Saturday's Pairing

I found the tannins in the 2009 Treana to be soft and not overpowering.  You could taste a pleasant chocolate intermixed with black cherry and an accent of peppery spice.  The wine finishes well and is full bodied.  The 2009 Treana paired well with the bold and spicy marinade, but would also be a great choice with BBQ as well.  Below you will find the marinade recipe, enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1/2 tablespoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne

Directions

1. Pour all liquids in a bowl and whisk until combined. 2. Add all dry ingredients to bowl and whisk for another minute to combine all the flavors. 3. Add meat to Ziploc back (Freezer size) and pour marinade into bag. 4. Make sure to let all air out of bag when sealing. 5. Massage marinade into meat through the bag so you don't get your hands messy. 6. Place bagged meat in refrigerator for at least half an hour (we let it go longer - like 4 hours) - until ready to cook! 

Saturday's Missive - Marinaded Sirloin Steak

The sirloin marinade I plan to share with you tomorrow has been a work in process.  But I think its now just about perfect.  What I did want to let you know tonight is the wine I plan to pair with the dinner.  Treana is a Bordeaux blend wine from the Hope Family of Wines.  The wine is sourced from the Paso Robles region of California.  I think it will be a perfect match with the boldness of the steak marinade.  I will let you know my thoughts.

winemaker's notes:

The 2009 Treana Red, our flagship wine, has a deeply extracted, ruby hue and displays up-front aromas of ripe, dark fruit and exotic spice. Depth and power come from the Cabernet, while a Syrah component lends inviting fleshiness. The wine's full mouthfeel leads to a silky, lasting finish. Luxurious and well balanced now, the 2009 Treana Red will continue to age beautifully for the next 10-12 years.

Blend: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah

alcohol by volume: 15.0%

Ratings: JS 92, ST 91

Spring 2012 Release Conclusion

First of all, sorry for the lack of posts lately.  The final spring wine shipment arrived today, and  I am looking forward to all the wines we have to sample in the months to come.  Stay tuned.

Tampa, FL - A Seafood Paradise

A Diner, Drive-ins and Dives spot - Keegan's Seafood Grille.  A great place to stop in Indian Rocks Beach, very nice!  And the walk along the beach after lunch was wonderful!

Thomas Jefferson's Birthday - April 13, 1743

A quote from our 3rd President ;  "Good wine is a necessity of life for me"
Enough said......

Sunday Ode to Lulu Rose'

What can you say when you can sit outside in Minnesota on April 1st in shorts and get a tan!  The only thing better is to enjoy a glass of Bedrock Rose' of Mourvedre while you soak up the wonderful spring sun.  This wine is 60% Mourvedre from Bedrock Vineyard which was planted in 1888, 31% Pagani Ranch Mourvedre planted in 1922, and 9% Annadel Vineyard Grenache.  A true viticultural history lesson in a bottle.

Tampa Bound - NCAA Frozen Four

I will be in Tampa this week for the Frozen Four.  Looking to find some local joints serving up great seafood.  I will try to post some photos for everyone later this week.  GO UNION!