Read.Drink.Listen

After a long hiatus taken by the Girls & Grapes group, our gaggle of gals brought it back together this past week to review the Rhone and a few of its surrounding areas.

Attached is the much anticipated list of wine reviews with tasting notes, price-points, values, and pairings.  Catch ‘em while they’re hot and (as always) take our suggestions ALL at your own risk.  Salut!

Sud de France Picpoul de Pinet - Languedoc-Roussillon

Best Buck for Buck!

Crisp, green apple, fresh, lively – lovely!!  An excellent value for approx. $12 on the shelf.

Sud de France Reserve de la Saurine Rosé – Vin de Pays du Gard, France

Sour cherry, watermelon, basil.  We love this and it’s only $9 on the shelf!

Prima Donna Tavel Rosé – S Rhone

Alcohol, cherry chapstick, no bueno – we no likey.

Domaine des Remizières Crozes Hermitage (white) - N Rhone

Grapes: Marsanne, Roussanne

Lemon Curd, the toasted nut notes to this wine make it a lovely pairing to this pinenut cous cous we’re having (from Surdyks) – great food wine!

Domaine Durand Cornas (Syrah) – N Rhone

Big, massive -Tar, smoke, blkberry, blk pepper, dust, and tastes a bit charred.  We’re okay with it, but at the same time, it’s a bit massive and obtrusive.

La Domeliére Rasteau (Dry Grenache) – S Rhone

$20 We love, love, love!!  Supple, spicy, strawberry, pretty- amazing with Surdyk’s pickled beets!

Domaine de la Solitude Châteauneuf-du-Pape (2005)

- S Rhone

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

Christmas spice, clove, mace, all spice – violet.  We love this!!  This is the winner so far!!  On the shelf for approx. $60

Meaty, smokey, organic smelling, Big Red Cinnamon finish, tannin, sileage – big ass balls!!!  We could drink the H-E-Double Hockey Stick out of this!!!

We guessed Hermitage, Crozes Hermitage, Cote Rotie

A perfect pairing to our greek seasoned grilled lamb chops!!

Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage – N Rhone

White pepper, blkberry, boysenberry ihop syrup, pencil shavings – we think carbonic maceration (bubble gum)

Not expecting this!  100% Syrah  We do not likey this!!  Not worth the $30 on the shelf.

GJ Syrah , Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes (2010) - N Rhone

A Girls and Grapes Best Buy!

Smells like green and spicy and pokey!

‘What the hell is a nettle anyways?’  Lil Lindz.   This wine screams it!

White pepper, cranberry.  Barnyard and husky farmy but slightly muted.

Actual juice is a St Joseph Syrah “What?, It’s a Vin de Pays!”  $18 – We think this is a steal!!  Everyday drinking Syrah-This is an outstanding Bang for your Buck!!

Clos de L’Oratoire Châterauneuf-du-Pape (2007) – S Rhone

Stinky, smells a bit maderized – raspberry, cranberry- cooked – massive vintage

Peppery, cinnamon stick.  Wine feels clumsy.  Smells bourbon-y.

Oh boy, this is a story of Texas girls vs. Midwestern girls

WE (as Midwestern girls) are German Rieslings!!!  We are meant to go the distance.  This wine is NOT.

Of course this is a CDP!!!  Worst bang for our buck – $50

Pierre Amadieu Vacqueyras ‘La Grangeliere’ (Grenache/Cinsault) – S Rhone

Strawberry, rhubarb, scallion, minty – Allison says ‘Excellent structure!’

Feels grippy but the girls like it.  Leslee no likey.  Leslee says ‘Too green and abrasive for Grenache.’

We’re all indifferent about the wine.

Féraud – Brunel Rasteau - S Rhone

Barnyardy- ‘It’sparticularly funky in the mouth’ Macha says… ‘It’s horsey!’

Not alotta fruit there… we need more suppleness.  We think it’s very bret-y.

Grenache – We’re not sure we like it.   Not a good buy for $28

Auriola Châteauneuf-du-Pape - S Rhone

Tastes bacterial again.  Fruit is missing.  Raw Manure.  ‘Feels like an O in the middle?’  – Does this wine have life??

Fruit is high toned – yet, barnyard still.  Tart tart cherries.  Smoke.  Char.  Sour cherry.  Nope, we’re not a fan.

Last Thursday, I sat amongst a panel of several judges analyzing a number of wines for one of the country’s most talked about grape pageants, the International Cold Climate Competition.

After tasting over 75 wines within an 8 hour time slot, here is a overview of the day’s activities and its significance as told by Channel 5′s, Joe Mazan.

Last nite I spent some time with the Minnesota Grape Growers Association at the Cold Climate Grape Conference held at the Crowne Plaza, St Paul.

With over 20+ wineries in attendance, and between the number of fabulous conversations I had with Minnesota wine growers across the board, I had just a small window to taste getting to about 8 of the local wineries featured.  While the varietals and blends ran deep, with each winery hosting over 15+ wines to taste, some of the most important University of Minnesota grape varietals:  Frontenac, Marquette, La Crescent and Frontenac Gris were hi-lited.

As the range of flavors from each grape ranged from very dry to stewy sweet – one of the most important lessons I learned of each, was that each winery worked hard to bring ‘balance’ to a variety of their bottled wines.  Some wineries laid a heavy hand to their barrel regime, while others let the grape varietals speak for themselves.  Some by the use of French oak and most with variations of American oak.  Styles were broad, grape varietals were plenty and blends were of interest, yet one of the most interesting projects I came across was from winery, Millner Heritage.  A Minnesota bubbly, quoted by the winemaker as being produced in a ‘Methode Champenoise’ style.  Sweet, with a foxy backbone, the bubbles seem to be a big hit with the winery booth.

The conversations I shared across the board were heartfelt, spoken from true Minnesotan farmers that were simply there to show their wares.  Some, brand new to the industry and others that had been in the business for over 10+ years, like the owner of the Fieldstone Winery.  All with passion, interest and love for their industry.

I did, at the same time, talk two of the Minnesota Grape Growers Association members into sharing a few live minutes with me about the event, the Cold Climate Conference with some description as to a few of MN’s most known varietals WITH food pairings to boot!  In HD

No kidding, it’s one of my most Frequently Asked Questions…

What do YOU think about Minnesota Wines?

Here, I review a whole line up from a winery located just one hour west of the Twin Cities, Crow River Winery.

Complete with food pairings, I share with you a line up of eight wines, detailed with tasting notes to boot! 

Check it out…In HD

This close to the holidays, the Girls & Grapes group got together one last time to celebrate ‘all things wine’.  In fact, our mission this month…bring a wine that you thought of as ‘luxurious’.  Or, a wine that really was one of the first wines or wineries that shaped your passion for wine. 

For many of us, the wines that spelled L-U-X-U-R-Y were the bubblies that we’d come encounter with.  From Champagne to northern California, and running the gamut of tasting notes from yeasty to soft and voluptuous, the bubbles were exquisite. 

At the same time, ’wine regions’ drove the conversation of P-A-S-S-I-O-N.  From the austerity of French Burgundies to the earthy spice notes of Chianti and the smells of the red Jory clay soils of Oregon – the wines of this category evoked feeling and desire to share.

Lastly, it was a nite of EXPERIENCE, TRUST, PASSION & FRIENDSHIP.  A nite of sharing ‘all things wine’ amongst those who appreciate it immensely and enjoy the stories that come with it. 

From our Girls & Grapes group to yours, we wish you a very Happy Holiday season filled with all of the above. 

Enjoy our tasting notes!!

Girls & Grapes- A Luxury Holiday Tasting

#2:Lemony, slightly pink bubble, very minerally w a hint of yeast
Love this wine, feels very balanced – zingy acidity – cherries
Schramsberg Querencia ~ St Helena, CA
Composition: 82% Chard +  18% Pinot Noir  ~ Wine club exclusive – Approx $45

 #3:  Meyer lemon – yeasty – lime – green apple – almond husk – lemon curd
(If we were painting this wine) Wispy lines – Easter egg yellow, pinks and greens- lovely
Briny – could be good w oysters – very brite.  We approve!
(Allison is getting visions of little  Irish Dancers at the top of her head.  I guess that means ‘happy’??)

Gaston Chiquet Champagne ‘Special Club’  ~ Champagne, France  (Pricepoint: $150) 

These guys have been making Champagne since 1919

Composition: 70% Chard  & 30% Pinot Noir ~ This winery does not use oak

Intermezzo: Chicken w Morel Mushroom Cream Sauce

 #4:  Banana runt- candy – wet wool and pineapple
Leslee guessed Chenin, then said fat Pinot Gris
Some of the chicas said Chardonnay…feels so FAT.
It ‘s Chappellet Chenin Blanc from Napa – one of our favorite producers!
Winery exclusive – Approx $25-$30

 #5:  Girls are talking ‘brushed silk jammies’ (nice tasting notes!) with this wine.
Lemony – aioli – full – grey slate w heaters underneath your feet
Direct and lovely!

Louis Carillon & Fils Puligny-Montrachet ~Burgundy, France  

(Approx $60-$70 on the retail shelf – found, most likely, @ Haskells)

#6:  Flinty , round, feminine – round, white floral
It’s like the purple bra comes back out, but it’s not quite full.  
Erin says, ‘Does that mean, it’s a Demi-Cup?’
Domaine Roulot Meursault ~ Burgundy, France
C’mon- who could pass up a Chardonnay like this?  This is L-O-V-E.   (We’re not sure of the pricepoint)

#7:  Tart, Cranberry, Vanilla
Sangiovese Chianti Classico – very approachable.
Ruffino Aziano Chianti Classico – $15.99 @ Princeton Liquors

Intermezzo:  Spicy Italian Sausage & Orchiette Pasta

#8: Green bell pepper – coconut- mosquito repellent – tastes a lil’ like chocolate
 Mounds & Almond Joy!  We love deez nuts!!!!!!!
(The ‘Would u rather’ game broke out ?? – Okay, maybe we shouldn’t have drank those 1st two bts of bubbly)
Heart’s Desire Claret  ~ Sonoma, CA - $18 @ Pairings Wine Market

 #9: Sparky coconut – Dk Bing cherry compote syrup – blackberry thickness
Dk cocoa – chocolate fountain
Allison wants to lay on the floor & absorb it all in.  (Bon Iver is playing in the background)
Leonetti Cabernet ~ Walla Walla, WA
Winery Exclusive -  Approx $130

Intermezzo: An 80′s Dance Party Broke Out!    Hi-Lites: The Tootsy Roll Dance (a dance lesson by Erin)

#10:  Cherry spice & Italian herbs
2008 Avignonesi Rosso ~Tuscany, Italy
I love this producer- one of my favorite Sangiovese(s)  

(Approx $40 on most retail shelves, can be found most stores)

#11:  Dk stewed cherry – wet earth & tobacco
Sweet tobacco fruit – like swisher sweets – dk cherry wood – Sweet cookie dough-a little stewie from the fruit side-lacking acidity for balance
Archery Summit 2003 Premier Cuvée Pinot Noir ~ Willamette Valley, Oregon

 (Approx $65 on the retail shelf at the time of its current sale)

#12: Burnt caramel,  roasted hazelnut – Dk nut and heavy burnt cream
El Maestro Sierra Oloroso ~ Jerez, España
Lovely way to end a meal or a great nite with friends!

Girls & Grapes are back at it!  We figured that since the holdiays are so close, we might as well squeeze in a number of opportunities to drink great wine.  Below is a recap of an evening spent touring ‘blindly’ the wines of Spain.  Under tin foil until the last of the tasting notes were logged, we found the wines brought were some of our favorites so far this year.  Incidentally, a majority of these wines are good for the holiday budget and great pairings to the trimmings on your holiday table!  Wonderful foodie wines with amazing flavors and exuberant profiles. 

(And because you all commented as to how much you loved the RECIPE section in the last Girls & Grapes CRUSHPAD BLOG - we added a couple of our favorites from the nite to pair.)

 Girls & Grapes: Tour of Spain  

Wine 1:
A rosé, fun!  Smells like watermelon, cherry Chapstick.  Oh, and it tastes supple – nice.
Grenache Vega Sindoa Rosé – Surdyks $12.99
Great way to start!

Wine 2:
Corny, warm flavored, tastes like squash (root veges), apple cider, but crisp
Guessed Albariño, we were wrong…still, We really like it!  We missed the green element here because this was so silky and soft on the palate - Shaya Verdejo – $16.99  @ Pairings

Loved this wine with Erin’s Spanish Styled Deviled Eggs  (recipe below)                                                        

 Wine 3:
Floral, round, lush but flabby – lacking acidity – cotton candy!
“Valley Fair, here we come!”
Candidato Viura - $11 @ Surdyks

Wine 4:
Oily – Vaseline – perfumed – red delicious apple -pulpy.  We love this wine!  Could drink a gallon of it.
Telmo Rodriguez’s Basa blanco from Rueda – $16 @ Haskells (Plymouth location)
Grapes: Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc, Viura  – Wines like this make me think I have a secret crush on Telmo, shhhhh!

Wine 5:
Purple in color – cherry vanilla – sassafras (rootbeer)
Has a hint of cherry fruit but this was potentially a ‘corked’ bt- flavor was very flat & muted.  Would be a great bt for the $!
Federico Tempranillo – Ribera del Duero – $23 @ Pairings  

Wine 6:
Raisiny, dried fruit,  concentrated, herbs, leather
“23 yr old D Cups with a plum-colored lacy bra!”  ~ Leslee & Allison
$24 on the shelf- we think this is a huge winner for the $$ - We think, quite busty!
Ramirez de la Piscina Crianza Rioja (2005)
Very mature and lovely.  Rock my world kinda wine!!!

Wine 7:
Strawberry & dill with a hint of pink peppercorns
Luzon Verde Monastrell from Jumilla  $11.99 @ Surdyks
Super solid people pleaser – very approachable w a new world style
Loved this wine with Leslee’s chocolate covered blue cheese dates  (recipe below)

Wine 8:
Musk, wet leaves, over ripe raspberry- tastes cheap
Valencia Tempranillo Radio Boca – actually equals $ for $
Not mad at it for $7.99 (@ France 44)

Wine 9:
Dk jam, raspberry, blueberry – sh*t ton oak – coconut cream -yuk
Grenache fr Campo de Borja $35 – not worth the dollar
We’re not fans of the uber coconut – too much barrel!

Wine 10:
Stinky, meaty, dried meat – yummy!  Leather, dirt & tarnished.
Barnyardy but in a very good way, fruit is still very fresh.  
Mature – Epitomy of Old World wine – A very very well balanced wine all the way through!
Flor de Pingus (2001) -$150 on the shelf @ SoloVino

 Wine 11:
Strawberry & white pepper.  Aspirin.  Green. Stem-my.
Dido Grenache & Carignan, Merlot, Cab  $33 @ France 44
Limited production, female winemaker- supposedly a big deal wine…we don’t think so.

Wine 12:
Briny- cod water- dried cranberry, sage, and herbs- rosemary
Maybe the fruit has dropped out?
Montecillo Gran Reserva 1994 Rioja – 15 yrs old – Fruit not as plump but still solid as a product.
$80 on the retail shelf - 5yrs ago

Wine 13:
Yes, tomato – I love this wine!  Definitely, not for everyone, but it is Leslee & Erin’s heart-throb.
Ripe tomato.  Most interesting wine (period)!
R. Lopez de Heredia Viña Tondonia Rosé 1995 – we love!!!! 

(No idea the pricepoint, I bought it from Solo Vino in St Paul a few years ago.  Ask Chuck for it!)

Wine 14:
Cinnamon – acetone – pruney – big red (barrel)
Ostatu Crianza-Tempranillo- Grenache- Mazuelo
$18.99 @ Haskells (Plymouth location)

Wine 15:
Dk raisenated – blkberry- supple – yet textured – tar – violet & very layered
“This smells like ribs!  Bacon!” ~ Lindsay, Allison & Katie
Numanthia Termes -$60 awesome wine for the $, well worth it! Find @ Solo Vino
This is a rock solid wine!!

 Recipes

• Spanish Styled Deviled Eggs   (Recipe compliments of Cafe Ena owner, Erin Ungerman)

Peel eggs and slice in half (Long Way)

Remove yolks and place in med size bowl

Mix Yolks with 3-5 oz smoked salmon (mash with fork)

Mix in 3-4 TBS Mayo

1 TBS Dijon mustard

Salt and pepper to taste

Spoon Salmon/Egg filling into eggs 

Drizzle with truffle oil

Sprinkle with pimentón (Spanish Paprika)

•  Date Recipe that Leslee shared is  Compliments of Chef Mike Shannon of Cooks of Crocus Hill 

(This recipe was taught in Chef Mike and I’s ’Steak & Cabernet IV’ Class @ Cooks, November 2011)

Girls & Grapes Gear up for the Wines that will Grace our Thanksgiving Tables in just a few short weeks!

My fabulous group of girls that love grapes does it yet again.  With a slew of fabulous foods to snack upon and a whole gaggle of grapes to indulge – my small tasting group of chikitas rock the palate with these fun wines for the holiday table. 

With the assignment of ‘Wines that make you think of Fall’ – the girls set out this month to find more than one wine to pair to your turkey.  As it turned out, we loved almost ALL of them.  Only a couple of stinkers in the bunch, almost everything we brought seemed to match our fall moods.  Some earthy, some with pumpkin pie scents, and some with meaty notes of pepper – below are the ‘unsensored’ notes for each one.

 A lovely array of gorgeous gorgeous wines, with tasting notes, tasting suggestions, recipes that we brought to pair, price-points and retail locations to boot – to make YOUR holiday wine shopping that much easier this holiday season!

Wine 1:
Yeasty, golden in color, nutty, toasty, creamy, soapy
1998 Duval Leroy Blanc de Chardonnay Champagne
Lindsay splurged! $50 @ Pairings – Super fresh for vintaged bubbly
A perfect pairing w Allison’s pumpkin ravioli!!  (See below for Allison’s Shitake/Pumpkin Ravioli Recipe)

Wine 2:
Very goldeny in color- Petrol, shoe polish, apricot, orange, honey blossom
Guessing Old World – German Riesling ~ Great with Lindsay’s Chicken Curry Dip (See below for Lindsay’s Recipe)

Martin Schatzel Alsace Grand Cru Riesling 2001 $30 @ Kowalskis Wine Shops

Wine 3:
Huge nose- Freesia Flowers- Fresh squeezed orange- Clementine
Domaine Zind Humbrecht Gewürztraminer – “Holy Ball$, this is good!” says Allison.
Amazing w sweet potatoes!

Wine 4:
Brite white in color- lemon rind rolled in sugar.  We think it’s intriguing. 
Ginger snaps… Spiced cookies?
Swallow Gewürztraminer, Oregon – $9 @ Kowalskis Wine Shops  ~ Good Buck for Buck!

Wine 5:
Really poopy – barnyard- peppery finish.  Sour cherry on the palate. 
Is that meat we smell?  Maybe just the end of a horse blanket.  Pepper!
Qupe Syrah, CA - $15.99 from Pairings
This is Brettanomyces to the max!   We are not a fan.  The bacteria mutes the fruit too much.

Wine 6:
Creamy raspberries and sweet blueberry pie. Fried sage would be good with this.  Tinny, like metallic.  Pepppery. 

La Vendimia Rioja – Tempranillo & Grenache $16 @ Solo Vino ~ Allison says “Frontal French Massage, yes!”  (Ummm…Don’t ask!)

We loved this one with Katie’s Mexicorn Chip Dip (See below for Katie’s recipe)

Wine 7:
Acetone, phenolics. Dried cranberry, dried fruit.  Raisiny, high acid.  Gripping.
2004 Cruor Priorat (Garnache) - $40 – Good, but we say NOT worth the dolla dolla bill, y’all.

Wine 8:
Food coloring red in color.  Stinky.  Wet ground.  Not balanced.
Really peppery and kind of green.
Steele Rosé of Cabernet Franc, CA - we’re not fans!  $15- can be found at Byerlys/Pairings. 

Jed Steele, if you’re reading this…we really love YOU, just not a fan of this particular wine!

Wine 9:
Strawberry preserves.  White pepper.  We think absolutely Gamay.
What?!!!!  It’s Carignan & Cinsault.  Corbieres (France) is our region- a total stinker.
Too expensive for the price point.  - Not even going to list the producer, just not worth it. 

Wine 10:
Cinnamon – raisin- poopy but weirdly,  fresh.  Red pepper. Cocoa powder. Savory. Thyme & fresh- meat.  One hot mess.  Disconnected.  Green.
Nothing screams fall like a 2001 Spanish Mencía!  What?
No likey- 2001 Villa de Corullón Mencía - $35 @ Kowalskis- a no go. 

Note:  Mencía as a grape, not necessarily an ager.  Much better when drunk young.

Wine 11:
Peppery cherry- raspberry- strawberry.
Cinnamon.  Great wine- Great story!!  (We love you, Leigh & Patrick!)
Dominio IV ‘Of Poetry & Roses’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon  $35 – wine winner of the nite so far!!! 

 This wine soon to be at Pairings!  Ask for it by name.

 Wine 12:
“Leopard frog slime” -(I think Lindsay’s had too much too drink tonite with that comment!)  Dirty earthy but clean.  Cherry & cinnamon.
Smells like Syrah.  We think we like from a price standpoint.
It is Quattro Mani Barbera d’Alba – Italy!  $12 @ Pairings – we like it!

Wine 13:
Cherry cough syrup.  Alcoholic.  Green cherry.
GD Vajra ‘Langhe’ Rosso – young Nebbiolo from Piedmont.  
We guessed Italian…but we weren’t necessarily down with it.

Wine 14:
Smells like banana bread draped over a pot of chocolate.  Deep dark blk blk cherry.  Blueberry.  Dusted cocoa and chocolate.  Mountain fruit. Everyone loves!!  Chewy.  Rich.  But Ripe. 
Peterson Agraria ‘Big Barn Red’, Dry Creek, CA - we love.   This wine can be purchased direct from Peterson Winery!

Recipes…

PUMPKIN & SHITAKE RAVIOLI WITH SAGE BUTTER

RAVIOLI:

• 3 tbls unsalted butter
• 1 tbl EV olive oil
• 16 shitake mushrooms, stemmed and finely diced
• 2 shallots, finely diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, finely diced
• 1 tsp tamari or soy sauce
• 1 tsp finely minced sage leaves
• 1 ½ cups canned pumpkin puree
• ¾ cup grated Parmesean cheese
• ½ cup fine dried bread crumbs
• 2 large egg whites
• 2 sheets fresh lasagna dough (16×24”) or 24 wonton wrappers

 SAGE BUTTER:

• 8 tbls (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 16 fresh sage elaves, julienned

 Melt butter and oil. Add mushrooms, shallots, garlic and sautee for 10 minutes. Stir in tamari and sage, raise heat and stir constantly for 3-5 min. Transfer into a mixing bowl. Let cool slightly, then stir in pumpkin, cheese and bread crumbs. Season with salt and pepper.

 Cut the pasta dough into 24 4” squares, or lay out wonton wrappers. Spoon a tablespoon of filling slight off center of each square. Brush the edges with egg white, fold over to form a triangle and press together tightly to seal. Wrap in plastic film and refrigerate for at least one hour before cooking.

 Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Gently cook ravioli until al dente, about 3-4 minutes. They are done when they float to the surface. Remove ravioli gently with a slotted spoon, drain, and arrange on a serving platter.

 To make the sage butter, melt the butter in a small saucepan. Add the sage and cook for 2-3 minutes to infuse the butter. Drizzle the sage butter over the ravioli. Serve with additional cheese and black pepper. Serves 4-6.

 

CHICKEN CURRY DIP

8 oz of cooked chicken

One 8 oz package of cream cheese

2 tbls Major Grey Chutney

1 tsp curry powder

2 tbls chopped onion

1/4 cup mayo

Salt & Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350

Combine in food processor and process until it becomes a smooth dip consistency. Transfer to oven safe baking dish and bake until edges become golden brown and dip is warmed through. Serve with crackers or baguette slices.

 

MEXICORN CHIP DIP

2 (11 oz) cans of Mexican-Style corn with red and green peppers, drained
1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers

1 Cup Mayonnaise
1 Cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:
Combine the corn, tomatoes (well drained), mayo, and cheese in a bowl until well blended. Cover and refrigerate until chilled.

 

Bon appetite!

Now after many days of recovery under my belt, I’m finally able to share what was The Biggest Cabernet Day Ever within my household!

With a whopping 20 hungry, Cab lovin’ foodies in attendance and a backyard set only for the finest of September days – the 7 course feast that I designed and cooked with all ingredients pairing to Cab – was one that will most likely go down as legendary.

All that was asked of each guest was to bring one bottle of Cabernet – from any region and really, from any pricepoint.  The menu was sent out ahead of time so that each guest had time to find just the right Cab to pair to their favorite course.  Instructions beyond were to tin foil your bottle so that the wines were initially served blind, leading each guest to form their own opinions of the Cabernets before unveiling their favorites.

Appetizers included my first handmade Parmesan Tuile – super easy to put together and really, very pretty – with a gorgeous array of chopped Heirloom Tomatoes and fresh chives that sat atop the crispy Parmesan crisp.  The wine that really paired best here was a nice, juicy, yet slightly tomato paste-like Cab from Chateau Ste. Michelle ‘Cold Creek Vineyard’ – Columbia Valley, WA. Next, came a recipe that I sort of put together last minute, including fresh fall figs, wrapped in Italian  Prosciutto, grilled and topped with a honied goat cheese.  YUM.  Not bad for a last minute throw together!  Wildly, the round sumptuous Plumpjack Cabernet from Oakville, CA hit the figs and the goat cheese perfectly.  Notes of blackberry, roasted fig and chocolate melded magically with the crispy, yet juicy wrapped figs.

Heading into a full plate of herb encrusted lamb lollipops – the appetizers warmed the palate up for what was about to come.  My husband, acting as head Grill Master for the nite, charred the pops just right leaving the lamb a beautiful juicy red on the inside – a perfect medium rare.  Here, one of my favorite Italian producers, Villa Cafaggio, made the pairing round out this enormous plate of gamey goodies with the producer’s single vineyard, Cortaccio, made exclusively from 100% Cabernet grapes.  The herbal notes of the wine and rich, chewy tannins instantly made friends with the fatty insides of the lamb, leaving us all licking our lips for more.

Course three included a simply cut eggplant round – which I rubbed with a pink sea salt and slathered with a delicious worcestershire, garlic, honey marinade – grilled and topped with fresh Parmesan.  Again, the Italian  (“What Grows Together, Goes Together”) Cabernet, a heavenly pairing with the herbs, marinade and Italian cheese.

Course four was, and could sincerely be, the most impressive course of the nite – a course made by my friend Jennifer – was a hand-built three layer Duck Confit Salad.  Fresh stewed fruit, arugula and the sweet notes of the confit’d duck breast were mouth-watering.  One of our household favorites, made the pairing complete – Ladera Vineyards Cabernet, Napa.  Notes of raspberry, earth and spice rounded out the plate splendidly leaving only the fresh notes of the salad’s arugula to cleanse the palate.  Delicious.

Course five – a very simple, yet strikingly decadent course – included fresh center cut Ahi steaks, which I rolled in pink and black peppercorns, and then quickly pan seared leaving the centers of the fish a brite cherry colored rare temp.  The topping – a lemon and parsley herbed compound butter – made this dish a succulent plate.  Without expecting this to occur, I think the best Cabernet pairings here were the South African wines brought to the party.  Both full Bordeaux Blends, seemed to fill the peppery cracks to the tuna, leaving only the fresh briny notes of the fish to appear.  Again, immaculate!

Course six – I guess you could say, was my main plate – and really, quite pretty again – was a simply salt n peppered flank steak grilled to another perfect medium-rare, accompanied by salt roasted beets topped with goat cheese and caramelized balsamic onions.  C’mon!  This was an amazing course…  The beets, which I swore took over two hours to roast, along with a plate full of two hour slow sauteed onions were both great sides to the grilled flank.  The pairing- an earthy, raspberry centered Cab from St. Emilion, Bordeaux.  I feel, aged just right, to pair – the wine paired wonderfully to the rare sides of the beef and the sweet sides of the roasted beets.

My favorite wine unveiled at this point of the evening – a 1984 Chateau Montelena Cabernet.  With a bit of decanting, this wine turned out to be the favorite of the nite.  The nose youthful and lively with scents of fresh rose petals and dark cherry fruit led into a round, supple mouth-feel of kalamata olive and briar patch fruit.  With just a slight ‘over the apex’ palate – the wine was rock solid!  Perhaps enjoyed best at its tipping point, I would guess a year to two ago, I was most impressed with the longevity and complexity of this Napa Valley Cabernet.

Last, but certainly not least, came a decadent multi layered flour-less chocolate torte.  My recipe left instructions to serve as one layer – yet I thought if I were to really take this dinner party over the edge – I might as well layer the cakes with a rich chocolate ganache.  The best part?  Each slice was topped with crumbled blue cheese and paired to a lovely Chilean Cab, Ecos de Rulo.  Notes of boysenberry, chocolate and syrup rounded the glass as the dessert melted perfectly upon the palate.  Again – splendid!

The party went on into the late hours of the nite as more bottles made their way to the table from the piles of wine that were brought.  A nice candied Washington Cab called Sweet Spot was the last I remember tasting of the evening.  It seemed to fit the last bites of the chocolate torte left on my plate and all at once, became the mantra to the memories of a fabulous evening with friends.  My life – One Sweet Spot .  Filled with friends who love food as much as I do, appreciate the wines I pour and love up on food/wine pairings almost as much I do and just simply, make me smile.  Happy Cabernet Day, to me!

Time is just flying by these summer months!  And as I would love for the August summer clock to tick a bit slower, I still found myself these past few weeks counting down the days to our Girls August Tasting Nite.  Blogs past recap our past events, yet none can seem to truly encapsulate the amount of passion, energy and enthusiasm that is felt and shared each time our group convenes.  Each time, I leave with a sense of fulfillment – smiling from ear to ear all the way home – recapping the combination of wine remarks, conversations and stories.  Yet, my favorite part is always the next day when I look back over the scribbled mess of wine notes I’d taken just the nite before.  The notes remind of the stories that came from each sip – listening to each girl’s account of what that ‘smell’ reminded them of in years past.  And with each account, a new story and a new memory shared between friends.

Our grandmother’s gardens, that strawberry candy we had as kids or the smell of a fresh fall September morning. 

All in all, a lovely reminiscent evening of story telling, sharing and laughter over a fabulous selection of great summer wines.  And one, I can barely wait for, as we set our date for the following month. 

And so, with a whopping 14 wines under our belts from the nite before, I transcribe  and share this lovely and unique list of summer wines for you to enjoy!

1. Rosa del Rosa Nebbiolo Rosé- IT- $17:  Dark Pink, sweet cherry & watermelon jolly ranchers in the nose.  Brite, herbal and weirdly abrasive.  Half said we liked it, other half said ‘nope’. 
2. Can Feixes Penedés Blanco- SP- $16:  Gun flint barrel and petrol in the nose, notes of sea salt and brine.  A bit flabby on the palate, but strangely alluring…because it was so unique!  We agreed to LIKE.  Perfect Pairing Idea:  Serve with a potato pancake, sour cream, chives and applesauce.    Retail:  Solo Vino
3. Valle Reale Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Rosé- IT – $20:  Dark cherry in color. Nice, strawberry, supple, juicy candy peel.  Reminds us of those shiny wrapped strawberry candies as kids – the ones with the chewy centers to them.  Really lovely wine.  We all LOVE!    Retail:  Solo Vino
4. Chateau Font Mars Picpoul de Pinet- FR – $15:  Fresh, crisp green apple.  Clean, floral, lemon curd melangé – soft and pineapply on the palate.  Delicious!  Retail:  France 44
5. Burgans Albarino – Rias Baixas, SP – $14:  Briny, creamy, white flowers and hints of kiwi fruit.  Nice.    Retail:  France 44
6. Vietti Roero Arneis- IT – $30:  Fresh oyster shell, lemon and lime scents w sweeping aromas of MN Honeycrisp apple.  A crisp September morning.  Palate is honied with drips of lite caramel.  Absolutely IN LOVE with this wine.                 Retail:  Haskell’s, Minnetonka
7. Chateau Brondelle Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon- Graves, FR – $15:  Smells exhausty, yet alluring with notes of green grass, cat pee and grapefruit.  We swear it is NZ Savi, it is so distinctively New World in the nose.  Really grapefruity as it opened up.  But were surprised once revealed!  We agree to be okay with it.    Retail:  Pairings Wine Market
8. Domaine A. Et P. De Villaine Aligoté- Bouzeron, FR – $20:  Wow!  Honey crystallized with bits of warm ginger, oily and sort of wet wool.  Had almost a creamy Creme Fraiche smell about it – nice.  I think it’s reminiscent of Chenin from the Loire – but was spoofed by this Burgundian beauty.  We like it.    Retail:  Solo Vino

9.  Aveleda Fonte Albarino- Vinho Verde, SP – $10:  Oily, crisp but hints of bar chalk.  Gr apple with a slite lime peel zest – sweet tart chalk – sort of candied.  Very easy drinking and a steal for the $$$!    Retail:  France 44

10.  Nikolaihof ‘aged’ Gruner Veltliner- Wachau, Austria:  You can smell the age.  ‘Smells Victorian, almost Baroque’ says Lindsay!  Like those little mini Cherobs flying around… What kind of tasting notes are these anyways?!  Yeasty and oily like your grandmother’s wallpaper – yet, we really like it!!

11.  Cade Sauvignon Blanc- Napa- $30:  Soapy, chalky and minerally on the nose.  Really abrasive on the palate and severely disjointed.  First wine of the nite we did not like and would not recommend.  Seriously, a bad way to spend your dollar and cents.    Retail:  Pairings Wine Market

1. 12.  Trimbach Riesling – Alsace, FR- $20:  Petrol, dry, crispy with hints of earth and spice.  Clean too.  We really like it.  A nice, clean cut DRY Riesling.  We might LOVE this one.  Oh and P.S., I love Hubert Trimbach!     Retail:  Byerlys
2. 13.  Innocent Bystander Moscato- Victoria, Auz- $14:  Yippeee!!!  A gorgeous pink bubbly.  Looks orangey, yet we are in the dark by now and have had a few, so it’s unclear what color it really is!  Notes of orange creamsicle, orangey zest, really LOVELY!  Smells like Lindsay’s grandmother’s rose garden.  Gosh, Lindz is on a roll here tonite.  This is really good, we’re pretty sure.  And, a great Buck-for-Buck Wine!    Retail:  Pairings Wine Market

14.  Quadrio Nebbiolo- IT- $20:  Earthly and mushroomy, smells like dried flower petals.  Also a bit sulfur-y.  Sulfur drops out and the palate is dry, and begs for risotto.  We are very happy to have this one red in our tasting!  We enjoy it immensely.    Retail:  Solo Vino

So there you have it.  A gorgeous array of fresh summer wines, intertwined and perfect paired to an amazing group of wine lovin’ ladies!