Tom and Melody’s wine blog

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.

This Velazco Aminga Valley La Rioja 2007, an Argentinian red, is a blend of 85% Bonarda and 15% Syrah and, oh, is it wonderful. We actually opened it last night (Friday night) and we finished the bottle, but I took notes. (Our son, Tony, would love this one!) We know, of course the smoky, peppery flavor of Syrah, but the blend of the Bonarda grape produces an exciting mouthful of cherries, plums and spice.

This wine was perfect for our dinner of marinated steak on the grill with grilled orange, yellow and red peppers, steamed brown rice and asparagus. By the way, this is the first time I have grilled peppers. I know it is not novel to most, but it was to me. I drizzled olive oil on the peppers and we grilled them — probably about 3 minutes a side. They were splendidly delicious! This will be a standard now for the summer.

This Finca Dubois Bonarda 2005 from Argentina is a wonderful, delicious red wine! Tonight we have both of our sons home with us. We are having this wine before dinner. Tommy is playing his bass guitar and we are just enjoying conversation, wine, and music. For dinner I have a beef brisket in the oven. I also have a skillet of potatoes, peppers, garlic, olive oil, and rosemary (along with sea salt and pepper). It smells delicious.

This wine is so lovely. I am very pleased. The nose is mild and earthy. On the palate is tobacco and vanilla. This is absolutely divine. I am so happy that we have four bottles of this wine!

While I was attending a conference in Austin, Texas, Tom found a need to stop at Trader Joe’s to peruse the wine selection. He bought a dozen bottles, and this Amaicha Bonarda 2005 was one of them.

This is the first time I have tasted a wine from the Bonarda grape. It is bursting with fruit while, at the same time, dry and full of body. Very smooth on the palate with a pleasant, spicy aroma. We’ll have this with a stir-fry chicken and broccoli tonight. One might think this is too strong a wine for chicken, but because the chicken is marinating in spicy szechuan sauce, I think it will be just fine. This is a drinkable and pleasant big wine at a great price ($4.99). Nice shopping, love of my life!

Tom: This Amaicha Bonarda 2005 is quite interesting. The Bonarda grape is from the northeastern Piedmont region of Italy and is widely grown in Argentina. This wine is tannic, has a strong berry-fruit flavor, and has a strong, slightly astringent quality (as though it has strong alcohol, although it’s a normal 13%.). We always love tasting wines from South America but particularly while Tony and George are traveling there. They are in Brazil now, in Rio de Janeiro.