Ch Bois Redon 2011

A little after dinner favorite.  #Ch Bois Redon 2011 and oreo cookies.
Bliss
Enjoy

Ch Montet Bordeaux

Dinner tonight pizza and Ch Montet Bordeaux.2011. Easy drinking red on a Friday night.  Montet has been owned, operated by women for 7 generations. A quality wine at a great price. Excellent with any meal.
Enjoy

Cloud Break Pinot Noir

Easy post tonight. Cloud Break Pinot Noir, 1012. My go to pinot. Under 10 and much more body than the best selling Pinot. I can't stomach some of the lighter red Pinots. If I wanted red water I would drink cool aid.  This little Pinot has depth, structure and body. I don't mind at all when I have company and open this bottle. Most believe it is an expensive wine.  Flavor profiles of deep cherry, a fruit bomb with hints of pepper  and spice and everything nice. 
Enjoy

Boom chackalackalacka boom. Yea its Muirwood Pinot Noir

Tonight's delight; Muirwood, Arroyo Seco, Pinot Noir 2012.
This multi layered Pinot is one to try.  Just look at the dark rich color.   The boquet is already complex, hints of violets, cedar, dark ripe fruit i.e. cherries and plum.   The haunting nose beckons you to partake of the fruit inside. (I can't get over the nose, so much going on there.) Smoky. Luscious and lovely.  The palate is soft as silk, complex and structured.  Beautiful on the tongue. The powerful fruit bursts forth throwing your head back as it takes in the robust rich flavors.
Aged in French oak, adding another layer to the complexity.  The tannins are soft and elegant.  It lingers in the mouth for what seems to be an eternity, then slowly fades while my mouth is watering in anticipation of the next drop.
The Pinot Noir is notorious for being a light red.  And, with the massive sales of some of the cheap wines, they tend to live up to the reputation.  This wine is a game breaker in that regard, totally affordable, rich, complex, structured, with lots of body.  
Coming from the Arroyo Seco Canyon in Monterey, the grapes show off the perfect balance in the terroir, climate and wine making abilities of Arroyo Seco Vineyards.  This is one of the best offerings from winemaker Phil Franscioni.

As you see the wine goes down easy.  Still working on it 

as I work on this.  

Forgive the spelling and punctuation

Look at that color.  OMG isn't that 

beautiful.

It is just begging to be drank. 

Enjoy

Goodbye to a legend. Baroness Philipinne Rothschild

I had the pleasure of visiting Ch. Mouton this past summer.  The impressive chateau that has produced so many fabulous first growth wines (est as such in 1973 after decades of pushing for a change). The new tasting rooms and museum are a must see for any wine tour. My group was treated to lunch at Ch Clerc Milon. The meal was arranged by the Baroness, she made the menu and picked out all of the accessories including the china and matching tablecloth. A keen sense of the minute. A true larger than life personality.  The Baroness led the Rothschild empire from the time of her fathers death in 1988. Her ingenuity and marketing savvy helped propel Mouton- Rothschild into the powerhouse it is. The wine world has lost a true epic ambassador. 

The incredible menu at Cler Milon, featuring an aspice de la mar.  The first and probably only time 

I will ever have aspic.

Ch Mouton Rothschild 2013

Ch Mouton Rothschild 2005

The table cloth and place settings hand picked by The Baronness

At Clerc Milon 

the Rothschild coat of arms

The proposed design for Clerc Milon 

Undergoing extensive rennovations.  following the renovations of 

Mouton-Rothschild which are almost concluded.

Who's a #Smart Cookie....

Sandra made us a little gem tonight. A crabcake sandwich.  Jump up and down, yell,scream and salivate. A jumbo lump crab, panko crumbs, diced oinions and red peppers. Baked to perfection, served with spicy mayo on an English muffin. Succulent and sweet crab embraced by the spicy mayo.  A great evening meal.
I served this with a new item, Smart Cookie Sauvigion Blanc. A very fruity traditiinal style sauv. blanc. The boquet is sharp with citrus, grapefruit and tropical notes. A full force of grapefruit hits you on the palate and lingers. The beautiful copper color signifies the intense citrus about to come. A great buy, under 12. More intense flavor than popular brands that I think are flavored water, you know which ones I mean.
Enjoy..

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Crab Cake Sandwich, and Smart Cookie.

Who's your Daddy........

This is the Smacko.  Thin sliced ribeye, fried salami, two cheeses, chipotle mayo all on a pretzel bun. Served with fried pickles and chipotle mayo to dip in.  Washed down with a cold Victory pilsner.

It's what's for dinner. 

From the Butcher and Barkeep.

Enjoy

Jumpin Jeehosaphat, Finca Nueva Blanco 2011 and Spicy Spanish Fish

This evenings meal consisted  of a little concoction I created.  I call it spicy Spanish fish.  I don't know why except that it has Spanish Paprika, and some spiced rotel tomatoes, and I used a Spanish wine.  A tasty dish even if I say so myself.  First I sauteed onions in a little olive oil, adding chopped garlic after the onions had softened.  Then put in a can of rotel tomatoes with a pinch of salt and pepper. To this I added cut up carrots.  I added a cup of #fincanueva Spanish rioja blanco..  Then you let it cook down, the mixture will thicken on its own and the carrots will soften. Next take your fillet, salt and pepper each side then add the paprika to each side.  Lay the fish on top cover and let simmer until the fish is cooked through and flaky.  The flavor is unbeatable; spicy, sweet and very filling.

I paired the enticing meal with a Finca Nueva Rioja 2011.  This delightful wine offers so much for so little.  First the color, this golden straw that seems to have as many facets as a well cut diamond.  Then the nose.  Fragrant spring flowers, tulips, daisy and a hint of depth with violes.  Tropical citrus notes,combine to add a come hither fragrance that overtakes the senses and lull you into the aura of a great under appreciated wine. The taste of pineapple, green apple, mango and citrus with a creamy viscosity rush over the inside of the mouth and overtake  your head.  Your mind is racing back and forth to pinpoint all of the flavors your tongue is tasting. Impossible.  A relaxing feeling comes over as you settle in to enjoy this fruit of the vine.  All of your cares seem to wash away as you lose yourself in this creation. The juicy finish lingers over your soul and your body asks for more. This little rioja is aged in french oak for a short time and consists of 100% viura grapes.
An elegant easy drinking wine you can serve with anything, or if you just want to have a nice bottle all to yourself.
Enjoy

The end result. Delicious

Some trimmings for the salad.  the colors were so bright I had to add them in too

the Finca Nueva 2011. Delightful, golden and delicious

Carson Ridge Chardonnay

Carson Ridge chardonnay, a central coast chard. The bouquet offers up aromas of melons and fresh cut grass. The golden yellow highlights the tropical notes for the palate. Tropical fruit flavors, melon,.pineapple and mango.  A very fruity wine from the cooler clime of the central coast.  Oak adds a layer of complexity.  The malo gives that creaminess to the mouth that coats and adds that extra length to the finish.
Simple grilled lemon chicken
salad tonight.  Dressed with a homemade ranch dressing.  A perfect evening meal for an August night.
Enjoy

a good look at the beautiful gden color

Ares wines and the Spanish conquest.

This past week I had the pleasure of hosting Lorena Parra, winemaker at Ares.  Bodegas Ares is located in Laguardia, Spain.  One of my most favorite places to visit and sample fine wines of Rioja.  Spanish wines are coming in to their own and are quickly moving up the food chain into highly rated and sought after wines.  Ares wines are among the leaders of this pack.  Wonderful representations.  I first met Lorena this past May.  Her passion for her wines and for Rioja itself shine through in her work.

Today we sampled Ares Chrianza 2009, and Ares Reserva 2008.

The Chrianza

Tapas in Logrono, where the action doesn's start until 11 p

Lorena Corbacho Parra; 

winemaker for Ares. 

is 100% tempranillo, aged for 12 months in french oak and then 12 more months in the bottle.  This luscious fruity wine is spectacular.  A great pairing for any meal.  The color reminds you of  the purple distincts of a ravens wing.  The nose has a bright floral fragrance, deep rich, with hints of very ripe fruit, fig, and plum.  The wine palate is full and smooth.  It builds in the mouth and explodes through the senses.  Fruity and succulent.  A long finish with hints of pepper and cinnamon at the end.  A forever favorite.
The Reserva, also 100% tempranillo.  Aged in French oak for 26 months.  Can you say spectacular.
What an intense but elegant wine.  The nose hits you full blast with ripe dark fruits and dark floral notes, inviting you to partake of the wonders waiting in the bottle. This 750ml bottle is packed with so much flavor who could resist the temptation.  Full, rich and aromatic.  The complex wine coats your mouth with so many flavors, giving to the depth and structure.  I cannot wait to buy another bottle.  The long finish shows off the deep  ripe fruit flavors, then gives you a little punch of wood and spice.  Wow.  A perfect pairing for roasted meat, and great Spanish Tapas.  EXCELLENT.

During my trip to Spain one of my favorite memories has to be a night in Logrono, sampling tapas and drinking gin and tonic until 3 at a sidewalk cafe with Lorena and several other winemakers we met up with.
See I don't just drink wine.
Enjoy.

Of #Texas and #Chateauneuf de Pape

Growing up in Texas I was surrounded by great cooks. They worked their magic with simple fresh foods.  My mother always had about an acre garden, bountiful with tomatoes, peas, corn, beans, melons.  We also raised chickens, calves and sheep.  Our neighbors also had large gardens and raised pigs, rabbits and dairy animals.  Neighbors shared their bounties.  We would get together, slaughter chickens or take a calf in to the butcher and split it up.  If one had an over abundance of something they would give away to others who would then offer up something of their own.  A true community. No one ever had enough money, but we never went hungry.
Now, in Texas everything is either well done or fried.  Fried okra, tomatoes, corn, squash.  Well done meat of whatever variety.  I grew up with the best combination, #chickenfried steak, usually smothered with gravy, a healthy side of fresh veggies to compliment it.  I was out of college and married before I had a steak that wasn't burnt and crisp.  I think the fresh veggies that came straight out of the garden are one reason my arteries are not completely clogged.  Summer time especially was filled with the most delicious and delightful flavors.   Every meal had all of the colors, greens, reds, yellows, sounds like an addicts candy jar, but better for you.
Sundays at our house consisted of the proverbial chicken dinner, fried okra, potatoes, tomatoes (sometimes fried too), and all the extras that went with it. My Aunt Gladys usually came out, she was the best baker ever. Cousins all around waiting for the homemade ice cream, fresh peaches to add to it.  And the added pleasure of the hot Texas summers, cooled off with sweet tea in the shade.
This meal combines some of my favorite childhood items and new favorites.

Roasted Chicken.
I like to roast the best on the bone, it seems to stay juicier and adds more flavor.  Simple salt, pepper, garlic and drizzled with olive oil. (Mom would have used butter). Roasted asparagus also with salt, pepper and olive oil.  Simple sliced tomatoes sprinkled with salt and pepper ahh blissful heaven.  A simple classic easy to make dinner. You would think this was enough to satisfy a simple Texas country kid.  Add a fabulous wine and woolah magic.

Domaine de la Presidente #ChateauneufdePape blanc 2011
Man did I strike it rich with this one.  The 2011 vintage may not have been as well received as 09 or 10, but this wine strives to prove them wrong. The bouquet offers the senses a full blast.  Ripe fruits with soft elegance of light flowers.  Not overpowering like a rose or violet, but soft like a spring daisy.  The mouth is lush and velvety, creamy, easy and soft.  A lingering finish that seems to build to a crescendo.  Lots of fruit, hinted with touches of citrus, peach and slight hints of melon.   This wine is aged in French oak which adds another depth to the flavors.  If you are looking for a white wine with body, texture and depth.  Try this wine, beautiful. One of the few white wines that can hold itself up to the Texas summer.

Enjoy.

The best roasted chicken

Great wines

#DomainedelaPresidente

#ChateauneufdePape