Tom and Melody’s wine blog

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 Curico Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 from Chile 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.

Tony brought this Panilonco Carmenere 2006 from Chile for Mother’s Day. Both Tommy and 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 and 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 and 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!

We really love this Agustinos Carmenère 2006 from Chile and I believe this is our last bottle from out rack. It is a Sunday evening and I am making spaghetti for dinner. In fact, I am simmering my last batch of sauce that I made last summer with tomatoes from my garden. This deserves a wonderful wine and this is it. The color is inky black. The nose is fragrant with oak and cherries. On the palate is plum and raspberries. The fruity finish lasts an exceptionally long time.

I think this may be one of Tom’s favorites. He is a huge fan of Carmenère. If you can find this wine, I can’t imagine that you would be disappointed.

We got this Tres Valles Curico Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 today from one of our wine clubs. We decided to give it a try tonight because it is Friday - woo hoo! This Chilean red is full bodied with a nose of tobacco and mint. On the palate is red and black fruit with a hint of eucalyptus.

This is a very fine wine and will go great with our dinner of chicken/broccoli/pasta casserole and salad. Happy Friday!

Tom purchased this Veo Grande Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 for under $10. We opened it tonight (Monday) as we usually do for cocktail hour as we read the newspaper and talk about our day. We’ll have this wine tonight with braised pork chops, chicken broth and mushroom sauce, potatoes, vegetable and a salad.

The wine is a good weekday choice. While not fancy or opulent, it is an adequate and satisfying midweek quaff. The nose is strong on tobacco and cigar box, which is not a favorite nose for me but I have acquired an appreciation for it. The palate is dark chocolate and a bit of mint and herbs. This is a wine that grows more delicious as it breathes. This is the perfect Monday-night red. Cheers!

This Agustinos Carmenère 2006 from Chile is fabulous.  We have had this wine before and blogged about it. But I (naturally) taste it as though it is my first time.  In the glass it is a rich dark violet.  The exorbitant nose is rich with pepper, cherries and oak. The taste is plum and raspberries. The taste lingers a long, long time with a fruity, lengthy finish. We will have this wine with a casserole of brown rice and leftover ham and a fresh salad. Coincidentally, it is a Friday night and the last time we had this wine was also a Friday night. I guess we think of a Carminere as a celebratory wine (because we always celebrate Fridays!).

This Nuevomundo Cabernet/Malbec Reserva 2005 has a nice balance of fruit, spice, and black dirt. On the nose, blackberry and strawberry fruits blend beautifully with spice and smoke. On the palate, blackberry is mingled with vanilla and oak. The finish is delectable.

Tom bought me this wine for Christmas (along with about a dozen other fascinating bottles)! I chose this wine for our Saturday night dinner of homemade beef-barley soup and a loaf of freshly-baked whole-wheat bread (which is in the oven and smells good). One swirl of this wine and I knew it would be good. I am loving this wine. This is wonderful.

Tom: This Nuevomundo Cabernet/Malbec 2005 is a treat. It is very rich and dry, very chocolaty; the fruit is blackberry. An impressive, delicious wine.

This Agustinos Carmenère 2006 from Chile has both of us swooning. It is a deep, blackish violet in the glass. The nose is extravagant — cherries, spice, pepper, and oak. The taste is plum and boysenberries. The finish is densely fruity with velvety tannins. The taste lingers a long, long time. This wine would be great with spaghetti or lasagne but — alas — we are having leftover soup for dinner. It’s Friday night and we are just happy to be at the front end of the weekend. Cheers!

Tom: This Agustinos Caramenère 2006 is delicious. Big, tannic, chocolaty, cherries and berries. Excellent.

(And here’s a photo of Trigger staying warm on this cold December evening.)

This Casillero del Diablo Carmenere 2005 is deep purple. On the nose is woods and fields with shades of pencil shavings, tea, and cherries. On the palate is cherries and leather. It is dry and medium bodied with dense tannins. The wine is crisp with noticeable acidity.

It is nice to be home! I am sitting here with Trigger on my lap. I have a pot of turkey-barley soup on the stove. I have been on the road. I had the pleasure of working with a team of professionals: Dr. John Hitt, Dr. Jane Moore, and Ms. Amy Bair, as well as leadership from Mr. Byron Hatch and Ms. Cynthia Rail. We worked hard but had a great time together! Here’s to my colleagues [clink]!

Tom: This Casillero del Diablo Carmenere 2005 is a great wine! It’s big and tannic, with tastes of coffee, chocolate, and cherry. A delicious, unusual, and intriguing wine.