Mens Wine Council

The Mens Wine Council was called to order on January 25, 2012. In attendance were Tom Plant, Roger Paige, Ken Barnes, Scott Vinton, Linda Kissam, and newcomer Chip Morton.  Four of our members were wine writers, two were wine lovers.  Missing in action was Corie Maue – she had to work – such a shame – perhaps we should change the bylaws to prevent that behavior again?  On the agenda, six Napa Valley beauties; one white and five reds.  Generally we taste wines from a single winery, but this time we celebrated a new year with a new format.

Not to stray too far from our roots and in keeping with an old tradition, each member was assigned a wine to pair with a food item of their choice. Personally I think wine shows best when paired with food and fellowship, so that’s how this group rolls.   I must say, this was an exceptional night of food and wine pairing, camaraderie, and lively discussion…and wouldn’t you just know it…the new guy brought the most wine friendly dish…the Grilled Lemon Shrimp Skewers.

Napa Line Up *

2010 Kristian Story Chardonnay “Los Carneros” $28.  Chip paired this wine with his (now famous- recipe below) Grilled Lemon Shrimp.   This wine is a blend of four Chardonnay clones and only 336 cases were produced.   It’s on the tropical side of the taste wheel.  We all loved the ripe pineapple, pear and peach on the nose with a touch of oak.  The winemaker says this will be at its peak between 2012-2015.  I say drink up now  – it’s a great food friendly choice. Scott and Chip thought for taste and price point, this was a good consumer deal.

2008 Ceja Pinot Noir- Carneros $40- I paired this with pork tamales and yup it was a match made in heaven.  You can find that recipe at http://www.examiner.com/chef-recipes-in-riverside/tamales-with-shredded-chicken-and-pork-loin-filling-mole-colorado.  The Pinot, with its gorgeous nose of red plum, black cherry, herb, and slight smokiness and floral characteristics was a perfect match for not only the tamales but with Trader Joe’s ginger snap cookies, and the Grilled Lemon Shrimp on skewers. You can feel confident bringing this over as a hostess gift or keeping it in stock in your own wine collection.

2009 Gentleman Farmer Red Wine $35- Roger brought a variety of finger foods to match this wine.  It is  a yummy blend of 51% Cab, 46% merlot, 3% Cab Franc.  The nose leads with a touch of exotic spice, dark berries, and a touch of cedar.  Medium body, good acidity. Tom thought this would make an excellent cigar wine.  It went well with the Trader Joe’s Triple Ginger cookies, Italian Salami, the Grilled Lemon Shrimp, a variety of hearty cheeses, dark chocolate pieces and tiny chocolate caramel turtles from Barons.  Scott and Chip thought for taste and price point, this was a good consumer deal.

2007 Kristian Story Soiree Meritage $45 – This was voted the best wine of the tasting by a big margin.  Ken brought a variety of small deli bites from Barons to pair with this wine.  The stuffed grape leaves were an amazing match, along with the turtles.  A big ‘ol elegant wine it offered up ripe blackberries, pomegranate, plum, dark chocolate and caramel on the palate.  The nose was deep with ripe berry notes.  Buy this for your own wine collection or as a special gift for someone who loves the big but elegant wines with integrated tannins and a silky soft finish.

2009 Gentleman Farmer Cabernet $70- Tom brought a spicy OMG whole  roasted chicken.  Tom is our resident chef…we all pay attention when he unveils his dish.  I was a bit skeptical that chicken would hold up to this robust full bodied wine…but I should’ve trusted Tom’s instincts.  It perfectly complimented the sweet dark fruits, cassis cherry and plum notes in the wine.  I may have also caught a dash of violet in there and an earthy mushroom quality.  The group voted this as their number two choice.  As a special note, check out the cork where Rain Graves poem engages us with, “Did you tip it well, my darling? Are you holding it close? How has this bottle loved you… In softly sipping prose?  Did anyone say…a VERY special wine gift for a birthday, anniversary, or Valentine’s Day?

2007 Kristian Story Rhapsodie Cabernet $60 – Scott surprised us with a pairing of Smoked Gouda with Bacon and dark Godiva 70% Cocoa pieces. The Grilled Lemon Shrimp and caramel turtles were also a good pairing. This hit the spot with the dark fruity red wine, showing aromas of black cherry and garden-fresh earth.  On the palate we enjoyed cassis, mocha and blueberries intertwined with a mineral and sage offering.

*Napa Line Up Picture Courtesy of Chip Morton Photography

Chip’s Grilled Lemon Shrimp Skewers

Grilled Lemon Shrimp

Ingredients 1 cup olive oil 1/4      cup chopped fresh parsley 1      lemon, juiced 2      tablespoons hot pepper sauce 3      cloves garlic, minced 1      tablespoon tomato paste 2      teaspoons dried oregano 1      teaspoon salt 1      teaspoon ground black pepper 2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails attached skewers

Directions In a mixing bowl, mix together olive oil, parsley, lemon juice, hot sauce,   garlic, tomato paste, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Reserve a smalamount for basting later. Pour remaining marinade into a large resealable plastic bag with shrimp. Seal, and marinate in the refrigerator for 2  hours. Preheat grill for medium-low heat. Thread shrimp onto skewers, piercing once near  the tail and once near the head. Discard marinade. Lightly oil grill grate. Cook shrimp for 5 minutes per side, or until opaque,  basting frequently with reserved marinade.