Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Red, Red Wine - Part 2

As most of you know, I prefer white wine to red, but I have been trying to drink more red wine since it has more health benefits. I figured since starting a diet, I would try to be careful about what I drank as well as what I ate. So, I decided that would be the perfect opportunity to try some new red wines. And I knew my husband would be happy to help me with the research since he prefers red wine to white.

Before I even started drinking more reds, I came upon a red that has become my go to favorite for roasted beef dishes. Over Thanksgiving week, we took a trip to Disney World with my husband’s family. While we were there, hubby and I were able to steal away for a night alone (thank God for grandparents, aunts and uncles!). We decided to try the Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club since we were staying next door at the Beach Club. I remember that I ordered the filet mignon but I can’t remember what my husband had. With one of our entrees, the recommended wine was a 2008 Sterling Vintner’s Collection Meritage. We decided to splurge and get a bottle which cost us $45. But, we both really liked it and it went well with both of our meals. I made a note of the wine in my phone so I could try to find it locally (I live all of 45 minutes away from Disney.). I kind of forgot about it until I was planning our Christmas and New Year’s Day dinners. I was making Chateaubriand and a standing rib roast and I thought the Meritage would go great with both. So the next time we were at our local Total Wine, I looked for it. Lo and behold, I found it…for $9.99. Yeah, you can do the math on that markup. Anyway, I picked up a couple of bottles for our upcoming dinners.

This Meritage is blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec. It comes from the Central Coast of California and these particular grapes come from a variety of California’s best appellations. It’s a full bodied wine with aromas of dark berries and chocolate. The taste is rich with hints of cherry and chocolate with a lingering finish. The bottle recommended pairing it with grilled or roasted meats and hearty veggies which is exactly what we did. The wine went superbly with both the Chateaubriand and the rib roast. And like I said, it’s become of go to beef wine, especially when we have company.

My next wine I picked up purely because of the name, Running With Scissors. It was 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon that cost $9.99. This wine is also from California’s Central Coast and claims to “showcase classic Central Coast fruit.” This was another full bodied wine with the aroma of cherries. The taste was a bit toasty almost, with more hints of cherry and a smooth finish. We paired it with skirt steak however the bottle recommends pairing it with filet mignon or any other flavorful meats. I may start alternating this with the wine above for a little variety.

My last wine was also chosen because of the name…Pigs In The Sky. I chose the 2008 Reserve Shiraz but they also make a Chardonnay. This wine comes from Southeastern Australia and cost an economical $8.99. As I poured it, I noticed a hint of herbs which I also noted in the background when I tasted it. It was fruity with hints of vanilla and dark berries. Hubby and I both liked it so it’s likely we’ll buy it again. I also want to try the Chardonnay.

Now that I am drinking red wine more, I have found that I have come to like it even more. I still don’t like it as much as white but I definitely enjoy it a lot more. And I will continue to drink it for my health.