Christmas Dinner with Alma Andina

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.