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.

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/

Bodegas Portia's Impressive Tempranillo

Its been a long while since Pris and I had a wine so good that we just cruised through the whole bottle in one setting.  Thanks to Bodegas Portia's 200 Tempranillo, we rediscovered how easy it was to polish off a bottle in one setting.  Pris first saw the 92 point Spanish Tempranillo from the Ribero del Duero region of Spain offer by Jones Liquor on a post on their Facebook wall on Tuesday.  She asked me to swing by and pick up a bottle, and always looking for an excuse to shop for wine, I decided to drop by.  I picked up a bottle of the Portia and noted a couple other wines on hand that we've been looking for before I headed home.

We wanted to crack open the bottle earlier in the week , but decided to wait to the weekend when we could fully appreciate the wine.  Last night we opened the Portia up and let it breathe for a good couple of hours before serving.  This was a wine that was dark, hearty, and delicious.  The Portia had a great full nose loaded with spice and berry fruit.  On the palate the Tempranillo offered a solid body with good fruits and a touch of spice.  A nice toasty oak provided a subtle balance to the hearty fruit.  This Tempranillo was well balanced with a fairly substantial body to it.  The wine does tend to end rather abruptly, and does not offer much in the way of a finish.  However, this did not detract from the full set of flavors that were displayed very well. 

This was a good wine on its own, and a great wine with food.  We paired the Portia Tempranillo with beef, olive, and garlic stuffed empanadas; a cheese, chicken, and poblano stuffed crepe; and tocinetas-- all from Gazpachos.  After the food was gone and we returned from walking the dogs I cut up some manchego cheese and skillet fried a couple slices of Spanish chorizo to go with a little more wine.  Everything went perfectly with the Tempranillo.  The salty and savory of the empanadas, the salt and spice from the cheese and chorizo.  Everything worked solidly with the wine.  I even added a few pieces of a milder cheddar cheese, which generally needs a bolder wine, and it work well.  Not as well as the salty manchego, but well enough.  This a great wine to eat with, and ultimately nothing beats the combination of a great wine paired with great food.

We purchased the 2006 Bodegas Portia Tempranillo at Jones Liquor here in Brownsville.  At about $50 a bottle it is on the higher end of our buying scale, but it was worth it.  In fact I've already secured another bottle for the future.  I'd recommend this one for a special meal, or just to open up when you feel the need for a solid and delicious red.  You can find out more about Bodegas Portia at: http://www.bodegasportia.com/index_portia.asp

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/

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

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/

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.

A Birthday Bash with Alto Moncayo

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.

The Amazing Termes Numanthia

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/