Stroke

Will be off line for awhile. Suffered a mild stroke and will be in rehab for a few weeks

Hole Mole ......New Belgium Cocoa Mole,,,,Lips of faith

New Belgium has re-released (is that a word) their Lips of faith cocoa mole. Oh I have seen the light. Talk about a heavenly body.  This heavy spicy beer is perfect for those who love the intriguing tastes that real craft brewers can produce.  9abv .  This porter is enhanced with my favorite flavors of cocoa and chilis.  What an addition to any Mexican meal. 
Oh enjoy

Happy Valentine Day

Happy Valentine's  Day everyone.  Tonight we celebrate Valentines day because I will have to work tomorrow. So this evening I pulled a little something special from the basement.  A 2010 Chateau La Papeterie.  Merlot based 70% and 30% cab franc.  This wonderful Bordeaux hails from St Emilion, an excellent appelation. The Estagers family has owned the property for four generations.
The nose erupts with berry. Blackberry, blueberry, rich ripe strawberry. The dark chocolate aroma  is great for a lead in for valentine dinner.
Oh and then you put the liquid to your mouth, wow what have you done.  You have just given yourself one of the best gifts ever. There is so much going on.  First the flavors.  Your mouth is hit with the  tantalizing flavors coming from this small bottle.  The berry comes first, black, blue, and cherry.  Then chocolate and tobacco. Oh so many flavors. The richness, full bodied exhilarating juice has coated your mouth and you cannot stop.  You have become addicted and you don't even know it.  A true testament to a fine wine, appelation and wine maker. 
It paired perfectly with the tenderloin I made for dinner.  I need seconds.  My wife caught me dancing in the kitchen, must have really enjoyed it...
Enjoy

Here we go, Happy Valentine Day

Looking good

It was wondeful, I used Barefoot Contessa  recipe 

To make the tenderlojn

Luma, luma, luma....Luma Carmenera Reserva 2012

Heading to the Southern Hemisphere Chile to be exact. Visiting the Luma winery, the Batuco  Estate in Valle Del Maule.  I really enjoy wines from South America. Malbec and Carmenere of course are what most people think of, but there are some fantastic merlot, cabs, torrontes, and chard creeping their way north. 
Tonight enjoying the Luma Carmenere. This bold red is dark, dark, dark in color. Garnet, but maybe even darker.
The nose exudes flavors of plum, dried floral notes and spice. 
Putting the glass to your lips you continue to recognize all of the fragrances that we were speaking of.  The flavor hits your tongue with a slap.  Wow, the intense flavors erupting.  Blueberry, strawberry, then you find the lingering taste of chocolate, then mint.  Finishing off the mouth are those earthy tones, leaves, and dirt.  I know, that does not sound so good, but wow it really goes together.  Balancing all of those flavors and tannins together you get such an extraordinary  wine. 
Enjoy.

Look at that beauty

Yep I already had some

ABC, Anything But Chardonnay, ,,,not in this case...River Road RRV

Now truth be told I am not a big Chardonnay drinker.  I do not like the wood that attaches itself to domestic chards.  Some are nice, but I  trend to the burgundy style, unoaked or lightly oaked in french barrels.  But, from time to time I find one that tantalizes.  That is what I found here.
River Road RRV reserve.
River Road is in Green Valley, a sub appellation of Russian River in Sonoma. Ron Rubin is the owner and Joe Freeman the winemaker.
The color is perfect, a yellow that is reminiscent of corn silk.  Bright but not sunshine bright. More like the soft yellow of a peach. 
The nose, hints of pear, vanilla and and yes that oak.  Not overpowering but there.
Now the mouth.  Fruit, fruit, fruit.  Pears, apples, oak and butter, hints of spice. The California buttery, okay Chardonnay.  This wine is delightful.  Fuller bodied, rich and creamy.  Well balanced,  a winemakers wine.  Yes, I know it goes against my judgement about chard. But, it is worth it.
I enjoyed this wine with a perfectly cooked salmon.
Enjoy

A perfectly cooked salmon. And yes I tore it up putting it on the plate

So get over it.  It was still great.

Look at that color. 

Take the Bull by the horns....Tesoro de Bullas Monastrell 2009

Did it again.  Found another winner for under 15.  The Tesoro de Bullas hits the mark.  It is a fine everyday table wine lots of fruit with a nice smooth finish. This treasure of Bullas is definitely  a rich find. Monastrell  is the grape variety used here (mouvedre) in the south of Spain.  This little municipality produces consistent smooth easy drinking table wines.
Starting with the color.  Dark, almost a garnet color.
The nose, blackberry, cinnamon, violets. The aromas ooze from the glass, not overpowering but definitely flush.
The mouth...first you are hit with dark fruits, blackberry,  plum, ripe blueberry.  After, you find lingering hints of oak and spice.  Tannins are firm but  not overpowering.
This wine will be great with grilled meats, cheese and oh that very very very good Spanish chorizo.  My mouth is watering like crazy just thinking about it.
Enjoy