Tom and Melody's wine blog » Monastrell

Castaño Monastrell (2008)

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 01:28:14 +0000

This Castaño Monastrell 2008 is a great value for a delicious Spanish wine. A dark cherry taste and chewy texture with a spicy finish.

This went very well with a stir fry of chicken, broccoli, and pasta.

We’re coming off a great weekend seeing the family. Our parents are settled in here as Chelsea residents now, and Tommy is back from Australia. All’s good…

Gran Calero Monastrell (2008)

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 17:39:15 +0000

It is New Year’s Eve and soon we will ring in the new year of 2011. We have had a productive and eventful year with many changes, twists and turns . . . and we managed each event to the best of our ability. We feel happy that we were able to accomplish much and care for those for whom we love so dearly.

Tom chose the wine tonight and wisely selected this Spanish red Gran Calero Monastrell 2008 for our simple, but delicious, dinner. We tasted this together and we exchanged our impressions, which were incredibly similar. Light body, subtle nose. Thin texture with a taste of dark chocolate and a hint of coffee on the finish. Interesting. Not “to die for” but not the least bit unpleasant.

For dinner I made a whole wheat crunchy bread that I started at 8:00 this morning and put in the oven at 7:30 tonight. And a turkey-potato soup that I actually started yesterday by slow-cooking turkey thighs overnight, then deboning and skinning and letting the broth cool and congeal to remove the fat; sauteing onions, garlic, carrots, celery and potatoes; then adding the rich, savory broth and turkey. Presto! Soup!

Happy New Year’s to you and yours.

Monasterio de Santa Cruz (2006)

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:59:41 +0000

It is Wednesday evening. We are having a glass of this Spanish red while reading the paper. This wine’s core is inky black; the flavors are complex with a smooth, woody and spicy finish.This wine is top notch and I would definitely purchase it again.

I put together an unusual casserole tonight made with crumbled breakfast sausage, eggs, sour cream and cheddar cheese. Yikes, good thing I am not getting a physical tomorrow! But, it is in the oven and smells good. I am serving the casserole with fresh strawberries.

Monasterio de Santa Cruz (2008)

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:58:17 +0000

This is a Spanish wine that recently arrived at our house as part of a wine club shipment. This wine is made in the region of Tarragona on the Mediterranean, near Barcelona.

I chose this wine for our summer Sunday night dinner. This is a deep red, delectable and elaborate big red. The texture is smooth and the finish is woody.

I didn’t know what to expect from this wine because the label did not reveal any grapes or varietal for which I was familiar. Well, is is sumptuous. This is a complex wine with layers of fruit and oak.

I didn’t feel like grocery shopping today so I took two steaks out of the freezer. We grilled those and I made steamed brown rice and sauteed mushrooms (in Malbec wine) and a salad from my garden (with my homemade viniagrette [olive oil, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, horseradish mustard, basil, oregano, rosemary, savory & thyme]). Dinner was delicious and the wine was a perfect match for a steak.

Luzon Jumilla Spain (2007)

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 01:38:58 +0000

I stopped at the Plum Market in Ann Arbor on my way home from work tonight. I bought one large bag of groceries, mostly produce. But, of course, I slithered by the wine aisles to see what looked interesting. I bought two bottles, one of which we are tasting tonight.

This Spanish beauty Luzon Jumilla 2007 is 65% Monastrell and 35% Syrah. The color is inky with a violet rim. The aroma is spice and cherries with a bit of freshly ground peppercorns. The taste is refreshing and crisp, bursting with cranberries, plums, and mild spice. The tannins are subtle but balanced. The finish is a curious combination of spice, tobacco, and thyme.This is quite a find! It was on sale at the Plum Market for $6.97. (I also purchased a $40 bottle on sale for $19; can’t wait to try it!)

For dinner tonight, I made a dinner from the groceries I picked up at the market: a steak stir fry with steak, asparagus, and cherry tomatoes (marinated in olive oil, cracked salt, and pepper), served over penne pasta and fresh beets, which I steamed for one hour (during cocktail hour, natch). It was delicious! Now, I am waiting for our son Tommy to come and eat the leftovers! He usually does a pretty thorough job!

Castaño Monastrell (2005)

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 01:13:09 +0000

Tom purchased this Castaño Monastrell 2005 from Spain at Busch’s grocery store for about $9. We are having it tonight at 9:00 p.m. A bit late for cocktail hour, but we have to do what we must do — which is wait for me to come home from work!! I have soup on the stove and I know we should be eating by now but I am determined to relax with this wine and eat later. Tom is being very patient.

This Castaño Monastrell 2005 is delightful. The nose is almost nothing; honestly, this wine has very little nose to it. There is just a whiff of dark berries. But the palate is delicious; it is dry and delicious, but not complex. It has a predominance of blueberries and other dark fruits. The finish is bitter and tannic. Perfect! This is a great value and I would definitely purchase more of this wine.