Family Meschini Talks Malbec, Mendoza and their LOVE for their family-owned Argentine Winery.

In a country like the U.S.,  already chucked full of Minnesota based or born Winemakers, we’re still finding MORE!

Minneapolis couple talks Malbec, Mendoza, and their LOVE for the wines that they produce from their Argentinian Winery. Meschini Winery, family owned and operated, owners Teresa and Eugenio give you detail, pricepoint and show you truly why they LOVE their Argentine Malbec!   All…For the Love of Malbec.   In HD

Last week at a popular series of Twin Cities Wine Classes that myself and pal, Anissa Gurstel of Pairings Wine Market, teach at one of Minneapolis’s newest hot wine retail spots – Pairings Food & Wine Market, named GIRLS GONE WINE – a brand new wine and a brand new winery from Croatia was unveiled.  The GIRLS GONE WINE Series is a pretty fun way to spend a couple of hours on a Tuesday nite in the dead of winter when you have two enthusiastic chicas like Leslee + Anissa, to drink wine with.  Why?  Because who needs pretentious, snotty, “I only drink very expensive wines” kind of peeps, when you have two fun gals loaded with passion, experience, and laughs?!   My take:  Drink What Tastes Good to You, Learn a Little Along the Way, and always…Try New Things!

The theme for this month’s setting:  Red, White and Drunk All Over.  Anissa’s take…wine drunk from all over the globe and Leslee’s…a red, a white and possibly a wine with a little “drunk” (more alcohol)!?#   Go figure?

The tasting started out with two very interesting white wines:  Insolia from Sicily (a fresh, fun, zippy, sort of lemon rind scented white grape) and a brand new white wine from Croatia.  The grape: POSIP (pronounced  “POSHIP”).  The Posip, when first opened was perfumey like a Viognier, rich and sort of oily.  After letting it sit for a few minutes, turned full and round like an ‘unoaked’ Chardonnay.  So fabulous!!  And, both…made me crave raw oysters…  Aha! Moment:  What Grows Together Goes Together!

The others in the line-up were: the MAN Cabernet from South Africa  $7.99!(see my blog post: More Wines for Under $10 – for this review), the Guardian Peak Cab, Merlot, Shiraz, another South African for $12.99! (see my blog post: The Best of Twin Cities Food and Wine Pairings Class Strikes Again!  – for my review) and a FAT, DRUNK, Syrupy, Port-like Zinfandel from Californian Winery, Rombauer – $30 (great with chocolate cake). 

But my favorite for the nite, The Croatian Winery, Korta Katarina, Posip.  So unexpected and layered with seashell nuances, fresh floral scents, yet upfront with some fullness that kept changing and unveiling.  And, on the shelf for $22.  A great value for everything that you get from this wine.

Here’s the amazing part… PAIRINGS WINE MARKET of Minnetonka, MN is the very first to carry it on a retail level in ALL of the U.S.!  Seriously, who says that Minneapolis is not on the cutting edge?  This is the first placement of this wine in the entire country.  The winery: Korta Katarina, a MN family owned establishment, is boutiquey, unique and produces wines well worth every penny you pay for them.  The Red Wine produced from the winery is their Plavac Mali (the name of the grape) – on the shelf for $37.99 and again, so worth the dollar! 

See my YOUTUBE Video for a complete review on the Korta Katarina Plavac Mali and some others in its region~
Minneapolis Sommelier Reviews Croatia’s Top Wines

Minneapolis Sommelier Reviews Croatia’s Top Wines

In the dead of the winter, when spring seems still like months and months away, all Minnesotans need to enjoy the little things in life to keep them going.  For me, it’s good food and good wine.  Last nite, I enjoyed just that.  With a Saturday nite off, a very rare experience for me, my husband and I stepped out on the town for a little small plate enjoyin’, wine sippin’ evening.  Because we are small plate kind of peeps and do enjoy a fun atmosphere, I recommended 112 Eatery in Minneapolis.  Located in a dark little section of the hopping downtown scene, 112 Eatery is just the place for small bites and good sips. 

The menu, which is loaded with fun ‘want to try’ kind of bites.  From cold cuts, fois gras salad, sauteed sweetbreads to full entrees like buttermilk fried chicken and a 1# lobster plate.  While everything look delicious along with the wine list which varied from a fun lite easy drinkin’ white like Picpoul (which I had, yum!), the always good  Pine Ridge Chenin/Viognier (my husband had) to a gooey Malbec and into a couple of Pinot Noirs and Cabernets – the decisions on what to eat and drink were difficult. 

Here’s what we had…The duck & radicchio salad, which was absolutely fabulous with it’s crunch and little bits of duck layered in between the bits of vegetables.  I oohhed and awwed with every single bite.  My husband had the romaine leaves with Roquefort, which had a great element of heavy earthiness to it (I’m guessing from the style of Roquefort).  As we moved on, we had the cauliflower fitters (delish!), stringozzi with lamb sugo (so wonderful), and the Chinese fried eggs. 

Chinese fried eggs? you say…one of the best things I have had in forever.  Sometimes, I’m a bit harsh on the Twin Cities Food Scene, picking on dishes that I saw on either coast 10 yrs ago. But this morning I say – tired of the food scene in Msp?, take your butt to the 112.  OMG, the eggs – which were just the way I love them – sunny side up with fried crispy edges.  Here’s the secret, they were bathed in an oyster sauce with freshly sliced jalapenos and scallions!  Un-freekin-believable.  I am telling you, you have to have them. 

The wine…because we were having an array of foods for the nite and well, so many flavors – I choose what sounded good to us – the Pierre Amadieu Vacqueras.  Vacqueras, a southern Rhone (France) appellation is such a great region to pick up – what I call – a Cotes du Rhone on steroids.  The red wines are, by appellation limit, at least 50% Grenache while the other half usually consisting of Syrah and Mourvedre.  The juice is dark, meaty and sometimes very tannic – this one last nite, full with minerals (awesome with the duck salad!) and lush with crushed velvety marionberries, raspberries, currants and over ripe plums.  Very very good and for only $43 on the list!

Did you think that I was leave you without telling you about the two amazing desserts we had??  Tres Leches Cake, come on…so wonderful soaked in a heap of heavy cream, rich, and seductive.  And my favorite, the Nancy Silverton’s Butterscotch Budino.  Nancy Silverton, who I just saw in Aspen this past summer @ the Aspen Food + Wine Classic, is business partners with Mario Batali and a crazy gourmet foodie.  And this, her recipe, taken on by 112 – is just a little pot of heaven.  A creamy, silky, gorgeous pot of butterscotch.  So good I think I licked the end of the pot!  Even though this little pot of gold stole the show, it was the last pairing we put together that made it even more heavenly.  Paired with a Sangiovese based Vin Santo.  Vin Santo, an Italian dessert wine made from grapes that are vinified after leaving them to dry to concentration on straw mats.  Seriously?  The wine with the butterscotch, was just about the best darn thing I’ve had in a restaurant on the Minneapolis/St Paul food scene.  The sweetness levels balanced themselves out, leaving nothing but little glittering stars in your mouth and one big swelling belly!

If you haven’t been to this hot little spot 112 Eatery, you must go.  And here’s the fun part…the chef:  Isaac Becker, was just nominated for the James Beard Award for his food. 

My vote’s in, Sir Isaac!

With a slew of fabulous recipes and 7 (yes, 7!) different wines to pair, last nite’s food and wine pairing class:  Que Syrah, Sirah, Shiraz!  was a hit.  While I teach across the Twin Cities with an array of unbelievably talented chefs, some of my favorite and also most popular classes are taught at  COOKS OF CROCUS HILL  with Culinary Director, Chef Mike Shannon.  Sharing the same love for food and wine, along with the same philosophies on the trade - MIKE AND LESLEE’S classes are a sold out success month after month across the Twin Cites.  The topics of our classes range from every grape on the planet, to specific themes and/or regions (IE: BBQ, BORDEAUX and MO’).  Last nite, however, was one of my favorite grape topics: Syrah.  As the grape takes on a zillion different personalities from region to region, participants found that it was certainly clear that Syrah/Shiraz does have several common traits: smoke, dirt, blackberry spice and YUM! 

The reason for my rants this morning do however, pertain to one recipe and wine pairing that I woke up thinking about…okay, two.

One: Gouda Bacon Leek Pancake (yes, I can finally have BACON inside my pancakes!) – paired with the Michel Picard Cotes du Rhone.  The pancake, which was loaded with bacon, leeks and hints of Dijon and Gouda was an immaculate pairing with the Cotes du Rhone, an earthy blend of Grenache and Syrah.  The wine lightly hinted to the subtle spice in the Syrah, which made instant friends with the bacon.  The herbal ingredients and the crispy edges of the pancake were out of this world and with the wine, heaven!   The crunch, spice, earthy fruit and the creamy bits of Gouda, made us all see stars. 

If interested in the GOUDA BACON LEEK PANCAKE recipe email me @ leslee@amuseewine.com

The second perfect pairing… Zesty Southern Pork Ribs paired with the South African, Guardian Peak – Frontier Red (a feisty blend of Shiraz, Cab and Merlot).  The ribs were hot, hot, hot and the wine, a perfect, juicy, textured, rich accoutrement to the fire and spice!  I’m telling you, the spice was distinct and very much in your face, but the wine – came in and cleaned up the spice, acting as nature’s little fire extinguisher to the burn (Important, because choosing the wrong wine can actually accentuate the burn!)  The Guardian Peak is a killer wine with meat, game, lush raspberries and spice.  On its own is exciting enough for $12.99 on the shelf, but to have with Mikey’s ribs- yowzaaaa!  I’m telling ya, let a southern boy cook ribs and a wino pick the juice – BAM!  I think we’re ready for a THROWDOWN!!

If interested in the ZESTY SOUTHERN PORK RIBS recipe email me @ leslee@amuseewine.com

The recipes are simple, easy to buy for and a perfect meal for any dinner occasion! 

By the way…both wines are available @ Pairings Wine Market in Minnetonka, MN located on the corner of 169 + Shady Oak Road.  The Michel Picard runs roughly $15 and the Guardian Peak approx $13, both are a steal for a Saturday afternoon wine buying trip!

Wine Homework:  2008 Orin Swift ‘The Prisoner’

The wine:  46% Zinfandel,  26% Cabernet Sauvignon,  15% Syrah,  10% Petite Sirah,  2% Charbono,  1% Grenache

Region:  Napa, CA

How I came to drink it:     Everyone, I mean EVERYONE  kept saying, ‘Have you had it?’, ‘It’s the best wine ever!’, ‘Leslee you HAVE to have it!’ – and so, I did. 

When a wine comes so highly recommended (IE: see earlier blog entry with the green MR YUK face), you just can’t help to run out and get it.  But, when I RAN to the shelf to get it, bummer…it was $40.  Ouch, a steep price to pay for wine homework tonite.  Seriously. 

My Tasting Notes:  (Taken right from my book after drinking it in a dark corner of a local restaurant) – Smells of burnt cherry wood, and candied like the chocolates you get for Christmas with the cherries and fake cordial cream centers.  Tastes like dripping black cherries, but it’s over the top.  Creamy blackberries, spice and could remind of you of wandering through a fat brior bush as a kid, but wait…the overwhelming caramel takes over this lovely fruit and kills my drifting childhood memory smells.  All I taste is the burnt, heavy charring, dripping caramel over these lovely boisenberries and blackberries – OAK.  In the nose it becomes more and more apparent.  Hot on the alcohol and abrasively thick now like cough syrup.  Hmmm, not my style. 

My words:  I paid $40 for this?!  Bummer.  If I wanted Chateau 2X4, I would have asked for an over powered Chardonnay.  I’m just not an ‘oak’ person.  It ruins the fruit for me.  My only advice for drinking this, is putting something up food wise that will make friends with the wood.  A heavily charred ribeye perhaps.  Something with grill marks and make ‘em deep!  Maybe an sweet onion glaze to go with your steak, now that sounds pretty good with this wine.  See?  Weight for weight, you can always find something to fill in those spots that you’re not fond of, drinking it alone.  It needs a pal, food.

At the end of the day – I’d recommend, the Marietta Old Vine Red – found on the shelf for: $11 and this one comes without the oak. Same style fruit (juicy, fat sassy Zinfandel-y), still grown in CA (Sonoma) and really, really lovely for this style of wine.  $11 versus $40 – buck for buck??

WITHOUT the WOOD!

In recent weeks, I have had many requests for this ever so-popular growing category…
Wines for $10 and Under.

Here’s a great example of a question that was received from a Mr. Scrooge McDuck (not kidding!) in a recent blog:
“I am a cheap son of a gun. What is your vote for the best bottle of Red under $10 bucks to be found in the Twin Cities.
I like bold reds but occasionally indulge in a pinot or other wines that don’t necessarily smack ya on the forehead.”

Here you have it, and some of my favorite most recent finds…

MAN Wine Cabernet from South Africa – on the shelf for $7.99
I’m becoming more and more a bigger fan of this wine. Because of its South African roots, it gives you that nice little gamey spice without turning too ‘horsey’ (meaning too animal-y). Its Cabernet fruit is ripe, yet soft and pretty well structured for its pricepoint. Here’s a Cabernet, Mr McDuck, that won’t smack ya on the forehead! A Good Find.

CANALETTO Pinot Noir, Montepulciano and Pinot Grigio from Italy (Same winery, three separate finds!) – On the shelf for $9.99
I love these three little Italian babies, they are some of the best Italians that I’ve had in this pricepoint. Their Pinot Grigio has been put in blind taste tests up against Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio (a wine that I would never reccommend for the $) and has blown it out of the water! In addition, the Pinot Noir is just such a nice, ripe, yet soft and subtle styled Pinot. Rich with dirt and easy enough to drink.
And, the Montepulciano- one of my favorites from their portfolio. Spicy, lush, and mouth filling! This Montepulciano is from Abruzzo, so we’re talking Montepulciano as the grape this time, not the region in Tuscany.

And last…my heartthrob winery in this pricepoint ~ Banrock Station from Australia!
They make a selection of organic wines: Cabernet, Shiraz, Merlot, and Chardonnay. They can be found on the shelf for no more than $7.99 and they are fabulous! The winery is a huge partner with its surroundings giving a chunk of their profits back to the wetlands of Australia. Super cool!
I have shown the Cabernet in classes and folks end up guessing $20-$30 for this little gem. The reds are full and quite complex for its dollar and the Chardonnay- lite, crisp and delicious. It does not have the heaviness that many Chards from this pricepoint have. I love it and it’s always on tap at my house! Besides finding it in bottle, the wines can also be found in box (they produce in both) – a 3L box that holds 4 bottles and can slip easily onto the bottom shelf of your fridge. In my opinion, the best damn box wine on the planet!
So there you have it! For all the Scrooge McDuck’s of the world and for the rest of us…why pay more? There are so many to check out in this price range. These are just a few, but don’t forget to head to the South American sections the next time your shopping for vino, those are also some great places to find some killer $10 and unders!

Happy Hunting!

A great way to spend your buck wisely…

While many are looking for those wines that $10 are under, here is a fabulous answer to a gorgeous Chardonnay.

Yum!  Fabulous as a mid winter treat and a great way to start Valentine’s Day early!