This lovely bottle of Spanish wine from the Castille and Leon area is a blend of Temperanillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. It is a deep and complex. It would stand up very nicely to a big hunk of grilled steak but I chose to pair it with Balsamic Braised Chicken. I was pleasantly surprised.
- Allison of AdVINEtures declares Ribera del Duero: Spain’s Rising Star.
- Co-host Lynn of Savor the Harvest introduces us to Unconventional in Castilla y Leon – Ismael Gozalo and MicroBio Wines.
- Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla pairs Patatas a lo Pobre + Losada Bierzo 2017.
- Steve of Children of the Grape explores Hemingway and the Plains of Spain.
- Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm explains why Abadia Retuerta Seleccion Especial is indeed a Special Selection.
- Terri at Our Good Life is Exploring Castilla y Leon Through Wine and Food.
- David at Cooking Chat tempts us with his Steak Picado Recipe with Ribera del Duero Wine.
- Jeff of Food Wine Click! reveals A Different Take on Castilla y Leon.
- Martin of ENOFYLZ Wine Blog discusses Mesmerizing Mencia – The Star Grape of Bierzo; 2018 Raúl Pérez Ultreia St-Jacques.
- Lisa The Wine Chef reveals Castilla y Leon, Home of Spain’s Best Kept Secret: Wine, Dine and Stay in an Luxe 12th Century Abbey Overlooking World-Class Vineyards.
- Robin at Crushed Grape Chronicles shares Rueda and Verdejo Just Keep Rolling with the #1 White Wine in Spain!
- Nicole at Somm's Table tells us about A Phenomenal Feast at Emilio Moro.
- Linda at My Full Wine Glass discusses Rueda Verdejo – A Crisp White Alternative to Sauvignon Blanc.
- Susannah at Avvinare is Exploring Rueda’s Signature Grape, Verdejo.
- Lauren at The Swirling Dervish shares Dominio del Pidio Albillo: Tasting an Unusual Spanish White Wine in Miami.
- Gwendolyn at Wine Predator posts Cristina Forner Leads Marques de Cacerés: Her Verdejo from Rueda with Barbacoa Tacos.
Having no previous knowledge of this area and it's wines I really wasn't sure what to expect nor what to pair with it. The wine was not overly expensive but was more than I normally spend for a wine to have with a weeknight dinner costing about $30.
I read several articles about this wine while trying to decide what meal I would like to make to pair with it. I was making a recipe for Chicken Braised in Balsamic Vinegar and thought that it might make a nice pairing with this Cabernet/Temperanillo blend.
Was it a perfect pairing? No. Was it a reasonably good pairing? I believe so. The wine is fruity with hints of dark chocolate. It stood up well to the richness of the dish and the sweet tartness of the vinegar. I will be sharing the recipe on this blog on April 8th and you will want to come back for it because it is a wonderfully comforting dish that I'm sure you will enjoy.
This bottle of Special Select wine is truly special. It is my kind of wine....deep, dark, and smooth. My husband and I enjoyed the rest of the bottle after dinner and both agreed that while it was food friendly, food is definitely not needed to enjoy this bottle.
Sometimes reasonably good pairings are good enough, right?! That wine sounds delicious. I can't wait to hear more about your dish on the 8th.
ReplyDeleteYes they are Cam...they certainly are.
DeleteWe had the privilege of visiting this winery -- if you ever get a chance, the property is stunning and the wines were terrific across the board!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds so lovely....
DeleteThere is so much more of this region that I want to explore! The wine sounds lively with its chocolate notes. Tempranillo, cab sav and syrah...those are some heavy hitters in that blend!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Robin and absolutely delicious too.
DeleteThat wine sounds delicious on its own, but I am eager to see your recipe, too. I love a good rich wine!
ReplyDeleteYes and this one fit the bill nicely Terri.
DeleteCan’t wait to see your chicken recipe. I LOVE this wine too!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa.
DeleteIt's not always easy to hit 100% right on when it comes to pairings! Balsamic may be that perfect item to bridge the pairing gap and make it work.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think so Lynn.
DeleteSuch a good bottle! I know it's a little pricier than the usual, but hope you enjoyed it (sounds like it!) even it wasn't a perfect match with the food
ReplyDeleteIt was perfect enough Nicole.
DeleteA very nice wine, indeed. And a great intro to the lovely Tempranillo made in Ribera del Duero!
ReplyDeleteIt is a very nice wine.
DeleteI'm so glad you had a good experience with Ribera del Duero, fun to "visit" somewhere new through their wines.
ReplyDeleteIt sure is Jeff.
DeleteAlways thrilled when I get chocolate notes in a wine! I pair chicken and red wine a lot, so will be checking back for your recipe.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy Linda.
DeleteSounds like you had a great introduction to Castille y Leon. Cheers to you Wendy.
ReplyDeleteCheers.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a wine I need to try. When, it comes to pairing food and wine sometimes "peaceful co-existence" is a good thing. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right Martin. Cheers.
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