What a lovely Thursday evening! I attended a writer's cocktail hour and book signing event at a neighboring law firm, then moved on to Parker Wine Cellars' Thursday night tasting, and then home to a meal cooked by my husband, which was accompanied by a lovely chablis. I don't usually have Thursdays like this.
First, the writer's event. The writer is Carla Powers, an attorney who was raised in the Armstrong cult in Big Sandy, Texas. She wrote her memoirs -- "Matches in the Gas Tank" -- and they resonated with me because I was raised Jehovah's Witness and the two cults have very similar beliefs. Champagne was served with a lovely, perfect raspberry in each glass, which was not only a pleasing visual but a nice last gulp of tart, sweet fruit along with the champagne bubbles. There were delicious appetizers of Asian meatballs, crab cakes, and chicken satay, and a dessert tray, but the real draw was hearing Carla's inspiring story of self-discovery. She is a remarkable woman.
While at the reception, I missed three phone calls from my daughter, who discovered that Murphy the basset hound had shredded three rolls of toilet paper in the living room. Life goes on.
Tonight Parker Wine Cellars featured the wines of Hannah Nicole out of Contra Costa County, as Jeff recounts:
Le MELANGE BLANC '07~~ A blend of 55% Sauvignon Blanc and 45% Viognier, this blend saw both stainless steel and oak before the final bottling. A bit of a flowery nose turns to hints of vanilla and citrus on the mid palate. Slightly dry, the finish is sharp and distinct with dabs of lemon and honeysuckle that pleases even the picky white wine palates. (MY NOTES: I enjoyed this wine. It was a bit sharp, but I love sauvignon blanc, and this was a nice crisp white wine.)
Le MELANGE ROSE' '08~~ Oh what a nice little treat! Oddly enough a blend of 30% Zinfandel, 20% Syrah, 10% Petite Verdot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc that turns into a pink wine. (OK, right now, get the idea of Pink Wine= Sweet out of your head!) Using all stainless steel, this crowd pleaser starts with a nose of ripe bing cherries and rhubarb that hits the palate with a cascade of strawberries and an overtone of raspberry. Great depth, and fairly muscular for a Rose, the finish almost doesn't want to leave. This one works great for those upcoming Autumn days and really would work quite well on your Thanksgiving table. (MY NOTES: Yeah, right, like this will make it until Thanksgiving at my house! I love this rose and bought a bottle. There's a pronounced strawberry flavor that is very impressive and, in my opinion, makes this a great wine. It didn't hurt that the price was $11.99 either.)
MERITAGE '05~~ Out of nowhere comes a standout! A Bordeaux style blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot (8% from '07), 7% Cabernet Franc (also from '07) and 8% Petite Verdot, this bad boy delivers a knockout punch. Each blend was fermented separately, racked, then put in French and American Oak barrels for 26 months before bottling. A nose of black cherry and dark chocolate explodes on the palate with rich cherry and plum followed by bits of cocoa that delivers on a finish that lingers with an earthy goodness that calls out for another sip. Drinking very well now, but could hang on for 5 or more years. (MY NOTES: An excellent red wine. I love almost anything that hints of Bordeaux, and the complex robust flavors of this wine are quite remarkable.)
I drove home VERY carefully and found that Chris made Chicken Provencal from a recipe he found on Epicurious.com: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Chicken-Breasts-Provencal-242287. Trust me, this is DELICIOUS. I wasn't really hungry, but had to taste it and will definitely make it or request it again. He served it with mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, salad, and a nice Chablis.
And all traces of the toilet paper were gone from the house, so it was a very lovely evening!
Thank you sweetie. You're the best. :)
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