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

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

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/