Tom and Melody’s wine blog

This California Zinfandel is complex. It has equal measures of ripe fruit and spice. The finish is long and delicious.

Although it is mid-May in Michigan, we are having a very cool day. I decided to take advantage of the weather and make a pot of bean soup. I purchased a meaty ham shank from the local meat market, sauteed garlic and carrots, added Navy beans and chicken broth to simmer all afternoon. I have a loaf of whole wheat bread rising and will soon put it in the oven. It will be a cozy and delicious dinner. Tom made a good choice with this wine.

It is Wednesday evening and I had today (and the rest of the week) off from work. I needed to get a long run in today because I am training for a half marathon and I can’t run long this weekend because I am attending a yoga retreat (my first — I have no idea what to expect). My son, Tony, who is home briefly in between graduating from college and starting his summer job — rode my bike along side me today for 12 miles. It was so great to have his company. It rained, it thundered, but we just kept going and going and I got it done. Woo hoo! Tony was a great coach. He talked me through hills and rough spots and even made me do a “kick” as I was in sight of home. Thank you Tony! You were a magnificent coach and great company. I enjoyed the chance to talk to you for two hours!

Tom chose this Tres Valles Chilean wine for tonight because we are going to grill steak for dinner. I am going to make a nice salad and keep it simple tonight. The wine is perfect for a steak dinner. The color is purple and dense. There is a touch of bacon on the nose. On the palate it is full of berries and chocolate. The finish is raspberries with a nice round feel in the mouth.

I am totally loving my time off and looking forward to another free day tomorrow.

It is a Monday night and Tom chose this 180 Cabernet Sauvignon for us tonight. I have fresh mushrooms simmering in wine (red, natch), steaming brown rice, and thick pork chops marinating in Sze Schuan and white-wine vinegar. I also have fresh spinach washed and ready to saute.  Dinner will be delicious!

This wine is one of my favorites. The color is magnificent — deep violet.  The nose is raspberries, blueberries and subtle black licorice. The taste is very satisfying. I can taste mint, fruit and tobacco. The finish is velvety smooth with plenty of coffee and chocolate. You can’t go wrong with this wine if you are a red wine lover. Ooh-la-la!

Tom has started the grill so I need to bring him the marinated pork chops. Cheers!

Tony brought this Panilonco Carmenere for Mother’s Day. Both Tommy & Tony are visiting for the afternoon. I was going to grill tonight, but it is cold and rainy in Michigan so I changed my plan to make a pot of spicy chili, whole wheat bread with white cheddar cheese, and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for dessert. I am just waiting for the bread to come out of the oven right now.

Tom & I just returned from a trip up to Northern Michigan for a long weekend. We stayed at the beautiful Homestead Resort in Maple City, Michigan. We had a wonderful long weekend together and we will be posting more about our dinners and wines from the weekend.

For now, though, it is Mother’s Day and I am thrilled to have our sons, Tommy & Tony, with us. We will enjoy a cozy dinner together.

The bread is out of the oven and will cool for a few minutes. Dinner will be delicious.

This wine that Tony brought us is delicious and perfect for tonight. It is deep maroon in the glass. The aroma is a minty fruit. . .the taste is lovely with lustrous tannins. Tony loves South America and their wines! I know his friend, George Royce, who spent 99 days with Tony traveling around South American, would also enjoy this wine.

Happy Mother’s Day to my mom, Delight Fagan, and to my mother-in-law, Mary Werner, and to all the other mothers out there who love and care for their children. Cheers Mom!

It is Sunday evening and we have worked in the yard today. It is a beautiful sunny spring Michigan day. We decided to celebrate with a margarita tonight. Taking a tip from writer Eric Felten, who writes “How’s Your Drink” in the Saturday/Sunday issue of the Wall Street Journal, I made a  couple of genuine maragaritas.  As Eric says, “Saccharrine glop extruded from machines is not the real deal. Nor is anything that comes pre-mixed in a bottle. And sorry, a can of frozen limeade, blended with ice and tequila doesn’t count either.”

Using his recipe, I put the following in a martini shaker with ice: 4 oz. blanco tequila, 2 oz. Cointreau, 1 1/2 oz. fresh-squeezed lime juice. I mixed it well and poured it into two icy-cold martini glasses that had been rimmed in fresh lime and coarse salt.

What a refreshing and delicious cocktail! Cheers!

It is Saturday night. I have chicken in a skillet and brown rice steaming in the saucepot. We have both had an active day; Tom raked the front yard, took Trigger for long walks, and ran 3 miles. I did a 10-miler this morning and then went to a sport banquet in the afternoon. But, now it is time to relax. We enjoyed watching our neighbor’s daughter get picked up in a limo for her senior prom.

This Spanish Tempranillo is a beautiful violet color and bursting with spicy aromas. On the palate it is very crisp, clean and dry feel with hardy tannins. The finish is long with a taste of blackberry. I like this wine very much. It makes me think of our son, Tony, who also loves Tempranillo.

This California Zinfandel is a different and delicious wine. In the glass it is cherry red and the nose is pleasantly minty and spicy. The taste is eye-opening with raspberries, black pepper and well-water metal (like you would taste if you had a glass of well water out of an old, tin glass).

It is Friday evening and we are relaxing after a work week. Last night, I was in Windsor, Ontario with my sister. I won a free night at the Casino last summer at a golf outing, so I invited my sister to enjoy it with me. The free night was only good during a week night so she drove over (from Grand Rapids, Michigan) to see me after work last night. We spent one night enjoying each other’s company and even played a couple slot machines. It was great to see my sister. I am glad to be home. Dinner is on the stove and life is good!

It is a Tuesday night in April and we have had our cocktail. Tom opened this French Cotes Du Rhone for our dinner. I can’t remember where we purchased this wine or whether we received this as a shipment in a wine club, but it is an excellent wine. I started ‘mmm-mmmm-ing” as soon as I took in the bouquet and certainly after I had my first sip. This wine is a lovely red color with a very pleasant nose. On the palate is a burst of berries and spice. The tannins are evident and the finish is dry and satisfying. I appreciate the deficience of fruit forward presentation — this is a more austere and crisp old-world wine. Absolutely delicious.

This French Chateau Fantin Bordeaux is delicious. I ordered a half case of this wine on the recommendation of another red-wine lover. The nose is black fruit and plums. In the mouth is medium to full-bodied structure with a rusty taste mid-palate. The finish has the lovely taste of candied cherries. This wine will stand up to a good steak — which is what we are having for dinner. Tom will grill one steak and then I am going to slice it to serve with steamed brown rice, broccoli and a salad. I think this wine is a winner and I’m glad we have 5 bottles left to enjoy.