Sonoma Vineyards Merlot (2007)

July 23, 2010 — Tom & Melody

This is a stormy, steamy Friday night. We are under a tornado warning and a severe thunderstorm warning. We’ve definitely had the severe storm but I think we have been spared the tornado. We are listening to Michael Crawford crooning and the thunder and rain pelting on the windows. Cozy, cozy, cozy!

We are looking forward to a stay-at-home weekend, although our get-a-ways have been stupendous. . .this weekend will be catch up on our tasks weekend.

Johnny, Melody, David

I have posted a picture from last weekend’s class reunion in Northern Michigan. Such fun!

So, in spite of the heat today, I am roasting a stuffed chicken with potatoes for our dinner. I selected this California Merlot. Although I don’t consider myself a Merlot fan, it works well with certain meals and this is one of them. The wine is soft, somewhat fleshy and feels round on the palate. Lots of fruit, too. In the words of my brother-in-law. . .this drinks good.

By the way, in the picture. . .Johnny and I attended a 2-room schoolhouse and sat at a round table with the rest of our kindergarten class! Every grade had a row. . .one room had kindergarten through 3rd grades (one row per grade) and the other room had 4th through 7th grade. Our teacher was Mrs. Goodrich.A stellar educator! I think the other room’s teach was Mrs. Bowen.  How many of you attended a red-brick, 2-room school?

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Dona Paula Los Cardos Cabernet Sauvignon (2007)

July 20, 2010 — Tom & Melody

I selected this Mendoza, Argentine wine for our Tuesday night cocktail hour. We are both back to work after a boisterous weekend up in Northern Michigan for my 35th high school class reunion. What a great and happy time it was to see my former classmates.This wine is superb. I purchased this wine for $11.99 at a local wine shop on the recommendation of the owner. Wow, delicious. Drink this wine and you’ll understand why people that love red wine look for wines from this region. This Dona Paula Los Cardos exhibits caramel and berries on the nose. The palate is predominantly berries with a luscious finish of coffee, chocolate and cedar.

I would not hesitate to recommend this wine; we will definitely buy this again.

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Sterling Vintner’s Collection Meritage (2007)

July 13, 2010 — Tom & Melody

We are enjoying a lovely, July evening. Strangely, the sun is shining brightly, but it is raining. We are very happy to have the rain because we needed it badly. But it is odd to have the rain while the sky is seemingly clear.

Nonetheless, here we are enjoying the soft rain, windows open with a gentle breeze. I took advantage of the cooler evening to put a chicken casserole in the oven (a basic chicken and rice combo).

While completing our weekly “Wall Street Journal” crossword puzzle, we are enjoying this Sonoma, California blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. The nose is subtle and takes awhile to reveal itself but with some decanting it offers chocolate and blackberries. The taste is a deliciously complex mix of fruit, spice, flowers and chocolate. Very yummy. This wine was $13.99 but on sale for 9.99, which is an excellent value. Had I paid the full price, I would have been satisfied but at this price it is a real find.

Posted in Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, California wines, Malbec, Merlot, Over $10, Petit Verdot, Pinotage. Tags: , , , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Pepperwood Grove Cabernet Sauvignon (2008)

July 12, 2010 — Tom & Melody

Here we are . . .a clear, sunny and hot July evening in Michigan. Home after a day of work. I was in the mood for a comforting meal so I stopped at the grocery store on the way home and bought groceries, including 6 bottles of red wine, one of which we are having tonight. For dinner, I made a dozen meatballs and homemade tomato sauce. The sauce is simmering and I just added the meatballs. Nothing complicated. . .I sauteed onion and garlic in my cast-iron skillet and added canned tomatoes, salt & pepper, a little sugar, basil and oregano. After that simmered for 90 minutes I added the meatballs (ground beef mixed with italian bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt & pepper and an egg.  I have also made a salad with romaine lettuce, a chopped orange pepper, freshly-picked cherry tomatoes and green onions from my garden, avocado, cucumbers and my homemade salad dressing. A meal for the soul, or so I like to think!

Now, back to the wine. One of our readers recommended the Pepperwood Grove Pinot Noir, which we enjoyed so I thought we should try the Cabernet. (Also, it didn’t hurt that this wine was on sale and I was, truthfully, looking for wines that were priced right.) I would conclude this is a good value for a great wine. Quite delicious with a cheerful ruby color and a nose of raspberries and wood. The taste is a delightful blend of blackberries, oatmeal, rosemary and caramel. The finish is wonderful. There’s nothing not to like for a mid-week red wine (or even a special occasion, actually).

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California wines, Under $10. Tags: , , , , , . 4 Comments »

Savanha Pinotage/Shiraz (2008)

July 9, 2010 — Tom & Melody

This South African blend of Pinotage and Shiraz is our choice for this hot summer Friday night. This is a spicy, plummy, bold-flavored wine that is an impeccable choice to accompany our sausage-red potato-cabbage skillet dinner. I particularly appreciate the finish — velvety, spicy and crisp. Here’s to a fun summer weekend!

Posted in Blends, Blogs, Pinotage, Shiraz, South African wines, Under $10. Tags: , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Dancing Bull Cabernet Sauvignon (2007)

July 7, 2010 — Tom & Melody

We are back from our summer vacation/family reunion and ready to get back in the blogging groove. We had the most fabulous, wonderful time in Texas with the Werner family: Host & hostess Bob & Suzanne and sons Matt, Dan & Ben (and dogs Callie and Jake); Bill & Linda and middle son, Michael; Pat and Bob and dogs Molly & Bella; Steve and Janet and daughters Emily and Katie; Tom & I and our sons Tommy & Tony, and the king and queen of the Werner family, Joe & Mary. All 20 of us stayed with Bob & Suzanne and we all loved every minute. Speaking for myself, this family reunion was one of the best times of my life!

We arrived home last night and unpacked. Today we were both back to work. On my way home, I stopped at Kroger’s and did grocery shopping and, natch, I looked at the wine. This Dancing Bull was on sale for $6 if purchasing 4 or more bottles (normally $13.99). So, I bought 3 of the Cabernet and 1 Zinfandel. I opened this Cabernet tonight to go with our dinner of hamburgers on the grill and salad. (By the way, we are under a heat advisory up here in Michigan; it was in the mid-90′s today.)

I like this wine. The nose has some leather along with strawberries and dark chocolate. The taste is very fruity — more so than most Cabernet’s for which I am familiar, but I think this would be a real draw for wine drinkers who generally drink and enjoy Australian fruity reds. The fruit is plummy with strawberries. The slightly smoky finish is enjoyable. This is a great wine to accompany your cookout with grilled meats.

Cheers to the Werner family. We miss you . . .

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Latitud 34 Cabernet Sauvignon (2008)

June 28, 2010 — Tom & Melody

Here we are and June is nearly over. Where did it go? It’s a very warm Monday night; the grass is very green, the birds are chirping and the flowers are blooming. We’ve had a lot of rain this summer but the payoff is the vivid colors in the yard.

Tonight Tom volunteered to finish off the bottle of “Quail Creek” Cabernet Sauvignon, which was good but a little heavy on the caramel taste and a tad too sweet for me. Happily,  I opened this bottle of Argentine Cabernet Sauvignon. This has a nice complexity of flavors, including blackberries and pine needles. I really like the grippy tannins and the peppery finish.

For dinner I put some leftover (delicious) baked chicken in the oven to reheat. . .and I served it with a pasta side dish that was scrumptious. Basically, this is the recipe:  I sauteed minced garlic and onions in olive oil and added about a half pound of asparagus (cut into 1″ pieces).  I tossed everything in the hot oil and once the asparagus was crisp tender, I added everything to freshly cooked, drained,  thin-spaghetti pasta. I mixed everything with olive oil, Parmesan cheese and freshly ground salt & pepper. Delicious! It really extended the life of the baked chicken; I didn’t think we would have enough but it was more than enough for the three of us.

Posted in Argentine wines, Cabernet Sauvignon, Under $10. Tags: , , , , . 4 Comments »

Glass Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon (2007)

June 23, 2010 — Tom & Melody

We are on our third official day of summer, June 23. We had a thunderstorm today and I understand there was an earthquake in Canada that was felt in metro Detroit. Some weather!

I started my day with a run with our youngest son, Tony, who is home briefly. We had a great run in the pre-storm, hot, sticky air. I then continued on with a very enjoyable day (I am on vacation this week), including lots of reading, which I love to do during stormy weather. This afternoon, I attended a visitation service for Joel Gentz , a hero in our hometown. Joel was a classmate of our oldest son, Tommy. Joel was killed in action in Afghanistan. I knew Joel when he was a baby and I have been friends with his parents. My heart goes out tonight especially to Joel’s mom, Judy. My heart is heavy for her. She and her husband, Steve, are strong but I know their hearts are breaking.

I am looking forward to tomorrow when my friend, Pat, will be coming over for a 9:00 a.m. run and then we’re going to ZouZou’s for coffee and catching up. I LOVE my vacays!!

So, tonight we are going to have hamburgers on the grill and salad. I asked Tony to pick the wine tonight and he chose this California Cabernet. Yum. It is excellent. Predominantly blackberries on the palate with licorice mingling with fruit on the finish. Nothing not to like with this wine. Absolutely scrumptious.

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LeGrand Pinot Noir (2008)

June 20, 2010 — Tom & Melody

Our neighbors, Brad & Michelle, brought us this wine a couple weeks ago when we had a cookout in our back yard. I chose it tonight to go with our dinner of grilled salmon. (Thank you to Jim at Merry Hill Farm, who shared with me his recipe.)

This wine is delicious and it is the perfect choice for our fish dinner. This French Pinot has a black sheep on the label because it claims it doesn’t follow the herd. Obviously not! I find this to be a softer and more succulent Pinot than I am accustomed to with a nose of violets and cherries. The  tannins are smooth and velvety with a finish of fruit and spice.

A nice way to end a beautiful summer day. I ran 10 miles and Tom worked on installing a storm/screen door. I think he had the harder job, today!

Posted in Blogs, French wines, General, Over $10, Pinot Noir. Tags: , , , , . 4 Comments »

Placido Chianti (2008)

June 17, 2010 — Tom & Melody

A beautiful June Michigan evening. The sun is shining brightly at 8:00 p.m., the birds are chirping and the temperature is in the high 70′s. Tom & I just finished our (last Friday’s) Wall Street Journal crossword puzzle. I am mentioning this tonight because we sailed through this particular puzzle. So, therefore, we are celebrating (natch).

We are very much enjoying this Placido Chianti 2008. We bought this wine at our local grocery store for $8.95. It’s very good. Placido Chianti is a fun, light-hearted quaff with a touch of floral on the nose. The taste is dry and slightly tannic.

For dinner tonight, we are having some leftover casserole that I made a few nights ago. The casserole was made with ground beef, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, cheese, etc.,. . .all yummy ingredients. That is reheating and I am making a fresh salad with lettuce and green onions from my garden (and my homemade vinaigrette).

Tom: This Placido Chianti 2008 is a very pleasant red, quite dry, with a floral (I’m copying Melody’s word) and peppery nose and a medium body. Very drinkable. I’m sure this wine is very Italian food-friendly: fragrant, pleasantly acidic. A fun discovery for $9.

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