It is a Thursday night and I worked late. We had a delicious martini to start our cocktail hour. Now we are having a glass of this South African Cabernet, which is quite nice. We keep buying this particular wine on sale at our local grocery store. I think it is usually on sale for $7.99. It is fruity with a predominant taste of strawberries but it is not sweet and it has a rather sophisticated level of complexity, which I enjoy. I have pizza in the oven and this wine should hold up well to the strong flavors. It is a hot and beautiful Michigan summer night. . .cheers!
Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon (2006)
July 30, 2008 — Tom & Melody
I am finishing this bottle of Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 from California tonight, while Tom is finishing a bottle of Walnut Crest Cabernet. (We had a few sips left in each bottle.) The Robert Mondavi is a juicy-fruit quaff with spicy plums. I like this wine very much. I think there is a case of this wine calling my name. I am making skillet chicken tonight along with mashed potatoes and a salad. The chicken is simmering in the skillet now and I am about ready to get up and start the salad with some fresh lettuce, green onions, cucumbers and tomatoes all picked from my very tiny garden! Maybe I can convince Tom to blog about the Walnut Crest, too.
Trapiche Malbec (2007)
July 25, 2008 — Tom & MelodyIt is a Friday night in July and Tom & I are reading the paper while dinner roasts in the oven. We are so happy it is the weekend! Tom chose this Malbec for tonight and I took some time to let the wine breathe and I have been sniffing and tasting in order to provide an accurate description. I purchased this wine at A & L Wine Castle in Ann Arbor. It was a spur of the moment decision a couple nights ago to stop by on my way home and get a half case of wine. This was one that ended up in my trunk.
Although I like this wine, I think it is young and might be better six months from now. By that I mean that it has the potential to be quite complex but, today, it is a rather simple wine. The nose is black licorice. The taste is mushrooms and violets — this has real potential. I am going to suggest to Tom that we purchase more of this wine to lay down for 6 months to a year.
Cheers to Tommy and Tony. I am thinking about my boys. . .
Castillo De Olleria
July 21, 2008 — Tom & MelodyCastillo De Olleria Valencia
This Spanish Castillo De Olleria Valencia is made from 75% Bobal and 25% Tempranillo. This is a delicious red wine. The nose is licorice and the taste is a lovely fruit and spice. In the glass, the color is a lovely deep red. I have a meaty spaghetti sauce simmering in my old, cast iron skillet for dinner tonight. I will also steam some fresh spinach from my garden.
I participated in a golf outing today (a fundraiser for the women’s golf team) and it was a lot of fun. I was called in last minute to complete a foursome. I enjoyed golfing with Bob Conlin and his son Bob and Bob’s wife, Julie. They were so much fun and I hope our paths cross again.
Velazco (2007)
July 18, 2008 — Tom & Melody
This Velazco Aminga Valley La Rioja 2007, an Argentinian red, is a blend of 85% Bonarda and 15% Syrah. We have had this wine before and I loved itl. Tonight it is Friday and we have both had a long and hectic work week. I will be teaching this weekend, as well, so I requested a special wine for tonight. Tom chose this wine because he knows that I am a fan of the Bonarda grape. This is a delicious full-bodied, lip smacking blend of spices, plums, and green peppers. So yummy.
For dinner tonight, I browned chicken in a skillet, added diced potatoes and chicken broth, covered and let it simmer. It has been an hour and a half and it is smelling yummy. I also went out to my little garden and harvested lettuce, green onions and cucumbers for the salad. My neighbor gave me some fresh Swiss Chard, which I will steam. All in all, I think this will be a delicious and fragrant Friday night dinner. But, more importantly, a relaxing and nurturing respite from a busy week.
Castillo De Olleria Valencia (2007)
July 14, 2008 — Tom & Melody
This Castillo De Olleria Valencia 2007 is a wine from Spain that is made from 75% Bobal and 25% Tempranillo. Yum, yum, yum. Delish. The wine is fragrant with cloves on the nose. The taste is fresh and spicy with a crisp finish. I like this very much!
Tomorrow I am taking the day off and will drive to Mackinac Island (with my son, Tommy) to visit my youngest son, Tony, who is working there this summer. It will be a lot of fun to spend time with the boys!
Grevin Cabernet Franc 2006
July 13, 2008 — Tom & Melody
We very much enjoyed this Grevin Cabernet Franc 2006 from our wine club.
It had a fresh-smelling nose of pine and celery and tastes of vanilla and caramel.
We’ve sometimes thought that Cab Franc by itself is a bit much — not enough fruit and not an easy quaff — but we found this Grevin quite nice and quite easily drinkable.
Lindemans South Africa Cabernet Sauvignon (2006)
July 13, 2008 — Tom & Melody
I bought two bottles of this Lindemans South Africa Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 today at the local grocery store because it was on sale. A good choice! The nose is fresh and lively and the taste is bursting with berries. This is a delicious “drink now” wine that requires no cellaring. The taste is fruity and friendly and, as my brother-in-law Bob says, “it drinks good.” The predominant taste is strawberry and the finish is velvety smooth.
I taught a class this weekend (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) so I did not get my normal down time this weekend. And, it is back to work tomorrow. At least I have this evening to unwind and rest my brain.
I was in the mood for a good home-cooked meal so I stopped at the grocery store on the way home from teaching and purchased ground beef, pork and veal. I mixed up two meatloaves and put one in the oven and one in the freezer. It smells good. Just what we need after a long weekend of work! For my meatloaf, I add oatmeal, milk, eggs, onions, spicy mustard and tomato juice (and lots of pepper). Delish!
Elsa Bianchi (2007)
July 11, 2008 — Tom & Melody
This Argentinian Elsa Bianchi Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 arrived in one of our wine club shipments. I have tasted and blogged about his wine before and I think this is our last bottle. We are celebrating a Friday night, although I am working all weekend (because I am teaching a summer term weekend class).
I like this wine very much. On the nose I detect smoked meat — such as ham. In the mouth, I taste cherries and black dirt. I know I had rated this finish as moderate when I tasted it the first time, but I would have to say it is a rather short finish. Nevertheless, it is a taste that I love and I would purchase this wine again, absolutely.
This morning before work, I assembled a beef roast in the crock pot along with potatoes, carrots and onions. I knew it would be a long day and it is nice to know dinner is ready when we finish reading the paper and having our cocktail. So, I chose this Cabernet to go with our pot roast dinner. Nothing like a good, old-fashioned pot roast to end the work week!
Sangiovese Rubicone Vezzani
July 7, 2008 — Tom & Melody
This is our second bottle of this Sangiovese Italian red wine. A medium ruby red in the glass, the nose is a lovely fruit — very delicate and inviting. I like the taste of this wine very much. This has as much to do with the structure as it does the taste. While it is quite dry, it is also softly spicy and fruity. This wine has a somewhat austere, old-world quality to it that is quite wonderful.
We are enjoying this wine at the ideal temperature for red wine — thanks to Tom’s brother and wife, Bob & Suzanne, who gave us a wine refrigerator! Thank you, Bob & Suzanne!
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