Coming back to Texas with Messina Hof’s Winemaker Reserve

Messina Hof Winery will always have a special place in my heart. It was beautiful place to get away from school while I was at A&M. I enjoyed wine back then, but not to the extent that I do today. Like wine itself, appreciation only gets better with age.

My local grocery store regularly carries Messina Hof wines and I tend to grab the odd bottle on my trips there. A few weeks ago I picked up a bottle of their Winemaker’s Reserve. This is a non-vintage red wine made up of a blend of red varietals: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Tempranillo.  But the wine focuses more on the Merlot grape as its bedrock. Like most Merlots is has a good fruit nose with elements of blackberries and raspberries.  Spicy fruit is the first thing that hits the palate. This is followed by more spice, vanilla, and nice touch of mineral and tannin to finish. The Winemaker’s Reserve is a good medium bodied wine. Its dry, but not too much so.

I took the opportunity of a cool wet evening to pair the Winemaker’s reserve with a grilled cheese sandwich and a roasted red pepper tomato soup. This medium bodied red was a great accompaniment to the meal. It worked through the acidity of the tomato soup and the richness of the Mediterranean cheddar in the sandwich. Pair this one with pasta, with steak, a burger, or a good hearty stew. The richness of this wine will stand up to most meals.

The Modern Complexity of Tormaresca’s Primitivo

If you’ve been tracking with the blog for the last couple weeks you’ll notice I’ve been enjoying the joys of Italian wines lately. This is because I really enjoy the Italian varietals, which also seem to do especially well here in Texas. Over the years I’ve managed to work through most of the local grocery store's selection of Texas wines, and now I generally have to venture to Feldman’s or points north for more variety. However, the HEB on Trenton has a pretty decent selection of Italian and Spanish wines to choose from. One of these wines was Tormaresca’s 2013 Primitivo Puglia.

The Primitivo is comparable to the Zinfandel, and this particular wine is very similar to some of the old vine Zinfandel I’ve enjoyed. The Primitivo is all fruit on the nose, with strong ripe berries leading the charge. On the front of the palate you’ll get loaded up with rich raspberry and cherry. This is followed by luxuriant anise and spice that add a complex sweetness to the wine. This bottle finishes with mellow tannins and a slightly cloying sweetness. 

While this particular wine is a bit sweeter than what I usually gravitate to I still enjoyed it immensely. In fact, I had to restrain my enjoyment to one or one and a half glasses. Any more than that and I probably would’ve finished off the bottle in short order. The balancing of sweet and spicy was the key here.  The richness of Tormaresca’s Primitivo would work well with a variety of deep rich dishes. Pair it with tomato based pastas or roasted beef to get the most out of its well balanced richness.

You can find Tormaresca’s 2013 Primitivo Puglia at the HEB on Trenton in McAllen. It retails about $16 which is a pretty good deal considering there are several 90 point rated iterations of this wine in its history.  However, if you’re not a fan of the sweeter wines, give this one a pass. Or give it a shot, you may be pleasantly surprised.

Simi Merlot: A Reminder of Why California Knows Its Stuff

As Pris and I continued to work through our wine stash I came across a 2009 Merlot from Simi. Like many of the older items in our wine storage, its acquisition is now lost to antiquity. But I know where it ended up. 

This seven-year-old wine seems to have just hit its sweet spot: old enough to mellow and venture into an unparalleled smoothness that only older wines possess, but not old enough that it's turned. Though it was probably not too far off from the latter.  Rich dark red coloration hinted at the mix of berry to come. Once the bottle was allowed to breath properly, which is very important, aromatic spice is the first thing that hits the nose.  The usual flavors of Merlot are all present: plum, cherry, and blackberry, all followed by a mild tannin finish.

I paired the wine with a simple meal of sautéed shrimp and spinach in a garlic butter sauce over pasta and a salad with homemade vinaigrette. Simi’s Merlot was mild enough to not overpower this mild dinner. The mild tannins cut right through the richness of the garlic butter. This wine could have paired well with anything from fish to steak, though to be fair, I pretty much finished it off sans food and was perfectly content. 

Hahn Keeps Rolling out the Hits

Thanks to the higher carbohydrates in beer I’ve been turning back to wine to get through the holidays without putting on too much weight. That, and I really enjoying having a glass of wine while getting dinner ready. And of course there's nothing quite like a glass with the meal. I’d recently purchased Hahn’s 2014 GSM which is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre.  Pris and I really enjoyed Hahn’s Pinot offerings so I decided to see how their other varieties fared.

Like most red blends the result is determined by the winery finding just the right mix and percentage of grapes. Ripe red fruit takes the lead on the nose, followed by redolent berry notes on the palate. Raspberry and cherry stand out, and are bolstered by a solid backbone of mineral from the Granache.

I paired Hahn’s GSM with homemade chicken tenders and an herbaceous mac & cheese. It worked flawlessly with the simple, yet very rich meal. The fruit was a great counterpoint to the rich cheese and breading. The tenders were loaded with fresh herbs in the breading, and this red blend  complimented them very well.

Hahn’s GSM can be found at HEB on Trenton, and it runs about $12 a bottle. This wine is another great everyday drinking wine that won’t break the bank. You can pair it with steak, BBQ, or fried chicken. It will go with about everything, especially a charcuterie and cheese plate shared among friends mixed with great conversation and music.

The Genius of DaVinci Chianti

I think I may have just found my new low cost go to wine for everyday drinking in DaVinci’s Chianti. Both the folks living in Italy and Spain know a thing or two about easy drinking table wines. It’s a large part of their culture, and you’d be hard pressed to find a lunch or dinner served without a bottle. That said, DaVinci’s 2014 Chianti is superb example of a versatile and decidedly drinkable table wine.

The DaVinci winery is located in the Chianti region of Tuscany, between Florence and Siena. It draws its grapes from a cooperative of growers in the region, making the most of the climate and terroir. This wine is soft, subtle, smooth, and delicious. Rich fruit notes are the first thing you notice on the nose. From there ripe berries cascade over the palate, followed by rich notes of plum. Unlike heavier wines there is little or no tannic bite until the very end when light tannins and minerals finish the piece.

I started drinking this bottle while I was making pasta. Not original, but it works. Chiantis are made to go with pasta, and DaVinci’s was no exception. The rich fruit cut through the acidity of the tomato sauce and the fat of the sausage with ease. Instead of stopping at one glass though I poured a second when the meal was done and the wine held nicely all on its own. The lighter fruit filled wine will work with a variety of dishes from pasta, to fish, to barbeque. Essentially you can’t go wrong uncorking this bottle for dinner, or just a relaxing glass after work.

I picked up the DaVinci Chianti at HEB on Trenton for just under $11.  At the price point it’s an easy choice for an everyday drinker.

Flat Creek Estates Tempranillo: The Little Wine That Could

To be honest, this wine almost didn’t get reviewed. I picked this 2012 tempranillo up at Central Market in Houston on one of my trips. It was recommended, and I tend to really like Texas Tempranillo so it seemed like a perfect match. Unfortunately, the first glass did not live up to its potential and I pretty much wrote it off. However, I was raised not to be wasteful, so once a wine is open it is going to be finished off. When I opened the vacuum sealed bottle, I was greatly surprised by the change in the wine.

This little tempranillo went from being a discordant mix of fruit, spice, and tannin to a smooth symphony of flavor. Cherry and plum greet the palate up front, but a much subtler earthiness follows at the end of the draw. Mild spice undertones work throughout the sip and add the right bit of punch--subtle and not overpowering. It is amazing what can happen when you let a wine breathe.

I paired the wine with a pasta salad made from organic whole wheat pasta, grilled chicken, olives, sweet peppers, feta, and herbed olive oil. The sufficiently opened wine was a perfect counterpoint to the light fare. The grilled chicken paired especially well with the wine, and I would like to try it with more grilled meats once I pick up another bottle.

Hall Revisited: Good Times are Here Again

As Pris and I work to get back into the habit of enjoying a good glass of wine a few times a week, we noticed that there are a number of great wines that we’ve reviewed and still have in stock. One of these is Hall’s Cabernet Sauvignon. Several years ago I reviewed a 2007 vintage, and recently had the pleasure of working through its 2011 cousin.

Despite the age difference the tasting notes remain relatively the same as in the original post (http://rgvinophiles.blogspot.com/2011/08/hall-simple-name-for-damn-good-wine.html).  However, one major difference was the overall smoothness of the wine. The initial Hall was about four years old while this vintage was five pushing on six. And that year seemed to make a delicious difference. Dark, full bodied, and smooth as liquid silk this was everything a fine wine should be.

We paired the 2011 with a bit of surf & turf, and it was amazing. But this wine was versatile enough to pair with anything from burgers to tenderloin and everything in between. What really seems to work is the aging. Most of our wines were purchased several years ago and seem to really be opening up nicely. If you decide to spend the $30 or so dollars on a bottle of Hall, wait on it. If you can store it in a relatively cool temperature let it age in peace, then enjoy it four or five years down the road. If you can’t wait that long I understand, but it will be worth it.

Becker Vineyards Fleur Sauvage: A Wild Texas Gem

If you look through the posts here, you’ll notice that reds get far more attention on the blog than white wines. The reason for this is simple, Pris and I prefer reds, so that’s what we buy more to try. But every once in a while I’ll pull out a white to go with a particular meal.  In this instance it was Becker Vineyard’s 2012 Fleur Sauvage, a crisp and refreshing Texas white wine blend. I’ve actually been keeping bottles of this wine stocked up for some time. It’s become a go-to over the warmer months if I don’t have a Vinho Verde handy.

The Fleur Sauvage certainly lives up to its wild flower namesake: bright, crisp, and sweet like a Texas wildflower in spring bloom. The sweetness of the wine hits you immediately on the nose with bright floral notes intermingled with sweet tropical fruit.  Crisp citrus notes cut through the palate followed by the cloying sweetness of the wines’ residual sugars. The after affect is very reminiscent of a muscat, though not quite as sweet.

I was fortunate to get to pair this wine with two very different meals over the course of the week. The first meal that led to the opening of this particular wine was a Ritz-crusted oven baked buttermilk chicken, sautéed sweet potatoes, and broccoli slaw. The sweetness of the wine complimented the rich buttery crust on the chicken, and the slightly spicy counterpoint of the cayenne pepper and smoked paprika. Where the wine worked best was when paired against the tangy apple cider vinegar slaw.  Sweet and sour in perfect opposition to one another.

The next meal came about by happenstance. Pris pulled out some frozen homemade pesto to mix in with some shredded chicken I cooked up. The pesto was not your typical pesto made with sweet basil, but a far sharper affair with a much more robust bite. Again, the sweet floral and citrus notes of the wine were a fantastic counterpoint to the piquant bite of the pesto.

This is a great wine for lighter, or more pungent or spicy foods. In fact, it would probably be great with some buffalo wings, which may now lead to a follow-up post. With our warmer weather now upon us this would also be a great wine to drink on a warm afternoon. However, if you’re not a fan of the sweet wines, dessert wines, or wines with a fairly high residual sugar content then let this one pass you by.

HEB stores carry Becker Vineyard’s selections, and you can usually find this one at the 10^th & Trenton location for around $16-$19. For more information you can visit: https://store.beckervineyards.com/

A Mighty Montepulciano

Pris and I were first introduced to the Duchman family of wines at a wine tasting hosted the Brownsville Historical Association back in 2011 that focused on Texas based wineries. Unfortunately, their wines aren’t carried down here, at least I haven’t seen them on my recent wine excursions. However, HEB Central Market does carry them and I always swing through when I can get to San Antonio or Austin. On one particular trip, I happened upon a Duchman 2010 Montepulciano that ended up in my basket, and then in my glass.

Last Saturday I decided to crack into this particular bottle since I’ve found that your lighter Italian varietals don’t have quite as much staying power as your bigger and bolder reds.  Part of the reason for this particular bottle was that I was whipping up some spaghetti with sausage and tomatoes. Italian wine with Italian food, not original but there’s a reason it works so well.

To start with, this Montepulciano is a fruit bomb! Fruit on the nose, the palate, and everywhere in-between. Loads of plum softened by vanilla and a gentle mineral bite assail the nose, in a very good way. Even more fruit loads up the palate. Rich dark berries and cherries rush through the mouth first. Allowing the wine to linger a bit you can appreciate a bite of spiciness, currant, and slightest bit of mineral that has to be a result of the terroir.

The wine paired flawlessly with the savory sauce, as expected. I would have liked to try it with some other meals to test its versatility, but the opportunity did not present itself. However, this wine is excellent all on its own. Like most Italian varietals its quite mellow, fruity, and easy to drink. If you’re not a fan of the bolder dryer reds, you should give the Montepulciano or Sangiovese a whirl rather than reaching straight for the Pinot Noir. That said, if you are a fan of the dryer reds, you may find this selection to be a bit too juicy.

The Duchman 2010 Montepulciano is a great wine, and exemplifies some of the best of Texas winemaking. If you’re looking, you can find it at Central Markets, possibly Whole Foods, and online direct from the winery at: http://duchmanwinery.com/.

A Return with Raymond Vineyard's R. Collection Merlot

Well, its been almost four years since the last post on this blog. Its not that there hasn’t been any wine drinking, or really good eating over the last few years far from it. Just haven’t been sharing it. A few weeks back, Pris and I decided to start working through our wine reserves which were getting somewhat advanced in age without the benefit of a wine fridge or cellar to properly store them.  As a result, we are getting back in the swing of things with the drinking, and hopefully the writing.

The first wine back up on the block is a 2011 Merlot from the R. Collection by Raymond Vineyards in northern California. Like most merlots, the R. Collection was loaded with tangy rich fruit in the nose. However, due to its age this was highly restrained and it took some time for the wine to open up. Once it did, the merlot ended up being one of the most mellow and drinkable wines we’ve had in a while. Rich plum and cherry played across the palate up front. This was followed by a hint of earthy spice at the end that as the wine slid down the back of the palate.

We paired the merlot with a fine Easter Sunday meal of grass-fed porterhouse, sautéed scallops, roasted asparagus, and roasted Yukon gold potatoes. The asparagus and potatoes were topped with grated manchego cheese. The steak came from Eagle Catcher farms and the scallops from The Shrimp Outlet. Both ventures have booths at the Grow & Growers market Saturday morning at Fireman’s Park in McAllen.

The merlot was a great choice to pair with this surf & turf. The age ripened smoothness allowed it to be light enough to play well with the scallops and still compliment the porterhouse. The rich fruit was a great counterpoint to the sharpness of the manchego.

As this wine was a gift I don’t have the usual information on where to purchase it locally or price. The website lists the R. Collection as an affordable everyday wine. If you happen to find it or get one as a gift, let it age. You won’t be disappointed in this incredibly versatile and drinkable Merlot.

For more information you can visit:  http://www.raymondvineyards.com/

A Night of French Wine and Grass Fed Beef

This is the last post of the month, and Pris and I went out with a bang.  I picked up some grass fed NY strips I picked up at the Farmer's Market here in Brownsville.  To go with the mild steaks we selected Chateau Le Nuda 2006 Medoc.  The rich French wine was a great mellow selection for a pair of incredibly flavorful steaks.

The Chateau Le Nuda had a great bold nose that was loaded with cherries and oak.  While this French blend had a great bold nose, it was an exceptionally mellow wine on the palate.  This is of course thanks in large part to the aging process, but there has to be a solid wine to work with for this to happen.  On the palate this blend was all silky blackberry, raspberry, and cassis.  As expected, mild tannins facilitated a mellow finished that did not linger for long.

I know people had talked about how great grass-fed beef was, but I was skeptical about the hype.  However, after tasting the goods I am happy to say the grass-fed steak was everything we were promised.  The beef has a lower fat content, and like the Medoc we were working on, was mellow and flavorful.  The wine and the steak went well together, and I was thankful the wine was lighter and mellower than a Cab or Malbec.  Anything stronger might have been too much for the steak and overpowered the perfectly medium rare beef.

Unfortunately we don't have any information on where we picked up the 2006 Chateau Le Nuda Medoc or how much we paid for it.  It retails for about $15 online, and it appears that several sellers still offer it.

A Change of Pace with Oniro

If you're a regular follower of our blog, you know that Pris and I consume a fairly sizable quantity of beef.  Or rather we tend to pair more of our wines with beef.  We can't help it that we're from Texas, and grew up with the commercials that said "Beef, its what's for dinner."  Still, I decided to switch things up a bit the other night and grilled up some lamb chops.  To go with the change of pace Pris selected a bottle of Oniro's 2009 red.

The Oniro is a Spanish red that is a blend of Monastrell ,Cabernet, Garnacha, and Syrah; and it was a great selection to go with our dinner.  The wine is made up primarily of the Monastrell grape, and it really showed in the flavor.  The aroma was heavy with deep dark berries and herbal undertones.  The Monastrell dominated the palate with full ripe raspberry notes followed by anise and mineral on the mid-palate.  The wine finished nicely with mellow tannins and the full fruit from the Monastrell.

We paired Oniro's red blend with a pair of grilled lamb chops and an orzo salad made with feta, cucumbers, olives, mint, lemon juice and olive oil.  The wine went very well with the earthy lamb and the citrusy salad.  The full fruit was a great compliment to the well seasoned meat.  It also managed to even out the richness of all the olive oil in the salad.  This would be a great wine for barbeque on the weekends as the fulll fruit seems tailor made for a rich barbeque sauce.

I picked up the Oniro at Feldman's here in Brownsville.  It costs under $10, and last I checked it was still available.  It was a great wine for the value.  Unfortunately I was not able to find a website to offer more information on this wine.

Simply a Stunner: Cameron Hughes Lot 136 Cabernet Sauvignon

Last weekend was a good weekend for eating and wine drinking.  While the Franciscan Merlot was good, the Cameron Hughes 136 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was one of the best wines Pris and I have had in quite some time.  This was one of the last of our Cameron Hughes stock and it was a good one. 

This was a great rich Cab.  The first hint of what was in store for us was the deep dark coloration of Lot 136.  On the nose, the Napa Cab was dark berry with subtle undertones of oak.  On the palate this wine exemplified everything that is great about Napa Cabs.  Deep rich fruit, blackberries, and cassis all melded together in perfect harmony.  Understated oak provided a nice backbone to the rich fruit.  Full tannins provided a great full bodied finish.  This Cab was superbly balanced and a joy to drink.

We opened the Cameron Hughes Lot 136 on a Sunday to go with our standard Sunday beef dish.  Initially I was just grilling up a sirloin, but the wine called for something a little grander.  In order to match the wine's sophistication I roasted some prosciutto wrapped fennel and prepared a bacon/blue cheese/butter for the steak.  The resulting meal was fantastic, and the wine was a perfect match.

Unfortunately Cameron Hughes' Lot 136 is now sold out and gone forever.  If you happen to find it at a Sam's or Costco buy it quickly.  If you're offered some at a dinner party, accept and enjoy.  You can find out more about Cameron Hughes wines and even get some suggestions on similar offerings at: www.chwine.com.

A Merlot for All Occasions: Franciscan Merlot

Seeing as beef prices are currently experiencing a rather precipitous rise in price, Pris and I are trying to enjoy as much beef while we can.  A couple of weeks ago I finally got around to cooking a dish I've been I've been wanting to for some time: bacon wrapped wine braised brisket.  To go with this fine meal Pris selected a 2006 Franciscan Merlot that we've had since before moving to Brownsville.

 
In a prior post, I touted a Franciscan Cab as a great wine that was consistently good across the different vintages.  It was great to find out that this was equally true for Franciscan's Merlot.  The usual plum and cherry aromas were present and it appeared as though the wine would probably be a fairly standard Merlot, but that estimation changed once the wine hit the palate.  The cellaring definitely agreed with this Napa Merlot.  While it was as juicy and jammy as any Merlot out there, the aging mellowed this wine sublimely.  Full dark fruit slid effortlessly over the palate, grounded by mild herbal notes.  Incredibly mild tannins allowed for a mild and slightly sweet finish.

This wine paired superbly with the wine braised brisket.  The brisket was braised with a nice helping of garlic, onions, carrots, celery, and fennel.  The sweet anise in the fennel was a great compliment to the sweet fruit in the wine. The salty and savory bacon and brisket were countered very well by the same fruit. 

I'm not sure where we bought the 2006 Franciscan Merlot, or whether or not anyone will carry that particular vintage.  However, you can get Franciscan wines at H.E.B., Jones Liqour, Feldmans, and pretty much anywhere decent wine is sold.  Generally the Merlot runs a dollar or two less than its Cab counterpart, and you can find it for around $18 a bottle.  You can find out more about Franciscan and their wines at: http://www.franciscan.com

Of Flank Steak and Malbec: 2009 Lamadrid Malbec

 Last weekend we opened our final bottle of the month,  Lamadrid's 2009 Malbec from the Argelo region of Argentina.  We opened this bottle to go with a nice flank steak and a great little home-grown side dish.  Like the last Cab I reviewed, this wine was a little lighter than most that we've enjoyed, but thankfully still worked very well with dinner.

The Lamadrid had a great full nose loaded with berries and spice.  This was an exceedingly smooth wine that had great notes of blackberry, raspberry, and cassis at the front of the palate.  As the Malbec progressed more spice made its presence known. The Lamadrid offered a languid finish with supple tannins rounding out this flavorful wine.  While not as full bodied as a most Malbecs, this was not a drawback thanks to the great flavor and easy drinkability of this wine.

We paired the Lamadrid Malbec with a flank steak, which I've really enjoyed cooking because they're so versatile and flavorful.  I paired the flanks steak with some tomatoes and basil from our garden, and topped them off with homemade mozzarella. The whole affair was then drizzled with a chimichurri sauce cobbled together from herbs from the garden.  The steak and Malbec were a perfect pairing with the richness of the flank steak working well with the ripe berry and spice of the wine.  The fruit in the wine cut through the acidic sauce nicely and offered a great counterpoint. 

I picked up the 2009 Lamadrid Malbec at H.E.B. Central Market on one of our trips north last year.  It was $14 at Central Market.  I've seen it occasionally here in Brownsville at the H.E.B. on 802 and Paredes Line.  You can find out more about Lamadrid and their wines at:  http://www.vinodelsol.com/thewineries/lamadrid.html

A Light Cabernet for June: Alambrado's Gran Seleccion Cabernet Sauvignon

June has been unseasonable hot this year, so I'm going to blame the weather for our lack of wine drinking this month.  Sadly we've only opened two bottles, and both of them were from Argentina and were enjoyed fairly recently.  The first bottle was Alambrado's Gran Seleccion 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, one of our few remaining Wall Street Journal Wine Club selections.

This was an extremely light Cab, which made it better suited to the inhospitable heat.  The wine started off like most Cabs with a nose that was lively and rich with the proper dark berry and cherry notes.  However, the lightness was immediately noticeable on the palate. The usual fullness found in most Cabs was absent, but that wasn't entirely a bad thing.  Cherry and currant strike first followed by nice undertones of smoky oak.  Light tannins rounded out this easy drinking summer wine.  The Alambrado opened up very nicely the second day.  The flavors became richer, but it was still lighter than your standard Cab.

We opened the wine to go with a couple of NY strips that H.E.B. had on sale.  While the wine did not go as well as a deeper and full Cab would have, the Alambrado still did passably well with the nicely charred beef.  If you're a fan of traditional full Cabs, this wine is not for you.  However, if you're looking for a decently priced lighter red that is more akin to some of the Spanish and Italian reds then this is a great wine for you.

This was a Wall Street Journal Wine Club wine that is no longer available on their site.  You can still find it available at a few online retailers for about $13.

Château Geneau: A Bordeaux That Won't Break the Bank

Since it was a longer weekend I was able to grill up a bit more beef than usual.  On Monday night I whipped up a quick sirloin, a deconstructed wedge salad, and savory rice.  Since the previous Malbec was quickly finished, Pris decided to open a bottle of Château Geneau 2009 Bordeaux that we picked up from the Wall Street Journal Wine Club. 

The Château Geneau was a great bold Bordeaux that paired well with the meat.  It was a prefect blend of Cabernet and Merlot that incorporated the best of both varietals.  Aromas of plum, blackberry, and dark berry hinted at what was to come in this garnet hued wine.  Plum and dark ripe fruit dominated the palate with loads of juice and flavor.  Light oak and a touch of mineral provided a nice counter point to keep the wine from becoming too fruity.  Supple tannins provided a long and savory finish.

This Bordeaux was a great wine to pair with the heavily peppered sirloin I prepared.  I'd recommend it for any rich and savory meat heavy dinner, particularly beef or lamb.  Lately some of the WSJ wines have fallen a bit short of their predecessors in the taste area, but the Château Geneau is easily one of the best wines we've tried from the wine club.  Well balanced with great full fruit flavor this is a wine to be savored with a great meal.

The Château Geneau 2009 Bordeaux is no longer available on the Wall Street Journal WIne Club's site.  But you can still pick up the 2010 vintage which also has great ratings.  The 2010 vintage retails for $15 a bottle or less depending on the number of bottles you order.  You can get more information on this Bordeaux at: http://www.wsjwine.com/jsp/product/productDetails.jsp?productId=prod740027

90+ Cellars Malbec: Big, Bold, & Delicious

First off, thank you Rhiannon Cizon for this great wine.  Pris' employee Rhiannon brought us a bottle of the 90+ Cellars 2009 Malbec for Thanksgiving dinner last year.  We already had our wine selections for the meal made so we set it aside for future consumption.  This last weekend we decided to open it up to pair it with a couple of NY Strips that I grilled up.

This Argentinean offering from the Mendoza region was one of the better wines we've had lately.  The first thing that hit was a nose full of bold dark berries.  On the palate this wine was loaded with smooth layers of blackberry, cherry, and blueberry.  Further down the palate spicy notes emerge to compliment the ripe fruit.  The Malbec had a big full finish mellowed somewhat by supple tannins. 

As stated earlier, the 90+ Cellars Malbec was opened to pair with a couple of steaks.  As usual, rich Argentine wine and beef were a perfect compliment.  This Malbec was well balanced and incredibly smooth.  This wine went great with the steak, but was exceedingly easy to drink all on its own the following night.

From what I can tell from its website, the 90+ Cellars brand similar to the Cameron Hughes in that they take wines from all over the world and bottle them under their own label.  We didn't buy this wine, so I'm not sure what the actual price is, but its listed for under $20 on the internet, and that is a great deal for this fantastic wine.  Its my understanding that Rhi picked up this wine at Feldman's Market Center here in Brownsville, and I'll definitely be looking for it on my next trip there.  For more information on 90+ Cellars' wines you can visit: http://www.ninetypluscellars.com/

Alegría Cariñena: A Carnivore's Dream Wine

It's Saturday, and there is an event going on downstairs this afternoon.  This usually means settling in and enjoying left over brisket from Rudy's BBQ for lunch.  Since there is not much else to do, Pris and I decided to try pairing another wine with some delicious smoked beef.  For today's pairing I pulled out a bottle of Alegría's 2010 Cariñena Old Vine from Spain.  I've found that when wines are listed as old vine they usually have a more intense flavor with substantially more fruit and sweetness, traits that pair very well with BBQ.

The Alegría Cariñena was no exception to my old vine experiences, which primary involved Zinfandels.  This was interesting since the Alegría Cariñena exhibited attributes akin to some of the Zinfandels we've had.  The wine had a good nose with plum and berry on it.  The ripe fruit continued on the palate with strawberry and raspberry leading the charge.  The big fruity notes lessen as the wine progresses through the mouth.  Tannins are mostly non-players, and the wine tapers off quietly towards the end.  The Alegría Cariñena has a nice light finish which lingers with a pleasant and refreshing aftertaste.

Thankfully this wine went very well with the brisket sandwiches I threw together with the leftovers.  Pris didn't really care too much for it, but then she's always been a bit leery of the sweeter reds.  For me, the sweet fruit of the wine was a great counterpoint to the savory and spicy BBQ.  I threw in some jalapenos with my sandwich, and the spicy briny  treats took the Cariñena to a whole new level.  I definitely recommend this wine for smoked and spicy foods.  If you're looking for a big, bold, tannic red then this is not your wine.   However, if you're into sweeter wines, or looking for something different for the weekend BBQ, definitely keep this wine in your collection.

The Alegría Cariñena is a Spanish wine, albeit a fruitier one than its Tempranillo or Granache counterparts.  This was another selection from our Wall street Journal Wine Club stash.  It costs about $12 a bottle, but remember to factor in shipping.  You can get more information on it, and order it at: http://www.wsjwine.com/jsp/product/productDetails.jsp?productId=prod760004

Tapas Night with Pagos de Eguren

Normally if someone comes up to me and tries to get me to buy something because they're working through the last of their stock on it, I'm a little skeptical.  Of course if that person is Mike Jones then I simply buy what he's selling because he hasn't steered Pris and I wrong on a wine yet.  Several weeks ago I was in Jones Liquor to pick up a bottle of a Spanish wine Pris had seen advertised on Facebook (link to review).  While there I chatted with Mr. Jones who directed me to the 2007 Pagos de Eguren Tempranillo from Spain.  He had some leftover from an event and was moving through the remainder and recommended I try some before it was sold out.  Once again, it was a good call.

The Pagos de Eguren Tempranillo was a solid and versatile red that I thoroughly enjoyed.  It had good nose that was loaded up with ripe red berry and blueberry.  This Tempranillo was light on the palate with solid and well-balanced fruit.  Red berries were dominant, but a subtle hint of mineral and spice kept the wine from becoming overly fruity.  The Pagos had a silky smooth finish that was aided by its lack of tannins.  This was a incredibly easy to drink wine that went down very smoothly.

 We paired the Pagos de Eguren Tempranillo with an assortment of meats and cheeses from H.E.B. Central Market last week.  As expected from a Spanish Tempranillo, this wine excelled with the soft Spanish cheeses and cured meats.  The ripe red fruit cut through the savory and salty meats perfectly.  The following night we paired it up with a bit of flank steak and leftover cheese.  Again, the wine went exceedingly well with the grilled meat.  Thankfully, the Tempranillo is an incredibly versatile grape that is one of our favorites because you can pair it with almost anything.

I purchased the 2007 Pagos de Eguren Tempranillo at Jones Liquor here in Brownsville, and it was selling for between $12 and $14.  When I was in a couple weeks ago they still had some left, but it appeared to be moving.  If they're out, I did see it advertised at a number of sites online.  You can find out more about Bodegas Pagos de Eguren at: http://egurenugarteimports.com/