Weekend Wines

Simple Time

Last weekend we got together with my sister-in law and brother-in law. Just the two couples, we hadn’t had the opportunity in a very long time. We wanted to keep it simple and just visit with each other.

I set out my usual walnut and Craisen combo but decided to add some white chocolate morsels to the mix. My sister-in-law does not believe that the words white and chocolate should ever be uttered in the same sentence. Needless to say she picked around the white…chocolate. I didn’t put out any appetizers because we were going to order in Italian.

The wines of choice that evening were a 2005 California, Blackstone winery, Cabernet Sauvignon and a 2005 Gloria Ferrer, Caneros, Chardonnay.

We all ordered something different for dinner. I ordered a tortellini dish with mushrooms, peas and ham in a white creamy cheese sauce. Also ordered was gnocchi with a red sauce with fresh basil and mozzarella, veal sautéed with baby spinach and pignoli nuts in a gorgonzola cream sauced and lasagna. Let face it, it’s Italian food, hardly light in flavor.

We thought that the Gloria Ferrer would get lost in the heaviness of sauces. The wine was clear with a full bodied taste. It had a wonderful oakiness about it that allowed a richer flavor to come through and stand up to the richness of the Italian food. The Blackstone Cabernet Sauvignon was also wonderful in flavor. It was very aromatic with a rich color and a slight hint of spice that lingered on the palette.

Both wines were surprisingly great pairings with meals that we had that evening. The Gloria Ferrer would be a great choice for someone who doesn’t necessarily like red. It was a chardonnay with a little attitude. The Blackstone Cabernet did not disappoint. It held true to a Cabernet Sauvingnon, full bodied and full of flavor!

Another great weekend.