Tom and Melody's wine blog » Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

Dona Sophia (2007) and Villa Farnia Montepulciano D’Abruzzo (2008)

Tom & Melody — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:43:23 +0000

Last night we had friends over for dinner. After a lengthy cocktail hour full of good conversation (and perfect gin martinis) we sat down for dinner and some red wine. We drank several bottles, two of which I am listing here. Both were fabulous.

I had prepared a totally organic dinner. For starters, I stuffed a well salted and peppered grain-fed chicken with a lemon, fresh thyme and 5 cloves of garlic. I put the chicken in my cast iron skillet and drizzled it with olive oil and cooked in a hot, 425 degree oven for one hour. Then, I added carrots and potatoes (from the farmer’s market), more sprigs of thyme and 5 move cloves of garlic to the skillet along with about 1/2 cup chicken broth. Then, I turned down the oven to 350 and let it roast another hour and a half. I also sauteed a pint of pole green beans (freshly picked), and made a salad with freshly picked lettuce, tomatoes, peppers and onions. So, I think dinner was delicious and healthy. For dessert I served some decadent chocolate cookies that I had prepared earlier in the day accompanied by some lemon sherbet.

I was too busy to write down my wine-tasting notes, but I can tell you that these two bottles of wine were a hit. Fabulous.

Tonight we are having a less-expensive wine that Tom bought on sale at the grocery store. I will blog about it tomorrow night (assuming we don’t finish it tonight). For dinner tonight, I am making a chicken stroganoff made with boneless, skinless chicken strips sauteed in butter, fresh mushrooms and onions sauteed in butter, then, the addition of a thickened chicken broth and sour cream to simmer. I am going to serve it with buttered noodles, sliced fresh tomatoes and sauteed Swiss Chard. Yummy!

Il Papavero

Tom & Melody — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 23:21:01 +0000

We have had this Italian red table wine, Il Papavero, before and really enjoyed it. This is delightful; a juicy cherry-flavored quaff; dark and spicy with ripe fruit and chocolate.

For dinner tonight, I am making baked, spicy chicken, steamed brown rice and vegetables. I also baked some brownies with chopped walnuts. Tom was craving my brownies. . .

We both had busy weeks. Tom was in Montreal on business and I was up north to see my folks and to watch our son, Tommy, play his bass guitar in The Ben Daniels Band at “The Loading Dock” in Traverse City. My 77-year-old mother came with me to the bar; the band started playing at 11:00 p.m. and my mom was as lively as can be. What fun!

I am missing our youngest son, Tony. Hurry home, Tones!

Saliero Montepulciano D’Abruzzo 2006

Tom & Melody — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 03:27:44 +0000

Melody is still out of town, Trigger is dozing in Melody’s chair, and I’m trying this Saliero Montepulciano D’Abruzzo 2006.

It’s a pleasant Italian red table wine, with medium body, medium dry, with a mild berry-fruit taste. It has the yeasty, musky nose and taste that many Italian reds have. Quite different from our usual big reds, but pleasant.

Saliero Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (2006)

Tom & Melody — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:23:24 +0000

This Saliero Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2006 is very nice, tasting of chocolate and luscious dark fruit. It’s quite dry but not particularly tannic; it’s pleasantly soft. It’s extremely drinkable; a very pleasant Italian table red.