Great Cheesemonger's Miss On Wine

We are truly blessed to have an award winning cheese maker and cheese shop in our small town.  In fact, this cheese maker's St. Pete's Select  Blue Cheese was highlighted in Wine Spectator's September 2008 issue, 100 Great Cheeses.  
This local cheese shop features a wonderful selection of artisanal cheeses which can easily range from $20 to $25 a pound.  However, their wine offerings are at best distressing.  With an acclaimed blue cheese such as St. Pete's Select, and you cannot purchase a glass of port to enhance the experience.  
It is difficult to understand the care taken in making fine artisanal cheeses with a complete disconnect in the wine being offered to accompany the food. 

I guess I will have to continue getting my cheese to go.....

Dinner and Wine offering For This weekend.....

The Meal

• Gorgonzola Pear Pizza, grilled of course!

The Wine

• 2010 Conundrum - California White Table Wine

Tasting Notes:
The wine enters round with a Chardonnay weight then quickly lightens up as the Sauvignon Blanc adds a fresh element. The Viognier adds a spicy character with Muscat Canelli and Semillon adding to the layers of flavors. Explore this puzzling wine as rich aromas of honeysuckle escape from the glass, followed by hints of peach, vanilla and citrus notes. On the palate, lush tropical flavors of melon, pineapple and pear are matched with crisp lemon zest and hints of grapefruit. The complexity of this wine is brought into balance by a rich, round mouthfeel supported by fresh acidity, creating a stunning, satisfying finish.

Great Article.....

I think this article sums up why the zinfandel grape varietal is my favorite. 

sonoma.towns.pressdemocrat.com/.../news/history-of-pagani-ranch/

Wines For Upcoming Tastings

Turley Wine Cellars

• 2010 Old Vines Zinfandel
• 2010 Rattlesnake Ridge Zinfandel

Carlisle Winery

• 2010 Rossi Ranch Zinfandel

Bedrock Wine Co.

• 2010 Cuvee Karatas (a blend of the 120-year-old Semillon growing high above Sonoma Valley at Monte Rosso Vineyard and Sauvignon Blanc from Kick Ranch).
• 2010 Pagani Ranch Heirloom Wine (A field-blend of Zinfandel, Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir de la Calmette, Petite Sirah, and Lenoir).

This Coming Saturday Night's Culinary Offering......

Hint - One of the ingredients is....... pear butter

I will fill in the rest of the blanks later this week, as well as the wine we plan to pare with the meal.

Sunday Lunch

Out for lunch this afternoon at one of our favorite places, Pei Wei Asian Diner.  Ordered lettuce wraps and Pei Wei spicy with chicken.  Hard to beat, and the price is great as well.

Dinner Menu...

Well here you go, it was a wonderful dinner. The menu can be found below.  Remember to open the wine at least 1 hour before you plan to drink it.  Also, I have provided a link to Penzey's Spices. If you are not familiar with them they are an awesome source of every spice you can imagine.  Check out their web site to find store locations...and you can always order online.

Lamb Chops with Shiitake and Baby Bella mushroom Rice

4 Lamb Chops - marinate for 2hours

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/8 cup chopped rosemary
• 1/2 tsp Lamb Seasoning (Penzey's Spices www.penzeys.com )
• 1 Tbsp dry Marsala wine
• place in 1 gallon zip lock bag
• salt and pepper to taste just before cooking

Shiitake and Baby Bella mushroom Rice

• Sauté mushrooms and 1 diced shallot (add 1/2 Tbsp of soy sauce just before they are done)
• Prepare desired amount of Basmati rice per label directions
• Add the sautéed mushroom mixture to the drained rice 
• Add 2 diced green onions
• Mix together 

Note: Portions of the above will change based on how many servings of rice you are preparing. I have always been known to color outside of the lines throughout my life in the kitchen, so feel free to add or delete.

I prefer to grill my lamb chops, just between medium and medium rare. Enjoy!

Wine Dogs USA

If you like dogs and wine as we do, then check out Wine Dogs USA calendars.

Each month the calendar showcases a new winery and the dogs that greet you upon your arrival.

Check them out at www.winedogs.com

Zin Restaurant & Wine Bar

If you find yourself in Healdsburg, California - Zin is a great little spot to check out.  I of course had the lamb, and was not disappointed.

Wine By The Glass

Have you also come to the conclusion that you can no longer bring yourself to purchase a glass of wine at a restaurant knowing that you have just paid for the entire bottle.  Ditto for me as well!  Don't get me wrong I love to get out to restaurants.  Lets face it the food isn't the lowest calorie option around, and that's the premise behind this blog.  Feel good about drinking a nice bottle of wine, enjoying the company of your significant other while making a delicious lighter meal at home.

The Wine For This Weekend Is.........

Well I am going to have to go with one of my favorites, Ridge Vineyards.  Specifically, the 2009 Lytton Springs Zinfandel. The meal for paring with the wine is still under consideration, but I am leaning toward lamb chops. 


Wine Ratings:  CG 96, RP 95, W&S 92, and WS 90

Winemaker Tasting Notes:

Ripe black cherry/raspberry nose, with notes of pepper, licorice, chaparral, and tobacco. Rich black fruit on the palate. Full, viscous. Well-coated tannins and a long, layered finish. 

Varietal Information:

2009 Lytton Springs Vineyard, bottled February 2011
74% zinfandel, 23% petite sirah, 6% carignane
14.5% alcohol by volume

Benziger Winery To Hold First Virtual Wine Tasting

Benziger Winery will hold their first virtual wine tasting on March 16, 2012, should be interesting.  If you have never been to a winery, Benziger is a must visit.  They do an excellent job of educating you on all aspects of a winery.

Opening Note

Each weekend I plan to bring a wine and dinner paring for you to try.  You will also see other items of interest dealing with wine and food.

More to come.  I will try to make a decision by tomorrow as to this weekend foray into food and wine.