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/