Le Grand Noir Cabernet-Shiraz (2006)

June 8, 2009 — Tom & Melody

I discovered this French blend Le Grand Noir Cabernet-Shiraz at our local market in town. I stopped in today to pick up a fresh chicken for dinner and the owner recommended this wine to me. I am really enjoying this wine. The nose is both spicey and earthy. The taste is great — fruity with some black dirt — nice finish. Really lovely. I will definitely buy this again.

For dinner, I have baked chicken in the oven, along with baked potatoes. I picked lettuce and little green onions from the garden and will make a fresh salad. Tommy just arrived to join us for dinner so I need to go add the final touches. Cheers!

Posted in Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, French wines, Over $10, Shiraz. Tags: , , , . Leave a Comment »

Domaine D’Aubaret Cabernet Sauvignon (2007)

March 2, 2009 — Tom & Melody

It is a bitter cold Monday night in Michigan. We are hoping this is one of the last cold spells . . .but that may be wishful thinking.

I had to work late tonight so we are having leftover pasta for dinner. I am also making a salad and a vegetable. I chose this wine because I liked it very much the last time we had it. And, chances are good that my tasting notes tonight will be similar. Let’s see. . .well, let’s start with the nose;  spicy. The color? A deep, dark red. The taste has notes of cranberries and plums with cedar on the finish. Crisp tannins.

Cheers!

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Domaine d’Aubaret Cabernet Sauvignon (2007)

February 16, 2009 — Tom & Melody

reserve-domaine-daubaret-cabernet-sauvignon-20071It is Monday evening and we both worked hard at our jobs today. I was able to sneak in a 3-mile noon hour run.

I am making ricotta-stuffed chicken breasts,  brown rice, and steamed asparagus for dinner tonight and I chose this French Domaine D’Aubaret Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 because I thought it would be a good complement (and because I was curious to taste it). We haven’t had much opportunity to taste many French Cabernet Sauvignons.

This is a keeper and I like it very much.  As soon as I opened the bottle, I knew I was in for something good; the nose  is brimming with licorice and spice. The color is a deep red in the glass. On the palate is plenty of plums, cranberries, and cedar. The tannins are full and round.  Yes, this is yummy and I am glad that we have three more bottles waiting for us to enjoy. Cheers!

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, French wines, Over $10. Tags: , , , , , . 4 Comments »

Château Portal Minervois (2006)

January 12, 2009 — Tom & Melody

chateau-portal-minervois-2006It is a Monday evening and we are relaxing before dinner with a glass of wine, the newspaper and a glass of this Château Portal Minervois 2006 from France. It is very cold in Michigan tonight and we are under another winter snow advisory with snow expected starting tonight and through tomorrow (along with wind). I fly to a conference in DC tomorrow so I hope the wind doesn’t make for a bumpy ride.

This Château Portal Minervois 2006 wine is from a wine club; I think 4 Seasons Wine. The nose is a combination of geraniums and licorice. The taste is cigar box and vanilla. The finish is long and spicy. A very delicious selection for a Monday night. We are having leftover chili, the remains of our whole-wheat bread from last night, and a wedge of cheddar cheese.

Cheers!

Posted in French wines, Minervois, Over $10, Under $10. Tags: , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Claude Val Vendanges Vin De Pays D’oc (2006)

January 11, 2009 — Tom & Melody

claude-val-vendanges-2006-vin-de-pays-docIt is a cold Sunday night in Michigan. We are sitting here with a glass of wine, Enya on the Bose, Trigger on my lap, a pot of homemade soup on the stove and a loaf of bread in the oven. Does life get any better? Even in the deep, dark Michigan cold, I feel happy and cozy and blessed!

Tom chose this Claude Val Vendanges Vin de Pays d’Oc 2006 tonight. I think it is fabulous. We think we bought this on a trip up North to see my folks — at a place called “The Blue Goat” in Traverse City. Wow, yummy. I really, really like this one. In the glass, it is not our usual blackish red, but rather a pale purple. On the nose is the scent of cloves and honeysuckle. On the palate, I taste peaches, strawberries and roses. The feel is round in the mouth with structured tannins.

If we don’t finish this tonight, it will definitely be what I choose to have tomorrow! Cheers!

Posted in Blends, Carignane, Cinsault, French wines, Grenache, Under $10. Tags: , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Prestige Cotes du Rhone (2007)

December 14, 2008 — Tom & Melody

prestige-pont-du-rhone-dotes-du-rhone-2007It is Sunday night and we are relaxing with a glass of wine. Trigger is next to me, the Christmas tree is lit and the Boze is playing a lovely relaxing CD. I have a roast simmering on the stove with potatoes and carrots peeled, washed and ready to put in the pot.

Tom chose this Prestige Cotes du Rhone 2007, a French blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, for our evening. This has a pretty high alcohol content — 14% — but the taste is not at all hot or alcoholic.  The nose is lushly floral. The palate is chocolate and spice, while the finish is gentle with notes of bitter chocolate and vanilla. This is going to be a great accompaniment to our pot roast dinner. I think this wine is wonderful. . .I hope that we have more, and I think we do!

Posted in Blends, French wines, Grenache, Mourvedre, Over $10, Syrah. Tags: , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Pont du Rhône Côtes du Rhônes (2007)

November 15, 2008 — Tom & Melody

pont-du-rhone-cotes-du-rhone-2007Tom purchased this Pont du Rhône Côtes du Rhônes 2007 French red at Trader Joe’s. We are enjoying this on this rainy and cold Saturday night in Michigan.

I immediately noticed a wonderful nose. This blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdere is lovely. On the palate is anise  and pine. The tannins are nicely balanced with pepper and fruit. This is an acidic wine that is bursting with flavor.This is a great find. Absolutely. I will put this on our “purchase again” list!

For dinner, I am simmering a big kettle of bean soup with a ham bone that I bought from the local butcher. I have a loaf of whole-wheat bread rising on the counter. It’s looking like it’s about 20 minutes away from putting in the oven.

It is so cozy to be home, warm, and comfortable on this cold night. I walked by lots of homeless people when I was in San Diego this week. I know that I am a very lucky lady. Trigger is cuddled next to me as I write this and I am glad we are all together.

Posted in Blends, French wines, Grenache, Mourvedre, Rhône, Under $10. Tags: , , , . Leave a Comment »

La Ferme Julien Côtes Du Ventoux (2006)

November 10, 2008 — Tom & Melody

la-ferme-julien-cotes-du-ventoux-2006I am finishing the bottle of this La Ferme Julien Côtes Du Ventoux 2006, a French blend, tonight. This red is a blend of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Carignan, and 15% Cinsault. I already blogged about this last night but I wanted to add my comments for the second night after it had spent some time breathing. (You can see my comments last night when it was freshly uncorked.)

In the glass it is dark violet. On the nose are scents of berries, spice, and pepper. This is full-bodied, fruit-filled wine with plenty of bright fruit and spice. This is one of the wines that Tom bought at Trader Joe’s for a very reasonable price; this is an excellent value. I would purchase this again in a minute.

I have leftovers in the oven because I have so many! Tonight is leftover potatoes and carrots (from the pot roast dinner) and leftover ribs (from last night). I have also made a fresh salad.

Posted in Blends, French wines, Rhône, Under $10. Tags: , , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

La Ferme Julien Côtes Du Ventoux (2006)

November 9, 2008 — Tom & Melody

la-ferme-julien-cotes-du-ventoux-2006Tom chose this La Ferme Julien Côtes Du Ventoux 2006 from France for this Sunday evening. This red is a blend of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Carignan, and 15% Cinsault. Fairly low in tannin, Cinsault is grown abundantly in France and used to blend with other grapes. The Cinsault has great perfume and supple texture and is often used to offset the harshness of the Carignan.

We have had a good weekend and tonight we can hear sleet hitting the windows. Winter has arrived in Michigan. For dinner I am preparing two slabs of pork ribs. I started by mixing a rub of chili powder, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper on the ribs and letting them rest for an hour on the counter. Then I covered them with foil and put them in the oven at 300 for an hour; then took off the foil for an hour. Then I prepared my own barbecue sauce by sauteing onions and garlic and adding chili powder, cayenne pepper, catsup, molasses, cider vinegar, spicy mustard, and worcestershire sauce . . . and then I smothered the ribs in the sauce and put them back in the oven and that is where they are now. They need to continue to cook for an hour and half. So by the time they are done they will be succulent and tender. The ribs have been an all-afternoon undertaking — very fun, comforting, and cozy.

This wine is perfect for tonight’s dinner.


Posted in Blends, French wines, Rhône, Under $10. Tags: , , , , , , . 3 Comments »

Pierre La Grange Vin de Table

August 9, 2008 — Tom & Melody

This is a French table wine. I do not know what grapes are in this wine because it doesn’t say on the bottle. Although it is obviously an inexpensive table wine, it is quite nice. The wine makers apparently crushed whatever grapes they had available on their estate in Southern France. Not bad, not bad at all! The taste is quite complex with flavors of plums and blackberries and a nose of cedar and crabapple.

It’s a beautiful August night in Michigan. I have a meatloaf in the oven along with roasted potatoes, which I drizzled with olive oil and spices after cutting into large chunks. We’re listening to music and looking at the sky, which is beautiful with blue sky and swirling magnificent clouds rushing by.

Posted in French wines, Under $10. Tags: , , . 2 Comments »
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