Main Street Cabernet Sauvignon (2009)

We are having a typical Wednesday night. We both worked hard today and the weather was cold, gray and messy. Comfort food was needed. I made this spicy beef/noodle casserole along with my usual green salad. We are having this California Cabernet. (I know. It seems that we only drink Cabernet these days. It is definitely my absolute favorite.) Tom says, “to me, this is such a pleasant wine. Dark fruit, dry. . .a tiny bit of caramel and sweetness, but still, extremely drinkable.” So there you go. It is good and it is comforting.

Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet

We are under a winter storm warning so I made this chicken, white bean spicy chili for our dinner. I forgot to take a picture of our dinner at the table, which was in the bowl with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro, but this picture of the chili in the pot will do. The soup was delicious and hot and the wine is big enough to stand up to and complement the meal. It was fun to watch the giant snowflakes outside tonight. They were huge! A very cozy night for spicy chili and a big wine.

Dona Paula Los Cardos Cabernet Sauvignon (2010)

We are watching the Oscars while sipping this Argentinian wine that we love (and this is our third case). For dinner I have made a simple spicy casserole and salad. The wine holds up well to this spicy dinner — good body, structured tannins and bold fruit.

South Australian Shiraz

Although a Saturday, I needed to work all day today. So I took a meatloaf out of the freezer. (Every time I make a meatloaf I make two and put one in the freezer.) When I finally got home I put a couple of potatoes in the oven along with the meatloaf. We relaxed and had a cocktail and then I made a vegetable and a green salad. A simple but satisfying dinner. We are having this Australian shiraz (red belly black) and it is perfect for this meal and this night. I think it is a good night for a “Lifetime” movie. I just need to sit and stare for awhile. Cheers!

Rosemount Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

It’s a Friday night during Lenten season so we are having this tuna casserole that I made with fresh mushrooms, peas, onions, pasta, etc. It seemed like we were in the mood for some comfort food (casserole) rather than some other type of fish dinner.

I got home from work a little early today and went for a 5 mile run. It was so cold! But the hot shower afterward was great, as is this pretty indulgent dinner. Tom is leaving shortly to serve on the clean up crew for the Fish Fry that is held every Friday during Lent. So I will send him off well fed. We are having this Australian go-to wine that we like very much. Nothing fancy. Dark fruit but still dry and not fruit bomby. So drinkable and totally enjoyable. Cheers!

Liberty School Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon (2010)

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! Tom always gets me roses on Valentine’s Day so this morning I texted him from my office and said “I don’t know if you are thinking about flowers, but I would prefer a special bottle of wine for us to share in lieu of flowers.” So I got home from work today and there were a dozen red roses on the table and this bottle of wine. That just makes me melt. He didn’t have to do that. . .

I went to a bit more effort tonight than usual (for a midweek meal) because I wanted our Valentine’s dinner to be special. . .so I made roast chicken. I filled the cavity with fresh lemon wedges and garlic and rubbed the outside with spices before roasting at 500 degrees for 1 hour and then turning the heat down for the remainder of the bake time. I threw some carrots and potatoes in the skillet along with the chicken. Very fragrant and flavorful.

The first taste of this wine was leather and tobacco but as it decants I note dark fruit. . .blackberries and ripe plums. Tom says “the tobacco is strong but very pleasant.” I think it is great and complements are chicken dinner nicely.

Main Street Winery (2009) Cabernet Sauvignon

Cheers to those north easterners who are enduring Nemo! What a storm. I have been glued to the weather channel because I was supposed to go to Connecticut tonight but that trip has been postponed due to the weather. So, we are having a cozy evening at home. I made a casserole with ground beef from our local cow, pasta, tomatoes, garlic, onion’ cheese and fresh spinach. And a salad, of course, and some steamed broccoli. I am striving to fill our plates with vegetables!

The first time I had this wine I did not like it one bit. But there you go. . .when you have the wine and under what conditions can really make a difference. The first time I tasted carmel and vanilla and I thought the wine was too sweet. But tonight it tastes different to me and I like it very much. Who knows why it is that a wine tastes differently under different conditions? Tonight I don’t notice any Carmel whatsoever. I taste leather and plums with a bit of tobacco.

We are going to watch Downton Abbey tonight! Cheers!

Red Belly Black Shiraz

Dinner for one tonight. . .I poured myself a glass of this Shiraz, which we opened last night (and, didn’t finish, which is a bit unusual!). I sipped my wine while I made a delicious sautéed shrimp with lemon and garlic, angel hair pasta, broccoli and a salad. It felt a lot more hectic making dinner without Tom here to tend to Trigger. Sadly, Trigger is now elderly and quirky. She has a lot of urgent needs that keep us on the alert. Anyway, for the moment she is contented so I will start cleaning up the kitchen so I can relax. This wine is one of my favorite and I have blogged about it before so I have nothing new to say about it. In a nutshell, I find it to be quite luscious and smooth with a tangy plummy flavor.

Main Street Cabernet Sauvignon (2009)

It is Saturday night. Very cold. It has been snowing all day. Only one of my Saturday morning running friends was able to run this morning, so Jeanie and I trudged through snow and icy roads and managed to get in 5 miles on a very cold blustery morning. Thank you, Jeanie! Tonight I made a meatloaf from both beef and pork from a local cow and pig (two of my neighbors and I went in together on a 1/4 cow and a 1/4 pig). This is a very delicious comfort meal for a cold Michigan evening. Tom is having a glass of the Main Street and I am finishing up last night’s bottle of the Shiraz. Both are delicious!

red belly black Shiraz South Australia (2008)

Happy Friday! It is a bitterly cold Michigan winter evening and I feel very happy to be home after a busy day at work and iffy roads to and from. Tonight we are having this really delicious Shiraz (recommended by our friends Erica and Jodi) that I just love. I bought a case of it and would have been smarter to purchase two cases. It is that good. This wine is chocolaty, plummy and luscious and makes any meal taste special. So, for dinner, I had taken a package of boneless, skinless chicken thighs out of the freezer this morning. Then tonight I made a balsamic vinegar chicken dish with tomatoes, garlic and chicken broth served over quinoa along with fresh steamed green beans and a green salad. Tom says it is a wonderful dinner so I guess I passed!