Belezos Rioja (2005)

December 19, 2008 — -

belezos-rioja-2005This Belezos Rioja 2005 from Spain is our choice for this snowy Friday night in Michigan. We have at least 11″ of new snow today. What a storm! It was beautiful. All the schools were closed. I went out later in the afternoon and the roads were slippery, snow covered and treacherous.

We purchased this wine up north in Traverse City at “The Blue Goat” for $11.99. In the glass, this is lovely red and violet. On the nose is cinnamon, strawberries and flowers. The taste is full of fruit and licorice.

For dinner tonight, I have a loaf of whole wheat bread in the oven. (Anytime I can be home, I love to make bread.) I have a skillet of beef stew on the stove. I’ll make some green beans and it should be a fragrant and cozy meal.

I talked to Tony tonight on Skype. Happy day!

Posted in Blends, Over $10, Rioja, Tempranillo. Tags: , , . Leave a Comment »

Gran Feudo (2002)

December 13, 2008 — -

gran-feudo-navarra-2002I don’t think I have ever seen my refrigerator as empty as it was today. I just never had time to get to the grocery store in about the last 10 days. So, today, Tom volunteered to go with me and we each took a cart and had little organizational meetings in the aisles. It feels good to be stocked up with nutritious food, once again.

As we shopped, Tom, of course, perused the wine selection and purchased this Spanish Gran Feudo, which we opened tonight. This is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 25% Garnacha, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s nice!  The wine is medium-bodied and well-balanced. On the palate it is fruity and spicy with firm tannins. The finish is long with oak and vanilla notes.

For dinner, I am roasting a whole, stuffed chicken. I started the chicken in a 425 oven for about 40 minutes, then I flipped the chicken (it was getting nice and crispy), seasoned the flip side, drizzled with olive oil, turned the oven down to finish cooking slowly. I have some leftover mashed potatoes and gravy, which will go well with this dinner. I am either going to make a salad or a vegetable.

Stay warm and enjoy the weekend; cheers!

Posted in Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, Spanish wines, Tempranillo, Under $10. Tags: , , , , , . Leave a Comment »

Barón De Barbón Rioja (2005)

October 5, 2008 — -

Baron de Barbon Rioja 2005

This Barón De Barbón Rioja (2005) is my choice for this Sunday evening. I have made a casserole of baked beans with lots of crispy bacon (which is in a low-temperature oven), and I put together an apple crisp for dessert. Oh, and the main dish will be hamburgers on the grill with fresh tomatoes from the garden.

This wine is made from 100% Tempranillo. It is the perfect balance of toasty oak and very ripe strawberries and cherries. It is surprisingly light and refreshing with subdued tannins.

Tommy is out playing flag football tonight. He will be home soon for dinner. I was able to have a 30-minute Skype call with Tony yesterday morning. It was so good to see him and talk to him. I learned so much about his job, the culture, and his routine in South Korea.

Gigi, if you are reading this, hi!!! Thank you again for your sweet post the other day!

Posted in Over $10, Rioja, Tempranillo. Tags: , . 2 Comments »

Baron De Barbon Tempranillo Rioja (2005)

September 7, 2008 — -

Baron de Barbon Rioja 2005

We have been so, so busy and my blogging has taken a back seat, lately. But, it is Sunday night and Tom & I are enjoying an extended cocktail hour. I spent my day yesterday driving to my uncle’s funeral in Northern Michigan and, thinking I would stay in a hotel, I decided to drive all the way back home. Although it was a very long day, I am so happy to have made the trip. He was my favorite uncle and my mom’s twin brother. I connected with his three daughters, my lovely cousins.

It was raining when I got up this morning and I wanted to go for a run. I talked my son, Tony,  into accompanying me on his bike. It was great!

It is a beautiful evening in Michigan. We had rain this morning but the sun is shining and the sky is blue now. Neighbors are out and about grilling and enjoying the evening.

This wine is an elegant Spanish tempranillo that is dry and understated with licorice undertones. This is a perfect red for a special Sunday evening. Cheers!

Posted in Over $10, Rioja, Spanish wines, Tempranillo. Tags: , , . 2 Comments »

Castillo De Olleria

July 21, 2008 — -

Castillo De Olleria Valencia

Castillo De Olleria Valencia 2007

This Spanish Castillo De Olleria Valencia is made from 75% Bobal and 25% Tempranillo.  This is a delicious red wine. The nose is licorice and the taste is a lovely fruit and spice. In the glass, the color is a lovely deep red. I have a meaty spaghetti sauce simmering in my old, cast iron skillet for dinner tonight. I will also steam some fresh spinach from my garden.

I participated in a golf outing today (a fundraiser for the women’s golf team) and it was a lot of fun. I was called in last minute to complete a foursome. I enjoyed golfing with Bob Conlin and his son Bob and Bob’s wife, Julie. They were so much fun and I hope our paths cross again.

Posted in Bobal, Over $10, Spanish wines, Tempranillo. Tags: , , , , , . 4 Comments »

Castillo De Olleria Valencia (2007)

July 14, 2008 — -
Castillo De Olleria Valencia 2007

This Castillo De Olleria Valencia 2007 is a wine from Spain that is made from 75% Bobal and 25% Tempranillo. Yum, yum, yum. Delish. The wine is fragrant with cloves on the nose. The taste is fresh and spicy with a crisp finish. I like this very much!

Tomorrow I am taking the day off and will drive to Mackinac Island (with my son, Tommy) to visit my youngest son, Tony, who is working there this summer. It will be a lot of fun to spend time with the boys!

Posted in Blends, Bobal, Over $10, Spanish wines, Tempranillo. Tags: , , , . Leave a Comment »

Corral De La Villa Tempranillo (2005)

May 3, 2008 — -

Corral de la Villa Temperanillo 2005

It is Saturday night. I have chicken in a skillet and brown rice steaming in the saucepot. We have both had an active day; Tom raked the front yard, took Trigger for long walks, and ran 3 miles. I did a 10-miler this morning and then went to a sport banquet in the afternoon. But, now it is time to relax. We enjoyed watching our neighbor’s daughter get picked up in a limo for her senior prom.

This Corral De La Villa Tempranillo 2005 from Spain is a beautiful violet color and bursting with spicy aromas. On the palate it is very crisp, clean and dry feel with hardy tannins. The finish is long with a taste of blackberry. I like this wine very much. It makes me think of our son, Tony, who also loves Tempranillo.

Posted in Over $10, Spanish wines, Tempranillo. Tags: , , , , . 10 Comments »

Iglesia Vieja Reserva (2003)

March 13, 2008 — -

Iglesia Vieja Reserva 2003This Iglesia Vieja Reserva 2003 from Spain, a blend of 68% Mataro, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11% Tempranillo, is just my style. The color is purplish in the glass. The nose is a refreshingly soft spice. And the taste is fruity and luscious with a peppery finish. This is really a delicious wine. And probably too lovely for a Thursday night, but oh well!

This is a beautiful Michigan evening; children are all out romping around the neighborhood because it is 48 degrees! We can smell spring and we are all giddy about it. Trigger had an active day outside today and now she is sleeping soundly by my side.

Tom: This a great big red: chocolaty and tannic. Some fruit taste, but not fruit forward. Very nice.

Posted in Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mataro, Over $10, Spanish wines, Tempranillo, Under $10. 17 Comments »

Sibaritismo Tempranillo (2005)

February 7, 2008 — -

Sibaritismo Tempranillo 2005This Sibaritismo Tempranillo 2005 is an interesting wine. I can’t say that I love it, but I appreciate it. It has a distinct leather quality on the nose and palate. The taste in the mouth is full of cherries and plums with lots of spice, tobacco, and leather.

I must say that the wine grows on me as it breathes. It taste better now than it did 15 minutes ago. I am serving this wine with chicken, brown rice, spinach, and fresh salad tonight.

Posted in California wines, Over $10, Tempranillo. Leave a Comment »

Montecillo Crianza Rioja (2003)

October 28, 2007 — -

Montecillo Crianza Rioja 2003We are having this Montecillo Crianza Rioja 2003, a Spanish red made with Tempranillo grapes, on this lovely, autumn Sunday evening. I am typing with my arms over Trigger as she is stretched out on my lap. I have made a big kettle of beef-barley soup, which smells delicious and I just took a loaf of homemade wheat bread out of the oven.

We had so much fun today visiting with our two sons and Leena Karsan, who is visiting from the University of South Carolina. Leena was the reigning homecoming queen and came back this weekend to Eastern Michigan University to crown the new queen!

It was a fun homecoming game and then Tom and I left to go to dinner at the home of Mike and Denise Long. Agatha and Tim were there and fun was had by all! We drank lots of wine and enjoyed a delicious dinner of spaghetti and meatballs, sauteed green beans, and a delicious salad. Then for dessert Denise served cream puffs with ice cream and hot fudge! Wow!

But back to tonight. This Montecillo Crianza Rioja 2003 wine is simply wonderful. I have already asked Tom to buy more. It is fruity with a good dose of tannicity. This is a well-balanced red that, while very fruity, is not your typical New World fruit-forward wine. This is Old World, dry and delicious. Yum, yum, yum. Definitely on the “buy more” list!

Posted in Rioja, Spanish wines, Tempranillo, Under $10. Leave a Comment »
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