the fruitiness of the wine played well with the spices imparted by the chorizo. All in all it balanced out the meal perfectly.

While the Las Rocas will go great with spicy or heavy dishes, its a great little wine all on its own. We picked our first bottle of this wine at HEB Central Market in San Antonio. We then found the second bottle at the HEB in McAllen. We've noticed that HEB McAllen on Trenton and 10th is now starting to carry more of the Central Market inventory of wines. At $12.99 a bottle, this wine is definitely a good everyday wine to have on hand. To find out more about Las Rocas and their wines you can visit: http://www.lasrocaswine.com/

Turnbull Cab: A Classy Wine for a Classy Meal

2011-08-16T21:37:00.000-05:00

As some of you might be aware, we've kicked up the cooking a bit over here in order to elevate the food to the level of some of the wines we're "working" our way through. This Sunday I decided to take it down a notch and go back to just grilling up a simple sirloin. New York strips are great, but we are living in a recession, and the Prime One sirloin from H.E.B. is a fantastic piece of beef.

The menu was a well seasoned sirloin cooked medium rare (which is really the only way steak should be cooked), horseradish mashed potatoes, and a spring mix salad with a red wine/dijon vinaigrette. We knew the steak and potatoes would both be bold and require a bolder wine. Given our selection that pretty much meant a Cab or a Malbec. Pris decided on a 2007 Turnbull Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Turnbull is an excellent Napa Cab in that its big, bold, and beautiful. The first thing you notice is the dark purple opulence of the wine. As expected there is a bold nose with lots of dark fruit including the expected cherry and currant. The Turnbull Cab is big and bold on the palate as well. Heavy fruits dominate the palate, but are tempered slightly with oaky undertones. Around the mid palate you notice a slight sweetness that is a welcome reprieve from the heaviness. But as soon as you notice it, then its gone and bold tannins provide a bracing full dry finish that starts with a bite of spice and lingers nicely for quite a while.

As expected the wine went great with the meal. The boldness of the wine was a perfect compliment to the bold juicy steak. The spicy potatoes, spiced with ground horseradish and Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, were a great counterpoint to the fullness of the wine. Even the salad dressing matched with the wine. Both had bite, but one had a touch of sweetness while the other countered with savory flair.

We first got introduced to Turnbull by my brother Rick who had it on a trip to California. He brought a bottle of Merlot over for Thanksgiving last year and we've been on the lookout for it or the Cab ever since. I finally found this fine 92 point Cab at the H.E.B. on Trenton and 10th in McAllen about a month ago. Since I was there and the wine was there I decided to grab it. It was on sale for about $35, but I think it normally runs closer to $40. For more information on Turnbull and its wines you can visit: http://www.turnbullwines.com/

Fortune Favors the Bold Wine Selection: Rudi Wiest Riesling

2011-08-14T21:59:00.000-05:00

So last night I went all out on dinner. There's this Thai roast chicken recipe I'd been wanting to do for a while, but it's a little time intensive. I had some time freed up so I decided to get to it. Along with that I made a stir-fry shrimp and baby bok choy in a citrus soy sauce and coconut rice. The food was a lot of work, but the hard part was figuring out a good wine pairing with the spicy citrusy dishes.

The most obvious choice for the meal would be some kind of white. However, we're pretty much red wine drinkers and our white selection is rather limited. We had a few whites that would work, but they'd all already been reviewed. We also had some desert wines chilled and ready, but this wasn't desert yet. Fortunately, Pris is an excellent selector of wines.

Pris decided on a Rudi Wiest Riesling of an unknown vintage. It seemed a bold choice at first, but it worked flawlessly with the meal. This was a slightly dry and incredibly refreshing Riesling, not like a number of the sweeter ones on the market. The Rudi Wiest had a soft citrus nose and loads of citrus on the palate. There was a nice mellow sweetness, but the acidity kept it from being overbearing. This was an excellent crisp and refreshing wine that went great with the Asian dishes.

The citrus in the wine was a fantastic compliment to the heavy citrus and spice in the dishes. In fact, a small tag that was still on the bottle noted that is paired well with shellfish and spicy dishes. This was quite fortunate considering that dinner was loaded with lime, Thai peppers, and shrimp.

The Rudi Wiest Riesling came from a little store called WineStyles in McAllen that's no longer around. We got the bottle in a basket that we won in a raffle years ago. WineStyles was a great little store for buying wine in that it was very user friendly. All bottles were labeled and categorized by flavor/type rather than varietal and region. However, they are gone in the Valley, but you may run into them elsewhere. For more information on the Rudi Wiest wines you can visit: http://www.rudiwiest.com/index.html

Beer and Wine do Mix! Frei Borther's Reserve Merlot

2011-08-14T18:08:00.000-05:00

I don't know why, but we're really behind on our posts right now. Not only that, its been a really slow week wine wise. Thanks to the wonders of vacuum sealers for wine we're still nursing last Sunday's bottle.

Along with drinking more wine, Pris and I have been getting a little more adventurous with our cooking. That means more time in the kitchen and less time on the keyboard posting. So for last Sunday's dinner I decided to try a Shiner Bock braised chuck roast with garlic roasted potatoes. It was a bit time consuming, but well worth it. To go with this exceedingly rich meal Pris selected a bottle of Frei Brother's 2007 Reserve Merlot.

The Reserve Merlot is exceedingly smooth with a big fruit nose. On the palate this wine is all mellowness with loads of dark fruit and lots of oak. There are even some chocolate notes around the mid-palate. Robust tannins allow for a bold spicy finish with lots of texture that hits you and then its gone. No lingering finish here.

While technically a Merlot, this wine is actually a blend of 96% Merlot, 3% Petite Sirah, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine went really well with the meal. The deep fruit and oak was a great compliment to the deep sweet flavor of the braised beef. Slow cooking beef in a nice dark beer really brings out the best flavor components of both ingredients. The Merlot held up nicely with the strong savory flavors of the roasted potatoes. Any wine that can stand up to strong garlic potatoes is a wine for me.

We picked up the Frei Bothers at H.E.B. and it runs about $17.24 a bottle. For more information of this and other Frei Brothers wines you can visit: http://www.freibrothers.com/

An Evening of Art, Friends, and Inurrieta Cuatrocientos Crianza

2011-08-12T23:05:00.000-05:00

Saturday night was a big art opening for Julian Rodriguez here at the Alonso Building. If you haven't heard of him or seen his stuff, he is a master ceramicist. The show was a great success with lots of folks milling about looking at the art, drinking wine, eating food, and buying art. However, as I was partially in charge of the food, and Pris was working the event neither one of us got to partake in the wine.

Thankfully our friends George and Virginia Gause came down for the opening and brought two bottles of Inurrieta Cuatrocientos 2007 Crianza and a number of cheeses and some crackers. They had tried the Inurrieta Cuatrocientos at a wine tasting at El Pastor in Pharr, and had fallen in love with the wine. After trying it, it was easy to see why.

The Inurrieta Cuatrocientos is a light Spanish wine that is a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Graciano. It has a crisp fruity nose with lots of bite. On the palate this Crianza is smooth with a strong fruit flavor. This is a well balanced wine who's rounded tannins provide a smooth slightly spicy finish. The Inurrieta Cuatrocientos paired excellently with a trio of cheeses, and was great to drink all on its own.

As far as price and where to get it, I'm not sure. I would recommend it if you happen to be having dinner at El Pastor in Pharr, and they have it available. For more information on Inurrieta you can visit: http://www.bodegainurrieta.com/

Celita Sangiovese

2011-08-08T21:46:00.000-05:00

Friday night was a small family dinner to celebrate Pris' dad's birthday. We decided it'd be more cost efficient to celebrate with a small dinner at home rather than going out. After deciding on some relatively easy and quick items for dinner it was time for Pris and I to select a wine.

Dinner was skirt steak over spring mix with a home-made lemon/herb vinaigrette. Some brushcetta, and the roasted tomato/olive dish from earlier in the week. To go with this Italian themed meal Pris selected a 2009 Celita Sangiovese that my mom gave us from the Wall Street Journal Wine Club.

The Celita was light in color with a light and fruity nose. There are great berry notes with cherry and other berries. This is a really smooth wine with loads of red berry on the palate. The Celita has a great long mellow finish with just a bit of a tang.

This is good little wine that that will go well with a number of lighter summer dishes. It went great with the Tuscan steak and salad with lemon vinaigrette. The combination of the light and fruity wine with the citrusy and savory steak was great. Once again Pris picked a knock out combo.

The Celita 2009 Sangiovese is a Wall Street Journal Wine Club wine, which means you can pretty much only get it through them. You can order online, or over the phone. They run $12 a bottle there. You can find out more at www.wsjwine.com

Hall: A Simple Name for a Damn Good Wine

2011-08-02T22:37:00.000-05:00

So we decided to change things up a little this Sunday. If you've read a few of the posts you know that Sundays are reserved for steak and a full red wine of some type. We kept the beef and the full red wine, but changed up the steak.

For dinner I braised beef short ribs in red wine and served it with a cheesy polenta. Sorry, no pictures this time. To be fair, it wasn't as photogenic as some of our other meals. To go with this rich dinner we selected a great Napa Cabernet Sauvignon from Hall. My brother brought over a bottle of Hall for Thanksgiving last year, and it was exceptional. We kept the bottle despite not getting to enjoy it as thoroughly as we would have liked.

The 2007 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon is a fantastic full bodied wine. Its all dark amethyst in the glass with a deep rich fruit nose to match. Plum, spice, and rich berries all vie for attention on the nose. The wine is smooth and bold with loads of dark luscious berries, cassis, and even anise on the palate. Full tannins round out this Cab and give a long full finish. This is everything one would expect from a fine Napa Cab and more.

The Hall went really well with the wine braised short ribs. The full flavored Cab was perfect with the rich tender beef that fell off the bone. I had worried about it being too much wine for the braising, but that wasn't an issue. On a quick side note, the short ribs were braised in a full bottle of Concha y Toro's Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend. I know the experts say cook with what you drink, but the Hall was way too good to cook with. And back in the day Pris and I both drank our fair share of the Conch. The wine also went well with the polenta which was rich and savory. I suppose the cup and a half of heavy cream, or the almost cup of parmesan and fontina cheeses had something to do with that. At any rate, the creamy richness was a great foil to the deep rich fruit of the wine.

I picked up this bottle on sale at H.E.B. in McAllen for about $34. It usually runs a bit more, but it is worth it. I know they also carry it at Feldman's, but I don't remember the price. To find out more about the Hall family of wines you can visit: http://www.hallwines.com/home

Primarius Pinot Noir

2011-07-31T15:58:00.000-05:00

Its summertime, and that means lighter easy to drink wines that won't make our Valley temperatures feel hotter than normal. If you're looking for a red that means going for Syrah, Beaujolais, or Pinot Noir. According to Mike Jones, the Pinot is one of the hottest wines going right now, and its easy to see why. Last time I was in Jones Liquor he recommended a couple of Pinots, and now we're getting around to the second bottle from that trip.

On Saturday we opened up a bottle of Primarius' 2009 Pinot Noir. This is a really light little Pinot from Oregon. As a quick side note, the Northwest is quickly becoming the place to find some really good Pinot Noirs at really reasonable prices, so look at where the wine is coming from when you pick up a bottle. We tried it with Saturday's dinner and Sunday's brunch, but it was a little light for both meals. Still, that doesn't mean this isn't a good wine on its own.

The first thing you'll notice about the Primarius is its light color. Its a very pale purple, almost lavender, and so clear you can see through the glass. On the nose its all light berries, particularly raspberry, and cherry. The lightness continues on the palate. The Primarius is light, fruity, and slightly earthy. There are strong elements of strawberry and other light berries here as well. Soft tannins round out this wine and allow for a soft and mellow finish. This is a really refreshing wine that you can drink all on its own.

We'll keep looking for the perfect accompaniment as long as there's wine in the bottle. If we find something that works really well you'll hear about it.

I picked up the Primarius at Jone's Liqour here in Brownsville. It runs $21.99 a bottle. You can find out more about the wine at: http://www.preceptwinebrands.com/our_wines/brands/000000030/primarius

Brunching it up with Barton & Guestier Vouvray

2011-07-31T15:17:00.001-05:00

Pris has been on a bit of a quest to try new foods from our magazines that we subscribe to and pair them with wines from our collection. This normally involves me doing a lot of work in the kitchen on the weekend and dirtying a lot of dishes. However, I like cooking and I like drinking wine or beer while I cook. So it all works out in the end.

We decided last night to do a Sunday brunch today. The menu was a spinach salad with grapes, bacon, pecans, havarti dill cheese, and a raspberry/bacon vinaigrette. The salad was really easy to make and exceptionally good. Of course anything made with that much bacon has to be good. For the main course I made a Spanish tortilla. It was a surprisingly simple mix of onions, potatoes, bacon and eggs. Now that I've got the basics down I'll probably try some different variations later on. Pris also poured us a little orange juice mixed with some leftover Gewürztraminer for her own take on the mimosa. Really good, great combination.

To go with this fine little brunch Pris selected a fine French white wine from Barton & Guestier that we picked up back before the move. Barton & Guestier's Vouvray is a nicely chilled white wine that went really well with the meal. The Vouvray had a fresh citrusy nose. On the palate it was light with more citrus. There was a crisp acidity that asserted itself with plenty of bite and a bit of tanginess in the mid-palate. The B&G had a slightly sweet almost cloying finish to it.

The wine paired well with the tortilla thanks to the citrus. Just think how well bacon, eggs, and orange juice go together. But where this wine really shined was in the pairing with the salad. The crisp citrus acidity complemented the tangy sweetness of the vinaigrette, and contrasted nicely with the earthy pecans, savory bacon, and creamy havarti. Overall, it was an amazing set of flavor combinations.

The Barton & Guestier Vouvray is a great summer wine. The lightness and crispness will allow it to pair with any number of light summer meals. It will also do great all on its own as a refreshing drink during the hot summer afternoons here in the Valley.

Neither Pris nor I remember where or how we got the Barton & Guestier Vouvray, so I can't really provide that info. But look for it at your local stores. If we bought it, most likely it was purchased at H.E.B. Online it lists the price between $10 and $11 a bottle. So this is a very good buy at a really good price. You can find out more about this wine at: http://www.barton-guestier.com/

A Zinful Dinner

2011-07-31T12:52:00.000-05:00

Back when Pris and I lived in McAllen I always tried to pick up Zinfandels for Pris and I to try and Pris never wanted to get them. I kept reading about some very good wines, but there wasn't any interest on her part. This was mainly due to some confusion about the wine itself. Apparently she was confusing the deep red Zinfandel I wanted to buy with the sweet pink White Zinfandel that people usually drink when they are first starting out drinking wine. Same grape, but two very different wines.

The last Zinfandel we tried turned out to be a fairly sweet red from Cameron Hughes Flying Winemaker series, and we've pretty much stayed away since then. However, our friend Kate Moore gave us a bottle of Seven Deadly Zins 2007 Zinfandel before she left to San Francisco, and we've been cellaring it ever since. Pris had a really tough time deciding on a wine for dinner last night, but after doing a lot of research decided on the Zinfandel.

While the label says Zinfandel, this is actually a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Syrah, and Petit Verdot. The wine is sourced from seven different vineyards in the Lodi Valley in California. Of course the dominant grape is the Zinfandel, but the mixing is superb. This is a deep plum colored wine with excellent structure. It has a fruity and spicy nose with a touch of leather. The Seven Deadly Zins is full bodied with lush fruit and a nice spicy kick in the mid-palate. Solid tannins provide a full finish to this wine.

Part of Pris' problem in deciding on a wine was the ever evolving nature of our dinner menu. We'd pulled a couple of strips out of the freezer yesterday, but didn't want to go with just another steak and Cab review. So last night was an all grilled menu. There was the steak seasoned with my own rub which is a mix of garlic powder, house seasoning, creole seasoning, and fresh ground pepper. We added a little surf to the turf with a couple skewers of shrimp seasoned with Fredericksburg Farm's spicy chocolate java seasoning. I also grilled up some calabazas topped with queso fresco. Of course you need some type of starch so I brushed some olive oil on a few pieces of garlic, onion, parmesan bread from Breadsmith. Desert was grilled peaches topped with vanilla ice cream and Fredericksburg Farm's Peach Amaretto Pecan Sauce.

The wine paired spectacularly with the grilled steak and shrimp. The spicy and smoky quality of the wine was a perfect compliment to the spicy seasoning and smoke in the meats. The wine also picked complimented the flavor of the chocolate java seasoning in the shrimp. It even went well as a contrast with the calabaza which was lighter and tended to cool the spice in the steak and shrimp. Pris' research really paid off, this is a great wine to pair with grilled food. Even better, its versatile enough to pair up with the surf & turf which is no easy feat. We didn't pair the wine with desert, but it was awesome. Just putting that out there.

Like I said, we got this wine as a gift (thanks again Kate), but I've also seen it at both H.E.B. and Target. It is a very accessible wine, and one I would consider a good value wine. I think this particular vintage is off the shelves by now, but I'm sure they've got more to replace it. You can probably find this wine at some of your local liquor stores as well. For more information on this wine you can go to: http://www.michaeldavidwinery.com/wines/7-deadly-zins/

Much Ado about Norton

2011-07-31T12:44:00.000-05:00

Its always a tough choice deciding what wine to drink with dinner. While I stayed in McAllen this Thursday Pris initially decided to open a Merlot that we'd had since before the move to Brownsville. Unfortunately oxygen got into the bottle and the wine had turned. So she moved on to her second choice and opened up a bottle of Norton Barrel Select 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon to go with her meal. I got to dig into it when I got home Friday evening while the "tropical storm" came through.

The Norton Barrel Select Cab is a good little wine. It has a great nose full of cherry and blackberry. Its a full bodied, but mellow Cab. This wine is soft on the palate with loads of dark fruit and some spice towards the end. Supple tannins provide an nice mellow finish that lasts for some time.

This is an Argentinean Cab from the Medoza region, and its considerably softer than your typical Cab from California. It still has the full flavor and structure of Cabernet Sauvignon, just not as much bite or tannic activity.

One of the best features of this mellow wine is that it can pair readily with a wide variety of meals without it overpowering them. We initially paired the wine with some brisket and potato salad from Rudy's and it went really well. The wine held up with the deep smoky flavor of the meat and the sweet spice of the sauce without any problems. Later on in the evening we had another glass with some olives, manchego cheese, serrano jamon, and lomo. Again, the wine paired flawlessly with the salty savory meats and cheese.

Besides its versatility, the Norton Barrel Select is a great value at about $10 a bottle. At that price, this is a great everyday wine, or as Pris put it "economy wine." If you're looking for a decent, well priced Cab then this wine has you're name on it. If you're more into the big bold dry California Cabs and Argentinean Malbecs, then this wine may not be your first choice for dinner or drinks. You can find the Norton just about everywhere. Its at H.E.B., Feldmans, and Target. Again, it runs about $10 and is a great value. You can find out more about the Norton wines at: http://www.norton.com.ar/

Grillin & Chillin with Carchelo

2011-07-29T19:29:00.000-05:00

Back around the 4th of July I had picked up some wines to go with the meat I was firing up on the grill. Mike Jones had some recommendations and we've already reviewed one of them. This weekend we moved on to the second wine recommended for grilled and barbequed meat, a Spanish blend by Carchelo.

The 2009 Carchelo C is a blend of 40% Monastrell, 40% Tempranillo, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. On the nose the Carchelo C is very ripe with notes of cherries and raisins. This is a light and fruity wine that has a brisk concise finish. The three grapes all offer their own strengths to this wine. Dark fruit from the Monastrell, lightness from the Tempranillo, and spicy boldness from the Cabernet.

This was a good wine with grilled chicken and bbq sauce. I thought it went well with some Rudy's brisket I picked up this evening, but Pris felt the chicken was a better pairing. The sweet in the wine with the smoky from the chicken worked really well together. Like I said, this was a good wine with barbeque, but its not really a wine we were too fond of on its own. The lightness and sweetness that worked so well with the grilled meats was a bit much for us on its own. Now if you're into slightly sweeter and fruitier wines, then the 2009 Carchelo C is for you.

We purchased the 2009 Carchelo C at Jones Liquor in Brownsville and it was $10.99. Its rated 91 points from Wine & Spirits and 88 points from Wine Advocate. You can find out more about Carchelo at: http://www.carchelo.com/

J. Opi: A Steak-Loving Wine for People who Love Steak

2011-07-25T22:29:00.000-05:00

Despite the title, this wine works for anyone who loves a great bold red wine. Every once in a while my mom gets an order of wines from Wall Street Journal Wine Club. Luckily, she always orders a little extra to give to Pris and I since she knows we love wine. We decided to open one of the bottles she gave us to go with a marinated sirloin I grilled up for dinner. And to go with a big rich steak? A Malbec from the folks who know and love beef and wine.

We opened up a bottle of J. Opi's 2009 Malbec. While we both wanted a Malbec for dinner, Pris had her heart set on this one after reading about the awards and accolades. The J. Opi has won the Malbec Trophy, and the Argentinean Best Red Trophy at the 2009 Decanter World Wine Awards. Strong work in a field crowded with great steak loving wines.

The J. Opi is a dark purple wine with a heavy complex aroma of dark berries. The wine is almost smooth on the palate, but stout tannins keep this wine full and dry. Full fruit flavors of plum and cherry dominate the wine, but there's still a undertone of wood and smoke. The wine finishes as strong as it starts, and lingers nicely in the mouth.

Everything Pris read said to pair this wine with steak, and everything she read was right on. This wine went amazingly well with a marinated sirloin from Bob Stark's Beef Shop, some toasted brioche, and manchego cheese. Tonight we actually finished off the bottle with some skillet heated grilled ribs and manchego cheese. Again, it was a fantastic pairing. It seems that this wine will pretty much go with any beef dish. If you're looking for something for steaks, beef ribs, or other beefy meals then look no further.

Since this is a WSJ Wine, you have to go to their website to order it. You can find the wine, and more information at: www.wsjwine.com

A Midsummer's Night Italian Wine Dinner

2011-07-24T22:55:00.001-05:00

Let me just start this post by saying that if you like wine and good food, and you haven't been to a wine dinner at Santa Fe Steakhouse, you need to go. This is our second wine dinner, and we enjoyed it every bit as much as the Bryan Page Wine Dinner. The wine and course list was a little lighter, but that was reflected in the price. Still, a night with five fantastic wines expertly paired with five amazing dishes is something we looked forward too.

We started the evening with Prosecco Treviso Brut Cantine Maschio paired with roast asparagus and goat cheese ravioli with fresh basil pesto. The prosecco, like most proseccos, had a light citrus nose. On the palate it was light and fizzy with a crisp citrus aftertaste. On its own, this effervescent wine is refreshing and easy to drink. Paired with the food its rocketed up into a whole new level. The dish was amazing, and the wine offered a fantastic contrast. The lightness of the wine was a great counterpoint to the heavy pesto cream. The mix of sweet citrus with the tart cheese and bitter asparagus was fantastic, and we were only getting started.

The second course paired a 2007 Fontanelle Chardonnay with sautéed mussels in a cilantro buerre blanc. The Chardonnay had a bold fruity nose followed by mellow spring fruits on the palate. This wine was dry and full in the mouth, but not tart, with a smooth mellow finish. The smooth finish was a surprise considering the slightly bitter finish found in some Chardonnays. This wine paired perfectly with the mussels. Smoky and briny met smooth and fruity. The buerre blanc was amazing, and I noticed I wasn't the only one at the table soaking it up with the bread once the mussels were gone.

On a quick side note, this is second time that Pris has eaten something well outside her comfort zone. She'd never thought she'd want to eat mussels, but she went through them as quickly as everyone else. So that's now duck and mussels thanks to wine dinners.

Our third course paired a 2007 Castello D'Albola Chianti Classico with a dish of heirloom tomatoes, burrata cheese and basil oil. This was the first of two very different Chiantis, and an excellent compliment to the food. The Castello D'Albola had a light coloration with a full fruit nose. This is a Sangiovese through and through. It was light, fruity, and contained just a hint of spice at the end. Despite the lightness of the wine it still provided a nice full finish. The Castello was mellow and way too easy to drink. With the enhanced caprese salad it was lighter still. The salt in the dish provided savory flavors to pair with the light sweetness of the fruit. The one problem I had with this dish was that there just seemed to be too little of it. As a final note, this particular Chianti is also listed as #47 of last years top 100 wines to buy.

The main course followed with a 2007 Peppoli Chianti Classico paired with short ribs with soft polenta and sweet onion confit. The differences in the two Chiantis was immediately apparent. Where the Castello was light and clear, the Peppoli was a study in dark garnet. A big bold nose started this wine off nicely. It was followed by a smooth full dark ripe fruit on the palate. This 90 point Chianti was earthy and spicy with plenty of black currant. In a word this wine was perfect with the braised short ribs. Dark rich wine cooked beef with a dark rich wine is a hard combination to beat. Of course the creamy polenta with its smoky cheese and sweet caramelized onions was phenomenal. As a total taste combination, this course was unbeatable.

Finally along came desert which was Passione Brachetto d'Acqui DOCG 2006 paired with a flourless chocolate cake with raspberry and orange sauces. Normally I'm not the biggest fan of desert wines, but the Passione was different. This wine was bubbly, sweet, and cloying but neither overpowering or syrupy. It was also carbonated, which probably went a long way to keep the wine light and almost refreshing. Loads of ripe berries can be found in the aroma and went perfectly with the berries in the dish. The chocolate cake was a study in rich decadence. The wine, while sweet, actually worked to cut through the richness of the cake. It was a perfect final pairing.

We've now been to two of these wine dinners and we're looking to go to more. They've both been amazing experiences that have provided both exceptional food and wine. The price can be a bit high, but its well worth it. These tastings are very different from the tastings at stores where the store is forced to regulate the amount you can be served. Here, if your glass is empty, there's a waiter swinging by shortly to refill it. The wine dinners are a great way to sample several wines across several different varietals and types. What's more, you can find some really great pairings that you can incorporate into your own dinners at home. I understand that in August the drink of choice will be champagne. Pris and I aren't sure if we'll go since we're not that into champagne, but we might just to try the pairings. Dinners are announced month to month and we'll be looking forward to getting to McAllen for more of them as we can.

I'm not sure where to find these wines, but its my understanding that Feldman's works with Santa Fe on these dinners so that would be a good place to start. I've included the websites for the wines in order below if you'd like more information. You can also do searches on them as there seems to be an abundance of information on the web about them. Enjoy.

http://www.maschio-usa.com/home.html

http://www.castellobanfi.com/wines/index.php?wine=12

http://www.zoninusa.com/castello-d-albola/wineries/castello-d-albola

http://www.antinori.it/

Prime Time with Primus

2011-07-19T22:15:00.000-05:00

Normally I like to write these reviews after a couple days when we're almost done with the bottle. However, we've got an Italian wine dinner at Santa Fe Steakhouse this weekend, so in order to not get behind, this review is going out a little early. Tonight we opened up a bottle of Veramonte's 2007 Primus which is a fine Chilean wine that's one of our "always in stock" wines. Of course this was our last bottle which means we'll be stocking up again shortly.

After the Altamura it was going to be tough to go to a regular wine, but we figured Primus was up to the challenge. Normally this is a fantastic wine, and we'd pulled out a bottle earlier to review, but it had turned on us for some reason. That's always a risk you take with wine. This bottle from Chile's Colchagua Valley though was Primus perfection.

This is a bold and full bodied wine with an expressive nose and a complex palate. Dark notes of spice hit you immediately with the first swirl of the glass. After that dark rich fruits burst on the palate followed by subtle spices. Powerful tannins make for a long full dry finish to this exceptional wine. As big and bold as this wine is, it's not overwhelming.

The authoritative flavor of Primus is unsurprising if you look at its pedigree. its made of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah, 8% Merlot and 7% Carmenere (a Bordeaux grape from France that is rarely seen in France, but thriving in Chile). This is a powerful blend of some of the biggest boldest grapes out there and you can tell. Pair this wine with big food that work well with bold wines. Think a porterhouse and a wedge salad, or a large hunk of aged cheddar with crackers and stoneground mustard. We had it with some skillet heated leftover sirloin; asparagus sautéed with garlic and capers; and loaded mashed potatoes with garlic, paprika, cheddar cheese and sour cream. It was an outstanding accompaniment.

One of the great things about Veramonte Primus is that you can find it just about anywhere. Here in Brownsville you can get it at Jones Liquor, Feldman's, or H.E.B. I don't remember where we got our, most likely H.E.B. It runs between $20 and $23 depending on where you get it. For more information on Primus you can go to: http://www.veramonte.com/home.html

For the Big Five-0: 2007 Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon

2011-07-18T20:58:00.000-05:00

Not long after we started this blog a friend of ours who also has a blog told us to talk to him about blogging when we hit our 100th post. Its not 100, but we're now officially halfway there. So for this post we wanted a special wine, and we were willing to splurge a bit on it. So I ran out to Jones Liquor and picked up a bottle of Altamura's 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon.

We had a cork from an Altamura Cab in the corks we keep around for decorative purposes for a while. Neither Pris nor I could remember the wine or where exactly we had it, but we kept the cork and that meant we enjoyed it. Most likely it was from a birthday party for my dad, something my brother bought or brought. Pris did some research and decided we needed another crack at this wine since we're taking notes now.

In a word: incredible. Magnificent or superb may also work. This is an amazing wine. It starts with a delicious fruit nose that is a wonder of subtle nuance. Its not as bold as most Napa Cabs, but it has all the notes of dark fruit you'd expect in a Cab with a touch of espresso mixed in. On the palate this wine is all smooth elegance. Full ripe flavors of cherry, cassis, and dark berry meld for a mellow study in near perfection. The tannins are so soft and well rounded that you won't even realized you've finished your sip until is long gone.

This is not a big bold California Cab. But it is a fantastic and delicious wine. Like with almost all the best wines Pris and I kept pouring glass after glass until most of the bottle was gone. We probably could have finished it, but I had work and I would have been a denied an excellent refresher before writing this post.

We're not the only ones that think the 2007 Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon is and incredible wine. Its rated 96 points by Wine Spectator, and listed as #5 in the top 100 wines of 2010. Similarly, The Wine Advocate ranks this Cab at 95 points.

You can pair the Altamura with pretty much anything its so mellow and versatile. We went with the usual Sunday Steak. Or, you may just want to drink this wine on its own and savor its incredible flavors all on their own.

The 2007 Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon isn't cheap as it runs about $86 a bottle (I did say it was a splurge). I got ours at Jones Liquor here in Brownsville, and you can find it online for a comparable price. For more information on the Altamura Winery you can visit: http://www.altamura.com/

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is Always On

2011-07-15T21:47:00.000-05:00

Usually we do the post in the order we open the bottles. However, due to scheduling issues I got the Bastille Day post out before this one. We actually opened up the bottle of Alexander Valley 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon on Monday, but are just now getting to the posting of it.

The Alexander Valley Cab is a lot like the Franciscan Cab, always good and easy to find. You can't go wrong with this particular wine. We first tried the Alexander Valley Cabs when my dad had a couple left over bottles after delivering them to his customers one Christmas many years ago. At the time this was one of the best wines we'd tried, and a bit out of our comfort zone for purchasing. Time's gone by and the Alexander Valley is still good, and thankfully more accessible.

The 2008 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a great and approachable California Cab. It has a subtle fruity nose with overtones of cherry, cassis, and plum. The same flavors mingle on the palate with hints of chocolate. Easy tannins round out this well balanced wine, and a mellow aftertaste lingers without any hint of dryness or bitterness. This is definitely a mellow Cab, and one that should be enjoyed slowly with good company.

We opened this bottle to go with a mix of sirloin and pork chops. It handled both meats superbly due to its lighter and mellower character. It also paired nicely with cheddar, manchego, a hard chèvre cheese, and olives. Of course you can drink this one all on its own as well.

If you're in doubt about what to get for a dinner or a house warming gift, you can't go wrong with this wine. You can find it just about anywhere from H.E.B. to your local liquor store. In my opinion it is not quite as good as the Franciscan, but its really close. It's also a lot lighter. So if you're looking for a good Cab that's slightly lighter but packs in all the Cab flavor, look no further. The Alexander Valley Cab runs about $20 at your local stores here in the Valley. You can find more information on Alexander Valley Vineyard's wines at: http://avvwine.com/

Celebrating Bastille Day with La Domeliére Rasteau!

2011-07-15T21:15:00.000-05:00

It was Bastille Day yesterday, the start of the French Revolution. A movement that mirrored our own, but moved along somewhat differently than our own revolt. But I digress, sorry it the history geek in me. Bastille Day is a good day to pull out a fine French wine and indulge in some provincial French dishes.

For tonight's dinner Pris had picked out the La Domeliére Rasteau 2009 Cotes Du Rhone Villages to go with our meal. We tried this wine a while back on a trip to Feldman's Market Center. They were offering samples of some of their wines, and we really liked this particular bottle. At $10 it was a really easy bottle to like.

The La Domeliére Rasteau 2009 Cotes Du Rhone Villages is an exceptionally smooth wine. It has a very complex nose that's almost pungent its so strong. Its full and fruity on the palate. Dark fruits and currant dominate the flavors, but despite the potency of the flavor, the wine is well balanced. Nice round tannins finish off the La Domeliére and help create a long dry finish.

We paired this wine with a Dijon and herb crusted pork roast, roasted potatoes, grilled vegetables, and assorted cheeses all from Feldman's Market Center. The pairings went wonderfully. The wine, while full flavored, actually worked extremely well with the lighter meat and cheese. I made a cheese toast with some brioche slathered in dijon mustard, then covered in a hard chèvre cheese and toasted. Fantastic stuff, especially with the wine.

The La Domeliére Rasteau 2009 Cotes Du Rhone Villages is a great wine, especially at $10 a bottle. We got it at Feldman's here in Brownsville. For more information on the wine you'll have to Google the wine and check out the other blogs since I couldn't find a central website.

F*@k that's Good! Meeker Winemaker's Handprint Merlot

2011-07-11T21:42:00.000-05:00

Mike Jones of Jones Liquor is definitely our "go-to guy" for wine recommendations when Pris and I are looking for something for a special occasion. He's never let us down, and has given us two of the best bottles we've had. The first was the Tolosa Pinot from the very first post on this blog. The second was Meeker's Winemaker's Handprint Merlot, which as the title suggests is an incredible wine. Pris gravitated to this bottle immediately because it looks like an abstract painting, which she prefers, but had to work on me a bit before we ended up purchasing one. We opened up our first bottle to celebrate the end of our move to Brownsville, and now on our one year anniversary of the start of our move we're on our second bottle. Thankfully, its every bit as good as I remember.

The Meeker Winemaker's Handprint Merlot is a work of art, literally. As the name suggests, each bottle contains the handprint of the winemaker in a myriad of colors with a depth of texture. Its a thing of beauty, and what initially drew Pris' attention. Even though some wineries use flashy bottles to move inferior wine, Mike Jones highly recommended it for its contents.

The 2005 Handprint Merlot that we opened is bold and bursting with flavor, but incredibly smooth on the palate. This was another wine we finished in one sitting without realizing it. There is a rich and complex nose with loads of fruit. Rich dark fruits flow on the palate and are mixed with toasty oak. Bold tannins enable a fantastic full aftertaste that seems to linger just long enough to the next sip.

One of the beauties of this wine is that you can pair it with pretty much anything. Ours was paired with steak seasoned with a java-steak rub from Fredericksburg Farms. It paired perfectly. We're actually finishing off the bottle now with a plate of manchego cheese, cheddar cheese, and olives mixed with feta. Its amazing.

The Meeker Handprint Merlot is only made in select years in small batches. We got our at Jones Liquor, and it was about $40. For us, that's a special occasion wine, and it worth every penny. According to Pris, Feldman's is now carrying Meeker as well. For more information on Meeker Vineyards you can visit: http://meekerwine.com/

A Lazy Summer Afternoon with Casal Garcia Vinho Verde

2011-07-10T16:23:00.001-05:00

Ah hot lazy summer afternoons, they're hard to beat for having some good food and wine. This is especially true with a Vinho Verde, which is arguably the perfect summer afternoon wine. The combination of refreshing taste and lower price (usually under $10) are a hard combination to beat. Pris read about these Portuguese wines a while back and we've been on the lookout for them ever since. We tried one with my brother and his girlfriend on an excursion to Houston, and decided to pop open another bottle this afternoon.

This time we went for a Casal Garcia Vinho Verde Branco that I found at Feldman's here in Brownsville. Its light, fruity, sparkly, and exceedingly refreshing. This delicate white is full of citrus on the nose and the palate. There's a light acidity that lends just a touch of tartness in the finish. The low alcohol content aids in making the wine refreshing, and you can enjoy more of it without the intoxication issues (depending on how much more you drink).

We had a couple glasses with a chicken salad made with olives and feta on toasted pita. The lightness of the wine went very well with light meal. All summery and refreshing, and neither left the heavy feeling you get when you eat or drink too much.

The Casal Garcia Vinho Verde Branco is a good little wine to keep in stock for these hot summer afternoons. It'll probably be a great pre-dinner go to wine as well due to the low alcohol content. We picked up this bottle at Feldman's here in Brownsville for about $8. You can find out more about this wine at: http://www.casalgarcia.com/microsite/

Sacré Bleu, Chateau D'Arcins Cru Bourgeois is Good!

2011-07-10T15:08:00.000-05:00

The French may be rude and have a dim view of Americans, but man do they make some great wine. They're a people that are haughty about food and wine, but with good reason. In fact, Pris and I have been going through a few more Bordeaux, Beaujolais, and wines with the Haut-Medoc appellation. We've reviewed a few of these wines here, but none yet as good as 2006 Chateau D'Arcins Cru Bourgeois Haut-Medoc.

We'd tried this wine a while back, and the bottle stayed in our collection after it was gone. We finally found it again at Central Market on our trip to Austin a few months back, and we decided to crack into it since we were supposed to go to Austin this weekend. In theory we were going to replace it, but the trip had to be put off unfortunately.

This is an excellent Bordeaux with a deep dark color and deep redolent fruits. This is a rich wine with loads of fruit, especially plum. It has a bold nose full of ripe fruit. What's really nice is how smooth the Chateau D'Arcins Cru Bourgeois is, considering how bold and complex its flavors are. Refined tannins add to this red wonder and provide a smooth mellow finish.

We paired this wine with grilled steak and it was flawless. Definitely put the Chateau D'Arcins Cru Bourgeois to work with grilled or roasted red meat or something heavy and rich. This is an excellent wine we'll definitely be replacing in our cellar.

We picked up this bottle at H.E.B. Central Market for about $21, which makes it a great value considering the quality of the wine. If you read French then you can find out more about Chateau D'Arcins Cru Bourgeois at: http://www.cavedarcins.fr/, otherwise you'll just need to do a Google search on it and scope out the various wine blog's write-ups.

Celebrating Independence Day with the Hahn Family

2011-07-04T21:03:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we had a nice little family BBQ here at our place to celebrate Independence Day. It wasn't quite the 4th, but doing it on Sunday would give me time to relax and recuperate before getting back to work. In order to prepare for the festivities, I went to Jones Liquor to grab some wine. Pris asked me to look into some Pinots and get some wine that was good with barbeque.

Luckily, Mike Jones was there and greeted me when I stepped into the store. We chatted a bit and then I asked him about any recommendations. He pointed out a number of bottles, and I grabbed his four top picks (the other three will be reviewed in due time). Even though I know wine goes well with grilled meat, I pretty much have to be drinking beer while I work the grill. Its just a thing. New Belgium Brewery Sunshine Wheat, Brooklyn Summer Ale, and Twilight Summer Ale for any who are interested.

Like with any good barbecue, we had a pretty decent amount of leftovers. So for lunch Pris and I uncorked one of our BBQ recommendations to go with lunch. We selected the Hahn Winery's 2009 Pinot Noir, and once again Mike Jones did not steer us wrong.

The Hahn 2009 Pinot Noir is light and fruity, slightly sweet at first. It mellows some as it breathes, and the sweetness melts away. The Pinot has a good fruity nose that leads into ripe berry flavors. Smooth tannins allow for a smooth finish with just a spicy bit of bite.

On its own, the Pinot is a good wine, but paired with barbecue it fantastic. The fruit and spice paired great with a BBQ bacon cheddar burger, a bit of beer brined grilled chicken, and pasta salad. The wine really added to the overall flavor of the food and I can't wait to try it out with some other barbecue dishes in the future.

You can find this wine at Jones Liquor here in Brownsville, and it runs about $13. If you're into lighter wines, this Pinot's for you. I'd also recommend going to Jones. We were discussing how the number of Pinots he's carrying has doubled recently. Its not a large collection, but its very well curated. For more info on the Hahn Winery you can check out: http://www.hahnestates.com/

Chatting up Château Ste. Michelle

2011-07-04T13:44:00.000-05:00

A few months ago I happened to pick up a bottle of Chateau Ste Michelle Indian Wells 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon at the H.E.B. on 802 and Paredes Line. I grabbed it because it was on sale, had a good rating on the tag, and was almost sold out. I figured that had to be a good sign. It was an excellent wine, and Pris and I really enjoyed that bottle. However, by the time I went back to get another they were sold out. And H.E.B. stayed sold out for quite some time.

Finally, on a trip to Austin we happened to find a 2009 Chateau Ste Michelle Indian Wells at a Central Market in Austin or San Antonio. We grabbed a couple bottles this time since we knew it was good. Of course a week or so later I found it again at the Ruben Torres H.E.B.

Pris had planned to open a bottle earlier last week right after the Malbec, but our joint illness threw a bit of a monkey wrench in those plans. We finally got around to it Saturday night. I grilled up a couple of steaks using a new seasoning rub and opened to the bottle to let it breathe.

The 2009 Chateau Ste Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon is a really smooth easy drinking Cab. Its got loads of lush fruit on the nose. The wine opens up nicely, so you definitely want to let it breathe for a while or even use a decanter. This Washinton State Cab is smooth in the mouth, and lighter and fruitier than your California Cabs. Even though its fruitier, its still got some bite, and the loads of dark fruit keep it from being sweet. While this is a good bottle the 2008 was better, a little fuller and more robust. So some cellaring and waiting would likely make the 2009 even better.

The wine paired excellently with the steak and mashed potatoes. And the last of it is going down really well as I write up this review. Due to the soft lush flavoring of this Cab, you can drink it pretty much any time, and it works great in the balmy summer evenings. Of course it doesn't really beat a cold beer in the heat, but nestled inside in the air-conditioning its great.

A quick note, Chateau Ste Michelle also makes a Cab that's not of the Indian Wells variety. It is listed as an "Old World Style" while the Indian Wells is listed as "New World Style." We had some of the old world when our friend Cecilia Balli brought over a bottle one evening. It was a solid wine, but you could tell the difference between the two. Either way, you can't go wrong, but if you're looking for something lighter, definitely look for the Indian Wells on the label.

For more information on the winery you can go to: http://www.ste-michelle.com/ or for more info on this wine in particular: http://www.ste-michelle.com/wines/indianWells

An Argentine Treasure in Achaval Ferrer

2011-07-02T16:49:00.000-05:00

Its been way too long since the last post, but both Pris and I have been under the weather this week. Needless to say, being on cold meds is not conducive to enjoying wine. However, before we were struck down we opened a bottle of Achaval Ferrer 2009 Mendoza Malbec to go with Sunday dinner.

The Achaval Ferrer was everything a Malbec is supposed to be. It had a ripe fruit nose with dark cherries and raspberries. On the palate it was smooth, complex, and full of dark fruit. Most notable among the flavors were blackberry and cassis, but there was a nice mineral undertone. Bold tannins provided a nice long finish.

Initially we paired the Malbec with grilled sirloin and mashed potatoes, and of course it went perfectly. I've said it before, you pretty much can't go wrong pairing an Argentine red with beef. Last night we paired the remainder with our usual round of food from Gazpachos which we hadn't ordered in a while. The Malbec was perfect with the bacon wrapped tenderloin and beef empanadas. It also kept surprisingly well after being opened, but sealed, all week. However, I guess we could expect this from a wine that was rated 92 points by Robert Parker and 91 points by Wine Spectator.

We picked up the Achaval at Feldman's and it runs about $26. This is a great wine for anytime drinking, but definitely keep it in mind if beef is what's for dinner. For more information on Achaval Ferrer and its wines you can visit: http://www.achaval-ferrer.com/eng/principal.html